Conscience

The Latest

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas celebrates Mass with members of the U.S. bishops' Region IX at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Jan. 14, 2020, during their ad Limina Apostolorum visit.

Archbishop Naumann encourages Catholics to get vaccinated, accommodate consciences

Aug 28, 2021

By Matt Hadro

More U.S. bishops this week issued statements on COVID-19 vaccine mandates and conscientious objection. Read more

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, chair of the USCCB religious liberty committee

‘Dereliction of its duty’: US bishops rebuke Biden administration for dropping conscience rights lawsuit

Aug 12, 2021

By Joe Bukuras, Christine Rousselle

The U.S. bishops on Thursday criticized the Biden administration for dropping a conscience rights lawsuit. Read more

‘An assault on those who are pro-life’: Legal group responds to DOJ dropping conscience complaint

Aug 5, 2021

By Matt Hadro

A conservative legal group this week criticized the Justice Department for dropping its conscience rights lawsuit against a Vermont hospital... Read more

Ohio state capitol

Ohio enacts health care conscience protections

Jul 6, 2021

By CNA Staff

Ohio state law now includes conscience protections for medical professionals, after Governor Mike DeWine signed a state budget bill into... Read more

Chinese Civil Rights Activist Chen Guangcheng, featured here at a talk at Catholic University of America, will speak at the IRF event July 13-15.

Charter ahead of international summit affirms religious freedom "for Everyone, Everywhere, All the Time"

Jun 29, 2021

By Alejandro Bermudez

Ahead of the International Religious Freedom Summit 2021 (IRF Summit), co-chairs Samuel Brownback and Katrina Lantos Swett, along with the... Read more

Archbishop Cordileone rebukes legislators' take on Communion debate

Jun 25, 2021

By CNA Staff

On June 23, 2021, First Things published Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone’s paragraph-by-paragraph response to “Statement of Principles,” a document developed by... Read more

The March for Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 2018.

Abortion is 'pre-eminent' human rights issue, St Augustine bishop says as election nears

Oct 11, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

Abortion is a “fundamental threat to the beginning of life itself” and Catholics can't be passive on the “pre-eminent” human... Read more

The March for Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 2018.

Abortion 'most directly attacks life', Grand Island bishop teaches

Oct 2, 2020

Though there are many affronts to life, from conception to death, the violence of abortion is the most direct attack... Read more

John Henry Newman by Sir John Everett Millais (1881).

What Cardinal Newman can teach the modern world about freedom of conscience

Oct 22, 2019

The writings of newly-canonized St. John Henry Newman offer important reflections for contemporary society on freedom of conscience and the... Read more

Details from St John Fisher by Jacobus Houbraken (c. 1760), and St Thomas More by Hans Holbein the Younger (1527).

Saints John Fisher and Thomas More: Following God’s law above all else

Jun 22, 2018

The feast of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More is observed as an optional memorial in the ordinary form June... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Roman Rota.

Pope to Rota: There is an 'urgent' need to form consciences on marriage

Jan 29, 2018

By Elise Harris

In a speech to the Roman Rota Monday, Pope Francis said there is a need to develop better means of... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square for a Jubilee of Mercy audience June 18, 2016.

It's a responsibility to seek truth, educate youth, Pope Francis says

Jun 20, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Tuesday Pope Francis made a pilgrimage to the graves of two 20th century Italian priests, reflecting on charity and... Read more

US Capitol.

This proposed law would protect doctors who object to abortion

Feb 6, 2017

By Matt Hadro

A bill that would protect health care providers’ freedom to opt-out of abortion mandates they find objectionable has once again... Read more

U.S. Capitol, Senate side.

Disappointment as Senate Republicans drop religious freedom amendment

Dec 5, 2016

By Matt Hadro

Senate Republicans agreed to remove a religious liberty amendment from a defense bill earlier this week, after a fierce campaign... Read more

The United States capitol building.

US bishops call for legal protection of doctors who won't perform abortions

Jul 11, 2016

Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Archbishop William Lori are once again calling on the House of Representatives to enact the Conscience... Read more

Cost and conscience – why more Christians are ditching health insurance for this alternative

May 4, 2016

By Matt Hadro

The youngest of James Lansberry’s nine children almost didn’t survive his birth. Born with no heartbeat, he was resuscitated and... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising at a press conference held by German bishops at the Teutonic College in Rome, Oct. 5, 2015.

Read today's report from the German small group at the Synod

Oct 14, 2015

Read below the full text of the report released Wednesday by the German-speaking small group at the Synod on the... Read more

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, who signed an April 3 open letter on religious liberty.

Troubled by Indiana reaction, Christian leaders stress gravity of religious liberty

Apr 6, 2015

Catholic and Southern Baptist leaders called Friday for a recommitment to religious freedom, lamenting the “acrimony and lies” surrounding efforts... Read more