August 2021 Six Ways to Defeat a Pro-Life Candidate By Karen Cross, National Right to Life Political Director

Elections matter of Virginia which is having a tremendously for the pro- gubernatorial election. life cause. This could not be However, we must be careful clearer as we watched the that in our passion we don’t slim pro-abortion Democratic actually help defeat pro-life House majority advance an candidates. appropriations bill without How, you may ask, can we the Hyde Amendment, a do this? There are six ways this longstanding rider that prevents can happen: our federal tax dollars from 1. Fall in love with your being used to pay for abortions. candidate. Too often All who have a heart for the pro-lifers get so excited unborn and their mothers must give their all in the coming year, including in the next few See “Defeat,” page 21 By Dave Andrusko months in the Commonwealth Roe v. Wade should be tossed into the ash heap of history By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation

When I saw the television report, I was mesmerized. A Pennsylvania news outlet, Fox 43, carried the inspiring story of a newborn twin who had to be taken by helicopter to receive much-needed specialized treatment. The flight nurses acted heroically to provide care and comfort to this precious baby who was undergoing respiratory distress. The story had a triumphant ending—the baby left the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and was reunited with family. It is comforting to know what lengths medical personnel will go to in order to save the life

See “Ash Heap,” page 13 Editorials The universal pro-abortion answer to everything: More and more and more abortions

When it comes to the Abortion Industry and its innumerable media enablers, it is always a highly contested race to the bottom. Who can be the most outrageous, the most bizarrely tone-deaf, and who can be counted on to scrape the bottom of the ethical barrel most bare? Rewire.News almost always wins. It modestly describes its “slant” thusly: “We eschew false equivalences, believe in the separation of church and state, are unafraid to call out flaws in conventional wisdom, and do not pledge allegiance to any political party.” (The latter point is, of course, absurd, but no matter.) The “conventional wisdom” they find flaws in is what? Anything that gives evidence of a shred of humanity, any sense that there are some places even the most blindly pro-abortion partisan ought not to go. I grant you a tiny part of their cheerful descent into barbarism is to get a rise out of people like you and me. But, obviously, they couldn’t really care less. For any publication that can run a piece titled “What It’s Like to Be a Pregnant Abortion Provider” has turned a corner from which it is highly unlikely they will ever return.

See “Pro-abortion,” page 27 Many amicus briefs defend Mississippi’s pro-life law, strongly supported the conclusion Roe should be overturned On July 22 , NRL News Today began reviewing a flurry of the normal rules of law to protect an absolute abortion right and amicus briefs, including National Right to Life’s, filed with the not given full effect to powerful state interests such as protecting Supreme Court in support of Mississippi’s pro-life Gestational preborn life and maternal health.” Age Act. With a few exceptions, this 2018 law, a defense of which Specifically, with respect to Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act, the justices will hear this fall, forbids abortions performed after the trial court did not allow evidence documenting the state’s the 15th week. real interests—interests that include protecting preborn human In its role as pro-life leader, National Right to Life supports life (including from pain), protecting maternal health, guarding a wide variety of amicus briefs in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s against harm to the integrity of the medical profession, protecting Health Organization. Collectively, these briefs not only defend civil society, protecting against sex-, race-, and disability- Mississippi’s protective HB 10 law against pro-abortion attacks, discrimination, and other vital interests. As the joint NRLC- they also patiently detail why Roe v. Wade was bad law at its Louisiana brief explained, requiring normal rules and giving full origins and is now absurdly outdated and ought to be overturned. effect to these important state interests will not only the reverse If you go to the Supreme Court docket, you find a huge number the course Roe set in abandoning normal law but also reverse Roe of briefs from public policy organizations, faith groups, legislators, itself. pro-life state organizations, and individuals (to name just a few). As we noted at the beginning, NRL News Today has examined Starting with the joint National Right to Life/ Louisiana Right to a number of briefs and reposted the announcement of other briefs Life amicus, James Bopp, Jr., NRLC General Counsel, explained filed by defenders of Mississippi’s HB 10. The following is just a that it “supports the overturning of Roe v. Wade and provides a sample. Please go to www.nationalrighttolifenews.org where we legal framework that will lead directly to achieving that goal.” analyze at least one amicus brief virtually every day. The arguments that culminate in the call for the reversal of Roe are as many as they are ingenious. For example, as Bopp See “Amicus briefs,” page 33 observed, “Since Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court has twisted From the President Carol Tobias The tenacity of the Pro-Life Movement will carry the day for unborn babies and their mothers

I have the pleasure, are going to continue to work hard, they them have stories about young children and the honor, of applaud. pointing to the fetal models and saying, speaking to various That is the determination and tenacity “baby,” recognizing intuitively what many groups around the of pro-lifers. They know we’re in a battle in society would try to deny. country. I love having for the hearts and minds of Americans, for Our chapters and volunteers are making the chance to visit the soul of the country. Giving up is not an their presence known on social media. with our grassroots option. These platforms reach those who may not base and to hear their They agree with Harriet Beecher Stowe, hear the truth in more conventional ways. stories. While some the author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” who Our affiliates are reaching young people-- are sad, even heart-breaking, others are wrote, prophetically, “Never give up, for through oratory and video contests, youth tremendously uplifting and encouraging that is just the place and time that the tide camps, Teens for Life groups, college almost beyond words. will turn.” groups, and sponsoring students to the NRL One young man in a wheelchair thanked Giving up for grassroots pro-lifers is summer academy. me for NRLC’s position against rationing impossible. They are dedicated to the Because of the stalwart people active of medical treatment. One mother shared proposition that human life is precious and in the right-to-life movement, and the the joy a disabled daughter has brought to must be protected, in season and out. newcomers who join each day, the future is her family. Counselors at pregnancy help At the federal level, the pro-abortion exciting and promising. centers shared stories about some of the Biden-Harris administration and pro- The right-to-life movement is stronger many women considering abortion that they abortion Congressional leadership seek because our members are diverse. Media were able to help. to remove any and all pro-life protections stereotypes about age, race, gender, And I get to meet young people who are for unborn children and, instead, force tax political or religious philosophy, income, or continuing the battle for life. One college funding of abortion, at home and abroad, on education break down the moment anyone group was looking for more ideas on how the American people. We are battling them gets to know pro- life grassroots Americans. they could influence their college campus as I write this column. I wish I could get a message to everyone for life. One youth group, active in a pro- Activity at the state level is completely working to keep abortion legal. I would life ministry, has discovered that “anger different. We’ve had some tremendous tell them to give up. They sometimes have can only take you so far; God can take you successes this year. legislative successes (but not many!), they farther.” Two states succeeded in getting a measure sometimes have election victories, and they I can say conclusively that all of the on the 2022 ballot which would clarify that can certainly be vocal, but all they are doing people mentioned above, along with the their state constitution does not secure a is delaying the inevitable. many other pro-lifers I have met, seem right to abortion or require tax funding of They will not win because our cause is to lead what the world would consider to abortion. just and because pro-lifers are resolute, be mostly ordinary lives--taking care of a Some states have passed laws to protect persistent, and willing to fight as long as it family, working a job, helping out with babies born alive following a botched takes. church or civic organizations. abortion and babies who have been We will never give up until all the little But, trust me, they are not “ordinary” in diagnosed with Down Syndrome. ones are welcomed in life and protected in all the ways that really matter. Other states have passed laws to provide law. Years ago, NRLC published a book titled, information to women seeking an abortion, “Call to Conscience.” Then as now, you including the opportunity to view an are the conscience of America. You are the ultrasound of her preborn child. We’ve voice for the voiceless, reminding this great also seen tighter restrictions on chemical nation that what is happening to our unborn abortions, as well as the promotion of children is wrong. abortion pill reversal. And every time I tell an audience that These are incremental steps forward, but the pro-life movement will succeed do not underestimate their significance. because they (the audience) will not give They are like waystations on the journey up, they applaud! You might think they that will end with the day the law protects would applaud if they were told they can all babies. retire, or give up, or take a break, but no. Beyond legislation, more and more They’ve already been working hard for Right to Life chapters are educating their many years, yet when I tell them they communities with fair booths. Many of 4 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Post-Abortion Syndrome: a TikTok Case Study By Kylie Gallegos Editor’s note. The following symptoms. The symptoms were Guilt. “I went through this having an abortion. It was is research presented by 2021 guilt, anxiety, avoiding kids or 26 years ago and I’ve never one of the worst years of my NRL Academy student Kylie pregnant women, feeling numb, forgiven myself.” Anxiety. life.” Anniversary reminders. Gallegos. suicidal thoughts, anniversary “Everyone told me it was my “The worst part is mother’s reminders, wanting to be only option. I chose to believe day or moving… even just A very unfortunate pregnant again, drug or alcohol them. I lost my job, went looking around at empty video--for deniers of Post- rooms where I would’ve put Abortion Syndrome (PAS)- my babies stuff”... “I feel like -is circulating through the I didn’t fight hard enough.” social media platform TikTok. Wanting to be pregnant again. TikTok is a popular app whose “I won’t get better until I have userbase is largely between 16- a baby.” Drug/Alcohol abuse. 24 and whose content is short “For years I turned to alcohol videos ranging from a few because of the pain… it hurts.” seconds long to three minutes. Bonding with other children. The video featured a young “I’m sad, I feel guilty, and I girl lamenting her own can’t be around kids without abortion one year before who feeling empty.” is creating a safe space where Heartbreaking, absolutely young women could tell their heartbreaking. Clearly each stories of the “forbidden grief” of these young women was of abortion. This video had 1.2 experiencing a mixture of PAS million views, 245,000 likes, symptoms despite the other and nearly 11,000 comments; side’s attempts to quash any needless to say it went viral. suggestions that there may be Those 11,000 comments regret after an abortion. These were women using this one women sought to be understood opportunity to express the and listened to, not guilted or grief they’ve held in for years, silenced. and it was heartbreaking. I Their pain doesn’t simply stumbled upon this video as I cease to exist after reading searched for a research topic a Healthline article https:// during my time at the NRL www.healthline.com/health/ Academy. As I read comment post-abortion-syndrome#real- after comment, I realized that or-fake saying their continued was I was reading was PAS. pain isn’t as legitimate as other What was even more unique abuse, and bonding with other through a temporary psychosis, mental health problems. about these comments and this children. and my life still feels like it’s The pro-life movement is one platform was that it wasn’t What I found was striking, falling apart.” Avoiding kids of love and care for women from a group of pro-lifers, yet unsurprising. I found every or pregnant women. “I also stuck in situations that seems it was women my age who single one of these symptoms felt an overwhelming sense of impossible. Our work includes had grown up in an abortion- and much more. Even more guilt being around babies at helping heal the deep wounds minded culture who by all of compelling is the fact that this that time; not too much now, of abortion. societies standards shouldn’t wasn’t a survey. These were but dang would’ve been like I’ll end with a quote that have had any second thoughts young women offering up their 3 years old now.” Numbness. brings tears to my eyes yet about their abortions, but still stories and mentioning each Talking about a friend she motivates me to keep fighting, here it was: Post-Abortion symptom in passing. No one wrote, “Her biggest struggle keep moving forward, “I had Syndrome. was drawing anything out of was that after she didn’t feel the an abortion 20 years ago and What I then set out to do was them, it was from the heart. relief she thought she would. all I can say is that someone document these comments I’ll share with you now a She didn’t feel anything, just should’ve told me all the and attempt to categorize representative comment for numb.” Suicidal thoughts. “I negative side effects, I still them in light of classic PAS each symptom. attempted suicide twice after struggle.” www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 5 From Darkness to Light: East Liberty Women’s Care Center Illuminates a Brighter Path for Women By Bonnie Finnerty, Education Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation Tiffany and Jay Gilbert are procurement of organs from and unconditional protection, other studies that a majority of busy. Along with pastoring aborted babies. For certain, where they are loved into life. women who see their baby via a fast-growing church in the the addition of another life- The center’s services go far ultrasound choose life. Mount Washington area of affirming resource center in beyond pregnancy tests and Inside the center, the Gilberts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, they Pittsburgh is welcome news. abortion alternatives. They offer their team of volunteers, and are also growing two adorable The location of this resources to the entire family, their donors have created a young sons. Despite a full Pregnancy Resource Center is including grandparents who may calm and beautiful space for schedule of faith and family, also significant. It is one block need assistance in raising their the couple remains open to from Allegheny Reproductive, children’s children. In addition doing more to serve others. where the greatest number of to providing immediate material Most recently “that more” was abortions are performed in support of clothes, diapers, to help stem the rate of abortion the county. According to the and the like, East Liberty has by providing life-affirming Department of Health Abortion an Economic Self-Reliance alternatives to women in a Statistics Report, in 2019 there program that empowers clients Pittsburgh neighborhood. were 6474 induced abortions for the long term. Although only having started performed in Allegheny This is a partnership with to explore possibilities late last County, comprising 20% of the other community organizations year, the East Liberty Women’s annual abortions in the state. to provide technology training Care Center opened in record Being in such close proximity that can lead to jobs with time this past April and has to the abortion center provides higher paying salaries. In this way, they hope to break the generational cycle of poverty Small sampling of the material that can grip families. goods available to clients in need Among other services offered are post-abortion counseling, clients. Soft blue walls frame earn-while-you-learn classes a tastefully decorated and for new and prospective cozy sitting area with a nearby parents, and a woman’s group coffee station. A confidential that focuses on emotional counseling room is right down healing. And they are just the hall. getting started as they train This is a place where women more volunteers and look to are welcomed, affirmed, helped, increase open hours. and healed, where relationships Tiffany is in awe at how are built and life is chosen, a Instructional area where clients are empowered with information everything has come together in vast improvement over what such a short time. The Center was used to happen: the exchange already offered a safe haven an opportunity to reach even blessed with the donation of money for a life. and welcoming arms to several vulnerable women with other of an ultrasound machine. Until The building has undergone a women facing unplanned life-affirming options before they can secure their own nurse rebirth. pregnancies. making a permanent, life- sonographer, the Center is Outside is a city streetlight, The founding of this ending decision. partnering with a mobile van unit a rather quaint lamppost Pregnancy Resource Center Only after opening Women’s that provides ultrasounds. seemingly standing guard over comes at a critical time: Care Center did Tiffany And that is key. this new beacon of hope. It Pittsburgh has the second learn an ironic fact: the very A recent study from the serves as a fitting symbol of a highest abortion rate in building in which they are University of North Carolina at place that is bringing light and Pennsylvania, second only located once housed Allegheny Chapel Hill found that abortion- life to the darkened corners of to Philadelphia. And we Reproductive. The space minded women who visit East Liberty, illuminating a are learning more and more where babies’ lives were once pregnancy centers are at least new path forward for women, about the disturbing allegations sacrificed for profit is now the 30% more likely to change their children, and an entire against the University of sanctuary where mothers and their minds and give birth to community in a city that so Pittsburgh with regard to their babies are offered free their babies. And we know from desperately needs it. 6 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Pregnancy Care Centers Effective, Change Abortion Outcomes, Opposition Study Admits By Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D. NRL Director of Education & Research For years, pro-lifers have Study and results a follow up study. Four weeks At the four-week point, 50.5% asserted that given realistic The study, “Pregnancy after their initial contact, once of those who did not visit a alternatives to abortion, many outcomes after exposure to those who miscarried, gave CPC reported having had the women will choose life for crisis pregnancy centers among birth, turned out not to have abortion they were seeking. An themselves and their unborn an abortion seeking sample been pregnant, or didn’t fully additional 31% said that they babies. Now there’s a study, recruited online,” was published respond to survey questions were “still seeking” abortions. done by abortion advocates, July 28 in the online journal were eliminated, 857 remained Just 18.5% in that group were that proves this is true. PloS ONE. The pro-abortion for analysis. planning to continue their A woman who visits a researchers come from the Four weeks after the initial pregnancies. Pregnancy Care Center (called University of North Carolina survey, nearly a third (30.3%) However, for those abortion crisis pregnancy centers in the (Chapel Hill) and the University reported having visited a “crisis seeking women who did visit study) is considerably more of California - San Francisco. pregnancy center” (CPC). the pregnancy care centers, the likely to forego an abortion and They described themselves However some of these weren’t outcomes were much different. decide to give birth to her child as being “ interested in the sure and some even gave the Less than a third (29.5%) of than a woman who does not. association between exposure name of the abortionist as those had abortions at the four- Women choose life when there to a CPC and pregnancy or the place where they got their week point. is a real choice to do so. abortion outcome.” pregnancy assistance. Over a quarter (26.8%) were Naturally, the researchers Between August 2017 and After eliminating these then planning to bear their raised the usual pro-abortion May 2018, researchers recruited, erroneous or ambiguous child. While 43.8% indicated charges of “false information” identified, and surveyed nearly responses, researchers were they were still seeking or “inaccurate information,” 1,500 pregnant women from all left with 13.1% of respondents abortions, this means there was but that is par for the course. fifty states who were searching confirming that they had still a possibility that the mother And these slurs don’t change the internet considering or indeed visited a pregnancy care would accept the center’s help the outcome: Pregnancy Help seeking an abortion. Of those, center--112 women of their and the child would survive. Centers are very effective. over a thousand participated in original sample. What made a tangible, measurable difference for a significant percentage of these moms and their babies? Visiting the pregnancy care center, receiving support and encouragement, obtaining information about their baby, being offered practical help and assistance, perhaps receiving parenting or financial training, or just finding people who cared. Even the researchers, long- time abortion advocates who made clear that they were no fans of pregnancy care centers, had to admit that these findings were significant. After all, those pregnant women who visited pregnancy care centers were twice as likely to still be pregnant and still be planning to continue the pregnancy as those women who had not. Pregnancy care centers work. They save lives. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 7 Indiana Attorney General asks for stay of pro-abortion ruling, also asks 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the case By Dave Andrusko

