News Releases
News releases for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2012 to the present are available on the
News/Blog.
News
Releases
2011
23 December, 2011
Victory for pro-life nurses in lawsuit against NJ
hospital As a result of a federal court hearing Thursday, a New Jersey
hospital has agreed that it will not force nurses to assist with
abortion cases. . .
21 December, 2011
Colorado Christian University First Evangelical
University to Fight Abortifacient Mandate
Colorado Christian University (CCU) today became the first
interdenominational Christian college to challenge in federal
court a new "Affordable Care Act" (aka "Obamacare") mandate for
abortifacients (drugs which induce abortions). . .
28 November, 2011
Trial begins on pharmacists' right of conscience . . .Trial
in landmark conscience case, Stormans v. Selecky, begins today.
. . This case is about whether the government can force
pharmacists out of the health care profession solely because of
their religious beliefs-specifically, their beliefs about
abortion and human life. . .
21 November, 2011
NJ hospital threatens employment discrimination against pro-life nurses
despite court order . . . In violation of an existing court order,
UMDNJ is attempting to force the nurses into meetings that would impose
discriminatory job "transfer" and other "changes" to their employment solely
because of their objections to helping with abortions. . .
21 November, 2011
A Victory for Conscience and a Culture of Life
Right to Life welcomes the decision of the New Zealand Medical Council
not to proceed with its appeal to the Court of Appeal of the judgment of
Justice MacKenzie given in the High Court in Wellington in December 2010.
The judgment stated that a medical practioner who was opposed in conscience
to abortions was not obliged to refer a woman seeking an abortion to another
doctor who would facilitate the abortion. . .
14 November, 2011
"Nurses of Conscience" say NO to abortion coercion at UMDNJ
It is an honor and privilege to join these courageous "nurses of
conscience" who at great risk of being fired, demoted or
otherwise retaliated against, have asserted their fundamental
civil rights . . .
10 November, 2011
Belmont Abbey College sues the federal government
over new Obamacare mandate Today, the Becket
Fund for Religious Liberty filed a lawsuit against the federal
government on behalf of Belmont Abbey College over the
"Affordable Care Act" (aka "Obamacare"), that forces the College
to violate its deeply-held religious beliefs or pay a severe
fine. . . .
3 November, 2011
Court temporarily stops NJ hospital
from forcing nurses
to participate in abortions A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order
Thursday that prohibits a New Jersey hospital from forcing any
of 12 nurses that sued the facility to participate in training
or services related to abortions. . .
1 November, 2011
12 nurses sue NJ
hospital for forcing them to
participate in abortions Twelve nurses represented by Alliance Defense
Fund attorneys filed suit Monday against their employer, a hospital run by
the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, for requiring them
to participate in abortions. . .
1November, 2011
Cardinal Calls For Greater Conscience Protection In Health Care Reform
On Eve Of Subcommittee Hearing Congress should strengthen
conscience protections for health care providers and ensure that
health care reform measures do not impede religious liberty,
said the U.S. bishops' chairman of Pro-Life Activities on the
eve of a hearing by the House Subcommittee on Health, "Do New
Health Law Mandates Threaten Conscience Rights and Access to
Care?". . .
19 October, 2011
Abortion committee upholds right of conscience
Right to Life commends the Abortion Supervisory Committee for promoting
protection for clinicians who refuse to perform or assist in abortions on
the grounds of conscience. . .
11 October, 2011
Support access to health care?
Protect conscience rights.
We, the undersigned, strongly support access to life-affirming health care for all, and the ability of secular and
religious groups and
individuals to provide and receive such care. That is why we
have raised objections to a rule issued by the U.S. Department
of Health and
Human Services forcing almost all private health plans to cover
sterilization procedures and contraceptive drugs, including
drugs that may
cause an early abortion.
6 October, 2011
Ron Paul Statement on New Obamacare/HHS Regulation
2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul released the
following statement concerning recently-discussed Obamacare
regulation that forces all health-care plans to cover so-called
"preventive" services . . .
6 October, 2011 Hatch, Johanns Spearhead Letter To HHS On Women's Preventive Services Mandates
U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska),
and 26 of their Senate colleagues have written to Health and
Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to press her on the
constitutional concerns associated with the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) implementation of the Institute of
Medicine's (IOM) recommendations for preventive health services
mandates. . .
7 September, 2011
Cardinal Reaffirms Support for Respect for Rights of Conscience Act
Congress should support a bill (H.R. 1179, S. 1467) that will
close gaps in protection of conscience rights in the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), especially in light
of the threat to conscience rights posed by a new mandate from
the Department of Health and Human Services . . .
2 August, 2011
Obama Plays Catch 22 with Religious Groups
Yesterday, the Obama administration mandated that all health insurance
plans cover contraceptives and sterilization for women, though
it made an exception for religious employers. But did it? Not
really. . .
2 August, 2011
Catholic Health Association Response to Women's Preventive Services
Regulations The Catholic Health Association is both pleased and
concerned by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services'
(HHS) recent actions on preventive services for women . . .
1 August, 2011
USCCB: HHS Mandate for Contraceptive and Abortifacient Drugs Violates
Conscience Rights The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
sharply criticized a new HHS "preventive services" mandate
requiring private health plans to cover female surgical
sterilization and all drugs and devices approved by the FDA as
contraceptives, including drugs which can attack a developing
unborn child before and after implantation in the mother's womb.
. .
22 July, 2011
In Wake of Proposed Contraceptive Mandate,
Cardinal DiNardo Urges Congress to Support Respect for Rights of Conscience
Act Responding to a proposal from the Institute of Medicine (IOM)
that private health plans be required to cover all FDA-approved
contraceptives under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA),
the U.S. bishops urged Congress to support the Respect for Rights of
Conscience Act (H.R. 1179). . .
20 July, 2011
CMA Criticizes IOM Recommendation
on Mandating Contraceptive Coverage . . .The Institute
of Medicine's (IOM) recommendation that "the full range of
FDA-approved contraceptive methods" be designated a "preventive
care service for women" and thus covered by all insurance plans
without any co-pay from patients under the terms of ObamaCare
threatens substantial harm to the health of women and to the
civil rights of millions of Americans. . .
19 July, 2011
Bishops' Pro-Life Chair Strongly Opposes Recommended Mandate
for Birth Control, Sterilization in Private Health Plans
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the
Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops, strongly opposed the recommendation of the
Institute of Medicine that the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) mandate coverage of surgical sterilization and
all FDA-approved birth control in private health insurance plans
nationwide. . .
6 July, 2011
Christian Medical Association Sends Over 61,000 Petitions
to President Obama The Christian Medical Association (CMA, ) today
sent to President Obama a letter on behalf of 61,154 individuals who
signed a petition urging the President to uphold and enforce conscience
rights in health care. . .
