“Everybody Loves Raymond” actress Patricia Heaton made Facebook’s trending topics list Thursday after she tweeted several statements in celebration of life.
Heaton, who is known for her pro-life views, tweeted a shout-out to the Northwest Center.
Choose, celebrate, support Life! Thanks Northwest Center! https://t.co/EAC6gtrXpO
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) May 12, 2016
Her tweet included a video from the center, which responded on Facebook thanking her for the shoutout.
A Pregnancy Center & Maternity Home that cares for the mother father & child b4 and after birth. https://t.co/yCrSsPL4eu
— Gloria Purvis (@gloria_purvis) May 12, 2016
Heaton is one of a few pro-life celebrities, and a breath of fresh air in the industry. Her message not only promotes life, but the good work that pregnancy centers do. It’s worth noting that she not only said to “choose” life, but to “celebrate,” and “support” life, which these centers do by providing material and financial aid and referrals.
These centers and maternity homes “choose, celebrate [and] support Life” when it comes to preborn children, but they also do for their mothers, as well. That’s true care and compassion for every human life. The center doesn’t choose to just help the child or the mother, but both.
Providing young women and families a place to turn to shouldn’t be a controversial matter. And yet some have a problem with Heaton expressing her views in a positive way, with some not so positive messages themselves, as TheBlaze noted.
The reactions ranged from typical talking points:
@PatriciaHeaton life is beautiful especially when everyone else mind their business and stays out of the woman’s uterus! Mind your business!
— MJ (@BBMJ22) May 19, 2016
To more of vile insults:
@PatriciaHeaton I’m all for post birth abortions for actors meddling in others lives that are none of their business. give yourself one.
— Billy Spillwater (@BillySpillwater) May 19, 2016
@PatriciaHeaton Go get some more plastic surgery and stop repressing women!
— Cindy Strybos (@Cindy_Strybos) May 19, 2016
How is it “meddling” when these women seek out the pregnancy centers for help themselves and are grateful for it? That’s not very pro-women and it’s not so “pro-choice,” leaving us to wonder how exactly Heaton’s encouraging message is “repressing women.”
Fortunately, the replies mostly contained support and those who defended the life-affirming message.
@BillySpillwater @PatriciaHeaton I gather from your tweet that you’re a compassionate, understanding, tolerant pro-free speech liberal
— Serio Vitium (@seriovitium) May 19, 2016
@PatriciaHeaton Good for you! Who knew ppl could come so unglued over a tweet about choosing and celebrating life? Keep up the good work!
— Juju Buttons (@JujuButtons) May 19, 2016
@PatriciaHeaton Thank you for sharing this, knowing it is not the PC opinion. LIfe is from conception, and is never a mistake.
— Kelly Waddell (@ClbsMm2000) May 19, 2016
Heaton spoke earlier this year at the OneLife LA rally, which coincided with the 2016 March for Life in Los Angeles, CA. She also joined in on #PPSellsBabyParts last summer. The hashtag was in response to videos released by the Center for Medical Progress alleging Planned Parenthood was involved in the illegal sale of aborted baby body parts, according to conversations with the abortion chain’s top employees.
Abortionist Deborah “Hannibal” Nucatola swills her chianti while talking about selling baby parts. http://t.co/xlPAK3z6Ln #PPSellsBabyParts
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) July 14, 2015
Heaton is also an honorary chair of Feminists for Life. In an interview with TheBlaze she noted that “it’s almost a reflex now,” about speaking out about her pro-life passions, and that her Catholic faith goes hand-in-hand with such views.
While many of Hollywood’s stars marched in 2004’s pro-abortion March for Women’s Lives, Heaton spoke out against that pro-abortion mindset and noted that “women who experience unplanned pregnancy also deserve unplanned joy,” reflecting the view of Feminists for Life that “women deserve better.”
While individuals in the media are using their platforms to defame the good work that these pro-life centers do, it’s encouraging to see a celebration of life from Heaton.