Cardinal Dolan Slams Giving Morning After Pills to 14-Year-Olds

Life News ^ | September 25, 2012 | Steven Ertelt

[NYer]

Cardinal Dolan, the head of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archdiocese of New York, is slamming a program that will give morning after pills to girls in NYC schools as young as 14-years-old.

The New York City Department of Education is furnishing morning-after pills and other birth control drugs to students at 13 city high schools and without parental permission. School nurses supplied with the drugs, which can cause a very early abortion, are dispensing “Plan B” and other oral or injectable birth control to girls as young as 14 without telling their parents — unless the parents opt out of the program after receiving a school letter informing them of the new policy.

In a blog post titled, “Tragic and Misguided,” Dolan pans the idea.

The public schools of the City of New York have announced that they are providing so-called “emergency contraception” and long-term contraceptive injections to high school students as young as 14 years old. This policy of dispensing of powerful medicines to young women — without their parents’ knowledge and consent — is tragic and misguided.

Parents have the right and the responsibility to be the first and primary educators of their children. This plan usurps that role, and allows the public school system to substitute its beliefs and values for those of the parents. It also places minors at risk, because no school system can be expected to know all the pertinent health information about their son or daughter, and be able to properly judge what is in their best interests. Requiring parents to “opt-out” of the program is hardly adequate, either. In New York State in recent weeks, laudable legislation has been passed and signed into law requiring explicit consent from parents if a child wants to get a piercing or a tattoo. We now also have a law on the books banning minors from using tanning salons even if the parents consent, out of concern for possible long term health risks. And, for every other medical procedure, explicit, informed consent is required. But not when these powerful drugs – with their potentially serious side effects – are involved. Then we let these young teens do what they want, without a word to their parents.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” They want these kids having sex and not buying soda”

That’s it.

[afraidfortherepublic]

No, no, no. Cardinal Doloan released a typical Bishop’s wishy-washy statement about Paul Ryan when he was nominated — saying that he liked Ryan and could work with him, even though he had sharp disagreements with him. That statement was used by my Pastor to disavow support for Ryan. Dolan was the Archboishop of Milwaukee before he was the NY Cardinal and knows Ryan well.

I’m not saying that my Pastor is supporting Obama, but he certainly didn’t point out that Obama unequivocally supports abartion — even after birth! Instead he went on with another wishy-washy statement about “Support for Life just doesn’t mean abortion. Support for Life also means helping the poor and the immigrant.”

This kind of muddled thinking offers refuge for those Catholic who do the unthinkable — vote for Obama and his crew, the abortionists in chief.

The Bishops issue these Letters to the Faithful every year that are so convoluted that nobody reads them. This year’s has 11 parts — each 2 pages, I think. Just get to the basics, such as the letter recently issued by CatholicVote.org/compare2012. 5 points.

[count-your-change]

“The rest of us - you know, people capable of linear thought - understand that Dolan is very much against 14 years olds (male and female) having sexual intercourse.”

I'm sure he is but how would anyone know when his main objection seems to be against birth control and abortficents like a “morning after” pill?

Exactly why is Dolan against 14 year olds (or any one of any age) engaging in sex outside of marriage?

St. Paul said fornicators along with murders would not inherit God's Kingdom, period. Is that Dolan’s basis for objection to premarital sex?

“If you're a toxic a**hole who absolutely MUST find fault in any and all things Catholic, I suppose an utterly moronic question like this would make some type of sense”

I'm sorry. I seem to have brought out some ill concealed vulgarities of thought but you did say that you're a person “capable of linear thought”. Just what were you thinking? Never mind, I don't want to know!

[Alberta's Child]

Sounds like Cardinal Dolan is kind of slow to pick up on some things.

Someone should tell him that his majestic cathedral sits in the middle of a nihilistic, pagan city that ain't going to get any better.

[Alex Murphy]

Is Dolan against 14 year olds having sexual intercourse

[EnquiringMind]

Huh ... seriously? Can’t you read?

[Jean S]

Exactly why is Dolan against 14 year olds (or any one of any age) engaging in sex outside of marriage?

Are you serious?

[brightright]

The article and statements were concerning morning after pills for 14yr old children. I am sure you are aware these pills are abortion pill. I don’t understand why you would support that type of program. Both Obama and Romney support abortion.

