Need a photo for this spot. Pro-Life Newsletter Volume 35, Issue 2 March 2017

Affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee Kansas family enjoys children exceeding “fatal” diagnoses

By Brenda Spurlock that they are tiny and pudgy...she is just delightful to me. I never doubt that she is We had six children when my husband, Jack, exactly who God intended her to be. She and I decided to have another baby. We were is not a mistake, or nature gone wrong, or in our 40’s and our youngest child was 10 a factor of my eggs being old...she is this per- Spurlocks gathered in the hospital in 2010, after when we joyfully learned we were expecting fectly created little person, and my greatest Tatum suffered a near-death event. Back row: Tatum. The roller coaster that would become Jack, and J.T. Front row: Dancy, Jamie-Allyn, reward is that she is still here! On February 10 Tatum, Steven, Zachariah, Brenda. our life happened early, as she was diagnosed she celebrated her 9th birthday. in utero with Trisomy 18 and we were told that she would When Tatum was 11 months old, life-threatening seizures and bouts of pneumo- not survive the pregnancy, the staff at Alexandra’s House (a nia. We were also warned he would exist in a and if she did, that her heart, perinatal hospice in Kansas City) semi-vegetative state. asked me to serve as a mentor for brain, and kidney issues Yet he has never suffered a single seizure, nor would make it impossible for the pregnant mother of a medically fragile baby boy, Zachariah, who has he ever experienced a bout of pneumo- her to live outside of my nia. The portion of his brain that was removed womb. was missing a significant portion of his skull, and a portion of his brain was thought to contain his visual cortex and I began to fight and advocate had developed into a separate sack we were told he would be blind, but he sees! for her while she was still attached to the back of his head. He has cerebral palsy, autism, profound global nestled inside my body. And delays, and hemiplegia on the right side of his I prayed...a lot! One of my As Zach approached one month of age, his unmarried birth mother felt body. But he is a delight. He does not know greatest desires was to smell a bad day, only a bad moment, and then he her and remember her smell. Tatum on her 9th birthday. increasingly unequipped to care for him. Jack and I adopted Zach, wel- puts that award-winning smile back on his God granted me that prayer. face and marches on! And nine years later I still “breathe her in” coming him into our family of seven children. daily. She smells so amazing to me. We were warned Zach’s life would be very Zachariah grew in another womb, but came short. In fact, we were told he would likely into our lives when he was still in utero. We Tatum is tiny for her age, her low body tone prayed for him and his young mother. He, like keeps her soft and supple, and her little hands not live out the month and that the best case have the mark of her extra chromosome in scenario was a 3-5 year life span, fraught with Continued on page 7.

