Contact: Stephen Phelan, Human Life International, 540-622-5270, SPhelan@hli.org  

FRONT ROYAL, VA, Jan. 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Thank you, Martha Coakley!" said Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, upon hearing the Massachusetts Attorney General and Democratic US Senate Candidate's frank admission that the health care reform legislation being debated in the US Congress will have no protection for those who refuse to cooperate in anti-life medical procedures.

The Washington Times reported today that Coakley's gaffe came in response to a radio host's statement about freedom of religion for Catholics who work in emergency rooms and who actually pay attention to Church teaching on life issues. Coakley's response was, "The law says that people are allowed to have that [freedom of religion]. You can have religious freedom but you probably shouldn't work in the emergency room." 

"Anyone who respects life and freedom must abhor Coakley's disregard for these basic human rights, as well as her cynicism," said Rev. Euteneuer. "But we must be grateful when truth is revealed, when a gaffe shows the heart of those who champion this life-destructive agenda and flies in the face of their false assurances that conscience rights will be defended in the new legislation."

"These congressional cowards are hiding behind closed doors, afraid to show the American people how abhorrent this legislation really is. Not only is there no protection for conscience rights, there is NO protection for unborn human beings, NO guarantee of protection for the elderly and severely disabled whose lives will be deemed too inconvenient for the rest of us to continue to pay for," said Rev. Euteneuer.

"How can any Catholic still defend this anti-democratic and anti-life legislation? What more could those who actually know what it contains do to prove that they have no regard for freedom, transparency, honesty, life or even good faith?" said Rev. Euteneuer. "Catholics should unite against this destructive bill, and insist on real health care reform that actually protects life and conscience rights, and does so without destroying the livelihoods of this nation's citizens."

Human Life International: Creating effective opposition to the culture of death around the world. Founded in 1981, HLI is the world's largest pro-life organization and has affiliates in over 100 countries on six continents.