Data collection suggestion

We have virtually no information on why post-viability abortions are done in this country. I think we need to start mandating the collection of the following data:

1. Estimated gestational age
2. How gestational age was determined
2a. How was the gestational age verified after the abortion?
3. Was this baby deemed viable prior to the abortion?
4. What methods were used to come to the above conclusion?
5. What provisions were made for a live birth?
6. Was there a live birth? If so, what actions were taken?
7. What was the reason for the abortion?
7a. If the abortion was for rape or incest, was the crime reported?
7a1. If no, why not?
7a2. If yes, what is the outcome of the reporting?
7b. If incest or statutory rape, what steps, if any, have been taken to ensure the patient will not be subjected to further abuse?
7c. What provisions, if any, have been made to provide the patient with ongoing counseling?
8. If the abortion was for maternal or fetal indications, was the woman self-referred or physician referred?
8a. What steps, if any, were taken to confirm the diagnosis?
8b. What is the ICD-9 code for the diagnosis?
8c. What treatment or support options other than abortion were discussed with the patient? Why were these options rejected?
8d. If for maternal health, what provisions were made for follow-up care for the patient's health condition?
8e. If for fetal indications, how was the diagnosis confirmed after the abortion?

Any suggestions? I'd particularly like to hear from women who were referred for "health" or "fetal indications" abortions.

Support women and children: Back the Vitter Amendment

Senate Vote Next Week on Stopping Abortion Funding in Indian Health Care Bill

The Senate will take up a bill next week on health care coverage for Native Americans and, when it does, a pro-life senator plans an amendment to make sure none of the funds pay for abortions. The amendment from Sen. David Vitter would codify a longstanding policy against funding of abortions with federal Indian Health Service (IHS) funds.

Here is the letter I sent my senators:

Dear Senator ______:

I encourage you to support the Vitter Amendment to the Indian Health Services bill.

Banning the use of Federal funds for elective abortions should easily be an area of common ground for prolife and prochoice citizens and their elected representatives. Even those who do not object in any way to the use of Federal funds for the destruction of innocent unborn children would, if properly educated, object to the additional risk to mothers' health and well-being Federal abortion funding carries.

Research by the solidly pro-abortion Centers for Disease Control and publicized in their 1978 Abortion Surveillance Summary, showed that cutting Federal funding for abortion reduced the number of Medicaid-eligible women hospitalized for abortion complications. Other research shows that public-pay patients have a higher rate of abortion complications than private-pay patients.

Only an individual with a strong ideological devotion to abortion, stronger than his devotion to women's well-being, would wish to see more poor women suffering abortion complications that land them in the hospital.

Don't let the empty, shrill rhetoric of such extremists sway you from doing what is right for both unborn children and their mothers. Support the Vitter Amendment.

Of course, the hardcore extremists will bring up the isolated case of Rosie Jimenez, who bought into the alarmist publicity of the abortion lobby and as a result didn't realize that the illegal abortion she arranged was only $10 cheaper than an abortion arranged by Planned Parenthood. The abortion lobby wanted a body to hang around Henry Hyde's neck when he cut Federal funding for elective abortions, and they went into overdrive making sure that the idea "Illegal abortion is my only option" would be firmly planted in the minds of Medicaid-eligible women. They got the body they wanted. And responsibility for her death belongs as much on their doorstep as on the doorstep of the midwife who pocketed her cash instead of referring Rosie for either real help or a (presumably safer) abortion elsewhere in town.

They also ignore the 17 women who died of supposedly safe, legal abortions in 1977, along with the hundreds of women who have died before and after the Hyde Amendment went into effect.

Don't let the political banshees who goaded Rosie into a needless death win. Laws don't kill women; abortionists do.

Go here to contact your Senator.

Them mean old prolifers help woman avoid unwanted abortion

A young mom had been referred to Tiller under numerous misdiagnoses: that there were a blue million horrible things wrong with her baby, and that she was at risk of death herself: Healthy Baby Narrowly Escapes Late-Abortion At Tiller’s Clinic

Fortunately, the prolifers invited her next door for a free ultrasound, and if necessary a referral for high-risk obstetric care and perinatal hospice.

Turns out she didn't need any of those things after all. The whole thing had been a goof. Oops. Sorry about scaring you into nearly killing your baby in a risky third-trimester abortion.

One more time, with feeling: a prognosis is a prediction. When a doctor gives a patient a prognosis, he's doing the same thing the weather man is doing when he gives a forecast: Trying to predict the future. Would you stake your child's life on the weather report? No? Then why stake his or her life on anybody else reading high-tech tea leaves?

There are also doctors who aren't above lying to get a woman to do what he thinks is the sensible thing. Shari Russell was told that her life was in danger in order to trick her into aborting her anencephalic baby. Dolores was told that she had a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy to trick her into a abortion her boyfriend wanted her to have.

Women have died because of abortions pushed on them for maternal and fetal indications that simply weren't true. Allegra Roseberry had been falsely told that she wouldn't be eligible for cancer treatment, and that her baby was "doomed" anyway. Marla Cardamone was falsely told that her medications had injured her unborn baby.

For more:

• The Limitations of Medical Prognostications
  
• Parents 'misled over gene disorders'
  
• When The Future Looks Bleak
  
• Midtown Hospital's Late Abortion Scandal
  
• Beware of "Maternal and Fetal Indications"
  
• "Don't Like Abortions? Don't Have One."
  
