Church Outrage Over Reports that Children Have Been Given Contraceptive Implants

Total Catholic
Aug. 24, 2006

By The Universe's Scotland Correspondent Mairi MacDonald: The Catholic Church in Scotland has responded to newspaper reports that girls as young as 13 have been given controversial contraceptive implants that can make them infertile for up to three years.

Figures obtained by Scotland on Sunday revealed that at least 100 under 16-year-olds had been fitted with the matchstick sized hormone implants at NHS family planning clinics in the past year.

Doctors admit the long-term side-effects of the implants, known as Implanon, are still largely unknown, and teenagers could be especially vulnerable as their bodies are still maturing. The implants have sparked concerns about the long-term health implications for adolescents. Campaigners also fear they could encourage casual underage sex, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

Peter Kearney, director of the media office of the Bishops Conference of Scotland, said: "Among some of the issues associated with this policy of implanting young women, indeed girls and young children with contraceptive implants is a commodification and a debasing of human sexuality, taking it out of its appropriate and proper context which is in married union.

"There is a sense in which giving an implant like this which supposedly protects against conception is to give a green light to promiscuous sexual behaviour. It is saying that you do not need worry about how you behave or what you do because we have taken chemical steps to make sure you will not conceive.

Mr Kearney added: "There is evidence to suggest that where implants like this are used it does create an increased likelihood of experimentation and risky behaviour. This increases the chances of sexually transmitted infections being transmitted."

"If the reports are accurate and children as young as 13 are being given these implants, then what we are seeing is the medical activity condoning illegal activity. Maybe we need to remind ourselves that the age of consent in this country is actually 16."