Letter from Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Lori to Congress regarding the Conscience Protection Act (July 2016)

Letter from Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Archbishop William E. Lori, Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty to Congress regarding the Conscience Protection Act, July 7, 2016

Archbishop Lori and Cardinal Dolan urge Congress to take immediate action to pass the Conscience Protection Act of 2016. The bill is needed to ensure health care providers are not forced by the government to participate in abortion against their moral or religious beliefs.

Existing federal conscience protections are ineffective in practice, failing to prevent coercion or provide timely enforcement. They highlight three recent cases as evidence of growing pressure:

1. California: HHS allowed the state to require all health plans to cover abortions, including late-term, despite religious objections.
2. New York: State rules require many employers, including faith-based groups, to include abortion coverage in health plans.
3. Washington State: A court ruled that public hospitals offering maternity care must also provide abortions on-site.

These developments are evidence that government actions are increasingly compelling participation in abortion, making stronger federal protections necessary.

Conscience-Protection-Act-Dolan-Lori-Ltr-to-Congress-07-07-16.pdf