From the blog.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in these posts are solely those of the authors and are not necessarily reflective of ALIES' position.
Counselled to Abort, Chose Life and Found Life in Jesus Instead
The doctor noticed that my baby’s nuchal translucency was abnormally high. This measurement is used to screen for potential syndromes, including Down syndrome. He explained that my baby had a 60% chance of having a syndrome and said he would report it to my doctor so we could discuss the option of termination. Just like that, "abortion" was mentioned for the first time, and I was in shock.
The Cultural Norms of Growing Old
Read one young woman's experience of caring for her elderly grandmother and the lessons she learned in the midst of our culture's growing lack of regard for the sick and vulnerable.
Should Birth Control Be Used for Medical Purposes? (Part Two)
You may be familiar with the fact that the birth control pill (BCP) is not just prescribed to the sexually active seeking to be “safe.” Although that is a major draw toward the Pill, many young women have been offered it as a solution for numerous medical problems. Frequently, in the doctor’s office, this “medication” is presented as the best, if not the only, option.
Is the Birth Control Pill Abortifacient: Part One
Is the birth control pill abortifacient? Does it prevent ovulation 100% of the time, or have we been sold a lie? Read further for a discussion that may challenge our previously held convictions.
Planting Hope: The Power of Saying 'Yes' to Life
At 19, I found myself pregnant with my first child. I was young and immature, yet I had already faced more hardships than most people my age.
God’s Grace, Wisdom and Mercy Brings Life
When I was 15 years old, due to a suggestion made by a wonderful mentor that God had chosen to put in my life, I began to pray for the lady that would become my future wife. Not only did I not know who she was at the time, I had no way of knowing that she was in the midst of an unplanned pregnancy and needed prayer.
What Does it Mean to Be Pro-life in Canada?
When I was growing up in the 80’s and 90’s in Alberta, abortion never came up in conversation. We never talked about it at home. We never talked about it at school. We never talked about it at church. And yet somehow, I knew what it was, and somehow, I knew it was wrong.
Seeing Beyond Obligation
Leaving work that day, I nursed a sense of self pity. It had been a long day with tedious work. The plan I had made earlier in the month-to visit the residents at Bethany Care Center-was not something I wanted to do that evening.
Outcomes of IVF: complications for babies and mothers
In the first installment of this series on assisted reproductive technologies (ART), we explored the moral implications of IVF as it pertains to the death of the embryos created through the process.
Stories from The Back Porch
My name is Anita and I am the Coordinator at The Back Porch in Edmonton. I started as Coordinator with ALIES & The Back Porch in April of 2021. When I first started training to speak to moms, I had many preconceived notions about moms seeking abortion.
Grinches Hate Life
When thinking about the upcoming blog post for December my thoughts turned understandably towards Christmas. I thought about what connections could be made between our work at ALIES and the Christmas season, and while there are many, all I could think about was my siblings and our family Christmas traditions.
A Prenatal Diagnosis Story: Counseled to Abort, but Chose Faith in God
I’ll never forget that day seven years ago. It was November 3, 2016, a Thursday. I was pregnant with twins and it was the day of my 18-week ultrasound. I was so excited to find out the babies’ gender. Were we having two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl? Though I would have been thrilled with any combination, I was hoping for a boy and a girl.
The Gift of Adoption
While adoption can be a beautiful and loving act, it is often discouraged because of the stigma surrounding it and because of the intense emotional nature of the subject. Despite this, adoption can be the most amazing gift you can give to a baby.
Meet the Team Part 2
Everyone at ALIES has their own story about why they care about the prolife movement and how they got involved. Here is Part 2 where we hear from Gabrielle, Anita, and Meg on why they said yes to the call.
Meet the Team Part 1
Everyone at ALIES has their own story about why they care about the prolife movement and how they got involved. Here is part one into why the different team members at ALIES said yes to call. Stay tuned for part 2 later this month!
A Happy Death
Just about every weekend of my childhood was spent alongside my grandma Sally. We would spend time at the mall, playing cards and watching far too much TV, while getting far too little sleep. She was the ideal grandmother.
Death of Embryos
When I set out to write this blog, I jotted down my thoughts about the ethical dilemma of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and realized that, to treat the issue as thoroughly as I needed to, it would take… well, quite a few words.
I Am a Mother
“You’re a mother.” Why didn’t I know that as I signed the consent forms for the doctor to abort my child? I had to reason I was merely carrying a “cluster of cells” in order to go ahead with it.
My Body, No Choice
In my mid-twenties, I was a poor grad student at a small, elite American college. I spent my first year living in residence, and being a half-generation older, I found myself the object of father-hunger (or maybe uncle-hunger) for several fledgling freshmen, girls and boys. These were kids considerably more well-heeled and sophisticated than this middle-class Albertan, and it was mildly interesting to be their library-closing confidant: hearing the same-old, same-old adolescent obsessions and anxieties translated to Cape Cod and Twin Peaks.
Joseph: A Model for Fathers
I was walking past the abortion clinic one day and happened to notice a row of vehicles parked in front. Sitting in the driver’s seats were men. Men who should have been fathers, waiting for their significant others. In one tender moment, a young woman walked out clearly not doing well, her boyfriend walked around and opened the backseat door for her, proceeding to take care of her. This moment of support is particularly ironic given that he had just subjected her to one of the most invasive and heart-breaking medical procedures a young woman could ever encounter, instead of doing the right thing and seeing the joy of this pregnancy and stepping into his role as father.