Baby Joseph: A Short Life With Value and Meaning!

A few months ago (3/14/11) I wrote a blog about a baby in Canada with severe neurological issues. The doctors in Ontario had decided to take little Joseph Maraachli off of life support, having concluded that there was no hope of his recovery. In their eyes, his condition was terminal.

Baby Joseph’s parents had already had one son die of this same disease. In his case, they had been able to bring him home from the hospital, where he lived months longer than the doctors had predicted. They had been able to spend precious time with him before he died peacefully at home. Now, they wanted the same for Joseph.

Joseph’s parents asked the medical team at the hospital to give their baby a tracheostomy so that they could bring him home. This is not usually considered a radical or dangerous procedure; it had been done with their first child and been very successful. However, the hospital refused. They held firmly to their decision that Baby Joseph must be taken off life support and allowed to die.

The parents, beside themselves with grief, fought for their son. They took the case to court. However, finally the Ontario Superior Court rejected their plea to take their baby home to die. The hospital immediately scheduled the removal of life support. The father, Moe Maraachli, went public with his plea for the life of his little boy.

Pro-life and anti-euthanasia forces stepped in to help. Priests for Life, along with a professional legal team, were finally able to secure Joseph’s release from the Canadian hospital and fly him to St. Louis. There the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center did the tracheostomy, and the baby went home with his parents.

And now the rest of the story: under the loving care of his mother and father, Joseph was able to breathe on his own, without any assistance, something the doctors said would never happen. He lived for several more months. Sadly, he died on Tuesday, September 27. However, instead of gasping for his final breath in a hospital room, the little boy died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.

More importantly, Joseph died in God’s timing, not that of a medical team or of the courts. His life was treated with the respect and love which should be given to all people, regardless of their mental or physical condition. It is not up to us to place a value on any person’s life. Worth is given by God, and He creates everyone with a unique purpose for their existence.

This story stands out in strong contrast to a world which casually disposes everyday of lives deemed not worthy. As Father Pavone, from Priests for Life, so aptly put it, “Amidst a Culture of Death where despair leads us to dispose of the vulnerable, they (Joseph’s parents) upheld a Culture of Life where hope leads us to welcome and care for the vulnerable.”  He goes on to say about the Canadian medical community: “What we refused to accept, however, was the arrogance of the medical and legal professionals who presumed to judge the value of his life, and to say he wasn’t worth treating.”

No one, not even his parents, ever denied that Joseph’s condition was probably fatal. However, the doctors had declared that he was in a “terminal vegetative state” and would never breathe on his own.  I really hate that term. People are not vegetables, no matter what their condition. We are conceived with intrinsic worth and nothing can change that, not even if it seems our minds are gone.

In this age where the value of unborn children is decided upon whether they are wanted, in which we continue to improve our ability to seek and destroy the handicapped in the womb, and where the elderly are increasingly under-treated and abused, this is a refreshing story.  Courageous parents stood up to the Canadian physicians and courts and gave their little boy the love and respect that he deserved.

Sadly, this is just one small victory in the midst of a fierce war being waged over the lives of the most vulnerable among us. There are forces of death that would increase abortion and euthanasia around the world; that would install medical panels to make judgments on the worthiness of individuals to receive life-saving treatments; that would seek out and destroy those babies with Down’s Syndrome or other “less than perfect” conditions.

We have to be prepared for the long battle ahead. The Bible tells me that things will only get worse as the end approaches and Christ returns. However, we are encouraged to strongly and bravely run the race set out before us. We will all give an account one day for what we did to rescue those being led away to slaughter. What will you be able to say?

Keeping it true!  Barb

The Abortion Pill: Painful, Traumatic, and Deadly!

Taking a pill, what can be simpler than that? Some of the women we see hope their ultrasound shows them to be under 9 weeks so that they can head down to Planned Parenthood and take the “abortion pill.” Just swallow it down and their “problem pregnancy” will be over. We are grateful that many of them change their minds after seeing their baby’s heart beating and little arms and legs moving on the ultrasound.

RU-486 celebrated its 10th birthday recently. When it first came out it was touted as a wonder drug which would allow women to abort without the trauma of a surgical procedure. Just take one pill at the office and then another one at home. They are told it will be just like having your period. Only, for many, it became a nightmare of pain and suffering. For at least four women in the United States, it has also meant death.

A study was just conducted in England which showed that even surgical abortion was preferred by women over RU-486. More than half of the women taking the abortion drug found that it was worse than they had expected. There was more pain and vaginal bleeding. Plus, there was more emotional trauma, often brought on by having to pass the remains of their unborn child at home.  In this study, the mental health issues were more extreme with the pill than they were with surgical abortion, which has already been proven to have emotional complications for most of the women who experience it.

