How are members of the Pro-Life movement responding to the murder of late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller? Our response first and foremost, is and has clearly been to condemn in no uncertain terms the murder of Dr. Tiller. All Pro-Life groups have condemned the murder, declared it unjustified and senseless, and expressed sympathy to the Tiller family and regret that George Tiller was denied the time to repent.
Though Pro-Lifers found what Dr. Tiller did - late term and third trimester abortions, repulsive, U.S. Law allowed him this license. While Pro-Lifers are unanimous in our condemnation of his murder, a murder committed by a schizophrenic and delusional unemployed drifter, we also recognize that Dr. Tiller's murder will be used an attempt to shut up the Pro-Life movement. We cannot let this happen.
Tiller's murder will be used by the radical Pro-Choice advocates as an accusation against the rhetoric of Pro-Lifers. They will say that our inflamed speech lead to Tiller's violent death, even though we did not pull the trigger. Their argument is essentially that when anyone (especially Bill O'Reilly or Randal Terry) said that Dr. Tiller had "Blood on his hands", this was an incitement to violence.
This is simply not true for the following reason. Do a web search for "Blood on his hands" and see how common this accusation is and how broad the spectrum of those so accused (Google returns nearly half a million references, but Pro-Lifers prefer to use www.goodsearch.com). Examples include Pope John Paul II, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the New York Times, Rapper Ice-T, author Salmon Rushdie, and President George W. Bush by nearly everyone in the Mainstream media. I could continue but you get the picture, the point is a phrase like “Blood on his hands” is used in all sorts of accusations where murder was not the end result.
Even Bill O'Reilly has been accused of having blood on his hands for having said Dr. Tiller had blood on his hands.
One emblematic “Blood on his hands” accusation illustrates the appropriateness of passionate rhetoric in an another important National debate: I speak of the accusation of the blood on the hands of Lawyer John Yoo of the White house Office of Legal Council, OLC. Yoo wrote the OLC memos used to defend water-boarding, called enhanced interrogation techniques by its defenders and torture by detractors. The more time passes since 911 the more it seems that what once was considered legal as an enhanced interrogation technique, garnering silent acquiescence even from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi then, now is more generally described as torture and illegal, garnering the full fury of said Speaker.
Just as passionately as people debate water-boarding, and rightly so considering its life or death consequences, so too should we passionately debate abortion. However some on the Pro-Choice side suggest that abortion is a settled issue, when all they really can claim is that abortion is legal (as was slavery, child labor and physically beating one's wife or child at certain times in our past. Even water-boarding was “legal” in 2003). This is the point, making something legal does not make it right, and even a decision by the Supreme Court on water-boarding would not end this debate.
The Supreme Court decisions of Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton cast aside all abortion restrictions in 1973. The Doe decision declared that any restrictions on abortion, no matter how late, must include an exemption for the mother's health, defined as “that the medical judgment may be exercised in the light of all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age - relevant to the wellbeing of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.” Please note that this says nothing about life-threatening.
Just as one could not truly debate water-boarding by limiting the discussion to the facts of the lives saved and the terrorist attacks prevented, avoiding a discussion of the physical pain and trauma inflicted on the prisoner of war, as well as the damage to our Nation's moral standing, one cannot debate abortion without discussing all the facts. In other words we cannot talk of Dr. Tiller's death without also talking about his life, and his life's work.
Dr. Tiller's web site said he performed third trimester therapeutic abortions, abortions for the mother's health. A former employee of Tiller named Luhra Tivis was told by Tiller that he only did abortions on deformed babies, or for a medical crisis. However Ms. Tivis reported, “I was seeing eight- and nine-month pregnant women come in, and out of those two dozen a week, only about 2 percent had medical deformities. I thought I was pro-choice back then, but week after week I kept seeing these women coming in with healthy babies and I saw all the records. I didn't think that was right.” Though Dr. Tiller aborted deformed babies, he also clearly aborted healthy ones, at 8-9 months gestation, for reasons of the mother’s psychological and emotional health.
