2008 Woodie Awards
Connecticut bishops pursuing stricter interpretation of abortion
Suzan Haigh, AP
Issue date: 3/19/06 Section: News
HARTFORD- Two of the most powerful Catholic leaders in Connecticut decided several months ago that the state's four Catholic hospitals should take a more conservative stance when treating rape victims.
Now that decision is helping to fuel a debate at the state Capitol over proposed legislation that would require all hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, to provide emergency contraception to women who've been raped.
Eight months ago, Hartford Archbishop Henry J. Mansell and Bridgeport Bishop William E. Lori wanted the four hospitals to follow the same protocol and turned to Catholic ethicists for help. They recommended what is known as the Peoria Protocol, named for a Catholic hospital in Peoria, Ill. that came up with a procedure for its emergency room physicians.
It requires that doctors attempt to determine through tests whether a woman has ovulated before giving her emergency contraception, also known as EC, "the morning after pill," or Plan B.
If she hasn't ovulated, they can prescribe the drug. If she has, nothing can be done because Catholics believe the woman could ultimately conceive a child and prescribing the drug would interfere with any pregnancy. According to Catholic teachings, life begins at conception, when the egg is fertilized.
Since January, the Catholic hospitals in Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven have been following the Peoria Protocol. If they can't prescribe Plan B, doctors provide the rape victim with a list of places where she can receive it, and transportation to get there if it's necessary, hospital officials said.
Mansell and Lori have said they will oppose any bill that would require Catholic hospitals to administer the pill if a woman is ovulating or an egg has been fertilized.
"Catholic moral teachings allow the woman to protect herself from possible conception as a result of the assault so long as any medications administered to do so do not cause an abortion, which is contrary to Catholic moral teachings because it would result in another victim of the assault, an aborted child," said Barry Feldman, general counsel for St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford. He testified before the legislature's Public Health Committee last week on behalf of the Connecticut Catholic Hospitals Council.
Now that decision is helping to fuel a debate at the state Capitol over proposed legislation that would require all hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, to provide emergency contraception to women who've been raped.
Eight months ago, Hartford Archbishop Henry J. Mansell and Bridgeport Bishop William E. Lori wanted the four hospitals to follow the same protocol and turned to Catholic ethicists for help. They recommended what is known as the Peoria Protocol, named for a Catholic hospital in Peoria, Ill. that came up with a procedure for its emergency room physicians.
It requires that doctors attempt to determine through tests whether a woman has ovulated before giving her emergency contraception, also known as EC, "the morning after pill," or Plan B.
If she hasn't ovulated, they can prescribe the drug. If she has, nothing can be done because Catholics believe the woman could ultimately conceive a child and prescribing the drug would interfere with any pregnancy. According to Catholic teachings, life begins at conception, when the egg is fertilized.
Since January, the Catholic hospitals in Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven have been following the Peoria Protocol. If they can't prescribe Plan B, doctors provide the rape victim with a list of places where she can receive it, and transportation to get there if it's necessary, hospital officials said.
Mansell and Lori have said they will oppose any bill that would require Catholic hospitals to administer the pill if a woman is ovulating or an egg has been fertilized.
"Catholic moral teachings allow the woman to protect herself from possible conception as a result of the assault so long as any medications administered to do so do not cause an abortion, which is contrary to Catholic moral teachings because it would result in another victim of the assault, an aborted child," said Barry Feldman, general counsel for St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford. He testified before the legislature's Public Health Committee last week on behalf of the Connecticut Catholic Hospitals Council.