The one thing in the British study which confused me was the mention that the women being studied had these abortions in their 2nd trimester. As far as I know, RU-486 is not supposed to be taken past the 7th week of pregnancy, even though many abortion clinics in the United States will give it up to 9 weeks. Perhaps those regulations are not upheld or are disregarded in the United Kingdom.

One other disturbing trend we have noticed here at the AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling is that women who return to us after aborting with RU-486 tell us that they had a “medical miscarriage.” That is the term that they were given by Planned Parenthood to define their abortion. What a deception in terms!  If there is supposedly nothing wrong with abortion, why the verbal gymnastics?

Recently it was revealed that two more women have died as a result of RU-486, increasing the U.S. total to four. They developed an infection which led to septic shock. I know there have been other recorded deaths overseas. And, I would be shocked if there weren’t more deaths that have either been mislabeled or not reported.

One of the things about these medical abortions which has always concerned me is that sometimes young women are sent home all alone to wait for the bleeding to begin. They are attempting to keep everything secret from their family, so they don’t inform anyone what they are going through. Around a tenth of those taking RU-486 will need a surgical procedure to stop the bleeding, and can begin to dangerously hemorrhage. Who will be there to help her? Who will comfort her when all is done, and she is left to deal with the aftermath of aborting her child at home?

I had a miscarriage between my first and second child. It was a good thing I was in the hospital, because suddenly I began to hemorrhage and had to be rushed into surgery. Even though I was surrounded with those who loved me, I can remember feeling so isolated and alone. It was a dreadful time!

It is estimated that as many as 1.4 million American women have aborted using RU-486 since its release ten years ago.  The number continues to increase every year. And, in spite of all the deaths and complications, the pain and the trauma, it is still presented as safe and easy. Women will sometimes ask me, “I’ve heard there is a pill I can take.” A pill to just magically make everything disappear. Only it is not simple, and some things never completely go away. Like the memory of a child who was conceived and then destroyed. It will take more than a pill to make that vanish from the mind or the heart.

Keeping it true!  Barb

The Long, Dismal History of Men and Abortion (Can it Change?)

We hear a lot about women and abortion. One of the most heart-breaking aspects of unplanned pregnancy is the thought of single mothers struggling to raise children on their own. Unfortunately, in today’s society, that rarely leads us to ask where the father is. Why is that?

Women abandoned in pregnancy by men is certainly not a new phenomena. It has happened all through history. The difference today is that it is so readily accepted. “Baby Daddy” is becoming a nauseatingly common term to describe the men in the lives of the women who come to us at the AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling. It is not uncommon for men to have children by several different women (or for the women to have babies with several fathers!)

Television, movies and music make it almost appear that every man makes it his mission to sleep with as many women as he can. After all, what is the big deal? If she gets pregnant, that is her problem. She should have been more careful. Or, maybe she was trying to trap him into a relationship. Now it is her choice what to do, and she will just have to live with the consequences.

I read a book not too long ago that I found both disturbing and interesting (disturbingly interesting?) Called, Promises I Can Keep, Why Poor Women Put Motherhood Before Marriage, it interviewed many women who had chosen to have babies years before being willing to make a marriage commitment. These women, mostly from inner city Philadelphia, explained that the men around them were too immature and primarily jobless in their teens, twenties, and even into their thirties. However, the women felt they were ready for children and did not want to postpone motherhood until the men were mature enough for a committed relationship. Therefore, single motherhood was a conscientious choice on their part.

I have no doubt that there are women who make this deliberate decision to head into parenting alone. However, I see girls and women everyday who make a choice of life or death for their unborn child based on the commitment level of their boyfriend or husband. If he is willing to commit to the relationship and the birth of the child, in most cases she will not abort. If not, then she will most likely terminate the life of their baby. His support is crucial!

In fact, we have seen this correlation so clearly that we started a Men’s Ministry a couple of years ago. It is our goal to have a mature Christian man here whenever we are open to speak to the boyfriends and husbands who accompany the woman to their pregnancy test appointments. Therefore, instead of him sitting in our lobby, reading a magazine or newspaper (or taking a nap) he hears the same information and Gospel presentation that she does.  The men are also encouraged to stand up for the life of their child, that he can be instrumental in the choice his girlfriend or wife will make. The world tells him he has no say, but that is a lie!

Two pro-life organizations, Issues4Life Foundation and The Radiance Foundation have also started a billboard campaign called, “Fatherhood begins in the Womb.” A copy of it is shown at the top of this blog. It is aimed at  exposing “the culture of abandonment that abortion has created by revealing the statistics of fatherlessness, single-parent poverty, and the deterioration of two-parent married households.” Men are directed to a website called TooManyAborted.Com.

