Conscience Protection

The Latest

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College Jan. 5, 2024, in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.

Biden administration drops protections for religious health care providers

Jan 10, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

A new rule formally rescinds certain provisions that guaranteed doctors and medical practitioners the ability to refuse to perform abortions. Read more

Flag of Mexico.

Mexican health care professionals oppose bill restricting right to conscientious objection

Nov 8, 2023

By Diego López Colín

The bill was passed to adhere to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, the highest... Read more

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Florida bill to protect moral, religious beliefs of doctors, payors signed into law

May 12, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The new law forbids employers from taking action against employees who refuse to provide services based on a conscience-based objection. Read more

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Which U.S. states rank first (and last) in religious freedom protections?

Sep 23, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

The states are ranked according to how many laws are on the books that protect the free exercise of religion. Read more

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Right to Contraception Act: U.S. House passes bill with implications for abortion, religion

Jul 21, 2022

By Katie Yoder

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 228-195 to pass a bill Thursday that would establish a right to access, use,... Read more

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New report finds freedom of conscience under threat in France, Spain, and Sweden

Dec 7, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The report said further developments could lead to ‘complete exclusion of Christians from certain professions.’ Read more

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Judge again blocks New York medical worker vaccine mandate without religious exemption

Oct 14, 2021

By Carl Bunderson

Medical workers in New York can seek religious exemptions from a state COVID-19 vaccine mandate while a lawsuit challenging the... Read more

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Judge temporarily blocks New York vaccine mandate, lacking religious exemption, for medical workers

Sep 14, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

A federal court on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order against a New York state COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which disallowed... Read more

N Ireland abortion law plans 'devastating', pro-life leader objects

Nov 7, 2019

Northern Ireland’s proposed abortion law drew strong objections from pro-life advocates who said it removes almost all legal protection for... Read more

Dr. David Mackereth, who lost his case at an employment tribunal. He refused to refer to transgender clients by their preferred pronouns.

In England, Christian doctor loses trans beliefs case

Oct 4, 2019

An employment tribunal in England stated Wednesday that a biblical view of sex and gender is “incompatible with human dignity”... Read more

Stock image. Via Shutterstock.

HHS conscience rule essential for freedom say Catholic healthcare groups

Aug 23, 2019

Legal briefs filed Aug. 21 on behalf of four non-profit organizations, including the National Catholic Bioethics Center and the Catholic... Read more

Abortion provision limited in some Irish hospitals by conscientious objection

Jul 17, 2019

Documents from the Republic of Ireland's health department show that abortion services are limited at nine of the country's 19... Read more

Sign outside the Department for Health and Human Services, Washington DC. Via Shutterstock

HHS delays new conscience rights protections

Jul 1, 2019

A rule to protect the conscience rights of medical professionals will be delayed until the end of November, the Department... Read more

Cities, states ask courts to block HHS conscience protections before taking effect

Jun 12, 2019

Santa Clara County, California is the latest entity to ask a federal judge to block a new rule from the... Read more

States sue over HHS' stronger conscience protections for doctors, nurses

May 22, 2019

An array of states and cities filed a lawsuit Tuesday against a new Department of Health and Human Services rule... Read more

Irish bishops speak out against abortion requirement for medical jobs

Mar 21, 2019

The Irish Bishops’ Conference has objected to job requirements mandating that certain consultant doctors be willing to participate in abortions,... Read more

Irish physicians complain they've been ignored by health minister on abortion

Nov 8, 2018

Some 640 general practitioners in the Republic of Ireland have signed a petition saying their concerns have not been listened... Read more

Lack of safeguards in Irish abortion bill 'an affront to conscience'

Oct 8, 2018

The Irish bishops on Friday lamented that the draft bill to legalize abortion in the Republic would require pro-life heathcare... Read more

Pro-life doctors in Ireland call for robust conscience protections

Oct 3, 2018

A “small but significant” number of general practitioners in the Republic of Ireland are appealing to the county’s health minister... Read more

In Ontario, legal assisted suicide could kill conscientious objection

Aug 18, 2017

By Kevin J. Jones

Conscience protections for Catholic hospitals and other organizations could soon come under fire in the Canadian province of Ontario, with... Read more