Editorial

Some so-called "pro-choice" 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.

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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 of them. Yet we realize that there are women facing crisis pregnancies. They are confused, alone, afraid.

Carolyn's story. One such woman is Carolyn. She admits her life was "screwed up." She came from a dysfunctional family and became an alcoholic. She lost two jobs, was evicted from her apartment, and ended up in jail. "I was sick spiritually, mentally, and physically," she admits. And she was pregnant. "I knew I needed help," she told a group of Madison area church leaders at a recent breakfast meeting sponsored by Care Net Pregnancy Center.

Fortunately, Carolyn did get help. She came to Care Net and found the support she needed - for herself and her unborn baby. She considered all the options and decided to keep her baby, whom she has named Zoe, meaning "life." "She's given my life back," says Carolyn.

Elizabeth House. Carolyn is one of the residents of Elizabeth House, a new Christian residential maternity program sponsored by Care Net Pregnancy Center. The program is currently located in a renovated farmhouse near Stoughton. Plans are now 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.

The cost to build the home and relocate Care Net's medical clinic is $2.2 million. Care Net has launched a capital campaign to raise the funds for Elizabeth House. Gifts of any kind are welcome: cash, appreciated investments, life insurance, real estate, wills and trusts, room sponsorship, physical labor, and in-kind donations.

Individuals willing to help in various ways will be needed as fund raisers and support staff as the project develops. For more information on how you can help, contact Liz Osborn, Care Net executive director, phone 608-846-9745 or e-mail eosborn4@chorus.net, or Fred Grossenbach, capital campaign chair, phone 608-238-5220 or e-mail fredg@execpc.com

Beacon of hope. Liz Osborn emphasizes 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," she said.

She noted that Elizabeth House's new home will be located about three-fourths of a mile from the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, "where life is snuffed out." Elizabeth House offers a real alternative to help women (and their partners) with long-term compassionate care.

That's the vision for Elizabeth House. I encourage our readers to respond to the challenge to support unborn babies and their mothers by giving a gift to Elizabeth House.

Mary C. Uhler, editor