Pro-Life Works: Aiding CPCs

April 23, 2010

Texas Right to Life Aids CPCs

Emily Carney

Development Associate

While many might see Texas Right to Life primarily as a group that lobbies in Austin, TRTL also spends its time advancing the Culture of Life in other areas.  Texas Right to Life works across the state of Texas to defend the sanctity of Life in the areas of abortion, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and end-of-life care.  Texas Right to Life not only lobbies but also works in the area of education by encouraging young people to get involved in the Pro-Life movement through camps, speech writing contests, and even Pro-Life scholarships.  Texas Right to Life is heavily involved in waking up the state to talk about the moral dilemmas facing our nation.

What some people might not know is that Texas Right to Life is also heavily involved with helping local crisis pregnancy centers.  Crisis pregnancy centers, or CPCs, are clinics where women can go to talk to someone about coping with an unplanned or crisis pregnancy.  CPCs developed in the 1970s in response to Roe v. Wade and as an alternative to Planned Parenthood centers.  CPCs provide life-saving alternatives by providing free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and confidential counseling.  Staff members at CPCs respect each woman’s privacy, do not judge, and tell each woman that they do have a real choice.  The staff is always open to all questions women may face.

Abby Johnson, the former Bryan, Texas Planned Parenthood Director revealed recently at a Pro-Life event that the message to pregnant women is very different at Planned Parenthood versus a crisis pregnancy center.  Finding out one is pregnant at a Planned Parenthood can be compared to a death sentence.  There is no joy, no pictures of babies on the walls, and women sadly often feel alone.  Johnson also revealed that Planned Parenthood staff does not refer to the child as a “baby.”  Staff members are discouraged from telling women about financial help that is available should the mother chose to parent the child.  Instead, staff members are supposed to encourage abortion as “that’s where the money is.”

At a CPC however, “you are pregnant” are words of congratulations, one’s pregnancy is celebrated, and the woman is supported no matter what choice she makes.  Staff at CPCs will inform the women of current abortion procedures; if a woman still wants to have an abortion, she can go somewhere else (most likely a Planned Parenthood) to have this procedure.  However, if she is open to Life, and the CPC has an ultrasound machine, she, and anyone with her, can witness the child that is growing in her womb.

Crisis pregnancy centers exist all across Texas.  To find a crisis pregnancy center listed by city, visit http://www.texasrighttolife.com/resources_pregAssist.php.  Crisis pregnancy centers are always in need of volunteers.  Call your local CPC to see how you can help.  Your local CPC might need baby supplies, people to volunteer and counsel women in need, help answering the phones, or just general help around the office.  Anyone with a heart to serve is welcome.