Focus on the Family founder James Dobson told California clinics not to follow a state law that requires them to promote abortion.
Dobson said pregnancy centers should not allow their Christian convictions to be violated and instead force officials to put them in jail.
On Oct. 14, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld AB 775 or “Reproductive FACT Act,” a bill that requires pregnancy clinics providing free pro-life services to pregnant women to disseminate information about free or inexpensive abortion. The information to be handed out to patients must include phone numbers for abortion services.
“If California attempts to enforce this law then do not comply. Make them put you in jail,” Dobson said, according to WND.
According to Dobson, pro-life pregnancy centers, most of which are operated by Christians, have been a “refuge” for women seeking help, and through these facilities, women get introduced to other alternatives of dealing with pregnancy other than abortion.
Such pregnancy centers, Dobson said, have been “vitally important in the fight to promote a culture of life, adoption and health” since the landmark ruling on Roe v. Wade. Dobson said AB 775 and other similar laws violate the Constitution and the Christian conscience.
“This ruling now forces these clinics to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs, and it is an affront to our constitutionally mandated rights to life and to religious freedom,” Dobson said.
Dobson called on Christians across the country to “express their outrage” against the court’s decision to uphold AB 775. He also stated the significance of the court’s decision in light of the upcoming presidential election.
“This decision is further affirmation of the importance of this presidential election. Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will be responsible for appointing the replacement of Antonin Scalia, and – in all likelihood – two to three other Supreme Court Justices,” Dobson said. “That court will eventually decide whether or not this remains the law in California and becomes law across America.”
Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Matt Bowman said the new law, whichpractically dictates what people should say, is “unjust and dangerous.” He also accused officials associated with abortionists of using the law to get back at pro-life pregnancy centers.
“Forcing these centers to promote abortion and recite the government’s preferred views is a clear violation of their constitutionally protected First Amendment freedoms,” Bowman said in a statement. “That’s why other courts around the country have halted these kinds of measures and why we will be discussing the possibility of appeal with our clients.”