It is a proven fact that the single greatest factor behind child poverty is single parenthood. It is also the number one reason that kids grow up and commit crimes, drop out of school, and become single parents themselves. For the sake of future generations, things have to turn around. Unfortunately, scores of little boys are growing up without a man to teach them how to be a responsible father, causing the number of men who abandon their children to get larger and larger. Something drastic has to be done to reverse this tragic trend.

In addition to our Men’s Ministry, we also have speakers in the schools who encourage men to wait until marriage for sex so that they can take responsibility for their children. We are starting a new program this year called “Marriage is Cool,” which brings primarily happily married African-American couples into the classroom to show kids that it can be done.  Please pray for our success!

I have to ask: what are churches in our community doing to combat this problem? How are we encouraging and teaching boys to become responsible men? I know the Hope Center is doing all it can to reverse this trend. How about you? Is there something you can do?

Keeping it true!  Barb

Religious Leaders Espousing Abortion: Modern Day Apostasy

My parents grew up in a very legalistic church.  For many reasons, they left it right before they got married. As a result, I was raised in an incredibly liberal church.

I distinctly remember hearing from the pulpit that the virgin birth was a myth and that Jesus was just a man. Fortunately, I had a grandmother who prayed for me everyday, and I gave my life to Christ in my teens. However, my memories of my religious upbringing still leave a bad taste in my mouth.

There are very strong admonitions in the Bible for spiritual leaders. Jesus said that it would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and to be dropped to the bottom of the sea than to lead a little one astray. Church leaders are looked to for spiritual authority; people in their congregation often blindly believe whatever they say. One can usually find a spiritual authority to justify just about anything, and some go seeking for the right advise to “tickle their ears.” However, there are many innocents who are also led tragically astray.  

I have learned the hard way to test everything according to Scripture. I’ve also been bruised by Bible verses twisted out of context, wielded by leaders who said the right things but left a wake of battered victims in their path, their faith shaken to the core. It is comforting to know that nothing is hidden from God and that there will be a day of reckoning; but, to be honest, nothing makes me angrier than people who use their religious authority for their own power and gain.  

I recently read an excellent blog written by Live Action (Lila Rose’s amazing organization!) about just such a “religious” leader. Rev. Debra Haffner (the “Reverend” already radiating a warning beacon in my head) declared in the August 3, 2011 issue of the Huffington Post that “many struggle because they have incorrectly believed the prevailing rhetoric that people of faith oppose abortion, that Scripture opposes abortion, and that having an abortion would be a sin.” Her main argument for all of this? The fact that neither the Old or New Testament specifically mentions or outlaws abortion.

You know, this reminds me of an argument a friend of mine gave at the last election. He wasn’t going to vote because it is never mentioned in the Bible that Jesus voted. Whereas I can appreciate him wanting to follow Jesus in all things, we have to remember that those times were drastically different from our own. The Roman Empire ruled Israel with an iron fist. They were not concerned with the lowly opinions of the Jewish rabble. Voting is a privilege that has been rather rare in our world. It is a priceless gift that we need to safeguard.

Rather than to assume that destroying life in the womb in okay because there are no direct commands not to, I would argue that since there is no mention of it at all we should assume that life is a continuum that should never be destroyed. Stopping a beating heart is murder, no matter  the age of the victim. There are no express commands about a whole host of things, and yet, I think that overlying principles are meant to apply. The Bible is clear that we are formed by God in our mother’s womb, with all the days He has for us already planned out before us. John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit in the womb. Jesus was the Son of God even when he was only a one-cell combination of divine sperm with a human egg.

Ms. Haffner (enough with the Rev.) goes on to say that “we understand the sanctity of human life is best upheld when it is created intentionally.” Oh really? So, does that mean that our value is determined by our parents and not by God? If one child’s father thinks they are worthless and another one’s father thinks he is the greatest thing on earth, is the one child worth more than the other? Does she realize how ridiculous she sounds?

She goes on to expound about how many denominations there are that espouse abortion rights, as if that somehow makes everything okay. Ms. Haffner defends it all by espousing “religious pluralism.” In other words, you can believe what you want to believe as long as you say I am correct as well. So, I can believe that abortion is murder, and that is okay as long as I say it is also a woman’s choice and is perfectly fine in some circumstances. I’m sorry, Reverend, but the truth is the truth is the truth. Babies in the womb are either human or they are not. They either have God-given value or they don’t. Abortion is either wrong or it is right: it cannot be decided on an individual basis. Otherwise, we live in a world where any atrocity can be justified and no sane world can live by that and survive.

