Biden administration won't defend 'transgender mandate' on Catholic doctors, hospitals

The Biden administration is backing down from trying to force Catholic health care providers to enter the gender transition business.

The Justice Department this week let the deadline pass to file an appeal before the Supreme Court in Sisters of Mercy v. Becerra, marking the second time the administration has declined to defend the Affordable Care Act’s “transgender mandate.”

The practical effect of the decision: Catholic medical professionals and organizations in the church’s extensive U.S. health care network will not be required to perform gender transition surgeries or provide medical...