April 9, 2009

Department of Health and Human Services

Attention: Rescission Proposal Comments

Hubert H. Humphrey Building

200 Independence Ave., S. W., Room 716E

Washington, DC 20201

Dear Sir/Madam:

We write to you on behalf of St. Gianna Physicians Guild and its members with regard to the proposed rescission by President Barack Obama and the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS), of the regulations appended to the federal Conscience Clause by President Bush on December 19, 2008. The federal Conscience Clause permits doctors to refuse to provide abortions if they are morally opposed to them. The regulations added by the Bush administration extended the federal Conscience Clause to include all workers in health-care settings to assure they could refuse without recrimination to provide services, information or advice to patients on subjects such as contraception, family planning, blood transfusions and vaccine counseling if they are morally opposed to them.

Thomas McKenna, president of Catholic Action for Faith and Family, addressing the crowd

A large crowd of people gathered on Sunday, May 17, outside the San Diego County Administration Building for a “Choose Life!” rally. The rally was scheduled to coincide with President Barack Obama’s commencement speech at Notre Dame University. Event organizers said the official crowd estimate by San Diego police was 1100.