Along with several others, I testified the other day at a hearing of the New York City Council in consideration of a bill that would regulate crisis-pregnancy centers.
Such centers, staffed by volunteers and people of good will, try to give women options other than abortion when facing unexpected pregnancies.
In a political payback of grand proportions and under the usual guise of care for women, the council is seeking to pass legislation based on a report done by NARAL Pro-Choice New York titled “The Lies, Manipulations, and Privacy Violations of Crisis Pregnancy Centers in New York City.” Key to the report is the claim that CPCs pose as medical facilities and mislead pregnant women since they do not provide abortions or contraception. CPCs who advertise themselves under “Abortion Alternatives” must now advertise what they do not offer. Are other nonprofits forced to operate this way?
One has only to read both the report and the legislation (Int. 0371-2010) to see this as an attempt to take away the First Amendment rights of CPCs, and — no matter how much they deny the obvious — to eventually close them. In fact, NARAL representatives call it “bold” new legislation and say they are calling on Congress to pass similar legislation nationwide.
The council, it appears, is more concerned with signs in CPCs than it is with regulating abortion businesses where women are injured and die from “safe, legal” abortion. (Abortion facility injuries and deaths were documented in attachments to my testimony.)
When I was finally called after hours of waiting, the four council members still present during my testimony talked to each other the entire time I was speaking. No matter what their position on abortion, this was an embarrassing display by public officials towards citizens who were told their testimonies mattered to the council’s decision-making.
The blatant bias of the majority of the council, and the legislation itself, would be comical if it were not so serious. As a post-abortive woman who suffered for years as a result of abortion and was denied access to the truth about it — and as the director of Lumina, a post-abortion ministry in New York that sees 200 new people each year — I found myself in confused disbelief listening to the testimony supporting this legislation. The entire hearing, in my opinion, was a sham orchestrated by NARAL, Planned Parenthood and sponsoring members of the New York City Council who complimented each other during the proceedings promising further collaboration in restricting CPCs.
For years I have heard from Planned Parenthood and NARAL that an abortion does not cause trauma to women, yet now CPCs cause trauma to women because they do not provide abortions or contraception? Abortion is not trauma-inducing, but walking into a CPC is?
We were also told that women can develop mental-health problems from delay in care, an unsubstantiated statement. Nor did they back up allegations of confidentiality breaches and many other accusations in their legislation.
We heard that women are smart and capable of making their own abortion decisions, until they step into a CPC, and then, according to the pro-legislation side, we all become dumb and incapable of decision-making. It seems women are only smart enough to make their own choices when they are choices that promote the agenda of Planned Parenthood, NARAL and, unfortunately, the majority of the council.
If “truth in advertising” is the proclaimed agenda, I would like to see the council pass legislation for the other side — like maybe changing the statement on the Planned Parenthood site saying abortion is “safe” and legal to “Abortion can cause injury and death to women.” Or, how about its “safe and effective” contraception offer being changed to “Contraceptives are not 100% effective. You can still get pregnant!” The CDC recently stated oral contraception is 92%-99% effective and condoms 95%, but actual effectiveness is 85% due to improper usage. Or, how about this: “Statutory rape is not a reportable crime here.”
As a post-abortive woman who has suffered and has personally heard the great suffering of countless other women that were lied to and injured regarding abortion, I am tired of the lies and manipulation of the abortion lobby who disregard us while claiming to care for all women. No one forces anyone to stay in a CPC; if a woman decides for abortion, she can walk out. When challenged yesterday regarding free-speech rights, we were told by a representative from the ACLU that the “right to free speech was not absolute” — a telling statement indeed.
Women have been gravely injured from abortion in countless ways; some women have also died. CPCs provide some women with the support they need to have their children. I say Where is the crime in that? And so should the New York City Council. If you ask me, they are singing the same old pro-abortion song to a different tune.
Theresa Bonopartis is the director of Lumina, a post-abortion ministry in New York City.
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The evil one is hard at work here. PP apparently is afraid of women being completely informed and therefore able to make a choice that may not be to PP’s advantage.
God bless your good work.
Theresa: As I’m sure you know, nothing meets more resistance than the truth. There is nothing that we can do about that except to keep telling it over and over. Keep fighting and God bless you.
