Crisis Pregnancy Centers Investigation

[SilentLoner]

I'd really like some advice on this subject. I'm involved in my college's pro-choice group and one of our upcoming projects this semester is to do an investigation in those fake abortion clinics.

 

The plan is that we would basically "infiltrate" these places acting as women seeking counseling for an unexpected pregnacy. Then we can report what the people running the places tell us and document the misinformation they hand out.

 

This kind of thing is vital, since in our state some catholic group has aked the governor for $1 million to fund these fake clinics. The governor orginally said no, but then they proposed taking the amount out of funding for legitimate family planning centers. That hasn't been rejected.

 

The kind of stuff women got last time there was an investigation like this was outrageous. Besides the fake abortion/breast cancer links, sin lectures, and general misinformation crap, here are some of my favorite examples:

- One woman from Kansas was told when she went to a fake clinic there that abortion had been outlawed in the state, so she drove all the way to Maryland to get an abortion.

-"No woman has ever died from having a baby, but abortion kills women all the time" - real quote

 

I was really interested by the idea, but I have moderate-severe social anxiety disorder and I don't know how well I will be able to respond to the kind of people that run these things. When I'm in a situation with people I dislike I easily panic and can mess up. I mean, I (luckily) haven't had to interact with too many xtians lately, and I don't know what to say in response to "pray with us" and that kind of stuff they do there (just play along?). I already do escorting at a local clinic, but this is totally different, I can ignore protestors yelling at me but talking face-face with them freaks me out a bit.

Then again this is important to the group and in exposing these places as much as we can. How would you guys reccomend I deal with the people if I partake?

 

and why do I feel like humming the mission impossible theme song?

[xild]

Wow, what an amazing thing you are doing. I hadn't heard anything about these fake clinics. ARe they legal? I take it we're talking about Kansas, since you mentioned KS? I'm going to feel really stupid if we have them here in TX and I didn't know about it. Is there an organization I can hook up with to do what you're doing? Right now I don't even know where to begin to look to find out more about this but it sounds awful, and unlawful, really. A video camera, carefully hidden, may be helpful to you. Or a voice recorder.

 

What you're doing is very brave, and you're even more courageous because you're afraid but you do it anyway--give yourself a lot of credit. Maybe you could tell them you are Jewish, and that would keep them from praying with you. "I'm Jewish, I would rather not pray with you, thank you." Or Wiccan.

 

Remember courage shouldn't be measured based upon what it is you do but on how much fear you go into it with.

 

I would go into it acting really shy and not saying much. This way you'll be less likely to "mess up," and they'll be more likely to say more. If you have a social disorder play the role of a pregnant woman with a social disorder, you know?

 

And thanks for doing this work. Give me all the info you can on this project, if you don't mind?

[imageownershipproblem]

The fake clinics seem to be everywhere and they have been around for awhile, although undoubtedlym they are much worse now than they were when I had my abortion in 1985. You can do this because you know how important it is and because you feel so strongly that something needs to be done about it. You are in a much better position than someone who has never been involved with xtianity because you are familiar with the culture and the catch-phrases. Remember that you are there to get information, so you want to keep your talking to a minimum and keep them talking so that you can collect the misinformation. ITA that a shy, quiet persona is a good way to present yourself, but I would not deny your knowledge and experience, just leave out the part about why you left.

 

I had to do some similar "investigations" to find out what was going on with my son and I found that it helped to have catch=phrases to fall back on when my blood started to boil. For example, when I was on the phone with the Youth pastor of the group he was attending, I was so disgusted and offended by his answer to my question about how the church felt about gay people that it was an enormous relief to be able to say,

 

"In other words, you love the sinner but hate the sin.:"

 

so I could shut him up and move on to find out about my other suspicions. You are in a fine position to do the same with the fake clinic if they puysh your buttons and you think you're going to get too angry to keep your cool.

 

If you can handle it, I would pray with them so that you can get the information about just what is in those prayers and how manipulative they might be to a frightened young girl. If that's just more than you can handle, I would go with the, "I am not comfortable with that because I am Jewish." response. Saying that you are Wiccan would just incite and infuriate them all the more IMHO.

 

Good luck and thank you so much for doing this.

[Dave]

I'd really like some advice on this subject. I'm involved in my college's pro-choice group and one of our upcoming projects this semester is to do an investigation in those fake abortion clinics.

 

YES! Participate.

 

 

- One woman from Kansas was told when she went to a fake clinic there that abortion had been outlawed in the state, so she drove all the way to Maryland to get an abortion.

-"No woman has ever died from having a baby, but abortion kills women all the time" - real quote

Informing someone about their religious ideas is one thing, lying to someone in a vulnerable position is just wrong.

