I met the Devil at church
Seriously. And she wears her hair in Laura Ingalls-type braids.
Michael and I went to a wedding on Saturday night that was part of the church's regularly scheduled mass. Behind us were two women with whom Michael went to high school. After the ceremony/mass was over, he turned around to introduce me. After catching up with Michael has been up to over the last few years, the conversation turned to the braided one who announced that she works at this evil place. This place tells women that abortion causes lung disease. Lung disease? Seriously? That's the best they can do? Anyway, it turns out that the Devil (as I've started calling her) was born into a devout Catholic family (I guess it's no surprise that she works there but there are plenty of practicing Catholics out there that wouldn't dream of working at a place like this) but I can't shake the feeling that I should have said something. But what? Besides that I think she's the devil. That the organization for which she works preys on young, potentially pregnant women who are scared and not sure where to turn for advice. An organization founded on medical MISinformation, that uses scare tactics and assigns guilt to sexually active women and men.
But I didn't know what to say or if I should say anything at all. And here I am, 3 days later and still thinking about the lost opportunity to say that her work SCARES women into making uniformed decisions. Abortion isn't the right choice for all women with unwanted pregnancies, but then, neither is childbirth and caring for an infant when you aren't even old enough to vote. No organization should be telling women that abortion causes liver disease or that she's 800% more likely to develop cancer if she has an abortion because neither of these so called "facts" are true. No organization should coerce a woman into making a decision she isn't ready to make.
The opportunity to say something has passed but I know the work we're doing helps women and their partners make informed decisions about whether and when to bring a child into this world.
5 comments:
Talk about a cognitively dissonant moment for me. Rachel is a very gentle and kind person. She has been a good friend to my older sister (even introducing Sonya to now-husband Frank). I no more expected to hear her described as "the devil" as any of you would expect such a description of Gwen.
But following the link, I must repeat the second most common phrase I say to Kelly. "You're right, you're right, you're always right." Believe what you want about zygotes rights, there is no cause to lie to or scare people when their life is in turmoil.
What's interesting about their claims is that all of the sources they list are between 11-25 years old. They don't include any recent research in their arguments.
It's probably easier to keep making outrageous claims if you don't use updated information. We get some patients who come here after going there who are scared to death about their own reproductive capabilities. ELC tells women who are taking the pill that every time they get their periods, they're having an abortion. It's crazy shit.
That web site is so, so scary. I'm especially afraid of the post-abortion support group that asks god for "forgiveness."
Oh. My.
Well.
That's really... Wow. I think it's interesting the way they present their medical "facts" about fetal development with lots! of! exclamation! points!
The "You Are Not Alone" section is my personal Most Scary Part. The woman who talks about finding a ENLC pamphlet on her car outside the abortion clinic where she had an intitial appointment, and then pulls over by the side of the road to read it, and then "encounters" a ENLC volunteer who WALKS UP TO HER CAR and invites her to come to in THE SAME DAY for an ultrasound scares the living daylights out of me.
The testimonial from the woman who didn't understand ENLC wasn't an abortion clinic also scares me...Diane had indicated that she believed in God, had a relationship with Him and involved Him in her decisions. Renee inquired, “How does God feel about your decision to have an abortion?” Diane said she had prayed and asked God to give her a sign not to have an abortion, but he hadn’t, so He must be okay with it. Although Renee had listened and shared all she could to help her choose life, Diane was unchanged in her decision to abort. Renee promised to pray for Diane-for something to happen that would change her mind. While it was made clear to her from the beginning that Elizabeth’s New Life Center doesn’t do abortions, Diane still seemed confused and asked if she should come back on Friday for the “procedure.” Renee again explained that we were a pregnancy support center and we do not do abortions. Diane began to cry and asked, “I’m not supposed to be here. How did I get here?” Renee quietly offered the possibility that God was indeed giving Diane a very clear sign to choose life for her unborn child. Diane was completely overwhelmed and was no longer so sure that abortion was the answer. Renee and Diane then prayed together, asking that Diane be opened to God’s will for her and her baby. Renee spoke again with Diane in early October. Diane expressed the joy and relief that she feels about ending up at Elizabeth’s-otherwise she would not be looking forward to the birth of her baby in the spring.."
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