Chicago City Wire

Girls Health First has come out against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signing of a bill that eliminates parental notification before a minor receives an abortion.

Mary-Louise Hengesbaugh, who heads up the Chicago-based Girls' Health First, said the move will lead to harm in society.

“The repeal of Parental Notice of Abortion reveals that the the governor and abortion advocates do not have the safety of our girls at heart. They are more concerned with profits than with the safety of our daughters and protecting them from sexual predators. This means that parents must be more vigilant than ever in monitoring who their daughters are talking with on the internet and social media as well as who they come in contact with after school. This empowers sexual predators to conceal evidence of their crimes against young girls.” Hengesbaugh said.

Now that the act has been repealed, abortion providers will not be required to give parents notice of a minor undergoing an abortion.

The repealed law had mandated a 48-hour notice for any minor seeing an abortion in Illinois.

The move comes after the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing civil penalties against abortion providers that appears to allow states to end the practice.

Over the past decade, Illinois has experienced a precipitous climb in the number of abortions — nearly double. The expectation is that many will seek abortions in the state given its lax rules.

Illinois abortion providers are preparing for an increase in the number of abortion procedures to out-of-state clients as conservative-led states have been rolling back abortion rights.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield has also weighed in on the legislation.

“[T]he government has provided evil the cover of darkness in which it thrives. The devil desires darkness and despises the light," Paprocki said. "It is striking how much this legislation does to provide cover, secrecy, and darkness over evil deeds.”

In a press release from the governor, he commended the bill's proponents.

“With reproductive rights under attack across the nation, Illinois is once again establishing itself as a leader in ensuring access to healthcare services,” Pritzker said in a press release. “This repeal was essential, because it was the most vulnerable pregnant minors who were punished by this law: victims of rape and physical abuse in unsafe homes. I thank Representative Anna Moeller, Senator Elgie Sims and the lawmakers and advocates who have fiercely fought to repeal this law and keep vulnerable young people safe. I’m proud that Illinois continues to be a national leader in protecting reproductive rights.”