As Religious Liberty Week came to a close June 29, diocesan
medical and legal professionals were found collaborating on defending our first
freedom — our conscience rights. Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria hosted,
“Flatlining: Conscience Rights under Attack,” an event co-sponsored by the Diocese
of Arlington Office of Marriage, Family and Respect Life, the Virginia Catholic
Conference and the Northern Virginia guild of the Catholic Medical Association.
Held on the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul, the gathering began with a Mass
recalling the bold ministries of the two pivotal preachers and martyrs. The
program that followed was geared specifically to healthcare providers and
highlighted legislative threats against life and liberty of conscience in
Virginia. As the bishops’ lobbyists in Richmond, representatives from the VCC
explained the threats and what can be done to counter them. Diocesan Respect
Life Director Amy McInerny served as moderator for the forum that convened
close to 50 people.
After a brief overview of the VCC and its work at the state
capitol by Executive Director Jeff Caruso, Associate Directors Felicia Pricenor
and Tom Intorcio provided updates on abortion, health plan mandates, assisted
suicide, and other challenges to life and conscience that were prominent during
the 2019 Virginia General Assembly session. Debate is expected to continue and
intensify in the coming months and into the 2020 legislative session that
begins next January.
In particular, Pricenor explained that Virginia is vulnerable to
dangerous legislation targeting the unborn. Many were aware of the shocking
efforts by Del. Kathy Tran (D-Springfield) and Sen. Jennifer McClellan
(D-Richmond) to remove most restrictions on second-and third-trimester
abortions, allowing a healthy unborn child to be aborted even at nine months if
the pregnancy is deemed to impair the mother’s mental health.
However, Sen.
Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) filed even more extreme legislation that would have
enshrined abortion in Virginia law as a highly protected “fundamental right.” Under
that bill, the “right to abortion” may supersede even the conscience rights of
medical providers, employers and taxpayers by requiring access and payment for
abortions.
Intorcio noted that Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church) introduced a
bill to legalize assisted suicide. Since the Hippocratic Oath (circa 400 B.C.),
physicians have pledged not to administer lethal drugs — even if asked.
“Assisted suicide destroys the doctor-patient relationship — forcing physicians
to choose between healing and killing. As Pope Francis recently stated, ‘Doctors
should serve life, not take it away,’ ” Intorcio added.
Fortunately, with the VCC mobilizing strong opposition to each of
these threats, none of them passed. However, such bills will continue to be
filed and our efforts to combat them must continue to build. Pricenor reminded
attendees that bills impacting life and conscience are often decided by
one-vote margins, and that every General Assembly seat is up for election this
November.
Pricenor urged participants to engage in these critical debates
and offered them concrete ways to get involved, including letting their
legislators know where they stand on these bills.
Dr. Marie Anderson concluded the program with a special appeal to
healthcare providers to participate in debates and decisions that affect the
patients they are called to protect and serve as well as their own livelihoods.
She reiterated that at Tepeyac OB/GYN, a prolife medical group where she
practices, it is possible to work in accordance with the church. She said we
must do what we can to safeguard these liberties. She invited medical
professionals to join the Northern Virginia guild of the Catholic Medical
Association to stay informed and supported during the challenging days ahead.
Caruso, Pricenor and Intorcio are on the staff of the Virginia
Catholic Conference.
Find out more
To learn more, email Jeff@vacatholic.org, text VCC to
50457 or go to vacatholic.org. For more information on the Catholic Medical Association,
go to novacathmed.org.