• Protecting Yourself and Your Unborn Child
  
• "Don't Like Abortions? Don't Have One!" Redux

To email this post to a friend, use the icon below.

Legal deaths now on separate page, audio being added

By popular demand, I have put all the safe and legal abortion deaths I have on file on a single page at RealChoice.

I am also building an audio library of one-minute clips about each woman's death. As I create them, I will add them to the list.

Here, for example, is the one-minute clip for Belinda Byrd:

I'll be building the audio library in calendar order, then adding deaths for which I don't have specific dates.

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



To email this post to a friend, use the icon below.

Good neighbors: Pregnancy center next to killing center

Abortion facility’s neighbor is a Catholic clinic that educates moms, saves babies

Wouldn't it be lovely if every abortion facility in America had a pregnancy care center right next door?

A Sign of the Coming Apocolypse

A fairly balanced story about the West Coast Walk for Life -- in the San Francisco Chronicle!

While you're at March for Life

Let's remember the women for whom abortion was the final choice, often in a lifetime of tragic choices.

You can help drive home the message that the abortion lobby isn't about saving women's lives. Choose a woman or girl from the list below, perhaps choosing one from near your home, or who died when she was your age or your daughter's age, or who would be the same age as you had she not trusted the abortion lobby when she was feeling frightened and alone. Pick somebody you relate to, whose story you can learn and be ready to share.

Make a simple tombstone-style sign with a piece of foam board from an office supply store. Just use a razor knife to cut the top off in a semi-circle. Print out the woman's name, age, place and date of death, and cause of death -- Safe and Legal Abortion -- to glue on the front. (I recommend the expensive artists' spray adhesive, also available at office supply stores; it prevents wrinkling and holds in damp weather.) Print out her story to put on the back. If she's a local woman, check the library for old articles from newspapers that you can also include on the back. It always gives you more credibility, and makes your witness more powerful, when you have lots of documentation. Some coverage includes photos of the unfortunate women and/or their devastated families to drive the point home that these were real women and girls and that their lives mattered, and that their deaths should matter as well.

If this is a bit more than you have the time, energy, or artistic talent for, you can order a Tombstone Project Poster from Life Dynamics. I recommend mounting it on a piece of foam board for the March. Print out one of the women's stories (available here) for the back.

These signs are a powerful witness to the destruction of abortion. It bears repeating: The abortion lobby isn't about saving women's lives. It's about a political agenda.

Laws don't kill women. Abortionists do.

