Religious rights upheld to defund abortions
https://comis.med.uvm.edu/bioviewer/WebBio.aspx?BioID=32846
It has never been done before.
The Justice Department (DOJ) suing for discrimination.
To protect the First Amendment.
Freedom of religion.
In a federal discrimination case filed Wednesday.
In Vermont.
To protect health care workers from being discriminated against in the workplace.
For being Christians.
Who object to being forced to perform or assist with abortions.
Against their will.
Based on their faith.
Even though their employer had a policy against it.
And accepted federal money to prevent it.
The defendants were warned two and a half years ago.
And again last week.
But did it anyway.
And refused to change.
And kept the money anyway.
On Wednesday it happened.
Legal actions were filed.
It cost:
California $200 million
the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMC) $1.8 million
Primary sources are the:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Conscience and Religious Freedom.
and the Justice Department.
No specific money damages are mentioned in the lawsuit.
Krystine R. Spiess DO signed the grant application with the federal government for $1.8 million for Vermont Medical Center.
She moved to Seattle as soon as she became aware of the pending legal action.
The names and numbers of the people who were discriminated against based on their religion are blacked out in the complaint.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1345321/download
Page 26 of federal grant number 12464321 dated Aug. 9th, 2017
https://www.peacehealth.org/findadoc/care-providers/9515/krystine-r-spiess-do
The Office of Conscience and Religious Freedom was created by President Donald J. Trump on Jan. 18th, 2018.
It reports to the President and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
Other sources
http://media.aclj.org/pdf/ACLJ_OCR_Cmplt_VT.pdf
The 15-page complaint filed Wednesday is linked here: