Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Open Forum

The public health committee let the Plan B Bill die in committee yesterday. The measure, which would force the state's four Roman Catholic hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims, may come up as an amendment later on in the session.

The legislature is debating tightening some sex offender laws which would make more information about sex offenders available online. That gets me wondering... who, exactly, checks those registries? I don't think I know anybody who does, parents included. Do these lists actually help prevent sex crimes from happening? That may not be a question that can easily be answered, unfortunately.

Update: Oh, right, I'm a librarian. Let's see (search, search, search)... the few articles about evaluation of these programs I've found so far seem to stress the fact that more evaluation and research needs to be done. Not a good sign. Other suggest that the registries weren't having an effect on sex crime recidivism, although others say that there's a small but noticible impact. One article suggested that the registries themselves could theoretically contribute to increased recidivism:

Consequently, relegation to the least desirable neighborhoods, coupled with the growing move to legislatively create "buffer zones" that prohibit registrants from living within specified distances (usually one-quarter or one-half mile) from "places children gather" (e.g., schools, day care centers, parks, libraries, etc.) has imposed additional stresses and restrictions on registered sex offenders - factors long known to contribute to increased rates of recidivism.

Yikes. Of course, that's just a theoretical possibility... but still. Not good!

Source
Lees, Matthew. "Understanding Policy and Programmatic Issues Regarding Sex Offender Registries." Corrections Today 68(1): Feb 2006, p. 54-7.


Lastly, there's an interesting article written by a Connecticut soldier who was stationed in Iraq. It seems like it might be part of a larger piece.

What else is going on?

99 comments:

Anonymous said...

Karen Jarmoc has announced she will seak the 59th Rep seattaking over for her husband Steve, who will not seek re-election...looks like that seat is locked up for the next 20 years. At least she'll show up to work.

Anonymous said...

In Enfield:

Karen Jarmoc has announced she will seak the 59th Rep seattaking over for her husband Steve, who will not seek re-election (saw this in the Hartford Courant this morning). Looks like that seat is locked up for the next 20 years. At least she'll show up to work.

Anonymous said...

In Enfield:

Karen Jarmoc has announced she will seak the 59th Rep seattaking over for her husband Steve, who will not seek re-election (saw this in the Hartford Courant this morning). Looks like that seat is locked up for the next 20 years. At least she'll show up to work.

Anonymous said...

Anything going on in Enfield today?

Genghis Conn said...

Really? Steve Jarmoc's retiring and I missed it?

Karen Jarmoc, instead, huh?

I was seriously thinking of running for that seat (the 59th is my district) when he retired, but I thought I had a few years yet.

We'll see if the local Dems get behind Karen. I imagine they will.

Anonymous said...

Jarmoc hardly was there. The Enfield Republicans never exploited this issue in their campaigns against him.

Anonymous said...

Congrats to the committee for letting that bill die. I was so infuriated by the way proponents of the bill dragged these girls up there to tell "horror stories" about having to go from one hospital to the next to get Plan B (which was a crock--most admitted they only had to go to one other hospital). Frankly, you can't walk down a city street in CT without passing a place that can either prescribe or direct you to a place for Plan B. Planned Parenthood has 20 centers around CT where you can walk-in, meet with a doc/PA, and walk out with you two Plan B pills. How do I know? I've done it. All this fuss b/c four out of a hundred hospitals in CT decided to take a stand for the principles on which they are founded (and primarily funded??)??? Plus, what these different "women's organizations" aren't telling you is that the vast majority of girls/women taking Plan B ARE NOT rape victims...they are girls/women who made a stupid choice (with an equally stupid guy) the night before and want to be safe, rather than sorry.

And spare me the lecture on political-correctness...I am woman, hear me roar.

Genghis Conn said...

weicker liker,

The Republicans hardly ran against him. Their 2004 candidate was weak, and they didn't actually field a candidate in 2002.

Jarmoc owns a big tobacco farm in town and can basically do what he wants. Most of his legislation has to do with farming... not too great for what is mostly a suburban district. I'm actually pretty displeased that his wife will most likely take his place on the ticket--we don't need another Jarmoc representing us in Hartford.

Anonymous said...

Here is another take from the NHR on the various proposals for the sex offender registry

G.C.: you should at least throw your hat in the ring and see what happens; you seem moderate, informed and educated more than enough to make a difference in the legislature.

