News

Whether in the United States, Canada, or elsewhere, abortions harm women. The following statement is from Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued today, regarding the death of a young woman during a late-term abortion at the Germantown, Md., clinic of LeRoy Carhart.

"It has happened again. Another mother has been killed by so-called 'safe and legal' abortion. It happens constantly, in fact, but the abortion industry usually succeeds in covering it up. And even when they don't, the rest of us succeed in keeping it relatively quiet. That has to change today."

"Late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart began an abortion procedure a few days ago on a woman who was about 33 weeks pregnant. These abortions are legal, and he performs them at his killing center in Germantown, MD. Yesterday, she developed complications. The abortionist could not be reached. She was taken to the emergency room by private vehicle, and she died.

"Three things need to happen here. First, the state of Maryland has to shut down Carhart's killing business. Second, every person who cares about this needs to spread the word immediately about this tragedy, to awaken the consciences of our neighbors. This includes pastors speaking out about the harm abortion does, and it includes all of us telling the stories of those harmed and killed by abortion.

"Third, we need to redouble our efforts to mobilize people in the pro-life cause. If this latest tragedy isn't enough evidence that the time to end abortion is now, then what is?"

"No longer will we allow these women to remain unknown to the American public," Father Pavone said. "The silence ends today."

For more on this topic, click press conference to view a video produced by the Maryland Coalition for Life.

In yesterday's National Post, Jonathan Kay writes an excellent piece entitled "Some Questions for Carolyn Bennett."

A few of the merits I found are the following:

• Clear - his response to Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett's charge about the sparsity of late-term abortions is great;
• Knowledgable - he presents a breadth of information spanning not only abortion practices in Canada but also in other countries as well; and
• Authoritative - he cites several professional thinkers.

Enjoy!

A fortnight ago, Quebec's junior health minister Véronique Hivon announced that the provincial government is moving ahead with legislation aimed at permitting “dying with dignity.”

In the ensuing days, reaction was swift, both for and against this physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia bill that the government wishes to have in place before the summer break.

The following is a collection of articles and opinion appearing In Montreal's The Gazette - a daily publication, offering both a summary and links to each, where possible.

January 16: “End-of-life rules to be set out in new law,” Kevin Dougherty, A2.

This article treats the legislative and judiciary angles to Quebec’s proposed legislation for assisted suicide. After citing previous Canadian cases, the article presents the provincial government’s goal, based on a recently released study indicating what course to go. Also discussed is how the federal criminal code will be circumvented to permit.

Jan 16: “Not everyone agrees with panel’s controversial findings,” Katherine Wilton, A2.

The author presents several perspectives on physician-assisted suicide. First she summarizes the context as set by the provincial government for pursuing physician-assisted suicide program. From here she moves to treat the importance expanding palliative care services. A first physician is quoted acknowledging that the patient and no one else ought to decide. Next, a legal point is made about proper wording the legislation as not euthanasia nor assisted suicide but “dying with dignity.” Finally, a second palliative doctor is claimed to be an advocate as siding with euthanasia.

Jan 17: “Physician-assisted death will have tight rules,” Katherine Wilton, A8.

This article considers who the clients will be that benefit from the proposed legislation on physician-assisted suicide. It begins by citing a case in Oregon where the patient, a physician makes the decision for physician-assisted suicide. A second case concerns two Belgian twins who opted for death upon learning that they are going blind. Finally, the article ends by profiling the rules in the Quebec proposed legislation.

Jan 17: “A choice the terminally ill should be able to make,” The Gazette’s View, A18.

The Gazette’s editorial board describes as «sensible» the plans of the Quebec government to permit “people with debilitating terminal maladies the right to choose when and how to die.” The editorial rests its case on the report by a panel of “eminent legal experts” Furthermore, it claims that this course of action is endorsed by Quebecers, both in general and the professional ranks.

Jan 18: “A creeping culture of death,” Sherif Emil MD, Opinion, A15.

In this opinion piece, pediatric surgeon, Dr. Emil argues against the provincial government’s plan to enact legislation permitting physician-assisted suicide. The crux of his argument rests on his several decade experience of practicing in Quebec – from a student to working in the Montreal Children’s Hospital. In this period he has seen a degradation of the provincial health care network and that placing the patient in the position to decide his own fate is unfair particularly as it applies to children. Additional comments are made about the adverse moral stance of physicians and the ill-begotten Belgian model on which the Quebec one is based.

