Jessica Bateman

How Conscientious Objection Laws Create Backdoor Abortion Bans in Europe

In recent years, some European countries have introduced “conscientious objection” clauses allowing medical institutions to summarily opt out of performing abortion or providing contraception. The move coincides with a mobilization of the Catholic Church and an American conservative Christian law firm. But many medical providers and patients are decrying the situation for undermining access to abortion in places where the procedure is perfectly legal.