Federal court strikes down transgender mandate, protects medical judgment and conscience

 A federal court has provided protections for physicians committed to following medical evidence and conscience convictions regarding the transgender and gender-questioning patients for whom they care.

The U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota has struck down an Obama-era rule that would have nixed physicians' considerations of conscience and medical judgment on transgender procedures and prescriptions. Becket, the legal firm representing the plaintiffs in the case--an order of Catholic nuns, a Catholic university, and Catholic healthcare organizations--describes the victory in a press release below.

Becket also represents the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) and a Catholic health entity in a different federal court in a similar case, Franciscan Alliance v. Azar.

Policy versus politics: A retrospect and prognosis

A physician member of the Christian Medical Associations (CMA) recently asked me for a perspective on the tragic temporary takeover of the U.S. Capitol and the role of politicians before and after that tumultuous event.

The physician's email began, "I’m so saddened by this incident and so appalled…."

I've been asked to share the response to that physician more widely, so my edited response is below, followed by some thoughts on public policy ministry, the past four years and the next four years.

Thoughts on the Capitol takeover and surrounding events

I responded to the physician's concern and request for perspective about the Capitol takeover and surrounding politics as follows:

Dr. Fauci reveals his true political colors as an abortion advocate

If you've ever wondered where Dr. Anthony Fauci is politically, or exactly how "unifying" the Biden administration plans to be on abortion, read Fauci's 1/21/21 comments below on abortion.

Fauci delivered these remarks as President Biden's newly appointed representative to the World Health Organization (WHO). The previous administration withdrew U.S. funding from WHO, charging that the organization lied about the Coronavirus due to its entanglement with the Chinese Communist Party.

Uniting Americans with … transgender mandates?

In his January 20 Inaugural Address, President Joe Biden used the word "unity" no fewer than eight times, including:

"To overcome these challenges – to restore the soul and to secure the future of America – requires more than words. It requires that most elusive of things in a democracy: Unity. Unity.

"… History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity.

"This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward."

Hours after his inauguration, President Biden issued a flurry of 17 Executive Orders (EOs) to overthrow the previous administration's policies and replace them with his administration's top priorities. Among them: "Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation."*

Highlights of Trump administration religious freedom accomplishments

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

"President Donald J. Trump has kept his promise to defend the constitutionally protected right to the free exercise of religion.  His Administration has repeatedly stepped forward to protect those whose religious freedom is under threat and to ensure that faith-based organizations are treated fairly."

Highlights