Dear Theresa Bonopartis,
Daily, in my morning prayer: “—- for, with and through the Sisters of Life, the Little Sisters of the Poor (from conception to natural death)and all those who serve in the Cause of Life—-” I pray for you, that you will continue the good fight ‘knowing’ how the ‘story’ ends!!!
I plan to be in the “big Apple” in the very near future, would like very much to meet you; if that is something you would be open to arranging, let me know. Thank you.
In any case, continued blessings upon you and your ministry.
Cy Laurent
This has also happened in Baltimore - much to many organizations’ frustration. In no other area do we require to be informed of what is NOT being offered. The obvious bias against pro-life organizations is tough to fight as the other side has much more money and backers.
NARAL and Planned Parenthood are backed into a corner, and lashing out. They have been exposed for REAL “lies, manipulation, and violations,” with undercover videos, and testimony of those who used to be involved with promoting abortion, and have had a change of heart. (ie Abby Johnston,
Tina Davis, Kathy Sparks, etc.)
We have to pray that this crazy bill in NYC does not pass. And yet, as threatening as it seems, I can also see that the pro-aborts are getting nervous, and that is a good sign!
Theresa,
As women who have experienced the trauma of abortion and witnessed firsthand the lies and deception of Planned Parenthood, we will not be silenced. What happened to being able to choose?...or is that a lie to women too? Thank you for your courage and being on the front lines to speak the truth for all of us.
Hey folks,
Theresa you wrote a powerful article here. Expressing yourself openly an honestly and that is something I admire, it is something I have been unable to do for quite some time, especially on this topic. My plan is to return to back up a few statements (with facts) that I need to make such as planned parenhood and it’s part in our society and how we honestly over play it. I’m sorry if I seem back and forth or grey in a matter that we all wish could just be black and white. I learned about “abortion” when I was 8 or 9, my mother was very involved on the pro-life front. When I brought my feelings and bias, unsupported opinions to school—throughout middle school… I was endlessly taunted for it. Even sprinkled into highschool when I hadn’t spoken a word in years somehow people remembered and thought that my mind had not grown. Life changed dramatically when I found the reason behind my mothers passion was guilt.. Probably freshman year.. It was a shock and I’ll admit I had used it against her once, I was wrong and what I did was sadistic…. But worse still was that my father just stood there, sure he tiold me I was wrong to say such things and sure he was mad at me for it but after all that he’s let me go on thinking it was my mom’s choice (although ultimately it was) when (as I found out a few months ago) he was the one who presured her into it b/c apparently he wasn’t ready to be a father yet… I’m very close with my dad, I am the cliche of daddy’s little girl and he loves me so much and I’m his world so I just can’t grasp how he could have let my sister slip away. Please excuse me, I did not intend to tell a whole story and especially not with so many spelling errors—believe it or not I’m typing this on my mobile phone b/c my lap top shut off. Anyhoo…. I guess the ultimate take away from my experience with this topic, is that it is so personal and it affects everyone in some way and that we must try to consider where another person is coming from…and listen and respect their beliefs if we ever want them to respect ours. And most importantly, especially online where words are often missinterpreted.. Our word choice is as fragile as glass, all it takes is one phrase, one quoted piece of miss or dissinformation and the glass breaks… This glass cuts deep, leaving painful scars and the glass (the argument) nor the scars (the person) can be healed or resolved.
I am not preaching nor trying to reitrate messages w/in our religion but I can not deny that I so often witness ppl trying so passionatly to win their fight for the right to life using phrases like “pro-abortion” apart of me cringes, tense for I know that that passionate soul has lost their chance, their argument. Why? Abortion is a procedure that ends a pregnancy, it is contraversial our society, nor is it a common dinner table topic. The point is that no one likes the procedure itself nor would one want to be associated with it… No, it is unfair and simply not true to call some one pro-abortion… For no one truly favors the procedure but rather a woman’s right to one.
I would like to close with a simple statement regarding the actual post—who woulda thought?—that I do feel as though CPC in regards to this legislstion are being treated unfairly, the motivation for the legislation has no legal motive… Because it’s all personal.
