WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 /Christian Newswire --

Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese human rights lawyer who caught the attention of the world over the past two weeks in his bid to escape house arrest in China by seeking help in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, testified via telephone about his well-being and that of his family and brave supporters Tuesday at a hearing held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04).

"Chen Guangcheng is among the bravest defenders of women's rights in the world," Smith said. "Chen defended thousands of women from the ongoing, most egregious systematic state-sponsored exploitation and abuse of women in human history -- pervasive forced abortion and involuntary sterilization as part of China's one child per couple policy -- and has suffered torture, cruel and degrading treatment, unjust incarceration, and multiple beatings as a result.

"The sheer magnitude of this exploitation of women has been largely overlooked and trivialized by many -- and even enabled. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has for over 30 years supported, defended, and whitewashed the crimes against women and children Chen struggled to expose. That's why President Reagan and more recently President Bush defunded the UNFPA. In an indefensible reversal, the Obama Administration has provided approximately $165 million to the UNFPA."

After listening to a panel of witnesses testify on human rights abuses in China, Smith announced contact with Chen was made.

"Mr. Chen, you are on -- welcome back," said Smith, Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights. The event was broadcast live by CSPAN. Click here to view video.

"I just want to talk about what had happened to my other family members after I escaped from my own home," Chen told the panel through a translator. "On April 26th around midnight, there was a group of thugs [of] the Chinese local authorities, [who] just broke into my home, and started beating them violently. And my elder brother was taken away by these thugs and without any reasoning, and then they came back and started beating up on my nephew, Chen Kegui. They used sticks and violently beat him up. For three hours he was bleeding on his head and face -- it would not stop."

Smith likened Chen's confinement at a Beijing hospital to house arrest as Chen awaits documentation to travel to the U.S. with his wife and two children. He said the hearing was intended to focus on Chen's cause.

"Following his escape from house arrest, Chinese officials started breaking into the homes of his family in the same village and rounding up those who may have assisted him for interrogations," Smith said at the hearing. "When local officials and thugs broke into the home of Mr. Chen's brother, Mr. Chen's nephew, Chen Kegui reportedly tried to defend himself with a kitchen knife. He is now in a police detention center. I am extremely concerned for his welfare, as well as that of Mr. Chen's other extended family members. Now, eleven days later, Mr. Chen is still in the same hospital room, with his wife and two children under de facto house arrest." Click here to read Smith's opening remarks.

When Smith asked him if the U.S. Embassy had been able to make contact with extended family and friends who are at risk, Chen said, "I'm not very clear on the specifics," but that the U.S. embassy has been communicating with him every day. "Because my wife and children have been under such a long time of difficulties with malnutrition, low blood pressure, when I see them under these circumstances, I felt very saddened."

"I want to extend my gratitude and thankfulness to all those who care and love my family and myself and our situation, especially to the American people who show they care about the policies and justice -- those are universal values -- I am very, very grateful to all of you," Chen said. "I'm not a hero. I am just doing what my conscience asks me to do. I cannot be silent. I cannot be quiet when facing this evil against women and children. This is what I should do."

The hearing, entitled, "Chen Guangcheng: His Case, Cause, Family, and Those Who are Helping Him," featured human rights leaders determined to assist Chen by speaking out at an open hearing of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.

In an unplanned live call-in to a May 3rd hearing of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Chen testified by phone about his concerns. Within hours, the Chinese government announced that Chen could apply to travel to the United States. Chen is currently at a hospital in Beijing, still awaiting necessary travel documents. There is growing international concern about reports that Chinese officials are retaliating against his extended family and supporters.

As he did May 3rd, Bob Fu, himself a former political prisoner and now Founder and President of the ChinaAid Association, made contact with Chen during the hearing.

"Recently, when lawyers Jiang Tianyong and Teng Biao tried to visit Chen Guangcheng in hospital, they were both beaten and Jiang lost the hearing in one ear," said Bob Fu. Fu told the panel that despite the fact that the two sides have reached a well publicized agreement on Chen's freedom and security, Chen remains under house arrest in hospital, and his visitors are barred, tailed and beaten. "Chen Guangcheng has paid an extremely heavy price to defend the rights of the disadvantaged groups who were the victims of coercive population control measures (mainly women). His conscience, courage and spirit has been like a light shining in the long dark night of China's human rights, and also inspiring people around the world who are struggling for human rights and justice." Click here to read Mr. Fu's testimony.

Wei Jingsheng, a former political prisoner and today Founder and Chair of Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition, cautioned the panel about the challenges when negotiating with the Chinese Communist regime. "They are only restrained by their interests, but not bound by their promises. That is because, fundamentally, they do not recognize common knowledge and reason, but only their great ideals." Click here to read Mr. Wei's testimony.

Mei Shunping, who became pregnant a number of times but was forced to have multiple abortions at the hands of the Chinese government, testified to the brutality of the one child policy which destroyed her life and marriage. "In 1999, I escaped the country that humiliated and destroyed me, and came to the free soil of America." Click here to read Ms. Mei's sad testimony.

Reggie Littlejohn, Founder and President, Women's Rights Without Frontiers, briefed the subcommittee on the treatment of two prominent activists who are supporters of Chen: He Peirong, who was instrumental in Chen's escape, and Jiang Tianyong, a key member of Chen's legal team. Both have suffered harassment. "Although Pearl and Jiang appear safe for the moment, who knows whether the Chinese Communist Party will retaliate against them once Chen comes to the United States," Littlejohn said. "Women's Rights Without Frontiers calls upon the United States Congress and the Department of State to raise the issue of the safety of Chen's supporters, who are heroes in their own right." Click here to read Ms. Littlejohn's testimony.

