H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act of 2013

H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act of 2013, has been introduced in Congress to provide protections for religious organizations and individual conscience rights against the implementation of the ‘HHS mandate’ on August 1st.

The purpose is to ensure that taxpayers and religious organizations are not forced to subsidize abortions & abortafacients, nor violate their personal moral and religious convictions when providing or purchasing healthcare.

Federal law has consistently protected the rights of individuals and institutions to act according to their religious beliefs and moral convictions.  However, political forces are now injecting themselves into the lives of religious organizations, substituting their own secular ideology for the Church’s beliefs.

H.R. 940- Why We Need a Health Care Conscience Rights Act

The right of religious liberty, the First Freedom guaranteed by our Constitution, includes a right to provide and receive health care without being required to violate our most fundamental beliefs. This is why over a hundred members of Congress, from both parties, are sponsoring the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940).

This Act would improve federal law in three ways:

1.Correct loopholes and other deficiencies in the new federal law, preventing governmental discrimination against health care providers that do not help provide or pay for abortions.

2. Insert a conscience clause into the health care reform law, so it’s mandates for particular "benefits" in private health plans will not be used to force insurers, employers, and individuals to violate their consciences or give up their health insurance.

3. Add a "private right of action" to existing federal conscience laws, so those whose consciences are violated can defend their rights.

All U.S. congressional representatives should be urged to support and co-sponsor the Health Care Conscience Rights Act, so that our First Freedom can regain its proper place as a fundamental right protected in our health care system.

TAKE ACTION

Please write to Congress opposing the mandate, calling for conscience protections.  Ask your Representative to support the Health Care Conscience Rights Act of 2013, to ensure respect for the religious liberty and conscience rights of all participants in our nation's health care system.

In addition to sending an email, please call your local Congressional Representatives! The U.S. Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121, or call your Representative's local office. 

Additional contact info can be found on the Representatives' web sites at: www.house.gov (input your zip code to find your legislator).   You can also sign a pre-printed postcard at the table in St Stephen's narthex, or take the FAST & EASY route!  You can send an electronic message through http://nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292.  Click SEND EMAIL TO CONGRESS to send (or edit) the suggested text that asks your congressman to co-sponsor HR-940.  Your zip code and street address will direct your message to your congressman.