HBI
Please Sign a Letter & Prayer for Judge Amy Coney Barrett
For the first time in decades, the Supreme Court of the United States has the chance to be comprised primarily of Constitutionalists. As defined by Stanford University, "Constitutionalism is the idea, often associated with the political theories of John Locke and the founders of the American republic, that government can and should be legally limited in its powers, and that its authority or legitimacy depends on its observing these limitations."
“For such a time as this…” Esther 4:14
The nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett not only demonstrates to the Supreme Court faith in the vision and values put in writing by our nation's founders, but also provides our nation's youth with a role model which embodies the truth that we in the pregnancy help movement have known for years; Women do not need to choose between a career and a family.
"You shall appoint for yourself… which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.” Deut. 16:18
Given the right tools and support, anyone can accomplish anything they set their minds to. This is the message of hope that our network of pregnancy help offers to women, families, and communities each and every day.
“Take heart…” John 16:33
Add your name below to sign on to a letter to Judge Amy Coney Barrett which lends our prayer, support, and encouragement to help shield her with God’s protection over this next season.
Thank you for Signing the Letter & Prayer for Judge Amy Coney Barrett
Thank you for taking the time to show your support for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. At the appropriate time, we will send this to Judge Barrett and cc the Senators.
In the interim, there is no doubt that we are living through a pivotal time in our nation. Heartbeat International provides care and support to communities worldwide through a network of life-affirming pregnancy help with more than 2,800 affiliated locations is more than 60 countries. Through our work, we move to accomplish our vision of making abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations.
If you agree with this vision, please make a donation today so that we can continue to advance a culture of life!
Letter & Prayer for Judge Amy Coney Barrett
For the first time in decades, the Supreme Court of the United States has the chance to be comprised primarily of Constitutionalists. As defined by Stanford University, "Constitutionalism is the idea, often associated with the political theories of John Locke and the founders of the American republic, that government can and should be legally limited in its powers, and that its authority or legitimacy depends on its observing these limitations."
“For such a time as this…” Esther 4:14
The nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett not only demonstrates to the Supreme Court faith in the vision and values put in writing by our nation's founders but also provides our nation's youth with a role model which embodies the truth that we in the pregnancy help movement have known for years; Women do not need to choose between a career and a family.
"You shall appoint for yourself… which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.” Deut. 16:18
Given the right tools and support, anyone can accomplish anything they set their minds to. This is the message of hope that our network of pregnancy help offers to women, families, and communities each and every day.
“Take heart…” John 16:33
Add your name below to sign on to a letter to Judge Amy Coney Barrett which lends our prayer, support, and encouragement to help shield her with God’s protection over this next season.
Heartbeat International prays for the Supreme Court
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday | September 23, 2020
Contact: Andrea Trudden, Director of Communications and Marketing
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Heartbeat International prays for the Supreme Court
What the open seat on the highest court means for the pro-life movement
Columbus, OH: With the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whoever fills the seat in the Supreme Court will have a great influence on the culture of America. Heartbeat International, the largest pro-life association of pregnancy help in the world, marks Justice Ginsburg's passing with sadness and acknowledges her contributions to advancing women’s rights, along with her historic rise to the Supreme Court.
Dr. Peggy Hartshorn, longtime Heartbeat International President, Board Chair and pro-life advocate, said:
"I pray for the repose of the soul of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and especially for her children and grandchildren who mourn her loss. For her family, her death is so personal. For me, it was personal too -- but on a very different level. On hearing the news, I was almost as stunned and 'glued to' the media as I was on January 22, 1973.”
Hartshorn, with her invaluable experience and insight having the benefit of watching the High Court over the years over her years of pro-life advocacy, reflected:
“Filling her seat in the next few weeks is crucial to turning around the results of that fateful day 47 years ago. Four of the nine current Supreme Court Justices are on record as open to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, given the appropriate case. One more Justice nominated by our sitting president now and approved by our elected Senate will change the trajectory of legal abortion in the USA and influence abortion law and attitudes around the world. What a time for prayer!"
