January 2020 Showdown brewing on campaign to air-drop 1972 “Equal Rights Amendment” into U.S. Constitution WASHINGTON (Jan. 12, to be mere days away from In the view of pro-ERA legislature’s action will be 2020) -- A long-smoldering adopting a resolution that activists, Virginia will be the successful culmination campaign to insert the Equal purports to ratify the Equal the 38th state to ratify the of decades of struggle for Rights Amendment into the Rights Amendment (ERA), ERA, thereby meeting the constitutional “equality.” U.S. Constitution has turned a proposed constitutional constitutional requirement of However, there are many who into a political-legal-media amendment submitted by ratification by three-quarters find these claims implausible. blaze. Congress to the states in of the 50 states. Pro-ERA “This is an attempt to air- At NRL News deadline, the March, 1972, with a seven-year advocacy groups are already drop into the Constitution a Virginia legislature appeared deadline for ratification. proclaiming that the Virginia sweeping provision that could be used to attack any federal, state, or local law or policy that in any way limits abortion -- abortion in the final months, partial-birth abortion, abortions on minors, government funding
See “Showdown,” page 25
NRLC Dedicates Helen Boyle Lauinger Memorial Life Center By Holly Gatling, Executive Director, South Carolina Citizens for Life
The Helen Boyle Lauinger nieces and nephews who made Memorial Life Center, the new the purchase of the three-story, headquarters of the National 14,000 square-foot building Right to Life Committee, was possible. dedicated Thursday, January 9, The large plaque with bronze 2020, in Old Town Alexandria, lettering located in the main Virginia, with numerous lobby of the building honoring members of Miss Lauinger’s Helen Boyle Lauinger reads: family present along with “Given by her sisters and NRLC officers and NRLC staff brother, nieces and nephews in members. loving memory of her unrivaled NRLC Vice President devotion to children and her Anthony (Tony) Lauinger, unwavering defense of that one of Miss Lauinger’s living magnificent little masterpiece siblings, thanked Helen’s (L-R) Four of the Lauinger siblings: Frank, sisters, Fran and Mary, brothers See “NRLC,” page 20 Anthony (“Tony”), Mary, and Phil. Phil and Frank, and her 25 Editorials Guardians of God’s most precious creations “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“God, the God who built and preserves nations, who brings life and maintains it, who stands with those who suffer most at the hands of evil, He will remember us, too. He will remember America and He will bless her. God will bless us because we are the guardians of His most precious creations. “We stand between America and the darkness, and we will march until that darkness is banished forever and all of our children can stand together in the sunlight.”— Ben Shapiro, speaking at the 2019 March for Life
A week from tomorrow, pro-life champions from around the United States and abroad will pause to honor the memory of the more than 61 million unborn victims of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. This year the date of the annual March for Life, which brings together over 100,000 in our nation’s capital, is January 24. The theme? “Life Empowers: Pro-Life is Pro-Woman.” an honor--a privilege, actually—for each of us to toil with people Before and after these dates, it is important that pro-lifers will who work in season and out, whose consistency does not depend assemble, typically at their respective state capitols, to pronounce on circumstance. They work to save unborn babies, their mothers, unequivocally that they will never, ever quit. This faithfulness is babies who survive abortions, and the medically fragile who are a testimony to the perseverance, resiliency, and resolution of the in the bulls-eye of the anti-life forces. Here are two quotes from greatest movement for social justice of our time. It is an honor for Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), chair of the Bipartisan Congressional all of us. I’d like you to reflect for a moment on that last statement. It is See “Guardians,” page 31 Truth be told, the abortion lobby, and its think tank, is wildly out of step with the American people If there’s a better example of the pot calling the kettle black than I could offer any number of examples but here’s one cranked out the Guttmacher Institute, I’ve yet to encounter it. Guttmacher used just last week by Megan K. Donovan. to be housed within Planned Parenthood but eventually spun off. Here’s the headline-- “Gestational Age Bans: Harmful at Any Now it packages itself as an “independent” source of analysis, whose Stage of Pregnancy.” Just to be clear, in Guttmacher’s estimation, self-avowed commitment is “to advancing sexual and reproductive there is no stage of pregnancy at which states may say “No!” you health and rights in the United States and globally.” In English (or cannot kill this child. French or Swahili—Planned Parenthood is aggressively moving Before you read the first paragraph, you know how this would in Africa) that means multiplying the number of dead babies here work. If you said abortions should be banned moments before and abroad. And they do so quite effectively, because their media birth, Guttmacher would find an instance—any instance—which cohorts accept their analysis as if it came down from the secular (Guttmacher would tell you) means the ban is impermissible. equivalent of Mt. Sinai, and because Planned Parenthood and It is a classic pro-abortion strategy: the exception swallows the International Planned Parenthood has access to gazillions in public rule, as thoroughly as a python swallows a mouse. And they are and private dollars. increasingly brazen about it because they are never called on it, So what is it they are accusing us of that they are themselves except by the likes of NRL News. most assuredly guilty? Extremism. You will never, ever in 10,000 years hear the New York Times or the Washington Post refer to See “Think Tank,” page 43 Guttmacher as extremists, but that is exactly what and who they are. From the President Carol Tobias Are We Ready for the Super Bowl of Politics?
The end of football this information, including information (a much expanded version of what was season is upon us. about “Abortion Pill Reversal.” formerly known as the Mexico City Policy) Tens of millions of We want the public to know that living prevents our tax dollars from being funneled football fans will soon unborn children bleed to death as their arms to foreign non-governmental organizations be watching the Super and legs are torn off in a dismemberment that perform or promote abortion as a Bowl to see which abortion. And that unborn children, by at method of family planning. team gets the ultimate least 20 weeks gestation, can feel horrific Congress has passed many conscience victory. Someone pain during the abortion. protection laws over the past few decades, near and dear to me They learn these gruesome but necessary ensuring that medical personnel may not be prefers politics to truths when bills are publicly debated. coerced into participating in actions they sports, saying that politics is “sports with Thus proposing and passing laws can find objectionable, such as abortion and consequences.” And the election to be held both save lives and educate the public. assisted suicide. The Trump administration on November 3, 2020, is the greatest super Dedicated pro-lifers all over the country are is working to enforce these conscience laws bowl of all. accomplishing just that. So much so that but some federal courts are trying to stop Are we ready? Are there people that we the abortion industry has decided they need those efforts. Will the next president uphold still need to talk to? To discuss the silent to fight back harder than ever. They have or oppose conscience protection rights? cataclysm that is taking place every day? succeeded in getting a handful of states It is certainly possible that the president Do we still have family, neighbors, and to enact radical legislation ensuring that elected in 2020 could appoint two new friends who could use encouragement to unborn children can be targeted throughout justices to the Supreme Court, maybe vote only for candidates who will protect the entire 40 weeks of pregnancy--and even even three. Will the next president look unborn children? after a “failed” abortion. for judges who adhere to the text of the As the new National Right to Life This combination of legislation and Constitution or who will uphold and maybe Committee office was being dedicated and education has contributed to the steady even expand the holdings in Roe? blessed (see story on page one), our Vice decline of abortions in the country. We Will the senators elected in November President, Tony Lauinger, related a story are at about half the number of abortions vote for pro-constitution judges or will they from World War II. Railroad cars carrying we saw in 1990. Every lost life is one too block any nominee who is not approved by Jews to the concentration camps would many, but this enormous reduction is a Planned Parenthood? pass by a little church on Sunday mornings. tremendous credit to hard-working right-to- Will newly-elected members of the U.S. Knowing who was on those trains and lifers all across the country. Senate and House vote to protect unborn where they were being taken, and believing The elections this year will determine children, or will they pass a New York- they could do nothing to stop the evil deed whether we continue on the path to providing style, no-limits-on-abortion-throughout- being carried out, the parishioners would full protection for unborn children and their pregnancy, bill for the entire country? sing a little louder so they couldn’t hear the mothers or if we take a step backward, There is certainly much to do. But instead cries of people on the train. prolonging the fight for many more years. of singing a little louder and pretending we Thanks to you, I know that it is true that Will we have a president who issues don’t know what’s going on, the right-to- fewer and fewer Americans are “singing pro-life executive orders and promulgates life movement has taken up the challenge. louder” to insulate themselves from the administrative rules to benefit Life? We will be ready for the battle because we carnage. I am thrilled that, thanks to you, Currently, President Trump’s Protecting ARE ready to win, not for ourselves but for so many people are opening their eyes, and Life in Global Health Assistance policy unborn children at home and abroad! their hearts, to the plight of unborn children. And I am continually amazed at how much our Movement is accomplishing. For example, we continue to enact pro- life legislation in the states-- many different types with different objectives but the same ultimate goal: protecting unborn babies and their mothers. We must educate the public about what is currently happening in their state. We believe women should have accurate information about everything that happens during an abortion, what the complications may be, and what alternatives are available. We want a woman to know that if she starts the chemical abortion process, then changes her mind, she may be able to save her baby. So legislation is proposed that will provide 4 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org
Reported Annual Abortions 1973-2017 ABORTION statistics United States Data and Trends
Abortion Drop Continues There are two basic sources on abortion incidence in the United States: 1973 744,610 615,831 • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) publishes 1974 898,570 763,476 yearly, but relies on voluntary reports from state health 1975 1,034,170 854,853 departments (and New York City, Washington, D.C.). It has 1976 1,179,300 988,267 been missing data from California, New Hampshire, and at 1977 1,316,700 1,079,430 least one other state since 1998. 1978 1,409,600 1,157,776 • The Guttmacher Institute (GI) contacts abortion clinics 1979 1,497,670 1,251,921 directly for data but does not survey every year. 1980 1,553,890 1,297,606 • Because it surveys clinics directly and includes data from 1981 1,577,340 1,300,760 all fifty states, most researchers believe Guttmacher’s 1982 1,573,920 1,303,980 numbers to be more reliable, though Guttmacher still 1983 1,575,000 1,268,987 believes it may miss some abortions. 1984 1,577,180 1,333,521 Both the CDC and Guttmacher show significant recent 1985 1,588,550 1,328,570 drops and sustained declines over the last 25 years. 1986 1,574,000 1,328,112 • Total abortions dropped 27.8% from 1998 to 2016 with the 1987 1,559,110 1,353,671 CDC, and fell 46.4% from 1990 to 2017 with GI. 1988 1,590,750 1,371,285 • Total abortions fell below 1 million for the first time in the 1989 1,566,900 1,396,658 2013 GI count and have continued downward to 862,320 1990 1,608,600 1,429,247 in the most recent GI figures for 2017. 1991 1,556,510 1,388,937 • The abortion rate for 2017 for GI was 13.5 abortions for 1992 1,528,930 1,359,146 every 1,000 women of reproductive age (15-44), less than 1993 1,495,000 1,330,414 half what it was in 1981 (29.3) and even lower that when 1994 1,423,000 1,267,415 abortion was legalized in the U.S. in 1973 (16.3). 1995 1,359,400 1,210,883 • Guttmacher says there were 18.3 abortions for every 100 1996 1,360,160 1,225,937 pregnancies ending in live birth or abortion in 2016, 18.4 1997 1,335,000 1,186,039 for 2017, lower abortion ratios than any since 1972. 1998 1,319,000 884,273* • Guttmacher says that the number of abortion “providers” 1999 1,314,800 861,789* has dropped from a high of 2,918 in 1982 to 1,587 in 2017. 2000 1,312,990 857,475* • Most of the reduction in abortions seen between 2008 and 2001 1,291,000 853,485* 2017 occurred in facilities performing a thousand or more 2002 1,269,000 854,122* abortions a year. A loss of 122 such facilities from 2008 to 2003 1,250,000 848,163* 2017 was accompanied by a decline of 346,280 abortions, 2004 1,222,100 839,226* virtually all of the drop between those years. • The percentage performed with chemical abortifacients like 2005 1,206,200 820,151* mifepristone rose from 16.4% in 2008 to 39.4% in 2017. 2006 1,242,200 846,181* 2007 1,209,640 827,609* 2008 1,212,350 825,564* 2009 1,151,600 789,116* The Consequences of Roe v. Wade 2010 1,102,670 765,651* 2011 1,058,490 730,322* 2012 1,011,000 699,202* 2013 958,700 664,435* 2014 926,190 652,639* 61,628,584 *excludes NH, CA 2015 899,500 638,169* Total abortions since 1973 and at least one Based on numbers reported by the Guttmacher Institute 1973-2017, 2016 874,100 other state with 3% added for GI estimated possible 3-5% undercount for 1973-2014. 2017 862,320 Another12,000 per year added for 2015-2019 for abortions from “providers” § NRLC projection GI says it may have missed in 2015-2017 counts. 1/20 2018-9 862,320§ for calculation www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 5 Never rest and watch election miracles happen! By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
Every once in a while, a note online and hadn’t gotten very Marie went onto explain my election vote is, ‘Is this comes my way which reaffirms far when my mailman left your why an endorsement from candidate PRO-LIFE?’” why the work of National letter in my box…saves me the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Marie added, “If he/ Right to Life and my affiliate, a lot of time and I wanted to Federation PAC is so crucial she doesn’t give enough the Pennsylvania Pro-Life thank you for that very timely for her vote. information through voter Federation, is so important— letter.” “My very bottom line for guides or online websites to let including the tireless work of me know that, they don’t get our political action committees. my vote either. The missive invariably comes “Either you’re PRO-LIFE from a donor, who expresses Proud or you can count me out. deep appreciation for the Carry on…Marie.” legwork we’ve done to make Carry on! That’s exactly it easier for rank-and-file pro- what National Right to Life lifers to engage in the public and the Pennsylvania Pro-Life square. Federation PACS intend to do This week’s message in 2020. of support came from a To carry on means to question woman named Marie from candidates about the life issues, Middletown, Pennsylvania. She and to disseminate their stands had contacted the Pennsylvania to the public. Pro-Life Federation through To carry on means to elect our website at www.paprolife. strong pro-life candidates org. who will pass protective laws Marie lives in a district where safeguarding innocent human a special election was taking life at both the state and the place to fill a vacant seat in federal level. the Pennsylvania state Senate. To carry on means to Local media attention of the never rest until every baby is race had been scant, and Marie cherished and welcomed under was searching for answers. the law. Marie wrote, “I just received Be like Marie—support your snail mail letter informing National Right to Life and your me (whom) you are endorsing state NRLC affiliate. for the election next week. And watch election miracles “I had just started to search happen!
6 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Perspectives from a newly made “Lita” By Ingrid Duran, Director, Department of State Legislation On the twelfth day of Portuguese. How neat is that? Furthermore, light is the first should but you must. So I am Christmas my first grandson This accurately describes what thing we experience when we challenging those who do not was born. I was there to my daughter and her husband come out of the womb. see the beauty, the sacredness witness this little miracle being did. They brought a light into Nor is this understanding of unborn babies to change the brought into this world, and it this world and named him found only in the Bible. In way you look at them, others, was beautiful, emotional, and Theo Amadeus. Theo means the Bhakti tradition, there is a and themselves. unbelievably amazing. Prior anything relating to God. to his birth I had chosen my Amadeus means love of God. Grandmother name to be “Lita” But this idea of a mother which is short for Abuelita giving birth described as which means Grandmother in giving/offering a light, sat Spanish. My first tongue. heavily on my heart. What if The following day I started to we looked at every person as a think that he will be raised to light? Do we see them as this speak three different languages: little votive candle of light that we nurture into a huge candle of light to then a beacon of light? Do we see ourselves and others this way? Then I was saddened when I thought about the millions of little lights extinguished by abortion. I was dismayed by the number of people that refuse to see these little lights in utero as having a right to continue to exist. So naturally I thought in the beginning of this new decade for 2020, what if we perfected our vision? If someone Theo and his "Lita" does not see every person as a Divine light, let us gently story in their sacred text (the As a family, we will all challenge them to change their Bhagavatam Purana) where nurture that new light that has perspective. there is a question posed to the been gifted to us the day before Our birthright is that we carry sages about the Lord and His Epiphany. We will always the light of God inside of us. creations. The sages compare remind Theo Amadeus that he In Genesis chapter 1 of the the Lord to a mine of gold and is beautifully and wonderfully Theo Amadeus Holy Bible we not only learn his cosmic creations are the made and that he has a divine that we are made in the image gold rings, bracelets, etc. light in him. We will give thanks Spanish, Portuguese, and of God but also that God tells So our Divine birthright of to God for the opportunity to English. Then I started to think us ( in Genesis 1:3) “Let there being made in the image of guide this light from that sacred about how in Spanish, the term be light” Here God is clearly our Creator reminds us our heart space. We will always “give birth” is “dar a luz” which talking about the luminous own light and that we should stand in amazement to God’s literally translates to “give a type of light but I do not think nurture that light within us. grace as his cosmic creations. light” or “offer a light.” it’s a coincidence that in some Gandhi says, “You must be the Welcome to the world I later found out that it cultures the birth of a baby is change you wish to see in the Grandson. Let the adventures is the same translation in referenced as giving a light. world.” Gandhi did not say you of Theo and Lita begin. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 7 Video of boy singing to baby brother with Down syndrome captures hearts, goes viral Posted on Facebook, the video has now been seen over a million times. By Doug Mainwaring
CABOT, Arkansas, January “This is how Rayce bonds chromosomes,” continued “He’s still their little brother 3, 2020 — A video of a young with Tripp,” wrote mom Nicole, “or as Rayce says, regardless of what he has.” boy singing to his newborn Nicole. “He sings to him all ‘Aren’t we all different?’” Abortion was out of the brother with Down syndrome question is capturing hearts across the JJ Grieves, the boys’ nation as it goes viral on social father, revealed that doctors media. had “recommended that we Nicole Powell posted a short terminate the pregnancy.” video on Facebook of son His response: “I said Rayce cradling his baby brother absolutely not.” Tripp in his arms, singing “It takes a little bit longer to “10,000 Hours” by Dan + Shay learn and a little bit more care & Justin Bieber. and more loving,” he added, In the video, Rayce can be “but isn’t that what the world heard singing: needs?” I’d spend ten thousand hours and ten thousand more Editor’s note. You can watch Oh, if that’s what it takes to the video and a local news learn that sweet heart of yours story about it at https://www. And I might never get there, youtube.com/watch?v=kAtJ- but I’m gonna try 6MUCnE&feature=emb_logo If it’s ten thousand hours or This appeared at LifeSiteNews the rest of my life and is reposted with permission. I’m gonna love you.
