Comment on full 4th Circuit decision to hear MD pregnancy center sign case
Friday, Aug 17, 2012
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Matt Bowman regarding Thursday’s decision by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit to review a three-judge panel’s decision in Centro Tepeyac v. Montgomery County and Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore. The panel’s decision affirmed that laws in Baltimore and Montgomery County, Md. that force pregnancy resource centers to post signs discouraging women from using their services are unconstitutional:
“Pregnancy centers offer real help and hope to women. They provide women with the emotional support and practical resources they need, giving them more choices. They should be free to share that message instead of being compelled to provide the government’s preferred message, which sends women elsewhere. The government should not force them to speak negatively about the important services they provide. The 4th Circuit panel was right to rule against that, and we trust that the full court will agree.”
Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly Alliance Defense Fund) is an alliance-building legal ministry that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
“Pregnancy centers offer real help and hope to women. They provide women with the emotional support and practical resources they need, giving them more choices. They should be free to share that message instead of being compelled to provide the government’s preferred message, which sends women elsewhere. The government should not force them to speak negatively about the important services they provide. The 4th Circuit panel was right to rule against that, and we trust that the full court will agree.”
Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly Alliance Defense Fund) is an alliance-building legal ministry that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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