Calling them “brainwashing cult clinics,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) today launched a statewide effort to stop more than 50 crisis pregnancy centers across New Jersey from providing deceptive information about abortion options in order to advance an ideological agenda.
“Women go to these healthcare hoax clinics thinking they will get real medical help, but instead, they are greeted by people with no medical background whose goal is to brainwash women with their own ideological agenda,” said Gottheimer. “We need to do everything we can to shut down these brainwashing cult clinics. We need to stop the fake programming they’re pushing.”
Outside the Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center in Hackensack, Gottheimer said the building looks harmless but alleges a place that poses as a healthcare clinic without any licensed professionals.
“These clinics don’t provide legitimate prenatal care or refer women to health clinics that would offer a full range of health services,” said Gottheimer. “Instead, these centers mislead patients, steering them away from the full range of care available to them – and put their lives and safety at risk.”
The four-term Democratic congressman accused crisis pregnancy centers of finding locations near licensed healthcare providers.
“Crisis pregnancy centers will also locate their facilities near real healthcare clinics so their employees can physically divert women away from real healthcare providers,” Gottheimer alleged. “There is a Planned Parenthood here in Hackensack right down the street.”
Gottheimer announced that he is sponsoring the Stop Anti-abortion Disinformation Act in Congress to authorize the Federal Trade Commission to penalize organizations that make deceptive representations about abortion services.
He also said he’s asked Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders to adopt restrictions that would curb deceptive marketing practices and pass legislation to outlaw “advertising that masquerades as healthcare.”
“All of this builds on our important work to protect a woman’s right to choose,” Gottheimer said. “If we don’t stand up now and make our voices heard, far-right extremists will continue to advance their agenda to take away women’s right to choose, even in cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother.”
Attorney General Matt Platkin has issued a consumer alert warning New Jerseyans that the clinics don’t provide health care.
“These centers masquerade as clinics and guidance centers providing unbiased information for women in crisis, but these centers are run by evangelicals who operate on the principle that women are just baby-making machines who fall for deceptive advertising and that fetal rights trump women’s rights every time,” said Bergen County Commissioner Mary Amoroso. “They use guilt and misinformation to interfere with a woman’s autonomy and decision-making process in an anguishing moment.”
Gottheimer said he plans to visit similar centers in the state.
“We applaud Congressman Gottheimer’s efforts to ensure that all individuals have access to accurate and reliable information about reproductive health care services,” said Rachel Baum, the president of the New Jersey Family Planning League. “So-called ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ exist to push a dangerous agenda fueled by misinformation.”
But Gottheimer’s actions drew the ire of at least once prominent conservative from his district.
“To go after people of faith for running crisis pregnancy centers to advance yourself is beyond the pale. I am disgusted that I live in your district,” said Alex Wilkes, a Republican strategist. “Can we dispense with the boppy bipartisan, problem solver” bullshit now?”
Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) also criticized Gottheimer.
This story was updated at 8:30 PM on October 8.