Italy Approves "Abortion Pill"

Italy's drug administration body has approved the use of RU-486, or "medical abortion," up until the seventh week of pregnancy. It has specified, however, that the drug will not be available in pharmacies and may only be provided by doctors.

Not surprisingly, the Vatican has protested this decision, stating that it will excommunicate any doctors who provide the drug and any women who use it. In any case, the BBC states that %70 of doctors in Italy refuse to perform abortions under a conscience clause.

We talk a lot in the US about how much influence the conservative christian movement has in the debate over abortion, birth control, and sex ed. I had never really given much thought to how this works in a country where the dominant church plays such a large role in the moral culture of the state. For some comparison, in the UK, only about %40 of doctors refuse to perform abortions. In countries like Ireland and Poland, Mifepristone still has not been approved for use, while in the US the FDA approved it for use in September of 2000.

The US still has quite a far way to come, especially compared to many countries that have been making both surgical and medical abortions widely available to women for many years. It's interesting, though, to take a view on what women in some other countries must still experience, especially in countries (Ireland and Italy) that are considered leaders in technology and development. Just more proof that women's rights are generally an afterthought.

Those Feisty Nuns

As a former Catholic school student, I've had some experience with nuns. I took a class at the university from one when I was a senior in high school that pretty much changed my life. Sr. Mara was a feminist, as confusing as that may or may not be, and she rocked my world.

Whatever my feelings are about the Catholic Church, I have a sort of soft spot in my heart for nuns, especially the fiesty ones who speak out about contraception and sexism in the church. Well, while I might cheer on the women who challenge the patriarchal system, it turns out that they may be in a little trouble with the Vatican.

According to the New York Times, the Vatican is starting an investigation of nuns in the United States. The investigation will look into how closely these nuns are following the rules and mission of their order, but it is also looking into the nuns that are members of groups that advocate the ordination of women and other issues that conflict with church teachings. Some believe that this investigation is in response to the threat these women pose to the Vatican, and may led to an effort to return convents and nuns to a more traditional, conservative role in the church.