Addressing American bishops at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI warned of “grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness presented by a radical secularism.” He voiced special concern about “certain attempts” to limit freedom of religion. “Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.” [Text of address]
Category: News
South Carolina Senate takes up protection of conscience bill
The Freedom of Conscience Act, a bill that passed the South Carolina House of Representatives last year, is to be considered by the state senate. It is a procedure-specific statute that focuses on embryonic and foetal research and acts that cause the death of an individual. [Post and Courier]
Midwives in Scotland go to court over forced facilitation of abortion
Scotland’s largest health board, the National Health Service Greater Glasgow and Clyde, ordered two Catholic midwives to schedule and supervise other health care workers providing abortion. The organization rejected a grievance from the midwives, claiming that the protection of conscience provision in the Abortion Act exempts objectors only from active and direct participation in an abortion. It insists that it can lawfully order objectors to perform other duties necessary for the provision of abortions. The two midwives have gone to the Court of Session in Edinburgh seeking an order overturning the employer’s decision. [BBC; The Telegraph]
Protection of conscience bill introduced in Missouri
Missouri Senate Bill 657 is drafted to prevent health care workers or institutions from being compelled to participate in any service or procedure to which they object for reasons of conscience. It is intended to protect them against criminal, civil and administrative proceedings, and from discrimination for the exercise of their convictions.[Lifenews]
British government asserts that legalization of assisted suicide must be decided by parliament, not by government policy
In response to a question about the recommendation of a private commission chaired by Lord Falconer, the British Secretary of State for Justice has stated that assisted suicide should not be legalized by policy, but by a decision of Parliament enacted in legislation. [Hansard]