1. Diane Adams, 28, died 1992
   
2. Eurice Agbagaa, 26, died 1989
   
3. Leigh Ann Alford, 34, died 2003
   
4. Demitrice Andews, 22, died 1988
   
5. Mickey Apodaca, 28, died 1984
   
6. Gloria Aponte, 20, died 1986
   
7. Charisse Ards, 20, died 1989
   
8. Barbara Auerbach, 38, died 1981
   
   
9. KB, age 19, died 1988
   
10. Jacqueline Bailey, 29, died 1977
    
11. Brenda Banks, 35, died 1989
    
12. Myrta Baptiste, 26, died 1989
    
13. Lisa Bardsley, 26, died 1995
    
14. Junette Barnes, 27, died 1988
    
15. Deanna Bell, 13, died 1992
    
16. Brenda Benton, 35, died 1987
    
17. Rosario Bermeo, 30, died 1983
    
18. Janet Blaum, 37, died 1974
    
19. Cassandra Bleavins, 20, died 1971
    
20. Linda Boom, 35, died 1995
    
21. Diane Boyd, 19, died 1981
    
22. Mary Bradley, 41, died 1985
    
23. Dorothy Brown, 37, died 1974
    
24. Chanelle Bryant, 22, died 2004
    
25. Dorothy Bryant, 22, died 1986
    
26. Belinda Byrd, 37, died 1987
    
    
27. Janeth Caldwell, 36, died 1987
    
28. Geneva Calton, 21, died 1979
    
29. Joan Camp, 22, died 1985
    
30. Marla Cardamone, 18, died 1989
    
31. Teresa Causey, 17, died 1988
    
32. Claudia Caventou, 33, died 1988
    
33. Patricia Chacon, 16, died 1984
    
34. Colleen Chambers, 34, died 1984
    
35. Sandra Chmiel, 35, died 1975
    
36. Gwendolyn Cliett, 29, died 1980
    
37. Margaret Clodfelter, 19, died 1980
    
38. Pamela Colson, 31, died 1994
    
39. Geneva Colton, 21, died 1979
    
40. Andrea Corey, 31, died 1993
    
41. Liliana Cortez, 22, died 1986
    
42. Edith Cote, 38, died 1991
    
43. Sheryl Cottone, 23, died 1981
    
44. Twila Coulter, 21, died 1972
    
45. Carol Cunningham, 21, died 1986
    
    
46. Betty Damato, 26, died 1980
    
47. Mary Ann Dancy, 32, died 1990
    
48. Angel Dardie, 22, died 1982
    
49. Barbaralee Davis, 18, died 1977
    
50. Glenda Davis, 31, died 1989
    
51. Kathy Davis, 26, died 1987
    
52. Margaret Davis, 33, died 1971
    
53. Sharon Davis, 17, died 1983
    
54. Marina DeChapel, 34, died 1978
    
55. Arlin dela Cruz, age 19, died 1992
    
56. Synthia Dennard, 24, died 1989
    
57. Alerte Desanges, 36, died 1994
    
58. Barbara Dillon, 22, died 1981
    
59. Jane Doe of Newark, 20, died 1993
    
60. Laniece Dorsey, 17, died 1986
    
61. Tamika Dowdy, 22, died 1998
    
62. Gwendolyn Drummer, 15, died 1972
    
63. Duarte, Anjelica, 21, died 1991
    
64. Evelyn Dudley, 38, died 1973
    
    
65. Sherry Emry, 26, died 1978
    
66. Georgianna English, 32, died 1980
    
67. Maureen Espinoza, 16, died 1997
    
68. Gladyss Estanlisao, 28, died 1989
    
    
69. Erna Fisher, 18, died 1988
    
70. Bonnie Fix, 38, died 1974
    
71. Sharon Floyd, 18, died 1975
    
72. Linda Fondren, 21, died 1974
    
73. Janet Forster, 18, died 1971
    
74. Cristella Forte, 16, died 1986
    
75. Glenna Jean Fox, 17, died 1989
    
    
76. Jammie Garcia, 14, died 1994
    
77. Josefina Garcia, died 1985
    
78. Marie Gibson, 34, died 1980
    
79. Christen Gilbert, 19, died 2005
    
80. Kathleen Gilbert, 29, died 1985
    
81. Christina Goesswein, 19, died 1990
    
82. Gaylene Golden, 21, died 1985
    
83. Maria Gomez, 39, died 1976
    
84. Edrica Goode, 21, died 2007
    
85. Shary Graham, 34, died 1982
    
86. Doris Grant, 32, died 1971
    
87. Debra Gray, 34, died 1989
    
88. Laura Grunas, 30, died 2006
    
89. Carolina Gutierrez, 21, died 1996
    
    
90. Angela Hall, 27, died 1991
    
91. Sharon Hamplton, 27, died 1996
    
92. Arneta Hardaway, 18, died 1985
    
93. Gracalynn "Tammy" Harris, 19, died 1997
    
94. Wilma Harris, 17, died 1974
    
95. L'Echelle Head, 21, died 2000
    
96. Sheila Hebert, 27, died 1984
    
97. Donna Heim, 20, died 1986
    
98. Lou Ann Herron, 33, died 1998
    
99. Moris Helen Herron, 26, died 1983
    
100. Rhonda Hess, 20, died 1982
     
101. Betty Hines, 21, died 1971
     
102. Shirley Hollis, 30, died 1991
     
103. Denise Holmes, 24, died 1970
     
104. Barbara Hoppert, 16, died 1983
     
     
105. Mary Ives, 28, died 1983
     
     
106. Karretu Jabbie, 24, died 1989
     
107. Louchrisser Jackson, 23, died 1977
     
     
108. Sandra Kaiser, 14, died 1984
     
109. Patricia King, 24, died 1987
     
     
110. Giselene Lafontant, 25, died 1993
     
111. Minnie Lathan, 41, died 1978
     
112. Barbara Lerner, 30, died 1981
     
113. Susan Levy, 30, died 1992
     
114. Cora Lewis, 23, died 1992
     
115. Sara Lint, 22, died 1970
     
116. Maria Lira, 19, ded 1974
     
117. Suzanne Logan, 34, died 1992
     
118. Diana Lopez, 25, died 2002
     
119. Linda Lovelace, 21, died 1980
     
120. Elva Lozada, died 1964
     
121. Deborah Lozinski, 17, died 1985
     
     
122. Dawn Mack, 21, died 1991
     
123. Michelle Madden, 18, died 1986
     
124. Sharon Margrove, 25, died 1970
     
125. Haley Mason, 22, died 2001
     
126. Gail Mazo, 27, died 1979
     
127. Sophie McCoy, 17, died 1990
     
128. Rita McDowell, 16, died 1975
     
129. Myria McFadden, 28, died 1987
     
130. Evangeline McKenna, 38, died 1974
     
131. Kathy McKnight, 36, died 1993
     
132. Kendra McLeod, 22, died 1998
     
