Pregnancy Centers Under Attack in Washington!

Almost as soon as abortion became legal in the this country, the first Pregnancy Centers opened their doors. So many times, women turn to abortion because they just don’t know what else to do. Often, it is a panic reflex; when they have time to think things through, they realize that destroying their child is not the way to go. Friends and family step in with their support and things begin to take on a rosier glow.

Over 50 million children have been destroyed since Roe vs. Wade was passed in 1973. However, I would venture to say that several million more are alive because of the work of Pregnancy Centers nationwide. At our Center, we estimate that around 2100 babies were saved in the last three years alone. The abortion industry denies that we have any impact at all; however, recently proposed legislation suggests otherwise.

A couple of years ago, the city of Baltimore passed an ordinance that all Pregnancy Centers had to post signs stating that they did not perform or refer for abortion. Centers had to post these signs in all their advertising and on their walls or face steep fines. Of course, the abortion clinics did not have to post signs that they did not provide pro-life counseling (or that they did not do dental work or change the oil in their car, among the myriad of other things they did not provide!)  Please tell me, can you name any other business that has to tell people what they don’t do?  It’s ludicrous!!!

Emboldened by the law in Baltimore, New York City jumped on the band wagon (See my blog from October 13, 2010 for more details.) Fortunately, that city ordinance is still pending. However, now the state of Washington is taking the legislation to a whole new level. (Of course, with their assisted suicide laws, they are often the forerunners where death is concerned.)

This Wednesday, the Washingon state Senate will hear legislation requiring the same notices as in Baltimore. However, there they must be posted in five different languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Cambodian and Laotian) in 30 point font, on the front door and in any advertisements. Okay, this is stupid and annoying, but it is not the most dangerous part of the bill.

The proposed legislation in Washington also requires immediate documentation about the results of the woman’s pregnancy test and that “accurate information” must be given. Supposedly to safeguard all this, Centers can be sued by anyone at anytime (even by people who have never been to the Center.) Even more appalling, there is no need to provide proof to win the lawsuit (whatever happened to being innocent until proven guilty?) And, it is not specified whose definition of truth that the courts must go by.

If this passes, all a woman would have to do is disagree with something that was told her at a Pregnancy Center. Let’s say she did not agree that abortion causes breast cancer. So, she could press charges, saying that the Center told her a lie. She could win the court case and collect damages without proving that this “untruth” did anything to her at all- she just didn’t happen to agree.  (If this sounds crazy, that is because it is!!)

Please pray for this hearing, which is scheduled to take place around 10:00 am Central time on Wednesday, Feb. 2. In a sane world, this would be laughed out of the room. However, like I’ve mentioned, the state of Washington has a love affair with death. A similar bill failed to make it out of committee last year, so we need to pray that this will happen again and that it will never return.

On the positive side, a judge in Baltimore recently ruled that their crazy law mandating Centers to post that they don’t do abortions violated the Freedom of Speech clause of Article 1 of the Constitution. Hooray for sanity! Let’s just hope this puts a damper on pending legislation elsewhere. It gives me hope that maybe we are not too far gone in the country after all!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Four More Abortionists Face Charges: How Many More Innocent People Have to Die?

Last week you probably read in this blog or in the news about Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist who was arrested for causing the death of a patient, as well as murdering newborns he had delivered alive.  I pointed out that one of the contributing factors in this outrage is that the law turns a blind eye to anything dealing with abortion. It is a “sacred cow” in many segments of our society, including the medical community and large portions of our government.

Four more abortionists have come into the spotlight this week. (Well, I guess “spotlight” is a relative term. I found out about them on pro-life websites, not in the newspaper or any major news sites. Again, it deals with that which is taboo!) All have been accused of either killing or mutilating women seeking abortions, along with the illegal deaths of third-trimester babies. After all, the later the abortion, the more money that can be made. Greed brings the real scum bags out of the woodwork!

In Southern California, Andrew Rutland has agreed to give up his medical license for the 2nd time in less than ten years. In 2002, it wasn’t due to an abortion: in the process of delivering a baby using forceps, he severed the baby girl’s spinal column. Then he lied and told tiny Jillian’s parents that their baby suffered a stroke. She later died. His license was removed, only to be returned years later!  (Would you want this man delivering your child?)

Just last year, Ying Chen came to Rutland’s acupuncture clinic to get an abortion. Even though the office was filthy and ill-equipped, she proceeded ahead. Soon after Rutland injected lidocaine into her cervix, Chen went into cardiac arrest. Testimony later showed that there was significant delay before the paramedics were called, and that the “good doctor” did not begin CPR until right before they got there. The autopsy later revealed that Ying Chen because she received the wrong dosage of anesthesia.

