Leaders of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas unveiled a new pregnancy resource center in Dallas. The Truth Pregnancy Resource Center aims to provide comprehensive reproductive health information, serving as a counterbalance to crisis pregnancy centers.
The establishment of the Truth Pregnancy Resource Center is a direct response to Texas’ strict abortion laws, which have made the procedure illegal in all cases except those that endanger the life of the mother. As a result, abortion clinics across the state have closed, exacerbating the lack of access to women’s health care providers, particularly in regions already lacking in maternal care services. Located near the now-closed Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center, which provided abortions, the new center will offer counseling, sonograms, and information about all pregnancy options, including adoption, parenthood, and traveling to other states for an abortion.
Rev. Daniel Kanter, CEO and senior minister at First Unitarian, expressed that the establishment of the center is a form of redemption for former Southwestern Women’s staff and emphasized that the initiative is about doing good in the world and advocating for reproductive dignity.
First Unitarian has a long history of involvement in abortion advocacy, predating the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. Aligned with the Unitarian-Universalist denomination, the church takes a pro-reproductive choice stance. The church currently collaborates with an abortion fund in New Mexico to assist individuals from North Texas seeking abortions. This effort seeks to address the resource gap left by the closure of abortion clinics and the limitations placed on OB-GYN offices due to restrictive state laws.
Crisis pregnancy centers, which are often affiliated with anti-abortion religious organizations, are frequently accessible despite not being medical facilities. These centers have been known to provide medically inaccurate information, such as falsely linking abortion to breast cancer and infertility. Texas has nearly 200 such centers, according to the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map compiled by University of Georgia researchers. NBC News reports that visitors to these centers have been informed that abortions cause mental illness.
The Texas Legislature has allocated over $100 million for the Alternatives to Abortion program for 2022 to 2023, a 25% increase from the previous budget. This program supports organizations, including crisis pregnancy centers, that provide education and care coordination to encourage individuals to continue with their pregnancies.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises patients to be aware of places like crisis pregnancy centers, which may operate unethically to dissuade individuals from seeking certain reproductive health care options.
Rev. Deneen Robinson, executive director of Truth Pregnancy Resource Center, stated that the center aims to provide options to all pregnant individuals, regardless of their pregnancy plans. The center emphasizes that reproductive health care encompasses a range of options, including abortion, adoption, and parenting, and aims to support individuals in making informed decisions.
The Truth Pregnancy Resource Center currently has three full-time employees, including a licensed professional counselor and an administrator, and plans to utilize volunteers who are licensed health professionals. Visitors to the center will qualify for 13 months of counseling. The center will operate up to four days a week, as needed.