133. Lynn McNair, 24, died 1979
     
134. Dawn Mendoza, 28, died 1988
     
135. Yvonne Mesteth, 18, died 1985
     
136. Natalie Meyers, 16, died 1972
     
137. Sandra Milton, 23, died 1990
     
138. Mitsue Mohar, 31, died 1975
     
139. Ruth Montero, 23, died 1979
     
140. Denise Montoya, 15, died 1988
     
141. Beverly Moore, 15, died 1975
     
142. Sylvia Moore, 18, died 1986
     
143. Christine Mora, 18, died 1994
     
144. Maura Morales, 25, died 1981
     
145. Shelby Moran, 60, died 1999
     
146. Katherine Morse, 20, died 1970
     
147. Kelly Morse, 32, died 1992
     
148. Loretta Morton, 16, died 1984
     
149. Kathy Murphy, 17, died 1973
     
150. Dorothy Muzorewa, 25, died 1974
     
     
151. Guadalupe Negron, 33, died 1993
     
152. Kimberly Neil, died 2000
     
153. Germaine Newman, 14, died 1984
     
154. Sara Niebel, 15, died 1994
     
     
155. Maria Ortega, 23, died 1970
     
156. Joyce Ortenzio, 32, died 1988
     
157. Venus Ortiz, 29, died 1998
     
     
158. Linda Padfield, 28, died 1973
     
159. Mary Ann Page, 36, died 1977
     
160. Mary Paredez, 26, died 1977
     
161. Holly Patterson, 18, died 2003
     
162. Shirley Payne, 33, died 1983
     
163. Mary Pena, 43, died 1984
     
164. DaNette Pergusson, 19, died 1992
     
165. Erika Peterson, 28, died 1961
     
166. Katherine Pierce, 27, died 1989
     
167. Katrina Poole, 16, died 1988
     
168. Yvette Poteat, 26, died 1985
     
169. Vanessa Preston, 22, died 1980
     
     
170. Dawn Ravenell, 13, died 1985
     
171. Jacqueline Reynolds, 22, died 1986
     
172. Erica Richardson, 16, died 1989
     
173. Luz Rodriguez, 40, died 1986
     
174. Magdalena Rodriguez, 23, died 1994
     
175. Rosael Rodriguez, 21, died 1986
     
     
176. Adelle Roe, age 26, died 2002
     
177. Amanda Roe, 19, died 1970
     
178. Alice Roe, 31, died 1970
     
179. Amy Roe, 35, died 1971
     
180. Annie Roe, 29, died 1971
     
181. Andrea Roe, 26, died 1971
     
182. Anita Roe, 23, died 1971
     
183. April Roe, 17, died 1971
     
184. Audrey Roe, 44, died 1971
     
     
185. Barbara Roe, 35, died 1971
     
186. Becky Roe, 18, died 1971
     
187. Beth Roe, 35, died 1971
     
188. Betty Roe, 29, died 1974
     
189. Beverly Roe, 21, died 1978
     
190. Brenda Roe, 31, died 1974
     
     
191. Cherish Roe, died 2005
     
192. Christi Roe, 29, died 1972
     
193. Cindy Roe, 25, died 1972
     
194. Colleen Roe, 31, died 1972
     
195. Connie Roe, 31, died 1972
     
     
196. Danielle Roe, 18, died 1972
     
197. Dawn Roe, 29, died 1972
     
198. Denise Roe, 27, died 1977
     
199. Donna Roe, 18, died 1973
     
200. Dorothy Roe, 44, died 1973
     
     
201. Eleanor Roe, 20, died 1973
     
202. Ellen Roe #1, 22, died 1974
     
203. Ellen Roe #2, 18, died 1983
     
204. Erica Roe, 20, died 1974
     
     
205. Faith Roe, 21, died 1974
     
206. Faye Roe, 18, died 1979
     
     
207. Gail Roe, 23, died 1975
     
208. Gloria Roe, 35, died 1976
     
     
209. Isabel Roe, died 1981
     
     
210. Judy Roe, 42, died 1970
     
211. Julie Roe, 14, died 1972
     
     
212. Kimberly Roe, 25, died 1970
     
     
213. Lori Roe, 17, died 1970
     
     
214. Malorie Roe, 35, died 1974
     
215. Mary Roe, 19, died 1971
     
216. Melissa Roe, 27, died 1992
     
217. Molly Roe, 21, died 1975
     
218. Monica Roe, 31, died 1971
     
     
219. Nadine Roe, 32, died 1978
     
220. Nancy Roe, 16, died 1972
     
     
221. Pamela Roe, 38, died 1974
     
222. Patricia Roe, 16, died 1975
     
     
223. Robin Roe, 21, died 1972
     
224. Roseanne Roe, 37, died 1971
     
225. Roxanne Roe, 17, died 1972
     
     
226. Sandra Roe, 18, died 1971
     
227. Sara Roe, 22, died 1972
     
228. Serena Roe, 22, died 1980
     
229. Sherri Roe, 20, died 1975
     
230. Sheryl Roe, 23, died 1970
     
231. Susan Roe, 21, died 1992
     
     
232. Tammy Roe, 33, died 1971
     
233. Tara Roe, died 2005
     
234. Teresa Roe, 19, died 1974
     
235. Terri Roe, 43, died 1991
     
     
236. Vanessa Roe, 35, died 1973
     
237. Vicki Roe, 23, died 1971
     
     
238. Wanda Roe, died 2006
     
239. Wendy Roe, 23, died 1972
     
     
240. Yvonne Roe, 19, died 1999
     
     
241. Julia Rogers, 20, died 1973
     
242. Rhonda Rollinson, 32, died 1992
     
243. Allegra Roseberry, 41, died 1988
     
244. Sharonda Rowe, 17, died 1981
     
245. Rhonda Ruggiero, 29, died 1982
     
246. Stacy Ruckman, 23, died 1988
     
247. LaSandra Russ, 20, died 1971
     
248. Tamia Russell, 15, doed 2004
     
     
249. F.S., 16, died 1970
     
250. Stella Saenz, 42, died 1968
     
251. Angela Sanchez, 27, died 1993
     
252. Angela Satterfield, 23, died 1990
     
253. Carole Schaner, 37, died 1971
     
254. Angela Scott, 19, died 1979
     
255. Oriene Shevin, 34, died 2005
     
256. Gloria Small, 43, died 1978
     
257. Deloris Smith, 15, died 1979
     
258. Diane Smith, 23, died 1976
     
259. Laura Hope Smith, 22, died 2007
     
260. Margaret Smith, 24, died 1971
     
261. Teresa Smith, 31, died 1988
     
262. Laura Sorrels, 30, died 1988
     
