Quote:It was a startling assertion that seemed an about-face from church doctrine: A Catholic hospital arguing in a Colorado court that twin fetuses that died in its care were not, under state law, human beings.

When the two-year-old court filing surfaced last month, it triggered an avalanche of criticism — because the legal argument seemed to plainly clash with the church's centuries-old stance that life begins at conception.

But it is also now fueling an already raging debate in Colorado and beyond about whether fetuses should have legal rights and, if so, what kind.

On Monday, the hospital and the state's bishops released a statement acknowledging it was "morally wrong" to make the legal argument.

News of the wrongful death lawsuit came as Colorado lawmakers weigh how far they should go in penalizing acts that harm a fetus, and some worry that the case could diminish the Catholic Church's credibility in advocating more rights for the unborn.

(02-06-2013 04:52 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  It runs contrary to all Catholic doctrine, which shouldn't be possible with a Catholic organization, hospital or otherwise. Any self respecting Catholic, including those facing a lawsuit, should fall in line with Catholic doctrine. Going against Catholic doctrine is a sin for Catholics...

(02-06-2013 04:41 PM)Paul M Wrote:  They aren't arguing church doctrine, they're arguing "under state law". Is that not what the law will rule by?

(02-06-2013 05:28 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(02-06-2013 04:41 PM)Paul M Wrote:  They aren't arguing church doctrine, they're arguing "under state law". Is that not what the law will rule by?

But it's ok for them to claim it when it comes to other state laws, like, insurance coverage requirements?