On Tuesday, Judge Sarah that women be for a stay of the decision, already upheld the Evans Barker of the U.S. informed that human maintaining that “The State has in-person disclosure District Court for the Southern physical life begins a strong likelihood of prevailing requirement, and none District of Indiana, issued a at fertilization, and against the permanent of the statutes limiting permanent injunction barring multiple physical injunction on appeal.” use of telemedicine can state employees from enforcing The Court’s decision be said to impose sub- or administering six abortion- to strike down the stantial constitutional related provisions. State’s physician- burdens merely be- On Wednesday, Indiana only requirement for cause they forego pre- Attorney General Todd Rokita medication abortions viously unavail-able appealed the federal judge’s contravenes Supreme technological conve- decision to the U.S. Court of Court and Seventh niences. Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Circuit precedent And if all that were While Judge Barker approving the not enough, plaintiffs did uphold some pro-life restriction of abortion disavowed any attempt provisions—“laws requiring an to licensed physicians to show that any of the ultrasound before an abortion, and relies on no data enjoined regulations and that medication abortions that would justify a actually depresses meet FDA standards,” the departure from those Indiana abortion rates. Indianapolis Star reported-- decisions. Absent evidence that she permanently enjoined Likewise, the Court’s any of these regulations others. According to Indiana Indiana Attorney General decision to overturn imposes a substantial Right to Life Todd Rokita the second trimester obstacle, the Court’s Under the injunction, hospitalization/ASC determination that Indiana is blocked from requirements for requirement runs afoul each constitutes an enforcing physician- facilities that do of binding Supreme undue burden is likely only limitations on abortions. Court precedent and to be overturned on chemical abortions, is reversible on that appeal. Indiana’s ban on Attorney General Todd basis. Further, in hold- chemical abortions Rokita said Judge Barkers ing that the in-person Writing for the Indianapolis via telemedicine, decision “only strengthens our counseling require- Star [www.indystar.com/ Indiana’s requirement resolve to keep fighting for the ment, the telemedicine story/news/2021/08/12/ that second trimester lives of unborn children and ban, and the physical indiana-abortion-laws-whats- abortions can only the health of mothers,” adding, examination require- next-after-federal-judge- be done in hospitals, “We will continue to fight to ment each impose an decision/8097293002], Johnny Indiana’s requirement defend Indiana’s commonsense undue burden, the Magdaleno noted not only that that women be abortion laws and to build a Court effectively found Indiana had passed a number of informed about an culture of life in Indiana.” a constitutional man- pro-life laws, the state had also unborn baby’s ability Rokita asked the 7th Circuit date to adopt modern joined 18 other states in one to feel pain at 20 weeks, Court of Appeals to hear the telemedicine. But the pro-life case and 19 other states Indiana’s requirement case. He also filed an appeal Seventh Circuit has in another pro-life case. 8 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org The “Fake News” Machine and Its Influence on Voters By Laura Echevarria, NRL Director of Communications and Press Secretary According to the U.S. News lost local papers now have no readers that Courier war chest and digital Desert, a joint project of the local news source. publications aren’t advertising savvy University of North Carolina’s But now there is a new breed actually traditional to pay to have her Hussman School of Journalism of online “news reporting” in hometown newspapers articles placed into and Media and the Knight town and the lines are blurring. but political the Facebook feeds Foundation, over 70 daily As legacy media newspapers instruments designed of swing-state users newspapers have been lost since fold, PR firms and organizations to get them to vote she’s identified as most 2004 and over 2,000 weekly are seeing an information gap for Democrats. And likely to respond to or non-daily newspapers have that they can quickly fill. although the articles them, then using that been lost. In fact, there are over Here’s one egregious are made to resemble feedback to find more 200 counties in the U.S. that no example. Tara McGowan, a ordinary news, their people like them. In longer have a local newspaper. former CBS News staffer and purpose isn’t primarily digital advertising, this Some might think that the is known as “building loss of these newspapers a custom audience.” indicates that the readers may Applied to politics, have cancelled because of news it’s more like finding bias in the newsrooms. No and activating the doubt that is true in some cases, 80,000 swing-state but the larger issue has more to voters Clinton was do with the traditional business missing [in 2016] , format of newspapers and the who could potentially printing costs involved. The put Democrats over report notes: the top in next year’s The vast majority election. “This is the of the dailies that most interesting, and closed in recent years potentially important, served impoverished thing happening on communities that our side right now,” never regained their says one unaffiliated economic footing in Democratic organizer. the years after the “If it works, it will 2008 recession. Many change the whole of these dailies lost ballgame of how we not only their local reach and motivate our advertisers, who went people.” out of business in the wake of the recession, These “news” sites are just but also their readers, a few examples of the trend who could no longer we are seeing in the push afford to pay for a for “news” to reach voters subscription. When founder of Acronym (a liberal to build a readership and influence their decision they closed their get-out-the-vote organization), for the website: It’s making—and to fill a growing doors, most of the raised over $25 million to for the pieces to gap in news and information shuttered dailies had create a for-profit newsroom travel individually left by the demise of many local less than 15,000 print venture called Courier through social newspapers. subscribers, even Newsroom to persuade voters media, amplifying The pro-life movement though they served to put Democrats in office. their influence with has always had a legitimate communities with According to a November persuadable voters. concern that mainstream news tens of thousands of 2019 article in Bloomberg’s To make this happen, organizations often present residents. Businessweek: McGowan is doing the pro-abortion side without As the U.S. News Desert While the articles she something else small report also notes, as a result, publishes are based on newspapers don’t: See “Fake News,” page 11 about 1,800 communities that facts, nothing alerts she’s using her sizable www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 9 Camaraderie, mutual love and connection found at the first-of-its-kind abortion survivors retreat By Melissa Ohden, as told to Dave Andrusko

Imagine it taking multiple support for parent and child, and more. Survivors of at-home “You Belong” are the words decades and a steady and advocacy. abortion attempts mingled with sought in every whisper accumulation of credible To that end, she dreamed those whose lives were almost of reaction to an abortion evidence for your story to be of a retreat, a space, in which ended in medical facilities. survivor’s story. acknowledged, believed, cared survivors could recognize the Singleton births met twin Beginning with and about, and fought for. community built over years. survivors. reinforcing belonging, the Imagine existing in a world That space was Schulenburg, “You Belong” seems quite first annual and first-of-its- where the very thing that nearly a small city in Fayette County, simple, but those are the kind abortion survivors retreat ended your life is normalized. Texas. words left unsaid when you’ve explored further healing with Imagine an opportunity to finally come to grips with being someone who was born alive despite an abortion attempt(s). Welcome to the world of— the journey of–the abortion survivor. Add to that the first of what we hope will be an annual abortion survivors retreat which took place recently in Schulenburg, Texas. Melissa Ohden, founder of the Abortion Survivors Network, is armed with the story of abortion survival at 31 weeks gestation, substantiated by her own birth mother’s testimony. Nonetheless, she lives in a world where what happened to her in 1977 is dismissed as a fairytale or diminished as “a thing of the past” designed just to threaten the existence of legalized abortion rather than Abortion survivors from across the U.S. capture history being made with this first annual retreat. Such courage in stepping forward in a photo for the first time! unlock secrets and heal hurts. Melissa recognized her own “You Belong” was the experienced trauma in the topics on forgiveness, identity, desire to break the isolation opening dialogue Melissa womb, trauma within your and coping with trauma skills. of a world seeking to silence shared with 17 abortion childhood, made choices out A history of abortion survivors, abortion survivors. How? survivors, ranging in age from of the feeling of inescapable incidence of failed abortions, By meeting others with 41-76 whose lives were nearly generational trauma including and a profile of the known shared experience who would ended by abortion both before abortion, sought to be loved, abortion surviving community understand her story. Melissa abortion was legalized in 1973 and experienced abortion was presented alongside began a personal journey, but and after. in other ways before even information on generational that is only one thread of a Some have birth certificates, knowing your own survival trauma and the generational larger narrative. Recognizing others have only an story. cycle of abortion. a need greater than that of acknowledgement of a live “You Belong” are the words one individual , she launching birth with a year. There were missing in every state and a global reaching non-profit survivors of saline abortions, country that fails to require See “Retreat,” page 12 network designed to unite surgical abortions (dilation & reporting guidelines that abortion survivors with curettage), vacuum aspiration ensure accurate statistics on information, education, healing abortions, pre-term induction abortion survivors. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 47 Study of nearly 5 million women shows abortion is ‘uncommon, if not rare’ for moms with other children Out of nearly five million Medicaid-enrolled women with at least one pregnancy, less than 6% had both births and abortions By Bettina di Fiore

The abortion industry and But while this number indicates Medicaid records of the 17 U.S. abortions constituted a mere pro-abortion publications a majority of those who have states which provide Medicaid 5.7% of the study population, have long promoted the idea abortions are already mothers, coverage for abortion. The and accounted for only 7.2% of that abortion is a “normal” it doesn’t indicate whether it is reproductive histories of total births. experience for moms. “Who common for mothers with living 4,884,101 women were In other words, women who Gets Legal Abortions in children to abort subsequent analyzed. experienced abortion and no America? Mothers,” states children. One study with a large According to the study, 74.2% births were responsible for the the headline of an article in sample size has shown that it is of the women whose records majority of the total abortions the ironically pro-abortion not at all common. were analyzed had experienced which transpired over the study online journal, Fatherly. “This The study, authored by live births but no abortions period. And the vast majority of Mother’s Day, it’s time to James Studnicki and several (or undetermined pregnancy children born during the study recognize and celebrate moms others, analyzed a population losses), accounting for 87.6% period were born to women who have had abortions,” approximately 583 times of total births. who had never experienced claims another article on the larger than the sample used Of the total study population, abortion. website UltraViolet. by Guttmacher and found that 6.6% had a history of abortion Women who had both live Both sites back up their abortion among mothers, at without any history of live births births and abortions were a claims with 2014 data from least those with low incomes, — however, they accounted for very small fraction of the study the Guttmacher Institute which is “exceedingly uncommon, if 53.5% of the women who had population, and had very few of indicated that 59% of women not rare.” obtained abortions, and 51.5% the total children born over the obtaining abortions were The study analyzed of total abortions. study period. already mothers. pregnancy outcomes from the Women with both births and This would seem to indicate that mothers do not comprise the majority of the abortion industry’s customer base — at least, not low-income mothers using taxpayer funds to finance their abortions. In a political climate in which pro-abortion organizations and interests insist that low-income families need taxpayer-funded abortion, this data strongly counters those arguments. Indeed, it would seem to reinforce arguments in favor of the Hyde Amendment, which blocks the use of federal taxpayer funds for most abortions, and which has been in effect for over 40 years. The U.S. House recently passed a budget without Hyde Amendment provisions, which would force all U.S. taxpayers to fund abortion.

