Explainer: Senate considers the Equal Rights Amendment
By / Feb 28

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on “The Equal Rights Amendment: How Congress Can Recognize Ratification and Enshrine Equality in Our Constitution.” This is the first time the Senate has held a hearing on the ERA since 1984. It is anticipated that during March the full Senate will hold a vote on a joint resolution that would remove the ratification deadline and recognize the ERA as a valid constitutional amendment.

What is the Equal Rights Amendment?

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would clarify that men and women have “equal rights” throughout the United States. The amendment was first introduced into Congress in 1923 and an amended version passed in 1972.

Why is it problematic?

Though it has long been advertised as an amendment focused solely on women’s equality, the ERA has many implications for life, religious liberty, and human dignity.

  • The ERA could eliminate any federal or state restrictions on abortion, even partial-birth or third-trimester abortions. Protecting vulnerable life should be a top priority of any just government. The United States is one of only a handful of countries that provide late-term abortions. Government’s basic duty is to protect human life from bodily harm and provide justice for victims of violence. Now, in a post-Roe world, this amendment could prohibit pro-life states from enacting their own laws that protect life.
  • The ERA could require taxpayer funding for abortions by eliminating the Hyde Amendment. Americans are divided on abortion policy, and many object to the use of their tax dollars for such a great moral wrong. In 1976, Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde proposed an amendment to an Appropriations bill to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion. Since then, the Hyde Amendment passed every Congress for over forty years.
  • The ERA could eliminate conscience protections for medical professionals. No healthcare worker should be forced to participate in abortions or other medical procedures which conflict with their religiously informed conscience. Every American ought to be able to legally defend their inalienable right to freedom of conscience.
  • The ERA could eliminate distinctions based on sex, and effectively erase sex-segregated spaces, leaving women vulnerable. Spaces segregated on the basis of sex for reasons of safety and privacy, such as women’s shelters and prisons, could be viewed as discriminatory and opened to biological men. This loss of equal protection would make women and girls vulnerable. 

How is the ERLC advocating?

The ERLC affirms that God created every person—male and female—in his own image and endowed them with equal value and dignity. We also affirm that every life, including the preborn, is worthy of protection. Unfortunately, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) debate is tainted with abortion politics. Abortion denies precious lives, both boys and girls, personhood and protection. The ERLC has communicated these concerns with lawmakers and is actively advocating against adding this harmful amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

More about the ERA

After passing both houses of Congress, the ERA was submitted to the state legislatures for ratification. For the amendment to be adopted, the Constitution required that it be ratified by three-fourths of the states by March 22, 1979. Between 1972 and 1977, 35 states had ratified the amendment. However, five states rescinded their earlier ratification: Nebraska (1973), Tennessee (1974), Idaho (1977), Kentucky (1978), and South Dakota (1979). 

By the time of the 1979 ratification deadline, the amendment was still three states short of the required number needed for passage, so Congress extended the deadline to June 30, 1982. The Southern Baptist Convention, in a 1978 resolution, opposed this decision to extend the deadline and “any amendment or any substitute bills which would provide for extension of the time for states to ratify the ERA.”

Since then, the ERA has been reintroduced in Congress every session as advocates have argued that the ratification deadline could be changed or discarded. The status of this amendment has been the subject of decades of litigation and debate with current proponents arguing that the ERA “was ratified by three-fourths of the states and is therefore a valid constitutional amendment, regardless of any time limit that was in the original proposal.”

ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project Partners with North Carolina Baptists to Dedicate Ultrasound Machines to Two Pregnancy Resource Centers
By / Feb 22

Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 22, 2023—The Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, in partnership with the State Baptist Convention of North Carolina, has donated ultrasound machines to two North Carolina  pregnancy resource centers, Hand of Hope Pregnancy Centers and Life Choices of Roxboro.

Todd Unzicker, chief executive officer of the State Baptist Convention of North Carolina commented on the dedications:

“North Carolina Baptists have rejoiced since the Dobbs decision, but we grieve that our state has become an abortion destination. If North Carolina can become a place where the sanctity of life is embraced, it must start with us. That is why NC Baptists celebrate our partnership with the Psalm 139 Project to offer expectant mothers and fathers the opportunity to see the image of God represented in those little noses and toes. These life-saving ultrasound machines are strategic tools to help build a culture of life as we live on mission together.”

Details for dedication ceremonies are below:

Hand of Hope Pregnancy Centers has three locations, serving 1,500 clients in Fuquay Varina, Raleigh and Fayetteville. 

  • Dedication date & time: Friday, Feb. 24, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. EST 
  • Location: 1522 Jones Franklin Road, Raleigh, NC 27606
  • Attendees: Bobby Reed (ERLC’s chief financial officer); Traci Griggs (ERLC trustee); Todd Unzicker (chief executive officer of the State Baptist Convention of North Carolina)

Hand of Hope Pregnancy Centers provides services such as:

  • Physician quality pregnancy testing;
  • Ultrasounds;
  • Abortion pill reversal;
  • Life Skills programs; and
  • STI testing.

