Editorial

How many more deaths will it take? On March 17, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that two more women died after taking the abortion drug Mifeprex, commonly referred to as RU-486.

Saving the lives of women in back-alley abortions was one of the arguments given for legalizing abortion back in 1973. Of course, we know that babies die in all abortions, including females. But it is the lives of women who seem to take precedence among many pro-abortion advocates.

However, now we have a legal drug which is killing women. Why aren't more people speaking out against this?

Stop the madness. Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, issued a statement asking, "How much longer must we tolerate such insanity? Two more deaths of women who used RU-486 signal massive problems with the abortion pill. The federal government must act immediately to stop this madness."

The location of the two women who died recently was not disclosed, but they follow four RU-486-related deaths in California and another death in 2001. In the case of RU-486, over 800 other complications have been reported to the FDA, according to Wisconsin Right to Life. This could be the tip of the iceberg, since the FDA - by its own admission - only reports about 10 percent of complications experienced by patients taking drugs.

FDA should do its job. Brown said that the deaths raise continuing questions that the FDA, Congress, and the president all refuse to address. The FDA can suspend distribution of any drug if safety questions arise. But it seems that the abortion industry does not care that mothers have died from using this drug. The "procedure" was successful because the drug killed the baby!

"It is obvious that Planned Parenthood and other organizations distributing this drug will not voluntarily suspend its use," Brown said. "The FDA has this authority, however, and so we urge this federal agency, which is charged with protecting the health of the American public, to put aside any political considerations and simply do its job."

Wisconsin Right to Life explained that the administration of RU-486 is a two-drug procedure using Mifeprex and prostaglandin. The RU-486 procedure requires three to four abortion clinic or doctor visits. The Mifeprex starves an unborn baby to death by causing the nutrient lining of the uterus to disintegrate. Prostaglandin causes uterine contractions to expel the dead baby.

About 50 percent of the women do not abort the baby within the recommended four-hour stay at the abortion clinic or doctor's office. The woman can abort at home, at work, at the grocery store, in her car, or wherever she happens to be. "In these circumstances, the woman is without medical supervision to deal with bleeding, cramping, and disposal of the remains of her unborn child," noted Susan Armacost, legislative director of Wisconsin Right to Life.

Heavy prolonged bleeding can occur and is a serious complication. "By refusing to take RU-486 off the market, the FDA is complicit in perpetuating the lie that RU-486 is safe and is also complicit in the deaths of seven women who believed that lie," said Armacost.

Congress must act. The U.S. Catholic bishops' pro-life secretariat has called on Congress to pass legislation to suspend the FDA's approval of RU-486. "We again call on Congress to pass the RU-486 Suspension and Review Act (called 'Holly's Law') which will protect women's lives while the flawed FDA approval process of this dangerous drug is scrutinized," said Deirdre A. McQuade of the secretariat.

I urge concerned citizens to contact their congressional representatives and senators asking them to support this act. The FDA must take RU-486 off the market and save the lives of women and their babies.

Mary C. Uhler

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Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent

To the editor:

Recently I served as spiritual director of a Christian Experience Weekend (CEW) for men at Sinsinawa. Of course, the real spiritual director was the Holy Spirit. The faith of the old and young men touched me.

At the end of the CEW, if they wished, the participants were invited to share the times they felt closest to God during the weekend. The majority said that it was during and immediately after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This surprised and inspired me.

It reinforced my belief that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a very important sacrament through which we experience the forgiving love of the merciful Christ. It helps us to be reconciled with God and others.

During Lent the Church asks us to willingly choose a penance that helps us to grow more fully into the image of Jesus. To become more like Jesus, we must reject sin and believe in the Good News more fully.

To experience a graced Lent, we are encouraged during Lent to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A fruitful Lent will help us to celebrate the resurrection and to renew our baptismal promises with graced fervor at Easter!

May you enjoy a blessed Lent and Easter.

Fr. Don Lange, Madison