December 2010 Archives

NEW YORK, December 30 (C-FAM) --

By Samantha Singson and Amanda Pawloski

Nothing gets the debate burning hotter at the UN than one over sex education for children.

Last Fall conservative UN delegations angrily protested a report claiming for children a new right to "comprehensive sexuality education."

At another meeting last year, when the Holy See promoted abstinence-based programs, liberal delegations met the proposal with sneers and laughter.

While some at the UN sneer, an innovative abstinence-based education program is seeing results. Dr. Hanna Klaus, a medical missionary nun and veteran OB/GYN, developed the Teen STAR program that educates adolescents about their fertility with natural family planning techniques.

The program's name, Teen STAR (Sexuality Teaching in the context of Adult Responsibility) expresses the mission of the program. According to Klaus, Teen STAR gives young people "concrete ways of responding to the corresponding emotional changes and pressures," while empowering them through a better understanding of their own biological fertility patterns.

Klaus denounces sexual education programs that do nothing but preach a negative view of sexuality. "Neither the provision of contraception nor the exhortation to preserve chastity serves adolescents' need to integrate their now-present biological capacity to procreate into their operational self-concepts," she believes.

Klaus's program is designed to do more than educate adolescents to avoid pregnancy and STDs. Teen STAR asserts that during their year long program over 90 percent of female and male virgins remain abstinent, while 40-50% of previously sexually active females and 30-50% of previously sexually active males discontinued sexual activity. Teen STAR also boasts a rigorous scientific methodology.

Rather than offering a synthesized curriculum, the Teen STAR program addresses males and females specifically. Teenage boys are taught respect for their always present fertility, while teenage girls are educated on their cyclical fertility patterns that effect their overall emotional, psychological, and even spiritual well-being. The result is a program that integrates various disciplines to help adolescents' self-understanding and resist social pressure beyond sex....

Read article in its entirety here.

Bishop Thomas Olmsted, of the Phoenix, Arizona Diocese took the extraordinary step last week of removing Saint Joseph Hospital's Catholic status.

The measure comes after last May's confrontation between Sister Margaret McBride, the hospital's administrator who gave permission for an 11-week pregnant woman with a severe case of pulmonary hypertension to have an abortion, and Bishop Olmsted who notified her in private that her actions were formal cooperation in the child's death, and therefore incurred a laetae sententiae (automatic) excommunication.

Much confusion swirls around this case, and needs to be cleared in the interest of defending the good name of a good bishop.

First, a recap of the initial controversy last May. Pulmonary hypertension is a gravely serious condition that is exacerbated by pregnancy. Testing done at Saint Joseph's indicated a fairly advanced stage of the disease, and it was deemed that the 27 year-old mother of four would in all likelihood not make it to term with her pregnancy. Termination of the pregnancy was advocated as the means of saving the life of the mother. Thus, the ethical crossroads....

Continue reading here.

BOSTON, Dec. 29, 2010/Christian Newswire --

Operation Rescue is pleased to announce that pro-life advocate and speaker Eileen Smith has been chosen to receive the 2010 Pro-life Person of the Year Malachi Award.

Mrs. Smith was thrust into the pro-life movement when her daughter, Laura Hope Smith, died during an abortion in Hyannis, Massachusetts, by Rapin Osathanondh on September 13, 2007. She immediately began reaching out for assistance from pro-life organizations, including Operation Rescue, as she began her relentless pursuit for justice on behalf of her daughter.

As a result of her actions, Osathanondh was forced to permanently surrender his medical license and vow never to reapply in any state for the rest of his life. His two offices, where he conducted his abortion business, were permanently closed.

On September 13, 2010, exactly three years after Osathanondh took Laura's life, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and taken directly to jail in shackles. That same day, Osathanondh settled a civil suit brought by Eileen Smith for $2M.

In addition, Mrs. Smith has become a noted pro-life speaker who has dedicated her life to ending abortion. "Every time I speak, I believe I put another nail in the coffin of the abortion industry," she said.

