CARNAL NATION

In an attempt to fight the spread of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in England, two committees have released proposals to relax restrictions on advertisements for abortion services and condoms on radio and television.  The proposed changes would allow "pregnancy advisory services" and condoms to be advertised during prime time, which would seem, at first glance, to be a reasonable step to improve access to birth control and improve sexual health.

That's assuming you're not speaking from the viewpoint of the Catholic Church, though. Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop-designate of Westminster, has voiced strenuous objections to the proposed changes. Speaking with all the expertise and passion that only a celibate clergyman could call forth, Nichols said that he doubted advertisements for condoms under the new rules would be tasteful because the current ones are  "demeaning of the young people" in England. He also said that ads for abortion service providers would be harmful because "It will no doubt be presented as a simple solution." The new proposals are in a period of public comment before being enacted, and Nichols is urging his fellow Catholics to use the period to voice opposition.