Doing good, no matter what

Just yesterday, volunteers who were at the Redford Pregnancy Care Center (RPCC) showed up to find the Care Center vandalized.  Windows were smashed and graffiti was spray painted on a newly painted exterior wall.   Based on the graffiti, which branded the RPCC as a "Fake Clinic," it seems that this vandalism was inspired by someone who wants abortion on demand to be maintained and is fearful of Roe v. Wade being overturned.  A similar act of vandalism also occurred at a pregnancy care center in Dearborn Heights.

Thankfully, no one was harmed and no one gained entry into the RPCC to cause further damage.

The likelihood of the culprit seeing this blog post is almost 0%, but a few thoughts deserve to be stated.

The RPCC is not a clinic.  It never has been, and it has never pretended to be.  In the past, it was a place where women could go to get a pregnancy test.  If these women discovered they were pregnant (and it was often traumatic news because of various circumstances), they were encouraged to do the right thing--even if were the hard thing--and to carry the baby to term, give birth, and either raise the child or give it up for adoption.  This advice was given because we believe that lives are precious gifts of God and that unborn children are not to be regarded as wicked or disposable.

The mission of the RPCC has changed over the years.  Now pregnancy tests are easy to get, so rarely does anyone come in for them anymore.  The RPCC has morphed into a alms-giving ministry.  We commend the women who have chosen to do the right thing in giving birth to the children they conceived.  We recognize that raising these children comes with challenges and expenses.  We aim to relieve some of that burden with gifts of diapers, formula, clothing, and other materials that can help young mothers.

The attack on the RPCC this past weekend was no doubt done in ignorance.  By disrupting our services, the benefits to young mothers have also been disrupted.  I doubt the vandal(s) recognize this.  Nevertheless, the motive of the vandal(s) was wicked.  Destruction of someone else's property is always sinful.  And yes, that includes people who have bombed abortion clinics.  The wickedness of abortion is not overcome by violence.  (I have not heard of such an attack for quite some time, although it is still cited as if it happens often.  A quick internet search for "abortion clinic firebombed" yielded one result from 2012.  All other results were for pregnancy care centers being attacked.)

Defending abortion by violence is doubly wicked.  I pray that those who embrace either would repent.  The RPCC will fix the broken glass, increase security, and continue in its mission.  We will continue to do good even if we would be attacked for it.  

Our ultimate goal is to be faithful to our Lord and to his word.  So, we will take to heart the words of St. Peter and strive to act accordingly: "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.  Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (1 Peter 3:13-17).

Some photos from the Redford Pregnancy Care Center.