This week, First Liberty filed a federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) new rule titled “Reproductive Health Services,” which immediately began allowing elective abortions at VA medical clinics. 

We filed suit in Waco, Texas on behalf of nurse practitioner Stephanie Carter, who has worked as a VA employee for 23 years. Because Stephanie has religious objections to participating in abortions, she requested a religious accommodation but was told that no process exists to review such requests.

Watch this video below to learn about this new rule and what action First Liberty is taking to fight this discrimination: 

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Danielle Runyan, Senior Counsel at First Liberty, stated: 

“It is unconscionable that the Biden administration would force health care workers at VA facilities to violate their consciences. The new VA Rule disregards longstanding federal law that prohibits VA clinics from performing abortions and fails to account for the sincerely held religious beliefs of medical providers who are impacted by the Rule.”

The VA announced their new abortion rule in early September, claiming it was necessary “because it has determined that providing access to abortion-related medical services is needed to protect the lives and health of veterans.”

The rule allows for abortions, with no mention of gestational age limits, whenever they can be justified as “needed to promote…the health of the [mother].”

Our lawsuit explains that this new rule is illegal because federal law requires the VA to consider the religious objections of its healthcare workers who participate in providing abortion services.

Not only is the Biden administration ignoring legal protections for religious accommodations, but they’re also disregarding the 1992 Veterans Health Act which explicitly prohibits VA clinics from performing abortions.

This rule could have devastating consequences not only for our client Stephanie, but for all staff at VA clinics who have a sincere religious objections to participating in abortions. Doctors and medical professionals would be in danger of losing their jobs. It could also threaten their medical licenses and possibly ruin their careers.

That’s why First Liberty is committed to remaining vigilant in these attacks and fighting back in court, all while sharing the latest updates with you.