HHS launches 5th religious discrimination investigation, protecting faith-based organizations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched its fifth religious discrimination investigation of the year, upholding its promise to protect religious exercises and rights of conscience.

“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office for Civil Rights, is tasked with enforcement of many of our nation’s laws that protect the fundamental and unalienable rights of conscience and religious exercise,” HHS Acting-Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink said in January. “It shall be a priority of the Department to strengthen enforcement of these laws. To this end, the Office for Civil Rights will reevaluate its regulations and guidance pertaining to Federal laws on conscience and religious exercise.”

OCR is an office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which protects Americans civil rights, conscience and religious freedom, specifically pertaining to health privacy and security. The OCR educates the public on privacy rights and health policies, as well as reviews patient claims to resolve any discrimination or mistreatment. 

OCR’s new investigation into an undisclosed state’s health department will examine whether the department has discriminated against faith-based organizations through either denying or terminating licenses. Such discrimination includes requiring an organization to offer sex-rejecting procedures and female genital mutilation. 

“Amid a national shortage of behavioral health providers, every qualified professional is essential to meeting the needs of people in crisis,” OCR Director Paula M. Stannard said in a statement. “OCR is committed to ensuring that faith-based organizations can contribute fully and that no provider is asked to violate their religious beliefs or moral convictions as they step forward to serve.” 

Forcing a company to provide coverage of abortion procedures also qualifies as religious and conscience discrimination, according to the release. No individual in a health service program can be forced to complete any service that violates the individual’s moral or religious convictions, including abortion or sex-rejecting counseling or procedures. Additionally, OCR prohibits religious discrimination in grant programs for health organizations, according to the press release.  

In its fourth case, the OCR announced another investigation into an unnamed school’s vaccination policies. HHS Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the department defends parental rights. 

“Today, we are putting pediatric medical professionals on notice: you cannot sideline parents,” Kennedy said in the December announcement. “When providers ignore parental consent, violate exemptions to vaccine mandates, or keep parents in the dark about their children’s care, we will act decisively. We will use every tool at our disposal to protect families and restore accountability.”