DISCLOSE Act gives women hidden abortionist info

The empty rhetoric of choice is being challenged in Kansas with the • hospital privileges status, Disclose Act, Senate Bill 98. • malpractice coverage, and disciplinary actions completed by the State Board of Healing Arts (which regulates physicians). The bill, sponsored by Sen. Molly Baumgartner (R- Louisburg), with 19 other Senate co-sponsors, would for The Kansas clinics are likely embarrassed to disclose infor- the first time, require clinics to disclose baseline data mation that shows: about each Kansas abortionist they employ. • four of the seven Kansas abortionists are 75-78 years of age; Under SB 98, the very first item on the abortion consent • four (or fewer) of the seven have local hospital privileges; Oldest Kansas form will be expanded to provide a checklist for each prac- abortionist is • one clinic has had 100% turnover in abortionists in only 3 years; titioner as to: Allen Palmer • one abortionist was told by the Healing Arts Board not to practice at South Wind ob/gyn. • Kansas residency, clinic,Wichita, • medical degree year, For updates on the progress of this legislation, go to www.kfl.org, click who commutes • years employed at that location, from Missouri. “stay informed,” and sign up for our legislative updates. Kansans for Life News is published by Kansans for Life (KFL) Kansans for Life elects new 3301 W 13th St., Wichita KS 67203 president and vice president (316) 687-5433 or 1-800-928-LIFE fax: (316) 687-0303 e-mail: [email protected] Following a well-attended Rally for Life KS City Regional Office: (913) 642-5433 in Topeka on Jan. 23, KFL Board mem- e-mail: [email protected] bers elected two new officers, one new 7808 Foster, Overland Park KS 66204 executive board member, and re-elected Topeka Regional Office: (785) 234-2998 several current executive board members. e-mail: [email protected] 735 SW Jackson, Topeka KS 66603 Joe Patton, former state representative website: www.kfl.org from Topeka, is the new president, re- placing outgoing president, Lance Kin- Kansans for Life is a statewide non-profit zer, and Mary Wilkinson, Wichita is the educational organization also engaged in social action. It is dedicated to protecting new vice-president. Joey Patton, Topeka, Joe Patton, J.D. Mary Wilkinson, R.N. and fostering the most basic human right: was newly elected as Educational Direc- life itself. tor. Other members of the Executive Committee were re-elected to their current positions. The Kansans for Life Educational Trust State Executive Director, Mary Kay Culp, who works out of KFL’s Overland Park office, Fund is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) and State Development Director, David Gittrich, of the Wichita office, and other organiza- organization. Kansans for Life also has a tional positions remain unchanged. In December, KFL hired Peter Northcott, Lawrence, as legislative action fund and a political action Assistant State Director. committee (KFL-PAC) for which donations are not tax-deductible. Lance Kinzer, J.D. became President of KFL in January, 2015 after 10 years in the legislature KFL is the Kansas affiliate to the National spearheading major pro-life bills. He led the KFL organization as Kansas became the first state in Right to Life Committee (NRLC). the nation to pass the historic Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act and also guided our educational campaign against judicial activism. Newsletter Contributors: President: Joe Patton Now, KFL welcomes Joe Patton, J.D., to the helm. In accepting the office, Patton said, Executive Director: Mary Kay Culp Editor: Amy Torkelson ([email protected]) “Kansans for Life is one of the most effective and dynamic social action organizations Development Director: David Gittrich in the nation. Our vision is serving God by protecting the foundation of all human Legislative Director: Kathy Ostrowski rights, the right to life. It is an honor to serve.” Office Staff: Susan Guthrie, Anna Myers Patton is one of the original 1983 founders of Kansans for Life as the state affiliate of the National Subscriptions: Right to Life Committee. For a one-year subscription, send $20 to Kansans For Life, 2501 E. Central, Wichita During his Statehouse tenure from 2007 until 2012 representing southwest Topeka, he helped KS 67214. For bulk subscriptions, please achieve passage for various pro-life laws, including ending tax-funded abortion training at KU call KFL at 1-800-928-5433. Medical Center. Patton led the House floor debate on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protec- Article Submission: tion Act, which is in effect, and is daily saving unborn children—at 22 weeks gestation and up- Mail or fax articles to any office listed above, wards—from abortion in Kansas. or e-mail the editor at [email protected]. Mary Wilkinson, R.N., has long been involved in Kansas pro-life activism and service to KFL– Reprint Permission: from large scale rally preparations to media relations. She organized the original Wichita affiliate, Any item originating from KFL may be LIFE Inc., and is currently a member of the KFL Political Action Committee (KFL PAC). reprinted from KFL News with attribution. For other articles, please contact the editor Business administrator and author, Joey Patton, has been an intern with the National Right to Life who will direct you to the original author. Committee, one of the organizers of NRLC’s Teens for Life, and a frequent speaker for the pro- life cause.

Join KFL’s e-mail alert system: Kansans for Life’s Board of Directors is composed of two representatives from As bills come up and legislator contact is each KFL chapter in the state. The Board of Directors meets once each year. The especially important, we will send legislative Executive Committee is elected by the Board of Directors and meets as often as alerts via e-mail. Please help us add to our necessary during the year. e-mail alert constituent list by recommend- ing to your pro-life friends that they sign up Kansans for Life, Inc. is a membership organization which engages in social ac- at www.kfl.org (click on the brown button tion and advocates for pro-life laws. Donations to Kansans for Life, Inc. are not tax that says “stay informed”). -deductible but allow us the most flexibility in how to use the gift. Specialized e-mail newsletters: The Kansans for Life Educational Trust Fund is a tax-deductible charity which pro- When you sign up for e-mail alerts, you may choose to sign up for any combination of duces and distributes pro-life educational materials. All donations to the Educa- nine different types of e-mails. Visit tional Trust Fund are used for educational purposes only. www.kfl.org today and set your preferences so that you receive the types of messages The Kansans for Life Political Action Committee does separate fundraising and is you would like. governed by its own board of directors. David Daleiden: Kansas events began video exposé By Mary Kay Culp, KFL Executive Director

