HHS assistant secretary Brian Christine shares how saints inspire his leadership while addressing religious freedom and chemical abortion safety in the United States

Adm. Brian Christine, the assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), recently spoke about how his Catholic faith informs his work in government and public health.

In an interview on EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, Christine highlighted the importance of religious freedom for healthcare professionals and reflected on the saints who inspire his decisions.

“I don’t set my faith aside at the door,” Christine told host Abigail Galvan.

“Every decision I make is guided by my Catholic faith.”

Protecting Religious Freedom in Medicine

Christine emphasized that healthcare workers should never face discrimination or disparagement because of their religious beliefs.

“We are not going to allow health care practitioners to be disparaged or discriminated against because of their faith,” he said.

“We faithful don’t have to check our faith at the door to practice medicine or science.”

His remarks come amid ongoing debates over religious freedom in healthcare, particularly as laws and policies intersect with issues such as abortion, end-of-life care, and gender-affirming treatments.

Finding Guidance from the Saints

Faith, for Christine, isn’t just personal—it’s practical. He spoke about turning to a “whole cloud of witnesses” in the form of saints for guidance.

“I don’t have a patron saint—I have a whole cloud of saints because I need them,” he explained.

He cited St. Peter as an example of resilience.

“He made mistakes, denied the Lord, and yet he became the rock of the Church.”

Christine also highlighted St. Thomas More, who famously upheld his principles while serving in government, and Blessed Clemens August Graf von Galen, the Archbishop of Münster in Germany, who courageously opposed Nazi euthanasia programs in the 1930s and 1940s.

Christine praised von Galen, calling him the “Lion of Münster” for his vocal opposition to the Nazi T4 euthanasia program.

Addressing the Rising Use of Abortion Pills

Christine also addressed one of the most pressing issues in the pro-life movement: the use of chemical abortions.

“Chemical abortions now account for nearly two-thirds of U.S. abortions and are being mailed across state lines, even to states where unborn children are legally protected,” Christine said.

He stressed the need for careful review of the abortion pill mifepristone, which has raised safety concerns for women.

“The FDA is conducting a review to ensure women have accurate information about potential risks,” Christine explained.

“If women are considering this drug, they need to make truly informed decisions.”

Advocating Compassionate Mental Health Care for Minors

Another focus for Christine is the mental health of minors experiencing gender dysphoria.

He emphasized the importance of providing compassionate support rather than chemical or surgical interventions.

“Gender dysphoria is a real mental health condition, and these minors deserve support,” he said.

“Using castrating chemicals or performing irreversible procedures is not the answer.

With proper mental health care, most of these children can find happiness in their own bodies.”

Christine framed this stance as a key priority of the HHS under the Trump administration and Secretary Robert Kennedy.

“We’re never going to back away from protecting these vulnerable children,” he said.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, Christine signaled ongoing work in both religious freedom protections and public health policy.

The FDA’s review of mifepristone remains underway, and the HHS continues to advocate for policies supporting vulnerable populations, from the unborn to minors experiencing gender dysphoria.

Christine’s blend of faith and policy suggests that the intersection of religious conviction and government responsibility will remain central to his work in the coming months.

Summary

Adm. Brian Christine, HHS assistant secretary for health, discussed how his Catholic faith informs his leadership, guiding his decisions on issues from abortion to mental health care.

He emphasized protecting religious freedom for healthcare workers, drew inspiration from saints like St. Peter and St. Thomas More, and stressed compassionate approaches to complex health challenges.

Christine highlighted the FDA review of the abortion pill mifepristone and reaffirmed HHS’s commitment to supporting vulnerable minors without resorting to irreversible medical interventions.