Dear Editor:
I must respond to Jim Zimmerman’s letter disapproving the Centre Wellington Pregnancy Centre. I had an unplanned pregnancy at 19 (now 23) and have been a Crisis Pregnancy Centre (CPC) client since. The outcomes of my first-hand experience discredit Jim’s projected accusations. CPC’s are not “anti-choice agencies”. Entering my first counselling session I favored adoption. Despite this, all 3 options were discussed with an identical level of deliberation and unbiased guidance. I was consistently reminded that I could change my mind and never felt pressured to choose life. They are not “anti-abortion counselling centres”. 99.9% of the time a CPC’s website has post-abortion grief support on the main page as one of their top 3 services. Although he stated that post-abortion syndrome is not a medically recognized condition, this does not render it non-existent. It is an honest grief, like post-adoption grief (which I experienced). One cannot dispute others feelings unless they have experienced it themselves and it is evident that Jim has no personal experiences with unplanned pregnancies. Lastly, online information and family doctors do not render CPC’s unneeded. Relying on the internet would be the least candid and dependable way to wholly aid a vulnerable woman. Doctors are not always sufficient either. I found out I was pregnant at the doctors and was given 1 pamphlet for an abortion centre, was not offered a follow up appointment or referral to a university counsellor. Not all women are aware of a CPC like I was, which stopped me from rushing the biggest decision of my life. CPC’s do not push an anti-abortion agenda; they push an agenda of supporting scared young women. A CPC in Fergus will not harm its community, but will simply protect the mental health of the women, boyfriends, and families in its community so they can live a stable-minded life knowing they are forgiven, loved, and guilt-free because they had non-partial counselling leading them to a path that was right for them.
Sincerely,
Hannah
Hannah