Tiananmen Square Massacre student activist and founder of All Girls Allowed, Chai Ling also testified before the subcommittee.

"Incredibly, U.S. officials fretted about the timing of Chen's arrival at the Embassy," Chai said. "After he left, they downplayed his concerns for his family's safety. Several days ago, an American official casually told the New York Times: 'The days of blowing up the relationship [with China] over a single guy are over.' Seeking genuine protections for Chen and his family should hardly have 'blown up the relationship.' But more to the point, it grieves me to hear Chen dismissively referred to as 'a single guy.' He is one man; it is true. But he is a symbol -- a hero -- in the eyes of women, children, and the poor in China." Click here to read Ms. Chai's testimony.

Operation Rescue/Cincinnati, OH/5-15-12 --

An abortionist that provides emergency hospital care to injured abortion patients of late-term abortionist Martin Haskell has been hired by the same hospital that stripped him of privileges just last year.

In a press release issued by Christ Hospital on May 1, 2012, it was announced that Walter T. Bowers, II, would be employed by Christ Hospital as a Gynecologist and has moved his office into their facility.

However, in July, 2011, Christ Hospital terminated Bower's hospital privileges pending the outcome of the Ohio Medical Board's decision on charges his was negligent in causing the death of a wanted baby in Kentucky.

"It is outrageous that Bowers is being embraced by Christ Hospital in light of his past history of fatal negligence and dishonesty," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation. "This man is not fit to practice medicine."

Bowers has held himself out to be Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, but according to his own deposition taken in August, 2011, Bowers is not and never has been Board Certified in any specialty. A check today with the American Board of Medical Specialties indicated that Bowers holds no Board Certification.

Bowers also attempted to conceal from the Ohio Medical Board his employment at Clinic for Women, an abortion clinic in Indianapolis. He told the Ohio Medical Board under oath that he did not practice in Indiana, when in fact he had listed Clinic for Women as his Indiana address on his medical license in that state.

Bowers, has a written agreement to provide emergency hospital care to injured abortion patients of Martin Haskell, who offers extremely late-term abortions in Dayton and Sharonville, Ohio. Because of Haskell's agreement with Bowers and another physician, the Ohio Department of Health has issued a variance allowing Haskell to continue to operate even though he personally has no hospital privileges as required by law.

Haskell is currently under investigation by the Ohio Medical Board after a pattern of botched abortions was uncovered by pro-life activists.

Operation Rescue objected to Bowers' agreement with Haskell after it was learned that he paid out $250,000 after being sued by a family that lost a wanted baby due to Bowers' negligence. That caused Kentucky to bar him from the practice of obstetrics and put him under investigation in the State of Indiana and a Board action to be launched against him in Ohio.

In October, 2011, the Ohio Medical Board reprimanded Bowers for the avoidable death and placed him on two years of probation.

"We ask Christ Hospital to seriously reconsider their affiliation with Bowers, who places them squarely in cahoots with Haskell's dangerous late-term abortion business," said Newman. "This looks like a backroom deal to keep Haskell's abortion business afloat. Bowers has proven that he cannot be trusted to tell the truth or provide adequate health care. This is a black eye to Christ Hospital. We are asking all those who support life to abstain from using Christ Hospital for their health care needs until they disaffiliate with Bowers and with the heinous practice of abortion."

Background

May 14, 2012/Operation Rescue --

By Tara Shaver, Project Defending Life

The State of New Mexico has one of the highest poverty rates. Money that could go to alleviate poverty has instead been dished out to abortion providers to the tune of over 1.1 million state tax dollars in 2011 to fund abortions through Medicaid.

Medicaid first began to cover abortion services in 1976, but only for cases when the life of the mother was endangered, as per the Federal Hyde Amendment. In 1977, the Hyde Amendment wording was changed to allow federal funding for abortions to also include cases of rape or incest in addition to life endangerment of the mother.

In New Mexico, Medicaid coverage was extended to "medically necessary" abortions, to be funded out of state funds without any federal financial participation. "Medically necessary" includes physical or mental health issues, but not to the extent of endangering the life of the mother. These policies have not changed in New Mexico since 1998.

"In 2011, New Mexico tax payers paid for 1,786 abortions which amounted to $1,127,557.26. This really brings new meaning to the concept of forced abortions, only now the coercion is foisted upon New Mexico tax payers to fund abortions," stated Bud Shaver of Project Defending Life.

Abortion Injuries Cause Further Concern

Last June, fourteen 911 calls were obtained through a public records request, prompting even more concern about New Mexico tax funds paying for abortions. At least 14 women were seriously injured by abortions that were potentially paid for by tax payers. Women suffered from uncontrolled bleeding, a ruptured uterus, seizures, and near life threatening complications after and during the abortions.

Tax payers should not be forced to fund a failing industry that harms women and kills their children.

Abortion Clinics Lack Oversight

As Albuquerque attracts women from all over the country seeking abortions, it is also of great concern that the surgical portion of the clinics are never inspected. Abortion clinics nationwide are commonly under regulated, but in a state where tax payers foot the bill for abortions there is almost no oversight. The New Mexico Department of Health currently claims to lack jurisdiction over abortion clinics because they are not classified properly to come under its oversight. This partly explains the abortion injuries we continue to see here in Albuquerque.

Authorities and Public Officials Notified, Action Anticipated

Complaints were filed with the New Mexico Medical Board shortly after the fourteen 911 tapes were obtained. It is unclear as to what extent an investigation in the interest of public safety is underway. Our concerns and all pertinent information have been given to Governor Martinez's office. Project Defending Life has just recently met with the Governor's staff and brought the crisis of forced taxpayer-funded abortions to the Governor's attention.

