Illinois law targeting crisis pregnancy centers blocked by federal judge.
A Victory for Women’s Rights: Federal Judge Halts Enforcement of Illinois Law Targeting Crisis Pregnancy Centers
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction on Thursday night, putting a halt to the enforcement of Illinois’s new law aimed at crisis pregnancy centers. This decision has sparked further tension in one of the few states in the Midwest where abortion faces minimal restrictions.
“This is a huge win for women and their families seeking assistance for an unplanned pregnancy, many of whom have nowhere else to go for help,”
said Thomas Glessner, president of the National Institute of Family Life Advocates, the plaintiff in the case.
Protecting First Amendment Rights
Judge Iain Johnston issued the preliminary injunction without comment after the group filed suit against the legislation. They argued that enforcing the “vague and overbroad speech regulations undermines [NIFLA]’s ability to advocate their faith-based position” and freedom of association.
Glessner expressed that the injunction is also a significant victory for pro-life pregnancy centers, whose First Amendment rights have been blatantly attacked by the state of Illinois. He stated that the state wants to force these centers to go against their deeply held beliefs that women deserve better than abortion.
It is worth noting that Johnston was appointed to the federal bench by then-President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate in September 2020. However, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) did not vote for Johnston due to his perceived “extreme bias against women’s rights.” On the other hand, Senator Dick Durbin did vote to confirm Johnston.
The Controversy Surrounding Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Crisis pregnancy centers are typically faith-based groups that provide medical and supportive services for women with unplanned pregnancies. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other organizations condemn these centers as illegitimate and unregulated healthcare clinics that use deceptive means to dissuade patients from obtaining abortions.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated, “By using deception, delay tactics, and disinformation, staffs undermine the tenets of informed consent and patient autonomy and impede access to comprehensive, ethical care.”
The New Law and Its Impact
Last week, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a measure into law that clarified how state consumer protection laws applied to crisis pregnancy centers. While the law does not compel these centers to provide information that goes against their conscience, it does prevent them from using misinformation or deceptive practices to interfere with access to abortion services or emergency contraception.
Upon signing the legislation, Governor Pritzker emphasized the importance of women having access to comprehensive, fact-based healthcare when making critical decisions about their own health. He criticized politically motivated, non-medical actors for manipulating and spreading misinformation.
However, Glessner strongly disagreed with the law, stating, “Governor Pritzker went so far overboard with this law, demanding people who don’t agree with him outrightly go against their beliefs and support his radical abortion stance.” He expressed his delight with the judge’s decision to issue the preliminary injunction and hoped that the law would eventually be discarded, similar to Roe v. Wade.
Reactions and Advocacy
Planned Parenthood Illinois Action praised the passage of the law, considering it a crucial step towards safeguarding bodily autonomy and reproductive healthcare. On the other hand, Repro Transparency Now, a nonprofit group dedicated to eliminating crisis pregnancy centers, advocated for the legislation alongside the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. They believe that Illinois will play a historic role in the fight for bodily autonomy and holding anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers accountable for their deception.
As of now, neither Planned Parenthood nor Repro Transparency Now has issued a comment on the preliminary injunction.
“Across the nation, pregnancy help ministries are being discriminated against by laws that target their life-affirming work,”
said Peter Breen, executive vice president and head of litigation for the Thomas More Society, which is representing the National Institute of Family Life Advocates. “The injunction granted today sends a strong, clear message to the country that the First Amendment protects pro-life speech.”
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...