Danielle M. White, General Counsel for Heartbeat International, remarked:
“It can certainly be said that Ruth Bader Ginsburg contributed to an America where women are welcomed in higher education and valued in the workplace. Sadly, she was under the misimpression that women’s advancement couldn’t be accomplished without pitting women against their children, particularly their unborn children. While we in the pregnancy help community remember the positive contributions she made to society, we vow to work for an America where no woman feels that she must choose between her education or career and the life of her unborn child. We hope that the Justice to take her seat will recognize the rights of both the mother and her unborn child.”
Jor-El Godsey, Heartbeat International President, added:
"Ginsburg's legacy will forever be one of a talented advocate and tenacious liberal. She helped anchor the liberal voting bloc for the better part of four decades, and despite her stated qualms with the weakness of the decision, reaffirmed Roe's grip in favor of abortion at every opportunity. Her successor needs to be equally as committed in bringing our highest court back toward its Constitutional strength, but more courageous to address flawed rulings of past courts."
To schedule an interview about Justice Ginsburg’s passing and the significance of the open Supreme Court seat for the pregnancy help community, call 614-885-7577.
For more information on Heartbeat International go to HeartbeatInternational.org and find Heartbeat on Facebook and Twitter.
About Heartbeat International: Heartbeat International is the largest network of pro-life pregnancy help in the world, with over 2,800 affiliated locations in more than 60 countries. Heartbeat's mission is to Reach and Rescue as many lives as possible, around the world, through an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy help, to Renew communities for LIFE in order to achieve their vision of making abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/23/2020
Heartbeat International prays for the Supreme Court
What the open seat on the highest court means for the pro-life movement
Columbus, OH: With the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whoever fills the seat in the Supreme Court will have a great influence on the culture of America. Heartbeat International, the largest pro-life association of pregnancy help in the world, marks Justice Ginsburg's passing with sadness and acknowledges her contributions to advancing women’s rights, along with her historic rise to the Supreme Court.
Dr. Peggy Hartshorn, longtime Heartbeat International President, Board Chair and pro-life advocate, said:
"I pray for the repose of the soul of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and especially for her children and grandchildren who mourn her loss. For her family, her death is so personal. For me, it was personal too -- but on a very different level. On hearing the news, I was almost as stunned and 'glued to' the media as I was on January 22, 1973.”
Hartshorn, with her invaluable experience and insight having the benefit of watching the High Court over the years over her years of pro-life advocacy, reflected:
“Filling her seat in the next few weeks is crucial to turning around the results of that fateful day 47 years ago. Four of the nine current Supreme Court Justices are on record as open to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, given the appropriate case. One more Justice nominated by our sitting president now and approved by our elected Senate will change the trajectory of legal abortion in the USA and influence abortion law and attitudes around the world. What a time for prayer!"
Danielle M. White, General Counsel for Heartbeat International, remarked:
“It can certainly be said that Ruth Bader Ginsburg contributed to an America where women are welcomed in higher education and valued in the workplace. Sadly, she was under the misimpression that women’s advancement couldn’t be accomplished without pitting women against their children, particularly their unborn children. While we in the pregnancy help community remember the positive contributions she made to society, we vow to work for an America where no woman feels that she must choose between her education or career and the life of her unborn child. We hope that the Justice to take her seat will recognize the rights of both the mother and her unborn child.”
Jor-El Godsey, Heartbeat International President, added:
"Ginsburg's legacy will forever be one of a talented advocate and tenacious liberal. She helped anchor the liberal voting bloc for the better part of four decades, and despite her stated qualms with the weakness of the decision, reaffirmed Roe's grip in favor of abortion at every opportunity. Her successor needs to be equally as committed in bringing our highest court back toward its Constitutional strength, but more courageous to address flawed rulings of past courts."
To schedule an interview about Justice Ginsburg’s passing and the significance of the open Supreme Court seat for the pregnancy help community, call 614-885-7577.
For more information on Heartbeat International go to HeartbeatInternational.org and find Heartbeat on Facebook and Twitter.