So far, all that has happened to Rutland is that his license has been suspended for three years! The Los Angeles district attorney’s office says that criminal charges are “under review.” The victim’s family has filed suit for wrongful death and malpractice claiming that the center was not properly equipped for an abortion, nor did Rutland have proper training. 

Of course, Rutland is denying any wrongdoing. In fact, he is blaming Operation Rescue! He claims that his prosecution is all an “anti-abortion plot!” If they had not interfered and brought the truth to light, he would never have been charged. Sadly, that is probably true. Like so many other abortionists, Rutland believed that no matter what he did, he was above the law.

Recently he was caught in an undercover sting operation agreeing to perform an abortion, even though he’d been ordered not to while his case was under review (oh, those evil pro-lifers!)  Kathleen Nicholls (a sensible member of the California Medical Board) summed it up perfectly: “How many patients have to die before a doctor is shut down?” Well, I guess that depends if they are an abortionist or not.

The second story is actually a tale of three abortionists instead of just one.  And, it is so convoluted it is a little hard to keep straight, but I will give it my best shot.  Okay, to begin with, it is illegal to do late-term abortions (after 24 weeks) in New Jersey.  An abortionist named Steven Chase Brigham had a clinic in New Jersey, but really wanted to go after the big bucks (it is estimated that the cost of an abortion increases by $100 for every week after 12 weeks that it is performed.)

So, Brigham came up with a plan: he would start late-term abortions in New Jersey and then put the women into vehicles and take them to Maryland to complete things. The biggest problem with this (besides the fact that the women could go into labor during the trip, without medical equipment on hand) was that Brigham was not licensed to practice medicine in Maryland.

This is where Nicola Riley and George Shepherd enter the picture.  Shepherd was the only one of the trio to actually hold a license to practice medicine in Maryland. Brigham paid him to be the figurehead for the clinic, as well as to order any medicines that might be needed. Oh, yes, and one other detail: George Shepherd is 88 years old!

Nicola Riley is licensed to practice medicine in Utah, where she also performs abortions (even though many facts have surfaced which question the validity of her degree.) She was also hired by Brigham to assist with abortions at the Maryland facility. I guess if you have one doctor doing them illegally, you might as well have two.

Now, everything was going along smoothly (because women having late-term abortions aren’t likely to report you!) until Riley performed an abortion in which she perforated the patient’s uterus and pulled out part of her intestine. And, instead of calling an ambulance, she talked Brigham into driving her and the woman to the hospital in his car! The critically injured woman was then life-flighted to Johns Hopkins for emergency surgery. Brigham and Riley continued to act so suspiciously that the police were notified.

When Brigham’s clinic was raided, 35 bodies of aborted late-term babies were discovered (the oldest was 36 weeks!) However, no accompanying paperwork could be found. His medical license was supposedly suspended in New Jersey late in 2010. However, he was appealing his case and I was unable to find any record that it was officially carried out. 

(As a side note, at one time Brigham had as many as 15 abortion clinics. He has had his license revoked in most of those states. Most recently, Pennsylvania was seeking to shut him down for repeatedly hiring unlicensed personnel.)

George Shepherd lost his license permanently after being charged with unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine, as well as assisting an unauthorized person (Brigham) in the practice of medicine.  Nicola Riley has recently been formerly charged for the role she played. However, she continues to do abortions in Utah.

I do not understand why these people are not in jail! It does no good to strip them of their license, if they are only going to get them back in a few years time. As was quoted before, how many people have to die before something is done?

Of course, in the eyes of the law, it is only the adult patients lives that count. They may get their hand slapped for killing late-term babies, but there will not be any murder charges. I’ll be shocked if anything more serious than suspension happens even for the women who lost their lives. 

The case of Kermit Gosnell made the mainstream press because of it’s particularly heinous nature. However, have you seen anything recently? Have you read about the other women who have surfaced with stories of almost losing their lives or being infected with STD’s during their abortion? Or, have you seen anything about these doctors? Do you think you would if they performed any kind of medicine other than abortion?

This is a travesty, and if we don’t speak up and make a stink about it, it will continue to get worse! These men and women know they will be able to return to killing children- it is only a matter of time. Many of them will not even wait to get their license back. They will move to another state and pick up where they left off.

I’m not sure what the answer is, but just because things look bleak doesn’t mean we should not do what we can. Please pray and let your voices be heard! Attend the March for Life on Saturday in Lincoln (10:00 at the Capital.) Volunteer at a pregnancy center or pray at the abortion clinic. God is Just and True and will  not let this travesty continue forever!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Should MTV Be Charged with Child Abuse?

I have always hated movies and television shows that use young people in provocative or evil ways. For instance, Hollywood loves to use small children as an incarnation of Satan, born by means of “devil seed.” Whenever I see those ads, I always worry about the negative impact that could have on their lives. I don’t like horror movies (especially demonic horror movies) anyway, but these are real children playing these hollow-eyed, green vomit spewing, murdering creatures and it is wrong!