"Every step of the way, Eileen was under pressure to drop her efforts to bring Osathanondh to justice and simply walk away. It took an amazing amount of faith for her to persevere and demand that the authorities do their jobs. Her determination amid overwhelming grief is an inspiration to us all," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "We are proud to award her with the 2010 Pro-life Person of the Year Malachi Award."

Each year Operation Rescue presents the Malachi Award to pro-life activists who are impacting the nation for the cause of life. The award is named after an aborted baby that was discovered in an abortion clinic dumpster, whose image has been used nationally to bring attention to the desperate plight of the pre-born.

Previous recipients include Jim Pouillon, who was gunned down during a peaceful protest in 2009, Lila Rose of Live Action Films for her documentation of Planned Parenthood abuses, Dr. Johnny Hunter of LEARN, who is exposing the devastating effects of abortion on the African-American community, Leslee Unruh, who spearheaded efforts to ban abortion in South Dakota, and Phill Kline, the former Kansas prosecutor whose abortion investigations led to 107 criminal charges against Planned Parenthood.

December 28, 2010/Liberty Counsel --

Medicare released a new regulation that will pay physicians for discussing end-of-life treatment options with their patients. This provision was originally included in "ObamaCare," but Democrats removed it after a hailstorm of criticism arose regarding so-called "death panels" that would allegedly pressure elderly patients to forgo life-saving treatment.

The language comes from Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), the author of the original end-of-life proposal, whose state is 1 of only 2 that allow physician-assisted suicide. The New York Times reported an email from his office saying, "Thus far, it seems that no press or blogs have discovered it, but we will be keeping a close watch and may be calling on you if we need a rapid, targeted response. The longer this goes unnoticed, the better our chances of keeping it."

The "voluntary advance care planning" language was hidden on page 238 of a nearly 700-page document, the implementation of which begins in four days on January 1, 2011. The regulation will cover "(1) [a]n individual's ability to prepare an advance directive in the case where an injury or illness causes the individual to be unable to make health care decisions. (2) Whether or not the physician is willing to follow the individual's wishes as expressed in an advance directive."

Liberty Counsel is challenging the ObamaCare law, which will now be heard by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Norman Moon found that Liberty University and 2 individual plaintiffs had standing to assert their constitutional claims against the individual and employer mandates in the healthcare law and that their claims were ripe for consideration.

Read our News Release for more details.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2010 /Christian Newswire --

Pro-lifers crashed the "holiday" parties of NARAL and DC Abortion Fund to deliver the message that you cannot murder innocent babies in the womb and celebrate Christmas without making a complete mockery of the Christ Child. These are the very same people who would kill the baby Jesus, given some of Mary's circumstances.

Christ said: "Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done to ME."

Is it YouTube's policy to prevent free speech? YouTube allows some of the most disgusting videos, but these 2 videos were pulled because "content violated YouTube's Terms of Service" and because they apparently violated "YouTube's policy on shocking and disgusting content."

See both videos:

NARAL Disruption: eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?v=hd6U8z8znz and DC Abortion Fund Disruption: eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?v=hd6UkU4zVr.

Statement of Gary Boisclair, Insurrecta Nex DC Chapter:

The people at NARAL and DC Abortion Fund have celebrated their selfish, deceptive, wicked ideas and called it a holiday party. We at Insurrecta Nex love them too much to fail to tell them the truth.

These enemies of life and of God's law will have no rest until they repent. We will not cease to publicize the fact that they are murdering babies. People who are determined to support the murder of the most defenseless must listen to the Voice of Truth, the Baby born in Bethlehem.

Statement of Andrew Beacham, Insurrecta Nex DC Chapter:

YouTube has consistently discriminated against the Pro-Life message and objective Truth by censoring Pro-Life videos submitted to their website, including three of our recent submissions. YouTube allows obscene, perverse, and graphic videos to remain on their website, but not our videos which are educational, a documentation of history and newsworthy.

