Catholic Hospitals Fight Abortion Bill
By: Christine S. Moyer
Aurora Beacon News
Abortion legislation is stirring concern about the fate of Catholic hospitals, as pro-choice President Barack Obama starts his third week in office.
At issue, is whether the Freedom of Choice Act — which would prohibit government interference with a woman’s right to have an abortion — would mandate that Catholic hospitals perform abortions.
“We’re not going to know what it’s specifically going to do until the time it’s passed,” said Patricia Pitkus Bainbridge, director of the Rockford Diocese’s Respect Life Office.
“But there’s not doubt,” she said, “if FOCA passes, the impact’s going to be felt by Catholic hospitals.”
“The question,” she said, “is when is it going to pass.”
Staff of the bill’s original sponsor, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, did not return calls about how Catholic hospitals would be affected should the bill be approved.
Boxer originally sponsored the bill in 2004, calling it new federal legislation that will protect a woman’s right to choose.
The act states that every woman has the “fundamental right” to choose to bear a child; terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; or terminate it after fetal viability when necessary to protect her life or her health.
The legislation also would prohibit governmental entities from “discriminating” against these rights.
Opponents point to this as proof that Catholic hospitals will be legally obliged to perform abortions.
And that, Pitkus Bainbridge said, would never happen.
The hospitals would close first.
No compromise
Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora — the area’s only Catholic hospital — would not comment on the issue.
Rather, a hospital official pointed to a November statement made by the Catholic Health Association and said Provena Mercy shares the same position.
“We have many examples in this country of how to respond to unjust laws, and we have learned from them,” stated Sister Carol Keehan, the Catholic Health Association’s president and chief executive officer.
“We will protect Catholic health care in this country,” she said, “without compromising our position on abortion.”
Still, fears of Catholic hospitals shutting their doors and doctors searching for jobs, among other concerns, have swept through Catholic churches in the Fox Valley and across the country.
More than 250 groups dedicated to this topic have sprung up on the social networking Web site Facebook, featuring names like “9 Days of Prayer to Stop FOCA” and “People who are pro Freedom of Choice Act.”
Catholics are gathering signatures for petitions against the bill and they have filled out pre-printed post cards, which were then mailed to their congressmen in Washington, D.C.
The latter was part of a campaign coordinated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to make legislators aware of the opposition.
Parishioners at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Aurora turned in nearly 1,000 post cards, said Emily McElroy Holmstrom, the church’s pro-life coordinator.
Obama in favor
There is speculation over whether the bill will ever actually make it to Obama’s desk.
But if it does, FOCA opponents note that Obama has publicly announced his support for the act.
In response to an audience question about how he would ensure access to abortion during a 2007 Planned Parenthood event, Obama said to applause, “The first thing I would do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.”
This is all the more reason, opponents say, to bolster campaigns raising awareness about the bill and lobbying against it.
“This is one of the things he (Obama) wants to get passed right away,” said McElroy Holmstrom.
“I think if it gets to him,” she said, “we’re in trouble
Until then, Catholic leaders are monitoring the legislation and remaining vigilant about raising awareness of the bill.
And if it turns out that the legislation will force the hospitals to perform abortions, “they’re not going to do it,” Pitkus Bainbridge said.