March 30, 2009 8:00 AM
Protect conscience clause for pro-life health care workers
Every day seems to bring another urgent issue. I hope to help by providing links for you to make your voices heard:
In an era when a woman has a "choice" to kill her unborn baby, how can it be that health care workers may lose their choice whether to participate in such a deed?
"Choice" was always one of those Orwellian leftist words which make something sinister sound noble.
Now Obama has threatened to rescind the conscience clause which protects health care workers from being FORCED to perform/assist in abortions - yet another gauntlet thrown down by his administration to the Catholic Church, whose 624 hospitals serve one in six US patients each year.
While the Catholic Church is mounting a concerted response, all Christians need to unite around this issue:
Protecting Conscience Rights in Health Care: Our Voice is Needed!The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is inviting public comment on a proposal to rescind an important federal regulation issued in December. The regulation implements and enforces three federal laws protecting the conscience rights of health care providers, especially those at risk of being discriminated against because of their moral or religious objection to abortion.
The Catholic community must speak out to protect Catholic doctors, nurses and hospitals. Please click below to find out how.
Two medical students speak on the need for freedom of conscince in their calling:
A nurse speaks:
Cardinal Francis George:
Each of you has a sphere of influence. In these oppressive times, the only way to get the word out on issues like these is through blogging and social networking. I hope to help you be able to explain these issues, which O&Co would like to keep out of the public eye. Please use Share button below to pass this on to your friends and family.
Posted in Pro-Life Issues | Permalink
Comments
My father is a pharmacist who refuses to stock the "morning after pill" (I don't know the actual name of this drug) in his drug store. If he worked for a chain store, would they force him to dispense it??!! This is WRONG!
Posted by: Kim Moore | March 30, 2009 9:49 AM
This makes me so very sad. I had such high hopes for President Obama and I thought with Joe Biden being Catholic... anyway, I was wrong.
Thank you for posting this information. I just found your blog and will be back!
Posted by: Jaime | March 30, 2009 11:12 AM
Where would we be without Catholic hospitals? We can't afford to lose them! Much as I despise even talking about abortion as a service, the point I will make is that it's preplanned and optional. Abortion seekers can drive the extra hours to obtain that procedure from willing providers. But no, that's not enough for them! We should all risk losing local providers that so many depend on, that are there when you have an emergency, so that abortion seekers can terminate their unborn closer to home! They don't care about anyone but themselves, and this is just more proof.
Posted by: evergreen | March 30, 2009 2:59 PM
I "painted" on my truck windows, (both sides)
TELL OBAMA (202) 456-1111 Don't Force Doctors to Abort Babies" on the Back I have painted "In Loving Memory of The Aborted Unborn 2009-2012"
Posted by: Lisa | April 5, 2009 9:24 AM
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDING: HURRY TAKE ACTION NOW!!
Rescission Proposal: 0991-AB49 http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?css=0&&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055&N=0&Ntt=0991-AB49&sid=12078CBEF750
On April 9, the 30 day comment period will end in which citizens can voice their concern of President Obama's rescission of the conscience clause. This clause allows medical professionals and organizations (such as hospitals) to choose not to provide services which are contrary to their religious beliefs or missions. This specifically pertains to the performance of abortions and sterilizations. Information on the clause and to make a public comment can be found at http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?css=0&&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055&N=0&Ntt=0991-AB49&sid=12078CBEF750
The conscience clause has been in effect since the 1970's, for over 30 years. During that time, abortions and sterilizations have grown in both demand and availability, being readily available throughout the country even in rural areas. Therefore, the existence of this regulation has in no way limited the ability of all Americans to receive these services if they choose.
This clause has, however, protected the freedom of both medical professionals and medical organizations (a corporation is legally a "person"). It allows those individuals to conduct their medical work without being forced into any conduct that would contradict their faith views. It allows hospitals with faith-based missions to continue to practice as well. Note that Catholic hospitals are the largest provider of hospital services in the United states. Then consider other hospitals with faith based missions, and you can see the import of this clause to allowing these organizations to exist, as well as see that this clause has in no way limited availability of abortion services.
There is an old saying "if it ain't broke, why fix it?". This is true here. After 30 years, this amendment is well tested and has not inhibited the quality of health care provided to Americans.
So why now is the Obama administration attempting to rescind this clause? We don't know, but clearly it is not for the purpose of improving health care.
What will be the results if this is rescinded? Catholic hospitals across the country, the largest provider of hospital services in this nation, will close down. Medical professionals of all faiths will risk losing their job due to religious discrimination or have to willingly give up their job. So the quality of healthcare IN EVERY SINGLE AREA OF HEALTH will be drastically and negatively affected, as well as religious discrimination and persecution institutionalized in our healthcare system. And all done to force mandatory abortion services that are not even needed because sufficient facilities and personnel exist to provide these.
So why now is I the Obama administration attempting to rescind this clause? It makes absolutely no sense.
Summary:
Our country was founded upon religious freedom. To repeal this clause and force individuals as well as medical organizations to conduct acts against their religious beliefs or corporate mission statements is discrimination. There are sufficient providers of abortion and sterilization services across the country, even in rural areas; it is clearly not necessary to force medical professionals and organizations to conduct these services. This clause has been in effect for over 30 years without causing any undue hardship to the American people. Therefore, there is no sound, need-based reason for rescinding this clause. The reason can only be discrimination against people of faith. In rescinding this clause, our government is potentially ruining our entire health care system simply for the purpose of making abortion mandatory (note, it is already easily available). Even citizens with no particular faith belief can see how their overall health care will be adversely affected by this action. This defies all logic and so can only be hate based.
It is important that every American, whether or not of any faith belief, stand up and insist this clause remain in effect for the continued quality healthcare of all American citizens IN ALL FIELDS OF MEDICINE. Don't let a political agenda destroy our healthcare system.
CALL BY THURSDAY BETWEEN 9AM AND 5PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
OR
EMAIL YOUR OBJECTION NOW
proposedrescission@hhs.gov
OR
TYPE YOUR OBJECTION INTO THE WEBFORM NOW http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?css=0&&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055&N=0&Ntt=0991-AB49&sid=12078CBEF750
(IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH THAT LINK GO TO www.Regulations.gov
ENTER 0991-AB49 into Search Documents
(You will be able to get the facts here)
Then click on Send a Comment or Submission
Posted by: Debra | April 5, 2009 10:19 PM
I believe that practising our own religious and moral beliefs is gauranteed by the U.S.Constition.This is why the Puritans landed at Plymouth.Religious freedom is the building foundation of our country.No one in healthcare service or foundations(hospitals,nursing homes,research groups)should be threatened by the federal goverment to give up thier jobs or close thier facilites because Presedent Obama wants to rescend the conscience clause. NO,I am against it.Maybe he should work on a ethics clause for Wall Street and chief ceos?
Posted by: Genuta | April 6, 2009 1:23 PM
