Tuesday, May 14, 2013  -- Powerful message on Kermit Gosnell offered by Abby Johnson

Kermit Gosnell has been convicted of murdering babies born alive during abortion attempts.  Abby Johnson, herself a recent convert to the Pro-Life cause, has encountered Pro-Life advocates who have said things like, “murderers and people like him don’t deserve to breathe the same air as I do,” or “I hope he burns in hell.” 

Abby observes, "I lied to women when they came to me for accurate information.   I was among the worst sinners…those that help to take and destroy life.   I am no better than Kermit Gosnell."  She continues, "What if it took me longer to realize the truth?  Do I deserve to die?  Are we saying repentance is about our timing?"

Abby wants to see Kermit Gosnell converted, as she was converted.  She explains her conversion, stating, "It was Christ who changed me.  It was the merciful and compassionate words of His people.  It was no condemnation.  It was not prayers that I would burn in hell.  It was not those who yelled and called me names.  It was the words of people like Karen.  Those who prayed that I would, one day, walk out of that clinic.  Those who had constant faith…even when that faith was a struggle to have.  I am here because of THEM and because of their Christ-like witness."

Abby Johsnon is a powerful witness for ending abortion by converting abortion workers.   Read her entire perspective here, and then start praying for the conversion of more abortion workers, no matter how evil they appear, and do not hope they burn in hell, even if they seem hopeless, for nothing is impossible with God.

Monday, May 13, 2013  -- Gosnell convicted of 3 first degree murders of babies

The jury deliberated for 10 days on 263 charges brought against abortionist Kermit Gosnell.  In all, Gosnell was found guilty of the following charges:

• 3 Felony Counts First Degree Murder of Babies A, C, and D
• 1 Felony Count Involuntary Manslaughter for the death of Karnamaya Mongar
• 1 Felony Count Infanticide for Baby A
• 21 Felony Counts Illegal Abortion beyond 24 weeks
• 211 Misdemeanor Counts of Violating the 24-Hour Informed Consent
• 1 Felony Count of Racketeering
• 1 Felony Count Running a Corrupt Organization
• Numerous Felony Counts of Conspiracy

Since that verdict, Gosnell has given up his right to appeal in exchange for life in prison with no possibility of facing the death penalty.

Given the serious nature of the charges Gosnell was convicted of, Planned Parenthood and NARAL have made statements supporting his conviction.  However, at the same time, they blame Pro-Life advocates for "driving" woman to seek out Gosnell. 

Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL, blamed the violations committed by Kermit Gosnell on Pro-Life efforts when she said, “Anti-choice politicians, and their unrelenting efforts to deny women access to safe and legal abortion care, will only drive more women to back-alley butchers like Kermit Gosnell.” 

Such a statement is an attempt to distort the facts, given that Gosnell was a noted abortion provider who maintained a known office, received referrals from other abortion providers, and had an acceptable reputation in the community among abortion advocates prior to the discoveries made in 2011 that led to the charges against him.

No one who knew anything about the unsavory situation inside Gosnell's facility ever notified the authorities.  One researcher examined the record and found NARAL did not bring the Gosnell case to the attention of the world.   That fact did not stop NARAL's Hogue from claiming, “[W]e were the first out of the gate to call attention to this case.  And you know why?…  It’s because unfortunately as the anti-choicers try and restrict more and more doctors out of business, they are the ones keeping the Kermit Gosnells operating.” 

Such claims are more than illogical.  Pro-Lifers have focused on the more notorious late-term abortionists as the first ones to report to the authorities.   Unfortunately, these attempts have often been ignored by those responsible for enforcing the limited abortion laws that are on the books.

Friday, May 10, 2013  -- What is the Gallup Poll on abortion telling us?

Polls can be misleading since the questions can be wordsmithed to change the results.   Some polls get taken year after year and can show changing trends.  Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 2-7, is one of these, even though the categories are somewhat generic.

The poll finds that 58% of Americans want either all or almost all abortions to be illegal, with 20% saying abortion should be illegal in all circumstances and 38% wanting it to be legal in only a few circumstances.

On the other side of the issue, 39% of Americans support all or most abortions remaining legal, with 26% supporting legalized abortion under any circumstances (the position of Planned Parenthood and most abortion advocates) and 13% favoring legality under most circumstances.

This solid majority of 58% to 39% demonstrates that citizens disagree with the current legal status of abortion on demand in the USA.  Of the 38% (within the 58%) that accept legal abortion "in only a few circumstances" other more specific polls suggest that these circumstances are typically life of the mother, rape or incest, and possibly serious fetal conditions.  Since such cases represent less than 5% of all abortions, it can be safely contended that 58% of US citizens oppose at least 95% of the 1.2 million abortions committed in our nation each year.

Thursday, May 9, 2013  -- Case for legalizing abortion based on lies (again)

The lies never end in attempts to justify legalizing abortion.  Abortion is illegal in El Salvador in all circumstances.  An attempt is now ongoing to use the case of a mother with health issues, carrying a baby with health issues, to justify abortion based on claims that the mother's life is in danger.

