May the Supreme Court Help New Jersey Pregnancy Centers Be Free to Do Their Lifesaving Work

Pro-life pregnancy centers are in the spotlight today, thanks to attacks on them, this time in New Jersey. In this case, the state was subpoenaing donor records of the First Choice network of pregnancy centers. That, of course, is pure intimidation, which could have a detrimental impact on future giving, especially in a blue state like New Jersey.

I’m always a little perversely grateful for these cases, because it makes people look at the lifesaving work of pregnancy centers — and the decency and radical hospitality of the overwhelming number of people who make their labor of love possible.

A few months ago, I had a lovely conversation with Aimee Huber, who runs First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, and Erin Hawley, from Alliance Defending Freedom, who is arguing the case for the pregnancy-care centers before the Court this morning:

I’d encourage you to watch/listen — especially to get a better sense of Huber and her work. She talks about the transformational impact having someone to accompany her can have on a pregnant woman’s life. She also talks about why she thought it was important to fight for the freedom of pregnancy centers and the people who support them.

Like so many on the pro-life frontlines, Huber has been walking with women and children for decades. Her first inspiration to get involved in pro-life work was a sermon she heard from her pastor father when she was twelve.

When I asked Huber about life after Roe v. Wade — including the confusion and the frustration — she said:

Building a culture of life takes time and it doesn’t occur with one Supreme Court decision. . . . What I love about our ministry is that we are boots on the ground, we are helping women who think that they have no other choice. . . . I’m going to continue doing that. . . . We are here with truth and love and lack of judgment and compassionate care. It takes time. Any move in culture takes time.

She also said that she is frequently encouraged to read First Choice’s Google reviews from women they’ve served:

One of the common themes is ‘they were nonjudgmental. They didn’t judge me.’ Over and over and over. And I love that. Because we are just there to help and come along side The choice up to them. But there is such a lack of judgment. You see that in Scripture, too, with Jesus. He’s our model. So it encourages me that we see that in our Google reviews all the time.

I also find it fascinating that the oral arguments in this case are happening on Giving Tuesday — a national holiday of sorts for financial giving. Remember your local pregnancy-care/pro-life medical center and maternity homes today. And consider what more you can do, too. Women and girls need to know that they are not alone — that the pro-life movement is about loving on them and their children and setting them up for a lifetime of success, often by being a part of their lives for the long run.