Whole Woman’s Health v. Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops

Becket Role:
Counsel

Scoreboard

Decision:
Won
Decision Date:
February 19, 2019
Deciding Court:
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Case Snapshot

In December 2016, Whole Woman’s Health, a group that runs abortion facilities around the country, sued over a Texas law that requires abortion facilities to bury or cremate aborted human remains. After the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops stood in support of the state, Whole Woman’s Health retaliated by serving the bishops with a subpoena in March 2018, demanding that the bishops turn over decades of private religious communications about abortion. The bishops provided over 4,000 pages of external communications. When a trial judge nonetheless ordered the bishops to hand over their private religious deliberations, Becket filed an emergency appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in June 2018. After first granting the bishops temporary protection, the Fifth Circuit granted the Bishops permanent protection in July 2018. On August 16, 2018, the en banc Fifth Circuit rejected Whole Woman's Health's petition for rehearing. The abortion provider then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which on February 19, 2019, also rejected the group’s bid, leaving in place the Fifth Circuit’s ruling protecting church leaders’ right to private religious discussions.

Status

The Fifth Circuit ruled in the bishops' favor on July 15, 2018, stating that the bishops should be protected from a “‘Hobson’s choice’ of retreating from the public square or defending [their] position.” On July 30, Whole Woman’s Health asked the full Fifth Circuit to rehear the case. On August 16, 2018, the en banc Fifth Circuit rejected Whole Woman's Health's petition for rehearing. The abortion provider then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which on February 19, 2019, also rejected the group’s bid, putting an end to the abortion group's intrusion efforts.

Case Summary

No good deed goes unpunished

The Catholic Church has long been known for its pro-life stance. In line with these beliefs, Catholic churches in Texas have worked with hospitals and families for many years to provide burial for unborn remains. When the State of Texas passed a law requiring all hospitals and abortion clinics to bury or cremate all unborn remains, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops offered support—as an act of ministry, the bishops publicly offered to donate free space in Catholic cemeteries across the state for this purpose.

In December 2016, Whole Woman’s Health, a group that runs abortion facilities in Texas, sued the State to stop the fetal remains law. Even though the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops was not part of the lawsuit, in March 2018 Whole Woman’s Health retaliated against the bishops for publicly supporting the fetal remains law. Whole Woman’s Health served them with a subpoena demanding that the bishops hand over all communications about abortion. The bishops handed over more than 4,000 pages of communications, but the bishops stood their ground when it came to private religious deliberations among the bishops, refusing to hand them over.

Church theology is not a public affair

Churches should be free to lend tangible support to public initiatives without fear that they will be forced to hand over private, internal communications, especially on matters of doctrine and theology. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops had already handed over thousands of communications with outside groups. Handing over their private, internal religious deliberations between the bishops regarding matters of faith would seriously interfere with the Church’s ability to conduct its ministries – not to mention that handing them over to advocacy groups who believe differently than the Church does on matters like abortion would be damaging.

Despite this, on June 17, 2018, a trial judge ordered the bishops to hand over their internal communications about abortion to Whole Woman’s Health. The bishops appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for emergency protection from the order. On June 18, 2018, the Fifth Circuit suspended the trial court’s order, protecting the bishops until the case could be fully considered. Simultaneous briefs were filed at the Fifth Circuit on June 25, 2018.

Fifth Circuit Court protects bishops from “Hobson’s choice”

On July 15, 2018, the Fifth Circuit granted the bishops permanent protection from the order. The Court found that the bishops’ claims “go to the heart of the constitutional protection of religious belief and practice as well as citizens’ right to advocate sensitive policies in the public square.” The Court also stated that the abortion facilities’ efforts against the bishops “looks like an act of intimidation,” placing the bishops’ conference in a “‘Hobson’s choice’ of retreating from the public square or defending its position.” On July 30, Whole Woman’s Health asked the full Fifth Circuit to rehear the case. On August 16, 2018, the en banc Fifth Circuit rejected Whole Woman’s Health’s petition for rehearing.

In November 2018, Whole Woman’s Health asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Fifth Circuit’s decision. On January 11, 2019, Becket filed a brief opposing that request. On February 19, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Whole Woman’s Health’s appeal, putting an end to the abortion group’s intrusion efforts.

The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops was represented by Becket and by Steven Levatino of Levatino | Pace PLLC in Austin, Texas.

Importance to religious liberty

  • Religious communities: Religious communities must be free to operate and minister without government interference, including by keeping internal church communications private, especially when it comes to matters of doctrine and theology.
  • Public square: Churches should be free to support public initiatives that affect their religious beliefs without being forced to forfeit their privacy.

Case Information

Becket Role:
Counsel
Case Start Date:
December 12, 2016
Deciding Court:
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Original Court:
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
Supreme Court Status:
Cert Denied