In 2015, David Daleiden, the young man who had First a lesson. Despite signing confidentiality quit moving, or she could “just go ahead and start, just completed a 30-month undercover video ex- agreements, whistle blowers who stick to reporting like I do.” Think on that! posé of the fetal harvesting business at Planned only illegal activities cannot be sued under such The 20/20 episode by Chris Wallace also featured Parenthood clinics, said the first thing he did when agreements. But if they go beyond that, they can. her boss James Bardsley plus Dean Alberty and he started was study what happened in Kansas 15 Opening Lines owner, Miles Jones. Jones was years ago. I knew exactly what he meant, so I set Thus it is no surprise that in January of 2000, while taped undercover at the behest of Chris Wallace at about trying to get Daleiden for this year’s KFL 20/20 was interviewing people, an affidavit was put in front of Alberty saying that a failure to sign a dinner, bragging he could make $50,000 a week Valentine Banquet speaker, and finally did. would result in him being sued under the provi- from fetal parts procured from the Overland Park Soon after, I ran into a former Kansas City Star sions of his confidentiality agreement. clinic. reporter who told me the Daleiden videos were He attributed some of his success to properly “doctored.” Argh! That’s when I plotted out just The affidavit flew in the face of evidence Pat training counselors how to get permissions. I won- how our banquet program would go. Adair witnessed the night that Alberty called our office sobbing. The affidavit he signed had him der if they used the same so-called consent form It is actually now 20 years since the events in Kan- say that he was not a physician, and thus Daleiden got from a California Planned sas to which Daleiden referred. It started with a (supposedly) could not be sure that the 24 week Parenthood that told women their donated “tissue” 1997 phone call to KFL’s Overland Park office, “fetuses” he was handed to dissect were technical- would be used to treat and find a cure for Alz- answered by Pat Adair, one of my predecessors. ly alive. heimers, Parkinsons, AIDS, diabetes and cancer. So I decided that we would start our introduction That was a lie, lie, lie, lie and lie as even a pro- of Daleiden at the banquet with her story. I asked CHRIS WALLACE: abortion doctor recently admitted during U.S. Pat said that when she answered the phone that Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s investigation of this day in 1997, when Lawrence “Dean” Alberty “What’s the difference issue, which has now made criminal referrals to called KFL, at first all she could hear was sobbing. between the undercover the FBI and Justice Department. Alberty explained that he worked for Opening Last summer as a delegate to the Republican Con- Lines, a fetal parts procurement company operat- aborted baby-parts videos vention in Cleveland, I had the opportunity to ing inside the Comprehensive Health (of Planned you did of Dr. Miles Jones, speak to Chris Wallace, now with Fox News. I Parenthood) in Overland Park, and asked him what he thought the difference was that on that very day he had been handed 24-week VS between the undercover videos he did of Dr. gestation twins in a metal pan to dissect, who were Miles Jones in Kansas for the 20/20 episode still alive and “clutching each other.” David Daleiden’s shown March of 2000, versus David Daleiden’s Pat connected Alberty to Mark Crutcher of Life undercover videos of undercover videos of the aborted baby parts busi- Dynamics in Texas, who had a pro-life cable TV nesses. “Nothing,” he