Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, reversing its Roe v. Wade decision, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) introduced a new interim final rule titled “Reproductive Health Services,” immediately allowing elective abortions at VA medical facilities.

This Rule was put into effect illegally, and despite the fact that Congress has prohibited abortion services at VA clinics for the past 30 years. Section 106(a) of the Veterans Health Care Act has long-held that “the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide to women . . . [g]eneral reproductive health care . . . but not including under this section . . . abortions.”

The widely criticized decision by the Biden administration to hastily implement this Rule immediately put thousands of pro-life VA employees at risk.

Stephanie Carter, who has faithfully served our nation’s veterans as a VA employee for 23 years, works at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center in Temple, Texas.  As an Army veteran herself, and as a Christian who views her nursing work as a calling, Stephanie relished the opportunity to serve her fellow veterans as a nurse practitioner. All of that changed suddenly on September 9, 2022, when the VA published the new Rule.

After the Biden administration’s rule was adopted, Stephanie immediately sought a religious accommodation from participating in abortions – twice – but VA officials told her that no process for such accommodations exists.

In addition to the crisis of conscience Ms. Carter is facing on a daily basis due to the substantial burden the VA is placing on her religious beliefs, she is faced with the prospect of being prosecuted and held civilly liable under Texas State law for complying with the Rule in the regular course of her duties as a federal employee. The Temple VA facility is under the jurisdiction of both the federal government and the State of Texas. Because abortions are prohibited in Texas, for reasons other than to save the life of the mother, Stephanie could face a felony conviction, steep civil penalties, and loss of her nursing license if she engages in the breadth of abortion services required by the new Rule.

In December 2022, First Liberty filed a federal lawsuit against the VA on behalf of Stephanie, challenging the VA’s failure to comply with federal law.  Her lawsuit against the VA resulted in a nationwide religious accommodation process for VA employees with religious objections to being forced to participate in abortions.

“We’re pleased that the VA implemented a nationwide policy to protect the religious liberty rights of all VA employees,” said Danielle Runyan, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “Stephanie Carter is living proudly by her faith and should not be forced to choose between her faith and her career. Because of her courage, every VA employee in the nation can now seek a religious accommodation from participating in a procedure they find unconscionable.”

 

News Release
For Immediate Release: 7.24.23
Contact: Peyton Luke, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453

Texas Nurse Practitioner Wins Religious Accommodation Process for All VA Employees Opposed to Abortion
Stephanie Carter faced violating her conscience after VA began performing abortions at installations nationwide.

Waco, TXFirst Liberty Institute today announced that Stephanie Carter’s lawsuit against the VA resulted in a nationwide religious accommodation process for VA employees with religious objections to being forced to participate in abortions.  Carter is a nurse practitioner at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center in Temple, Texas.

“We’re pleased that the VA implemented a nationwide policy to protect the religious liberty rights of all VA employees,” said Danielle Runyan, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “Stephanie Carter is living proudly by her faith and should not be forced to choose between her faith and her career. Because of her courage, every VA employee in the nation can now seek a religious accommodation from participating in a procedure they find unconscionable.”

Ms. Carter has faithfully served veterans as a VA employee for 23 years.  When she sought a religious accommodation from participating in abortions in the fall of 2022, VA officials informed Ms. Carter that no process for such accommodations existed.  But after filing her lawsuit in December, the VA created a religious accommodation process for affected VA employees.

First Liberty asked the court to dismiss its lawsuit against the VA on Friday.

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About First Liberty Institute

First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

To arrange an interview, contact Peyton Luke at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.


News Release – 12.13.22

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