Letters to the Editor: 3-23-27

SB501 promotes state-assisted abortion

SB501 is making its way through the legislative process; it just passed out of the House Committee on Health by a 4-3 vote. If passed, it would force Hawaii Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) to provide information regarding an abortion option.

What’s interesting is this bill does not require abortion clinics to provide CPC information to their clients. Also, while they continue to refer to this bill as a bill regarding women’s health, it is in fact a bill that is not helping women’s health, but is actually a detriment to their health by inserting an option for abortion into the health-based options that the pregnancy centers are offering (which they offer free of charge and they do not receive state or federal funding).

Abortion clinics, especially Planned Parenthood, charge for all their services, and they also receive funding from both state and federal funds in many states.

It is a misnomer to call what abortion clinics offer as something related to health, when instead these services are related to death of the unborn and detrimental effects, in most cases, for the mother.

These donation-based CPCs, who serve women selflessly with love and respect at no cost, would be forced to promote state-assisted abortion or pay exorbitant fines if they don’t submit. In addition, this bill goes against their religious freedoms that the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution clearly supports.

One venue should not be forced to support the other. Women are more than capable of making their own choice. Concerned Women for America of Hawaii opposes this legislation.

Barbara J. Ferraro

State director, Concerned Women for America of Hawaii