Dear Parishioners,
Well, they've done it.
Pro-abortion legislators have filed the bill that we feared they would. The 'Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act' - or, as we're calling it, the 'Forced Abortion Information Act' - is scheduled for committee this coming week.
So, what's in this heinous bill that expressly targets pro-life pregnancy resource centers and sidewalk advocates?
CLICK HERE TO FILE A WITNESS SLIPFIRST - The Forced Abortion Information Act claims to protect the ability of individuals “to make autonomous, informed and evidence-based decisions” about having an abortion. However, it is another attempt to force pregnancy help centers to cooperate in some way with abortions or referrals for abortions.
This bill would most likely lead to the closing of pregnancy help centers entirely.
SECOND - The Forced Abortion Information Act makes pregnancy resource centers and sidewalk advocates civilly liable for "deceptive acts or practice" for any concealment, suppression, or omission of a "material fact".
This means pro-life pregnancy resource centers could be liable for refusing to provide a woman with instructions on how to obtain an abortion, even if it violates an individual's conscience.
THIRD - Under the Forced Abortion Information Act, the Illinois Attorney General has the authority to initiative a complaint against pregnancy resource centers according to "public interest."
In other words, investigations by the state are not based on any specific complaint.
FOURTH - Under the Forced Abortion Information Act, the Attorney General also has the authority to "impound" pregnancy resource center records as the investigation continues.
If the Attorney General determines a center is in violation of the law, penalties up to $50,000 can be issued.
*Instructions for filing witness slips are included on the page linked above*
We need you to help us fight this legislation.
We have to protect our pro-life pregnancy resource centers. Please share the link I posted above and ask your friends and family to file witness slips.
Gratefully,
Mary Kate Zander
Executive Director
Illinois Right to Life