">

Wednesday, July 12, 2000 CONTRACEPTION & FAMILY PLANNING DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Council Approves Contraceptives Bill,Rejects 'Conscience Clause'      Despite protests from the Archdiocese of Washington and fourhours of heated debate, the D.C. Council yesterday approvedunanimously a bill that would require all insurers offeringprescription drug plans to cover prescribed contraceptives,including birth control pills, implants and shots, the Washington Post reports. Council members made three attempts to insert a "conscienceclause" that would exempt institutions from complying with thelegislation on religious or moral grounds, but those effortsfailed. Council member Jim Graham (D) led the charge against thecompromise language, brandishing newspaper clippings describingPope John Paul II's latest denunciation of homosexuality. Hewarned about the dangers of "deferring to Rome" on matters of sexand contraception. "My problem (is) surrendering decisions onpublic health to the church," he said. According to AuxiliaryBishop William Lori, however, the bill breaches the wall betweenchurch and state. "I think it's a sad day for religious libertyin our city," he said. Lori vowed to lobby Mayor AnthonyWilliams (D), hoping for a veto. Lauding the council's decision,women's health groups remain confident that Williams will signthe bill. "I doubt he'd veto a bill that passed 13-0," ElizabethCavendish, legal director for the National Abortion andReproductive Rights Action League, said (Fahrenthold,Washington Post, 7/12). 'Morning-After' Debate      Some opponents also criticize the legislation because it mandatescoverage for intrauterine devices as well as the "morning-after"pill, which many equate with an abortion. "All of us object toforcing someone to violate principles of faith to score politicalpoints," Family Research Council spokesperson Susan Orr said. "All we're saying is that we shouldn't have to pay for thingsthat go against (the Catholic Church's) teaching," Lori added. Opponents have not decided whether they will contest thelegislation in court if it becomes law (WashingtonTimes, 7/12). Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report