CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT-FACE

Back in May we reported here on the intense State Capitol fight over "Plan B", the pill often administered as emergency contraception for women who are victims of rape. The legislature approved a measure requiring Connecticut hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, to offer this drug to rape victims in their care.

Connecticut Catholic bishops and their supporters opposed this bill, then engaged in a protracted effort to reach a compromise that the bill's supporters ultimately concluded was a smokescreen to thwart passage of the measure.
 

Tired of the battle, lawmakers approved the "Plan B" bill by a veto-proof margin in the House and Senate and Republican Gov. Jodi Rell signed it into law. The new law took effect this week and managed to generate a new wave of controversy—again tied to the Catholic church.
 

Catholic bishops initially opposed the "Plan B" measure claiming the pills could cause abortions, something they could not allow in their hospitals. They further charged that the bill would violate the religious freedom of Catholic hospitals, even though these health care facilities readily accept state funding for their operations.
 

After the bill was adopted, the bishops warned they might go to court to block enforcement of the measure. However, just days before the new law took effect, the bishops went into a controversial about-face. They said the four Catholic hospitals in Connecticut would comply with the law.
 

This means Catholic hospitals will not require rape victims to take an ovulation test before being offered emergency contraception, a test the bishops had defended during the legislative debate. In a statement, the bishops now conclude: "To administer Plan B pills without an ovulation test is not an intrinsically evil act." Why the dramatic shift in position?
 

The bishops' statement said "the administration of Plan B pills cannot be judged to be the commission of an abortion because of such doubt about how Plan B and similar drugs work and because of the current impossibility of knowing from the ovulation test whether a new life is present."
 

In addition, the bishops conceded that "teaching authority of the Church has not definitively resolved this matter" and the bishops' spokesperson and attorney Barry Feldman said input from ethicists consulted on the issue also has been inconclusive.
 

Though the bishops' statement said they still believe "the law should be changed," Feldman said it was unlikely the Catholic church would mount a lobbying effort on the issue in 2008.
 

The Catholic flip-flop on the "Plan B" issue had many lawmakers scratching their heads, but one legislative leader was upset enough to issue a formal statement.
 

State House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero (R-Norwalk) said he is "extremely disappointed with the way this issue was handled by the bishops." Cafero said for the bishops "to do a 180-degree turnabout days before the legislation becomes law without any adequate explanation is incomprehensible."
 

What irks Cafero (and probably many other lawmakers) is that a considerable amount of legislative energy, emotion, and goodwill was expended trying to reach a fair compromise on "Plan B". Cafero said the bishops' attitude on the issue "shows apparent disregard and disrespect for the political process and those of us who worked in their behalf."
 

The 2007 legislative session tested lawmakers endurance on a host of issues including taxes, the budget, state bonding and electric rates. Lawmakers know the importance of shepherding their energy and time and resent being drawn into unnecessary battles.
 

"The bishops could have reached the same conclusion (on "Plan B") six months ago," said Cafero, "and avoided a lot of contentious debate and unneeded controversy."

Bottom line? The next time Catholic church leaders lobby at the State Capitol on an issue of importance to their interests, they should not be surprised if many lawmakers tune out.

Posted 10/01/07

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