“Introducing moms and dads to their preborn children through the ultrasound is an absolute life-saving opportunity,” said Tonya Baker Nelson, executive director of Hand of Hope Pregnancy Centers. “Since our pregnancy center is right beside the second largest privately owned abortion clinic in the southeast, the ability to immediately introduce those parents to their children is of utmost importance. We have witnessed the power that technology plays in opening minds and tendering hearts and softening ears to the truth that God has a plan for every single person He creates. The ultrasound is truly a witnessing tool for his truth to be revealed right before their very eyes. Lives will be saved and changed thanks to the placement of this machine through the Psalm 139 Project. A lifetime of thanks would never be enough.”

Life Choices of Roxboro is celebrating 25 years of operating in Person County and serves 225 clients annually. 

  • Dedication date & time: Friday, Feb. 24, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EST 
  • Location: 750 Martin St, Roxboro, NC 27573.
  • Attendees: Bobby Reed (ERLC’s chief financial officer) and Todd Unzicker (chief executive officer of the State Baptist Convention of North Carolina)

Life Choices of Roxboro provide services such as:

  • Pregnancy testing;
  • Ultrasounds; 
  • Pregnancy classes;
  • Post-abortion and grief counseling; and
  • Parenting courses.

“Receiving this brand new machine is so exciting for us at Life Choices,” said Susan Bailey, executive director of Life Choices. “We want to thank the Psalm 139 Project, the SBC and NC State Convention for providing this invaluable resource. We know how important ultrasound is in the decision making process and that is why we are thrilled to be able to offer this service to our clients. To God be the glory.”

Pregnancy resource centers served by the Psalm 139 Project in 2022
By / Feb 16

In 2022, the Psalm 139 Project placed or committed to place 27 ultrasound machines across nine different states that are serving a wide variety of demographics within their communities. 

Some centers are located in major metropolitan areas, while others are in small towns with limited prenatal care and pregnancy support. Rural areas requesting mobile units were a focus, as well clinics that were located near Planned Parenthood facilities.

These life-saving placements represent the successful completion of our goal to place 50 machines by January 2023.

The following list of centers have had ultrasound machines placed or are in the process of placement through financial gifts contributed to the Psalm 139 Project:

Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center

  • Smoky Mountain PCC in North Carolina sees over 200 clients a year with over 90% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound machine. There are two locations and a medical mobile unit. This unit also travels to Asheville and Bryson City, North Carolina, numerous times per month.
  • “We had a 2014 Esaote Ultrasound Machine onboard and our nurse doing the scans said this new [ultrasound] machine opens up the window to the womb for this new mom to see her baby and the beating heart,” said the executive director.  “These parents thank us for showing them the flicker on the screen and seeing these babies moving around when they cannot feel it. Showing itself off by turning around, sucking their thumbs, and raising their sweet arms up in the air waving at them.”
  • This placement was made possible through the partnership with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

Albemarle Pregnancy Resource Center

  • Albemarle Pregnancy Resource Center sees about 600 clients annually. 92% of clients with a positive pregnancy test receive ultrasound services.
  • The center is located in North Carolina, but also has a medical mobile unit that serves six surrounding counties. They received a portable machine for the Mobile Medical Unit.
  • This placement was funded by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and was the second machine NC Baptists contributed to this year.

Coweta Pregnancy Services

  • Coweta Pregnancy Services in Georgia sees 1,500 clients a year. 95% of clients with a positive pregnancy test receive ultrasound services.
  • The executive director shared, “This new ultrasound machine will allow us to show families facing an unplanned pregnancy that their tiny baby that God has created and is knitting together in the mother’s womb, has a beating heart and is indeed a human being. More than 80% of women considering abortion choose LIFE for their baby after their ultrasound exam.”

Care Net Pregnancy Center of Houston

  • Care Net Pregnancy Center of Houston sees over 2,000 clients annually at their two locations and is expecting to open a third center. The Cypress location is where the new machine was placed and is expected to serve over 300 clients for ultrasound services per year.
  • This placement was made possible through the partnership with Southern Baptist of Texas Convention.

First Choice Reproductive Health

  • This center in Texas sees over 1,800 clients annually. They operate three facilities: First Choice Reproductive Health, a free medical clinic; Mobile Medical Clinic that takes medical services to the six surrounding counties; and The Parenting Resource Center.
  • This placement was made possible through the partnership with Southern Baptist of Texas Convention.

TruCare Women’s Clinic

  • TruCare Women’s Clinic in Texas sees over 2,000 clients a year with over 50% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound machine. The clinic is located just 600 feet from a location of Planned Parenthood.
  • This placement was made possible through the partnership with Southern Baptist of Texas Convention.

FirstLook Sexual Health and Pregnancy Center

  • FirstLook Sexual Health and Pregnancy Center in Texas sees 800 clients a year with 85% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound machine. They moved into a new facility in June 2021 to expand services with two ultrasound rooms. The new machine replaced an old one that was 12 years old.
  • This placement was made possible through the partnership with Southern Baptist of Texas Convention.