263. Kathryn Strong, 26, died 1972
     
264. Jennifer Suddeth, 17, died 1982
     
265. Tami Suematsu, 19, died 1988
     
     
266. Yvonne Tanner, 22, died 1984
     
267. Michelle Thames, 18, died 1987
     
268. Ingrid Thomas, 28, died 1994
     
269. Magnolia Thomas, 36, died 1986
     
270. Hoa Thuy "Vivian" Tran, 22, died 2003
     
271. Elizabeth Tsuji, 21, died 1978
     
272. Cheryl Tubbs, 29, died 1975
     
     
273. Iris Valazquez, 20, died 1987
     
274. Cycloria Vangates, 32, died 1976
     
275. Veal, Latachie, 17, died 1991
     
276. Brenda Vise, 38, died 2002
     
277. Cheryl Vosseler, 17, died 1969
     
278. Gail Vroman, 20, died 1979
     
     
279. Pamela Wainwright, 37, died 1987
     
280. Lynette Wallace, 22, died 1975
     
281. Debra Walton, 35, died 1989
     
282. Nicey Washington, 26, died 2000
     
283. Sheila Watley, 31, died 1987
     
284. Diane Watson, 27, died 1987
     
285. Ingar Weber, 28, died 1991
     
286. Robin Wells, 27, died 1981
     
287. Chivon Williams, died 1996
     
288. Ellen Williams, 38, died 1985
     
289. Nichole Williams, 22, died 1997
     
290. Sandra Williams, 30, died 1984
     
291. Shirley Williams, 30, died 1980
     
292. Tanya Williamson, 28, died 1996
     
293. Carole Wingo, 22, died 1974
     
294. Virginia Wolfe, 33, died 1998
     
295. Darlene Wood, 23, died 1982
     
296. Gail Wright, 29, died 1986
     
     
297. Stacy Zallie, 20, died 2002

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



To email this post to a friend, use the icon below.

New in the Sidebar: Babies Needing Prayer

Babies Needing Prayer links to the prayer page for My Child, My Gift. These prayer requests are submitted by and on behalf of families facing difficult maternal or fetal diagnoses.

Hope trumps despair, even if life ends up being short.

West Coast Walk for Life: January 19, 2008

Visit the West Coast Walk for Life web site

Speakers will include:

Dr. Alveda King, of the Martin Luther King, Jr. family and Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life

Gianna Jessen, abortion survivor

Rev. Clenard Childress, Director of LEARN

Jesse Romero,Radio Host and Evangalist

Fr. Frank Pavone from Priests for Life

And special invited speaker: Eduardo Verástegui, star of Bella

See ZombieTime's excellent photos of the 2006 West Coast Walk for Life.

Learning to be a true friend

How to Serve a Pregnant Woman with the Heart of Christ

Eileen Smith -- Laura Hope Smith's mom -- if you are looking for a way to do outreach, you might start here.

Bringing it into the light

Even if these marvelous men and women don't succeed in getting Planned Parenthood's federal funding yanked, the hearings they are no doubt planning should shed some light in some very dark corners.

Pray, pray, pray.

Good news from Capitol Hill

Pro-Life Women in Congress Start Legislative Caucus Opposing Abortion

The number of women in Congress has grown steadily over the years as the old boy's network has given way to a modern feminist world. Though groups like NARAL and Planned Parenthood would think to think all of the women are pro-abortion, several pro-life stalwarts have created a new caucus for pro-life women.

Powerful pro-life women leaders are making a difference for mothers and their unborn babies in Congress and they have formed a new outreach for their efforts: the Congressional Pro-Life Women's Caucus.

....

Just last week, the co-chair of that Caucus, Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado, provided a strong, pro-life, pro-woman voice at Congress' first abortion hearing. Her testimony was a passionate beacon for the Mexico City Policy that protects taxpayers from supporting groups that promote or perform abortions overseas.

....

Dannenfelser said the pro-life women "are strong, articulate, forceful champions who will not back down" and are "unflinching allies of unborn children and the mothers in poor nations who need true assistance and support to address their poverty -- not abortion."

Now there's a role model for you!

"Medical Students for Choice (sic)" have invited Alberto Hodari to speak at Wayne State University.


As Jill Stanek pointed out, it's unlikely any of those admiring students attending the seminar will ask exactly why Hodari was okay with performing an illegal third-trimester abortion on Tamia Russell, a 15-year-old sexual abuse victim who died under this man's tender ministrations.

These admiring students are also unlikely to question Hodari (pictured) about the death of Chivon Williams under his care. They'll likely not question him about the nearly two-dozen lawsuits against him and his facility, such as the woman who had to be hospitalized and needed surgery after Hodari misdiagnosed how far along her pregnancy was and sent her home with retained placenta. They'll not ask about the woman whose pregnancy he failed to verify before proceeding with an abortion procedure carried out to kill a fetus that wasn't there -- puncturing the woman's uterus and leaving her with permanent damage. They'll not ask about the woman whose internal organs he slashed up so badly that she needed a hysterectomy.