It is truly unfortunate that there have been years of neglect regarding the safety of women entering unregulated and dangerous abortion clinics in Albuquerque. The 1.1 million dollars currently paying for abortions could certainly be used more effectively to help those in need in the state of New Mexico.

We have been assured by the Governor's office that steps are being taken to turnaround this deep seated abortion culture that has caused New Mexico to be labeled the "Abortion Capital of the Southwest." It is our hope that the New Mexico Department of Health will begin inspections of these abortion facilities and that the New Mexico Medical Board will fully investigate the 14 botched abortions and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

"In our discussions with the Governor's office, we understand that a lot of work needs to be done to change this culture of innocent deaths and wounding of women. It has gotten so bad that the New Mexico abortion industry has publicly bragged about unrestricted abortion access in New Mexico, abortions performed on girls as young as 11, and people coming from surrounding states to have abortions here in New Mexico," stated Fr. Stephen Imbarrato of Project Defending Life, after meeting with the Governor's Chief of Staff. "It is our hope and expectation that the Governor will explore every option at her disposal to end what has become a shameful and unacceptable situation here in New Mexico."

HOUSTON, May 11, 2012 /Christian Newswire --

An abortion whistleblower has come forward with allegations that Douglas A. Karpen, who operates two abortion clinics in the Houston area, is violating the new state law requiring abortionists to conduct ultrasounds on women 24 hours prior to an abortion.

"We are asking the Texas Medical Board to get involved and enforce the law," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation. "Karpen is an unsafe abortionist who has endangered women for years. But now he has crossed the line by refusing to comply with this new law. It is time to bring him to justice by revoking his license."

The informant, whose identity is being kept confidential by Operation Rescue out of fear of retribution, also alleges that Karpen is guilty of a myriad of other violations ranging from sexual harassment to not washing or changing gloves to prevent contamination between abortion patients.

The complaint is asking for a full investigation into Karpen's questionable abortion practices at Aaron Women's Clinic and the Texas Ambulatory Surgical Center, also known as the Aaron Women's Surgical Center.

The complaint further alleges that Karpen is engaged in the following:

• Fraudulent billing practices.
• Surgical equipment not properly sterilized.
• Falsification of ultrasound results.
• Late-term abortions done as late as 28 weeks. (Texas law permits only to 24 weeks.)
• Lack of adequate nursing staff.
• Concealing logs from inspectors to prevent deficiency citations.
• Hiring nurses through a temp agency to work only on days when inspections are scheduled.
• Mistreating heavy women and inappropriately touching attractive women while under sedation.

Karpen is already in hot water with the Texas Medical Board. Operation Rescue filed a complaint against him after abortion abuses were discovered during an undercover investigation of Texas abortion clinics last year. He is scheduled to appear before the TMB on May 16, 2012.

Karpen has a long and disreputable history as an abortionist, including two patient deaths and numerous abortion-related injuries. In 1989, a pro-life activist photographed the remains of a baby aborted at one of Karpen's clinics at 28 weeks gestation. Images of that baby, now known as "Baby David" are in use today by pro-life activists to expose the horrific brutality of abortion.

Operation Rescue's Abortion Whistleblower's Program offers a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of abortionists who are violating the law.

Background

May 10, 2012/Kansas City, Kansas --

Revelations that a Kansas City abortion clinic may be breaking the law by failing to report incidents of suspected abuse are only the latest in a long and sordid history of patient injuries, sloppy practices, dirty conditions, and disciplinary action that the clinic has experienced over its years of operation.

"The Central Family Medical abortion clinic has been proven to pose a serious danger to the public. It is unbelievable that it is allowed to continue operations," said Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation. "An investigation is certainly in order, especially in light of what we found in documents leaked to us by a confidential informant, which show a continuing pattern of disregard for the law and for patient safety."

Abortion clinic documents now securely in Operation Rescue's possession show that Central Family Medical, also known as Aid for Women, uses pre-printed forms that are filed with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) indicating that no abuse reports are ever filed.

Complaints were filed with the KDHE, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, the Kansas State Board of Nursing, and the Attorney General's office. So far, only the Board of Healing Arts has acknowledged that it has opened an investigation.

"We appreciate the rapid response from the KSBHA, but are disappointed that the Attorney General has been slow to act. This is a serious criminal issue with the safety of vulnerable girls on the line," said Newman.

The dark background of this clinic should be taken into consideration.

Central Family Medical is owned by William Malcom Knarr, a disgraced abortionist who was disciplined for shoddy medical practices in the 1990s. Knarr had a felony conviction in Oklahoma in 1970 for the sale of marijuana and LSD and the possession of hashish. He failed to report these convictions on a federal application and to the KSBHA when he applied for a medical license in Kansas in 1984.

Knarr's Kansas license was suspended in 1994 for a variety of charges, including:

• Patient care issues including botched abortions
• Failure to maintain malpractice insurance
• Wrote prescriptions in violation of Federal Regulations
• Prescribed and administered drugs without federal registration
• Failed to monitor drugs resulting in the disappearance of narcotics

Continue reading this entry for more shocking details...

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 8, 2012/Christian Newswire --

Pastor Chuck Smith, the patriarch of Calvary Chapel, has once again disappointed Christians by handing out extra-biblical advice claiming that children are a liability and that Christians should use birth control.

"We are deeply disturbed by this latest gaffe by Pastor Chuck Smith. The Bible clearly teaches Christians that children are a blessing, a reward, a joy, and a gift. Grandchildren are a crown to the aged. The Bible nowhere mentions children as a liability," said Troy Newman, President of Pro-Life Nation. "Smith's thinking is of the kind that has given us eugenics, abortion, and other human rights abuses."