Genghis Conn said...

Here's the link to the article about Jarmoc, by the way.

My favorite quote?

Although he will miss the people he has met in and out of the legislature during his seven terms, he believes that someone bringing in fresh ideas is a good thing, he said. His wife would make a great state representative, he said.

We do need someone with fresh ideas. I'm just not sure that Mrs. Jarmoc is that person.

Anonymous said...

Disappointed about Plan B issue and the cowardice of majority Democrats afraid to defend contraception and rape victims, but it is not dead yet. Here are some facts about the issue.

Anonymous said...

Genghis Conn for State Rep!!!

I think you should go for it brother. I would vote for you.

Anonymous said...

That's a pretty radical group of folk you are talking about there anon 1:03 if it is true that ConnSACS is being backed by the CT State Medical Society on this. Doesn't pretty much every working doc in the state belong to it?

Anonymous said...

I know quite a few parents and all of them have checked the sex offender registry when they move into a new house.

Anonymous said...

Anybody know where Joe Lieberman is? The campaign says he is in Connecticut this week, but they are mum on whether he will be holding any public events.

When was the last time Joe held a public forum? I know he spoke at Yale last February, and got peppered about torture and his support of AG Gonzales and John Bolton.

But has anyone seem him since? (and I don't mean those phony diner stops.) I mean even Bush takes an occasional question or two!

Which leads me to conclude-- Do you think Joe would have to use loyalty oaths?

Anonymous said...

Hey GC - Good for you!
Where do we send the checks! Put some serious thought into it, please....

Genghis Conn said...

Ed,

Really? Interesting! No one I talk to ever seems to check them. Maybe that's just the people I talk to, I don't know.

I admit to not knowing the whole picture.

Anonymous,

The Lieberman campaign did release a few campaign events via press release. Don't see it on their website, so here's what I've got:

Wednesday 3/22 at 2:45pm, at Electric Boat to speak with workers there.

Thursday 3/23, walking the picket line with striking Sikorsky workers.

Anonymous said...

GC, I'm a parent and sports coach (little league, soccer, basketball, the whole nine yards) and I regularly check the site. Most, if not all of the leagues, do background checks on the coaches, volunteers, etc., but I always check at the beginning of each season, just to be aware of anyone hanging around the fields. I enjoy watching the kids play, whether my kids are out there or not, so I don't think everyone watching a game is dangerous, but just as part of my responsibilities, I like to keep a fresh picture in my name.

Anonymous said...

Whoops, meant "in my head."

Anonymous said...

Thanks Genghis!

Something tells me that will be the last press release you ever get from the Lieberman camp. ;)

Anonymous said...

There is no chance in Hell the plan B bill gets on the florr as an amendment. It is radioactive in an election year, and the amendments to follow might involve parental consent of abortion, definition of viability for fetuses, etc. No vote will be had on it. And yes, Murphy is a coward. He is trying to get elected and will do/say anything to reach that goal.

Anonymous said...

Plan B. Not surprised to see Murphy and the Democrats are as spinless as can be.

Anonymous said...

Where is that blowhard Colin Mcenroe on this issue? Will he beat up Murphy and the cut and run Dems or will he make excuses for them and blame the minority party.

Gabe said...

Anon (12:39) said:

Plus, what these different "women's organizations" aren't telling you is that the vast majority of girls/women taking Plan B ARE NOT rape victims

Yes, but the vast majority of people taking Plan B are not going to emergency rooms to get the Plan B. The people going to emergency rooms and ultimately receive Plan B are primarily rape victims.

Obviously, reasonable people can disagree on the legislation, but the reason that rape victims are all that is being talked about is because they are the primary people affected when they are brought to an emergency room after a rape and then find out that that particular emergency room does not dispense Plan B.

Gabe said...

GC - I decided to check the registry for my area (new baby and all). I'm not sure how much traffic you pushed over there, but the database is taking forever to load up and I am on a T1 line... Either this site gets more traffic than I thought, they are coincidently having problems right now, or not enough resources are being devoted to make this tool useful.

Anonymous said...