He does abortions. That tells these gullible kids everything they think they need to know about this man. In case you're searching for your names on-line kids -- Kia Jones, Jonathan Oakes, Katie O'Connell, and Cynthia Velting-Kidder -- read this, read the links, and re-consider if this guy is really who you want to be when you grow up.

And consider this: Even after all he's done, he's still good enough for the National Abortion Federation, the abortionists' guild you're all hoping one day to be good enough to join. Well, there's good news on that front, kids -- you don't have to be good. You just have to be willing to do abortions and pay your dues. They'll plug you as if you could do no wrong. No matter how bad you are, NAF will assure abortion-minded women that you're an excellent doctor who adheres to the highest standards of care. No matter how many women you maim and kill.



For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



To email this post to a friend, use the icon below.

The best of 40 Days for Life

From the 40 Days for Life Blog:

HOUSTON, TEXAS:

During course the course of the 40 Days for Life, countless women went to local Crisis Pregnancy Centers for free pregnancy tests and Christian counseling. Praise God! Many were sent by the pro-lifers manning the prayer vigil and it was reported to us that many others were showing up at these CPC’s with the literature we were handing out at Planned Parenthood. It was obvious to those of us who pray regularly at Planned Parenthood that their business was down during this campaign. When we ended, during the course of the morning over 175 people came out to pray. One of the new Planned Parenthood escorts as she was helping to usher the moms in seemed very taken aback when she heard the loving kind way we speak to and counsel the moms. She then proceeded to stop escorting and just observed for a while. Shortly thereafter she was seen taking a Rosary out and started praying with us from inside Planned Parenthood’s fence! We know that Planned Parenthood lies to them about our approach, and in fact at least 3 of the escorts during this campaign told us that we “weren’t what they expected.” Almost to a person the participants in this campaign told us that they wanted to continue, this next week they will be contacted to schedule their times. Our goal is to eventually man every hour that they are open.

....

TUCSON, ARIZONA:

Praise God!!!!! Tucson ended our Vigil today (only for this week) with a promise to continue by registering families who will go one day per month or more to pray at the abortuaries in our town. We already have 4 families for Saturdays! Next is our super good news … PP was not killing today, the second time during the 40 Days Vigils that they were not killing on their busiest day of the week! Additionally, the private abortuary, located in the same private property complex, was not killing yesterday, the second time during the 40 Days, and again, on their busiest day of the week!

....

WASHINGTON, D.C.:

The 15-plus babies that we know were saved was the biggest blessing. ....

....

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK:

Our 40 Days or Life has touched many lives. Girls that have had abortions shared their stories with our prayer angels and are seeking healing. Care Net, right across the street from Planned Parenthood, has been kept very busy throughout the Forty Days for Life Vigil. People stopping and joining from the street and wanting to give money to support the PRO-LIFE CAUSE. So many had no idea that Planned Parenthood promotes abortion and promiscuity and are amazed when we are standing there to PRAY THEM AWAY. The CEO of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Inc. tried to stage a rally against the 40 Days for Life and the press coverage backfired and was more pro-life than pro-abortion.

Spiritual reflections on who the real Enemy is

As 40 Days for Life draws to a close, I'd like to revisit an old post:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 NAS

When it comes to the abortion battle, it seems the lines are drawn pretty clearly: prolife vs. prochoice. No matter which side you align yourself with, it's easy to tell who is friend and who is foe, right? If you're prolife, the prochoicers are the enemy. If you're prochoice, the prolifers are the enemy. Right? Well, it might be possible to put forth that argument from a purely secular perspective (although I don't think it holds water even from a secular perspective). But from a Christian perspective, the idea that this is a war of prolife versus prochoice -- or even "good guys" versus "bad guys" -- is bogus. The Bible makes it pretty clear who the Enemy is. We can explore this Enemy at length at another time. Right now, we'll look closely at Ephesians 6:12, as a reminder of who the enemy is not:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Let's turn to the Greek Lexicon and see what we can find about the words used in this passage.

We can start with the Greek word transliterated "pale" (pal ay). This word is used only in this passage, and means "wrestling (a contest between two in which each endeavours to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck); the term is transferred to the Christian's struggle with the power of evil." So it looks like we're not talking about a "live and let live" situation, in which our Enemy will let us be if we ignore it. We're engaged in a wrestling match in which one, and only one, can emerge victorious.

We can then look at the Greek words transliterated "sarx," indicating "flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood)...used of natural or physical origin, ...denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God;" and "haima" (hah ee ma), "blood." We can take this then pretty literally -- we're not fighting flesh and blood, mortal creatures, men and women like ourselves.

Well, then, what are we fighting? Here's where it really gets interesting.

The word translated here as "powers" is the Greek transliterated "exousia" (ex oo see ah). Here are some of the ways this word is defined:

• power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
  
• physical and mental power
  
• the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises
  the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)
  
• the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
  
• the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates

I find it fascinating that Paul chose this word here, a word that means not just those in authority or those with power, but free will itself. Although this idea is not, I would presume, the crux of the passage, I think we'd do well to remember that our own free will is often ready to trip us up. The very capacity for making choices which the abortion advocates hold up as the ultimate good seems here cast as a potential pitfall. This stands as a warning to all Christians no matter what side of the abortion battle they've stationed themselves on: just because we can does not mean we should. Having been given free will, and the power to make choices, we are given at every moment of our lives the capacity to rebel against God and set ourselves up as petty tyrants over our own lives and the lives of those around us.

