Bishop appeals for conscience protection

Published: March 9, 2018

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor wrote the following letter, March 9, 2018, to the Arkansas delegation in Washington asking them to pass the Conscience Protection Act, which would protect doctors and nurses from being forced to assist with abortions. The letter reads:

“I am contacting you to urge that the Conscience Protection Act (HR 644/S 301) be enacted into law as part of the final FY 2018 funding bill.

“I realize that you understand the urgent need for Americans to be free from the government being able to force them to violate their deeply held convictions about the respect for human life because you are on record as supporting conscience protection legislation.

“As the March 23 deadline nears for a vote on government funding, I ask that you also communicate with the House/Senate leadership about the importance of including the Conscience Protection Act in the final bill that is passed.

“Your support of a Conscience Protection Act being passed is greatly appreciated. With your vote and leadership on this issue, no doctor or nurse who is unwilling to participate in an abortion will be forced to choose between violating their conscience or being driven from the healing professions.

“As was expressed to you in a March 6 letter from Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, of Louisville, chair of the USCCB Committee on Religious Liberty, ‘Opponents and supporters of abortion should be able to agree that no one should be forced to participate in an abortion.’ It is my hope and prayer that Congress will agree and include conscience protection provisions in the next government funding bill it passes this month.

"Sincerely in Christ,
+Anthony B. Taylor
Bishop of Little Rock"