Heritage Clinic for Women's abortionist has long arrest record

Last week we learned that the abortionist at Heritage Clinic for Women (an abortion clinic in Grand Rapids) had been arrested at least 3 times in the last 5 years.  Charges against Thomas Gordon included domestic violence and being a disorderly person.  New research shows that the arrest record for Thomas Gordon goes back further than 5 years. 

Search results from ICHAT (Internet Criminal History Access Tool) reveal that Thomas Gordon has an arrest record in Michigan dating back to 1991.  Other charges include aggravated assault and drunk driving.  After an incident in November of 2011, Gordon was originally charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon.  He later plead guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence and misdemeanor of possessing a weapon under the influence.  It appears he spent 4 days in jail for this offense. 

Despite his arrest record and propensity to violence, Gordon's clinic is still listed on the National Abortion Federation's web site. 

Thomas Gordon mugshot

Michigan House committee holds hearing on permanently defunding abortion providers

Today, the Michigan House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on H.B. 4145.  H.B. 4145 would add a section to the public health code which prevents state departments from distributing money to organizations that perform or refer for elective abortions.

Michigan’s legislative director, Ed Rivet, testified at the hearing and used fetal models to show the size and appearance of unborn children being aborted in Michigan on a daily basis. 

Video of the hearing will be placed online at Michigan House of Representatives video archive web site in the near future.

UPDATE: Here's a direct link to the video of the hearing.

Proud to fail NARAL’s test yet again

Congratulate Michigan and its legislators for failing once again. For at least the eighth year in a row, the pro-abortion group NARAL has given the state of Michigan an “F.” The nation as a whole received a “D.”

Annually, NARAL releases its “Who Decides” report which analyzes state legislation and grades each of the 50 states based on how their laws restrict or don’t restrict abortion. States with few or no prolife laws receive high grades while states with a large number prolife laws usually receive failing grades.

Right to Life of Michigan is proud to be given another “F” from NARAL because of our numerous lifesaving laws. These laws (including a ban on tax-funded abortions, regulations on abortion providers, as well as parental and informed consent laws) have helped decrease the number of abortions performed in Michigan by 43.7% since 1987.

State House committee to consider abortion provider state funding ban

In 2015, the Michigan Legislature enacted a budget provision preventing any state contracts for family planning with an abortion provider (mainly Planned Parenthood, but not exclusively) from containing any state funds. This provision, however, cannot prevent the flow of federal dollars that pass through the state health department. Shutting of those funds requires a win in Washington, D.C., which Congress did pass earlier this month and President Obama promptly vetoed.

This Wednesday, January 27, the House Appropriations Committee will take up House Bill 4145, which would make the state funding ban a permanent law, not an annual budget provision. Major abortion funding restrictions in Washington like the Hyde Amendment have always been year-to-year budget provisions. We do not want our state funding prohibition to be year-to-year.

Following is a list of House Appropriations Committee members to contact. If your representative is on the list, please contact him or her through e-mails or phone calls to their offices, encouraging them to Vote YES on HB 4145!

Al Pscholka (Chair) 517-373-1403, AlPscholka@house.mi.gov
Chris Afendoulis  517-373-0218   ChrisAfendoulis@house.mi.gov
John Bizon   517-373-0555   DrJohnBizon@house.mi.gov
Jon Bumstead  517-373-7317  JonBumstead@house.mi.gov
Edward Canfield  517-373-0476    EdwardCanfield@house.mi.gov
Laura Cox  517-373-3920      LauraCox@house.mi.gov
Daniela Garcia  517-373-0830   DanielaGarcia@house.mi.gov
Larry Inman  517-373-1766   LarryInman@house.mi.gov
Nancy Jenkins  517-373-1706  NancyJenkins@house.mi.gov
Tim Kelly  517-373-0837   TimKelly@house.mi.gov
Mike McCready 517-373-8670  MikeMcCready@house.mi.gov   
Aaron Miller  517-373-0832   AaronMiller@house.mi.gov
Paul Muxlow  517-373-0835   PaulMuxlow@house.mi.gov
Dave Pagel  517-373-1796    DavePagel@house.mi.gov
Earl Poleski  517-373-1795   EarlPoleski@house.mi.gov
Phil Potvin  517-373-1747   PhilPotvin@house.mi.gov
Harvey Santana  517-373-6990   HarveySantana@house.mi.gov
Rob VerHeulen  517-373-8900  RobVerHeulen@house.mi.gov
Roger Victory  517-373-1830   RogerVictory@house.mi.gov

After 43 years, Americans should have the right to decide on life

Friday, January 22, 1973, will mark 43 years since the U.S. Supreme Court handed down Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. Since that day, abortion has ended the lives of more than 56 million children in the womb.

