What happens when a woman...
...wants to have her baby? | pregnancy centers provide practical support like parenting education, diapers, carseats, clothes, cribs, & more |
...is considering abortion? | pregnancy centers provide accurate information, decision coaching, and medical centers also provide pregnancy confirmation sonograms |
...is grieving reproductive loss? | pregnancy centers offer recovery support for those coping with the long term impacts of abortion, miscarriage, or related losses |
Pregnancy centers are supported by caring neighbors in the local community. Clients visiting local centers overwhelmingly report having positive experiences and say they would recommend the center's services to a friend. But women and their families don't get this same kind of support everywhere they go.
Sometimes, women are pressured to just have an abortion. Partners, family members, or bosses may imply that the "responsible thing" for a woman to do is to avoid the inconvenience of bringing a child into the world when circumstances are difficult. Sometimes, lawmakers and courts even create barriers to women accessing - or even learning about - the life-empowering services offered by pregnancy centers.
In this special edition of NetLinks, we'll look at recent legislative and judicial impacts on pregnancy centers, women, and families.
Doctors, nurses, and life-affirming pregnancy centers are on notice that their judgment and freedom of conscience may be constrained by a new state law that requires them to refer patients for abortion.
Read more about the lawsuit filed by Alliance Defending Freedom. A similar suit is proceding against a California law that requires medical pregnancy centers to advise patients that MediCal may help pay for their abortion.
The director of Your Choice Pregnancy Clinic, a Care Net affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina is suing that city over discrimination against their agency. The city has refused to give them a zoning permit to open a location near Planned Parenthood.
Read more about the lawsuit filed by Alliance Defending Freedom.
In 2010, Alaska voters said parents should have a say when their minor daughters seek an abortion. Laws like this often lower abortion rates by encouraging families to discuss the challenges surrounding a young woman's pregnancy. Planned Parenthood sued and last month the state Supreme Court decided that the law is unconstitutional.
Read more about how the court's decision endangers teens
According to Judge Hinkle, a state law is unconstitutional. That law would have sent government contracts to community health centers and other medical agencies that don't abort babies. It doesn't look like Florida will appeal the decision.
Read more about the district court's decision.
Follow the money trail, they say, and that's what you should do to understand the Democrats recent platform change. The abortion industry spends hundreds of thousands to fund the Democratic Party and its nominees. But even though Planned Parenthood receives lots of government funds already, taxpayer dollars can't pay for abortion directly. If Hillary Clinton's party gets its way, all that will change.
Read more about Democrat's scheme to fund the abortion industry with tax dollars.
Texans fought for years to make the abortion industry accountable for following basic health and safety standards. But this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court bought into the industry's lies and decided that access to abortion is more important than women's safety.
Read more about efforts to protect women from Big Abortion.