10 May, 2011
HHS Responds to Pro-life Letter, Defends Conscience Recission
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has officially
responded to pro-life concerns over the recent conscience
rescissions for medical students and medical professionals. . .
5 May, 2011 USCCB Welcomes House
Passage of 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act'
The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) welcomed passage of the
"No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" (H.R. 3) by the U.S.
House of Representatives . . . "H.R. 3 also protects the civil
rights of health care providers who conscientiously object to
involvement in abortion," . . . "Robust protection of conscience
rights is essential for Americans' access to life-saving health
care," . . .
4 May, 2011
Alliance of Catholic Health Care
Hails House Passage of Legislation to Protect Civil Rights of Health
Care Providers
The Alliance of Catholic Health Care ("the Alliance")
applauded the House of Representatives for passing legislation today
that will provide strong, unambiguous and permanent civil rights
conscience protections to health care providers. . .
3 May, 2011
CMA physicians: National
Poll Shows Majority Support Conscience Protections in House Bill
Slated for Debate Wednesday
A just-released national poll demonstrates that a majority of
the public support for the conscience protections for healthcare
professionals included in a bill to be debated Wednesday in the
U.S. House of Representatives. . .
6 April, 2011
Victory for Religious Freedom Six
Years in the Making
. . .A state court in Illinois this week issued a decision
striking down a state law that compels pharmacy owners to
dispense Plan B and other forms of emergency contraception, even
if doing so violates their religious or moral beliefs. . .
18 February, 2011
AULA Calls for strong conscience clause protection
for medical professionals
. . ."AUL predicted that the rights of conscience of medical
professionals could be violated without stronger protections,"
said Dr. Yoest. "This must come to an end. No longer should the
civil rights of medical professionals be held hostage to
political interests." . . .
18 February, 2011
USCCB Finds Weakening of Health Care Conscience
Rule a 'Disappointment'
The Obama administration's final rule rescinding important
elements of a federal regulation protecting the conscience
rights of health care providers is a disappointment, but there
are also reasons for hope, said Deirdre McQuade of the Pro-Life
Secretariat of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB). . .
18 February, 2011
Statement from the Department of Health and Human Services-
Regulation for the Enforcement of Federal Health Care Conscience
Protections
The administration strongly supports provider conscience laws
that protect and support the rights of health care providers,
and also recognizes and supports the rights of patients. . . .
18 February, 2011 CMA Physicians, former HHS Asst. Secretary decry Obama
administration's regulatory action on conscience and discrimination.
The 16,000-member Christian Medical Association (CMA,
www.cmda.org) today protested the decision of the Obama
administration to weaken the only federal regulation protecting
the exercise of conscience in health care. . .
14 February, 2011
ADF cases prompt House members to seek rationale from Sebelius over attack on conscience protections
A
letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius signed by 46
members of the U.S. House of Representatives Friday asks her to
explain why her department is seeking to repeal conscience
protections for health care workers in light of known attacks on
such workers. . .
25 January, 2011
CA Alliance of Catholic Health Care Applauds Effort
to Protect Hospitals,
Clinics and Health Care Workers from Coercive Measures that Violate
Conscience
The Alliance of Catholic Health Care applauded the introduction
of new bipartisan federal civil rights legislation that would
protect all hospitals, clinics and health care workers from
being forced to perform or support abortions in violation of
their rights of conscience. . .
24 January, 2011
Bishops Support Three Bills to Strengthen
Protections for Life and Conscience
Three bills currently in the U.S. House of Representatives would
help ensure that adequate protections are in place for the
consciences of taxpayers and health care providers and against
federal funding of abortion. . .
News
Releases
2010
20 August, 2010
Becket Fund to provide free defense for religious hospitals against
government-ordered abortions
. . .The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty threatened to sue the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) if it tried to force religiously affiliated
hospitals to perform abortions against the conscientious objections of their
doctors and nurses. . .
7 July, 2010
Washington State Capitulates, Recognizes Pharmacists' Conscience Rights
This afternoon, less than two weeks before the start of a civil rights
trial in Tacoma federal court, attorneys for the State of Washington told a federal judge
that the State would seek to create new rules for pharmacists
with conscientious objections. . .
29 April, 2010
NY nurse forced to participate in abortion files additional suit against
Mt. Sinai Hospital
Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a lawsuit Friday against Mt. Sinai
Hospital in New York state court on behalf of a nurse forced to participate in a
late-term abortion procedure under threat of disciplinary action . . .
22 March, 2010
Women and Medical Professionals Ask Court to Intervene in Federal
Case to Protect the Right to Conscience
. . . On behalf of
Concerned Woman for America (CWA), Christian Pharmacists Fellowship
International, Care Net, Heartbeat International and the New Jersey Physicians
Resource Council, Advocates International attorneys, are asking to be allowed to
intervene and defend the law, 45 CFR Part 88, enacted in December 2008 by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. . . .
15 March, 2010
Christian Medical Association Physicians Oppose
Healthcare Bill on Abortion, Conscience
The 17,000 members of the
Christian Medical Association today urged Members of the House of
Representatives to vote against the controversial healthcare overhaul bill
approved by the Senate, H.R. 3590. . .
20 February, 2010
Conscience or Tyranny
Right to Life applauds a group of courageous pro - life doctors challenging the
Medical Council's provisions relating to abortion included in its draft document
titled, " Beliefs and Medical Practice." . . .
20 January, 2010
Time is Ripe for Conscience Rights
Catholic League president Bill Donohue explains why both the House and Senate
health care bills are inadequate . . .
18 January, 2010
Press Release on
Coakley Hostility to Conscience Rights
n a statement
released Monday, the Catholic Medical Association (CMA)
condemned statements regarding respect for conscience rights
made by Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley in an
interview conducted on January 14.
News
Releases
2009
17 December, 2009
Brownback conscience amendment praised
U.S Senator Sam
Brownback (KS) courageously introduced to the Senate an
amendment to provide strong conscience protection for
individuals and institutional health care providers including:
health plans, health insurance issuers, purchasers and plan
sponsors. . .
20 November, 2009
ECLJ Warns About an Attempt by the Council of Europe to Undermine "Conscientious Objection"
30 September, 2009
Protecting Access for Poor Patients, CMA Physicians Support Conscience
Provisions in Alternative Healthcare Bill
. . . the
nation's largest association of faith-based physicians, today voiced support
for the conscience-protecting provisions in the "Empowering Patients First
Act," bill introduced by Rep. Tom Price . . .
15 September, 2009
CMA Physicians on Behalf of Freedom2Care coalition: Stop abortion
mandates and protect conscience rights
. . . today the Christian Medical Association
(CMA) sent a letter to
President Obama indicating that over 10,000 individuals have signed a
Freedom2Care petition urging the President and Congress to protect
conscience rights and stop abortion mandates. . .
