WASHINGTON - On Wednesday night, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit partially upheld a recent district court ruling to reverse preliminarily the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s loosening of access and safety standards for the abortion drug, mifepristone. The circuit court overturned, however, part of the lower court’s ruling, which would have suspended the approval of mifepristone to be on the market while the case continues to proceed in the courts. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, provided the following statement in response:

“The 5th Circuit was right to recognize the dangers of unrestricted chemical abortion to women’s health and safety. We are grateful for the restoration of protections, and any limitation on the use of these lethal drugs. We hope that the final ruling will result in removal of chemical abortion from the market altogether. Abortion is never the right choice for a difficult or unexpected pregnancy, as it always ends one life and risks another. We pray ardently that our nation will authentically support and accompany women, so that ending the lives of their children alone in their own homes will be unthinkable.”