The statements came on the radio program "Pastor's Perspective," which aired Monday, April 30, 2012, after a caller named Sophia asked the following question: "I have a question in regards to Christians and contraception. Should we be engaged in taking contraception?"

Pastor Smith indeed recommended that Christians use contraception to control family size and went on to encourage artificial birth control because of the high cost of raising children and because they do not produce any financial benefit to the family.

In addition to advocating for artificial birth control, Smith's co-host, Don Stewart, espoused the false notion that the world is over populated and offended many Christians with strong convictions about birth control by openly mocking natural family planning methods. "Whatcha call people who use that? You call them 'parents' because that never seemed to work there." Smith stated:

You know it used to be that a lot of children were assets. A child coming into the home was an asset because it was an agrarian society and you all had your own farms and the more children, the more help you had on the farm, and all.

But, you know, as time when on and we became really a - no longer an agrarian society, but, you know, one that was really sort of dependent upon manufacturing, and so forth, children no longer became an asset, but they became a liability and I think that when you figure now how much it costs to raise a child through high school and all, a lot of people, you know, they just say, "Well, who needs them?" You know, because it does just cost a huge amount of money to clothe them and feed them and all when they're not really producing or are productive at bringing back into the family, you know, financial assets and so forth, and thus they are a liability, rather than an asset today.

This is consistent with comments made by Smith on the same radio program on Feb 8, 2011, where he advocated for the abortion of conjoined twins.

"It's awfully hard to actually suggest abortion," said Smith. "But, you know, I'm sure that, uh, in a case like this where the life expectancy is just, you know, is so bleak, and all, that I'm sure that the Lord would not condemn her if she went ahead and had an abortion at this early stage of the development of the fetus."

Certainly if we abandon the doctrine that man is the image bearer of God, then destroying those who cannot contribute to society becomes easy. However, if we accept the doctrine that man is made in the image of God, then destroying human life becomes not only a crime, but an act of war against the God whose image we all bear.

It is the Christian way to put the lives of others above our own. It is the Christian way to love one another - faults and all - just as Christ loves us and gave Himself for us. That is the pattern that should guide our actions as Christians.

"Because innocent lives are at stake, we felt compelled to speak out to correct this erroneous teaching from Pastor Smith lest families deny themselves the blessings of children, or worse, take the lives of innocent children in the womb wrongly thinking they have the blessing of God. We pray for Pastor Smith that wisdom from God, and not humanist philosophies, would be the basis of his speech, and that if he will not better consider Biblical teachings on life and children, that he would abstain from publicly discussing such issues," said Newman.

Listen to the April 30, 2012 radio segment

AUSTIN, Texas, May 7, 2012/Christian Newswire --

Today Heroic Media launches a campaign featuring the life-saving television commercial "Ultimatum" to air nationwide over 60 times during May and June. The ad, airing on the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network, is a "Call for Help" message which aims to inform women facing unexpected pregnancies about hopeful alternatives to abortion. The message includes a toll-free phone number which connects callers with local, life-affirming pregnancy centers.

Heroic Media, an international, faith-based nonprofit organization, uses the power of media to connect women facing unexpected pregnancies with life-affirming resources and build a culture of Life. This marks Heroic Media's fourth national television campaign since 2010. In 2011, Heroic Media's television, Internet and outdoor ads generated over 146,000 connections to life-affirming resources and information across the United States.

"Heroic Media's research and prior campaigns demonstrate that commercials on BET are an effective means of reaching women with compassionate messages and connecting them with life-affirming pregnancy resources through television media," said Marissa Gabrysch, Director of Marketing, Research and Communications for Heroic Media.

Brian Follett, CEO for Heroic Media, remarked, "This campaign is a direct result of the support of individuals and families who believe that women deserve to learn about hopeful alternatives to abortion. Now, people across the United States will see life-affirming messages daily on BET."

The campaign begins today and runs through July 1 on BET nationwide, reaching an estimated 5.5 million Women ages18-34. The ads are intended to generate calls to Option Line, which in turn refers callers to pregnancy resource centers offering a range of services free of charge to women seeking positive alternatives to abortion.

Please contact Marissa Gabrysch at 512-354-2888 or marissa@heroicmedia.org for more information and to learn how you can support this and future campaigns.

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 3, 2012/Christian Newswire --

The United States should immediately grant asylum to Chen Guangcheng and his family, along with the activist who rescued him, He Peirong. Chen and his wife have both stated that they are in danger.

U.S. officials contend that Chen left the U.S. Embassy yesterday of his own volition to seek medical treatment at a hospital. From the hospital, however, Chen told friends and the media that he was not given full information on which to base his decision. He told Associated Press, moreover, that a U.S. official relayed a threat that if Chen did not leave the Embassy, he wife would be beaten to death. He told CNN, "I am very disappointed at the U.S. government."

Chen also told CNN that after he escaped, his wife was tied to a chair in their home for two days. Guards carried sticks into their home and threatened to beat her to death. They also moved into their house, eating at their table and using their belongings. They have installed seven surveillance cameras inside their home. These facts convinced Chen that it would not be safe for him or his family to remain in China. He did not learn these facts until he was reunited with his wife in the hospital.

Chen then told CNN, "I would like to say to (President Obama): Please do everything you can to get our whole family out." He told the Daily Beast, "My fervent hope is that it would be possible for me and my family to leave for the U.S. on Hillary Clinton's plane."

After Chen's miraculous, "mission impossible" escape and the risks he and others took to deliver him safely to the U.S. Embassy, why did the U.S. officials press him to leave and hand this noble man back into the hands of those who have been so fiercely persecuting him and his family?

