By Tim Waggoner
WASHINGTON, February 27th, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - President Barack Obama is poised to rescind a policy that protects the conscience rights of American health care workers.
The controversial rule was put into place as one of the last acts of the Bush administration and came into effect on January 20 of this year, the same day as President Obama's inauguration. The rule was universally condemned by the pro-abortion lobby who argued that allowing physicians to opt out of controversial services or procedures would endanger women's health.
The policy protects health care workers from being forced to perform and provide controversial services that conflict with their personal, moral and religious beliefs. Without the policy, doctors, nurses and others could be forced to participate in abortions or to dispense the abortifacient morning after pill, even if to do so would violate their core beliefs.
The proposal to rescind the Bush rule was quietly put forward by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department today.
An anonymous official from the HHS announced the measure this morning, saying, "We've been concerned that the way the Bush rule is written it could make it harder for women to get the care they need."
The decision was welcomed by pro-abortion leaders.
Nancy Keenan of the pro-abortion group NARAL said, "We have a long way to go before we fully undo Bush's anti-choice legacy, but President Obama's action today is a giant step forward."
"Today's action by the Obama administration demonstrates that this president is not going to stand by and let women's health be placed in jeopardy," said Cecile Richards, head of the Planned Parenthood Federation.
Proponents of the rule, however, say its removal will violate the legitimate reservations of millions of American health workers and have condemned Obama for beginning his presidency by pursuing a radically anti-life agenda.
Father Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International (HLI), today lambasted President Obama for his decision to reverse the Bush administration policy.
"Any pretense of 'moderation' on life issues was long ago dispensed with," said Fr. Euteneuer. "With the rescinding of the Mexico City Policy, the appointment of dozens of radical anti-life cabinet members and staff, the enormous increase in funding for contraception and irresponsible sex advocacy, and now these grave insults to human life and dignity … one shudders to think what could be next."
"It's as if the president and Congress are trying to outdo each other for the dishonor of who can forward the most extreme anti-life agenda," said Father Euteneuer.
"Like everyone who believes in human dignity, I am tired of these cowards in Congress trying to sneak these destructive, anti-life measures into bills that are supposed to be helping our country emerge from this recession," said Fr. Euteneuer. "And I'm tired of President Obama's 'Choice for me, but not for thee' hypocrisy. His audacity is not of hope, but of the destruction of freedom and human life."
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09022712.html
