Washington D.C., Dec 14, 2004 / 22:00 pm
A pro-abortion association, whose members include Planned Parenthood, announced plans Dec. 13 to file a federal lawsuit against the pro-life conscience protection in the newly enacted federal spending bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005.
The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA) plans to attack the provision, known as the Hyde-Weldon Conscience Protection Amendment, which prohibits discrimination against health care providers who choose not to provide or participate in abortions.
"This lawsuit is the height of hypocrisy: a 'pro-choice' group is suing so that health care providers will have no choice but to participate in abortion," said Cathy Cleaver Ruse, Esq., director of planning and information for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.
"Over a million abortions are done every year by willing abortion providers in this country – now the abortion lobby wants Catholic and other health care providers with moral objections to be forced into the practice of abortion," she said.