Even more disturbing are all the young teens playing sexy vixens in a whole host of television programs. None of them are acceptable, but there is a new show on MTV which is pushing the envelope further than ever: possibly even into the realm of child sexual abuse!

“Skins,” based on a BBC series, delves into the sexual lives of a group of teens, some as young as fifteen. Of course, they are shown scantily dressed, hopping in and out of bed with one another. To my understanding, the footage gets pretty graphic.  In the promo I watched, I witnessed two scantily clad girls passionately kissing, lots of drug use, a wild party with sex and topless teens, and a young girl attempting to seduce a male teacher (and appearing like she might succeed!)

Now, MTV could care less about my criticism or that their program promotes irresponsible teenage sex, potentially contributing to a higher rate of STD’s or teen pregnancy. In fact, I can’t imagine the producers of that show (or any show on that network) having any problem with any age person jumping into bed with any warm body they can find. They have only one concern: getting viewers so advertisers will give them more money!

Unfortunately for our society, controversy usually sells. However, in this case MTV may have gone just a little too far (way, way too far in my book, but that can be said about 99% of all programming!) Alarmed by the sexual content and the young age of the show’s characters, advertisers have begun to pull out (including Subway and Taco Bell.) In addition, some critics have claimed that the show violates child pornography laws.

Again, as with the horror movies, what does acting in this type of program do to a child? What kind of parent allows their child to be filmed half-dressed while having promiscuous sex? Don’t even try to tell me that it is just a job, because that is garbage! How many adult actors and actresses do we read about that abandon their spouse and family to run off with their new co-star? I did theatre for years, and I know the intense feelings that come from playing someone’s spouse or lover. I guarantee that these young people will get sucked into the life-style they are emulating, if they are not there already. And, that is abuse! (Plus, filming a 15-year-old without her top on is child pornography, case closed!)

I don’t care how many speakers we send into the schools to tell young men and women how valuable they are, and that part of respecting yourself means saving sex for marriage. Those talks may have an impact for a season, but it will not last if all they see on tv or movies or hear on the radio is trash like this!  These writers are clever: they create likeable characters, whom kids want to emulate. Their drug use and sexual activity seem natural and “cool.” And, who doesn’t want to be cool? Except it doesn’t seem so cool anymore when they end up pregnant or in jail.

Yes, it is the responsibility of parents to regulate what their children watch (or the acting jobs they should be allowed to take.) However, as a mother who has raised four children, I know it is impossible to monitor everything they do. Television shows and movies can now be downloaded to computers, iPods and phones. Plus, they go visit friends who have televisions in their rooms.

(A side note here: I realize I am older, but I am continually shocked by what other believers consider as acceptable viewing. As I said, writers can be very clever. However, just because a show is well written and funny, does not make it right. Subtle messages are often the most dangerous.)

Do I think MTV should be charged with child abuse? Absolutely! They make enormous profits off of pushing the sexual envelope, and until they are stopped they will get worse and worse. I’m not sure our society can endure much more! We see the after effects of MTV behavior everyday, and it is not pretty!  But then, disease and ruined lives rarely are; and that is the part MTV would never dare to show you!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Good News for Unborn Children (Even if You Can’t Find It In the News!)

I usually search through the newspaper and websites the day after the huge March for Life in Washington, D.C. to find out how it went and how large the crowd was. Search is the accurate word here, because it is not easy information to find. Actually, I don’t know why I bother, because most of it isn’t going to be true anyway.

The media has made it real easy for themselves: they don’t bother to count the participants, they just say “tens of thousands.” Well, I guess 300,000 is technically composed of 30 tens of thousands, but it is still lazy and deceptive all the same.  Oh, also, it is good news for the pro-abortion demonstrators. All they have to find is five or six hearty souls to brave the cold and they will receive equal coverage (sometimes even top billing!)

I watched a video on YouTube which described the media coverage as fraud. I think that is an excellent word for it. However, as I’ve pointed out in the past, there are many life issues about which the press (along with prominent medical organizations) deliberately deceive.

The definition of fraud is as follows: “deceit, trickery or breach of confidence perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.” Well, I think that when a newspaper attempts to make a crowd appear much smaller than it  is or equates five pro-abortion protestors with 300,000 pro-life ones, that can only be defined as fraud. That shoe also fits the coverup of the abortion and breast cancer link, the denial that women suffer from abortion, or calling all stem cell research by the same name so that it appears that it is embryonic cells instead of adult cells that are finding success.  It is all FRAUD intended to protect the abortion industry!

