Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Calif. Law Forces Abortion Business on Pro-lifers

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed AB 775, The Reproductive FACT Act, that requires pro-life pregnancy centers to tell their clients where to get an abortion and “unconstitutionally compels [these centers] to speak messages that they have not chosen, with which they do not agree, and that distract, and detract from, the messages they have chosen to speak.”  Clinics immediately filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction of this egregious violation of their First Amendment free speech and religious rights.
“Anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers are ground-zero in the fight for reproductive freedom, and Gov. Brown and the California Legislature can be proud . . .”
-- Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America
"Ground-zero in the fight?" Read Abortion Clinic Bombing Targets Pro-lifers Praying

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

California Forces Catholics to Fund Abortion, ACLU Celebrates

ACLU Sues Catholic Hospitals to Force Abortions

9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Forces Christians into Abortion Business

Also read, Pro-lifers Win Lawsuits for False Arrests at Protests: Violation of Free Speech

-- From "Health clinics run by anti-abortion groups sue attorney general over AB 775" by Denny Walsh, The Sacramento Bee 10/11/15

On Saturday in Sacramento federal court, religiously affiliated clinics in Marysville and Redding that don’t offer abortions sued California Attorney General Kamala Harris, a sponsor of the new law, asking for an injunction preventing it from taking effect Jan. 1.

The 18-page complaint, filed on behalf of the clinics by the Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative, nonprofit legal organization in Sacramento, asks the court to declare the Reproductive Fact Act unconstitutional and prohibit its enforcement.

Two such facilities – A Woman’s Friend Pregnancy Resource Clinic in Marysville and Crisis Pregnancy Center of Northern California in Redding – filed the suit against Harris. Both religious nonprofit corporations are licensed by the state to operate the clinics and offer, at no charge, medical consultations, pregnancy testing, ultrasound examinations and other services, the suit says. It says that, based on moral and religious convictions, they do not offer or refer for abortions.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Government-Mandated Speech: Jerry Brown Signs Law Forcing Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers to Promote Abortion" by Lauretta Brown, CNSNews.com 10/12/15


According to the legislation, pregnancy centers that fail to disseminate this message “are liable for a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for a first offense and one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each subsequent offense.”

"Does the government have a right to tell a newspaper what to write, a preacher what to preach, a private school what to teach? Of course not,” said Assemblywoman Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) in a statement following the bill’s passage in the State Assembly.

“So why is it okay for the government to force pro-life pregnancy centers against their will to advertise and promote government abortion services?” she asked.

“AB 775 sets a bad precedent by allowing the state -- a government entity -- to dictate what information a non-profit organization -- a non-profit that receives not a dime of state or government funding -- has to provide to their clients,” she concluded.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Abortion Opponents Call Law Forced Speech" by Nick Cahill, Courthouse News Service 10/14/15

The bill passed both houses by a combined 73-40 margin and requires clinics offering pregnancy-related services to inform patients of low-cost options via a conspicuous sign or a printed notice.

The Pacific Justice Institute filed the complaint for the clinics. The institute said forcing the clinics to relay the government's message conflicts with the alternatives it seeks to provide pregnant women.

"Forcing a religious pro-life charity to proclaim a pro-abortion declaration is on its face an egregious violation of both the free speech and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the Constitution," the institute's president Brad Dacus said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Public Schools Ban Pro-life Student Clubs Across America