Pregnancy centers on watch as critics launch ‘fake clinic’ campaign

Christian Times, Fall 2001

Crisis pregnancy centers, birthed from the landmark Jan. 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, have evolved into debutantes, entering a new level of maturity even as outward influences seek to derail their future.

The Christian centers provide abortion alternatives to women in crisis pregnancies. As the CPCs have grown—with about 2,500 locations nationwide—the centers have forged their own mark in the abortion industry, dispensing alternative information and resources as a way to practice what they preach.

In addition to their strong pro-life message, the centers have become formidable advocates for abstinence education, especially in the area of lucrative federal funding for such programs.

That fact, said Beth Diemert, has helped to propel the CPCs into a defensive mode as the pro-choice group National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League has launched a campaign to discredit the centers. Diemert, director of affiliate services for Heartbeat International, one of the largest networks of CPCs in the nation, tackled the issue this fall during her agency’s annual convention in Southern California.

Diemert, assisted by Mike Reid of CareNet, another prominent CPC network, outlined the official campaign initiated last year by NARAL. According to Diemert, NARAL published a kit called “A Step-by Step Guide: Unmasking Fake Clinics.” The kit, promoted on the group’s Web site, gives tips on how to do undercover investigations in an attempt to catch the centers being deceptive with their clients and through advertising.

Although the kit is not posted on the Web site, a position paper on NARAL’s online newsroom addresses its concerns about CPCs.

“Unfortunately, the assault on a woman’s right to choose posed by these fake clinics has gone largely unnoticed by a complacent public,” the report said. “Deceptive crisis pregnancy centers continue their campaign to misinform women about abortion and use any means necessary to prevent them from choosing to terminate their pregnancy. These centers are designed to intimidate women into carrying pregnancies to term rather than to provide accurate, comprehensive medical information with which pregnant women can make their own decisions.

“While there are centers which do not deceive women or attempt to coerce them to keep their child, many other centers continue to use deceptive practices in order to prevent women from accessing the full range of reproductive health options.”

The fake clinic kit, Diemert said, includes public relations materials designed to cast a shadow on the centers, which NARAL said lures women without telling them about their anti-abortion stance. The kit encourages individuals to gather evidence that may be used in lawsuits against the centers.

“Our pregnancy centers are non-profit corporations that don’t typically have big budgets; they operate on donations,” Diemert said. “Sustaining a lawsuit is almost impossible.”

That reality is not lost on several San Diego County CPCs that were targeted with similar accusations in the early ‘90s. One center, The Center for Unplanned Pregnancy was shut down as result of lawsuit by Planned Parenthood.

The current NARAL campaign prompted a dozen or so major pro-life agencies to draft an official response called “Serving Clients with Care and Integrity: A Step-by-Step Guide to NARAL’s CPC Campaign.”

“It’s a direct response, in writing, to each of the points in the campaign,” Diemert said. “It helps the centers to affirm their already good practices.”

The practices, she said, are clearly identified in a document called “Commitment of Care,” which is posted in the lobby of all affiliated centers. Point No. 7 reads: “We do not offer, recommend or refer for abortions or abortifacients, but we are committed to offering accurate information about abortion procedures and risks.”
“It’s clearly evident up front,” she said.

The threat by NARAL is not being taken lightly. Diemert said the recent conference session on the topic drew more than 75 people.

“All of the contents of the campaign are the same argument they’ve made for years,” she said. “The only thing that is new is the way the campaign is organized. They are trying to solidify grassroots support for individual communities to attack their local pregnancy centers. Rather than doing it on a national level, they are working center by center.”

Among those already targeted was Conejo Valley CPC. In addition to fliers being posted throughout the community, a letter writer targeted the center in the local newspaper. Sally Rosiek, director of the center, said her staff also endured a series of harassing telephone calls, including overnight calls to its 24-hour staffed help line.

“The good news is it has gotten the pro-life people to work together,” Rosiek said. “We realize we have to be a whole lot smarter in how we work. Now we’ll have to start working strategically.

“They are going to try to do as much as they can to discredit us, we’re talking about money here.” Working for all women
Although the centers accept clients from all walks of life, they will not compromise on the issue of abortion. Diemert said charges by NARAL that CPC clinics discriminate based on race are nonsense.

“Our whole mission is about serving our clients regardless of where they come from, what they’ve done, who they are,” she said.

A client who seeks an abortion is told about the procedure, but is not referred for such services.

“They are given information about abortion procedures and its risks,” Diemert said, adding that clients are then offered counseling about abortion alternatives.

“Depending on their decision, we will stay involved with them as long as they want to stay involved with us.”

The centers also offer post-abortion counseling to women who have elected to terminate their pregnancies.

Although the NARAL campaign has been distracting, both Diemert and Rosiek said their resolve has not wavered.

“The way things work, under God’s heaven, the centers who have seen this happen, to some extent, have seen it work for their good,” Diemert said.

“I think the centers are legitimately concerned. I won’t say there is fear because most directors know they are serving their clients with care and integrity.”

Rosiek said she believes the challenge has helped to reinforce their vision.

“Obviously we can’t live under a cloud of fear,” she said. “It’s not a bad thing for us to make sure we are adhering to our procedures and practices.

“I just want to be about the business of helping women. I don’t want to look for trouble or anticipate it.

“It’s hard to put out the light, when you have it. They can say whatever they want, the truth will be in the deeds we do to help women.”