A former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and a professor at Harvard Medical school are urging that American physicians practice civil disobedience by refusing to obey laws that block access to abortion and contraception. “The unspoken assumption by state legislators seems to be that doctors will,” write Marcia Angell and Michael Greene,”. . . acquiesce with these new laws, that they are simply neutral agents who will comply with whatever the state orders.” They argue that physicians “have ethical commitments to patients that they cannot and should not be required by state law to set aside.” [USA Today]
Kansas conscience protection bill becomes law
Franciscan University in Ohio drops student health insurance
The Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, has announced that, effective 15 August, 2012, it will no longer provide health insurance coverage for students nor require them to have health insurance. The decision was made because the University refuses to comply with a federal regulation that requires such plans to provide coverage for contraceptives, sterilization and embryocides.[University statement]
Canadian Catholic bishops issue letter on freedom of conscience and religion
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has released a 12 page Pastoral Letter on Freedom of Conscience and Religion. While addressed to all people of good will, the bishops particularly addressed themselves to “those members of the faithful who find themselves in difficult situations where they may be pressured to act against their religious faith or their conscience.” The document emphasizes that freedom of conscience may be acknowledged by state authority, but state authority does not create it. Among the examples of violations of freedom of conscience, the document cites rules requiring referral for abortion by objecting physicians and the demand that objecting pharmacists dispense contraceptives or the ‘morning after pill.’ It recommends four strategies: affirmation of the role of religion in the public square, upholding a healthy relationship between Church and stated, forming conscience according to truth, and protecting the right to conscientious objection
Arizona Governor signs protection of conscience law
Senate Bill 1365 (2012) has been signed by the Governor of Arizona. It was drafted to ensure that professionals cannot be disciplined for refusing to provide services to which they object for reasons of conscience.