Catholics urged in video: Tell Obama to keep conscience rights for health care workers

“No government should come between an individual and God”

News release from U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
March 16, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- 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.

This is vital to keep the government from “moving our country from democracy to despotism,” said Cardinal George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He delivered the message via video. To see the video, Click Here.

“Respect for personal conscience and freedom of religion as such ensures our basic freedom from government oppression,” said Cardinal George. “No government should come between an individual person and God -- that’s what America is supposed to be about. This is the true common ground for us as Americans. We therefore need legal protection for freedom of conscience and of religion -- including freedom for religious health care institutions to be true to themselves.”

“I ask you please to let the government know that you want conscience protections to remain strongly in place. In particular, let the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington know that you stand for the protection of conscience, especially now for those who provide the health care services so necessary for a good society,” he said.

Cardinal George taped the message after the Obama Administration announced in early March that it was rescinding the regulations which guarantee that health workers cannot be forced to provide services that violate their consciences, including abortions.