- Permanent injunction blocks EEOC enforcement of abortion/family-building accommodations
- 9,200+ Catholic employers exempted under Religious Freedom Restoration Act
- Ruling impacts pronoun usage policies and sex-segregated space access
- EEOC guidance on PWFA implementation declared unconstitutional overreach
In a landmark decision with national implications, U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor permanently barred enforcement of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations requiring Catholic organizations to provide accommodations for abortions and certain fertility treatments. The July 2024 ruling affects 9,200+ employers affiliated with the Catholic Benefits Association, representing 164,000 covered workers across all 50 states.
Legal analysts note this decision continues a pattern of federal courts expanding religious exemptions since the 2023 Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Catholic Charities. The North Dakota case specifically challenges EEOC’s interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which took effect in June 2023 with bipartisan support. Judge Traynor’s 38-page opinion argues the commission’s 2024 implementation rules “fundamentally alter statutory intent” by requiring employers to facilitate medical procedures conflicting with doctrinal teachings.
Three critical industry insights emerge from this ruling:
- Religious exemption requests have increased 217% since 2022 according to Georgetown’s Workplace Law Center
- States with trigger laws limiting abortion access now see 43% more faith-based employment litigation
- ERISA plan administrators report 68% spike in requests for conscience-based benefit exclusions
The Bismarck Diocese’s successful argument centered on Section 2000bb-1 of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which prohibits substantial burdens on religious exercise without compelling government interest. EEOC had contended that accommodations like time off for abortion procedures constituted neutral workplace policies. However, Traynor deemed these requirements “coercive participation in moral evils” under Catholic teachings regarding human dignity.
Regional impacts are particularly acute in Midwestern states like North Dakota, where 31% of hospitals are Catholic-affiliated. A 2024 Bismarck Tribune investigation revealed 74% of regional healthcare workers employed by religious organizations lack coverage for IVF or contraception. This ruling could further complicate access as employers gain legal precedent to deny accommodation requests.
Attorney Martin Nussbaum celebrated the decision as “a firewall against compelled speech,” referencing EEOC guidance requiring gender-affirming pronoun usage. The harassment prevention rules would have mandated Catholic schools and charities to avoid teachings about sexual morality that employees might find objectionable – a provision the court called “viewpoint discrimination.”
Employment law experts warn of potential unintended consequences. The National Women’s Law Center projects 12,000+ annual accommodation denials for miscarriages and high-risk pregnancies at exempted organizations. EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows called the ruling “dangerously broad,” vowing to appeal through the Eighth Circuit.
