Plan A - Come to Catholic Concerns Day, March 22

I plan on attending this year's Catholic Concerns Day on March 22 with my family. We have attended in the past and it is a family-friendly and effective way to show our strength on many issues important to Catholics in Connecticut. High on the Connecticut Catholic Conference's list of agenda items this year is opposition to the so-called "Plan B" (rather Orwellian, don't you think) or Emergency Contraception proposal. Plainly referred to as an anti-catholic ruse on their website, The Connecticut Catholic Conference, under the leadership of Deacon David Reynolds and our Connecticut Bishops, has taken a strong stance against this legislation. Don't think it has been easy either. Other states, like New York and New Jersey, don't seem to have the same policy as our Archdiocese - and they are highlighted at the legislature as good citizens.

I'm sorry though, that we have to squeeze the arguments against "Plan B" into the "religious freedom box". To me, that should be our "Plan B". Plan A should be for us to boldly share with the rest of Connecticut that this is abortion, and abortion is wrong because it kills someone. I even wondered, for a moment, if the Catholic hospitals should be offering any pre-conception "contraceptive" (their own words) to fertile women (which they do if the woman has not ovulated). Isn't that in God's hands? But, the Catholic Church does not insist that women get pregnant. Just that they be open to new life. And, for the poor woman who has been sexually abused, we can all understand that she may not be open to conceiving a new life - even if thoughtfully considered - under those horrible circumstances.

Anyway, back to the "religious freedom box". I am sad that we have to retreat each session to making arguments to only protect our right to privately practice our religion. I wish we could use our leverage to actually educate the public about the church and its positions. I.E., instead of asserting our right not to use contraception because our pope said so, how about asserting our right not to kill a person, because killing people is wrong.