Reworking the registry is just putting lipstick on a pig. If someone fails to register, it isn't doing anything to track them down. And just classifying them into three groups doesn't accomplish anything. There need to be longer sentences for pedophiles, and repeat offenders should be sent away forever. God forbid some kid isn't abducted, assaulted and killed by someone on the registry. Or worse, someone who fell through the cracks of the registry.

Anonymous said...

I think it is far too simplistic to pass off Murphy's Plan B vote, or any other legislator's vote for that matter, on cowardice.

The issue of abortion is cut-and-dried for a few, but for many of us it is complex and difficult. On the one hand, we support a woman and her right to control her own body, but on the other hand, we don't like the idea of killing babies, or at least potential babies.

And so when you get to an issue like Plan B, where some, but not all, hospitals provide the pill, it becomes difficult to come out in full support of the bill, if you really are not fully in support of abortions.

It isn't a simple issue. It never has been.

Anonymous said...

I was in the capitalduring yesterday's voting on the plan b bill, and it was pretty clear that Murphy actually was trying to get the bill voted on but there were other people on the committee who basically fillibustered it. Didnt look like he was happy at all that there was no vote.The guy is pretty radically prochoice, and his constituents know it. He's always talking about how hes the guy who wrote the stem cell bill, and the catholics hate that too, so why would he chicken out on this?looked to me more like someone else sank the thing.

Anonymous said...

Find me a man who wouldn't want a Plan B pill available, at the hospital, if his wife or daughter got raped. Where is he?

Then find me a woman who wouldn't want a Plan B pill available, if she were a rape victim. C'mon, where is she?

If you take both the hypocrisy and pro-life politics out of this, it is very, very simple. Plan B is much more of a preventive than an abortive measure, and we all know it. This is nothing more than tryanny of the majority against the infrequent rape victim.

Once more, I want some to find me the devout man who will look at his wife or daughter and say, "Honey, you should have the rapist's child."

Anonymous said...

I was at the Capitol as well, so lets not b.s. Murphy ran from Plan B, like he will run away from any hot button issue in an election year.

Anonymous said...

Who is the other chairman of public health? There's a chairman from the house and one from the senate, right?

Printer's Devil said...

Hey!!!! I'm not a blowhard!!!! I'm, a windbag!!!!! So back off, ok, dude?
Meanwhile, I cannot get enough of this Jarmoc talk. Will there be more installments?

Anonymous said...

Murphy, as Senate chair of the committee, calls the agenda. By bringing it out with 15 minutes until the deadline, he killed it. He knew there would be no vote on it in time. If he was so upset there was no vote, why not bring it out earlier in the session, or earlier in the day? It was political, plain and simple.

Anonymous said...

The House Chair of Public Health is Peggy Sayers - an Irish Catholic nurse from Windsor Locks.

Anonymous said...

Steve Jarmoc has been there FOREVER - now his wife? Way to shake things up!!!

Anonymous said...

anon 4:11 - the house chair gets a say in that eganda too, right? and you don't call the bill unless you have the votes to pass it - if your cochair is an irish cath nurse and controls all the house votes then do you reallythink the bill has a chance of passing?

Paul Vance said...

For those who are knocking Colin, he is on 1080 talking about Plan B. Colin is consistant in his praise and criticism.

A windbag, perhaps? But a consistant windbag.

Paul Vance said...

and perhaps I need to use spellcheck more "Consistently"

Anonymous said...

Colin: Maybe I was a little out of line when I called you a "blowhard" A Democratic sycophant would have been more appropriate. Yea, you kind of spanked Murphy a little on Plan B but had it of been Nancy Johnson or some other Republican, you would have gone jihad on them.

Anonymous said...

The numbers I have are that 20 out of 100 pregnancies now end up aborted in this country and the number is something like 24 out of 100 in NYC where it is reported to be the highest. The medical community in the main does not describe a "prevented pregnancy" as an abortion and everyhting I read says Plan B within 72 hours is a prevention not an abortion. Could be wrong but even if I am wouldn't it be better to focus on preventing the pregnancies effected by something other than rape instead of sending rape victims around the block to the next hospital?.

Anonymous said...

To the person who went off on a tangent on men wanting their wives to have a rapist's child.... First, calm down. Second, you are missing the point. Catholic Hospitals have the right to provide the drugs and services of their choosing. Plus, there are plenty of public hospitals located extremely close to these Catholic hospitals that DO provide Plan B, so it's not as if there are rape victims being completely denied access. To assert otherwise is just silly. "Tyranny of the Majority?" - spare me the dramatics.

