For many, many years, Christians have been ministering to unwed mothers in countless ways, and especially via the most practical of methods.

Whether providing room and board, job assistance, spiritual teaching, or parenting and personal counseling, mothers carrying their preborn children have long been welcomed with open arms by women and men who love Jesus Christ.

In fact, one of the most common and vicious lies spread near and far is that pro-life advocates only concern themselves with the baby, ignoring the many needs of mothers. But homes for mothers have been around a long time, and there remains strong and vibrant outreach to these women.

Laura C. Morel of The New York Times acknowledges as much in today’s edition, but as the Old Grey Lady in general is apt to do, she also attempts to question, criticize and even demonize the heartfelt effort.

“These Maternity Homes Offer Sanctuary,” reads the headline. “But It Can Feel Oppressive.”

For her report, the Times’ writer spoke with “48 current or former residents, employees and volunteers.” It’s always impossible to know what a writer chooses to leave out of a story, or how they might have otherwise shaded or framed the narrative. But this particular telling is clearly looking to leave the reader with a negative impression of a heroic mission.

Right out of the gate, Morel jumps into a litany of negative accusations aimed at ministries and organizations in Florida which are serving mothers and their preborn babies.

We read of “Sunlight Home” in Naples requiring moms to download a tracking device on their phones. Hannah’s Home features mandatory morning prayers and asks its residents to get permission from a pastor before getting into another romantic relationship.

There’s no mention of Sunlight Home’s pledge and promise to “Embrace, Empower, Embark, Enrich” the women entrusted to their care.

When it comes to describing Hannah’s Home, there’s no mention of its inspirational founding. Over 20 years ago, Carol Beresford, wife to pastor Paul Beresford, met with a young, frightened, unwed mother, and felt the Lord’s nudge to minister to her and others who found themselves in similar situations.

The “dream” eventually became a home on five acres with capacity to help up to 23 mothers. Ever since, they’ve helped mothers and their babies.

Instead, The New York Times decries the rules, regulations and restrictions placed on mothers who live at Hannah’s Home and various other facilities.

Morel then writes:

For decades, maternity homes were institutions where unmarried pregnant women could give birth in secret and put their babies up for adoption. Most shut down by the 1970s, when access to birth control had widened.

Curiously, the writer doesn’t correlate the legalization of abortion in all 50 states with contributing to the decline in such ministries and organizations – unless she considers abortion to be birth control.

But the cynicism running through the “expose” is cruelest of all. The reader is left with the distinct impression the groups are highly restrictive, overly controlling and downright dictatorial. Even a reference to the homes having security cameras hints that such monitoring is a bad thing – despite the fact that many of the women served have been abused and are often the target of angry men who want them to have abortions.

The New York Times hit piece is but one more example of the (not so) soft bigotry of abortion activists who aren’t interested in solutions or finding ways to save lives. If these facilities didn’t have security cameras, they’d be called reckless. If they’d didn’t have strict rules, they’d be criticized for being careless. When it comes to radical abortion zealots, they’ve never found a pro-life outreach they like because they’re wholly committed to being pro-death.

We give thanks to the Lord for the courageous and sacrificial acts of countless individuals who serve women and their preborn babies in maternity homes. Let’s hope and pray they ignore the critics and maintain their focus on the mothers and babies in their care.

Photo credit: Hannah’s Home of South Florida