ADF to 5th Circuit: Protect parents' right to direct care of their children

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Chris Schandevel regarding a friend-of-the-court brief ADF attorneys filed Friday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in Deanda v. Becerra supporting the right of parents to make decisions about how their children are raised:

“Parents have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children. And a parent’s right to withhold consent for non-essential medical treatment for her child falls within the scope of that right. In this case, the Biden administration is trying to force publicly funded health centers to put contraceptive pills into the hands of minors behind their parents’ backs and without their consent. As we explain in our brief, the lower court recognized the long history and tradition supporting parents’ right to make important health decisions for their children, and we urge the 5th Circuit to affirm that court’s decision. Parents know their children best, and they should never be kept in the dark about their children’s health and wellbeing.”

• Pronunciation guide: Schandevel (SHAN’-deh-vell)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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