Federal Judge Takes Major Stand Against Biden’s Mandates Affecting Catholic Employers

Judge's hand holding gavel next to documents.

A federal judge has put a halt on Biden’s mandates for Catholic employers regarding abortion and transgender accommodations.

At a Glance

  • A federal judge allowed over 8,000 Catholic employers to reject government regulations protecting workers seeking abortions and fertility care.
  • U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled in favor of the Catholic Benefits Association and the Diocese of Bismarck.
  • The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a 2022 law, faced pushback from religious organizations.
  • The ruling underscores the tension between religious liberty claims and federal anti-discrimination policies.

Federal Judge Blocks Biden’s Mandates

A federal judge has halted the Biden administration’s mandates that Catholic employers accommodate abortions and recognize transgender identities. Judge Daniel Traynor of North Dakota ruled that these mandates, enacted under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, infringe upon religious freedoms protected by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The judge’s injunction protects over 1,300 Catholic employers and 7,100 parishes from federal impositions that conflict with their religious beliefs.

Judge Traynor ruled that the Catholic Benefits Association and the Diocese of Bismarck were likely to succeed in proving the EEOC’s rule violated their religious freedom. 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 Department of Justice declined to comment, while federal attorneys argued the plaintiffs’ case was speculative and lacking legal standing.

Legal, Ethical, and Political Implications

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which passed in December 2022, aimed to provide accommodations for pregnant workers but faced controversy over its expansive view on pregnancy-related conditions. The plaintiffs argued the rule violated religious freedom protections under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Judge

Traynor emphasized the need for religious conscience protections for Catholic employers, stating that enforcing such rules forces members to choose between their beliefs and compliance, causing “irreparable” harm.

The ruling follows a broader political context, including debates over in vitro fertilization (IVF) and reproductive rights. Previously, a federal judge in Louisiana blocked enforcement of the rule against Louisiana, Mississippi, and a Catholic bishops’ group. A separate challenge by 17 Republican-led states was lost, with an appeal expected to be heard by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Critics argue that this ruling could have a chilling effect on pregnant workers exercising their rights and marks a dangerous precedent in using religion against civil rights.

Future Outlook

The decision is part of a series of lawsuits challenging the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and could potentially undermine the law overall. The Catholic Benefits Association, which covers 162,000 employees, stood firm in its convictions, arguing that federal mandates compromise their religious principles. The EEOC’s rule includes an exemption for religious employers, but Judge Traynor found it insufficient, criticizing the Biden administration for actions deemed illegal and unconstitutional regarding religious freedom.

“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.”

This ruling underscores the ongoing conflict between religious liberties and federal anti-discrimination policies. It remains to be seen how future court decisions might shape the legal landscape for religious and civil rights in America. The extent to which this ruling impacts the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will likely be a subject of intense legal scrutiny and public debate moving forward.

Sources:

  1. Judge lets over 8,000 Catholic employers deny worker protections for abortion and fertility care
  2. US judge backs Catholic employers who challenged abortion regulation

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