Double your prolife donation!

There is still time to donate for the year-end matching gift to the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund. The gifts are tax-deductible and will be matched if we reach $40,000. Help educational efforts to uphold the sanctity of all human life!

DONATE TO RLM ED FUND

Baby goes home after being born at 23 weeks

Meghan Pacnya shortly after see was born (via WGNTV)

WGNTV shares the incredible story of a baby who is going home after being born prematurely at 23 weeks.   

Meghan’s mother 39-year-old Rene Pacyna ‘s water broke on July 9th and she learned she was delivering at just 23 weeks pregnant. She was at her own baby shower when she was rushed to Advocate Good Samaritan hospital.

Two days later, Meghan arrived at 15.3 ounces and 8 inches long. Doctors had no idea if she would live days or even hours. With only a 10% chance of surviving, each day was a gift.

The Pacynas had been trying for years to have a baby. They say they prayed a lot and took things one day at a time.

“You have to believe miracles happen,” Rene said.

FULL STORY

Michigan Planned Parenthood web site plagiarizes NARAL, leaves out some details

In an effort to oppose Michigan’s recently passed legislation opting the state out of abortion insurance coverage, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan have created a web site entitled “Enough is Enough!”

The web site has a variety of talking points against the legislation, information about contacting legislators, a place to sign up to get involved and a section where women from Michigan can supposedly share their stories. 

The “Stories” section presently includes four written stories along with videos of legislators testifying against the opt-out legislation. 

The four written stories are plagiarized nearly word for word from two separate NARAL Pro-Choice America web sites.  The first three stories are lifted from NARAL’s "Abortion Bans Without Exceptions Endanger Women’s Health" web site while the 4th story is taken from NARAL’s "Abortion Coverage for Women Enrolled in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. "

Since the stories are copied and pasted nearly word for word and no citation is given, it is notably that in two of the stories Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan decided to make some edits.  They specifically edited out how far along the women were in their pregnancies.

NARAL's web site says that Vikki Stella was in her 32nd week pregnancy when she discovered her child's had fetal abnormalities.  Planned Parenthood changes this to say Stella was “months into her pregnancy.”  A New York Times article from November 8, 1995, mentions that Stella had her abortion at 36 weeks. 

NARAL’s web site also notes that “Gilda Restelli was nearly 30 weeks pregnant” while Planned Parenthood changes this to say Restelli was “well into her pregnancy.”    

In their desperate attempts to attack this prolife legislation, abortion advocates have made false statements about whether the treatment of miscarriages would be covered and how the signatures which initiated this legislation were collected.  

As they try to drum up sympathetic stories, they are now plagiarizing the work of another pro-abortion organization and deceptively editing those stories because they recognize most people are not in favor of their tax dollars and insurance premiums paying for 3rd trimester abortions. 

Abortion rate continues to decline

Michael New, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, looked at the national statistics on abortion and found some positive signs.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released abortion figures for the year 2010. The data indicates that the national abortion rate continues its 20 year decline. The number of abortions performed declined by 3 percent between 2009 and 2010. This decline is fairly consistent across the country. The number of abortions went down in 36 of the 44 states that reported data to the CDC.

FULL STORY

Abortionist Kermit Gosnell convicted of federal drug charges

Convicted murderer and former abortionist Kermit Gosnell is back in the news. His trial for federal drug charges is now over and he had an additional 30 years added to his multiple life sentences. Gosnell originally was convicted in the death of a patient and several infanticides, and was allowed to operate for years because Pennsylvania officials refused to enforce health regulations properly on abortion clinics.

FULL STORY

Correcting Misinformation on the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act

During the recent debate over the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act, opponents of the legislation made a number of false claims about the legislation.

False Claim #1 - Treatment of miscarriages won’t be covered

In her speech on the floor of the Michigan House, Representative Collene Lamonte told a personal story about having a miscarriage at 12 weeks and being treated in the emergency room. She then went on to make the following claim regarding what would have happened had the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act been in place at the time of her miscarriage:

“I would have either been denied this lifesaving procedure that protected my ability to have children and my daughter Grace may have been without a mother today. Or my family would have been burdened with an expensive medical bill that very well may have bankrupted us.”

The Truth
The text of the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act defines elective abortion and clearly says that lifesaving treatment and treatment of a miscarriage is not an elective abortion. Here is the definition of elective abortion in the text of the legislation:

Sec. 11. (a) ... Elective abortion does not include any of the following:

(i) The use or prescription of a drug or device intended as a contraceptive.

(ii) The intentional use of an instrument, drug, or other substance or device by a physician to terminate a woman's pregnancy if the woman's physical condition, in the physician's reasonable medical judgment, necessitates the termination of the woman's pregnancy to avert her death.

(iii) Treatment upon a pregnant woman who is experiencing a miscarriage or has been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy.

False Claim #2 - Signatures gatherers were paid

In an online video, Senator Gretchen Whitmer claimed that “(s)pecial interest groups paid to gather 300,000 votes to get this before the Michigan legislature.”

The Truth
Thousands of Michigan residents voluntarily gathered more than 315,000 signatures and many donated the funds which paid for the printing and mailing of the petitions. Signatures were collected from all 83 of Michigan's counties. No outside firm was hired and no one was paid for the signatures they collected. In her effort to attack this legislation, Whitmer slandered the earnest efforts of thousands of Michigan citizens taking part in the democratic process.

False Claim #3 - Right to Life of Michigan said the goal was to put this legislation on ballot

During her speech on the Senate floor, Senator Gretchen Whitmer claimed that Right to Life of Michigan misled people about whether the legislation would go to the ballot.

“Right to Life told the public their goal was to put this issue on the ballot for all of us to vote on, every one in the state. Again, evidenced by what you’re going here today, a complete lie.”

The Truth
From the beginning of the petition drive, Right to Life of Michigan has openly said the goal was to have this legislation pass with majority support from the Michigan legislature so the legislation wouldn’t go to the ballot.

For example, the question and answer section of the Michigan’s Voice web site says the following:

Q: Will this be on the ballot?

