Women, girls, and even men who find themselves with unplanned pregnancies experience a myriad of emotions, and they are filled with questions. Pregnancy Resource Centers (also known as Crisis Pregnancy Centers or CPCs), such as Birthright or CareNet, are prepared to help women with their questions and concerns. These centers focus on meeting the needs of the mother and her baby, assuring her that she does not need to feel pressured into an abortion. Counselors provide women and girls with whatever assistance necessary to bring their babies to birth. They comfort and encourage pregnant women while assisting them with finding housing, doctors, maternity and baby supplies, and answers to their questions. Pregnancy Resource Centers have provided a welcome refuge to girls and women who thought they had no other place to turn, and who often considered abortion as the only alternative.
Pregnancy Resource Centers
Federal Funding
Under President George W. Bush’s Faith and Community Based Initiative, religious organizations (which include many Pregnancy Resource Centers) are eligible for federal funding. The Compassion Capital Fund, which distributed $148 million from 2002 to 2005, was created “to expand the role that faith-based and community groups play in providing social services to those in need,” according to the White House.
Opposition from Pro-abortionists
The National Abortion Federation (or NAF, a trade association for abortion clinics) released a report on June 15, 2006, entitled, “Crisis Pregnancy Centers: An Affront to Choice.” NAF charges that CPCs do not promote all options equally; they target young, low-income, and women of color; and they are often connected with religious organizations. Interestingly, the same can be said for Planned Parenthood (our nation’s largest abortion provider), also a recipient of federal funding, which does not promote life-affirming decisions, targets low-income women, and holds an annual prayer breakfast.
NAF does not think that CPCs should receive federal funding. They also warn that CPCs offer misleading information, such as stating that “having an abortion will put them at higher risk for developing breast cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, infertility, and other serious medical conditions.” Following this NAF report, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) filed a report stating the same: CPCs mislead pregnant women.
Neither NAF nor Rep. Waxman referenced the many studies that do show a clear link between breast cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, infertility and abortion. It is true, of course, that Pregnancy Resource Centers do not refer women to have abortions since they recognize how physically and emotionally detrimental abortion can be. The centers do, however, help women to tackle the many challenges of carrying a child when they are not prepared or supported by family or society.
If you or someone you know is pregnant and has questions or needs help, please contact either Birthright at 800-550-4900 or CareNet at 800-395-HELP.