Catholic Pro-Life Leader states: “Today’s decision has created a lasting rift with the Catholic faithful who comprise a large part of the President’s support base.”

Contact: Jason Jones, Human Life International, 540-551-0217, jjones@hli.org

FRONT ROYAL, Va., Aug. 24 /Christian Newswire/ --  The Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, issued the following response to today’s announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it has approved the over-the-counter sale of Plan B, to anyone 18 years or older.

“Let there be no mistake about it, today’s decision lies at the feet of President Bush and has created a lasting rift with the Catholic faithful who comprise a large part of his support base.  His statements at this past Monday’s press conference in support of over-the-counter sales set the stage for this morning’s decision. 

“President Bush and his nominee to head the FDA, Andrew von Eschenbach, have turned the agency into a hand-maiden of the abortion industry and powerful pharmaceutical companies.  The FDA was created to be the last line of defense between consumers and manufacturers, but instead has become the lead offensive against women in crisis and the innocent unborn.

“Today’s decision demonstrates wholesale politicization of the agency and gives final confirmation that the FDA cannot be trusted to act in the best interest of the American people’s health and safety. This is the first time in the history of the agency that they have granted OTC status to a drug when a lower dose of the very same drug still requires a prescription.  According to supporters of the drug regimen, taking Plan B can be the equivalent to taking as many as 40 birth control pills at once.  At best, it is duplicitous of the president to claim he vetoed federal funding of embryonic stem cell research in the name of building a culture of life while turning a blind eye to the lethal effects of Plan B.

“Furthermore, the limitations and statutes governing OTC sales are unenforceable and provide sexual predators and rapists with a convenient method to cover the evidence of their crimes.  The only explanation for such a questionable decision can be that politics and economics have trumped medical safety and moral principle,” concluded the Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer.