Category: ChristianityCatholic

Conscientious objection a controversial issue in Italy’s abortion regime

RTE News European Blog

It may come as a surprise, but a relatively liberal abortion regime has existed in Italy since 1978. . . . The law provides for abortion up to 12 weeks into the pregnancy, and up to 23 weeks if there are foetal abnormalities. . .  But Law 194 is back in the news in Italy, and the reason may resonate with the debate in Ireland.

The law permits medical personnel to refuse to carry out abortions on conscientious grounds.

The numbers who are now doing so have risen so dramatically that groups in favour of the availability of abortion say the phenomenon is forcing Italian women to seek terminations abroad, or even to submit to illegal abortions in Italy. . . .[read on]

Catholic Civil Rights League notes threat to freedom of conscience in Quebec euthanasia bill

The Catholic Civil Rights League has issued a news release concerning the euthanasia bill introduced by the Quebec government.  In addition to expressing the League’s opposition to euthanasia, the release warned that the bill threatens freedom of conscience for health care workers opposed to euthanasia.

Also of concern to the League, while this proposed legislation allows doctors to refuse to participate in euthanasia requests, it implies that they must participate in a process referring the request to a more willing provider. There appears to be no provision for the religious and conscientious rights of other members of the health care team.  As we have seen on the question of abortion, legalization can lead to pressure on health care workers to participate in activities they find morally objectionable.

 

Holy See diplomat strongly denounces intolerance against Christians in Europe

The secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, who represented the Holy See at a recent OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) conference devoted to tolerance,  rued rising intolerance against Christians in Europe.

“Examples of intolerance and discrimination against Christians have not diminished, but rather increased in various parts of the OSCE region despite a number of meetings and conferences on the subject,” said Bishop Mario Toso, SDB.[ Read more – Holy See diplomat strongly denounces intolerance against Christians in Europe : News Headlines – Catholic Culture.]

 

Irish bishops oppose new abortion law: cite concerns about freedom of conscience

A preliminary response from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference to the proposed Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013 had criticized the bill on several grounds.  Among their concerns they raise the issue of freedom of conscience:

The Bill also appears to impose a duty on Catholic hospitals to provide abortions. This would be totally unacceptable and has serious implications for the existing legal and Constitutional arrangements that respect the legitimate autonomy and religious ethos of faith-based institutions. It would also pose serious difficulties for the conscientious beliefs of many citizens. [Full statement]

The protection of conscience measure in the bill does not apply to hospitals or other institutions, denominational or otherwise.