A New Jersey Democratic congressman wants to shut down pro-life pregnancy resource centers that provide free diapers, clothing, counseling, and other services.

Using his authority as a congressman, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer called for a shutdown of pregnancy resource centers, which he calls “brainwashing cults.” He joins other Democrats, such as those in Illinois, who want to shut down and demonize pregnancy resource centers.

In case his targeting was lost in the news release, Gottheimer held a press conference in front of one of these life-saving centers.

“Women often go to these healthcare hoax clinics thinking they will receive real medical help, but instead they are greeted by people with no medical background whose goal is to brainwash women with their own ideological agenda,” Gottheimer claimed.

He also announced he will be devoting his time as a taxpayer-funded public servant to get these free centers shut down. He announced he plans to “stop at deceptive crisis pregnancy centers across New Jersey so women know they exist and to fight to shut these dangerous centers down.”

He also “is helping lead the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act in the House to prevent crisis pregnancy centers from spreading deceptive advertising about health care.”

“We need to do everything we can to shut down these brainwashing cult clinics. We need to stop the fake programming they’re pushing,” Gottheimer said.

His uninformed crusade against the nonprofits goes against his alleged role as a moderate who can work across the aisle.

He co-chairs the Problem Solvers Caucus, which calls itself an “independent member-driven group in Congress, [composed] of representatives from across the country” which is “committed to finding common ground on many of the key issues facing the nation.” His bio describes the caucus as “promot[ing] commonsense over extremism and work[ing] across party lines on key issues.”

Then why is he targeting free groups that provide assistance to pregnant moms and families?

One report found that pregnancy resource centers provided $266 million in value in 2019. This includes free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, diapers, and car seats.

Some provide more than material support, such as counseling, parenting classes, and other educational opportunities. Gottheimer’s attacks on these centers prove that his issue with them is that they help women choose life and not abort their babies.

Because these centers undercut the abortion industry’s agenda, they find themselves facing attacks from politicians. But since Gottheimer styles himself as being able to find “common ground” and fighting against “extremism,” he should not go to these centers to criticize them.

Instead, he should actually reach out to the millions of families who have been helped by pregnancy resource centers and talk to the wonderful volunteers and employees of these centers who freely give of their time and money to help women have a choice beyond abortion. Then he might realize he has been brainwashed into believing the lies of the abortion industry.