March 23, 2011

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Editor’s note. The following was distributed by Care Net.

LANSDOWNE, VA – In state capitals and local city halls across America, pregnancy centers have been front and center in early 2011 – either elected officials are praising their work or abortion advocates are seeking to shut them down.

Care Net President Melinda Delahoyde said pregnancy centers are in the news because of their effectiveness in helping pregnant women. "Care Net congratulates pregnancy centers for getting noticed, both by local and national leaders, and by your ‘competition’ – abortion providers,” said Delahoyde. "If you weren’t being effective in helping people choose alternatives to abortion, you wouldn’t be on the radar screen.”

Current pregnancy center developments include:

On March 15th, a U.S. District Court of Maryland partially struck down an anti-pregnancy center law in Montgomery County, Maryland. The part of the law that was struck down would require pregnancy centers to post a sign saying that the county believes the woman should seek help elsewhere. The Court will hear additional arguments on the part of the law requiring centers to post a sign that a medical professional is not on staff.

Also on March 15th, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed an anti-pregnancy center bill into law, which will likely be challenged in the courts. Int. No. 371 forces pregnancy centers to comply with onerous regulations, including posting and orally stating a disclaimer regarding the services they do not offer, namely abortion and contraception, and stating whether or not a medical provider is on site. The bill also opens up the center to costly lawsuits by providing a private right of action by aggrieved persons.

In New Mexico, an anti-pregnancy center bill was tabled in a House Judiciary Committee and will expire on March 19 when the legislative session ends.

There are several other watch states in which similar bills could still be introduced in the 2011 state legislative sessions.
In 2011, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Arizona have passed resolutions commending the work of pregnancy centers. Similar resolutions have been introduced in Texas, Nebraska, and Alabama.

Care Net is a faith-based organization that supports a national network of 1,130 pregnancy center affiliates across North America. In partnership with Heartbeat International, Care Net owns and operates the nation's only, multi-channel contact center connecting women facing unplanned pregnancies and related issues to the help of a local pregnancy center: Option Line (800-395-HELP).

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