It was the religious leaders of His day that caused Jesus the most anger and for whom He had the strongest words. “Brood of vipers” comes to mind. I’m sorry, but I have spoken with too many women who say they believe in Jesus, but have no problem heading to the abortion clinic. Statistics back me up on this: people of faith have just as many abortions as anyone else. Sadly, I know that many churches are silent on the subject; or, if they do speak out it is to encourage their women to put their concerns first and do what they “need” to do. After all, God understands and He will forgive. God have mercy! Yes, He forgives, but He is also a God to be feared. And, there is a Judgment Day waiting for us all.

I confess that I have not prayed much for religious leaders like Ms. Haffner. They need the saving grace of Jesus just like I did so many years ago. My eyes are only open because He opened them for me. So, I need to repent and pray. However, we all make our own choices. And, there are none so blind as those who will not see.

Keeping it true!  Barb

Is Government Funding for Embryonic Stem-Cell Research Hurting American Medical Advances?

When Peyton Manning, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, needed a procedure done to help him recover from a neck injury, he travelled to Europe to get it done. His own stem cells were removed and then used to regenerate cells in his neck. I’m not certain of the results, but I hope it was successful.

Privately funded research in the United States continues to work on advances with adult stem cells. In fact, every case you have ever read about successful treatments with stem cells has been with adult cells. Why? Because embryonic stem cells have never been used to treat anyone of anything! And yet, our government continues to pour millions into research that not only destroys human life, but is having no success. And no one can explain why.

Other countries are moving past us with stem cell technology at an incredible rate. Granted, not all of it is safe. There are some scary reports coming out of China of people who have spent large amounts of money for so-called ”stem cell therapies” that have resulted in death.  All medical advances, no matter what the type, need to be placed under scrutiny, ensuring they are being done ethically and under strict guidelines. However, China has a reputation for weird and dangerous treatments which promise all kinds of outlandish things. (Remember their recent capsules composed of the remains of aborted babies?) I’m not sure why anyone would trust anything that comes out of that brutal and amoral nation.

However, European scientists appear to be on the forefront of a lot of the adult stem cell technology. In the most basic of laymen’s terminology, they are taking stem cells from the patient and using those cells to treat a whole host of conditions and diseases. Modern advances allow them to take one type of cell, like a skin cell, and turn it directly into another type of cell.  These autologous stem cell transplants are now being used to treat a whole host of conditions, with the list growing longer all the time. (Scientists even predict there will be a day when they will be able to grow new organs, such as kidneys and hearts, from the patients own stem-cells for transplantation purposes!)

So, why is the United States lagging behind in this amazing technology? One reason is the FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.) Their regulations are pretty strict. To this point, they have placed stem-cell based products in the same category as new drugs as far as the amount of testing required before being used on humans.

Dr. Frank Falco, a member of the American Stem Cell Therapy Association (ASCTA) claims that stem cell treatment should be examined in a different light. “We are talking about a person using their own tissue to treat a degenerative disorder or process safely without the use of medications or surgery.” He agrees that oversight and standards are necessary, but that these should be overseen by physicians rather than a government agency.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. I like feeling secure that the medications I use come under tight scrutiny. This is for our protection. However, I’ve also become aware that this can be a political game. There are clear indications that some of the drugs that cause abortions, such as the morning after pill and RU-486, are not receiving the scrutiny that they should. So, perhaps, some receive tighter guidelines as well, depending on whatever political wind is blowing.

I have no proof that developments with adult stem cell research are not as advanced here because of the government’s insistence on supporting embryonic developments. However, it cannot be denied that the more research funding that a product receives, the faster the results will come.  We need to start insisting that our tax dollars no longer go to support the futile and evil practice of cannibalizing tiny human beings for their stem cells and transitioning those funds to adult stem cell technology which is revolutionizing medicine around the world!

Call your representatives. Vote your convictions. Speak loudly. Let’s turn this thing around!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Can There Really Be A “Wrongful Birth”?

Tony Melendez and Nick Vujicic (pictured as a child) have several things in common. Tony plays guitar with his feet, and is actually quite accomplished. He once played for the Pope. Nick lives life with few limits, he skies and surfs and does anything he sets his mind to. Oh, and one last thing: Tony was born with no arms, and Nick has neither arms or legs.

Both Nick and Tony’s parents were shocked at the first sight of their newborn sons. However, they loved and encouraged their children, providing the best of medical care. Most of all, they never wished that the boys had never been born!

On Monday, a jury in West Palm Beach, Florida, awarded Ana Mejia and Rodolfo Santana $4.5 million in a “wrongful birth” lawsuit for their son, Bryan. Like Nick and Tony, Bryan was born without some of his limbs. In his case, he was born without either arm and one leg. His parents claimed if they had known, they would have aborted him.

