The mainstream media’s double standards on abortion are increasingly evident. Two recent situations in California serve as a strong example of how biased the media has become.
Few California news outlets have questioned Planned Parenthood aggressively in the wake of undercover videos showing it trafficking aborted babies’ body parts, basically giving the abortion business a pass for its shocking actions. At the same time, media outlets have been exposing pro-life pregnancy centers for refusing to comply with a new state law requiring them to advertise abortions.
KPCC is the latest outlet to investigate the pro-life centers and call them out for failing to comply with the new requirements. It found six of eight Los Angeles-area pregnancy centers refusing to follow the abortion-promoting law. In March, the Sacramento Bee also reported at least two pregnancy centers in the Sacramento area were not following the pro-abortion law.
The radical, pro-abortion law took effect in December, forcing about 150 pro-life non-profits to choose between advertising free and low-cost abortions through the state or facing fines of up to $1,000 if they do not comply.
Lori Berg, executive director of the Foothills Pregnancy Resource Center, compared the law to Pepsi being forced to advertise Coke products.
“I’m Pepsi-Cola, I’m not Coca-Cola,” Berg told KPCC. “Don’t force me to put Coca-Cola posters or even hand out free coupons for Coca-Cola.”
Other pregnancy centers told the news outlet that they will not comply unless the state enforces the law.
State and local government officials share the responsibility of enforcing the pro-abortion law, according to the report. However, some cities told the news outlet they are leaving enforcement up to the state. City officials in Pasadena and Duarte said they will enforce the law, but neither have received complaints yet.
The radical pro-abortion group NARAL is behind the investigations. It pushed for the new law, using unfounded allegations against community-supported pregnancy help. NARAL recently said its investigators are continuing to check the pregnancy centers for violations.
Several pro-life organizations have filed lawsuits against the California law, saying it violates their freedom of speech and freedom of religion in the U.S. Constitution and, according to one lawsuit, the California Constitution. In December, two judges refused to stop the law from taking effect while the lawsuits continue, LifeNews reported.
The new law forces pregnancy clinics to inform women and girls that California has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost abortions for eligible women. These faith-based medical centers must also tell their client to contact the county social services office to see if the pregnant woman qualifies for the free or cheap abortions.
The law will force 150 California pregnancy help non-profits, including the 74 state-licensed free ultrasound facilities, to give each of its clients the following disclaimer, which includes the phone number of a county social services office where a client could obtain an abortion covered by Medi-Cal.
Keep up with the latest pro-life news and information on Twitter. Follow @LifeNewsHQ
The notice, which the law specifies must either be posted as a public notice in “22-point type,” “distributed to all clients in no less than 14-point font” or distributed digitally “at the time of check-in or arrival,” applies to all of the entities—even those licensed by the state.
The notice reads: “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].”
Similar government-sponsored speech for pregnancy centers has been struck down as unconstitutional in Austin (TX), Baltimore and Montgomery County (MD) and New York City.
