Formerly "March for Life Chicago," the organization changed its name to "Illinois March for Life" last year after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Rather than holding annual marches in Chicago, Illinois March for Life now plans to hold annual rallies at the capitol while the legislature is in session.
Among the bills currently being considered by state legislators are HB2463 and SB1909. The two bills would enact the "Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Act." If passed into law, it would empower the Illinois Attorney General to investigate pro-life Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) whenever he "believes it to be in the public interest that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether a limited services pregnancy center has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any practice declared to be unlawful by the Act."
No evidence or complaint is required for the Attorney General to launch an investigation. The Catholic Conference of Illinois has expressed fears that investigations could be endless, forcing PRCs to close.
Practices declared to be unlawful by the act include "using or employing any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation, or the concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact" with the intent to "interfere" with a person trying to access abortion or "emergency contraception." Because "material fact" is not defined, many pro-life advocates fear that an Attorney General could interpret the law to punish PRCs that refuse to refer women for abortions. Clinics found guilty of violating the law could be fined up to $50,000.
Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki led a mass service at Sangamon Auditorium before the events of the day. "Fear and anxiety can push women to believe that abortion is their only option," he said. "As Catholics, we know that abortion is never the answer for a woman in need."
Click here to watch a recording of the rally at the capitol.
