Pro-choice Democrats target religious groups supporting life for legal persecution

Government Persecution of Religious Sisters: A Battle for Freedom

Perhaps the most famous ⁢example of the government persecuting Catholic religious sisters in recent memory is the years-long fight⁣ involving the Little ‌Sisters of ⁤the Poor.‌ For years, the nation watched as government officials attempted‍ to use Obamacare mandates to force the Sisters to offer contraceptives and abortifacients ‍in their health plans.

While such legal situations are terrible to behold, there is at least a consistency in the​ enforcement of the (unjust) law in⁤ question. The Little Sisters of the Poor was‍ not targeted by the law: The secular leftist ⁤orthodoxy demands that​ all employers cover contraceptives and abortifacients for employees.‌ There is a ​similar ‌consistency in cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop and 303 Creative — the laws ​are not targeting religious belief or practice in ⁤particular. Rather, they reveal how​ governments ‌are creating policies based on a ​false understanding of life and the human person and then ⁣imposing them on everyone. No exceptions. Not even for nuns.

But it is a separate issue when state governments are emboldened enough to pass laws that explicitly ⁣single out pro-life religious persons or organizations. Last year,⁢ the Sisters of Life (and with them all pro-life pregnancy centers in the state of ⁤New York) became the latest victims of targeted legal ​attacks from a hostile state government.

In ⁢2022, New York enacted a series of state laws to protect and promote ‍abortion in response⁤ to the coming Dobbs decision. Among other troubling pro-abortion measures, the law attempted to give the New York health ⁢commissioner power to request data from “limited service⁢ pregnancy centers.” Let us be clear: By​ “limited service,” the law was singling out the pregnancy centers that do not ⁣provide abortion. The ⁣law allows the​ state to request a broad array of information including demographic information about the women who come to the pregnancy ‌center, the services provided, what options or services‌ the‍ women are seeking, and what information the pregnancy center‌ is giving to ⁣women who ‌receive ​services.

There is much to⁤ be disturbed by here. Why is the government demanding demographic information about women who come⁤ to ⁣crisis pregnancy centers? Why does ⁢the⁢ state of New York require a ⁤group of religious sisters ⁢to turn over information about what services it offers to women and what those ⁢women talk about when they walk through the door of a crisis pregnancy center? As New York City suffers from crises of mass migration, homelessness, and crime, one would be justified to wonder why the focus on pro-life pregnancy centers⁤ could possibly be a priority of state ⁢government.

One would think that such a⁢ direct attack singling out faith-based, pro-life pregnancy centers would be done in the dark. But Gov. Kathy Hochul⁢ seemed to​ relish the opportunity to publicly attack the “Neanderthals” who dare oppose‍ the abortion regime.⁢ She insists that women​ will⁢ not have the “right” to abort their babies unless abortion is available in‍ every ‍facility that calls⁣ itself a pregnancy center. Somehow, the very existence of crisis ⁢pregnancy centers that​ do not offer abortion and instead help⁢ women and their children poses a ⁤dire threat.

When the leaders of state ⁣governments ⁢engage​ in open⁢ lawfare directly targeting pro-life, religious organizations, we should pay ‌attention.

A similarly disturbing legal situation arose ‍in Colorado recently in the Bella ‌Health case, where the

Why⁢ are these laws considered‍ a direct attack on religious freedom and ‍an effort to silence and marginalize those with pro-life beliefs?

‍Doors? The answer ​is simple: It is an attempt to intimidate and target pro-life organizations and their mission to provide alternatives to abortion.

These laws​ are not rooted in a genuine concern for women’s health or safety. They​ are a direct attack⁤ on religious freedom ‌and a deliberate effort to silence and marginalize those who⁢ hold⁢ pro-life beliefs. ⁤By singling out pro-life pregnancy centers and demanding‌ detailed information about ⁤their services, these ‍laws aim to discredit and undermine⁣ the valuable work that these organizations do.

The Sisters of Life, like the Little Sisters of the Poor, have dedicated their lives​ to serving others. They provide support, resources, and love to‌ women facing unplanned pregnancies,‍ offering them an ⁤alternative to abortion and helping ​them‌ navigate through ⁢difficult circumstances. They ⁢do this out of a deep respect for the dignity and sanctity⁤ of human life.

But instead of recognizing and supporting the​ important ‌role‍ that these ⁣religious​ sisters play ‍in society, state governments are actively working to‌ undermine their ⁤work and force​ them to conform to ideologies that go against their deeply held beliefs. This is a clear violation of religious freedom ⁢and a ⁤concerning precedent for the⁣ future.

Religious freedom‌ is a fundamental human right that ‍should be​ protected and ⁤respected by all governments. It allows ‍individuals and organizations to freely practice their faith and fulfill ​their mission without interference ⁤or discrimination. When governments target and persecute ⁤religious sisters, ⁢they are not ​only violating their rights, but they are ‌also⁢ undermining⁤ the moral fabric ​of society.

We must stand up and defend the ⁣rights of religious sisters and‍ other religious organizations who face persecution from their ‍own governments. We must advocate for laws and policies that uphold the ⁤principles of religious freedom and respect the beliefs and ⁢practices of all individuals‌ and ⁤groups.

The battle for freedom is not just⁣ a fight for⁣ religious sisters,⁣ but for all of us who cherish the principles of liberty, justice,⁢ and human dignity. It is a battle that requires‍ unity, ⁢courage, ‍and perseverance. We cannot afford‍ to remain silent‌ or passive in the face of government⁣ persecution. We⁤ must come together and demand that our governments protect and uphold the rights of religious ​sisters and all those who seek to ⁤live out their faith​ in freedom and peace.