Jan 19: “Your Views” presents five letters with varying opinions on the proposed legislative course of the provincial government.

• William Raillant-Clark (re jan18)

Addressing the Emil article, the writer argues that individual rights trump whatever state the health care network is performing at.

• Dr. J.C .Pecknold… loss of dignity, intrinsic value of human life (re jan17)

The writer, a physician, argues against the proposed legislation as it would place members of his profession in an unethical position. Other comments about the importance of palliative care and the intrinsic value of human life are made.

• Robert Marcogliese (re jan17)

The author focuses on semantics, stating that “assisted-suicide” in not the same as “dying with dignity.”

• Shalom Spira (re jan17)

Mr. Spira questions under what authority can the government proceed with its stated course of action.

• Helene Bolduc, President, Association Quebecoise pour le droit de mourir dans la dignite (re jan15)

Ms. Bolduc takes up the individual rights argument in end-of-life matters. Further, she appears to wish to enlarge the scope of who could avail of the proposed legislaltion.

Jan 22: “No role for palliative care in euthanasia,” Dr. Manuel Borod, A16.

Addressing the article written by Mr. Dougherty (Jan16), Dr. Borod writes so as to clarify points that are confusing, misleading, and false. First, he states that the only new matter in the proposed legislation is the “right to have medical assistance in dying.” Second he notes that the end of palliative sedation is not the death of the patient as the article states but care that not “necessarily hastens death.” Finally, he states as Director of the division of Supportive and Palliative Care that the current objective “that all our patients die with dignity” and that the proposed legislation is a smokescreen for allowing “an act that directly causes death.”

Jan 23: “Euthanasia would be better than how my mother died,” Dianne Laheurte, Opinion, A17.

Dianne Laheurte writes in favour of euthanasia. She describes the death of her mother over a four year period, one characterized by gradual deterioration and adverse emotional impact on her and both of her parents.

Commentary

I find Mr. Spina’s observation interesting - what authority does the provincial government have to proceed with this legislative initiative. For example, the briefs presented at the “Dying with Dignity” provincial tour overwhelming favoured a course toward improved palliative care to the exclusion of both euthanasia or assisted suicide, many of whom were from the medical profession.

On the topic of dignity, it seems that dignity already exists in the care for those who are terminally ill. Drs. Emil and Borod write about this and both are well placed to know.

Also, it seems that if life lacks a certain quality about it, then it is not worth living. Hence individuals do want to be hindered in ending their lives.

Rapper Omekongo Dibinga wrote and performed the following video to draw attention to the deadly fate awaiting many young girls.

The clip includes candid footage. Saggering figures are given and a mother relates how she has killed her own daughters and where she burried them.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/DHE_3vRkpwk

Though the video focuses upon events in India and China, the destruction of young girls in their mother's wombs and shortly after birth is happening elsewhere.

A CBC report indicating that in utero girls are aborted right here in Canada prompted Conservative MP Mark Warawa (Langley) to present the following motion this past September 27, 2012 in the House of Commons: M-408: "That the House condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination."

Support for Motion 408 may be found here, including a petition you can sign and download in order to get others on board.

Under the guise of promoting our rights and freedoms, the Barreau du Québec is endorsing the culture of death.

The video by the body responsible for overseeing professional legal practice in the province - Le Barreau du Québec, shows a young woman upset with the positive results of a pregnancy test. The words "abortion rights" appear at the end of the segment.

Later on in the thirty second clip destined for television audiences, the video shows a bedroom setting in which an elderly weakened man and his family grieving over his diminishing health. The caption "dying with dignity" fades in.

As an astute commentator wondered whether (and how many of) the Barreau's membership was consulted about the views aired in this add.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) is launching a project aimed responsible health care - Declaration of Hope.

EPC Executive Director Alex Schadenberg writes that "... the Declaration of HOPE (is) to convince political leaders that Canadians want positive responses to difficult life conditions, not euthanasia or assisted suicide."

Please sign the Declaration of HOPE and forward the link to the Declaration of HOPE to all of your friends and contacts.

An open letter to all Canadian Parliamentarians written by the EPC may be found here.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Dear Friends of Life

I trust you have all had a blessed Christmas period.

I did and in a most unexpected manner.

Yes, there were the traditional joys of meeting friends and sharing meals.

