By Betsy Kneepkens
The Northern Cross
Even before Roe v. Wade was decided in January 1973, pro-life advocates were behind the scenes establishing organizations to help support women, babies, and families who found themselves in what they perceived was a crisis pregnancy. When the Supreme Court passed Roe v. Wade, pro-life advocates continued and expanded community efforts to help women in need. Since many felt abortion regulations were properly suited to be made by state legislators, others mobilized to move the ruling out of the federal purview. Many pro-life advocates have worked tirelessly to end circumstances that would make women feel that their motherhood is a crisis.
Pro-life individuals in our diocese have not stopped working on behalf of mothers in need since Minnesota passed laws to legalize abortion and increased those efforts with the eventual 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Currently, our diocese has nearly 50 organizations where women, fathers, and families can access help before, during, and after their pregnancy. Because Minnesota is one of those states that had already legalized abortion before Roe v. Wade, Minnesota will continue to allow abortions until our legislators overturn the laws. Because none of the neighboring states have laws that allow for abortion, Minnesota will become an abortion destination site like New York and California. Services to help support women with their pregnancy and motherhood will need to expand as the number of women seeking abortions in Minnesota will increase. Below is a partial list of current services offered to women, mothers, fathers, and children. As a Catholic church, we seek to eliminate any need to call anything surrounding motherhood a crisis.
Brainerd: Birthright, 401 W. Laurel St., Suite B, 56401; (218) 829-8470; www.birthright.org/brainerd
Brainerd: Lakes Area Pregnancy Support Center, 315 E. River Road, Suite One, 56401; (218) 825-0793; www.lakesareapregnancy.org
Deer River: New Beginnings Pregnancy Care Center, 17 First St., N.E., 56636; (218) 326-0404; newbeginningspregnancy.com
Duluth: Women’s Care Center, 103 E. First St., 55802; (218) 623-7100; www.womenscarecenter.org/duluth-minnesota
Duluth/Superior: Lake Superior Life Care Center, 1823 Belknap Street, Superior, WI 54880; (218) 727-3399 or (715) 394-4102; www.lslccduluthsuperior.org
Grand Rapids: New Beginnings Pregnancy Care Center, 605 N.W. Fourth St., 55744; (218) 326-0404; newbeginningspregnancy.com
Hibbing: Family Life Center, 802 E. Howard St., Suite Three, 55746; (218) 262-5768; www.familylifecenterrange.com
International Falls: Northern Options for Women, 923 Fifth St., 56649; (218) 285-7673; northernoptionsforwomen.optionsmn.org
Pine City: Pregnancy Resource Center, 315 Main St. S., Suite 20, 55063; (320)629-2792; www.pregornot.org
Sandstone: Options for Women, 927 State Highway 23 N., 55072; (320) 216-7633; www.sandstoneoptions.org
Virginia: Family Life Center, 820 N. Ninth St., Suite 130, 55792; (218) 262-5768; www.familylifecenterrange.com
Walker: Walker Area Pregnancy Support Center, 102 Eighth St. N., 56484; (218) 547-5433; www.pregnancyhelpmn.com
Pregnancy Resouce: (800) 395-HELP
Birthline Hotline: (800) 786-0200
Birthright Hotline: (800) 550-4900
Option Line: (800) 712-4357
Abortion Changes You: online resource for post-abortion healing; www.abortionchangesyou.com
Abortion Recovery International: worldwide database of organizations that can assist in healing; www.abortionrecovery.org
Healing Hearts Ministries: offers post-abortion group/online study “Binding Up the Brokenhearted”; www.healinghearts.org
National Helpline for Abortion Recovery: counseling services and a model for sexual health, abortion recovery, and prevention; www.internationalhelpline.org; (866) 482-5433
Project Rachel: offers one-on-one therapy for abortion recovery across Minnesota; [email protected]; (651) 291-4515
Rachel’s Vineyard: weekend retreats for healing after abortion; www.rvineyardmn.org; (763) 250-9313
Silent No More Awareness: nonprofit organization exposing the devastation of abortion and helping women find healing; www.silentnomoreawareness.org
Christ Child Society of Duluth: help for children in need; [email protected]
Cradle of Hope: financial assistance for pregnancy expenses; www.cradleofhope.org; (651) 636-0637
Damiano Center: food, clothing, and other resources in Duluth; [email protected]; (218) 722-8708
Guiding Star Project: www.guidingstarproject.com; [email protected]
Holy Family Catholic Adoption: adoption services for birth mothers and adoptive families; [email protected]; (612) 209-5869
Mysterious Miscarriage Sisterhood: supporting families who have experienced the trauma of miscarriage; (320) 597-4138
New Life Adoptions: comprehensive adoption services; [email protected]; (612) 746-5658
Sidelines Support Network: supporting women with complicated pregnancies, and their families; www.sidelines.org; (888)-447-4754
Star of the North Maternity Home: offering Christian-based housing for pregnant mothers and their babies
Duluth: (218) 340-1645, [email protected]
Iron Range: (218) 206-1931, [email protected]
Courageous Hearts: (715) 969-4506, [email protected]
Prenatal Partners for Life: (763) 772-3868, [email protected]
Northland Family Programs: Fertility Care Center, (218) 786-2378; www.northlandfamilyprograms.com
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, www.svdpusa.org
Duluth: (218) 409-6887, [email protected]
Superior: (715) 398-4039, [email protected]
CHUM Duluth: 102 W. Second St., Duluth; (218) 720-6521
Union Gospel Mission: 219 First St., Duluth; (218) 722-1196
Emily Food Shelf: 20948 County Road One, Emily; (218) 763-3663
Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen: 923 Oak St., Brainerd; (218) 829-4203
Habitat for Humanity: Aitkin County, (218) 927-5656; Lakes Area, (218) 828-8517; Itasca County, (218) 999-9001; North St. Louis, (218) 749-8910
Grace House, Grand Rapids: (218) 326-2790
CSS Students for Life: (218) 723-5000, [email protected]
UMD Bulldog Students for Life: (218) 726-8000, [email protected]
40 Days for Life: [email protected]
Pro-Life Ministries of Duluth: [email protected], (715) 969-4506 or (218) 382-0015
Pro-Life Across America: (800) 366-7773
Office of Marriage, Family, and Life: 2830 E. Fourth St., Duluth, MN 55812; (218) 724-9111; [email protected]; www.dioceseduluth.org