25 August, 2009
Preliminary Injunction Granted in Illinois Conscience Case
. . . As a result of the injunction, the pharmacists will be
permitted to refuse to dispense Plan B and other forms of
emergency contraception . . .
19 August, 2009
Students React as Religious Liberty,
Conscience Protections Placed at Risk
Students at Catholic
universities across the nation are banding together with
students at Belmont Abbey College in a stand for religious
liberty and conscience rights. . .
19 Augst, 2009 ADF rebuts NY hospital's claim that pro-life nurse can't sue
Alliance Defense Fund attorneys submitted a brief in
federal court Monday in response to the claim of New York's
Mount Sinai Hospital that a pro-life nurse who sued the
hospital has no right to defend herself in court. . .
18 August, 2009
A NY Nurse Forced to do the Unthinkable
The administrators at New York City's Mount Sinai Hospital knew at least three
things, that Sunday morning, when they ordered senior nurse Cathy Cenzon-DeCarlo,
at the last minute, to assist in a
late-term abortion . . .
17 August, 2009
Bishops Write Joint Letter on Insurance Mandate to Cover
Contraception
Wisconsin's bishops have called a
provision in the recently enacted state budget that mandates
health insurance policies cover contraceptive services as
"blatantly insensitive" to the moral values of Catholics. The
bishops commented on the provision in a letter to Catholics. . .
10 August, 2009
EEOC Violates Religious
Liberty By Forcing Catholic College to Provide Insurance for Contraceptives
The U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has ruled that a small Catholic college must
include coverage for artificial contraceptives in its employee health insurance
plan . . .
30 July, 2009
NY nurse threatened, forced to assist in late-term
abortion
Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a
lawsuit Monday against Mount Sinai Hospital on behalf of
a Catholic nurse who was forced to participate in a late-term
abortion under the threat of disciplinary action, including possible
termination and loss of her license. . .
9 June, 2009
Conscience rule removal coupled with budget cuts could
trigger Ca. healthcare crisis
California lawmakers . . .along with doctors in white coats,
nurses and other healthcare professionals, said this morning . .
.that it is imperative the "conscience clause" rule is not
rescinded . . .
9 June, 2009
Catholic Hospitals in California Release
Statement Supporting Conscience Clause Protection for
Hospitals & Health Care Workers
. . . "If the term 'choice' means anything at
all, it must apply equally to those who support abortion and those who conscientiously object to
it."
20 May, 2009
La. Supreme Court rejects hospital's appeal in nurse's rights of
conscience lawsuit
Hospital wanted court to rule against nurse; instead, she will get her
day in court . . .
18 May, 2009
Doctors Urge President Obama to Keep the
Conscience Clause Following Notre Dame Speech
. . . "We have specifically requested a
meeting with President Obama or his staff and have
not received any response. If the president is truly
concerned about finding common ground, he should
meet with doctors and patients who would be affected
by the rescission of the conscience clause, rather
than spout meaningless rhetoric in name of unity."
1 May, 2009
"Right to Die" Could Force Montana Doctors to Assist in Suicide
The Christian Legal Society and Christian Medical Association
asked the Montana Supreme Court yesterday to protect the
conscience rights of healthcare professionals who object to
assisting in suicides. . .
29 April, 2009
Catholic Conference Welcomes Senate Resolution . . . the Obama
administration announced plans to rescind a recently
implemented regulation that provides conscience protections
for individual and institutional health care providers, and
today the Michigan Catholic Conference welcomed a state
Senate resolution expressing the body's opposition to the
administration's plan. . .
10 April, 2009
Medical and Legal Professionals
Urge HHS to Enforce the Law
Representing a coalition of medical and legal
professionals, attorneys for
Advocates International (AI) and the
Christian
Legal Society (CLS) today warned the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) against rescinding protections for healthcare professionals' freedom of
conscience currently set forth in federal regulations . . .
8 April, 2009 CMA physicians unveil new
polls: Obama plan to scrap conscience rule panned by the public and a threat
to patients
. . . the nation's largest association of
faith-based physicians, today warned that the Obama administration's plan to
scrap a conscience-protecting healthcare regulation is very unpopular and
threatens to cut off patient access to healthcare professionals and
institutions nationwide, especially imperiling the poor and medically
underserved populations.
7 April, 2009
Liberty Counsel Files Public Comment for Conscience
Regulation to Protect Healthcare Providers
Liberty Counsel has
filed a public comment with the United States Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) opposing President Barack Obama's proposed repeal of the Provider
Conscience Regulation . . .
6 April, 2009
ACLJ Gets Critical Legal Win in 'Conscience Clause' Case in Illinois
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ),
focusing on constitutional law, said today it's pleased with an
important victory in its ongoing litigation to protect the conscience
rights of pharmacists in the State of Illinois. . .
3 April, 2009 Dr. Coburn Offers Amendment to Protect Freedom of Conscience of Health Care
Providers and Patients
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. . . . a practicing
physicians . . . offered an amendment to the
2010 budget resolution to ensure that funds made available through the budget's
$634 billion health care reserve fund will not be used to violate the conscience
of health care providers . . .
1 April, 2009
Catholic Hospitals to Oppose Repeal of U.S. Conscience Clause
Regulations -
The Alliance of Catholic Health Care is asking the Obama Administration to stop efforts to repeal
federal conscience clause protection for hospitals and health care workers
and keep in place the existing regulation, citing the need to enforce civil
rights laws and protect religious freedom. . .
24 March, 2009
Americans asked to comment on revocation of HHS protection of conscience
regulation
The Obama
administration has directed the Department
of Health and Human Services to revoke a protection of conscience
regulation. . . .As a first
step in revoking this protection, the Department is accepting comment from the
American public for a thirty day period that commenced on 13 March,
2009.
23 March, 2009
Church values religious liberty and right of conscience in medicine
Urges enforcement of
existing laws that protect conscience rights - Protections needed in
climate hostile to religious freedom - USCCB Calls on Administration to Retain HHS Regulation on Conscience
Protection
19 March, 2009
Ethicist
Raises Concerns as Pharmacist Conscience Rule is Challenged
A recent commentary concludes that pharmacists require
freedom of conscience in order to provide the best patient care. . .
16 March, 2009 Don't
Move From 'Democracy to Despotism,' Cardinal Francis George Warns
Cardinal Francis George is urging Catholics in the United States to tell
the Obama Administration to retain Health and Human Services regulations
governing conscience protections for health care workers. . .
27 February, 2009
New Alberta Pharmacy Code Drops Conscience Protection
Pharmacy Regulators Favour Mandatory Referral
for Euthanasia - Alberta pharmacists
may be forced to "enhance access" to euthanasia, assisted suicide,
post-coital interception, etc. and other morally controversial services
if a new pharmacy Code of Ethics is adopted. . .