Amnesty International, International Planned Parenthood Federation, and other United Nations “experts” are joining together to demand an abortion for an anonymous woman being called  “Beatriz” by the El Salvador press.  Three weeks after these demands surfaced for an abortion to save the life of “Beatriz” she has not had an abortion.

The condition faced by “Beatriz” is a combination of Lupus and renal insufficiency.  Further justification for abortion has been made by doctors who claim her child is anencephalic, a condition in which the brain does not fully form, normally causing death inside the womb or soon after birth.

According to gynecologist Carlos Mayora Escobar of the El Salvador Bioethics Association, “this patient is being very well attended in the Maternity Hospital.   They are monitoring her carefully.  “The reality is that Beatriz will not die if she receives the proper medical attention, which includes observation and care within a medical center,” the association added in a press release.

In contrast to this reality, abortion advocates claim an urgent need for abortion in this case.  “The situation of Beatriz is urgent and must not wait any longer.   Her chances of surviving depend on the decision of the authorities,” claimed Esther Major, a representative of Amnesty International on April 17.  The UN’s Office of the High Commission on Human Rights made similar claims on April 23, warning that Beatriz was “in urgent need of medical treatment to terminate her pregnancy and save her life.”

Such misrepresentations of circumstances in an admittedly difficult situation are the typical means used in every attempt made by abortion advocates to attack laws that prohibit abortion.  This case has gone to El Salvador’s Supreme Court, which has thus far not rendered a verdict, waiting to examine opinions by a variety of agencies and groups, including the National Bioethics Council, the country’s Attorney General, the Human Rights Procurator, and the Ministry of Health.  Pray that the truth will prevail and life will continue to be fully defended under the law in El Salvador.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013  -- Video evidence of deadly late-term abortion practices

Lila Rose of Live Action recently released two more videos that reveal the anti-life attitudes and deadly practices of late-term abortion providers.  An abortion facility employee in Phoenix AZ assures a woman that "we will not resuscitate" a baby born alive after a failed abortion.

Leroy Carhart claims that after an injection is used to kill it, the dead baby is "like meat in a crock pot" and tells his potential patient how to complete the abortion in her hotel room, if necessary.  Carhart also lies about how a mother died, claiming the cause was complications from the pregnancy, when the actual cause was complications from the abortion he committed at 33 weeks into the pregnancy.

How can anyone trust abortion providers when they are willing to lie about potential risks and take such a crass and inhuman view of preborn babies?  Women endanger themselves to these vultures because they see no alternative to abortion.  When mothers are given hope through pregnancy care centers, they are able to overcome their concerns and avoid endangering their lives while choosing life for their babies.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013  -- Judge suggests that he will overrule the FDA on Plan B

It may not take long for my prediction to play out about Judge Edward Korman rejecting the just released Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule to allow Plan B to be sold to teens at 15 years and older.  Today Judge Korman said the Obama administration is playing politics with his decision to make emergency contraception available to all ages without a prescription, according to attorneys who were in the courtroom.

Judge Korman said he will make a decision by the end of the week.  But in stern language, he made it clear that he was not pleased with the FDA’s decision last week to lower the age of access to the Plan B One-Step morning-after pill from 17 to 15, yet require women to provide identification.  [5/13 update:  Korman denied the FDA attempt to limit distribution by age, but the Obama administration has appealed.]

Does anyone really believe that the Obama administration and the FDA are sincere about this latest age limit when their supporters at Planned Parenthood are all demanding that age restrictions be completely eliminated?  I suggest that this approach is just an attempt to get some political mileage out of appearing "reasonable" while they know that the judge will achieve their desired result.

Monday, May 6, 2013  -- Serious concerns about expanded use of Plan B

After the recent court ruling to eliminate age limits for obtaining the Plan B morning-after pill without a prescription, followed by the FDA attempt to set the age at 15, I received an email expressing concern about this situation, as follows:

As you must know, the pill is being sold over the counter now, or will be. What can be done about this? The FDA claims it's not an abortion pill, but even the product itself has it on the packaging that it can prevent an already FERTILIZED EGG from implanting onto the lining of the uterus. Then, it dies. How can the FDA's claim be corrected so that the pill cannot be sold over the counter at least? Who can be contacted? Can you help with this? Would it be possible for the Illinois Right to Life to try to somehow get that information to legislatures and people in the system? It would probably be taken off over the counter if they knew that it was basically an abortion pill. Please reply as soon as possible. I would appreciate it. The sooner the better so that the pill doesn't get out to too many people. That way, less lives are lost before that law can be modified.

I emailed this response:

We have reached a situation in world history where truth is considered falsehood and falsehood is declared as truth. Illinois Right to Life Committee has been in the fight from the beginning against the irrational and dangerous concept of allowing sales of Plan B without a prescription.

