Bill reintroduced to bar discrimination for not providing abortions

Published: 2003-12-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops' pro-life spokeswoman praised a bill that would forbid discrimination against health care providers who do not want to be involved in abortion. The Abortion Nondiscrimination Act was reintroduced in the House Dec. 8. A Senate version was introduced in July and assigned to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "No one should be forced into the practice of abortion," said a statement from Cathy Cleaver Ruse, director of planning and information for the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. She urged Congress to act quickly when it reconvenes in January "to pass this common-sense protection for the rights of conscience of all health care providers." Similar legislation was approved by the House in 2002 by a vote of 229-189, but never came up for a vote in the Senate before the 107th Congress adjourned.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .