Jacob's Question: Pro-Life or Pro-Rhetoric?

In a comment on my abortion pieces, Jacob Ditkoff raised the following question about abortion:

I think it's odd that you have so much money going to advocating Pro-Life positions, PACs, candidates, TV ads, but seemingly so little actually going to organizations that make it easier for women to choose to carry their child to term.There's an organization in New York that tries to prevent infanticide (http://amtchildrenofhope.com/).

They reach out to mothers with hotlines and options including accepting babies from mothers with no questions asked, completely anonymously. There could be similar outreach to make it just a little easier for a mother to choose adoption. Including paying for medical expenses, etc. Are there organizations like that? Because it seems like the face of the Pro-Life movement are holier-than-thou religious leaders who spend as much time calling those with a differing view evil as advancing their own priorities.

Mr. Ditkoff raises an "inconvenient question" about pro-life individuals and groups. The answer to his question is that such groups do exist in many states, but they're not highly visible, and they're not very well-funded.

He brings to our attention a group that deserves both support and emulation: http://amtchildrenofhope.com/

People like Dr. Larry White, a Lutheran minister in Houston, look at abortion and see massive, pervasive moral corruption in the U.S. They somehow don't see what's obvious: many frightened, poor women who don't see many alternatives to having abortions.

In some cases the women "in trouble and in need of a friend" confront public health and assistance programs that are hard to navigate. For many of them, there is little support from partners or parents.

I've suggested a large (multi-billion-dollar) infusion of taxpayers' money to help women and their children. Used wisely and humanely, that money could significantly reduce the number of abortions in America.

Mr. Ditkoff is correct that some in the Pro-Life movement have a "holier-than-thou" approach to pregnancy and abortion. We need to identify such people and expose them, as I've sought to do.

For anyone who is or may be pregnant and needs assistance, I highly recommend Birthright International. You can find out information about the organization by either going to: http://birthright.org/ or calling 800-550-4900.

Birthright is a non-denominational, non-judgmental, pro-life group, with an emphasis on life in all its human manifestations. The organization does not use intimidation or scare tactics -- unlike some supposed "pro-life" groups.

It will help with legal, medical, and housing referrals and can provide most things a pregnant woman might need, including clothing needs for mothers and infants.

As the organization explains: "BIRTHRIGHT DOES NOT ...use "scare tactics" or pressure. ...show abortion slides or pictures. ...picket or harass abortion clinics. ...evangelize. ...lobby for legislative changes . . . or engage in the public debate on abortion."

To reiterate, Birthright doesn't browbeat or terrorize pregnant women. It loves them, and it helps them.

Another group I highly recommend is the Salvation Army, which is easily accessible in large- and mid-sized cities, as well as in many smaller towns.

I'll mention several other good organizations over the next few weeks.

Note: Both Birthright and the Salvation Army rely on individual and institutional donors. In short, they can always use more money.

Stephen R. Maloney