A: It's unlikely. This petition drive is to initiate legislation that was passed in December 2012 by large majorities in the House and Senate but vetoed by the governor. With enough registered voters' signatures, it will become law with a simple majority vote in the state legislature. The governor has no role in approving or vetoing this type of legislation. Prolife people have been successful in the past with citizen initiated petition drives.

Furthermore, an online training seminar specifically notes that the legislation won’t be on the ballot if it receives a majority vote in the Michigan legislature.

Planned Parenthood releases annual report, performs more than 300,000 abortions a year

Planned Parenthood Federation of America recently released their 2012-2013 annual report.  The report notes that once again, Planned Parenthood is America’s biggest abortion provider.  They provided 327,166 abortions in 2012.  This means they’ve aborted nearly 1 million children in the last three years combined. 

While killing nearly 1,000 unborn children every day, Planned Parenthood was raking in government funds to the tune of $540.6 million.   

FULL STORY

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S ABORTION AGENDA

Victory for Michigan

 Elective abortion removed as standard 'benefit' from health plans

The question of who pays for abortion insurance was answered today in Michigan. The Michigan House (62-47) and Senate (27-11) approved the citizen-initiated Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act. The Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act is about who desires abortion coverage and who will pay for it, not whether abortion is legal or if insurance is available.

Today's vote in the Michigan House and Senate in a victory for Michigan and concludes a narrative of effort by a cast of hundreds of thousands of volunteers and key leaders. Because of the dedication of many, Michigan joins 23 other states in opting-out of abortion coverage in their health insurance exchanges through the Affordable Care Act.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "Abortion is not true health care and people who object will not have to contribute their own tax dollars or insurance premiums for elective abortions. This law is instrumental in preserving our long tradition of protecting the conscience rights of Michigan citizens before the Affordable Care Act takes full effect in 2014."

The NO Taxes for Abortion Insurance petition drive was democracy in action. Michigan's Constitution allows the people to initiate legislation through a petition. In 120 days, volunteer Michigan citizens from every county gathered more than 315,000 signatures to support this legislation.

Listing said, "We are thankful for the hundreds of thousands of dedicated volunteers and prolife citizens who made this law possible. We applaud the Michigan legislators who stood firm in their resolve and voted to ensure no person is forced to fund the deliberate taking of an innocent human life in the name of health care."

Michigan legislature passes Abortion Insurance Opt-Out

Great news! The Michigan Senate and the Michigan House just passed the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out.  The vote in the Michigan Senate was 27-11 and the vote in the Michigan House was 62-47.

MICHIGAN'S VOICE

MLive covers on #ScheduleIt tweetfest

MLive.com has an article on the #ScheduleIt tweetfest yesterday and the prolife movement's efforts to convince legislators to vote on the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act. 

Right to Life ramped up its public campaign on Tuesday with a "tweetfest," flooding the social media network with a message for leadership: #ScheduleIt.

FULL STORY

Message Received Loud & Clear in Lansing

Thanks to a great swell of grassroots lobbying effort, our message about voting on the Abortion Insurance Opt Out Act has been heard loud and clear in Lansing. Support for the measure is stronger than ever. There is no doubt in anyone's mind at the Capitol that our initiated legislation has the votes to become law!

House and Senate leaders will meet later today to hammer out the details on exactly when the vote will take place. The end of the year legislative session is always intense and unpredictable.  At this time, there is no need for calls to legislators.

Thank you for the tremendous response to this call to action! We look forward to the day coming soon when the prospect of tax dollars subsidizing abortion insurance is on the scrap heap of history!

#ScheduleIt tweetfest starting at noon today

Starting at noon today, please use the hashtag #ScheduleIt on Twitter and Facebook to encourage the Michigan House of Representatives to schedule a vote this week on the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act.

The Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act is currently awaiting a vote from Michigan's senators and representatives. Pressure must be placed on House Speaker Jase Bolger to schedule a vote THIS week, before the Christmas recess.  Delaying the vote until January will delay full implementation of the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act until 2016. There is no basis for delaying the law. A vote must be taken this week!

LEARN MORE

MICHIGAN'S VOICE

Lobby Alert: Keep up the calls

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing has an important message for you about the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act. 

Currently, the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act is in the hands of Michigan senators and representatives. Please call your prolife House members today. Pressure must be placed on the Michigan House to schedule a vote this week. We need more calls going into state representative offices. The Michigan Senate is ready to vote. 

LISTEN TO A MESSAGE FROM BARBARA LISTING

PROLIFE ACTION CENTER

Detroit News editorial against Abortion Insurance Opt-Out fails miserably

The Detroit News has published an embarrassing, error-plagued editorial against the Abortion Inusrance Opt-Out Act.  The editorial begins by claiming that prolife legislators are being “bullied” into voting for prolife legislation. 

Right to Life of Michigan is flexing its muscle in presenting the state Legislature with a do-or-die choice to limit insurance coverage of abortion. Lawmakers should not let themselves be bullied.

How can prolife legislators who voted in favor of this legislation last year and the majority of whom signed a petition to initiate this legislation be bullied into voting for something they favor? 

Lawmakers should reject this bill and let the entire Michigan electorate decide whether or not it’s appropriate. Polls suggest only one-third of state voters support the measure.

Lawmakers are elected to vote on legislation.  The editorial seems to believe that citizen-initiated legislation doesn’t deserve a vote from lawmakers but provides no reasoning for why lawmakers shouldn’t vote on this type of legislation. 

One has to wonder why the editorial lists "one-third" of voters as being supportive when the latest polls on the legislation covered by the Detroit News cite 41% and 42% as the number of voters in favor of the legislation with large numbers of undecided voters. 

Right to Life’s motives in this push are suspect. The group is attacking a problem that barely exists. In Michigan, just 3.3 percent of 22,700 abortions in 2012 were paid for by insurance, according to the state Department of Community Health.

Apparently, the News believes that the lives of 739 unborn children a year in Michigan are not a problem.  This also fails to address the reality that Obamacare’s subsidies for plans which cover abortion could increase the number of women seeking to use insurance to pay for abortion.

Obamacare does not mandate abortion be included in insurance policies. In fact, thanks to an amendment authored by former Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak, there are so many hoops to jump through that most policies in the Obamacare exchanges don’t cover abortions.

