by Billy Atwell
A new law in New York City requires pro-life pregnancy care centers to post a sign telling people if they have a medical professional on staff and that they would be better served going to another facility, like a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.
The rationale for the law was that pregnant women are better served by medical professionals than those who believe in the sanctity of life and would not recommend abortion. Not surprisingly, Planned Parenthood supported this bill.
As reported by LifeSiteNews.com: “The law requires non-medical, pro-life ‘pregnancy services centers’ to inform women with notices posted in both English and Spanish whether they have a licensed medical provider on staff. The signs would also state that the city’s Health Department encourages women to seek help from a licensed medical provider if the center does not have one on staff. It also requires the pro-life centers to post on signs and ads whether they provide referrals for abortion, “emergency contraception,” and prenatal care. The notices are required both for the pregnancy centers’ facilities and on their advertizing – in a size and font to be determined by city authorities.”
Our friends over at the
Alliance Defense Fund have reacted to this unjust bill by filing suit against New York City.
“Pregnancy centers, which offer real help and hope to women, shouldn’t be punished by political allies of the abortion industry,” said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. “Attacks on pregnancy centers are an ideologically motivated attempt to distract from the growing national scandals in the abortion industry. For years, abortionists have preyed on women and girls for profit. Now pro-abortion politicians are trying to give women fewer choices.”
Perhaps pro-abortion advocates cannot imagine women who actually want to keep her baby. Perhaps pro-abortion advocates care nothing for justice or fairness, which this law obviously violates. Perhaps pro-abortion advocates care nothing for real choice. Either way, this law should be overturned immediately so that women will not be subjected to manipulation or just one set of so-called options.
If you want to stay up-to-date with this case, go to
ADFMedia.org or to
their Facebook page.
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Billy Atwell contributes to
Catholic Online, and blogs for
The Point
and the Manhattan Declaration. As a young lay Catholic and two-time
cancer survivor he offers commentary on faith, culture, and politics.
You can find all of his writings at
For the Greater Glory.