U.S.

Walgreens, CVS pharmacies to begin dispensing pills used for abortion, early miscarriage

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Two major U.S. pharmacy chains have announced they will begin dispensing the drug mifepristone, which is prescribed for both abortion and early miscarriage, within the coming days. Representatives of Walgreens and CVS announced the move March 1 in an interview with The New York Times. Walgreens issued a press release the same day, stating that it “expects to begin dispensing within a week, consistent with federal and state laws” in a “phased rollout in select locations to allow us to ensure quality, safety, and privacy for our patients, providers, and team members.” Both pharmacy chains have received certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to supply the drug under guidelines the agency issued last year. At present, the chains will only provide mifepristone in person, not by mail, in select states where both abortion and pharmacy distribution of the drugs is legal. A synthetic steroid, mifepristone — introduced 20 years ago — works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for pregnancy to continue. When used in combination with misoprostol, which causes contractions, it induces a “medication abortion” up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy; this regimen accounts for more than half of abortions today according to Guttmacher Institute data. Due to research published since 2018, the same pill combination has been prescribed by some OB-GYNs more recently for a morally licit purpose: early pregnancy miscarriage care. According to the National Library of Medicine, an estimated 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. (OSV News)

Priest narrowly escapes attack damaging historic Oregon Catholic shrine

PORTLAND, Ore. — A historic place of prayer in Portland sustained significant damage to one of its buildings in a Feb. 28 vandalism attack. Security cameras, religious objects and windows were smashed in the monastery of The Grotto, the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, a 54-acre shrine operated by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary. According to local media reports, the suspect — named by the Portland Police Bureau as 57-year-old Paul Joseph Yauger — entered the grounds of the property early that morning and eluded police until he broke into the monastery, where he confronted a Servite priest who managed to escape. Police said the suspect was apparently experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the attack. (OSV News)

WORLD

French bishops call for fasting, prayer as abortion is enshrined in country’s constitution

PARIS — French bishops called for fasting and prayer as abortion was enshrined in the constitution by an overwhelming 780-72 vote, accompanied by a standing ovation when the result was announced as the parliament met in Versailles. After several months of legislative process, the French Congress, a special body composed of both chambers of parliament, revised the country’s 1958 constitution to enshrine women’s “guaranteed freedom” to abort, making France the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution. French bishops called for “fasting and prayer” in a March 4 statement. The Pontifical Academy for Life released its own communique on the same day, saying, “There can be no ‘right’ to end a human life.” The academy’s members lamented the debate over the bill in France “did not touch on support mechanisms for those who wish to keep their child. … Protection of human life is humanity’s primary objective.” French President Emmanuel Macron described the March 4 move as “French pride” that had sent a “universal message.” French bishops added in their March 4 statement, “As Catholics, we will always have to remain servants of the life of each and every one, from conception to death,” and prayed that “our fellow citizens will rediscover the taste for life, for giving it, for receiving it, for accompanying it, for having and raising children.” (OSV News)

Pope calls disarmament ‘moral duty’

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis repeated his call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and said the international community has a “moral duty” to pursue disarmament worldwide. After praying the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square March 3, the pope encouraged the continuation of negotiations for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and in the entire region so that hostages may be freed and the civilian population can have safe access to urgently needed humanitarian aid. He said, “I carry daily in my heart, with sorrow, the suffering of the populations in Palestine and in Israel, due to the ongoing hostilities.” Pope Francis also drew attention to the March 5 celebration of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness. “How many resources are wasted on military spending that, as a result of the current situation, sadly continues to increase,” he said. “I sincerely hope that the international community understands that disarmament is first and foremost a duty: disarmament is a moral duty.” (CNS)