The Office of the General Counsel of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops warned that the Biden administration’s proposed changes to guidance on federal grant agreements would elevate contested interpretations of federal law on sexual orientation and gender identity over constitutional rights such as free speech and religious liberty.
The proposed changes are “arbitrary and capricious from top to bottom,” the USCCB warned. They are “arbitrary and capricious for deleting, without explanation, references to free speech, religious liberty, public welfare, and the environment … The deletion of references to free speech and religious liberty is especially concerning.”
“In sum, the proposed changes … would be reasonably interpreted to mean that OMB [the Office of Management and Budget] cares about prohibiting SOGI [sexual orientation and gender identity] discrimination more than discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, disability, or any other class protected under federal law; more than promoting the public welfare or protecting the environment; and more than preventing unlawful suppression of free speech or religious exercise,” the USCCB continued.
“It is common for Catholic ministries to partner with the government in their efforts to serve those most in need,” the USCCB added. The proposed changes would “chill Catholic entities’ participation in federal programs, potentially depriving the intended beneficiaries of those programs of the excellent care and service that Catholic ministries provide.”