Pro-life centers in California recently won a victory in court and will not be required to promote abortion within their clinics.
Currently, all pro-life pregnancy centers in the state are required to notify their clients that the state of California provides free or low-cost contraceptives and abortion under California law AB775.
The exact wording of the law states, “California has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services (including all FDA-approved methods of contraception), prenatal care and abortion for eligible women …”
Pro-life advocates believe this law requiring the pro-life centers to post this notice in a place of prominence in their clinics is a violation of their freedom.
They took their case to court in The Scharpen Foundation vs. Kamala Harris, and won.
Riverside County Superior Court ruled that this law infringes upon the free speech rights of the pro-life centers and enforcement of the law is to be permanently halted.
“To force pro-life crisis pregnancy centers to promote abortion is abhorrent,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, which was representing the pro-life centers. “This kind of government coercive speech is exactly what the First Amendment was designed to guard against. To force a pro-life speaker to encourage death to innocent children is inconceivable. It is refreshing to see a court reach a correct conclusion that goes to the heart of free-speech protections.”
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Publication date: November 3, 2017
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