Could This Really Happen?

With the passage of the "Freedom of Choice Act" all barriers to abortion would be nullified, including informed consent and parental notification. In addition, the "freedom of conscience" protections would be invalidated. This is the legislation that allows Catholic hospitals in 46 states to opt out of preforming abortions.

What would be the result? According to an article in Slate, if Catholic hospitals continued to refuse to perform abortions, they would lose federal funding, without which they could not function. Catholic bishops have made it clear that the Catholic Church would rather close their hospitals (which account for 1/3 of all hospitals) than be made to go against the doctrines of their religion.

There's an interesting conundrum here: Barack Obama was able to have it both ways during the election campaign. He presented himself as anti-abortion, enabling Catholics to vote for him in good conscience. But he also said his first act as President would be to sign FOCA into law if it passed the congress.

Could the American health care system survive the closing of a third of its hospitals? Not likely. I think Obama had better hope that FOCA cannot find enough congressional support to pass.