In addition, as the New Year began, I received an unexpected phone call.

The caller was someone I knew well. He and his wife are faithful prayer warriors, active during our twice annual 40 Days for Life prayer vigils for the end of abortion. So faithful are they that they have been part of every single vigil we have organized since we first began them in Montreal, back in the spring of 2009 – an amazing eight campaigns!

On this day, another topic was on his mind. He was wondering whether I was free and willing to spend the afternoon with him laying down a primer coat in a couple of bedrooms of an apartment recently leased to an expectant mother.

Some background knowledge may be helpful at this point. The couple’s involvement during this past fall’s 40-day vigil took a most unexpected turn. They befriended a young woman anxious about her pregnancy. Under much parental pressure to abort her 19 week old child, she had gone to the Morgentaler facility, across the street from where we were praying. Fortunately, she left without aborting the child and came to speak to us and ever since we have been accompanying her.

The latest form of this support was the painting exercise.

I gladly accepted the invitation and despite my aching muscles on the following day, I have no regrets for having accepted the invitation. In fact, I feel blessed.

Subsequently, I learned that the final coats were done that same evening and the following day. Further that the following Saturday, mother, father and child moved into a newly painted 4 ½, leaving their outgrown bachelor apartment behind.

So, as many of us were celebrating the arrival of the Christ child, I was privileged to spend some time helping an expected mother.

We are committed to help women who face untimely pregnancies and choose life for their babies.

Unfortunately, not all of our encounters with pregnant women end so well. In my previous newsletter I had asked for prayers for another expected mother. Despite our best efforts to help, this young woman decided to abort her child.

Such incidents are all too typical of Quebec society where there are over 30 000 abortions yearly. And these figures do not take into account the children lost to abortifacients such as the morning-after pill.

What can be done? Prayer and Politics.

As our twice-yearly prayer vigil for the end of abortion has continued to garner strength, Further, we have expanded upon this by providing a daily presence outside abortions mills.

Since the beginning of January 2012, I have gone to spend at least an hour each day near a local abortion mill in silent contemplative prayer. Often alone, sometimes accompanied by a few faithful, I act in faith that my prayers will be heard and change will come.

One sign that change is happening is the increase in number of post-abortive people joining me in prayer. Jean-Olivier experienced the abortion of his child this past fall. Despite his wishes to have the child, the mother believed otherwise and aborted. Since then, he has joined me at the vigil location.

Have a blessed New Year,

Brian A. Jenkins

Outreach Coordinator

Quebec Life Coalition

P. S. Our own prayer warrior, Maria, is pregnant and all is going well, though she is suffering from much nausea. Please keep mother and child in your prayers.

Lauren Enriquez has written a revealing blog, splicing together candid quotes from abortionists concerning the work they do.

I reproduce a few below, while the full story - linked here, contains many more along with their references.

• “They [the women] are never allowed to look at the ultrasound because we knew that if they so much as heard the heart beat, they wouldn’t want to have an abortion.” Dr. Randall, former abortionist. Quoted in "Pro-Choice 1990: Skeletons in the Closet" by David Kuperlain and Mark Masters in Oct. “New Dimensions” magazine.
• “Even now I feel a little peculiar about it, because as a physician I was trained to conserve life, and here I am destroying it.” Dr. Benjamin Kalish, abortionist.
• “Sorrow, quite apart from the sense of shame, is exhibited in some way by virtually every woman for whom I performed an abortion, and that’s 20,000 as of 1995. The sorrow is revealed by the fact that most women cry at some point during the experience… The grieving process may last from several days to several years… Grief is sometimes delayed… The grief may lie sublimated and dormant for years.”  Dr. Susan Poppema, abortionist. (Poppema, S. & Henderson, M. (1996) Why I Am an abortion doctor. New York: Prometheus Books)

In today's Montreal Gazette, columnist Janet Bagnall writes a pretty good commentary on the plight of women. Her inspiration is drawn from the current political landscape in India, yet she touches upon issues related to aboriginal women here in Canada.

Her column would have been great had she not left out the high-number of sex-selective abortions there occuring. Children are being aborted at a high rate in India solely because they are girls.

As soon as public figures like Ms. Bagnall step out of the cloak of silence concerning this atrocity will women begin to receive the respect they deserve and their children the lives that is their right.

 Wonderful, touching video.

"The Dennehy's decide to give the gift of 'family' to nine children from around the world."