About Heartbeat International: Heartbeat International is the largest network of pro-life pregnancy help in the world, with over 2,800 affiliated locations in more than 60 countries. Heartbeat's mission is to Reach and Rescue as many lives as possible, around the world, through an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy help, to Renew communities for LIFE in order to achieve their vision of making abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations.
Why each call matters
From the very first call answered, Option Line consultants, caring women trained by Heartbeat International, have been able to speak hope into panicked moments of confusion. Four million calls later, our consultants continue to treat each and every point of contact with a caller with the compassionate care she deserves. To each woman calling in, this is the hardest moment she has ever had to face in her life.
Established in 2003, Option Line is the only fully staffed, bilingual pro-life contact center in the U.S. Since we first answered the call, we’ve reached over 4 million women and men, many who are desperate for answers in an unexpected pregnancy.
Every day, more than 1,100 people reach out to Option Line via phone call, live chat, texting and email for help. The number of women and men Option Line reaches continues to grow. As a result, more lives are rescued from abortion. Every call helps reduce the demand for abortion, making abortion unwanted and eventually unthinkable.
Each call is a story...
2009 - 1 Million Calls
Even before we had live chat as a way to contact Option Line (chat launched in 2010), we served over 1 million people crying out for help through phone, a website, and email. We answered each call, we helped with any immediate pregnancy need she may have, and we connected her with a local pregnancy help organization. We know that the best alternative to an abortion is another person.
2014 - 2 Millionth Call
In the wee hours of the morning, a call came in to Option Line. On the other end of the phone was a young woman seeking abortion information. She was referred to our affiliated pregnancy help organization in Warren, Ohio that could offer her so much more than abortion and empower her to make positive choices for her future.
2018 - 3 Millionth Call
On a Thursday afternoon, Jennifer contacted Option Line through our live chat feature at OptionLine.org. She told the Option Line consultant that she was 19 years old and realized she was pregnant. Jennifer said she felt caught between what was “right” and what was “easy,” and she simply wanted the whole thing behind her. Our Option Line consultant assured her she was not alone and prayed with her. Our consultant helped to calm her fears and encouraged her to get help at a local pregnancy center near her in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
2020 - 4 Millionth Call
Early on a Monday morning, a seasoned consultant working for Option Line received a chat from a woman in India. Sorting through her concerns, the consultant worked with her to find a pregnancy help organization near her through Heartbeat’s Worldwide Directory of Pregnancy Help. This cry for help shows the global nature of the need for pregnancy help.
Our Work Continues & Expands...
As technology has improved through the years, we have embraced it and so that we can increase the number of people served through Option Line. Notice that the time period is reduced between each millionth call answered!
We continue to find and implement effective technology such as adding Live Chat options to connect and utilizing online advertising. This allows us to reach more women and better serve the movement.
As calls for help continue, we have expanded our services to answer the cries for help for not only women seeking pregnancy help, but also for the Safe Haven Alliance and the Abortion Pill Rescue Network.
When women seek pregnancy help, we are equipped to answer their questions and serve them swiftly in real-time.
As our reach expands, people from all over the world are finding Option Line. The fact that we are able to serve a woman in India to help locate a pregnancy help organization in her area from our call center in Ohio is another miracle of technology.
While not everyone is available 24/7/365 to serve those in need, Heartbeat International's Option Line is! And we will continue to serve until abortion is unthinkable.
*Names have been changed within for privacy.
The L.O.V.E. Approach: Meet Author Dr. Peggy Hartshorn
You’re Invited to Attend a Very Special Virtual Event!
Reserve your space today for this Invitation-Only Zoom Event.
Select your preferred time:
July 30 at 7:00 PM Eastern -or - July 31 at 1:00 PM Eastern
Meet Peggy
Dr. Peggy Hartshorn discerned the 4 steps she calls The L.O.V.E. Approach through her own struggles to be a better Christian wife, mother, teacher, friend, peer counselor, and leader. In writing this book, Peggy, a retired college Professor, joins her expertise in education and communications with her heart for strong relationships and unity, especially within the Body of Christ.
