Hartford archbishop Henry Mansell has suggested a potential compromise to resolve the emergency contraception debate going on now in the Connecticut legislature about requiring all hospitals to provide rape victims with emergency contraception.

Hartford Archbishop Henry J. Mansell Thursday said he was working with legislative leaders to craft a “mutually respectful” solution to legislation that would require all hospitals that receive public funds - including Catholic hospitals - to offer emergency birth control.

Speaking at a rally on the Capitol steps, Mansell said his staff was working toward a “third party” resolution he believed would be the “best solution” to the “Plan B” contraception debate. He declined to elaborate.

I’m concerned with the availability of emergency contraception and I expect that all hospitals in Connecticut provide it to rape victims. If the state were to step in and ensure that all women receive the necessary care when they are raped and also agrees to pay for that treatment, I’d be fine with it. It gets us past the Catholic hospitals scientifically erroneous arguments that confound contraception and abortion and allows all women in Connecticut the comfort of mind to know that if the worst happened, their agony won’t be prolonged by being asked by a hospital administrator to take a “short ride” to a hospital that will give her necessary care.

The Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act was approved the human services committee last week, though it will likely be sent to the public health committee before being introduced to the full Senate. If Mansell’s compromise is one that could ensure this bill’s passage, language should be added to the Act to reflect it.


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