-California: New Law Forces Pro-Life Centers to List Referrals for Abortions
by Dr. D ~ October 13th, 2015
(Gov. Jerry Brown: Wikipedia)
A new law was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown of California that forces Pro-Life counseling centers in the state to feature signs with referrals to free abortions. Here’s the story from One News Now:
Gov. Jerry Brown… signed a controversial bill into law that forces pro-life pregnancy centers to act as a referral service for abortions.
AB 775, known as the Reproductive FACT ACT, requires all licensed pregnancy centers to post the following notice:
“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. To determine whether you qualify, contact the county social services office at [insert the telephone number].”
The pro-life clinics, often referred to as "crisis pregnancy centers," counsel girls and women who have an unplanned pregnancy, with the stated goal of saving the life of the unborn child while comforting the girl or woman.
Depending on the clinic, services range from pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to adoption services. Most services are usually free. …
California pro-lifers … nicknamed the legislation "the bully bill," arguing that posting the statement violates their conscience by acting as an abortion referral service.
Response: What is really outrageous about the bill, and points to the ideology and politics of it all, is the fact that groups like Planned Parenthood that provide abortions for a fee are not required to hang the ‘free abortion’ referral notice at all.
Fortunately the Pacific Justice Institute is already filing a lawsuit to stop the law. Here’s a comment from Brad Dacus of PJI about the bill:
"This is the same as telling Alcoholics Anonymous, before your meetings, you have to announce where people can go to get free alcohol at the nearest liquor store," Dacus says of the new state law.
"It is a clear overreach of government," he says, "and we at the Pacific Justice Institute intend to halt this egregious violation of free speech and the free exercise of religion."
Another case in America where a government is forcing its ideology on others and restricting the free speech of conservatives and religious folks. *Top
October 14th, 2015 at 7:43 am
A clear violation of the First Amendment! The freedom of speech clause involves not only the right to speak in support of causes you endorse, but to refuse to speak in support of matters that you do not endorse.
If this were permissible, what would prevent the State of California to require a church that refuses to sanction LGBT marriages to post a sign endorsing LGBT marriage and providing contact information for someone who would perform such marriage?
Brian
October 14th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Thanks Brian,
Hopefully no liberal California state politician reads your comment or they might try putting up those signs in front of churches, out by the street on public property of course in order not to even more clearly violate the First Amendment.
July 23rd, 2016 at 12:23 am
[…] similar situation is happening in California where pro-life counselors are now being forced to provide referrals to abortion centers. That law is also being challenged in the […]