Germany's Catholic bishops recently ruled that levonorgestrel emergency contraception (EC) was acceptable for prevention of pregnancy in the case of rape. The ruling represents a significant change in Catholic doctrine that has been opposed to most forms of birth control. In their ruling the bishops cited a lack of evidence that levonorgestrel EC acts as an abortifacient. This case serves as a reminder of the need for bioethics to be based on current scientific literature as well as articles of faith and morals.