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The '''Conscience Rule''' is a federal regulation issued by the Bush Administration on Dec. 19, 2008, which protects pro-life caregivers against discrimination for exercising their conscientious objection to anti-life procedures and drugs.  The rules against discrimination protects individual employees and institutions receiving certain funding from HHS.  Recipients of certain HHS funding must certify their compliance, and complaints will be handled by the HHS Office for Civil Rights.

The '''Conscience Rule''' is a federal regulation issued by the [[Bush Administration]] on Dec. 19, 2008, which protects [[pro-life]] caregivers against discrimination for exercising their conscientious objection to anti-life procedures and [[drug]]s.  The rules against discrimination protects individual employees and institutions receiving certain funding from HHS.  Recipients of certain HHS funding must certify their compliance, and complaints will be handled by the HHS Office for Civil Rights.

Concerned Women for America, a large public policy group, stated about the Conscience Rule that:<ref>http://www.cwfa.org/articles/16154/MEDIA/life/index.htm</ref>

[[Concerned Women for America]], a large public policy group, stated about the Conscience Rule that:<ref>http://www.cwfa.org/articles/16154/MEDIA/life/index.htm</ref>

   

   

:Abortion groups are desperate to change the topic from abortion to birth control, and to deny health care providers the right to choose not to commit abortions. Forcing doctors, nurses and other health care providers to commit abortions would drive pro-life professionals out of the profession at a time when we need more doctors and nurses. It would deny patients the ability to choose doctors and health care providers who share their strong moral views.  Many patients cannot trust their health to a doctor or nurse who performs abortions.

:[[Abortion]] groups are desperate to change the topic from abortion to [[birth control]], and to deny health care providers the right to choose not to commit abortions. Forcing [[doctor]]s, [[nurse]]s and other health care providers to commit abortions would drive pro-life professionals out of the profession at a time when we need more [[doctor]]s and nurses. It would deny patients the ability to choose doctors and health care providers who share their strong moral views.  Many patients cannot trust their health to a doctor or nurse who performs abortions.

== History ==

== History ==

Shortly after the passage of ''Roe v. Wade'', a court ordered a Christian hospital to participate in sterilization in violation of the religious tenets of the hospital.  Congress then passed the first "Church Amendment," which was named after Senator Frank Church:<ref>42 U.S.C.A. § 300a-7(c)(1).</ref>

Shortly after the passage of ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', a court ordered a Christian hospital to participate in sterilization in violation of the religious tenets of the hospital.  Congress then passed the first "Church Amendment," which was named after Senator Frank Church:<ref>42 U.S.C.A. § 300a-7(c)(1).</ref>

 

:No entity which receives a grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee under [various federal funding acts] may–

:No entity which receives a grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee under [various federal funding acts] may–

== Constitution ==

== Constitution ==

"No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprise of civil authority." - Thomas Jefferson

"No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprise of civil authority." - [[Thomas Jefferson]]

== Legal Challenges ==

== Legal Challenges ==

Seven states sued the federal government over the new rule that expands protections for doctors and other health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions because of religious or moral objections.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=41998    7 States Sue over Bush Rule on Health Workers]AP, January 15,2008</ref> The states suing; California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island joined Connecticut in the lawsuit. In a separate lawsuit, Planned Parenthood of Federation of America Inc. and National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association are suing as well.

Seven states sued the federal government over the new rule that expands protections for doctors and other health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions because of religious or moral objections.<ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=41998    7 States Sue over Bush Rule on Health Workers] AP, January 15, 2008</ref> The states suing; California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island joined Connecticut in the lawsuit. In a separate lawsuit, Planned Parenthood of Federation of America Inc. and National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association are suing as well.

== See also ==

== See also ==

== References ==

== References ==

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Right to Life Movement]]

[[Category:Right to Life Movement]]

[[Category:Religion and Politics]]

[[Category:Religion and Politics]]