Consider this article that includes a history of the slippery slope taken along the way to reach this point.  I predict that the court will again overrule the FDA on their newly established minimum age of 15 and declare there is no justification for any age limit.  The court has already made that declaration once.  Why would the judge find 15 OK as an age limit?

What is the basis for such a claim about no justification for an age limit?   Unfounded statements from Plan B supporters (Planned Parenthood, NARAL, NOW, pro-abortion physician organizations, etc) that claim Plan B is safe.  How was that determined?  There have been no studies of the health effects of Plan B on teenagers.   The claims are based on a dream world that does not exist, but in today's politically correct society, that is apparently all that is needed, and those who protest are "anti-science", "agenda-driven", or "trying to turn back the clock to 1950."

Snce you are apparently located on a college campus, either as a student or in some other capacity, you may already be aware of how logic gets thrown out the window for political correctness.  Here is just one recent article on that problem: Pro-Life Students Face Increasing Harassment on Campus.

One of the ways that the abortion effect of Plan B is denied relates to an unscientific redefinition of the beginning of pregnancy, moving it from fertilization to implantation.   Those who deny the abortion effect of Plan B hide behind this redefinition, which actually occurred back in the late 1960s when the contraception pill was first introduced and the purveyors of this new method of birth control wanted to reduce the risk that it would be labeled as causing abortions (which in fact it does in some cases, in the same way Plan B does).  Since Plan B is effectively just a much higher dosage of ingredients found in standard contraceptive pills, the stage was set many years ago for denying this aspect of reality.

If you have a Pro-Life student group on your campus, join them.  If not, contact Students for Life of Illinois and seek help to form one.  You can find more information on this issue (contraception in general and the morning-after pill) at: www.illinoisrighttolife.org/Issues.htm.   If this response raises more questions for you than it answers, feel free to contact me again.

Friday, May 3, 2013  -- More infant vaccines correlate to higher infant mortality

A study was recently performed that analyzed the number of required vaccinations before age one compared to infant mortality rates for 34 nations.  For example, six of the seven nations with the lowest number of required vaccinations before age one also appeared as six of the top eight nations for lowest infant mortality rate.

The USA has the highest number of required vaccinations by age one at 26 doses. The US infant mortality rate of 6.22 per 1000 live births puts our nation at 34th place, with Cuba in 33rd place. The 6.22 rate compares to rates of 2.3 to 3.79 for the top 10 nations. Those 10 nations are: Singapore, Sweden, Japan, Iceland, France, Finland, Norway, Malta, Andorra, and Czech Republic. Even the 26th ranked nation for infant mortality (New Zealand) has a rate of 4.92, still well below the US rate, and New Zealand is tenth on the list of nations with the lowest number of required vaccinations.

The study, called Infant Mortality Rates Regressed Against Number of Vaccine Doses Routinely Given: Is There a Biochemical or Synergistic Toxicity?, was conducted by Neil Z Miller and Gary S Goldman, and reported in the journal Human and Experimental Toxicology.

Certainly, there is not a perfect correlation between required vaccinations and infant mortality rate, but the analysis performed supports a conclusion that "nations that require more vaccine doses tend to have higher infant mortality rates."  One would hope this information would suggest that requiring more vaccinations for infants is not effective for improving health and should be re-evaluated.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013  -- FDA is again allowing Plan B for younger teens

Yesterday the FDA announced new rules to allow teens 15 years and older to obtain Plan B without a prescription.  This change reduces the age requirement for unrestricted access to Plan B from 17 to 15.   Apparently, this FDA expansion of access to Plan B is supposed to be considered reasonable since it comes after an early April judicial ruling that rejected any age restriction on Plan B sales over-the-counter.  To see the slippery slope in action, let's review the history of Plan B regulation:

July, 1999    FDA approves Plan B "morning-after pill" as a prescription drug
1999-2006  All sales of Plan B require a prescription from a doctor
Dec, 2003   FDA advisory panel recommends over-the-counter (OTC) sales of Plan B
May, 2004  FDA rejects advisory panel recommendation; prescription still needed for Plan B
2004-2006  Activists demand over-the-counter access to Plan B for anyone
2006-2009  FDA allows Plan B over-the-counter for 18 and older (Aug 2006)
2006-2009  Activists claim FDA rule was political and file lawsuit to get it overturned
Mar, 2009   Judge Korman rules 17 year olds must be allowed OTC access to Plan B
2009-2013  Plan B allowed over-the-counter to 17 year-olds and above
Dec, 2011   FDA allows OTC sale of Plan B, but HHS Secretary Sebelius rejects it
April, 2013  Judge Korman rules Plan B must be allowed OTC for all ages
Apr30, 2013  FDA releases rule to allow Plan B "One-Step" OTC for 15 and older
May1, 2013   Justice Dept appeals Korman ruling allowing Plan B for all ages 

Through all these gyrations, the trend toward easier access to Plan B can clearly be seen.  I predict that the appeals court will send the case back to Judge Korman to consider the new FDA rule that allows OTC access for age 15 and above.  Then Korman will rule that there is no justification to prevent younger teens from getting Plan B OTC.   Will that decision even be appealed?  The agenda is to allow all ages to get Plan B without a prescription, which is a very dangerous result, and should leave the FDA with no credibility for protecting the public.

