100% correct. They need to focus internally.

They likely should as an institution, but according to history, it is not very likely. To focus internally would require addmitting that there is something that needs to be changed.

It does, however, force them to provide things like Plan B. I can tell you, with an uncle and a sister-in-law who are both firm believers that Plan B DOES cause an early term abortion, and both of whom are pharmacists in Catholic hospitals, they most certainly feel forced to do something that directly contradicts their beliefs in the sanctity of life.

 

Maybe I am confused...the law will make every pharmacy carry the "abortion pill"?

100% correct. They need to focus internally.

 

If they only focus internally they will miss external threats such as this.

Maybe I am confused...the law will make every pharmacy carry the "abortion pill"?

 

Yes. Plan B will also be included amongst the list of "contraceptives" covered at requisite by health insurance.

If they only focus internally they will miss external threats such as this.

 

The few external threats pale in comparison to the internal challenges within the Church. We've seen what lack of focus internally looks like and results in.

Yes. Plan B will also be included amongst the list of "contraceptives" covered at requisite by health insurance.

 

Do all pharmacies carry all drugs? Can't they simply not stock it?

It does, however, force them to provide things like Plan B. I can tell you, with an uncle and a sister-in-law who are both firm believers that Plan B DOES cause an early term abortion, and both of whom are pharmacists in Catholic hospitals, they most certainly feel forced to do something that directly contradicts their beliefs in the sanctity of life.

I'm not sure I'm getting what the issue is here. Do certain pharmacies not carry Plan B right now?

I'm not sure I'm getting what the issue is here. Do certain pharmacies not carry Plan B right now?

 

That gets to my question. No way every pharmacy carries every drug. So that begs the question: does this new ruling require every hospital to carry a drug such as Plan B OR does it just require that the employees covered by that hospital's plan have access to it at whatever pharmacy they choose? Big distinction.

Yes. Plan B will also be included amongst the list of "contraceptives" covered at requisite by health insurance.

 

Pardon me, but I am still confused. Will the law make all pharmacies, including those in a Catholic hospital, provide the "abortion pill" or will it only require that a health plan that the employees are covered under have that as an option? The way I read it, the second part is true, which means that pharmacists at a Catholic hospital are not required to dispense that drug. Again, maybe I am misreading something.

I apologize...got some lines crossed in the conversation last night with my pharmacist relatives - I just called one of them and got myself straightened out. New health care laws will require Catholic health care plans to include coverage for Plan B. This is a federal mandate. New health care laws in Connecticut require Catholic hospital pharmacies to provide Plan B. This is a statewide mandate, being backed by the Obama administration. Many in the hospital pharmacy biz are postulating that the recent federal mandate is paving the way for laws requiring Catholic hospital pharmacies nationwide to provide Plan B.

I apologize...got some lines crossed in the conversation last night with my pharmacist relatives - I just called one of them and got myself straightened out. New health care laws will require Catholic health care plans to include coverage for Plan B. This is a federal mandate. New health care laws in Connecticut require Catholic hospital pharmacies to provide Plan B. This is a statewide mandate, being backed by the Obama administration. Many in the hospital pharmacy biz are postulating that the recent federal mandate is paving the way for laws requiring Catholic hospital pharmacies nationwide to provide Plan B.

So currently, if a patient was to go to the pharmacy inside of St. Joseph's hospital in Lexington they would not be able to get Plan B?

I apologize...got some lines crossed in the conversation last night with my pharmacist relatives - I just called one of them and got myself straightened out. New health care laws will require Catholic health care plans to include coverage for Plan B. This is a federal mandate. New health care laws in Connecticut require Catholic hospital pharmacies to provide Plan B. This is a statewide mandate, being backed by the Obama administration. Many in the hospital pharmacy biz are postulating that the recent federal mandate is paving the way for laws requiring Catholic hospital pharmacies nationwide to provide Plan B.

 

A quick hit of my Google key makes it look like each state makes the determination as to what is required to be stocked. A Federal judge out west is considering whether this requirement is constitutional.

I also read that the ruling does still allow for a conscience clause which says that , for example, a Catholic doctor does not have to write a prescription for contraceptives.

No doubt the Catholic Church has a myriad of issues that need to be addressed. But just because it has other issues that need to be addressed, does not mean that they cannot oppose what they believe to be an unjust law. The key issue here is that Religious institutions are being forced to provide medical treatment that it as institution fundamentally opposes. Whether or not people who work at the hospitals agree with the church teachings is quite honestly inconsequential. My guess is that majority of those employee's are not Catholic to begin with. The KEY here is who is being forced to PAY for it, and whether or not this is a legally valid stipulation.

 

My guess is that the Bishops and the hierarchy of the church see this as a gateway to much greater interference from the government into what the Church believes are Religious decisions. Will this lead into a law requiring all companies pay for all Abortions? My guess is that the Church believes that to be the case.

Another question I do not know the answer to:

 

A woman is delivering her baby. A serious issue occurs which puts the woman's life at risk and the solution is to terminate the pregnancy(for lack of a better phrase).

 

What are the doctors at St E to do? What are they allowed to do? Do they let the woman risk death ?

 

I'm not talking theoretically. I'm asking what they actually do today in these situations.