4/13/2018

HEALTHCARE/HHS/RELIGION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The Trump administration is pursuing a significant shift toward a more conservative health-care agenda, expanding the use of civil-rights laws to defend health-industry workers who object to medical procedures on religious grounds. Roger Severino, an administration appointee to the Department of Health and Human Services, is heading a new division at the department that will shield health-care workers who object to abortion, assisted suicide, or other procedures they say violate their conscience or deeply held religious beliefs. HHS has proposed rules that would expand the division’s enforcement ability and require many health organizations to inform workers about their federal protections regarding personal faith or convictions. Rather than focus on racial minorities, women or other groups typically associated with movements to ensure civil rights, Mr. Severino says his new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division will defend the rights of the deeply religious, whom he sees as an oppressed class in need of protection.”

-Stephanie Armour, “Trump Appointee Harnesses Civil-Rights Law to Protect Anti-Abortion Health Workers,” The Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2018 5:30 am