Court blocks ‘deceptive law’

Rockford | A federal judge blocked implemention of a new Illinois law designed to force pro-life pregnancy resource ministries to provide clients with abortion information, in violation of their religious beliefs.

After hearing four hours of testimony in an emergency hearing Aug. 3, U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston called the new law “painfully and blatantly a violation of the First Amendment.” The judgment shut down the law enacted on July 27 amending the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act because it targets ministries solely because of their prolife message.

“Free Speech won today in the Land of Lincoln—pro-life advocates across Illinois can breathe a sigh of relief they won’t be pursued for ‘misinformation’ by Attorney General Kwame Raoul,” stated Peter Breen, Executive Vice President and Head of Litigation for the Thomas More Society. The religious freedom advocacy group led the lawsuit, National Institute of Family Life Advocates et al. v. Raoul Raoul’s office drafted the law and is charged with enforcing it. If allowed to stand, the new law could result in fines of up to $50,000 on pro-life centers for providing what abortion advocates deemed “deceptive” information.

Governor J. B. Pritzker favors the law. “This law is constitutional,” Pritzker said, “and I am confident that the law will ultimately be found constitutional, and we’ll continue to work alongside Attorney General Raoul to ensure Illinois patients are protected from misinformation.”

Breen celebrated the win in a state where the pro-life cause rarely sees outcomes in its favor. “Across the nation, pregnancy help ministries are being discriminated against by laws that target their life-affirming work,” said Breen.

“The injunction granted today sends a strong, clear message to the country that the First Amendment protects pro-life speech.” the Church because lives are counting on us to stay faithful.”

If the injunction is overturned, the “deceptive practices” act would govern information provided by more than 100 pro-life centers in the state. That includes GraceHaven Pregnancy Resource Clinic in Mt. Vernon, a ministry operated by the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (BCHFS).

Tibbetts said her center offers mentoring programs, but she tells many of their clients “what they truly need is a connection with a local church…. Centers desperately need more individuals and churches to come alongside and support families who need help and hope by not only supporting centers financially, but also a willingness to invest in people’s lives.”

Kevin Carrothers, executive director of the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (BCHFS), says the sanctity of life is a gospel issue and abortion can be addressed biblically. At the same time, he asks Baptists to pray for Illinois and its leadership, saying we live in a time like that of the Apostle Paul. “Those ancient societies did not value life nor protect the life of the defenseless and vulnerable,” said Carrothers, “yet God wanted his people to pray for them.”

“As Southern Baptists living in a state as dark as Illinois, we have a massive opportunity to make a huge impact on the abortion debate,” said Molly Malone Rumley of Illinois Right to Life. “Talk about the issues in the church context,” she pressed. “Let women know that they have access to the resources they need, but also that for the Christian, being anti-abortion is non-negotiable.”

Read a full report and learn what your church can do to assist a crisis pregnancy center at Illinois-