Obama Pledges Support

President Barack Obama is pledging his support
for conscience protections for health-care workers that will be as
strong as those they enjoyed during most of George W. Bush's
presidency.
Obama reversed a policy that Bush put in place shortly before
leaving office. It required institutions that get federal money to
certify compliance with laws protecting the rights of health-care
workers who object to procedures like abortion. Opponents feared it
could also be used to refuse birth control, vaccines and
transfusions.
But Obama assured reporters from religious news organizations
Thursday that when his administration completes its review, "there
will be a robust conscience clause in place" for health-care
workers.
He added that "it certainly will not be weaker than what
existed before the changes were made."