Stephanie Carter, a nurse practitioner at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center in Temple, Texas, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for not allowing her a religious accommodation to opt out of participating in the agency’s new federally funded abortion plan, The Center Square reports. Carter has worked for the VA for 23 years and requested the accommodation due to her religious beliefs, which prohibit her from performing, prescribing, or counseling for abortions. However, she claims she was told there was no such option.
The issue arose after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year, allowing states to make their own laws about abortion. In response, the Biden administration announced that the VA would begin performing elective abortions at VA medical facilities. Carter’s lawyers have cited the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law that requires the federal government to accommodate religious objections, in their lawsuit.
“It is unconscionable that the Biden administration would force health care workers at VA facilities to violate their consciences,” said Danielle Runyan, senior counsel for First Liberty Institute. “The VA should be focused on caring for the men and women who bravely served to protect our country, not on performing illegal abortions. The new VA Rule disregards longstanding federal law that prohibits VA clinics from performing abortions and fails to account for the sincerely held religious beliefs of medical providers who are impacted by the Rule.”
The VA has defended its position, stating that Secretary McDonough has made it clear to all employees that their religious beliefs are protected and that accommodation is provided for those who wish to opt out of providing abortion counseling or services. “While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, VA does provide accommodation for VA employees who wish to opt out of providing abortion counseling or services,” said VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes. “We are currently honoring exemption requests that come through VA supervisors.”