Anonymous said...

So much for the doctor-patient relationship that the RC Hospitals love to defend there anon 5:22; the doctor will tell you what's best for you Ms, Rape Victim based on the philosophy of the hospital you sought help from or the ambulance delivered you to because that is where emergencies are being directed tonight - after we fix your bruised face and broken arm we'll send you ver for Plan B.

Anonymous said...

Murphy did not "vote against" emergency contraception. There was no vote - that was the story. It is not clear from the coverage what his position is. He may have just had trouble getting the votes.

The pill does not result in abortions. This is about contraception. By the logic of these theocratic misogynists, rapists who don't use condoms are more moral than those who do. Apparently, these "every sperm is sacred" knuckleheads think the church has an affirmative responsibility to make sure that rapes result in pregnancy. Some facts:

* Sexual assault victim advocates report that nearly 80% of Connecticut’s emergency rooms offer EC to rape victims, yet some 20% of Connecticut’s hospitals do not discuss and or offer EC.

* EC does not work if a woman is already pregnant.

* EC is not the same thing as the “Abortion Pill” (Mifeprex or RU-486). EC prevents pregnancy while Mifeprex terminates an early pregnancy.


Contact your legislator

Steve Jarmoc looks like a nominal Democrat with an awful voting record who has been busy introducing no legislation this year. Let's hear it for Jarmoc the Sequel!

Anon,
If you bothered to read Colin's columns before spouting off, you would know that he wrote about the issue two days ago.

Anonymous said...

Shifting the rape victim from hospital to hospital or pharmacy as some would have it also helps the police immensely in tlaking to the rape victim in arational and compassionate manner in finding leads to track down the rapist - or was the rapist sent by GOD??

Anonymous said...

Jarmoc has an awful voting record? According to who? Not the business community.

Anonymous said...

I AGREE WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

EVEN IF THE SEX WAS FORCIBLE, IT IS STILL SEX, AND IF ONE OF GOD's CHILDREN IS CONCEIVED THE BABY HAS THE RIGHT TO BE BORN!

It has nothing to do with the Rapist, or the mother. It's about one of God's precious children. Anyone who would argue otherwise is a murderer.

Anonymous said...

West Haven's Mayor and Town Chair came out for Malloy. Must sting for DeStefano, being so close to home. Was it expected? Is there animosity between New Haven and West Haven? (might be a dumb question, I don't live around there)

Anonymous said...

who cares both DeStefano and Malloy are " B Team" candidates with no chirisma...no major issues...lousy staff...and no sense of what it takes to win...

Anonymous said...

There seems to be a lot of Roy O talk here and there, who (if anyone at all) is his counterpart on the JDS campaign? Roy O seems to if nothing else have lots of statewides under his belt, is there someone comparable doing the same kind of job at JDS?

Anonymous said...

I heard that DeStefano lost a lot of support in Branford by getting back together with Ed Marcus.

Marcus and his cronies lost the Party Chairmanship in a heated election last night, and supposedly, DeStefano made several phone calls in support of Marcus.

fwiw.

Anonymous said...

Think CT needs a Democrat Governor?

Folks in NJ thought so, too.

Oops

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--statebudget0321mar21,0,7992119.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey

Residents see higher taxes, less relief under Corzine's $30.9 billion budget

"The governor hopes to generate more than $1 billion in revenue by raising the state sales tax from 6 cents to 7 cents on the dollar. The average New Jersey family of four would pay about $260 more a year in sales tax under Corzine's proposal. Clothing and food are exempt.

Taxes on a pack of cigarettes would increase 35 cents to $2.75 per pack, and levies also would increase on wine, beer and liquor."


Folks we have over $500 million reasons to keep Jodi. Our state is solvent

Anonymous said...

Family Institute Guy -

The Catholic Church's record of caring for those precious children leaves something to be desired.

Anonymous said...

Isn't the guy form Ch. 30 running the Destefnao race, Dereck Slap?

Anonymous said...

Has anyone cared to ask if someone, who was raped, was forced into pregnancy (or an abortion) because she was denied Plan B at a catholic hospital? All I've heard is that two women had to be taken to a different hospital to get the pills. That would seem far more compelling in forcing an institution to abdicate it's constitutionally-protected religious rights.

