Florida Supreme Court Set to Rule on Abortion Access
Florida’s conservative-leaning Supreme Court is set to rule on a challenge to a 15-week abortion ban that was passed last year. If upheld, this ban would be just the first step in a series of increasingly restrictive actions aimed at erasing access to safe, legal abortions in the state. A six-week ban on abortions will take effect if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the 15-week ban, as it has already been signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Adding to the danger, Florida’s Republican-led legislature is providing more funding to dozens of crisis pregnancy centers across the State. At least 14 other states provide similar funding. While these centers are not medical facilities and offer limited services, they receive funding aimed at steering pregnant women away from abortion. Angela Curatalo, who runs the Archdiocese of Miami Respect Life Ministry, which is one such funding recipient, claims that these crisis pregnancy centers are “one of the best-kept secrets”.
Curatalo says the mission of these centers is to change the minds of women considering abortion, but that they do so “not coercively”, simply by providing information on alternatives. They offer free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, and online parenting classes, as well as access to basic necessities for infants. Despite the fact that most women who visit these centers arrive heavily considering an abortion, Curatalo claims that only 1.25% of women leave with the same mindset. However, the centers are expecting an influx of women if new restrictions go into effect.
However, Oversight of these crisis pregnancy centers is limited. A Reveal News investigation found that Florida does not require these centers, particularly ones that provide medical services, to be licensed or inspected. Jeri Cohen, a fundraiser for abortion rights, has been involved with the issue for 35 years. Abortion is very personal for her, as she had to fly to New York to terminate her pregnancy in 1970 when it was not legal in Florida.
Cohen believes that Florida’s new restrictions on abortion will lead to more deaths among teens who will seek to induce abortion in an unsafe manner. She argues that crisis pregnancy centers will not be of much help to them. In contrast, Curatalo argues that the centers provide a much-needed alternative. She says, “It’s not always the right time for them. But look at Mary, Mary was very young when she had Jesus.” Despite the sharp differences in their opinions, both Cohen and Curatalo agree that Florida’s laws will see more women traveling outside the state for abortions. Cohen says this trend in her organization, Women’s Emergency Network, has already increased to 15-20% of the monies that have been given to un-insured women who need abortion, particularly for travel outside of Florida. Overall, this marks a significant shift on the federal level, and its statewide impact cannot be understated.
