Comments on: Dear PoPville – Help the Northwest Center (serving mothers and children in need) Get Their Heat Back

By: wasonh

wasonh — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 15:10:30 +0000

THIS

By: victoria

victoria — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:47:45 +0000

An easier question – does your organization support a woman’s right to control her own fertility and her right to choose to terminate a pregnancy if she feels that is her best option?

By: manimal

manimal — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:21:48 +0000

i show contempt for trotting them out and exploiting the situation for political gain.
not the person that “survived”. even the term is unsavory.

By: wow.

wow. — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:34:33 +0000

I’m for women’s rights,

but seriously? you would show contempt for an “abortion survivor?”

That’s rich.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:40:00 +0000

Here’s a question that I think would shed more light on whether an organization has at its heart the goal of supporting women in need vs using services and programs as a vehicle–and needy women as a smokescreen–for pushing an ideological agenda. Lets give the benefit of doubt and just assume that everyone coming to the Northwest Center for assistance has already made the informed decision to see their pregnancy through. Then, some of these women, in the course of their life skills or parenting classes, express a desire to avoid further pregnancies (either for good, or for a few years until they’ve achieved some other life goals) and ask for assistance and resources related to birth control. Does the Northwest Center provide comprehensive information and a prescription/referral (if applicable) once a woman and her counselor discuss what method of contraception she’s comfortable with? Or, as is typical with many pregnancy centers, will they discourage use of contraceptives and steer women toward an abstinence-only approach? (I’m not implying that they do because I don’t know–though I have my suspicions– I’m sincerely curious.)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:28:39 +0000

I don’t think anyone who’s raised concern about the Northwest Center’s agenda is taking issue with a woman’s choice to carry a pregnancy to term. I’m assuming a fair amount of the Center’s residents/clients sought out their services after making the decision to keep their baby (either because they don’t believe in abortion, or for any number of other reasons). Good for them. However, the thing with many “pregnancy centers” (speaking generally since i have no personal experience with the Northwest Center) is that they also draw women who just found out they’re pregnant (or suspect they may be pregnant) and are scared or confused about what to do–and because of the centers’ oblique marketing, these women go there believing the centers provide a full range of women’s health services, when in fact they do not. Rather, they actively steer women away from choosing abortion, either through emotional tactics like showing gruesome fetus-pictures or in some cases, deceptive tactics (ie, citing debunked “science” that there’s a link between abortion and breast cancer, or falsely telling women they’re too far along for abortion.) This probably happens less in an urban area like DC where Planned Parenthood has higher visibility, but in many communities, these pregnancy centers are the only visible, convenient option for women, especially those who lack health insurance and don’t have a PCP or GYN.

I support women who choose to carry out their pregnancy, and I support women’s health/social services organizations that offer patients an ideologically-neutral FACT/SCIENCE-BASED discussion of ALL their available options (if the patient wants to hear her options). I support Planned Parenthood because that’s exactly what they do: if a woman walks in already having made her choice for abortion, they provide that; if a woman walks in for a pregnancy test and is unsure what she wants to do, they’ll provide information about abortion, adoption, and carrying a pregnancy to term (including pre-natal care, which many people don’t realize Planned Parenthood also provides).

By: JB

JB — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 14:17:17 +0000

Where did I say that “pro-choice” wasn’t also a political position? This organization is likely doing some admirable work, but they also have a political agenda (the event featuring the “abortion survivor”, abstinence classes, etc.) that I strongly disagree with. There are plenty of other organizations providing valuable services to women and children that I can direct my money and time towards.

By: petwurf

petwurf — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 13:21:55 +0000

the “pro life” mafia that funds these steering centers is incredibly well-funded. let adolph coors go buy the friggin’ boiler, already.

By: victoria

victoria — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 05:12:27 +0000

Essential city services should be paid for by the city – which is us – through our tax dollars. This should mean that no mothers & children – (or really ANYONE) – should face cold hardship.

But a charity needs to have it’s own funding in place. If you’re operating with no emergency reserves for something like this – you are not running a good program.

NO – of course I am not saying throw the mothers and babies out in the cold right now! But a charity is a business. I’m sure the cost of just a dozen buses to the March For Life would easily cover the cost of a new heating system. Why not tap that stream?

A woman with an unplanned pregnancy should have all options available – and thoroughly explained – adoption-abortion- or raising the child herself. But whatever her decision, she should not be dependent on the frailty of machinery, the caprice of weather or the manipulation of any religion to survive.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 04:55:24 +0000

hell no it shouldn’t. these are hardcore anti-choice zealots and shouldn’t receive a penny of tax money.

How about this fun event that they list on their “events” page – care to meet an “abortion survivor”?

May 18, 2013
Friend for Life Awards Banquet
honoring Melissa Ohden, Abortion Survivor
St. Rose of Lima
Gaithersburg, MD