Today President Bush put the final stamp on his failed presidency by inflicting his misguided Christian moral agenda on our reproductive healthcare system. His conscience clause regulation is a draconian attempt at implementing his theocratic agenda. It will not stand. History will highlight this as the final incompetent act of desperately stupid presidency.
The Family Planning Council is justifiably concerned.
"The scope of these regulations are astonishing. Institutions and individuals in every community will be able to refuse to provide contraception because they mistakenly believe that certain methods of birth control cause abortion," Mann declared. "The Bush Administration has determined that the availability of family planning services could depend solely on the individual whims and ideology of any health care provider," Mann added.
Even the Catholic Church is mystified, calling Bush’s action an anathema to the Catholic tradition.
While some have erroneously pointed to Catholic teaching to support the imposition of ever-more restrictive refusal clauses, the reality is that these clauses are anathema to the Catholic tradition. Catholic teaching requires due deference to the conscience of others in making decisions-meaning that health-care providers must not dismiss the conscience of the person seeking care
President-Elect Obama – please resend this order. It will help erase the fetid memory of our national disgrace, George W. Bush.