27 February, 2009
CARE NET Opposes Obama Decision to Overturn Protections for Pro-Life
Docs
. . . "Our nation's physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers
have the right to practice medicine without violating their conscience.
To remove these protections is to ultimately remove these individuals of
integrity from the field of medicine entirely" . . .
27 February, 2009
FRC Deplores Obama's Expected Action
Against Conscience Protections
. . . "For President Obama to do this
would be a huge blow to religious freedom and First Amendment rights. No
one should be forced to have an abortion, and no one should be forced to
be an abortionist in violation of their religious or ethical
convictions. . .
27 February, 2009
Obama administration's move to scuttle civil rights protections in
healthcare
. . . "The move to rescind the healthcare provider
conscience regulation imperils women's healthcare access, threatens
healthcare professionals' freedom to practice medicine according to
ethical standards . . .
3 February, 2009
Women and Medical Professionals Intervene in Federal Case to Protect the
Right to Conscience
Representing Concerned Women for America . . . and four
other groups of pro-life medical professionals, attorneys with Advocates
International filed a motion to intervene yesterday in three lawsuits .
. . that seek to invalidate a federal law protecting medical
professionals from discrimination because they refuse to participate in
abortions. . .
22 January, 2009
No choice: Doctors forced to perform abortions or
else?
Attorneys with the Christian Legal Society and the
Alliance Defense Fund filed motions to intervene Wednesday in three
lawsuits that seek to invalidate a federal law protecting medical
professionals from discrimination because they refuse to participate in
abortions. . . .
News
Releases
2008
18 December, 2008
Bishops Welcome HHS Regulation Protecting Conscience Rights in Health
Care
. . . The U.S. Catholic bishops' spokesperson on
abortion, Deirdre A. McQuade, welcomed the published regulation as a way
to protect medical personnel from being coerced to violate their
consciences in federally funded programs. . .
18 December, 2008
CMA physicians say new HHS civil rights regulation will protect patients
and medical access
Dr. David Stevens, CEO of the 16,000-member Christian
Medical Association . . . today said that a U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services regulation implementing over 35 years of civil rights
laws governing healthcare will "protect patients and patient access to
physicians who adhere to life-affirming ethical standards." . . .
18 December, 2008
Care Net Applauds New Conscience Protections for Health Care
Providers
Care Net President Melinda
Delahoyde praised the Department of Health and Human Services
for issuing regulations that strengthen existing laws and
provide protection to pro-life physicians and other healthcare
professionals who conscientiously object to perform or refer for
abortion. . .
18 December, 2008
Illinois Supreme Court Rejects Blagojevich's 'Emergency Rule'
This morning, the Illinois Supreme Court handed the
governor another setback in the case of Morr-Fitz v. Blagojevich, et al.
The court held that pharmacists may now defend their right of conscience
against the state's "Emergency Rule" . . .
9 October, 2008
Pell speaks out for human rights
. . . Cardinal Pell said: "The rights of freedom of thought,
conscience, religion and belief are fundamental. The ability to
exercise conscientious objection is a keystone of democracy. All
of us should have the right to hold a belief and not be
compelled by the state to act contrary to that conviction. . .
25 September, 2008
Catholic Hospitals Announce Support for New Federal Rules
Citing the need to be free from religious discrimination, the
Alliance of Catholic Health Care today announced its support for
proposed federal regulations that would protect hospitals and
health care providers from being forced to provide abortions or
any other medical services contrary to their ethical or
religious beliefs. . .
17 September, 2008 -
Ontario document reveals plans for Manitoba physicians
Officials at Ontario's College of Physicians and Surgeons revised a
controversial draft policy before the deadline for public consultation
had passed, and before receiving major submissions critical of the
proposal. They plan to have the College's governing Council approve the
changes on 18 September, even though the revised draft continues to be
of concern . . .
17 September, 2008 -
Postpone vote, says Project
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba may implement a
policy similar to a controversial Ontario proposal that would restrict
freedom of conscience and religion among physicians. News of the plan
for Manitoba doctors was disclosed today in a briefing note to the
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. . .
13 September, 2008
-
Rights Commission threat “blasphemy against the human spirit”
“Blasphemy against the human spirit.” That is how the Protection of Conscience
Project describes a threat by Ontario’s Human Rights Commission to punish
doctors who refuse to do what they believe to be wrong. The rebuke is found in a
submission to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario . .
31 August, 2008 -
Ontario Human Rights Commission Flexes Muscles
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has been instructed by
the province's Human Rights Commission that physicians are to be denied
freedom of conscience and religion. The "guidance" is contained in an
OHRC submission that appears to have been posted today on the
Commission's website. . .
18 August, 2008 -
Uphold religious freedom for doctors, League urges
The Catholic Civil Rights League recently called on the
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to ensure freedom of religion and
freedom of conscience for physicians in the application of changes to the
application of Ontario's Human Rights Code. . .
18 August, 2008 -
California Supreme Court Ruling Threatens Medical Care
and Religious Freedom, Says Americans United for Life
The California Supreme Court today ruled that patient
demand for nonessential, elective care trumps the freedom
of conscience of physicians and their ability to practice
medicine in accordance with their religious or moral beliefs.
. .
18 August, 2008 -
Cal. Supreme Court Rejects
Doctors' Rights of Conscience
In a major decision likely to re-draw the battle
lines of the gay rights movement, the California Supreme
Court today ruled against two doctors who declined to
artificially inseminate a lesbian. . .
15 August, 2008 -
Proposed policy could severely limit freedom of Ontario physicians
In a letter today to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario,
the president of Canadian Physicians for Life, Dr. Will Johnston,
expressed concern over a draft policy relating to freedom of conscience
and the lack of sufficient notice given by CPSO to all interested
stakeholders that a consultation process, which officially ends
today, has been underway since the end of June. . .
14 August, 2008 -
Freedom of Conscience and Religion Not a Defence
Ontario physicians are being advised that they are expected to give up
freedom of conscience if they wish to practise medicine in the province.
The expectation is set out in "Physicians and the Ontario Human Rights
Code," a draft policy document from the Ontario College of Physicians
and Surgeons. . .
18 July, 2008 -
Cardinal Rigali Urges Congress To Respect Conscience Rights
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" . . .
15 July, 2008 -
CMA physicians call on HHS to protect patients with regulations upholding
healthcare professionals' rights
Responding to a story published this morning by the New York Times
, physicians of the Christian Medical Association called on
Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt to publish
regulations in accord with federal laws protecting patients and
healthcare professionals in decisions relating to controversial
procedures and prescriptions. . .
15 July, 2008 -
CWA Applauds HHS for Upholding Healthcare Providers' Rights
According to
The New
York Times, the Bush administration plans to propose regulations
to comply with federal laws to protect patients and healthcare professionals
from being forced to provide controversial drugs and procedures such as
abortion. . .
