Source: https://www.consciencelaws.org/archive/news/releases.aspx
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 12:29:40+00:00

Document:
News releases for 1999, 2000, and 2012 to the present is available on the News/Blog.
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. . .
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. . .
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," . . .
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. . .
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. . .
. . .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. . .
. . ."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." . . .
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). . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
. . .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. . .
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. . .
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 . . .
. . . 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. . . .
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. . .
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." . . .
Catholic League president Bill Donohue explains why both the House and Senate health care bills are inadequate . . .
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.
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"
. . . 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 . . .
. . . 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. . .
. . . As a result of the injunction, the pharmacists will be permitted to refuse to dispense Plan B and other forms of emergency contraception . . .
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. . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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 . . .
. . . "If the term 'choice' means anything at all, it must apply equally to those who support abortion and those who conscientiously object to it."
Hospital wanted court to rule against nurse; instead, she will get her day in court . . .
. . . "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."
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. . .
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 . . .
. . . 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.
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 . . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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.
A recent commentary concludes that pharmacists require freedom of conscience in order to provide the best patient care. . .
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. . .
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. . .
. . . "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" . . .
. . . "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. . .
. . . "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 . . .
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. . . .
. . . 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. . .
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." . . .
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. . .
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" . . .
. . . 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. . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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. . .
“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 . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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" . . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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. . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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. . .
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" . . .
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 . . .
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. . .
. . .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 . . .
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.
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 . . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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). . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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.
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. . .
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. . .
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 - ACLJ Files Federal Suit Against Illinois School 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.. .
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."
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.
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. . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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) . . .
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 . . .
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. . .
. . . 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. . .
Planned Parenthood Alberta is recycling the accusation that physicians who object to abortion may "scare" patients with "misinformation"or "impose their moral beliefs." This smear may be unfairly applied to conscientious objectors who follow the guidelines of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) . . .
"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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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) . . .
"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. . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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. . .
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. . .
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. . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
An Albertan writes to a professional organization with concerns about its policies on civil rights and public health issues. She gets no response. . .
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) . . .
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 . . .
The Canadian government's proposed Assisted Human Reproduction Act lacks protection for health care workers and others who do not want to participate in morally controversial procedures, and erodes the customary right to trial by jury . . .
Dr. Shahid Athar, an advisor to the Protection of Conscience Project and President of the Islamic Medical Association of North America, has issued the following appeal in the wake of yesterday's tragic attacks on American cities . . .
RE: "Even doctors ethically must make referrals for abortion services, whether they morally support that or not." Melanie Anderson - Planned Parenthood Alberta (CTV News and Current Affairs Sat 02 Jun 2001) The erroneous allegation that physicians who object to abortion for reasons of conscience are obliged to refer patients for the procedure continues to be promulgated in Alberta. . .
The world's first faculty of bioethics will begin offering first year Bachelor, Master and Doctorate courses in October, 2001. . .
legislation that will provide much needed job security for pharmacists who conscientiously object to dispensing drugs or devices that can cause death through abortion, euthanasia or physician assisted suicide . . . .
A report released on Monday criticizes the Ethics Advisory Committee of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia for publishing a prejudicial and unjustified attack on the integrity of conscientious objectors within the profession. The report identifies 'ethical nepotism' in the committee as a factor contributing to misunderstanding and intolerance. . .
(Cincinnati, OH) -- The American Center for Law and Justice, an international public interest law firm, said today a federal court has cleared the way for its lawsuit against Kmart on behalf of a pharmacist who was fired for refusing to dispense abortion producing drugs to move forward. . .

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