Philadelphia City Council Declares Abortion a “Human Right” While Targeting Pro-Life Centers

The effort to smear and shut down pro-life centers has found a new battle front: the City of Brotherly Love. On November 13, the Philadelphia City Council adopted a resolution declaring abortion a “human right,” and supporters of the resolution used it as a chance to smear Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) as “fake clinics.”

This type of rhetoric has become a familiar pattern. Rather than acknowledging the compassionate, life-affirming work of PRCs, pro-abortion advocates and government officials attempt to delegitimize them by spreading false narratives about their services, staff, and motives. In Philadelphia, the council’s resolution attempts to redefine human dignity by elevating abortion above the first and most basic right – the right to life – which in turn puts a target on those who speak out against abortion, including organizations that support mothers and babies.

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This targeting is not happening in a vacuum. Across the country, including in Pennsylvania, PRCs have been subjected to aggressive and baseless attacks from government officials. Not long ago, the Pennsylvania Attorney General issued statements insinuating that pro-life centers were unlicensed, unregulated, and misleading to women – accusations that were not only false, but also dangerous.

The ACLJ intervened on behalf of the Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative, sending a detailed response letter to the Attorney General. That letter laid out, point by point, how PRCs comply with all relevant laws, safeguard medical privacy, employ licensed professionals, and provide essential services such as ultrasounds, counseling, education, and material support. Far from “fake clinics,” these centers are lawful, transparent, and essential lifelines for women and families.

This trend of official hostility is showing up nationwide. The ACLJ recently filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin, a case challenging state-imposed restrictions and compelled disclosures aimed at stifling the speech of pro-life centers. Whether through litigation or legislative pressure, pro-abortion officials are working overtime to silence pro-life organizations simply because they refuse to promote abortion.

Philadelphia’s resolution fits neatly into this broader pattern. While declaring abortion a “human right,” the Council heard remarks calling PRCs “fake” and “predatory,” attempting to discredit the very organizations that offer women a genuine choice – one grounded in life rather than destruction and loss. Unlike abortion clinics, the centers being targeted do not profit from a woman’s decision. They do not sell procedures. They do not pressure or coerce. They provide diapers, formula, classes, ultrasounds, counseling, community, and ongoing support – all at no cost. For many women, these services are the only reason they believe they have the strength and resources to choose life.

The ACLJ has been defending pro-life centers for decades, and we are already engaged in protecting centers in Pennsylvania from government harassment. If any Philadelphia-area center faces pressure, intimidation, or discriminatory policies as a result of this resolution, we stand ready to respond – legally and publicly.

Philadelphia deserves better than a resolution that redefines human rights by stripping away the most basic and fundamental right – the right to life. The preborn deserve recognition as human beings with inherent dignity and the right to life. And the organizations providing lifesaving support to mothers deserve respect, not political opposition.

The ACLJ will continue to stand for life, truth, and every woman and child caught in the crosshairs of these political attacks. And we will continue defending the pro-life centers that refuse to abandon mothers and babies who need them most.

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