State Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, and State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, introduced the measure at a press conference, while standing alongside representatives from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and other so-called women’s health advocates.

For more than a year now, these reproductive health advocates have been calling on legislators to ensure that rape victims in Wisconsin have access to what they call “comprehensive and compassionate care.” What they mean is that want the legislature to pass and the governor to sign into law a bill that would require all Wisconsin hospital emergency rooms to provide rape victims information about emergency contraception and would also require the hospitals to dispense the so-called “medication” if the person requests it. The group claims only one-third of Wisconsin hospitals unconditionally provide this emergency contraception to rape victims.

As you would expect, one of the central arguments such groups use is that the US Food and Drug Administration approved emergency contraception for over-the-counter sales to consumers 18 and older. The most commonly used emergency contraceptive, so-called “Plan B,” is associated with increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and has the potential to abort a pregnancy by preventing implantation of a fertilized embryo.

The FDA previously rejected the makers of Plan B’s first application for over-the-counter status for Plan B, because it had not been proven safe for adolescent girls. After a fierce political battle that involved the drug’s manufacturer, these so-called reproductive freedom advocates and pro-life organizations, the FDA bowed to the political pressure and approved Plan B for over-the-counter sales despite its previous findings.

Proponents of the just-introduced Wisconsin legislation argue that a rape victim is not guaranteed access to “emergency contraception,” if, for instance, she is under 18, or if her pharmacy doesn’t stock Plan B. So, because of these alleged impediments, they want to require all hospitals in this state, irrespective of their religious convictions and affiliations, to make this potentially abortion-inducing drug available to rape victims.

According to the Wisconsin Hospital Association, 35 of Wisconsin’s 144 hospitals, or just over 24%, are owned by a religious organization. Some of these 35 hospitals are among the largest and most prestigious hospitals in the state. These hospitals—all of them—have the right to have their religious beliefs impact their practice—without government intrusion.

Have we reached the point that we will allow legislation to force a religious organization to abandon its beliefs and practices at the whim of the state? Clearly, every attempt by the state to control or remove religious freedom from the public square must be met with solid and relentless opposition.

Last session a similar bill was introduced in the state legislature. Fortunately, it went nowhere. However, given the changes in the legislature for this current session and the early surfacing of groups such as the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Coalition, we knew it was only a matter of time until this inane legislation reared its head again.

Those who are determined that religiously held beliefs cannot get in the way of an individual’s so-called “right,” will not stop trying to get their way. And those of us who believe religion should be protected in the public square and in the private hospital must not yield an inch. In this case, the lives of women and unborn children hang in the balance.

This is Julaine Appling for The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin reminding you the prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”