The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts still has an open investigation against Dr. Tiller, and his employee/partner Dr. Shelly Sella on a botched abortion, which could result in loss of medical license for Dr. Sella, obviously not for Dr. Tiller. The KSBHA is also investigating 11 counts of violating Kansas law which required a second opinion from an unaffiliated physician when third trimester abortions for “health” are performed. The criminal case for breaking this law was dismissed, even though Dr. Sella obviously worked with Dr. Tiller and her second opinion resulted in financial gain. However the Board case is still pending against Dr. Sella, and this is the correct action because two doctors with financial ties should not be confirming that each others abortions follow Kansas or Federal Law.
Lest you consider this an isolated or one-sided account about Dr. Tiller's work, Steve Waldman, editor in chief of Beliefnet in a recent post highlighted the "problem" with the late term abortions Dr. Tiller performed. Waldman presented evidence that most were for the "mental health" of the mother, not for any physical health risk to the mother or for a fetal deformity. Most telling is that these abortions for “mental health” could in no way even amount to a psychological reason that could be stretched to the limits of legality. In order for that to happen there must be a psychiatric condition that was "substantial and irreversible." However respected psychiatry professor Paul McHugh reviewed Tiller's records and said, "I saw no file that justified abortion on that basis. All the files justified the abortions on the patient's present state of mind of being distressed and social proposals that this person's life would be less successful, less developed, less opportune if this child were born, and those are not psychiatric reasons, those are social reasons.” All this on healthy and viable babies.
Despite these facts about Dr. Tiller's medical practice, some radical Pro-Choice advocates want to remove the best weapon we Pro-Lifers have, our rhetoric, our words, which evince our passion. Our rhetoric needs to bear witness to the truth that abortion is a civil rights issue, and abortion ends the civil rights of the most defenseless in our society because abortion murders them. Dr. Tiller's third trimester abortions of otherwise healthy babies makes this point abundantly clear. We can say this no less passionately or emphatically, using the same weapons of the other great civil rights, suffragette and abolitionist movements of our great country. If Dr. Martin Luther King had followed the advice of the timid in his day, President Obama would still be sitting in the back of the bus.
Dr. Tiller's death needs to be the catalyst for the debate this country never had, the debate the Supreme Court removed from our hands, the debate on how late is too late for an abortion? No one in America supports this kind of license against near new-borns. This is why all third trimester abortions need to be illegal, because so many are performed not to save a mother's life, but for “therapeutic” emotional, psychological and even social reasons. Our President says abortion should be safe, legal and rare. He could start with the stroke of his pen and outlaw these late term and third trimester abortions, 60,000 by Tiller alone, done through the legal loophole for the mother's “health”.
Jun 22, 2009
Choose Life License Plates
I'm surprised we do not have 3000 Pro-Life people signed up for the Choose Life License Plates in Massachusetts, but be that as it may please consider signing up and getting these License plates available in this State. You'll need to print out the form, mail it to
Choose Life
25 Fairmount Ave
Wakefield MA 01880
With a $40 Check made out the the RMV
Jun 20, 2009
Pro-Life Prayer Vigil Sat. June 20, 09
Was at the new Planned Parenthood construction site on Pleasant St. I got there late as Jim was leaving, Phyllis and I prayed a rosary. The feeling of spiritual warfare was in the air, as I walked Jim to his car Phyllis stood alone in front of the paint store next to the construction site. She held no sign, just a small rosary. From the side street I heard a man's voice from a passing car: "I love abortion." I said to Jim, since Phyllis had no sign and was actually in front of the paint store, I wonder how the guy knew.
Phyllis and I moved in front of the construction site and began to pray, I held a sign with the face of a baby, which read "Face it, abortion kills." A couple of young men stopped in front of us as they were taking a left turn onto a side street. The passenger had his window open. He matter of factly said, with a smile on his face, "F*** abortion." He laughed as they took their turn.
I did not take this as an insult, just figured he was joking around and probably spoke in this manner all the time.
3 minutes later they came back, pulled up next to us in the paint store parking lot, and asked us some questions. They actually were concerned, as Christian, the passenger lived near by and had a 2 year old son so he believed abortion was wrong. So did Vo, the driver. I told them about witnessing a coerced situation on Lincoln St. It will be nice to have some friendly faces in the neighborhood when Planned Parenthood opens for abortions later this year.
Another driver, with a kid in his passenger seat, rolled down his window to declare "God wants us to choice." I thought about it and remarked to Phyllis that the guy was right, God wants us to choose what is right and good.