They say that they will use the money to provide quality care for meeting their son’s needs. I have no reason to doubt that they will. That may have even been their motivation for the lawsuit. However,  how does the fact that your parents have declared to the world that your birth was a mistake and it would have been better if you had been aborted affect a child? What kind of message does it send to disabled people everywhere?

Nick Vujicic tells his story in a book called “Without Limits.” He talks about a childhood that was full of difficulties: confronting bullies and struggling with day-to-day challenges. However, with the love and support of his family, he has built a wonderful, fulfilling life. A strong believer, he is a popular speaker who shares his faith with thousands!

In 1999, Willy and Cindy Fields won a $1.7 million “wrongful birth” settlement for their daughter Jade, who was born severely retarded, and can’t walk or see. In spite of admitting that Jade is “the best thing that could ever have happened to us,” they also admit that if they had known of her condition they would have aborted her, even late into the pregnancy. They strongly believe that she would have been better off dead than living with handicaps.

I cannot comprehend this way of thinking. I think it is bad enough when parents say that one of their children was a “mistake,” even if they say it in a laughing manner. However, to fully admit that they would have chosen to kill the child rather than to have it live a life “less than perfect” is unconscionable! That kind of knowledge must be the worst kind of handicap to overcome, by far!

People are never a mistake, no matter what condition they are in at birth. A new blood-test is expected to be released soon which will be able to test for a whole host of genetic abnormalities early in pregnancy. One scientist rejoiced that we will begin to see several genetic conditions totally disappear. That is not exactly true. Those children will just have been slaughtered before they could ever be born. It will not be a cure, it will be embryonic genocide!

I would never wish physical suffering on any child. However, aren’t we all handicapped in one way or another? Some children get picked on for being shy or if they are considered unattractive. Some boys struggle because they aren’t athletic. Will we keep seeking for some means of testing physical and mental attributes in the womb so that we can all produce our image of the perfect child? How far are we willing to go?

Also, I believe that our concept of death is skewed if we believe that death is ever the best option for a child. We were all created by God and destined for the purpose he intended for us to serve. Even a child with severe handicaps can do powerful things in the lives of those who love and care for them. If you ask their parents, they would tell you that even the most severely handicapped child is a greater blessing than they would have ever imagined.

As human beings we are all handicapped with limited vision. We cannot see things as God sees them. “He knows the plans He has for us before one of them was ever accomplished!” (Psalm 139) To Him, there is no such thing as a “wrongful birth,” but there are millions of “wrongful deaths.” They are called abortions. Abortion not only destroys lives full of amazing potential, but it robs us all of the opportunities that we would have if we had been able to experience all that those lost ones would have to offer. We are the poorer for their loss!

Keeping it true!  Barb

 

Message to Pat Robertson and Others: Please Don’t Compromise the Truth!

Blogs like this make me very sad to write.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we are held to a higher standard, and rightfully so. The world around us increasingly rejects the notion that truth is absolute. However,  those whose lives have been given to Jesus have a sure and strong foundation for what we believe: the Bible, God’s Word which is the same yesterday, today and forever.

We have to constantly fight to keep the ever-changing philosophies of the world out of our thinking. This is a difficult thing to do since we are surrounded by it on every side. Television, movies, music: they all send an underlying message which will subtly undermine our convictions if we let them.

Earlier this year, I talked about Pastor Chuck Smith, and his response to a woman who was pregnant with conjoined twins. Her doctor recommended abortion, telling her the babies probably would not survive birth. Chuck Smith agreed with him, siting the “extreme nature” of the situation, and the suffering the parent’s were experiencing.

Just last week, Pat Robertson, host of the ’700 Club’, was told the story of a listener whose spouse had Alzheimer’s disease. He wanted to begin seeing another woman because his wife didn’t even recognize him anymore and he was lonely.  Robertson told the man that he would probably be justified in divorcing his wife, because Alzheimer’s was “a kind of death.” He did encourage the man to make sure his ailing wife was being cared for, but that his divorce would be justified.

There is this underlying philosophy in our culture today that personal suffering should be avoided at all cost. Happiness has become the noblest of goals, justifying all types of behavior which previously had not been considered right or good. Abortions happen everyday because of the inconvenience people will experience at the birth of a child; families are abandoned and commitments are broken.

The Bible is full of scriptures on suffering. Jesus promised that “in this world we would have tribulation.” Romans 5:3 tells us to “rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Perseverance, and character: these used to be held up as noble and desired traits.  I’m not sure they are anymore.

Pat Robertson’s response to his male listener was pathetically misguided on many levels. While I was searching for the facts of what was actually said and done, I read several stories of people who stayed with spouses who were ravaged by Alzheimer’s, tenderly loving them even though they no longer knew their name. Their unselfish commitment to their spouse made me cry.  While holding the hand of her vacant eyed husband, one woman smiled and said, “I am not a hero. This is my husband and this is what life has given us.“

Even if one doesn’t believe in the Bible, staying true to one’s spouse, no matter what life brings, is just good common decency.  Every news network out there ran a story on Robertson’s comments. And, all of them had case after case of good people who stayed with their mate, no matter what the cost. It doesn’t require a Bible scholar to realize that Pat Robertson really dropped the ball on this one.

