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Church-backed pregnancy centers mislead, abortion rights group says
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Volunteers at the crisis pregnancy centers supported by the Catholic Church provide inaccurate and deceptive information to advance anti-abortion agendas, abortion rights advocates testified Wednesday in Annapolis.
An abortion rights organization released a report detailing visits to 11 Maryland pregnancy centers, where “investigators” said they were told abortion leads to infertility or breast cancer. Volunteers at the faith-based centers attempt to “coerce” pregnant women to give birth, said Melissa Kleder, who authored the report for NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland.
“One counselor told an investigator that using birth control is next to killing your baby,” Kleder said. “Scared and vulnerable women facing a potential unintended pregnancy are being taken advantage of by these centers.”
State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would require crisis pregnancy centers in Maryland to provide clients with a disclaimer stating that information provided does not have to be accurate.
The bill is opposed by Catholics and center operators who said the NARAL report isn’t valid. Jenny Dixon, the executive director of the Care Net Pregnancy Center of Frederick, called the report a “mean-spirited attack” and said disclaimers discredit the centers’ good intentions.
“If a woman chooses abortion, we have support groups to help her recover and heal,” Dixon said. “We’re not here to judge.”
The Catholic Church distributed letters to parishioners in January, asking them to support legislation that would provide $800,000 in state funds for pregnancy centers.
That bill may not be introduced this year, said Mary Schneidau, communications director for the Maryland Catholic Conference.
Del. Roger Manno, a Montgomery County Democrat who is sponsoring the disclaimer bill, said free pregnancy centers are largely exempt from government oversight. His bill, he said, would “clarify that these services are of a specific nature.”
Nancy Paltell, an associate director with the Maryland Catholic Conference, said the bill unfairly targets centers that do not provide abortions while exempting abortion rights organizations that don’t expressly promote adoption or parenthood.
“To single out one type of non-profit — I don’t see [the bill] going anywhere,” Paltell said.
jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com
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Katie said:
If pro-choice/pro-abortion folks are so smart, why have they contracepted/aborted themselves into a minority vote? Basic mathematics tell you, if you keep aborting, while pro-lifers keep giving birth, well, I hope you can see where I am going with this. Sadly, the only 'choice' offered by the pro-choice side is abortion. I can't really say it is even 'safe' abortion because they fight tooth and nail any effort to assure minimum standards of care. You can open an abortion clinic with fewer rules than a tatoo or body piercing parlor. And the 'doctors'? The dregs of the medical profession, having failed at every other practice.
3 agree | 1 disagree
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Internet said:
The court should tell women how to live their lives. All pro-choice people love life, but you do not decide for us. This is what you do not understand. What would you do with a woman who aobirt her fetus if abortion is illegal? Put her in jail? Anti-abortion people haven't thought that far ahead which is why smart people are pro-choice.
2 agree | 4 disagree
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Woman said:
If a woman wants to create a "hostile uterine environment (this made me laugh a bit)" that would be entirely her business. It is not up to the government nor male authoritive religions to create a "a friendly uterine environment". That reeks of invasion of privacy from start to finish I think you are aware of that. But in case that overreaching arguement does not past the smell test when trying to gain public trust on outlawing contraceptives then try for scare tactics such as cancer and incorprate religiously inclined physicians and institutions to perform your studies. I hope for a law in the future that would automatically dimiss any law brought forth pertaining to women that is backed by hostile male environment religions.
63 agree | 64 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Jaime, This was a good opportunity to educate the public about the action of Birth control pills and IUD. The IUD in 100% of the time If fertilization occurs (new Life)- provides a hostile uterine environment and prevents implantation. This is called an abortifacient. Likewise in approx. 1/3 of the time while on the pill,ovulation is not suppressed, a new life is created but again due to the hostile uterine envirnment, implantation does not take place and the new life is disgarded. Women's hormonal systems are being damaged by pill. The increase in breast cancer over the past 30 years is related to this as is the link between abortion and breast cancer. Studies exist but the main-stream press would rather die than report such a thing. I have no doubt the truth will out - no matter how long it takes it will - It always does
70 agree | 76 disagree
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Woman said:
“One counselor told an investigator that using birth control is next to killing your baby,” This is the golden egg for the anti-choice movement, outlawing contraceptives though they try NOT to admit this simple fact. The ENTIRE issue is about control, taking control form women and giving it to men for the bible tells them so.
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Examiner Reader said:
Could this bill include the obvious fact that abortion will kill a child?
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Examiner Reader said:
Writes one pro-aborionist below, "I guess you belive in creation too right?" Was "belive" a freudian slip or just an anger-induced typo? Yes, I believe in God. But for you and your ilk, godlessness goes hand-in-hand with abortion. You see, there is little or no guilt in killing if one believes the life taken is nothing more than a composite of carbon and water that just developed out of nothingness.
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Examiner Reader said:
"Both sides want fewer abortions-however the approach varies greatly." Wrong. One side wants no abortions. The other side facilitates abortions.
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MisleadEveryDay said:
I'd be in favor of this proposal if they would also require all ELECTED officeholders and candidates running for public office to sign the same disclosure statement.
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Examiner Reader said:
Do abortion providers ever lie, obfuscate, or diminish the real effects of abortion in order to keep on doing what they do? Yes, they do. I have a family member who, after an abortion 30 years ago, still suffers regret, emotional pain, and depression from the decision. She talks about her "son" who would be 30 this year--but he did not die in an accident or by an unfortunate disease. It was by a deliberate act of choice. The whole modus operandi of the pro-choice movement over the past few decades is to get the public to think that having a baby and aborting one are morally equivalent acts, equal in that fact that they are "choices." Luckily, they have an old-fashioned human trait that aids and abets them in this agenda--good old "self deception," that timeless ability of all human beings to convince themselves that morally wrong actions are in fact right and do no harm to themselves or others. The pro-choice attitude has become status quo, the dogma you cannot question.
