The OP article:
The Baltimore City Council went where no local government has gone before, it seems, in telling crisis pregnancy centers in the city this week that they have to put up signs saying they don't provide abortion or birth control.
At first glance, this seems suspect. Since when do governments go around demanding that particular groups put up any sort of signs, much less signs that specify what they don't do? Why should the city council single out these centers for distrust, compelled speech, and a form of punishment? And why would any woman walking into such a center expect to hear about abortion and birth control, anyway?
The response:
The government should not dictate what information these pregnancy centers provide. But, we should not be in the business of lying or using deceit to stand against abortion. Just the plain old truth will be something I believe God will honor. There is enough truth about abortion to sway any rational woman that she should not abort her baby. If the truth doesn't convince a woman to not murder her unborn child, I doubt that anything else will.
Wow! You sure do jump to conclusions and get all excited, don't you?
I never said anyone was lying and deceitful and never voiced any opinion against crisis pregnancy centers. In fact, I support these centers wholeheartedly. It gives a woman facing the choice of an abortion a better option.
I just believe we need to be truthful in all that we do. After all, we represent the Lord Jesus Christ.
You do know it is a sin to make false accusations, don't you? Please explain how I have "claimed otherwise."
If you actually comprehended what I have said, you would see that I am against abortion and feel that it is a sin. All I have said is that in fighting against these death clinics, we, as Christians, should be honest. Do you disagree with this statement, or is it alright in you mind to be dishonest if it is in a Christian's best interest to do so?
I think I see your point and yet, to be honest with you, Robert Snow, if you believed that the crisis pregnancy centers were already honest, then there'd be no need for you to repeatedly respond as though they presented themselves dishonestly. What is apparent needs no admonition nor defense.
So it would appear that you are in agreement with the new pressure that the government forces these centers to boldly publish that they neither provide abortions nor birth control. While it is true in some other cases of communication that words are used to deceive the intent..... in the case of calling or visiting a "Crisis Pregnancy Center" the very name distinguishes it from "Planned Parenthood". So the assumptions regarding what it provides have less to do with the title or its services than it does for the interpretation or literacy of the person who inquires.
A crisis pregnancy center sounds exactly what its focus is: It is a sanctuary for a pregnancy in crisis; for offering counseling and helping a person see the possibilities of choosing life, who is pregnant and dealing with issues which makes pregnancy appear to be the issue and therefore in crisis. It's title doesn't suggest in any way that there is planning involved as its focus is on those who are either already pregnant or who suspect they are already pregnant. If a client is not pregnant and doesn't want to get pregnant, then abstinence, which CP focuses on, is 100% reliable and cost nothing. It doesn't deal with passing out condoms because it doesn't promote promiscuity between the unmarried, and the condom doesn't afford the best relationship or reliable planning in the married. Its focus is on the pregnant female who is pass the 'protection' of needing a condom to prevent pregnancy and now needs some information and help for a successful pregnancy and preparation for motherhood or adoption options.
This is a blatant attack and intrusion of government and I see the workings of planned parenthood and its lobbyist or monetary connections behind the Baltimore City Council's decision. There is no fraudulent representation by the CPCs or the Pregnancy Resource Centers.
