California’s power to enforce its abortion services notice law (AB-775 Reproductive FACT Act), a law which essentially forces pro-life resource centers to promote abortion, will now be in the hands of the Supreme Court of the United States, which decided to hear the appeal challenging that law, according to Alliance Defending Freedom.
United States Law Week in an article by Matthew Loughran, stated, “The California Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care and Transparency Act (FACT Act) was passed by the Legislature to address the rise of ‘crisis pregnancy centers,’ which the Legislature characterized as unlicensed and licensed clinics that intentionally seek to ‘discourage or prevent women from seeking abortions.’ Under the law, all licensed pregnancy centers must provide notice of public health programs providing low-cost or free access to family planning services, including contraception, prenatal care, and abortion.”
A group of religiously affiliated pregnancy centers represented by the National Institute for Family & Life Advocates (NIFLA) have challenged the law in each of the four federal district courts in California. Each California court has refused to stop the state from enforcing the law. The Supreme Court of the United States has limited the appeal to the question of whether the law violates the clinics’ First Amendment free speech protections.
The case is Nat’l Inst. of Family & Life Advocates v. Becerra, U.S., No. 16-1140, review granted 11/13/17. Free speech and abortion rights intersect in this case, while the women and children whom abortion so profoundly affects remain largely voiceless. Women deserve the right to know alternatives to abortion, and children need the protection of their mothers, their families, and their nation. Roe’s Effect on Family Law, has been profoundly disturbing. California’s FACT Act will be equally harmful if allowed to stand under the U.S. Constitution.
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