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2013  -- Poll suggests 55% don't know PP commits abortions

National Right to Life Committee commissioned an opinion poll conducted by the Polling Company to learn about the American public's perception of Planned Parenthood.  This poll revealed that 55% of those polled did not know that Planned Parenthood performs abortions.

Of the 45% who knew that Planned Parenthood performs abortions, the majority greatly underestimated the number of abortions Planned Parenthood commits annually.  Only 14% (6% of the entire sample) knew that Planned Parenthood commits over 300,000 abortions annually.  In fact, for 2011, the last year for which data is available, Planned Parenthood performed 333,964 abortions, just over 27% of all abortions performed annually in the USA. 

Even people who call themselves Pro-Life are uninformed.  The poll found 50% of Pro-Life respondents were unaware that Planned Parenthood commits abortions.  This survey suggests Pro-Life citizens and the public in general have a very inaccurate understanding of Planned Parenthood's major role in the abortion industry.

The poll was conducted February 28 – March 3, 2013, with responses from 1,003 registered voters, and a calculated margin of error of 3.1%.  Since this poll was sponsored by a Pro-Life organization, it would be difficult to suggest that slanted questions tainted the results.  That means there is much work needed to educate the public about what Planned Parenthood is doing with their graphic sex education programs and their ever expanding share of the abortions committed in the USA, even as the national trend is stable or headed down.  If you need to get more informed, get the details on Planned Parenthood here.

Monday, Apr 29, 2013  -- Video evidence of intent to kill abortion survivors

Lila Rose of Live Action has just released two videos showing that Kermit Gosnell, on trial for killing babies born alive during abortions (and many other violations), is not unique among abortion providers in taking immediate action to kill babies who survive abortion.

In one video, Dr. Cesare F. Santangelo of the Washington Surgi-Clinic located in Washington, D.C., explains his approach when a baby is born alive during a late-term abortion.  He makes it clear that he will take no action to help the baby survive.

The other video shows a counselor at Dr. Emily’s Women’s Health Center in the Bronx explaining a late-term abortion procedure.  When asked about the possibility of a live baby coming out at home, she stated, "If it comes out, then it comes out. Flush it."

With all odds stacked against them, not just at Gosnell's facility, but probably with most late-term abortion providers, it takes miracles for aborted babies to survive, but some do.  Get more details at: Survivors of Abortion Now Saving Other Babies From Abortions.

Friday, Apr 26, 2013  -- Planned Parenthood safer than other abortion providers?

It is somewhat ironic that while trial testimony reveals the abuses of basic medical standards that were occurring at Kermit Gosnell's abortion facility, similar violations of basic medical protocols, and a number of botched abortions, are being discovered at Planned Parenthood locations across the nation, as follows:

911 Calls: On One Day California Planned Parenthood Injures Three Women in Abortions

Minnesota Planned Parenthood Botches Abortion, Ambulance Called

Ex-Manager Exposes Planned Parenthood 'Webcam Abortions'

Delaware Planned Parenthood Faces Investigation After Botching Multiple Abortions

Delaware Planned Parenthood Temporarily Closed; Investigated for Botched Abortions     News Video

These are just the latest incidents relating to Planned Parenthood's track record on abortions.  Can they live up to their claim of a "trusted health care provider"? 

Thursday, Apr 25, 2013  -- Gosnell trial going to closing arguments

Since I covered the Kermit Gosnell trial two weeks ago, the prosecution has presented more shocking testimony of the abuses witnessed in his abortion facility.  Yesterday was surprising because the defense rested without calling any witnesses.  Closing arguments are set for next Monday and then the jury will decide this case where Gosnell faces 380 counts, including four murder charges for killing babies and one for killing a mother.   Get more background on this case by watching the "3801 Lancaster" video.   Recent headlines on the Gosnell case include (see earlier reports):

The ‘entire abortion industry’ is on trial in Gosnell case: 37 pro-life leaders in open letter

Kermit Gosnell Doesn’t Testify, Defense Rests With No Witnesses    More...

Gosnell judge admits mistake: reinstates murder charge for ‘Baby C,’ dismisses another

Judge drops nine charges (three murder charges) against Kermit Gosnell

Gosnell Defense Starts This Week After Jury Hears of Brutal Infanticides

Gosnell Worker: Baby Surviving Abortion Struggled in Toilet Trying to Live

Gosnell Staffer: Newborn Was Tossed in Shoe Box, Still Breathing

Kermit Gosnell Reused Blades From Abortions, Causing Women STDs

Monday, Apr 22, 2013  -- "Safe" abortions are a figment of the media's imagination

The evidence has ever so slowly become more visible of the dangerous practices of abortionists,  after Kermit Gosnell was charged with both murder and many other violations based on what law enforcement discovered inside of his Philadelphia office in 2010.