The D.C. Abortion Fund and LOYL (League Of Young Leaders), NARAL's young professionals group, both threw 'holiday parties' that were fundraisers and were open to the public. Both groups have public pages...and public event pages on Facebook. If anyone wants to see who is supporting, raising money, or attending these events they only need to look the events page up on each groups' Facebook page.

Dear YouTube, There is no violation of privacy when they make their face and views public. Murder is murder and it does not matter if it happens in public or in private. We will all know who you are eventually. Remember Nuremburg?

Statement of David Lewis, Insurrecta Nex DC Chapter:

I wanted to let them know that being involved directly or indirectly with the murder of children is a sin against Almighty God and man. What I did was an act of mercy to the people involved financially or otherwise with child killing.

I am shocked in the cowardice of YouTube. The fact that they would leave pornography and other garbage untouched and would pull our video down is a mockery of truth and justice.

Like many organizations celebrating the commercialized "holiday," Google can't find Christ in Christmas.

The images on their home page display scenes from "holiday" celebrations around the world - of course Santa is included, but unless my eyes deceive me, there isn't a picture of a nativity scene to be found. (Some of the images are displayed below...)

Could it be that the baby Jesus simply isn't optimized for Google's search engines? Or could it be that the staff at Google doesn't know how use their own search engine to find the real meaning of this "holiday?"

And could it be that despite the millions of books Google has scanned, including 599 books on the Bible, they simply didn't have at their disposal a way to find out what's the reason for this "holiday" season?

If Google can't understand what's wrong with this, let me illustrate it this way: Removing Christ from Christmas is like removing "Google it" or "Googling" from discussions about search engines, except that it's far more offensive and intolerant.

It appears that Google, like many other companies, has removed Christ from Christmas - and this is offensive, intolerant, and insulting to millions of people. But as long as it's Christians that are offended, I guess it doesn't matter.

But I may have jumped the gun on this issue - who knows what will appear on their search page tomorrow. Regardless, Google still has two chances to redeem itself - tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and Saturday is Christmas day. Let us hope they find the true meaning of Christmas - they certainly have all of the tools necessary to do so.

CHICAGO, Dec. 22, 2010 /Christian Newswire --

In the wake of an act of pro-abortion violence, a Cincinnati window company has offered to replace the damaged windows at the home of Joe and Ann Scheidler, founders of the Pro-Life Action League.

On Thursday, December 2, the Scheidlers were awakened by the sound of shattering glass. They later discovered that someone had hurled two chunks of asphalt through their living room and dining room windows. Glass was all over the floor and outside on the front porch. One of the "missiles" was inside a plastic bag with an expletive-filled note for Joe Scheidler from self-identified "crazy feminist[s]." Click here to read the text of the note (warning: strong language).

"I have to admit it's a little unsettling," said Joe Scheidler, founder and president of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League. "But I have never tried to hide where I live or keep my phone number a secret. I think you have to be accessible, even if that means some of your enemies might show up."

After reading the story of the window vandalism online, Mike Gilkey, owner of Gilkey Windows in Cincinnati and passionate pro-lifer, wanted to do something to help the Scheidlers.

"I was speechless when I got a call from Mr. Gilkey's office offering to replace our windows," said Ann Scheidler, vice president of the League. "And it's not just the broken windows -- he's going to replace all the windows in the living room and dining room. This is unbelievably generous."

Joe Scheidler had met the Gilkeys more than 20 years ago while giving a speech in Cincinnati. Gilkey Window Company has a showroom in Chicago Ridge, and the company has recently expanded into the market of replacement windows in school buildings, helping to reduce heating and cooling costs and create a healthy and green environment.

"We are so grateful to the Gilkey family and company," said Joe Scheidler. "I hope any pro-lifer who needs new windows or doors will turn to Gilkey. In fact they can come over to my house and see my new windows. After all, we're in the book!"

To speak with the Scheidlers or Mike Gilkey, please contact Stephanie Lewis at 312-422-1333 or stephanie@tcpr.net.

