A plan to open an urgent care clinic at the former site of St. Vincent’s Hospital is being delayed, amid concerns over Catholic traditions and birth control.

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, which is set to run the center, says the proposed clinic is being stalled by demands by former officials of the now-defunct Roman Catholic hospital that birth control not be made available there, and patients not be counseled on the matter.

The sides are also at odds over financial terms for the site.

North Shore-LIJ had received a $9 million grant from the state to run the center, which would be set up in the former emergency room until permanent space could be found.

A spokesperson for North Shore-LIJ tells NY1 that because the property is linked to a Catholic organization, St. Vincent’s is saying the clinic would have to “adhere to Catholic directives.”

“We respect the canons of the church, but we don’t impose religious criteria on our physicians,” said North Shore-LIJ in a statement.

It was hoped the facility would be up and running by September.

The two sides are expected to meet today to discuss the issue.

(Source: NY1)