Bioethics Public Policy Report: April 23, 2024
STATE By State
The Illinois Catholic Conference has voiced its opposition to a bill in the state legislature that would legalize physician-assisted suicide, urging Illinois Catholics to oppose the bill by writing to their representatives. For further information, click here.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has voiced its opposition to the ballot initiative slated to be voted on in November which would enshrine a “right” to abortion up to 24 weeks in the state constitution. The proposed amendment requires 60% of the popular vote to pass. For further information, click here.
In a 4-2 decision, the Arizona supreme court ruled in favor of allowing an 1864 pro-life law to take effect. The law prohibits abortion in almost all circumstances. However, the State will still be voting on an amendment to their state constitution during the elections in November to guarantee a “right” to abortion, which would likely invalidate this law if passed. The legislature unsuccessfully tried to repeal the law. For further information, click here and here.
Gov. Brad Little of Idaho signed into law HB538, a bill that will prohibit all state entities from forcing employees to use “preferred pronouns” not corresponding to biological sex. The law is to take effect July 1, and it will apply especially to public school employees and students. For further information, click here.
A proposed constitutional amendment for a “right” to abortion up until the moment of birth failed to gain the supermajority of votes needed to add the proposal to the ballot in November. For further information, click here.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill that would have banned transgender surgeries on minors, citing “parental rights” as one of her reasons. Republican lawmakers have signaled that they intend to attempt an override of the veto. For further information, click here.
In a bipartisan effort, Republican and Democratic legislators in the State of Louisiana are advancing a bill that would secure millions of dollars to fund crisis pregnancy centers and other social services. Under the bill cosponsored by Republican Rep. Jack McFarland and Democratic Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews, it would put money set aside for Alternatives to Abortion toward the new Louisiana Pregnancy and Baby Initiative. For further information, click here.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law allowing chaplains to volunteer at public schools in the State. Gov. DeSantis remarked that this would not apply to satanists, stating, “That is not a religion. That is not qualifying to be able to participate in this.” Critics of the law are calling satanism “a disfavored minority religion.” For further information, click here.
Federal Courts
The Supreme Court granted the State of Idaho emergency relief so that it may enforce its law preventing doctors from performing transgender procedures on minors until the case in controversy is settled. The lower court had granted an injunction against the State’s enforcement of its law, but the Supreme Court ruled to allow enforcement in its 6-3 decision. For further information, click here.
A federal court ruled that the Biden administration could not enforce its policy requiring the availability of chemical abortion drugs when there is a religious exemption. The court said that the Department of Health and Human Services overstepped its authority in attempting to implement the policy. For further information, click here.
NATIONAL
The Biden administration implemented a new policy titled ““Implementation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act,” an over 400-page rule that, if enforced, would require employers “to provide reasonable accommodations” for pregnant employees, which would include granting leave for abortion. Abortion is mentioned in the rule 348 times. The proposed rule directly contravenes the legislative intent behind the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, according to House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-NC. For further information, click here.
The Christian Employers Alliance has voiced its opposition to the Hope Fertility Act introduced by Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-017), which would extend employer healthcare coverage of employees to coverage for in vitro fertilization. For further information, click here.
The Biden administration issued new regulations to go into effect August 1 that will include “gender identity” as a possible basis of discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments. The reach of the law is unclear, but it could even go so far as to affect the state laws prohibiting coerced use of “preferred pronouns” and laws concerning bathroom and locker room usage. For further information, click here.
CONSCIENCE/Religious LIBERTY
The Diocese of Albany is suing the State of New York over the mandate of the Department of Financial Services that requires private insurance companies to cover abortion as included within maternity care coverage. The Diocese is arguing that the mandate is a violation of its religious beliefs. In 2021, the Supreme Court had remanded the case to the highest court in New York, the Court of Appeals, and arguments were held last week. For further information, click here. international
international
The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions is holding a “day of concern” in protest of China’s influence in passing Hong Kong’s national security law, which especially threatens the freedom of Christians and anyone dissenting against the government. For further information, click here.
Scotland has paused transgender surgeries and puberty blockers for minors, following England’s decision to do the same. For further information, click here.
of note
A Mayo Clinic study found that use of puberty blockers in young boys may cause irreversible harm, contrary to the claim by transgender activists, and even Mayo Clinic itself, who claim that puberty blockers are reversible. For further information, click here.
Following the release of Dignitas Infinita, Coadjutor Archbishop Christopher Coyne of the Diocese of Hartford stated that “biology is biology,” noting that the Church was not defining any new doctrine on gender and sexuality. For further information, click here.
Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington has announced an effort to educate priests on Dignitas Infinita and incorporate the document into their homilies going forward. He urged that all Catholics “be vigilant against the grave violations of human dignity aggressively being perpetuated in our world” and understand the inherent value and dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. To read the bishop’s statement, click here. For further information, click here.
The Archdiocese of San Francisco is partnering with the National Catholic Bioethics Center to provide bioethical counseling for the faithful in delicate and difficult areas touching on Catholic moral teachings. For further information, click here.
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The National Catholic Bioethics Center website is a significant resource for bioethics information. NCBC bioethicists are also on call for consultation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, at 215-877-2660.
Justin Corman
Justin Corman is a guest editor at the NCBC, and a student at Ave Maria School of Law.