Herzog Foundation Secures Injunction Against Biden-Era Pregnancy Rule in Religious Liberty Victory
The Herzog Foundation won a significant legal victory on Tuesday, securing a preliminary injunction against a federal rule that would require employers to accommodate abortion-related requests. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark, shields the Foundation from compliance with the Biden-era regulation while the case awaits a final judgment.
The lawsuit, filed by the Herzog Foundation, challenged the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The foundation argued that the EEOC’s rule, which mandates abortion accommodations, exceeded the agency’s authority, contradicted the law’s original intent to protect pregnant workers, and violated the foundation’s First Amendment religious rights.
“No employer should be forced to violate their deeply held beliefs at the whims of a federal agency,” said Herzog Foundation Communications Director Elizabeth Roberts. “The EEOC’s attempt to strong-arm Christian organizations into accommodating abortion-related requests is a blatant attack on religious freedom.
“We applaud the court’s initial decision to put a stop to this government overreach and protect the Herzog Foundation – and all faith-based employers – from being coerced into compliance with baseless and unlawful mandates.”
Katie Mitra, an attorney for Graves Garrett Greim, which represented the Foundation in the case, called the ruling a broader victory for religious freedom.
“The court’s ruling is a victory for the Herzog Foundation and for religious liberty writ large,” said Mitra. “The court has properly recognized that the Herzog Foundation is likely to succeed on the merits of its Religious Freedom Restoration Act claim, given the substantial burden of the rule on its sincere religious beliefs.
“This preliminary relief rightly empowers the foundation to exercise its beliefs while we litigate this case to final judgment.”
In her conclusion, Judge Ketchmark wrote that “the EEOC and its agents are enjoined from interpreting or enforcing the PWFA and any implementing regulations, including the Final Rule, against the Stanley M. Herzog Foundation in a manner that would require it to accommodate abortions that are contrary to its sincere religious beliefs.”
The injunction specifically bars the EEOC from investigating or taking legal action against the Herzog Foundation for refusing to accommodate abortion-related requests under the PWFA.
The Herzog Foundation remains committed to defending religious liberty and ensuring that Christian organizations can operate in accordance with their faith-based convictions. Stay up-to-date on this case and others at ReadLion.com.
About the Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation
The Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to catalyzing and accelerating the development of quality Christ-centered K-12 education so that families and culture flourish.
Learn more at HerzogFoundation.com.