Respect Life Message-1/9/05

On December 9, 2004, President Bush signed into law a federal spending bill which includes a provision prohibiting discrimination against hospitals and health care providers who choose not to provide or participate in abortions. The provision is known as the "Hyde-Weldon Conscience Protection Amendment," sponsored by Reps. Henry Hyde (R-IL) and Dave Weldon (R-FL).

"We applaud President Bush's recognition that hospitals and other health care providers have a right to choose not to be involved in destroying life," said Cathy Cleaver Ruse, Esq., Director of Planning and Information for the USCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. "Over a million abortions are done every year by willing abortion providers in this country. It is outrageous to suggest that Catholic health care providers and others with moral objections should be forced into the practice of abortion."

[My entry for today's bulletin of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Hermosa Beach, California]