High court affirms pregnancy centers' speech rights

By Tom Strode - Posted at Baptist Press:

WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a key free-speech victory for pro-life pregnancy centers today (June 26) by a 5-4 vote.

The high court reversed a lower court decision regarding a California law that, in part, essentially requires pregnancy care centers to promote abortion services. The justices ruled the pregnancy centers that challenged the measure would likely succeed in their assertion it violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and returned the case to a federal court for reconsideration in light of their opinion.

The two-part law in question -- California's 2015 Reproductive FACT Act -- requires licensed pregnancy centers to post a notice for or otherwise inform clients in writing of the state's free or low-cost access to abortion and other family planning services. The law also mandates unlicensed centers to provide a notice they are not licensed medically and do not have a licensed medical professional.

Free-speech and pro-life advocates applauded the high court's decision.

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