The Biden Administration Did NOT Want This Lawsuit — Religious Pharmacist Sues to Stop Abortion Pills Mandate

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued “guidance” to pharmacies —  citing federal civil rights laws — about issuing drugs that could induce abortions.

Under the mandate, pharmacies that take Medicare and Medicaid must stock and dispense such drugs.

Naturally, medical professionals with moral or religious objections to having anything to do with killing unborn babies need religious accommodations to this mandate. Otherwise, these professionals face loss of livelihood and fines.

Dr. Kevin Martian, owner of Mayo Pharmacy, is a Roman Catholic who opposes abortion. He filed a lawsuit to stop the mandate’s enforcement against him and his pharmacy. The Biden administration asked the court to dismissed the lawsuit. The court rejected the request.

The court said that what is “most troubling is the trending technique federal agencies are using as standard strategy in implementing the executive branch’s policy goals in contravention of the rule of law.”

The district court heard arguments in the case last Friday.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Dr. Martian’s legal counsel, added him to a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas challenging the HHS mandate.

“Unelected bureaucrats cannot force Americans to dispense abortion-inducing drugs against their conscience,” said ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman. “Federal law does not require pharmacies to stock or dispense abortion-causing drugs, and the HHS directive stands in direct contrast with constitutionally protected religious freedom and pro-life state laws. It’s unlawful for the executive branch to weaponize the administrative process to advance a radical pro-abortion agenda.”

Photo credit: Robin Marty (Creative Commons) – Some rights reserved