Editorial

It has been frightening for many parents to realize that their minor children can obtain free birth control without their consent. Concerned parents worry about their children's involvement in sexual activity. Not only is it morally wrong, but children can be hurt in so many ways by too early sexual contact.

We know the risks of venereal disease and AIDS can be life-threatening. But perhaps parents have not always been as worried about birth control.

They should be!

Wisconsin girl dies. The case of a 14-year-old Wisconsin girl who died last year after using a birth control patch shows what can happen to young people who use birth control devices.

A recent lawsuit was filed on behalf of Alycia Brown, the 14-year-old LaCrosse, Wis., native who died in 2004 from serious side effects after using a popular birth control patch. Her case illustrates problems with birth control that go way beyond the deadly nature of one particular device.

"People are so afraid of bearing 'unplanned' children in our society that they are willing to risk death. Not only are these drugs often lethal for a developing embryo, but they are also sometimes lethal for the women and girls who take them," points out Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin.

"This was truly a horrific situation. A beautiful teenage girl with a bright future is dead. Even worse, because of Wisconsin's taxpayer-funded birth control programs, a situation like this could easily happen again."

Taxpayer-funded birth control. Pro-Life Wisconsin noted in a press release that the state's Medicaid Family Planning Demonstration Project currently provides free, taxpayer-funded birth control to 15, 16, and 17-year-old girls without their parents' knowledge or consent. Federal law prohibits parents from being notified that their 15, 16, and 17 year-old daughters are receiving free birth control under this project.

"This undermines parental authority and increases underage pregnancy and abortion by encouraging sexual promiscuity," said the Pro-Life Wisconsin statement. "Although Alycia did not access the patch through this state project, young teenagers like Alycia who are currently enrolled in the program can get the patch confidentially with little information about its adverse heath risks."

Alycia's family filed a suit against Ortho-McNeil, the maker of the Evra birth control patch, claiming that they were not adequately informed about the health risks associated with the patch and that the drug company intentionally withheld information from the Food and Drug Administration.

The deaths of at least 23 women from across the country have also been blamed on the patch since it was introduced to the market in 2002.

"For years Pro-Life Wisconsin's warnings about the health risks of these devices have been met with scorn by so-called 'women's health advocates.' I can't believe drugs like the patch are still referred to as women's 'healthcare,'" said Hamill. "These drugs do nothing to improve women's health. In fact, in cases like Alycia's, birth control drugs kill women."

What to do. What can concerned parents and other citizens do? It would seem that parents should talk with their children about the dangers of early sexual activity and the use of birth control. Encouraging abstinence is important for both moral and health reasons. A report in July's Pediatrics cites studies showing decreasing sexual activity rates associated with positive messages from parents and religious organizations. This would make a good topic for religious education classes in our parishes and schools.

Perhaps it will take a victory in court by Alycia Brown's family to make our government change its policies. Letters and calls to our legislators might help. In the meantime, let's pray that more teenage girls do not die from these deadly devices.

Mary C. Uhler

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People with disabilities are full participants in Catholic life

To the editor:

I want to thank Peggy Rakow for her letter about the language used in this publication to discuss people with disabilities.

As a mother of a four-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, I have been disappointed that people with disabilities are typically portrayed in congregate settings and referenced, in most cases, as the beneficiaries of the good will of Catholics.

People with disabilities - including those with intellectual disabilities - are full participants in Catholic life, making contributions as well as accepting support when needed, just like everyone else. Even at her young age, my daughter uses her beautiful singing voice during Mass each Sunday, which, I think, is a great contribution for such a little girl.

One Sunday recently, when I determined I was too busy to go to Mass, I stopped at a coffee shop and paused a moment to read a newspaper. My daughter started singing "Alleluia" and thereby pointed out that we really weren't too busy to skip church, so I was the beneficiary that day.

I, too, greatly admire Msgr. Campion and respect the magnitude of his work over many years. Yet I think it is time for this diocese to rethink some of its policies and programs for people with disabilities to update them for the 21st century.

Annette M. Talis, Madison