Care Net and NARAL reps go head-to-head over allegations of misinformation in crisis pregnancy centers

Care Net, a network of more than 1,100 pregnancy centers across North America, released a statement earlier this week in response to a video posted on YouTube by pro-abortion rights group NARAL New York.

NARAL’s video highlights some of the controversies surrounding crisis pregnancy centers around the country. The video advocates a municipal-level push to provide women with information about what services crisis pregnancy centers actually provide. Care Net claims that the video exposes NARAL’s “national strategy” aimed at “shutting down these centers and directing women to abortion providers.”

Crisis pregnancy centers in Florida, which receive funding from the state, have a history of being accused of providing women with misleading information about abortion.

One of the leading operators of crisis pregnancy centers in Florida (and the nation) is Care Net.

According to its website, Care Net’s “ultimate aim” is to “share the love and truth of Jesus Christ in both word and deed.” In addition to operating its own CPC in Florida, the group also distributes brochures to other centers in Florida and teaches sex education to high school students.

While Florida has yet to effectively pass legislation that regulates the activity and marketing of these crisis pregnancy centers, New York City took action this past March, when Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into law a bill requiring crisis pregnancy centers to disclose whether or not they offer abortions.

NARAL’s seven-minute video highlights efforts on behalf of legislators and activists to get the legislation passed. Angela Hooten, Executive Director for the National Institute for Reproductive Health, says this type of legislation is simply meant to “end the deceptive practices” of crisis pregnancy centers.

In a press release, a spokeswoman for Care Net accused NARAL of pushing “hostile legislation intended to shut down these centers and direct women to abortion providers.”

In a press release, Care Net President Melinda Delahoyde said legislative attacks will likely be focused in “urban areas, the very areas where abortion providers are prevalent, support for abortion alternatives is lacking, and abortion rates are skyrocketing.”

Hooten says she finds the group’s accusation curious.

“We are baffled that [Care Net] is so outraged by these bills,” she said. “They seem pretty basic to me.”

According to Hooten, Care Net’s reaction “demonstrates that their business model is based in deception and manipulation.”

Florida continues to fund crisis pregnancy centers, despite the controversy surrounding them. Recently-passed legislation concerning Florida’s brightly-colored Choose Life license plates would likely mean more funds for these controversial centers.