When it comes to using social media to post pro-life messages or use it to defend Biblical principles, it seems as though it’s becoming a regular occurrence for Christians, pro-life organizations, and those with traditional family values, to have their accounts blocked or suspended. Just recently, the Apple computer company, maker of the iPhone, iPad and iTunes app store, has joined the growing list of businesses that are actively suppressing the voices of those who lean toward conservatism.
Considering that Apple is run by Tim Cook, an openly gay CEO who donated one million dollars to one of the most liberal organizations in the country (the Southern Poverty Law Center), the fact they are shutting out pro-life voices should not come as a big surprise.
Besides giving large amounts of money to an organization that calls conservative organizations like the Family Research Council and the American Family Association hate groups, Apple has unexpectedly removed a pro-life mobile app that it had accepted in 2013. The app was developed by Human Coalition, a group of individuals that seeks to end abortion in America.
Human Coalition is extremely disappointed by the decision, especially since the popular app has been downloaded over 20,000 times and has resulted in 3.7 million prayers being said for babies in danger of being aborted. Apple has even periodically reviewed the app throughout the last four years and has never had a problem with it. Until now.
Brian Fisher, Co-Founder and President of Human Coalition, says, “There is a growing trend in the U.S. to attempt to deter or silence Americans who oppose the fatal discrimination against pre-born children. This move by Apple is not surprising, though it is a deep disappointment.”
Human Coalition developed the app as a way for people to unite together in prayer for those who are thinking about getting an abortion. Users of the app access a real-time map of the United States that displays the location where other people are praying. When app users open the “Prayer Feed,” they receive notifications and then can swipe to confirm there is prayer happening right at that moment for someone who is thinking about aborting her baby.
A description of the app reads, “Harnessing the power of prayer and technology, this Prayer App brings together praying people from across the country in real-time for one purpose: to pray for abortion-determined families as they walk through their decision process.”
Some pro-life advocates believe that Apple decided to do away with the app after several pro-abortion news outlets caught wind of the app and began mocking it in their reporting.
For example in a post entitled, “Bizarre App Lets Users Swipe Right to ‘Pray’ for Real Women Considering Abortion,” Slate.com blogger Christina Cauterucci writes, “I saved real-live babies from the clutches of money-grubbing abortion providers with just a couple dozen swipes of my right thumb, as if I were paging through Tinder or wiping a little schmutz off the screen of my phone. You too can be a baby-saving hero. Your superpower awaits at your favored app store, searchable under ‘Human Coalition.'”
Besides the mocking, Human Coalition was also falsely accused of violating the privacy of women seeking abortions. However, the real-time alerts sent out were always anonymous and never revealed anyone’s identity.
According to a statement made by Human Coalition, “On the heels of pro-abortion media pushback, Apple notified us that they had removed the Human Coalition app from the App Store, citing violations of certain functionality requirements. However, Human Coalition spoke with Apple and demonstrated that not only were the cited requirements met but that the Human Coalition app exceeded minimum requirements and functioned better than similar apps from other developers.”
Human Coalition has tried to repeal the decision made by Apple to discontinue the app, but so far the computer giant has not responded or given any indication of changing their minds. Human Coalition’s only choice is to launch a petition as a way to pressure Apple to bring back its app.
In seeking to transform America’s culture of death into a culture of life, Human Coalition has rescued 7,438 babies from being aborted. Along with a coalition of churches that work alongside them, Human Coalition strategically places Women’s Care Clinics in cities throughout the country, which help to provide life-saving resources and support for women in crisis.
~ Christian Patriot Daily
