'A Victory for All Pro-Life Oregonians': Federal Judge Rules State Can't Force Oregon Right to Life to Pay for Abortions

Calvin Freiburger : Apr 17, 2026
LifeSiteNews.com

Oregon Right to Life won against the radical, Democrat-led state government, which has been trying for years to force the pro-life group to cover abortions in employee insurance plans.

(Oregon) — [LifeSiteNews.com] A federal judge has sided with Oregon Right to Life (ORTL) in its challenge to the state's "Reproductive Health Equity Act" (RHEA), ruling that the pro-life organization cannot be forced to subsidize abortions. (Image: Created by Grok AI)

First enacted in 2017, the RHEA requires abortion to be covered in employer insurance plans, and while the law ostensibly exempts religious entities, ORTL was deemed not to qualify because it serves the non-religious and religious alike. The pro-life group has been in court for years, with US District Judge Ann Aiken ruling against it in 2024 and a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit tossing that ruling the following year, directing it to be sent back to lower courts for further investigation, finding that "ORTL put forth significant evidence of its religiosity."

Now, KTVZ 21 reports that on Tuesday, US District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai ruled that the RHEA could not be enforced against ORTL. For now, it appears the ruling is narrowly focused on recognizing ORTL as a religious organization exempt from the law, not a finding that the law should be overturned. A written opinion fully detailing the judge's reasoning and the full scope of his ruling will be issued in the "coming weeks."

"It was always absurd for Oregon to attempt to force Oregon Right to Life, as a pro-life organization, to fund abortion—the very practice we are dedicated to opposing. Yesterday, the federal court agreed," responded Oregon Right to Life Executive Director Lois Anderson. "This is a win for Oregon Right to Life, but more than that, it is a victory for all pro-life Oregonians."... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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