Marina
if you can’t take the heat, get out of the fire… not everyone will listen to or agree with you regardless of what side they are on but you can’t wear their reactions on your shoulders or hang your past as a trophy. you didnt go thru it to dwell on it forever, living in all that will do nothing but leave you in a pit. dig yourself out, dust yourself off and focus on saving lives versus yourself… you can’t judge anyone or change them, that’s God’s job alone. Unconditional love and compassion changes the coldest heart, not judgemental finger pointing, after all NO human is perfect or sinLESS! as far as my personal experiences with you, I forgive you! Time for you to get a law changed, I’ve already done it… only one in this cause to ever do such as far as Pro-Life issues go with those who’ve had abortions!
I am interpreting some of these comments as stating that it is not compassionate to use the term pro-abortion rather than pro-choice.
I think it’s time for a discussion about truth in love. No one is pointing fingers or judging another by calling choice what it really is - the choice to kill another human being, for whatever heartbreaking reasons are involved.
Eventually, truth wins out and the woman has to live with it - in pain. Isn’t it far more loving to educate and support people BEFORE they are sucked into the “choice” lie, than help them recover from it?
I see this issue as the prime reason we now have a society that puts feelings before facts and throws the accusation “being judgmental” at the drop of a hint of truth. This is devastatingly delusional.
We must speak truth, in charity, to all!
Abortion:391-92
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Temptation of Jesus
MATTHEW 4:1-11
The New American Bible
Satan,
Excommunication is issued for you,for your Abortion practice which is a criminal offense.You may oversee your Government as a criminal,but the fact still remains that you are a criminal.
Thank You
Christopher Teesdale
Satan,
Excommunication is issued for you,regarding your involvement with the Adolph Hitler youth program.Without you this program would not exist,nor would honest Catholics have to endure your selection of leadership.Regardless of how Governments came to be,they still fit under the umbrella of Satanism.
Thank You.
Satan
Excommunication is issued for you,for your efforts to pass homosexual,or
gay marriage.I have observed Satan,that you will change the law yourself if honest American’s repeal your attempts.
Thank you annoymous!!!
“you can’t judge anyone or change them, that’s God’s job alone. Unconditional love and compassion changes the coldest heart, not judgemental finger pointing, after all NO human is perfect or sinLESS!”
THERESE64640
“Isn’t it far more loving to educate and support people BEFORE they are sucked into the “choice” lie, than help them recover from it?
I see this issue as the prime reason we now have a society that puts feelings before facts and throws the accusation “being judgmental” at the drop of a hint of truth. “
I do feel that our society is a “do and ask questions later” one and that we truly suffer from it in addition to the recent [generations]disregard for taking responsibilty for ones actions. Although I do not think it stems directly from the abortion issue as it is not a prevelent issue in our media.
I stand by my position that using the term pro-abortion is not only uncompassionate but incorrect termonolgy. For people support the right for women to elect to have the procedure as an option, most do not support the procedure in and of itself. Like you said “puts feelings before facts, throwing judgements and accusations” but I would like to argue that that is what I feel is going on in the pro-life/choice movement(s) you say “at the drop of a hint of truth” in addition to such a vague statement you do not consider [in regards to what you have written] that your opposition may not carry the same truths. How can we hope to accomplish anything if we constantly use our theology, our religion to represent fact?
Christopher Teesdale
Please do not take this personaly for I understand that this is an issue that is personal and that many are passionate about it, however, I urge you to consider reformulating how you present your opinions for you are exactly the type of person, the reason why the media and the general populace do not RESPECT the pro-life movement. How dare you threaten excommunication, who are you to do so, who are you to judge people? And what they hell does WWII and homoesexuality have to do with this topic? Are you just trying to get a rise out of people? I don’t appreciate your comments I interpret them as being imature and they influence me to further disregard your words for their viability in an argument is void. As someone who has studied the world wars in great depth I would also like to let you know that Hitler himself did not pursue or initiate the hollocaust but rather his side-kicks if you will [they wanted to impress him, brown nosing to the extreme]nor initially did he want to be associated with what was going on, however, he did not do anything to stop it. And besides your questionable grammar in the last post I also ask again that you please rethink how you write because honestly, your text comes across as sadistic, cynical as if you wrote it with malicious intent to hurt. Your words on these issues may be the stance of the church but I believe that God forgives and loves no matter the sins of a person, all have been forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus and all will live in the eternal kingdom if they so choose it, for I believe that it is our choice where we spend eternity and that no one here on earth can predetermine where another will end up.
So please, if we can have a discussion rather than an arguement?
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