Community Pregnancy Center

  • Community Pregnancy Center in Texas sees over 1,200 clients a year with about 35% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound machine due to limited availability of sonographers.
  • The mobile ultrasound was placed on their new Save the Storks mobile unit that was received in the fall of 2022.
  • This placement was made possible through the partnership with Southern Baptist of Texas Convention.

Women’s Resource Center

  • Women’s Resource Center in Alabama sees 4,000 clients annually with over 70% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound services. There are three locations serving the region. 

Sav-A-Life

  • Sav-A-Life in Alabama sees over 8,000 clients annually. 90% of clients with a positive pregnancy test receive ultrasound services. There are three clinics associated with Sav-A-Life in the area. 
  • The executive director stated, “We know the need is great to serve women and families in an unplanned pregnancy situation and ultrasound is a critical tool as it reveals life in the womb. We are so grateful to the Psalm 139 Project and the Alabama State Board of Missions for making this a reality for us.”
  • A dedication ceremony took place with representation from the center, the local association, the state convention, and two national SBC entities which was a beautiful picture of SBC cooperation at all levels.
  • Birmingham Metro Baptist Association and the North American Mission Board through SEND relief donated to this building project. They were offered property in an underserved part of town and share property with the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association.

Confidential Care Mobile Ministry, Inc

  • Confidential Care in Tennessee sees about 500 clients annually with over 95% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound machine.
  • There are three mobile units that provide counseling, pregnancy tests, and ultrasounds for clients. The mobile ministry serves eight locations within the county. This specific machine placement is for the ministry’s third mobile unit.
  • “With the overturn of Roe, we anticipate thousands of women this year in the Mid-South will be seeking a way to obtain an out-of-state abortion,” said the executive director. “The addition of our continuum-of-care vehicle, equipped with this new ultrasound machine, will enable us to go to these women and show them that a new human being is alive within their womb. Once they see the living child on the monitor, many will choose life. This gift of an ultrasound in the hands of our medical ministry team will mean life for hundreds of preborn human babies and will open the door for a clear introduction to the giver of that life.”
  • This placement was made possible through the partnership with Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB) and another donor. 

Compassion Women’s Center

  • Compassion Women’s Center in Oklahoma has seen an increase from 70 clients to 300 clients this year as they anticipate growth in going medical. This placement of an ultrasound machine will provide the opportunity to serve more clients since they moved to the county seat in recent years.

Triad Coalition for Life

  • This is a mobile-only care center in North Carolina that Save the Storks has partnered with and ERLC provided the ultrasound machine. Triad Coalition for Life is a sidewalk ministry that operates near an abortion facility.

Care Net Women’s Resource Center

  • Care Net Women’s Resource Center in California sees over 500 clients annually with roughly 25% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound machine. The county statistics report that 1 in 4 women aged 45 and under will have had an abortion. 
  • This placement was made possible through the partnership with North American Mission Board (NAMB) through Send Relief funding.

Warrenton Pregnancy Center

  • Warrenton Pregnancy Center in Virginia sees about 160 clients a year with over 60% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound machine.
  • Placement was a partnership with Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia donating toward the purchase of an ultrasound machine. 

Alight Care Center

  • Alight Care Center is a ministry name of Arise & Build Community Ministries, a New York domestic, charitable not-for-profit ministry engaged in a number of community outreaches. The pregnancy resource center has been in operation for over 22 years and began a mobile ultrasound ministry in 2017. The Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) was purchased in 2016 through an affiliation with Save The Storks. Recently, Alight has joined with CompassCare Pregnancy Services to reach more abortion-vulnerable women. 
  • Alight Care Center under CompassCare sees over 1,000 clients annually with 100% of appointments utilizing the ultrasound machine on the medical mobile unit.
  • This placement was made possible through the generous donation of a church in Nashville, Tennessee.

The purchase of the following machines was made possible through a grant from the state of Tennessee:

Full Circle Medical Center for Women

  • This is the second time this center in Tennessee has received a machine. This machine will be placed in a new medical room that will increase the number of women who will be able to receive ultrasound services.

Pregnancy Resource Center

  • This is the second time this center in Tennessee has received machines to expand services. The center opened a satellite center in a neighboring city where one machine was placed. The other two units were placed in the primary location. 

Birth Choice

  • This is the second time this center in Tennessee has received a machine and it will replace an older machine in the ultrasound room. The center has requested a portable model so that they can repurpose it on their mobile units if needed as a backup.

Hope Resource Center

  • This is the second time this center in Tennessee has received a machine and the first time through a grant from the state of Tennessee. This placement will increase the number of appointments the center will be able to offer to meet the needs in the area.

Life Choices Dyersburg

  • The ultrasound for this center in Tennessee was ordered in October 2022.

Tomorrow’s Hope Pregnancy Medical Clinic

  • The ultrasound machine for this center in Tennessee was ordered in October 2022.

Beating Hearts Help Center

  • The ultrasound machine for this center in Tennessee was ordered in November 2022.

LifeBeat Pregnancy Care Center

  • The ultrasound machine for this center in Tennessee was ordered in November 2022.