There is no evidence that most policies in the Obamacare exchanges don’t cover abortions.  It was recently reported that over 90% of plans offered in the Washington, D.C. market to Congress and their staffers include abortion coverage. 

It’s a bully tactic aimed at forcing women to make the decision about where they stand on abortion well before the issue becomes personal. It also forces lawmakers to publicly declare themselves on abortion in advance of the 2014 elections.

Why is it a bully tactic to say abortion isn’t health care and our tax dollars and health care premiums shouldn’t paying for someone else’s abortion?  The real "bully tactic" is making the public pay for the abortion of someone else. 

Lawmakers publicly declare themselves on abortion before every election.  That how elections work.  People looking to be elected share their views with people who they want to vote for them.  For a news organization to oppose politicians declaring themselves publicly on an issue is bizarre. 

This was a needless battle to engage in. Lawmakers should reject the ploy and make Right to Life decide how much it’s willing to spend to promote a ballot measure that would have a very slim chance of passing and would not change the abortion reality in Michigan even if it did.

If this legislation would not change the abortion reality in Michigan then why is this editorial arguing against it?  If the battle is so needless then why is the Detroit News engaging itself in it?

Right to Life of Michigan will continue to work to save the lives of unborn children.  We’ll continue to work to make sure that abortion is not a standard part of health care and that our tax dollars and health care premiums aren’t used to subsidize abortion coverage.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ABORTION INSURANCE OPT-OUT ACT

States which pushed to spend tax dollars on embryonic stem cells are now spending that money on ethical stem cells

About a decade ago, there was a large push from proponents of killing human embryos for research to have states fund embryonic stem cell research.  Various states passed legislation granting public funds for research into stem cell studies.  The Washington Times reports on research by one prolife organization shows that money originally intended for embryonic stem cell research is now being spent on more successful research involving adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells.

“Money talks,” said Gene Tarne, author of papers for the Charlotte Lozier Institute that find that the bulk of stem cell funding grants in California and Maryland are moving toward “ethical” research that doesn’t use human embryos.

The shift looks like a sea change from when state funding strongly favored research from embryonic stem cells over “adult” stem cells, which are taken from the placenta, umbilical cord and some mature tissues and do not kill human embryos.

FULL STORY

Are abortion restrictions really unreasonable and misogynistic?

Supporters of abortion often claim that abortion clinic health regulations unreasonably restrict access to abortions. At the Life Training Institute Blog, Michigan's Dr. Rich Poupard explains how the same "unreasonable" health regulations impact the service he provides, removing wisdom teeth.

First, every specialist who performs this procedure in Mid-Michigan has admitting privileges at local hospitals.  The medical board that covers these so-called "professionals" actually insist on this, under the reasoning that doctors should be able to handle emergency problems from their surgery patients themselves! This is clearly ridiculous!  Also, offices in which this procedure are routinely performed are expected to adhere to standards similar to outpatient surgery centers, and are accredited every 5 years.  The fact that these procedures cannot be done anywhere by anyone greatly restricts access to medical care for this safe surgery!

........

If you haven't figured it out, I'm not talking about abortion access.  I'm talking about access to routine third molar surgery.  These "restrictions" that I mention are dealt with every single day by my own patients, in the office where I practice.  Yet the same type of standards, when applied to those adolescents seeking abortion care, are seen as some horrific barrier to care.

FULL POST

MLive covers Save the 1 press conference

Jonathan Oosting/MLive.com

MLive covered the press conference today featuring survivors of rape and individuals conceived as a result of rape from the prolife organization Save the 1.  They expressed support for the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out legislation to make sure their own tax dollars and insurance premiums are not paying for elective abortions.

"No child deserves to be punished for the crimes of their father," said Rebecca Kiessling, a Rochester Hills resident who heads Save the 1, a national group that advocates for anti-abortion policies without exceptions.

Kiessling told reporters that she was conceived when her birth mother was abducted at gunpoint by a serial rapist. Her biological mother considered a "back alley" abortion, she said, but backed out because it was illegal at the time.

"I was protected by Michigan legislators who recognized that mine was a life worth saving," said Kiessling. "I owe my life to those laws."

FULL STORY

Sexual Assault Victims, Individuals Conceived in Rape Speak Out about Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Legislation

On Tuesday, December 3, at 9:30 a.m., in the Senate Appropriations Room, Room 320 in the State Capitol Building, a public advocacy organization, Save the 1, will hold a press conference hosted by Right to Life of Michigan.

The press conference will exclusively feature women who have conceived children after sexual assault and individuals who were conceived in rape. Save the 1 members advocate on behalf of themselves and others like them who have experienced the social biases and stigma that promote abortion as an appropriate, even desirable response to pregnancy resulting from rape.

These individuals will share their perspective on the intersection of their life stories with public policies regarding abortion, including the recent discussions about the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act, which is before the Legislature now that the petition signatures submitted by Right to Life of Michigan have been certified by the Board of Canvassers.

Signatures Verified in Statewide Petition Drive

Today, the Michigan Board of Canvassers unanimously approved the signatures from the NO Taxes for Abortion Insurance petition drive. The Election Division of the Secretary of State concluded its review of the more than 316,000 signatures and found the validity rate to be nearly 95 percent. Registered voters from every county in Michigan signed petitions to initiate the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act; this legislation will keep tax dollars and health insurance premiums from paying for abortion as part of standard health insurance offered in Michigan.

The Michigan Constitution allows the people to initiate legislation through a petition. With the Michigan Board of Canvassers verifying the signatures, the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act will now be in the hands of Michigan representatives and Michigan senators. Because the legislation was initiated by the citizens, it does not need a signature from the governor to become law; only a simple majority vote is required in the Michigan House and Senate. Right to Life of Michigan is advocating for a vote to be taken as early as possible.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "We are thankful for the people of Michigan who participated in the NO Taxes for Abortion Insurance petition drive to allow our elected officials the opportunity to vote on the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act again."

Support for this policy is clear in Lansing. It is the same legislation which passed the House and Senate less than a year ago, but was vetoed by Governor Rick Snyder.

