Coalition Life, the nation’s largest professional sidewalk counseling organization based in St. Louis, Missouri, has issued a statement in response to an order issued by the Circuit Court of Jackson County in the case of Planned Parenthood v. Missouri, seeking to strike down laws that limit abortion.
“We are gratified that the court has rightly decided to retain licensing requirements for abortion facilities and doctors who perform abortions even while we mourn the loss of protections that are vital to the safety of women and the protection of preborn children,” said Coalition Life Executive Director Brian Westbrook, who pioneered the “St. Louis Method” of compassionate outreach. “Coalition Life will closely monitor the licensing process of any facility in Missouri that seeks to offer abortions and we remain steadfast in our mission to provide resources, education, and support to women facing unexpected pregnancies.”
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The decision marks another phase in the fight in the courts to decide whether Amendment 3 will be used in Missouri to overturn numerous laws that have been passed over the last 50 years to protect women in the state, as pro-life activists had warned during the lead-up to the November 2024 election. The ongoing legal challenge from abortion facilities seeking to reopen following the passage of Amendment 3 continues.
“As we continued to warn the people in Missouri leading up to the election, Amendment 3 was always meant to undo years of work in the legislature to protect women and children,” said Westbrook. “Now we see the abortion industry seek to overturn these laws. Because the amendment is vague and open to interpretation, the people of Missouri are asking the courts to interpret this amendment through the lens of a pro-life state that has worked for years to pass these protections into law.”
Missouri’s laws in question include informed consent requirements, a 72-hour waiting period, licensing standards for abortion facilities, and others. While Amendment 3 expanded abortion access through all stages of pregnancy, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey vowed to enforce existing regulations until explicitly overruled by the court. These laws have been credited with significantly reducing the number of abortions in Missouri, dropping from 6,163 in 2010 to 88 in 2022*. At the same time, as legal efforts in the courts are ongoing, Coalition Life sidewalk counselors will stand ready to offer resources for women who need information and support to help them choose life if abortion returns to the state.
“Thank God for sidewalk counselors,” said Westbrook. “This moment absolutely reaffirms the importance of our work on the sidewalk. Our sidewalk counselors are often the last lifeline for women seeking help, and as states fight in the legislature and the courts over which laws will take effect, sidewalk counselors remain the only lifeline for women who have fallen through the safety net and arrived at the gates of an abortion facility with nowhere to turn. We are committed to continuing our efforts to empower women with life-affirming options while we pray that Missouri will retain previous laws that protect their health and safety. We stand ready to return to Missouri sidewalks if we are needed.”
Coalition Life’s sidewalk counseling program has a proven track record of success, with more than four thousand turnarounds recorded across the Midwest. Volunteers and staff members are trained to engage in peaceful, compassionate conversations, ensuring women are informed about available support services and healthcare alternatives.
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