Brief of Amici Curiae Catholic Medical Association and Coptic Medical Association of North America in Support of Appellees

Authors

Eric N. Kniffin, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP
John A. Meiser, Notre Dame Law School, Religious Liberty ClinicFollow
Francesca M. Genova, Notre Dame Law School, Religious Liberty ClinicFollow

Document Type

Brief

Publication Date

5-16-2022

Abstract

No. 2021CA1855
Barbara Morris v. Centura Health Corporation

Appeal from: Colorado District Court, Arapahoe County Case No. 2019CV31980 (Hon. Peter Frederick Michaelson)

From the Summary of Argument

At its core, this case concerns a religious hospital’s right to provide care in accordance with its faith commitments. Centura Health is a Christian healthcare system that is composed of Catholic and Seventh-day Adventist hospitals, including St. Anthony Hospital, the Catholic Hospital for which Dr. Morris worked. In service of their religious mission, Centura Health and St. Anthony Hospital (collectively, “Centura”) require their doctors to abide by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, which prohibit them from, among other things, assisting suicide¹—a grave evil in the Christian moral tradition. See U.S. Conf. of Cath. Bishops, Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services 21 (6th ed. 2018) [hereinafter USCCB]. Indeed, Centura’s freedom to operate consistently with its faith is only as strong as its ability to require its employees— the very people who carry out Centura’s mission—to practice medicine in a way that will uphold its religious commitments. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees Centura exactly that right, and it demands that civil courts refrain from becoming entangled in debates over the meaning of Centura’s religious beliefs or which forms of conduct violate them.

Comments

Amici curiae are two associations of Christian healthcare professionals. The Catholic Medical Association is the largest association of Catholic individuals in healthcare. CMA defends the rights of its members to follow their deeply held religious beliefs in the medical profession while also providing them spiritual and professional support and advocating on their behalf. The Coptic Medical Association of North America aims to unite Egyptian Christian medical professionals in North America and to provide compassionate healing worldwide by serving the sick, mentoring future generations, and equipping local ministries.

Recommended Citation

Kniffin, Eric N.; Meiser, John A.; and Genova, Francesca M., "Brief of Amici Curiae Catholic Medical Association and Coptic Medical Association of North America in Support of Appellees" (2022). Court Briefs. 32.
https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/sct_briefs/32