WASHINGTON, D.C., June 26, 2018—The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates in the case, NIFLA v. Becerra today marking a victory for free speech, religious liberty and the sanctity of human life.
Under the precedent set by today’s Supreme Court ruling, pro-life centers cannot be required to compromise their principles by being forced to provide information to their patients on ways to obtain an abortion. The Court also struck down disclosure requirements for pregnancy resource centers that would have made the promotion of a pro-life message practically impossible.
Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, commented on the ruling:
“The court ruled the right way today. The court affirmed the freedom of speech, freedom of expression, that the state can't force pro-life organizations to participate in abortion. That's a good ruling. It's good for all Americans, wherever we stand on a variety of issues. More importantly, though, this decision ought to remind us of the crucial work of pregnancy resource centers all around the country, advocating for unborn children and also for their mothers, providing to mothers the means to care for their children and to move forward toward flourishing in their lives and in their families.”
The case dealt with the free speech rights of pregnancy resource centers who work with a pro-life mission.
The case was an appeal of a California law, the Reproductive FACT Act, passed in 2015, which required pregnancy resource centers to advertise abortion services and make other government-mandated disclosures. The ERLC joined other pro-life ministries in January filing an amicus brief for this case advocating for the center’s First Amendment rights.
The ERLC policy staff wrote an explainer of the case and its implications here.
