The California Reproductive FACT Act wants to reduce the spread of misinformation about abortion at religiously-backed crisis pregnancy centers.
When you are on a college campus walking around, it is not uncommon to see many protestors with signs that are against abortion. You may even see some signs that have pictures of mutilated baby bodies which are aimed at making sure that if you ever thought about having an abortion, you would think twice.
Startling Reasons Why You Should Think Twice About Religious Women’s Clinics[/tweetthis]
However, when a young woman goes into a clinic to have an abortion, imagine if some of the information that was available there was incorrect? A patient would assume that since a clinic is a medical location that there would not be misinformation happening there, however that is not the case in religiously backed pro-life clinics.
Why is the Story So Big in California?
California is a huge economy; in fact it is larger than some countries. California is the largest state in the U.S. to challenge some of the misinformation that is being handed out in clinics. There are many pro-life clinics that are operating all over the country that encourage women to keep children at all costs. Many of these clinics can be found in the yellow pages under abortion and are listed as though they are facilities that offer abortions.
What Does the Law Entail?
The Reproductive FACT Act would require a notice posted on the door of every single “clinic” in the state, whether pro-choice or pro-life. In these clinics it would simply state that a woman has a right to be able to have a state funded abortion at a location in the state if she is not able to provide one for herself. Many of these kinds of posters would go as unnoticed as a hand washing poster in the facility, however the reason is to make sure that women are aware of all of their options. In 22-point type, the sign will state:
California has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services (including all FDA-approved methods of contraception), prenatal care, and abortion for eligible women. To determine whether you qualify, contact the county social services office at [insert the telephone number].
What is the Experience Like in These Clinics?
According to many who have gone into these clinics the situation is intolerable. One of the clinics describes itself as “a religious, nonprofit, pro-life, free medical clinic licensed by the State of California.” Many times there is no mention of abortion, or if there is, the information religious clinics give out is misleading and in some cases is not backed up by scientific evidence at all. Many undercover journalists, such as Caitlin Bancroft from The Huffington Post, were lied to about the effects of abortion.
Some of these clinics were caught stating that abortion causes depression, uterine perforation, and cancer. The clinics are made to look as though they are doctor’s offices, but in fact they are run by people who want to miseducate young women at very difficult times. Women are brought into the clinic, asked many personal questions, given a birth control test, taken to see the baby via ultrasound, and then offered free baby supplies depending on their financial situation.
Women are also encouraged to not live these kinds of lives in which they are sexually active, according to some accounts being told that men will not want them if they are active.
The law in California as well as many other states that will follow may end up in contention with the Supreme Court as there are many opponents on both sides. Religious organizations want to be able to carry on in their current situation, and other pro women’s groups want to be able to speak on the misinformation that is out there and keep women informed. If this issue makes it to the Supreme Court, this would mean quite a few changes for states all over the U.S.
Undercover Journalist Caitlin Bancroft was lied to about the effects of abortion.[/tweetthis]
What I Learned Undercover at a Crisis Pregnancy Center https://t.co/n7H473j7t5 via @HuffPostPol
— Debbie Dilks (@DebBob63) November 7, 2015