Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Lawmakers and attorneys general should know that it’s illegal to target individuals and organizations based on religious beliefs.
Apparently New Jersey’s attorney general, Matthew Platkin, does not know. Alliance Defending Freedom said that he is targeting and harassing First Choice Women’s Resource Centers for their pro-life views.
The pregnancy center, in the business of saving unborn lives, provides free ultrasounds, testing for sexually-transmitted diseases, clothes for babies, and other services.
Alliance Defending Freedom (AFL) filed a lawsuit against AG Platkin on behalf of First Choice Women’s Resource Centers.
According to the complaint (PDF), the attorney general issued a subpoena demanding that First Choice Women’s Resource Centers produce documents “under the pretense of conducting a civil investigation into possible violations of the ‘New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act’…relating to the Ministry’s handling of patient data and statements about the lawful practice of Abortion Pill Reversal.”
AFL contends in the complaint that the attorney general “has never cited any complaint or other substantive evidence of wrongdoing to justify his demands…”
A lower court dismissed First Choice Women’s Resource Centers’ complaint. The pregnancy center recently filed a notice to appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The non-profit also filed a motion for injunction pending appeal.
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I saw the NJ AG on TV the other night, accusing Pregnancy Resource Centers of being “fake clinics,” claiming that they don’t have medical personnel on staff (most in fact do), and that “all they do” is try to persuade women “not to get health care” (by which they meant abortion). They were obviously lying – but the news announcer went right along with it, and the PRCs’ side was never presented. When it comes to the life issues, most of the media have a gigantic blind spot.