Illinois Right to Life Committee
Fall 2011 IRLC News
Rockford Abortion Facility Closed When License Suspended
"180" Movie Shows Conversions to Pro-Life
Embryonic Stem Cells Shown to be Unnecessary and Problematic
President's Report: Congress Investigates Planned Parenthood
Considering the Mystery of Christian Suffering
Are Food and Water Ever a Medical Treatment?
Protecting Teenage Girls From Forced Abortions
Clinic Workers are the Abortion Industry's Weak Link
Rockford Abortion Facility
Closed Even
without passage of HB 3156 in the Illinois Legislature to apply ambulatory surgical center
regulations to abortion facilities (as reported in the Summer IRLC News), the Illinois
Department of Public Health has taken action against a dangerous abortion facility located
in Rockford. Might that be a reflection of
just how bad conditions were found to be at that abortion facility? Given
the lack of any apparent regulation of abortion facilities in Illinois for many years,
suspending the license and at least temporary closure of an abortion facility in Illinois
is very good news for the safety of women, but was largely unexpected. Might these circumstances make this a newsworthy
event? Apparently, the Chicago media did not
think so as they ignored, or should we say censored, the story. But
it is true! The notorious Northern Illinois Women’s Center was closed on
September 30th by the Illinois Department of Public Health, based on a suspension notice
that stated “the department had found conditions at the facility that are a direct
threat to the public interest, health, safety and welfare requiring immediate, emergency
action.” According
to the Rockford Register Star,
inspectors discovered during the inspection on September 15 that neither of the two
abortionists had required hospital privileges. The clinic had no registered nurse
present during invasive procedures as required, nor was a registered nurse available to
supervise the nursing care of patients. The clinic also lacked an agreement with a
licensed laboratory to conduct tests not done at the clinic. The inspectors also
found that all three of the abortion rooms “failed to ensure a sanitary
environment.” Surgical instruments were not sanitized, and “brown
substances” were found on surgical equipment and gloves. The
Northern Illinois Women's Center has requested a hearing to get back its license.
A pre-hearing date has been set for October 31st so stay tuned for what happens
next. In the meantime, no abortions have been committed there since September 30th. IRLC can only thank the Illinois Department of Public Health for taking decisive action to protect women from this dangerous abortion facility. What might they find if they perform thorough inspections of other abortion facilities in Illinois?
"180" Movie Shows Conversions to Pro-Life The
movie "180" is named to reflect the complete reversal of position on abortion
that is shown by one person after another. This movie is a triple play.
Actual conversions are shown on the screen. It also converts people who watch it and
witness those conversions. Finally, it empowers viewers to follow its example to
achieve conversions themselves. This documentary is available at www.180movie.com
for online viewing. Ray
Comfort began his effort by discussing the Nazi Holocaust. Most agreed that they
could not help the Nazis kill Jewish people, even though it was legal under Hitler's laws.
When he switched to abortion, he found a different attitude. He asked them to
complete this sentence: "It's OK to kill a baby in the womb, when ..."
They had trouble doing so. He noted the
inconsistency of taking a position against killing Jews legally, but accepting the killing
of children in the womb legally. Many recognized the problem with their position on
abortion and made a 180 turn to a Pro-Life position. Watch "180" and see
for yourself.
Embryonic Stem Cells Shown to be Unnecessary and Problematic The National Institutes of Health
continues to approve Federal funding for research using new embryonic stem cell lines. These new embryonic stem cell lines were obtained
by killing embryos to harvest their stem cells. Meanwhile,
other research further confirms that embryonic stem cells are the wrong source for
developing new medical treatments for human patients. The
attraction of embryonic stem cells has been the characteristic of pluripotency, meaning
the ability of cells to become most, or even all, of the cell types in the body.
Pluripotency has motivated many research scientists to ignore adult stem cells because
they want a more flexible source of cell types. But other scientists have already
found techniques to convert adult cells back to pluripotent cells. Now
an article called “Skipping Pluripotency” explains a new reprogramming technique
developed in Italy that can convert adult stem cells (e.g. skin cells) to other
specialized cells directly, eliminating any need to begin with pluripotent cells.