Again, though, this is an interesting side concept. Biblical scholars point to the meaning of this word in this passage as focusing on spiritual powers having control in the world, and over people.

"World forces of this darkness" is a concept built of three words, two defined here:

• The word translated as "world forces" is transliterated "kosmokrator." This word is used only in this passage, and means "lord of the world, prince of this age; the devil and his demons."
  
• The word translated as "darkness" is transliterated "skotos," meaning "darkness of night; darkness of darkened eyesight or blindness; metaphorically of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell; persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway."

We can pull this together into a picture of Satan and the way he works in the world, where he has dominion. Note also, that the word translated "darkness" can refer to "persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway," this doens't indicate that these persons themselves are that which we are fighting, but the darkness that is being manifested in them. This is, perhaps, a fancy way of restating, "Hate the sin, love the sinner."

The third concept of what we are fighting is translated here, "spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

The word translated "spiritual" is transliterated "pneumatikos," and translates as "sprit." The specific meaning that fits in this passage is "belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God."

The word translated as "wickedness" is transliterated "poneria," meaning "depravity, iniquity, wickedness; malice; evil purposes and desires." That's pretty straightforward.

The word translated "heavenly" is transliterated "epouranios," which translates pretty much into our current "heavenly." We tend to think of "heavenly" as meaning "good," or "superior," but in this passage it can't be indicitave of anything good or superior, and therefore must designate that we're talking about a spiritual realm, a higher reality, and not the physical world visible around us. This stands in contrast to what this passage says we do not contend against, i.e. "flesh and blood," or worldly enemies.

This is not meant to be the final word on how we can apply this passage, either in our lives or as we struggle to put an end to abortion. But it does make a good starting point for though and discussion.

Answered prayers for moms of abortion victims?

Aimee Herd of Breaking Christian News has posted the following words from Eileen Smith, mother of Laura Hope Smith, who died just this past September from an abortion in Massachusetts:

It was 7pm, we had just finished dinner and settled down to watch the evening news. My husband's cell phone rang with Laura's name on the ID. We always loved hearing from her. Laura was so full of life, your spirits were lifted just by talking to her. Except this time it wasn't her voice. There was guttural screaming and sobbing on the other end by a voice I did not immediately recognize. I heard the words "Laura", "Hospital" and the worst one, "Not Breathing," and then "abortion".

My brain tilted, my heart sank, and life as I knew it ceased. It was Laura's friend Karen on the phone. She told me what happened, that Laura was having an abortion and something went terribly wrong. Karen was at the ER and the Doctor needed to talk to me. What Karen didn't know was that Laura had arrived at the ER already deceased. The EMT's found her this way at the abortion mill. The hospital was looking for next of kin to give the news to first, and Karen wasn't kin.

"Laura's gone" the doctor told me. I wanted to hear "50-50 chance"...I would even accept "90-10 chance." But the word "chance" was not in the doctor's statement. All hope was gone, along with my daughter.

My beautiful, precious daughter, whom we had adopted at age 5, and had immediately forgotten that we didn't give her birth. Laura became as much ours as our natural born children. She was a gift we didn't ask for, and one we treasured. I have questions that I can never get answers to—the "whys." Why didn't she come to us? Why didn't she tell us she was pregnant? Why did she think that abortion was the solution to her problem?

Laura was raised in a loving, Christian home. Laura got upset when others she knew had abortions. Laura loved children. Laura was pregnant with her fiancé's baby; he loved her and says he didn't believe in abortion.

There are some questions that I did get answers for. I met with the doctor who aborted my grandchild, and who saw my daughter take her last breath. He would only meet me in a public place, without my husband. We talked for an hour and a half. Based on that meeting I believe I know what happened to Laura. He denies doing anything that caused her death. When we were done talking about Laura, I prayed, and asked God if there was anything He would have me say to the doctor. This is what I said next.... "The blood of my daughter is on your hands; the blood of my grandchild is on your hands; the blood of every life you have ever taken is on your hands," and I went on from there. He was silent with his head hung low.

When I was ready to leave, I asked him if he would think about my daughter, and consider not doing any more abortions—he said he would think about it. When I left there I was praying, and said to God, "Can You stop this man from doing abortions? Is this what You have in mind, that he might even stop doing them?" I was thinking too small. I thought if one girl changed her mind [about having an abortion], I could find some comfort. I then realized that the Lord had much bigger plans. I have never experienced in my life, such tragedy, nor such grace.

I know that God is going to bring good out of my daughter's death. What a horrible thing; for my daughter to be associated with abortion. But, if God's going to use it for good and for His glory, then so be it. We're going very public with a very shameful, private thing because I believe God wants to use it to save lives.

I believe the truth will come out, and the light of God will shine on this. Laura's death has had tremendous impact around the country, and even into Canada, without the local news mentioning it. It just came out in the secular media this week—5 weeks after Laura's death.

I now believe it is my calling to keep telling Laura's story to the Church, and the world. I naively believed that abortion was not a choice for a Christian girl. A Pastor had even apologized to me and the Lord, for not speaking about this from his pulpit. We both had false assumptions. This is a problem in the Church, and one that needs to be spoken about from the pulpits. We have to take the "A" word out of the closet, put it out in the open, and discuss it. And maybe, possibly, hopefully, we'll even become active against it.