If so, then this action is beyond shameful. Not only have we let Chen down, but we have betrayed those in China that we should most want to support: those who share our values.

Many have regarded the U.S. Embassy as the lone island of freedom and justice in a land filled with repression and injustice. Given their trust, how could the U.S. hand over a deserving citizen who had fled there for protection?

Chen is hugely symbolic in China, widely loved and admired. By challenging the One Child Policy, he is challenging the lynchpin of social control in China. This explains why Chen is not just an ordinary dissident, but rather symbolizes the heart and conscience of the nation. It also explains the ferocity of the Chinese Communist Party's reaction to him.

When Chen Guangcheng fled to the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. had a golden opportunity to do the right thing -- give him and his family asylum and bring them to safety in the U.S. This would have erased a generation of anti-American propaganda and inspired gratitude, admiration and trust among the Chinese people. Instead the U.S. quickly dispatched Chen out the door, shattering our moral credibility before the world and losing the hearts and minds of a generation of Chinese people who share our values. How "strategic" is this?

The only way to redeem the situation is as clear as it is urgent: give asylum to Chen and his family -- and to He Peirong as well. Bring them to safety in the United States, whatever it takes, on Hillary Clinton's plane.

National Right to Life Committee/Tuesday, May 1, 2012 --

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal today signed into the law the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, making Georgia the sixth state to enact this legislation, based on a model bill initiated by National Right to Life and first enacted in Nebraska in 2010.

Georgia's HB 954, sponsored by Rep. Doug McKillip, passed the legislature last month with strong support from Georgia Right to Life and the Georgia Catholic Conference.

The law protects unborn children from 20 weeks fetal age (about the start of the sixth month, in layperson's terminology), based on legislative findings that there is compelling evidence that an unborn child by that point (if not earlier) is capable of experiencing excruciating pain during the process of dismemberment or other abortion procedures.

"We commend Governor Deal and the Georgia legislature for taking the steps necessary to ensure the protection of unborn children who are capable of feeling pain during an abortion procedure," said Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., Director of state legislation for National Right to Life. "As Georgia joins other states around the country in passing this life-saving legislation, we look ahead to a day when all children are protected from brutal death by abortion."

In enacting the law, Georgia joins Kansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Nebraska.

"In a world where most animals have more rights than unborn members of the human family, we are thankful Georgia has recognized their vested interest in protecting the lives of the most vulnerable," Balch said.

Earlier this year, the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act was also introduced in Congress, to apply to the District of Columbia, which the Constitution places under the sole authority of Congress and the president. The bill (H.R. 3803 / S. 2103) currently has 183 co-sponsors in the House, and 21 in the Senate.

"Many members of Congress have been shocked to learn that, in the nation's capital, unborn babies now can be brutally killed up to the very moment of birth," said Douglas Johnson, federal legislation director for NRLC.

by Cindy Simpson

[Excerpt]

... Now we have Chesterton's "new theologians" supporting a California Planned Parenthood's "Forty Days of Prayer." As PJ Tatler explains, they are "literally making a sacrament of abortion." The "prayers" include thanksgiving for the availability of abortion services, abortion's legality, and the "sacred" nature of the care that abortion providers offer. There are even prayers against pro-lifers. Another "prayer" is offered for "...the families we've chosen. May they know the blessing of choice."

But as asked in this Washington Post editorial: "What about the babies who weren't 'chosen'?"

Planned Parenthood has invoked Orwellian doublespeak: instead of "prayer changes things," "things change prayer."

In further attempts to change the ugly truth, liberals and the mainstream media have labeled the battle to protect religious freedom and the lives of unborn babies as a "war against women." Turley's "2011 Top Legal Opinion Blog" that noted the court's role in protecting the life of Boots the cat posted another column that argues that the men of the GOP (referred to as "male vagina vigilantes") are "trying to gain authority over the opposite sex by taking control of contraception...[sic]and women's bodies."

Yet that same sarcastic post and its author's subsequent comments that fretted over women's "health" and abortion "rights" mentioned not a word about the health or rights of the unborn nor the validity of any opposing legal or moral arguments. Neither did its hundred-plus commenters.

In "progressive" society, the abortion issue is generally not addressed as the gruesome procedure that it really is, and instead framed as the more rights-evoking concept of pro-choice or positive-sounding idea of women's reproductive health. When a baby is wanted, available scientific technology helps ensure its survival; when not, it's merely considered a "clump of cells" or a "punishment" and destroyed, even if it survives a botched procedure. Not only does the solution of "privacy rights" deny Chesterton's cat, it affirms society's imagining that it, and not God, created the life in the first place....

Read entire article here.

April 30, 2012/Birmingham, AL --

The Alabama Department of Public Health issued a press release today announcing the denial of an application to take over operations of the New Woman All Women abortion clinic that was ordered closed by the state after 76 pages of health code violations were discovered.

The consent agreement that ordered the closure provided for a transfer of ownership to a new applicant by May 4, 2012, with the proviso that the new applicant be unaffiliated with the current owner, Diane Derzis.

A letter sent last week to the ADPH by Life Legal Defense Foundation that was signed by CEC for Life, Operation Rescue, and other groups revealed connections between the new applicant, Ochata Management and its agent Marianne Kelley Rain-water and Derzis.

The ADPH stated in its release that an affiliation does in fact exist. It stated:

A business lease agreement that was submitted in support of the application includes a provision in regard to monthly rent whereby the landlord identified as the outgoing operator and tenant identified as the proposed new operator agreed to meet on a monthly basis to mutually determine the center's monthly income and monthly overhead. The provision further provides that the excess of monthly income over monthly overhead is to be considered as rent due and payable to the landlord.

