Abortion Proponents Growing Increasingly Frustrated by Success of Pregnancy Centers
Waxman Report Latest in String of Election Year Attacks
Contact: Kristin Hansen, 703-478-5661 x31
STERLING, Va, July 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- For decades, pregnancy centers have sustained waves of attacks from abortion providers and proponent groups who routinely seek to discredit their competition and prevent women from accessing comprehensive information on abortion risks and alternatives. Following in step, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), an avid abortion proponent, issued a report Monday accusing pregnancy centers of providing inaccurate health information on the risks of abortion.
Kristin Hansen, Vice President of Communications for Care Net, an organization that supports a network of 975 pregnancy centers in North America, called Waxman’s report “an attempt to whitewash the risk of abortion on women’s health.
“Because abortion has become so grossly politicized, it is easy for proponents like Rep. Waxman to cite one or two studies on the risks of abortion and call it a day. But women’s physical and emotional health hang in the balance. They deserve a comprehensive look at the studies, not election year soundbites.
“What’s clear in these attacks is that the multi-million dollar abortion industry is growing increasingly frustrated with the success of pregnancy centers, which, unlike abortion providers, offer a wide range of free services to men and women facing unplanned pregnancy and sexual health-related concerns. We find that when a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy is empowered with information about abortion alternatives and given resources and compassionate support, nine out of ten will not choose abortion.”
Peggy Hartshorn, President of Heartbeat International, another leading national pregnancy center support organization, said “Mr. Waxman seems more intent to waste taxpayer’s money to support his friends, the abortion lobby, by hindering and smearing the good work of life-affirming, faith-based pregnancy centers.”
The string of attacks on pregnancy centers began in December 2005 with a report issued by NARAL Pro-Choice Texas and have continued with additional reports issued by the National Abortion Federation and other groups who are angered that pregnancy centers are competing for federal grants. Now abortion groups are taking their attacks to Capitol Hill and coordinating efforts with abortion proponents in Congress like Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) who proposed legislation that accused pregnancy centers of using fraudulent advertising, and now Rep. Waxman.
For a look at some of the latest research on the risks of abortion and links to key websites, visit www.care-net.org or www.optionline.org.