Peggy served as President of Heartbeat International for 23 years, where The L.O.V.E. Approach has proven its effectiveness as a relationship-building and problem-solving tool in pregnancy help organizations worldwide. She hopes that these 4 powerful steps will now bless your relationships as they have hers.
We hope to see you there!
More...
Unborn Justice - Barbados
Unborn Justice is a registered life-affirming charity operating in Barbados. Unborn Justice was founded by three young people – Kyle Martindale, Shavonne Grosvenor, and Kamille Martindale – out of a passion to provide women with an alternative to abortion. In January 2014, these three young people sat down together to determine what they could do to see their passion fulfilled. They left the meeting with a plan. It wasn’t until eight months later, though, and God’s divine intervention that they met two young ladies who would need the services of Unborn Justice. With nothing more than a willingness to serve and lots of faith, the ministry of Unborn Justice began.
In May 2017, we opened a Pregnancy Help Centre aimed at providing support to women and their partners faced with crisis pregnancies.
Vision
Unborn Justice’s vision is to be a source of hope and help for women and their partners faced with difficult pregnancy decisions.
Unborn Justice’s mission is to provide help to women and their partners with crisis pregnancies through empowerment, education and tangible assistance and to provide support for post-abortive women and men.
Client Testimony
“Unborn Justice has guided me in preparing to birth my baby and transitioning into motherhood. I sought their assistance as an 18-year-old student, unemployed, and clueless about the challenges of pregnancy and parenting. Since gaining knowledge through insightful sessions on pregnancy, parenting and self-development; I am a progressing mother of a 6-month-old son. The support given by other clients, volunteers, and Directors are uplifting, spiritually, and emotionally. I'm glad to have met such amazing persons while taking part in this beneficial program. I commend Unborn Justice for the encouraging words, education, and fun given to me.” – Earn While You Learn Graduate
All financial gifts received designated for our approved “alliance” affiliates will be forwarded to them in a reasonable timeframe (usually upon exceeding $250US). Heartbeat International deducts $30 plus 3% from the transfer, to help defray internal cost for money transfers, currency conversion, clerical costs, bank fees and any processing fees that might be charged. Should any funds be unable to be forwarded – primarily related to the recipient - they may be re-allocated for similar international work.
Additional Info
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Ashley and Gavin
After her marriage ended and she became pregnant from another relationship which did not last, Ashley sought an abortion. With two young children at home, she thought a new baby was the last thing she needed. Though never an abortion supporter, she felt justified because of her situation. Immediately after taking the first abortion pill, her maternal instinct to protect her baby set in, and she was hit with regret.
Ashley ran from the abortion facility crying. She searched the internet and fortunately found Heartbeat’s Abortion Pill Rescue Network. Roughly 12 hours after she had taken the first pill to begin a chemical abortion, she was evaluated at a family practice office, started the reversal protocol, and found hope!
Gavin was saved from abortion and he just celebrated his second birthday!
Because of Heartbeat’s Abortion Pill Rescue Network, not only does Ashley have “the cutest little boy,” she was set on a new life path. She remarried last year, returned to nursing school, and is set to complete her studies in May 2020. Ashley now looks forward to raising awareness about the Network so that she can help save lives as well!
Find out more about the Abortion Pill Rescue Network here!
Shashana and Attikus
Shashana, already a single mom, became pregnant. The man she was dating didn't want to have any more children and pushed her to have an abortion. Knowing the father would not be around, Shashana gave in, visiting Planned Parenthood and taking the first abortion pill.
After she took the first pill, she sobbed. Regretting her decision, she called the Planned Parenthood clinic for help, but they told her nothing could be done and she needed to take the second pill.
Determined for a solution, she read online that reversing the abortion pill was possible! After calling Heartbeat’s Abortion Pill Rescue Network, she was connected with a pregnancy help center. Shashana then met with a doctor in the community and began the reversal protocol.