An additional placement in Tennessee is in process. 

What is the Psalm 139 Project?
By / Feb 14

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention is dedicated to protecting life in all stages of development, including those in the womb. The Psalm 139 Project is an overflow of that commitment. 

This valuable ministry exists to purchase and place ultrasound machines in pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) and women’s health clinics (WHCs) around the country and train clinic staff for their use. Each placement allows abortion-vulnerable and abortion-determined women to get a glimpse of the life inside their womb. 

One hundred percent of all donations given to the Psalm 139 Project go toward the purchase of life-saving machines and training of the clinic staff who will utilize them.

Praying for this vital work

In 2022, we placed or committed to place 27 machines across nine states. In doing so, we partnered with five Baptist state conventions: Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, and SBC of Virginia.

Before placing an ultrasound machine, our staff works through a due-diligence checklist to determine if qualified PRCs and WHCs meet the local and state guidelines and criteria, as well as show longevity in the community. Among the other components we look for in centers where we place machines include:

  • Must be ready to go “medical”; 
  • Must meet all of the legal requirements in their area for operating an ultrasound machine;
  • Should have a strong, stable financial base; 
  • Needs a healthy leadership structure;
  • And contains adequate staff and volunteers who can sustain the work.

Many executive directors from clinics around the country have shared with our team about the vital work happening in underserved areas through mobile units, as well as the need for additional ultrasound machines and nurse training in order to open new locations. Placements are strategically spread out to areas with the intention of having the most impact per placement.

The work of these centers is increasingly indispensable in a post-Roe world. Here are a few ways you can pray for PRCs and WHCs: 

  • Marketing to reach more abortion-vulnerable women
  • Protection against harassment and safety for staff
  • Building space and quality medical equipment
  • Opportunities to share the gospel with clients
  • More advocates and volunteers to serve at centers

Join us in 2023

We will continue to provide ultrasound machines to PRCs or WHCs to aid clinic staff with the adequate means to better serve vulnerable women and to save more preborn babies. As word about the Psalm 139 Project spreads, we have had an overwhelming response from pregnancy care centers expressing a need for new ultrasound equipment through our application process. In 2023, we will work to identify and seek to place machines in as many abortion-permissible states to provide critical support for PRCs as abortion tourism will bring an increased number of women seeking abortions in these states.

At the ERLC, we believe in standing for the life of preborn children as well as caring for the well-being of women. Through hearing the heartbeat of a preborn child, caring for the pregnant woman regardless of where she finds herself, or educating about the foundational truths that each life has dignity, we desire to widely share the beauty of this holistic, pro-life vision. 

We know the pro-life movement requires us all working together to continue to see a shift in this country to make abortion unthinkable for women and to show them the true value of the sacred life within their womb. We would like to invite you to join us in this vital work through the Psalm 139 Project. 

Together, we have the amazing opportunity to place ultrasound machines in pregnancy care centers across the country to rescue babies and leave a legacy of life for generations to come.

ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project Dedicates Ultrasound Machine to Warrenton Pregnancy Center in Virginia
By / Jan 31

Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 30, 2023—The Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, in partnership with the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia (SBCV), has donated an ultrasound machine to Warrenton Pregnancy Center in Warrenton, Va. 

Details for the dedication ceremony are below:

Date & time: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EST 

Location: 400 Holiday Ct., Suite 101, Warrenton, VA 20196

Attendees: ERLC Policy Manager Hannah Daniel will be in attendance 

“Placing ultrasound machines in pregnancy centers is always a joy for our staff at the ERLC,” said Rachel Wiles, director of the Psalm 139 Project. “But when we can partner with state conventions to place these machines, it’s an extra special blessing as we cooperate together to see lives changed.”

The machine was provided through a grant by the SBCV. Brandon Pickett, director of strategic initiatives and communications for the SBCV, commented on the partnership.

“The churches of the SBC of Virginia are thankful to be able to come alongside the Warrenton Pregnancy Center. We count it a privilege to be able to support this incredible ministry with our partner, the Psalm 139 Project. We pray that countless women, men, and families are loved and served because of the work of the Warrenton Pregnancy Center. We believe that we won’t know until eternity the lives that were changed because of our partnership in the Gospel.”

Warrenton Pregnancy Center was founded in September 2017 and opened in March 2018. This center has served Fauquier County for nearly five years, offering medical services including ultrasounds and medical-grade pregnancy tests, and educational programs such as advocacy, abstinence, parenting, post-abortion healing and material support. The city of Warrenton has a population of 10,000 and the surrounding communities make up a greater population of about 50,000. Warrenton Pregnancy Center is open five days a week and walk-ins are welcome.

“Our sonogram machine is 10 years old, so the new machine from ERLC is a great blessing to us,” said Patrick Novecosky, executive director of Warrenton Pregnancy Center. “The new technology will help our clients to see their babies more clearly and hear their child’s heartbeat with clarity. We’re grateful to the Psalm 139 Project for their generosity!”