Listing said, "Michigan citizens do not want to pay for someone else's abortion with their tax dollars or health insurance premiums. Abortion is not health care; abortion kills a living, developing human being."

Thanksgiving message from Barbara Listing

 Dear Life Protector,

During this time of thanksgiving, I want to give you an update on the work of Right to Life of Michigan and to thank you for your involvement. 

Together our accomplishments have changed hearts and brought hope to our state. 

• In 2013, five Michigan abortion businesses closed their doors. We have helped close 10 abortion businesses in the last 23 months. Back in the late 1980's, there were approximately 72 free-standing abortion clinics operating in our state. Today, only 28 remain.
• We are very close to "opting out" of mandatory abortion provisions found in the Affordable Care Act. Together we collected more than 316,000 signatures to initiate the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act.  
• Michigan abortions performed in 2012 represent the second-lowest level since official record-keeping began back in 1979.
• Teen abortions are down 73 percent since 1990.
• Overall, we have cut the abortion rate in Michigan by more than half since the peak year of 1987.

While it is exciting to note a few of our accomplishments for 2013, we know our work is far from complete.

Each day women experience the panic of untimely pregnancies. Right to Life of Michigan is in place to be a constant reminder of life-giving options; community based resources and the truth that every life is precious and irreplaceable.

I wanted to let you know generous donors have come together to provide a matching challenge to help the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund. This is a chance to double your online donation up to $40,000.

Year-end, online tax-deductible donations to the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund up to $40,000 will be matched until December 31. That means your gift toward the lifesaving work of the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund will be doubled. 

Thank you for aiding our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. Together we can offer the hope which comes with life!

 Please consider a donation today.

With a thankful heart,

Barbara Listing, President
Right to Life of Michigan

No Taxes for Abortion Insurance petition drive advances

Yesterday, the Michigan Secretary of State's office officially confirmed that the No Taxes for Abortion Insurance petition drive gathered enough valid signatures.  The Board of Canvassers will meet on December 2 to consider the certification of the signatures and send the proposal to the state legislature.  The legislature will then have 40 days to approve the legislation.

If you haven't already, now is the time to contact your state legislators and voice your support for the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out 

The Michigan Secretary of State's office confirmed Monday evening that a deadline has passed without any public challenge to more than 315,000 signatures turned in last month by Right to Life of Michigan.

The Bureau of Elections analyzed a sample and concluded that at an estimated 299,941 signatures are valid, far more than the 258,088 needed to advance the measure.

 The Board of State Canvassers is expected to meet next Monday to consider the petitions. Certification would send the proposal to the Legislature, which would have up to 40 days to vote it into law or allow voters to decide on the 2014 statewide ballot.

FULL STORY

MORE INFORMATION ON PETITION DRIVE

Grand Rapids Right to Life refused entranced into parade

MLive has a story on Grand Rapids Right to Life not being allowed to participate in the Santa Parade tomorrow. GRRTL participated last year with the float pictured above and kids in Santa hats handing out candy.

The nonprofit, pro-life organization planned to have a float banner that reads “Life: A Precious Gift," along with people wearing Santa hats.

But that apparently didn't fit with organizers' desires for the annual parade that welcomes the holiday season in a 9 a.m. procession through downtown.

“This year we filled out an entry form per normal and they refused us,” said Laura Alexandria, director of operations for Grand Rapids Right to Life. “The understanding we received from (parade organizers) is that they wanted all of the entrants to be neutral.

“We certainly thought we were neutral (last year) by wearing Santa hats. The message on our float only says ‘Life: A Precious Gift.’”

FULL STORY

Students for Life of Michigan host Vice President of Feminists for Life

On November 18, Sally Winn, Vice President of Feminists for Life, spoke on the campus of the University of Michigan. 

Winn began her lecture on inequalities that women have faced throughout history, such as a lack of suffrage, property rights and access to education. Winn then spoke about her experience as a college student at Indiana University who struggled with an unplanned pregnancy, later becoming a student mother.

Winn argued that the real issue was the lack of resources provided by her campus and the lack of resources provided to pregnant women in general.

“Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women,” Winn said. “Women don’t have abortions because they want to; they have abortions because they lack support emotionally and finically and all the things they need to have to have a child.”

FULL STORY

How abortion will be covered in Obamacare

At the website of the Heritage Foundation, Sarah Torre breaks down Obamacare’s abortion surcharge and how taxpayers will fund abortion coverage in Obamacare.

Individuals and families who live in states that allow abortion coverage in their exchanges could find themselves paying directly for elective abortions through a separate premium, possibly without their knowledge.

Every individual enrolled in a plan that is eligible for federal tax credits and includes coverage of abortion will be forced to pay an additional abortion premium of at least $12 per year with private dollars. Obamacare mandates that insurance companies then “segregate” any federal affordability tax credits it receives from the individual premiums used to pay for abortions. The law provides no opt-out for individuals or families who may want to buy a particular plan that fits their health needs but does not include abortion coverage.

FULL STORY
       

End of the year opportunity to double your life saving gift

End-of-year donations to the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund will be matched if $40,000 can be raised. Your support makes all of our educational resources and outreaches possible: TV advertising, websites, flyers, research, current events. 

 If you'd like to donate, use the link below. Thank you for your support of prolife education, both financially and by sharing a prolife message with others!

 DONATE TO RLM ED FUND

Holiday issue of RLM News now online

The Holiday 2013 issue of the Right to Life of Michigan News is now online.  

Articles include the President's Message, a petition drive update, and information about the hidden abortion coverage in Obamacare.

Phase 2 of petition drive starts now!

Over the summer, prolife volunteers from across the state of Michigan collected more than 315,000 signatures to keep our tax dollars and insurance premiums from paying for abortions.

We turned the signatures in on October 4 to complete Phase 1 but our work is not done. Once the signatures are certified, the bill will presented to the state legislature.  A vote by the legislature is expected in early December. 

That's why Phase 2 starts now.  Prolife people need to contact their legislators and lobby them to vote in favor of the Abortion Insurance Opt Out Act. 

Below is a downloadable and printable flyer which can be used to promote lobbying along with links to web page to help you find your state legislators.


