More groups are joining the fight for conscience rights

OTTAWA – Groups defending conscience rights and religious freedom will be allowed to participate in a court case challenging the Ontario physicians’ college.

The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Christian Legal fellowship have been granted leave to file a joint-intervention in the lawsuit brought by five Ontario doctors, the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada, Canadian Physicians for Life and the Canadian Federation of Catholic Physicians’ Societies against the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).

The case challenges the College’s policy requiring physicians to make an effective referral in cases of euthanasia and assisted suicide, abortion and morally objectionable treatments. The policy would also force doctors to perform procedures against their conscience in undefined emergency circumstances. It will be heard in Toronto June 13-15.

The Catholic Civil Rights League, in a coalition with the Faith and Freedom Alliance and the Projection of Conscience Project, was also granted leave to intervene.

“What we propose to focus on is the freedom of conscience arguments that are subject to the Charter,” said League president Phil Horgan. “There are others that are focusing on freedom of religion arguments.