An elderly Hispanic Lady walking with the aid of a walker passed by on the other side of Pleasant St. A few minutes later she came back on our side, looked again at my sign, and without a word, handed me a handful of nickels, dimes and a quarter. I will present this widow's mite offering of $1.05 to Rod Murphy of Problem Pregnancy at the Pro-Life Garden party next week.
After this I drove to St. V's hospital and said goodbye to my father-in-law.
Phyllis and I moved in front of the construction site and began to pray, I held a sign with the face of a baby, which read "Face it, abortion kills." A couple of young men stopped in front of us as they were taking a left turn onto a side street. The passenger had his window open. He matter of factly said, with a smile on his face, "F*** abortion." He laughed as they took their turn.
I did not take this as an insult, just figured he was joking around and probably spoke in this manner all the time.
3 minutes later they came back, pulled up next to us in the paint store parking lot, and asked us some questions. They actually were concerned, as Christian, the passenger lived near by and had a 2 year old son so he believed abortion was wrong. So did Vo, the driver. I told them about witnessing a coerced situation on Lincoln St. It will be nice to have some friendly faces in the neighborhood when Planned Parenthood opens for abortions later this year.
Another driver, with a kid in his passenger seat, rolled down his window to declare "God wants us to choice." I thought about it and remarked to Phyllis that the guy was right, God wants us to choose what is right and good.
An elderly Hispanic Lady walking with the aid of a walker passed by on the other side of Pleasant St. A few minutes later she came back on our side, looked again at my sign, and without a word, handed me a handful of nickels, dimes and a quarter. I will present this widow's mite offering of $1.05 to Rod Murphy of Problem Pregnancy at the Pro-Life Garden party next week.
After this I drove to St. V's hospital and said goodbye to my father-in-law.
Jun 10, 2009
Letter to Cardinal Sean
http://www.bostoncatholic.org/ContactUs.aspx
As it would be impossible to provide health Services to MassHealth without providing referrals to abortion, sterilization and artificial contraception, as that would put Charitas Christi in default of performance, and seeing that both Mr. Ralph de la Torre and Mr. Brian Delaney of Celticare have both publicly admitted these referrals will take place (through the HMO), the only Christian option is to end the contract. Charitas Christi cannot take blood money, not even to provide health care.
Sincerely in Christ,
As it would be impossible to provide health Services to MassHealth without providing referrals to abortion, sterilization and artificial contraception, as that would put Charitas Christi in default of performance, and seeing that both Mr. Ralph de la Torre and Mr. Brian Delaney of Celticare have both publicly admitted these referrals will take place (through the HMO), the only Christian option is to end the contract. Charitas Christi cannot take blood money, not even to provide health care.
Sincerely in Christ,
Jun 9, 2009
Time will Tell
APA 1998: "There is considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality."
Recent APA statement in a brochure called "Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation & Homosexuality":
"There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles...."
What I want to know is, why should I believe a bi-sexual who tells me some people are born homosexual and that is OK, but others are born transgendered so they must be changed? But Lesbianism does not last.
Recent APA statement in a brochure called "Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation & Homosexuality":
"There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles...."
What I want to know is, why should I believe a bi-sexual who tells me some people are born homosexual and that is OK, but others are born transgendered so they must be changed? But Lesbianism does not last.
Jun 8, 2009
What Self Compasion is Not
When individuals feel self-pity, they become immersed in their own problems and forget that others have similar problems. They ignore their interconnections with others, and instead feel that they are the only ones in the world who are suffering. Self-pity tends to emphasize egocentric feelings of separation from others and exaggerate the extent of personal suffering. Self-compassion, on the other hand, allows one to see the related experiences of self and other without these feelings of isolation and disconnection. Also, self-pitying individuals often become carried away with and wrapped up in their own emotional drama. They cannot step back from their situation and adopt a more balanced or objective perspective. In contrast, by taking the perspective of a compassionate other towards oneself, "mental space" is provided to recognize the broader human context of one’s experience and to put things in greater perspective. (“Yes it is very difficult what I’m going through right now, but there are many other people who are experiencing much greater suffering. Perhaps this isn’t worth getting quite so upset about...")
