At the Public Discourse website, here is a report by Matthew Schmitz on a very troubling conscience proposal that will be considered by the Council of Europe on October 7, 2010. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2010/10/1762 The report states: “The central feature of the resolution is a call for enforcement against conscientious objectors who refuse to perform or make referrals for abortion.”
Update: Here is a report from Lifesitenews on the latest developments. The Council rejected the original proposal. The amended resolution affirms the right of conscientious objection. http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/oct/10100709.html Here is a link to a statement from the European Centre for Law and Justice, which strongly supported the right of conscientious objection, http://www.eclj.org/Releases/Read.aspx?GUID=8c297b2f-ada7-4047-a8e4-134bb5f16fa8&s=eur and a link to Wesley Smith’s comment. http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2010/10/09/council-of-europe-votes-to-protect-medical-conscience/
Here is Terry McKeegan’s report. http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.1718/pub_detail.asp
Richard M.