WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 21, 2011) — The following statement is being released by the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA):

The Catholic Health Association (CHA) is pleased to see the clarity of the new Federal Health Care Conscience Protections issued by the Department of Health and Human Services especially in regard to the protection of conscience rights of institutions and individual health care workers, most particularly in regard to abortion. The explicit citing of the legislative protections is appreciated. Also, CHA is gratified to see a commitment to education and a pathway for enforcement. We look forward to the implementation of these regulations.

The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), founded in 1915, supports the Catholic health ministry's commitment to improve the health status of communities and create quality and compassionate health care that works for everyone. The Catholic health ministry is the nation's largest group of not-for-profit health systems and facilities that, along with their sponsoring organizations, employ more than 750,000 women and men who deliver services combining advanced technology with the Catholic caring tradition.