[count-your-change]

Of course I'm serious and your question doesn't answer the question. If you wish to answer, do so with Dolan’s words or something close to it but don't bother with a “Are you serious?”

[count-your-change]

There are those amongst us who do not understand a rhetorical question. One struggles against the tide of low standards.

[NKP_Vet]

“Exactly why is Dolan against 14 year olds (or any one of any age) engaging in sex outside of marriage?”

Most of these young girls are from the ghetto and most would not in that shape if they could outrun their brothers.

[brightright]

I find it so sad that people think it is fine for Public schools to provide abortions for 14yr old children without notifying their parents. Attacking someone who speaks out against it is trying to make it a political issue. Both Obama and Romney are pro abortion. Shows the moral decline of the Country.

[count-your-change]

Don't be ridiculous. Fifty years ago the poor, black and white had a much lower rate of out of wedlock pregnancy.

If by “young girls are from the ghetto” you mean blacks it was clear fifty years ago that the trend would lead to where it is today.
Young males father children they have no intention or ability to care for and the females act as though they are moral idiots as their offspring fill the prisons and graveyards.

And still the so-called shepherds cannot bring themselves to say what fornication is and why it's so wrong.

It's not their brothers the females have to outrun but the cowardice of the mush-mouthed ministers who have abdicated their responsibility to keep their jobs.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I don't see where Dolan or any other faithful Catholic would disagree with you. Fornication is immoral: and fornication means any sexual relations other than between the lawfully wedded husband and wife.

Whether there's any risk of pegnancy and disease or not, fornication is never "virtue." Chastity is the virtue: and chastity for the unmarried entails abstinence, not fornication whatever the circumstances.

[Alex Murphy]

I don't see where Dolan or any other faithful Catholic would disagree with you. Fornication is immoral

Immoral, yes. I believe c-y-c may have been referring to a thread several years back, wherein a Catholic FReeper advanced the argument that 14 was the age of consent, and therefore a priest could not be tried for statutory rape or sexual abuse if the underage male was at least 14 years of age.

I'll leave it to others to decide if this person could be considered a "faithful Catholic".

[count-your-change]

It's not a matter of disagreement, it's a matter of the basis for making an argument. If I tell my child not to steal since jail may await they can answer me by being more careful.

Avoiding jail is a practical reason but not, NOT the chief, highest reason to not steal.

“Fornication is immoral:...” How would any Catholic know this? No fornication then no birth control or abortion or AIDS amongst the unmarried.
Is that the message? Or is just don't get caught?

Jesus gave the principle that to those given much, much would be demanded and hence could chastise Nicodemus for being a shepherd of Israel and yet not knowing what Jesus explained.

[Mrs. Don-o]

OK, now I'm confused. Is this a discussion of the legal definition of rape--- the definition under which a person can be legally indicted and tried? Therefore, I suppose, criminal statutes, which would vary by country and by state?

Or are we talking about a moral definition -- a discussion of different types of sins?

What is unlawful via moral law would be far more extensive thatn what is unlawful under criminal law.

Or is there some confusion of categories here?

[Mrs. Don-o]

OK, now I'm confused. Is this a discussion of the legal definition of rape--- the definition under which a person can be legally indicted and tried? Therefore, I suppose, criminal statutes, which would vary by country and by state?

Or are we talking about a moral definition -- a discussion of different types of sins?

What is unlawful via moral law would be far more extensive thatn what is unlawful under criminal law.

Or is there some confusion of categories here?

[count-your-change]

Immorality is “immoral” not just because of some possible bad consequences but because Our Creator says so. That sometime in the future we may reap what is sown may reinforce that fact but that is not the reason to avoid immorality.

“....the argument that 14 was the age of consent, and therefore a priest could not be tried for statutory rape or sexual abuse if the underage male was at least 14 years of age.”

Secular law might be unable to do anything but secular law is only designed to preserve the state not concern its self with morals.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I don’t support abortion. Paul Ryan does not support abortion. Romney supports abortion only to save the life of the mother. Obama supports both abortion and infanticide. Biden supports Roe v. Wade (abortion). What is your problem? Can’t you read? Or are you just a tool of the devil, constantly mis-representing my words?