CONNECTICUT, 2006: CIVIL UNION-INSPIRED ATTACKS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BEGIN
February 7th, 2006 by Brian
A doctor has filed a complaint of bias against St. Mary’s Hospital because of its refusal to provide benefits to his same-sex civil union partner. Giving in to his demand would have violated the Catholic hospital’s beliefs, but the doctor does not care. Less than five months after the civil union law went into effect, the claim by pro same-sex “marriage” activists that they will respect religious liberty is already being exposed as a lie. From the Feb. 4th Courant:
When Dr. Alan J. Couture and Robert McDonald joined in a civil union last October, about 30 of Couture’s co-workers from St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury were among the guests at the ceremony. But a few months later, Couture was stunned when St. Mary’s refused to add McDonald to his health care plan.
The hospital said that, as a Catholic institution, it does not recognize civil unions.
Couture, 36, an emergency physician at St. Mary’s for eight years, filed a complaint Thursday with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, charging that he is being discriminated against on the basis of his sexual orientation and marital status…
Phil Johnson, vice president of human resources for St. Mary’s Hospital, said the decision to turn Couture down was not made lightly.
“We analyzed this very carefully, and there are provisions for self-funded insurers that give us more flexibility,” Johnson said. “He is a good member of our staff, but to change our philosophy or our values at this point would be inconsistent.”
He noted that the hospital similarly does not provide coverage for birth control or sterilizations, procedures that also conflict with Catholic principles…
“We are a Catholic hospital, and we abide by the ethical and religious directives of the church,” said Robert Ritz, the hospital’s president. “The [civil union] statutes have created some complications for us because of our values.”
Dawne Westbrook, a Waterbury attorney who filed the complaint on behalf of Couture and McDonald, said St. Mary’s also was engaging in employment discrimination, by not treating Couture the same way other employees are treated.
“Catholic hospitals receive state funding,” she said, “and they are subject to state laws.”