said. show. Crutcher featured Alberty on his show dis- aborted baby parts sales?” TRUE, but you know what is way different? guised as a woman, by putting him in the shadows No one claimed the 20/20 videos were doctored, in a floppy hat and calling him Kelly. “NOTHING!” He replied. like claims Daleiden’s identi- Crutcher knew from what Alberty said that the cal videos are. No one at all, not even Planned Parenthood. clinic and procurement company were routinely When Alberty appeared at the congressional hear- breaking federal law. He convinced ABC’s 20/20 ing two months later, ultra liberal U.S. Rep. Henry This came across clearly to the 1,200 people at the to do an investigation, for which the program sent Waxman (D-Ca.) asked him if he was the guy on KFL banquet, but not to those reading the cover- then-20/20 reporter Chris Wallace to Overland that Texas TV show dressed as a woman. Alberty age by the K.C. Star the next day. Park. The episode aired March 9, 2000, followed said he didn’t recall. Waxman laughed and ridi- I knew it was going to be bad when the Star used March 10 by a congressional hearing that Crutcher culed him saying he thought he (Waxman) would also helped facilitate. the word “scheme,” not to describe Planned remember if he had been dressed like a woman. Parenthood lying to women, making their abor- Federal law (unfortunately) allows fetal harvesting Alberty also admitted during the hearing to accept- tions longer and more painful, and profiting on the and body part sales from aborted babies if: ing $10,000 from Life Dynamics. Although full remains. Instead they used “scheme” to describe • Maternal permission is granted context reveals that to be a somewhat defensible Daleiden’s documentation of it! • No money is made over and above what it costs choice, since Alberty left his job the day he called to procure and ship the parts. Nor was there a mention in their coverage of Al- our office, it looked suspicious. • The abortion procedure is not changed in any berty’s statements to Pat Adair, or the 20/20 vide- way to enhance harvesting. Thus, despite many damning things showing ille- os that totally back up Daleiden. Chris Wallace’s report showed all three require- gal activities by Opening Lines and Planned The good news is that we had DVD’s made of the ments were being violated at Opening Lines, the Parenthood on 20/20 and at the hearing, that was whole thing, and have a generous donor who has company for which Alberty worked inside the end of the subject until Daleiden announced in made it possible for us to make 200 to give away Planned Parenthood. 2015 the results of his 30-month investigation. for FREE. See below to get one, then start think- ing of folks to show it to. For starters, I have in Why then, especially with a congressional hearing Not long after the congressional hearing debacle, I mind a few folks at the KC Star. the next day on that very subject, did David Da- was invited to speak to a woman who had worked liden feel the need to undertake his investigation for another procurement company inside Planned 15 years later? Because the 2000 congressional Parenthood in the early 90’s. She told me she too For a free DVD of the educational program at hearing was destroyed by the clever actions of had been handed a moving baby. She had called our banquet, including the 20/20 episode and scheming operatives from either, or both, Planned her boss to ask what she should do when that hap- David Daleiden’s talk, call (913) 642-LIFE. Parenthood and the procurement company. pened and was told to put a cloth over it until it Norma McCorvey: More than Roe By Melissa Clement, Nevada Right to Life

