California Democrats, purported champions of “choice,” recently made another unsuccessful attempt to regulate and limit the scope of pro-life pregnancy crisis centers in the Golden State. Despite repeated legislative efforts, these centers, which offer alternatives to abortion, have continued to flourish.
In recent years, California has witnessed a surge in donations to pro-life centers, fuelled by the opposition to radical state laws that aim to facilitate abortion. In response to this trend, Democratic lawmakers have crafted an arsenal of stringent abortion rights laws. Ironically, however, these laws have been unable to rein in the anti-abortion pregnancy centers.
The pro-life centers are not merely surviving; they are expanding. Their growth, buoyed by the generosity of abortion opponents, has come despite recent legislation designed to expand abortion access. Yet, proposed bills to restrict the pro-life centers have quietly fallen by the wayside, hampered in their infancy.
Why are "pro-choice" Democrats so opposed to actual "choice" on abortion? If pro-life activists are donating private funds to encourage birth, why is that the state's business? https://t.co/vQOBNrT8DP via @BreitbartNews
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) May 29, 2023
Previous attempts to regulate pregnancy crisis centers have met with staunch constitutional opposition. Notably, in a 2018 5-4 decision in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) v. Becerra, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California law that mandated that pregnancy centers post information about procuring abortions. The majority opinion authored by Justice Clarence Thomas deemed the law to be an infringement of First Amendment rights, and the holding is a crucial precedent restricting the government’s attempts at compelling speech.
In the wake of these failures, one might assume that California Democrats would reassess their strategy. But undeterred, they have vowed to persist, pledging to make California a haven for reproductive rights. State Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert last year, cautioning against potentially deceptive practices by crisis pregnancy centers, and created a new portal for Californians to file complaints. Yet, the efficacy of this new process remains to be seen.
The resilience of these crisis pregnancy centers is a testament to the strength of the pro-life movement in California, even in the face of significant opposition. Most of these centers, primarily faith-based nonprofits, offer services to their community beyond the scope of the abortion debate. For example, one Roseville-based center, despite false allegations of coercing women out of abortions, has provided free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds and donated thousands of diapers and wipes in the last year alone.
The mission of these clinics is not to coerce or judge but rather to help women make informed choices. In addition, they offer a community resource, extending tangible help, such as car seats and baby monitors, to parents through approved parenting classes.
Moreover, these centers provide a critical service that complements the current healthcare system, highlighting a significant gap in support for pregnant women. They are often the only places women can turn to for information about alternatives to abortion.
Despite the heightened criticism and controversy, these pregnancy centers continue to thrive. They stand firm in their commitment to supporting women and their unborn children, irrespective of the deceptive claims against them. They provide a beacon of hope for women facing an unplanned pregnancy and prove that choice is not a one-size-fits-all concept.
In the face of relentless Democratic attempts to curb their growth and influence, the survival and expansion of these centers underscore the vitality and resilience of the pro-life movement. Moreover, their continued existence amid adversity underlines the deep-rooted desire for alternatives to abortion. Thus, while California Democrats may try, their attempts to regulate pregnancy crisis centers seem destined to fail.
