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USCCB Urges EEOC to Revise Workplace Harassment Regulations
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Catholics to contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and ask that it leave abortion, contraception, sexual orientation, and gender identity out of proposed regulations on harassment in the workplace.
The EEOC has proposed guidance that claims that sexual harassment includes harassment based on (1) “a woman’s reproductive decisions, such as decisions about contraception or abortion,” and (2) “sexual orientation and gender identity.” Such guidance would suppress or prohibit speech that upholds preborn children, God's design for marriage, and the reality that we are each created male or female.
As Catholics, we believe all people should have the freedom to work without facing sex-based harassment, and support laws prohibiting such harassment. However, speech expressing moral opposition to abortion, contraception, same-sex unions, or speech that refers to people by their actual sex is not sexual harassment. Likewise, maintaining separate restrooms and dressing areas for men and women is not harassment. Further, federal law does not prohibit restrooms and dressing areas that are designated by sex.
Please join the USCCB in recommending that the Commission revise the guidance to remove references to contraceptives, abortion, sexual orientation, and gender identity because speech on these subjects is constitutionally protected. To read the USCCB’s letter to the EEOC, click here.
All comments are due by November 1, 2023. To submit comments, please click below:
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