{"id":6632,"date":"2016-03-11T16:30:21","date_gmt":"2016-03-12T00:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.consciencelaws.org\/?p=6632"},"modified":"2018-03-06T15:19:28","modified_gmt":"2018-03-06T23:19:28","slug":"court-allows-doctors-to-support-hospitals-staff-in-aclu-suit-that-seeks-to-force-them-to-commit-abortions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.consciencelaws.org\/?p=6632","title":{"rendered":"Court allows doctors to support hospitals, staff in ACLU suit that seeks to force them to commit abortions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Court grants ADF motion to allow pro-life physician groups to intervene in defense of Catholic hospital network<\/i><\/h2>\n

News Release<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

American Center for Law and Justice<\/a><\/p>\n

American Civil Liberties Union v. Trinity Health Corporation<\/em>:<\/strong> Several pro-life doctor groups have intervened in defense of a Catholic hospital system which the American Civil Liberties Union sued. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent the Catholic Medical Association, the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The ACLU\u2019s lawsuit seeks to force Trinity Health Corporation and its staff to commit abortions regardless of their religious and pro-life objections. Trinity Health operates 86 facilities in 21 states.<\/p>\n

Attorney sound bites:<\/strong>\u00a0 Kevin Theriot<\/a> | Matt Bowman<\/a><\/p>\n

DETROIT<\/strong> \u2013 A federal court agreed Thursday to allow several pro-life doctor groups to intervene in defense of a Catholic hospital system which the American Civil Liberties Union sued last year. In December, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing the Catholic Medical Association, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, and the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists asked the court<\/a> to allow the groups to intervene.<\/p>\n

On March 23, the court will hear arguments on whether to dismiss the ACLU\u2019s lawsuit, which seeks to force Trinity Health and its staff to commit abortions regardless of their religious and pro-life objections. Trinity Health operates 86 facilities in 21 states.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo American should be forced to commit an abortion,\u201d said ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot. \u201cNo law requires faith-based hospitals and medical personnel to commit abortions against their faith and conscience, and, in fact, federal law directly prohibits the government from engaging in any such coercion. In addition, the government can\u2019t tie any funding to a requirement that hospitals and health care workers give up their constitutionally protected freedoms. We look forward to defending those freedoms in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who doubt that anyone would ever try to force someone to commit an abortion need only look at this case,\u201d explained ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman. \u201cThis is precisely what the ACLU is seeking to do. But forcing Catholic hospitals to perform abortions is not only against the law, it makes no sense at all. Patients should always have the freedom to choose a health care facility that respects life and to choose doctors who do not commit abortions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cForcing health care workers to act contrary to the very faith and ethical convictions that led them into the medical profession\u2014to serve, help, and bring healing to people\u2014is counterproductive, unnecessary, and against the law,\u201d Bowman added.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere, the Medical Applicants represent members that are affected by the policy directives of the Defendants\u2019 hospitals on a daily basis,\u201d wrote the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, in its order<\/a> in American Civil Liberties Union v. Trinity Health Corporation<\/i>. \u201cThe outcome of the litigation could have an effect on the day-to-day aspect of their duties as healthcare professionals. Accordingly, finding that the Medical Applicants are regulated by the policy directives at issue, the Medical Applicants are able to intervene as of right.\u201d<\/p>\n