How Soon is "Soon"?

Take a look at the picture on the left. I'll talk about it more further down in this post, but for now, I'll just say that this is a sign that stands outside an abortion clinic in Chicago, just a few miles from our office.

Since today is the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers, it's worth taking some time to consider one of the claims the abortion industry likes to make—specifically, the idea that abortion is simply one "reproductive choice" (no better or worse than any other "reproductive choice") a woman should be allowed to make if that's what she wants.

But do abortion clinics really encourage women to consider all of their "reproductive choices"?

Not so much.

As Carol Everett, who at one time managed multiple abortion clinics, has said:

I'm sure you've seen those numbers advertised that say "Problem Pregnancy," "Abortion Information," or "Pregnant?". When a young girl finds out she is pregnant, she may not want an abortion, she may just want information.

But when she calls that number that's paid for by abortion money, what kind of information do you think she is going to get? Remember, they sell abortions. They don't sell keeping the baby. They don't sell giving the baby up. They don't sell delivering the baby in any form. They only sell abortions.

The counselor that the girl speaks to on the telephone is paid to be her friend. She is supposed to seduce her into a friendship of sorts to sell her the abortion.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

At a children's pro-life prayer vigil last July, I took this picture of a sign in front of American Women's Medical Center (an abortion clinic near the North Side intersection of Western and Diversey Avenues in Chicago):



At our annual Empty Manger Christmas Caroling Day this past December, I took this picture:

How soon is "soon"?

This sign is symbolic of the false promises and lies that abortion is based on. Sure, abortion providers say they believe in giving women a range of "reproductive choices", but when it comes right down to it, well, that's another story.

How old is this sign? I honestly don't know. I'd seen it at least as early as 2005, but never thought to take a picture of it until last summer.

I'm guessing, though, that the sign is at least eleven years old.

Why do I say that?

Notice that the sign lists the abortion clinic's phone number, but not the area code.

It's for this reason that I'm guessing this abortion clinic has been advertising that "obstectrics [sic] and prenatal care" will be "coming soon" since at least 1996.

You see, before 1996, the entire city of Chicago was part of the 312 area code. That's why businesses usually didn't bother to include the area code when listing their phone number; it simply wasn't necessary, because every number in the city had the same area code.

But in 1996, most of the city of Chicago (including this abortion clinic) was switched over to the 773 area code. After this new area code was created, nearly everyone in Chicago began to include their area code when listing their phone number, as it now was necessary.

See, for example:

...the used car dealership a few doors down from the abortion clinic:




...the tae kwon do school across the street:




...the cafe across the street:



...the Chinese restaurant around the corner:

Have You Prayed for an Abortion Provider Lately?

What can we as pro-lifers do to counter an "Appreciation Day" for workers in an industry built on false promises and lies?

Lots of things, I suppose, but the first thing that comes to my mind is prayer, especially considering how many abortion industry workers have quit and are now pro-life. Their conversions would not have been possible without prayer.

For more on the importance of praying for the conversion of abortion providers, see this post I wrote at this time last year.

[Cross-posted at Generations for Life]