February 18, 2017, Norma McCorvey passed Wade, the decision that supposedly was the When I met Miss Norma, she knew in her away. Her long, hard journey on this harsh rallying cry for all feminists, was achieved by head that she had been forgiven and re- Earth behind her, she finally rests in the peace taking advantage of a “stupid piece of trash,” deemed, but she struggled with the demons of of our Lord. At last. not fighting for the rights of all women. Just despair and guilt. That guilt drove her to open another example of a rich liberal white wom- her wounds for all to see in her fight for the Norma was one of the most broken people I an imposing her beliefs on those that should- unborn. She endured the most horrendous have ever met, but her impact on the lives n’t be allowed to think or believe. internet trolls who sought to silence her. Yet around her cannot be measured. she pressed on. It was hard to watch. But Norma carried a crushing, unbearable for her there was no other way. weight around for most of her life. She After her speech, I had the opportunity to felt the burden of the 58 million lost lives speak to her privately. I asked her, since the Roe v. Wade decision because “whatever happened to Sarah Weddington Norma was Roe. I hate to type that be- and the other attorneys?” Miss Norma’s cause she was so much more than Roe. face transformed. It softened and sad- Why do I detest the pro-abort feminist dened. “I haven’t heard from them in movement? Norma McCorvey. years. They were not nice women. They were not nice to me.” Then she added, “I Let’s hit the Wayback Machine to 1987. I heard she has breast cancer. I pray for was a young impressionable university her.” student leader. I was responsible for bringing concerts, comedians, and lectur- That right there is what the feminist move- ers to the University of Nevada campus. I ment should be. Lifting our sisters up dur- had the opportunity to meet many incredi- ing their times of difficulty, not taking ble people – musicians, intellects, opinion advantage of them and throwing them to the curb when we have used them up. leaders and Hunter S. Thompson. Left: Sarah Weddington, around 1970 (Austin History Center). One of my all-time favorite lecturers was Right: Norma McCorvey, shown here at age 35 in 1983, Norma McCorvey, rest in peace. Sarah Weddington, the attorney who suc- worked for a period as a house painter. (Photo by Bill Janscha/ cessfully argued the Roe v. Wade deci- Associated Press) sion. She was articulate, gracious, funny, smart and THE FEMINIST ICON. And best I will leave the rest of my pro-life journey to yet, she took a liking to me at the many book- another time, because Norma’s story is so ing conferences that I attended. After a couple much more important. of years, I finally secured a date for my men- Over 20 years later, our state pro-life group tor to speak on campus. The lecture was bril- brought Norma McCorvey in to speak at the liant. The event was successful, even though a January rally. I don’t think I understood what few pro-life demonstrators stood quietly pro- was about to happen. As I sat listening to testing outside the venue. Miss Norma, I was overwhelmed with the After the event, a group of students and I took burden she carried. She told her story of meet- ing with Sarah Weddington and the other her to dinner and were entertained by more McCorvey, testifying in Congress, 2005. exciting, interesting stories. Over dessert, I attorneys, the Roe v Wade decision, her com- asked, “whatever happened to Roe?” ing out as Roe, her strident advocacy for the legalization and normalization of abortion, her The story of "Empty Playgrounds" ... I was Sarah’s gracious demeanor and beautiful conversion to seeing the humanity of the un- smile changed instantaneously. “She’s a stu- driving back from lunch and passed an born caused by the patient and loving efforts empty playground; the swings were emp- pid piece of white trash. She’s pro-life and a of young pro-lifers, her acceptance of Christ ty, swaying back and forth. An over- Christian,” she snarled throwing in a few de- and her lifetime efforts to reverse a Supreme whelming feeling of guilt consumed me. I cidedly ungracious and unrepeatable curse Court decision that she felt she caused. started looking for the children. The words. “She’s a piece of trash. She was stupid swings were made for children and there when we found her and she’s worse now.” I Her speech wandered, halting here and there. simply were none to enjoy them! I began quickly paid the check and the evening ended. Her delivery was not great and she was most to think to myself that because of abor- Her words and her demeanor hung in the air definitely not articulate. But I don’t think I tion, many children had been killed and that night and honestly, I have never been have ever been so moved by any speaker as I so were not able to fill the swings of this able to forget them. was by her story of victimization, loss, des- playground. I was stricken with the fact pair, redemption, triumph and crushing guilt. that no one seemed to notice these va- And that, right there, was the end of a chapter. cant playgrounds and didn't even seem to When she said, “I am responsible for the care. All I could do was sit in my truck and I would no longer blindly follow a feminist death of 50 million unborn babies,” I couldn’t agenda that defined progress on the backs of cry and cry; soon, there were no tears, hold the tears back. I, like everyone in the there was only sadness. dead babies. I began a journey from pro- room, was forever changed. choice to pro-life. Why? Because Roe v. —Norma McCorvey Five things most people don’t know about Jane Roe By Justin Taylor, Ph.D., The Gospel Coalition