27 June, 2008
-
CMA Physicians Laud HHS Secretary Leavitt for Protecting Physicians and Patients on Abortion and Conscience Issue
The Christian Medical Association . . . today lauded U.S. Health and
Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt for encouraging the American Board
of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) to clearly publish assurances that it will
not decertify or otherwise penalize physicians who do not perform or refer for
abortions. . .
12 May, 2008 -
Coast Guard relents, allows officer to refuse vaccine from aborted baby
U.S. Coast Guard officials who initially refused to excuse an officer
from being injected with a vaccine derived from an aborted child have
relented in the wake of a lawsuit filed on behalf of the officer by
Alliance Defense Fund attorneys . . .
2 May, 2008 -
9th Circuit thwarts Wash. state's attempt to stall conscience rights
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Thursday that
Washington pharmacists' rights of conscience will be protected while an
appeal by state officials who oppose those rights moves forward . . .
23 April, 2008
-
Pharmacist's Rights of Conscience Goes to Wisconsin Supreme Court
Today the Thomas More Society filed an
appeal with the Wisconsin Supreme Court on behalf of Neil T. Noesen.
Noesen is a registered pharmacist, who refused to fill a
prescription for oral contraceptives at a K-Mart in Menominee, Wisconsin
. . .
17 April, 2008 -
League pleased that Bill on conscience protection is re-introduced
The Catholic Civil Rights League welcomed the
introduction of Private Member's Bill C-537, April 16 by MP Maurice Vellacott
(Saskatoon - Wanuskewin) to protect conscience rights of health care workers . .
.
19 March, 2008 -
Vellacott re-introduces Private Member's Bill to protect conscience
rights of health care workers
Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon-Wanuskewin)
today re-introduced his Private Member's Bill that would protect the
conscience rights of Canada's health care workers. This is the third
Parliament in which Vellacott has introduced a bill to protect health
care workers' conscience rights. . .
19 March, 2008 -
Court rejects California's challenge to healthcare conscience rights
A federal court Tuesday rejected California's challenge to the
"Weldon Amendment." The federal statute forbids state and local
governments that receive federal funds from discriminating against
healthcare providers that refuse to perform or refer patients for
abortions . . .
14 March, 2008 -
HHS Secretary Calls on Certification Group to Protect
Conscience Rights
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt today
expressed disappointment in a new policy put forth by the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
He also called on the American Board of Obstetrics and
Gynecology (ABOG) to reject this policy and protect the
conscience rights of physicians. . .
10 March, 2008 -
ADF attorneys assist Montana pro-life pharmacist
The Montana Board of Pharmacy has dropped all complaints against a
pharmacist who declined to dispense contraceptives and the so-called
"morning after pill" because of his sincerely-held religious beliefs . .
.
15 February, 2008 -
ADF: American Counseling Association must honor freedom of conscience,
religion
ADF attorneys sent a letter to the American Counseling Association
Wednesday, asking the organization to reconsider a policy which
stigmatizes counselors and clients who hold to biblically based
religious beliefs regarding homosexual behavior. . .
4 January, 2008 -
ADF: U.S. Coast Guard officers should not be forced to violate
conscience in order to serve country
On Wednesday, ADF attorneys filed a lawsuit on behalf of a U.S. Coast
Guard officer told he must be injected with a vaccine derived from an
aborted child, even though it conflicts with his Catholic beliefs . . .
News
Releases
2007
11 December, 2007
Physicians call on The American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to Stop Attacking Conscience Rights
The nation's largest faith-based association of physicians, the 15,000-member
Christian Medical Association (www.cmda.org), today
joined other leading national organizations in
challenging The American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists (ACOG) to stop its attack on the
conscience rights of pro-life physicians. . .
8 November, 2007 -
Court stops enforcement of Wash. regulations targeting pharmacists,
pharmacies who don't stock abortion drugs
A federal court Thursday confirmed that the right of Washington
pharmacists to obey their conscience when they object to dispensing
abortion-inducing drugs on religious grounds will be protected while a
lawsuit by two pharmacists and a pharmacy owner moves forward . . .
25 September, 2007 -
ADF-allied attorneys available to the media following hearing on
Washington "right of conscience" case Alliance Defense Fund allied
attorneys Kristen Waggoner and Steve O'Ban will be available to answer
questions from the media Wednesday following a court hearing on their
motion for preliminary injunction filed against the Washington State
Pharmacy Board . . .
11 September, 2007 -
Christian doctor fired after city officials learn of his membership with
pro-family organization
Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed a lawsuit Tuesday in
federal court on behalf of an Illinois clinical psychologist who lost
his contract with the city of Minneapolis because of his membership with
a politically conservative, pro-family organization . . .
1 August, 2007 -
ACLJ Hails Federal Court Ruling Acknowledging Conscience Rights of
Illinois Pharmacists
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) today praised a ruling by
the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Illinois denying a motion by
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former Wal-Mart
pharmacist arising out of his suspension for refusing to sell "Plan B"
and other drugs he considers abortifacient. . .
27 July, 2007
ADF
attorneys file lawsuit and motion for preliminary injunction
Seeking to safeguard the rights of pharmacists and
pharmacies who choose not to stock or distribute abortion-inducing drugs on
religious and moral grounds, ADF attorneys and allied attorneys filed a lawsuit
Wednesday in federal court. . . .
3 April, 2007
Doctors Should Not Be Forced To Artificially Inseminate Lesbians
The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law
firm . . . has submitted a friend of the court brief supporting the right of
physicians to refuse to perform medical procedures that violate their sincerely
held religious convictions. The brief was filed in a case pending before the
California Supreme Court . . .Guadalupe Benitez, a lesbian, sued two doctors who
refused to artificially inseminate her-alleging that the doctors discriminated
against her because of her sexual orientation in violation of California's civil
rights act . . .
29 January, 2007
Weldon Amendment Challenge by CA is Reverse Discrimination
The Christian Medical Association (CMA, ), the nation's largest faith-based
organization of physicians, today issued a statement criticizing the California
Attorney General's legal attack on physicians' freedom to refuse to participate
in abortions on the basis of conscience . . .
11 January, 2007 -
CLS attorney available for comment following hearing in right of
conscience challenge
An attorney with the Christian Legal Society will be available for
comments to the media outside the Burton U.S. Courthouse immediately
following Friday's hearing in State of California v. United States
of America, a federal lawsuit involving the conscience rights of
pro-life physicians. . .
5 January, 2007 -
ADF earns victory for nurse demoted for not distributing 'morning after'
abortion pill
A lawsuit filed by Alliance Defense Fund attorneys on behalf of a nurse
demoted for refusing to distribute the morning-after pill will be
permitted to go forward. A Louisiana court today informed an ADF-allied
attorney that the denial of the hospital's motion for summary judgment
is official. . .