As many know, Planned Parenthood and NARAL are using New York City as the launch pad for an all-out war on CPC's, including prison sentences for failure to comply with the proposed legislation.

Our petition to the New York City Council is now up and ready for signature. Please take 2 minutes to click the link and sign it. We need to show the NYC Council and our new Attorney General that this assault on the PRC's is intolerable to far too many of us to be ignored. It needs to be a national show of resolve that will make these people think twice before taking their pet legislation on a national road show.

Our site has not only the petition, but the copy of the legislation, the American Center for Law and Justice legal brief on the law, what we have done to date, and so much more. We'll never forget how the nation stood with us on 9/11. We're asking that you join us again, and work with us to stop this assault dead in its tracks.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PETITION

God Bless.

Wichita, KS/December 15, 2010/Operation Rescue --

Operation Rescue has learned that a Kansas physician plans to open an abortion clinic soon in Wichita, Kansas.

Abortionist Mila Means has reportedly purchased abortion equipment from the now-closed Women's Health Care Services formerly operated by George Tiller, and plans to open on Saturdays for abortions at her private office near East Harry and Webb Road in Wichita. She has been seen at the Aid For Women clinic in Kansas City, KS, where she is reportedly in training. Means is a family practice physician who is not certified as an ob/gyn.

"We are saddened by the news that someone would want to bring abortion back to Wichita," said Newman. "The city has been abortion-free for a year and a half. It is clear that abortion is unwanted and unneeded in this abortion-weary community."

Means has a troubled past that includes disciplinary action taken against her medical license for the misuse of psychiatry in her family practice, having improper personal relationships with patients, and for something more serious that the Kansas Board of Healing Arts has redacted from her public record.

However, the Board did indicate in Means' disciplinary documents that it had the authority to discipline her under a Kansas law for unprofessional conduct including the "commission of any act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or exploitation related to the licensee's professional practice."

Redactions prevented the disclosure of details of the alleged sexual abuse, misconduct, or exploitation, and omitted some of the disciplinary action taken against her.

"Information like this is often withheld because it would destroy the person's reputation if it were made public. Whatever Means did to merit such discipline should be cause for concern to anyone who may seek services from her," said Newman.

The pro-life community will respond with a prayerful protest on Saturday, December 18 from 10:00-11:00 AM outside Means office located at 9916 E. Harry in Wichita, Kansas. Statements will be made to the press at 10:00 AM.

"We are urging everyone who can on such short notice to turn out to pray and send a resounding message that we will exhaust every legal means available to prevent even one more child from dying from abortion here," said Newman.

Read Means' Disciplinary Documents

BALTIMORE, MD/Dec. 15, 2010/Christian Newswire --

LeRoy Carhart is perhaps the best known abortionist in the nation, yet when he applied for a license to practice medicine in Maryland in September, Carhart intentionally concealed the true nature of his risky late-term abortion practice from the Maryland Board of Physicians.

"Looking at his Maryland medical license application, there is no mention of abortion anywhere. One is lead to believe that Carhart is an emergency room physician and university professor. There is no indication on that application that he is the most notorious late-term abortionist in the nation," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Operation Rescue recently received a redacted copy of Carhart's application for Maryland licensure, which was obtained through a Maryland Public Information Act request.

On page two of the application, Carhart lists his current position as Medical Director and Staff Physician of "Bellevue Health/Emergency Clinic, Inc." located at 1002 West Mission Avenue in Bellevue, Nebraska, which is actually the address of his infamous abortion mill, better known as the Abortion and Contraception Clinic of Nebraska.

"Why use a dummy corporation instead of the actual name of his abortion business? It is obvious that Carhart attempted to deceive without technically lying. It shows a devious attitude that poses a danger in the field of medicine," said Newman.

Nowhere on Carhart's application does he mention that he was an employee for over a decade of George Tiller's now-closed Women's Health Care Services, the largest free-standing late-term abortion mill outside of Communist China. That omission, as well as the omission of other abortion clinics that Carhart has worked at in the past 20 years in eight states, helps to conceal the truth about the nature of Carhart's late-term abortion business.