Posted on Facebook on las the time. He swears this song is “I didn’t want our boys to be Monday, the video has now about him and his brother.” ashamed of him,” explained been seen over a million times. “Love doesn’t count Nicole in a local TV interview. 8 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Before you vote, be sure to find out where the candidates stand on abortion By Karen Cross, National Right to Life Political Director Life matters. Anyone who November. Each of those Seven of the top-tier 2020 Presidential Candidate has experienced the loss of twelve candidates supports a Democrat presidential comparison, which can be a loved one knows the pain policy of abortion on demand candidates are listed in order downloaded here: www. and heartache associated with through birth. of their polling averages in our nrlc.org/uploads/records that loss. They know that life /2020POTUScomparison.pdf matters. Where Do the Candidates Stand on Life? You can download President More than 61 million unborn Candidates Roe v. Wade/Abortion Pain-Capable Unborn Child Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Trump’s “Record on Life” Candidates are listed in order Protection Act and/or Abortion Providers of their primary election polling The 1973 Roe v. Wade and its companion Doe The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Direct taxpayer funding of abortion, as well as in the 12/13/19 Real Clear v. Bolton decisions together essentially legalized Act would prohibit abortions (with narrow taxpayer funding of abortion providers, such as children have lost their lives to Politics average and have at abortion on demand throughout the United States, exceptions) after the unborn child is capable Planned Parenthood, means more abortion and here: www.nrlc.org/uploads/ least a 2.6% average. resulting in more than 60 million abortions since then. of experiencing pain from abortion. more dead children. abortion in the United States Where Do the Republican Presidential Candidates Stand on Life? records/trumprecord.pdf President Trump has proven his pro-life commitment At his 2019 State of the Union speech, In 2018, President Trump’s HHS Department since 1973. Their little lives Donald through his many pro-life accomplishments as president President Donald Trump called on Congress issued regulations to ensure Title X funding Congressional primaries Trump (R) including: appointments of pro-life advocates in his cabinet to “pass legislation to prohibit the late-term does not go to facilities that perform or refer for and administration, restoring the “Mexico City Policy,” and abortion of children who can feel pain in the abortions. His Administration cut off funding for President the UNFPA due to their involvement in China’s (86% average) he has pledged “to veto any legislation that weakens current mother’s womb.” matter, too. pro-life federal policies and laws, or that encourages the forced abortion program and he committed to begin on March 3, on “Super destruction of innocent human life at any stage.” defund abortion providers. As the presidential, Bill Bill Weld supports the current policy of abortion While governor, Bill Weld supported partial- Bill Weld supports using tax dollars to pay Tuesday,” although early Weld (R) on demand. He claims to be “the most pro-choice birth abortions and said he would allow for abortion. Former person you’re ever going to meet.” women to terminate pregnancies through the ninth month. congressional and state-level Governor (MA) voting for many of the (3% average) election dates are barreling Where Do the Democrat Presidential Candidates Stand on Life? states will be in February. Joe Joe Biden supports the current policy of abortion on Joe Biden criticized the U.S. Supreme Joe Biden supports using tax dollars to pay toward us ever so quickly, we Biden (D) demand. Joe Biden voted for the Harkin Amendment Court majority for upholding the Partial-Birth for abortion. Joe Biden says he will overturn Super Tuesday states Former to endorse Roe v. Wade, which allows abortion for Abortion Ban Act in 2007. the Hyde Amendment. Joe Biden voted for taxpayer funding of overseas pro-abortion Vice President any reason. organizations. need to be mindful of that very (28.4% average) include Alabama, Arkansas, Bernie Bernie Sanders supports the current policy of Bernie Sanders voted against the Pain- Bernie Sanders voted to use tax dollars to fact: life matters. It’s our first Sanders (I) abortion on demand. Sanders cosponsored a bill Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, pay for abortion. Bernie Sanders voted for California, Minnesota, U.S. Senator that, if enacted, would invalidate nearly all state and legislation to protect unborn children by taxpayer funding of abortion providers. federal limitations on abortion. Sanders voted against prohibiting abortion at 20 weeks, when the (VT) the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. unborn child can feel pain. right. Our fundamental right. (18.2% average) North Carolina, Oklahoma, Elizabeth Elizabeth Warren supports the current policy of Elizabeth Warren voted against the Pain- Elizabeth Warren voted to use tax dollars Warren (D) abortion on demand. Warren cosponsored a bill Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, to pay for abortion. Elizabeth Warren voted We know that passing pro- U.S. Senator that, if enacted, would invalidate nearly all state and legislation to protect unborn children by for taxpayer funding of abortion providers. Tennessee, Texas, Utah, federal limitations on abortion. Warren voted against prohibiting abortion at 20 weeks, when the (MA) Elizabeth Warren has pledged to repeal the the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. unborn child can feel pain. Hyde Amendment. life legislation saves lives. (15.8% average) Vermont, and Virginia. Nearly Pete Pete Buttigieg supports the current policy of abortion When asked about New York’s abortion on Pete Buttigieg supports taxpayer funding of Buttigieg (D) on demand. demand legislation passed in January 2019, abortion providers. Pete Buttigieg wants to Therefore, electing pro-life Mayor Pete Buttigieg said he opposes government repeal the Hyde Amendment. one third of all voters will “restrictions” late in pregnancy. “I don’t think South Bend, IN we need more restrictions right now.” legislators saves lives. (9.2% average) have the opportunity to vote Michael Michael Bloomberg supports the current policy of Michael Bloomberg supports abortion as “a Michael Bloomberg supports using tax Bloomberg (D) abortion on demand. He received the Global Citizen fundamental human right...” dollars to pay for abortion, and he supports Just weeks from now, former Award in 2014 from Planned Parenthood, the nation’s taxpayer funding of abortion providers. in one day! largest abortion provider, for his pro-abortion record. NYC Mayor Democrat voters in Iowa, New (5.2% average) Before you vote, be sure to Andrew Yang supports the current policy of abortion Andrew Yang supports the current policy Andrew Yang supports taxpayer funding of Andrew on demand. of abortion on demand, which essentially abortion providers. Hampshire, Nevada and South Yang (D) allows abortion throughout pregnancy for find out where the candidates Entrepreneur any reason. He says he supports “a woman’s Carolina will vote to determine (3.2% average) right to choose in every circumstance...” stand on this issue. Amy Amy Klobuchar supports the current policy of abortion Amy Klobuchar voted against the Pain- Amy Klobuchar voted to use tax dollars to Klobuchar (D) on demand.Klobuchar cosponsored a bill that, if Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, pay for abortion. Amy Klobuchar voted for enacted, would invalidate nearly all state and federal legislation to protect unborn children by U.S. Senator taxpayer funding of abortion providers. which of the remaining limitations on abortion. Klobuchar voted against the prohibiting abortion at 20 weeks, when the Remember when you vote from Minnesota Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. unborn child can feel pain. twelve “top-tier” Democrat (2.6% average) in the upcoming primaries and presidential candidates will in November, that without the go on to challenge pro-life published by Rev. 12/13/2019 right to life, no other rights national www.nrlc.org RIGHT TO LIFE Please copy and distribute freely. President Donald Trump in committee, inc. [email protected] exist. Life matters.
www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 9 10 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org National Right to Life Praises Trump Administration for Amicus Brief in Support of Louisiana’s “Unsafe Abortion Protection Act”
The National Right to Life have to wait for immediate that plaintiffs have not carried added. “President Trump and Committee (NRLC) praised the emergency care.” that heavy burden.” 207 members of Congress Trump Administration for filing In the brief, the administration In addition to the amicus recognize that women deserve an amicus brief with the U.S. noted, “The critical inquiry brief filed by the Trump better care.” Supreme Court in support of in this case is thus whether Administration, 207 members National Right to Life and plaintiffs have shown that Act of Congress filed a brief in Louisiana Right to Life also 620 will create a substantial support of Louisiana’s law. filed an amicus brief with obstacle to obtaining an “Louisiana’s law is designed the U.S. Supreme Court in abortion for all or most to protect women by ensuring support of Louisiana’s “Unsafe Louisiana women. After a that abortionists are held to Abortion Protection Act.” careful review of the record, the the same standards as other court of appeals correctly held doctors in the state,” Tobias For more, please see page 33.
Pro-life President Donald Trump
Louisiana’s Act 620, known as the “Unsafe Abortion Protection Act.” The act, which passed by overwhelming margins in 2014, requires abortionists to have admitting privileges with a local hospital. The U.S. Supreme Court case is June Medical Services, LLC, et al. v Rebekah Gee, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. “We thank President Trump and members of his administration for supporting this reasonable law that protects women from sub-standard care,” stated Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life said, “Women who may suffer complications from an abortion such as hemorrhaging or a punctured uterus, should not www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 11
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Make your check payable to National Right to Life Committee and return with this form to: National Right to Life Development Office 1446 Duke Street | Alexandria, Virginia 22314 12 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org 2018-2019 Planned Parenthood Annual Report: More Abortions Than Ever By Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D. NRL Director of Education & Research
Planned Parenthood may now closed centers. an increase in the number This represents a whopping fall have closed a few clinics, The latest mega-clinic opened of abortions, that’s not been of more than 71.8% in just 14 experienced a major upheaval in Fairview Heights, Illinois in the case in the provision of years! in top management, and even October of 2019. The stated other key Planned Parenthood And those are just simple seen its revenues dip ever intent here was to pick up services. Contraception, things such Pap smears and so slightly. But that hasn’t abortion patients who could no Planned Parenthood’s signature manual breast exams. Despite stopped the abortion giant from longer visit Planned Parenthood product, continued to decline what you may have heard, performing a record number clinics in Missouri. Though the for the sixth year in a row. At Planned Parenthood does of abortions and continuing to media, egged on by Planned 2,556,413 in 2018, birth control not and has never provided grab an ever increasing share of Parenthood’s relentless hype services are down nearly 36% mammograms. the U.S. abortion market. machine, thought this was some of what they were just twelve In its just published 2018- new sort of development, it was years earlier. They’ve Got 2019 Annual Report, Planned Plenty of Money Parenthood reports performing It isn’t as if Planned 345,672 abortions for 2018, the Parenthood lacks the money most the organization has ever to buy a few mammogram reported. machines. Revenues this year That figure represents were down just a hair, from 40.1% of all the abortions $1,665,100,000 for the fiscal the Guttmacher Institute says year ending June 30, 2018 to were performed in the U.S. $1,638,600,000 for the fiscal in 2017 (the most recent year year ending June 30, 2019. available). This continues to “Government Health Services cement Planned Parenthood’s Grants Reimbursements & reputation as the country’s Grants” were up $53 million top abortion performer and during that same period, promoter. from$563.8 million to $616.8 million. “Non-Government Closing Clinics, Health Services Revenue Yet More Abortions increased from $365.7 million Planned Parenthood doesn’t to $369.6 million. share exactly how many Private donations were very clinics it currently has, writing high, but appear to have flagged only they have “more than a bit from last year’s record. 600 health centers across the After reaching $630.8 million country.” That exactly the same in 2018 with their latest “sky phrasing that they used in last only the latest in a long line of Every time someone is falling” campaign, they fell year’s report, though we know mega-clinics the organization challenges their mission or back to “just” $591.3 million there were nearly 900 centers as has been opening all across (especially) funding, Planned for FY 2019. recently as 2010. the United States (Houston, Parenthood likes to talk about Obviously, a large number Denver, Chicago, Queens, NY, all the lives they potentially Planned Parenthood of clinics have closed (for Washington, DC, New Orleans, save providing cancer Won’t Say Wen example, two recently closed in Portland, OR, St. Paul, MN, screenings. But the number of How much of this is a result Ohio, according to ABC News, etc.) for at least the past decade those services have fallen every of tumult at the top of the 9/9/19). However, Planned and a half. year since at least 2005. organization’s administration Parenthood has made sure At one time, over two million is unknown. Leana Wen, a to keep its abortion business Other Non-Abortion a year (2,011,637 in 2005), all medical doctor who, with humming, building giant new Health Services Decline Planned Parenthood’s “cancer great fanfare, took over as regional mega-clinics to pick Interestingly enough, while screenings and prevention” up and possibly expand on the the expansion of these centers services barely totaled half See “Abortions” page 31 caseloads formerly going to the has been accompanied by a million (566,186) in 2018. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 13 Challenge to Tennessee’s 48-hour waiting period now in the hands of Judge Bernard Friedman By Dave Andrusko You have to give pro- reflection period of at least 24 have the time and for abortion, which was done abortionists in Tennessee credit hours. information necessary away with when the Tennessee for persistence. No matter how Pro-abortionists argue to make a deliberate Supreme Court ruled that the well-supported a law (or ballot (surprise, surprise) that this and informed state Constitution contained a measure such as Amendment 1) period allowing time for decision.” right to privacy and therefore is, they will challenge it until reflection constitutes an “undue a right to abortion. However, the absolute last dog is hung. burden.” in 2015 the constitution was Enter the 2015 informed The state Attorney General’s revised [by a successful ballot consent measure that provides office countered in its legal measure, Amendment 1] to for a 48-hour waiting period filings that the waiting period state that there is no right to for women and girls seeking an “helps to ensure that abortion abortion. The 48-hour waiting abortion after meeting with the decisions are made knowingly, period went back into effect. abortionist. competently and voluntarily.” While this is good for women Five abortion clinics The clinics “have and children, it’s bad for the essentially instantaneously not shown that the abortion industry.” filed suit, and, according toThe Challenged Law Has the 48 hour waiting period Tennessean’s Anita Wadhwani, prevented even a made a difference? “Since the “Both sides submitted final single patient from waiting period was enacted, the written conclusions late last obtaining a desired number of abortions obtained month. Senior Judge Bernard abortion. What is Judge Bernard Friedman by women in Tennessee has Friedman, a Michigan judge more, the evidence at dropped by 12%, from 9,861 in appointed to preside over the trial revealed the law How did we get here? As 2014 to 8,636 in 2017, the most case, has no set timetable for benefits prospective Nancy Flanders explained, recent data available from the issuing his ruling.” abortion patients by “From 1978 to 2000, Tennessee Tennessee health department,” Twenty-eight states require a ensuring that they had a 48-hour waiting period Wadhwani reported. 14 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Down Syndrome, the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb, and Abortion By Nancy Valko Editor’s note. This appeared sisters with Down syndrome will be appealed. As Justice people with disabilities on Nancy’s blog and is reposted are a great message of hope for Clarence Thomas has are widespread. But with permission. many injured families,” Mother previously written about such forcing someone to Line tells me. “Our smallness laws that protect unborn babies carry a pregnancy In a beautiful op-ed in the will also say that we are made from eugenic discrimination: to term against their December 23, 2019 Wall for very great things: to love “… this law and other will does nothing to Street Journal titled “Down and to be loved.” laws like it promote tackle underlying and Syndrome and the Gift of And while the rest of the a State’s compelling systemic ableism and Innocence,” William McGurn world dismisses innocence as interest in preventing discrimination against people with disabilities. “On the contrary, forced pregnancy threatens a person’s physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as the stability and wellbeing of their family, including existing children.”