News
Releases
2006
5 December, 2006
Canadian Physicians ask
Federal and Provincial Health Ministers to provide alternative to
ethically controversial childhood vaccine.
Canadian Physicians for Life has become aware that some viral
vaccines were developed from tissue from aborted fetuses. . . . This
presents a serious moral dilemma to those who might view the use of such
abortion-related vaccines as a form of cooperation with an immoral act,
but who are also aware of the dire health consequences of failing to
immunize themselves or their children . . .
14 November, 2006
Federal appeals court upholds federal protection for pro-life medical
professionals
A federal appeals court today upheld the dismissal of
a lawsuit brought by a pro-abortion group . . ."Doctors and nurses
should not be forced to participate in abortions against their religious
beliefs or conscience. Under the banner of 'choice,' the National
Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association asserted a supposed
right to do this, but the court didn't buy it," said Casey Mattox . . .
19 October, 2006
Statement on Decision in Religious Liberty Case
Richard E. Barnes, executive director of the
New York State Catholic Conference, issued the following statement after today's
decision by the New York State Court of Appeals upholding a state mandate that
forces Catholic education, health and human service ministries to provide
contraception coverage in employee health plans . . .
7 September, 2006
ACLJ Hails Victory For Right of Conscience in Illinois Case Involving
Pharmacists & Dispensation of the Morning-After Pill.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) today hailed as "a
significant victory for the right of conscience" a decision of the U.S.
District Court in Springfield, Illinois denying Illinois Governor
Blagojevich's motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by seven pharmacists
challenging that state's year-old morning-after-pill mandate.
7 Septermber, 2006 -
CLS attorney available for comment following hearing in right of
conscience challenge An attorney with the Christian Legal Society
will be available for comments to the media outside the E. Barrett
Prettyman U.S. Courthouse immediately following Friday's hearing in
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association v. Gonzales,
a federal lawsuit involving the conscience rights of pro-life physicians
and healthcare workers. . .
12 June, 2006 -
Pro-life healthcare groups fight California's attempts to criminalize
right of conscience
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Friday that
California healthcare professionals must be allowed to intervene in a
lawsuit to defend their right to refuse to provide abortions and
abortion referrals. . .
18 May, 2006 -
CLS attorney available for comment following hearing in right of
conscience challenge
An attorney with the Christian Legal Society will be available for
comments to the media outside the Browning U.S. Courthouse immediately
following Friday's hearing in State of California v. United States
of America, a federal lawsuit involving the conscience rights of
pro-life physicians. . .
28 April, 2006
Michigan Bill Would Insure
Freedom of Conscience for Insurance Providers.
"A person's religious freedom doesn't end when he opens
the door to his business," states Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of
Priests for Life. "Michigan's representatives have taken an important step
toward guaranteeing freedom of conscience for those providing health
insurance in that state" . . .
14 March, 2006
ADF defends right of conscience for pharmacists
The Alliance
Defense Fund sent a letter Friday to the Washington State Board of
Pharmacy urging the board to adopt a policy protecting the right of
conscience for pharmacists. Many pharmacists object on moral, ethical,
and religious grounds to dispensing contraceptives, including the
"morning-after" abortion pill . . .
26 January, 2006
Nurses Charge Virginia Mason for Retaliation
Washington State
Nurses Association (WSNA) . . .has filed an unfair labor practice charge
against VMMC . . . that within the past six months, VMMC has retaliated
and discriminated against the registered nurses for exercising their
contractual right to refuse flu vaccination by forcing them to wear
masks. . .
7 January, 2006
Nurses Win Federal Court Decision on Virginia Mason's Mandatory Flu
Vaccination Policy
. . .WSNA absolutely supports the flu
vaccination and in fact strongly encourages nurses to get them. But, it
does oppose any health care facility threatening to fire people if they
do not submit to the mandatory vaccination . . .
News
Releases
2005
13 December, 2005 -
Pro-life medical groups appeal to higher court to protect their right of
conscience
Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund and the Christian Legal Society
filed a brief today with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
to support their appeal of a lower court's decision that denied
California healthcare professionals the opportunity to intervene in a
case affecting their right to refuse to provide abortions and abortion
referrals.
4 November, 2005 -
Pharmacist appeals Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board's Final Disciplinary
Decision
Neil Noesen, the Wisconsin pharmacist disciplined earlier this year by the
Wisconsin State Pharmacy Examining Board has filed an opposing brief November 1st
in Barron County Circuit Court . . .
31 October, 2005 -
Belgium: Redefining Palliative Care and Forcing Physicians to Refer for Euthanasia
Physicians must refer patients for euthanasia, and euthanasia is
part of palliative care in Belgium, according to a joint statement issued by the
Catholic University of Leuven, the University of Ghent and the Belgian
Association of General Practitioners. . .
16 October, 2005 -
Family Life Praises Doctor's Contraception Decision
The bold and important decision of Dr Joseph Hassan to cease prescribing
contraceptives to his patients is to be praised. Catholic pro-life and family organisation, Family Life International,
commends the stand taken by Nelson GP, Dr Joseph Hassan, to stop prescribing
contraceptives to his patients . . .
14 October, 2005 -
Governor Vetoes Conscience Protection Act
This afternoon, Governor James Doyle vetoed Assembly Bill 207 (The
Conscience Protection Act) authored by Rep. Jean Hundertmark
(R-Clintonville) and Sen. Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh). . .
17 September, 2005-
A Narrow and Totalitarian View of Professional Practice
An
"invitation only" focus group will meet in Windsor, Ontario, on 20
September to consider a proposal that includes a draft code of ethics
for Ontario's pharmacists. Its response may determine how far the
Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) can go in suppressing freedom of
conscience. . .
14 September, 2005-
The nation's most comprehensive medical conscience rights legislation
Tomorrow, Thursday,
September 15, the Conscience Protection Act
(AB 207) will receive a public hearing before the Senate Health,
Children, Families, Aging & Long Term Care Committee. . .
12 September, 2005-
CMA Doctors Fault ACOG Hypocrisy on Abortion
"Choice"- The 17,000-member Christian
Medical Association (CMA)
today highlighted the hypocrisy of The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) in pushing for legislation to force conscientiously
opposed physicians into referring their patients for abortions . . .
25 July, 2005-
Manzullo: Pharmacists Shouldn’t Be Forced to Choose Between Their Business,
Beliefs
House Small Business Committee Chairman Don
Manzullo (R-IL) today said pharmacists in several states face fines and
possibly the loss of their business if they refuse to dispense certain
birth control drugs that are against their beliefs.