However, like I mentioned before, I find that these recent comments fit a disturbing pattern in the church. More and more, the people of God seem to rationalize sin as a way to avoid suffering. Mothers who discover their unborn child has a horrible or fatal condition; spouses with tragically ill partners; parents with a pregnant teenager: all these situations and more will bring suffering, sometimes more than seems bearable. Yet, if the spiritual leader offers a compromise which runs contrary to scripture, he not only leads them into sin but also robs them of the blessing God will surely bring through faithfulness in the midst of the hardest trials.

At the AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling, we have begun to encounter more and more people who proclaim Christ as Lord, yet are determined to abort. They know it is wrong, but they feel that their actions are justified because of the pain and embarrassment this new child will bring into their lives. Some of them truly believe that God would not want them to suffer. Others state that they know He would not want them to abort, but that He will forgive them.

I don’t want to blame all of this thinking on church leaders. I know that the whole “put myself and my happiness first” mentality has strongly permeated our society. That is all the more reason for pastors and teachers to stand strong! This is a battle we are fighting. As Paul says to the Corinthians: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

Pastors: don’t let the hard cases sway you. The truth is still the truth, even in the toughest of times. If we remain faithful, He will bring us through it, and our suffering will not only be rewarded, but will refine us into someone far better than we could ever imagine ourselves to be.

Keeping it true!  Barb

The Debate Over Gardasil Goes Way Beyond Politics

Unless you are ignoring the political debates all together (which is a temptation) you have been hearing about Gardasil, a vaccine which protects women against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is the leading (perhaps the only) cause of cervical cancer. A few years ago, Texas Governor and Republican candidate, Rick Perry signed a law mandating that all 11-12 year old girls in the state be injected with Gardasil in order to protect them from HPV. The law has since been rescinded, but the controversy continues to follow him.

I can’t say that I support Governor Perry in his decision. I think mandating this type of thing would be like ordering all teen-age girls to go on the birth control pill. However, to a certain degree I do sympathize with him. Gardasil has been proven to protect young woman against cervical cancer. There is a lot that can be said for that. In making his decision, I think it was pretty obvious that he was not given all the facts. On the other hand, he is a grown man who is responsible for a big state and he should have done some research of his own.

In order to understand the whole debate, let’s start at the beginning. What exactly is HPV? Well, as the name states, it is a virus. Actually, it is about 150 related viruses, 40 of which are spread sexually. Several of these viruses can cause warts in the genital region which are highly contagious. They also have no cure.

Other types of the virus can result in cervical cancer. Having many sexual partners is one of the top risk factors for developing HPV, but it can also be the result of only one sexual contact.  Smoking and having many children are conditions which may make certain women more vulnerable to HPV becoming cancer.

As I mentioned, Gardasil has been proven to protect against certain types of the virus developing both into warts or cancer. However, it is not fool-proof. The injection only protects against two of the viruses which cause up to 70% of the cases of cervical cancer. It also prevents up to 90% of the warts. Women should not think they are home free just because they receive the drug.

As for Gardasil, some have argued that the drug received approval before it had been fully tested. Even the Center for Disease Control’s website reported that there have been as many as 68 deaths that occurred after the injection was given. Blood clots have also been reported. Some of these are being disputed, but up to half of the deaths involved patients with no other risk factors.  Until these can be explained, I think the drug has to be suspect. (What other type of vaccine would even remain on the market if there was even the slightest hint that it may kill someone?)

I find myself with some conflicts concerning Gardasil. On the one hand, I am glad for any type of drug that can prevent cancer. HPV and cervical cancer are both horrible diseases, and women who are sexually active should  consider getting the injection. My problem comes when we begin to discuss routinely inoculating teenage girls.

I cannot deny that there are a whole host of medications and devises that prevent some pregnancies and STD’s. The problem with all of them is that there is NOTHING which will protect completely except for abstaining from sex before marriage and remaining faithful in marriage. PERIOD!

Many of the promotional puff pieces for Gardasil claim it prevents cervical cancer. NO IT DOESN’T! Almost one-third of the time, Gardasil cannot do a thing to prevent HPV. And, the more partners a woman has, the more likely her chances of encountering one of those deadly, unpreventable viruses. The tragic thing is that she will most likely think she is safe, and not seek a routine PAP smear like she should.

