Archbishop Lori Welcomes Introduction Of “Health Care Conscience Rights Act”

WASHINGTON—On March 4, 2013, Rep.Diane Black (R-TN) and 50 other House members introduced H.R. 940, the HealthCare Conscience Rights Act of 2013. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairmanof the USCCB's Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, welcomed itsintroduction with the following statement:

"I am grateful toCongresswoman Black and other sponsors for their leadership today. I welcomethe Health Care Conscience Rights Act and call for its swift passage into law.While federal laws are on the books protecting conscience rights in healthcare, this Act would make such protection truly effective. This overdue measureis especially needed in light of new challenges to conscience rights arisingfrom the federal health care reform act."

In a February 15 letter, ArchbishopLori urged Congress to enact effective conscience and religious freedomprotection provisions like those of H.R. 940 as part of "must-pass" legislationfor continued funding of federal programs.

A Capitol Hill press conferencefeaturing four plaintiffs advocating for their conscience rights and religiousfreedom will take place at 10 am (EST) Tuesday morning, March 5, 2013 inRayburn House Office Building, Room B-318.

The text of Archbishop Lori's letteris available at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/Letter-from-Archbishop-Lori-to-Congress.pdf

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Keywords: U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,USCCB, Archbishop William Lori, Baltimore, Religious Liberty, religiousfreedom, Catholic Church, HHS mandate, abortion, conscience protection,conscience rights, appropriations, Congress, U.S. House of Representatives,administration, health care reform

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