Again, the time to act is now as a vote is expected in early December. 

FLYER TO PROMOTE LOBBYING

FIND YOUR STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE

FIND YOUR STATE SENATOR

MICHIGAN'S VOICE WEBSITE

  

No Taxes for Abortion Insurance petition drive update

On November 8, the Board of Canvassers held a meeting and at the meeting they established a deadline for groups to challenge the signatures gathered.  Pro-abortion groups will have until November 25 to challenge signatures.  At this point, no pro-abortion has indicated plans to challenge the petitions.

In a preliminary review of a sample from the 315,477 signatures turned in last month, the state said the group needs 82 percent of the signatures to be valid, Secretary of State Elections Director Chris Thomas told the state Board of Canvassers today. And since the group turned in more than 65,000 more signatures than required by law, the cushion is likely to hold up.

That review can’t be certified, however, until opponents of the legislative initiative have the opportunity to challenge the signatures. They will have until 5 p.m. Nov. 25 to challenge the petition.

After that deadline, the SOS has to certify that at least 258,088 of the signatures are valid. The petitions move to the state Board of Canvassers and then on to the state Legislature, which has 40 calendar days to approve or reject the petitions.

FULL STORY

The Obamacare controversy not getting headlines: Hidden abortion coverage

Media headlines like “Glitches hamper rollout of Obamacare website” and “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan” have hounded President Barack Obama as national health care reform struggles for traction.

Testimonies of families who received notices of discontinuing health care coverage have reminded the country that national health care reform is not going as planned. Terminally ill people are saddled with the challenge of finding new health care plans and confusion abounds. With so many problems making headlines, one serious issue with the Affordable Care Act that is not getting the attention it deserves is the hidden coverage of abortion in Obamacare insurance plans.

Before Obamacare was passed, prolife people consistently warned the public there was nothing in the law to prevent abortion from being covered in the tax-subsidized plans in the Obamacare insurance exchanges. Instead of being transparent, the Obama administration has attempted to hide which plans cover abortions. While some states, like Michigan, have moved to ban abortion coverage, others have not.

During an October 30, 2013, hearing, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) pressed Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about this lack of transparency and if she knew which plans covered abortion as a number of his constituents did not want to have plans which included paying for the killing of unborn children.

Secretary Sebelius responded by saying, “Sir, I don’t know. I know exactly the issue you’re talking about. I will check and make sure that is clearly identifiable.”

Shimkus followed up and requested that the administration provide the committee with a list of insurers in the exchange who do not provide abortion coverage and Sebelius said, “We should be able to do that.”

Knowing the history of the Obama administration’s previous attempts to hide the abortion coverage in Obamacare, Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) has introduced the “Abortion Full Disclosure Act of 2013.” The bill would require abortion coverage to be disclosed and prominently displayed by insurance companies when plans are offered on the Obamacare exchange.

Representative Smith said, “Americans have a right to know upfront and with full transparency when they are purchasing a plan that subsidizes the killing of unborn children. Even the most ardent advocate of abortion should embrace full disclosure.”

To learn more about prolife legislation, please visit Right to Life of Michigan online at www.rtl.org.

Michigan State Senate approves new investigation rules after complaint against dangerous abortionist was dismissed

On Thursday, the Michigan State Senate passed four bills which would change how complaints against doctors are handled.  The legislation was spurred after a complaint against an abortionist was dismissed by his former mentor. 

The Michigan Senate unanimously approved four bills regarding state oversight of medical professionals that sponsors say will help protect patients from potentially bad doctors.

A Target 8 investigation revealed that complaints to the state Board of Medicine against Dr. Robert Alexander, who was operating out of a Muskegon clinic, were dismissed without investigation. Those complaints involved alleged botched abortions that potentially put women's lives at risk.

The decision to dismiss the allegations was made single-handedly by board chair Dr. Robert Shade, who had previously served as Alexander's mentor.

FULL STORY

Prolife legislators introduced Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham introduced the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act today with 33 co-sponsors.  The legislation would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Similar legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June. 

"At twenty weeks, mothers are encouraged to speak and sing as the baby can recognize the voice of the mother," said Graham. "The question for the American people is, ‘Should we be silent when it comes to protecting these unborn children entering the sixth month of pregnancy? Or is it incumbent on us to speak up and act on their behalf? I say we must speak up and act.

"Science and technology have advanced tremendously since 1973," said Graham. "We now know that an unborn child at the twentieth week of pregnancy can feel pain. In fact, anesthesia is administered directly to unborn children in second trimester fetal surgery. Given these facts and my continued strong support for life, I believe there is a compelling interest in protecting these unborn children who are among the most vulnerable in our society. I'm confident that over time the American people and their elected representatives will say yes as well."

FULL PRESS RELEASE

Images of Adoption event in Grand Rapids

On Thursday, November 7th, D.A. Blodgett and St. John's are hosting an event where prospective adoptive parents can learn more about adopting children through Michigan's foster care system and the children who are looking for permanent homes. 

On Thursday, prospective parents will have the opportunity to learn more about children who need homes during D.A. Blodgett-St. John's Images of Adoption event that corresponds with National Adoption Month. Any adult interested in adopting a child from Michigan’s foster care system is invited to attend the event, which runs from 5-7 p.m. at D.A. Blodgett-St. John's, 805 Leonard St. NE.

D.A. Blodgett-St. John's partnered with six local agencies for the second annual event. Prospective parents will learn about the adoption process and can inquire about available children, who will not be present. Adoption Program Manager Joy Engelsman said the evening will focus on helping possible parents take the next step, whether they're looking to adopt soon or down the road.

Kids to be featured Thursday in videos and photos range in age from 3 to 17, and the majority are teenagers or pre-teens.

FULL STORY

Child in the womb saved after mother killed in Detroit

The Detroit News has details of a child in the womb who was saved after her mother was tragically shot and killed.

Not until he and his crew moved a man’s body from the top of the heap did they realize the woman underneath was pregnant. They knew they had to act quickly to keep the fetus alive.

“I don’t know how far along she is, or say whether the baby will survive; I let the doctors make that call,” said Walinsky, who was among a handful of first responders who were called to the scene Sunday.....