Editor’s note. This appeared at Live Action News and is reposted with permission. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 11 “Is there any better way to fully immerse yourself in the pro-life movement?” By Kylie Gallegos Editor’s note. Last Friday The National Right to Life collected over their many years life movement? It was every marked the end of the five- convention in June flew by and of experience. pro-life talking point and more, week-long National Right to we began life in Alexandria, We covered biology, ethics, but in incredible depth that Life Academy. We asked Kylie Virginia learning, reading, philosophy, rhetoric, history, could only be achieved through Gallegos and Grace Lake to 5-weeks of living and breathing share their experiences with pro-life. NRL News readers. Besides the classes, NRL didn’t leave it up to us to figure Showing up in Washington out real-life applications on DC the first day I had no idea our own: they prepared us for what to expect. I had heard lobbying, public speaking, bits and pieces about subjects press conference, press release, I’d be learning about and I social media, ad campaigns, had the vague idea of what short film, interview, column a practicum was, but for the writing, debate, and tv panel. most part I was stepping in All of our bases are covered blindly. for life as an advocate for What I found very quickly the unborn in a world totally was a group of people united (Left to Right) Laura Echevarria, Press Secretary and Communications opposed to what we stand for. by their love of life and the Director; Academy student Kylie Gallegos; Dr. Randall K. O’Bannon, The National Right to Life has unborn; they had decades of NRL Academy Director; Academy student Grace Lake; and given me confidence to confront experience working to defend Olivia Gans Turner, Director, American Victims of Abortion the nation’s toughest issue, and life all across the country and studying, and of course strategy, debate, and law. Is I am eternally grateful that they they were eager to share it with practicing. Our teachers laid there any better way to fully were willing to invest in me the us. before us knowledge that they’d immerse yourself in the pro- way that they did. The “Fake News” Machine and Its Influence on Voters From page 8 criticism while addressing pro- readers to believe certain at Acronym and the staff won’t, in their eyes, life concerns or issues with “facts,” the challenge will be at the Courier News will be balanced,” she told extreme bias. But this new even harder. prevent undue influence on Bloomberg. “What I breed of “news” outlets will be As a Washington Examiner the news reporting. While this say to them is, Balance a particular challenge. noted, the most disturbing is a laughably thin argument, does not exist anymore, The NRLC Communications part of Bloomberg’s interview her follow up statement to unfortunately.” Department response to with Tara McGowan was her Bloomberg is as alarming as it unbalanced or blatantly admission about how she sees is accurate: Yes, very unfortunate if inaccurate news stories is to the Courier Newsroom as a A lot of people I journalism is becoming just contact the reporters and editors “continuation” of her work respect will see this another form of political responsible and hold them with CBS News. media company as an activism. accountable. However, for an McGowan argues that a affront to journalistic outlet designed to influence “firewall” between the staff integrity because it 12 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org “A new sense of determination and purpose to help drive the pro-life movement forward in any way I can” By Grace Lake

Editor’s note. Today marks Right to Life Convention in are put in real-life scenarios in my knowledge about the the end of the five-week-long June , I’ve been taught by some that the pro-life activist may pro-life movement, but I have National Right to Life Academy. of the best in the movement on face such as interviews, the confidence and drive that We asked Grace Lake and topics ranging from the biology lobbying, public speaking, and it takes to confront head-on a Kylie Gallegos to share their of life, abortion arguments and press conferences. world that disagrees with me experiences with NRL News on such a divisive issue. readers. Being able to converse with pro-lifers with so much The National Right to Life experience and wisdom has Academy: one of the most been the most inspiring aspect comprehensive pro-life of all. Being at the heart of educational experiences I could political and social change ever imagine receiving. has given me a new sense of Before attending the determination and purpose Academy, I had no idea what to to help drive the pro-life expect. The extent of my pro- movement forward in any way life experience and knowledge that I can. came from my college’s (Left to Right) Academy student Grace Lake; NRL President Carol I will be forever grateful for Students for Life group and Tobias; and Academy student Kylie Gallegos this experience, the connections attending the March for Life in and friendships I’ve made, 2019. tactics, law, and ethics. My Although this month has and the understanding of how Throughout the past five knowledge has been put to the been challenging, I can truly important this movement is for weeks, starting at the National test in practicums, where we say that I’ve not only grown my generation. Camaraderie, mutual love and connection found at the first-of-its-kind abortion survivors retreat From page 9

Karen, a 76 year old survivor, and education. The Abortion peer-to-peer support, healing Abortion Survivors Network reflected that “it was a safe Survivors Network is uniquely groups, retreats, and advocacy. online, via Facebook or on place to share our stories for equipped to provide specialized To learn more, visit The Instagram. healing to take place.” She expressed her gratitude for the “camaraderie, mutual love and connection” that she felt. Abortion survivors live in a world that celebrates and normalizes the act that was meant to end their lives: abortion. The hardships they have survived are met with rejection, like their life began. The Abortion Survivors Network recognizes and affirms that each individual deserves to be equipped 17 abortion survivors from across the U.S. praying for an end to abortion and with the community, skills their population of survivors worldwide. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 13 It’s Time for a Thorough Investigation of the University of Pittsburgh

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Federation, an affiliate of That would be a violation of control and distribution of University of Pittsburgh should National Right to Life. 42 U.S. Code 289g-2 and 18 (urinary and genital organs and be thoroughly investigated Under Pennsylvania law, it Pennsylvania Statutes 3216. functions) samples obtained amid allegations of researchers is a felony to experiment on a After securing hundreds throughout development (6-42 there harvesting body parts living unborn baby or to refuse of pages of public records, weeks gestation).” A baby born from babies whose hearts are to offer medical care to an the non-profit group Judicial at 40 weeks is considered full- still beating. infant who has been born alive. Watch has found that the U.S. term by the National Institutes “The Pennsylvania Abortion The Center for Medical Department of Health and of Health, while a baby born Control Act makes it clear— Progress claims that Planned Human Services has channeled at 42 weeks is considered overdue. According to the Center for Medical Progress, “If the (preborn baby’s) heartbeat and blood circulation continue in a labor induction abortion for harvesting organs, it means the (baby) is being delivered while still alive and the cause of death is the removal of the organs.” “The allegations read like something out of a horror movie—gruesome and disgusting,” said Gallagher. “It you cannot take the life of a Parenthood of Western at least $2.7 million into a is deeply disturbing to think precious baby to harvest organs. Pennsylvania abortion project at the University of that full-term babies could be For the sake of babies, mothers, providers supply the aborted Pittsburgh that apparently uses treated in such an inhumane and taxpayers throughout the babies, while the University of a tissue bank with body parts manner. We call on both federal Commonwealth, it’s time to Pittsburgh provides sponsorship from aborted babies. and local authorities to conduct investigate the University to Planned Parenthood’s Pitt’s application for one a thorough investigation of of Pittsburgh,” said Maria operations in what appears project stated that the university the University of Pittsburgh’s Gallagher, legislative director to be an illegal quid pro quo planned “to develop a pipeline research practices,” Gallagher of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life for unborn baby body parts. to the acquisition, quality added. Roe v. Wade should be tossed into the ash heap of history From page 1 of a newborn baby. Many are Buland said in the Fox 43 across America. a baby, when a facility up the willing to go the extra mile— report, after a mother delivers a It is time our laws caught up road will take the life of a even when that mile is logged baby, there is no worse feeling with the times. Roe v. Wade, the preborn child at the same level in the skies aboard a Life Flight. than when “you leave with an U.S. Supreme Court decision of development? A medical They treat their tiny patients empty car seat” while the child which legalized abortion back and legal dichotomy which with the utmost compassion, is transported to receive the in 1973, should be tossed to pronounces a death sentence on knowing that those lives are care she needs. the ash heap of history. Each some while preserving the lives sacred and worthy of the Medical technology has state should be permitted to of others simply cannot stand. deepest respect. allowed doctors and nurses pass expansive protective A Constitutional rescue is And they realize what to save premature babies at laws which shield both mother long overdue. Roe must be is at stake for the parents earlier and earlier stages of and child from the tragedy of overturned to return sanity to who nervously wait behind, development. As a result, abortion. our legal system as far as the wondering if their baby will miraculous rescues are How can we move heaven lives of preborn babies are pull through. As Dr. Justin occurring every day in cities and earth on one hand to save concerned. 14 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Pro-life feminists demolish “women need abortion to thrive” argument in amicus filed with the Supreme Court “It is grotesque to suggest that abortion is a prerequisite to equality”

By Dave Andrusko Starting on July 22, NRL News argument that the abusive relationships, following conclusory Today began examining amicus “ability of women to and other challenges. explanation: “The briefs filed in the very important participate equally It is grotesque to detriment that the case of Dobbs v. Jackson in the economic suggest that abortion State would impose Women’s Health Organization and social life of the is a prerequisite to upon the pregnant which the Supreme Court will Nation” requires the equality. Abortion woman by denying hear this fall. Of particular availability of abortion. interest is the amicus filed by “240 Women Scholars and Indeed, the amicus brief turns Professionals, and Pro-Life that assertion on its head. For Feminist Organizations.” example, The justices will hear the FCLNY [Feminists state of Mississippi defend Choosing Life of New its ban on abortions after 15 York] believes that weeks of pregnancy with very there is no causal limited exceptions. Enacted connection between in 2018, the law was blocked women’s equality and by Judge Carlton W. Reeves the “right to abortion” of the Federal District Court set forth in Roe vs. in Jackson, Mississippi. Wade, and that the Judge Reeves’s decision was judicially-created subsequently upheld by a three right to abortion has judge panel of the U.S. Court oppressed rather than of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, empower women. prioritizes the this choice altogether although reluctantly by one of wombless male body is apparent.” (1973). the three judges, as NRL News Another feminist over other forms of In Planned Parenthood Today explained. organization, Secular Pro-Life embodiment. It rejects v. Casey (1992), a On May 17, in a one line (SPL), describes itself as “a a societal standard plurality of this notice, the U.S. Supreme coalition of people of any faith which says women’s Court affirmed Roe’s Court announced that the or no faith who advance secular path to equality is holding—not because justices agreed to hear (“grant arguments against abortion.” violence against their the justices thought certiorari”) the appeal by the SPL “recognizes that widely own children. the 1973 decision was state of Mississippi. available elective abortion correct as a matter This amicus is particularly has dramatically increased The amicus has many other of constitutional law, significant because it rebuts one the pressure for women to insightful criticisms of the but rather on the of the linchpin arguments made abort their children in any anti-woman culture created by faulty premise that both in the 1973 Roe decision pregnancies conceived in less- abortion as a first-resort. Its women had “reliance and the 1992 Casey decision than-ideal circumstances.” “Summary of the Argument” interests” in the [internal citations omitted for This standard has brilliantly demolishes the judicially-created clarity]: greatly stigmatized flimsy foundation the justices right to abortion that Amici, Women Scholars women who wish to erected in Roe and Casey: ensured their capacity and Professionals, have both children In Roe v. Wade, “to participate equally are a group of 240 and a career, and this Court held that in the economic women who have increased the stigma the right of privacy achieved academic and surrounding mothers included a woman’s See “Demolish,” page 20 professional success and children struggling right to obtain an and who reject the with poverty, disability, abortion based on the www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 15 Unearthed video: Former Planned Parenthood prez trounced in debate over when life begins By Carole Novielli Former Planned Parenthood is measured according directly into the egg by for Planned Parenthood. Jaffe president Alan F. Guttmacher, to whether or not his penetrating its outside was a Margaret Sanger Award M.D once made the claim continued existence covering. Once this recipient and once authored a that the preboarn baby in the or his destruction is happens, pregnancy controversial memo advocating womb is not a human being expedient for someone has started. eugenics through compulsory until it is born, and yet, for or the nation. The union occurs sterilization and abortion. decades, he had previously in the Fallopian tube, claimed that a human being’s Life begins at fertilization down which the egg Abortion hurts women life began at fertilization. And even as late as 1965, travels from the ovary. In the panel debate, Dr. Ayd Guttmacher, a former VP of the Guttmacher — along with After fertilization, told Lamm that he opposed American Eugenics Society, one of Planned Parenthood’s the egg completes its “any liberalization of abortion was the first medical doctor vice presidents, Frederick journey down the laws, especially for psychiatric, to head Planned Parenthood Jaffe — published the book, tube into the womb social, and economic and was instrumental to begin “Planning your Family,” where (uterus) where it grows indications.” committing abortions. on page 36, after Guttmacher throughout pregnancy He noted, “Technically it is His unscientific remark was true, we can empty the womb made in a panel discussion of the baby, but we cannot moderated by Richard D. Lamm scrape the idea of the baby in 1969. At the time of the out of the mother’s mind, and panel, Lamm was a Democrat therefore there are going to be member of the Colorado House women who while in the early of Representatives and chief stages of pregnancy and being sponsor of Colorado’s law to emotionally upset would be decriminalize abortion — the inclined to destroy the infant first state to do so in 1967. within their womb.” (News of Lamm’s recent death Ayd knew that abortion was on July 30, 2021, became public much more than the equivalent just before the publication of of having a tooth pulled. this article.) “Subsequently, although the When Guttmacher made his infant has been removed by claim about birth and humanity, whatever termination method he was immediately taken to and Jaffe explain the process and slowly develops is used, the idea of having had task… by psychiatrist Frank of fertilization, they write, into a baby. a baby in her womb is still in Ayd Jr., who schooled him on “Fertilization, then, has her mind,” he said, “and that’s human development. taken place; a baby has been In Guttmacher’s 1947 book, not easily eradicated, and “My first point would be, of conceived. After conception “The Story of Human Birth” subsequent feelings of guilt and course, that abortion means that occurs, the egg attaches itself he wrote, “The life of the things of this sort are real. We a human life is being taken,” to the wall of the womb where foetus begins at the moment psychiatrists see them and we Dr. Ayd said, adding: it grows nine months until the of fertilization, when a single have to contend with them.” Now to declare that any baby is ready to be born.” cell of the male… fuses with a At this point, Guttmacher individual’s life, at any Then, on page 219 single cell of the female…” became defensive and insisted time from the moment Guttmacher and Jaffe add: In his book “Life in the that he was “no murderer,” of conception, is devoid … the essence of the Making,” published in 1933, even though he had committed of value, in my opinion process of conception is Guttmacher wrote, “To the abortions. He justified his is a judgment that the dramatic moment ancient Psalmist who asked: actions by claiming that the no man has the right when a healthy sperm ‘Whence cometh life?’ we can “baby is not a human being to make, and to end cell from the male answer: ‘From the union of two until born…” and as such, a an individual’s life is unites with a healthy minute cells the sperm and the human life can be defined any murder, committed egg, or ovum, from egg.’” way each individual person because it has been the female. The union In 1968, Jaffe founded chooses. decided that he’s no of sperm and egg — the PPFA Center for longer a human being called fertilization, or Family Planning Program in need of help and impregnation — takes Development, later renamed See “Video,” page 25 protection, but merely place the instant a The Alan Guttmacher Institute, an object whose worth single sperm cell enters which became the research arm 16 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Mom rejects suggestion she “selectively reduce” her triplets, says now, “The triplets are these miracle babies” By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation It’s been said that good things reduction”—aborting one of Taala ended up going into The triplets experienced come in “threes.” Certainly, the babies—to supposedly labor at 26 weeks. But with the sleep apnea and one of the that proved to be the case for increase the chances of aid of an all-star medical team babies suffered a debilitating Miami resident Christine Taala. survival for the remaining of 25, she gave birth to the trio, respiratory virus which resulted As The Epoch Times reports, little ones. who were immediately taken in an additional hospital stay. Taala was initially shocked Taala refused, opting instead to the Neonatal Intensive Care Meanwhile, Taala, who works when she discovered she was for a hope-filled decision for Unit (NICU). in health care, battled post- going to give birth to triplets. life. As the Epoch Times’ It was a scary time back in traumatic stress disorder. With her devoted husband’s help, the family was able to regain their balance. “My husband, I think, was made to be a triplet dad!” she told Bevan. “He can stay calm when I am falling apart … I truly think we have learned to be a team, as this is no one- parent job.” Taala now blogs on the social media platform Instagram about her adventures raising triplets. Watching her affectionate trio grow up together is the highlight of triplet parenting You see, Taala had suffered Louise Bevan wrote, “Her 2019 when the babies were for Christine,” Bevan wrote. the loss of three children to pregnancy was high-risk, but born. Baby A had heart and “Her thriving girls, now miscarriage, and the news of Christine couldn’t reconcile liver trouble, Baby B also had a toddlers, confirm her theory triplets came as a complete and with losing one of her babies.” hole in the heart, and “Baby C” that everything happens for a utter surprise. At one point, “Baby A” suffered from a brain bleed. As reason.” Taala was already mom to ceased growing because she a result, the family spent much As Christine told Bevan, a preteen and a baby when was not getting sufficient of a period of 103 days in the “The triplets are these miracle she learned that the triplets— nutrients from the umbilical hospital. babies. You see the girls today, all of them girls–would be cord she shared with “Baby B.” The homecoming in July they push every step of the way. making their appearance Thankfully, Children’s Hospital of 2019 brought new health I see how accomplished they in the world. When she of Texas was able to perform a challenges for the triplets– are, how proud that they learn a was 10 weeks pregnant, a procedure to improve the blood Aria, Lilah, and Sienna– and new task or skill each day. They physician recommended “fetal flow. their mother. are our heroes!” www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 17 Decorated Mom Gives Life to Olympic Athletes By John Stonestreet

