Yes, when I was a youth worker for a religious organization I was told that I wasn't allowed to give out information about local clinics. I basically agreed, but kept the leaflets anyway in case I needed them. As far as I was concerned my first responsibility was to do right by my clients, to with hold such vital information such as unbiased counselling services would have been highly unprofessional of me.

I have long been an advocate against domestic violence. Many years ago I was given a Magnet for my refrigerator, “The Red Flags of Abuse”. The magnet has been there so long I really pay it no mind. Today I happened to notice it again and realized a very curious thing. I will share it with you now.
Red flags of Abuse

1. Acts Jealous and Possessive of you---
   “for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God”-- Exodus 20:5

2. Loses temper over little things---
   “And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.”-- Matthew 21:19

3. Intimidates you and makes you feel afraid--
   “That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God”-- Deuteronomy 6:2

4. Puts down your family, friends, goals, and dreams
   “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”-- Matthew 10:37

5. Does not respect your feelings or idea--
   “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.”-- 1 Corinthians 8:2

6. Refuses to take responsibility for actions by blaming others--
   “And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”-- Genesis 6:7

7. Plays mind games and makes you try and feel guilty—
   “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”-- Romans 3:23

8. Controls what you wear, who you talk to and where you go—
   “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.”-- Leviticus 19:27

9. Threatens to hurt you, a pet, or commit suicide if you want to break up—
   “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”-- Matthew 10:28

It took mere seconds to think of passages which qualify for these red flags. It would take little effort to fill pages with examples. The simple existence of these examples makes all the counter examples, anything of the goodness of God or Jesus, look like the behavior of a batterer the day after he batters. On such days many victims will say there is no on nicer on the face of the Earth, and that batterer will continue to behave nicely right up until they batter again. The Biblical model of God very closely resembles that of an abusive spouse or parent.

Think about it.
D.N.B.--2009

MermaidSuzy888, you sound like a very kind, compassionate person. Kudos to you for being a source of comfort and reason to women who were making a difficult decision.

After my late partner's third child was born (she was previously unhappily married) she got pregnant again. She then had an abortion and got her tubes tied. She was a lifelong atheist (from Iran) and believed in the power of reason. She never felt guilty of her decision and was unapologetically open to everyone about her decision. Believe it or not there are non-religious that are opposed to abortion. We need more women like you to show a more compassionate side.

Big kudos to you and the work that you have done and continue to do.

Thanks for not being one of the political or religious hypocrites who preaches against it, then force their mistresses to have them. The religious and political hypocrisy disgust me.

A pro-choice Catholic Nun. Wow! I wonder what group she belonged to...

Me either

If I believed in a god, I'd say bless your heart, ohh what the hell bless your heart <3

That is so true. Think about that old time quote "keep em barefoot and pregnant

I agree.