Hartford, USA - Connecticut's three Roman Catholic bishops said Wednesday that they believe their church is under fire in the state legislature, where there have been efforts to require Catholic hospitals to provide emergency contraception for rape victims.
Hartford Archbishop Henry J. Mansell, speaking to more than 500 followers who attended Catholic Day at the Capitol, did not accuse specific legislators of being anti-Catholic. But the archbishop said he does believe "Catholic bashing" is on the increase and there is an abortion rights agenda behind the emergency contraception bill.
"We have to see the agenda beneath the agenda," Mansell said. "Many would like to see Catholic services and the Catholic Church go away."
A bill that would have required all hospitals, including Catholic ones, to provide the morning-after pill to rape victims died in the Public Health Committee last month after the panel ran out of time to act.
But last week, a version of the legislation reappeared in the Democrats' spending bill. It set aside $5 million in energy assistance for hospitals that provide rape victims with emergency contraception.
Mansell said the move "could be seen by many as extortion."
It is doubtful that provision will be part of the final budget, which must be negotiated between the majority Democrats in the legislature and Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, said he was disappointed the Appropriations Committee inserted the language.
But Amann said he is willing, at the request of Appropriations Committee co-chairwoman Denise Merrill, D-Mansfield, to attempt to set up a meeting between Merrill and Mansell.
"I think that's always positive. There's no other commitments beyond talking," Amann said. "But to get people in a room sometime to have dialogue is always a good thing in my opinion."
Amann said if a compromise is reached, he said there is a chance it can be taken up by legislators later in the session. But he said legislative leaders will have to consider how much time the debate might take. The session ends May 3.
Advocates for rape victims say the legislation is needed now because some hospitals don't tell women about the drug, also known as Plan B, or refuse to distribute it. Seven states already require all hospitals to dispense the drug, which helps prevent a pregnancy within 72 hours of sex.
"In other states, the Catholic Church has worked with legislatures to solve these problems together," Merrill said. "For example, in New York, Massachusetts and in New Jersey, they have come to agreement on exactly how this would work."
Mansell said he is willing to talk with legislators, but reiterated that the Catholic Church will not compromise on its religious principles.
In January, Mansell directed Connecticut's four Catholic hospitals to establish a policy of not prescribing Plan B if a rape victim is ovulating or one of her eggs has been fertilized. The policy was modeled after one in Peoria, Ill. Roman Catholics believe life begins at conception.
"All we're asking is we have the freedom to do these great works according to our ethical teachings and we not be interfered with by the government," said Bridgeport Bishop William Lori.
Norwich Bishop Michael Cote also took part in Wednesday's events.
Some non-Catholic hospitals also do not prescribe Plan B to rape victims.
State Victim Advocate James Papillo, an ordained deacon who drew criticism for testifying against the legislation, said he is not surprised that advocates are still trying to find ways to get the bill passed this year.
"Some people are coming at it with a vengeance. They want to see the Catholic Church harmed in some way," he said.
Eileen McCarthy, a member of St. Matthias Church in East Lyme, said she believes there is a growing anti-Catholic feeling in the U.S. She said she witnessed it during the height of the priest sex abuse scandal.
"I see it growing. It's a general sense that Catholics get," McCarthy said. "There's kind of a delight that we sense when anything goes wrong with the Catholic Church.