Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan brought as a guest to the speech Cathy Cenzon-DeCarlo, a Catholic nurse who in 2009 was forced to assist in a late-term abortion at a Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York.
A legal battle and Department of Health and Human Services investigation ensued; eventually the hospital changed its policy.
“No one should be forced to violate their religious beliefs—especially in the workplace,†said Speaker Ryan. “Not only did Cathy stick up for her faith, but she did so while fighting for the unborn. It’s wrong that Cathy and so many others have been intimidated into assisting with abortions, which is why the Trump administration’s expanded conscience protections are a welcomed change.â€
“As a staunch defender of religious liberty, I was very moved by Cathy’s story,†he said, and was “delighted†she attended the State of the Union.
At least 14 Democratic members of Congress boycotted the State of the Union.