IN THEORY:Conflicts of conscience in health care

Personally, I believe that we not only have a right, but also a responsibility to protest those things which violate our values and beliefs. For instance, if a particular movie violates your sense of goodness, don't see it. The consequence of this protest is minimal: you may be out of the loop at the water cooler. On a larger scale, if your company is engaging in activity you deem immoral, refrain from doing that work.

The consequence may be a loss of your job, but you will be at peace with your inner being.

While this may not seem doable in a society that is based on material wealth, the ramifications are much greater than they appear.

As a pastor of 25 years, I will vouch that those who are at peace with themselves are much more productive members of society and therefore are in high demand.

In other words jobs come and go, but your conscience is yours forever.

So long as we are willing to accept the consequences for our actions, we are paying the price to exercise our conscience through protest.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

In His Shoes Ministries

As I understand it, the issue here is the worker's right to conscience versus the patient's right to service. Or, is it acceptable to violate a medical worker's conscience in order to provide medical service to a patient?

In the Bible the Apostle Paul addressed the issue of demanding the exercise of one's moral freedom (or "rights") even if it prompted another to act in a way contrary to his conscience.

In this particular case, some Christians believed it acceptable to eat meat that had been ceremonially offered to false gods. This, however, went against other believers' consciences, and was a temptation for them to eat in a way that they felt promoted paganism.

Paul used strong terms to describe what was happening: "For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ." (1 Corinthians 8:11-12).

Conscience involves much more than what we do.

It cuts to the core of who we are.

We should take the protection of health care workers' consciences as seriously as we take the provision of fair and excellent medical care for patients.

PASTOR JON BARTA

Valley Baptist Church

Burbank