HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)_ Legislation to require all hospitals, including Catholic facilities, to prescribe rape victims the so-called morning after pill, is back before lawmakers.
Last week, a bill requiring all hospitals to provide Plan B emergency contraception died in committee. Now, a similar proposal is included as a few words in the massive spending package approved Thursday by the Appropriations Committee.
The one-sentence section allocates $5 million to help hospitals pay for increased energy costs, but the additional aid would only be given to hospitals that provide emergency contraception to rape victims.
Senate Minority Leader Louis C. DeLuca, R-Woodbury, criticized the provision.
"That is an underhanded, midnight assault on the Catholic religion and it is insulting that they would even do this," DeLuca said. "This bill had a full hearing and it was not voted on by the committee of cognizance … and now these people sneak into a budget bill where it has no place being."
Catholics believe life begins at conception, and the Catholic Church in Connecticut is opposed to any law that requires hospitals provide emergency contraception in cases where an egg has been fertilized or a woman is ovulating.
"This is not aimed at Catholic hospitals," said Rep. Denise W. Merrill, D-Mansfield, the House chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee.
Not aimed at Catholic hospitals? I guess you are allowed to be a Catholic hospital just as long as you don’t follow the faith.
5 comments
I see the evil one is hard at work in Connecticut.
I hope the Catholic hospitals will just tell the state to take their $5 MM and . . . reallocate it.
If that’s the trade-off, who needs it?
Right, it’s just aimed at all those other hospitals that refuse to provide emergency contraception.
The Reasonable have spoken! We huddled masses may enjoy the right to follow our conscience–as long as our conscience embraces the Agenda. Nothing must come between the One Thing that Matters.
The Catholic Church has made the Foolish “mistake” of conforming herself to Christ. Therefore, she must render unto Caesar the forfeiture of her conscience. Can’t have these institutions defying the will of the Absolute Individual, can we?
If you live in CT PLEASE write to your representatives! And support Rep. DeLuca of Woodbury! CT is fast becoming the state where religous liberty and freedom of conscience are being legislated out of existence. Even atheists should be terrified at this turn of events. It is enough to make anyone a libertarian!
We already had civil unions rammed down our throats with NO publuc discussion or voting; the gay “marriage” court cases are pushing through with ease.
Write calm, non-threatening letters or emails on the first amendment, please!!!
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