NY Federal Court Says Forcing Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers To Hire Abortion Activists Violates First Amendment

New York’s federal court ruled This week, it was revealed that pregnancy centers are being forced to hire pro-abortion workers by violating the First Amendment rights of expressive association.

“We are thrilled that a Federal Court in New York affirmed what we knew from the beginning, the need to shield pregnancy resource centers from unconstitutional laws that try to thwart their mission. We are grateful to the Thomas More Society for defending our free speech rights,” Chris Slattery, President and Founder of Evergreen, released a statement.

Evergreen Association, Inc., is a New York City company that operates multiple Expectant Mother clinics, as well EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers. EMC has assisted over 200,000 women since its conception in 1985. 43,000 babies were saved from abortion by 150,000 people.

These centers employ only those who believe in the sanctity and dignity of the human womb. They also oppose extramarital relationships. The law of 2019 is the “Boss Bill,” However, Slattery sought to change this by claiming that abortion is a protected employment class. Slattery was then forced by the state, to hire employees whose words or actions were completely contrary to Evergreen’s mission of promoting life rather than abortion.

Slattery, a religious employer who refuses to employ anyone who supports abortion, was not allowed to make exceptions to the legislation. Instead, the bill’s authors created a private right to action for employees who feel discriminated against because of their past with abortion.

It was only a few months later that the “Boss Bill” After the law was codified, Evergreen sought injunctive relief from state officials with the support of the Thomas More Society on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. A lower court Deleted In 2021, the lawsuit against the Pregnancy Center.

However, the Feb. 27 ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York City overturns the decision of the lower court.

“After weighing all reasonable inferences in Evergreen’s favor, we conclude that Evergreen plausibly alleged that [the Boss Bill] imposes severe burdens on Evergreen’s right to freedom of expressive association,” The court ruled. “The statute forces Evergreen to employ individuals who act or have acted against the very mission of its organization.”

The court agreed with Evergreen that they have every right to “decide whether someone holds certain views— and therefore would be a reliable advocate.” Any dismissal or revocation of rights, the court stated, is an invasion on “Evergreen’s ability to reject employees whose actions suggest that
they believe the opposite of the message it is trying to convey.”

“A counselor who espouses pro-life values, but did not regret having had an abortion or would opt to have an abortion in the future would undercut Evergreen’s message,” Timothy Belz, Special Counsel to Thomas More Society, stated that Evergreen was represented by him in a statement. “Evergreen’s constitutional right to expressive association allows it to determine that its pro-life views can be conveyed only by those who completely support and affirm the organization’s mission, in both word and deed.”

Belz expressed the hope that Belz’s court’s recent ruling will “discourage” any further speculation.