SW News: On Friday, April 21, the US Supreme Court temporarily blocked lower court rulings that would have suspended the Food and Drug Administration’s loosening of health and safety standards for the abortion drug mifepristone.

In response, Bishop Michael F Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has called the interim order by the Supreme Court a tremendous disappointment, both for the loss of innocent preborn life from chemical abortion and for the danger that chemical abortion poses to women.

He said it is wrong to allow the FDA’s greatly diminished health and safety standards for mifepristone to remain in place. “The FDA acted unlawfully when it first approved, and later relaxed safety requirements for prescribing and dispensing the drug. It is our hope and prayer that the Court will eventually overturn the FDA's improper actions,” he added.

The prelate also said that abortion is never the answer for a difficult or unintended pregnancy, as it always ends one life and risks another. Meaningful compassion for both mothers and children is needed. “We will continue to advocate for policies that put women and families first, serve women in need, and pray for the day when ending the lives of preborn children will become unthinkable,” said Bishop Burbidge.

The Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision in favor of the continued sale of an abortion drug on Friday, April 21. This chemical is used to end the lives of unborn children up to 10 weeks of gestation. The court's three liberal justices were joined in the decision by four conservative justices. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas expressed their disagreement.

The US Supreme Court's 7-2 decision invalidates a lower injunction that would have taken mifepristone off the market while the court evaluates a lawsuit contesting the drug's legal authorization. By inhibiting the actions of the hormone progesterone, mifepristone starves the baby and results in a miscarriage. Misoprostol, which the mother uses to have the baby removed from the uterus, is mixed with this medication. The mother may bleed, and in some circumstances, the hemorrhage sends her into hypovolemic shock, where she passes away.