Sara Hellwege, is a member of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). When applying for a job at the Tampa Family Health Centers, she was unapologetic about her involvement in life-affirming organizations. She was also candid about her inability to prescribe hormonal birth control drugs that may cause early abortions.
A Christian legal group is suing a Tampa, Fla., health center on behalf of a woman who was denied a nursing position because of her pro-life associations.
Sara Hellwege, is a member of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). When applying for a job at the Tampa Family Health Centers, she was unapologetic about her involvement in life-affirming organizations. She was also candid about her inability to prescribe hormonal birth control drugs that may cause early abortions.
She received an email from the director of the clinic stating: “Due to the fact that…you are a member of AAPLOG, we would be unable to move forward in the interviewing process.”
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorney Matt Bowman said the clinic’s actions violate “multiple federal laws.”
“No one deserves to suffer discrimination just because they’re pro-life,” he said. “Federal and state law make it clear that being pro-abortion cannot be a prerequisite for employment, nor can federally funded facilities force nurses to assist with practices that could lead to an abortion.”
The lawsuit states that “Florida law shall not require ‘any person to participate in the termination of a pregnancy, nor shall… any person be liable for such refusal.”
“Willingness to commit an abortion cannot be a litmus test for employment,” said Steven Aden, senior counsel with ADF. “All we are asking is for the health center to obey the law and not make a nurse’s employment contingent upon giving up her respect for life.”
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