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.

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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

lfabel@ddcexaminer.com