(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Once again, the Associated Press decided to twist the meanings of words and phrases by telling journalists in its style guide to put the term “crisis pregnancy center” in scare quotes and to use “anti-abortion center” instead so that people would start to think that “the centers’ general aim is to prevent abortions.”
The AP added this entry between Nov. 20 and Nov. 27, 2022, according to the Daily Signal. The leftist styleguide describes the centers as “set up to divert or discourage women from having abortions” and warns journalists to avoid using “potentially misleading terms” like “pregnancy resource centers or pregnancy counseling centers.”
“If using the term anti-abortion center, explain later that these often are known as ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ (with quotation marks) and that their aim is to dissuade people from getting an abortion,” the style guide said.
Thomas Glessner is a president of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, whose organization won a U.S. Supreme Court case in 2018 against then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who was forcing pregnancy centers to post information about nearby abortion facilities by applying state law. Glessner criticized the recent decision from the AP.
“It’s disgraceful that so-called journalistic professionals succumb to pro-abortion political activists to do their bidding,” he said.
“If they actually cared about integrity, they would know that pregnancy centers seek to help women who are facing unplanned pregnancies with material and emotional support. Many centers also provide medical services for free.”
The AP’s switch followed a rash of at least 80 attacks against pregnancy centers that have been ongoing since the overturn of Roe, reported the Daily Signal, and was roundly condemned by pro-life supporters.
“On substance, the guide is pernicious,” Chuck Donovan, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s research branch, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, told The Daily Signal. “The aim of pregnancy help centers is just that, help. They are staffed by medical and counseling professionals and dedicated volunteers who provide an astounding array of free services to women facing unexpected pregnancy.”
