In a preemptive strike against the coming passage of the Freedom of Choice Act, President Bush has proposed a new plan to protect workers in the health care field who refuse to participate in acts that they deem objectionable on religious grounds. The obvious target: workers who’s jobs require them to participate in abortion procedures.
The proposed rule would prohibit recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and other health care workers who refuse to perform or to assist in the performance of abortions or sterilization procedures because of their “religious beliefs or moral convictions.”
It would also prevent hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices and drugstores from requiring employees with religious or moral objections to “assist in the performance of any part of a health service program or research activity” financed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Those of us who are strenuously opposed to the so-called Freedom of Choice Act, yet pragmatically aware that it will pass into law when Obama takes office, can be encouraged that current President Bush is still fighting for us. Perhaps he has more plans left to disclose. One can hope.
UPDATE:
HotAir has picked up this story too.