Faithful watchers of the replaced a star runner in the Felix had already won six gold her attention on a new endeavor Olympics experience a letdown 200 meters hurdles after she medals and three silver medals called “The Power of She after the games are over. was slapped with a five-year before becoming pregnant in Fund.” The new organization This year, with viewership ban on competition. The runner 2018. She chose to carry her is designed to support mom in a freefall, there was likely failed to follow anti-doping child, even when her pregnancy athletes in practical ways. not enough enthusiasm for procedures because she was was found to be high risk. At The Power of She Fund will there even to be a letdown on “traumatized after having an 32 weeks Felix underwent an provide childcare for mothers Monday morning. abortion”. Her trauma lingers emergency C-section. who compete at high levels, Many have tired of the now even as she is facing Throughout the pregnancy, offering them the support and politicization of this year’s repercussions for responding faced intense pressure from her encouragement they need. games, which started before At least nine athletes who the opening ceremonies. competed in Tokyo participated Patriotism, courage, and even in Felix’s program this year. “historic performance” were These athletes received redefined in Tokyo, and for the childcare grants that opened worse. opportunities for greater However, there is one protest, training. Felix’s work is also a quiet one, that demands inspiring women’s athletic our respect from the 2021 brands to get behind mom Olympics. Female athletes athletes. Athleta and the who are mothers earned well- Women’s Sports Foundation deserved attention. Not merely are both corporate sponsors for with social media statements or The Power of She Fund. corporate endorsements, but for as she did to the anti-doping sponsor. After she opted to keep Felix’s story is a tremendous winning medals and advocating process. McNeal now speaks her baby, Nike, her corporate example of what it takes to for life. This Olympic narrative out against the pressure female sponsor, pushed a new deal change culture. The ideas that is not only heroic but counter- athletes face in choosing career that included a 70 percent pay are evil must be challenged; the cultural in women’s sports. over motherhood. cut to her previous contract, imagination of what is possible In 2008, gold medal favorite Now a truly historic with no maternity exceptions. must be expanded; new and Sanya Richards-Ross boarded a performance in the 2021 The sports brand wagered that better ideas must be offered. plane for the Beijing Olympics Olympics games may change Felix’s performance would Also, very importantly, the games after visiting an abortion this narrative in profound falter as she bounced back direction of corporate pressure clinic. Her husband, Aaron ways. Allyson Felix is the most and forth from competing must be changed. In this case, Ross, was in practice with the decorated track star in U.S. to pregnancy to juggling it was from pro-abortion to pro- New York Giants, so Richards- history. Tokyo was her fifth and motherhood. child. Ross terminated her pregnancy final Olympics games, and she Felix spoke out, challenging Hopefully, the important alone. She came home with a has left with two more Olympic the double-standard that exists work of Allyson Felix will bronze medal, writing later, medals. Perhaps she will display in women’s athletics for moms. undo the abortion-minded “I made a decision that broke them beside a picture of her Nike has since restructured atmosphere that currently me.” Richards-Ross went on two-year-old daughter whom how it works with mothers after surrounds women’s athletics. to say that every female athlete she carried and gave birth to Felix challenged the double she knows has had an abortion. despite pressures to abort her. standard. Editor’s note. This appeared This year, the U.S. Women’s The decision to carry her child Following her Olympic at Breakpoint and is reposted Olympic Track & Field team nearly cost Felix her life. successes, Felix is refocusing with permission. 18 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Woman having abortion finds out she was pregnant with twins By Sarah Terzo Author and post-abortive I was doing or what came from my horrified threw up. I didn’t woman Teresa LeGault tells her was going to happen; body and soul. throw up because I was story. She was in college when all I knew was that it Not until that very “hurt.” No, all feelings she got pregnant. It was 1974, was going to cost $45 moment, did I realize were gone; I threw up a year after Roe vs. Wade was to get the abortion. I was killing life, my because I saw the whole decided: Amazingly, it took less child, actually two picture and knew the I knew nothing than one year to make children, and my error of my ways. about terminating an abortion a mindless mind was racing. How Next, I proceeded to unwanted pregnancy or quit my job, quit school about the development and aimlessly drove to of a life within. I might California, living a have been a university truly “stupid” life for a student, but I was quite while, because basically dumb and gullible… what was the point of I was afraid and anything, anymore, alone. There were no after abortion?… alternate places to turn The full truth for help and advice. about a pregnancy is My parents were in the intentionally withheld Middle East, consulting from girls and women a counselor or church who are having was a foreign idea at abortions, as of hiding the time, nor were crisis the realities makes it pregnancy centers yet okay. in existence… We don’t talk about I also hadn’t picked it because to do so up on the devastating now is against the change that took place accustomed practice, in my dorm roommate the mainstream after a quiet, but and those voices of alternating, decision certain women we are between her and her practice for women can I stop this? But supposed to herald. But boyfriend. with a pregnancy… I just allowed one to harm was done to me That’s probably I was lying on the be removed and now then, and it continues because I had not table with the doctor they were removing the for other girls now. yet reached the point and nurse working second. where I could recognize on the other side of There was costerna- Teresa LeGault, 2020 what self-devaluation, the sheet, discussing tion afterwards… Sentiments of an American emotional breakdown a local high school Soon after, I saw my Woman: The History and and the posture from athlete, when suddenly old boyfriend at the Future of Women and Abortion bad decisions look like. the doctor announced, restaurant where I (100X Publishing, 2020) pp.14 Blithely, I drove in “Oh! There’s another worked, sitting with a – 16. the direction of Corpus one.” What? Two? girl who looked a lot Christi, Texas. There Everything inside me like me, and I instantly Editor’s note. This appeared I went without much cried out “No!” but not ran to the restroom at Clinic Quotes and is reposted thought about what a sound or movement and spontaneously with permission. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 19 Meet ‘Baby Olivia’: Live Action releases groundbreaking project showcasing fetal development By Nancy Flanders From a single-celled human project was reviewed and animators to beautifully and their mothers deserve to to a human with a beating authenticated by multiple document the details of preborn be loved and protected. Olivia heart, brain waves, fingers, medical experts, including life, including heartbeat, is all of us.” – Ben and Kirsten and toes, the miracle of human Dr. David Bolender, PhD, fingernails, eyelashes, and even Watson, Executive Producers, life developing in the womb is Cell Biology, Neurobiology hiccups. As we prepare for the “Divided Hearts of America” portrayed in stunning detail like & Anatomy, Medical College Supreme Court to hear a case never before in Live Action’s of Wisconsin; Dr. Donna that reconsiders Roe v. Wade’s “Olivia is a spectacular and newly-released video, “Baby Harrison (AAPLOG); Dr. Tara wildly unjust legalization of medically accurate portrayal Olivia” [https://www.youtube. Sander Lee (Charlotte Lozier); abortion, Dobbs v. Jackson of the development of a baby com/watch?v=S-lQOooYAs8] girl within the womb. It is Created by Live Action based on information from with the support of world the Endowment for Human class visual artists along with Development, a highly medical experts including respected scientific source accredited OB-GYNs, “Baby on embryology and fetal Olivia” is the world’s most development. Olivia draws realistic and medically accurate back the curtain on the womb animated representation of giving us a realistic glimpse of a child developing in her the baby within. As a retired mother’s womb. The computer- Ob/Gyn, I wish this had been generated 3D animation uses available for my patients. motion capture technology As a former abortionist, I of real human movement, would recommend this video allowing this video to reveal Dr. Katrina Furth (Charlotte Women’s Health, our team is to any woman contemplating the undeniable humanity of Lozier); Michelle Cretella, working to make sure Olivia abortion if she wants to preborn children. MD, Executive Director of is seen across the globe and by be informed about what In the video, we see Olivia’s the American College of parents, leaders and legislators is happening inside her journey from her very beginning Pediatricians; and Jeffrey everywhere. We know that body before finalizing her at the moment of fertilization, Barrows, DO, MA (Ethics), baby Olivia is at the core of decision.” – Kathi A. Aultman, and follow along to her first Senior VP Bioethics and Public the abortion debate: will we MD, FACOG heartbeat 22 days later. We Policy. defend her? Will we defend her see her bouncing around in the From cute hiccups to strong constitutionally protected right “Olivia is the beautiful story womb at 11 weeks — before kicks, and from her sweet to life? Baby Olivia should be – based on the latest scientific her mother can even feel her yawns to her playful curiosity, shown to anyone considering research – of a child’s movements! — and responding Olivia reveals the truth about abortion–in schools, at beginnings in her mother’s to light at 27 weeks. Then, we human development in the pregnancy resource centers, womb, from conception see her preparing for birth, after womb that was once hidden at churches, and in sidewalk until birth. The attention to which she will gain a whole from view. advocacy. We can’t wait to see detail and scientific accuracy new set of experiences in the Live Action founder and the impact Olivia makes.” of the developing child are world outside the womb. president Lila Rose said of this Visit our Help page if you are astounding. Sharing this “Baby Olivia” features groundbreaking video, “… As pregnant, have had an abortion, life journey should open the facts on human development a pregnant woman myself, are an abortion worker, have eyes of anyone who doubts gathered from the detailed I know the power of seeing taken the abortion pill, or are that preborn babies are real database at The Endowment your child on ultrasound, and interested in information on human beings, just like you for Human Development, a I wanted to bring to life this adoption. and me.” – The Charlotte bioethically neutral nonprofit little person developing rapidly Lozier Institute organization with a mission each week! Baby Olivia gives What Others Are Saying: of improving health science the world a peek inside the “Human dignity and value Editor’s note. This appeared education and public health. womb never seen before. We extends from conception to at LiveActionNews and is The “Baby Olivia” worked with a team of amazing the grave. Preborn children reposted with permission. 20 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org The right to life is won one heart, one person at a time By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation

I was reminded recently of daughter, my beautiful friend, right to life means saving an 900,000 lives lost each year to how one single human life can and would be bereft of the unrepeatable, irreplaceable abortion. We are robbed of so change the world. memories I have of her. human being from destruction. many fine people, and so many I received word on Facebook This is why our cause is Our nation is greatly wonderful memories. that the father of a childhood so critical. Defending the impoverished by the nearly If you ever weary of this friend had died. He was a campaign to preserve human long-time restauranteur who life, just think about that one was a beloved member of his special friend in your life. The community. His generosity and one who gives you the strength devotion to faith and family to carry on in this world. were well-known. In short, he Imagine life without him or was greatly loved. her. It is as inconceivable as It has been hard to imagine abortion should be. what life would have been The right to life is won one like without him and his heart, one person at a time. graciousness. He treated It is a valiant cause, a noble those who patronized his pursuit. It is worth our time restaurant like family, and they and our treasure. The world is reciprocated with their loyalty in desperate need of the people to him. Without him, I would we work to save. have never known his youngest Pro-life feminists demolish “women need abortion to thrive” argument in amicus filed with the Supreme Court From page 14

and social life of the WOMAN’S CHOICE.”) ‘places in society’ in history reveals that nation.” [Underlining added.] reliance upon Roe, the expansion of In support of this rather than as a result opportunities for premise, Justices The amicus dryly adds, “The of their determination women — as well O’Connor, Souter, and plurality’s lack of support to obtain higher as their increased Kennedy referenced for its statement did not go education and compete participation in the work of a single unnoticed.” with men in the job political, social, and political scientist, who Chief Justice market, and of society’s economic spheres — herself did not claim Rehnquist char- increasing recognition predated Roe. any causal link between acterized the plurality’s of their ability to fill abortion and women’s factual claim as positions that were All in all, this is an analytic changing economic “undeveloped and previously thought to tour de force. It is very much and social status. totally conclusory.” be reserved only for worth reading. (citing ROSALIND “Surely it is dubious men.” P. PETCHESKY, to suggest that women Indeed, even a “ABORTION AND have reached their cursory review of www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 21 Six Ways to Defeat a Pro-Life Candidate From page 1

about their candidate that if encouraged to step aside issues. Remember, words party candidate will get he/she loses to another pro- for a candidate who may are nice, action is far better. into the race, claiming to be life candidate (especially not be as eloquent but who the “real” pro-lifer. He will in a primary), the pro-life can actually win and then be 5.Expect the candidate attack the pro-life candidate grassroots person doesn’t in a position to take action to make abortion the top and get other pro-lifers to support the pro-life candidate to protect unborn children. issue in the campaign. In jump on board. This is a who won. Because their order to win, a candidate sure strategy to elect the candidate didn’t win, 4.Expect the candidate to has to focus on several pro-abortion candidate. they won’t volunteer in sound like a Right to Life issues that will appeal to In some close races the the campaign or work to chapter chairman. Many a broad variety of voters. number of votes for a third- get others to vote for that party candidate can be the candidate. Pro-life candidates difference between electing need the active support of all a pro-life candidate instead pro-lifers and, all too often, of a pro-abortion candidate. without that full support, a pro-abortion candidate wins. You can go to www. nrlvictoryfund.org/ 2.Believe that your resources/6-ways-to-defeat- candidate is the only real a-pro-life-candidate to pro-life candidate in the download the “6 Ways to race and bash other pro-life Defeat a Pro-Life Candidate” candidates. Some people brochure to distribute to your pick out the one or two votes friends and family. Remember that a pro-life candidate the outcome of elections didn’t vote right on and matters tremendously and a attack him or her as not being pro-life candidate must win really pro-life. By doing in order to be able to take this, however, the pro-lifer the action necessary to save demoralizes other pro-lifers babies. and weakens enthusiasm In South Carolina alone more for the pro-life candidate candidates will do what’s In some races, making than 184,000 babies are alive who does win the primary. right when they’re elected, abortion an issue will today because South Carolina but that doesn’t mean they help the candidate, but in Citizens for Life helped pass 3.Support a really nice will be comfortable or some parts of the country, pro-life legislation. That’s candidate who is pro-life but eloquent talking about the the pro-life candidate 184,000 families blessed with has no chance of winning. killing of unborn babies. must stress other issues a baby instead of cursed with The viability of a candidate Some of our strongest pro- in order to win. despair and regret. must be considered when we life elected officials, whose What a difference pro- decide whom to vote for. If actions have helped to save 6.Vote for a third-party lifers can make in a race! it is apparent a wonderfully hundreds of thousands candidate who has no Let’s be careful that our well- pro-life candidate can’t of unborn babies, are chance of winning. There intentioned actions don’t help win, he needs to be not articulate on pro-life will be times when a third- defeat the pro-life candidate. 22 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Sen. Casey voices pro-life platitudes but strikes out when called to support pro-life legislation By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation Less than a month ago, Kennedy Amendment) and the status quo of the Hyde Employee Health Benefits U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr., a would have protected preborn Amendment, which prohibits Program. Consistent with this Democrat from Pennsylvania, children diagnosed with Down the use of federal funds to pay belief, I have also supported sent a message to a constituent syndrome from abortion (the for abortion. Since 1976, this legislation to ‘codify’ the Hyde declaring himself pro-life: Amendment. Such legislation “I am a pro-life public official. would make the Hyde I believe that life begins at Amendment permanent, rather conception, and that the role of than continuing to deal with government is to protect, enrich this matter every year through and value life for everyone, at the appropriations process.” every moment, from beginning Casey clearly broke his promise to end.” to the people of Pennsylvania. Yet, when a critical vote came He put forth pro-life platitudes, up this week, Casey caved. but when it came to an actual Big time. He voted against not vote, he betrayed preborn babies one, not two, but three pro-life and their mothers. amendments. One wonders what his late Those amendments included father, pro-life champion the Lankford Amendment, Robert Casey, Sr., former barring federal funding Governor of Pennsylvania, for abortion and providing would think of his pro-abortion conscience protections. In flip-flop. other words, the amendment Robert Casey, Sr. once said, supported the long-standing Senator Bob Casey Jr. “Our moral, religious, and Hyde Amendment, dealing with political traditions are united in taxpayer funds for abortion, Inhofe Amendment). country has kept these funding their respect for the dignity of and the Weldon Amendment, Incredibly, in correspondence restrictions in place in the Labor- human life.” dealing with conscience rights. to a constituent less than a Health and Human Services- His son not only has broken The other two amendments month ago, Casey voiced Education appropriations bill with tradition—he has broken Casey voted against would support for Hyde. and in other appropriations, the hearts of Pennsylvanians have banned late-term “Because I am pro-life, I such as the Financial Services who long for justice for the abortions after 20 weeks (the believe we must continue bill, which covers the Federal preborn. An overview and update of federal legislation From page 21

Supreme Court question before the Court which supports the overturning National Right to Life state In other pro-life news, as you is whether all pre-viability of Roe v. Wade and provides a affiliates, in coordination with will see elsewhere in the August prohibitions on elective legal framework that will lead National Right to Life, urged edition of National Right to abortions are unconstitutional. directly to achieving that goal. state legislators to sign onto the Life News, many amicus briefs The Court is expected to hear brief. have been filed n i Dobbs v. oral arguments in Dobbs this Included among the many A fuller description at the Jackson. Judge Carlton W. fall. other amicus briefs discussed briefs can be found here: Reeves blocked the 2018 National Right to Life in National Right to Life News www.nationalrighttolifenews. Mississippi law which prohibits supports a wide variety of Today is one submitted by org/2021/08/a-look-back-at- abortions after 15 weeks amicus briefs which defend 228 Members of Congress, the-briefs-filed-on-behalf- with a very few exceptions. Mississippi’s protective H.B. including 44 Senators and of-mississippis-pro-life- Judge Reeves’s decision was 10 against pro-abortion attacks 184 Representatives. National gestational-age-act-strongly- subsequently upheld by a three and which explain to the justices Right to Life supported this support-the-conclusions-roe- judge panel of the U.S. Court of why Roe v. Wade is a bad law brief and encouraged members should-be-overturned-2/amp/ Appeals for the 5th Circuit. that ought to be overturned. to sign on. The Supreme Court then National Right to Life/ In addition, another amicus agreed to hear the appeal by Louisiana Right to Life was filed on behalf of 321 the state of Mississippi. The submitted an amicus brief legislators from 35 states. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 23 Surprise! Three major newspaper accounts of pro-life brief filed with the Supreme Court defending Mississippi’s abortion law are fair! By Dave Andrusko There has been so much has no basis in text, structure, elective abortions so before viability,” the hysteria, most of it artificial, history, or tradition.” long as they show the brief states. about Mississippi’s Gestational Lots of other useful prohibition promotes a It dismisses the Age Act that I fully expected background information legitimate government argument that news accounts of the brief follows, as well as a quote interest, Fitch writes. reproductive control filed by Mississippi Attorney from a statement issued by is essential to what General Lynn Fitch to be Nancy Northup, president of What makes Barnes’ story so Justice Ruth Bader riddled with the same over- the Center for Reproductive informative—and complete— Ginsburg once called the-top responses. But taking Rights. In her famously just three (of many) examples understated way, Northup that appeared the day of or charged that Mississippi’s immediately after, that proved brief “reveals the extreme and not to be the case. regressive strategy, not just of USA Today’s John Fritze, this law, but of the avalanche of the Washington Post’s Robert abortion bans and restrictions Barnes and the New York that are being passed across the Times’ Adam Liptak actually country.” reported on the brief in which Barnes’s story begins, Fitch defended her state’s law “Mississippi is asking the that, with some exceptions, Supreme Court to overrule bans abortions after the 15th Roe v. Wade in order to week. uphold the state’s restrictions You can tell instantly whether on abortion access, and to a story has a chance to be renounce the court’s landmark fair. How? It’s actually quite holding a half-century ago simple. Whether the other side that the Constitution protects (in this case, pro-abortionists a woman’s right to obtain an challenging the 2018 law) is abortion.” (Barnes called it quoted extensively before the “The state’s bold request.”) story addresses what AG Fitch Two of the first six paragraphs actually wrote. includes quotes taken from AG But in his first five paragraphs, Fitch’s brief. Fritze lets us know the brief asks “Roe and Casey are is that he explains how the “a woman’s autonomy the justices to overturn Roe [“In unprincipled decisions brief (in Barnes’s paraphrase) to determine her life’s their sharpest framing of the that have damaged the “says changes in society and course, and thus to blockbuster dispute since the democratic process, science have undermined Roe.” enjoy equal citizenship appeal was filed at the Supreme poisoned our national “Today, adoption stature.” Court more than a year ago”]; discourse, plagued the is accessible and Instead, Mississip- that the 19 page brief is one of law — and, in doing so, on a wide scale pi’s brief says, “Innu- the early salvos in “an expected harmed this Court,” women attain both merable women and flurry of written arguments”; the brief states. professional success mothers have reached outlines in brief (although not “Nothing in and a rich family life, the highest echelons entirely accurately) the collective constitutional text, contraceptives are of economic and social impact of Roe and the 1992 structure, history, or more available and life independent of the Casey decision; and finishes up tradition supports a effective, and scientific right endorsed in” Roe with a quote from the brief— right to abortion,” advances show that an and Casey. “Roe and Casey are egregiously the brief states. And unborn child has taken wrong. The conclusion that thus states should on the human form See “Surprise,” page 32 abortion is a constitutional right be free even to ban and features months 24 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Pro-abortion Democrats ignore an enduring truth: the public strongly supports the Hyde Amendment By Dave Andrusko

Tip of the cap to Kimberly demand in the U.S. and around funding of abortions,” Saletan abortion like any other Ross, writing in the Washington the world.” writes. “In every poll but one, medical procedure is Examiner. Ross referenced a Let’s examine Saletan’s very that plurality is a majority. The a matter of respecting piece that ran in Slate magazine thoughtful piece which was questions vary, but the result is women. But in surveys, in June 2019, just after then- subtitled, “Recent polls debunk the same. Respondents support women are no more presidential candidate Joe much of what progressives ‘banning federal funding for likely than men to Biden flip-flopped, from support that policy. decades-long support for the The sexes differ on Hyde Amendment to strident other reproductive opposition. policy questions, The title of William Saletan’s but not on abortion analysis is “Abortion Funding funding. Isn’t As Popular As Democrats Think.” Nothing has changed This reinforces another in the ensuring two years that enduring truth about abortion. changes the enduring truth While people’s position on that he carefully documented. abortion does tend to track In fact more recently polling along their self-identified shows even greater support political position (Republicans for the life-affirming Hyde are much more supportive of Amendment. the Hyde Amendment than Nonetheless, pro-abortion Democrats), that is not the case Democrat leaders, beginning with women and men. with Biden-Harris, Speaker But what cannot be Nancy Pelosi, and Senate The late Congressman Henry Hyde overlooked is that many Majority Leader Charles Independents—a whopping Schumer, have persuaded believe.” It’s particularly telling abortion’ except in rape cases 65% in a 2021 Marist poll— themselves that they know because Slate is strongly pro- or to save the woman’s life.” and almost a third (31%) of better than what the results of Democrat and pro-abortion. Since Saletan wrote his Democrats— also oppose using 40 years of polling uniformly He begins with the words article in June 2019, there have tax dollars to pay for a woman’s document: the public of a chorus of Democrats been two additional polls that abortion. overwhelmingly does not want announcing in 2019 that there showed even stronger support In addition, Saletan cites a to pay for abortion. is “an emerging consensus for the Hyde Amendment. poll by YouGov that found But pro-abortion within the Democratic Party” The first is a November 2020 an even greater number Congressional Democrats and that Hyde must go. In the McLaughlin poll showed that of Democrats–55%–who the Biden-Harris administration words of Sen. Bernie Sanders, 64.6% oppose tax funding “supported prohibiting federal plow ahead anyway. And to “There is #NoMiddleGround of abortion including 49% funding of abortions.” That make matters worse, they on women’s rights,” to which of Democrats and 69% of same poll found that “66 intend to spend US dollars not Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand added, Independents. Note that three percent of respondents said ‘the only at home but abroad as “ I don’t think there is room times as many respondents decision on abortion should well. in our party for a Democratic strongly opposed federal be made by a woman and her As the Parliamentary Network candidate who does not support funding of abortion as strongly doctor.’” for Critical Issues wrote, women’s full reproductive supported funding. Saletan’s spot-on conclusion? “Democrat Members of the freedom.” How does support/opposition “A lot of people seem to think U.S. House of Representatives But what do the opinion break down along gender lines? that the right to choose abortion passed two spending bills that polls—as opposed to pro- According to Saletan is compatible with the right remove decades-old bipartisan abortion politicians—say? To many advocates not to pay for other people’s agreements preventing the use “In every poll, a plurality of abortion rights, abortions.” of federal funds for abortion on of Americans opposes public covering the cost of an www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 25 Former abortion worker on half-hearted options: “another tool that was used to force a woman into an abortion” By Sarah Terzo From one former abortion that there’s going to my conscience said. say? Publicly it looked worker: be a baby of yours out My conscience was good – in reality it was “In my facilities, I here somewhere in the totally numb anyway. another tool that was always gave options world you will never But what it did do was used to force a woman counseling. Of course see again. At least with public relations wise. into an abortion. It’s you make the abortion typical – I would give the most appealing. them an option and I told them about then shoot it down. The adoption and about only option you didn’t foster care and about shoot down, obviously, (when there was was abortion. welfare) assistance. The typical way it would Richard and Rhonda go is, “Well, you know White, Confronting Abortion you can place your abortion you know You were able, when Distortions (Xulon Press, baby out for adoption” what’s happened. You a reporter or TV crew 2013) p.61. but then, in the same can go on with your came, to pull out a breath, you would life.”… packet of information Editor’s note. This appeared say, “That’s an option The longer I was in for the patients to read at Clinic Quotes and is reposted available to you, but it, the less I cared, so I and they received it. with permission. you also have to realize really didn’t care what So what can anybody Unearthed video: Former Planned Parenthood prez trounced in debate over when life begins From page 15

