Good news email from AU today re the cruelty of Trump's religious "freedom"

[KY_EnviroGuy]

Email text from Americans United (AU):

Congratulations to AU’s legal team led by Legal Director Richard Katskee! Today a federal court in California ruled in favor of AU’s clients and became the third court to block Trump’s Denial of Care rule from taking affect on Friday. The Denial of Care rule would allow health care providers to refuse to care for people based on their religious views. This means providers could refuse to care for LGBTQ patients, religious minorities, patients in interfaith relationships, patients who are pregnant outside of marriage and more. And the rule didn’t just cover doctors and nurses. Housekeeping staff could refuse to clean rooms occupied by people they disagree with on religious grounds. Schedulers could refuse to schedule critical medical procedures. Admissions staff could refuse to process hospital admissions. Ambulance drivers could refuse transport.

AU’s President and CEO, Rachel Laser, issued this statement: “Today, Judge Alsup threw out the Trump administration’s Denial of Care Rule in its entirety. One after another, three judges across the country have now made it crystal clear that it was unlawful for the Trump administration to misuse religious freedom to justify harming patients. These decisions, coupled with Congress’ introduction of the Put Patients First Act, should send an emphatic message to President Trump that no patient should ever be discriminated against or denied health care based on who they are, who they love or what they believe.”

Congratulations to AU’s plaintiffs, the County of Santa Clara, which runs an extensive health and hospital system that serves as a safety-net provider for the county’s 1.9 million residents; the health providers Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, Pa., Center on Halsted in Chicago, Hartford GYN in Connecticut, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia, Trust Women Seattle and Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, D.C.; the associations AGLP, GLMA and Medical Students for Choice; and five doctors, on this important victory!

Read the Court's decision here: https://www.au.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/District%20Court%20Order%20Santa%20Clara%20v.%20HHS%2011.19.19.pdf

This is typical of the Trump administration's work behind the scenes to destroy all American social progress of the last 70 or so years by any means they can immorally capture, while distracting us with their criminal enterprises.

It is pure evil to adulterate and abuse the meaning of the term "religious freedom" for raw political purposes.

Please excuse the lengthy post, but this news gave me an emotional boost today.......

[eShirl]

1. ah, Americans United (for separation of church & state)

lol @ me, I was confused why Australia might be involved

this is great news

[KY_EnviroGuy]

3. Thanks for catching that. Darned subject line is sometimes too short.

Edited to include full name of source.

KY...........

[2naSalit]

7. That's what I was thinking too

I immediately scanned for a full name. And then I had to figure out if they were for or against discrimination. It's early and looks to be another long day.

Yes, this is good news to start the day!

[safeinOhio]

2. Matthew 15: 21-28.

Jesus heals the daughter of non Jewish woman. Example of religious freedom to do the right thing.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Excellent point. Thanks. . . . nt

[3Hotdogs]

5. Must's been fake news.

Couldn't'a happened.

[Lonestarblue]

6. Religious freedom is not their goal, religious privilege is.

These self-appointed fake Christians already have all the freedoms to worship they need. They simply want their brand of religious fanaticism privileged above all other beliefs in the law and civil rights. They are beyond disgusting.

[wnylib]

9. Absolutely true. But this is even worse than fanatics

pushing their "freedoms" over those of others. Trump's denial of care rule is a political tactic to support the growth of a political "church." When people believe they have God on their side in politics, they will tolerate and participate in things they should reject. We have already seen people in Trump's administration quote the Bible to support imprisonment of assylum seekers and putting their children in cages.

There are many people of various religions today who strongly object to the hijacking of religion by politicians who use it to claim that God is on their side while they promote ignorance, cruelty, and their own political power.

Kudos to AU for their work in stopping this insanity that, if left unchecked, would take us down a very dangerous slippery slope toward fascism.

[Mc Mike]

8. Good news, thanks KY. rec, nt.