That was in 2015. Thanks to her diligence, the pregnancy center, and the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, Shashana now has a happy, healthy son named Attikus, a strong relationship with her mother, and works as a nanny which allows her to take her children to work.
Find out more about the Abortion Pill Rescue Network here!
The Heartbeat International Response to openDemocracy's Claims
Timeline | Claims | Quotes
If you've seen openDemocracy's coverage of Heartbeat International, you may be wondering how Heartbeat would respond. The reality is, this is not the first media attack we've faced, and we've found that transparency is our best defense against these kinds of unfounded attacks.
To that end, our president, Jor-El Godsey, responded in an open letter to our affiliates and supporters in response attack to this egregious attack .
We've seen indication that openDemocracy plans to continue targeting our affiliates around the world going forward, and so we want you, our brothers and sisters in life and goodwill, to know the facts to be best prepared in contending with any future baseless attacks.
Regarding the group's claims, the reality is we received such little notice from them and so little detail as to what they planned to release, that it was impossible for us to look into the claims immediately. As they subsequently sent additional information, we have been able to clarify the claims, or at least what we believe to be the basis for these claims, given the limited amount of information provided.
Outright falsehoods aside, one problem with their purported investigative research into Heartbeat's affiliate centers is that many times they simply point to a region, and the claims have otherwise not been clear about what information was stated by whom, where and when. This approach, dubious at best, compromises the validity of the claims at the outset.
Most of the claims regarding the centers are rehashed from the false claims we've addressed for years in the United States. While this group and others may not like the science, it exists, and is our foundation for the information we give to women.
Regarding the claims pertaining to Heartbeat's webinars, to be frank, this group is highly misrepresenting and/or cherry-picking information from the webinars without including any of the citations supplied that support our training. Essentially, they do not care that there are scientific studies that validate links between abortion and depression; abortion and cancer; and the negative effects abortion has on men.
Timeline
- Nov. 2018: We launched PregnancyCenterTruth.com to combat the lies and validate the good work of pregnancy centers for such a time as this
- Feb. 7, 2020: We learn of openDemocracy’s intention
- Feb. 10, 2020: Key Heartbeat Staff provided openDemocracy the information below with expectation that it would be included in their reporting
- Feb. 10, 2020: Heartbeat notifies all joint affiliate partners
- Feb. 10, 2020: openDemocracy publishes hit piece against Heartbeat pregnancy centers titled "Exclusive: Trump-linked religious ‘extremists’ target women with disinformation worldwide”
- Feb. 11, 2020: Heartbeat issues response
- Feb. 11, 2020: openDemocracy launches a "Tracking the Backlash" campaign to smear pro-life, Christian pregnancy centers worldwide
- Feb. 11, 2020: openDemocracy publishes “Revealed: US-linked anti-abortion centres ‘violating the law’ in South Africa”
- Feb. 12, 2020: openDemocracy publishes “How openDemocracy is tracking anti-abortion misinformation around the world”
- Feb. 12, 2020: openDemocracy publishes “European lawmakers demand action on anti-abortion misinformation”
- Feb. 12, 2020: openDemocracy publishes “Revealed: US-linked anti-abortion centres ‘lie’ and ‘scare women’ across Latin America”
- Feb. 13, 2020: Heartbeat emails all supporters and affiliates: Open letter denouncing Big Abortion attacks
- Feb. 13, 2020: Pregnancy Help News publishes Jor-El’s letter
- Feb. 17, 2020: openDemocracy publishes “‘You could die and turn your husband gay’. How I learned to talk women out of legal abortions”
- Feb. 19, 2020: openDemocracy is interviewed on the BBC Women’s Hour
- Feb. 24, 2020: openDemocracy publishes "Croatian MPs from nine political parties call for inquiry into 'crisis pregnancy centres'"
- Feb. 24, 2020: openDemocracy publishes "Top Ugandadn health official condemns US-linked 'pregnancy crisis centres' for opposing contraception"
- Mar. 9, 2020: openDemocracy publishes "Inside Italian public hospitals, I saw how a US-linked anti-abortion network is 'humiliating' women"
On this page, we provide a much more comprehensive view into each claim. We have reviewed the webinars they purchased, and were able to identify what they have chosen to misrepresent. The intentionally left out citations and context are included below.