"It's shocking that Derzis attempted to deceive the ADPH with such an obvious and shady ploy that would have allowed her to direct the clinic and collect all the clinic profits as 'rent' in full violation of the consent order," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-life Nation.

"We are excited at this victory, but will remain vigilant in the event that these people try some other dirty deal to keep the mill open. We thank everyone who called and sent e-mails to Alabama authorities asking for them to reject this new license. Your voices were heard."

New Woman All Women came under scrutiny after pro-life activists documented two abortion patients being carried out of the clinic to awaiting ambulances on January 21, 2012, then filed complaints. The result was an inspection that found "multiple and serious violations of State Board of Health rules" according to the ADPH, prompting the order to close the clinic.

Pro-Life Unity is proud to join forces with Radiant Cross. Jerry and Barbara Weyrich are not ashamed of being Christians, and they believe our Christian faith should help lead us to stand against abortion and the never-ending defense of marriage between a man and a woman. They also believe we can't allow our Christian differences to prevent us from working together.

Friends, please go to RadiantCross.org and check out the article they just wrote on Faith, Life and Family In America. Let's work together to defend the unborn and stand for the principles which made this country great!

"If not us, who? If not now, when?"- President Ronald Regan

Peter Shinn
President
Pro-Life Unity
http://prolifeunity.com
United we Stand ~ Divided they Die

Chairman & Director
Cherish Life Ministries
http://cherishlife.us
A Call to The Church

BEIJING, April 27, 2012 /Christian Newswire --

Blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, who escaped earlier this week from his home where he had been held under harsh and violent house arrest conditions since his Sept. 2010 release from prison, is 100% safe in Beijing, ChinaAid learned on Friday.

ChinaAid's founder and president Bob Fu was in touch with Chen's friends and family and was told by a source who brought Chen to Beijing that he is not in any danger and is "100% safe." There is speculation that Chen is in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

ChinaAid was asked on Friday to convey to the outside world Chen's intention to "fight to the end for the freedom of my family inside China. I want to live a normal life as a Chinese citizen with my family."

Meanwhile, police have arrested one of the friends who helped drive Chen on April 22 from his home in Dongshigu village, Shuanghou town, Linyi city, Shandong province to a safe location in another province. He Peirong was in communication with ChinaAid when she was arrested at her home in Nanjing, coastal Jiangsu province, on Friday at 11:11 a.m. She has not responded to later efforts to reach her.

ChinaAid has also learned that police have also taken into custody Chen's older brother and his nephew, Chen Guangfu and Chen Kegui, respectively. The father and son were taken from their home early Friday morning. Chen Kegui reportedly had stabbed some government officials who broke into his home early in the morning by climbing over the back wall and Chen, mistaking them for burglars, attacked them.

"We must report the true fact of this case and not let the Chinese propaganda machine spin this story as they see fit," said Fu. "We will stand with Chen and work with the international community and world media to fight for his freedom."

ChinaAid has briefed the U.S. State Department and congressional and White House officials about Chen's situation, and has also worked with major wire services, newspapers and radio to get out Chen's story.

"We admire Chen's extraordinary courage and his unwavering desire to fight for the fundamental rights owed every Chinese citizen," Fu said. "We urge the U.S. government and other democratic nations to show the courage of their convictions and protect this brave rights defender."

April 24, 2012/ADF Alliance Alert --

From LifeNews.com:

The Arizona state Senate has voted to approve legislation de-funding Planned Parenthood, the nation's biggest abortion business that does more than one-fourth of all abortions in the United States.

The state Senate passed, 18-8, the Whole Woman's Health Funding Priority Act of Arizona (HB 2800) that will defund abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood of state family planning money. The bill is based on model legislation developed by the SBA List and the Alliance Defense Fund, and prioritizes family planning funds away from abortion-centered businesses like Planned Parenthood to entities that provide women with comprehensive health care.

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs for SBA List, told LifeNews after the vote: "Planned Parenthood's abortion-centered business model does not need or deserve taxpayer dollars. We encourage Gov. Brewer to quickly sign this bill into law. Arizona is leading the charge to protect taxpayers and women from Planned Parenthood and the violence of abortion."...

Read entire article here.

April 24, 2012/Allentown, PA/Operation Rescue --

Two abortion clinics with connections to the notorious abortionist Steven Chase Brigham have been ordered closed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Allentown Women's Services was forced to close when it lost its lease at 2200 Hamilton St., Suite 200, in Allentown. The Pennsylvania Department of Health revoked its license on April 10, 2012, citing "infrastructure failure" after landlord David A. Klein Real Estate terminated the lease, changed the door locks, and stripped the clinic name off all the building's signage. Local pro-life activists report that Brigham's office and medical equipment is still inside the locked office and no known effort has been made to remove it.

In the closure order, Anna Marie Sossong, the PDH's deputy secretary for quality assurance wrote:

In addition, I would note that the Department of Health long has witnessed a chronic inability by AMS to comply with the most fundamental statutory and regulatory requirements. These recent events have shown that AMS is unwilling or unable to comply even with the most basic requirements of the law established and designed to assure the health and safety of the patients.

The Medical Director at Allentown Women's Services also resigned earlier this year, but was replaced by long-time Brigham employee Vikram Kaji, an abortionist who has been disciplined for sexually abusing at least three of his patients and indiscriminately prescribing controlled dangerous substances.

