Religious Freedom

OCR enforces the following laws as they apply to recipients of HHS federal financial assistance:

  • Section 508 of the Social Security Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or religion in the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (42 USC § 708). 
  • Section 533 of the Public Health Service Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or religion in Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (42 USC § 290cc-33). 
  • Section 1908 of the Public Health Service Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or religion in programs, services, and activities funded by Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grants (42 USC §300w-7).
  • Section 1947 of the Public Health Service Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or religion in programs, services, and activities funded by Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants (42 USC § 300x-57).
  • The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or religion in programs, services, and activities funded under this Act (42 USC § 10406).
  • The Communications Act of 1934, as amended by Equal Employment Opportunity provisions, prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, or sex by federally-funded public telecommunication entities (47 USC § 398).

OCR also enforces the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, which prohibits the federal government from substantially burdening a person or institution's religious exercise unless the federal government demonstrates that application of such burden to the religious adherent is the least restrictive means of achieving a compelling governmental interest. (42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.)

Has Your Conscience or Religious Freedom Been Violated?

File a Conscience or Religious Freedom Complaint

Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Content last reviewed on May 8, 2020