When paramedics arrived, Shaltry, nine months pregnant, was dead, but that didn’t mean the baby had to die.

Walinsky said the crew knew they had to get oxygen to the baby by giving oxygen to the mother. Oxygen could still circulate to the baby through the umbilical chord, Walinsky said.

They worked quickly to get Shaltry to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where the baby girl was delivered by Caesarean section. The mother was in the operating room 30 minutes after the shooting, Walinsky said.

FULL STORY

Patient in minimally-conscious state responded like healthy volunteers

Research continues to show that some patients in minimally-conscious states are able to respond to their environments mentally the same as healthy individuals, and that a diagnosis of "persistent vegetative state" can be inaccurate in many cases. Human beings have infinite value and are not "vegetables."

An analysis of brain activity in 21 patients and eight healthy volunteers showed one of the patients could pick out individual sounds....... 

The patients and volunteers had their brains scanned during the experiment.

They were all played a word every second for 90 seconds. They had been told to count the number of times the word "yes" or "no" appeared during the stream of words.

Brainwave records showed one patient's brain activity was "indistinguishable" from the healthy patients, suggesting he was able to focus his attention on the words.       

FULL STORY

Euthanasia for kids?

Some legislators in Belgium are considering allowing others to legally euthanize children or people with dementia. Laws and regulations on euthanasia in countries where it is legal are poorly followed, especially in Belgium and the Netherlands, where cases of involuntary euthanasia and the killing of disabled newborns aren't widely prosecuted.

In Belgium, the ruling Socialist party has proposed the bill expanding the right of euthanasia. The Christian Democratic Flemish party vowed to oppose the legislation and to challenge it in the European Court of Human Rights, if it passes. A final decision must be approved by Parliament and could take months.

In the meantime, the Senate has heard testimony on both sides of the issue.

"It is strange that minors are considered legally incompetent in key areas, such as getting married, but might (be able) to decide to die," Catholic Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard testified.

FULL STORY

Another ruling against the HHS Mandate

In a 2-1 decision, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, has ruled against the HHS Mandate and two brothers who challenged it. 

A divided panel of the D.C. Circuit ruled this morning, in Gilardi v. U.S. Dep’t of Health and Human Services, that two brothers, Francis and Philip Gilardi, who own and operate a food-supply company are entitled under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act to a preliminary injunction against imposition of the HHS mandate on contraception and abortifacients.....

Petitions for certiorari from three federal appellate rulings on the HHS mandate are already before the Supreme Court. It is a very safe bet that the Court will grant review in one or more of the cases. Today’s ruling makes it all the more likely that the Court will ensure that the questions presented extend beyond the RFRA rights of for-profit corporations to include the rights of their individual owners.

FULL STORY

Appeals court allows abortion clinic regulation law in Texas to take effect

A Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel has ruled that a prolife law in Texas can stay in place while the lawsuit against the law moves forward.  The law regulates abortion clinics and requires abortionists to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.  It is possible that up to 12 abortion clinics in Texas may, at least temporarily, close if they are unable to find an abortionist with admitting privileges. 

The panel's decision means as least 12 clinics won't be able to perform the procedure starting as soon as Friday. In its 20-page ruling, it acknowledged that the provision "may increase the cost of accessing an abortion provider and decrease the number of physicians available to perform abortions."

However, the panel said that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that having "the incidental effect of making it more difficult or more expensive to procure an abortion cannot be enough to invalidate" a law that serves a valid purpose, "one not designed to strike at the right itself."

FULL STORY

Call on Obama administration to be transparent about abortion coverage

Several prolife groups are hosting a #betransparent Tweetfest tomorrow on Twitter to call attention to the fact that Obama Administration rules prevent people from knowing if the insurance plan they're about to sign up for through the health exchange covers abortion or not (if they can even sign up in the first place). Every plan that covers abortion forces an individual to pay separate money for an abortion surcharge.

Being forced to pay for abortion because of the secrecy of coverage is anti-choice., and, really, it’s also un-American. A new social media event seeks to highlight this and bring about change.

“Tell @Sebelius to #BeTransparent. Why won’t #Obamacare tell us which plans include #abortion?” says the sample tweet that is one of many for the Oct. 30 event, TweetFest: Tell Sebelius to #BeTransparent about Abortion Coverage in Obamacare, which takes place at a computer, tablet or smartphone nearest to you between 9 a.m. and noon next Wednesday.

FULL STORY

Changes coming to state agency which polices doctors after abortionist not investigated

WOODTV 8 has video from a recent state Senate subcommittee hearing regarding proposed legislation to prevent conflicts of interests when complaints are filed against doctors.  Senator Tonya Schuitmaker and Senator Rick Jones put the legislation together after it was revealed that abortionist Robert Alexander wasn't investigated after a complaint was filed against him.

The hearing was prompted by Target 8's investigation into Dr. Robert Alexander, who ran an abortion clinic in Muskegon until the city shut it down late last year over unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

"Blood on the floors, blood on the walls, rusty equipment, like a scene from a horror movie," Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) told the subcommittee.

Alexander had faced complaints in 2009 of botched abortions at his clinic that allegedly put women's lives at risk.

"It's not just that this was an abortion clinic," Jones said. "It could have been plastic surgery."

Target 8 revealed that the chairman of the state Board of Medicine -- Dr. George Shade -- had single-handedly blocked an investigation into the complaints.

"He had numerous allegations against him made by another doctor, but when these went up to the board, just one doctor could tear up the complaints," Jones said. "It didn't get a review of the full board."

FULL STORY

Some Obamacare exchanges count the unborn as members of your family

One of the frequent double standards used by those who favor legal abortion is how the unborn child is seen and described.  If the child is wanted, terms like "baby" and "unborn child" are used.  When the child is unwanted or has been aborted, other terms like "clumps of cells" or "product of conception" are put forth to dehumanize the child. 

A prolife blogger searching for health insurance found some Obamacare exchanges feature this same double standard.  During the passage of Obamacare, President Obama opposed efforts to eliminate the subsidizing of abortion in Obamacare but some Obamacare plans are now counting the unborn as people.

