The Supreme Court has ordered New York courts to take another look at a controversial case involving religious organizations and abortion coverage. This case centers on a mandate that required Catholic and Anglican nuns, along with various Christian churches and organizations, to pay for their employees’ abortions.
The legal battle began in 2017 when these religious groups challenged a requirement from the New York State Department of Financial Services. Initially, the state had promised to exempt employers with religious objections from this mandate. However, after facing pressure from abortion rights advocates, the state limited the exemption to only those religious groups that primarily teach religion and hire individuals who share their faith.
Despite the objections from these religious organizations, New York courts upheld the abortion mandate. In response, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and Jones Day law firm appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, instructing the state courts to reconsider the case based on a previous ruling in a different case, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia. However, the New York courts argued that the Fulton decision did not apply to their case.
Recently, Becket secured a unanimous victory in another case, Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission, where the court sided with a Catholic charity that was unfairly taxed compared to other religious organizations. This ruling prompted the Supreme Court to remand the Diocese of Albany case back to the New York Court of Appeals for further consideration.
The Supreme Court’s order stated, “The judgment is vacated, and the case is remanded to the Court of Appeals for New York for further consideration in light of Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Comm’n.”
Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, expressed optimism about the outcome. He criticized New York’s approach, saying it pressured nuns into funding abortions while they serve those in need. Baxter believes this ruling shows that such tactics are unacceptable in the legal landscape of the nation.
This case highlights ongoing tensions between religious freedom and reproductive rights, a topic that continues to spark debate across the country. As the New York courts reassess the situation, many will be watching closely to see how this complex issue unfolds.