Illinois’ disturbing war on pro-life pregnancy centers
Hudson Crozier
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A court has once again stopped Illinois from making it illegal to guide mothers away from abortion, saving constitutional rights and, most likely, lives.
Thursday, District Judge Iain Johnston blocked Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D) law that would impose fines on pregnancy centers accused of pro-life “misinformation.” Democrats present it as a “consumer protection” measure against “deceptive business practices” by facilities designed to provide alternatives to abortion. In effect, the things it labels “deceptive” are mostly differing moral views of abortion, leading the judge to conclude that it likely violates the First Amendment.
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The legislation condemns facilities that say they provide “comprehensive reproductive healthcare” when they do not provide abortion. But that comes down to a disagreement over what proper “reproductive healthcare” is. Helping women keep their babies is actual medical care because it is an attempt to help every person in the situation. Abortion “care” is a response to reproduction that treats a child like a defect or medical problem if it is unwanted.
The bill also accuses facilities of “concealing data” supposedly showing that the pregnancy carries more risk than abortion, a highly disputed argument that it treats as settled truth among doctors. Illinois essentially wants to sic the attorney general on those who do not affirm flimsy pro-abortion talking points.
Meanwhile, officials apparently see nothing wrong with the manipulative tactics of abortion clinics. Employees have been caught on tape giving false information about details such as fetal heartbeats, downplaying the realities of abortion to mothers who might otherwise be hesitant.
This happens because the abortion industry is just that: an industry out to make money. Many pregnancy centers are nonprofits that do not take a dime from mothers because helping them is the point. That’s the other fallacy of the “business practices” angle of the Illinois law.
The legislation makes the admission that “even when an organization offers free services, all of this activity has a commercial and economic impact on where, when, and how reproductive care is provided.” The pregnancy centers, which now outnumber abortion clinics three to one in America, steal profit from abortionists because they often succeed at convincing mothers to choose life. Revealingly, the authors of the bill are frustrated at this success and how it is “affecting trade and commerce.”
Desperation has been a part of this agenda for a while. Illinois even passed a law in 2016 forcing pregnancy centers to tell clients what local abortion services are available to them. Thankfully, a court also put it on hold because forcing pro-lifers to advertise death is one of the clearest possible violations of the First Amendment.
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It is hard to see these efforts as anything other than an attempt to keep women dependent on abortion. The best way government officials know how is through lies and brute force. History will not remember them favorably.
Hudson Crozier is a summer 2023 Washington Examiner fellow.