in january 2013, two catholic hospitals refused to provide a "morning after pill" to a rape victim based on church policy that treats such medications as abortifacients. meisner apologized and approved the use of some such pills for rape victims based on the belief that they prevented fertilization and did not induce abortion. he said that if "a medication that hinders conception is used after a rape with the purpose of avoiding fertilization, then this is acceptable in my view." the german bishops' conference endorsed his policy on 21 february, distinguishing between different types of morning after pills.