And I don't like the Family Institute folks one bit, but don't pose as one of them in jest and make ridiculous statements...they spout enough craziness on their own.

Anonymous said...

Hey, they believe a woman is but a vassal for the Holy Child.

They also believe that, even in cases of rape, a woman should have no choice but to carry the pregnancy to term.

So I'll make fun of their righteousness, and their neolithic point of view, all I want.

I mean really, 21st century America, and people want to outlaw a last-ditch contraceptive for rape victims.

Anonymous said...

There are many, many reasons to support legislation requiring Catholic hospitals to offer Plan B, one of which is simply that they accept state funds and as such, should be bound by the same requirements as other primary care facilities.

Do Catholic hospitals send patients with DNR orders to other hospitals for care when they show up in their emergency rooms? I can't imagine this to be the case.

We shouldn't expect women, who have been a victim of one of the most violent, heinous crimes imaginable, to have to travel from one hospital to another to receive the treatment and care they need.

If Catholic Hospitals want to refuse to presribe/provide Plan B, then they should also refuse to accept state funds. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Anonymous said...

Steve Jarmoc took over for Bill Kiner when he left the 59th in 92. There is no doubt that Karen will win, and hopefully will bring good things back to Enfield, as Kiner did.

Anonymous said...

Heard Doc Gunther is finally retiring. Any confirmation?

Harkins a shoe in for nomination?

Anonymous said...

For gods sake I hope Gunther retires. He's a dinosaur.

Anonymous said...

Jarmoc was never there so how could he have any voting record?

Dems in Hartford have been hoping for a new body for years...even a R they could work with.

While I think Jarmoc II would be better I dont forsee many changes. Her reasons for running in the JI today are standard talking points. I guess i will hold off judgement until I see if she has any real new ideas or if it will be status guo.

GC...you would make a great candidate...hope you think about it

Genghis Conn said...

Thanks for the support. Running was just a thought in the back of my mind at this point.

Frankly, I'd rather do what I'm doing right now than run for office, although I'm not ruling out running in the future.

Anonymous said...

Anybody know the median age of Doc Gunther,Billy Ciotto and Edith Prague? Do they really think the Senate can't operate without them?

Anonymous said...

Here is an interesting article that was published after the State of NY passed the legislation that died on CT legislative floor yesterday.

From The Long Island Catholic, June 25, 2003, Vol. 42 No. 13

“The state Senate and Assembly today reached agreement on legislation mandating that hospital emergency rooms provide “emergency contraception” to survivors of rape, provided the drugs are not contraindicated, the woman is not pregnant, and it is within a medically appropriate amount of time from the attack.

Amendments to this legislation adequately addressed the concerns of Catholic hospitals, which currently administer these drugs to rape survivors under such conditions. Therefore, following consultation with Catholic ethicists, the New York State Catholic Conference withdrew its objection to this legislation when Senate and Assembly sponsors agreed on the amendment language.

“We are pleased with the resolution of this difficult issue, and are particularly grateful for the leadership of Senator Nicholas Spano, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and their staffs, who listened to our concerns, understood them, and were instrumental in leading to this agreement,” said Richard E. Barnes, executive director of the Catholic Conference.

“Catholic hospitals are second to none in providing compassionate, holistic care to survivors of rape. This legislation will not affect how that care is provided. Catholic hospitals in New York will continue to offer these medications to rape survivors, consistent with this law and with Church teaching.” Catholic teaching prohibiting the use of artificial contraceptives does not and has never applied to women who are raped.

Anonymous said...

I hear Ciotto is not running so give him credit for knowing it's time to go but as for Doc and Prague somebody needs to wake them up and tell them its time to go home.

Anonymous said...

Catholic teaching prohibiting the use of artificial contraceptives does not and has never applied to women who are raped.

Just felt like posting that again.

Anonymous said...

Catholic teaching prohibiting the use of artificial contraceptives does not and has never applied to women who are raped.

Just felt like posting that again.

Anonymous said...

it's also not even clear that the law is needed to get the RC Hospitals to offer Plan B,; I red somewhere that Blumingbird is researching the issue or will if he is asked to do it but I can't find a link today.

