How Catholic Health Systems Made “Conscientious Objection” Unconscionable

Abstract In response to “Origin of ‘Conscientious Objection’ in Health Care: How Care Denials Became Enshrined into Law Because of Abortion,” in which Christian Fiala, Joyce Arthur, and Amelia Martzke trace the origins of “conscientious objection” (CO) policy, this commentary looks at the implications of their arguments for large religious health systems where CO disingenuously constrains care. Within such health institutions, the constraints on standard obstetric care reflect the conscience of bishops who write religious policy, not the beliefs of providers who must implement them, or the patients subject to them.