Valid question and one I’d be more than happy to answer. Pregnancy Centers can and should remain open if they are able to for this reason:
“Where there’s life there’s hope.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit.
Direct. Clear. Without Uncertainty. Pregnancy Centers bring, welcome, celebration, affirmation, and a plan for life. And where those things lie is hope. Hope by definition is “to cherish a desire with anticipation : to want something to happen or be true”, (Merriam-Webster). To hope means to plan for the future trusting there will be one.
The opposite of hope is despair. Which in turn causes desperation. A state of hopelessness leading to rashness, (Merriam-Webster). Which we can all agree is not a good way to be during times of crisis. Pregnancy Centers provide affirmation and hope in the form of an open door, a sincere welcome, diapers, formula, ultrasounds, clothes, books, toys, advocacy, referrals, and compassion.
On the flip side the opposite of life is not death but stagnancy and extinction. That leads me to an article I read just this morning which was titled “Abortion Clinics Are Staying Open During The Coronavirus Outbreak. Here’s Why”, O’Connor, Emma. Buzzfeed.com. Web 3 Mar. 2020.
“Our doors will stay open because sexual and reproductive health care is extremely important, and we have to ensure access to it,” said Meera Shah, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood in New York.
I won’t argue that sexual and reproductive health are important and can’t always be ‘postponed’ however I feel confident that Shah and I are not referring to the same “care”.
Shah goes on to say, “Pregnancy-related care, especially abortions care, is essential and life-affirming,”. Please read that again. She has the word abortion listed with care and life-affirming. Pretty messed up. In other words, terminating a child in utero is essential and cannot wait or even be slowed down despite current health, environmental and social issues affecting all of us.
It could be argued, and in fact is in this very article, that an abortion may be the only answer for some in our current state. The uncertainty of jobs, income, medical insurance, health to name a few. All factors that come into play in anyone’s mind when faced with a pregnancy planned or unplanned. But what is not shared is why these pregnancies need end in death.
Uncertainty, anxiety, worry, insecurity, fear, dread, instability – all emotions that keep you from faith, confidence, promises, optimism, opportunity, sustenance, survival – hope.
Pregnancy Centers are built on hope. On the belief that moving forward in confidence and faith will sustain us and be the armor we wear against despair.
So that is why Pregnancy Centers should and can remain open if able during this time.
H. Vasquez
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