Both clinics were ordered by the State to update the American Women's Services web site to reflect the fact that they are banned from doing abortions. However, as of this writing, the web site still listed the two offices as supplying abortions through 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Both Pennsylvania abortion clinics have ties to Brigham, who made recent headlines when he was arrested and charged with murder for operating an illegal late-term abortion business in Maryland where police discovered the frozen remains of 35 late-term aborted babies. Those charges were later dropped after an expert witness withdrew from the case under pressure from abortion groups.

Brigham's Pennsylvania medical license is inactive and cannot be renewed. In July, 2010, Brigham was banned by the State of Pennsylvania from operating or controlling any abortion clinics in that state citing violations that endangered the public. Brigham circumvented the order by transferring ownership of his clinics to Rose Health Services, a company said to be owned by Brigham's mother, and continued advertizing the clinics as part of his chain of 16 Abortion mills that operate in four states.

"Brigham has openly shown disregard for nearly every law on the books. He is a dangerous man who is not above deceiving authorities about the true nature of his disreputable abortion businesses," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation.

"His deception in Pennsylvania is finally exposed and his clinics there are closed, but he continues to operate clinics in New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. This poses an intolerable risk to women. Authorities in all these states are well aware of Brigham and while he is not allowed to practice medicine in any of them legally, they continue to allow him to operate his sleazy abortion mills. This is wrong and we will continue to work through the system to correct this problem until Brigham and his ilk are out of business for good."

Read Brigham's profile on AbortionDocs.org

Read about other troubled Brigham abortionists

April 23, 2012/Madison, WI/Operation Rescue --

Planned Parenthood announced last week that it would stop dispensing abortion pills at all of its Wisconsin locations after Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law banning the dangerous drugs without the presence of a license physician. This law virtually bans the practice of telemed, or webcam abortions.

Medication abortions account for about 25% of all abortions in Wisconsin.

"This new law will certainly save lives and we thank the Wisconsin Legislature and Gov. Walker for acting to protect women from predatory webcam abortion practices that attempt to increase abortion profits by cutting corners on women's health and safety," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation.

"This has been a textbook example of how activism encourages legislation. Once we discovered the webcam abortions in Iowa, we worked with other organizations to create legislation. That legislation has been picked up by other groups and guided through the legislative process. The result is positive change and increased protections for women that will result in fewer abortions."

Operation Rescue first uncovered the experimental abortion pill distribution scheme that was being conducted by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland in Iowa, and reported on it in March, 2010, then exposed plans by Planned Parenthood Federation of America to expand the scheme into every one of their clinics nationwide.

Since then several states have worked to prevent the expansion of the dangerous abortion process. Wisconsin joins Arizona, Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota in banning webcam abortions. North Dakota and Oklahoma have also passed webcam bans that are currently in the process of litigation.

Elsewhere, a ban on webcam abortions passed its final hurdle in the Minnesota Legislature last Wednesday, and now heads to the desk of Gov. Mark Dayton, a pro-abortion Democrat. It is unknown whether he intends to sign the bill or exercise his veto.

The following day, another webcam abortion ban overwhelmingly passed the Missouri House with a vote of 109-24. It now moves on to the Senate.

Webcam bans have also been introduced during the current legislative session in Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion organization that tracks abortion trends. In addition, Rep. Steve King of Iowa is seeking federal legislation to stop webcam abortions.

During the webcam abortion process, the abortionist conducts a brief interview with a potential abortion patient in another location over an Internet video conferencing connection. The abortionist then pushes a button on his or her computer screen that releases a "cash drawer" containing the abortion drugs. The woman self-administers some of the drugs immediately and is then released to take the rest of the drugs at home. The patient is never examined by a licensed physician, and in the case of an emergency, there is no accessibility to the prescribing abortionist. The process violates FDA safety protocols on numerous points.

The abortion pill, known as RU486, Mifepristone, or Mifeprex, is responsible for at least 16 patient deaths and thousands of abortion complications. When the pills fail, a surgical abortion can be necessary to save the woman's life from infection caused by retained fetal tissue.

"There can be no doubt that halting the misuse of abortion drugs will save the lives of women and their babies. Because of this we are working to halt the practice of telemed abortions nationwide," said Newman.

April 20, 2012/Birmingham, AL/Operation Rescue --

New Women All Women, a dangerous abortion mill in Birmingham, Alabama, that was recently ordered closed by the state is attempting to pull a fast one in order keep their business open.

In fact, if this works, the abortion clinic would not miss one single day of business!

After viewing images of two women being carried out of that nasty abortion mill down stairs with a broken safety rail to gurneys waiting in a trash-strewn alley, and listening to the cold 911 tapes that proved the women suffered overdoses during abortions, we just cannot stand by and allow this travesty to happen.

But that's not all!

After pro-life activists documented and exposed this horrific incident, they reported NWAW to the authorities. As a result, the Alabama Department of Public Health issued a scathing 76-page deficiency report that showed dozens of violations - and perhaps most shocking - that a third abortion patient landed in ICU the same day from abortion complications that resulting from a lack of monitoring.

The Health Department issued NWAW an order to close by May 18 and to cease abortion operations by May 11. The entire pro-life movement celebrated the impending closure of this dangerous abortion mill.

But here's the critical issue that faces us now.

The closure agreement gave NWAW's owner Diane Derzis, dubbed by Alabama legislators as the "Abortion Queen", the opportunity to transfer ownership of the abortion business to another person. Derzis has a reputation of being a tough and devious woman. We found out that arrangements had been made to transfer ownership even before Derzis signed the closure agreement with the Department of Public Health.

We have every reason to believe that this is a bogus "in-name-only" switch designed to deceive the authorities and the public.

An inspection is scheduled for TODAY that could clear the way for approval of this dubious new ownership situation.

