We have great news to share in our case involving Stephanie Carter, a nurse practitioner at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center in Temple, Texas.

We’re happy to report that because of Ms. Carter’s lawsuit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented a policy to accommodate all VA employees who have religious objections to being forced to participate in abortions. 

This is a tremendous victory that has positively impacted not only Ms. Carter, but thousands of VA employees of faith.

“We’re pleased that the VA implemented a nationwide policy to protect the religious liberty rights of all VA employees,” said Danielle Runyan, Senior Counsel for First Liberty. “Stephanie Carter is living proudly by her faith and should not be forced to choose between her faith and her career. Because of her courage, every VA employee in the nation can now seek a religious accommodation from participating in a procedure they find unconscionable.”

Last fall, the VA introduced a rule immediately allowing elective abortions at its medical facilities. Ms. Carter twice requested an accommodation because she has religious objections to performing, prescribing, and providing counseling for abortions. But she was told that no process existed to review such requests. This put her in an impossible situation. 

She was essentially being forced to choose between violating her conscience or keeping her job.

As a result, in December we filed a federal lawsuit on Ms. Carter’s behalf seeking not only a religious accommodation but also a court ruling that would prevent the VA’s abortion rule from being enforced at her facility. But considering the VA’s new process for religious accommodation and the fact that Ms. Carter’s religious objections are now largely accounted for, we asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

As an Army veteran herself, and as a Christian who views her nursing work as a calling, Ms. Carter faithfully served our nation’s heroes as a VA employee for 23 years. And now because the VA is accommodating service members of faith, she is once again living proudly by her faith and providing excellent care for her fellow veterans.

We want to thank you as we celebrate this win. Your support is a Force Multiplier in delivering these crucial victories, which have a huge impact on the lives of religious employees, service members and all Americans.