Will Bush Conscience Rights Survive Pro-Abort Onslaught?

As one of his final right-to-life acts as president, the Bush administration has promulgated new rules that protect medical professionals, staff and facilities who refuse to perform abortions or make abortion referrals. The new rules essentially beef up enforcement of conscience rights already existing in federal law.

The pro-abortion folks are hyperventilating. Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood said that stopping forced abortions is “limiting the rights of patients to receive complete and accurate reproductive health information when they visit a federally funded health care provider.” Richards further says, “Frankly, I’m livid…… I believe that tricking women when they are most vulnerable is wrong — and the federal government shouldn’t pay people to do it.”

Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Patty Murray of Washington have already introduced legislation to overturn the rules.

Obama does not support the new rules and his new HHS secretary, Tom Daschle, is expected to do whatever necessary to overturn them.

The Attorney General of Connecticut has vowed to start a lawsuit to oppose the rules.

A majority of doctors surveyed support the new rule and believe the “government should be involved in protecting health workers who refuse to participate in care they find ethically, morally or religiously objectionable.”

That won’t stop the pro-abort train. The rules go into effect January 20 — the same day as the inauguration. Wonder how long they will survive the onslaught.

Barbara Lyons