One hundred percent of financial contributions designated to the Psalm 139 Project go toward purchasing ultrasound machines and providing training for workers. No ERLC Cooperative Program resources are used for these machines. Tax-deductible gifts may be made online to The Psalm 139 Project, or via check to ERLC, 901 Commerce Street, Nashville, Tenn., 37203. Learn more at psalm139project.com.

How we can speak to men in the abortion conversation
By / Jan 31

As a pastor, father, and follower of Christ, I have often found myself with a heavy heart when I think and pray about abortion. I’m saddened. I’m sickened. I’m burdened for the life of preborn children who are precious in the sight of God. And I have a deep conviction that there’s more that I can do for the preborn, their mothers, and their fathers.

While pro-choice supporters advocate that abortion is a “women’s rights” issue, we cannot deny the deeply profound implications that abortions have on the male partners. While we continue to fight for the preborn and pray and provide for the mothers, let us not neglect the men who are struggling.

A harsh reality for men

When a man is faced with his partner’s unplanned pregnancy, there is a temptation to abandon her and think, This isn’t not my problem. And if he is advocating for an abortion, he often provides the same reasons women do: income, marital status, reputation, or loss of future plans.

Yet, some men would choose to stay when their unwed partners become pregnant. They want to make things right. They want to fight for the baby. Even though they want to choose life, they still experience a deep sense of helplessness if their partner doesn’t choose life.

In most states, there are little to no laws that advocate for fathers to have a legal voice in regards to their partners’ abortion. A man can become frustrated if he has no say and often experiences grief if his partner has an elective abortion. The result is a loss of trust in the relationship as well as sadness that he could not change the situation. Most romantic relationships do not persevere through having an elective abortion; research shows that only 37% of couples are still together two years after an abortion.[1]

What the Church can do

A few months ago I sat down at my computer in my office and began asking the Lord to guide me to go beyond giving money for the care of preborn children and their mothers. I want to be an active participant. After exploring opportunities in my local area for serving at a pro-life and counseling center, I was discouraged by the reality that while there are a plethora of opportunities for serving children and mothers, there are none in my area for the fathers. I found myself asking who is helping the men.

As I reflect how men are affected by abortions, there is more the Church can do to help. There’s more that I can do. Specifically, here are a few things your church can do to help men who have suffered loss from an abortion.

Counseling 

  • Seek out training for your church leaders in grief and premarital counseling regarding sex, pregnancy, and abortion.
  • When possible, include men in pre/post-abortion counseling.

Education 

  • Understand that a man’s involvement during the pregnancy greatly enhances a woman’s (and consequently the baby’s) health.
  • Communicate the reality of the grief and pain associated with an abortion for both the woman and the man before it is performed.

Preaching/teaching

  • Whenever you preach or teach against abortion, preach the gospel, and point out the forgiveness and hope that is found in Christ.
  • Preach that biblical manhood is displayed when a man supports his partner, fights for the life of the baby, and does not abandon his responsibility to them.
  • Implement discipleship opportunities for men to disciple men, and create an atmosphere of openness so suffering men can share and be ministered to.
  • Teach how the Bible provides us with a salvific message and a clear framework for understanding sex, intimacy, leadership, and stability in relationships.

Yes, there are clear physical and mental consequences for sin, yet the gospel of Jesus Christ provides the grace and forgiveness we desperately need. He doesn’t wait for us to have our lives in order before he saves (Rom. 5:8). If he did that, no one would be saved. The gospel tells us that he died for us when we were at our very worst.

Many men realize that in moments of deepest grief (like grief over supporting his partner’s abortion), conviction, and regret, Jesus offers forgiveness of sins when they repent and believe in him. Studies show that many men reference God and the importance of faith in him as a way of staying strong during an abortion crisis.[2]

The gospel meets both the mother and the father involved in an unplanned pregnancy. As ambassadors of Christ, may the Church serve and care for both mothers and fathers as we advocate for the preborn.

Notes

  1. ^ Mauldon, Jane., Diana Greene Foster, and Sarah C. M. Roberts, Effect of Abortion vs. Carrying to Term on a Woman’s Relationship with the Man Involved in the Pregnancy. Perspectives on Sexual & Reproductive Health. Mar2015, Vol. 47 Issue 1, p11-18.
  2. ^ Coyle, Catherine T. & Vincent M. Rue, Thematic Analysis of Men’s Experience with a Partner’s Elective Abortion, of Journal of American Counseling Association Volume 60, October 2015.

George Santos’ deception, classified documents, and marching in D.C.
By / Jan 27

In this episode, Lindsay and Brent discuss this year’s March for Life, George Santos’ deception, and the classified documents debacle. 

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  • Dobbs Resource Page | The release of the Dobbs decision marks a true turning point in the pro-life movement, a moment that Christians, advocates and many others have worked toward tirelessly for 50 years. Let us rejoice that we live in a nation where past injustices can still be corrected, as we also roll our sleeves up to save preborn lives, serve vulnerable mothers, and support families in our communities. To get more resources on this case, visit ERLC.com/Dobbs.
  • Sexual Ethics Resource Page | Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the constant stream of entertainment and messages that challenge the Bible’s teachings on sexual ethics? It often feels like we’re walking through uncharted territory. But no matter what we face in our ever-shifting culture, God’s design for human sexuality has never changed. The ERLC’s new sexual ethics resource page is full of helpful articles, videos, and explainers that will equip you to navigate these important issues with truth and grace. Get these free resources at ERLC.com/sexualethics.