Beyond the inherent dangers of the abortion procedure itself, women are more often than anyone would have imagined put at even more serious risks because of the violations of basic medical protocols for safety and cleanliness that are being discovered when abortion providers are finally inspected or investigated.  Their urge for speed and profit take precedence over patient safety. 

Here are known cases that have been reported so far in April 2013:

Florida Abortionist Loses License After Failing to Pay Fines of $120,000 for Botched Abortion

Abortion Clinic That Can’t Meet New Virginia Health Standards Closes

Faced with $36,000 Fine, Abortion Clinic Continues Stall Tactics

Delaware Planned Parenthood Faces Investigation After Botching Multiple Abortions

Alabama Doc Still Doing Abortions Despite Losing Medical License

Delaware Planned Parenthood Temporarily Closed and Investigated for Botched Abortions     News Video

Carhart Getting Away With Killing Woman in Botched 33-Week Abortion

Ambulance Called for Woman After Botched 2nd-Trimester Abortion

Friday, Apr 19, 2013  -- Comparing notes on Pro-Life efforts in USA and Belarus

Today I met with a delegation from Belarus under the US Department of State Community Connections program.  One of the Belarus delegates was very interested in learning about Pro-Life advocacy efforts in the USA.  That interest led to arrangements for our meeting.

I met with three members of the Belarus delegation.  We had a good conversation about efforts to prevent abortions here and in Belarus.  They were surprised to learn that the USA allows abortion so far into pregnancy.  Belarus allows abortion to 12 weeks.   After that, it is possible to get one up to 20 weeks based on certain exceptions.   They were recently successful in getting that list of exceptions reduced, but want to do more.

I directed them to information available through the IRLC web site on experiences in addressing fetal anomalies discovered during pregnancy, testimonies from women who regret their abortions, and fetal development information.  We also talked about the important role that pregnancy care centers play in reducing abortions here.  They obtain abortions in a hospital setting, so they were interested in why many USA abortions are done in clinics.

I also explained to them about Life Chain and 40 Days for Life.  They seemed interested in 40 Days for Life.  Maybe we will see Belarus added to the 40 Days for Life locations.  There was a location in Moscow during the Lent 2013 40 Days for Life.   

When others in the Belarus delegation learned about the delegates who were going to talk to a right-to-life organization, someone in the delegation asked why they wanted to talk to people who are known for violence.  The mainstream media has managed to spread falsehoods about Pro-Lifers on a worldwide basis.

Thursday, Apr 18, 2013  -- Gosnell trial reveals what Planned Parenthood endorses

Back on April 3rd I mentioned testimony by a Planned Parenthood lobbyist in Florida against a Florida born-alive-infant-protection bill.  Today the Florida House passed that bill 119-0, so they were not impressed by Planned Parenthood's position on the bill.

Maybe the Gosnell trial had some impact on the FLorida vote, given that Alisa Lapolt Snow, the lobbyist representing the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, was effectively supporting the very actions for which Kermit Gosnell is facing charges of first degree murder. 

Additionally, earlier this month two nurses who left Planned Parenthood in Delaware revealed that unsafe medical practices there were as common as were found at Gosnell's House of Horrors.  These nurses revealed failures to sterilize instruments and clean procedure tables as standard practice at that Planned Parenthood location.  Apparently, Planned Parenthood has no more concern for the safety of women than they have for the personhood of babies, born or unborn.

Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013  -- Dangerous "comprehensive" sex ed bill passes IL House

HB 2675 is the latest attempt to enact dangerous "comprehensive" sex education as a mandate for Illinois schools, and with the intention to prevent teaching of any true abstinence education.  HB 2675 was passed today on a vote of 66-52 by the full Illinois House.  This vote sends HB 2675 to the Illinois Senate.

Get more details about the poor justification for this bill and how it threatens parental rights.  You can send an email message to your state senator regarding HB 2675 by taking action.  

Tuesday, Apr 16, 2013  -- Observations from Dying With Dignity Symposium held at UIC

Today I attended the "Dying With Dignity: An Ethical View" symposium sponsored by the John Paul II Newman Center Integritas Institure at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).  The presenters included five physicians and others who are involved in the medical profession.

The presenters drew from the Catholic principles regarding proportionate and disproportionate means to prolong life.  Erica Laethem analyzed these principles in depth.  She explained that we do not have absolute control over our lives because they are a gift from God.  This principle makes assisted suicide and euthanasia unethical.  However, only proportionate means should be taken to preserve our lives to avoid therapeutic overkill.  The patient (or the patient's agent) makes the judgment on what is proportionate means, so denying desired care as "futile" is unethical.

Dr. Wesley Ely (an ICU physician) discussed putting death into context through faith, citing Jesus who described death as baptism, and a litany to St. Joseph requesting a good death.  Physicians need to determine the spiritual history of their patients to provide them care even when life support (e.g. for heart, lungs, or kidneys) is withdrawn.   He quoted St. Gianna Molla who said, "When medicine no longer helps, the soul remains and visiting the sick helps God's priestly mission."  Dr. Ely noted that age is not a valid criterion for judging if treatment will be beneficial or not.