Already the news is dwindling on Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist who in jail for killing a patient and the brutal slaughter of fully formed third trimester babies. Everyday I read about new atrocities that are surfacing about his “house of horrors.” However,I am forced to seek out pro-life websites; the mainstream press no longer covers it. In fact, a Newsweek article stated that the whole thing was more “about poverty, not Roe vs. Wade.” You watch: the same protective cover-up that kept this murderer in business for so long will now downplay his crimes.

The good news is that, as much as the press tries to hide it, there is a lot to celebrate!  A new poll from Fox News found that 50% of all Americans consider themselves pro-life, compared to 42% in favor of abortion. A similar Gallup poll in May found that 47% were pro-life compared to 45%. Gallup called the results a “significant turn-around.” I find this quite amazing; normally the longer something is legal, the greater its support (or at least acceptance) grows, not diminishes.  The news I find most exciting is that the number of pro-life youth outnumbers those who are not, which bodes well for our future!

Plus, the balance of power in the governorships as well as in Congress has shifted.  I have been beating the drum about the importance of state laws, and the fact that 29 out of 50 governors are pro-life plays a vital role in this success! In Kansas, for instance, the state legislature passed many bills to protect unborn life which were vetoed by their pro-abortion governor. Recently a pro-lifer, Sam Brownback, was voted into office and he promises to sign the very same legislation if it passes by his desk.

There are three key areas that pro-life lobbyists are pressing in the states:

1. Following Nebraska’s lead, laws will be written and proposed to outlaw abortion after 20 weeks, based on evidence that the fetus can feel pain after that time. (It is actually surprising that this has not yet faced a challenge in the courts, as it goes against Roe vs Wade, which allows the states to restrict abortion only after viability at 22-24 weeks.)

2. Again, as in Nebraska, the push is on for legislation to require women to be able to view an ultrasound of her child before the abortion procedure. At the AAA CPC, we know from experience how seeing the beating heart and little arms and legs can save lives.

3. In anticipation of government healthcare plans, there has been a push in the states to ban tax-payer abortion coverage. Five states have already taken this action,  and many more are expected to climb aboard this year.

Don’t expect to read about these developments (at least not truthfully) in the mainstream media. Fox News may provide some coverage, but not enough for my liking. One excellent source is www.LifeNews.com. I will also be keeping an eye on things and post it here as I can.

In order to win the battle for life, for the old or for the very young, we need to stay informed. Evil loves to stay hidden in darkness and is only defeated when it is brought into the light. For this reason, we need to be careful about what we read and examine everything by the light of Scripture, even this blog. You have my permission to hold me accountable!

Keeping it true!  Barb

The March that Changed My Life (Or, the Day I Almost Got Arrested on the Supreme Court Steps!)

 In January of 1986, I travelled with a group of pro-lifers for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. It had been less than two years since my eyes were opened to the travesty of abortion. I had been out on the streets in front of the Omaha abortion clinics a few times to pray and was on the kick-off committee for what was known then as the “AAA Crisis Pregnancy Center” (now the AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling. Sadly, it is rarely considered a crisis anymore!)

In 1986, I had three small children, aged  six, four, and almost two. In fact, since she flew for free, I took my daughter with me. My in-laws gladly drove down from New Jersey to take her back with them for the weekend. My husband took care of the boys- graciously giving me the time away. (I think he changed his mind after they both got stomach flu and threw up all over their room!)

Words cannot describe the mixture of emotions that swirled through my head that weekend.  In addition to the March, our agenda included a peaceful “sit-in” at a Washington abortion clinic. Denny Hartford (of Vital Signs Ministry) was part of our group, and was planning to take an active role in the demonstration. As such, we knew he would face possible arrest. 

Now, I don’t know about you, but at that time I had no one in the circle of friends who had ever been arrested. Beyond that, this level of commitment to a cause blew me out of the water! Here was a man who was not only vocal and active against abortion, but was willing to lose his freedom in defense of unborn children.  It was amazing, challenging, exciting and terrifying all at the same time!

If I remember clearly, the protest took place in the early morning hours before the March.  I don’t remember a lot of details, but I can still see the old brick building located on a fairly busy street near downtown D.C. I think it was cold out, but the air was alive with electricity! It didn’t take long for a large crowd to gather and the participants to sit in front of the door, blocking the entrance. As has usually been my experience, everyone quietly prayed or sang; there was no yelling or confrontation. The police arrived and warned them to disperse. When they did not, they were arrested one by one and quietly led away. I vividly recall my sadness when the business of killing babies continued like usual once they were gone.

(If you have never experienced standing in front of an abortion clinic, it is chilling to watch that first woman walk in, knowing she is going to have her child destroyed. Abortion became real for me the first day I watched that happen. I hope it is something I never get used to.)

