Press Release: IRL and Other Pro-Life Organizations File Lawsuit Against Gov. J.B. Pritzker and IL State Officials

Source: Illinois Right to Life

ILLINOIS RIGHT TO LIFE ANNOUNCES LAWSUIT AGAINST GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER, ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL AND OTHER STATE OFFICIALS

November 20, 2024

(CHICAGO, IL) – – Illinois Right to Life executive director Jaclyn Cornell announces the filing of a lawsuit in conjunction with several prominent pro-life organizations and individuals that challenges Illinois law requiring health-insurance policies to cover elective abortions on the same terms as they cover pregnancy-related benefits. On their behalf, Jonathan F. Mitchell along with the Thomas More Society outline how current abortion-coverage laws provide no exceptions or accommodations for employers or individuals who object to abortion on religious or moral grounds.

“Illinois Right to Life exists to ensure the fundamental right to life is respected and protected from conception until natural death,” says Cornell. “Being forced to pay health insurance premiums that are used to fund abortion is in direct opposition to our organization’s sole purpose.”

Due to the company’s size, Illinois Right to Life is not able to self-insure and is required to purchase health-insurance policies from Illinois state-regulated insurance companies, who are mandated by state law to cover elective abortions. “Illinois Right to Life should not be required to compromise its moral beliefs due to the mere size of the organization,” says Cornell. “Any organization who vehemently opposes abortion should be given the choice rather than being coerced to participate in ending a human life.”

Read the Complaint in Students for Life of America v. Gillespie, filed by Jonathan F. Mitchell and Thomas More Society attorneys on November 20, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois - Eastern Division, here.