Baltimore Crisis Pregnancy Centers Sue for the Right to Lie

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-04-02 12:17:00 UTC
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"We deserve the right to lie to patients!" is the gist of the lawsuit filed a few days ago by the Archdiose of Baltimore against the city.

In November, Baltimore passed a truth-in-advertising bill mandating that Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs), which don't provide information on abortions or birth control, put up a sign in their waiting rooms saying, "CLINIC NAME Does Not Offer or Refer For Abortion or Birth Control." Seems straightforward enough, right? Well, a new lawsuit from the Catholic Church claims the ordinance is discriminatory and violates their freedom of speech and religion.

Let's review: nobody is insisting that faith-based (generally federally funded) CPCs provide abortion or birth control info over their religious objections. And freedom of speech doesn't include the right to lie to patients to lure in unsuspecting women seeking comprehensive counseling -- the Supreme Court has ruled that advertising does not enjoy the same extent free speech protections. Hence, prospects for the lawsuit being anything more than a massive waste of money are slim.

Moreover, Val at the Feminist Campus blog makes this excellent point: "If these Centers are proud of their services, they should be proud to call them what they are, rather than misleading women as to what they are not." But that's not what this is about. It's that whole April Fools' thing again: you think you're going to be presented with the full range of your options, but then once they trap you in a room with a counselor -- April Fools! -- it's all why you have to keep the pregnancy, no other choices available.

Baltimore's truth-in-advertising law is a good first step toward dealing with CPCs deceptive practices, but we need to address fake clinics across the nation. Sign the petition to tell your Congresspeople to support truth-in-advertising legislation.

Photo credit: The unnamed

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.

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