A federal judge has trashed a leftists’ scheme that would have forced pro-life pregnancy centers to promote abortion.
Pro-life physicians also would have been targeted by the agenda.
According to a report from the Thomas More Society, U.S. District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston has released a decision in Schroeder, et al. v. Treto, Jr., and it struck down as unconstitutional a provision in the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act.
That provision would have compelled pro-lifers to promote abortion “talking points” to women.
The report explained, “In striking down the HCRCA’s mandate that pro-life physicians and pregnancy centers share the ‘benefits of abortion,’ Judge Johnston wrote, ‘Constitutionally, to obtain the liability shield, the State can’t require medical professionals to discuss with patients what the State believes are the benefits of abortions.’”
The court noted pro-life physicians and pregnancy centers “are required to effectively endorse a course of conduct they find morally abhorrent.”
However, the judge upheld a mandate for referring for abortion, and an immediate appeal to a higher court was confirmed.
The center explained, “In 2016, Illinois passed Senate Bill 1564, amending Illinois’ HCRCA to require healthcare providers to discussing abortion’s ‘benefits’ and, upon request, referring clients to abortion providers, in order to receive legal protection for conscientious objection. The law was signed into law by then-Governor Bruce Rauner despite pushback from pro-life groups. Thomas More Society sued against both mandates, on behalf of Dr. Ronald Schroeder, 1st Way Pregnancy Support Services, and Pregnancy Aid South Suburbs. In 2017, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking both amendments to the HCRCA—legal protection that had been in place for nearly a decade prior to final judgment.”
Judy Cocks, of 1st Way Life Center and Plaintiff, said, “We’re relieved that the court has permanently protected our pro-life pregnancy centers from Illinois’ attempt to force us into becoming mouthpieces for the abortion industry. To share so-called ‘benefits of abortion’ would go against the very foundation of our ministry and our First Amendment rights. I have yet to see what the so-called ‘benefits of abortion’ are—what I see regularly at our centers, instead, is the pain and regret that comes with abortion. At the same time, we are deeply troubled that the court’s decision upholds Illinois’ abortion referral mandate. We cannot, in good conscience, recommend or refer for abortion. That’s not who we are, and it hurts our hearts to even contemplate being mandated to do so.”
Thomas Olp, center vice president, said, “We welcome the court’s ruling striking down Illinois’ attempts to force our pro-life physicians and pregnancy centers to parrot pro-abortion talking points, in violation of their First Amendment rights—a victory we’ve fought for since this case began nearly a decade ago. But we are greatly concerned that the court did not fully protect conscience rights, leaving our clients forced to compromise their deepest beliefs. We look forward to continuing this fight against the State of Illinois in the Seventh Circuit.”
Thomas More Society litigation chief Peter Breen explained, “Thomas More Society will keep fighting to protect our heroic pro-life ministries. Forcing pro-life doctors and pregnancy centers to facilitate abortion unconstitutionally burdens their faith and conscience. We will keep fighting Illinois’ abortion referral mandate and appeal to the Seventh Circuit, to ensure our pro-life clients can continue serving women and children, in accord with their faith and without penalty. This fight is far from over.”