WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is pledging his support
for conscience protections for health-care workers that will be as strong as those they enjoyed during most of George W. Bush's presidency.

Obama reversed a policy that Bush put in place shortly before leaving office. It required institutions that get federal money to certify compliance with laws protecting the rights of health-care workers who object to procedures like abortion. Opponents feared it could also be used to refuse birth control, vaccines and transfusions.

But Obama assured reporters from religious news organizations
Thursday that when his administration completes its review, "there
will be a robust conscience clause in place" for health-care workers.

He added that "it certainly will not be weaker than what existed before the changes were made."

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)