The right of Catholic hospitals in America not to perform abortions is under attack by the powerful American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on the grounds that it violates their patients’ right to ‘healthcare’.

The ACLU has written to the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid asking them to investigate and take action against Catholic hospitals that refuse to perform abortions and other medical procedures that violate Catholic ethics.

The letter says: “Religiously affiliated hospitals across the country inappropriately and unlawfully deny pregnant women emergency medical care”, including abortion.

However, Tom Brejacha, head of the Thomas More Society, said that requiring Catholic hospitals to facilitate abortions would violate fundamental rights of conscience.

The action by the ACLU is similar in nature to a resolution before the Assembly of the Council of Europe that calls for the ‘regulation’ of conscientious objection throughout Europe so that individuals can obtain medical procedures lawfully available in their countries including abortion and euthanasia.

The resolution will be voted on in the autumn.