Self-compassion is also very different from self-indulgence. Many people say they are reluctant to be self-compassionate because they’re afraid they would let themselves get away with anything. “I’m stressed out today so to be kind to myself I’ll just watch TV all day and eat a quart of icecream.” This, however, is self-indulgence rather than self-compassion. Remember that being compassionate to oneself means that you want to be happy and healthy in the long term. In many cases, just giving oneself pleasure may harm well-being (such as taking drugs, over-eating, being a couch potato), while giving yourself health and lasting happiness often involves a certain amount of displeasure (such as quitting smoking, dieting, exercising). People are often very hard on themselves when they notice something they want to change because they think they can shame themselves into action – the self-flagellation approach. However, this approach often backfires if you can’t face difficult truths about yourself because you are so afraid of hating yourself if you do. Thus, weaknesses may remain unacknowledged in an unconscious attempt to avoid self-censure. In contrast, the care intrinsic to compassion provides a powerful motivating force for growth and change, while also providing the safety needed to see the self clearly without fear of self-condemnation.
- Dr. Kristin Neff Ph.D.
Self-compassion is also very different from self-indulgence. Many people say they are reluctant to be self-compassionate because they’re afraid they would let themselves get away with anything. “I’m stressed out today so to be kind to myself I’ll just watch TV all day and eat a quart of icecream.” This, however, is self-indulgence rather than self-compassion. Remember that being compassionate to oneself means that you want to be happy and healthy in the long term. In many cases, just giving oneself pleasure may harm well-being (such as taking drugs, over-eating, being a couch potato), while giving yourself health and lasting happiness often involves a certain amount of displeasure (such as quitting smoking, dieting, exercising). People are often very hard on themselves when they notice something they want to change because they think they can shame themselves into action – the self-flagellation approach. However, this approach often backfires if you can’t face difficult truths about yourself because you are so afraid of hating yourself if you do. Thus, weaknesses may remain unacknowledged in an unconscious attempt to avoid self-censure. In contrast, the care intrinsic to compassion provides a powerful motivating force for growth and change, while also providing the safety needed to see the self clearly without fear of self-condemnation.
- Dr. Kristin Neff Ph.D.
The Comeback Begins?
The Comeback Begins? [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
More surprising news, from Albany via the National Organization for Marriage:
The New York Times is reporting, and our sources in Albany confirm, that the New York Senate has just switched to GOP control. Two Democratic senators this afternoon voted with Republicans to give the Republicans control of the chamber by a 32-30 majority.
The situation is still very fluid, and it’s not yet clear why these two senators switched, or whether the gay marriage issue played a role in the reversal. As you know, over the past two weeks, NOM has helped organize thousands of phone calls and emails from 25 key Senate districts urging lawmakers to reject the same-sex marriage legislation being pushed by the Democratic leadership.
More surprising news, from Albany via the National Organization for Marriage:
The New York Times is reporting, and our sources in Albany confirm, that the New York Senate has just switched to GOP control. Two Democratic senators this afternoon voted with Republicans to give the Republicans control of the chamber by a 32-30 majority.
The situation is still very fluid, and it’s not yet clear why these two senators switched, or whether the gay marriage issue played a role in the reversal. As you know, over the past two weeks, NOM has helped organize thousands of phone calls and emails from 25 key Senate districts urging lawmakers to reject the same-sex marriage legislation being pushed by the Democratic leadership.
Jun 4, 2009
How Late Term?
From SpiritDaily:
In a fashion that can only be described as macabre, Dr. Tiller's clinic not only killed the unwanted child in chilling fashion, but offered: photographs of the mother with the child (if the parents wanted this, before disposal), "baptism" by a chaplain who regularly dropped by, footprints, handprints, a certificate of miscarriage, cremation, a urn, or burial in Wichita or wherever the mother chose. We had a link Monday showing one mother who terminated her baby for cystic fibrosis and posed cuddling the gruesomely aborted infant on a bed with flowers and a picture of Jesus. We [SpiritDaily] removed the link because it is simply too upsetting.
