Miss Connecticut Supports Pro-Abortion Attack on Religious Freedom
January 11th, 2007 by Peter
‘Tis the season for anti-Catholic gimmicks at our state capitol. Pro-abortion activists have trotted out Miss Connecticut to support their efforts to force Catholic hospitals to provide abortion-inducing drugs:
Miss Connecticut Heidi Alice Voight said Wednesday that she supports legislation that would require all Connecticut hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims.
This marks the second year that advocates have pushed for the legislation, which the Catholic Church opposes…
“It is our imperative duty as a morally upright society to empower survivors by respecting their freedom to make treatment decisions based on their own beliefs and by ensuring their well-deserved right to quality, compassionate care,” she said.
“What’s being proposed here is a solution in search of a problem. Victims are not being denied services,” he said, adding that Catholic hospitals refer victims to places where they can obtain the pills.
Papillo, who told legislators he was speaking as the victim advocate and not as a deacon, accused private advocacy organizations of using crime victims to further an anti-Catholic agenda.
“I see this for what it is. It is not a victims’ rights issue. It is not a victims’ services issue,” Papillo said. “Victims here are being used as a hook to further an agenda they are hiding … The issue is an attack on the Catholic institutions.”
Gov. Rell and the Hartford Courant also opposed last year’s effort to coerce Catholic hospitals into providing the “Plan B” abortifacient. But the state’s pro-abortion lobbyists are clearly determined to renew their attack on religious freedom. Log on to FIC Blog regularly for updates on what you can do to stop them.
Under no circumstances should the Catholic Church in CT allow the legislature to force them into this. As a last resort, the bishops should close the hospitals rather than become abortionists.
What the legislature is doing is reprehensible.
Ah, yes, I hate it when advocates for rape victims “trot out” survivors of sexual assault to help make their points.
Steve, the hospitals would not have to close if this legislation passes, because the legislation doesn’t require every hospital to dispense Plan B, just every hospital that receives state funds. The solution for the Catholic hospitals, refuse state funds and you don’t have to treat rape victims with Plan B!
I’m surprised that the wickedly liberal Courant framed teh issue in such a way…
Ick, I would support your proposal that the Catholic hospitals refuse state funds . . . on one condition; that the state reimburse those hospitals for all the free medical care they provide to those who can’t pay.
The last I checked, the Catholic hospitals provide more in charity care than the state provides in funding. Seems like the state is making out pretty well with the current arrangement.
Yes Peter, I think with beauty queens it is more accurate to say they are “sashayed out” to speak on important political issues. Try to get it right.
I guess the only ones who aren’t making out are the rape victims?
Ick, if you are really concerned about rape victims being able to get an abortifacient wherever they want, why not ask the state to set up small clinics in the same neighborhoods as the Catholic hospitals. That would provide rape victims with the services that you imply they are currently denied. At the same time, it would allow Catholic hospitals, as Miss Connecticut put it, “their freedom to make treatment decisions based on their own beliefs.” It would prevent the Catholic hospitals’ closing to maintain their freedom to preserve *all* life.
That solution should be acceptable to any rational person. However, it probably would not fly at the legislature for two reasons. First, the legislators would say, “Why set up a clinic when all they have to do is drive to a pharmacy?” Second, and related to the first, this bill never has been about ready access to an abortion. It is all about shutting down opposition to abortion in Connecticut. Period.
I’m a bit confused as to why catholics are against emergency contraception. I’m against abortion, but this is not abortion. Demgirl79, I sure hope your never raped and forced to carry the baby of the man who did it. Of course, maybe he’ll have aids so you won’t have to raise the child anyway b/c you’ll be dead!
Modernfemme, you should do your research before you lump Miss Connecticut in with other beauty queens. She’s def not typical by any means.
I agree that if the Catholic hospitals want to choose not to dispense emergency contraception, then they should refuse state funding. Of course, I believe state funding and welfare programs should be done away with and churchs and family should take care of people. My husband works as a rehab counselor at DHS and the system doesn’t work.