We’ve all been victims of “bait and switch” situations.

That moment when you see the perfect apartment or car in an ad, to later find they “just sold out” of what caught your eye; luckily they always have the next best thing. Well, that’s what they say, anyway.

Sometimes, although backhanded, these trade-offs don’t change your plans too severely in the big picture, and perhaps it even works out to your advantage.

However, sometimes these bait and switches have an agenda in mind, other than money or product.

A dangerous example of this is the trend of religious-based organizations fronting themselves as crisis pregnancy centers, such as We Care Pregnancy in DeKalb.

These facilities promote themselves as unbiased sources of support for women who may be pregnant and are looking for options. Problem is, they don’t provide any other resources than those suiting their philosophy.

We Care Pregnancy does not offer birth control, abortions or even references to where one can get an abortion. Yet, in their ads they tout themselves as a safe-haven for those afraid and in need.

Now, I’m not saying that everyone who is pregnant should get an abortion, but I am saying that it should be offered as an option at a pregnancy crisis center. At the least, a reference should be available.

A few weeks ago, on my way to class, We Care Pregnancy had an “informational table” set up in DuSable Hall giving away pregnancy tests.

I asked, “Do you offer abortions?” to which they replied, “No, we just offer education.” Because women who want to cover all their bases or who choose to abort are uneducated.

This is the problem of integrating faith-based philosophies with services as important as crisis centers.

A woman in need of education, information and support should have all options available to her so she can make a fully-informed decision as to what is best.

Faith-based organizations have every right to be exclusionary and selective with their information; however, they are misrepresenting themselves.

We Care Pregnancy’s website, wecarepregnancyclinic.org, addresses the question, “Do you offer abortions?” with, “We urge you to make a well-informed decision. The decision to abort should not be made under pressure nor without all of the available information.” Underneath that, in all caps, the website makes clear however that they don’t want you to get an abortion. Bias, crises and pregnancy shouldn’t mix.

Located at 403 N. Fifth St., this is the most widely advertised pregnancy center for women, is consistently in the Northern Star’s classifieds, and has an official affiliation with the school with the student organization WeCare4NIU. On their site, the group says they are dedicated to, “Empowering women to make life-affirming choices.”

It’s uncertain whether or not We Care Pregnancy knows that the word “empower” means “to give choice.”

The trend of religious-based crisis centers are problematic because they disguise religious ideology with the use of feminist rhetoric and considering there’s no clinics offering abortion services in DeKalb or Sycamore, local women face even more opposition in searching for choice and comprehensive education.