World Magazine just reported on the growing momentum to redirect federal funds previously earmarked to support abortion services to fill the coffers of pro-life pregnancy clinics:
With a more pro-life administration in the White House, some pro-life groups want to defund Planned Parenthood and give that funding to pro-life centers.
Personally, I think that is a terrible idea.
It's not because I don't think the work being done at these pregnancy centers is worthy, of course. In actuality, it's because I do value the great work of these centers that I can't support any proposal that would put it in the hands of politicians directed by the fickle winds of pop culture.
Years ago, I wrote an article advocating for the Bible Literacy Project - a multi-disciplinary effort to return study of the Bible to America's public schools. The underlying principle behind the idea is a simple one: an educated person knows the Bible. Of course that's true. But in recent years, I've found myself taking my foot off the gas pedal of support for the movement for one simple reason.
Consider the ideological make-up of the modern public school system and ask yourself: How confident are you that the Bible would be presented fairly and accurately?
Currently, there are some 2,600 pregnancy help centers in the country, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 17% of those are receiving state or federal funding. Yet even those paltry numbers have incurred the wrath of progressive, abortion-activist lawmakers. Representatives Jamie Raskin and Maxwell Frost complained last July,
We have serious concerns that [these centers] continue to receive millions in federal aid with little transparency and accountability to the public.
They don't have concerns that Planned Parenthood, with all its ethical corruption, baby-part sales scandals, and murder-for-profit business model, receives millions of tax dollars each year to stay afloat, but the thought that a PRC might get federal assistance to buy some car seats or diapers for poor, expectant moms has them pacing the floors at night. With lawmakers that morally backwards, it isn't tough to envision what happens to these centers the moment the duo's party of death is back in Washington's driver seat.
That's why no matter how alluring the thought of government checks may be to struggling centers, there are better options: Private donations, church support, or innovative ideas like starting thrift stores whose profits go entirely to the funding of a center.
Make yourself dependent upon public funds, you simultaneously put yourself at the mercy of the decisions of those controlling the funds. That may work well when a friendly administration is in office, or a friendly Congress is setting the rules.
It quickly becomes a nightmare the moment that changes.
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Not the Bee or any of its affiliates.