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Ditto D said:
not
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Examiner Reader said:
11:26, everyone is entitled to an opinion, however if you have to lie to get people over to your way of thinking, then it's wrong...and as I'm sure you're aware 2 wrongs do NOT make a right. The things these organizations promote may be virtuous among the righteous, but lying to get there shouldn't be necessary....and they DO lie.
83 agree | 68 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
So, NARAL believes giving information contrary to THEIR position is wrong. Worse than actually slaughtering an unborn child. Go figure.
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Examiner Reader said:
Well I see a lot of the hate from them-I volunteer at a family planning clinic. The protestors would have a lot more influence if they showed more of God's love and left the judging to Him.
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Ditto D said:
Your welcome, Less hate then you know on the right. Sonetimes all people need guidance.
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Examiner Reader said:
Thank you Ditto D :> I just get so sick of the rhetoric of the right - just a lot of hate over there.
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Ditto D said:
10;32 is a beautiful writer with common sense. Heart, mind and soul trumps science.
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Examiner Reader said:
I am always saddened by those on the "pro-life" side that consider any other position to be "pro-abortion". I am NOT pro-abortion, but I think legislation is not the answer. I think religion is not the answer. I think legislation BASED on religion is NOT the answer. Both sides want fewer abortions-however the approach varies greatly. The side of CHOICE wants fewer abortions through greater proliferation of birth control, better birth control and better education. The hard-core right wingers don't even want women on birth control. The ONLY way to reduce abortions is to act on the cause, which is unplanned, unintended pregnancies. By reducing those, you reduce abortions. It is not rocket science. It is providing all women the tools they need to control their own lives as opposed to letting it be run by the church where if you get pregnant, it must be "God's will". It is time some common sense came into this debate to engage our common ground to make real progress on this issue.
96 agree | 72 disagree
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Ditto D said:
I was pro-choice however now pro life!! So is my new party of independants. No worries about my people. Live! Hate the word abortion and always have faith. Value life of all kind! Life is a lesson learned well.
51 agree | 70 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It is truly amazing how libs go to such great lengths to protect child molestors, murderers, terrorists, communist dictators and more. But they fight even harder to tp protect the right to kill unborn babies. How do you libs come up with such a twisted rationale?
83 agree | 57 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Baby killers are just that...it doesn't matter if the child is born or is in the womb!
69 agree | 72 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Good point 9:30... there is no argument for abortion. and those that are so pro-choice only scream so loud because they are constantly looking for support to justify their actions.. they need to read as to when a fetus has a heartbeat.. how can anyone with an ounce of love in them kill that? i will not judge though, God will do that, much to their dismay.
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Examiner Reader said:
Just like we all saw starting in early childhood, people who knowlingly do wrong will go to any length to convince others to join in with them. In their own minds convincing joiners justifies their wrongdoing and spreads the blame around. While mankind is ignorant enough to put up with this, I don't think God works that way.
80 agree | 49 disagree
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A giraffe dies said:
Abortion is legal in America right now just like slavery was legal in America. Legality does not mean it is right. I am dumbfounded that pro-abortion nutjobs are always the ones who think its great to kill innocent babies but are horrified about executing truly evil people like terrorists and murderers.
84 agree | 69 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Every child deserves a birthday. No child should ever be denied the GIFT of life. Let's love our children!!!
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Bill Samuel said:
This investigation was done by an organization with a strong bias. Since its investigators were all people with that bias, and all admittedly lied to the centers they were investigating, the reliability of what they report must be considered suspect. Further, regarding what it states as facts it mostly cites groups with the same bias or outdated information (like a 1997 study when there have been many studies published since). Some of their complaints were that the Centers were not providing other services. Why should groups with distaste for the Centers be able to dictate their services? At the Center where I volunteer, medical staff & volunteers, all with Maryland licenses, provide the services such as sonograms requiring medical expertise. While there are many cases of doctors at abortion centers being disciplined by State agencies for unprofessional behavior, I haven't heard of one such case of pregnancy center medical personnel.
81 agree | 62 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What's funny is that this is a NARAL study. It's not like the Church-backed centers are the only ones with an agenda.
66 agree | 43 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
These pro lifers will use whatever means they can to "save" a fetus. What irks me is they dont thin past the fetuses life to think what happens to them after they are born.
81 agree | 71 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How shocking! People lying and telling others that life is precious? That the innocent, unborn should have a right to life? That new research indicates that fetuses do feel pain (see recent New York Times article)? That many forms of birth control are, in fact, chemical and mechanical abortifacients? That abortion can cause emotional scarring and trauma that last for years and decades, not to mention physical side-effects? That birth control methods such as the pill can have as many detrimental side-effects as other medications that people take? Simply demonic! If these are lies, I'd hate to see the "truth" that NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and their ilk are preaching.
72 agree | 66 disagree
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Reader said:
Yes, that is right 3:55 and there is nothing wrong with that. Your obvious bias still does not mask your complete ignorance on the subject of abortion. I also find it amusing that you think it is OK to lie in order to promote something that you obviously can not do well when you tell the truth, demonize abortion. Maybe you should move to Kansas with all the other nutjobs. I guess you belive in creation too right? Pa-leese
71 agree | 74 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Anyone who has to lie to coerce vulnerable women to accept their particular point of view needs to be regulated. How dare they.
67 agree | 72 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Let me see if I got this right. Baby killers are shocked and chagrined by a few allegations that some pro-lifers deceived pregnant women for the purpose of saving the unborn? Pa-leese.
62 agree | 76 disagree
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