While perusing the health care exchange in Connecticut, Family Institute of Connecticut Action blogger Simcha Reuven noticed that Connecticut's Obamacare counts unborn children as members of your household. 

There is one other question on this page listed under “Optional Information”: “For detailed pricing, please provide the optional information below. Is the applicant pregnant?” Next to the question mark after “pregnant” is a black background question mark tool tip. Just wondering what this was about, I placed my mouse over the tool tip and lo-and-behold, the following message appeared:

Select ‘Yes’ for any female who is expecting a baby. Unborn children are counted as members of her household, so this information helps determine if she is eligible for help with health care costs. Medicaid also has rules to help pregnant women.

Read that again. Unborn children—not “fetuses,” “uterine contents,” “products of pregnancy,” “clump of cells,” “blob of tissue,” or any of the other euphemisms frequently used by those who profess to be pro-choice on abortion. Nor is Access Health CT the only Obamacare exchange that uses the term “unborn children.” Massachusetts pioneered the system of a health care exchange, guaranteed issue, an individual mandate, and subsidies for low and moderate income people that became the model for Obamacare. The Massachusetts Health Connector website also refers to “unborn child(ren)”:

 How many people are in your family? (Include unborn child(ren) if someone is pregnant.)

Moreover, a woman can claim the extra family member as soon as she has a confirmed pregnancy—no waiting for a trimester or two. So for the purpose of determining family size for the health care exchanges, Obamacare declares unborn children, even at the earliest stages of life, to be full-fledged persons, so that pregnant women and their families can qualify for increased subsidies and cost-sharing on the exchanges.

FULL STORY

Representative LaFontaine explains importance of opting out of abortion coverage

Rep. LaFontaine (Mich. Leg.)

In the Detroit News, State Representative Andrea LaFontaine has an editorial discussing Right to Life of Michigan's and the state legislature's efforts to prevent elective abortion coverage from being allowed in insurance plans subsidized by tax dollars.  More than 315,000 signatures of registered Michigan voters were recently submitted to the Michigan Board of Canvassers to allow the state legislature another chance to pass this important legislation. 

Despite the valiant attempts by Republican lawmakers to stop its implementation, including challenges at the United States Supreme Court, the Affordable Care Act is now the law of the land. In preparation for the Affordable Care Act invading our personal lives and our wallets, last year the state Legislature approved a bill that would disallow health insurance companies that participate in the taxpayer funded exchange from offering elective abortion coverage as part of their subsidized plans.

Unfortunately, Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed the bill that contained this language. To remedy this, a citizen-led initiative began and more than 315,000 Michiganians from all 83 of our counties signed a petition in support of the abortion insurance opt-out, giving the Legislature another opportunity to ensure taxpayers are not on the hook for elective abortions.

More than half of the other states in the U.S. have already either restricted abortion coverage in the plans that will be offered through the exchange or removed standard abortion coverage from private insurance plans. Hard-working taxpayers are sending a strong message to their legislators that while they may be unable to resist paying for Affordable Care Act in its entirety, they absolutely will not fund the portion that subsidizes health plans that provide elective abortion coverage.

FULL EDITORIAL 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION AT MICHIGAN'S VOICE

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday 2014 Bulletin Inserts now available

Right to Life of Michigan is now offering church bulletin inserts for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SOHLS) 2014.

These 5.5" x 8.5" full color glossy bulletin inserts featuring Genesis 1:27 and a prolife prayer are perfect for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday church services, prolife gatherings and events.

Our SOHLS website also features downloadable presentations, ideas for SOHLS activities, a listing of bus trips going to the 2014 March for Life from Michigan and resources for prolife leaders.


LEARN MORE AND ORDER SOHLS INSERTS

Respect Life Month resolution passes in Livingston County

Congratulations to Right to Life - Livingston County for their efforts to have a respect life resolution passed by the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. A resolution acknowledging October as Respect Life Month passed unanimously on Monday, October 21!

Auburn's homecoming queen shares her prolife message

On October 12th, Molly Ann Dutton was named Auburn University's 100th homecoming queen.  In her platform video (which can be seen below) she shares her story of being conceived in rape and her birthmother's decision to choose life for her despite her birth mother's husband threatening divorce if she didn't have an abortion. 

FULL STORY

Maryland man walks after adult stem cell treatment

One Maryland resident left paralyzed from the chest down by transverse myelitis has been able to walk again years after a treatment using ethical adult stem cells taken from his own bone marrow.

In a little more than a year Shawn was paralyzed from the chest down. Five separate doctors told Shawn he'd never walk again. His body began failing him on many levels. About 10 years ago he suffered a lupus stroke and doctors told his family he would die that night. He survived, but was left numb to life, both physically and emotionally.

"With autoimmune, you have fatigue. Excruciating, crushing fatigue," Shawn described.

Doctor after doctor admitted defeat in treating him, until he allowed himself to become an experiment of sorts at the National Institute of Health in Maryland. Here recent research has discovered a new level of blank cells known as stem cells in the human body. They are taken out bone marrow and put it back into the diseased areas of the body to regrow and replace the tainted cells......

For Shawn his stem cell treatment was six years ago. Today he's able to walk up to a half mile on the treadmill - a huge achievement considering just a few years ago the only thing he could do was wiggle his big toe a quarter of an inch.

FULL STORY

Michigan Radio highlights RLM's mastery of petition drive

RLM President Barb Listing signs paperwork to submit petitions

A recent segment on Michigan Radio highlighted the petition drive process and Right to Life of Michigan's experience and success using the citizen-initiated process to pass prolife laws.

This is the fourth time Right to Life has responded to a governor’s veto with a petition drive. Michigan’s Medicaid abortion ban (1987), the parental consent abortion law (1990), and the law that banned the dilation-and-extraction procedure (2011) were all enacted as citizen-initiated laws.  

Right to Life can pull this off because its signature-gathering operation is run with assembly line precision. It is one of the very few organizations that can, on its own, as an entirely volunteer operation, gather the signatures needed to initiate a law.......