"When the most notorious abortionist in the world tries to cover up what he does for a living, you know he has something to hide," said Newman.

Operation Rescue has submitted to the Maryland Board of Physicians documentation on Gilbert's avoidable death and the numerous botched abortions with which Carhart was involved in Kansas. The complaint is demanding that the Board reconsider Carhart's license.

"We intend to press the issue with the medical board and other authorities until women are safe from Carhart's deceptive and exploitive abortion practices," said Newman.

If there were an award given for sorest losers, recently defeated Ohio Rep. Steve Driehaus would be a contender.

Driehaus is blaming the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List for his shellacking in November, going so far as to sue the PAC in federal court last week for "character defamation" and "depriving him of his livelihood."

Driehaus was one of 15 pro-life Democrats around the country who were either fired or retired last month after voting for Obamacare.

As one of those targeted for defeat by the SBA List, Driehaus is fixated on it rather than his Pelosi-whipped self as the reason for his political demise....

I would be remiss at this point not to again mention Kristen Day and Democrats for Life....

Day submitted 2 affidavits on Driehaus' behalf against the SBA List, relishing the ramifications in an Oct. 25 press statement that "[a]ll records... will have to be turned over to lawyers for Congressman Steve Dreihaus [sic]."

As we see, Day's hope lives on.

But this amounts to Day advocating a pro-life WikiLeaks: releasing internal pro-life "cables" to the general public, including the enemy.

While legal in this case, it was certainly treasonous to the movement.

Read my entire column today, "Pelosi's sorest loser: Driehaus," at WorldNetDaily.com.

BARSTABLE, MA/Dec. 8, 2010 /Christian Newswire --

Eileen Smith, who helped bring abortionist Rapin Osathanondh to justice for killing her 22-year old daughter, Laura Hope Smith during a botched abortion in Hyannis, Massachusetts, in 2007, tells Operation Rescue that Osathanondh has won a motion for early release from jail today after serving only half of his sentence.

According to Smith, Osathanondh will be fitted with a monitoring device and released today to serve out the remainder of his sentence in home confinement at his plush luxury home on Cape Cod.

The following is Eileen Smith's statement on the release of the man who killed her daughter:

Rapin Osathanondh was granted a 'revise and revoke' motion on his sentence today by the same Judge who originally gave him the 'light' sentence. Once again the man who killed my daughter receives mercy while our daughter and family receive none.

He will leave jail as soon as they get the bracelet on him for his 'million dollar home' confinement. Even though the Parole Board recently denied his parole because they said he was NOT remorseful for what he did, and he was the most 'arrogant and callous person to ever ask for parole in their experience serving on the parole board', the Judge disregarded the parole board's comments and decision and granted him freedom to go home. Where is my daughter's freedom to go home, Judge?

Today's decision to release Laura's killer was just plain wrong. We are very upset that Osathanondh was allowed to be released from jail early against the recommendation of the parole board. A 3 month incarceration for depriving a woman of her life trivializes her humanity and diminishes the human dignity of all women. As long as abortionist quacks who maim and butcher unsuspecting women and kill their innocent babies are slapped on the wrist and sent home, we can only expect their arrogant, 'above the law' attitudes to persist and the body count of dead abortion patients to rise.

What would I have done? Would I have had the courage to stand against the tyrannical King who ordered the slaughter of innocents? Would I have helped Mary and Joseph, or any other mother and child escape the murderous wrath of a jealous King? I'd like to think that the answer is yes.

While there are far less severe dangers today, Herod has been eclipsed by an army of bloody tyrants who walk the corridors of power today. The Democrat party gives hundreds of millions of dollars annually to groups such as Planned Parenthood, who in turn lavish millions of dollars on... Democrats running for office. Of course, the agreement is that the price of power is babies must die.

Yes, I used the imperative.

No, it's not melodramatic.

