SPRINGFIELD, IL — National organizations are now paying attention to Governor Bruce Rauner, who last Friday signed Senate Bill 1564 that revises the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act to mandate pro-life medical providers in the state to participate in abortions.
The D.C.-based Liberty Counsel released a statement Wednesday with strong language condemning Illinois Democrat lawmakers and Governor Rauner for working together to put into law an "unconstitutional and tyrannical statute.”
“I am extremely disappointed in Governor Rauner for forcing Christian and pro-life doctors and pregnancy centers to participate in human genocide,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “This horrendous legislation is about putting dollars in government pockets instead of saving the lives of precious children. Liberty Counsel will continue to fight for the sanctity of human life and to turn this country back to its true biblical and constitutional foundation. We will file suit against this unconstitutional and tyrannical statute.”
Effective Jan. 1,2017, the law will require pro-life medical professionals, including nonprofit pregnancy counseling centers, to go against their sincerely held religious beliefs by referring patients for abortions and counseling them on what the legislation calls the “benefits” of abortion. Those personnel who choose not to perform abortions or prescribe birth control must “refer the patient” to another provider, “transfer the patient” to another provider or provide a list of “other health care providers who they reasonably believe may offer the health care service.”
Liberty Counsel won a similar case in 1993 on behalf of three Central Florida nonprofit pregnancy counseling centers when the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services directed them to stop counseling pregnant women about adoption. Liberty Counsel prevailed in federal court which declared the administrative rule unconstitutional and True Life Choice of Orlando, Accept Pregnancy Center of Longwood and Pregnancy Care Center in Leesburg won the right to offer women advice about adoption as an alternative to abortion.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