Again, my memories are not real clear, but I know that our group went on to the March without Denny. It seems to me that we were told that processing would require some time, and that we should go to the police station later that afternoon to pick him up. Since none of us were familiar with the city, that would prove to be quite an undertaking. However, I am getting ahead of myself.

It took us quite some time to find the National Mall, where the March was being held. Parking is always a nightmare in D.C., but even more so with the tens of thousands of cars and buses pouring in filled with pro-lifers from all over the country.  Once we arrived, the breathtaking  sight of a massive sea of people, as far as the eye can see, is seared into my memory.  Old, young, black, white, hispanic; all shapes and sizes, from every economic background available were gathered there. In spite of our visible differences, we were instantly united by our passion for life! 

I don’t really remember the specific speakers from that day, except perhaps President Reagan. Ah, for the good old days! (I can’t dwell on that or I may start to cry.) However, even he couldn’t compare to the sight which met our eyes once the massive crowd slowly poured out of the Mall and onto Pennsylvania Avenue. There was one majestic point when we were at the top of a hill and beheld the huge sea of marchers, all united in one noble purpose.

The March for Life ends at the Supreme Court. After all, that is where it all began, and where many say it needs to return to bring a final end to the slaughter (although that point can be argued!) The marchers are encouraged to remain there for a moment and pray. However, it is forbidden to kneel in prayer on the Supreme Court steps; in the eyes of the law it is considered a form of protest and violators risk arrest.

I’m not sure if it was the emotion of the day or because a seed of activism had been planted in my heart, but I determined I was going to kneel in prayer on those forbidden steps. I have never been good at following rules that don’t make sense to me and the Supreme Court steps seem like the most natural and necessary place in the world for prayer! So, before I knew it, I passed the guards stationed there and knelt down.

I soon felt others around me. Sure enough, two of the others in my group, Winnie Kaipust and Chris Schlesiger (who still works with me at the AAA CPC) were kneeling by my side. We hadn’t been there long when we felt a shadow hanging over us, muttering  something to the effect that if we didn’t remove ourselves from the steps, he would have no choice but to take us into custody.

Now, part of me really desired to take a stand. I wanted so badly to demonstrate the same courage that I’d seen that morning. The three of us briefly talked it out. They felt the same as I did, but we all realized it wasn’t completely about us. Denny was already in jail, and it was our friends who would have to hunt us all down and perhaps put up a lot of money for bail. There was no guarantee we wouldn’t have to return for trial, and Chris and I had small children. So, regretfully, we finished our prayer and slowly departed. (By the way, after quite a bit of effort we found Denny. At first, they threatened not to release him or to charge quite a bit for bail, but in the end they set him free!) 

I will always be grateful for that day and the transforming work it did in my life! A fire was ignited in my heart, which has dimmed at times but never gone out. I pray that the Lord will constantly fan the flames and keep me faithfully fighting my part of the battle.

There is a song I heard this morning that challenged me with the line:  ”I don’t want to spend my whole life asking what if I had given everything?”  On the day I die, I don’t want to look back with regret.  I pray that the Lord will show me the moments I am living for myself and not for Him; when I am lazy and self-centered and would rather sleep late than take action, and shake me out of my complacency.  If we all did our part, I’m convinced that the abortion battle could be won in this generation.

I would encourage all of you to attend the March for Life in Washington some January. I guarantee it will transform your life just as it did mine. The good news is that you don’t need to wait that long. The Nebraska March for Life is this Saturday, January 29. I am not certain of the details, but a good source is Denny Hartford’s blog (yes, the same Denny Hartford, still faithfully and passionately at work saving unborn lives!) The Lord longs to light a flame in us all!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Does Killing Inside the Womb Make Killing Outside the Womb Easier?

I’m sure many of you by now have read the story of the abortionist in Philadelphia who was arrested and charged not only with the murder of a patient, but also for killing seven babies that were born alive. Actually, the authorities discovered the gruesome deaths in a raid to find illegal drugs. Instead, they stumbled on a chamber of horrors.

Kermit Gosnell (I am not going to dignify him by calling him a doctor) had been killing pre-born children for over twenty years in West Philadelphia. It is estimated that in one recent year, he made $1.8 million! It also turned out that Kermit had been named in more than three dozen civil suits going back at least 20 years, including 10 malpractice suits. Agency after agency entered his “abortion mill,” (the grand jury’s term, not mine) and ignored the nightmare found inside.

(I am not going to spell out for you all the filthy details. That is not my purpose in this blog. If you would like to know more, you can go to this link. )

How did the path progress for this man and his team of untrained,  unsupervised, non-medical workers to come to the point where they felt they could treat their poor, minority patients like animals? Karnamaya Mongar died in November of 2009, lying on a filthy, blood and urine stained bed, from an overdose of narcotics illegally prescribed and injected by an uneducated employee. The other eight murder victims were babies who were killed after their mothers were induced and given birth.  (Abortion is illegal after 24 weeks in Pennsylvania; these were all in their sixth, seventh or eighth months.)

