The Illinois Supreme Court is considering the constitutionality of a 16-year-old law saying parents must be notified before their teen daughters receive abortions.
Earlier today, the court accepted an amicus brief from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) pointing out that parents have a strong role to play in such life-altering decisions.
"If abortionists truly cared about young girls, they wouldn't be pushing to make sure parents stay in the dark while a clinic takes advantage of their daughters' bodies and desperate situation — not to mention the life of the child in the womb," said ADF Senior Counsel Steven Aden.
The law, which has never been enforced, was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union. A federal district court in 2010 said it was constitutional; the ACLU has appealed that decision. Meanwhile, in this separate state case, the ACLU is arguing the law violates girls' privacy as well as the equal-protection and gender-equality clauses of the state constitution.
Illinois is one of five states with parental notification laws which are currently blocked in court.
The ADF, Christian Medical and Dental Associations, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Catholic Medical Association disagree.
"A young child's well-being is worth much more than an abortionist's bottom line," said ADF attorney Noel Sterett. "This law balances the needs of desperate young girls with the rights of the parents who care most about them."
Contact: Karla Dial
Source: CitizenLink