Claims
An openDemocracy reporter listened to two of our webinars: Talking About Abortion: An Overview, and Abortion: the Basics (This one compliments another that the reporter did not view, and, in order to ensure transparency,we are happy to share access with you if you would like).
The Talking About Abortion Overview training is designed to aid staff/volunteers in sharing important information about procedures and risks that empower the client to make an informed decision. It is not intended that staff/volunteers share all of the information with each client, but by educating staff and volunteers we ensure that they are equipped to discuss all risks, considerations, and concerns with clients.
To this end, as the training begins, the instructor states:
"With love and truth, our goal is to help the client understand abortion more fully, so that she can truly make an informed decision."
The subsequent information shared in the training is detailed information about procedures, risks, complications, and considerations we believe women should be aware of in order to make an informed decision.
In the Abortion: the Basics, our presenter ends with the following:
"Our job is...to share accurate information with clients from a place of love and care...We let the women know the potential risks and consequences that abortion can have on their lives. Our clients have the right to choose an abortion, but they also have the right to know more fully what may be at stake in their decision."
In regard to all the claims, at this time, we do not plan to put out multiple defense messages to refute each accusation they make. Instead, we plan to focus on the good work our pregnancy centers are doing throughout the world and the impact they have in their communities. We will continue to invest in our centers so they can be as effective as possible in creating a culture that provides compassionate help and support to women in need. In short, we’re more concerned about doing the work we’ve been called into and supporting our affiliates than combatting the unfounded and clearly biased accusations by openDemocracy.
However, we are happy to answer questions regarding their claims for our affiliates, supporters, and others who may be concerned.
Claims that Heartbeat erroneously teaches that abortion increases women’s risks of abusing their children
- In Heartbeat’s training materials, many potential side effects connected with abortion are listed, including anger as a side effect directed at husbands/boyfriends, citing a California Survey of Medicaid Patients.
- Child abuse/neglect is listed as an associated risk. Actual narration describes it as one "Domino effect of drug and alcohol abuse"
- "Because of the things we've already been talking about following abortion...all of this, these are all factors that are closely associated with child abuse. A greater incidence of child neglect or abuse with children that they have outside of the pregnancy that was aborted their other children are more neglectful of them or abusing them."
- This is taken from a study by the Elliot Institute - Here's their footnote on the risk: 20. Benedict, et al., "Maternal Perinatal Risk Factors and Child Abuse," Child Abuse and Neglect, 9:217-224 (1985); P.G. Ney, "Relationship between Abortion and Child Abuse," Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 24:610-620, 1979; Reardon, Aborted Women - Silent No More (Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1987), 129-30, describes a case of woman who beat her three year old son to death shortly after an abortion which triggered a "psychotic episode" of grief, guilt, and misplaced anger.
Suggestions that Heartbeat teaches abortion can ‘turn’ a woman’s partner gay
- In a webinar, on a slide regarding post-abortion effects on men, we mention an increased risk of relationship problems, stating couplesare more likely to divorce or separate due to an abortion.
- Closest quote: "Future relationships with women become difficult or impossible, some men experiment with homosexuality. Other forms of sexual dysfunction can surface..." The instructor then goes on to describe pornography addiction, etc. as additional forms of sexual dysfunction. There are several studies regarding abortion and sexual dysfunction.
- https://www.menandabortion.net/index.php/author/bradley-mattes/
- https://www.menandabortion.net/index.php/resources/research/
- This table has several resources: https://www.menandabortion.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/men_abortion_summary_table.pdf
- https://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/shockwaves/june/men-hurting.aspx
- 2008 - Abortion and the sexual lives of men and women: Is casual sexual behavior more appealing and more common after abortion?
