This is a screenshot of the Oregon Health Authority's abortion access website. 

The Oregon Health Authority launched an abortion access website a few days ago.

Not long thereafter, Oregon Right to Life said the website is “a political statement thinly disguised as healthcare information.” That the state “should be creating more protections for pregnant women and the unborn — not marketing abortion.” That the state is “essentially erasing from the conversation” people who may hold differing views. That the website doesn’t go into detail about what happens during an abortion. And more.

Is it wrong for the state to be providing accurate information about a legal medical procedure? No, it’s not wrong.

Abortion can be as polarizing as polarizing issues come. Some people would consider any state-provided information about abortion, the importance of vaccinations or any number of other medical issues as being political and not informational. It doesn’t mean the website is wrong or should not exist.

We are not going to argue that people who feel like the state is marketing abortion, or feel like their views are not considered, should not feel that way.

But there are people who are looking for accurate information about what is legally available in Oregon. The website helps fill that need. And that should be one of the roles of state government.

You can see the website for yourself at tinyurl.com/ORabortionaccess.