VENICE | Every year directors and staff of local pregnancy help centers, maternity homes and after-birth homes come together for a day to share and learn from one another.
The latest gathering, Heartbeat 2.0 Retreat, took place Sept. 5, 2025, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, and covered a wide variety of topics.
The retreat, hosted by the Diocese of Venice, included a presentation by Sara Johnson, from Florida Voters Against Extremism, on the ongoing fight to seek an end to abortion in Florida.
Johnson provided an update on the political landscape of Florida and the United States in the wake of the major 2024 ballot initiative. While Amendment 4, a proposed extreme amendment which would have catastrophically expanded access to abortion in Florida, went down to defeat, Johnson warned that the sentiments on abortion in Florida make the state vulnerable to more attempts to change the laws.
“The numbers are clear, 63% of Floridians think abortion should be legal,” Johnson said. “That is a huge number and makes Florida vulnerable. However, most Floridians think the Heartbeat Protection Act, the current law which prevents abortion after six weeks of gestation, with six exceptions, is reasonable and restrictive enough.”
While the Florida law does not eliminate access to abortion, it is a big step, Johnson stressed. The support behind expanding abortion access dumped $120 million into the Amendment 4 campaign and more money is being raised for ballot amendments in the coming election cycles, if not in 2026, but perhaps 2027 and more likely in 2028.
“It is a coordinated attack to enshrine this agenda of death,” Johnson said. “None of us believe abortion should be legislated or exist at all. Now is the opportunity to educate what it is we are trying to accomplish, that is saving the unborn.”
Pam Stenzel, from BrightCourse and Community Pregnancy Clinics, said the Florida law has many flaws and the perception of it has changed the way girls/women are approaching their decision to choose life or not.
“There is a 24-hour waiting period for getting an abortion, and that is the only time we have to connect with these girls,” Stenzel said. “If she calls one of the pregnancy resource centers (in the Diocese), someone has to be available to answer that inquiry within 15 minutes to answer the immediate need, or else she is gone.”
This reality exists because there is ready access to a chemical abortion through a pill prescription, which is not as regulated as a surgical abortion which takes place in a facility.
Stenzel spoke about a service that is available through Infinite Worth that links pregnancy resource centers to a nationwide response network which offers services through online or phone calls 24/7.
The final speaker was Karin Barbito from Support After Abortion. Because the majority of women and men who have experienced abortion want healing but don’t know where to go for help, Support After Abortion offers compassion and support for all of those impacted by abortion.
Barbito also spoke about Project Rachel, which offers retreats for women who have had an abortion, as well as Walking with Moms in Need, a U.S. Bishop’s program which operates at the Parish level, to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers in need. It works to ensure that any woman who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, or parenting in difficult circumstances, can turn to her local Catholic Church and be connected with the resources she needs.
For a list of the Pregnancy Resource Centers who support Walking with Moms in Need, visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/pregnancyhelp/. To learn about Respect Life activities in the Diocese of Venice, contact Tavia Ames at 941-484-9543 or [email protected].
Blessed! More help for mothers in Fort Myers
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, assisted by Deacon Gary Ingold, blesses the new Fort Myers office of Community Pregnancy Clinics, Sept. 8, 2025.(BOB REDDY | FC)
FORT MYERS | Community Pregnancy Clinics (CPCI) has a new Fort Myers clinic which offers a free state-licensed location to provide life-affirming care for women who are pregnant.
The new clinic, at 8291 College Parkway, was blessed by Bishop Frank J. Dewane during a prayer service Sept. 8, 2025, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Let us ask for God’s blessings on all those who will come here, and on all those who have dedicated themselves to their service and let us ask for a Divine blessing upon the building, dedication and illumination of life,” Bishop Dewane said.
Following the prayer service, Bishop Dewane, accompanied by Deacon Larry Ingold, past-CEO of CPCI, then went into each room of the clinic with Holy Water to bless the building and its mission.
Scott Baier, CEO Community Pregnancy Clinics, said the day of the blessing intentionally fell on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The new location, near Cape Coral Bridge, “is in the heart of Lee County, ideal for reaching women in need.”
“Thanks to the generosity of our Bishop Dewane and our many supporters, we are able to provide all services free of charge, ensuring that no woman ever feels like abortion is her only option because of financial pressure or lack of support,” Baier said.
CPCI reports that in 2024, 1,381 babies were saved from abortion in Florida, with hundreds in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota and Gainesville. CPCI offers the following services free of charge:
- Pregnancy Testing & Ultrasounds – Early confirmation of pregnancy and viability provides clarity and hope.
- Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) – Immediate medical support for women who regret starting a chemical abortion and want to continue their pregnancy.
- STI Testing & Treatment – Free, confidential STI testing, helping women protect their health and make informed, empowered choices.
- Material Support – Diapers, formula, clothing, baby gear, and maternity items help moms feel prepared and supported both during and after pregnancy.
- Parenting Education & Mentorship – One-on-one guidance classes build confidence and equip moms and dads for long-term success.
- Community Referrals & Emotional Support – Connecting women to the resources they need to thrive, from housing and counseling to prenatal care and more.
Baier said, “CPCI is revolutionizing the world of pregnancy and reproductive healthcare by providing life-affirming solutions to real-world problems, saving thousands of lives each year as a result.”
With support from board members and supporters, including members of the Knights of Columbus Council of St. Cecilia Parish in Fort Myers.
For information, visit https://supportcpci.com/.