“Such referrals would be contrary to our mission and why we came into existence,” said Risse, director of nursing at Our Lady’s Inn. “I feel this was brought to the table to be coercive, to help people who don’t understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”

Among the most vocal opponents to the St. Louis measure has been the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which already has threatened to go to federal court over it.

A spokeswoman from the Archdiocese said Tuesday that agencies could be fined for not employing anyone who publicly promotes abortion, that Catholic business owners could be fined for not including abortion coverage in their employee benefits and that the city could fine landlords who choose not to rent to anyone involved in the abortion industry.

But Alderman Christine Ingrassia, 6th Ward, a co-sponsor of the update to the ordinance, insists those fears are unfounded, because city lawmakers amended the bill to expressly exempt religious organizations from the requirements.

She said the maximum fine for violating the ordinance was $500.