Note: www.DrTiller.com is offline and even the Google cache has been cleared. Perhaps they are not as proud of his work
However, I did find a copy of this picture of the woman with her aborted baby, which is as Michael Brown described it, macabre.
or Google search Dr. George Tiller abortion baby for cystic fibrosis
In a fashion that can only be described as macabre, Dr. Tiller's clinic not only killed the unwanted child in chilling fashion, but offered: photographs of the mother with the child (if the parents wanted this, before disposal), "baptism" by a chaplain who regularly dropped by, footprints, handprints, a certificate of miscarriage, cremation, a urn, or burial in Wichita or wherever the mother chose. We had a link Monday showing one mother who terminated her baby for cystic fibrosis and posed cuddling the gruesomely aborted infant on a bed with flowers and a picture of Jesus. We [SpiritDaily] removed the link because it is simply too upsetting.
Note: www.DrTiller.com is offline and even the Google cache has been cleared. Perhaps they are not as proud of his work
However, I did find a copy of this picture of the woman with her aborted baby, which is as Michael Brown described it, macabre.
or Google search Dr. George Tiller abortion baby for cystic fibrosis
Jun 3, 2009
Let us vote
Most people in the United States (92%), and even those who consider themselves Pro-Choice (84%), want at least some restrictions on abortion, especially the kind Dr. Tiller performed. These therapeutic abortions were done on near term babies for reasons that are definitely not any where near life threatening.
Perhaps Dr. Tiller's senseless death will finally spark the public debate about
abortion restrictions that this country needs to have.
Perhaps Dr. Tiller's senseless death will finally spark the public debate about
abortion restrictions that this country needs to have.
Open Letter to those who identify as Pro-Choice
Even though I am anti-abortion I condemn in no uncertain terms the assassination of late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller. Though I found what Dr. Tiller did - late term and third trimester abortions, repulsive, U.S. Law allowed him this license. This senseless murder by a seldom employed schizophrenic Freeman follower of the Army of God radical fringe group will not have any limiting effect on abortion as another doctor has already planning to take over Dr. Tiller's practice. More important this murder denied Dr. Tiller of the time he needed to repent and get right with God.
Dr. Tiller's web site says he performed third trimester therapeutic abortions.
Therapeutic abortion is done for the sake of the mother's health, which includes "physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age - relevant to the wellbeing of the patient." This does not say life-threatening!
Third trimester fetuses really should be called what they are - babies, as only the most radical Pro-abortion person would deny the humanity of these kids. Dr. Tiller's death needs to be the catalyst for the debate this country never had, the debate the Supreme Court removed from our hands, the debate on how late is too late for an abortion?
Our President says abortion should be safe, legal and rare. He could start with
the stroke of his pen and outlaw these late term and third trimester abortions, 60,000 by Tiller alone, done through the legal loophole for the mother's "health".
Dr. Tiller's web site says he performed third trimester therapeutic abortions.
Therapeutic abortion is done for the sake of the mother's health, which includes "physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age - relevant to the wellbeing of the patient." This does not say life-threatening!
Third trimester fetuses really should be called what they are - babies, as only the most radical Pro-abortion person would deny the humanity of these kids. Dr. Tiller's death needs to be the catalyst for the debate this country never had, the debate the Supreme Court removed from our hands, the debate on how late is too late for an abortion?
Our President says abortion should be safe, legal and rare. He could start with
the stroke of his pen and outlaw these late term and third trimester abortions, 60,000 by Tiller alone, done through the legal loophole for the mother's "health".
Jun 1, 2009
What everyone deserves
Everyman deserves a trial before a sentence, even Dr. George Tiller.
Everyone deserves an opportunity to repent to God before their judgment.
We should grieve for him that he did not have an opportunity to properly prepare his soul to face his Maker.
Everyone deserves a chance...
John Brown's atrocities at Harper's ferry did not make slavery right;
Abulhakin Muhammad's murder of Private William Long at the Army/Navy recruitment center in Little Rock does not make Islam wrong; ...
Now is not the time to apologize for being Pro-Life. Pro-Life is Pro-kid, Pro-Chance, Pro-Civil Rights and Pro-good.
Everyone deserves an opportunity to repent to God before their judgment.
We should grieve for him that he did not have an opportunity to properly prepare his soul to face his Maker.
Everyone deserves a chance...
John Brown's atrocities at Harper's ferry did not make slavery right;
Abulhakin Muhammad's murder of Private William Long at the Army/Navy recruitment center in Little Rock does not make Islam wrong; ...
Now is not the time to apologize for being Pro-Life. Pro-Life is Pro-kid, Pro-Chance, Pro-Civil Rights and Pro-good.
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