Catholics are upset and rightfully so.
Conservative and Catholic organizations are targeting Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra following allegations by a GOP lawmaker that he is withholding federal funds from hospitals that refuse to perform transgender surgeries due to religious beliefs.
During a contentious House hearing, Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., confronted Becerra, insisting that he pledge not to cut federal funding to doctors or hospitals that decline to offer gender-affirming care on religious grounds. Becerra responded by explaining the distinction between individual doctors’ rights and systemic service provision. “You’re going somewhere completely different,” he said, emphasizing that individual doctors can refuse care due to religious objections, but this does not extend to entire healthcare facilities.
Miller pressed further, questioning what actions HHS would take if faith-based hospitals refused to provide gender-affirming care. Becerra reiterated that while individual doctors could opt out, facilities that fail to comply with required services would not receive federal resources. “If a health care facility is violating the law and not providing the service they’re required to, they are not entitled to the resources,” he said. Becerra also made it clear that no provider would be forced to perform services against their religious beliefs.
Following the hearing, Miller posted on social media, accusing Becerra of admitting that the Biden administration would withhold funds from religious hospitals that refuse to perform sex-change operations on minors.
CatholicVote President Brian Burch expressed strong opposition to Becerra’s stance, claiming it exemplifies a broader antagonism towards faith-based institutions. “Secretary Becerra has made a career of targeting Catholics. Now, in his disdain for faith-based health care institutions and medical professionals, he is threatening the care of millions of Americans,” Burch stated. He urged Americans to stand against what he described as the administration’s hostility towards religious organizations.
Solidarity HealthShare President Chris Faddis criticized the recent HHS rule, which mandates non-discrimination on various grounds, including LGBTQ+ status, for federally funded health programs. Faddis argued that these regulations force religious health care providers to perform gender transition surgeries, regardless of their beliefs or medical judgment.
Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, echoed these concerns, suggesting that the rule would compel hospitals to offer transgender surgeries or risk losing crucial federal funding for Medicaid and Medicare. Walker Wildmon, vice president of the American Family Association, condemned the administration’s policies, urging hospitals to fight back legally and encouraging the public to reject what he termed as a harmful gender ideology.
Overall, these conservative and religious groups view the HHS policies as an infringement on religious freedom and an imposition on faith-based healthcare providers to act against their beliefs.