Crisis Pregnancy Centers

from Talk to Action

From the March 18 lead editorial in the Palm Beach Post.

To have fewer abortions, stop subsidizing the lies

Public money should not pay for fear-mongering 'crisis pregnancy centers' that peddle lies about fetal development, contraception and abortion.

Florida, like the federal government, spends millions each year supporting such centers, many of which are run by religious zealots who see abstinence-only as the only alternative to abortion and for whom scientific facts do not matter.
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If reducing abortion is the goal, avoiding unwanted pregnancy is the way to reach that goal. That means investing in centers and schools that provide unbiased, medically accurate, comprehensive information about the benefits of delaying sexual intercourse and the availability of contraception to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. Investing in fear and lies guarantees only more unwanted pregnancies and abortions.

Women deserve much more than they're getting from state governments controlled by the religious right, and several Texas Democrats in the 80th Legislature are providing a template for making that happen — in our state and all the others.

also at Talk to Action

Writer Heather Wokusch begins War on Terror, War on Women with a quote from the Commander-in-Chief.

"On September 11, we saw clearly that evil exists in this world, and that it does not value life... Now we are engaged in a fight against evil and tyranny to preserve and protect life."
— Bush in 2002, linking abortion rights with terrorism, as he declared the 29th anniversary of Roe v. Wade to be "National Sanctity of Human Life Day."

Wokusch notes, "Sabotaging programs for women has become something of a sport for this administration," and Bush acolytes in Texas government play hardball. To advance the state's goal of "promoting childbirth," our legislature diverted $5 million from historically successful family planning programs in order to fund a scheme funneling public support to crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs).

Their battle plan includes "educational materials" from Heritage House '76, a CPC supply house whose inflammatory publications have been used and promoted by the American Life League, the Quran-burning Operation Save America and the late Paul deParrie, a Hero of the Faith in the domestic terror organization known as the Army of God.

With testimonials such as those, is it any wonder that godly lawmakers see a crying need to inflict Heritage House materials upon unsuspecting pregnant women and teenaged girls, instead of frittering away our tax money on health care?