I was really interested by the idea, but I have moderate-severe social anxiety disorder

It would be good practice and help other women at the same time. Just concentrate on keeping your cool and on the task at hand. You'll do fine.

[Taphophilia]

Silentloner,

 

Yes, do it. They will just think you are upset because you think you might be pregnant, I'd even play up the anxiety. It will make you seem authentic.

[The Sage Nabooru]

You should most definitely go - not just for the sake of pro-choice but for your own. I didn't get over my social anxiety until I forced myself to participate in social encounters.

 

I would be very interested in hearing precisely what "advice" these "clinics" have to offer. I am particularly disgusted that they are allowed to list in the phone book under "abortion services" and have the entire clinic front and everything. From what I've heard the actual help - even with pregnancy, giving birth, etc. - is little to nothing, their advice amounting to nothing more than "Whatever you do, don't have an abortion."

[BlueGiant]

While it would be interesting to see what kind of misinformation these groups are handing out, for an infiltration of this sort to be successful, you really have to be on the ball. It isn't easy, it is stressful, and it can get confrontational if things don't go as planned. Also, if you have a social anxiety disorder, then, well, only you know your limits and whether you are up to this/should do this. Pushing is one thing, but too far too fast is quite another.

 

I don't know you all that well, and even if I did, as I have said above, this is something that you have to figure out if you can do on your own. (That and I am nowhere near having any cred as a therapist, etc, just know a lot of people with anxiety disorders).

 

Just keep in mind that this isn't something you have to do. If you feel that you shouldn't, that it would be a Bad Idea ™ then, by all means, don't.

 

If you do, though, I would love to learn what you find out.

[The Sage Nabooru]

And another thing - DON'T tell them your personal religious convictions or non-convictions. You can seriously hurt your case if you come out as an agnostic/atheist (they might suspect something is up) or even lie about being a Christian (they would wonder why such a person would even consider getting an abortion). I just don't think it's a good idea to let your personal beliefs out of the bag in this situation.

[Open_Minded]

I'd really like some advice on this subject. I'm involved in my college's pro-choice group and one of our upcoming projects this semester is to do an investigation in those fake abortion clinics.

SilentLoner - participate - this is such a vital project.

 

 

I was really interested by the idea, but I have moderate-severe social anxiety disorder and I don't know how well I will be able to respond to the kind of people that run these things. When I'm in a situation with people I dislike I easily panic and can mess up.

Like others, who have already chimed in, I have had my own struggles with social situations. I can tell you - from personal experience - that these types of things can BENEFIT your health. It's taking a problem head-on and facing your fears. You'll grow immensely.

 

One thing that you can do in advance - is request that the Pro-Choice group you're involved in set up some kind of role-playing training session. If you role-play in advance you'll be more prepared to handle the difficulties involved in such a project.

 

You can do this and overcome your social anxiety. It is hard, but it can be done.

 

I'm 49 years old now. When I was a child and young adult social situations were excruciatingly painful. My whole body would go into tremors. More than once I lost consciousness because my body just got too over-loaded.

 

Now - all these years later - on occassion - I speak in front of quite large groups. Whenever I get up to speak, and look out at all the people, it is a humbling experience. Because those years when my body went into tremors merely being in a group of 5-10 people I didn't know don't seem all that long ago. And yet, they're in the past. I can go into very busy social situations and deal with it productively. It still wears on me - I am tired afterward - but I am able to cope.

 

I credit the growth to two things: 1. Using meditation from the age of 17 and 2. Forcing myself to do things that were difficult and challenging.

 

This is an opportunity for you to grow and learn that you CAN do social things and SUCCEED. Just find a way to prepare yourself in advance (like roll-playing).

[Lupis Noctum]

I would not only suggest participating, I would also suggest that all the participants devise some way to record what is said to them. Many of the MP3 players have record functions, and few people would suspect that they were being used for this function...

[godlessgrrl]

I wonder if you could participate by playing the part of a "concerned relative/friend" going along to the counseling session with the "worried pregnant girl".

 

That might help alleviate some of the anxiety, if you know you don't have to go in alone. It might give courage to both candidates going in - mutual support, if you will. Heck, it might even make the playact seem more effective, who knows.

 

I'd say participate, if you can. Even if that means you don't go in on your own. I mean maybe you could give other folks a ride to the clinic or something. Or maybe you could do the factchecking or something. I'd bet there are things you could do to help that don't actually involve interacting with anybody.

 

It sounds like an awesome idea though. Keep us posted on how it goes.

[SilentLoner]

Thanks for all the advice you guys, I think I might really do that now.

 

Not sure when the group is planning on it exactly, but when it does I'll e sure to report what happens.

 

Thanks again!