A Battle of Free Speech and Women's Rights in Baltimore

[4everSupportive]

Such important stuff

[MaDuke]

The Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns, has complied w/ the law,they even used bilingual signs. Their argument is that the "law targets and harasses pro-life pregnancy centers because abortion clinics are not required to list what services they do not provide."

[XenFayed]

Why are they upset about having to say what they actually do? It's not like the government is shutting them down...that would be a breach of freedom of religion, though I think it's a fine line when you use inaccurate medical information to push you "religious" agenda.

[StuartTV]

@XenFayed Well, not EVERY pregnancy center gives out inaccurate information. But many of them do--even the title "crisis pregnancy center" itself is misleading. Many of them advertise in the "abortion services" section of the phonebook.

[MaDuke]

@XenFayed the women/girls they want to come to their centre are those that might want an abortion. if a sign states they don't offer such services, then the those women/girls won't go there. Their purpose is to prevent abortions..

[XenFayed]

@MaDuke Yes but they are still trying to trick them and from what I've heard they lead them on for quite a while if they know the woman wants an abortion or is considering one.

[MaDuke]

@XenFayed they're not holding the woman/girls at gun point. If they really want an abortion, they would go to another clinic after, even if it took an hour to leave this one. that wouldn't stop them from getting an abortion if that's what they really wanted..

[StuartTV]

@MaDuke Well, sometimes the pregnancy centers tell women that after abortion, the likelihood of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, death by violent accident, and/or breast cancer increase dramatically. They also say you might "risk your eternal salvation." Would you still get an abortion if you believed those things?

[MaDuke]

@StuartTV If they decide to not have an abortion, then they should ask for financial help from the church.And if the person can't decide for themselves then abortion is not for them.The center wouldn't tell the women/girls these things if there wasn't some truth to it. External Salvation is at risk if they don't repent. But if the women/girls going there aren't christian, then this wouldn't have much affect on their choice.

[XenFayed]

@MaDuke What StuartTV said - they give them inaccurate info about them to scare them out of getting one.

[MaDuke]

@XenFayed what did he say? Can you speak for yourself? If the person going there isn't christian, then how would they scare them? If a Muslim goes into a Hindu temple, do you think kali is going to scare them? No.

[XenFayed]

@MaDuke Yes, I can but I didn't think I needed to re-type it. Obviously I did. It may not scare them, or it may (yes, some Christians, even Catholics, have abortions), but it definitely make them feel bad when they shouldn't. Just like the crazies who hurl all sorts of insults at people outside of some clinics when they might just be going for a gyno exam in the first place.

[MaDuke]

@XenFayed If they think abortion was their "right" choice, then they wouldn't get offended. If you feel guilt, then obviously you thought it was wrong. The so called "crazies" don't have to make them feel guilty.

[XenFayed]

@MaDuke Even if you know you are doing the right thing, after having thought about it a lot, it can still be a painful decision and people harassing you on your way to a legal procedure (or a routine visit) is probably not a pleasant experience, and one that you shouldn't have to put up with, especially from those who are commanded to love their neighbors as themselves.

[MaDuke]

@XenFayed can you give me an example(recent news article) of ppl harassing women going into abortion clinics?

"especially from those who are commanded to love their neighbors as themselves" are you talking about Christians? so the "crazies" are Christians? Are you aware that there are anti abortion advocates that aren't Christian? Did you know that Christianity has many denominations?

[XenFayed]

@MaDuke Yes I know that not all anti-choicers are Christian, but most are. And yes, I know there are multiple Christian denominations. They are fighting all the time. I don't live under a rock and I resent the implication.

[MaDuke]

@XenFayed Again, can you give me an example(recent news article) of ppl harassing women going into abortion clinics? How do you know most of the harassers are Christian? You were there? Christian denominations are fighting all the time? Enlighten me of a recent fight denominations had w/ eachother face to face.

[XenFayed]

@MaDuke We've gotten off track, but the point is these "crisis pregnancy centers" shouldn't be offended by having to state what they provide; if they are right because they are against abortion then why are they so upset about having to state that publicly? You stated yourself that one shouldn't be offended if one is right.

[StuartTV]

@XenFayed In this case, I agree with the city government's language mandate, but suppose a conservative city government passed a similar law for abortion clinics? This law sets a dangerous precedent at the same time that it protects vulnerable women searching for accurate information.

[XenFayed]

@StuartTV I don't think they would have a problem with stating that they provide abortions...it's kinda obvious.  They would also state other services they provide such as counseling, exams, testing, etc.

[MaDuke]

@XenFayed The Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns, has complied w/ the law,they even used bilingual signs. so Again, Their argument is that the "law targets and harasses pro-life pregnancy centers because abortion clinics are not required to list what services they do not provide."

[MaDuke]

@XenFayed stating they don't provide abortion, prevents them from reaching the goal of preventing abortions, and this displeases them. Their argument is that the "law targets and harasses pro-life pregnancy centers because abortion clinics are not required to list what services they do not provide."

[ngirilover]

I believe that giving accurate information to any client is very important. A woman in crisis and pregnant need to reduce their anxiety so that they can make reasonable decisions. To lure persons to medical referral, is to bring fragile women into a system. Women, and especially young women need to know what they are going to hear before they go. This crisis ministry is misleading women and putting them in more jeopardy.

[RedDollShoes]

Whats wrong with up-front honesty? People should be made aware up front of what services are provided. After all, if these Crisis Pregnancy Centers are so against abortion and refuse to provide the service, they should be PROUD to proclaim that! Unless of course they intend to intentionally lie to customers. Thats the only reason theyd have a problem with this.

[StuartTV]

@RedDollShoes They'd rather not say the word "abortion" at all if they don't have to--they find it that offensive. They clearly see this as an infringement on their constitutional rights by the government. Which it may be--but they have a responsibility to be upfront about what they do and don't provide.