Bishops embrace proposed grant rules to restrict gender ideology, oppose migrant provisions

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted a public comment on proposed changes to federal grants, expressing support for restrictions on gender ideology and abortion but opposing restrictions for groups that work with migrants who are in the country unlawfully.

The bishops submitted the public comment to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on July 8. The proposed rule change regulates the activities of organizations that receive certain forms of federal assistance, which includes Catholic charities, schools, and healthcare providers.

Areas of agreement

The bishops support a provision that bans federal funds from being used on efforts that deny “the sex binary in humans” or express the notion “sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic.”

“We fully support this provision, which is prudently designed as a restriction on the scope of activities that may be supported by federal awards rather than as a prohibition on speech or conduct outside the scope of the award,” the bishops’ comment stated.

The bishops also support a provision that bans organizations from charging federal awards for costs “associated with elective abortions … except as expressly authorized by federal law.”

However, they also commented that the rule should be “even stronger in protecting innocent human life” by at least aligning fully with the Hyde Amendment, which would prohibit funds for abortions, with the exception of unborn children conceived in rape or incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger.

They also stated that OMB should clarify what “associated with” means, warning the language does not appear as strong as the gender ideology provision.

The bishops also support a proposal to ban federal agencies from discriminating against or disfavoring faith-based organizations in award applications but urged OMB to strengthen this language too by expressly applying the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

“Even when the law places religious and secular entities on equal footing, RFRA prohibits the federal government from substantially burdening religious exercise unless doing so serves a compelling governmental interest and is the manner of doing so that is least restrictive of that exercise,” the comment added.

It also encouraged a revision in the language to ensure that religious organizations do not get accused of bias against other religions.

Areas of disagreement

The provision receiving the strongest opposition from the bishops is one that prohibits funds from being used to encourage or facilitate “illegal immigration,” noting that Catholic charitable groups have been accused of doing that.

“Providing for the basic human needs of immigrants, without regard to their immigration status, is integral to the mission of the Catholic Church and her ministries,” the comment stated.

“Religious entities that provide food, shelter, or other humanitarian aid to immigrants, or transportation related to such aid, may reasonably fear that their ordinary ministries could be characterized as facilitation of illegal immigration or as an initiative that compromises public safety,” it added.

“Under these same interpretations, even ensuring the full inclusion of undocumented immigrants in the sacramental life of the Church or providing for the education of undocumented children could be misconstrued as ‘encouraging’ their presence in the United States without authorization,” the comment continued.

The bishops also oppose a ban on funding that encourages “anti-American values,” warning it is unclear what this means.

In their comment, they also opposed mandatory e-verify, saying it “may chill lawful hiring, burden nonprofits and religious organizations, create confusion over contractors and indirect-cost employees, and encourage discriminatory over-screening.”

Source: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/bishops-embrace-proposed-grant-rules-to-restrict-gender-ideology-oppose-migrant-provisions