The Beautiful Truth About "Crisis" Pregnancy Centers

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by: Rev, Carol George

07/22/2022

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Much has been printed and proclaimed lately about the “evils” of crisis pregnancy centers.  I’d like to set the record straight. 

Since the recent Supreme Court decision sending the issue of abortion back to state legislatures, national leaders and abortion activists have been attacking pro-life pregnancy centers and churches.  These attacks have been loud, ugly,  and in some cases, violent.  Many centers and churches have been vandalized (including our local CPC in Anchorage) and some even fire-bombed. The vitriol expressed toward these churches and centers confounds me.  I would like to respond to some oft repeated myths with the truth about why these centers exist, what they do, and who these centers serve. 

Myth # 1 - Crisis Pregnancy Centers are deceptive and coercive.

The following was found on site www.verywellhealth.com.

Crisis pregnancy centers (also known as pregnancy resource centers or CPCs) are facilities that try to attract pregnant women who are at risk for abortion. They often advertise and name themselves to give the impression that they are neutral healthcare providers. But the majority of these crisis pregnancy clinics have an anti-abortion philosophy.

Crisis pregnancy centers may use names like Crisis Pregnancy Center, Pregnancy Counseling Center, Pregnancy Care Center, Pregnancy Aid, or Pregnancy Resource Center. Some of these facilities do provide truthful and unbiased support and information to women facing unintended pregnancies. But many of these clinics are coercive and overwhelm women with anti-abortion propaganda.


Truth - CPCs are very upfront about who they are and what they offer pregnant women.  

I explored many CPC online sites to check our how they present themselves to women seeking information, counseling, or help.  Much of the information I will quote here comes from our local CPC site which can be found at https://cpcanchorage.com. 

The sites I explored clearly stated their pro-life stance, their non-profit status, and the particular services they did and did not offer.  When women searched under "options" for pregnancy abortion was a choice as was adoption and parenting.  Under "abortion" the clinical/medical definition was offered and it was simply stated that abortion and abortion referrals were not provided at the center,   In contrast, the local Planned Parenthood site extols only abortion as the option for an unplanned pregnancy.  


Myth #2- Pro-life centers and churches "only care about babies before they are born."

It is often touted that pro-life activists only care about children in the womb and do nothing to support women and children after birth.  This is an easily proven falsehood.  


Truth- Churches and CPCs provide couseling, mentoring, education and resources for parents and their babies before, during and after their babies are born.

Many churches and  CPCs have programs for unwed mothers and new parents that provide counseling, job training, and access to free diapers, formula, clothing and equipment such as car seats, strollers and cribs.  Many also have programs that secure housing vouchers.  They advocate for programs that support healthy children and families.   They also provide adoption referrals. YoungLives and other parent support organizations closely coordinate with CPC Anchorage to maintain critical support for those who choose to keep their children

I have always found that the volunteers who run these programs see their work as ministry.  They have compassion for their clients and often stay in contact with them long after the need for their services has past.  I encourage you to go the CPC Anchorage site and read the testimonials.  

Other critical facts

Community Pregnancy Centers and churches receive no government funding for their pregnancy related services.  They rely completely on donations for their work.  They are staffed primarily by volunteers. and offer their services free of charge.  In contrast Planned Parenthood receives millions in federal tax dollars and contributes heavily to political candidates who support abortion.  Many of these candidates support abortion on demand with absolutely no restrictions. 


What does the Bible say ?

The Bible does not specifically mention abortion.  However,  the Bible is clear that all life is a precious gift of God.  Human beings, the Bible tells us, are "created in God's image" (Gen. 1:26) and are "fearfully and wonderfully made  (Psalm 139:14)." Therefore it would stand to reason that Christians who support a woman's right to choose should also support agencies that seek to offer women alternatives to abortion and support to women who choose adoption or parenting.  

What can you do?

*Speak up when CPCs are maligned.  

*Support CPCs by volunteering or offering fiancial and/or material support.

*Work for societal programs that support and enrich families.

 I encourage you to go to the ELCA website and read the Church's Social statement on abortion.  You can find it here.   

