For many years you have probably heard reports of doctors, nurses and medical students being forced to choose between their consciences and their careers. This was wrong. Laws to prevent this kind of discrimination were in too many cases simply ignored. Good people suffered, even lost their jobs.
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took a long-awaited step to provide relief to those brave people.
The official rule issued yesterday ensures that healthcare professionals and medical students will not be compelled to leave the practice of medicine because they decline to participate in actions such as abortion, assisted suicide or sterilization that violate their conscience, religious belief or moral convictions.
The new rule protects the right of diverse faith-based health care institutions from participation in procedures like abortion, sterilization, or assisted suicide. Also, and importantly, the new rules will also ensure that churches and others who oppose abortion are not compelled to cover elective abortion in their health plans.
Now, it is time for us to thank the Administration for reversing the tide of conscience violations and helping our brave doctors, nurses, medical students and other health care workers. Please take action now to send a note of thanks to HHS Secretary Alex Azar.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Chairman of the bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty, issued a statement commending the new regulations.
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/1-cJUlb8WasQvYX0NwYgmg
