The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is monitoring federal regulations that undermine Catholic institutions and harm the common good.
Among them is a recent rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which would prevent Catholic hospitals, clinics, assisted living facilities, and health care workers from carrying out their work in accordance with their mission:
The implementation of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. According to the new rule, it could be considered discrimination for a health care worker to object to performing gender transition procedures, regardless of whether that objection is a matter of religious belief or clinical judgment. The proposed regulation also appears to suggest that Health and Human Services may ultimately determine that Section 1557 imposes similar requirements with regard to abortion. Learn more.
HHS needs to hear your opinion about Section 1557 by October 3rd!
ACT NOW! Submit a public comment
Background
The Church’s ministries of healing, education, and social services bear witness to Jesus Christ and build up the common good. Church institutions are not mere providers of social services. They are expressions of Christian ministry dedicated to human flourishing. We serve all people, without regard to race, sex, religion, or any other status, because God has imbued every person with inherent human dignity. Most Americans understand that mission-driven organizations should be free to operate in accordance with their missions but a cascade of changes to current regulations is being adopted by various executive agencies that would prevent Christian ministries—and others—from carrying out their work, harming the public who benefits from them.
