A pro-abortion group reportedly stole a young woman’s photo to promote their pro-abortion campaign. There was just one glaring problem: the woman whose photo they nicked is pro-life.
Now, that young woman is speaking out.
On its website, the social media campaign #ShoutYourAbortion published a story Sunday allegedly written by a woman named “Heather” who excitedly boasted that she’d had “3 abortions – YES I HAVE!” Here’s a screenshot of the story, complete with a photo of a woman one would naturally presume is Heather:
Shortly after the blog was published, though, a young woman named Molly popped up saying she’d woken up to her face being circulated all over social media associated with the pro-abortion article. She added that the abortion group must have stolen a photo of her from somewhere on the Internet and used it without her permission to promote their campaign -- a campaign Molly says she fundamentally disagrees with.
A short time later, “Heather’s” blog had magically disappeared from the Shout Your Abortion website.
Here’s Molly’s full statement she later gave to LifeSitenews.com:
My name is Molly. I am 24 and want to make it clear that I have never had an abortion.
I was horrified to wake up yesterday and learn that a photo of me was stolen and used without my permission or knowledge on a post for “Shout Your Abortion”, a website that encourages women to share the stories of their abortions. Someone using the name “Heather” stole my picture and essentially my identity, using it in a post titled, “I am 23 and I have had 3 abortions. YES I HAVE!” She said she is proud of who she is and her actions, yet she used a picture of a random stranger instead of herself. I am appalled that my photo has been used in this manner.
All of my life, I have been pro-life and believe that life begins at conception. I have personally donated to pro-life causes and believe that every life is valuable. As a Christian, I believe that God is the author of life, and life is not ours to take away.
While the story on the website has been removed, links and screenshots of the title falsely tied to my picture are continually being shared. Even though the story is not mine, the comments being made about the girl in the photo feel very personal. Yes, the story, if it is true, is quite sad, but there is no excuse for making some of the crude and judgmental comments I have seen. While I strongly believe that abortion is taking a valued life, I would like to ask people to think about the effect that their words have and to choose their words carefully.
If Heather really exists, I want her to know that she has value and is loved despite the unfortunate life choices she has made. The Bible clearly teaches that God is a forgiving God. As a Christian, I strive to embody the love of Christ. Passing judgment helps no one. I hope that my story challenges you to think twice before making a comment on the Internet and instead think of other ways to promote choosing life. -Molly Schaap