Religion and Healthcare Do not Mix, Part 1 Million

What could be more healthcare-y than depriving patients of medical information and treatment in the name of religious doctrine?

A dispute over condoms and Catholic values has left Greenwich Village without an urgent care clinic six months after St. Vincent's Hospital closed its doors in bankruptcy.

North Shore/Long Island Jewish Medical Center received a $9 million grant from the state to open a clinic in the West Village - likely in the now-abandoned St. Vincent's emergency room.

But sources familiar with negotiations say St. Vincent's leaders have insisted that the new facility abide by Catholic directives - including an agreement not to counsel patients about birth control.

Terry Lynam, a spokesman for North Shore/LIJ, would not confirm that birth control was the holdup, but said, "The terms presented to us pose some significant problems."

He said negotiations are continuing.