The move by the RC bishops is soimply their attempt to execercise power and control over women.

Anonymous said...

I've heard, third-hand but from a doc at YNH, that St. Raephals has stopped giving out the Plan B - any one know if thats ture?

Anonymous said...

Doc Gunther has never been a good senator -- age has nothing to do with his problem. Billy is a nice guy but not a rocket scientist.

But Edith Prague is as sharp as any of the younger members of the general assembly. She's still got more energy than most 40-year olds. No reason for her to go anywhere!!!

Anonymous said...

I was once shuffled form an RC Hospital after an ambulance delivered me there for trauma (not rape) and they never told me at the RC Hospital why; they just told me I was geting in an ambulance again and I had been in triage for 8 hours. I later learned it was because I told them I did not have insurnce, which I don't because I pay cash unless it's catastrophic then my insurance kicks in, but I wasn't thinking clearly to tell them all that. This debate is bulls**t - it's about power, control and money by a bunch of men who wear skirts making decisions for women.i

Anonymous said...

Oh come on....this has nothing to do with a woman's right to choose. You have the right to choose not to go to a RC hospital.

If you don't want others to force their beliefs on you, why are you so willing to force your ideals on them? Oh, it's just the classic liberal double standard.

Anonymous said...

Re: The NY law, the Catholic Church considers someone 'pregnant' at the time of fertlization of the ovum, not the implantation. I would bet the Church's lawyers looked at the language of the bill, and said, well, if fertlization might have occurred, the woman might be pregnant, so you don't have to give the meds.

Anonymous said...

Edith Prague sharp as a 40 year old? You've got to be kidding! She and Ciotto are neck and neck for nap time during committee meetings. You may not like Doc but he still stays awake!

Anonymous said...

Here is another article form Today's new York times on how New Jersey's Corzine plans to not only raise certain taxes but to cut spending rather than stick his head in the sand about the fiscal condition of his state as jodi Rell has done in CT. Partisan Republicans are like a bunch of little school boys on the sand lot.

Anonymous said...


Yet another Democratic Town Committee endorses Lamont!


The small ones add up!

Anonymous said...

Edith Prague's Workday at the captiol:
1) Drink 2 8oz. glasses of prune juice
2) Bring my equally elderly dog into the committee room and let him bend a biscuit on the floor
3) Find a blind republican staffer and blame Rex's mess on her seeing-eye dog
4) Take my Fiber-Con while Lou DeLuca plays back a frame-by-frame video of the incident implicating me.
5) Throw a tantrum and blow a dusty fart as I storm out.

Anonymous said...

"Honey, please. I know you were raped. But if God wants you to have the rapist's child, it's what you have to do."

Anonymous said...

Has anybody ever read the Roe v. Wade decision that posts here. I haven't because i am not a lawyer but I have read a one inch thick balanced version for a layman that analyzes the decision. First, despite the claims of a right to privacy by the plaintiff attorneys that was not acknowledged by the Supremes in the decision. The decision was a solomonic one on the basis of the goverment's decided interest and responsibility in protecting life - and since the expert testimony on when life began was so conflicted the solomonic three trimester decision was made.

I am not sure if God gave man/humans a brain on the sixth day anymore than I understand why we think only humans have a soul but I am reasonably certian Plan B is not an abortion of a viable human fetus.

Anonymous said...

Standard lib crapola...find the most extreme situation and tug those heartstrings to the point of insanity. Get a life.

Gabe said...

One Anon said:

Oh come on....this has nothing to do with a woman's right to choose. You have the right to choose not to go to a RC hospital.

Lets not ignore reality to make politica polints. Generally after being raped, people don't start talking about which hospital they want to go to, they go where the ambulance takes them.

Two Anon said:

First, despite the claims of a right to privacy by the plaintiff attorneys that was not acknowledged by the Supremes in the decision.

I am only half-way through Con Law, but I belive that the privacy language is explicitly stated in Casey.

Gabe said...

Anonymous said...
Standard lib crapola...find the most extreme situation and tug those heartstrings to the point of insanity. Get a life.


