Open Letter from over 400 Catholic leaders on Conscience Protection (2011)

Support Access to Health Care? Protect Conscience Rights

Catholic Organizations Respond to HHS “Preventive Services” Mandate

The HHS mandate puts many faith-based organizations and individuals in an untenable position. But it also harms society as a whole, by undermining a long American tradition of respect for religious liberty and freedom of conscience. In a pluralistic society, our health care system should respect the religious and ethical convictions of all. We ask Congress, the Administration, and our fellow Americans to acknowledge this truth and work with us to reform the law accordingly.

434 Catholic leaders of health systems, hospitals, universities, schools, advocacy, service, and fraternal organizations stand with the bishops of the United States in defending conscience rights in health care.

These Catholic leaders have signed an open letter with the bishops of the United States calling for the protection of conscience rights in health care, and objecting to the sterilization & contraception mandate in the HHS's rule on preventive services" for women. This growing as prominent Catholics continue to sign on."

As written, the rule will force Catholic organizations that play a vital role in providing health care and other needed services to violate their conscience or severely curtail those services, which would harm both religious freedom and access to health care. Versions of this open letter appeared as an ad in Hill publications, the Washington Post, and the New York Times.

434-Catholic-Leaders-Open-Letter-on-Conscience-Rights_12-22-11.pdf

434-Catholic-Leaders-Open-Letter-on-Conscience-Rights_12-22-11.docx