“I think you have to define its experience by a descendant that he “a potential human” until he this process according to your viral infection such may have. “was born.” own intellectual point of view, as rubella, by drugs, Now, furthermore, “I think that a fetus is until and perhaps your own social chemicals, x-rays and in this country, if the birth is a potential, you think a and religious background…” so forth, which is used fetus is not a human fetus is actual as a human being Guttmacher said. to justify abortion? being, then I must immediately after fertilization, If the fetus is not a ask the question, so let’s agree on that and let’s Is the fetus a human being? human being, why are why does the United go on,” Guttmacher said. In his rebuttal to Guttmacher, so many physicians States Food and Drug Nevertheless, Ayd made his Ayd asked a simple question: and scientists spending Administration caution point clear: the fetus is a human “Is the fetus a human being?” millions of dollars against, or in some being. He then went onto to say: and countless hours instances prohibit, “Dr. Guttmacher was a fetus, … [M]any abortion trying to develop a the administration of I was a fetus, you were a fetus. supporters say that vaccine for rubella, certain drugs in the You see, our existence began the fetus is nothing trying to devise ways of first three months of this way, and for someone to more than a blob of avoiding birth defects, pregnancy? terminate it, if someone had protoplasm, nothing trying to develop an terminated the fetal existence more than that, artificial placenta, Ayd ended his argument by of any one of the three of us, but I don’t think trying to fertilize the stating, “to say that a fetus is we wouldn’t be here on this that they honestly ovum outside the body not human is sheer nonsense.” panel today. So that the fetus is recognize their own in a test tube and by Ayd pointed out that all three a human being,” Ayd said. contradiction. artificial insemination men had developed from a Now, if the fetus is not and genetic engineering fetus. Editor’s note. This appeared a human being, what and genetic surgery, to Guttmacher doubled down, at Life Action News and is is it that’s damaged enable man to improve “I was a fetus to be sure,” he in the early weeks of the mere and remote said, but claimed he was only 26 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Abortion, cognitive dissonance, and the backfire effect By Dave Andrusko “Death, once invited in, openly about the result of two factors: cognitive they must be “lying to women?” leaves his muddy boot experience, leaving dissonance and the backfire Likewise with Abortion Pill prints everywhere.” — the reality of abortion, effect.” Reversal. To pro-abortionists, John Updike, from his and the emotions that The author quotes a evidence of their effectiveness 1968 novel, “Couples” accompany it, a silent psychologist who wrote back is beside the point. APR must witness in our political in the 1950s [!] that cognitive be a sham, must be even There is next to no chance discourse. Even now, dissonance can be described “dangerous” to women. It even the closest readers of NRL four decades after Roe, as ”the uncomfortable tension seems as if every time they News Today will remember the some of the women we attack Abortion Pill Reversal, name Meaghan Winter. In 2013, spoke with would talk they up the ante. she compiled the accounts of only if we didn’t print But, as I see it, this is like the the abortion experiences of 26 their real names.” game of Jenga. Many blocks women for an article that ran in have already been removed and New York magazine. Again, I completely the abortion tower is already We wrote about these understand that the whole point shaky. Remove that block—the riveting stories at length. is that the more often women guarantee that once an abortion Although Winter’s goal was tell their stories, in theory the is begun the baby cannot be to “destigmatize” abortion, less “stigma” will attach. But saved—and the whole tower ironically the accounts were it’s not stigma that is running could collapse. much more likely to make roughshod in many of their Just a word about the backfire the average person even more hearts but deep, deep regret. effect. According to the results skeptical of abortion, even Which is why if you take the of a series of experiments, more convinced it is a horrible time to read all the stories, you we find what they call the “choice.” come away aching for almost backfire effect “in which For me, the overwhelming all of these women. that comes from holding corrections actually increase takeaway from Meaghan Why do I mention this last two conflicting thoughts misperceptions among the Winter’s story was sorrow. Friday—and as the last post of simultaneously.” group in question.” Abortion’s ugly truth— the week at that? In looking for He wrote of one group that Why? “Because it threatens and bloody boot prints– is something else (which often “sought frantically to convince their worldview or self- everywhere. happens to me), I ran across the world of their beliefs,” and concept.” Consider the honesty of a piece that ran in Scientific when their prediction didn’t Exactly. Abortion is a Winter’s introduction. Take this American. come true, they made “a series necessity; it is a good; it paragraph, for example: As was the case with Winter’s of desperate attempts to erase advances women’s prospects; it “And yet abortion story, the takeaway the author their rankling dissonance is the axle out of which all the is something we of “How to Convince Someone by making prediction after many spokes of “reproductive tend to be more When Facts Fail” would have prediction in the hope that one justice” extend. comfortable discussing us take home is not necessarily would come true.” But what if killing your own as an abstraction; the what we carry away. In fact, the Can you come up with a children accomplishes none feelings it provokes impact for many of us is just the better example of this than the of these? What if abortion is are too complicated opposite. promises made to women if an unspeakable evil, one that to face in all their He was ridiculing the usual only they abort their unplanned takes the life of helpless unborn particularities. Which easy targets but also people children? On a specific babies and maims so many of is perhaps why, even who simply disagree with his front, how about the nonstop their mothers? in doggedly liberal conventional liberal pieties. So accusation that pregnancy help Could there possibly be a parts of the country, what explains “This power of centers are (a) ineffective, (b) more telling example of the very few people talk belief over evidence”? It’s “the too effective, which means (c) backfire effect than that? www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 27 The universal pro-abortion answer to everything: More and more and more abortions From page 2

So who is the author, Stephanie Chen? A “board certified She takes refuge in the falsehood that “Most people [aka women] obstetrician-gynecologist based in Philadelphia and a Fellow of in the United States who have abortions already have one or more Physicians for Reproductive Health.” She tells us she is already a children.” This is no doubt a reference to a 2014 Guttmacher parent and is pregnant. study that concluded that 59% of women obtaining abortions were Chen tells us early on that she was asked if her situation felt already mothers. “weird”—being “visibly pregnant” while aborting women? However, James Studnicki et al. “analyzed pregnancy outcomes No, she “half-truthfully” answers. But Chen does wonder how from the Medicaid records of the 17 U.S. states which provide her “patients ” will respond. Medicaid coverage for abortion. The reproductive histories of But not to worry. 4,884,101 women were analyzed.” Chen tells us “[E]veryone congratulates me, and patients often What did they find? “Women with both births and abortions want to know every detail of my pregnancy. Despite our different represent 5.7% of the study population and have 7.2% of total circumstances, talking about my baby allows my patients and me births.” new opportunities to connect and bond.” One other pro-abortion talking point Chen trots out: being Think about that for a second. And then consider this classic case aborted ain’t all that bad: of disassociation: Forcing the responsibility of supporting a life onto Multiple people have told me that providing someone who does not want to be pregnant or become abortions while nurturing my own baby inside me a parent is unhealthy for both the parent and the must present a moral conflict. Those people don’t child. Rather than being “anti-family,” people who understand that my baby has nothing to do with my seek abortions are protecting their current and future patients. The people who come to me for abortions families, whatever that looks like. cannot become parents at this time for their own perfectly valid reasons. Their situations are different She ends with the usual excusatory blather and calls (what from mine. a surprise) for “eliminating the Hyde Amendment, an annual legislative rider that bars federal funding for abortion.” The lives So while nurturing her own unborn baby, she sucks out babies, of at least 300,000 babies were saved each year because of the scrapes out babies, and tears out limb by limb babies from mothers Hyde Amendment—at least 2.4 million altogether since 1976. who are in situations “different from” Chen’s. She assures us this The pro-abortion answer to everything? More deaths, more doesn’t “change my ethical understanding of abortion.” misery, more and more and more abortions. 28 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Abortion” a 21st Century Trojan Horse By Jean Garton

Editor’s note. Although it does that evening remembered that They understand that this is no What happens to attitudes truly seem like yesterday, we ancient story from 3,000 years “gift” but the latest example of toward all children, born and lost this pro-life giant five years ago and remembered its famous the pro-abortion response to unborn? Women have always ago. Jean, my friend of over warning: “Beware of Greeks everything: kill. sensed that in pregnancy the 30 years, wrote many stories Bearing Gifts.” Like the Trojan Horse, child is theirs to protect, but for NRL News and NRL News The Twenty-First century, in contained within this “gift” is abortion teaches that the child Today. Periodically, we run one a real sense, has its own Trojan a stealthy enemy. The price that is theirs to accept or reject. of her terrific posts for those Horse— the pervasive practice we all pay for the deaths of 58 Abortion births a view of who were not privileged to read unborn children as “property,” the magnificent work of the a mentality that is often carried author of the pro-life classic, over to born children. This is no “Who Broke the Baby?” “gift” to children whether in or out of the womb. I recently invited an audience What happens to men who of senior citizens to share a have no legal way to prevent lesson they remembered from the death of their child by their grade school years. The abortion? Many men whose first person to respond brought partners had an abortion, laughter from the others when themselves grieve over the loss he said what he most remembers of their child, are angry at the is his mother saying, “Pick up woman involved, and/or have your room!” a feeling of impotence about That wasn’t what I had in their lives in general. Abortion mind, but it certainly is a is no “gift” to these men. universal memory. A woman What happens to fundamental then said she can still recite relationships following an the names of all the Grecian abortion such as relationships columns. Another could still with parents or even other identify the different types of children in the family? Teenagers clouds he learned in seventh can have abortions without grade. My own favorite lesson parental consent or knowledge. from early years is about the How is that a “gift” to family Trojan Horse. …. unity and well-being? For 10 years the mighty Girls who have had an Greek fleet and thousands of abortion are four times more its warriors lay siege to the city of abortion which has been million [now over 61 million] likely to commit suicide of Troy. Then, in a seeming promoted by many as a “gift” unborn babies is incalculable. than are women who do not. admission of defeat, the Greeks to women. Let me more specific about this Children already existing in the built a huge wooden horse and Most recently, for instance, bogus “gift”: family often experience a deep, presented it to Troy as a parting the reports of the damage done What happens to a medical subtle but permanent fracture gift of “surrender.” The trusting to children in the womb thought profession that engages in of a trusting relationship with Trojans dragged the gift through to be caused by the Zika virus– killing defenseless children their mother. a demolished section of the city microcephaly–has spurred both impersonally and with Their unspoken question wall only to discover, hidden pro-abortionists to assert detachment, yet very, very is, “If I become unwanted, inside, Greek soldiers who, that abortion is a great gift to lucratively? What happens imperfect, or inconvenient, will having once gained entrance, such mothers. Even Brazil, to Western medicine, the mother do that at to me?” A captured the city, sacked and which has been strongly pro- most compassionate, humane “gift”? Not for children already burned it. life, is being urged to loosen medicine in history, when it born or for girls who lack Troy fell; not because of the its protective abortion laws. reverts to the pagan practice in family support. superiority of its enemy but Fortunately, those countries, which the doctor becomes both because of a deception that parents of children with healer and executioner at the has made it a famous ever microcephaly, and people with same time? This is no “gift” to See “Trojan,” page 37 since. Everyone in the group microcephaly are fighting back. our country. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 29 Author describes seeing baby’s body after abortion: ‘I screamed… I had killed my four babies!’ By Sarah Terzo

