Excellent column from Craig Westover today, “Rx for Conscience Clauses.” These clauses in state laws allow individuals or institutions to opt out of providing (or paying for) medical services on the basis of religious or moral beliefs.

Craig’s take is a response to Ellen Goodman’s column on the same topic and is, as always, calm and well-reasoned. One of the highlights for me was his observation on the irony of the state “granting” these rights:

Bottom line, morality is always an individual choice. “Conscience clauses” are good things, but it is ironic that the state passing a conscience clause restores to individuals the right to exercise moral judgment that government never had the authority to take away in the first place.

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