Condoms give young people the same delusion of invulnerability. They’ve been told if they use a condom, or practice “safe sex”, they will be immune from pregnancy or disease.  It becomes a type of deadly “Catch 22″: the safer you feel, the more you will have sex. The more you have sex, the more likely you will be of getting caught where you don’t want to be. What’s my proof? Our society has been dispensing condoms like candy and where has it gotten us? Have things improved? No, they’ve gotten worse!

I know that there are many voices shouting that condoms and Gardasil are better than nothing; that we must do something because kids are going to have sex. I certainly do not have the problem with either condoms or Gardasil like I do with the birth control pill and devices (which prevent implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall, causing an early abortion, and also increase the risk of breast cancer.) I certainly never want to see young women get cervical cancer. However, I still cling to the belief that until we call our young people to a higher standard, none of this will ever change.

Even if every 12-year-old in America received an injection of Gardasil, teenage pregnancy would still run rampant. Too many would still become infected with STD’s. And, hundreds would still die of cervical cancer. This does not even begin to cover the emotional epidemic of depression and worthlessness sweeping our nation because of sexual abuse and misuse. Plus, who knows how many young women will die as the result of the vaccine, or even what other side effects are yet to be seen.

It is time that we quit trying to put a tiny band-aid over a gaping wound.  There is not a super-drug that can be found that will fix the problems that rampant and irresponsible sex have done to ruin millions of lives. What we need is a drastic change of mind and heart.  What we need  is Jesus.

Keeping it true!  Barb

Will Ohio’s “Heartbeat Law” Jeopardize or Help the Outlawing of Abortion?

There has been a debate stirring in the state of Ohio. In June of this year, the Ohio State House passed a pro-life bill which would ban abortions once an unborn child’s heart has begun to beat. Amazing, right? Well, Ohio Right to Life has taken a stand against it. How could that possibly be?

Actually, I can see both sides of the argument. I tend to lean towards the side that is promoting the bill. I’m certainly not a legal expert, but I think it is necessary to always be pushing the courts to reverse abortion on demand altogether. The only way this can be done is to have the states keep passing regulations which restrict abortions within their borders.

Ohio Right to Life is certainly against any type of abortion, period. Their issue is not that they disagree with the legislation; I’m sure they would be thrilled if they thought the law could stand. Their fear, however, is that this bill is taking things too far too soon. A second pro-life bill that also passed this session is one which bans all abortions past the point where the baby can live outside the womb, or around 22 weeks (in most cases.) Many states have passed this type of law, and it has only recently been challenged by a woman in Idaho (however, I have not heard that the courts have actually done anything with this.)

Ohio Right to Life is concerned that the courts will consider the “Heartbeat Law” too extreme and passage will give judges an excuse to repeal other pro-life laws in their state, including informed consent. In addition, they are worried that the bill may go all the way to the Supreme Court, only to be used to solidify Roe vs. Wade instead of weakening it.  They consulted some legal experts who confirmed that this law could create additional legal problems for a total ban on abortion.

I guess I don’t understand how this could happen. South Dakota has passed some pretty radical bills outlawing abortion which have been quickly enjoined in court battles, but have never done any damage to other legislation. At least I am not aware that it has. The state still has some pretty awesome laws firmly in place.

Even if the “Heartbeat Law” is pretty radical, I think it serves several purposes even if it does get struck down (which it will, barring a miracle.) Publicity surrounding the bill has educated many people to the fact that a baby’s heart starts beating at 22 days past conception. It is amazing how many people have no idea that this is true. In our office, women are constantly amazed to see the heart beating away in their very tiny unborn child (in fact, sometimes that is all we see is just that little flicker!) Such education is necessary to counteract the lies which have been spread by the pro-abortion forces.

Plus, laws, such as banning partial birth abortions, are only in place because some states had the courage to pass them when people said there was no hope of them being upheld. Several attempts were made and defeated before the law was finally upheld by the Supreme Court. In order for Roe vs. Wade to be overturned, state laws challenging abortion must first be passed. Who knows which one will finally turn the tide?

So, what do you think? Is the “Heartbeat Law” too much too soon? Should pro-life forces focus on one battle at a time, perhaps gaining a ban on late-term abortions before moving to the next stage? Will other laws be placed in jeopardy by laws which go too far? Only time will tell if that is true or not.

Oh, one other side note which I found disturbingly interesting. Cathy Levy, who is director of the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, spoke up against the new laws (no surprise there!) She gave the same old tired line that these laws would send women back to the back-alleys for abortions (a claim which has always been greatly exaggerated!) She states: “Is the coat hanger what God would want for a beloved daughter?”  No, Cathy, it’s not. But neither does He want his daughters to kill their children, because they are His sons and daughters too!