CG Richardson had four nurse what had happened, the abortion.” Richardson was miscarriage, and the nurses that abortions. Each time, she nurse at first didn’t believe her: admitted to the hospital cared for her were very kind. believed what the abortion The look on her and received intravenous The incident had a facilities told her – that a face was pure shock antibiotics. She had a serious profound emotional effect preborn baby was just tissue, and then turned to infection, and the doctor told on Richardson’s doctor. She not a human being. But after her disbelief. “You must her that if she hadn’t gone to explained, “My doctor was a fourth abortion, she came face- be mistaken,” she the hospital when she did, she caring man. This day he was to-face with her aborted child, responded. “Here, let would have died. looking very tired and worn. He and she shared the experience me see what you’ve got The nurse took the body of the loved people, especially babies, in her book, “No One to Hear and that’s why he became an Their Cries.” OB/GYN.” After the abortion was He told Richardson that carried out, Richardson bled abortion could cause serious heavily for several days and complications and that he’d suffered intense cramps. This seen them himself. He said: was different than what she “I’ve known of and experienced in her previous personally seen girls abortions. A week later, she that had to have a was sitting on the toilet when D&C just like you did. she passed the intact body of At times we have found her aborted child. the tiniest of body parts She describes being left inside the womb! A devastated: “‘How could this hand, an eye… It’s a be?’ I screamed…Hesitantly very difficult thing to I looked closely, examining witness! every inch and there was no “You are very lucky denying it: This Was a Baby!” that your baby was She could see every feature of intact when you held it the child: in the box.” I slowly baby away to pathology, where in your hand. Imagine I could plainly see the handed it to her. She Richardson knew her child if a hand or eye was little eyes, nose, mouth, cautiously opened and would be dissected. Saying missing or dangling! It tiny little hands and carefully unfolded the goodbye was devastating: would have been 100 feet that had already foil and tissue paper. [O]ut the door she times more traumatizing formed! I also saw For a moment I went carrying my than it was!” After the blood vessels and the thought she was going tiny child never to see last statement, his eyes spine as the skin was to scream out loud but again. I prayed silently started to water, and he very transparent! instead she cupped her for this innocent child. turned and walked out The thing that made hand over her mouth. The child I had tried of the room. me fall to my knees Tears started to fill her to discard of so easily was looking at what I eyes as she said, “You had come back into my Both the doctor and the nurse believe to be my baby’s are right! There’s no life and I didn’t want cried. heart. This little heart mistaking it! The little to let go! I didn’t want Richardson has had to face was once beating until eyes, nose and tiny to face what was going the fact that she is responsible I gave the order to have fingers are perfect!” to happen and there for the deaths of four of her it stopped! She pointed out the was nothing I could do children. She describes herself precious little mouth about it! I had made as being “brainwashed” by a At that moment she realized, as well. The mouth my choice the day of culture that denies the humanity “I had killed my four babies!” that would never be the abortion and there of preborn human beings. Richardson became able to uttered [sic] a was no way to undo it! Richardson wrote her book hysterical, cradling the baby’s word! She slowly laid I have to live with this hoping to convince other body, singing lullabies, the box on the counter memory for the rest of women to choose life and and screaming. Finally, she and draped the tissue my life! This would be escape the emotional pain she wrapped up the child and put across my baby ever so my final goodbye! suffers on a daily basis. the baby’s remains in a box. gently. She drove to a friend’s house, Perhaps out of compassion, Editor’s note. This appeared and the friend brought her to The doctor told Richardson the doctor wrote in Richardson’s at LiveAction News and is the hospital. When she told the she’d suffered a “missed chart that she’d suffered a reposted with permission. 30 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Propose Time-Delayed Suicide Implant for Dementia Patients By Wesley J. Smith Bioethicists are looking or microfluidic pressure, forcibly, or for ways to eliminate people mechanism. . . . surreptitiously; one Why engage this supposed diagnosed with dementia when It is crucial that would not want them to “thought experiment” — which they become incapacitated. the ADI be easily be implanted in persons is actually much more than Belgium and the Netherlands and immediately whose decision-making that? Here’s a good hint (my permit advance orders to be removable. After all, capacities are impaired emphasis): euthanized. Another proposal even those certain of by depression. One Perhaps the greatest gaining traction in bioethics their wish to obtain possible set of criteria advantage of ADIs is that they would force caregivers to starve it would still like the would be those used for would reduce the distress that patients to death. option of changing physician aid-in-dying living and dying with dementia And here’s a new idea: imposes on others. This is true Writing in the Hastings Center in two senses. First, there is the Report — the world’s most obvious sense that ADIs would prominent bioethics journal tend to shorten the period in — two prominent bioethicists which the person living with propose the implantation of a dementia represents a burden time-release suicide device that for others. . . . ADIs would will cause future death at the also reduce the distress that time of the patient’s choosing. dementia imposes on others They call the hypothetical because the device, relatively device an “advance directive free of any external input or implant, or ADI” (bioethicists activity, mostly immune to the sure love their acronyms). judgments, misgivings, and From, “Ending One’s Life in their minds, at least in Oregon: that the second-guessings of family Advance:” prior to the onset of requestor be an adult; members, physicians, and The ADI would dementia, whether for able to make and friends, would absolve people require extensive personal reasons or communicate health of many of the burdens of engineering and may because an effective care decisions; seen by judgment once the patient not be feasible with treatment for their at least two physicians developed advanced dementia. current technologies. condition has been who concur in the In other words, we should let Still, we suspect it developed. diagnosis, prognosis, the patient put him--or herself could become feasible and assessment of out of our misery. in the near future. Yeah, good luck with that, decision-making The authors [Margaret We imagine the guys. capacity; not suffering Pabst Battin and Brent M. ADI as something And, of course, the usual sop impaired judgment Kious] describe the ADI as a like a computerized of safeguards to protect against due to a psychiatric means of “getting the better of subdermal implant abuse: or psychological Alzheimer’s.” No, it is softening containing a lethal The permissibility disorder, not coerced, the ground for authorizing dose of a medication of ADIs would, first, and informed of direct killing of such patients. or combination of depend on reasonable alternatives. And no, this proposal isn’t medications. Release standards of care satirical or a form of “what if” of these medications and preimplantation I don’t have space to get musing to start a philosophical would occur rapidly assessment criteria. deeply into it here, but the salon conversation: after a predetermined One would not want Oregon safeguards are a joke. If As we said at the interval or after healthy adults with one doctor says no, the suicidal outset, whether this some specific event minimal risk of patient can just go doctor consideration of the had occurred. The dementia to receive shopping. There is no state ADI is understood ADI would likely them; one would oversight prior to death, the as a conjecture, require a long-lasting not want them system relies on doctors’ self- battery, computerized to be implanted reporting, and there are rarely See “Implant,” page 37 control, and a pump under external any referrals to psychologists. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 31 6th Circuit Uphold Tennessee’s 48 hour waiting period “This is great news for women and babies” says NRLC President Carol Tobias By Dave Andrusko On August 5, when the full But as the appellate court period of 48 hours. Although struck down a prior version 6th U.S. Circuit Court of noted, during that 2015-2020 the Supreme Court upheld a of the 48 hour waiting period. Appeals upheld Tennessee’s 48 time period, abortion rates similar 24-hour waiting period In 2018 Tennessee voters hour waiting period, dissenting remained fairly steady. Judge Karen Nelson Moore “It is one thing to predict that bitterly complained “this case the sky will fall tomorrow,” the was dead on arrival.” ruling states. “It’s quite another In one sense, Judge Moore thing to maintain that the sky is correct, just not in the way fell five years ago for women she meant. The Center for seeking abortions when the Reproductive Rights, which numbers tell us otherwise.” filed the lawsuit on behalf of (For more on this, see below.) Tennessee abortionists, failed As we reported previously, in to produce women who were its brief, the state of Tennessee harmed by having to wait 48 highlighted that hours between the time they Tennessee is now the went to the abortion clinic and only State that cannot (assuming they decided to go enforce its waiting- ahead) they return. period law because “None of the plaintiffs’ of a federal-court witnesses could name specific injunction. Fourteen in Planned Parenthood v. approved a constitutional women who could not get an other States have similar Casey, the district court said amendment, saying there is no abortion because the waiting laws that impose waiting that Tennessee’s waiting period right to abortion in the state period pushed them past the periods of 18 to 72 hours violates a woman’s right to constitution and then passed cutoff date,” Judge Amul Thapar and generally require have an abortion. We disagree the 48-hour waiting period law. wrote for the majority in Bristol two trips to an abortion and reverse.” Judge Thapar continued… Regional Women’s Center v. provider. Although There are a number of “A law regulating abortion Slatery. “None of the witnesses some of these laws issues the Supreme Court has is facially valid if it meets could identify specific women have been challenged, addressed multiple times and two requirements: (1) the law whose medical conditions the State is unaware of in so doing continually upheld is ‘reasonably related to a caused complications or any successful federal commonsense requirements. legitimate state interest,’ and psychological harm during the constitutional challenge A waiting period has been (2) the law does not place a waiting period.” to a waiting-period litigated numerous times. For ‘substantial obstacle’ in the Moreover, importantly, the law that has survived example, in the 1992 Casey path of a large fraction of impact of the law was not federal appellate review decision, the justices concluded women “seeking an abortion of argued in the abstract. The since Casey was decided. The waiting period a nonviable fetus.’” 2015 law was in effect until Federal courts have helps ensure that a Put in the affirmative, “a law October 2020 when District instead consistently woman’s decision regulating abortion is facially Judge Bernard A. Friedman upheld those laws. This to abort is a well- constitutional unless it places a resurrected the dormant Court should do the considered one, and substantial obstacle in the path lawsuit. same. rationally furthers of a large fraction of women As NRL News Today wrote the State’s legitimate seeking previability abortions.” at the time, after a four day Here are highlights from interest in maternal (Emphasis added.) bench trial, in a 136 page Judge Thapar’s majority health and in unborn The law readily passed the opinion, Judge Friedman opinion. life. It may delay, but first requirement. As for the maintained the law “burdens 1. “Before making life’s big does not prohibit, second, “Tennessee’s waiting- the majority of abortion decisions, it is often wise to abortions. … period law is not a substantial patients with significant, and take time to reflect. The people often insurmountable, logistical of Tennessee believed that 2. Judge Thapar’s majority and financial hurdles” because having an abortion was one of opinion provided the See “6th Circuit,” page 37 it requires two visits to the those decisions. So they passed background. In 2000, the abortion clinic. a law requiring a waiting Tennessee Supreme Court 32 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Post-abortive women compares her abortion to rape, turns to alcohol to cope By Sarah Terzo One post-abortive woman told My child was lost relationship with my promiscuous lifestyle. her story: forever. high school sweetheart. I did not feel worthy The abortionist and Prior to the abortion, But after the abortion, of dignity after the the nurse attendant I had never drank or we both struggled with abortion. were cold and The medical unfeeling. Though I procedure itself felt was tearful and panicky like a violation. I am before and during not embellishing to the procedure, there say that the abortion was no exploration of I underwent felt like what I was feeling or a medical “rape.” experiencing. The abortionist’s The procedure itself instrument, coupled was painful as I felt with the insensitivity, severe pinching and disdain, and lack of pulling and sharp stabs respect given to me during the suction during the procedure abortion. I saw the by the medical doctor blood in the tube. was a trauma in itself. I heard the suction interrupted by clumps Susan Justice, “Retired nurse: of tissue. This was Abortion promised an answer, emotionally traumatic. but created trauma in my life.” After the abortion, smoked. I was an A and anger and guilt over I was changed. My B student, homecoming what we had done. Our Editor’s note. This appeared previous sunshiny queen, served on relationship imploded. at Clinic Quotes and is reposted personality was student council, and I turned to alcohol to with permission. overtaken by grief. I marched in the band. I help numb my pain emotionally flatlined. was in a happy two-year and succumbed to a Surprise! Three major newspaper accounts of pro-life brief filed with the Supreme Court defending Mississippi’s abortion law are fair! From page 23

Near the end, Barnes outlines health or the medical we wrote about: resolved at the ballot about how the brief offers the profession. She told the justices box.” High Court two options. If it It could find that not all that the scope of chooses not to toss Roe and pre-viability abortions abortion rights should Liptak also very helpfully adds Casey are unconstitutional, be determined through near the end that “The precise As an alternative, the state said, or that the political process. question the justices agreed to Mississippi said the the 15-week restriction “The national fever decide” was “whether all pre- court could reduce the does not place an undue on abortion can break viability prohibitions on elective heightened scrutiny burden on a substantial only when this court abortions are unconstitutional.” that abortion laws number of women. returns abortion policy He explains, “Depending must meet and find that to the states — where on how the court answers that Mississippi’s law meets Third, and best, the first six agreement is more question, it could reaffirm, legitimate objectives paragraphs of Liptak’s story common, compromise revise or do away with the such as protecting capture the core of Fitch’s is often possible and longstanding constitutional the unborn, women’s argument, including something disagreement can be framework for abortion rights.” www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 33 Many amicus briefs defend Mississippi’s pro-life law, strongly supported the conclusion Roe should be overturned From page 2

*Mississippi Attorney basis review conforms fetal development and maternal asserted right to abortion has General Lynn Fitch provided to this Court’s precedent health.” no basis in constitutional text a sterling defense of the and the Constitution’s * A brief from “240 Women or in American history and Gestational Age Act. In a press structure. The Scholars and Professionals, tradition.” release accompanying her application of rational and Pro-Life Feminist * Twelve pro-life Republican brief, Attorney General Fitch basis review would Organizations” demolishes governors argued in their highlights how the enormous once again afford the “women need abortion to amicus brief that changes in science, shifts in States their proper thrive” argument,” adding, “It “Justices on this Court the culture, and tremendous and circuit court judges improvements in pre-and post- have consistently natal care have outstripped the recognized that the jurisprudence of Roe, decided original understanding in 1973, and Casey, handed of the Fourteenth down in 1992. She argues that Amendment’s Due the precedent set in these cases Process Clause does “shackle states to a view of facts not include any right that is decades out of date.” to terminate the life *An amicus was filed on of an unborn child. behalf of 321 legislators from Indeed, none of this 35 states. National Right to Court’s major abortion Life state affiliates, in co- decisions—including ordination with National Right constitutional role in is grotesque to suggest that Roe v. Wade, (1973), and to Right, urged state legislators protecting the health abortion is a prerequisite to Planned Parenthood to sign onto the brief. and welfare of their equality.” of Southeast That brief’s summary citizens, empowering *Any number of briefs, Pennsylvania v. Casey, of why the Court should democratically-elected including The Becket Fund for claims otherwise. overturn Roe covers a state legislators, who Religious Liberty’s, quoted the Nevertheless, half wide swath of important are your amici, to late pro-abortion Justice Ruth a century ago, this considerations. make considered policy Bader Ginsburg who on several Court (without any This Court should decisions carefully occasions harshly criticized the consideration of the overturn Roe because crafted to protect the legal basis Justice Blackmun original meaning all three prongs of life and health of both used to gut the abortion statutes of the Fourteenth the stare decisis analysis the mother and child. of all 50 states. (She also Amendment) found a support overturning lamented that Roe stimulated constitutional right to the precedent: Roe is *More than 200 members the growth of the Pro-Life abortion somewhere in egregiously wrong, it of Congress filed an amicus Movement.) the Constitution.” has caused negative brief supporting the State of *The United States jurisprudential Mississippi. Dobbs v. Jackson Conference of Catholic This is just a sample of and real-world Women’s Health Organization, Bishops told the Justices, some of the outstanding briefs consequences, and they wrote, “provides the Court “The Constitution does not that have been filed. You can overturning Roe will a chance to release its vise create a right to an abortion read the stories we’ve already not necessarily upset grip on abortion politics, as of an unborn child before written about them at www. reliance interests. Congress and the States have viability or at any other stage nationalrighttolifenews.org. Once this Court shown that they are ready and of pregnancy. Abortion is If you are not a subscriber overturns Roe, it should able to address the issue in inherently different from other to NRL News Today, please apply rational basis to ways that reflect Americans’ types of personal decisions to take out 30 seconds and sign state laws regulating varying viewpoints and are which this Court has accorded up at https://mailchi.mp/nrlc/ abortion, as rational grounded in the science of constitutional protection. An emailsignup. 34 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Abortion wounds women, forsakes fathers, undermines families, and weakens society By Bonnie Finnerty, Education Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation The world is flat. People are each of us has possessed since we are human and sometimes Abortion wounds women, property. Tobacco is harmless. our own conception. And this we are not. forsakes fathers, undermines Like many other long-held expanding knowledge has We must acknowledge that families, and weakens society. but misguided beliefs, over time consequences. our society was misguided We are less because of these ideas were proven wrong. In writing the majority opinion in our beliefs, and we must abortion. More than 62 million Consequently, people and for Roe v. Wade, years before embrace the truths that have Americans less. Less their societies function differently, such evidence was revealed, become apparent. talent, less their genius, less in light of what we’ve come to Justice Harry Blackmun, stated Abortion takes the life of a their love. know to be true. that if personhood were able living human being, violently. We are less morally because Let’s consider another to be established, the “the That alone should give us of abortion. Ending life at the strongly held belief: preborn appellant’s case…collapses, pause. But there’s more. very start makes it easier to life is an insignificant clump of cells, mere tissue possessing no inherent dignity. This belief was held by early advocates for abortion who regarded the origin of human life to be an unsolvable mystery. Denying the humanity and personhood of the fetus was foundational in the January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade decision. But then science demystified the mystery. As enlightening as a spherical earth or revolutionary as the emancipation of an enslaved people, ultrasound technology obliterated the “clump of cells” myth, giving us a clear view of the previously invisible universe of the womb. In 3D for the fetus’ right to life would Abortion has failed to deliver end it at the very end, or at any imagery, we see that a heart then be guaranteed specifically on its promises. Poverty still point in between. beats as early as 18 days after by the [14th] Amendment.” exists. Children are still abused. The sacredness of all life is fertilization. Brain waves are If personhood were Women are still mistreated. compromised. measureable at six weeks. established, the fetus’ right to Abortion has solved nothing. This is where abortion has Every organ system is in place life would then be guaranteed. Rather, abortion feeds a taken us. Abortion based on a by 10 weeks, and by 12 weeks, That time has come. Science culture in which the more faulty proposition that has since fingers grasp and the unborn and law must be in harmony. powerful annihilate the been disproven. baby hiccups. Roe was a case decided in a weaker, where “wantedness” Life, your life, my life, all This science cannot be darker era when we knew so determines worth, where the life, begins in the womb. dismissed. Through it, our very little about the little ones. We supposed safe haven of the Science recognizes that. eyes witness the undeniable must abandon the cognitive womb has become the hardest Now so must our laws. humanity and personhood dissonance that says sometimes border of all to cross. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 35 Biden administration drops “most open and shut” case of a violation of conscience in over a decade By Dave Andrusko

