So, this sounds SO great on the surface. A place where women can go if they are scared and get emotional support, as well as monetary support when the baby is born? Brilliant! But suddenly, red flags started going up:
So, what about those who don't believe in God, or in anything close to this? Where do they fit in? And wouldn't it make sense to prevent the situation to begin with, rather than have to shell out all this federal money for pre and post natal care?What they will not offer is referral for birth control. Married clients wanting information on contraception are referred to their own doctor or pastor. But, as Wood explains, most clients are unmarried, and "the Bible clearly states that sex outside of marriage is against God's will for our lives."
I also found the statistic that less than one in ten people visit Planned Parenthood in search of an abortion. I never really knew the rate and always had heard these rumors that all PP did was abortions (something I knew for a fact wasn't true, after taking a friend there for something completely non-sex/baby related and witnessing people there for other reasons as well).
I don't doubt that these people are very loving and want the best for who they see. But whats the difference between wanting the best, and pushing your agenda to show people whats best? I'm sorry, but that action of giving her booties and congratulating her on becoming a mother is borderline bullying. Especially since the woman didnt come there for that. She came for support in a decision about her life, whether it be abortion or not. And these people are clearly on one side."She didn't actually prod me in any particular direction," Barbour says. "She was just listening to me, nodding her head. She wanted to know if my family was religious, and I told her, well, I don't go to church, but my grandfather was a Methodist minister. She didn't act really judgmental or anything. She did say, 'Well, I bet that your grandfather really would like you to have this baby.'"
Eventually the woman who had done the test reappeared, holding a pair of soft blue, hand-knit baby booties. "Congratulations!" she said. "You're a mother.'
I'm also not surprised by the ammount of misinformation passed about by these centers. It's just wrong. No matter what side of the argument you are on, misleading someone into making a decision that may not be for them is wrong regardless of the intentions. These people who run this center only have to deal with the women's decisions for a little while. the women have to deal with them for the rest of their lives. And whichever they decide, they need to make that decision based on factual information, and what they want/believe.
I just don't understand why there cant be a middle ground. Let have a place where women can come and get condoms and the pill, can learn about the risks of pregnancy and abortion, and make an educated decision based on her morals and ethics and what she knows she can/cannot handle. Is it SO bad to let people live their own lives and make their own choices?
[Edited on 19/2/07 by NachtcGleiskette]