The “Heartbeat Law’ is supposed to go to the Ohio Senate soon where the Republican majority has a good chance of passing it. I will keep you posted on the story as it develops. Please pray that no matter what happens that fewer babies will end up dying in the state of Ohio!

Keeping it true!  Barb

Infanticide: The Next Stage in Determining “Quality of Life”?

“Quality of Life.” Sounds good, doesn’t it? We all want our lives to be one of quality; fulfilling our hopes and dreams and finding happiness. The reality is that the same standard that I set for my life may not apply to anyone else.  God created each of us for a unique purpose, and we dare not set any standards to define which lives are worth living and which are not.

Yesterday, I discussed the danger of playing God within the womb. Down-syndrome babies, like the sweet, happy little girl pictured here, are becoming very rare, since the great majority are discovered and destroyed in the womb.  There are new blood tests available that can diagnose Down’s at a very early stage of pregnancy. If the Obama administration has their way, these tests will be fully covered by insurance as “preventative medicine.” Almost 80% of those who are discovered are aborted.  I’m sure the same is true for a whole host of different medical conditions.

Last week, a Canadian woman was set free with no jail time after strangling her newborn child and throwing the baby into the neighbor’s yard. She was 19 at the time. Both of her jury trials ended in her being found guilty of 2nd degree murder, but each time it was overturned. Finally, the Alberta Court of Appeal overturned the last conviction and changed the charge to infanticide, which carries a maximum of five years in prison.

“Infanticide” is a legal term. It refers to the killing of babies in the first few hours or days after birth. Under Canada’s Criminal Code, a woman who kills her newborn can be tried under the lesser charge of infanticide if she has found to not have “fully recovered” from the effects of birth. Supposedly, there must be evidence that her mind was disturbed. This Canadian woman’s lawyer argued that she was a classic case, since she was a woman who found herself with a baby but was alone and unsupported (yes, she was unmarried, but the crime was committed in her parent’s home.)

Do this bother you as much as it does me? By this definition, it appears that any single mother could make a good case for killing her child right after it is born. Plus, what women, single or married, is not in a state of duress immediately after giving birth to a child? At the very least, they are in a state of exhaustion. Within the first 24 hours after birth, every mother can be defined as “not fully recovered from the effects of birth.” So, does that give us all a license to kill?

There is a growing movement in this country towards allowing infanticide if a newborn fits one of three criteria: first, they have no chance of survival; second, they may survive for a period of time, but their future looks very grim; and, third, even if they are not suffering now, their medical condition will most likely cause them great suffering later in life. Lest you think this is far-fetch, it is already being widely practiced in the Netherlands.

Pro-lifers often point out the hypocrisy in allowing babies to be killed in the womb, sometimes just hours before they will be born. How can one minute they not be considered human when in the next moment they are? Well, these doctors in the Netherlands would agree with that. Their solution, however, is that newborns should not be considered as human either, at least until it is determined that they are healthy. Only then do they have value.

In fact, the report which I read, quoting from a report entitled “Ending the Life of a Newborn,” stated that instead of aborting a child in-utero that parents should wait and see if the child truly has the suspected medical condition. Once that has been verified, then the death should take place.  They state: “We join disability activists who condemn the routine recommendation of abortions performed for no other reason than to prevent the birth of an affected baby.” Their solution? Find out for sure if the baby is handicapped or not, and then kill it if it is to prevent future suffering.

Satan has turned our world on its head, hasn’t he? In the Netherlands, death has been redefined as being “the most caring response” to a child’s prospective pain. When did we lost track of the truth that death is the end of all hope? Death leaves no room for miracles or future scientific breakthroughs. How many cases have we heard of grim diagnosis that never became reality? Of children who walked and talked when doctors gave no hope of them living beyond their first birthday?

This is just the beginning of the atrocities which we will see if we don’t eradicate this “quality of life” standard which we have set. How dare we as frail, weak human beings presume to decide who is worthy of life and who is not! Even as parents we do not own our children;  we are to be their loving guides, caring for them until they can set off on their own. It is not for us to decide if they fit our standards of convenience or worthiness. That belongs in the hands of God alone!

If we allow the killing of infants because of present or future medical conditions, then what will prevent us from moving to the point where we will rationalize killing an older child or even an adult when they are diagnosed with a potentially painful and crippling disease? Will we then decide that their life is  of a lower quality than should be tolerated? If so, then we will all be doomed to live our lives never knowing when our worth can be stripped away. Indeed there are many who have already met that fate. The name Terri Shaivo comes to mind.

We are of value because God created us.  That is as true for the person who lies in a ‘vegetative’ state or a child with Down’s Syndrome, as it is for the most brilliant scientist in the world.  When man plays God and begins to define the meaning of purpose and value, then none of us is safe.

Keeping it true!  Barb