The state of abortion in 2023
By / Jan 20

In a few days, President Joe Biden will speak before a joint session of Congress and deliver his second State of the Union address. In the message, the president will fulfill his constitutional duty to “give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” 

While President Biden might mention abortion in his speech, he is unlikely to discuss the varied ways the issue has changed since the overturning of Roe v. Wade and in the past few months. Here is what you should know about the state of abortion in 2023.

Most abortions are illegal in 14 U.S. states

Earlier this month, the Supreme Courts in Idaho and South Carolina issued rulings on pending cases concerning abortion. In Idaho, abortion is now allowed only to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. Sadly, in South Carolina the state Supreme Court ruled a 2021 Heartbeat Bill to be unconstitutional, granting the right of an abortion up to 22 weeks.

Abortion is currently banned in 13 states. In Georgia, where a complete ban was blocked by the courts, it is allowed only in the first six weeks. Eleven more states have restrictions between 15 and 22 weeks of gestation. Abortion is legal beyond 22 weeks’ gestation in 25 states and Washington, D.C. 

FDA allows retail pharmacies to offer abortion pill

In the final days of 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated a rule allowing retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone. The change in expanding access to the drug came amid a wave of state efforts last year to impose restrictions. Until 2021, mifepristone could only be dispensed in person by a physician. The Biden administration relaxed that requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed the drug to be dispensed by telemedicine prescription and mail delivery. That rule was later made permanent. 

The new rule requires pharmacies to apply for a special certification process. The rule also will only apply in states that have not banned abortion. More than a dozen states have laws that would prohibit the abortion pill from being prescribed. However, women will be able to cross state lines and obtain mifepristone from states in which abortion is allowed within the first 10 weeks. 

Medication abortions—abortions that are a result of abortion pills rather than surgery—currently account for more than half of all abortions in the United States, so the ease of access is likely to increase the total number of abortions.  

Justice Department clears Postal Service to deliver abortion pills in states where abortion is banned

A day before Christmas Eve, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a legal opinion concluding that the mailing of abortion pills does not violate Section 1461 of title 18 of the U.S. Code, commonly known as the Comstock Act. According to the Justice Department, that law does not prohibit the mailing of certain drugs that can be used to perform abortions where the sender lacks the intent that the recipient of the drugs will use them unlawfully.

“Because there are manifold ways in which recipients in every state may lawfully use such drugs, including to produce an abortion,” states the ruling, “the mere mailing of such drugs to a particular jurisdiction is an insufficient basis for concluding that the sender intends them to be used unlawfully.”

The decision allows abortion pills to be shipped through the U.S. Postal Service as well as by other carriers, like FedEx and the United Parcel Service. But it does not guarantee legal immunity for those involved in sending or receiving abortion drugs in states that restrict them. The opinion also does not prevent state or local prosecutors from using state laws to charge people criminally for violating abortion bans or restrictions.

Congressional Democrats still refuse to protect children born alive after abortion

On Jan. 11, all but two Democrats in the House of Representatives voted against legislation that would require immediate medical attention for babies who are born alive after an attempt was made to abort them. In contrast, 210 Republicans and one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, voted to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (one other Democrat, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, voted “present”). 

The legislation says that any infant born alive after an attempted abortion is a “legal person for all purposes under the laws of the United States.” Doctors would be required to admit such infants to a hospital for further care. Any violation of this standard could result in fines and imprisonment for up to five years. 

Despite passing by a majority vote in the House, the Democrat-controlled Senate is unlikely to bring the legislation for a vote.

Where does Kentucky go after a failed pro-life amendment?
By / Jan 19

Where do we go from here? Sometimes that phrase is heard after a family tragedy or a moment that upends our life or business. Many Kentucky Baptists and their neighbors were asking that very question after the historic west Kentucky tornadoes on Dec. 10, 2021, and the eastern Kentucky flooding this past July.  

But in this case, the question was being asked after the Yes for Life Amendment (Constitutional Amendment 2) failed to pass in Kentucky’s voting booths Nov. 8, 2022. The amendment stated, “To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.” The result of the vote was disappointing for those who worked diligently to see this amendment passed.  

Much prayer and sacrifice went into the drafting and promotion of this historic amendment. Many elected leaders, as well as pastors and church leaders, put their own names on the line to defend the preborn in our state. Kentucky Baptist pastors and associational and ministry leaders were “all in” on promoting the passage of Amendment 2, and Kentucky Baptists showed up and voted for the amendment. We should give thanks for those who provided leadership to speak up for the preborn.  

