Federal Judge Allows Catholic Employers to Reject EEOC Regulations

A federal judge in Missouri has allowed a religious discrimination lawsuit to proceed, ruling that an employee's objections to COVID-19 protocols could be based on sincerely held religious beliefs, thus dismissing a summary judgment motion from the American Association of Orthodontists. Concurrently, in North Dakota, U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor issued a preliminary injunction protecting over 8,000 Catholic employers from new EEOC regulations requiring accommodations for abortions and fertility treatments under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Traynor's ruling emphasized that these regulations infringe on religious freedoms, asserting that requiring Catholic organizations to support or accommodate such practices contradicts their beliefs. The decision also pauses enforcement of protections for transgender employees within these regulations, citing potential violations of religious expression. The ruling reflects ongoing tensions between religious freedom and government mandates regarding reproductive rights and gender identity. Both cases highlight the complexities of balancing workplace regulations and individual religious beliefs in the current legal landscape.