News Release: Health Care Right of Conscience a Civil Right, Michigan Catholic Conference Official Tells House Committee

LANSING—An official of the Michigan Catholic Conference today urged passage of a bill to enact a health care right of conscience to institutional and individual health care providers.

Paul A. Long, vice president for public policy of the Michigan Catholic Conference, called upon members of the House Health Policy Committee to support House Bill 5158 sponsored by Representative Steve Ehardt.

“The Catholic Church has a centuries-old tradition of providing essential medical care to the poor, the sick and the most vulnerable,” Long said. “Individual and institutional health care providers can and should maintain their mission and their services without compromising their social and moral teachings.”

Long pointed out that religious freedom of conscience has been a fundamental principle of our republic and that we must not allow the bedrock constitutional right of religious freedom to be re-framed or diminished in any capacity.

“A civil right of conscience must be recognized for all individual and institutional health care providers. Individuals do not lose their right to exercise their religion and conscience once they enter the health care field,” he said.

Passage of House Bill 5158 tops the Catholic Conference’s legislative priorities for this session.

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

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