I’ve got fantastic news for you! A national partner has finally stepped in to join the coalition that’s worked for nearly three years to defend Massachusetts’ charitable pregnancy resource centers (PRCs).
As you may recall, when Roe v Wade was overturned, pro-abortion activists and politicians issued unjustified and damaging accusations against our state’s PRCs, community nonprofits that have existed for more than four decades and which serve one purpose: to provide authentic “choice” to women experiencing crisis pregnancies. Tens of thousands of women, and men, have received safe, compassionate, non-judgmental, cost-free services inside our PRCs.
Yet because PRCs do not provide or refer for abortion, and because they essentially compete with abortionists, they’ve been targeted incessantly and on all fronts, from vandalism and threats of violence to ridiculous (and unconstitutional) proposed legislation, coordinated lawfare and the current endeavor that you and I, as taxpayers, fund: the multimillion dollar statewide smear campaign Governor Maura Healey launched with Reproductive Equity Now (REN) last June.
Healey’s “public awareness” effort warns women to “avoid” our PRCs while egregiously misrepresenting the centers’ mission and scaring the vulnerable, so that they believe walking into an abortion clinic is their only way out.
Thankfully, on March 5, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) announced a counter campaign that will refute the state’s meritless claims and, hopefully, reassure women that pregnancy centers will be there for them as they face what could be their life’s toughest season.
In a press release, ACLJ said, “The state known for its grand act of rebellion against taxation without representation is now willfully disregarding the feelings of its pro-life citizens. If the people of Massachusetts can’t rely on their government to protect their beliefs, the ACLJ will.”
“That’s why the ACLJ launched a counter-campaign utilizing outdoor, streaming, and digital advertising to combat the blatant lies about PRCs with truth and lifesaving information and resources – while also sharing stories of the hope and support PRCs provide to women in need.”
“The new campaign, ‘Choice Begins Here,’ will blanket the entire state of Massachusetts to promote the good work – the lifesaving work – of pro-life centers,” ACLJ wrote.
ACLJ’s partnership is the latest in a series of collaborative efforts among various groups to defend our state’s PRCs. Here are just some of the ways life-affirming organizations, including Massachusetts Citizens for Life (MCFL), have stood up to protect pregnancy centers since the state of Massachusetts began to unjustly target them in 2022:
Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI) has worked in communities across the state as cities and towns introduced policies to close PRCs or prevent them from opening. MFI ensured that city councilors in Easthampton, Framingham and Worcester heard the truth about what PRCs do for women in need, protecting PRCs from local ordinances that would have fined them for “false advertising practices.” MFI also lobbied to stop bills that would have censored PRCs statewide.
Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center, a new MFI affiliate, recently teamed up with ACLJ to file a First Amendment claim against the state of Massachusetts, Reproductive Equity Now and its president, Rebecca Hart Holder, who partnered to launch the meritless smear campaign against our PRCs last June. Additionally, the Center’s legal team recently filed a second lawsuit against Reproductive Equity now and Hart Holder for defamation against Easthampton’s Bethlehem House PRC.
LifeSite News reporter Matt Lamb submitted a public records request in January with Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office, seeking to learn how many complaints against PRCs have been filed since the smear campaign rollout. It didn’t take long to pour over the results, as a one-page response from Campbell’s office didn’t have any to share. This was the kind of result that both MFI and MCFL have received when our respective organizations submitted multiple records requests during the past three years. Zero complaints of merit, and certainly none that warrant the state’s despicable actions, have been filed against Massachusetts PRCs across their four-decade history. None.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs, Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to dedicate significant resources in order to protect our PRCs. Initially, our commitment meant testifying at the State House and across the state alongside our partners, including MFI, the Pro-Life Legal Defense Fund, 40 Days for Life, and PRC board and staff members themselves.
Then, two years ago, MCFL initiated and launched the Pregnancy Care Alliance of Massachusetts (PCAll), the state’s first-ever PRC network, through which PRCs could more effectively fight back and generate public support as well, while still serving women who walked through their doors. Established by women, for women, PCAll has since gained national press coverage, and additional members and supporters across the state. (If you don’t already, follow PCAll on Facebook, Instagram, and X!)
Women who’d been helped at PRCs told their stories through PCAll video testimonials and at our Celebration of Life Day, before they delivered more than 4,000 petitions to Governor Healey’s office.
It’s been tough to rein in the eagerness of MCFL Young Adult Chapter members when it comes to defending our PRCs! Just after PCAll launched, they organized PCAll’s first fundraiser, a Saturday night happy hour, in Boston’s North End. They invited Teresa Larkin, executive director at Your Options Medical PRC, to join their Brighton Meetup last year as a guest speaker. Last spring, this group hit the streets of Greater Boston, canvassing windshields with PCAll’s 2023 Impact Report. Today, our Young Adult Chapter will volunteer in Brookline at a PCAll member PRC. Our Gen Z pro-lifers are on fire, and we can’t wait to see what they do next!
Finally, a bipartisan group of legislators has courageously stepped forward to sponsor legislation, drafted by Massachusetts Citizens for Life, that aims to keep our PRC doors open: An Act relative to ensuring resources and support for pregnant and parenting families. Representatives Dave DeCoste (R-5th Plymouth), Joseph McKenna (R-18th Worcester), Jeff Turco (D-19th Suffolk) and Colleen Garry (D-36th Middlesex) are as determined as every other coalition partner to ensure our women get the choice they desire while being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We will let you know when you can help us advance this critical bill.
This reminds me that none of our coalition’s efforts would have been possible without your support. Every state group I’ve referenced in this message relies on your generous contributions in order to step onto the front lines. I can’t speak for these good friends, but I’m pretty sure they’d echo my gratitude. Whether you’ve donated time, talent or treasure, it has made the difference as we approach the 3rd anniversary of Dobbs and the PRC attacks that followed.
I look forward to further collaboration with you in the months ahead as we work toward our shared goal, a Commonwealth that truly supports a woman’s right to choose and equips her with what she needs in order to choose life!
Enjoy your weekend.
Myrna
P.S. Check out two more recent pro-life headlines.
Study links abortion to higher suicide rates among women - Massachusetts Citizens for Life
U.S. maternal mortality reaches lowest level since 2018 - Massachusetts Citizens for Life