{"id":30835,"date":"2026-02-17T15:02:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=30835"},"modified":"2026-02-17T15:02:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:02:25","slug":"michigan-pro-life-ministries-sue-state-over-law-forcing-them-to-hire-pro-choice-employees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2026\/02\/michigan-pro-life-ministries-sue-state-over-law-forcing-them-to-hire-pro-choice-employees","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Pro-Life Ministries Sue State Over Law Forcing Them to Hire Pro-Choice Employees"},"content":{"rendered":"
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City of Detroit \/ commons.wikimedia.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Michigan pro-life groups are suing the state claiming a law requires them to hire pro-choice employees that don\u2019t support their mission. Right to Life of Michigan and Pregnancy Resource Center have filed a complaint\u00a0<\/a>against the state, claiming a state employment law that now defines sex discrimination to include the choice to have an abortion would require them to hire pro-choice employees. The groups are also objecting to a state law that requires employers who provide pregnancy coverage to also provide abortion coverage for staff. The state passed the Reproductive Health Act, which went into effect in February 2024,\u00a0redefining \u201csex\u201d to include \u201cthe termination of a pregnancy.\u201d Both agencies have job openings listed but have not included their pro-life mission in their listings under concern they could be accused of discrimination. As a result, the groups have received applications from applicants that identify as \u201cpro-abortion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRecent changes to Michigan\u2019s employment law force religious and pro-life groups to employ and associate with persons who do not share or live by\u2014and may even oppose\u2014the organizations\u2019 beliefs on human life,\u201d the complaint stated. \u201cThis violates the First Amendment. Plaintiffs Right to Life of Michigan (Right to Life) and Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) recruit, hire, and retain only employees who adhere to, agree to abide by, and can effectively communicate their pro-life views. This employment policy puts them at odds with Michigan\u2019s new law.\u201d<\/p>\n

The groups are being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom. \u201cIt makes no sense to force pro-life organizations to hire employees who disagree with that view,\u201d said ADF Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart<\/a>. \u201cPro-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. Michigan\u2019s law forces these organizations to contradict their beliefs and to employ staff who endorse abortion\u2014a decision that harms women and ends innocent lives.\u201d The ADF is also representing pro-life groups in New York that are fighting similar legislation. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer defended the law at the time of signing, calling abortion a \u201cfundamental right.\u201d \u201cNo one in Michigan should face discrimination because they exercised their constitutional rights, including their right to reproductive freedom by having an abortion,\u201d she said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Michigan pro-life groups are suing the state claiming a law requires them to hire pro-choice employees that don\u2019t support their mission. Right to Life of Michigan and Pregnancy Resource Center have filed a complaint\u00a0against the state, claiming a state employment law that now defines sex discrimination to include the choice to have an abortion would…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":30838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nMichigan Pro-Life Ministries Sue State Over Law Forcing Them to Hire Pro-Choice Employees<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Michigan pro-life groups sue state over law they say forces them to hire pro-choice staff, alleging violation of religious freedom.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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