Personally, I have no difficultly seeing how this happened. Kermit Gosnell was slowly dehumanized by years of continually slaughtering fully formed pre-born human beings. One day he probably decided that it was easier to wait and kill them once they were born. I mean, after all, what was the big deal? Either way, they are dead. Why should he care that he was breaking the law? People were always suing him and calling the state to complain, but THEY NEVER DID A THING ABOUT IT!

And, why should he hire medically trained, competent employees? They cost too much and no one seemed to care anyway. His patients had been infected with venereal diseases and rushed to the emergency room with punctured organs, and still no one seemed overly concerned. Now he had a dealer who was getting him illegal narcotics. He could pump his “problem patients” full of percocet and send them happily on their way! Except, one of them overdosed and died.

In February of 2010, prompted by the death, , FBI agents and detectives with search warrants entered Gosnell’s building to find evidence of illegal prescriptions. Instead, they stumbled on their worst nightmare (again, see link above for details.) A grand jury is now investigating. One of their first acts was to order the arrest of Gosnell and eight clinic workers (including his wife) for murder, infanticide, conspiracy, abuse of a corpse, and several other offenses. All the good “doctor” could say was that “I have done my very best to provide the very best care to my patients.”

The grand jury has also come down on several of the organizations that ignored the complaints which poured in about him, or failed to inspect or report his “clinic.” Their official statement read: “We think the reason that no one acted is because the women in question were poor and of color, because the victims were infants without identity, and because the subject was the political footfall of abortion.”

Indeed- that is the crux of the matter! This is not the first abortionist to face murder or to have their building closed down due to filth or illegal activity! States are forced to fight to pass laws requiring inspections for abortion clinics. In most cases, no one really knows what goes on behind those closed doors. It is left up to the integrity of a man or woman who kills children for a living to choose to obey safety standards and to remain within the confines of the law. And, if they don’t, experience tells them that no one will probably say a word. The shock is that travesties like this don’t happen more often.  It usually takes the death of a young woman to drag it out into the light.

Will Kermit Gosnell really be punished for his crimes? Right now, people are angry and appalled. The actual sight of dead babies does that. However, once the tiny bodies are again hidden behind closed doors, will it all be forgotten? His clinic will probably be closed down, and he may see a few years in prison, but these guys have a way of surfacing again and again, continuing their bloody work in a new city and state. I hope not, but I’m not holding my breath!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Good News for Couples Struggling to Have Children!

I don’t know about you, but it seems that I know a lot of couples who are unable to conceive a child.  In fact, in 2002, the CDC discovered that there were 7.3 million women suffering from infertility (that is 12% of the reproductive population!) These poor couples have been through batteries of tests and are now faced with either paying a lot of money for adoption or IVF (In Vitro Fertilization, a process which uses the parent’s egg and sperm to create a child in a petri dish, and then implant the fertilized egg in the mother’s uterus.)

The road to both can be paved with heartache. Both IVF and adoption can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. IVF has a success rate of 21-27%, so three out of four tries result in failure for most couples. Plus, there is mounting evidence to indicate that IVF babies have a higher rate of birth defects. Plus, there are many who refuse this route because of the embryos which are unused and discarded.

I was excited to read this morning that Omaha’s own Dr. Thomas Hilgers has developed a new reproductive science which has proven highly successful against infertility! Called NaProTechnology, it is a natural approach which treats the root cause of childlessness. Even though it is widely ignored in the world of medicine, it has consistently shown better outcomes than methods such as IVF (depending on the condition, it has seen success rates as high as 81%!) Plus, it costs less.

On LifeSiteNews.com, I read an article about a couple who learned that the wife suffered from advanced endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, and possible ovarian disease. They were not given much hope for having a child. Their doctor recommended IVF, but the couple were strong Catholics and rejected it. Someone introduced them to NaProTechnology and they began consulting with a NaPro doctor in Toronto.

Eventually they travelled to Omaha for surgery with Dr. Hilgers. He used a specialized microsurgical technique which he pioneered to heal the reproductive system. They conceived their son, Daniel one month after the surgery and he was born in 2009.

In NaProTechnology, infertility is seen as the symptom of a larger problem, a sign that something is not right. Therefore, the surgery and other techniques were developed to analyze the larger condition and treat it. Even if pregnancy does occur with IVF, the underlying condition can, and often does, cause a host of future medical problems for the woman, including: irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, and ovarian or breast cancer.

