EPISODE · May 4, 2023 · 21 MIN
HHS Threatens Catholic Hospital Over Sanctuary Candle?
Should a Catholic hospital stop seeing Medicare and Medicaid patients because it has a lit candle in its Catholic chapel? Lori Windham, vice president and senior counsel at Becket Law, discusses their latest case involving HHS and religious liberty. The Biden administration has ordered St. Francis Catholic Hospital to extinguish the sanctuary candle required by Catholic doctrine while the transubstantiated Eucharist is in the tabernacle or get disqualified for any reimbursements for care. Lori talks about the absurd and capricious nature of this demand, while I argue that this shouldn't even be a matter for the federal government but rather the local fire marshal. What are the next steps -- and does Xavier Becerra really want to take another beating in the 10th Circuit and Supreme Court?
What this episode covers
Should a Catholic hospital stop seeing Medicare and Medicaid patients because it has a lit candle in its Catholic chapel? Lori Windham, vice president and senior counsel at Becket Law, discusses their latest case involving HHS and religious liberty. The Biden administration has ordered St. Francis Catholic Hospital to extinguish the sanctuary candle required by Catholic doctrine while the transubstantiated Eucharist is in the tabernacle or get disqualified for any reimbursements for care. Lori talks about the absurd and capricious nature of this demand, while I argue that this shouldn't even be a matter for the federal government but rather the local fire marshal. What are the next steps -- and does Xavier Becerra really want to take another beating in the 10th Circuit and Supreme Court?
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HHS Threatens Catholic Hospital Over Sanctuary Candle?
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