Will NJ hospital be allowed to continue forcing nurses to help with abortions?
ADF attorney available for media interviews following hearing in federal court Thursday
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011
ADF attorney sound bite: Matt Bowman
WHO: ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman
WHAT: Available to media following hearing in Danquah v. University of Medicine and Dentistry of N.J.
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 22, immediately after hearing, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. EST
WHERE: Martin Luther King Jr. Courthouse, 50 Walnut St., 5th Floor, Courtroom 5D, Newark
NOTE: Court rules prohibit photography and audio or video recording on the court campus, so any media outlets wishing for such interviews can arrange with Bowman to walk to an adjacent location.
NEWARK, N.J. — Alliance Defense Fund Legal Counsel Matt Bowman will be available for media interviews following a court hearing Thursday in the case of 12 nurses being forced to assist with abortions at a New Jersey hospital.
The hearing concerns a motion filed by ADF attorneys on behalf of the nurses that asks the court to issue a preliminary injunction that would halt any efforts by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey to coerce the nurses in violation of federal law while their lawsuit moves forward.
“Pro-life nurses shouldn’t be forced to assist or train in services related to abortions. Federal and state law both prohibit this,” said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. “These 12 nurses have encountered threats to their jobs at this hospital ever since a policy change required them to participate in the abortion cases regardless of their religious and moral objections. It is disturbing that the hospital is fighting to continue violating laws that clearly protect conscience rights.”
Last month, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey issued a temporary restraining order, with the hospital’s temporary consent, that prohibited the hospital from coercing the nurses until the court could consider whether to issue an additional order, which is the subject of Thursday’s hearing.
Federal law prohibits hospitals that receive certain federal funds from forcing employees to participate in abortions. UMDNJ receives approximately $60 million in federal health funds annually. In addition, New Jersey law states, “No person shall be required to perform or assist in the performance of an abortion or sterilization.” The lawsuit requests that the hospital be ordered to obey these laws and to return part of the federal taxpayer money it has received in light of its violation of federal conscience laws.
Demetrios K. Stratis, one of nearly 2,100 attorneys in the ADF alliance, is local counsel in the case, Danquah v. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Stratis is with the firm Ruta, Soulios & Stratis, LLP.
WHAT: Available to media following hearing in Danquah v. University of Medicine and Dentistry of N.J.
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 22, immediately after hearing, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. EST
WHERE: Martin Luther King Jr. Courthouse, 50 Walnut St., 5th Floor, Courtroom 5D, Newark
NOTE: Court rules prohibit photography and audio or video recording on the court campus, so any media outlets wishing for such interviews can arrange with Bowman to walk to an adjacent location.
NEWARK, N.J. — Alliance Defense Fund Legal Counsel Matt Bowman will be available for media interviews following a court hearing Thursday in the case of 12 nurses being forced to assist with abortions at a New Jersey hospital.
The hearing concerns a motion filed by ADF attorneys on behalf of the nurses that asks the court to issue a preliminary injunction that would halt any efforts by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey to coerce the nurses in violation of federal law while their lawsuit moves forward.
“Pro-life nurses shouldn’t be forced to assist or train in services related to abortions. Federal and state law both prohibit this,” said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. “These 12 nurses have encountered threats to their jobs at this hospital ever since a policy change required them to participate in the abortion cases regardless of their religious and moral objections. It is disturbing that the hospital is fighting to continue violating laws that clearly protect conscience rights.”
Last month, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey issued a temporary restraining order, with the hospital’s temporary consent, that prohibited the hospital from coercing the nurses until the court could consider whether to issue an additional order, which is the subject of Thursday’s hearing.
Federal law prohibits hospitals that receive certain federal funds from forcing employees to participate in abortions. UMDNJ receives approximately $60 million in federal health funds annually. In addition, New Jersey law states, “No person shall be required to perform or assist in the performance of an abortion or sterilization.” The lawsuit requests that the hospital be ordered to obey these laws and to return part of the federal taxpayer money it has received in light of its violation of federal conscience laws.
Demetrios K. Stratis, one of nearly 2,100 attorneys in the ADF alliance, is local counsel in the case, Danquah v. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Stratis is with the firm Ruta, Soulios & Stratis, LLP.
- Fact sheet on the case
- Pronunciation guide: Bowman (BOH’-min), Stratis (STRAH’-tis)
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
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