Our society would like to cancel any voice that does not unequivocally support abortion. This was evident again in a story shared by CBC News, when they reported with horror on an Ontario public health unit’s relationship with a pregnancy care centre.
For the article, they chose to interview Candace Johnson, a professor of political science at the University of Guelph who researches issues related to abortion. Johnson said it was “outrageous” and “unacceptable” and “people should be alarmed” that women would be referred to any place that might be tied to pro-life views.
Nurse Carolyn Martin is also quoted in the story, stating that she “worries most about vulnerable teens referred to Refuge who may have an unplanned pregnancy and come from a low-income family or a marginalized group, and may not have adult support at home.” Aren’t these exactly the people she would want to have the extra support a pregnancy care centre can offer? Empowering these women means coming alongside them as they navigate an unplanned pregnancy, not eliminating the pregnancy and sending them on their way alone again.
It is shocking how opposed the pro-abortion movement is to pregnancy care centres. Again and again they show that they do not really have women’s best interests in mind, but only their own ideological goals. A woman considering keeping her baby is not outrageous, alarming, or a failure. Those who think she is should be the last people offering counsel to women.
As a result of CBC’s questioning and the outrage, the health unit has removed Refuge from the list of community resources on their website. This organization, which could provide women with support both during and after pregnancy through counseling, classes, baby clothes, food, and other items is now no longer mentioned for those who need it most. In the end, no one wins.