Story by Randy Porter
LINCOLN (SNR) - Although they are autonomous from the Women’s Care Center in Lincoln, various groups support the center’s mission, services and philosophy.
Among them are Lincoln Right to Life and Sidewalk Advocates For Life-Lincoln. While they remain independent, the proximity of the new women’s center to the Right to Life location, and Advocates’ activities, is an exciting development.
Lincoln Right to Life
Lincoln Right to Life invited the Women’s Care Center to Lincoln, according to Mike Davis, president.
More than two years ago, Center Director Sarah Kroner, RN, told him she was moving to Lincoln and would like to establish a care center. She learned Lincoln Right to Life leased the building across the street from Planned Parenthood and said it would be the perfect location.
Kroner attended a Right to Life board meeting with various officials in attendance via Skype and proposed the care center move in to the Right to Life location. Right to Life would relocate to another part of the building leased by a mechanic. Davis talked to the shop owner who agreed to move because he already had plans to do so.
The mechanic’s space was vacated Aug. 1 and the process of major renovation began. With 23 volunteers who worked many hours, the first two units were gutted, including walls and ceiling, to save the care center the cost of demolition.
The building was blessed Nov. 24, the feast of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, by Bishop James Conley. Vietnamese parishioners from Lincoln brought food for the occasion.
Lincoln Right to Life had first right of refusal if someone tried to buy the building. Someone did want to buy it. Five men, all Knights of Columbus members, formed a partnership and bought the building Dec, 30, 2019. To commemorate the purchase on the feast of the Holy Innocents, the new corporation took the name, Matthew 3:18, LLC.
“The sole reason for the partnership to purchase the building was to be the landlord of Women’s Care Center,” Davis said. “We had no idea who the pending purchase agreement represented.”
Because it could be Planned Parenthood or another abortion provider, the partners would not allow the purchase offer to go forward.
“The Feast of the Immaculate Conception was a great day to open the care center,” Davis said. “The mothers who have conceived have true choices and true help for them to fall in love with their babies.”
One of the major features of the women’s center is its high quality ultrasound equipment, Davis said. Its images are superior to those offered at Planned Parenthood. Various Knights’ councils and surrounding parishes applied for a grant in conjunction with the Culture of Life Foundation with a matching grant from the Supreme Council of the Knights for the ultrasound.
Most women who see an image of their unborn baby fall in love with its face, he said. The mother will hear the heartbeat and see the image in 4D and in color.
“The ultrasound is the heart of Women’s Care center,” Davis said. There were many hurdles to overcome, he said. But when God is behind you, He makes it possible to maneuver any obstacles.
“When you know you’re doing God’s work, you don’t give up,” he said.
Nearly 40 parishioners and others attend the Right to Life Mass celebrated in the center at 10 a.m. each Tuesday, and all are welcome to attend, or to join in praying the rosary outside Planned Parenthood at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, the day abortions are performed.
Sidewalk Advocates
“I am so excited about Women’s Care Center opening,” said Lisa McInerney, program scheduler for Sidewalk Advocates For Life-Lincoln.
“As advocates, we recommend other resources to those headed for Planned Parenthood,” McInerney said. “Now, advocates can merely point to the sign across the street for great services.”
Some women may reside closer to another resource center which is fine, she said, just not Planned Parenthood or another abortion provider. Also, she said the women may not yet know the services available to them, and advocates provide that information.
McInerney praised the group of men who bought the building to accommodate both Lincoln Right to Life and the Women’s Care Center.
“I’m so proud of those who helped buy and remodel the new location,” she said. “The building has meeting spaces, is handicapped accessible and and has various other great features.”
The women’s center, Lincoln Right to Life and Sidewalk Advocate all operate independently, but all support pro-life activities.
Sidewalk Advocates offer other choices besides abortion and birth control to clients of Planned Parenthood, McInerney said. They try to inform them of the love and support available to them in the community. Advocates try to ensure potential Planned Parenthood clients know about local pregnancy resource centers that offer free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds (or referrals for free ultrasounds), and other forms of support.
“We offer help so they can either parent their child or consider placing for adoption, with the help of individuals and organizations in the local community,” she said. “We also refer them to local pro-life doctors, the county health department or federally qualified health centers, none of which offer abortions and whose services often cost less than Planned Parenthood.”
The particular location across the street from Lincoln Right to Life reported 538 surgical abortions in 2019 — more than 10 a week.
Safety
The Women’s Care Center, Lincoln Right to Life and Sidewalk Advocates all encourage pedestrians and others to exercise caution when crossing the street near this location. It’s crucial to use the crosswalk for safety.