Palliative care was distinguished from hospice care, recognizing that palliative care can help alleviate symptoms and side effects during curative care, as well as to provide comfort care for hospice patients.  Both Dr. Susie White and Dr. Robert Sawicki noted that when a life-limiting condition progresses, curative care will gradually be reduced as palliative care is increased.  They observed that this approach often extends lives compared to cases where palliative care is not included.

Dr. John Siberski works with patients facing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.   He explained that these conditions are incurable, but healing is possible.   Socialization is very important even in advanced cases.  He noted that patients who cannot remember have equal moral standing, so their personhood must be respected by speaking to them, making eye contact, and explaining and asking permission before performing a medical procedure.

The speakers offered life-affirming perspectives on an area of medical practice that seems to find an expanding number of providers who fail to follow these principles, leading to results and directly taking actions and omissions that hasten death.  The challenge is to find physicians who take the life-affirming approaches reflected in these presentations. 

One point of concern was the recent introduction of the POLST (physician order for life sustaining treatment) form in Illinois.  Get perspective on the new Illinois DNR/POLST form here.   Another concern was the complete endorsement of organ donation by Dr. Rebecca Davis Mathias.  Learn more here to make an informed decision about putting your name on the organ donor registry.

Monday, Apr 15, 2013  -- Low key or secret abortionists in Chicago

Our office recently received a new Chicago yellow pages book.  I looked at the "abortion alternatives" and "abortion" sections to see what might be new.  I found a listing for an abortion facility that I was not familiar with called All Women's Medical Center, located at 3140 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60618. 

After checking if anyone had awareness about this abortion facility, I learned from one activist that All Women's Medical Center has actually been there a long time, but they used to conduct abortion business in Spanish only.  Maybe that gave them cover because most Pro-Life activists have been overlooking this abortion facility.  They must not have advertised in the yellow pages until recently.

When I checked Operation Rescue's listing of Illinois abortion facilities at AbortionDocs.org, I did not find a listing for All Women's Medical Center, suggesting they have not been previously noticed for placement in that comprehensive and highly accurate compilation.  They will now be added.

Both surgical and RU-486 abortions are committed there.  Pray for conversion of the abortion provider(s) as this location becomes better recognized as another outlet for the culture of death in Chicago area. 

Thursday, Apr 11, 2013  -- Walgreens a major supporter of Komen, so it helps PP as well

I received a call recently from a very motivated woman from Louisiana. She is a breast cancer survivor who did a Susan G. Komen for the Cure commericial, but that was before she learned of their support for Planned Parenthood.  Now she is seeking ways to pressure companies that support Komen to end their support. 

Two companies that are big sponsors of Komen include Walgreens and General Mills.   Strategies include trying to put pressure on the leaders of companies through the Catholic diocese and Pro-Life offices near their headquarters locations, and even encouraging boycotts of companies that support Komen.

Walgreens is a member of the Million Dollar Council Elite.  Results of Walgreens' sponsorship activities are shown by Komen here.   Walgreens' sponsorship has been active since January 2011 and includes a $500,000 guaranteed donation annually from the company.  However, in-store appeals for Komen to Walgreens' customers raised more than $8.2 million in 2012.

If you are a Walgreens customer, you may want to express your concern to the store manager about Walgreens' support for Komen.  Be sure to explain that your concern relates to Komen's grants to Planned Parenthood and the resulting indirect support of abortion by Komen.

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013  -- Gosnell murder trial virtually ignored by mainstream media

Murder trials generate intense interest and coverage from the media, but now we see that they make exceptions if the accused is an abortion provider.  It is now the fourth week of the Kermit Gosnell murder trial.  He is charged with the murder of seven newborn babies and one mother.  ["3801 Lancaster" video offers more background on this case.]

Have you heard anything about the testimony against Gosnell that attempts to explain how his abortion practice was responsible for the killing of these babies and one mother?   If you have, you probably got your information from Pro-Life sources because the mainstream media is censoring the news to protect the reputation of abortion providers.

The testimony is revolting even without pictures, but sometimes those are provided as well.  One testimony after another reveals the complete dehumanization of babies in Gosnell's "House of Horrors."  Here are just some of these troubling reports and commentaries about this trial:

Worker at Gosnell Clinic: Baby’s Chest Moved After Neck Snipped
Kermit Gosnell Staffer: Stabbing Baby in Neck “Gave Me the Creeps”
Mental Illness Plagued Gosnell Employees Who ‘Snipped’ Babies Necks
Gosnell Worker: Baby “Jumped” When I Snipped Her Neck in Abortion
Gosnell’s “House of Horrors” Abortion Clinic is Not an Exception
Gosnell Worker: Baby Screamed During Live-Birth “Abortion”
Clinic Worker Calls Gosnell’s Baby Jabbing Method a “Beheading”
Gosnell Employee: “It Would Rain Fetuses and Blood” Everywhere
Gruesome Gosnell Case Shows Abortion Clinic Workers Need Prayer
Conservative Leaders Demand Networks Stop Censoring Gosnell Trial
Paramedic: Kermit Gosnell Abandoned Women He Killed in Abortion
Jury Sees Photos of Unborn Babies Kermit Gosnell Stabbed in the Neck
Kermit Gosnell is No Different Than Other Abortion Doctors
Abortion Doc Gosnell Never Tried to Revive Woman Killed in Abortion
Autopsy Confirms Kermit Gosnell Killed Woman in Botched Abortion
Kermit Gosnell Drugged Women Having Abortions, Left Them for Hours
Jury to Hear How Gosnell Coerced Staff to Help Third-Term Abortions
Prosecution Reconstructs Abortion Clinic in Court for Gosnell Murder Trial
Expert: Kermit Gosnell’s Ineptitude Led to Woman’s Abortion Death
Gosnell Did Three-Day-Long Abortions at 30 Weeks of Pregnancy
Gosnell Murder Trial Points to Inconsistent Arguments for Abortion
Gosnell Abortion Clinic Worker Admits Snipping Spines of 10 Babies
Abortion Doc Kermit Gosnell Joked as He Snipped Babies’ Spinal Cords
Prosecutor: Kermit Gosnell is a Live Birth Abortion Killer

Tuesday, Apr 9, 2013  -- Already a done deal; public comments ignored

The public comment period for the "revised" HHS Mandate ended yesterday, but before it ended, a Washington Times article dated yesterday quoted Kathleen Sebelius as stating that the HHS Mandate will take effect August 1st.  Even an overwhelming, record number of public comments will have no impact on the Obama administration agenda to force virtually all health insurance plans to fully cover sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraceptives.

“As of August 1, 2013, every employee who doesn’t work directly for a church or a diocese will be included in the benefit package,” Sebelius said at a forum moderated by Reuters that was held at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Given the court case situation for non-profits that I mentioned last week, pray that the unkept government promise of future "accommodations" to resolve religious liberty concerns is now recognized as meaningless by the courts, so they will accept and hear these cases on their merits.  Whether the timing is coincidental or intentional, the Priests for Life case will lead the charge for religious liberty with a court hearing on April 11th.

Monday, Apr 8, 2013  -- Covering up deaths and injuries from botched abortions

Botched abortions are more common than one might think.  In part, that is true because abortionists are experts at covering their tracks by falsifying medical records and getting other doctors and regulators to look the other way.  Less than a month ago I reported on a spree of botched abortions that were discovered because Pro-Lifers were present to witness the victims being taken to hospitals.  Otherwise, these cases would likely never have been discovered.

Not long ago I found a copy of Carol Everett's book Blood Money and began to read it.  I was familiar with her story from videos (Meet the Abortion Providers, the movie Bloodmoney, etc.), but the book gives many more details about her life in the abortion industry. 

She provides details on specific cases of botched abortions that were successfully covered up.  In one case the woman died from blood loss and in other cases women experienced life changing injuries.  As the circumstances were presented in the book, I realized that I felt almost nauseous from what was being described.  I must say that the impact on me was even greater than my own reaction to the graphic pictures of aborted babies.

Operation Rescue, Pro-Life Action League, Live Action and others are on the front lines tracking down botched abortions and attempting to get state regulators to take action to protect women from these dangerous abortions.  The question gets raised about whether such cases are the exception, only caused by a few incompetent abortionists. 

Unfortunately for women seeking abortions, the dangers seem to lurk throughout the abortion industry.  Remember, all statistics about complication rates are suspect because of the efforts used to cover them up to avoid both lawsuits and enforcement of medical regulations.

The most recent death discovered by Pro-Lifers was the case where Leroy Carhart's botched abortion killed Jennifer Morbelli.  Baltimore-based Defend Life has organized a petition campaign seeking to get Carhart's medical license revoked.  You can sign that petition here.  

Virtually any woman who gets an abortion is taking a serious risk, especially when further into the pregnancy.  Abortion providers view botched abortions as simply collateral damage from conducting business, and have little or no concern for the women they injure or kill.  If you can justify killing babies to make money, why would these complications bother you?

Friday, Apr 5, 2013  -- Judicial ruling mandates Plan B goes over-the-counter for all ages

In December 2011, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled a decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make Plan B available to all ages over-the-counter (OTC) without a prescription.  After this surprise ruling by Sebelius to prevent the FDA rule from taking effect, I expressed my theory to explain her unexpected action, when I stated:

There is potentially another explanation.  An Associated Press news report indicated "A hearing already was scheduled for next week to consider whether the FDA should be held in contempt of court for not doing so earlier" (referring to relaxing or eliminating the age requirement for over-the-counter access to Plan B).  My theory is the possibility that the Obama administration is trying to gain political points with uninformed conservative voters by showing how reasonable they are, knowing that next week they will get what they really want when the court "forces" them to allow Plan B over-the-counter for everyone of any age.  In political terms, that's something like eating your cake and having it, too.

