July 8, 2022

Clearway Clinic in Worcester one of two clinics vandalized

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

 

SPRINGFIELD – The executive director of Clearway Clinics is calling on public officials to condemn an attack on their Worcester, Mass., location early Thursday morning.

Clearway and Problem Pregnancy, also in Worcester, were vandalized. Clearway’s windows were smashed and the words “Jane’s Revenge” were spray-painted in black outside on the sidewalk.

“Jane’s Revenge” is a pro-abortion group which has taken responsibility for various attacks on churches and pro-life pregnancy centers across the country since the leaked U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health organization case. Ultimately, the case led to the overturning of the 1973 ruling of Roe v. Wade, which had legalized abortion across the country. The recent ruling gives the power to the states to decide their own laws regarding abortion.

“We are deeply saddened misunderstandings about what do have led to pro-abortion extremists targeting our center. However, we are committed to continuing our mission of serving women in our community,” said Kelly Wilcox, executive director of Clearway Clinic, in a Facebook post. Clearway’s Springfield clinic was not targeted.

Clearway Clinics are licensed, pro-life medical clinics, with a team of six doctors and six nurses overseeing care. They provide pregnancy diagnosis which includes free ultrasounds. Wilcox said last year alone, both clinics served more than 600 families.

“We call on our state officials to publicly condemn the domestic terrorist attack against our organization. Violence against our center harms women, babies and families that rely on us for help in times of need,” she said.

In response to the ongoing attacks on churches and pregnancy centers nationwide, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Religious Liberty, and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, released a joint statement in June, calling on elected leaders to condemn the violence. The statement read:

“Since the leak of the draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, charities that support pregnant mothers in need have been firebombed, and pro-life organizations have been attacked almost daily and terrorized, and even the lives of Supreme Court justices have been directly threatened. In light of this, we urge our elected officials to take a strong stand against this violence, and our law enforcement authorities to increase their vigilance in protecting those who are in increased danger. We thank those who have already done so, and we encourage them to continue.”

Since the ruling was released in June, there have been separate calls to crack down legislatively on pregnancy care centers that some believe deceive women. On Wednesday, July 6, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey issued a statement claiming pregnancy centers use “deceptive and coercive tactics.”

A warning about pregnancy care centers is listed on her Mass.gov website. There is no mention of the vandalism that took place in Worcester.

In late June, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) held a press conference in Boston calling pregnancy care centers “deceptive outfits.”

Warren, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) and others have claimed that such centers trick or pressure women who are seeking an abortion, which falls under what many call reproductive healthcare. Warren recently co-sponsored legislation in the U.S. Senate called the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act.

Pregnancy care centers are nonprofits that offer women facing an unplanned pregnancy an alternative to abortion by providing hope and practical help at no cost. From diapers and wipes, to baby clothes and formula, to big ticket items, such as car seats, pack-and-plays and strollers, pregnancy care centers walk with women throughout the pregnancy and beyond.

In addition, centers offer job, housing and educational referrals. They provide information on adoption, parenting, and the procedures involved in abortion.

The Springfield Diocese’s Annual Catholic Appeal helps fund Clearway Clinic; Bethlehem House in Easthampton; New Direction Women’s Center in Pittsfield; and Alternatives Pregnancy Center in Greenfield.

Hundreds of families have been helped by these centers through the years.

To learn more, visit https://diospringfield.org/Ministries/respect-life-office/.