Several disturbing events in the past few months which resulted in forcing Catholic facilities to offer elective abortion have prompted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to call for immediate action by the U.S. House of Representatives to protect conscience rights.

According to the USCCB, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Archbishop William E. Lori, who serve as chairmen of the Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities and the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, called for immediate action by the U.S. House of Representatives to enact the Conscience Protection Act of 2016.

The bishops wrote that "disturbing new actions to force healthcare providers to participate in the destruction of human life cry out for an immediate federal remedy."

Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Lori cited three recent examples of government coercion on abortion.

First is the June 21 ruling by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services allowing, "contrary to the plain meaning of current federal law, that California's Department of Managed Health Care can continue forcing all health plans under its jurisdiction to cover elective abortions, including late-term abortions."

Second, the State of New York has followed California's lead and is mandating that all health insurers operating in New York require small group employers—including faith-based non-profits and Christian businesses—to cover all abortions with no exemption. "Even Churches and religious organizations could be required to cover some abortions in violation of their beliefs," they said.

Third, on June 21, a trial court in Washington State ruled that public hospitals in that state must do abortions if they also offer maternity services. According to the State's Attorney General, this requirement applies even if the public hospital is acquired by a Catholic healthcare provider.

The remedy is passage of the Conscience Protection Act which would "ensure that those providing much-needed health care and health coverage can continue to do so without being forced by government to help destroy innocent unborn children,” the bishops write.

Under this new bill, which was introduced in March by Rep. John Fleming (R-LA), “the Federal Government, and any State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance, may not penalize, retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against a health care provider on the basis that the provider does not . . . perform, refer for, pay for, or otherwise participate in abortion. . . .”

The bill states that California’s mandated abortion coverage is in defiance of the federal Hyde-Weldon amendment. Even though members of the House have repeatedly questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell about this violation, the department has done nothing to stop it.

The U.S. bishops are now throwing their weight behind demands to stop this kind of blatant intrusion upon the religious liberty rights of Americans.

“Even those who disagree on the issue of abortion should be able to respect those who wish not to participate in abortion,” they write. “As we continue to bask in the glow of our Fourth of July celebrations, we strongly urge you to uphold the rights to life and liberty which our Founding Fathers wisely asserted as most fundamental to our nation's existence.”

This bill is scheduled to be voted upon this week! Please call your Congressman at 202-224-3121 and ask him/her to vote YES this week on the Conscience Protection Act (S. 304).

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