Well, it took longer than I expected, but Judge Edward Korman, a Federal judge based in New York City, has now ruled that Plan B must be allowed OTC for all ages, so even young girls can obtain Plan B without a prescription.  Waiting until after the November 2012 election for the judicial ruling allowed the Sebelius action rejecting OTC status for Plan B to have maximum political effect with those who are confused about the ultimate agenda of Obama administration policies.  Now they can blame it on the judiciary and achieve the policy they wanted in the first place, just in time so teenage girls can get Plan B for "free" under all health insurance policies.

This ruling creates a very dangerous situation for teenage girls who get enticed into sexual activity and are encouraged to use Plan B to protect themselves from a possible pregnancy.  No testing has been done to determine the impact of Plan B on the health of the developing female body during the teenage years.  Additionally, all testing that was performed assumed that Plan B would be used only on an "emergency" basis (meaning rarely when a "standard" contraceptive approach fails).  Young teenage girls are not likely to have a "standard" contraceptive approach when they can get Plan B without a prescription, while needing a prescription to obtain any "standard" contraceptive.

Thursday, Apr 4, 2013  -- Checking the current scorecard on HHS Mandate lawsuits

Two court rulings just released offer conflicting signals on the status of lawsuits challenging the HHS Mandate that requires health insurance policies to fully cover sterilizations, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraceptives as "preventive" services.  American Manufacturing Company is the latest for-profit business to be granted an injunction against the HHS Mandate.  At the same time, Ave Maria University had their lawsuit dismissed.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is maintaining a scorecard on all the lawsuits filed against the HHS Mandate.  They show two categories of lawsuits: for-profit businesses and non-profit entities.  Rulings so far in for-profit business cases find 17 out of 22 being granted injuntive relief, with 2 cases awaiting court action.  Appeals have been expedited on at least 2 of the 5 businesses denied an injunction. 

Non-profit entities have only 2 cases out of 30 that have been allowed to move forward so far, and none of the non-profit plaintiffs have been granted injunctive relief.   Of the other 28, 13 have been dismissed, 4 were held in abeyance, 8 are awaiting a ruling, and 3 are waiting for court action.

Why is there such a difference between the two categories of plaintiffs?   Unfortunately, most judges are accepting the Obama administration contention that the rules for non-profits have not been finalized yet, so their lawsuits are not "timely."  Given that a "final" rule went into effect during 2012, promises of revisions seem to be a weak argument, even if many judges are accepting it. 

The other factor judges are using is the one-year waiver of the effective date that was provided to many non-profits, so technically the current "final" rule does not take effect until August 2013.  However, the disruption of future plans with this rule that violates religious freedom lurking out there seems like it should be sufficient to overcome the waiver, but only 2 judges have agreed on that point so far.

A revised rule, deemed by the non-profit plaintiffs to make no improvement, is currently in the public comment phase until April 8th.   If it becomes a final rule, will the judges allow the non-profit plaintiffs' cases to be heard on their merits?  Given the track record of for-profit cases so far, when the lawsuits are heard based on legal arguments, there appears to be solid evidence that judges will rule that the HHS Mandate truly violates religious freedom and cannot stand.

Wednesday, Apr 3, 2013  -- Travesty and lies coming from Planned Parenthood

This week Alisa Lapolt Snow, the lobbyist representing the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, opposed a Florida born-alive-infant-protection bill.  Legislators asked her to clarify what action Planned Parenthood wanted taken when a living baby was "on the table" after a botched abortion.  Though she was evasive, the obvious answer was a dead baby.

Of course, why should we be shocked by this travesty?  Snow's position is identical to Illinois State Senator Barack Obama's opposition to a similar bill in Illinois.  However, Obama talked about threats to abortion rights and potential conflict with Roe v. Wade rather than about babies the bill was intended to protect.  I suppose if he had been asked about a living baby, he would have said answering that question "was about his pay grade."

If a company files suit against the HHS Mandate as a violation of the owners' religious freedom, Planned Parenthood might attempt to damage that company's reputation by falsely labeling the owners as cheating on their taxes.  Autocam Corporation of Michigan and its CEO John Kennedy have demanded that the Planned Parenthood Action Fund retract the patently false charge that Autocam has not paid property taxes since 1997, as well as other baseless claims circulated by the taxpayer-funded abortion giant.  Public records indicate that Autocam has paid almost $10 million in real property and personal property taxes in the State of Michigan since 1997, including $961,386.74 in the year 2012 alone.   Attorneys for Autocam sent a letter demanding that Planned Parenthood immediately eliminate all references to their baseless charges and publish a retraction of their false and defamatory statements.

Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013  -- Secretive Wichita abortionist will be coming from Chicago

Operation Rescue has discovered who will be committing the abortions at a new abortion facility likely to be opening very soon in Wichita, Kansas.  That undercover investigation reveals that Cheryl Chastine, M.D. will be flying in from Chicago area to commit abortions in Wichita.