Biden Administration Permanently BLOCKED from Enforcing ‘Transgender’ Mandate Against This Group of Religious Medical Professionals

A coalition of Catholic medical professionals and hospitals won’t have to worry about the Biden administration’s mandate that would force them to perform procedures they oppose.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted a rule in 2016 to carry out a provision in the so-called Affordable Care Act to bar discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in any health program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. The administration redefined “on the basis of sex” to include “gender identity” and “termination of pregnancy.”

In practice, medical professionals and facilities that receive federal funds would have to perform “reassignment” surgery and related procedures. The mandate impinges on the religious freedom of these professionals.

Sisters of Mercy filed a lawsuit to block enforcement of this mandate. Becket Law, which represents the coalition, announced that the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has permanently blocked HHS from enforcing the mandate against them — the second federal court ruling against the mandate. An excerpt:

“Today’s victory sets an important precedent that religious healthcare professionals are free to practice medicine in accordance with their consciences and experienced professional judgment,” said Goodrich. “The government’s attempt to force doctors to go against their consciences was bad for patients, bad for doctors, and bad for religious liberty.”
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The Administration now has 45 days to ask the Eighth Circuit to rehear the Religious Sisters of Mercy case, or 90 days to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Another Becket Law client, the Franciscan Alliance of medical professionals, won their case on this issue. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a lower court’s decision to block HHS from enforcing the mandate against the coalition members.

Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket Law, announced on Twitter last month that the Biden administration would not appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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