Editorial

Dallas: Bishops' charter first step to protect children

This week the U.S. bishops will meet in Dallas to consider norms for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and other church personnel.

The proposed norms developed by a committee of bishops is called a "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." This title emphasizes that the bishops want to put children and youth first.

Putting children first. Although many conscientious bishops, priests, and others in the Catholic Church have put children first, there are some who have not. This document very clearly states "the church's commitment to deal appropriately and effectively with cases of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and other church personnel."

The bishops promise to reach out to those who have been sexually abused as minors by anyone serving the church in ministry, employment, or a volunteer position, whether recent or many years ago.

They commit themselves to care for the spiritual and emotional well-being of those who have been abused and their families. The bishops will work with parents, civil authoriies, educators, and other organizations to maintain a safe environment for minors.

Bishop speaks out. I was impressed with a talk given by Bishop Joseph Galante of Dallas, Texas, a member of the bishops' committee which drafted the charter. Galante spoke at the Catholic Press Association Convention in Minneapolis May 31.

Galante admitted that priests "have violated their sacred trust" and bishops have moved priest-abusers from parish to parish and covered up abuse. Bishops must be moral leaders, he said.

Galante said that expectations are very high for the Dallas meeting. But although a national policy binding on all dioceses will emerge, this meeting "won't solve all our problems," he admitted. There must be on-going follow-up with the main focus being on the safety and protection of children.

Raising consciousness. Galante had some specific suggestions: more efforts at dealing with sexuality issues in seminaries; establishing a national church office for the safety of children and monitoring all dioceses to make sure policies are being followed; and educating the public about sexual abuse. This is a "cultural and societal problem," he emphasized. "We must raise consciousness across the board. And be a more open and honest church."

Gallante challenged the church: "This is our most serious crisis. Will we be deflated or will we roll up our sleeves, get down on our knees in supplication for the courage to take the steps to be a better church?"

I encourage Catholics to pray for our bishops this week as they meet in Dallas that they have the courage to enact this charter, put children first, and continue the efforts begun. Hopefully our church will emerge purified and stronger in the years ahead.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

Editor's note: The following letters refer to the use of birth control pills for non-contraceptive purposes, an issue addressed in a column by Fr. John Dietzen in the May 23rd issue [print edition] of The Catholic Herald.

To the editor:

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

In response to Fr. John Dietzen's column in the May 23rd issue of The Catholic Herald, I feel that further elucidation of this issue might be helpful, though this is an issue that is far from being resolved.

As Fr. Dietzen implied, the church has no doctrine that morally objects to using birth control pills for medical purposes, if the contraceptive effect is not intended. One can find solid moral theologians who support this position, as well as others who oppose the use of the pill for medical purposes.

Personally, I would advise a woman in the confessional to practice abstinence while using the birth control pill for medical purposes.

For those who have moral objections to taking birth control pills for medical purposes, there is growing support in the medical community.

For example, Mary Davenport, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist in private practice in El Sobrante, Calif., a founding member of the Society for Natural Family Planning and Fertility Awareness, and a Fellow of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, states that "for sexually active women, there are always alternatives to oral contraceptives for any medical use. For women who are not sexually active, the abortifacient issue with the pill is not operative, and use would not pose moral concerns (although there might be long-term medical consequences for fertility and other harmful effects).

"There are a number of obstetrician-gynecologists who treat endometriosis, heavy bleeding, polycystic ovarian syndrome, etc., and never use oral contraceptives, and believe, even if morally permissible, that oral contraceptives are not the best therapy."

There are alternatives to using the birth control pill for medical purposes. For the woman who believes that the use of the pill for medical purposes is immoral, the decision to use alternative therapies, of course, is between that woman and her physician.

Fr. Joseph Howard, director,
American Bioethics Advisory Commission,
Stafford, Va.

To the editor:

I read with interest Fr. Dietzen's response to the woman requesting guidance about the use of birth control pills to control irregular periods. Fr. Dietzen assured her, correctly, that it is morally permissible to treat a medical condition, even if infertility is the unintended result. However, the vague response to the health question gave the impression that the pill cures a world of health problems with few or no side effects. This is a false impression.

While birth control pills are indeed "employed for a host of other hormone-related physical disorders," the only use for which the pill has FDA approval is to cause temporary infertility in normally fertile women.

Irregular cycles are caused by imbalance of hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. Birth control pills do nothing to correct this imbalance. Instead, the pill induces a different hormone imbalance, which produces infertility by suppressing ovarian function, thickening cervical and preventing the normal thickening of the endometrial lining.

Common side effects of the pill include the problems it is frequently prescribed (off label) to "treat." Any risk of these side effects seem to be a high price for a drug that does not bring a cure.

For non-contraceptive purposes, there are safer and more effective ways to treat most of the cycle problems for which the pill is prescribed off label. Treating the cause of the problems and restoring normal function comes with none of the moral dilemmas or health concerns that face a couple considering the pill. Although this approach requires more patience from the client and more expertise from the physician, it is an approach that benefits both body and soul.

I hope the priests and medical providers in the Madison Diocese will consider this approach when counseling couples in treatment of menstrual cycle difficulties.

Julie W. Krause,
R.N., NFP Coordinator,
Diocese of Madison

To the editor:

Fr. Dietzen's recent article regarding the moral use of the abortifacient birth control pill to treat medical problems does not mention an essential point. While it is licit for a woman to use "the pill" to fix a medical problem, she can not, in good conscience, continue to have marital relations since it is impossible to determine when a breakthrough ovulation will occur.

However, use of the pill for the noblest of reason only legitimizes its use for immoral reasons. Doctors at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Neb., have repeatedly stated that there is no medically necessary reason to use the pill.

Most, if not all, problems can be treated by changes in diet and exercise. These solutions, not the pill, result in long term solutions. The pill masks deeper problems and when a woman stops taking the pill, the original problem often reappears and is worse.

There are apparently no OB/GYN practices that offer "contraceptive-free" services in Madison. Imagine a Catholic family's discomfort while being interrogated about their future choice of contraceptive shortly after having a child and knowing that they have no other options. A "contraceptive-free" practice would be instantly successful and we would be the first in line.

Patrick and Sarah Schloss, Madison

To the editor:

I was shocked by the negative response from the right to life activist concerning taking the pill for reasons other than birth control (in the May 30th issue of The Catholic Herald). I had to take birth control pills in 1990, two years following a miscarriage. I had stopped menstruating since the miscarriage. My doctor put me on the pill for a short period of time to give my body a "hormonal jump start."

Later that year I was thrilled to find out I was finally pregnant again. I now have two beautiful daughters. I truly feel that they would not be here if I had not made the decision to take those pills.

Debra DeAngelis