Religious Liberty
Cardinal Urges Respect for Conscience
07/18/2008 01:22 PM
From USCCB:
Responding to objections to anticipated federal HHS regulations protecting health care providers’ fundamental rights of conscience, Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, today wrote to all members of Congress defending “efforts to reaffirm and implement laws on conscience protection.”
The New York Times on July 15 reported that it had obtained an alleged draft of regulations soon to be issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, to clarify and enforce federal laws on respect for the moral and religious convictions of health care personnel in programs receiving federal funds. Pro-abortion organizations and some members of Congress have already attacked the as-yet-unpublished regulations, saying they are unwarranted and could limit “access” to abortion and birth control.
Reacting to these criticisms, Cardinal Rigali said this “should be a matter of agreement among members who call themselves ‘pro-life’ and ‘pro-choice’: the freedom of health care providers to serve the public without violating their most deeply held moral and religious convictions on the sanctity of human life.”
A copy of the letter is here: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/rigali-conscience071808.pdf
Responding to objections to anticipated federal HHS regulations protecting health care providers’ fundamental rights of conscience, Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, today wrote to all members of Congress defending “efforts to reaffirm and implement laws on conscience protection.”
The New York Times on July 15 reported that it had obtained an alleged draft of regulations soon to be issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, to clarify and enforce federal laws on respect for the moral and religious convictions of health care personnel in programs receiving federal funds. Pro-abortion organizations and some members of Congress have already attacked the as-yet-unpublished regulations, saying they are unwarranted and could limit “access” to abortion and birth control.
Reacting to these criticisms, Cardinal Rigali said this “should be a matter of agreement among members who call themselves ‘pro-life’ and ‘pro-choice’: the freedom of health care providers to serve the public without violating their most deeply held moral and religious convictions on the sanctity of human life.”
A copy of the letter is here: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/rigali-conscience071808.pdf
Lawsuit against Dakota Boys Ranch Dismissed
07/17/2008 03:02 PM
The Associated Press is
reporting that a federal judge has dismissed a
lawsuit over North Dakota referrals to the Dakota
Boys and Girls Ranch. The story is
here.
HHS Secretary Leavitt Praised For Defending Physicians’ Conscience Rights
03/19/2008 02:36 PM
WASHINGTON—
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt was
praised for defending physicians’ conscience
rights by Deirdre McQuade, spokesperson on pro-life
issues for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
She made her comments on March 19 following a public
attack on Secretary Leavitt by the Religious
Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
The attack was prompted by a March 14 letter from Secretary Leavitt to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), expressing concern about a new ethics opinion from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) calling on conscientiously opposed physicians to perform or refer for abortions. Ms. McQuade’s statement follows.
“Secretary Leavitt should be commended for defending federal laws protecting the conscience rights of physicians. The new ACOG ethics opinion calling on pro-life OB/GYNs to perform or refer for abortions is in direct conflict with the policy reflected in federal law since 1973. Indeed, just yesterday, a federal judge in California dismissed a challenge to a federal law protecting physicians in government programs from being forced to do abortion referrals.
“If the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology relies on the ACOG opinion when deciding whether to grant board certifications, hospitals could find themselves illegally discriminating against perfectly qualified physicians who have been denied certification for ideological reasons. Any HHS Secretary should be concerned about the possibility of federal health care institutions placing themselves in conflict with federal law.
“The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights (RCRR), formerly known as the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, has nonetheless launched a personal attack on Secretary Leavitt for doing his job. RCRR’s March 18 news release accuses the Secretary of displaying a ‘narrow view of conscience,’ ‘disregard’ for women,’ and a ‘dogmatic indifference to the patient.’
“But it is RCRR that has a narrow view of conscience – so narrow as to recognize a genuine conscience claim only among those who happen to agree with RCRR about abortion. In fact, women and men, physicians and non-physicians, have a fundamental right not to be forced to participate in actions they believe are gravely wrong, especially actions involving the taking of an innocent human life. Moreover, most OB/GYNs in training today are themselves women, and these women have rights, too.
“The abortion industry -- and its allies in medical groups -- have often complained that so few doctors are willing to perform abortions, but that is no excuse for coercing pro-life physicians to do their dirty work. The movement that used to call itself “pro-choice” is becoming a parody of itself.”
