Michigan Christian Organizations Appeal Religious Freedom Lawsuits
CV NEWS FEED // Two Christian organizations in Michigan appealed to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals this week for violations against their religious freedom, challenging Michigan laws that require Christian employers to hire individuals that hold opposing values and that require healthcare providers to provide cross-sex hormones and refer to patients by preferred pronouns or “gender identity”.
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled last year that refusing service or employment to an individual because of sexual orientation or “gender identity” constitutes illegal sex-based discrimination. In response, Christian Healthcare Centers—a religious medical nonprofit—and Sacred Heart of Jesus—a Catholic parish and school—each filed a lawsuit against the state with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit legal organization.
Both CHC and Sacred Heart claimed that being forced to employ those who have different beliefs or opposing morals violates their religious freedom. Now, almost one year later, the two organizations are appealing to the 6th Circuit, asking the court to uphold their religious freedom.
“Michigan officials should respect religious organizations’ constitutionally protected freedom to follow the very faith that has motivated them to serve their communities,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch in a press release. “Christian Healthcare Centers, for example, should be free to continue its vibrant outreach to the communities it serves through its low-cost, high-quality medical care.”
CHC is a nonprofit medical center in Grand Rapids that provides people with a Christian, affordable alternative to mainstream medical care. While CHC does serve LGBTQ+ patients, they do so in a way that is consistent with Christian values and beliefs about gender and sexuality. In addition to requiring CHC to employ individuals who do not hold the same beliefs, Michigan’s legislature would force CHC to prescribe cross-sex hormones and refer to patients by their preferred “gender identity” despite biological reality.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, also in Grand Rapids, runs a K-12 Catholic school that provides a classical education to almost 400 students. Families in the area choose Sacred Heart because they hold the same Catholic beliefs—but Michigan’s law now requires Sacred Heart to hire teachers and staff who live immoral lifestyles or who will teach children about LGBTQ+ “values.” According to ADF, the law also does not allow Sacred Heart to teach Catholic doctrine in school or in school advertisements.
“Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish has faithfully served Grand Rapids families for more than a century, and its school provides a rich academic and spiritual environment for hundreds of children,” Bursch said. “We hope the 6th Circuit will respect their freedoms protected by the First Amendment so that they can continue to serve their communities without being illegitimately subjected to a state law that could undermine their faith and mission.”