With these results, the push to produce more embryonic stem cell lines for research
becomes that much less compelling, even before considering the unethical nature of how
those embryonic stem cell lines are obtained. Other recent
research has established a better understanding of the tendency of embryonic stem cells to
create tumors in research animals. Family Research Council
(FRC) reports: Scientists
at UCLA have found that cells derived from pluripotent stem cells are developmentally very
immature, and do not resemble the adult cell types that they would theoretically replace
in a transplant. The immaturity was seen in cell derivatives from both embryonic stem
cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The data indicate that pluripotent
stem cells such as embryonic stem cells are inappropriate substitutes for adult stem cells
in patient treatments. Ironically,
the original intent of the UCLA study was to compare embryonic stem cells with induced
pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Since iPS cells do not require the killing of human
embryos, confirming they are equivalent to embryonic stem cells was of significant
interest. The UCLA study did confirm that iPS cells are truly equivalent to
embryonic stem cells. However,
when the embryonic and iPS cells were compared to normal human tissue cells, there were
significant differences that revealed the cells derived from embryonic stem cells were
developmentally very immature. Dr. William Lowry noted that these cells "may
present a challenge for transplantation, because the cells you end up with are not
something that’s indicative of a cell you’d find in an adult or even in a
newborn baby." In fact, these cells were most similar to cells less than six
weeks after conception, in the earliest stages of human development. Given
these findings, what is scientific about continued pursuit of embryonic stem cells when
the evidence confirms that medical advances need to rely on adult stem cells to help human
patients, and methods to more readily obtain those ethical stem cells have already been
found? Bill Beckman
President's Report: For years one of our major goals at
Illinois Right to Life has been to defund Planned Parenthood, to cut off the Federal
funding and the state funding from the nation’s largest abortion provider. The investigation into Planned Parenthood has
begun. It’s not focused on abortion, but
how they use their money and how they identify and report criminal activity, and whether
they are following the law. They have a
documented history of mismanaging government money and not following multiple laws. In a September 15 letter to Cecile
Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican, began
the investigation into Planned Parenthood. This
includes institutional practices and policies of the Planned Parenthood Federation of
America (PPFA) and its affiliates, and its handling of Federal funding. Stearns writes, “That Committee
(Energy and Commerce) has questions about the politics in place and actions undertaken by PPFA and its
affiliates relating to its use of Federal funding and its compliance with Federal
restrictions on the funding of abortion.” In the most recent reported year,
Planned Parenthood received $363 million taxpayer dollars.
This investigation is a big step in the process of defunding them. Rep, Stearns letter asks Richards to
comply with current Federal regulations and legal obligations by providing Congress with a
wide range of documents. He requested all
audit reports and detail regarding how much PPFA and each of its affiliates expended and
received in Title XIX Medicaid funding, Title X family planning, and any other Federal
funding. He specifically required information
related to improper billing of federally funded programs, proof that Federal funds are not
being improperly used to pay for abortions by PPFA or its affiliates, audits by state
agencies of any Planned Parenthood affiliate, and documentation of how many affiliates
currently receive Title X family planning funding. The Stearns letter also requests
documents on standards and practices related to billing issues, written policies and
procedures, and it requests information on how the abortion giant keeps its family
planning and abortion funds separate and segregated. Over recent years Planned Parenthood
has been accused of covering up cases of
statutory rape by failing to report abortions done on unborn children of teen
girls who have been victimized to authorities and by aiding and assisting alleged sex
traffickers in obtaining abortions and other services for the women and girls
they victimize. Rep. Stearns asked for information on
how PPFA detects criminal conduct and the policies and procedures in place to prevent it
or report all cases of suspected sexual abuse, including statutory rape and the policies
and procedures PPFA and its affiliates have in place to ensure that suspected sex
trafficking is reported to the proper authorities. The
document request came following multiple requests for an investigation from Pro-Life
groups including Americans United for Life, which issued a report
in July demonstrating financial irregularities in Planned Parenthood’s records. Planned Parenthood has responded to
this request by attacking those requesting the investigation. If they didn’t have problems, is this how
they would respond? The efforts to defund Planned Parenthood have increased. Several states have passed or are trying to pass legislation to defund Planned Parenthood. Exposing Planned Parenthood through the congressional investigation and eliminating Federal funding and state funding of Planned Parenthood would be a huge Pro-Life victory. Stay tuned! Rosemary Hackett
Considering the Mystery of Christian Suffering Cardinal
Raymond Burke discussed the meaning of Christian suffering at the “Being Faithful,
Even Unto Death” conference in Kansas City, Kansas on July 23, 2011. He
observed that hospice and palliative care are becoming code words for hastening death.
Even with a life-affirming advance directive and a doctor's order for a feeding
tube, a hospice in one case claimed these "no longer applied" for a stroke
victim, but the family insisted and got the feeding tube with much difficulty. How
many such cases are occurring, denying any chance of recovery? Cardinal
Burke noted that the secular culture has developed the view that suffering is useless, but
suffering and approaching death call for more care, not denial of care. Instead,
secular culture views suffering as justification to deny food and water. Right
reason from Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas find that taking innocent human life is always
wrong. Respect for the dignity of all human life is the only basis for protection of
all human beings. Any action or inaction intended to kill is senseless and inhumane,
rather than humane (as claimed by promoters of euthanasia and assisted suicide). Suffering
calls for unconditional love in providing care, not judging which lives are worthy and
which are not based on quality of life criteria. Referencing paragraph #2276
from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Burke noted that we must relate to
others in some way, even if not as desired, so euthanasia cannot be justified based on
lack of relating to the suffering person. In fact, relating to that person continues
to develop when done in love. Suffering
always has physical and spiritual dimensions, as with Christ. This recognition leads
us to unite our suffering with Christ including: uniting our heart with the heart of
Christ and sharing in His redemptive work. Further insights can be obtained from
"On Christian Meaning of Human Suffering" written by Pope John Paul II in 1984. Human suffering does not reduce human dignity, but demonstrates that dignity to us by the respect shown for those who suffer. Human suffering calls for respect and care, rather than a feeling that one "cannot see my relative live this way." Cardinal Burke recommended, “Turn to the mother of God for help. Never give way to discouragement or lose hope. Instead, follow Mary to Christ.”
