WASHINGTON, DC – December 11, 2017 – The Catholic Medical Association, (CMA) has signed onto an amicus brief with the Supreme Court backing a Colorado cake baker, Jack Phillips and the Alliance Defending Freedom in the case before the High Court defending conscience protection guaranteed under the Constitution. Citing consciousness objection under the First Amendment protecting citizens Freedom of Speech and Religion the Christian owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop declined to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding.
The State’s Civil Rights Commission alleged Phillips refusal was discriminatory.
Others signing onto the brief included the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Colorado Catholic Conference, the Catholic Bar Association, the National Association of Catholic Nurses-U.S.A. and the National Catholic Bioethics Center.
The brief defends the right of religious institutions to operate consistent with their beliefs warning the potential harm to all U.S. citizens, when religious people/institutions are forced to choose between their beliefs and serving the public. “This pending Supreme Court decision is about more than cakes,” said CMA President Marie-Alberte Boursiquot, MD. “If the government can coerce the Colorado baker to violate his First Amendment Rights to free speech and religious beliefs it could lead to the government forcing doctors to violate their most deeply held convictions with respect for innocent human life.”
In September the CMA was one of thirty-two major pro-life, religious, and health care organizations to sign a letter to Congress urging the passage of the Conscience Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 644/S. 301). Link to amicus brief: http://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/16-111-tsac-USCCB-et-al.pdf The Catholic Medical Association is a national, physician-led community of over 2,000 healthcare professionals consisting of 99 local guilds. CMA mission is to inform, organize, and inspire its members, in steadfast fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church, to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine.
The Catholic Medical Association is a national, physician-led community of over 2,000 healthcare professionals consisting of 99 local guilds. CMA mission is to inform, organize, and inspire its members, in steadfast fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church, to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine.
Susanne LaFrankie, MA
Director of Communications
Catholic Medical Association
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
W: 484-270-8002 x. 16
www.cathmed.org