Rape victims are the only ones getting Plan B after a wait in the emergency room. Everyone else would go to their doctor or a free clinic.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Gabe, but was it stated in Roe? I think the answer was no but that did not preclude allowing the abortion if life neede to be protected. This issue is 90% emotion too often for me and I seriously doubt the Suprems will evr disallow abortion for cause but i think our legislative branches are spineless for not spending more time talking about the SCIENCE of the issue in stead of the religion of it.

Anonymous said...

Although not raped, I specifically requested to not be taken to an RC Hospital once but the ambulance operator took me there anyway ignoring my requests. I was not in a state to know that my request was being ignored either until I was in the ER for at least an hour. When you are traumatized you aren't exactly all toghether.

If we had better sexual predator laws fifty years ago, we probably wouldn't have all these problems with the RC's.

Anonymous said...

The Roman Catholic church is about sacrifice and forgiveness. Incoroprate those two priciples into this argument and you can see why the Catholic Church is against it. Just because there are people who call themselves Catholic, it does not give them the authority to say what the church should and should not do.

Unfortunately in America many people think that because they go to church it gives them an authority to pick and choose what they can believe.

It begs the question if no one has ever been denied the pill at one of these hospital why then is it even being brought up. It makes you wonder.

Anonymous said...

In other words, the men in skirts get to make the decisions jsut the same way they made all those decisions to protect sexual predators who dressed in skirts and preyed on little boys to.

Anonymous said...

Edith Prague go home on her own? Never! She is waiting for Dorothy's house to come down from the tornado and land on her.

Anonymous said...

Well that's a stereotype that has nothing to do with the religion itself. You are confusing the religion with the actions of fallible people. I understand that many people on this board refuse to bacjk up their positions and instead choose language that is hurtful. It's too bad you feel that way. Discrimination is felt on many different levels and is wrong!

Anonymous said...

It shouldn't be too hard for her to leave. Just step outside the Capitol, get on your broom, and fly back to Norwich.

Anonymous said...

Actually, if y'all are really committed to sending Edith into retirement, we can each pony up $1,000 and hire Roy O to be her consultant...game over.

Anonymous said...

I hear Tim Stewart is moving to Norwich to run for her empty seat...

Anonymous said...

Oh come on now. When Cardnal law got his back pushed to the wall, tha Poe gave that fallible person a promotion to the vatican and they did the same with Bridgeport's own Edward Egan. The language may be hurtful but the truth is keeping many out of harm's way now.

I beleive denial is considered a sin by the RC's, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Oh come on now. When Cardnal law got his back pushed to the wall, tha Poe gave that fallible person a promotion to the vatican and they did the same with Bridgeport's own Edward Egan. The language may be hurtful but the truth is keeping many out of harm's way now.

I beleive denial is considered a sin by the RC's, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

anyone know what the record is for comments on a thread?

GC??

Anonymous said...

So the whole religion is wrong because of an Amercain priest scandal. All of Christs teachings are wrong because of a priest scandal? There's rotten apples in every bunch...and that includes the priesthood. So that menas we shouldn't forgive?

2000 years of teachings are wrong because of American priests. Interesting!

Anonymous said...

OK meathead; don't you know that RC priests were allowed to marry until the Middle Ages?

Anonymous said...

Meathead? Wow you got me there.

That is true but by not marrying priests can now commit themselves to God rather than a wife. It's a sacrifice to God.

Also priests are supposed to emulate Christ. Christ was not married. Besdies if anyone disagrees with that premise or believes that the RC is too strict that can change to a less stringent church.. the protestant church. You really have a hatred of the RC church.

Anonymous said...

So the RC's didn't start following the teachings of Jesus until the Middle Ages? Thanks, now I'm straight.

Anonymous said...

It does provide a greater commitment on the part of priests to God...that's why it was changed. Priests must commit themselves to God not another person.

Follow the teachings of Christ? Where don't they follow that? I do believe the commandments have been in place since Christ. Why are you so angry over this?

To base the whole religion on whether preists can marry is silly. You can be a deacon and be married. It's funny most people who want the church to change aren't even Catholic OR HATE Catholics much like youself!

Anonymous said...

I don't hate anyone but you don't understand that as I can see. And i guess the Baptists are all wrong - or at least less holy to lead - for allowing their reverands to marry. RC priests who don't marry sometimes turn to alchol or pedophila instead of God. You may wish to go back and see why RC preists can no longer marry - it had nothing to do with being better able to serve any god other than the one of greed.