Following the decisions many expected the prolife movement would eventually disappear and abortion on-demand through all nine months of pregnancy would become the new normal. Instead, the opposite has happened.

Right to Life of Michigan Barbara Listing said, "The prolife movement continues to face many challenges. But for decades, we have boldly stood for the right to life of every person, and our voice continues to grow stronger."

Recently some major milestones have been reached by the prolife movement.

The Centers for Disease Control released their 2012 abortion report, showing the fewest number of national abortions since 1973.

For the first time ever Congress passed legislation to end most taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood. Undercover journalists exposed to the public Planned Parenthood's practice of selling the organs and tissues of unborn children. Planned Parenthood's current annual report confirmed their pattern of receiving more tax funding despite their non-abortion services and clients declining.

In Michigan, Life Uninvited, a groundbreaking new television documentary on the issue of rape and abortion, will debut the weekend of January 23. The documentary builds on a year of television advertisements and short films featuring the stories of four women and how their lives have been personally affected by the issue. The channels and schedule for Life Uninvited can be found at www.RTL.org.

Listing said, "The response to our ads in 2015 was very positive. There's never been anything like Life Uninvited before, so I invite people to tune in and learn how women can overcome even the most difficult situations."

On January 22, tens of thousands of prolife citizens will gather once again for the March for Life in Washington, D.C. The size and scope of the march has continued to expand in recent years, including new regional marches across the country.

The message tomorrow of the growing voice of prolife advocates is that it's time for an end to Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. It's time for the American people to once again have a say on our most fundamental right, the unalienable right to life. .

What can you do if your March for Life bus trip got cancelled?

We’re aware that at least a couple of bus trips to the March for Life have been cancelled because of the threat of a blizzard in the Washington, D.C. area.  If your bus trip was cancelled, there are a variety of things you can do on Friday and this weekend to get your prolife fix. 

1.  Watch LifeUninvited this weekend.  This one of a kind 30-minute television documentary  features the inspirational stories of four women facing life challenges surrounding rape, abortion and societal attitudes.  Check out when LifeUninvited will be airing in your area.

2.  Watch the March for Life events live on EWTN or ewtn.com.  Their coverage includes the opening mass starting at 6 p.m. on January 21, March for Life events starting at 9 a.m. on January 22 and the West Coast March for Life starting at 2:30 p.m. on January 23. 

3.  Watch ProLifeCon 2016 online.  This prolife conference hosted by the Family Research Council includes speeches by a number of prolife activists including Lila Rose, David Daleiden and Ryan Bomberger.  It starts at 8:30 a.m. on January 22. 

4.  Check out the #MarchforLife hashtag on Twitter.  This a great way to see the various pictures and stories from individuals attending the March for Life. 

5.  While most of the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday events sponsored by local Right to Life of Michigan affiliates have already occurred, both Hillsdale Right to Life and Upper Downriver Right to Life still have events planned.  Upper Downriver RTL has a local March for Life in Wyandotte at 1 p.m. on January 24 and Hillsdale RTL will be handing out red roses on January 22 and 23.  You can find more information about these events online at the affiliate event listing page of our web site.

Grand Rapids abortionist arrested for being disorderly person, third arrest in less than 5 years

Thomas Gordon

Longtime Grand Rapids-based abortionist Thomas Gordon was arrested on January 13, 2016.  Gordon runs Heritage Clinic for Women, the main abortion clinic in Grand Rapids.  Gordon has been an abortionist for decades and has performed tens of thousands of abortions.

Information at the Kent County Inmate Lookup includes Gordon’s mugshot along with the charge description of “DISORDERLY PERSON - FIGHTING/JOSTLING.”

Local sidewalk counselors wondered why Gordon wasn’t showing up at the clinic and they eventually discovered he had been arrested and spent time in jail.  It appears he was released on January 17.