As an RN and mother who had to fight medical discrimination against my daughter Karen who had both Down Syndrome and a heart defect as well as a past board member of the Photo: Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb St. Louis Down Syndrome writes about a small group of naïve or childish, Mr. McGurn abortion from Association, I take great contemplative nuns called the writes that: becoming a tool of exception to this dangerously Little Sisters Disciples of the “the nuns choose to modern-day eugenics.” inaccurate statement. We can Lamb who reside in France. cherish and exalt never eliminate prejudice The order was founded in innocence—and the and by eliminating people with 1985 by Mother Line, now unconditional love and “Although the Court disabilities before or after birth. prioress, and Sister Véronique, trust that comes with declines to wade into these who felt a vocation but could it—as an example of issues today, we cannot Conclusion not find an order to accept how we are meant to avoid them forever. Having I applaud the Little Sisters her because she has Down live with one another.” created the constitutional Disciples of the Lamb in France syndrome. Now there are right to an abortion, this who cherish their sisters with 10 sisters (eight with Down Down Syndrome and Court is dutybound to Down Syndrome who have so syndrome) who exist so that Abortion address its scope.” much to give to the world and “those who are in last place In contrast to these wonderful I am horrified by the several in the world”—women with nuns, U.S. District Judge An “acceptable prejudice”? states that have now passed Down syndrome—can “hold Howard Sachs recently reversed Recently, the head of the laws that allow abortion for in the church the exceptional his own ruling on a hard-fought American Civil Liberties Union any reason at any time during role of spouses of Christ. pro-life abortion law passed (ACLU) Disability Rights pregnancy or even after birth. In practice this means that in my home state of Missouri Project Susan Mizner defended Although unborn babies with able-bodied sisters devote their by blocking a provision that abortion for unborn babies with Down Syndrome are especially lives to ensuring their fellow prohibits discriminatory Down syndrome writing that: at risk, we must remember that sisters with Down syndrome abortions on unborn babies “There is no question ALL children enter the world with can live their vocations.”: with Down syndrome. that stigma, prejudice, the “gift of innocence” and none “The smiling faces of our little It is hoped that this decision and misconceptions about deserve to be killed before birth. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 15 Born three months early weighing just 1lb, Hallie Dury now a healthy one-year-old Advised to abort on several occasions, mother Robyn chose life in spite of ominous genetic tests results By Dave Andrusko It was understandable that which she resisted out of fear On top of all this, on January crying happy tears. I doctors told Robyn Bryant to of inducing a miscarriage. 8, 2019, Robyn was taken back knew that she wasn’t “prepare for the worse.” She’d “But after further scans into hospital. She was only 28 out of the woods yet already been told that Hallie, showed that Hallie had a number weeks along. but it was a really good her unborn child, was on the of complications, including a The week before, Hallie sign. small side and then, at the 20- fused kidney, Robyn decided weighed 490grams. “If she was “She was even week scan, “it was discovered to go ahead with the test,” The under 500g at birth the doctors breathing on her own that Hallie was measuring even Mirror reported. said there was nothing they which the hospital staff further behind than predicted,” just couldn’t believe.” as Mark Smith and Sam Elliott After having a quick wrote for the British tabloid, catch with her mum The Mirror. Hallie was taken to But then it became even more the neonatal unit and worrisome and confusing for within weeks she was Bryant and her partner, James discharged home Dury, when all the subsequent weighing a tiny 3lb 3oz. tests came back normal. What could be wrong with their Now a little over a year after baby? Hallie was born, this happy, “I only realised when I healthy child is about to begin went for the foetal medicine walking. But what about the appointment that it was genetic tests suggesting major likely the baby had an extra problems? After Hallie was chromosome. I was very upset,” born, the results of the new Bryant told The Mirror. Then, “I went to have the test but could have done for her as the tests came back normal. It all is as Smith and Elliott explain, everything came back clear,” equipment would have been a mystery, or a miracle. “Doctors told her that Hallie Robyn told Smith and Elliott, too big,” Robyn told Smith and As with most moms, was likely to have skeletal adding, “I wouldn’t say it was Elliott. Robyn spent the first week dysplasia, the medical term for a relief because I would have But then after bringing Hallie home dwarfism where the arms and loved and cared for her no Robyn said she was “constantly checking her chest legs are short.” matter what happened. But completely overjoyed to make sure she was still But despite being advised we just wanted to know what when Hallie was breathing,” as she told The on several occasions to was wrong so we could sort brought into the Mirror. abort, “Robyn remained out what care she might have world “crying and “But now she’s grown determined to continue with needed.” screaming” on October so much and she’s doing the pregnancy.” During all this, her dad died, 23, 2018, weighing brilliantly. She’s known as Miss She was advised to have more “so I was a bit of a mess,” she 500g, or 1lb 1oz. Placid – she’s quite serious but tests, including amniocentesis, admitted. “I just remember she does have a fun side too,” 16 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org By facilitating adoption, we are investing in not only a child’s future, but the future of America By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
A national restaurant chain adoption, and credited his adoption. Yet adoption referrals streamline the adoption process is once again going above adoptive family for planting the from Planned Parenthood are and help support adoptive and beyond the call of duty in seeds for his success. few and far between, especially families. We crave more news promoting adoption. The charitable campaign is a when compared with the stories, television promos, and Wendy’s is donating money welcomed relief from the many operation’s staggering abortion social media posts that drive from the sale of its Frosty key companies that support Planned rate. Just recently, news broke home the beauty of adoption. tags at participating restaurants Parenthood, the nation’s largest that Planned Parenthood had Proudly displaying a pro- to further adoption of children abortion operation. Planned committed more abortions adoption key tag is just one from foster care. Each key Parenthood has been skilled at annually than ever before. It’s small but important step that tag costs $2.00 and entitles promoting itself as a benevolent more evidence that the massive can be taken to further the the customer to a free Frosty organization when, in fact, it organization is not dedicated to cause. With each adoption, dessert with each purchase of takes the lives of more than “women’s health,” but rather to hearts are joined together, love other menu items. The tags 345,000 preborn children each promoting and performing and blossoms, and a life is cherished carry a message of love for year. profiting from abortion. and protected. adoption. Adoption remains a loving As a nation, we need to In donating to facilitate The founder of the fast food alternative to abortion. So do much more to celebrate adoption, we are investing in giant, the late Dave Thomas, many families have been adoption. We need more not only a child’s future, but the himself benefited from formed through the blessing of government policies that future of America. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 17 The Lessons of Andy By Jean Garton Editor’s note. Although it kidnapped and killed him.” It deprived; a right of which I for National Right to Life News, does truly seem like yesterday, was a cruel, barbaric and tragic cannot even deprive myself.” those indispensable individuals we lost this pro-life giant three act, and his loss was mourned That is why, in the past, the who are the solid gold of our years ago. Jean, my friend by many. U.S. opposed abortion, suicide movement and who, at great of over 30 years, wrote many It seems ironic, doesn’t it, that and euthanasia. sacrifice, have given us a stories for NRL News and NRL it was his disability–the absence foundation and a vision with News Today. Periodically, we of feet–that made Andy special. which to shape the future. run one of her terrific posts for Then when someone found a With no order or ranking, those who were not privileged way to meet the challenge of since all are valuable and to read the magnificent work of that disability it made Andy essential, here is my Top the author of the pro-life classic, famous and beloved. Ten List of Gifts to Unborn “Who Broke the Baby?” In Why don’t we do that for Children. so doing it would remind pro- unborn children? Thousands 1. The Seasoned Warriors lifers, especially younger ones, are aborted when it is who were in the first wave of that we stand on the shoulders discovered that they may have the battle and, 42 years later, are of giants. a limitation, whether slight still standing and devoting their or large. Like Andy who was time, talent, and treasure to the This is a story about Andy torn apart in a brutal way, in defense of unborn children. whose life came to be known abortion the unborn are torn 2. The Angels in supportive throughout the world. Born apart, dismembered, scalded, services who counsel and with stumps for feet, Andy or killed in other horrific ways. Jean Garton uphold women struggling with couldn’t walk or swim. When Why don’t their limitations untimely pregnancies while Gene Fleming, an inventor in make them special instead of The key phrase in that providing a loving and practical Nebraska, made customized making them disposable? sentence is “in the past.” response to crisis situations. baby shoes for Andy, he was Unlike Andy who was Since 1973 the anti-life forces 3. The Influencers – – priests, soon toddling around and personalized by having a name, have targeted the little ones in pastors, teachers, speakers greeting everyone who came unborn children are treated as the womb who are unwanted and writers who promote the by. He visited schools and non-persons, not only in our for any reason,–especially sanctity of human life. hospitals, encouraging disabled culture but also in our law. those with a limitation (like 4. The Whistleblowers – – children for whom he was Non-human entities such as Andy)–and children born men and women of honor and something of a role model. corporations, trade unions, with major medical problems. conscience who have testified to Then one day in 1991, when and ocean going vessels are However increasing human the cruel workings of abortion Andy was four years old, he accorded personhood. They beings at the other end of life’s clinics and the brutality of was kidnapped and brutally are protected under the law, but spectrum are in the crosshairs abortion procedures. murdered. No motive or living human unborn children when they become, like the 5. The Mind-Changers who suspects have ever been found. aren’t! unborn, dependent, disabled, once favored abortion as a Authorities called the incident Can a corporation have a nonproductive, or “unwanted.” woman’s right but who are “senseless destruction.” Andy’s blood transfusion? Can a trade Are you a human being? By now valuable witnesses in the death made news around the union experience physical whose standard? In whose vital struggle against an evil globe. It was featured on TV pain? Can an ocean going opinion? It gets very “iffy” for and killing movement that networks, and newspaper vessel have heart surgery? all of us when human beings promotes death solutions to headlines read “Beloved Goose Human unborn children can are not recognized as deserving life’s problems. Found Murdered.” experience all of those while of legal protection, beginning 6. The Pray-ers who faithfully Yes, Andy was a goose! He still in the womb! in the womb and extending call on the greatest Power of all was discovered with his neck When the category of “human through natural death. and Whom we thank for each broken and his head and wings being” changes from fixed to But for all the bad news, success, recognizing that our pulled off while still wearing fluid, the certainties that biology the far more important good victories can only be explained the baby shoes made especially teach us simply dissolve. Who news is that the unborn and the in terms of the God. for him. is or isn’t a human being is medically vulnerable have a 7. The Parents who instill in “Why would anyone do that inevitably up for grabs. legion of defenders, women and their children an appreciation to this poor little goose,” asked Inalienable human rights men, young and old, who will Andy’s owner, Nadine Fleming. quickly become alienable. not rest until all are protected See “Andy,” page ?? “He was my pet,” she said, “but The word “inalienable” means in law. someone broke into his house, “a right of which I cannot be I once wrote a “Top Ten” list 18 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Media, Medical Associations Mischaracterize Study of Abortion Reversal Treatment: Chemical Abortion, Not Abortion Pill Reversal, is Dangerous By Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D. NRL Director of Education & Research
Read just the headline, or colleagues published results who received the progesterone. This is quite a different read the entire article, and of a much larger scale study in Two of the three who suffered message than the one you’d surely be convinced 2018 in which the APR method the most serious bleeding popularized by the press. that a recent study of abortion was linked to 257 successful events never received the The Post makes it sound as if pill reversal (APR) showed reversals with subsequent abortion pill reversal treatment. APR poses the risk and triggers the process to be dangerous to healthy births. women. Dubious of the success, For example, the Washington noted abortion researcher and Post’s Christmas Eve headline chemical advocate Mitchell read, quite directly, that “Some Creinin announced that he lawmakers push ‘abortion would be doing his own reversal’ treatments. A study “scientific” study to determine shows how dangerous they whether abortion pill reversal are.” was possible. It began in But that’s not true. That is the December 2018 and was abortion industry and its media supposed to involve 40 women allies spin. randomly selected for either a The truth is when undergoing progesterone boost (APR) or a a chemical abortion, taking placebo. Compounding the confusion, severe bleeding. However, the first drug only, and then But Creinin abruptly ended his Epstein seems to have the the evidence points in the doing nothing else, is what study early after recruiting just numbers reversed. She reports that direction of mifepristone, (the is dangerous to women. It is 12 patients when three ended up two of the hemorrhaging women first abortifacient drug), as the not the abortion pill reversal in hospital with bleeding issues. were receiving progesterone culprit. If anything, the APR protocol where a woman not The article by Post reporter and that only one of the women progesterone boost seems to only does not take the second Kayla Epstein (picked up or with the bleeding problem be associated with a lower drug, she also takes another cited by newspapers all across was receiving the placebo. bleeding risk. drug to ward off the impact of the country) adopts Creinin’s Creinin’s study and published And, of course, APR gives the the first drug. APR is safer and spin and turns the results of the data clearly show the two worst baby a better chance to survive. more effective at reversal. study on it head. bleeding cases involving women And contrary to the spin, taking the placebo, rather than APR Worked that is exactly what the study Blaming APR for the progesterone, which was Largely ignored is the original they’re talking about showed! Mifepristone’s Problems involved in just one of the three point of the investigation – to The Post article, in cases. see if APR works. Babies being saved introducing Creinin’s study, The other patient with a Because the study was halted As NRL News Today has makes no distinction between bleeding issue who took the prematurely, Creinin told the explained on many occasions, outcomes experienced by progesterone boost that was Post that his team was unable to Heartbeat International has women who received the APR part of the APR treatment bled determine whether or not APR reported that over 900 babies protocol and those who hadn’t. as her chemical abortion was worked. Creinin told Epstein have been or are in the process It simply says that “some of the completed but did not require that he felt “really horrible” of being saved by APR. APR women who participated in the surgery or transfusion, as did that he couldn’t finish the study, depends on a woman not study experienced dangerous the other two who received the that “the women…had to go taking the second of two drugs hemorrhaging that sent them to placebo. through all this.” (misoprostol), and boosting the hospital.” To emphasize, there were Creinin appears to have progesterone in a woman’s But here’s the critical bleeding issues, but the most forgotten comments he made in system to overwhelm the effect distinction. Creinin’s patient serious ones tended to be an article that appeared in Vice of the first drug (mifepristone). data shows that there were associated with the placebo News in April 17, 2019. There After reporting on a few bleeding issues, yes, but patients who never received successful cases in 2012, primarily with the placebo with the APR progesterone See “Study,” page 35 George Delgado and several patients, not the APR patients boost. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 19 Found in a Dumpster as a Newborn, Morgan Tells Her Story to Save Lives By Nancy Flanders Morgan Hill spent the first out. One of the nurses, Carol that led Hill to press for the full she kept my attention by having few moments after her birth Szafranski, picked up the bag, story. me read one of the articles like so many of us do. She was opened it, and found out it was For the first time, Hill’s my mom kept and she asked cleaned up, wrapped up, and a baby girl.” mother shared with her the me to repeat the construction fed by her mother. However, The medical team rushed Hill heartbreaking first hours of her worker’s name, which I did, it’s the shocking moments after into the medical center and life. and then all of a sudden she this that changed the course of tells me that he just walked into her life. my house,” Hill said. “I turned Mired in an extramarital around and just burst into tears. affair, Hill’s biological mother I’d been looking for him for was the only person who knew two years and didn’t have any she was pregnant. She was luck. But they went through determined to keep it that way. the trouble of finding him and While her husband was at flying him out to meet me.” work and her stepchild was at Meeting Hyatt and school, she secretly gave birth Szafranski was a turning in the bath tub. After feeding point for Hill. During their her baby and wrapping her in conversation, Hyatt gave her a a towel, she put her in the car commemorative golden angel and proceeded to drive around pin the Department of Children town, wondering what she and Families had given him on should do next. the last day he held her, when She ultimately chose to place she was just three days old. her newborn baby girl in a Morgan Hill with Rocky Hyatt, who saved her life in 1995 Hyatt had held onto the pin garbage bag, tied with a double- Photo Courtesy: Morgan Hill for 20 years. knot and placed in a dumpster “I wear that pin as much outside of a medical center in named her “Mary Grace,” since “Over the 18 years, she’d kept as I can and have it with me Hoffman Estates, Illinois. they considered her a miracle a binder full of article clippings wherever I go,” Hill said. “I It was a cool evening in from God. Over the next few from newspapers, online, and look at Rocky like my guardian October 1995. The dumpster days, law enforcement used pictures as well as records of angel. He’s the one who saved was full and was scheduled to surveillance footage to track my biological mother that she my life. He doesn’t believe in be picked up the next morning. down Hill’s birth mother and, showed me to explain who I luck. He believes that God gave Hill’s story could have easily eventually, her biological father was as a newborn and what him this opportunity. That God and quickly ended right there as well. happened to me,” Hill said. “I wanted him to find me. in that dumpster. However— As the story spread across did reach out to different places “That has changed my providentially—a nearby news outlets nationwide, Hill’s to find the people who cared perspective so much because at construction worker named biological father won a hard- for me as well as my biological the time of hearing my story for Garold “Rocky” Hyatt heard a fought battle for custody. But, father, and my mom was so the first time, it made me think noise as he threw away some already a single father, he supportive and so helpful with what a horrible world we live debris. eventually placed his baby girl this.” in.” What Hyatt did next saved into the hands of an adoptive Hill was able to connect with little Morgan Hill’s life. couple he’d come to know and her birth father—who had kept On a Life-Saving Mission when she was abandoned as a trust. the same cell phone number for With a renewed perspective newborn. 20 years in hopes that she would following the meeting with a “He heard a noise, heard it A Turning Point in Life call him one day. In 2016, at 20 handful of people who’d saved again, and saw the garbage bag Hill grew up knowing she years old, Hill met with a news her life, Hill has become an move,” Hill told Pregnancy was adopted, but was unaware reporter who helped reunite her advocate for state-level Safe Help News. “He went into the of her amazing journey into with the first responders who medical center and said he her family. At her high school saved her life. believed there was a baby in graduation party, her niece “Christa—the news reporter See “Dumpster,” page 43 the dumpster. The nurses ran made an off-handed comment who surprised me with this— 20 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org NRLC Dedicates Helen Boyle Lauinger Memorial Life Center From page 1 of God’s creation – the called right or privilege is expressed gratitude to the legislation, and political action innocent, helpless, living child meaningless. It is important to Lauinger family for the decades “which we will need in 2020.” waiting to be born.” note that these words were not of dedicated devotion to the Father Dennis C. Day, retired Mr. Lauinger quoted the listed in some random order. right to life movement. He NRLC Treasurer, and a parish Declaration of Independence: Life was the first right listed highlighted the efficiency of the priest in Sandpoint, Idaho, “We hold these truths to be self by our founding fathers. And evident, that all men are created it’s interesting to note, too, that they didn’t say we are endowed with the right to life by our Congress, or our President. We’re endowed with the right to life by our creator, by God.” Mr. Lauinger continued, “Other downtrodden con- stituencies in our society are able to plead their own case… They can march in the streets or hold a news conference, or meet with their elected officials. The only downtrodden constituency in our society that can do none of these things is the unborn child. The unborn Fr. Dennis Day, former NRLC child is totally dependent on board member from Idaho what others do, or do not do, on their behalf.” equal, that they are endowed NRLC President Carol Tobias by their Creator with certain welcomed the Lauinger family inalienable rights. That among members, officers, and staff Dr. Phyllis Lauinger and Anthony Lauinger, NRLC Vice President. these are life, liberty, and the as Mr. Lauinger and Ernie pursuit of happiness.” Ohlhoff, NRLC director of new building—the third NRLC concluded the dedication with Mr. Lauinger commented, outreach, unveiled the plaque. headquarters in 40 years– prayers for the work of the staff “Unless life itself is first NRLC Executive Director and said it will enable more and the organization, and blessed protected, any other so David N. O’Steen, Ph.D., funding for pro-life education, each room in the building.
