Appeals court rules Catholic medical centers can't be forced to perform transgender surgeries

A federal appeals court blocked the Biden administration 's requirement that healthcare and insurance groups perform transgender procedures in a case brought by religious doctors who argued the mandate violated their religious beliefs. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the Religious Sisters of Mercy and other groups in a unanimous ruling on Friday, saying they are entitled to a permanent injunction against the mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services . The decision echoes a similar 5th Circuit decision that blocked the policy in August.-- More...