PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island General Assembly recently completed another legislative session, with many bills proposed or passed this year of particular moral significance for Catholics in the state of Rhode Island. This includes several bills pertaining to the right to life — including the Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act and the Healthcare Provider Shield Act — as well as several others, including two bills on gun ownership, and laws enshrining into state law the Affordable Care Act.
The Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act
Bill HB7100 (SB2093), also known as the Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act, sought to loosen the regulations on physician-assisted suicide. Proposed by Rep. Edith Allejo (D) of District 1 and Sen. Meghan Kallman (D) of District 15, the bill has been hotly debated before the General Assembly for years. The bill proposes that physician-assisted suicide be legal only if the patient receiving the life-ending substances be over the age of 18 and be terminally ill, that is, suffering from a medical condition likely to result in death within the next 6 months. Further, the patient must ask for the life-ending substances of their own accord through two oral requests and one written request, with these requests being made in the presence of two or more witnesses, at least one of whom is not the owner or operator of the hospital, a doctor, a family member of the patient, or an heir. Finally, the life-ending substances must be administered by the patient themself.
This bill goes against the Catholic teaching that life must be respected at all stages, from conception to natural death.
“Respect for life does not demand that we attempt to prolong life by using medical treatments that are ineffective or unduly burdensome. … Instead, it demands that we respect life as a gift by not actively seeking an artificial means to end it,” said Father Bernard A. Healey, the director of the Rhode Island Catholic Conference, in his written testimony on the bill.
“The proposed bill is a pro-suicide bill that fails to serve the common good of Rhode Islanders especially the most vulnerable and it should be stopped in its tracks…” Father Healey went on to say to the Rhode Island Catholic. The bill was tabled for further study.
The Healthcare Provider Shield Act
Bill SB 2262 (HB 7577), also known as the Healthcare Provider Shield Act, sought to solidify Rhode Island’s status as a sanctuary state for abortion and so-called “transgender medical care.” Proposed by Sen. Dawn Euer (D) of District 13 and Rep. John Edwards (D) of District 70, the bill elevates access to abortion and elective medical procedures for those with gender dysphoria as “legal rights” in the state of Rhode Island and declares that citizens of other states who either seek, pay for or procure an abortion or such elective procedures in Rhode Island cannot be prosecuted by their home state. It also declares that Rhode Island courts are not obliged to cooperate or share information with any public or law enforcement agency that seeks to prosecute those who either seek or procure such procedures in the state of Rhode Island.
The bill passed in both the House and the Senate and was signed into law by Governor Dan McKee on June 27. Many of those who supported the law saw it as a way to uphold states’ rights, as well as protecting healthcare providers from heavy-handed government regulations, but some see the bill as having certain questionable moral and cultural implications.
“Rhode Island over the last decade or more has grown increasingly hostile to the culture of life,” Father Healey told the Rhode Island Catholic. “The expansion of abortion law that allows for the killing of the unborn up until birth, codifying Rhode Island as a sanctuary state for abortion on demand, and the increased efforts to legalize assisted suicide are all direct attacks upon human dignity and the sanctity of human life.”
“Rhode Islanders continue to elect candidates who espouse these radical ideas which result in such radical laws that undermine the common good of our state and attack the sanctity of human life,” Father Healey continued.
“Sadly, some in the State House are pursuing an extreme abortion agenda,” said Barth E. Bracy, the executive director of the Rhode Island Right to Life. “It’s an extreme abortion agenda with no end in sight. … The question is, what will they come up with next?”
Some saw more practical implications to the bill.
“Once you provide immunity to procedures, if the procedure goes terribly wrong, I would think you would want to move forward with some type of investigation and possibly litigation,” said Sen. Roger Picard (D) of District 20, one of the senators to vote against the bill. “If something goes horribly wrong, if something is done that shouldn’t be done, as far as a procedure going incorrectly, then I think the attending medical professional should be held responsible.”
Gun Control
Two bills were proposed this past legislative session that dealt with the topic of gun violence. Bill SB 2202, sponsored by Sen. Pamela Lauria (D) of District 32, mandated that all guns left unattended by the owner must be kept in a locked box or must have a mechanical lock attached to it at all times. Bill SB 2653, sponsored by Sen. Louis DiPalma (D) District 12, outlaws the buying, selling or possession of assault weapons, not including those owned prior to the passage of the bill.
“Gun violence is complicated and cannot be addressed with just a change of policy,” said Father Healey in a public statement published on March 13. “One thing is clear: there must be reasonable attempts to reform gun legislation.”
SB2202 was passed by both houses of the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor McKee, while SB2653 was held for further study.
The Affordable Care Act
Another important bill proposed this past legislative session was SB2382/HB7091. Sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D) of District 28 and Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D) of District 4, the bill sought to codify certain elements of the Affordable Care Act into Rhode Island state law.
The bill set minimum annual limits for essential healthcare benefits, as well as prohibiting any lifetime limits on essential healthcare benefits.
The bill passed in both houses of the General Assembly, and was signed into law by Governor McKee. The bill has been praised by some groups for reducing barriers to accessing healthcare for residents of Rhode Island.