We have long since passed some academic right to choose abortion. The field of Obstetrics brings unrelenting pressure to bear on women who might be carrying a less than perfect child. Trisomic conditions are cause for summary execution. Women and men are brow-beaten, called selfish (and worse) for wanting to bring their special needs children into the world. If the baby is anencephalic, parents are called monsters for bringing the child to term.

No, it seems that there is a mandate now for abortion. And the list of those marked as unworthy of life continues to grow. Still, for some that's not good enough.

Crisis Pregnancy Centers and Pregnancy Resource Centers are under assault in several states, with New York City being the most recent target. Chris Slattery started EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers 25 years ago and has over 38,000 confirmed saves between our 12 centers.

That will not be allowed to stand if NARAL, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and former PP deathscort and bill sponsor Jessica Lappin have their way. Their legislation is aimed at driving women away from our doors. Where to?

Right into the arms of our modern day Herods.

Choice? There can be no choice if abortion is the only option. By their own admission, Planned Parenthood only concerns themselves with contraception and abortion. They refer out for prenatal care (if the baby is lucky enough to make it out of PP alive). Choice died about 20 years ago. There is an imperative now, the growing movement to silence those of us who guarantee choice by providing viable alternatives.

Chris and I will be starting a petition drive this week that I hope all will take a moment to participate in. That's the very least that each of us can do. It is how we can stand up to the Herods of our day and make our voices known. Like the One sought for death 2,000 years ago, these children are our salvation in so very many ways.

They ground us, make us face maturity by calling us to focus on their utter helplessness. They teach us the meaning of love. They teach us redemptive suffering. They save us from eternal adolescent narcissism, and draw us closer to God.

There is so much that we can do, and some of us are fighting this particular battle full time. But we need everyone's help with the petition. In facing down Herod, the pen does quite nicely.

So as we begin to move closer to Christmas, to the timeless narrative of the Nativity, and the story of Herod's evil, we should bear in mind that we are all called to do something about the slaughter of innocents in our day. The thousands who staff the more than 2,300 CPC's and PRC's save babies daily from the senseless slaughter unleashed on us by seven twisted men in 1973. They are the frontline shields between these babies and certain death.

I don't know what I would have done then.

I do know what we are called to do now.

The petition is on its way.

Germantown, MD/December 7, 2010/Operation Rescue --

Over 600 pro-life supporters braved wind and bitter cold to stand in protest of LeRoy Carhart's late-term abortion business that was slated to begin in Germantown, Maryland, yesterday. Only a handful of pro-abortion counter-protesters attended.

A press conference was led by Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition where about a dozen pastors and representatives from national and local pro-life organizations addressed the swelling crowd.

Some groups participating were the Family Research Council, Students for Life in America, Concerned Women of America, Pro-life Unity, Living Hope for Life, Defend Life, and others. Operation Rescue helped organize the event.

The groups stood in unity with the message that Carhart and his abortion business is not welcome in Maryland. It is a message that has been echoed across the country.

Carhart was blocked from opening a late-term abortion mill in Kansas last year. This year, Nebraska passed a groundbreaking law banning all abortions after 20 weeks gestation. Carhart then threatened to "expand" with new late-term abortion clinics in Maryland, Indiana, and Iowa. However, Carhart instead hired on at an existing abortion mill in Germantown, Maryland. Carhart's "new" Indianapolis abortion clinic was one he has been working at part-time for years. In Iowa, pro-life supporters packed the Council Bluffs city council meeting to oppose Carhart's rumored purchase of a city-owned lot.

Meanwhile, in Germantown, the condo association that manages the location of Germantown Reproductive Health Center where Carhart now works met on Monday and determined that as much as the new late-term abortion business distressed the other tenants in the business park, there was presently no legal way to remove the abortion clinic from the property.

Pro-life leaders have asked for a boycott of the business park as long as Germantown Reproductive Health Services remains there.

Rev. Mahoney made it clear that yesterday's protest was only the beginning of a long-term effort to top abortions in Germantown.

