A Catholic Perspective on Secular Institutional Conscience Objection Claims.

The article focuses on extending the concept of conscientious objection rights from secular medical professionals to secular healthcare institutions, paralleling claims traditionally made by faith-based organizations. It argues that mutual recognition of conscientious objection claims by both secula...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American Journal of Bioethics Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 83 - 86
Main Authors: Redinger, Michael, Gremmels, Becket, Horner, Claire, Trancik, Emily
Format: commentary Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:The article focuses on extending the concept of conscientious objection rights from secular medical professionals to secular healthcare institutions, paralleling claims traditionally made by faith-based organizations. It argues that mutual recognition of conscientious objection claims by both secular and religious institutions promotes value pluralism, transparency, and respect for deeply held moral commitments in pluralistic societies. This framework addresses ethical tensions arising from fundamental differences between Catholic and secular perspectives on medical interventions, such as end-of-life care and gender-affirming treatments, while fostering cooperation on shared healthcare goals. The authors view this compromise as a reasonable approach to ensuring fairness and honesty in healthcare provision without privileging secular claims over religious ones.