Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug 30, 2007 / 11:03 am (CNA).- In a strongly worded statement, the organization “Pro-Vida” [For-Life] in Argentina has criticized a decision by officials of the National University of La Plata to offer the “morning-after pill” free of charge to students.

Signed by Pro-Vida president Dr. Roberto Castellano, the statement notes that the purpose of a university is to educate and instruct its students.  “The free distribution of these drugs neither educates nor instructs, it simply favors the market interests of its manufacturers,” Castellano said.

He went on to stress that the pill is an abortifacient and that as such it is prohibited under Argentinean law.

Pro-Vida expressed regret that the university has caved in to “pressure from outside organizations that seek to slow Argentina’s demographic growth in order to increase the budget surplus to pay the country’s foreign debt.”  The organization also criticized the university for a lack of programs to help pregnant students.  “It only guarantees them, against the law, free chemical abortions,” it said.

Castellano said such policies demonstrate moral bankruptcy of many institutions and the “colonial strategies designed outside our borders.”

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