Please keep our family in your prayers, and please tell someone Laura's story.

Debbie Cardamone, mother of Marla Anne Cardamone, who died of an unwanted abortion in 1989, has been praying for a chance to network with the other devastated parents of women and girls who died in safe, legal abortions. Too often prolifers dismiss their daughters as "baby killing tramps" who just reaped what they sowed, and prochoicers dismiss their daughters as collateral damage in the war to keep abortion legal, readily available, and as lightly regulated as humanly possible. This makes being the loved one of a woman who died from a legal abortion particularly lonely.

Through Aimee, I've passed Debbie's phone number along to Eileen. Debbie and her husband are hoping for a call, so that the two families can comfort each other. This will be an answered prayer for the Cardamone family.

And in closing, I'd like to focus on one portion of what Eileen had to say:

I met with the doctor who aborted my grandchild, and who saw my daughter take her last breath. He would only meet me in a public place, without my husband. We talked for an hour and a half. Based on that meeting I believe I know what happened to Laura. He denies doing anything that caused her death. When we were done talking about Laura, I prayed, and asked God if there was anything He would have me say to the doctor. This is what I said next.... "The blood of my daughter is on your hands; the blood of my grandchild is on your hands; the blood of every life you have ever taken is on your hands," and I went on from there. He was silent with his head hung low.

When I was ready to leave, I asked him if he would think about my daughter, and consider not doing any more abortions—he said he would think about it. When I left there I was praying, and said to God, "Can You stop this man from doing abortions? Is this what You have in mind, that he might even stop doing them?" I was thinking too small. I thought if one girl changed her mind [about having an abortion], I could find some comfort. I then realized that the Lord had much bigger plans. I have never experienced in my life, such tragedy, nor such grace.

God willing, Laura's needless death may turn this man around, bringing healing to his soul and to those his conversion impacts. Pray, pray, pray.

Early evidence looks like we may be getting two answered prayers: two families connected who need someone to share their grief, and an abortionist who looks close to repentance.

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



To email this post to a friend, use the icon below.

40 Days for Life vigil

If you can't get to an abortion facility yourself for the penultimate 40 Days for Life prayer vigil, please consider being there spiritually at Magee Women's Hospital, where Marla Cardamone was browbeaten into an unwanted, fatal abortion in 1989.

Magee is part of an abortionist training program, which thank God their doctors are allowed to opt out of. But the doctors that opt out are not given training in treating the complications suffered by their colleagues' unfortunate patients.

Pray, pray, pray. And if you can commit to a time to pray for Magee, please let me know. Right now I'm trying to cover the entire 24 hours by myself.a

My Child, My Gift

Madeline Nugent, author of Having Your Baby When Others Say No!, has done it again!

Buy it here and give a copy to your doctor!

My, how they've grown

"Medical Students for Choice" (and by "choice" they mean "abortion") has grown by leaps and bounds. They proudly tout their success in pressuring teaching facilities to become death trainers, and their fellow medical students to become killers instead of healers:

* Coordinated a strong network of student leaders on medical school campuses across the United States and Canada, including groups in traditionally conservative areas of both countries;
* Established formal MSFC campus groups at 123 medical schools;
* Increased our membership from 4,000 in early 1999 to over 10,000 in 2005;
* Established electives, or other opportunities for abortion education, at medical schools across the U.S. and Canada;
* Matched hundreds of student externs with reproductive health facilities in the U.S. and Canada through the Reproductive Health Externship Program;
* Held 7 successful Leadership Training Programs, which offer MSFC student leaders the opportunity to develop effective community organizing skills; and
* Held twelve successful Annual Meetings serving more than 2,850 medical students and residents from across North America.

I could vomit just reading it.

If you can't get near an abortion facility to pray on the penultimate day of 40 Days for Life, consider committing to praying that MSFC will go the way of the dodo as young aspiring doctors wake up and realize that you don't help women by killing their children.

Let's get them all covered!

40 Days for Life is pushing to have a prayer presence outside every abortion facility in America on November 3, the penultimate day of the event.

I'm in Korea, so I can't be present. But many of you can be.

Life Dynamics posts a list of known abortion facilities. Or you can just check your Yellow Pages and see who is targeting women in your area. If you live in a more rural area where there are no abortion facilities, your local Planned Parenthood, which feeds women into these mills, is an appropriate place. If you can't get there physically, be there spiritually. Pick an abortion facility that isn't covered, and pray. My target, from here in Korea, will be Magee Womens Hospital, where Marla Cardamone (pictured) was browbeaten into her fatal abortion. Magee not only commits abortions, but they turn innocent medical residents into abortionists by having them initiated into dismemberment abortions through 24 weeks, in conjunction with the University Health Center of Pittsburgh residency program in ob/gyn, which clearly needs prayer because they train all their residents to kill. (Yeah, they have an opt-out, but they still require the resident to train in "options counseling" -- read "How to convince patients that abortion is really in their best interests regardless of how brokenhearted they are at the prospect" -- at an abortion facility.) My prayer time, then, will be starting at 1 in the afternoon my local time, and ending at 1 the next day.

Don't worry if you're the only one that can show up at your local practitioner. Physically you may be alone, but you'll be united in prayer. And let 40 Days for Life know where you'll be, and tell them how it turns out.