WND By Amanda Vicinanzo
Live Action News
In a major pro-life victory, a court has determined that an Illinois nurse was wrongfully fired after being forced to participate in abortion and refer women to abortion facilities in violation of her Catholic faith.
Last week, the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Winnebago County ruled in favor of Sandra Mendoza Rojas, who filed a lawsuit in 2016 against the Winnebago County Health Department for violating her religious beliefs and conscience.
Rojas was hired by the health department as a part-time pediatric nurse in 1996. During her employment, the women’s health clinic and pediatric clinic were consolidated; consequently, her position would involve women’s health issues in the consolidated clinic. In turn, three nurses — including Rojas — objected to participating in abortion referrals and contraception.
The health director wrote a letter agreeing to temporarily accommodate Rojas’ objections and gave her 14 days to “consider her options.” In the letter, the health director said they could no longer accommodate Rojas in the consolidated clinic, but she could work as a part-time food inspector or as a nurse at a nursing home. In response, in July 2015, Rojas submitted a letter of resignation, costing her $18,000 in salary and $213,000 in pension benefits…
