Seventh-day Adventist world church President Ted N. C. Wilson, speaking at the 7th World Congress for Religious Freedom in the Dominican Republic, distinguished between “radical” or anti-religious secularism—that would exclude religion from public life—and “secular governance,” which accommodates religious belief, protects the religious freedom rights of minorities but does not favour a particular religious tradition. Radical secularism, he said, must be opposed. At the same time, religious believers must not attempt to establish a “religious state” as an alternative to secular regimes. [Adventist News Network]
Refusing to treat children whose parents won’t comply with vaccination regimes
An editorial in the Toronto Star notes that some physicians are refusing to continue with families when parents refuse to allow their children to be vaccinated. In most cases the refusals are prompted by distrust of conventional medicine and fear of side effects. The editorial supports those who recommend that physicians keep objecting families in their practices so that children can continue to get good medical care and to provide the opportunity to convince unwilling parents to consent to vaccination. [Toronto Star]
Defeated political party leader considers abandoning support for freedom of conscience
Danielle Smith, leader of Alberta’s Wildrose Party, is reported to be thinking of reconsidering the party’s support for freedom of conscience following the party’s defeat in the recent provincial election. The premier of the province, who stated that she was “frightened” by freedom of conscience, was re-elected with a large majority. [National Post]
U.K. health authority fails in bid to force nurse to work into abortion facility
The National Health Service Trust in the Midlands has given up its attempt to force an objecting nurse to work in an abortion facility attached to a hospital. The nurse, citing the protection of conscience provision in the Abortion Act, refused to do so. She was threatened with dismissal, but the Trust backed down when it received a letter from her lawyer and consulted legal counsel.[LifeSiteNews]
British General Medical Council proposes to force physicians to set aside “personal beliefs”
Britain’s General Medical Council has released a draft document for consultation that proposes to force physicians to facilitate practices to which they object for reasons of conscience by helping patients find someone who will provide the procedures. The proposal would also prohibit physicians from explaining their beliefs to patients “in ways that. . . are likely to cause them distress” – a subjective requirement open to abuse by disgruntled patients. Comments are sought from 18 April, 2012 to 13 June, 2012. [Document] [GMC] [Bioedge]