Justice Department sues Vermont medical center over abortion 12/18/2020 at 6:17 PM Posted by Kevin Edward White
By Wilson Ring, AP, December 17, 2020
The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against the University of Vermont Medical Center alleging it forces staff members who object to abortion on religious grounds to participate in abortion procedures.
The Vermont lawsuit alleges the Burlington hospital violated the Church Amendment, which prevents hospitals from discriminating against health care workers who refuse to perform or assist with abortions.
“No institution or person should force any health care provider to perform an abortion if doing so would violate the provider’s religious beliefs or moral convictions,” Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband, of the Civil Rights Division, said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “This kind of indecent coercion violates everything this country stands for.”
Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar speaks at a White House event, Life is Winning: Celebrating 4 Years of Pro-Life Accomplishments, Dec. 16, 2020. | Screenshot: YouTube/The White House
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced that his department was taking action against California and a hospital in Vermont that implemented policies violating the conscience rights of those opposed to abortion.
Azar was among many notable speakers at a White House event, called “Life is Winning: Celebrating 4 Years of Pro-Life Accomplishments,” hosted by Vice President Mike Pence Wednesday. During his speech, Azar highlighted how the Trump administration was “protecting conscience rights more aggressively than any previous administration in history.”
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The Justice Department filed a civil suit against the University of Vermont Medical Center for allegedly deceptively misleading and forcing a nurse to perform an abortion despite having a conflict with the procedure due to her religious beliefs.
The suit filed in Vermont federal court on Wednesday accuses the UVM hospital of violating the federal anti-discrimination statute known as the Church Amendments. No institution or person should force any health care provider to perform an abortion if doing so would violate the provider’s religious beliefs or moral convictions. This kind of indecent coercion violates everything this country stands for, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division said in a statement.
Bishop Chairmen Commend Administration for Enforcing Conscience Laws on Abortion 12/18/2020 at 5:10 PM Posted by Kevin Edward White
USCCB Public Afairs Office, December 17, 2020
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights announced yesterday that it is taking corrective action against the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) and the State of California for violating federal conscience laws on abortion.
The UVMMC violated the Church Amendment (enacted in 1973) by forcing a nurse to participate in an elective abortion against her religious beliefs and moral convictions. The State of California is violating the Weldon Amendment by state insurance and health care laws which require health plans to cover elective abortions.
HHS acts on violations of conscience protection in California, Vermont
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, is pictured Jan. 17, 2019. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
By Catholic News Service • Posted December 18, 2020
WASHINGTON (CNS) Two U.S. bishops’ committees said Dec. 17 they “strongly commend” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for taking “corrective action” against a Vermont medical center and the state of California for violating federal conscience protection laws when it comes to abortion.
In the first case, HHS’s Office for Civil Rights said Dec. 16 it has referred the University of Vermont Medical Center to the Department of Justice for a lawsuit over forcing a nurse to assist in an abortion procedure in violation of the nurse’s conscience rights.