In a victory for religious freedom, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that a California law, which requires all health care facilities to advertise prominently that abortions are available to those seeking them and informing the readers how to obtain them, is unconstitutional. Agudath Israel of America had joined a number of other groups in submitting an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the case, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra , arguing that the law violates the free speech rights of religious health care facilities. The Supreme Court has now vindicated this position.

The Supreme Court’s decision does, however, leave open the possibility that the law could be reworded in such a way as to be constitutional. Agudath Israel takes the position that religious entities opposed to abortion should not be forced to advertise where abortions are available, and will monitor further developments in this area.

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