It disturbs me that this means of treatment is so unknown, especially with its proven track record. The only way I can explain it is that Dr. Hilgers is a well-known opponent of the birth control pill as well as abortion. He is a devout Catholic who has taken a courageous stand against the medical status quo. However, for the medical community to ignore this type of success, and allow infertile couples to continue to suffer is unconscionable! Since they allow women to die by their insistent denial  that abortion and contraceptives lead to higher breast cancer rates, what can we expect? Politics are obviously more important to them than the actual lives involved!

If you know of anyone who is struggling with infertility, please give refer them to Dr. Hilger’s clinic. If they live in Omaha, help is right at their back door! The phone number for Dr Hilger’s Pope Paul VI Institute is (402) 360-6600, and their website is www.popepaulvi.com. At the Pregnancy Center, we have had a long association with Dr. Hilgers and his staff, and can tell you with confidence that they are wonderful and godly people to work with!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Why I Think the Healthcare Bill Should be Repealed

I try to avoid politics in this blog. Unfortunately, in today’s world it is almost impossible to protect life without dabbling in the political arena. In my daily work, I have seen the huge impact that state and federal regulations make on the abortion rate. And, as long as the government pours millions of dollars into Planned Parenthood, the battle will not end.

The staff at the AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling meets everyday for prayer. We fully realize that we are neck-deep in a spiritual battle. Our words are not going to have an impact upon women without the Spirit of the Living God opening their eyes to the truth. We have seen prayer do amazing things!

The Bible tells us not to walk in fear. However, there is one thing that makes our hearts quake and that is government-funded abortions. Time after time we have counseled young women whose first instinct is to rush out and “fix” their problem by having an abortion. The one thing often holding them back is that they can’t afford it. In the time it takes them to get the cash needed, they have time to think. Often the people they love surround them with support for having the child. Or, they see the ultrasound and fall in love with their baby. Financial considerations have saved many lives!

When the present healthcare bill is fully enacted, I believe that it will include tax-payer funded abortions. Things got very confusing around the time of the vote last year. Democratic Congressman, Bart Stupek appeared to be standing strong against the healthcare legislation unless strong language was included to prohibit federal funding for abortion. Then he was called in to speak to President Obama. Before we knew it, Stupek and his cronies were voting for the legislation as it was, satisfied because the president offered them an executive order which would supposedly do the same thing as their amendment to the bill.

The truth is that executive orders do not have the weight of law behind them and can be reversed at the whim of the president. At the time, pro-life groups knew the order meant nothing, because none of the pro-abortion forces spoke up against it and they are not ones to go quietly into the night in defeat. They didn’t fear it because it meant nothing!

I know that there are things about our system of healthcare that needs reform. We see many women who fall between the cracks: they make too much for Medicaid but their job does not provide them with health insurance. The easy answer might appear to be a government takeover to make things right. However, all we need to do is examine the present government systems of welfare and Medicaid to realize the disaster we will soon find ourselves in if the Healthcare Bill is not repealed.

Keeping it simple, statistics show that welfare has not helped the poor in America. Rather, it has entrapped people in poverty and driven men from their homes. I have seen too many young women who are third or fourth generation welfare survivors and have given up on ever escaping poverty. There are no adult men in their home and never has been because couples collect more if they remain unmarried and live separate lives. The effects of living fatherless upon today’s youth are devastating!

In my opinion, Medicaid provides the same trap. Plus, it is going broke. Doctors hate being bound to it, for the red tape is enormous and payments are not guaranteed. Don’t get me wrong, I would rather see women receive Medicaid funding so they can get the pre-natal care they need than leave themselves and their baby at risk. However, it is terribly mismanaged and can be demeaning for those who use it.

I think this is where the Church should step in.  The Bible makes it clear that it is our responsibility to care for the poor, not the government’s. It would be amazing to have a Prenatal Clinic staffed by the city’s churches. Doctors and nurses of faith could donate a few days a month to provide obstetrical care. Payment would be provided on a sliding scale according to income. Perhaps employment and financial counseling could also be available to assist people out of poverty. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

I do not believe that the whole healthcare issue has been about helping the poor; it has been about gaining control over our lives. You may disagree, but I hold firm convictions that the author is Satan, and he will use it in his plan to “steal, kill and destroy.” I also believe that some of its proponents are working with good motivations, but they have allowed themselves to be duped. It has nothing to do with Republican or Democrat, but living by the truth found in the Scriptures.

The bottom line is: if this bill is allowed to stand, people will die. The unborn and the elderly are a certainty. In time, it may affect us all as the standard of medical care decreases. (We were sobered to discover that the company which provided our medical insurance last year has already removed it from their services, and that our cost will be significantly increased next year. Companies will find it hard to stay afloat with the strict regulations. If the present is not repealed, watch and see!)

What can you do? I hate to sound like a broken record, but calling your Congressman and Senators is always a good idea. I’ve been assured by staffers that they keep count and opinions matter.  Also, please pray. This is not just a political issue: it is a matter of life and death!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Adult Stem Cells: The Key to the Fountain of Youth?

