Connecticut Catholic Conference Warns Religious Liberty Under Attack In Reproductive Rights Bill HB 5516

March 12, 2026

*St. Francis Hospital, a member of Trinity Health Of New England and Trinity Health, is one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation.*

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The Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference (CCPAC) just issued an urgent warning over the "attack on religious liberty" in a bill introduced by the Public Health Committee last week.

HB 5516, An Act Concerning Reproductive Rights, is a priority bill for the legislative Reproductive Rights Caucus and abortion and transgender advocates that would prohibit adverse actions against health care providers for providing certain health care services, including abortions and chemical and surgical mutilation procedures otherwise known as "gender-affirming care."

"The intent of the bill is to undermine the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Services" that all Catholic hospitals follow," wrote CCPAC. "These provisions prohibit Catholic hospitals and their employees from assisting or providing care to a patient who is seeking an abortion or gender-affirming care. If this bill passes the religious rights of Catholic hospitals will be at risk."

"Under HB 5516 any provider working at a Catholic hospital would be able to assist a patient in obtaining an abortion or gender-affirming care and not face disciplinary action," said CCPAC. "This bill has a serious potential of opening the door to allow providers to prescribe the abortion pill and gender transitioning drugs."

The bill would additionally prohibit hospitals from reprimanding health care providers who provide abortion or gender-affirming care services.

"HB 5516 is a blatant and unnecessary backdoor attack on Catholic healthcare and religious freedom in our state," CCPAC said. "Connecticut has numerous other medical providers in our state making this attack totally unwarranted."

CCPAC is calling on people to email the Public Health Committee about the bill and submit written testimony using their On-line Testimony Submission Form.

A public hearing on this bill is scheduled for tomorrow, March 13th.

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CT Centinal Staff

The Connecticut Centinal is the state’s premier investigative newspaper. Long suffering from an absence of patriotic media, Connecticut is in dire need of an organization which will confront, and highlight, corruption in the jurisdiction. Connecticut is an historic state with a long and honorable reputation of defending freedom. The Connecticut Centinal will follow in CDM’s tradition of providing trustworthy news as we rebuild the American republic from the cradle of liberty.