"The vast majority of Americans oppose late-term abortions, and even more oppose late-term abortions in their community. The people of Maryland and D.C. metro area have sent a resounding message that LeRoy Carhart and late-term abortions are not welcome there. Operation Rescue will continue to work with pro-life groups and churches in Maryland until Germantown is abortion-free," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Watch video of the full press conference.

Baltimore, MD/December 3, 2010/Operation Rescue --

The Maryland State Board of Physicians last month permanently revoked the medical license of former abortionist George Shepard, Jr., who played a part in the illegal bi-state late-term abortion scheme operated by the notorious Steven Chase Brigham. Shepard was found guilty of unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine and aiding an unauthorized person in the practice of medicine.

Shepard, who is 88, was on duty at a secret abortion clinic in Elkton, MD, when Brigham and Utah abortionist Nicola Riley botched a late-term abortion on a woman who was transported to the nearby hospital in a private vehicle and later airlifted to Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore for emergency surgery.

Elkton police later raided the abortion clinic and discovered the remains of 35 late-term aborted babies along with "waste" logs indicating the age and weight of the babies, the oldest of which was 36 weeks, or nearly full term.

Shepard admitted in an interview with the Maryland Board that he had seen Brigham do abortions twice a week for nearly a year even though he knew Brigham was not licensed to practice medicine in Maryland. Shepard also told the Board investigator that he was disabled and unable to do abortions himself.

In August, Maryland suspended the licenses of Riley and Shepard, and ordered Brigham to cease and desist the unlicensed practice of medicine. Brigham's New Jersey medical license was also suspended. Hearings are yet to be scheduled will take place at a later date to determine if Riley and Brigham will also be permanently revoked.

Shepard still holds a license in Delaware, which has also been suspended. It is more than likely that Delaware will soon permanently revoke his license based on Maryland's actions.

In an unrelated action, the Maryland Board of Physicians suspended the license of James L. Hooper, an abortionist who worked 9 years for Brigham in Maryland until the end of 2009. Hooper was suspended on charges of essentially operating a "pill mill", illegally distributing large quantities of Oxycontin, Lortab, Percocet, and other controlled substances.

Hooper was involved in malpractice law suit in 2007 wherein an abortion patient accused him of horrifically botching her 13-week abortion. According to the law suit, Hooper perforated the woman's uterus then, when she would not stop screaming in pain, ordered her to sit in the waiting room while he conducted abortions on other patients. When he resumed her abortion, he damaged her internal organs to the extent that she required emergency surgery and the removal of one kidney. He delayed obtaining emergency care for his critically injured patient. Hooper settled the case for an undisclosed amount in 2009.

"The action taken against these shoddy and dangerous abortionists should give LeRoy Carhart pause to consider if he really wants his own shoddy abortion practices placed under the scrutiny of the Maryland Board of Physicians," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. Carhart, who killed 19-year old Christin Gilbert during a botched 3rd-trimester abortion in Kansas in 2005, is scheduled to begin offering late-term abortions in Germantown, Maryland, on Monday. "Carhart may find that Maryland will not turn a blind eye to his incompetence as Boards have in other states."

CHICAGO/December 2, 2010/Operation Rescue --

Operation Rescue was outraged to learn this morning that the home of long-time pro-life leader Joseph Scheidler was attacked in the middle of the night with bricks of asphalt being thrown through two front windows. One of the bricks contained a threatening note from an obvious abortion supporter bearing a message of hate. The attack occurred around 2:00 am.

"We denounce in the strongest terms the cowardly violence that shattered the peace of the Scheidler home last night," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "We demand that that Attorney General Eric Holder order the Justice Department to launch an immediate investigation into this violent hate crime and to provide the same protections to Joseph and Ann Scheidler as they have in the past for unthreatened abortionists."

