Organization
The Protection of Conscience Research Group ("the Research Group")
researches freedom of conscience. Members seek to clearly and rationally
articulate the nature of freedom of conscience and its importance and
relevance to the good of the individual and society, with particular
application to the work and responsibilities of physicians, nurses,
pharmacists and other health care workers.
Members are independent or institutionally affiliated graduate-level
researchers who wish to cooperate with others in achieving the purpose of
the Research Group, and who accept its principles and policies.
"Member" refers only to collaborative scholarship in pursuit of the
purposes of the Research Group. It does not imply a position or office or
include stipends or other remuneration.
A graduate-level researcher who wishes to becomes a member of the
Research Group
applies to the Administrator of the Protection of Conscience Project ("the
Administrator") and
agrees to the Research Group's principles and policies. Membership in the
Research Group becomes effective when the applicant is so notified by the
Administrator. Membership ceases when a member notifies the
Administrator or when a member is so notified by the Administrator.
When the Research Group numbers three or more members, the Administrator may
appoint a Convener on the advice of the Protection of Conscience Project Advisory Board.
The Convener is a member of the Research Group who is
willing to assume the role.
The Convener facilitates collaboration and communication among members, provides them with advice and encouragement as needed,
and encourages suitable postgraduate researchers to apply to join the
members. The
Convener does not act as a thesis advisor.
A member ceases to be Convener upon so notifying the Administrator,
or when so notified by the Administrator.
1. Freedom of conscience and religion are fundamental freedoms
intended to serve the good of individuals and society.
2. Freedom of conscience and religion include the freedom to
express conscientious or religious convictions by living and working and
participating in social and public affairs in accordance with them.
3. While freedom of conscience and religion may be limited to safeguard
the common good, it is far more serious to force someone to do what is
believed to be wrong (preservative freedom of conscience) than to prevent
someone from doing something believed to be good (perfective freedom of
conscience).
4. Adherents of different philosophical and religious traditions
should encourage respect for and accommodation of the exercise of freedom of
conscience and religion.
Publication and participation
Members are encouraged to publish their research in reputable scholarly
journals and textbooks and to participate in academic symposia.
Relationship to the Protection of Conscience Project
The Protection of Conscience Project
- establishes the purposes, principles,
policies
and conditions of membership in the Protection of Conscience Research
Research Group,
- approves membership in the Research Group and maintains a list of
members,
- appoints or removes the Convener of the Research Group,
- ensures adherence by members to the policies and conditions of
Research Group,
- does not direct or manage the research undertaken by the members,
- does not speak for or on behalf of the Research Group.
The Project will advertise the publication of papers by members.
With appropriate permission and if consistent with copyright law, the
Project may post on the Project website papers from members that have been
published in peer reviewed journals.
The Project will facilitate communication and cooperation among members and notify them of issues, articles or developments of interest.
Periodically, the Administrator may request research
assistance from members, who are not obliged to respond, but may do so if
the request is consistent with their research interests and is not
burdensome.
The Administrator will maintain the on-line framework necessary for
the functioning of the Research Group.
Religious belief
As independent researchers, members of the Research Group are not bound by the
non-denominational approach taken by the Protection of Conscience Project.
Group privacy policy
Members agree that their applications for membership may be shared with
the Protection of Conscience Project Advisory Board and Team, and that their
contact information may be shared with other Research Group members unless
they indicate otherwise.
Members agree that they will not otherwise
share or disseminate contact information of another member without express
consent.
Similarly, communications among members are not to be shared or
disseminated without the express consent of the parties to the
communication.
The restrictions on dissemination of contact information and
communications continue after one ceases to be a member of the Research
Group.
Representing the Research Group
A member of the Research Group must not represent himself as a public
representative of the Research Group, speaking on behalf of its members.
However, this is not intended to prevent individual members or the Convener from
doing what is necessary to coordinate or facilitate Research Group activities.