Adults back row(L-R): Four of the Lauinger siblings—Frank, Anthony, Mary, and Phil, with six of Anthony Lauinger’s adorable grandchildren. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 21 A closer look at Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows how pro-life the public actually is By Dave Andrusko Earlier this month I posted In 2019, for example, Marist only legal in a few drew 39% support an encouraging story under the found that a total of 48% circumstances. from white mainline headline, “Two-thirds of White said that abortion should be Protestants, 33% Evangelical Protestants stand available only in cases of rape, We can’t flatly state that “a support from nonwhite firmly against abortion; 79% incest or to save the mother’s few circumstances” refers to Protestants, 45% approve of President Trump’s job life (28%); only to save the rape, incest, and life of mother support from Catholics performance.” My first sentence read, “A poll released Thursday affirmed that white Evangelicals remain staunchly pro-life and that they overwhelmingly approve of President Trump’s job performance.” Everything about the story was accurate but, in retrospect, courtesy of a post at National Review Online, I should have taken a minute out to explain how the poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research seriously underestimated how much pro-life sentiment was hidden away by the manner in which the question was asked. By way of introduction, the more nuanced—that is, the more carefully the question is phrased and then followed up—the more the pro-life number rises. mother’s life (10%); or should because it was asked. But that, and 37% of all So just 37% of respondents never be permitted (10%). traditionally, is what is meant— Americans, according —when asked whether they When you add, “Only the “hard cases,” as it is often to the poll of more favored “making abortion during the first three months phrased. than 1,000 American illegal except in cases of rape of pregnancy” (27%), the total As we alluded to at the adults from various or incest, or when the life of the reaches 75%. beginning, the Associated faith backgrounds pregnant woman is at risk— Even more illuminating is that Press, in its coverage of its own conducted by The said either “slightly favored” or in 2019 Lynda Saad of Gallup poll, “found that 67% of white Associated Press- “strongly favored.” (once the numbers were broken evangelical Protestant would NORC Center But as we have documented down from more general to make abortion illegal except in for Public Affairs dozens of times, other polls, more specific) found that cases of rape, incest or to threats Research. … by NBC News, Marist (for the 60% of Americans say to the mother’s life.” But when it seriously misstated where Knights of Columbus), and abortion should either the AP went on to write the American public is on Gallup show higher numbers. not be legal at all or Those abortion limits abortion. 22 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org How the slaughter of 300,000 people with disabilities paved the way for the Holocaust of the Jews By Dave Andrusko The perfect headline captures beings, born or unborn, is “Animals in the form what he is doing: the gist of a story in language “disvalued,” their lives will of humans.” Unlike the Holocaust, that blends immediacy with eventually be in imminent there are no T4 a spark of recognition. Enter peril. Fries quotes from the And survivors. We know “Before the ‘Final Solution’ post-war testimony of various It was the police about T4 and its There was a ‘Test Killing,” a officials who were involved in chemist Dr. August aftermath mainly story written by Kenny Fries the Aktion T4 program to help Becker who prepared through medical that ran January 8 in the New us grasp how utterly worthless the carbon monoxide records and from the York Times. they consider the lives of gas for what he called perpetrators. Aktion NRL News Today has written people with disabilities to be. the “euthanasia ex- T4 does not have its (or reposted) many stories about Elie Wiesel or Primo how the murder of over 300,000 Levi. disabled people by the Nazis That is the main established the framework reason I write about (radical dehumanization) for what happened to and produced the tools (most disabled people during hideously gassing) for the the Third Reich. Holocaust which claimed the I want to be what lives of over six million Jews. Susanne C. Knittel In his Times essay, Fries and other scholars call reminds us that while there are a “vicarious witness.” minor differences of opinion Ms. Knittel describes over the exact day when “the this not as “an act of mass murders of disabled speaking for and thus people” began, most likely it appropriating the was the first days of January memory and story of 1940 when the notorious someone else but rather “Aktion T4” began its an attempt to bridge murderous rampage. He writes the silence through “Though the exact narrative means.” This date is somewhat is my way of bridging speculative, the words the silence, of keeping of those responsible Here are two: periment.” Testifying alive something that is for the murder of Dr. Albert Widmann, in the 1960s, Becker too often forgotten. 70,000 disabled people a chemist, forensic also echoed eugenic in Aktion T4, and the scientist and head of the depictions of the In January 2017, the 230,000 killed after chemical department disabled. He recalled Germany Parliament the program’s official of the central offices looking through the [Bundestag] commemorated end, clearly speak to of the Reich Detective gas chamber peephole the 72nd anniversary of the the main cause for Forces, testified and observing “the liberation of the inmates of what happened: the that he was asked behavior of the Auschwitz concentration disvaluing of disabled to procure poison delinquents,” as the gas camp. The focus that year lives. Eugenics, which in large quantities. filled up the chamber was on the more than 300,000 was rampant before At a meeting with and the victims’ lungs. victims of Aktion T-4. and during the Reich, an unidentified Becker’s depiction “For a long time, the provided the rationale representative of the likens disabled people euthanasia victims were the for the killings, Chancellery of the to the immoral and stigmatizing those Führer, Widmann illegal. See “Candidates,” page 23 with disabilities as not asked, “What for? To human. kill people?” One last lengthy quote to When any category of human “No,” was the reply. explain why Fries is doing www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 23 Adorable website helpful to expectant parents
Editor’s note. This comes average size of a baby choose is still food, for instance baby is in normal terms? Not from our British friends at the each pregnancy week. at 6 weeks… to worry, the facts category has Society for the Protection of The list was meant Perhaps the most fun is the you covered. Unborn Children–SPUC. to entertain myself geeky category, whether you’re Babysizer uses crown to during the pregnancy, a Harry Potter fan… rump measurements, which An adorable website can help but it quickly became …or a Lego movie enthusiast. the creator says makes it easier expectant parents track the apparent that Or if the dad is struggling to to imagine the baby curled up size of their unborn babies by comparing them to real (or not so real) objects. Babysizer lets the user input how many weeks gestation their baby is at and choose from several different categories of objects to compare them to. As the creator explains: “Babysizer was created in the spring of 2015 during my wife’s first trimester. On the first day of each pregnancy week, we would check the size of our baby in multiple pregnancy apps and sites to compare our baby to a fruit.”
But this didn’t cut it. “With a ruler in one hand, and a bit of Babysizer was helpful visualise his baby’s growth, inside the womb. As he also time in the other, I to other expectant the manly category provides says, this shouldn’t be used in compiled a list of parents.” endless fun. place of medical advice, but iconic food items that Think all this is silly, and just it’s a great way to relate to your would better reflect the One category parents can want to know how big your growing baby! How the slaughter of 300,000 people with disabilities paved the way for the Holocaust of the Jews From page 22 forgotten victims,” Maike enormously important for the reminder of the power of Fries’essay is part of the Rotzoll, Deputy Director of relatives, who experienced the words—when unchallenged– Times’ “Disability” series, the Institute for the History and topic being taboo for so many to exclude an entire category described as “a series of essays, Ethics of Medicine in Halle, years, to be allowed to speak of human beings from the art and opinion by and about told Deutsche Welle. and for this group of victims to protection of the law. You people living with disabilities.” “That’s why it’s enormously be honored in this way.” should read his essay in its Fries “is currently writing a important for us that this Fries’s essay is a first- entirety. I’d appreciate your book about disability and the ceremony took place in the rate contribution to this thoughts. You can write me at Holocaust.” Bundestag. I think it’s also remembering, a powerful [email protected] 24 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org The documentary “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words” to open January 31 By Dave Andrusko Somehow this went under my eugenics.” He then went on to “touches on all aspects of Last July, we wrote in radar, but luckily there is still explore the connection between Thomas’ life (in his own response to a fascinating post plenty of time to alert you to eugenics and abortion: words), including his childhood written by Emma Green for a very promising documentary The use of abortion in rural, segregated Georgia; The Atlantic—“The Clarence that will be playing in theatres to achieve eugenic his ideological transition from Thomas Effect.” around the nation come January goals is not merely a Black Panther supporter It is a very long piece, but in a 31. hypothetical. The to a Reagan Administration nutshell, that “effect” included The title is “Created Equal: foundations for appointee; his contentious • ”[D]uring his time on Clarence Thomas in His Own legalizing abortion Supreme Court confirmation; the Court, Thomas has Words,” and is produced and written prolifically and directed by Michael Pack. You introduced ideas that can view the trailer at http:// have gradually gained www.justicethomasmovie. influence among other com/#trailer justices.” We learn that Pack • “He wrote the interviewed Justice Thomas most concurrences, for more than 30 hours dissents, and opinions over a six month period. of any justice during The documentary had what each of the past five TIME magazine described terms, according as an “intimate advanced to data from screening” in Washington, SCOTUSblog,” D.C., on November 5. I was • And, as I commented Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas totally surprised that the TIME last July, “But the magazine review made a pass bulk of the profile at being fair while others, more in America were and the landmark Supreme is Justice Thomas sympathetic to Justice Thomas, laid during the early Court decisions he’s been a part incredible capacity found much more to praise. 20th-century birth- of.” to network, to find Pro-lifers are familiar with control movement. As we’ve discussed on places for his former Thomas for his eloquent and That movement numerous occasions, pro- clerks here, there, passionate criticisms of the developed alongside abortionists have never and will and everywhere.” legal “thinking” that produced the American eugenics never make their peace with His influence in the Roe v. Wade. Most recently, movement. And Thomas. A very conservative Trump administration Justice Thomas concurred with significantly, Planned Black justice replaced a very is undeniable, and the Court’s decision not to Parenthood founder liberal Black justice, Thurgood his legacy will live grant certiorari on the question Margaret Sanger Marshall, and they and others on long after Justice of Indiana’s “Sex Selective and recognized the eugenic of the left will always hold Thomas has left the Disability Abortion Ban.” potential of her cause. a deep seated grudge against bench. However, Justice Thomas She emphasized and Thomas. used a 20-page concurrence embraced the notion But at the same time, they’re I’ll be sure to remind you once to pointedly observe that that birth control beginning to acknowledge that again as the January 31 date for laws like Indiana’s “promote “opens the way to the just because he rarely speaks the playing of the documentary. a State’s compelling interest eugenist.” during oral arguments does in preventing abortion from The new two-hour not mean Thomas isn’t hugely BTW, PBS is scheduled to air becoming a tool of modern-day documentary, we’re told, influential. the documentary in May. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 25 Showdown brewing on campaign to air-drop 1972 “Equal Rights Amendment” into U.S. Constitution From page 1 of abortion, conscience- not certify that the ERA has the House and Senate, even resolution that a different protection laws, you name it,” been ratified and made part though Congress’s role in the Congress passed with two- said Douglas D. Johnson, who of the Constitution, which are constitutional amendment thirds votes nearly 48 years ago directed NRL’s ERA-related functions that the Archivist process is defined in Article – and even more remarkably, efforts during his years as NRL would perform in the case of a V of the Constitution, which this mutant resolution can Federal Legislative Director genuine ratification. (1981-2016), and continues In a January 9 statement, the to do so today as NRL Senior National Archives and Records Policy Advisor. Administration (NARA), the “Pro-abortion advocates have agency that Ferriero heads, been unable to accomplish their said, “NARA defers to DOJ on goal by the amendment process this issue and will abide by the provided in Article V of the OLC opinion, unless otherwise Constitution – their proposal directed by a final court order.” expired unratified 40 years ago The OLC opinion also -- so they are attempting to forcefully rejected the accomplish it through a brazen theory that Congress could political campaign, dressed up retroactively nullify the in legal terminology,” Johnson ratification deadline on the 1972 Get updates on the ERA said. ERA, which is the premise of Johnson and other critics a measure that the Democrat- fight on Twitter of the ERA “ratification” controlled U.S. House of campaign got a powerful boost Representatives is expected to For frequent updates on important developments in the fight over the Equal Rights Amendment, follow on on January 6, when the Office take up soon (H.J. Res. 79). Twitter the account @ERA_No_Shortcuts of Legal Counsel (OLC) of The opinion says, “[The the U.S. Department of Justice current] Congress may not This Twitter account provides reliable and up-to-date issued a 38-page legal memo revise the terms under which coverage on ERA-related events involving Congress, that firmly concluded that the two-thirds of both Houses the Executive Branch, and the courts. It also provides ERA died without being ratified proposed the ERA Resolution fact-checks on mainstream media coverage of in 1979, and that neither state and under which thirty-five important issues surrounding the ERA, with special legislatures nor Congress have state legislatures initially attention to the ERA-abortion connection. power to resurrect it. ratified it. Such an action by The only constitutional this Congress would seem avenue to adoption of an ERA tantamount to asking the 116th requires two-thirds votes in accomplish this time-warping would be for ERA proponents [current] Congress to override both houses. feat on the strength of simple- to start over, requiring two- a veto that President Carter The measure has been co- majority votes.” thirds approval in each house had returned. . . a power this sponsored by more than half Despite its legal of Congress, followed by a new Congress plainly does not of the members of the House implausibility, “The clear intent round of consideration by state have.” (although by only three of the resolution is to air-drop legislatures, the OLC memo U.S. HOUSE TO TAKE UP Republicans), and therefore the ERA into the Constitution concluded. PRO-ERA MEASURE will pass the House. However, it – therefore, it is fair that OLC’s function is to advise Undeterred, the Democratic is expected to encounter a cool lawmakers who vote for it Legislative Branch agencies on leaders who hold majority reception in the U.S. Senate, should be held accountable major legal issues. Therefore, control of the U.S. House of where Republicans currently for the likely legal effects of the January 6 opinion now Representatives plan to soon hold a 53-47 seat majority. the ERA, including its likely governs the actions of the force a House vote on H.J. Res. NRL’s Johnson said, “This sweeping pro-abortion effects Archivist of the United States, 79, a measure that they claim resolution is a legislative mutant – effects that leading abortion- David Ferriero, to whom it would retroactively nullify the – nothing like it is described in advocacy groups now openly was directed. This means that deadline. the Constitution. Its authors predict,” said Johnson. when the Virginia legislature The Democratic leaders say claim it can reach backwards transmits its “ratification” that this measure could pass in time and change the terms See “Showdown,” page 46 papers to Ferriero, he will with only majority votes in of a constitutional amendment 26 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org The 10 most read NRL News Today stories of 2019 By Dave Andrusko Each year on the last day we “I graduated with him in publish new NRL News Today my arms”: New Mom Finds stories, we run a list of the best Empowerment at Louisiana received, most popular posts of Pro-life Center the previous twelve months. There is no magic to choosing Tuesday’s hearing will expose 10, but 10 it is. the truth about the medical Common denominators? To neglect of abortion survivors no one’s surprise, stories about President Trump’s sterling Meet The “Conservative record on life were very Squad” of Pro-Life Women popular. Taking on Ocasio-Cortez and Likewise, posts about the the Socialists marvelous complexity of unborn children were read in President Trump’s Wonderful great numbers. Record on Judges Second chance stories were inevitably well-received. That Kurt Kondrich–“Chloe looked could take the form of women right into my eyes, and I who changed their mind in the instantly fell in love with this middle of chemical abortions to precious gift God had given save their unborn children. our family.” BTW, it is no accident that the Abortion Industry is women who did not abort and them to pro-life family and “I know we did the right furious with laws that require went on to complete their friends. thing” – Mom and dad reverse abortionists to inform women education warmed everyone’s I would love to hear your chemical abortion, rescue that, if they have second heart (except abortion reactions. Send them to their unborn baby thoughts, there is hope. advocates). [email protected]. Planned Parenthood hates But the most popular article of An Amazing Video of a Living, Abortion Pill Reversal laws 2019 by miles was a story about Abortion isn’t freedom: First Trimester Unborn Baby with a passion. four pro-life women running Why autonomy arguments Likewise posts about for office who were taking for abortion dodge the real “My Administration is mothers and fathers who on the likes of pro-abortion issue dedicated to fostering refused counsel from doctors militant Rep. Alexandria opportunities for persons with to abort their babies (for Ocasio-Cortez. “Me …Still Me” is a Down syndrome, so they are whatever reason) resonated, When you have a few wonderful way to illuminate better able to participate in our not just in the Top Ten but in moments, please read or re-read the continuum of human life workforce and pursue their any lengthier list. Stories about these 10 stories and forward from the womb to the crib dreams” www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 27 Her son saved from abortion, California mom reaches out with pregnancy help, raising awareness for APR By Gayle Irwin Rebekah Hagan is grateful she recalled. “You don’t know six-year-old boy,” she said. relationship with people for the life of her six-year-old how to advocate for yourself. She named him Zechariah. “I involved.” son, and she wants to give back I didn’t think to ask questions. liked the meaning of the name,” Hagan speaks between 15 and by helping other moms facing You are sent on your way with Hagan said. 20 times a year, in churches, adversity in pregnancy. pregnancy centers and schools. After making a courageous She has also testified before decision in the spring of 2013 state legislators regarding to try and save her son’s life informed consent bills. through Abortion Pill Reversal, She is also able to personally the California mom of three connect with women who speaks to audiences about her find her on Facebook, and experiences, works to raise she’s able to provide them awareness about APR (see encouragement. Editor’s note below), and she For example, 25-year- helps other young women make old “Samantha”* was in their own brave choices. an emotionally abusive Nearly seven years ago, relationship and though she Hagan began the Abortion started a medical abortion, she Pill Reversal protocol after changed her mind. she had taken mifepristone, “Although she wasn’t with the first pill of the two-pill the guy anymore, he still chemical abortion process, at a controlled her,” Hagan said. Planned Parenthood facility in Lydia and her brothers “I’d recite truth to her. She Sacramento. delivered a baby boy at the end “I thought of all the reasons to a little brown bag and are told, The Hebrew meaning is ‘The of November. Even when you abort,” she said. “I already had ‘There’s no going back.’” Lord has remembered.’ choose life, things don’t just a child and was newly single. I This was March 13, 2013, and “I see God’s hand in it all,” go away. (But) she is grateful was afraid of losing my home Eli had been born on March 14. she said. she didn’t go through with the with my parents. I had a fear The coincidence with the dates Hagan recently had her third abortion.” mind-set, and I didn’t plan to hit her hard. child, a girl whom she and Additionally, 17-year-old tell anyone.” “I prayed for forgiveness and husband Kramer named Lydia. “Jessica”* who had gotten She’d had her first son, Eli, then began searching online involved with the “hook-up when she was 18 and still in for how the abortion might be Serving and raising culture” on the East Coast, high school. The father of this stopped,” she said. awareness according to Hagan, was put in second child was also Eli’s She discovered information Hagan was raised in a contact with her. father. However, “it was a toxic about Abortion Pill Reversal, Christian home. However, like “Her main concern was relationship,” she recalled. She originally spearheaded by Dr. some young people raised in a disabilities,” Hagan said. had left the man and returned to George Delgado. With the faith-based family, she made “There is so little information, her parents’ home. help of a doctor in her area, choices that went against her truthful information, out there “I knew Eli and I were not she began the progesterone family’s beliefs. After finding online. Women wonder if they safe (with him),” Hagan said. regimen. hope and redemption with the will be okay and if the baby will Because of these Somehow, the Planned assistance of Abortion Pill be okay. I want to help them.” circumstances, she thought Parenthood facility found out; Reversal, she began sharing Hagan said she is grateful to abortion was her only option. the staff contacted her and her experience with others. help women like Samantha and “Sometimes abortion looks told her the baby would have Public speaking opportunities Jessica. like hope,” she said. birth defects if it survived the came, and she responded with “These moms have been After taking that first abortion treatment, Hagan said. enthusiasm. spared the trauma of abortion,” pill, however, she immediately They were proven wrong. “I wanted to give back,” she she said. experienced regret. Rebekah Hagen’s sons and said. “The public speaking “I thought to myself, ‘Oh, baby daughter Lydia has grown. It was a natural See “Saved,” page 36 my gosh, what did I just do?’” “I have a healthy and active progression because of the 28 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Emily Norris has a genetic condition so rare it has no name, but her parents unconditionally rejected suggestion she be aborted By Dave Andrusko
Emily Norris, now seven, was and complicated haul for the with lung and kidney problems. years,” Bakar explained. born with a condition so rare it youngster of Norwich, a city in “Common factors with other On top of that literally does not have a name. Norfolk, England. cases are small stature, failure Emily’s right lung Whatever it might be, Emily is Her 31-year-old mom to grow and low weight gain was made up of cysts thought to be among only 13 told Bakar that Emily had a – meaning Emily needed a due to a condition people in the world to have the “miswritten” gene assocated feeding tube for her first few called congenital genetic condition. cystic adenomatoid That lack of diagnostic malformation, and 70% precision did not stop doctors of it was removed before from advising her mother, her first birthday. Nicol Nicholls, to consider Doctors then discovered an abortion when a lung she had a multicystic malformation was spotted dysplastic kidney which when Nicholls was 20 weeks was removed when she pregnant. was three. “Doctors didn’t have the chance to influence our decision Through all that Emily just because as soon as they keeps on keeping on, including mentioned abortion we shot it winning a medal at her first down, as it was not something karate competition. we’d ever consider,” Nicol “I don’t know what the future told Faima Bakar of Metro.uk. holds for Emily,” Mrs. Nicholls “And thank God we didn’t, as told Lauren Cope, “as not much she’s doing really well now.” is known about her genetic Emily Norris, who has become a karate champion despite being born While Emily is now doing with a lung malformation that meant she had to have her right kidney condition, but one thing we do so well she has attained a Red and 70% of her right lung removed. know is that she has always Belt in Karate, it’s been a long Photo: Chris Radburn/PA Wire been a fighter.” The Lessons of Andy From page 17 for the gift of life and the of the truth that human life importance of protecting all is valuable regardless of age, members of the human family. stage, or condition because it is 8. The Wounded – – women – – simply and wondrously – – and men who are also victims human life. of abortion and, having been The Bible says: “There is deceived by the seductive a time for everything, and a rhetoric of abortion, are now season for every activity under willing to publicly share their heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1) The time pain to save others from the is now; the season is now; the suffering. activity is righteous. 9. The Legislators – – who A lesson is gradually being continue to hold to their learned throughout this land: convictions and to seek legal abortion kills babies, hurts protection for unborn children. women, and is a violation of 10. The Disabled – – who every core principle that we are the greatest of teachers believe in as Americans. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 29 Expect many news roundups surrounding abortion as we approach anniversary of Roe, opening of state legislative sessions By Dave Andrusko Right around this time each acknowledge commonsense their own legislation. There Well, yes, indeed. As NRLC year—with the impending protective laws. This year’s big are states (as Wilson notes), explains on page one, it is anniversary of Roe v. Wade case is Louisiana’s Act 620, the such as Illinois, New York, expected that later this month and with the opening of state “Unsafe Abortion Protection Rhode Island, and Vermont, the Virginia legislature will legislative sessions right Act.” which have already passed “submit papers purporting around the corner– we are As NRLC and Louisiana radical pro-abortion measures. to ‘ratify’ the ERA.” Pro- inundated with a slew of news Right to Life explained in their It is difficult to imagine how abortion Democrats in the articles predicting what will or joint brief, the law requires much further they can go, but Commonwealth “intend to at least might, take place. And abortionists to have admitting no doubt they will find other present bills to strip away that’s all to the good. While privileges with a local hospital. ways to facilitate the deaths of Virginia’s parental consent law, we don’t need to be reminded, “Act 620 was passed in 2014 in unborn babies, hopefully (from the reasonable 24-hour waiting it’s important for the average response to the extensive health their perspective) paid for by period before an abortion, and the hard-won ultrasound law,” according to Olivia Gans Turner, president of the Virginia Society for Human Life. And that likely is just the beginning. But the emphasis—as it should be—is on pro-life legislation. “In 2019 alone, 17 states passed a total of 58 new measures restricting abortions,” Wilson writes. “About half of those would ban most or all abortions, while the remainder focused on new restrictions on abortion clinics or doctors who perform the procedures.” He then quotes Elizabeth Nash, who directs state policy at the Guttmacher Institute, saying, “Abortion restrictions are still a front-burner issue in many states.” One fascinating omission. Wilson writes, “After a virtual stalemate for much of the first citizen to know the battle is and safety violations found taxpayer. (Massachusetts is in decade of the century, the last about to be joined yet again. in Louisiana abortion clinics. the wings with its own “ROE” 10 years have seen a spike in Reid Wilson offered a fairly Louisiana already requires act that is equally extremist.) abortion restriction measures.” typical piece that appeared in doctors who perform surgery Wilson blandly remarks, He doesn’t bother to tell you the publication, The Hill under at outpatient surgical centers “Virginia represents perhaps why. That’s when pro-life the headline, “States gear up to have hospital privileges. Act the most promising ground Republicans began winning for abortion fights with eye on 620 extends that requirement to for abortion rights advocates. majorities in both houses of Supreme Court.” include abortionists.” Democrats won control state legislatures. To be clear every piece of Wilson correctly observes that of the state House and They are many lessons from all pro-life legislation is intended pro-abortionists intend to be Senate in elections held last this, beginning with “Elections to educate the justices, to help active, first in the many briefs November, and party leaders Have Consequences!” Be sure them clarify the mess that is they have filed in opposition are contemplating several to come to NRL News Today on abortion jurisprudence and to Act 620, and in passing proposals.” a regular basis. 30 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Communicating a Message of Life By Laura Echevarria, National Right to Life Director of Communications and Press Secretary From American Heritage Dictionary of the earliest NRL News articles from the 1970s (including the 3. communications (used with a sing. or pl. verb) very first issue) that flatly demonstrated NRLC’s opposition to a. The art and technique of using words effectively to impart euthanasia. (Assisted suicide was not an issue in those days.) information or ideas. We sent copies of those articles to the editor and the reporter b. The field of study concerned with the transmission of who’d written the story. About a week after the initial story ran, information by various means, such as print or broadcasting. c. Any of various professions involved with the transmission of information, such as advertising, broadcasting, or journalism.
Communications is a complex process but at its most basic it is simply presenting or transmitting information from a sender to a receiver. NRLC is busy educating the public with our message of love for both mother and unborn child which means we work with reporters from many and varied outlets. Of course, it’s not simple. Filters, such as a writer’s bias, the editors who edit the story, or television/radio producers who only interview certain people or organizations—or maybe they only ask loaded questions—all can and do influence what ultimately gets sent out to the public. The Communications Department here at National Right to Life focuses on communicating our pro-life message to people all across the United States and around the world. We are the sender and a worldwide audience is our receivers. After forty+ years, we understand that it is foolish to place our Laura Echevarria spokespersons in situations where they can’t possibly express their opinion fully and without having a fair chance to make our we received a correction, but it was astonishing to see how both argument without constant interference. reporter and the editor “knew” they knew our position on these For example, what sense would it make to book a spokesperson issues better than we did! on a show where the host is known for interrupting and talking Today’s communication world is vastly more complicated and over guests he or she may disagree with? Of course, we’re not much, much more fast-paced. NRLC utilizes every outlet, from talking about every overly talkative host who disagrees with us, traditional press releases to tweets on Twitter to Facebook posts, to but it does apply to a handful who are determined not to give us a name just three. In some ways, communication in today’s world is fair shake. more direct than it was in the past but barriers and filters still exist. For whatever reason or whatever motivation, newspaper articles With social media, there is no filter but individuals may block do misrepresent our position on an issue or misrepresent the messages they disagree with. Press releases can go out to hundreds organization. This must be handled directly. For example, if a of reporters but only 15% may actually open the email. The reporter characterizes National Right to Life as an organization challenge is always getting as much accurate information to as that cares only about abortion, the role of the Communications many people as we can with the least amount of interference. Department is to help the reporter realize that NRLC, from its very Whether it be NRLC’s Communications Department or one origins, has vigorously fought again euthanasia. of NRLC’s 3,000 state affiliates, it is vital to continue to send Several years ago, we had a newspaper explicitly state that information to the press (and therefore, hopefully, to the public) National Right to Life had only recently become involved in end- promoting the right to life, explaining the humanity of the unborn of-life issues. Communications staff patiently explained that this child, and defending the elderly and those with disabilities who are was not new terrain for us. The reporter and the editor, however, often considered less “worthy” of life. refused to believe us and demanded proof in order for us to get a We—all pro-lifers—do so in the hope and expectation that when correction. people are exposed to the truth, recognize it, and embrace it, it will That was easy to demonstrate. We simply made copies of some hasten the day legal protection is returned to unborn children. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 31 Guardians of God’s most precious creations From page 2
Pro-Life Caucus, at separate any and every sacrifice, protect the weakest and in God is tested, but March for Life rallies that get to any and every smear, so most vulnerable.” it also deepens and the heart of our Movement and that the least of these overcomes and forges an why we do what we do. might live. Our Movement is alive and indomitable yet humble The most dangerous well and growing. You will spirit. place in America today And see that not just in the huge “The pro-life for an unborn baby girl “Everyone here today attendance at the March for movement is comprised or boy is in a Planned is part of the greatest Life, and not only in all the of some of the noblest, Parenthood facility. human rights struggle state-based rallies. caring, smart and Someday future on the face of the earth. You’ve seen this growth selfless people I have generations of It is the only human manifested in all the protective ever met. They make Americans will look back rights abuse that the legislation passed in the past up an extraordinarily and wonder how and abortionists dare call decade.. and in the laments powerful, non-violent, why such a seemingly a human right, it is of pro-abortion leaders that faith-filled human rights enlightened society Orwellian, and yet it younger women are more struggle that is growing could have permitted happens here and all passionately committed to the in public support, over 60 million to over the world.” pro-life cause (by double!) than intensity, commitment be exterminated by “I know I’m speaking their “pro-choice” counterparts. and hope. abortion, often with to the choir, but we need We thrive because, to quote “The pro-life government enabling to double down on our Congressman Smith one more movement is not only on and subsidy. prayer for healing. We time, because ultimate failure is the side of compassion, But history and need to increase our not an option. justice, and inclusion; generations of survivors fasting, and we need “Despite these and we are on the right side will note that you stood to ask God for wisdom any obstacles, we will of responsible science your ground, you pushed for healing, so that never quit. In adversity and of history.” back, and you endured we will do our duty to our faith and trust 2018-2019 Planned Parenthood Annual Report: More Abortions Than Ever From page 12 head of Planned Parenthood in Planned Parenthood installed successes in opposing Kansas, Montana, Missouri, September of 2018, was ousted Alexis McGill Johnson, a “abortion bans.” They celebrate Wisconsin and North Carolina, by the board of directors in July reliable abortion advocate, as “technology” allowing them to Planned Parenthood expressed of 2019 after less than a year on “Acting President and CEO” perform webcam abortions in pride in being able to enable the job. and kept the abortion mills 16 states and research on these “proactive legislation to protect Wen was as committed to humming. No official word on abortions and other topics they and expand access to safe and abortion as anyone, but made when or if the acting president were able to get published in legal abortion” in Hawaii, the “mistake” of seeing it as will be replaced. national medical journals. Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New part of a broader health care They talk about their work York, Rhode Island, and mission. When she made clear Abortion as the promoting “sexual and Washington state. that she didn’t see abortion as Clear Theme reproductive services” and Planned Parenthood says the be all, end all of Planned The organization’s latest “reproductive rights” around that its doctors, educators and Parenthood’s existence, she annual report makes it plain that the world and among ethnic activist wake up each day with and Planned Parenthood parted Planned Parenthood continues minorities in the United States, one mission: Care, No Matter ways over “philosophical to be all about abortion, in more “organizing and mobilizing” on What. differences.” Wen wrote in the ways than one. The record college campuses and rallying When it comes to the lives New York Times 7/19/19, “I number of abortions speak for against the nomination of of tender, innocent, precious believe abortion is about health themselves, as do the declining Justice Brett Kavanaugh. unborn children, however, this care, not politics. Many of my figures for genuine health care In addition to stopping or report makes is clear, once colleagues disagreed.” services. delaying pro-life legislation again, that Planned Parenthood Wen somehow manages to go In the report, PPFA trumpets they didn’t like in Florida, “Doesn’t Care” – “No Matter unmentioned in this latest report. their legal and political West Virginia, South Carolina, What.” 32 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Indiana AG issues preliminary report on the remains of over 2,400 babies aborted by Ulrich Klopfer By Dave Andrusko
