A powerful NY law has been stopped, allowing pro-life employers to breathe a little easier.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Second Circuit Court ruled in favor of pro-life institutions, knocking down the previously applied “Boss Bill,” deeming it unconstitutional. The Court had noted how the legislation, which had been in effect since 2019, violated the 1st Amendment rights of pro-life employers.
The decision reads in part, “The district court here declined to apply strict scrutiny because it decided that the burden on [pro-life plaintiffs] expressive association rights was incidental rather than severe. That determination was erroneous…. [forcing plaintiffs] to employ individuals who act…against the very mission of its organization.”
Jim Harden, CEO for CompassCare Pregnancy Centers, noted in the decision, “All employers should be free to hire people who agree with their organization’s mission and values. Private businesses and non-profits should not be forced to carry the ideological water of pro-abortion politicians. The Boss Bill is yet another example of how the pro-abortion political elite seek to undermine and criminalize public pro-life activity.”
Rev. Harden (or CompassCare Director of Community Relations Daniel Tomlinson) joins us now to discuss this further.
Q&A:
- How big of a win is this New York victory, especially with what’s happening in the battle between pro-life and pro-abortion?
- Could New York try to return with a variation of the Bill?
- Why do you think such a bill was put together in the first place?
- With this win, how will the movement for pro-life continue to move forward?
- We understand that, last year, an Antifa group, Jane’s Revenge, executed a firebombing attack on your CompassCare location in Buffalo. Is there any further word on the investigation surrounding that?
- Tell us more about CompassCare and the services you provide for those needing assistance with their pregnancy.
- For those that are interested in supporting CompassCare and learning more about the services they provide, where can they go?
You can find out more information on the CompassCare community page.
Rev. Jim Harden, CompassCare CEO:
Rev. James R. Harden, M.Div. is the CEO of CompassCare Pregnancy Services and lives outside of Rochester, NY with his wife and ten children. Rev. Harden pioneered the first measurable and repeatable medical model in the pregnancy center movement, helping hundreds of centers nationwide become more effective at reaching more women and saving more babies from abortion. He has written extensively on medical ethics, executive leadership, and pro-life strategy. Recently CompassCare’s pro-life medical office in Buffalo, NY was firebombed.
Daniel Tomlinson, CompassCare Director of Community Relations:
Daniel Tomlinson is the Director of Community Relations at CompassCare, a Pregnancy Center based in Buffalo, New York. CompassCare’s pro-life medical office in Buffalo that was firebombed on June 7th and reopened a miraculous 52 days later. Having served at CompassCare for 12 years, Daniel is passionate about resourcing the mission of CompassCare and educating the community on the equal value of every person. He and his wife have four children and live outside of Rochester, NY.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin 919-437-0001, or geraldmcg@outlook.com.
