This summer, Roe v. Wade was overturned and the Supreme Court ended the myth that our Constitution included a right to destroy innocent unborn children. In reaction, the Biden administration declared an unofficial emergency. They aggressively moved on several fronts to ensure that the number of abortions in America would not decline. They even threatened to "pack" the Supreme Court with additional pro-abortion justices.
One of their aggressive anti-life actions was the issuance of new regulations that seek to require pro-abortion counseling and even abortions for veterans and their beneficiaries at Veterans Administration (VA) facilities across the United States.
The new regulations were a radical attempt to evade pro-life laws passed by many states. These new regulations are likely illegal since for the last 30 years, Congress has specifically prohibited federal VA facilities from performing abortions. The Biden administration is certainly aware of what the law says, but they are so committed to promoting a pro-abortion agenda that they are apparently ignoring it.
Nurse practitioner Stephanie Carter, represented by First Liberty Institute, asserts in her lawsuit that she "cannot perform, prescribe, or counsel for abortion services because of her sincerely held religious beliefs that unborn babies are created in the image of God and should be protected." The lawsuit alleges that the Biden regulations are a violation of the First Amendment guarantee of the free exercise of religion, as well as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Carter requests that the court block the VA from violating her rights and stop the new rules from being implemented at the VA facility in Temple, Texas.
Carter served in the U.S. Army for 8 years and has worked with the VA for 23 years. By filing this lawsuit, she is once again defending America's constitutional liberties. She is also setting a courageous example for millions of Christian pro-life Americans, as well as everyone who believes in religious liberty, the rights of conscience and the rule of law. If we want to preserve our fundamental rights for ourselves and our children, we must be willing to stand and resist growing oppression from big government.
JDFI stands with Stephanie Carter in this battle. We hope she will inspire more Christians to boldly defend faith, family and freedom.