Pro-life groups file lawsuit against Illinois over abortion coverage law

A coalition of pro-life organizations, a church and Christian employers filed a federal lawsuit against Illinois state officials Tuesday, challenging a law that requires health insurance policies to cover elective abortions. 

The Thomas More Society, representing the plaintiffs, argues that the mandate violates religious freedom and conscience rights.

The lawsuit targets Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and other state officials, seeking to block the enforcement of the abortion coverage requirement. 

"These abortion-inducing drugs must be provided free of charge to any beneficiary who demands them, and they are paid for entirely by premiums charged to other beneficiaries," reads the complaint. "These compulsory abortion-coverage laws provide no exceptions or accommodations for employers or individuals who object to abortion on religious or moral grounds, not even for churches."

Mr. Pritzker, a prominent Democrat, is a frequent advocate for pro-choice initiatives throughout the U.S.

His nonprofit, Think Big America, which has invested millions in pro-abortion efforts across four states, expanded before the election into four more states — Maryland, South Dakota, Nebraska and Missouri — where abortion-related questions appeared on the ballot, according to NBC. 

In a press release, Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive vice president and head of litigation, described the governor's efforts as "an uncompromising campaign to transform the Land of Lincoln into the nation’s abortion capital." 

Mr. Breen added, "For Christians and many other pro-life advocates, Illinois' abortion-coverage mandate is fundamentally opposed to their religious beliefs and runs roughshod over their constitutionally protected conscience rights."

The plaintiffs include Students for Life of America, Midwest Bible Church, Pro-Life Action League, Illinois Right to Life, Clapham School and DuPage Precision Products.

This legal challenge comes a year after a significant setback for the state in a related case. That's when Mr. Raoul agreed to halt enforcement of a law targeting limited-service pregnancy centers, effectively ending a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion groups. 

That law broadened the scope of the state's Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to include those limited-service facilities, colloquially known as crisis pregnancy centers. The amendment subjected them to the same scrutiny and legal standards that have governed other businesses in the Prairie State.

The new lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that the private insurance mandate violates the First Amendment rights of free exercise and expressive association — as well as several federal statutes. 

The plaintiffs argue that pro-life individuals and organizations should have the option to choose insurance policies that exempt them from covering elective abortions for others.

In a press release, Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, said her organization shouldn't be forced to "violate their consciences." 

"If billionaire Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to pay for abortions in his state out of the generosity of his heart, that can be his choice," she said. "Instead, Pritzker and state officials have manipulated and supported a law to force all Illinois residents to cover his choice of abortion for them."