Pro-life organizations sue Michigan for forcing them to hire individuals opposed to mission

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of two Michigan pro-life organizations that are challenging a state law that forces them to recruit and hire individuals who oppose their fundamental beliefs and mission.

Michigan amended its employment law to re-define “sex” discrimination to include “the termination of a pregnancy.” It is now illegal for Right to Life of Michigan and Pregnancy Resource Center to recruit and hire only those employees who share their pro-life views. Going further, the law also requires these organizations to offer abortion coverage in their insurance plans in direct conflict with their very mission. As a result, the law threatens their ability to advocate for their pro-life views and to serve women and families in need consistent with their beliefs.

“It makes no sense to force pro-life organizations to hire employees who disagree with that view. Pro-life groups should be free to share the message of hope and joy with women and families experiencing a difficult season through employees who share their common goal,” said ADF Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart. “Right to Life and Pregnancy Resource Center both recognize that every woman deserves real support to make the healthiest choice for her and her unborn baby. But Michigan’s law forces these organizations to contradict their beliefs and to employ staff who endorse abortion—a decision that harms women and ends innocent lives.”

Right to Life of Michigan offers life-affirming education and advocates for pro-life policies across the state. Pregnancy Resource Center provides women with medical care, resources, and support structures to help them through their pregnancies. Both hire like-minded individuals who share their convictions about the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. They depend on their employees to promote their pro-life views to the public and to encourage other staff.

ADF attorneys note that both organizations have refrained from including their pro-life mission statements in job postings and have even received some applications from people who identified themselves as “pro-abortion.”

ADF attorneys are defending pro-life ministries in New York from a similar law. In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit revived the challenge to the state law after a lower court dismissed it.

Attorneys filed Right to Life of Michigan v. Nessel with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division.

• Pronunciation guide: Neihart (NYE’-hart)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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