We are disappointed in the defeat of Amendment 2. Legalized abortion is the greatest human rights atrocity of our day, and Kentucky Baptists will continue to work and pray that it remains illegal in our state. We are grateful that Attorney General Daniel Cameron has proven that he will fight to uphold Kentucky’s pro-life laws in court, and we encourage our state legislators to continue passing legislation that protects preborn children made in the image of God. 

What’s next for pro-life Kentuckians? 

But, where do we go from here? Here are five actions to consider:  

1. We continue to pray for abortion to be abolished in Kentucky. Abolitionist William Wilberforce fought tirelessly against the inhumane slave trade in Great Britain. He suffered defeat after defeat before finally experiencing victory. Our cause is one worthy of continued effort and prayer. This defeat gives each of us an opportunity to sharpen our pro-life apologetics and get to work convincing and persuading others of the rightness of our position.  

2. We continue to care for women and families with unplanned pregnancies. Forty-nine pregnancy resource centers in Kentucky are connected to the Kentucky Baptist Convention. You can learn more here. The leaders and volunteers at these bastions of compassion woke up on Wednesday morning following the election and went to work doing what they do every day—serving women and families experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. We can help them with their work.  

3. We continue to encourage elected leaders who defend life. I was so proud of many of Kentucky’s elected House and Senate members and constitutional officers who put their own popularity on the line to defend preborn children in Kentucky. The disrespectful chant that says “politicians look for a parade and get in front of it” does not fit these courageous leaders. In Kentucky, we have strong pro-life laws and an attorney general who will vigorously defend them before the Supreme Court. Continue to pray for the Kentucky Supreme Court as it heard arguments on Nov. 15t, 2022, about a challenge to the state’s pre-Roe trigger law which has currently banned abortion. We pray that they will uphold the ban which is currently in effect.

4. We continue to pray for pro-abortion advocates. During the recent Amendment 2 campaign, I was given a renewed passion for praying for and striving to persuade those who view preborn human beings differently than I do. I believe, according to God’s Word, that they are wrong in their position. I also believe they are people made in the image of God who need the gospel. 

5. We continue to promote the adoption of vulnerable children. While a vulnerable mom might not be up to the task of parenting her preborn child, someone else is. There are couples all over the commonwealth who would line up to adopt vulnerable children and give them a great life.  

So where do we go from here? We keep working toward the day when legalized elective abortion will be part of our terrible past, but not part of our more humane future.  

As of the writing of this article, there are no legalized elective abortions being performed in Kentucky. Please join me in praying that this will be our normal from now on. 

A version of this article first appeared here. 

Helping single moms choose life and education
By / Jan 17

Every semester thousands of students fill college campuses across America with dreams and aspirations of a bright future. While many go on to the career they’ve worked hard for, there are young women experiencing unplanned pregnancies and expect that their dream will never become a reality. A variety of factors such as costs, time, and relational support may prevent many young women from completing—or even starting—a college education. The MOMentum Network is an organization that exists to help single moms as they work toward their education. Below, Cara Hicks, founder and CEO, discusses the ways that they are living out a pro-life ethic and serving single moms.

Kadin Christian: What is the story behind The MOMentum Network, and what is its purpose?

Cara Hicks: Having experienced an unplanned pregnancy just before graduating high school, I realized the tremendous pressure to choose abortion. I hate to admit it, but I had heard people of faith respond unkindly to single moms and unmarried girls with unexpected pregnancies, and I was afraid of being judged too. I was scared and went to a women’s center out of town expecting to hear my options anonymously, but that center turned out to only focus on abortion.

They asked probing questions to understand my fears, then shared scary statistics that supported abortion only. “Less than 2% of teen moms graduate from college . . . growing up in poverty leads to the worst outcomes.” But I recalled the verse I had memorized for cheerleading that year, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Right before I was handed a pill that was promised to take my problems away, I felt like the Lord lifted me out of that place. I asked for my money back since they didn’t provide an abortion, but they refused. I realized it was never about empowering a woman; it was about profit only.

I never wanted another girl to feel pressured into having an abortion again.

I went on to shatter the statistics by completing college, thanks to the resources available by my college (campus housing & Pell grant for low-income students on top of my merit-based scholarships that I didn’t lose by continuing as planned), my campus ministry, my strong community of friends, and Christ—who was faithful—even when I stepped away from my faith for a season.

I later read from Guttmacher that when a woman decides on an abortion, “the reasons most frequently cited were that having a child would interfere with a woman’s education, work or ability to care for dependents (74%); that she could not afford a baby now (73%); and that she did not want to be a single mother or was having relationship problems (48%)”. However, I knew that there were resources available and that having a child helped me develop resilience and selflessness that I may not have had without a child to care for beyond myself.

Being a single mom doesn’t have to define us, but it can refine us and help us to be better. A woman shouldn’t be pressured to choose between a child and an education—she CAN choose BOTH. But no woman can do it alone. None of us can or should raise a child on our own. It takes a village. So that’s why we formed The MOMentum Network—to be a resource with relational and now residential community of support. 

KC: What are the benefits of a single mom obtaining an education? What are some factors or obstacles that can hinder a single mom from getting an education?

