EC Approved For Rape Victims

Last week, the Connecticut state legislature approved a bill that would require all hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims. The bill passed overwhelmingly by a 113-36 vote and Governor M. Jodi Rell has said she will sign it into law. Similar laws have already been passed in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota. And the Wisconsin state legislature could also approve EC for rape victims in the next few months.

The bill, of course, has been criticized by conservative religious groups, especially since the law would force Catholic hospitals to provide the drug. The New York Times reports that:

Catholic leaders in Connecticut still oppose the bill and did not rule out a court challenge. Barry Feldman, a lawyer for the Connecticut Catholic Hospitals Council, said the archbishop was “very disappointed. This is a blow to religious freedom that sets a terrible precedent."

I say two thumbs up for pissing off the Catholic Church. Anti-abortion folks love to perpetuate the myth that Plan B induces abortion, when in reality it's just a super high dose of regular birth control medicine. To read more about the difference between Plan B and RU-486, which is an abortifacient, click here.