Archbishop Arthur Roche has paid tribute to Pedro Ballester, a 21-year-old who died of cancer last month. Speaking to 500 mourners at Manchester’s Holy Name church, Archbishop Roche said that Ballester, a numerary member of Opus Dei, was a “remarkable young man who has touched the lives of many – and most without him knowing it – through his patient, faith-filled, happy and loving endurance”.
Peers call for better conscience protections for health workers
Medical practitioners may have greater legal protection in future for refusing to take part in procedures against their religious beliefs, following a debate in the House of Lords last week. The Lords were debating the second reading of the Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill, which was introduced by Baroness Nuala O’Loan to address a growing concern that GPs, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and other medical professionals are facing increasing discrimination in the workplace because of their beliefs. “No one should be coerced by the risk to their careers into violating their conscience, and it is plainly inconsistent with the principles of equality legislation to exclude whole sections of society from areas of medical employment simply because of their moral beliefs. I hope this excites support from across the country that allows us to fix this deficit of legal rights and protections,” said Baroness O’Loan. The Bill mainly covers direct or indirect involvement in abortion or the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. After the committee stage and third reading the Bill will be presented to the Commons.
