A federal judge in North Dakota has blocked the Biden administration’s mandate requiring Catholic employers to accommodate abortions and transgender identity recognition.
At a Glance
- U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor granted a preliminary injunction against federal regulations affecting Catholic employers
- The ruling exempts over 1,300 Catholic employers and 7,100 parishes from complying with certain EEOC guidelines
- The judge ruled that enforcing these regulations likely violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
- This decision highlights the ongoing tension between religious freedom and federal anti-discrimination laws
Federal Judge Sides with Catholic Employers
U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor has granted a preliminary injunction, allowing over 8,000 Catholic employers to reject government regulations that would require them to accommodate workers seeking abortions and fertility care. The ruling also exempts these employers from regulations concerning transgender identity recognition in the workplace.
The Catholic Benefits Association and the Diocese of Bismarck filed the lawsuit in July, representing 1,380 Catholic employers and 7,100 Catholic parishes. Judge Traynor ruled that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in proving that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) rule violated their religious freedom.
US judge backs Catholic employers who challenged abortion regulation https://t.co/XmtOwBLLJq pic.twitter.com/NQfBCxYEJz
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2024
Scope of the Ruling
The preliminary injunction bars the EEOC from enforcing regulations that would require the diocese and association to support abortion, fertility treatments, or gender transition. Additionally, the EEOC cannot take action against the association’s members for refusing to use pronouns or allow bathroom use consistent with transgender employees’ gender identity.
The judge wrote, “in a manner that would require them to speak or communicate in favor of abortion, fertility treatments, or gender transition when such is contrary to the Catholic faith.”
Judge Traynor emphasized the need for religious conscience protections for Catholic employers, stating that the EEOC’s existing exemption for religious employers was insufficient. The ruling comes as part of a series of lawsuits challenging the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, passed in December 2022, which aimed to provide accommodations for pregnant workers but faced controversy over its expansive view on pregnancy-related conditions.
Implications and Reactions
The decision has sparked debate over the balance between religious freedom and anti-discrimination protections. Critics argue that the ruling could have a chilling effect on pregnant workers exercising their rights and sets a dangerous precedent in using religion to challenge civil rights laws.
“It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age,” Traynor wrote. “One indication of this dire assessment may be the repeated illegal and unconstitutional administrative actions against one of the founding principles of our country, the free exercise of religion.”
The Department of Justice has declined to comment on the ruling, while federal attorneys previously argued that the plaintiffs’ case was speculative and lacked legal standing. This decision is part of a broader political context, including ongoing debates over in vitro fertilization (IVF) and reproductive rights.
Broader Legal Landscape
This ruling is not isolated. A federal judge in Louisiana previously blocked enforcement of similar rules against Louisiana, Mississippi, and a Catholic bishops’ group. Meanwhile, a separate challenge by 17 Republican-led states was unsuccessful, with an appeal expected to be heard by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
As the legal battles continue, the intersection of religious freedom, reproductive rights, and workplace discrimination remains a contentious issue in American society and jurisprudence. The outcome of these cases will likely have far-reaching implications for both employers and employees across the nation.
