Lyon: The Catholic medical center La Présence targeted by feminist collages
The Lyon Feminist Collages, Lesbians Against Patriarchy and Nous Toutes Rhône created a series of collages on the facade of the Catholic medical center La Présence.
On the night of June 11-12, posters were posted on the facade of the Catholic medical center La Présence, in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon. Posters reading "My body, my choice," "At La Présence, we treat according to the Gospel, not according to the law," and "At La Présence, their faith takes precedence over your rights" were visible Wednesday morning. The action was claimed by the collectives and associations Les Collages Féministes Lyon, Lesbiennes contre le patriarchat, and Nous Toutes Rhône, who claim that the medical center refuses to provide contraceptives and uses a conscience clause.
In their press release issued on June 12, the collectives denounce the "illegal practices" of the Catholic medical center and its obstruction of certain fundamental rights "yet enshrined in law" and which "institutionalizes the use of a conscience clause whose danger to our bodies and our freedoms we also want to emphasize." They also point out that La Présence is "closely linked to the "Réseau Vie," known for its anti-abortion positions, refuses any prescription of contraception, relying on "The Gospel of Life," which equates abortion with "deliberate murder" and denounces an inseparable link between contraception and abortion, presenting them as joint threats to life from its earliest stages."
They add: "Behind this religious morality lies an instrumentalization of the conscience clause, initially designed for abortion, sterilization, and embryo research. However, access to contraception has been a right since the Neuwirth law of 1967. However, this medical center circumvents this fundamental right under the cover of religious convictions, with the blessing of the law."
Feminist groups are also calling for alerts to be raised if similar situations are repeated in other medical centers. "We demand that such practices not be ignored in order to avoid any proselytizing and allow patients, often young or in precarious situations, to make an informed choice. Indeed, it is imperative that women and gender minorities have the full freedom to make informed and autonomous decisions regarding their bodies, their medical care, their reproductive health, or other aspects of their autonomy, while being fully informed and supported in their efforts, without any hindrance or judgment."
"Healthcare workers have a public service mission and must respect the law, not dogma. Refusing contraception puts women and gender minorities in danger, exposes them to unwanted pregnancies and constitutes additional violence against people who are sometimes already isolated and vulnerable," the feminist activists conclude.
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