There has been a recent increase in violence against peaceful pro-lifers. In September, 2009, activist Jim Pouillon was brutally murdered as he stood with a pro-life sign in front of a high school in Owosso, Michigan. Operation Rescue's headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, has been repeatedly vandalized, and staff threatened in recent months. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, sidewalk counselors were threatened by a man at gunpoint and police later discovered a cache of weapons in the man's vehicle.

"Joe and Ann Scheidler are pioneers in the pro-life movement whose knowledge and experience has benefitted everyone who has ever taken a stand for the lives of the pre-born," said Newman. "Please join Operation Rescue in sending a special Christmas gift to the Scheidler's today as a show of support and to help defray the cost of repairing the damage to their home."

Cards and letters can be sent to:

Joe and Ann Scheidler
Pro-Life Action League
6160 N. Cicero Ave.
Chicago, IL 60646

Online donations can be made to them here.

For only three hours a year do Americans actually look forward to watching commercials rather than ignoring them, muting them or running to the bathroom during them, as we do the other 8,763 hours.

That is during the Super Bowl.

In fact, commercials have become part of the entertainment during football's annual big game, a cultural phenomenon.

So imagine a 30-second Super Bowl ad showing the graphic reality of abortion.

Most Americans, including many pro-lifers, would abhor such an ad.

But pro-life activists like me would be ecstatic, if such a word can be used to describe fulfillment of a passion to see a multitude of people face the truth about abortion. Activists believe that only by understanding the reality of abortion will the culture be wholeheartedly persuaded against it.

And the publicity, oh, the publicity. Recall the controversy surrounding Focus on the Family's pro-life pablum Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow earlier this year. This would be that on gigamegalo-steroids.

And there is a chance such a commercial will air during the 2012 Super Bowl....

Continue reading my column today, "Graphic abortion ad during the Super Bowl?" at WorldNetDaily.com.

CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2010/Christian Newswire --

The Pro-Life Action League is excited to announce a new alliance with Resurrection Medical Center and The Women's Center in establishing a protocol for assisting women who change their minds after initiating a second trimester abortion procedure. This groundbreaking partnership is the first-of-its-kind in Chicago and can be a model for Catholic hospitals around the country.

"Recently, our sidewalk counselors have seen several women who have changed their minds about abortion, and who wish to continue their pregnancies even once the late-term abortion procedure has started," said Ann Scheidler, vice president and director of sidewalk counselor training for the Pro-Life Action League. "This new process enables us to provide the most comprehensive medical care and emotional support for the pregnant woman who is facing this stressful situation."

The protocol was developed by representatives from the League, Resurrection and The Women's Center, a crisis pregnancy center on the northwest side of Chicago.

In preparation for setting new guidelines, the Pro-Life Action League arranged for Dr. Anthony Levatino, a former abortionist and practicing gynecologist from Las Cruces, N.M., to advise the hospital's physicians and staff on the procedures involved in a later-term abortion and the reversal of the process.

The newly established protocol involves the following:

• When a pregnant woman encounters a sidewalk counselor and indicates she has had a change of heart, she will be directed to The Women's Center.
• The trained counselor at The Women's Center has a designated phone number to alert the emergency room at Resurrection that the women will be arriving shortly.
• The emergency room at Resurrection will handle the initial evaluation and paper work.
• The woman is transferred to the obstetrics department where the necessary procedures will be done.
• If needed, the hospital will refer the women for prenatal care.
• The Women's Center will continue to follow up with the pregnant woman throughout her pregnancy and the delivery of her baby, meeting any emotional and material needs as they arise.

Sister Donna Marie, chief executive officer of Resurrection Medical Center, said of the Pro-Life Action League, "I am so pleased the Resurrection Medical Center is able to be a small part of the beautiful work that you are all doing for the unborn. God bless you and your wonderful team, how pleased God must be with your commitment to His holy children."

"Never before have we had such a streamlined process to save the life of a child after the abortion procedure has been initiated," said Scheidler. "This alliance with Resurrection Medical Center is an example of the way Christ's Church is meant to work together for the good of His most vulnerable."