This past year there has been so much controversial news about Planned Parenthood because of false claims about them selling baby parts for profit. Many people are trying to paint a negative picture of a wonderful organization that does a lot for people around the country. The negative view mostly stems from the fact that Planned Parenthood provides services for abortions that many women would not have access to otherwise. It's not always the case, but I often hear that these same people who proclaim their “pro-life” views often do not continue to support life after it has left the womb.

If you are one of those people who claim to be “pro-life,” but are actually just pro-birth, this letter is for you:

First of all, I’d like to say just look at your views on abortion as well as other social issues. Of course you will note that you have strong feelings about the fact that a fetus (sometimes referred to as a random clump of cells) is just as important as any other thing currently walking around and living like you and me. I guess you have that right, but you also might not be thinking about what will happen once that random clump of cells actually develops into a human to live.

Will it be born into a family that can always provide food or shelter or time to take care of it? Will it face discrimination because it is being born into a bigoted world? Will it end up living with a family that is not its own or be moved from home to home year after year because it’s a part of the less than perfect foster care system?

The list of possibilities goes on and on when it comes to what potentially could happen to that small little clump of cells inside of a uterus (which in case you didn’t notice isn’t your uterus). And maybe you think those possibilities and potential situations just aren’t important when it comes to saving human life. But the fact is, the possibility is all too real.

15.3 MILLION children in the United States alone live in homes without assured income to buy food and almost 21 percent of U.S. children live in poverty. For young people ages 10-24 the second largest cause of death is suicide (which is not a statistic to dismiss). Many people also struggle with drug abuse and violence once they are left to feel the toll of a non-supportive society.

There is so much wrong with this world, so if a woman wanted to decide to not let a baby develop inside of them in order to protect them from the harshness of this planet or from a situation that they feel is inevitable, then who are you to stop them? Instead of investing time and money into fighting to stop abortions from happening, you should try benefiting organizations that help the homeless, hungry, mentally ill, or any other major social issue.

Supporting life only until it leaves the womb is a dangerous habit. It makes many people bring children into this world that they cannot currently support. So, if you really want to proclaim that you are “pro-life” maybe you should rethink that because if you aren’t really ready to help the lives that you are advocating for, then you are more “pro-birth.”

Sincerely,

Someone who is sick of pro-lifers who don’t actually care about the lives.