The Obama administration issued a sweeping regulation Thursday intended to add religious liberty protections to organizations seeking federal funding for certain programs.
The final rule, which applies to all agencies, intends to enable religious providers to compete for government funding on the same level as other non-religious organizations, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Once the rule goes into effect in about a month, it will require HHS to ensure that all decisions on federal funding are based solely on merit and not on an organization’s religious affiliation.
The agency tries to clarify which activities can and cannot be supported through federal funding.
For instance, if federal funding goes toward counseling then counselors “may not encourage beneficiaries to accept religious teachings or discourage them from doing so,” the rule said.
It also prohibits religious organizations that receive funding from discriminating against beneficiaries, for example denying services or benefits based on a beneficiary’s religious belief or refusal to attend religious practices.
The final rule will go into effect around the end of May or beginning of June.
The move comes about a week after the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case over religious liberty and Obamacare. The court will decide whether religious nonprofits such as universities and charities can get an exemption to Obamacare’s requirement they provide birth control to employees.
