Policy Pulse 7.2.26

Abortion Pill: Legal Landscape -

The legal and political landscape surrounding the abortion pill continues to change rapidly. California’s Attorney General continues to pursue litigation harassing Heartbeat International over Abortion Pill reversal, while the U.S. Supreme Court is once again considering whether the abortion pill may continue to be prescribed via telemedicine and mailed nationwide. They had temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that restored in-person dispensing requirements while the litigation progressed. As of print time, the dispensing had begun again. In the meanwhile, members of the Ohio General Assembly continue to consider legislation that would restore some regulation on the abortion pill after they were decimated by passage of Ohio’s abortion amendment.

Local Snapshot - 
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Here in central Ohio, utilization of the abortion pill continues to expand. At least four providers now distribute the abortion pill in Franklin County, and numbers suggest additional providers are popping up in the surrounding counties. Until this spring, Aria Medical and Jenson Family Health (abortion pill providers) operated along the Just Center – a self-described “pregnancy help center” that refers to and helps facilitate funding for abortions. Their slogan, “We want to help you, not save you,” is an unmistakable jab at faith-based pregnancy resource centers that have faithfully served women for decades.

Covering New Clinic in Prayer - 

In May, Aria and the Just Center relocated to an office building near the corner of North Broadway and High Street, which has long been the home to several respected organizations and health care providers, including the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio – a group that has done so much to help families and adults navigating and living with Down Syndrome. We should all be mindful of the vulnerability of children when there is a diagnosis of Down’s – a discussion brought back into national attention when a social media influencer couple made an elaborate announcement that they chose abortion rather than have a child with a disability. It was a tragic reminder that prenatal disability continues to place countless children at risk of abortion and it is a warning that overwhelmed parents seeking help for their pregnancies could be steered toward abortion.

Responding - 

These developments reinforce that if Big Abortion is going to bring abortion to every mailbox, sidewalk, and school, then we must bring pro-life advocacy and abortion pill reversal there too.  And we continue to expand opportunities for you to get involved to do just that. We are continuing to recruit and re-invite sidewalk counselors and prayer volunteers to maintain a peaceful, compassionate witness wherever abortions are taking place. If you are interested in becoming a more effective advocate – on the sidewalk or anywhere, consider attending one of our Advocacy Training classes on July 16th or July 18th. If your church, school, or community group would like to host the training -we’d be happy to bring it to you!

New APR Program - 

Finally, we are so excited to launch new Abortion Pill Education and Reversal program jointly with PDHC at the Summer Social. Participants will learn how the abortion pill works, the science behind reversal, practical advocacy and apologetics and how to respond if God places someone in their path who regrets taking the first does. We will also be adding this program to our Speaker’s Bureau and making it available free of charge to schedule at your church, school, or group meeting.

The laws may constantly change, but we are staying true to our mission. More than ever, protecting life depends on informed, compassionate, and faithful people who are prepared to meet women wherever the abortion industry seeks to reach them. 

Disappointing Federal Funding

The federal "Defunding" of abortion providers has been allowed to expire, which has been a boon to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood, including affiliates in Ohio who have already announced that they will go back to accepting Medicaid.

Advocates for Life, including GCRTL, continue to work to call on the continued defunding, but thus far results have been disappointing. 

We also have not seen much movement at the proposed new location on Michigan Ave, although - unsurprisingly - it seems neighbors have already complained about the property being unkept to the city. We are continuing to monitor the situation and see if they are planning to expand their offerings like hormone treatments for transgender and aesthetic treatments in addition to abortion and other services.