The archbishop of Turin, Cardinal Severino Poletto, has condemned a decision by Italian health authorities to approve the use of the abortion pill, mifepristone (Ru486).He is currently working on a petition to campaign against the drug.
"The church condemns abortion and severely judges those who choose to administer it," Poletto told the Italian daily, La Repubblica.
"We believe that these decisions come from models that show the wrong kind of sexual behaviour, but in spite of our condemnation and excommunication, the church is always open to accept the women who will surely repent after having an abortion."
Poletto said that under church doctrine that an abortion performed surgically or chemically were both considered a crime, a homicide.
He said that it was dangerous to see the new pill described as an easier method of abortion.
He also stressed that the commercialisation of the abortion pill "influences public opinion that is already influenced by role models on TV and public behaviour that trivialises sexuality. It is a superficial idea and without ethical limits that can also promote the idea that for these types of accidents there is a remedy with the pill".
However, women's rights groups and Italy's Association for Demographic Education (AIED) have welcomed the drug' s approval.
The Italian drug agency ruled after a meeting that ended late Thursday that the drug cannot be sold in pharmacies and can only be administered by doctors in a hospital.
The agency said the pill can only be taken up to the seventh week of pregnancy.
Abortion has been legal in Italy since 1978 in the first 90 days of pregnancy and until the 24th week if the life of the mother is at risk or the foetus is malformed.
Italy allows surgical abortions in hospitals and the use of the morning-after pill. Critics of the abortion drug say some women are bound to use it at home without medical assistance.
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SIC: AKI