CH: Institute for Women’s Policy Research has done some great research on the benefits of a woman’s education—including more earning potential for her and her child—as children of college graduates are more likely to complete higher education. They spiral up.

I believe the most prevalent deterrent is the lack of awareness of abundant resources that can help moms make a strong choice for life, especially on college campuses. Campuses tend to be very aware of abortion providers, but not necessarily open to referring to agencies that can empower a woman to continue her pregnancy while progressing through her classes. There are resources available, but more people need to know more about them. That’s where the MOMentum Network can help. 

I can’t speak for all states, but Tennessee does have a multitude of resources to help women reach their goals, from public assistance that covers a large portion of childcare costs to Tennessee Promise and Reconnect that ensures a two-year degree can be attained tuition free. Insurance is available for pregnant women and their children. Temporary assistance for needy families even covers some transportation assistance and gives grace periods for their work requirements for up to one year. Additional funding has become available during the pandemic as well. Colleges also provide some wrap-around services that address issues specifically related to the challenges of being a single mom including counseling, food pantries on campus, and accommodations (through Title IX). 

Admittedly, the systems aren’t perfect, but that’s where the church can step up and shine. We’ve had needs met by people in our community in amazing ways. In collaboration with our local pregnancy resource center, necessary and even extra material needs are almost always covered. And when they’re not, we’ve seen organizations like Abby Johnson’s LoveLine cover costs no one else would cover. We’ve been fortunate as an organization to have both pro-life and pro-choice supporters see the value in supporting women and children as our Scholar Mamas are pursuing their education. It’s something that we can all agree is a proven pathway forward. 

And still, obstacles do exist. We need more childcare, and the biggest challenge with that right now is staffing. And we need more social support that goes beyond one-and-done gift giving. We need mentors who are willing to walk with these women long term. It can be messy; often life is chaotic before an unplanned pregnancy, so it doesn’t automatically get cute and comfortable. When I was close to giving birth, my car was stolen, my dad was murdered, and my life was extremely overwhelming. There was no easy fix. It was ugly before it was better. But I was fortunate to have a peer and a mentor who continued to meet me where I was. That made such a difference. 

KC: What are the specific services that The MOMentum Network provides? How many women and children do you typically serve at a time?

CH: We are a network at heart, serving as a connector between any motivated single parent who is interested in completing college (including those who aren’t currently enrolled) and collaborative organizations by keeping track of the complex systems and resources to help clients see a way forward.

We served over 244 women and children in this way last year. We go more in-depth with moms who are willing to commit to a deeper level of transparency and accountability; we call these participants scholars because they are willing to learn, grow, and commit to at least a semester of individual and group coaching.

When a mom comes to us, we look at her whole life, first recognizing her value and the assets she has and connecting her to the resources she needs, until she achieves her dream of graduating college. Our scholars who commit to the highest level of engagement live on campus as residents. We currently have six residential spots and six “fellows” or off-campus spots. We are eager to increase the residential capacity to help more moms but would need more mentors and space to make this possible. 

KC: Is The MOMentum Network a faith-based organization? If so, how has faith shaped its culture and operations?

CH: Yes, we are a faith-based organization. While there are a lot of organizations that do wonderful work in the same field, I’ve seen the power of the gospel make a hopeless situation seem possible. God really is a good Father, and his Word calls us to care for the fatherless. Christians have an opportunity to meet families in this time of need, and we have solutions that the world cannot provide.

Our staff and board are all Christians, however, we do NOT require participants to engage in religious activities if they do not want to. We ask about faith and honor their preferences. The MOMentum Network has seen the love of Christ work in the lives of women who are exploring their faith, largely because college is such a time of exploration. We encourage our non-believers to ask us any questions they have because walking with emerging adults is an adventure already. When they have a child to care for, their world opens up. While it’s not prescriptive to have a child while in college, it can certainly change their perspective—their world shifts to something beyond themselves, to something much bigger. 

KC: How can individual Christians and local churches help support the work of places like The Momentum Network?

CH: Commit to a long game. We are really good at giving gifts, but what our moms and these babies need more than anything is a committed presence. Someone who is willing to get to know them and go beyond transactional relationships. When we commit to coming alongside moms for life, we get to be a part of multi-generational transformation. 

KC: After the historic Dobbs decision, has The MOMentum Network been affected, negatively or positively? Do you anticipate any short-term or long-term effects from the decision?

CH: Yes, both positive and negative.

The negative: Women are making quicker and quieter decisions. The abortion industry has saturated the internet and college community. Pills are being shipped and abortions are happening in secret, no matter how dangerous that is. The pro-choice advocates united and poured so many resources into removing barriers to abortion. If the pro-life community united in the same way, two generations could be the catalyst for change. But I think a lot of pro-lifers have stepped back after the decision thinking that it’s over. It’s absolutely not over. 

The positive: I do hope that more lives are being saved. We haven’t seen a huge increase in moms needing assistance yet (which concerns us that quick, quiet abortions are happening), but we’re working hard to pull together more support to be ready for it. 

I pray that more Christians rise up and help us meet this challenge.