A petition drive is not easy. You have to gather signatures only of registered voters. The same voter cannot sign two petitions. Your petition circulators all have to be registered voters. And every signature must go onto a petition from the correct county. There’s a lot that can go wrong.

A well-run petition campaign gathers the necessary amount of signatures, and then many thousands more in case some get tossed later. They’ll “scrub” their own petitions of duplicate signatures, non-registered voters, petitions that were filled out incorrectly by circulators.

Right to Life turned in more than 315,000 signatures. It takes about 258,000. That’s a cushion of more than 57,000 signatures. Right to Life figures it threw out 20,000 signatures, just didn’t turn them in, because they were somehow spoiled. The opponents of this drive are not going to stop it because it came up short of signatures.

FULL STORY

Congressman working to expose Obamacare's abortion funding

Rep. Chris Smith

In the Washington Times, Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) explains some of the pro-abortion provisions in Obamacare.

In the run-up to passage of Obamacare, Americans were repeatedly told and reassured by President Obama himself, including in a speech to a joint session of Congress in October 2009, that “under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortion .”
.........
Rollout of the Obamacare exchanges reveals that many health insurance plans throughout the nation will subsidize abortion on demand — even late-term abortions. For example, the preliminary data suggests that every insurance plan on the Connecticut and Rhode Island exchanges will pay for abortion on demand.

Billions of taxpayers’ dollars will now be handed out as credits to buy pro-abortion health insurance — a clear violation of the Hyde Amendment’s fundamental principle of restricting funds to abortion-subsidizing health insurance plans.

In response to the often hidden abortion-funding mechanisms in Obamacare, Representative Smith has introduced legislation to require information about abortion coverage to be prominently displayed.  

FULL STORY

California passes law to allow non-physicians to perform abortions

Not content with having one of the highest abortion rates in the nation, pro-abortion legislators in the state of California have passed legislation to allow certain non-physicians (nurse practitioners, physicians assistants and certified nurse-midwives) to perform suction aspiration abortions in the first trimester.  The bill was recently signed by California’s pro-abortion governor, Jerry Brown.     

FULL STORY

Prolife volunteers complete petition drive months early

Petitions delivered

Keeping tax dollars and insurance premiums from paying for the destruction of innocent human life as part of health care is a high priority for registered voters in Michigan. Volunteers across the state circulated petitions throughout the summer to initiate Abortion Insurance Opt-Out legislation. More than 315,000 signatures were submitted to the Secretary of State's office today sending a strong message to Michigan lawmakers that abortion is not health care.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "Prolife people from every county in Michigan responded to the need to keep our tax dollars and health insurance premiums from paying for abortion. Because of their efforts, the petition drive was cut-off more than 2 months early. Volunteers organized opportunities for people to sign at churches, county fairs, family reunions, athletic events, and we even heard of a bride circulating petitions at her wedding reception. The dedication of people is inspiring."

Michigan's Constitution allows the people of the state to initiate legislation through a petition; 258,088 signatures of registered voters needed to be collected in 180 days to initiate the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act. Signatures for the NO Taxes for Abortion Insurance petition drive were collected in less than 4 months.

Listing said, "Enthusiastic volunteers are sending a loud and clear message that abortion should not be included as a standard 'benefit' in health insurance plans. Well more than the required signatures were submitted today, driving home the point that abortion ends a life and cannot be considered health care."

After the Board of Canvassers verifies the signatures, the legislature will have 40 calendar days to respond. With a simple majority vote in both the Michigan House and Senate, the Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act becomes law without the governor's signature. A majority of the House and Senate have already signed the petition.

Similar Abortion Insurance Opt-Out legislation was passed by Michigan representatives and senators in December 2012; however Governor Rick Snyder vetoed the bill. Because of the governor's veto, the petition drive was necessary.

Listing said, "Our actions speak volumes. Abortion is not health care and the people of Michigan want to join the other 23 states which have opted-out of abortion coverage in the health plans offered through the Affordable Care Act."

Michigan abortionist botches another abortion, sends woman to hospital

Michigan abortion Reginald Sharpe has a long history of botching abortions.  This week he botched another abortion as local prolifers were on hand to witness a woman being taken from the Summit Medical Center abortion clinic by ambulance to a hospital. 

Earlier this year, Sharpe closed two abortion clinics he operated in SE Michigan after he declared bankruptcy after being sued by women he injured during abortions. 

FULL STORY

Petition Drive Success

Dedicated volunteers get the job done

Dedicated prolife volunteers circulated NO Taxes for Abortion Insurance petitions in every Michigan County. People from all walks of life have participated in the opportunity to initiate Abortion Insurance Opt-Out legislation to keep our tax dollars and health insurance premiums from paying for abortion as part of health care. This is democracy in action. The deadline for submitting the NO Taxes for Abortion Insurance petitions to initiate Abortion Insurance Opt-Out legislation has come and gone. The petitions are being processed and will soon be delivered to the Michigan Secretary of State Office. The Board of Canvassers may take 6 to 7 weeks to validate the signatures. Sign-up for email updates at www.rtl.org for the latest information.

MICHIGAN'S VOICE

Infamous abortionist Kermit Gosnell considered himself "in a war against poverty" when he killed babies

Convicted murderer and former abortionist Kermit Gosnell gave a jail house phone interview to Philadelphia Magazine and said he was unrepentant for his crimes, which included countless infanticides of born-alive babies and the death of a woman. He called himself a soldier in the war on poverty. We believe babies are not the enemy and that you don't reduce poverty by killing the poor.

Talking publicly for the first time since his trial and conviction on three counts of murder, one count of involuntary manslaughter and more than 200 counts of violating Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act, Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell insists he is “spiritually innocent.” 

Speaking exclusively to Philadelphia magazine writer Steve Volk for a new magazine article and e-book, Gosnell—who was convicted in May of snipping the necks of babies born alive during abortion procedures in his West Philadelphia clinic—believes he was serving the best interests of his community and the women who came to him. 

“In an ideal world,” he said, “we’d have no need for abortion. But bringing a child into the world when it cannot be provided for, that there are not sufficient systems to support, is a greater sin. I considered myself to be in a war against poverty, and I feel comfortable with the things I did and the decisions I made.”

FULL STORY