3. Is it ethically correct for females who have been
raped to be able to defend herself against a
potential conception from the assault
4. Foundation
The Human Person
• Material composite
• Spiritual composite
“Man, though made of body and soul, is a unity. Through his very bodily
condition he sums up in himself the elements of the material world….for this
reason man may not despise his bodily life. Rather he is obliged to regard his
body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it up
on the last day” (CCC, n. 364) (pg 4)
5. Foundation continued
The clinical decision to for medical intervention for
contraceptive and not abortifacient are based on:
• The female’s menstrual history
• Blood testing providing results of patient hormonal level
and timing of ovulatory cycle
• Results of the patients ovulation test
6. Foundation continued
Three questions must be resolved before interventions are
permissible by the Catholic Church.
• Whether the female survivor of the sexual assault is
an appropriate candidate for hormonal treatment to
inhibit ovulation
• How effective such treatment is
• Whether the treatment has any post-fertilization
effect
7. Foundation continued
The Catholic moral tradition has three basic factors that
shape the morality of an act
• The Objection
• The Intention
• The Circumstances
8. Principles continued
Totality and Integrity
• Mental Stability and the good of the whole
Ordinary and Extraoridinary Mean
• Great effort
• Severe pain/mental anguish
• Expensive
Confidentiality
• Non-judgemental
11. Premises continued
The Catholic Church Views on Rape
“Rape is an intrinsically evil Act”
In accord with the Ethical and Religious directives for Catholic
Health Care Services the care for the rape victim has four aspects
• Spiritual and psychological support
• Health care providers cooperating with law enforcement
• Treatment for any injuries
• Health care providers must provide treatment to prevent STDs
and pregnancy
12. Premises continued
Rights of the rape victim
A woman has the moral right to prevent the pregnancy for the following reasons
Rape is an act of force and violence unlike the conjugal love in marriage
The woman is not responsible for the action and has the right to prevent the
pregnancy
The rapist including his sperm is an unjust aggressor who has violated the woman’s
dignity
