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Court Upholds Law Requiring Pro-Life Centers Disclose Abortion Services

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A California law that requires pro-life resource centers to make known existing abortion services will remain on the books, despite other courts having struck down similar laws.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld AB 775, which requires licensed pro-life clinics to notify clients that publicly funded abortion and contraception services exist.

According to Alliance Defending Freedom, that disclosure must also contain a phone number for those services.

The law also mandates that unlicensed pregnancy centers notify clients that they are not licensed by the state. They must also provide large ad disclosures stating their non-medical status, even if medical services are not offered.

"It's bad enough if the government tells you what you can't say, but a law that tells you what you must say -- under threat of severe punishment -- is even more unjust and dangerous," ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman said. "In this case, political allies of abortionists are seeking to punish pro-life pregnancy centers, which offer real hope and help to women."

"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. "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."

ADF says courts in Texas, Maryland, and New York have struck down or mostly struck down similar laws. The 9th Circuit disagreed, writing that the law does not violate the plaintiffs' free exercise of religion:

"We also reject Appellants' arguments that they are entitled to a preliminary injunction based on their free exercise claims. The Act is a neutral law of general applicability, which survives rational basis review," the justices wrote.

AB 775 is known as the California Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency Act.

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Mark
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Mark Martin currently serves as a reporter and anchor at CBN News, reporting on all kinds of issues, from military matters to alternative fuels. Mark has reported internationally in the Middle East. He traveled to Bahrain and covered stories on the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mark also anchors CBN News Midday on the CBN Newschannel and fills in on the anchor desk for CBN News' Newswatch and The 700 Club. Prior to CBN News, Mark worked at KFSM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There he served as a weekend morning producer, before being promoted to general