From Virginia Dolajak's letter Wednesday regarding my statements on emergency contraception at Catholic hospitals, it appears that my comments and the teachings of the Catholic Church need some explanation.

When I stated that Catholic hospitals could provide emergency contraception once it has been determined that ovulation has not occurred, it was in the context of discussing the Catholic Conference's opposition to any legislation forcing Catholic hospitals to dispense emergency contraception. The conference opposes such mandates because, as Virginia Dolajek rightly states, such treatment can act as an abortifacient.

What I tried to convey with the statement was that, although Catholic facilities will not provide an abortifacient drug, they can provide victims of sexual assault with what is commonly called "emergency contraception" if it has been determined that the treatment will not act as an abortifacient.

The guiding instruction to Catholic facilities on this issue is set forth in the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services," which was approved by the Vatican and is binding on all Catholic health care facilities in the country. It states:

"A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum."

Although the Catholic Church opposes contraception, that teaching does not extend to protecting rape victims from potential conception. Under no circumstances, however, is it acceptable to destroy human life.

This teaching is a far cry from the position of Planned Parenthood, which sees no distinction between true contraception and the destruction of new life before it is implanted in the uterine wall, and would force hospitals to violate their religious and moral beliefs by requiring them to ignore the distinction.

Catholic hospitals can and will provide compassionate care to victims of sexual assault and remain committed to protecting human life at every stage of development.

(Dodson is executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference. - Editor)