While it was only a law. Further, the Office breathe any legislation that where “The ground floor was preliminary report, there a great of the Attorney General requires a dignified and extremely cluttered. Boxes , deal to be learned from Indiana will follow state law humane disposal of the remains garbage, cleaning supplies, Attorney General Curtis Hill’s in maintaining and of aborted babies. It’s who they clothing, unopened food and investigation into the bizarre safeguarding the are, it’s how they think. Aborted drinks, magazines, and other hoarding behavior of the late medical records until miscellaneous personal items abortionist Ulrich Klopfer. such a time as they were strewn about.” As NRL News Today readers can be disposed of And lets not forget what know, the remains of a total properly. police found when they raided of over 2,400 aborted babies In addition, Gosnell’s West Philadelphia were found in his garage in investigators have home. While it had high-end Crete Township, Will County, determined the appliances and a piano, Illinois and in the trunk of an remains appear to be “He just lived in old Mercedes Klopfer kept in from abortions Dr. squalor,” Philadelphia storage in Dolton, Illinois. The Klopfer performed Police crime scene following is an overview of in Indiana from investigator John the AG’s preliminary report, 2000 through 2003. Taggart told NBC10. released last week, after which At an earlier stage “He would leave I will add a few additional of the investigation, plates of food on details and background. authorities believed the floor. There was Attorney General the remains came from stuff everywhere in Late abortionist Ulrich Klopfer Curtis Hill has abortions performed the bedroom. You released a preliminary from 2000 through babies are barely refuse in their couldn’t see the bed.” report on his office’s 2002. minds. Of course this squalor investigation into 2,411 “From the time we #2. According to Dan Carden, was precisely what medically preserved first learned of the “After Klopfer died Sept. 3, his authorities found at his fetal remains and gruesome discovery family found 2,246 bagged fetal abortion clinic. thousands of medical of these remains,” remains stored in molding boxes “As soon as they records discovered Attorney General Hill and old Styrofoam containers [his investigators] in the fall of 2019 said, “we have sought to alongside boxes of personal went down into the among the personal exercise our statutory items, rusting cars, pop cans basement, they were belongings of the late authority with great and random garbage stacked covered in fleas,” Dr. Ulrich Klopfer, who care and prudence. to the ceiling in the garage of Taggart said. “He performed abortions at This case exemplifies Klopfer’s Will County, Illinois, actually gave us a clinics in Fort Wayne, the need for strong laws home, according to the report.” bottle of flea repellent Gary and South Bend. to ensure the dignified Who does that remind you and said, ‘See what a Amid new details disposition of fetal of? Kermit Gosnell, of course. nice guy I am? I told in the report is the remains, like those The only thing missing is this you there were fleas in fact that, based on passed by the Indiana from the Grand Jury report that the basement.’ He said the poor condition of General Assembly in investigated Gosnell’s “House ‘I didn’t have to tell the fetal remains and 2016 and upheld by the of Horrors”: “There was blood ya’s’” unreliable nature of the U.S. Supreme Court in on the floor. A stench of urine accompanying records, 2019.” filled the air. A flea infested #3. To state the obvious, these it is not possible to The preliminary cat was wandering through were (or, in Gosnell’s case, make an independent report, which will be the facility, and there were cat are) sick, sick, men. To state verification of the followed by a final feces on the stairs.” the equally obvious, while they identities of the report in coming But, you say, that was may be extreme even for the individual fetal months, is attached. Gosnell’s abortion clinic, baby killing industry, you have remains. Accordingly, It is also published at not his garage. In fact, the to be devoid of basic human Attorney General Hill the Attorney General’s preliminary report on Klopfer’s empathy to do this day in and intends to have the website. three Indiana abortion day for decades, whether it be fetal remains interred clinics talked about them as killing dozens of babies a month in a respectful and Three points. pigsties. Although all three or killing tens of thousands of dignified manner in #1. We all know the abortion were disgusting, take this unborn babies. accordance with state industry will fight to its last about the Fort Wayne clinic www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 33 National Right to Life and Louisiana Right to Life File Amicus Brief in Support of Louisiana’s Requirement that Abortion Doctors Have Hospital Admitting Privileges The National Right to Life from an incomplete abortion, in the state), was found to have deal with patients experiencing Committee (NRLC) and are given the highest standard violated multiple patient health hemorrhaging and failed to Louisiana Right to Life (LRTL) of care possible at a local and safety regulations. As follow mandatory reporting have filed an amicus brief hospital without any delays. documented in Statements of laws in the cases of rape or with the U.S. Supreme Court Benjamin Clapper, executive Deficiencies by the Louisiana incest of a minor. supporting Louisiana’s Act 620 director of Louisiana Right Department of Health, abortion “If the abortion industry “Unsafe Abortion Protection truly cared about women, Act” which requires abortion they would work to ensure doctors to have admitting that women in the state of privileges with a local hospital. Louisiana and across the Act 620 was passed in 2014 in nation receive the best of response to the extensive health care,” stated Tobias. “Instead, and safety violations found we repeatedly see the industry in Louisiana abortion clinics. oppose laws like Louisiana’s Louisiana already requires ‘Unsafe Abortion Protection doctors who perform surgery Act’ that are designed to at outpatient surgical centers protect women.” to have hospital privileges. Act James Bopp, Jr., of The Bopp 620 extends that requirement to Law Firm, PC, is General include abortionists. Counsel for National Right to The case before the U.S. Life and lead counsel for NRLC Supreme Court is June Medical and LRTL. Bopp stated, “The Services, LLC, et al. v Rebekah Louisiana case demonstrates Gee, Secretary, Louisiana the abortion industry’s utter Department of Health and disregard for the lives and Hospitals. health of women by recklessly “Despite the arguments hiring abortion doctors who from pro-abortion groups to Life, said “Together with clinic violations in the state are obviously unqualified in this case, there is no State Rep. Katrina Jackson, include but are not limited to: to perform abortions. The constitutional right to a Louisiana Right to Life passed failures to verify the medical Louisiana hospital-admitting- sub-standard abortion the 2014 Unsafe Abortion history of patients, failure privilege law addresses this facility,” stated Carol Tobias, Protection Act by a bi-partisan to monitor how long or how problem by insuring that president of National Right majority in our legislature to much nitrous oxide was given abortion doctors are subject to Life. “Women who protect the health of Louisiana to patients, failure to perform to close scrutiny by other suffer from complications women. In Louisiana, admitting or document a physical exam physicians. The abortion from an abortion, such privileges are a basic standard of each patient, failure to industry’s objections to such as hemorrhaging or an in every other type of outpatient properly store and safeguard laws, that are necessary to incomplete abortion, require surgery other than abortion. medications, failure to have protect women’s lives and and deserve immediate Abortion facilities should not qualified personnel administer health, should be rejected by emergency care.” receive special loopholes when anesthesia, failure to properly the Supreme Court.” The “Unsafe Abortion it comes to common-sense sterilize equipment, and failure The amicus brief can be found Protection Act,” was passed safety standards.” to ensure that single-use IV at www.bopplaw.com/images/ to ensure that women who June Medical Services, the fluid was used only once. nrlc-june-acbr-final.pdf experience complications from petitioner in June Medical In addition, abortion clinics abortion, such as hemorrhage, Services, LLV v Gee, (along in the state failed to have on uterine perforation, or infection with other abortion facilities hand the proper equipment to 34 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org “He’s very healthy, very cute.” Pro-life doc rescues baby with Abortion Pill Reversal By Katie Franklin
Dr. Poppy Daniels was at baby-in-tow. Abortion Pill Rescue Network With their vast medical her son’s football game one “He’s very healthy, very seemed like a natural fit for knowledge and passion, many Saturday morning when she got cute,” Daniels told Pregnancy Daniels. of these providers are speaking the call. Help News. “Developmentally, “Mariah” had taken the first he was completely normal. No drug in the chemical abortion major issues.” pill regimen and was hoping Daniels says that although to save her unborn child by the father isn’t very supportive, stopping the in-progress Mariah is doing well, too. abortion in its tracks. “She really, really wanted Over the past five years, women to know that this Daniels had received similar (Abortion Pill Reversal) was calls from about 10 other something that they could act women. Some were too far on,” Daniels said. “They could along in the abortion to be change their mind. They could helped. Others never called access this program.” back. One decided to proceed With that in mind, Mariah with the abortion anyway. gave Daniels permission to post But Mariah’s story ended an anonymous photo of Daniels differently, thanks to the and her son on the doctor’s Abortion Pill Reversal Facebook page. protocol, a treatment which “This is a very special day,” Dr. Poppy Daniels holds a baby saved through Abortion Pill Reversal uses the natural hormone Daniels wrote. “This is the first Photo: Poppy Daniels Facebook progesterone to maintain a successful medical abortion healthy pregnancy. reversal that I have had the For the majority of her career, out alongside Daniels, sharing Because of Mariah’s quick honor of participating in. I have she has specialized in using the stories of the hundreds of call to the Abortion Pill been a Progesterone expert bioidentical hormones like babies rescued by the reversal Rescue helpline (877-558- for many years & knew that progesterone to assist women treatment. 0333), Daniels was able to get progesterone could reverse the experiencing fertility issues. George Delgado and Matt her started on the treatment effects of RU-486/mifepristone Having learned about the use Harrison, the pioneers of immediately. if it was instituted quickly. We of bioidentical progesterone Abortion Pill Reversal, were Over the course of the next are respecting mom’s privacy through the esteemed the first ones to blaze that trail. several weeks, Daniels would by keeping it anonymous but NaProTechnology of Creighton Now, William Lile, Brent Boles monitor Mariah’s blood levels she wanted me to share her University in Omaha, and others are regularly telling and check in on her baby via story & pictures in the hopes Nebraska, she has become their stories, sharing pictures obstetrical ultrasound scans, that it could encourage other thoroughly familiar with the of the babies they’ve helped ensuring that both mom women who take the abortion use of the hormone to support rescue all across the internet. and baby were healthy and pill & regret it or change their pregnancies. Daniels’s post, which she thriving. Once Mariah reached minds. In her case, she is so With that experience in her made in November 2019, the second trimester, she happy she instantly knew that back pocket, she joined the quickly gained traction with transferred to another doctor she didn’t want to go through Abortion Pill Rescue Network over 4,000 likes and over 1,000 for regular prenatal care, with it & called the Abortion in 2014, joining hundreds of shares on Facebook. keeping in contact with Daniels Pill Reversal hotline who other medical providers in the The post’s popularity reflects throughout her pregnancy. connected her with me. She effort to save babies, as well the importance of social media Then, a few months ago, has chosen to parent & as she as their mothers, from the in Daniels’s larger efforts to Mariah gave birth to her baby said ‘I knew everything would devastation of abortion. stand up and be a voice for the boy, making him one of more end up working out.’ A true Now operated by Heartbeat voiceless within the medical than 900 children rescued by #miraclebaby. #happytears” International, the network and community. Abortion Pill Reversal. 24/7 helpline (877-558-0333) As a show of gratitude, Speaking from experience consists of more than 800 See “Baby,” page 47 Mariah visited Daniels with From the beginning, the providers. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 35 Media, Medical Associations Mischaracterize Study of Abortion Reversal Treatment From page 18 he gave the following criteria APR progesterone boost were Though the Post article is safer and more effective for for determining whether or not still pregnant at the end of their written as if this was one of these reversals. APR worked: two weeks on the trial. This the reversal options being “If there’s a difference was true of only two of the five considered, it has been abortion Medical Associations Ignore between the groups patients (40%) who received advocates, not APR providers, the Science and it shows that only the mifepristone and the who have suggested that taking Epstein cites a statement the group with the placebo. mifepristone [the first drug] from the American College progesterone continued and simply foregoing the of Obstetricians and the pregnancy more The Real Risk in Abortion misoprostol [the second drug] Gynecologists (ACOG) that and the group with Industry’s Protocol would be just as effective as claims of abortion reversal “are the placebo lost the Creinin tried to shift the the progesterone boost (see not based on science and do pregnancy more, focus elsewhere. He said they Grossman, New England not meet clinical standards.” then that shows the were able to uncover a “very Journal of Medicine, 10/18/18). While providing a link, it does progesterone does significant safety signal” Clearly, given the data from not directly tell the reader that something.” about disrupting the approved Creinin’s study, that advice the ACOG statement was from chemical abortion protocol. He from abortion pill advocates is August 2017, before Delgado Though the numbers are found his limited study data both inaccurate and dangerous. and colleagues published a smaller because of the study’s sufficient to determine that If a woman takes mifepristone study involving more than 250 hasty ending, this is still “patients in early pregnancy and changes her mind about successful cases of reversal in precisely what Creinin’s data who use only mifepristone may abortion, it appears to be the Spring 2018 edition of the showed. Four of the five be at high risk of significant much safer and more effective peer reviewed journal Issues in patients (80%) receiving the hemorrhage.” for her to take the APR Law & Medicine. progesterone boost than to skip American Medical the misoprostol and hope the Association President Patrice chemical abortion fails. A. Harris also joined in the Epstein writes that Creinin chorus complaining about believed his study showed the laws requiring women be told “dangers of antiabortion laws” about the abortion pill reversal that push “disinformation and procedure. Harris told the unproven treatments.” Washington Post last July that If anything, it was abortion such laws “actually compel advocates who were pushing physicians and other members “disinformation and unproven of the health-care team to treatments.” They were provide patients with false or claiming that women desiring misleading information that’s to reverse their chemically- not based on evidence, that’s induced abortions could just not based on science.” avoid taking any further drugs If we consider Delgado’s and hope they were ones for 2018 results and those from whom the mifepristone failed. Creinin’s more recent study, the The APR method with the “science” appears to support progesterone boost referenced Delgado’s APR progesterone in these laws was, on the boost protocol, not the abortion other hand, demonstrated by industry’s dangerous “wait and Creinin’s own study to be both see” approach. 36 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org What’s in a word? How ‘fetus” helped usher in abortion on demand By Dave Andrusko As one of the first NRL News that the former was not fully it allayed the guilt the mother argument, I have omitted many Today posts of 2020, I briefly human.” would feel because she could helpful and subtle points. I talked about an article that had We’re reminded that tell herself “that the life inside would very much recommend been kindly forwarded to me “abortion advocates often talk her was not yet human.” you go to salvomag.com for a a while back. It ran online at about the pro-life movement’s In briefly summarizing the delightful and educational read. salvomag.com and was titled ‘love affair with the fetus at the simply, “Fetus.” expense of the born child,’ as if I learned a lot. the two were distinct entities. For example, “The first Such semantic mis-direction recorded use of the word ‘fetus’ was one of the consequences dates back to 1398. Before then, of the [1973] Roe decision, an unborn human was almost which solidified this supposed always referred to as a ‘child’ distinction between the born (or some variation thereof).” and unborn.” In fact, “even up until the Why is that important? sixteenth century, ‘fetus’ wasn’t Because through the constant in common use; indeed, there’s repetition of “fetus,” the “target evidence that as late as 1594 of abortion’ was reduced people were still using ‘child’ to something other than a to refer both to the born and to child. “Fetus” is at one and the unborn.” the same time vague, semi- While it’s hard to tell, dehumanizing, and off-putting. according to the article, “when “Fetus” served two key ‘fetus’ finally became the roles in the campaign to preferred term for the unborn, dehumanize the unborn child, we do know that beginning in opening the gate to abortion the 1970s the word took on a without limitation. First, it whole new meaning, sharply “strip[ped] the unborn child of distinguishing the unborn from his humanity so that killing him the born child so as to suggest could be excused.” Second, Her son saved from abortion, California mom reaches out with pregnancy help, raising awareness for APR From page 27
