WASHINGTON, D.C.--You know what this week is about.
Forty-seven years ago, on January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down both the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions, giving this country abortion-on-demand, for virtually any reason, throughout an entire pregnancy.
I’m in DC this week, for obvious reasons. There’s the March for Life, of course. And, here for Heartbeat International’s Babies go to Congress initiative, a great opportunity for women assisted by pregnancy help organizations to tell their stories to those who represent them on Capitol Hill.
Whenever I come to Washington—which is usually this week each year—I consider the same question: “Do we need a win at the Supreme Court?”
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Asked another way, “If abortion is to become obsolete in this country, is Roe a must-have?”
Short answer? “No.”
Let’s not misunderstand. Overturning Roe and Doe is important. We need constitution-minded justices who understand the first obligation of the constitution is to protect the people of the Republic. All of them, no matter how small.
Yet the truth is, if Roe were overturned tomorrow and all 50 states suddenly outlawed abortion (I’m reaching here to make a point), legal abortion clinics would certainly close but illegal ones would pop up under the radar. Abortion would be limited, no doubt. But not eliminated.
But what if our culture reached a point where those places that end pregnancies for profit disappeared, for lack of interested customers? What if those “clinics” shuttered their doors because . . . it was no longer worth it? Honestly, I think about this a lot.
Fact is, we—the pregnancy help community—can make this happen. After all, we are the one group competing directly with the abortion industry. We seek out the same clientele, both offering options for an unexpected pregnancy. Clients then choose which direction to turn.
Here’s truth: If we take even a portion of the abortion industry’s market share, abortion centers will fall like dominos, tumbling over across the country. To be honest, it’s simple. I didn’t say “easy,” but it’s not complicated.
Tweet This: If we take even a portion of the abortion industry’s market share, abortion centers will fall like dominos, tumbling over across the country
Want an example? Let’s do the math on Planned Parenthood. Last year, the abortion giant bragged about their 345,672 abortions, more than one-third of the overall market.
Let’s be real here. While Planned Parenthood purports to be all about women’s health care, women can go to a variety of places for STI tests, vaccines, exams and pregnancy tests. The one thing that sets Planned Parenthood apart is abortion. Without abortion, Planned Parenthood closes locations everywhere. It’s just a business decision.
Knowing Planned Parenthood must have abortion to survive, what happens if half of Planned Parenthood’s clientele chose to visit a life-affirming Pregnancy Help Center?
Splitting that 345,672 number in half then, that’s 172,836 women first choosing us instead of them.
Studies tell us about 86% of abortion-minded and vulnerable women who see their babies on ultrasound in our centers choose life. To be conservative, let’s use 80% for our exercise.
If 172,836 choose us first, and 80% choose life . . . this means 138,269 babies born.
This is 138,269 babies smiling for the first time. Taking their first steps. Saying “mommy” or “daddy.” Think about that—and all it means is strengthening our outreach to connect with just half of Planned Parenthood’s current audience.
You know what else this means? Planned Parenthood loses 40% of its’ customer base. If an average abortion at 10 weeks is $508, those happy babies mean Planned Parenthood loses $70.2 million.
With 600 Planned Parenthood clinics, $70.2 million means a drop in revenue of about $117,000 per location.
Losing $117,000 means laying off an employee, or two or three. Or, cutting back services—services which lead to abortion clients. It could also mean reducing advertising.
Can you see the dominos falling?
I’m excited to be in Washington this week. Always am. But if someone truly wants to grab my attention, show me a path to closing those locations where hope disappears.
Our path is challenging, but again, it’s not complicated. Let’s do what it takes to become the first choice.
Let’s make it our goal to reach half of those thinking ending a pregnancy is their only option. Then, let’s bring them hope. Let’s show them their children. Let’s reach the moms and the dads with solutions to their fears.
Tweet This: ”Let’s bring them hope. Let’s show them their children. Let’s reach the moms and the dads with solutions to their fears”
If we accomplish this, the dominos start falling, creating a momentum which may not stop until the last one finally tips.
It all begins with us. Let’s get started.
