Catholic Fire

Excerpted from Health Care Chorus: Back in the USSR by Jonathon Imbody: "The government dictated what physicians must believe, and how they should practice." Katrina Alexis Belova, a young American medical student from Ukraine, was lamenting the ironic parallels between old Soviet medicine and President Obama’s health care policies (read here ). Katrina recalled how her mother, a physician, was forced to practice medicine without allowance for conscience , under communist rule in Ukraine. Katrina explained. "Abortion was never an issue in the Soviet Union, simply because the communist government dictated that it was not an ethical dilemma, and all physicians were required to perform the procedure. Those who disobeyed could not obtain their medical license or continue their practice." If Congress passes the House version of Obama Care (the 158,000-word HR 3200, called “America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009”), American doctors will soon face a similar...

"It felt like a horror film unfolding. I felt violated and betrayed. I couldn't believe that this could happen." These are the words of a Catholic nurse who was forced to choose between her religious convictions and her job when her employer ordered her to assist in a late-term abortion against her will. Catherina Cenzon-DeCarlo, 35, reports that she has had gruesome nightmares and hasn't been able to sleep since the May 24 incident. Read the entire story here. This is outrageous! It is a clear-cut violation of her conscience rights. During her job interview, she told the administrator that she would not perform abortions. I hope and pray that she wins her lawsuit. Also, if Congress passes the current Healthcare System Reform Package , the scenario in this article will be the norm for all healthcare workers, including doctors. We must act to defeat this horrific bill. Here are some simple things you can do: 1. Pray 2. E-mail and write lett...

Via Tim Drake in the NCRegister : In a 41-minute meeting in the White House’s Roosevelt Room, eight members of the Catholic Press met with President Obama this morning. In addition to Father Owen Kearns, editor in chief and publisher of the Register, those attending were representatives from America , Avvenire /Vatican Radio, Catholic News Service, Catholic Digest , Commonweal , National Catholic Reporter and The Washington Post . Obama began with brief remarks and then gave each representative the opportunity to ask one question. In his remarks, the president said that he had a wonderful conversation with Pope Benedict XVI right after his election. He said that he sees his visit with the Holy See in some ways like any other government in that there will be areas of agreement and disagreement. He also said that he sees the Holy See as more than a government because of the Church’s influence on this country and the world . He said that it would be a great honor to meet the Pope ...

The 30 day comment period on the Obama administration's plan to rescind a regulation protecting health care workers' conscience rights, saw 340,000 Americans tell the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) that they are at odds with the proposed initiative, reports Citizenlink. Just before his second term ended, President Bush established regulations protecting the rights of healthcare workers to refuse to participate in practices objectionable to their consciences, such as performing abortions or prescribing contraceptives. President Obama, however, wasted little time initiating the first step in striking down Bush's policy, with the official proposal to rescind the Bush-era regulation appearing in the federal register in early March. Carrie Gordon Earll, senior bioethics analyst at Focus on the Family Action, called it a serious situation. Read the rest here.

As I mentioned in a previous post , the Obama Administration has taken action to rescind a vital conscience protection regulation implemented recently by the Department of Health and Human Services under the previous Administration.This is a frontal attack on pro-life health care and the bishops are united in fighting in defense of conscience rights and religious liberty. The public has only until Thursday, April 9 to post their comments in support of the conscience protection regulation...and the USCCB is trying to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Detailed information on how to post your comment to HHS and other ways to mobilize can be found by clicking here. HHS is required to read and count every message they receive. Please make your voice heard on this important issue. Click here to go to the USCCB website and make your voice heard.

I recently received the following urgent information regarding the pending removal of conscience protection for healthcare workers from Deirdre McQuade at the USCCB: As you may know, the new Administration has taken action to rescind a vital conscience protection regulation implemented recently by the Department of Health and Human Services under the previous Administration. This is a frontal attack on pro-life health care and the bishops are united in fighting in defense of conscience rights and religious liberty. The public has only 7 more full days to post their comments in support of the conscience protection regulation...and the USCCB is trying to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Detailed information on how to post your comment to HHS and other ways to mobilize can be found by clicking here. My Comment: HHS is required to read and count every message they receive. Please make your voice heard on this important issue. Click here to go to the USCCB website and make y...