Hagan also serves at a than 900 babies’ lives have and babies from the horror *Samantha and Jessica are California pregnancy center. been saved thanks to APR and of abortion, giving women pseudonyms. For the past three years, she courageous women like Hagan. another choice and a second has worked as the community The Abortion Pill Rescue chance for themselves and their Editor’s note. This appeared outreach coordinator for Network is now coordinated unborn children. at Pregnancy Help News. Sierra Pregnancy & Health in by Heartbeat International, “The reality is the majority of Heartbeat International, Roseville, near Sacramento. with support from Dr. Delgado women are conflicted … in this which manages the Abortion This year, the center plans to and many other medical decision. APR gives women Pill Rescue Network, also add Abortion Pill Reversal to professionals. another choice and a second manages Pregnancy Help their services offered to women. Hagan continues to advocate chance,” Hagan said. “It’s life- News. As a decade dawns, more for APR, saving women changing and life-saving.” www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 37 College students have their babies and succeed despite pro-abortion pressure By Sarah Terzo An article in The American has made me more too. I even had an had so much potential Feminist talked about how motivated than ever appointment, but my that I was wasting. I difficult it is for pregnant to be a success in all boyfriend spent hours graduated this past college students to have their things.” on the phone trying to May at age 23 with a babies because they get so BA in sociology, magna much pressure to abort, and cum laude, and the because they are often made to highest GPA in the feel they must choose between department. I am now their babies and their education. the frst individual The article says: on that pro-abortion “Student parents on side of my family to campuses across the graduate from college.” country often find that practical resources and These two stories show that, emotional support are with support, college students missing.” can have their children and still graduate. They also highlight The article quotes student the immense pressure that parent Amanda Sykes: college students can be under “I was told repeatedly to abort their babies. that I would never be able to be both a mother Chaunie Brusie, “Good News and a student; I would Another student, identified talk me out of it. If he or Bad News? Pregnancy and have to choose…. only as Levesque, talked about had encouraged me to Parenting Resources Make a “Classmates, certain the pressure she got from get an abortion, too, I Difference,” The American acquaintances, and family to abort her child: would have done it…. Feminist Winter 2011/2012. even some perfect “They said I would “My family, strangers told me that end up as trailer trash immediate and Editor’s note. This appeared I would regret having and on welfare because extended, save for at Clinic Quotes and is my son because he I couldn’t possibly only a few individuals, reprinted with permission. would ruin my life. do it all. I wanted to heavily pushed They were wrong. get an abortion and abortion, telling My son, and now my my family wanted me me that I was a child due in February, to [get an abortion] disappointment and I 38 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org In for one abortion, why not two abortions in three months? By Dave Andrusko One of many things I’ve reckless or stupid for becoming a procedure she found a Dr. Jennifer Wider who told learned over the years in reading pregnant again,” is a head- comfortable. Glamour in 2016 the accounts of “people” scratcher. “When she found out that multiple abortions (aka women) justifying their The author, Paige Alexandria, she was pregnant again (even within a short abortions is that they loathe tells us about how “being there” three months later, time frame) generally the very suggestion that they for one of her best friends Chelsea said she had don’t affect fertility, need any reason, let alone a who’d had two abortions in no doubt this time that nor is there any medical justification, to do what they three months “was a powerful an abortion was the reason to encourage want with the unborn children moment for me…” right decision for her. fewer abortions. Still, they typically have created out Why, you might ask? The most frustrating much judgment and of carelessness. Sometimes because years earlier part of the experience, stigma remain. they offer a reason but before she supported me she said, was learning Despite being she was pregnant exposed to anti-choice a second time after rhetoric and imagery having unprotected on social media, sex once after her first Chelsea refuses to abortion. harbor any negativity This time, she over her decisions. She preferred to complete credits her attitude the process in her in part to the power own home, through a of storytelling and medication abortion. activism by others who’ve had abortions. Why? “My first experience Why harbor any negativity? taught me that it was That’s so 1990ish. The next long, it’s nothing more than through my own difficult to be away thing you know someone might the equivalent of clearing their abortion. Back then, from my children for talk (as the Clintons did up until throats. she didn’t think she’d hours while I waited at about the time Hillary decided And, if you think about it, there ever be able to make the clinic, so I decided to run for President) about is a momentum—a logic, if you the decision I did. to go with a medical abortion being “safe, legal, and will—to going from grudgingly [chemical] abortion, rare.” hinting you may regret what So (a) Alexandria gives which didn’t take as But that is silly, right? After all, you’ve done to the victims of “Chelsea” support, and making long tissue is tissue, empowerment abortion to celebrating abortion it more “powerful” is that (b) is empowerment, and dead is as “necessary self-care.” once upon a time Chelsea didn’t Get it? It was difficult for dead. Rewire.news specializes think she could abort once, not Chelsea to be away from the As Chelsea put it bluntly, “If in these “I’ll raise your one to mention twice. children she’d allowed to you’re comfortable having one abortion with my multiple These people are nothing be born while she was away abortion, then there’s no reason abortions” narratives. But if not utterly lacking in self- snuffing out their sibling. not to be comfortable with even by their standards, such awareness. To say they are Better for everyone (except others. You’re not reckless or as they are, “What It’s Like oblivious would give them too the second hapless baby) if stupid for becoming pregnant to Have Two Abortions in much credit. Alexandria tells she aborts at home in her again.” Three Months: having multiple us her friend’s first abortion bathroom. A coldblooded, coldhearted abortions—and you’re not was “a surgical abortion, Finally, Alexandria quotes crew, if ever you met one. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 39 Lone Massachusetts abortion clinic that kills unborn babies up to 24 weeks in dire financial shape By Dave Andrusko The ultra-proabortion Boston Laurent “Lolly” Delli-Bovi, are eliminated and the state funds the Guttmacher Institute, the Globe would lament the medical director, write “We are abortions, to cite just two of the Abortion Industry’s think-tan possible closing of any abortion at a crossroads”? devastating impacts should “the k, released a report showing clinic in what Globe writer The answer is fascinating. ROE act” become law. there were 862,320 abortions Stephanie Ebbert describes as According to Ebbert In summary, the thrust of the performed in the U.S. in 2017 “progressive Massachusetts.” The crisis at Women’s story is that Women’s Health . This signaled a decrease of But when it is Women’s Health Health Services does Services in Brookline does almost 64,000 a year from the Services in Brookline launching not stem directly from the noble work of performing 926,190 Guttmacher reported a GoFundMe page to raise a cut to government late abortions for which it is just three years prior, a decline $250,000 fast, it’s time to panic. funding, but from the not compensated sufficiently; of 7%. It’s not just that Women’s failure to win a grant passage of pro-life legislation Ebbert’s penultimate Health Services is “the state’s of several hundred elsewhere means the attention paragraph tells her readers third busiest abortion clinic thousand dollars it is paid to places such as So far, the GoFundMe [that] could close soon without had requested for debt Missouri and Louisiana, not to page has raised financial health.” It’s that relief from the National “progressive Massachusetts); nearly $30,000, and a Outside of hospitals, Abortion Federation, and that “behemoths like November fundraiser Women’s Health Delli-Bovi said. Planned Parenthood” are brought in $65,000, Services is the only But it reflects the attracting big donors. Delli-Bovi said. She’s standalone clinic in pressure that the clinic Of course not a word—not not sure how long that the state that offers was already under, a syllable—in the story about will stave off financial abortions up to the providing abortions the overall sharp decline in the realities. state’s legal limit of 24 at less than cost, “market.” Back in September, weeks. Comparably, and the realities of three Planned today’s landscape for Parenthood clinics in reproductive rights Massachusetts stop organizations. With offering abortion clinics dwindling in services 20 weeks, six states like Missouri days after a woman’s and Louisiana and last period. behemoths like Planned Parenthood Evidentially even the competing for donors powerhouse Planned nationwide, it has been Parenthood , which took the hard for abortion rights lives of 345,672 unborn babies advocates to grab in 2018 (according to its annual attention in a blue state report released yesterday), is like Massachusetts. wary of the blowback when you abort huge, pain-capable Consider this. Massachusetts unborn children. has already elevated abortion If you go to The Endowment promotion to an art form. But for Human Development, that’s not enough. you’ll be amazed at what the Massachusetts has already unborn child is capable of at elevated abortion promotion 24 weeks. Moreover, “The 24- to an art form. But that’s not week fetus weighs about 1¼ enough. The legislature is pounds and measures about 12 primed to pass a bill in which inches from head to heel.” ALL limitations would be axed. Back to the woe-is-me Globe More, not fewer, abortion article about the Women’s clinics would be needed if Health Services. So why did parental consent requirements 40 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Euthanasia Pushed As ‘Boon’ to Organ Donation By Wesley J. Smith My very first anti-euthanasia of their final wishes. services as the suicidal ill and patients and families column, published in In the first 11 disabled who ask for euthanasia are provided with the Newsweek, warned that societal months of 2019, MAiD are increasingly abandoned information they need acceptance of assisted suicide/ patients in the province to the “death with dignity” and the opportunity euthanasia would eventually accounted for 18 organ mindset in Canada. to make a decision include organ harvesting “as a and 95 tissue donors, It doesn’t even have to be on whether they wish plum to society.” I was called a 14 per cent increase the patient’s idea. Trillium Gift to make a donation,” an alarmist and a fear-monger, over 2018 and a 109 of Life Network, Ontario’s [Trillium CEO Ronnie] Gavsie says. “That just follows the logical protocol under the law and the humane approach for those who are undergoing medical assistance in dying. And it’s the right thing to do for those on the wait list.”
The clear message being sent to suicidal ill and disabled Canadians — with the active support of the organ transplant community — is that their deaths can have greater value to Canada than their lives. In other words, organ donation as but alas, I was right. In Belgium per cent increase over donation organization, actively an offshoot of euthanasia has and the Netherlands, mentally 2017. (Figures for solicits the organs of those soon indeed been defined “as a plum ill and disabled people are killed December 2019 are not to be killed by doctors! to society.” in hospitals at their request, and yet available.) Canada Someday, Canada will then, their bodies are harvested According to Trillium decriminalized probably dispense with the — with the success of the Gift of Life Network, medically assisted euthanasia part altogether and procedures written up with all which oversees organ death in 2016, and go straight to killing by organ due respect in organ-transplant and tissue donation in Ontario, through harvesting — already being medical journals. Ontario, the 113 MAiD- Trillium, immediately proposed bioethics and medical Our closest cultural cousins related donations in moved to the forefront journals. That would make in Canada are enthusiastically 2019 accounted for of organ and tissue for more viable organs, don’t following the same utilitarian five per cent of overall donation through you know. Once one gets past path, not only allowing organ donations in Ontario, MAiD, becoming the what bioethicists denigrate harvesting to be conjoined a share that has also first jurisdiction in the as “the yuck factor,” there is with euthanasia, but “medically been increasing. In world to proactively indisputable logic to that idea, assisted death” is being boosted 2018, MAiD-related reach out to those who which we could call fruit from increasingly as “a boon.” Note donations made had been approved a legally poisonous tree. the celebratory lead in this up 3.6 per cent of for assisted death Those with eyes to see, let Ottawa Citizen story: the province’s total to discuss donation. them see. Ontarians who opt donations, and in 2017 When a death is for medically assisted just 2.1 percent. imminent, whether Editor’s note. Wesley’s great deaths (MAiD) are through a hospital or columns appear at National increasingly saving Many of these killed organ MAiD, Trillium must Review Online and are reposted or improving other donors will not have been by law be notified. with his permission. people’s lives by also imminently dying. They will “And, as part of high- including organ and also generally not have been quality end-of life care, tissue donation as part provided suicide-prevention we make sure that all www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 41 Two-thirds of White Evangelical Protestants stand firmly against abortion; 79% approve of President Trump’s job performance By Dave Andrusko A poll released January 2 faiths to abortion since 2004, when they This, of course, is part of the affirmed that white Evangelicals restrictions (72%) overwhelmingly chose long-standing effort to distance remain staunchly pro-life and President George W. the President from one of his that they overwhelmingly Evangelicals, most of whom Bush by a margin of core constituencies and to approve of President Trump’s are solidly pro-life, were a key 78-21 percent. suggest that other issues are as job performance. component in the coalition important as abortion. Franklin A poll conducted by The that elected Trump President The Associated Press-NORC Graham, Billy Graham’s son, Associated Press-NORC in 2016. Writing for the Center for Public Affairs put that in perspective in a Center for Public Affairs Research found that 67% of white evangelical Protestant would make abortion illegal except in cases of rape, incest or to threats to the mother’s life. According to the Associated Press’ coverage of its own poll, which was conducted among 1,053 U.S. adults from Dec. 5 to 9, Those abortion limits drew 39% support from white mainline Protestants, 33% support from nonwhite Protestants, 45% support from Catholics and 37% of all Americans, according to the poll of more than 1,000 American adults from various Washington Post on November Research poll acknowledged, December interview. faith backgrounds 9, 2016, Sarah Pulliam Bailey “President Trump enjoys his “I don’t think evangelicals conducted by The explained strongest support among white are united on every position Associated Press- Exit polls show white evangelical Protestants, with the president takes or says, but NORC Center evangelical voters 79% approving of his job they do recognize he is the most for Public Affairs voted in high numbers performance.” pro-life-friendly president in Research. … for Donald Trump, 80- Several of the stories modern history,” Graham said. Americans without 16 percent, according to emphasized that White “He has appointed conservative any religious affiliation exit poll results. That’s Evangelical Protestants did judges that will affect my registered stronger the most they have not agree with the President children and grandchildren’s opposition in the poll voted for a Republican on other issues in the same lives, long after he’s gone.” than people of specific presidential candidate numbers they do on abortion. 42 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org NY Times Pushes Assisted Suicide for Baby Boomers By Wesley J. Smith We can always count on the How would allowing old never heard of the elder abuse legalized assisted could become New York Times to promote people to be assisted in suicide crisis? That point aside, no a means of scouring society of destructive public policies and promote “a healthier attitude law in the world requires that dependent and expensive-to- social agendas. In the latest toward aging?” To the contrary, families request euthanasia care-for elderly, described by example, the “paper of record” it would denigrate the elderly along with the patient. Indeed, Jacoby as those who “live long published a piece that pushes by transforming them into a families are kept in the dark but not necessarily healthy assisted suicide as a solution killable caste when they need because of privacy issues, and lives.” Kind of gives the ageist to the significant challenges we care. will face from Baby Boomers Back to Jacoby: getting old. According to a Gallup First, Susan Jacoby recounts poll conducted last the familiar costs and predicted year, 72 percent of problems associated with Americans agree that increasing numbers of elderly doctors should be people. But when the time allowed to help end a comes to suggest solutions, the patient’s life painlessly piece is very weak. Her inner if there is no hope of a feminist rails at “A Place for cure and the medical Mom” ads because it implies assistance is requested women will be taking care by patients and their of “dad.” That just will not families. The support do. She also suggests that the drops to 65 percent if elderly who want to work be the phrase “doctor- accommodated by companies assisted suicide” is and policies to stay productive. used instead of “end A-okay with me. a patient’s life” — yet Then, she gets to the true point another case of the of her piece; a call to “create a American preference better reality for the old and for euphemism. their families” by opening the door to legally killing the old Jacoby’s piece is a thinly birds. From, “We’re Getting veiled call for the normalization Old, but We’re Not Doing of elder suicide, perhaps Anything About It“: even the creation of a societal A healthier attitude expectation that the dependent toward aging also old “choose” to die in order not means examining to “burden” their families and moral issues. society. And be very clear: “No Physician-assisted hope for cure,” is far broader suicide, for example, than a diagnosis of imminent is the source of a death from a terminal illness — even when they learn of the meme, “#OKBoomer,” a whole fierce ethical debate and indeed, could include many death plans, they are powerless new meaning, doesn’t it? that matters greatly common conditions of old age, to stop it — as we saw in a to anyone who can from early Alzheimer’s, to case in Canada in which family Editor’s note. Wesley’s great imagine growing old. speech difficulties caused by members begged doctors not to columns appear at National Questions about the stroke, to a broken hip leading kill their depressed loved one, Review Online and are reposted end of life, like those to morbidity, to loss of vision or to no avail. with the author’s permission. about abortion, should hearing. Jacoby’s column — published be posed in every As for family participation in in the most influential op-ed national forum. the decision to die, has Jacoby page in the world — reveals how www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 43 Truth be told, the abortion lobby, and its think tank, is wildly out of step with the American people From page 2 Here’s what Guttmacher calls requirements that abortion their own position: it is open the smoke and the rhetorical the third “highlight”: “States survivors be treated like any season on babies up through underbrush in order to educate such as Oregon and Vermont other baby born prematurely-- the 40th week of pregnancy, the American public to this are leading the way in enacting infanticide by neglect. as the sponsor of a 2019 bill truth. By any measure, the laws that prohibit government One other point, again under in Virginia admitted under abortion lobby, and its think interference in abortion care the “committing the very questioning. tank, is wildly out of step with throughout pregnancy.” offense you charge others (in It’s our job to clear away the American people. What does that mean? Exactly this case, us) with” heading. what it says: “throughout “Gestational age bans pregnancy.” are nothing more than a And it is, as the Marxists smokescreen,” Donovan tells used to say, no accident that at us. Since the goal of pro-lifers the very same time states such is to eventually protect all as New York are legalizing unborn babies, pro-abortionists abortion all the way to birth, insist it’s perfectly okay to go they are also removing abortion in the opposite direction--to from the criminal code. So kill babies up until birth, and when a man brutalizes a woman (they’re disingenuous about and her unborn baby is killed, this) perhaps afterwards. he cannot be charged with a They are the ones employing crime for the child’s death. On the smokescreen to hide the top of that, these laws remove absolutely undeniable logic of Found in a Dumpster as a Newborn, Morgan Tells Her Story to Save Lives From page 19