This is the same tactic that the notorious New Jersey abortionist Steven Chase Brigham used to keep his two Pennsylvania abortion clinics running in Allentown and Pittsburgh. After being ordered to cease and desist from operating his seedy abortion mills by the State of Pennsylvania, he transferred ownership to his mother and kept them running business as usual!

But the authorities in Pennsylvania saw through this scam and just yesterday ordered his Pittsburgh mill to close - Allentown was ordered closed last week - all because pro-life supporters kept the heat on the authorities and would not let the matter rest.

We need a victory like this in Alabama, but we cannot do this without your help!

The situation in Birmingham is urgent. If this dangerous clinic is allowed to continue operations, there can be no doubt that women will die along with their innocent babies.

Please take a quick moment to contact the Department of Public Health and the Governor's office and ask them to step in and block this phony paper transfer in the interest of public safety.

We also need you to post this information on your social networking sites and forward it to everyone you know. Let's light up the phone lines and e-mail in boxes of these authorities so they know people are watching them and will hold them accountable for their actions.

Your voice in defense of the babies is needed right now. Tomorrow might be too late.

Donald E. Williamson, State Health Officer
Voice: (334) 206-5200
Fax: (334) 206-2008
E-Mail: donwilliamson@adph.state.al.us

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley
Voice: (334) 242-7100
Fax: (334) 353-0004
E-Mail: http://governor.alabama.gov/contact/contact_form.aspx

Background
Read the 76-page deficiency report

April 18, 2012/Jackson, Mississippi/Operation Rescue --

Gov. Phil Bryant signed a new law Monday that will add a layer of protection for women against shoddy abortion practices. The new law will require abortionists to be board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and maintain hospital privileges at a local hospital.

Because the Jackson Women's Health Organization, the last abortion clinic in Mississippi, cannot meet the new safety requirements, it may be forced to close. Abortion groups like Planned Parenthood have voiced opposition to the law because it could make Mississippi an abortion free state.

The new law was the result of collaboration between Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation and Terry Herring of the Pro-Life America Network.

The Jackson Women's Health Organization is owned by Diane Derzis, the same woman who owns New Woman All Women abortion clinic in Birmingham, which was recently issued a 76-page deficiency report after inspections at the clinic, then ordered it to close by the Alabama Department of Public Health after pro-life supporters reported two abortion emergencies there in January. Derzis employs some of the same abortionists at JWHO as she has in Birmingham. There is every reason to believe that the same policies and procedures that caused the closure order for NWAW exist at JWHO.

"We see many abortionists traveling from state to state doing abortions and leaving women without proper medical follow up or emergency care. That would not be allowed for a veterinarian clinic and should not be tolerated for women. Abortion clinics that refuse to comply with even the most minimum safety requirements debase women and send the shameful message that the lives of women aren't worth the extra precautions," said Newman.

"Opposition to these simple safety measures reveals the abortion cartel's lack of respect for the health and safety of women and the exploitative nature of the abortion industry. Abortion clinics fight safety rules like this because they routinely cut corners on women's safety to enhance their profit margins. We are not surprised that they would fight to keep their seedy operations as unaccountable as possible.

"We congratulate Terri Herring on this great pro-life victory and thank the Mississippi Legislature and Gov. Bryant for having the compassion for women to enact this common-sense legislation."

The law is set to go into effect on July 1, 2012.

by Teresa S. Collett

The United States Congress and the state legislatures of Michigan and New Hampshire are considering Pain-Capable Child Protection Acts. These acts would prohibit almost all abortions at twenty weeks post-fertilization and beyond. Five states--Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Idaho--already have such laws on the books. These laws are premised on the idea that an unborn child's capacity to feel pain, independent of fetal viability, is sufficient to establish the humanity of the child and to sustain a limited prohibition on abortion. Like partial-birth abortion bans, these laws advance public recognition of the unborn child's humanity and should be supported.

Objections to Pain-Capable Child Protection Acts generally fall into two categories. First, some philosophers and doctors dispute that the unborn child can "feel" pain prior to birth. Second, many abortion-rights advocates argue that, even if fetal pain exists, the Constitution does not permit states to limit access to abortions merely to prevent inflicting pain on a pre-viable fetus. Upon close examination, neither of these objections is persuasive....

Read entire article here.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., April 16, 2012/Christian Newswire --

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer notes that Susan G. Komen for the Cure - which attempted earlier this year to withdraw from its long-standing relationship with Planned Parenthood, but was subsequently subjected to an orchestrated mafia shakedown - will resume funding the abortion giant, according to the Washington Post. [1-3]

"Women will die, as Komen violates its supposed mission to fight breast cancer," asserted Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer.

"Planned Parenthood sells cancer-causing abortions and oral contraceptives (the birth control pill). According to medical texts, increased childbearing, starting before age 24, substantially reduces breast cancer risk. Fifty-two of 68 studies and biological and experimental evidence link abortion with increased risk. [4,5] The World Health Organization lists estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives as a risk factor for cancers of the breast, liver and cervix. [6] Oral contraceptives are strongly linked with the deadly triple-negative breast cancer. [7,8]

"It's unfortunate that Komen founder Nancy Goodman Brinker lacks the strength of character needed to protect women from Planned Parenthood's war on their health. Brinker wilted under fire from Planned Parenthood's orchestrated mafia shakedown. Shockingly, even Big Media journalists and 26 members of Congress participated in it."

"Planned Parenthood does not provide mammograms and breast cancer treatment. It provides manual breast exams and refers women elsewhere for mammograms."

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer is an international women's organization founded to protect the health and save the lives of women by educating and providing information on abortion as a risk factor for breast cancer.

References can be found online at:
www.abortionbreastcancer.com/press_releases/120416/index.htm