The attack was prompted by a March 14 letter from Secretary Leavitt to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), expressing concern about a new ethics opinion from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) calling on conscientiously opposed physicians to perform or refer for abortions. Ms. McQuade’s statement follows.
“Secretary Leavitt should be commended for defending federal laws protecting the conscience rights of physicians. The new ACOG ethics opinion calling on pro-life OB/GYNs to perform or refer for abortions is in direct conflict with the policy reflected in federal law since 1973. Indeed, just yesterday, a federal judge in California dismissed a challenge to a federal law protecting physicians in government programs from being forced to do abortion referrals.
“If the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology relies on the ACOG opinion when deciding whether to grant board certifications, hospitals could find themselves illegally discriminating against perfectly qualified physicians who have been denied certification for ideological reasons. Any HHS Secretary should be concerned about the possibility of federal health care institutions placing themselves in conflict with federal law.
“The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights (RCRR), formerly known as the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, has nonetheless launched a personal attack on Secretary Leavitt for doing his job. RCRR’s March 18 news release accuses the Secretary of displaying a ‘narrow view of conscience,’ ‘disregard’ for women,’ and a ‘dogmatic indifference to the patient.’
“But it is RCRR that has a narrow view of conscience – so narrow as to recognize a genuine conscience claim only among those who happen to agree with RCRR about abortion. In fact, women and men, physicians and non-physicians, have a fundamental right not to be forced to participate in actions they believe are gravely wrong, especially actions involving the taking of an innocent human life. Moreover, most OB/GYNs in training today are themselves women, and these women have rights, too.
“The abortion industry -- and its allies in medical groups -- have often complained that so few doctors are willing to perform abortions, but that is no excuse for coercing pro-life physicians to do their dirty work. The movement that used to call itself “pro-choice” is becoming a parody of itself.”
White House Report on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
02/27/2008 01:11 PM
The White House Office on
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has just released a
seven-year progress report. Here is the page on activities in
North Dakota:
(click on the image)
Action Alert: Prison Chaplains
03/08/2007 07:27 PM
The
Senate Appropriations
Committee
is working on
House Bill
1015,
which funds the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation. The Governor sought funding for
two full-time chaplains for the system, but the
House cut the funding from the bill ($64,000.)
Please contact the committee members and ask them to restore the requested chaplaincy funding. Constitutionally and morally, inmates do not lose their religious liberties after they enter prison. Chaplains ensure that inmates are able, to the extent possible, to exercise their religious liberties and are, therefore, an essential part of corrections system.
"E-Mail Helper" will
automatically prepare a sample e-mail message
for you to send. Try revising it with your own
words. Be sure to include your name! Thank
you.
More information.
Please contact the committee members and ask them to restore the requested chaplaincy funding. Constitutionally and morally, inmates do not lose their religious liberties after they enter prison. Chaplains ensure that inmates are able, to the extent possible, to exercise their religious liberties and are, therefore, an essential part of corrections system.
"E-Mail Helper" will
automatically prepare a sample e-mail message
for you to send. Try revising it with your own
words. Be sure to include your name! Thank
you.
More information.
I was in prison and you visited me . . .
03/02/2007 02:40 PM
The
Senate Appropriations
Committee
will begin work next week on
House Bill
1015,
which funds the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation. The DOCR sought funding for two
full-time chaplains, but the House cut the funding
from the bill.
The North Dakota Catholic Conference hopes that the Senate will restore the funding ($64,000.) Constitutionally and morally, inmates do not lose their religious liberties after they enter prison. Chaplains ensure that inmates are able, to the extent possible, to exercise their religious liberties and are, therefore, an essential part of corrections system.
The North Dakota Catholic Conference hopes that the Senate will restore the funding ($64,000.) Constitutionally and morally, inmates do not lose their religious liberties after they enter prison. Chaplains ensure that inmates are able, to the extent possible, to exercise their religious liberties and are, therefore, an essential part of corrections system.
U.S. Attorney General Launches Religious Freedom Initiative
02/21/2007 02:40 PM
United States Attorney
General Alberto R. Gonzales has announced a new
Department of Justice initiative to protect religious
liberty: The First Freedom
Project.
The project's web site contains useful information about our religious liberties.
The project's web site contains useful information about our religious liberties.