May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts and homes, 

Pastor Carol






Blog comments will be sent to the moderator

Much has been printed and proclaimed lately about the “evils” of crisis pregnancy centers.  I’d like to set the record straight. 

Since the recent Supreme Court decision sending the issue of abortion back to state legislatures, national leaders and abortion activists have been attacking pro-life pregnancy centers and churches.  These attacks have been loud, ugly,  and in some cases, violent.  Many centers and churches have been vandalized (including our local CPC in Anchorage) and some even fire-bombed. The vitriol expressed toward these churches and centers confounds me.  I would like to respond to some oft repeated myths with the truth about why these centers exist, what they do, and who these centers serve. 

Myth # 1 - Crisis Pregnancy Centers are deceptive and coercive.

The following was found on site www.verywellhealth.com.

Crisis pregnancy centers (also known as pregnancy resource centers or CPCs) are facilities that try to attract pregnant women who are at risk for abortion. They often advertise and name themselves to give the impression that they are neutral healthcare providers. But the majority of these crisis pregnancy clinics have an anti-abortion philosophy.

Crisis pregnancy centers may use names like Crisis Pregnancy Center, Pregnancy Counseling Center, Pregnancy Care Center, Pregnancy Aid, or Pregnancy Resource Center. Some of these facilities do provide truthful and unbiased support and information to women facing unintended pregnancies. But many of these clinics are coercive and overwhelm women with anti-abortion propaganda.


Truth - CPCs are very upfront about who they are and what they offer pregnant women.  

I explored many CPC online sites to check our how they present themselves to women seeking information, counseling, or help.  Much of the information I will quote here comes from our local CPC site which can be found at https://cpcanchorage.com. 

The sites I explored clearly stated their pro-life stance, their non-profit status, and the particular services they did and did not offer.  When women searched under "options" for pregnancy abortion was a choice as was adoption and parenting.  Under "abortion" the clinical/medical definition was offered and it was simply stated that abortion and abortion referrals were not provided at the center,   In contrast, the local Planned Parenthood site extols only abortion as the option for an unplanned pregnancy.  


Myth #2- Pro-life centers and churches "only care about babies before they are born."

It is often touted that pro-life activists only care about children in the womb and do nothing to support women and children after birth.  This is an easily proven falsehood.  


Truth- Churches and CPCs provide couseling, mentoring, education and resources for parents and their babies before, during and after their babies are born.

Many churches and  CPCs have programs for unwed mothers and new parents that provide counseling, job training, and access to free diapers, formula, clothing and equipment such as car seats, strollers and cribs.  Many also have programs that secure housing vouchers.  They advocate for programs that support healthy children and families.   They also provide adoption referrals. YoungLives and other parent support organizations closely coordinate with CPC Anchorage to maintain critical support for those who choose to keep their children

I have always found that the volunteers who run these programs see their work as ministry.  They have compassion for their clients and often stay in contact with them long after the need for their services has past.  I encourage you to go the CPC Anchorage site and read the testimonials.  

Other critical facts

Community Pregnancy Centers and churches receive no government funding for their pregnancy related services.  They rely completely on donations for their work.  They are staffed primarily by volunteers. and offer their services free of charge.  In contrast Planned Parenthood receives millions in federal tax dollars and contributes heavily to political candidates who support abortion.  Many of these candidates support abortion on demand with absolutely no restrictions. 


What does the Bible say ?

The Bible does not specifically mention abortion.  However,  the Bible is clear that all life is a precious gift of God.  Human beings, the Bible tells us, are "created in God's image" (Gen. 1:26) and are "fearfully and wonderfully made  (Psalm 139:14)." Therefore it would stand to reason that Christians who support a woman's right to choose should also support agencies that seek to offer women alternatives to abortion and support to women who choose adoption or parenting.  

What can you do?

*Speak up when CPCs are maligned.  

*Support CPCs by volunteering or offering fiancial and/or material support.

*Work for societal programs that support and enrich families.

 I encourage you to go to the ELCA website and read the Church's Social statement on abortion.  You can find it here.   

May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts and homes, 

Pastor Carol






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Well said.