- 1999 - Sexual Dysfunction in the United States Prevalence and Predictors
Misleading advertising, including some Heartbeat affiliates that present themselves online as pro-choice support groups – or abortion providers
- There is nothing in either training accessed that indicate these claims. Our trainings on the topic highlight the importance of being honest in our advertising and ensuring online marketers working on behalf of centers are operating ethically. That being said, they could characterize any training on using keywords like "abortion information" as misleading.
- Here again, they are misunderstanding/misrepresenting what Heartbeat is: We are a non-profit federation of faith-based pregnancy resource centers, medical clinics, maternity homes and non-profit adoption agencies. Heartbeat’s affiliates must adhere to basic principles that affirm alternatives to abortion and ensure non-discrimination, but all other matters of policy and management remain under the direction of the centers’ local leadership, allowing for autonomy.
- We are not a franchise model as they indicate in a few of their articles.
Staff at some Heartbeat affiliates offering ultrasounds without medical qualifications
- Our training emphasizes adherence to applicable laws and defers to the medical director as the authority for any individual organization.In addition, we have recommendations for finding a medical director and what steps need to be taken to provide high-quality, effective medical care.
- From our Commitment of Care and Competence: Medical services are provided in accordance with all applicable laws, and in accordance with pertinent medical standards, under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician.
Other applicable resources our centers have access to regarding abortion risks:
- Abortion Fallout: Breast Cancer
- Abortion: Physical Risks
- Abortion: Psychological and Emotional Risks
- Dr. Keroack's Ultrasound Statistics Study
- Post-Abortion Survivor Syndrome: Signs and Symptoms
- Thirty Studies in Five Years Show Abortion Hurts Women’s Mental Health
Quotes
The following quotes from key Heartbeat staff members were, for the most part, not included in openDemocracy's reports. When the below quotations were used by openDemocracy, they were attrbuted not to the individuals below, but to a "Heartbeat spokesperson," and were not used in their entirety.
Ellen Foell, Esq., International Specialist for Heartbeat International:
Heartbeat International stands firmly by “Our Commitment of Care and Competence" (CCC), while training continuously on it and promoting its use throughout the world, because we know that every woman deserves love and support during an unexpected pregnancy. No woman should feel alone, coerced, or so hopeless that she ends her child’s life through abortion.
Since we work with pregnancy help organizations in more than 60 countries worldwide, we know that each country has its own abortion laws and cultural norms.
The truth stands, no matter where you are in the world, that abortion ends the life of a developing human baby. While residents of different countries may communicate it in different ways, that is the definition of abortion.
And while different countries have their cultures and varied ways of communicating, the fact remains that abortion carries risks to women.
Cindi Boston-Bilotta, Heartbeat International Vice President:
We stand by all of our training resources designed for the pregnancy help community. “With love and truth, our goal is to help the client understand abortion more fully, so that she can truly make an informed decision,” as the presenter clearly stated at the beginning of our training cited in your report.
Women should have access to comprehensive information regarding all risks associated with any given medical procedure, no matter what that procedure might be. This is absolutely crucial to ensuring informed consent. Pregnancy centers look to scientific studies about the short and long-term effects of abortion in order to ensure that clients are empowered with facts before making a life-altering decision. (See "Additional References" document attached.)
Prior attempts to allege that pregnancy centers are remiss in the area of truth in advertising have been unsuccessful, with the pregnancy centers affirmed time and again by the courts. Heartbeat will vigorously defend the good work of our pregnancy centers and our commitment of care.
Betty McDowell, LSW, Heartbeat International Vice President:
Every woman has a right to know all the information before making an abortion decision. Denying women awareness of the emotional, psychological and physical risks that abortion can cause would be neglectful and dangerous.
Science has proven time and again that there are psychological and emotional risks for women involved with abortion, and for those providing care to women, it would be irresponsible to withhold this information.
Thank you for your patience while we reviewed openDemocracy’s claims and our training. We continue to stand behind our training and our affiliates. We hope that you continue to do the same.
You can find additional information about the good work of pregnancy help organizations at PregnancyHelpNews.com and at PregnancyCenterTruth.com.