On Tuesday we reported predict from an administration Severino writes, “because it in its entirety, let me offer just on the tragic—but utterly that has no interest in honoring helps their bottom line to have one more quote: predictable—decision by the conscience or freedom of more people complicit in their I cannot understate how Biden-Harris administration’s religion if they get in the way of sordid business. And now with unusual it is for DOJ Department of Justice to their anti-life agenda. and HHS to drop a duly drop a civil suit against the Severino writes that “The authorized lawsuit after University of Vermont Medical UVMMC matter was the most it has been investigated Center which stood accused of open and shut conscience case and filed, while getting compelling a nurse to be a party in over a decade.” He tells us literally nothing in to an abortion. That suit was that return. The government initiated on December 16, 2020, “Don’t hate me” is strenuously avoids by the Justice Department’s Civil “what an abortionist doing such a thing Rights Division. In a statement, at the University of because it calls into the Justice Department under Vermont Medical question the consistent then-President Donald Trump Center (UVMMC) said expectations of the law, explained that the lawsuit to a nurse before she reeks of politics, and alleges that UVMMC forced her to assist in the exposes the government violated the Church termination of a child’s President Biden and HHS to potential liability for Amendments when it life on pain of losing her secretary Xavier Becerra in attorney’s fees under chose intentionally and job and potentially her power, the abortion industry is the Equal Access to willfully to discriminate license if she refused,” getting its wish.” Justice Act. Without against a nurse who according to that And regardless of numerous so much as a slap on plainly made her objec- aforementioned lawsuit assurances he would honor the wrist, this was a tion to participating in filed by the Department conscience, there are real clear favor to abortion abortions based on her of Justice (DOJ). reasons “Becerra may be special interests and a religious beliefs or mor- the most notorious violator spit in the face of not al convictions known to In spite of all the evidence, of conscience laws in recent only the victim in the UVMMC. “on Friday, the DOJ quietly, and years,” Severino writes. case, but the many voluntarily, dismissed the case,” He even lost a Supreme medical professionals Fox News covered the decision Severino wrote. “No admission Court case with his name on it, who have suffered to drop the suit last Friday, and of guilt, no injunction, no NIFLA v. Becerra, after he tried conscience violations quoted Roger Severino, who corrective action, no settlement, to coerce pro-life pregnancy- through the years and is the former head of Health no nothing. Worse yet, because resource centers into violating will continue to suffer, and Human Services’ Office of the victim has few to no options their consciences by forcing but now with little hope Civil Rights (OCR). He told to sue on her own (due to them to refer mothers in search of recourse from their Fox News’s Sam Dorman, “It’s nuances around private rights of of life-affirming alternatives to government. a dereliction of duty that is an action), the Biden administration free abortion services. Becerra insult to the bipartisan consensus is effectively giving UVMMC a was twice found in violation Severino’s conclusion is that says you cannot force full pardon and will continue to of conscience-protection laws tough but fair: “We now know, people to assist in abortions.” give it federal funds, despite it by HHS’s Conscience and if there was ever any doubt, Severino then wrote a fine having been found by HHS to Religious Freedom Division, that Biden and Becerra’s first piece for National Review have violated the law.” but now he is in charge of the loyalty is not to their proclaimed Online, headlined, “Becerra One question, among many. entire agency. The fox is running Catholic faith or to the law, but and Biden Betray Medical Why is Big Abortion “desperate the hen house. to abortion, abortion, and more Professionals Being Forced to eliminate conscience Which Severino aptly abortion.” to Assist in Abortions.” It is protections for medical describes as “this looming immensely instructive and professionals that have been conflict of interest.” foreshadows what we can in place for decades”? In part, Since the essay should be read 36 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Pro-abortion Professor offers lame defense of a veto of a bill in North Carolina that bans discrimination-based abortion By Dave Andrusko Nothing like a “progressive” “wrong” color skin, or has existence of a baby with a agency?” Is a blackmailer professor of religious studies been prenatally diagnosed with special need with the sole exercising his “moral agency” to give cover to an anti-life Down syndrome—cuts any ice. purpose of terminating when he extorts money for his governor who has and will Naw, the bill is all about him or her, we create a silence? continue to veto any measure (altogether now) “exploit[ing] discriminatory culture, Prof. Peters would doubtless that provides the slightest the emotional legacy of where only perfect say something along the lines protection to unborn children. eugenics in an attempt to humans may apply of “everyone knows” these In this case, Rebecca Todd stigmatize women who have for entrance. This is a actions are wrong (but why?). Peters is not only the author of abortions and bully opponents “Trust Women: A Progressive into falling in line with the bill.” Christian Argument for Worse yet (from her Reproductive Justice,” she perspective), HB453 fails “to also authored a piece for the respect the moral agency of Charlotte Observer headlined, women as capable decision- “The governor was right to veto makers.” a dangerous NC abortion bill.” Two things. The governor is pro-abortion First, Peters defines North Carolina Gov. Roy “eugenics” in a manner that Cooper. The “dangerous” suits her argument. But a abortion bill he vetoed June better—and more accurate— 25th is HB453—Human understanding is that eugenics Life Non-Discrimination Act/ is powered by a hatred of No Eugenics— which would “imperfection”—in this case, a prohibit abortionists from physical disability—and driven performing abortions if he by sexism and racism. knows a woman is seeking the In an opinion piece written abortion because of race, sex or for US News Grazie Pozo a prenatal diagnosis of Down Christie wrote syndrome. Eugenics is the creation Pro-life Republicans are or selection of offspring waiting for the appropriate with “desirable” traits, moment to attempt to override and the elimination of powerful obstacle against Or, this are examples of one Cooper’s veto, a hefty those that are deemed equality and acceptance person inflicting pain on challenge. “deficient.” Aborting a of the disabled, which a another (but isn’t that exactly To Peters, a professor of child with Dwarfism or just society must set as what happens to a defenseless religious studies at Elon Down’s would certainly its first goal. unborn baby?). University in North Carolina, qualify as eugenic. Let us hope and pray that none of what you would think Second, I’m not sure I can Republicans in North Carolina a “progressive” would find Or, we would add, aborting think of a phrase more misused are able to sway a few right up her alley--preventing a girl, because she is a girl, or and abused than “moral agency.” Democrats by appealing to the an abortionist from taking the aborting a child, because he is It is one of the idioms you fill in better angels of their nature. life of an unborn baby because the “wrong” color. with whatever contents justify Every abortion is an affront the abortionist has been told Christie concludes what you want to do. to justice, but discrimination- the baby (most likely a girl) When we do everything Is a man who beats his based abortions may be the is the “wrong” sex, or the in our power to detect the wife exercising his “moral worst of a hideous lot. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News August 2021 37 Abortion” a 21st Century Trojan Horse From page 28 What happens to women who have an abortion? When they made to feel guilty about feeling guilty. abort, women are waging war with their own nurturing nature. At a recent March for Life, I saw a poster that said, “We’re While she can have an ex-lover or an ex-husband, she can never not opposing your right; we’re opposing a so-called ‘right’ that have an ex-child – only a living child or a dead child – but a is wrong.” Through our God, even abortion can be forgiven. Our child, nevertheless, who is written forever on her biological biggest mistakes, our greatest failures can be forgiven. That is the consciousness. real gift, to sustain and protect life, not end it! While responses to an abortion vary from woman to woman, the Unlike the destructive gift of the Greeks to Troy, unlike the “gift” most common response is guilt. Sadly, much “counseling” often of abortion that has damaged our country, our families, and our plays down the reality of guilt, telling the woman it is her right, her people, the Gift of God brings healing to the broken spirit and choice, her body, a “gift” to solve a problem. In other words, she is peace to the grieving heart. Propose Time-Delayed Suicide Implant for Dementia Patients From page 30 as a hypothetical exploration, as a real-life thought their intrinsic human equality. experiment, or as a proto-proposal, we think it important Articles like this — particularly when published in influential to take this seemingly radical idea seriously. We may not journals — are insidious because they normalize the noxious idea currently have the technology to realize it, and perhaps that dementia patients’ lives are not worth protecting or living. not the social conditions that would allow it to be used Instead, we should continually assure those who face this crucible without abuse. that we love them, want them, and will care for them — no matter It may even be hard to conceive of this idea: “Horrible,” what. said one friend, “even if I agree with the conclusion.” But And don’t any reader tell me that I don’t know how difficult we think it is an important idea nevertheless: it makes Alzheimer’s can become. My mother died of the disease, spending us see what is so problematic about how we respond to the last five months of her life living in my wife’s and my home, dementia in our current world, forcing some to suffer a with quality hospice care. Was it easy? No! But so damn what? future they dread and burdening others with acting for Part of the essence of true humanity is caring and loving each other them. No one, really, wants to live with dementia: for — no matter how taxing and emotionally devastating — especially most of us, it is bad to lose the memories and cognitive when a person is so ill or injured they can’t take care of themselves. capacities that contribute to who we are and that enable That’s the best part of who we should be. us to do many of the things we care about. The movement to eliminate suffering by eliminating the sufferer is becoming a cult. There it is! “No one [they left out the implied “should”] wants to live with dementia.” That’s the dehumanizing message people Editor’s note. Wesley’s great articles appear at National Review facing this difficult circumstance constantly hear, stripping them of Online and are reposted with permission. 6th Circuit Uphold Tennessee’s 48 hour waiting period From page 31 obstacle to abortion in a large fraction of cases,” Jude Thapar the sky fell five years ago for women seeking abortions wrote. “Thus, the plaintiffs’ facial attack fails as a matter of law. when the numbers tell us otherwise. …[W]hile abortions Precedent compels this result” (to wit, the Casey decision). Then declined slightly (by about 9%), the law did not keep the key paragraph: a large fraction of abortion seekers from obtaining the If there is any distinction between the record in Casey procedure. [Underlining added.] and ours, it is the statistical evidence that women in Tennessee continued to obtain abortions in large “There is absolutely nothing wrong with providing women with numbers after the waiting period took effect. In Casey’s information about abortion before they make that life-or-death pre-enforcement challenge, the courts relied on expert decision, and then asking them to take some time – sometimes it’s testimony predicting the effects of the law. But the 24 hours; in the case of Tennessee, it’s 48 hours – to think about Tennessee law had been on the books for five years by what they have heard,” NRLC President Carol Tobias told One the time the plaintiffs sued. And five years of data tell us News Now. “This is great news for women and babies.” much more than an expert’s prediction of how the law As NRL News Today reported, Tennessee had support. On March will play out. It is one thing to predict that the sky will 3, 2021, a coalition of 21 states filed an amicus brief in support of fall tomorrow. It’s quite another thing to maintain that the request for the full 6th Circuit to hear the case. 38 August 2021 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Salvatore Cordileone, Nancy Pelosi’s Archbishop: “Let me repeat: no one can claim to be a devout Catholic and condone the killing of innocent human life, let alone have the government pay for it” By Dave Andrusko

Kudos and thank yous killed? What about yourselves “devout babies—and probably a great are extended again to San giving poor women Catholics”! many more—would lose their Francisco Archbishop Salvatore real choice, so they are lives annually. Cordileone, the leading supported in choosing Assigning herself a position Pro-abortionists—whose Catholic official in pro-abortion life? This would give as a kind of secular authority stock and trade is death— Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home them fairness and on fundamental matters of know the stakes. As Jennifer district, for calling Pelosi to Popik, JD, Director of Federal account. Legislation, has written, “There Speaker Pelosi (D-Ca.) is abundant empirical evidence “stated her support for repealing that where government the Hyde Amendment, which funding for abortion is not prohibits federal funding of available under Medicaid or abortion, ‘because it’s an issue the state equivalent program, of health for many women at least one-fourth of the in America,’ and she also Medicaid-eligible women emphasized her Catholic faith,” carry their babies to term, John Lavenburg explained. At who would otherwise procure her weekly press conference, federally-funded abortions. Pelosi said paying for abortions Some pro-abortion advocacy is “an issue of fairness and groups have claimed that the justice for poor women in abortion-reduction effect is our country,” adding “And it substantially greater–one-in- is something that has been a three, or even 50 percent.” priority for many of us for a (emphasis added.) long time.” Again, thank you San Archbishop Cordileone Francisco Archbishop rebuked her position in so Cordileone. As he said in a uncertain terms: previous condemnation on Let me repeat: no one January 21 Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone can claim to be a devout To begin with the Catholic and condone equality to women of the Catholic faith (because obvious: Nancy Pelosi the killing of innocent means, who can afford she is “a devout Catholic and does not speak for the human life, let alone to bring a child into mother of five in six years”) Catholic Church. She have the government the world. It is people is nothing new for Pelosi, speaks as a high-level pay for it. The right to of faith who run pro- as we’ve discussed on many important government life is a fundamental – life crisis pregnancy occasions. But it takes on added leader, and as a private the most fundamental clinics; they are the significance in light of the citizen. And on the – human right, and only ones who provide relentless push by the anti-life question of the equal Catholics do not poor women life-giving Biden-Harris administration dignity of human oppose fundamental alternatives to having and pro-abortion congressional life in the womb, she human rights. To use their babies killed in Democrat leadership to abort also speaks in direct the smokescreen of their wombs. I cannot the Hyde Amendment. contradiction to a abortion as an issue be prouder of my fellow It is unacceptable to them fundamental human of health and fairness Catholics who are so to continue limiting federal right that Catholic to poor women is the prominent in providing funding of abortion. Their eyes teaching has consistently epitome of hypocrisy: this vital service. To light up at the thought that if championed for 2,000 what about the health them I say: you are the federal pump again primed, years. of the baby being the ones worthy to call at least an additional 300,000