6 July, 2005-
The Use of Physicians for
Human Torture
The Islamic Medical Association of North America (www.imana.org)
is opposed to the use of physicians for torture of inmates irrespective
of their faith, race, gender, nationality or alleged crime. . .
27 June, 2005-
CMA Doctors Counter AMA Position on Abortion and Conscience.
The nation's largest faith-based organization of physicians today spoke
out in opposition to the American Medical Association's recent stance
regarding forcing the filling of prescriptions for drugs that can cause
abortions. . .
23 June, 2005 -
Louisiana nurse fired for refusal to administer "morning after" abortion
pill
Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund have filed suit against St.
Tammany Parish Hospital for terminating the employment of a nurse who
refused to administer the "morning after" abortion pill. The suit
argues that the hospital's actions violate the Louisiana Employment
Discrimination Law. . .
17 June, 2005 -
Pro-life medical groups seek to defend right of conscience in California
The Alliance Defense Fund and the Christian Legal Society filed a motion
to intervene Thursday in State of California v. United States of
America on behalf of California healthcare professionals to defend
their right to refuse to provide abortions and abortion referrals.
8 June, 2005 -
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which specializes in
constitutional law, today filed a federal lawsuit against Eastern
Illinois University after a nurse who was working at the University's
Health Services Department was not promoted because of her pro-life
beliefs and her objection to dispensing the morning-after pill.. .
8 June, 2005 -
AUL Files Suit Against Illinois Governor
Today, Americans United for Life
filed suit on behalf of pharmacy owner Luke Vander Bleek of Morrison, Illinois
against Gov. Rod Blagojevich over his emergency rule issued April 1, 2005
requiring pharmacies to dispense contraceptives and abortifacient drugs such as
the morning-after pill "without delay."
7 June, 2005 -
Good medicine: Albertsons agrees to respect pharmacists' right of
conscience
Albertsons Corporation has agreed to accommodate its
pharmacists' right to refuse to fill prescriptions that violate their
religious or moral beliefs. The accommodation came on the heels of a
lawsuit filed by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund and Christian
Legal Society against the employer and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on
behalf of pharmacist David Scimio. . .
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ),
which specializes in constitutional law, today filed an amended
complaint in state court in Illinois adding four additional pharmacists
to its lawsuit challenging Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's emergency
amendment to the state code requiring pharmacists to dispense medication
even if filling the prescriptions violate their conscience and religious
beliefs.
16 May, 2005 -
Senate Committee to Hear Pharmacists Conscience Clause Bill
The Senate Committee on Labor
and Election Process Reform will hold a public hearing Tuesday, May 17 at the
State Capitol highlighting legislation to
provide much needed job security
for pharmacists who conscientiously object to dispensing drugs that they believe
would be used to cause death through abortion, euthanasia, or physician-assisted
suicide. . .
15 April, 2005 -
Illinois governor writes prescription for trouble, CLS and ADF file suit
on behalf of pharmacist
The Christian Legal Society and Alliance Defense Fund filed suit today
against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on behalf of a Lake County
pharmacist. Blagojevich's "emergency rule" filed this month compels
pharmacists to fill prescriptions for contraceptives, including
abortion-inducing drugs, regardless of any moral objections they may
have. . .
13 April, 2005 -
Wisconsin Pharmacist Punished for Exercising Religious Beliefs
Today the state Pharmacy Examining Board (PEB) approved in full last
month's recommendation from Administrative Law Judge Colleen Baird to reprimand
and limit the license of Wisconsin pharmacist Neil Noesen . . .
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which
specializes in constitutional law, today filed a lawsuit in state court
in Illinois on behalf of two pharmacists challenging Illinois Governor
Rod Blagojevich's emergency amendment to the state code requiring
pharmacists to dispense medication even if filling the prescriptions
violate their conscience and religious beliefs . . .
5 April,
2005 -
Rep. Stephens Opposes Governor's Executive Order to Fill Contraceptive
Prescriptions
The governor has overstepped his boundaries when he issued an
executive order requiring all pharmacists to fill contraceptive prescriptions
regardless of religious or moral beliefs according to State Representative Ron
Stephens (R-Greenville) . . .
News
Releases
2004
8 December, 2004 -
CCF
Responds to California Attorney General Bill Lockyer's Pro-Abortion Attack
on Conscience
In response to California Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announcing
he will sue to block the Hyde-Weldon conscience amendment in the
recently-passed federal spending bill which prohibits government entities
from punishing doctors who won't do abortions, Randy Thomasson, president
of Campaign for Children and Families, a leading West Coast pro-family
organization, issued the following statement . . .
18 October, 2004 -
Economics Outweighs Ethical
Principles in the Pharmacy Profession
On October 15th, the
Vancouver Sun reported that the BC Pharmacy Association, with the support of
the BC First Nations Summit and the federal Conservative party, is warning
that some pharmacists in remote areas are planning to withdraw from the
Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program. This means that pharmacists in
BC will be allowed to opt out of having to provide services to First Nations
people for purely economic reasons. . .
15 October, 2004 -
Government still in hot pursuit of their conscience-crushing abortion
campaign
. . .
T. . .
The Government is proceeding with the liberalisation of the abortion law
(final debate on the Amendment Bill scheduled for November 4th in the
National Assembly) in a manner which can only lead to the conclusion that
they are still in hot pursuit of their campaign to put increasing pressure
on pro-life health professionals to do their abortions for them. . .
11 August, 2004
Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference
Media Statement -Call to Action on Abortion
"The Catholic Church calls on all
catholic medical personnel to insist on their constitutional rights,
respecting their freedom of conscience and to refuse to cooperate in the
performance of abortions", said the Bishops in their statement at the end of
their assembly in Mariannhill today. . .
27 May, 2004 -
ACLJ Announces Settlement of Case of Health Dept. Employee in Illinois
The American Center for Law and Justice, which
specializes in constitutional law, announced today the settlement of the
case of a health department employee from Illinois who filed a federal
discrimination lawsuit in 2003 claiming she was denied a promotion based on
her pro-life religious beliefs. . .
12 May, 2004 -
Ethics Profiling in the Health Care Profession
The recent near-failing of a medical student at a Canadian university,
solely because the student has pro-life convictions, shows how intolerant
some people have become about choices they dislike. For years, Canadian
Physicians for Life has received anecdotal complaints from students who
suspect that their medical school admission interview went badly after
they truthfully answered questions which probed for pro-life beliefs. . .
12 May, 2004 -
Statement by Maurice Vellacott, M.P.
. . . Today, our specific purpose is to draw attention to the injustices
against pro-life health care professionals, and to urge both the federal
government and provincial governments and professional associations to
implement policies that guarantee the constitutionally-protected freedom
of conscience for pro-life nurses, doctors, pharmacists and medical
students. . .
