If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade this summer, not only will abortions continue to be permitted under the Minnesota Constitution, they may increase as women travel for abortions from other states that make the procedure illegal.

If abortions increase, organizations in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis that provide support and services to women facing unplanned pregnancies plan to step up to meet the additional needs. Many have connections to local Catholics or the Church.

While women in crisis pregnancies don’t usually seek help from the Church, “once they do encounter that friendship and authentic concern, when they know there’s some sort of relationship between that first outreach, they do come,” said Jean Stopelstad, director of the archdiocese’s Office of Marriage and Family Life. “Because they know we’re trustworthy. Once they make a decision for life, they know that we’re not going to abandon them.”

Many of the organizations are funded through individual, church and business contributions, grants and fundraisers. Current and future challenges include reaching potential clients online who may seek chemical abortions or come from other states, pro-life advocates said.

A brief tour of some organizations in the archdiocese that support pregnant women and babies, with a look at their service, hopes and challenges:

Pregnancy centers

Eagan-based nonprofit Elevate Life provides training and resources to a network of 33 pregnancy resource centers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin locations. Its affiliates offered educational, and in many cases, medical services including ultrasound and pregnancy testing to more than 7,500 unique clients in 2021. Founded in 1974 by St. Joseph of Medaille Sister Jeanne Therese Condon, Elevate Life’s values align with the Catholic Church’s, but it’s not directly connected, said Vaunae Hansel, president.

One affiliate, Abria Pregnancy Resources, offers material and educational services to women deciding about their pregnancy and those who’ve chosen parenting at its St. Paul and Minneapolis locations. Beginning as University LifeCare center in 1975 and later merging with two other centers, Abria has received funds from the archdiocesan Catholic Services Appeal since 2018, said Angela Franey, executive director.

Maternity Homes

Enkrateia House of Hope is a home where up to four pregnant women ages 18 and older in the southwest Minneapolis suburbs can stay during pregnancy and for several months afterward while gaining parenting and life skills and other assistance. Founded in October 2021 by Dorothy Arockiasamy with the help of other St. Joseph in Waconia parishioners, a parish Council of Catholic Women recently offered help.

Philomena House near Como Park in St. Paul, founded by Catholics in 2014, provides a home for to up to four homeless women during pregnancy and up to three months after their baby’s birth, said Nancy Kiolbasa, director. Life skills education includes job seeking, financial management and parenting. Guests must be employed or enrolled in school. The house now helps more women with housing issues, including those not qualified to stay there.

Amazing Grace Home in Crystal is part of the pregnancy resource center Metro Women’s Center. It serves up to four pregnant women not currently parenting in its structured home environment program, said Colleen Tronson, Center director. Women must work and save money. Amazing Grace Home opened in 2012 and typically serves four women per year. The home isn’t connected to the Catholic Church, but St. Timothy in Blaine donates proceeds of an annual baby shower.

Other organizations and support

Cradle of Hope in Roseville provides portable cribs and helps pregnant women find financial assistance from more than 200 private and government organizations statewide. Cradle of Hope has helped bring more than $6 million in assistance to over 30,000 women in Minnesota since it was incorporated in 1974, said Darlene Kopesky, executive director. In 2021 it distributed 2,400 cribs and 450 financial grants. Cradle of Hope is non-religious and not directly connected with the Catholic Church, but it has Catholic board members.

The Archdiocesan Life Fund provides one-time, emergency funding to mothers during pregnancy and the first year of their child’s life. Financial grants are also available to fathers of babies and toddlers, said Sonya Flomo, Life Fund administrator. Started by the archdiocese in 1990, the Life Fund receives donations from individuals and about 10 parishes, she said. Ranging from $300 to $1,200, grants cover needs such as rent, mortgage, car and insurance payments. In 2021, 78 women applied for rent assistance and 41 received portable cribs, Flomo said. The pandemic brought an increase in requests and the numbers are likely to increase due to the worsening economy, she said. “It’s heartbreaking to hear what these women endure,” Flomo said. “I think (the program) alleviates a lot of stress of the women who apply.”

Community Caring for Life was initiated by the late Archbishop Harry Flynn in 1996 to be established in every archdiocesan parish to support life at all stages. At St. Raphael in Crystal, parishioners help pregnant women obtain portable cribs through the archdiocesan Life Fund, along with donated baby items and referrals for more assistance, said Jean Seppelt, St. Raphael CCFL chair. The parish group helped three women in 2021 and is funded mainly through parishioner donations and bake sales. Seppelt said she’s seen more women needing money for rent, transportation and cell phones.