9th Circuit Court Upholds Law Forcing Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers to Promote Abortion

9th Circuit Court Upholds Law Forcing Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers to Promote Abortion

The Stream - Friday October 14, 2016

by Anika Smith

Today the 9th Circuit Court ruled against pro-life pregnancy centers, upholding AB 775, a California law that requires pregnancy counselors to include abortion as a recommendation for their clients.

This ruling would force those working at pregnancy centers to hand a disclaimer to all the women coming seeking help at these centers with the number of an abortion office. The law was, as the state of California admits, passed "with the stated 'Purpose' of targeting pro-life 'crisis pregnancy centers.'"

“It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that the liberal Ninth Circuit Court three-judge panel upheld California’s violation of federal law, the U.S. Constitution, and human rights,” said National Institute for Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) president Thomas Glessner.

While the law has been upheld by the Circuit Court, Glessner is confident that this is not the end of the fight for the speech rights of pro-life pregnancy centers.

“The ‘Reproductive FACT Act’ forces pregnancy resource centers and medical clinics to violate consciences, free speech, and religious beliefs," Glessner said. "This violation of the foundational roots of the American Republic will not stand."

The Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented NIFLA and two pregnancy centers in the suit, promises that they are discussing the possibility of appeal.

"Forcing these centers to promote abortion and recite the government's preferred views is a clear violation of their constitutionally protected First Amendment freedoms," said Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Bowman. "That's why other courts around the country have halted these kinds of measures and why we will be discussing the possibility of appeal with our clients."

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