Pray that governments will respect the consciences of all people who care for the sick and vulnerable. 

Reflect 

For centuries, Christians have carried on the healing ministry of Christ by building institutions dedicated to medicine and accompaniment of the dying.  However, activists have sought to undermine the Church’s mission by forcing Catholic hospitals to perform procedures that destroy human life and undermine human dignity, such as sterilization, gender reassignment surgery, and even abortion.  While activists attack Catholic hospitals, people of faith who work in secular institutions may find themselves coerced into performing abortions.  For example, nurses have been forced to participate in an abortion or risk losing their jobs.  Christians are called to serve life and dignity for all, not destroy innocent life and harm the persons entrusted to our care. 

Act 

While existing federal laws already protect some conscientious objections to abortion, sterilization, and gender reassignment surgery in theory, this protection has not proved effective in practice.  These laws can only be enforced by the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which has in the past refused to fully enforce these laws.  The Conscience Protection Act would address deficiencies that block effective enforcement of existing laws, most notably by establishing a private right of action allowing victims of discrimination to defend their own rights in court.  Contact your elected officials in Congress and urge them to support the Conscience Protection Act!  

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