Pray that governments will respect the consciences of all individuals and institutions that care for the sick and vulnerable. 

Reflect 
For centuries, Christians have carried on the healing ministry of Christ by building institutions dedicated to medicine and accompaniment of the dying.  However, Catholic hospitals and medical professionals face numerous challenges to their mission today.  For years, activists have sought to undermine the Church’s mission by forcing Catholic hospitals to perform procedures that destroy human life and undermine human dignity, such as sterilization, sex reassignment surgery, and even abortion, and people of faith who work in secular institutions may find themselves coerced into performing abortions.  Under President Biden, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would consider it to be discrimination for a health care worker to categorically object to performing gender transition procedures, regardless of whether that objection is a matter of religious belief or clinical judgment. HHS’s implementation of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act includes regulations that would require most health insurance issuers to cover gender transition procedures, so the regulations may make it difficult for religious organizations as employers to find companies who will provide insurance coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and the consciences of hospitals and professionals who seek to carry out the healing ministry of Christ. 

Act 
The period for submitting comments on these proposed regulations has ended, but our advocacy continues.  Sign up to receive alerts on new opportunities to let government agencies in Washington know that you support the Church’s right to operate her institutions in accordance with her faith in Jesus Christ. 

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