“The key to the fountain of youth is in our bodies.” This is a quote from an article on new advances in adult stem cell research. Last May, the Vatican joined ranks with a company named NeoStem, which is on the cutting edge of this life-saving and revolutionary advance in this type of medicine.

The Catholic Church had been searching for a way to invest in life-giving science. In consistency with their pro-life stance, they refused to even consider embryonic research. Plus, they recognized that adult stem cells held far more promise, especially with recent advances in making adult cells adapt to all different cell types in the body.

The Vatican is particularly interested in VSEL (Very Small Embryonic Like) technology. These are adult stem cells that have all the characteristics and adaptability of embryonic cells. Not only do these adult cells avoid the slaughter of human life, but they avoid the rejection  and tumor issues which were common in embryonic research.

Even now, NeoStem has a program in which individuals can have their stem cells extracted and stored for future use. Most of the research is still in the developmental stage, but these cells are being already successfully used in skin grafts.  The research is moving so quickly that cells stored today may be able to provide successful treatment for a whole host of life-threatening illnesses in the future.

Like all new technology, I’m pretty sure having stem cells removed and stored is expensive. And, since it is still experimental, I can’t imagine that it is covered by insurance. However, as things progress, it is very likely that this will become as common as donating blood. It may very well become the wave of the future in saving and providing greater quality of life.

Unfortunately, our government does not share the Vatican’s astute insight. They are still seeking to invest in embryonic stem cell research. Fortunately, they are held up in this by the courts. You may want to let your representatives in Washington know that you would like them to press for funding to be diverted to adult stem cells and the exciting work that companies like NeoStem are doing.

I am so excited to read of this development! In 2011, the Catholic Church is hosting a Stem Cell Summit to promote adult stem cell research to universities and hospitals around the world. Please join me in praying that many hearts will be changed, and the research dollars and man-power will to begin to be rerouted to adult stem cell research. Not only will this save many embryonic lives, but it is also the superior route to curing disease in those already born.

Keeping it true!  Barb

Perinatal Hospice: The Life-Giving Option Parents Need to Know!

It has to be one of the most devastating moments expectant parents can ever face: the news that their unborn child has a medical condition which will cause them to die soon after birth. I cannot imagine the pain and heartache that accompanies such a tragedy!  However, the grief is compounded when a couple is told they need to decide whether to abort the child or not.

In most medical facilities, those are the only two options presented. And it is usually couched in terms of: “you can carry to term only to have your child suffer and die, or you can ‘terminate’ the pregnancy and end everyone’s suffering.” How cruel and how untrue! Statistics show that most couples who have a late-term abortion under these conditions will face many years of struggle and suffering. This is especially true if they learn how late-term abortions are performed!

As loyal readers of my blog know, I am vehemently against late-term abortions! I hate abortion at any stage, but pressuring loving parents to choose the brutal death of a beloved child in the name of mercy is particularly heinous! That is why I was extremely excited to learn about another option: Perinatal Hospice!

This movement is spreading rapidly across the United States. Just like the hospice movement for adults, it espouses a philosophy that all life is precious and should be respected and revered until the moment of natural death. Once contacted, they surround the family with love and support. In-depth information is provided about the baby’s condition and what can be expected at birth and after.

A woman named Jody and her husband were informed that their unborn daughter had a terminal chromosome disorder. They were informed about a local Perinatal Hospice program and immediately called. The experts there patiently answered all their questions and provided the support and help they needed to prepare for the birth.

Jody could not say enough about the valuable time that their family had with little Chloe Joy after she was born. With the help of the hospice staff, they were even able to take her home for a few days. It was there, and not in a cold hospital room,  surrounded by the love of her family that Chloe took her last breath. Even in the midst of their grief, Jody and her family would not have traded their time with the precious child for anything in the world.

Americans United for Life has designed the Perinatal Hospice Information Act, which is a model for states to adopt to mandate that families be informed of the hospice option. So far, Minnesota is the only state with such a law. In cases where the option has been made available, 80% of the parents have chosen it. 

I would encourage everyone to contact their state senator and request that they pass such a law in Nebraska. There is a listing of all the Perinatal Hospice facilities available nationwide, plus more information on the organization at www.perinatalhospice.org. So far, in Nebraska, Methodist Hospital in Omaha is the only place that provides this care for families. However, if a law was passed, I’m sure the organization would make its services much more readily available.

I will do all I can to find out more information on this excellent organization! This option must be made available to all Nebraska families faced with this terrible situation. There are already too many grieving parents who were emotionally forced into making a horrendous choice. Through the information, care, and compassion that Perinatal Hospice offers, we can take one giant step forward in ending late-term abortions.

Keeping it true!  Barb