Are Food and Water Ever a Medical Treatment? Denial
of food and water as a useless medical treatment that cannot be justified is becoming all
too prevalent today. Even though the Vatican has been clear that food and water,
even provided by artificial means, can never be considered a medical treatment (first in a
2004 speech by Pope John Paul II and then in a 2007 document that incorporated those
concepts), confusion about applying this principle seems to exist even in Catholic health
care facilities. Bobby
Schindler and Suzanne Vitadamo, brother and sister of Terry Schiavo, discussed this issue
at the “Being Faithful, Even Unto Death” conference in Kansas City, Kansas on
July 23, 2011. They observed that denying basic care such as food and water based on
"quality of life" (even when patients are neither dying nor terminal) is
becoming prevalent, both because food and water is being defined as a medical treatment
and through the influence of liberal organizations in health care and the media that are
pushing hastening of death as compassionate care. Defining
food and water as medical treatment is being pushed beyond cases of artificial means.
Food and water provided on a tray can now be considered a medical treatment because
it must be approved by a physician. Using this logic, food can be denied even if the
patient can eat directly, and certainly if some help is needed with feeding. Contrary to this movement toward denial of food and water, statistics show that as many as 848,000 people are using feeding tubes at some time during the year in our nation. Feeding tubes are needed both for permanent feeding and during recovery periods so they are very commonly used. How many of these people are now at risk from the Culture of Death?
Protecting Teenage Girls From Forced Abortions Most
states have enacted laws that give a pregnant woman of any age full rights to make her own
decision about a pregnancy. These laws were instigated by abortion advocates with
the intent of getting access to teenage girls to sell abortions without interference from
parents. However, if parents are trying to force an abortion on their teenage
daughter who does not want one, these laws give the daughter rights she may not know she
has. Documents
have been created to provide assistance to teenage girls who face these illegal forced
abortions. The Justice Foundation’s “Center Against Forced Abortions”
located at http://thejusticefoundation.org/cafa/ was created to provide legal resources to
mothers who are being forced or coerced into an unwanted abortion. The following
specific documents can be found there:
The
first letter is adressed to parents who are trying to force an abortion, warning them
against violating various laws. The second letter explains her rights to the
pregnant teenager. The third document provides a statement to the abortionist that
the teenage girl does not consent to an abortion. When
parents who are attempting to force an abortion on their pregnant daughter are presented
with the Dear Parent Letter, they very often reconsider the implications of their
threatened actions. Combined with Life Dynamics’s Letter to Abortionists, which
is a signed statement indicating the mother’s non-consent to an abortion,
the two documents form a powerful legal defense that empowers the teen mother to
stand for her child. Unfortunately,
government agencies such as DCFS and police department may not be willing to get involved,
so obtaining these documents is critical in helping teenage mothers avoid forced
abortions. If you learn of a teenage girl who
is being pressured into abortion by her parents, this is your opportunity to become a
lifesaver. If you need help to locate these
Justice Foundation documents, please call IRLC at 312-422-9300.
Clinic Workers are the Abortion Industry's Weak Link Nearly
two years ago, Abby Johnson decided to quit her job as manager of a Planned Parenthood
office in Bryan, Texas and join the Pro-Life movement.
Abby had finally realized that Planned Parenthood was not trying to reduce
abortions (as claimed), but was trying to sell as many abortions as possible. [Check out the information on Speak Out Illinois 2012 where you can learn
directly from Abby about her experiences working for and then leaving Planned Parenthood.] In
August, Abby Johnson appeared on a teleconference sponsored by 40 Days for Life where the
focus was on the abortion industry's weak link. David Bereit announced that two
other abortion facility directors have followed Abby Johnson's lead, leaving the abortion
industry and becoming active in Pro-Life efforts. Most
recently Ramona Trevino, manager at the Planned Parenthood facility in Sherman, Texas,
resigned from her position after the first ever 40 Days for Life was held there this
spring. She says she went from believing she was providing a service to women in
need, to realizing that Planned Parenthood “treated women like cattle and how they
only cared about making money.” Abby Johnson observed how important it is to reach out to clinic workers, many of whom are conflicted or uncertain about their jobs, and looking for a way out of the abortion industry. She recommends letting abortion facility staff know you are praying for them and can offer them help. Never consider clinic workers as the enemy. Use available resources to give them hope, such as Abby Johnson's book unPlanned and a new DVD “Changing Sides” that provides a video about Abby's experience. Both are available from Ignatius Press at www.ignatius.com.
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