Some people criticize the pro-life movement for caring too much about unborn babies and not enough about their mothers. In my experience, their criticism is unfounded. Pro-lifers DO care about both babies and their mothers.
There really should not have to be a choice between a woman and her child. We as a society should be concerned about the life of both. Yet we realize that there are women facing crisis pregnancies. They are confused, alone, afraid.
Maternity home
In 2004, I wrote an editorial about The Elizabeth House, founded by Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane County. At that time, The Elizabeth House was a new Christian residential maternity program. The program started out in a renovated farmhouse near Stoughton. Plans were underway to move by early 2005 to a new 10-bedroom home on Madison’s east side near the intersection of Hwys. 51 and 151.
Care Net launched a capital campaign to raise the funds for The Elizabeth House. I believed so strongly in the project that I purchased one of the first “bricks” to help build the home.
Beacon of hope
Liz Osborn, Care Net’s executive director since that time, emphasized that “we as a church and community of faith don’t have to choose between a woman and her child. Women in crisis pregnancies and birth fathers need assurance that the church will be with them. Elizabeth House will be a beacon of hope. It is God’s answer to abortion.”
I encourage our readers to continue to respond to the challenge to support unborn babies and their mothers by helping The Elizabeth House. As the story in this week’s Catholic Herald shows, The Elizabeth House has lived up to its promise.
For information about making a donation to support The Elizabeth House, contact Kristine at donate@carenetdane.org or call 608-259-1606, ext. 202. Prayers are always appreciated, too.