6 May, 2004 -
Planned Parenthood Continues Their Campaign of Lies
Planned Parenthood, the state's largest abortion provider, continues to
disseminate outright lies about the nation's most comprehensive
legislation dealing with conscience rights for health care professionals
and facilities. . .
22 April,
2004 -
Pro-Life Wisconsin Kicks Off Pharmacists Conscience Clause Petition Drive
Pro-Life Wisconsin has initiated a statewide petition drive calling on
Wisconsin's state legislators to protect in law the conscience rights of
pharmacists who refuse to engage in practices that violate the sanctity of
human life - specifically chemical abortion and euthanasia. Over 5,000
petitions have already been circulated statewide with a goal of delivering
over 15,000 signatures to the Wisconsin Legislature in spring 2005. . .
21 April, 2004-
Governor
Delivers a Slap in the Face to the Medical Community!
Assembly Bill 67, also
known as the Conscience Clause Bill,
was vetoed today by Gov. James Doyle. Doyle joined ranks with Planned
Parenthood and the radical pro-abortion lobby in opposing the nation's most
comprehensive legislation that would protect the conscience rights of
medical professionals and facilities in certain defined areas. . .
15 April,
2004-
Planned Parenthood Launches Campaign of Outright Lies
Today, Planned
Parenthood, the state's largest abortion provider, announced they would be
undertaking a "public information campaign" to target several legislators
who voted for Assembly Bill 67, also known as the
Conscience Clause Bill. . .
16 March, 2004 - Governor Says He Will Veto
Conscience Clause Bill!
Yesterday,
Governor Doyle informed the media that plans to veto Assembly Bill 67,
the Conscience Clause Bill, which
was authored by Rep. Jean Hundertmark (R-Clintonville) and Sen. Carol Roessler
(R-Oshkosh) . . .
1 March, 2004 -
CMA doctors rue California's breach of religious freedom
"Faith-based organizations must retain the freedom to follow religious and
ethical beliefs in matters regarding issues such as birth control," said
Christian Medical Association Executive Director David Stevens, M.D. today,
reacting against a California Supreme Court decision to force Catholic Charities
to provide contraception coverage to its employees. . .
19 February, 2004 -
Assembly Vote Likely Next Week
The Assembly is likely to vote
next week on concurrence with State Senate action on the nation's most
comprehensive conscience clause legislation, Assembly Bill 67. The
legislation is authored by Rep. Jean Hundertmark (R-Clintonville) and Sen.
Carol Roessler (R-Oshkosh). After the Assembly completes it work on AB
67, the measure will go to the governor . . .
19 February,
2004-
Why
Pro-Life Wisconsin Opposes Assembly Bill 67 (as amended)
Last
Thursday, Assembly 67 (the health care conscience clause bill)
passed the State Senate 20-13. PLW was placed in the very difficult
position of having to oppose a bill we originally supported. Not
only was the bill amended to weaken beginning-of-life issues, but it was
amended to weaken end-of-life issues as well . . .
News
Releases
2003
22 July, 2003 -
Wackiness Rules
Last month the Assembly overwhelmingly approved Assembly Bill 67. This
reasonable, common sense legislation would protect the conscience rights
of health care professionals and facilities in the specific areas of
abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia and unethical medical experiments
involving the deliberate destruction of human life. . .
5 June, 2003 -
Court Puts Health Care Workers on the Spot
A recent decision by the Supreme Court of Victoria makes it lawful to
cause the death of patients by starvation and dehydration. The court has
classified nutrition and hydration not as care, but as 'treatment' that
can by refused by a patient or proxy. Australian health care workers who
find this morally repugnant may now find themselves in a difficult
position. . .
14 May, 2003 -
Assembly Labor Committee Approves
Pharmacists' Conscience Clause
Madison - The Assembly Labor Committee gave their approval this morning to
Assembly Bill 63, legislation that will provide much needed job security for
pharmacists who conscientiously object to dispensing drugs or devices that
they reasonably believe would be used to cause death through
abortion,
euthanasia,
physician assisted suicide, or any other method of intentionally killing
another human being . . .
23 April, 2003
- Professor Prevails, Union Capitulates After a year of battling, the Cuesta
College Federation of Teachers finally agreed to allow one of its professors
to have all of his union dues diverted to a charity of his choice. Despite
making repeated requests, Professor Paul Bauer had previously been denied
the right to divert his mandatory "fair share" union fees to a charity that
did not conflict with his religious convictions. . .
News
Releases
2002
28 October, 2002 - Louisiana Health Dept. Reverses
Itself In "Morning-After" Pill Case.State Agrees To Provide
Religious Accommodation For Nurse After Discrimination Complaint Filed With EEOC
The American Center for Law and Justice, an
international public interest law firm committed to protecting life,
announced today that the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has
reversed itself and has now agreed to stop discriminating against a public
health nurse from New Orleans who was threatened with termination for
refusing to dispense pregnancy-ending medication - a job requirement that
violates her deeply held religious beliefs . . .
23 October, 2002 - ACLJ Files Religious
Discrimination Complaint With EEOC Against Louisiana Health Dept. Over
"Morning-After" Pill
The American Center for Law and
Justice, an international public interest law firm committed to protecting
life, today announced it is representing a nurse from Louisiana who has
been threatened with termination for refusing to dispense pregnancy-ending
medication - a requirement that violates her deeply held religious beliefs
. . .
26 June,2002 -
Crisis at Philadelphia Hospital Highlights The Violation Of Women's Rights
Due To Mismanagement Of Our Health System
Doctors For Life (DFL), an organisation of
about 770 doctors, places the blame for the lack of staff to support women
having abortions at Philadelphia hospital, squarely on the shoulders of
the South African government. Before the government bulldozed the law to
legalise abortion on demand through Parliament, DFL warned via numerous
press releases that the infrastructure to implement the law does not exist
. . .
28 May, 2002 - ACLJ
wins Religious Discrimination Case Against California Health Agency Over
'Morning-After Pill'
The American Center for Law and Justice, an international public interest
law firm, announced today that a federal jury in California has found that
Riverside County violated the constitutional rights of a nurse who was
fired from her job after she refused to dispense medication known as a
"morning-after" pill designed to end pregnancies . . .
22 April, 2002 - Stonewalling Leads to Call for New Freedom of
Information Law
An Albertan writes to a professional organization with concerns about
its policies on civil rights and public health issues. She gets no
response. . .
21 March, 2002
- Catholic Health Association Supports Medically Appropriate, Morally
Acceptable Care for Sexual Assault Victims
The following statement
is being released by Rev. Michael D. Place, STD, president and chief
executive officer, Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA)
. . .
24 February, 2002- Aryan Defender Highlights BC Medical Journal
It is an unusual cover for a medical journal: a crouching, brawny Aryan
hero, glowering murderously from under a horned helmet, a copper IUD
clutched in his sword hand . . .