Roe v. Wade is the controversial landmark legal abortion, or the case would be consid- two Western countries offering no legal pro- Supreme Court ruling that progressives want ered moot and dismissed. Without money and tection for the unborn at any stage of the preg- to enshrine and conservatives want to overturn. five months pregnant, Norma was the ideal nancy. Few rulings have been more consequential. candidate. After downing several pitchers of beer, they agreed on using the pseudonym 4. JANE ROE NEVER HAD ABORTION. Yet nearly half of “Millennials” don’t even “Jane Roe.” (“Wade” referred to Henry B. Norma had already given birth and placed the know that Roe v. Wade has to do with abor- Wade, the attorney general of Dallas.) baby for adoption before the three-judge Tex- tion. And even fewer today know the true as panel ruled against her in May of 1970, story of the woman who started it all, the 2. JANE ROE DIDN’T KNOW THE long before the Supreme Court decision in pseudonymous plaintiff “Jane Roe,” whose MEANING OF “ABORTION.” January of 1973. She was in a committed real name was Norma McCorvey (1947- Weddington and Coffee told Norma that lesbian relationship and would not become 2017). abortion just dealt with a piece of tissue, and pregnant again. Abortion continued to be a Here are five things you may not know about that it was like passing a period rather than the part of her life, however. She went on to work her, culled from interviews and profiles along termination of a distinct, living, and whole in abortion clinics, holding the hands of wom- with her sworn congressional testimony and human organism. Abortion was a taboo topic en and offering reassurance as they terminat- memoirs. in 1970, and Norma had dropped out of ed their pregnancies, and making appearances school at the age of 14. She knew that John on the Roe anniversaries. 1. THE NAME “JANE ROE” WAS Wayne movies talked about “aborting the 5. JANE ROE BECAME PRO-LIFE. CREATED OVER BEER AND PIZZA. mission,” so she thought it meant to “go In 1995, while working at the clinic, Norma In 1969 Norma was 21 years old, divorced, back”—as in, going back to not being preg- became haunted by the sight and sound of and pregnant for the third time. (The first two nant. She honestly believed “abortion” meant empty playgrounds in her neighborhood. children were placed for adoption.) After a child was prevented from coming into exist- Once teeming with kids, they now seemed seeking an abortion but finding out it was ence. deserted. And she began to see it was the re- illegal, and then driving to an illegal clinic 3. JANE ROE NEVER WAS IN COURT. sult of what she once called “my law.” But only to find it closed, adoption attorney Henry Her lawyers drafted a one-page legal affida- the decisive change happened when she met McCluskey referred her to two young lawyers vit, which she signed but never read. This was Emily Mackey, a seven-year-old girl whose in Dallas, Sarah Weddington and Linda Cof- only the second time she would meet with her parents were protesting at the clinic where fee. Weddington (who had traveled to Mexico lawyers—and it turned out to be the last. She “Miss Norma” worked. Emily, who had al- a couple of years earlier to have an abortion) was not called to testify and attended none of most been aborted herself, befriended Norma, was seeking a class-action lawsuit against the the trial. She found out about the Supreme showing genuine interest and love, giving her state of Texas in order to legalize abortion. It Court ruling from the newspaper on January hugs and inviting her to church. Through this was an unlikely party at the corner booth of 23, 1973, just like the rest of the nation. Few young girl’s combination of truth and grace, Columbo’s pizza parlor in Dallas: two recent on that day understood the implications of along with those who shared the gospel of law-school grads in business suits sitting Justice Blackmun’s instruction that Roe v. Jesus with her, Norma not only became con- across the table from a rough and uneducated Wade was to be read in conjunction with its vinced of the pro-life position but also con- homeless woman. The lawyers needed a rep- companion case Doe v. Bolton, which effec- verted to Christianity. resentative for all women seeking — tively made abortion legal at any stage of one who was young, poor, and white. They In the second half of her life, Norma McCor- pregnancy for any reason. As a result, the just didn’t want her to cross state lines to get a vey said that “Jane Roe has been laid to rest.” United States joined Canada as one of only Both sides in America’s most contentious debate have claimed her at one point, and EMPTY PLAYGROUNDS By Norma McCorvey both have had reason to be disappointed. But for the pro-life movement, the case for pro- I sit across from a playground that I visited this eve with a small child. tecting the smallest and most defenseless I know of such places where children play. members of the human race does not rest with I know that I am the cause of them not being here today. the testimony of a single individual. It does These playgrounds for "innocent children" now dead because of sins I helped do. not even rest on biblical revelation; moral I hope, Lord, that the wonderful playground is well guarded with angels. philosophers have pointed out that the differ- Angels who will protect them keep them happy and safe. Angels who will make them smile and laugh. ences between a fetus in utero and an infant So that when that glorious day comes; the children will not hold "the sin" against me. outside the womb—size, location, degree of For every time I see a playground empty, I will know that yours will be full. dependency, and level of development—are The sun is now setting, and my heart hurts, Lord. morally irrelevant when determining a per- For the numbers who from abortion have been torn apart. son’s right to life. I pray you can put them back together and make them whole. We must not only labor to protect the unborn, If you like, Lord, use my body to make your precious children whole again. but to continue reaching out with assistance I ask you to do this not only for them, Lord, but also for the love I have for each of them. and love and the good news of grace to the Lord, God, you gave your only Son, and He died and shed His blood for us. Norma McCorveys of the world—broken All I did was give my baby away so that "women could tear theirs apart." women who feel they have no other place to For this I will never be able to look in your face, out of shame. turn. hearing March 16

