Thomas More Society attorneys file opening appeals brief for California pregnancy center
(Thomas More Society) Thomas More Society attorneys, on behalf of Culture of Life Family Services (COLFS) in Southern California, filed their opening brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s deliberate targeting of pro-life pregnancy centers and their First Amendment right to speak about Abortion Pill Reversal (APR).
“Bonta’s targeting of pro-life pregnancy centers and their speech hurts women in crisis. These centers want to inform women in the midst of an unwanted chemical abortion about APR. Bonta is kowtowing to his campaign donors, not protecting public health, by punishing the religiously motivated speech of pro-life pregnancy centers like COLFS, while allowing abortion providers to operate unscrutinized,” said Peter Breen, Executive Vice President and Head of Litigation at Thomas More Society.
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Thomas More Society attorneys argue that Bonta’s actions targeting speech about APR violates the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause by discriminating based on the content and viewpoint of pro-life ministries’ speech. The Society also argues that Bonta’s censorship violates the Free Exercise Clause in targeting pro-life religious speech on abortion, along with violating patients’ rights to have their babies. The appeal contends that the district court erred in denying a preliminary injunction protecting COLFS’ constitutional right to share APR information supported by numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies.
APR is a medical protocol for women who have begun the two-pill chemical abortion regimen by taking the first pill, mifepristone, but who wish to reverse the effects of that abortion pill. APR utilizes progesterone to counteract the effects of mifepristone, allowing pregnant women to save their pregnancy and carry their baby to term, with a success rate of approximately 64-68 percent.
“Despite zero evidence of consumer complaints concerning APR and no evidence of patient harm, Bonta is desperate to bully California’s pro-life ministries into silence and keep abortion alternative information away from women who want it,” Breen added.
“If upheld, Bonta’s directive threatens hundreds, if not thousands, of babies whose mothers regret starting a chemical abortion and deserve to know about and have access to the potentially life-saving Abortion Pill Reversal protocol. We believe that these mothers and babies deserve their second chance, and we look forward to fighting to protect their rights in the Ninth Circuit.”
Read the Opening Appeal Brief in Culture of Life Family Services, Inc. v. Attorney General Rob Bonta filed by Thomas More Society attorneys in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, here.
Editor's note: This article was published by Thomas More Society and is reprinted with permission. Heartbeat International manages the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network (APRN) and Pregnancy Help News. Heartbeat is the subject of two lawsuits brought by state AGs concerning sharing information about Abortion Pill Reversal.
