5 Persistent MythsHow Abortion Industry Propaganda Continues

to Target Pregnancy Centers

© 2015

There they go again...

In March of 2015, NARAL Pro-Choice America released yet another report casting community-based pregnancy centers as dishonest and untrustworthy.

Why the constant drumbeat?

Furthering NARAL’s Mission

“NARAL Pro-Choice America's mission is to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.”

(emphasis added)

From: http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/about-us/mission-statements.html

NARAL produces anti-pregnancy center faux investigative reports because they fear pregnancy centers interfere with their desired outcome: more abortions.

Follow the Money

Donor data via the Center for Responsive Politics

The largest donors on record supporting NARAL’s PAC are also major players in the abortion industry or related advocacy organizations.

What keeps the abortion industry growing?

more abortions.

Major Donors to PAC

Also Name Amount Occupation

Planned Parenthood

Amy Fikes $5,000

Lee Fikes $5,000 Bonanza Oil Co.

Board Member, Privacy PAC

Nonie Greene $5,000 Board Member, NARAL

PFAW, DNC, NAACP

Kirk Clay $5,000 PowerPAC

EMILYs List, Center for Reproductive Rights

George Krumme

$3,000 Krumme Oil Co.

Goal

NARAL’s goal is to incite journalistic outrage and spur

legislators to heavily regulate

pregnancy centers, putting a

barrier between centers and the

women and men who need their

support.

p 1

p 18

Visions of this?

wikimedia commonsAndy Griffith Show

NARAL wants the public to believe that pregnancy centers would resort to almost anything to ‘prevent women from accessing abortion.’

Unlikely, right?

So, what really happens when a woman visits a pregnancy center after becoming pregnant unexpectedly?

Feel like your life has hit a

wall?

centers

compassion hope help

Center Outcomes

FACT:9 out of 10 women getting pregnancy

related services at Planned Parenthood are given an abortion.* ✤

*Based on Planned Parenthood 2013-2014 Annual Report, p18 (abortion as a percentage of prenatal care, adoption referrals, and pregnancy terminations).

✤Bar graphs do not represent exact percentages of pregnancy outcomes.

Clinic Outcomes

FACT:Pregnancy outcomes vary widely

after women visit a pregnancy center.✤

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NARAL’s report claims that pregnancy centers interfere with women’s pregnancy decision making process. The facts tell a different story.

1. Mythbusters: Purpose

RespondsMaking abortion rare has long been a stated goal for even advocates of legal abortion.

Pregnancy centers in our network provide compassion, hope, and help so every woman feels supported and no one feels trapped into an unwanted abortion.

p 3

Does NARAL really object?

2. Mythbusters: Advertising Online

Respondsp 4

Like any other organization, pregnancy centers advertise to and locate near people who may need their services.

Contrary to claims by NARAL, Care Net standards prohibit deceptive or misleading advertising. Women are advised up front of what services are (and are not) available.

Women are intelligent and able to choose what services they want to receive.

3. Mythbusters: Medical Accuracy

Respondsp 7

The medical facts provided in Before You Decide are carefully cited and were reviewed by a team of medical professionals before publication.

In fact, Before You Decide does indicate that serious physical risks related to early abortion are low.

Responds

p 15

“according to Care Net's affiliation standards, all of our centers that provide medical services do so in accord with their state laws and operate under the direction of a licensed medical director. So, our medical centers are not simply appearing to be medical -- they are medical.”From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roland-c-warren/the-misconception-deception_b_5867192.html

4. Mythbusters: Medical Services

Ultrasounds at Care Net centers are performed by medical professionals to confirm pregnancy. Patients are advised of the scope of the ultrasound and referred for follow-up care.

5. Mythbusters: Services

p 14

Responds

Many women and couples who receive services at pregnancy centers choose to build or grow their family even when pregnancy comes at a difficult time. They find resources offered by centers, such as maternity / baby items and even grocery store gift cards, to be extremely helpful.

Unlike NARAL investigators, 98.7 percent of Care Net center clients who completed a written exit survey in 2013 indicated that their overall experience at the center was positive. Centers do not charge for services and do not benefit financially from any client’s decision.

So...

What do actual pregnancy center clients think about their experiences?

Women Speak

My peer counselor walked me through all of

my options. She gave me lots of information

and pamphlets on each of my options. She

also told me about a nearby center that

offered free ultrasounds. I knew that I wanted

to see the ultrasound. - Jeannette

I am so thankful for Liberty Women’s Clinic and the love and support they offered me. Bringing that beautiful baby girl into the world was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I discovered that I am stronger than I ever knew.

- Sarah

My boyfriend said there was only one option: abortion. I obediently scheduled an appointment, but before the date arrived, I was overwhelmed with doubts. Desperate for help and options, I found the Care Net Pregnancy Center of Cochise County. They sat down with me and helped me go over all of my options, and they really listened to my needs. I didn't feel judged; I just felt cared for.

- Tina

Trust women.2.3 million women have visited Care Net

affiliated centers since 2008.* They find safe, caring, confidential, and supportive spaces for people making pregnancy decisions.

Many of these women eagerly refer their friends and relatives to the center.

We can trust women who trust their local pregnancy center.

*internal statistics