Last Thursday, at a licensing rules hearing for Nebraska psychologists, the topic of debate between the Nebraska Psychology Association and the Nebraska Catholic Conference was a  “convictions of conscience” rule that would allow psychologists (and possibly counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists) to “refuse to treat — and refuse to refer clients — because of religious or moral convictions.”

Of course, this reminds us of former President Bush’s last minute “provider conscience regulation,” which threatened a woman’s ability to obtain contraceptives such as birth control pills, make appointments to schedule an abortion, get information about birth control and other health care options, etc. based on the moral or religious conscience of the doctor, pharmacist, receptionist, etc. Thankfully, President Obama, soon after being sworn into office, acted to reverse this dangerous regulation.

Now though, Nebraska citizens are facing the possibility of being discriminated against by another unnecessary and harmful ruling.

This is where it seems to have started. During the hearing, Edward Stringham, a Lincoln psychologist, made a point of the 2001 federal court case in which…

 the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals supported an employer who fired a counselor for  refusing, on moral grounds, to provide relationship enhancement counseling to a  lesbian.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that currently…

 While most ethics codes for professional counselors and psychologists allow  professionals to refuse to offer services based on ethical or moral convictions, the  codes generally require the professional to refer the client. 

James K. Cole, a representative for the Nebraska Psychology Association at the hearing,  says that allowing psychologists to not only refuse treatment but to refuse to refer the patient to another doctor is an unnecessary change to the ethics code that opens a “Pandora’s box” of discrimination.

 There have been no known problems nationally or in Nebraska with claims that  psychologists are forced to compromise moral or religious values because of the  national ethics code requiring them to help refer a client, he said.
 It could allow any provider to discriminate against virtually anyone —as long as  they claim a conflicting moral or religious belief.

As a forensic psychologist himself, Cole also said…

 “I have provided psychological services to individuals convicted of murder,  and…I have seen sexual offenders including individuals who are sexually  attracted to children and who have abused children without ever having to  compromise my moral belief that this behavior is wrong,”

But if this “convictions of conscience” rule is implemented, it effects more than murderers, rapists, and pedophiles. The list of traits, actions, lifestyles, beliefs, and personalities that this effects could be endless: gay, transgender, transsexual, gender non-conforming,  black, Arab, Jewish, atheist, a sexually active teen, a woman who’s had an abortion, etc. All of these people not only turned away, but not given the name of someone else who may be able to help them. Instead of hearing, “I’m sorry that I can’t help you, but please let me give you the name of someone who may be able to,” they would hear, “I can’t help you and I don’t care enough or respect you or your problems enough even to suggest someone who could.”

This kind of behavior in a licensed psychologist is rude, immoral, and goes against what they (should) stand for as psychologists. They are there to help people with their problems, whether personally or by recommending them to another psychologist. The Nebraska Catholic Conference, by supporting this change to the ethics code, is supporting discrimination of the people who likely need help the most. Getting this slap in the face from your psychologist when you’re already there because you have an issue you need counseling for is something that should make the Nebraska Catholic Conference ashamed of itself. As Catholics, shouldn’t they be interested in helping those who need it? Shouldn’t they welcome those who are different from themselves because all people are equal to God? If they’re going to call themselves Catholic, shouldn’t they act like it?

~Samantha