In January 2009 Barack Obama and his Marxist Congress had a choice. They could ram through the Freedom Of Choice Act (FOCA) appeasing the pro-abortion Left or let it sit while they rammed through “more important items” like ObamaCare and Card Check to appease their union masters. Their sense of the situation told them they probably couldn’t do both.
Now after a series of stinging defeats on Card Check and the ever dimming chances of ObamaCare actually happening, Obama has run back to safe territory. He has decided to kill off FOCA’s Conscious Clause. Obviously, Obama’s political handlers have concluded there are votes to be had in a fight with Christians in general and the Roman Catholic Church in particular over abortion.
No Conscious Clause
Obama has ordered Kathleen Sebelius the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to start threatening medical professionals who, for reasons of personal conviction, will not dispense drugs that cause miscarriages – in effect aborting fetuses.
Now in his dictatorial manner, Obama has unilaterally stripped away the “Conscious Clause” put in place by George W. Bush as his second term was ending.
More Than Disappointment Needed
The Conference of Catholic Bishops has expressed its “disappointment” that Obama has stabbed its principles in the heart, and HHS claims its rules “never intended to allow providers to refuse…Medical care to individuals because [his/her] behavior [was] found objectionable.” A more practical view of the consequences of this new ruling, however, is the eventual closing of Catholic hospitals.
Doctor J. Scott Ries of the Christian Medical Association is concerned about this decision. He predicts two outcomes:
- Rather than disobeying God’s law, a number of health care professionals will walk away from their jobs, and not yield to Obama’s law; or
- When that happens faith based hospitals will close or drastically cut services to their communities.
Fighting Back
Helped by pro-life Democrat Dan Lipinski from Illinois, Republicans Chris Smith of New Jersey, Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania, and Dr. John Fleming of Louisiana are fighting back with HR 358 (the “Protect Life Act”) and HR 361 (the “Abortion Non-Discrimination Act”). Help these men. They are fighting for us. Call them to let them know you support them.
Lipinski: (202) 225-5701
Smith: (202) 225-3765
Pitts: (202) 225-2411
Fleming: (202) 225-2777.
To contact your Congressional Representative use this link:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
To read more about this issue use these links:
http://article.wn.com/view/2011/02/18/HHS_replaces_conscience_rule_for_health_workers_i/
http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/02/christians-concerned-about-con.php
This article originally appeared on CoachIsRight.com and is reprinted with permission.
This has been out of the news cycle since Trayvon and Ms. Flooky and Medvedev and who remembers what else sensational overtook it. I am curious to know where transactions ended after the shell game switch that the ROTUS and Carney and Sillybillious had been thrown on the table. Is this a part of the Okare bill that will be rescinded in toto in a few weeks, or does it live a life of its own?