Albany, N.Y., Feb 20, 2008 / 20:35 pm
A New York state bill that would declare abortion a fundamental human right for women faces opposition from Catholics who believe the bill will leave Catholic hospitals and social agencies vulnerable to lawsuits and state sanctions, the New York Sun reports.
Some opponents argue that the bill privileges abortion rights even more than the right to free exercise of religion.
A video produced by the New York Catholic Conference suggests the bill could force doctors and hospitals to perform abortion procedures and could compel insurance companies and employers to cover abortion procedures in health plans.
The bill, called the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, was drafted by the administration of Governor Eliot Spitzer. Signaling that the bill’s passage is a top priority for his administration, Gov. Spitzer recently called for its passage in his January State of the State address, while his wife Silda Wall delivered a speech dedicated to the legislation at a gathering marking the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.