August 1, 2008
The Bush administration is proposing to protect the jobs and status of health care workers who object to abortion and birth control methods they consider abortion.
The Department of Health and Human Services is reviewing a draft regulation that would deny federal funding to any hospital, clinic, health plan or other entity that does not accommodate employees who want to opt-out of procedures that offend their beliefs and conscience.
As you might expect, so-called “family planning groups” are opposed to the proposal, claiming it would impose overwhelming obstacles for women seeking abortions and birth control.
It wouldn’t. The overwhelming obstacle comes when you require someone to participate in an act they regard as immoral if they wish to keep their job. That ought to offend everyone but the most die-hard pro-abortionist, which, of course, accurately describes Planned Parenthood and their ilk.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