In 2015, Kansas became the first state in the ing that the people of Kansas do not see a nation to ban the barbaric dismemberment right to abortion in the phrase “right to life, abortion method. That law, under challenge liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Please by pro-abortionists, will be reviewed by the help us collect signatures. This petition is not Kansas Supreme Court. political and may be circulated in churches. Download the petition from our website or The Court will consider whether a right to order them by contacting any KFL office abortion is included in the “right to life, liber- (contact information on page 2). ty and the pursuit of happiness” in our 1859 Kansas State Constitution. The Kansas Supreme Court will have its first hearing on this subject on March 16. Kansans for Life is circulating a petition stat- Look for this button on the KFL website. Rally for Life at the State Capitol

Approximately 2,000 pro-lifers traveled from every morning. The mass was followed by a procession, corner of Kansas to attend the Rally for Life at the led by all four Catholic bishops of Kansas, to the State Capitol on January 23. steps of the Capitol Building. Many visitors took the opportunity to tour the Capi- During the rally, attendees heard from Governor tol Building. Pro-life booths were also on display in and Lt. Gov. , and the Capitol. were introduced to pro-life legislators. Informative workshops, a non-denominational wor- Two more workshops were offered after the rally. ship service, and a Catholic mass were held in the

One of the workshop presenters after the rally was Krystle Pauly, who spoke about the perinatal hospice care she received as she gave birth to two babies with life-limiting medical con- ditions. For a written version of Krystle’s presentation, e-mail the editor: [email protected] KFL-PAC Prayer Breakfast

The Kansans for Life Political Action Committee hosted its annual Prayer Breakfast at the GOP Convention on February 11th in Manhattan, KS. The event featured Father James Weldon as the keynote speaker. Father Wel- don is the pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Wichita. His message emphasized the need for people to recognize Jesus’s love for them and to make decisions with God’s love for them foremost in their minds. He stressed the need for legislators to prioritize God’s love when considering their legislative priorities. Attendees also received a State of the State report from KFL President Joe Patton and heard from Congressman Roger Marshall, Congressman Kevin Yoder, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, Senator Jerry Moran, Senator Pat Rob- erts, and Governor Sam Brownback. Kansas’ U.S. Senator Jerry The breakfast’s speakers highlighted the importance of pro-lifers’ steadfast resolve to protect the unborn in the Moran addressing the crowd. face of opposition from pro-abortion protesters and those unhappy with the new Presidential administration. Con- gressional speakers were hopeful about the potential for substantial pro-life change with the election of pro-life majorities in the U.S. Senate, House, and a pro-life president, but stressed that the pro-life work has just begun. Kansas’s federal delegation faces harassment from protesters daily, along with an obstructionist Democrat minority in Congress. Despite these challenges, our elected members of Congress will continue to work towards passing legisla- tion that upholds the value of life and protects vulnerable people. Valentine events celebrate love for life

Hundreds of pro-lifers came out time she finished sharing the details of the intrigue surrounding her abor- enjoyed the 2017 annual KFL Love tion and birth, her amazing adoption, and her eventual search for her bio- for Life Valentine Banquets in logical parents. Amazingly enough, her biological mom never knew that Overland Park and Wichita. her daughter Melissa had survived the abortion and lived. She had lived with the terrible effects of post-abortion trauma for over 30 years, until David Daleidan, who produced a Melissa finally located her and met with her. What an amazing testimony series of undercover videos docu- to the forgiveness and grace of God! menting fetal tissue harvesting, was Melissa Ohden shared her the featured speaker in Overland Ohden is the author of the recently-published book, You Carried Me. amazing story in Wichita. Park. Read more on page 3. The Wichita Valentine Banquet also included entertainment by local record- ing artists Josh and Sarah Holthusen and comedian Patrick Hesse. In Wichita, our featured speaker, Melissa Ohden, miraculously sur- vived a saline abortion as an unborn baby. Not an eye was dry by the We look forward to having YOU at next year's Love for Life events.

KC Archbishop Joseph Naumann ad- Gov. Sam Brownback visited with David dressed the Overland Park banquet. Daleidan about details of his presentation. Sarah & Josh Holthusen performed in Wichita