Haven laws that are meant been raised by a loving family child up to 30 days old to a comes to making women aware to give women in her birth and knows her father and his hospital, medical center, a that the option exists to safely, mother’s situation a way to safely love, but her story is so very staffed firehouse or a staffed anonymously place their baby relinquish their newborn babies. rare and I think God can use it police department. Laws vary into the arms of first-responders Since the first Safe Haven for something good. from state-to-state, and one and medical personnel. laws were first enacted in “Her close call became a reason NSHA—which runs a In fact, during one five-day individual states in 1999, birth miracle of life for her, her hotline (1-888-510-BABY)— stretch this February, four mothers have rescued over father, her adoptive family and exists is to provide updated babies had been found dead in 3,527 newborns through Safe I think a woman in crisis may information on where mothers dumpsters throughout the U.S. Haven laws. In that same stretch hear this and choose life over can go in each state. With her story to tell, Hill is of time, 1,393 babies were different alternatives.” “At the time that this on a mission to get the word out abandoned nationally— more For Hill, the Safe Haven laws happened to me there wasn’t about Safe Haven. than 750 of whom died before that have come into existence a Safe Haven law,” Hill said. “My main reason for they were found, according to since her birth offer a ray of “But now that it’s passed, so speaking out is to show that statistics kept by the National hope for expectant mothers who many babies have been saved. there’s help out there—that no Safe Haven Alliance (NSHA). are too scared to tell anyone It makes a big difference that one’s alone,” Hill said. “I don’t “Morgan’s story touched my about an unplanned pregnancy. the Safe Haven law has been want any other child to be put heart, I cried, I smiled and I Rather than abandoning their passed. So many lives have in a dumpster like I was. If my thanked God for the people that babies, mothers can bring their been saved.” story saves at least one life, it found and saved her,” NSHA newborns to a Safe Haven While Burner, Hill and was definitely worth telling.” executive director Heather location, including hospitals in others celebrate the lives saved Burner said. “I think her story every state. through Safe Haven laws so Editor’s note. This appeared offers a unique perspective In Illinois, where Hill was far, there’s plenty of work to at Pregnancy Help News and is from a young woman that has born, a person can take their be done—particularly when it reposted with permission. 44 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Going to court over “Canada has no abortion laws” message By Weneedalaw Canada has no abortion laws. saw pro-abortion activists get that the Morgentaler decision at the behest of Ad Standards. That statement is why we, upset. They encouraged their had left Canada with no formal We are going to court to alongside a local group called supporters to complain about abortion legislation. But, they challenge that decision to ARPA Oxford, are taking the the ads to Ad Standards. Ad informed us, “that fact obscures terminate the contract, which City of London to court. Standards is not a government the reality.” relied solely on Ad Standards’ This story began in 2018 body – it a self-regulatory body At the end of the day they recommendation to remove when we put up 33 billboards these bus ads. across the country that simply The City of London has the said, “Canada has no abortion obligation to respect ARPA laws.” We wanted to educate Oxford’s Charter guaranteed Canadians about the reality that, freedom of expression unless since the 1988 Morgentaler they have a justification for not Supreme Court Decision, doing so. The Ad Standards abortion is legal for any reason, decision – a baffling, illogical at any gestational age. decision from an irrelevant This education is much body with no authority needed as one survey showed whatsoever – does not amount that 77% of Canadians are to justification. unaware of this. The reaction Our hope is that if we win when we tell this to Canadians this case it will become easier – whether they are pro-choice for the pro-life movement to or pro-life – is shock and advertise without interference disbelief. from Ad Standards. Our hope Many find it difficult to is to be able to share the truth: believe there really is no law – the truth that Canada has no especially immigrants who are abortion laws. The truth about used to the way laws operate the 100,000 pre-born children in their country of origin. who lose their lives each year Canada is the only democratic meant to field complaints and explained that they weren’t because they have no legal country with no abortion law. advise advertisers of whether an concerned with literal truth, protection. The truth that a While hospitals or individual ad is inaccurate, discriminatory, but some vague “general country that takes human rights physicians may self-regulate, etc. impression.” And the “general seriously needs to recognize there is no legal consequence After they received impression” of our billboards, human rights for all human for performing an abortion complaints we began to interact they felt, was inaccurate. beings. – for ending the life of a pre- with Ad Standards, defending By the time Ad Standards We ask that you keep this born child – right up until birth. the accuracy of our billboards, ruled on our billboard, we case in your prayers…. It was well publicized that a outlining the history of abortion had completed our contract, We also ask that you continue woman obtained an abortion in law in Canada, and explaining meaning we didn’t face any loss to use your voice wherever Montreal at 35 weeks and no that we had confirmed the due to this baffling, illogical you are to speak the truth. one faced legal repercussions. truth of the statement with decision. Whether we win or lose this With this in mind, we thought the College of Physician & However, at the same time, a case, we need to make sure it was important to make sure Surgeons of Ontario. grassroots group called ARPA we are spreading our message Canadians are aware of the Despite our best efforts, Oxford entered into a contract in whatever place we are in. reality. Canada has no abortion Ad Standards decided that to put the same advertisement In whatever way you can, we laws. We need a law! “Canada has no abortion laws” up on buses in the City of urge you to use your voice for Almost immediately after our was inaccurate. In their final London. Those ads were taken those who cannot speak for simple billboards went up, we explanation to us, they admitted down partway into the contract themselves. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 45 Believe it or not, Snopes accurately analyzes a question about abortion By Dave Andrusko In the “even a blind squirrel Dan MacGuill checked out was portion of Wolf’s routine in its a bus.” [Audience finds a nut once in a while” the following: “In her Netflix entirety: laughs]. category, as I live and breathe stand-up comedy special ‘Joke We don’t talk about Snopes actually got something Show,’ Michelle Wolf joked abortion in a real MacGuill, to his credit, right about a question related that having an abortion made way. We talk about it notes that the “Right-leaning to abortion. This is a site so her feel ‘very powerful’ and in a very legislative websites” [the Daily Wire ponderously self-important that akin to God.” Rating for this way, but not in a real and Newsbusters}, not only it once solemnly fact-checked a claim? “Correct Attribution.” way. So I think a accurately quoted Wolf but lot of women have a also “both acknowledged that lot of apprehension her comments came in the surrounding it. You context of a stand-up comedy know, we talk about it performance. NewsBusters so negatively that you reflected that by specifying, feel like you should in its headline, that Wolf had have this sense of ‘joked.’” shame after you get Two quick thoughts. First, an abortion. Well you MacGuill concludes with can feel any way you a different example where want after you get an the websites gave two other abortion. Get one, see comedians a pass for jokes that how you feel. [Audience some considered “offensive.” laughs]. You know how You’re supposed to come my abortion made me to the politically correct feel? Very powerful. conclusion that joking about You know how people experiencing God-like powers parody written by the satirical So, to be fair, since I routinely say you can’t play for having annihilated an Christian web site The Babylon hammer Snopes for its one- God? [Gestures, unborn child is no more big a Bee. (You can’t make this stuff sided conclusions, let me give audience laughs]. I deal than something else that up.) them a Rating of “Correct walked out of there some would find offensive. Get And with the rarest of Attribution.” being like “Move over it? Selective outrage. exceptions, Snopes come to the To be equally fair, it would Morgan Freeman [a Second, this, too, shall pass. politically correct conclusion be nigh on impossible to come reference to the movie The next time something which includes virtually always to a different conclusion. You “Bruce Almighty”], I related to abortion that is not giving a thumbs-up to pro- just watch her awful brand of am God!” [Audience black-and-white clearly and abortion charges and a thumbs- humor, type out what she said, laughs]. And then I inescapably accurate—as down to pro-life contentions. and voila you are treated to a crossed the street very was the case here– Snopes Perhaps it was because the disgusting monologue made carefully. ‘Cos that was will defend the pro-abortion analysis was posted Christmas worse by an audience that the perfect time for perspective. Eve, but not this time. cheered on her tastelessness. God to be like “You’re It’s what they do, it’s who The question (or “claim”) MacGuill quotes the relevant not God, b_ _ch, here’s they are. 46 January 2020 National Right to Life News www.NRLC.org Showdown brewing on campaign to air-drop 1972 “Equal Rights Amendment” into U.S. Constitution From page 25 In a letter to the U.S. House, deadline-nullification measure For decades, most pro- statements by pro-abortion National Right to Life said, in Congress as unnecessary and ERA leaders and their allied groups, including NARAL, “In our communications with diversionary. officeholders denounced pro- NOW, Planned Parenthood, our members, supporters, Additional lawsuits are life concerns about the ERA- and the Women’s Law Project, and affiliates nationwide, expected from the pro-ERA abortion link as “right-wing proclaiming that the ERA a vote in favor of this side after Virginia approves its scare tactics.” Most journalists should or is likely to sweep resolution will be accurately “ratification” resolution. The covering the issue accepted this away laws limiting abortion. characterized as a vote in legal issues surrounding the framing at face value -- even For example, in a national favor of inserting language ERA’s ratification process may after pro-abortion groups began alert sent out on March 13, into the U.S. Constitution that ultimately be decided by the using ERAs that had been 2019, NARAL Pro-Choice could invalidate any limits U.S. Supreme Court, although added to state constitutions in America asserted that “the whatsoever on abortion, that could take some time. precisely the manner that pro- ERA would reinforce the including late abortions, and to “There is really only one life groups had predicted. constitutional right to abortion require government funding of constitutional route for those For example, the New . . . [it] would require judges to abortion.” who want to put an ERA into Mexico Supreme Court in strike down anti-abortion laws the Constitution,” said NRL’s 1998 unanimously struck down . . .” MULTIPLE LAWSUITS Johnson. “They must begin a state law restricting public The National Organization Ultimately, the federal courts, the process over again, which funding of elective abortions, for Women circulates a and quite likely the U.S. would entail congressional entirely on the basis of the state monograph on the ERA that Supreme Court, will sort out consideration of possible ERA, in a lawsuit brought by makes numerous sweeping the irreconcilable claims about revisions to the 1972 ERA affiliates of Planned Parenthood claims about its hoped-for pro- the viability of the ERA. The language. They would need to and NARAL. abortion legal effects -- stating, Archivist has already been sued muster a two-thirds vote in each In January, 2019, the for example, that “an ERA by two different groups, and house of Congress for the final Women’s Law Project and -- properly interpreted – could further lawsuits are expected resolution -- and then, approval Planned Parenthood filed negate the hundreds of laws that after Virginia transmits its by at least 38 state legislatures.” a lawsuit urging courts in have been passed restricting “ratification” papers. Pennsylvania to strike down access to abortion care . . .” On December 16, 2019, THE E.R.A.-ABORTION limitations on state funding Moreover, the Associated Alabama Attorney General CONNECTION of elective abortion as Press on January 1, 2020 Steve Marshall, joined by the National Right to Life long violations of the state ERA. A reported that Emily Martin, attorneys general of Louisiana has opposed ratification of past ruling declining to take general counsel for the and South Dakota, sued the the 1972 ERA, because of the such a step “is contrary to a National Women’s Law Center, Archivist in federal court in predictable likelihood that pro- modern understanding” of “affirmed that abortion access Alabama. That lawsuit asks abortion groups would use it as ERA, the groups said in their is a key issue for many ERA the court to order the Archivist a powerful legal weapon against complaint. supporters; she said adding the to stop accepting papers that state and federal policies that As recently as April 30, amendment to the Constitution purport to ratify a long-expired place any limits on abortion. 2019, several pro-ERA would enable courts to rule amendment. The lawsuit also In 1983, the Democratic members of the U.S. House that restrictions on abortion asks the court to declare as leadership of the U.S. House of of Representatives denounced ‘perpetuate gender inequality.’” valid the actions of five state Representatives, recognizing pro-life lawmakers who had In 1983 and since, National legislatures that rescinded their that the 1972 ERA was dead, expressed concerns about the Right to Life has said it will ERA ratifications, prior to the attempted to re-start the entire ERA-abortion connection. strongly oppose any start- 1979 deadline. process by sending a new ERA For example, Rep. Carolyn over ERA in Congress, unless On January 7, a pro-ERA (with the same language) to Maloney (D-La.) told a House an “abortion-neutralization” group called Equal Means the states. They were stunned Judiciary subcommittee, “The amendment is added, which Equal filed a suit in federal when the proposed do-over Equal Rights Amendment has would state: “Nothing in this court in Boston, arguing that ERA fell short of the required absolutely nothing to do with Article [the ERA] shall be the deadline that Congress two-thirds majority on the abortion… saying so is just construed to grant, secure, included in the 1972 ERA House floor-- which was due divisive and a tool to try to or deny any right relating resolution should be regarded in no small part to forceful defeat it.” to abortion or the funding as unconstitutional. The group’s intervention by National Right In response, Rep. Mike thereof.” ERA proponents lawyer, Wendy Murphy, has to Life against the measure. Johnson (R-La.) read into the have vehemently rejected such criticized efforts to pass a (Nov. 15, 1983) record a sampling of recent a revision. www.NRLC.org National Right to Life News January 2020 47 “He’s very healthy, very cute.” Pro-life doc rescues baby with Abortion Pill Reversal From page 34
Considering the abortion like anything else, if you stand reversal protocol is actually as willing to write whatever industry’s control of the up and you speak up, then ineffective as he believes. headlines you tell them to media and popular medical you’re going to be attacked. “This doctor intended to write because they’re on your institutions, she says, that’s And some of it’s just trolls and study 40 women,” wrote side, they’re not trying to be difficult. stupid stuff, but professionally, Daniels. “They were going to objective in any way. So it’s “Unfortunately, the abortion there’s some people online that give women who took the first laughable. It’s laughable, and side has way more visibility are ‘so-called professionals’ abortion pill and then given yet, they’re going to keep doing on social media and the and they’re brutal and they them either progesterone or a it…unless there’s more people mainstream media, which is will go after you… That’s just placebo. If the baby survived, like me that will speak out and how they control the narrative,” the way they do it. That’s their they would be offered a say, ‘This is ridiculous, and you she said. “Those of us who are tactic. They will try to discredit surgical abortion two weeks people are lying, and you’re on the frontlines, it’s almost you however they can.” later. They only enrolled 12 biased and you don’t care about like we’re a drop in the bucket. The intolerance of the pro- patients, 2 dropped out. 5 women, you just care about But I do believe that with social abortion medical community received progesterone [the money, honestly.’” media, that has been able to has left many physicians abortion pill reversal treatment] Daniels says that providing a elevate more pro-life messages feeling ostracized. and 5 received placebo. One woman with progesterone costs than ever before. As much as “They (abortion advocates) patient who took progesterone all of $40—a small fraction of they try to censor us, you can’t are everywhere, they have went to the ER but needed no the cost of a chemical abortion, because of the nature of the infiltrated every aspect of all intervention. 4 had continuing which can reach up to $1,000. forum.” of the major academic centers, pregnancies. 2 patients who “We’re not making money off all of the mainstream medical took placebo went to the of this,” she said of Abortion Standing up journals,” she said. “They’re all ER, one had a D&C and one Pill Reversal. “We’re doing it Daniels, who has served as a pro-abortion. Which is why I required blood. 2 patients had because we believe it’s the right practicing OB-GYN for the last left ACOG, why I’m not paying (continuing) pregnancy. So let’s thing to do.” 17 years, says she has always dues to ACOG. Because they recap! This is an insanely small For women like Mariah been pro-life. don’t represent me.” sample size & wouldn’t have and babies like her son, that “Really, it didn’t seem like it Instead, Daniels is a member been published by most except commitment is both life- was that unusual to be an OB- of the American Association of the most ideological journal. changing and life-saving. GYN doctor and pro-life,” she Pro-life OB-GYNs (AAPLOG), Those who took the abortion “This is a real person,” said. “I’ve always thought of a group of more than 2,500 pill had significant bleeding! Daniels said of Mariah. “This it as treating mother and baby, members and associates. That points to the riskiness of really happened. She really did treating two patients. And so Recently, Daniels sounded off the abortion pill! But that’s not access the program and it really that’s just always been part of on ACOG’s pro-abortion biases what the headlines said.” did work. And now her baby’s who I am.” on Facebook, poking holes in Based on the study’s complete here and everything is fine.” But Daniels realizes she is a an extraordinarily flawed study failure, Daniels couldn’t believe bit of an anomaly. the group published this month ACOG published it. Editor’s note. This appeared “For the most part, a lot of on Abortion Pill Reversal. “It’s like… ‘Are you kidding at Pregnancy Help News and is OB-GYNs do not talk about In that study, pro-abortion me? This is not science,’” she reposted with permission. being pro-life,” she said. “And researcher Mitchell Creinin set said. “But when your buddies I have always talked about out to determine whether the in the mainstream media are being pro-life, and I think that it’s just a thing that I feel very strongly about. I haven’t always been conservative. I used to be pretty liberal. But even when I was very liberal, I was not for abortion. I was always pro-life, even as a liberal.” As an outspoken pro-life medical practitioner, she says there are plenty of threats that squelch the voices of her peers. “The reason more people don’t (speak out), is because, of course, you get backlash,” Daniels said. “You know, it’s