Kansas family many people identify teens and young Simon’s Law will protect medically continued from page 1 adults as “entitled,” “self-centered”, fragile children etc...but these are characteristics not seen in my older kids. Even outsiders comment on Tatum, was not supposed to live. The day I Brenda and Zach Spurlock came to the how kind, generous, patient, hardworking, first met him I was shocked by his fragile Kansas Capitol last month to support medical state, and his appearance. But God and loving my kids are. Simon’s Law, a KFL-supported bill which reached down and touched my heart, remov- They have given up a lot! Tatum and Zach- would prevent hospitals from placing a ing my fears and adding an instant love. I felt ariah’s needs have always had to supersede DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order on a as if he was every bit as much a piece of me the rest of the family’s needs. And yet, child without notifying the parents. as my seven biological children were. Zacha- every single one of them adore Tatum and riah’s care has been difficult, his issues are Zach. They glow when they talk about the Simon’s Law is named after Simon Cro- greater, and our challenges in advocating for triumphs, both big and small, of their little sier, who died after a hospital put a DNR him have been unending. siblings. order in his chart without telling his par- ents. His mom, Sheryl, testified at the My greatest reward in being Zachariah’s Senate Federal and State Affairs Com- mom is watching my husband with him… mittee, along with Brenda, who said: when we were having our older kids, he was active duty Air Force. He was busy and I “I think every parent of a raised the family on my own. Having been medically-fragile child should be blessed with a second chance, he has been aware of the choice to sign a DNR very intentional about spending time and for their child, and I would hope loving on both Tatum and Zach, but there is a that choice could be offered special beauty between Zach and his tactfully. But I stand firmly “Kawkee” (Zach’s pronunciation of Pa- against medical professionals pa)...there is a perfect love that reminds me of making a life choice for an infant our Father in heaven’s love for us. or child based on a prenatal diagnosis, or set of tests.” As I have watched my older children deal with Tatum and Zachariah over the years, I Read more about Simon’s Law as it have seen a deep sense of compassion not moves through the legislative process at usually found in preteens and teens. I hear so KFL Blog: kansansforlife.wordpress.com Zach shares his award-wining smile. Baby Bottle Project: an easy way for your church to be pro-life

It’s simple. We send you empty baby bottles—one for every family in your church. We also send you beautiful bulletin inserts for use on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. On Mother’s Day, give a bottle to every family. Ask them to collect their spare change in the bottle until Father’s Day. Included in the bottles is a card with sample pro-life prayers for the family to pray each week. On Father’s Day, the fam- ilies bring their bottles back to church with their donation to Kansans for Life. Ask your church members to also submit an adorable baby or toddler photo if they will give permis- sion for the image to be used by Kansans for Life. Each year, the Baby Bottle Project funds a pro-life educa- tional project. This year’s project is the production of banners with a positive pro-life message. We will send one We will use a picture of a baby or of these 3’ x 6’ full-color vinyl banners for you to display in toddler from your church on your front of your church as our gift to you for participating in banner! Call us at 1-800-928-5433 the Baby Bottle Project. or 316-687-5433 to participate!

Upcoming pro-life events

Tuesday, March 21, Wichita: “How to Bring the Pro-Life Message into Our Classrooms” Join us for our monthly “Hour for Life” presentation from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Wichita KFL Office, 3301 W. 13th St. Our guest speaker for March is middle school teacher, Rebekah Schwarz, who will present “How to Bring the Pro-Life Message into Our Classrooms.” Hour for Life meetings are free and all are welcome to attend. Refreshments provided. Questions? Call 316-687-5433.

Tuesday, April 17, Wichita: “Who Was the Real Margaret Sanger?” Join us for our monthly “Hour for Life” presentation from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Wichita KFL Office, 3301 W. 13th St. Our guest speaker for April is long-time pro-life activist, Jim Benck, who will present “Who Was the Real Margaret Sanger?” Hour for Life meetings are free and all are welcome to attend. Refreshments provided. Questions? Call 316-687-5433.

Sunday, April 22, Overland Park: Author of Subverted to speak at women’s conference Sue Ellen Browder, author of the book, Subverted: How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women’s Movement, will be speaking at the Kansas City Catholic Women’s Conference at the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park. This conference is open to all women, age 16 and over. In her book, Browder discusses the history of the women’s rights movement, which did not originally include abortion, and how in the late 1960’s the sexual revolution and abortion became linked with the women’s movement. Browder was formally a writer for Cosmopolitan magazine where one of her jobs was to “sell” the idea of unmarried sex, contraception and abortion as the single woman’s path to personal fulfillment. Advance registration is $25; it will be $30 at the door. For more infor- mation see livingintruthkc.com

Tuesday, June 6, Kansas City Golf “Fore” Life Be a hero for life at our golf scramble! Fun, sun & great prizes! Last year we had 64 golfers and this year we want even more! Pro- ceeds help KFL and area crisis pregnancy centers. Form a four-man or woman team and call us for more info or to RSVP at (913) 642-5433, or for more info see our website at www.kfl.org.

College student? Apply now to attend the National Right to Life Academy this summer! The National Right to Life Academy, a five-week summer training course for college students, is currently accepting applications for its 2017 pro- gram, which runs June 29 to August 4, 2017. For information e-mail [email protected] or visit www.nrlc.org/academy

National Right to Life Convention: June 29 to July 1, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Choose from more than 100 speakers. Childcare available for infants to age 12; Teen Convention for ages 13+. More info at nrlconvention.com