Further research finds that Gordon was previously arrested at least twice more in recent years.  Once in February 22, 2015.  Here's his mugshot from that arrest.

He also pled guilty to domestic violence and possessing a firearm under the influence in 2012 from an incident which occurred in November 2011.  He received a year probation at the time. 

Center for Medical Progress releases compilation video “Cover-up” which features Michigan abortionist Lisa Harris

The Center for Medical Progress released it’s 3rd compilation video today.  “Cover-up” features various Planned Parenthood employees discussing how Planned Parenthood’s national office intentionally wanted to minimize its liability if one of its affiliates was caught selling fetal body parts. 

Michigan abortionist Lisa Harris is featured in the video and she says, “At the Planned Parenthood where I work, we do collect fetal tissue for a variety of studies.

Watch the video below.

New TV documentary "Life Uninvited" addresses rape and abortion issue

Right to Life of Michigan has created a new 30-minute television documentary, Life Uninvited, which examines the controversial issue of rape and abortion. The film presents four women telling their own stories of how they have been personally impacted by rape, incest or abortion.

Life Uninvited will debut on major networks throughout the state of Michigan during the weekend of January 23 and 24. The film will play state-wide again on January 31.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "Too often the serious issue of rape, incest and abortion only gets brought up by candidates in the middle of election campaigns. This ground-breaking film gives people a chance to approach this issue for themselves."

Each of the four women shares a different personal experience. Three of the women are themselves rape survivors, three were conceived through rape, one has had an abortion and one has a daughter conceived through rape.

Listing said, "Most people have not heard any of these perspectives before. We invite people to tune in with open minds and learn more about these four remarkable women."

The film was produced by Minus Red and lead filmmaker Jim Hanon. Hanon is the creative force behind many Right to Life of Michigan television advertisements. In the past, Jim Hanon has served as a vice president at a worldwide advertising agency and was the director of the 2005 movie End of the Spear.

Life Uninvited was inspired by the compassion project television advertisements that Right to Life of Michigan ran throughout the state in 2015.

The television schedule and channel listings for Life Uninvited can be found at the Right to Life of Michigan website, www.RTL.org/lifeuninvited.

Hillary Clinton wants tax funded abortions and more funding for Planned Parenthood

Last week, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton publicly admitted that she favors overturning the Hyde Amendment and thinks Planned Parenthood should get more tax dollars.  The Hyde Amendment has prevented federal tax dollars from being used to pay for abortions for nearly 40 years. 

During a speech at a campaign rally in New Hampshire on January 10th, Clinton said, “I believe we need to protect access to safe and legal abortion, not just in principal but in practice.  Any right that requires you to take extraordinary measures to access it is no right at all...... Not as long as we have laws on the book like the Hyde Amendment making it harder for low-income women to exercise their full rights.”         

Hillary Clinton apparently believes someone using their own money to pay for an abortion is an “extraordinary measure.”

A right without the opportunity to exercise it isn't a right. Low-income women deserve health care. The Hyde Amendment should be overturned.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 15, 2016

Clinton was also recently endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund and is now advocating for more tax dollars to go to Planned Parenthood.  Planned Parenthood has promised to spend $20 million dollars on the 2016 election. 

After receiving Planned Parenthood's endorsement, Clinton told Fusion on January 11 that she thinks America's leading abortion provider, should get more funding.

What would Hillary Clinton do if elected president to ensure that all women—particularly low-income women and women of color—have equal access to healthcare? Push Congress to boost Planned Parenthood funding, for one thing.

“I am not only against defunding Planned Parenthood, but I would like to see Planned Parenthood even get more funding,” she told Fusion’s Anna Holmes on Monday night, after the Iowa Brown & Black Forum. “Because, often times, it is both the first and the last resort for healthcare.”

Clinton would also push to repeal the Hyde Amendment, she said. Because when public funding for abortion services is banned by federal law, “the people who are going to suffer the most are going to be low-income women of color, that’s just the fact.”

"I would like to see Planned Parenthood even get more funding." How to ensure all women have access to health care: https://t.co/kvD47CkwRR

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 15, 2016

According to their annual report, Planned Parenthood and their affiliates received $553.7 million in tax dollars in the fiscal year 2014-2015.  

While Planned Parenthood’s tax funding (along with abortions performed) has increased dramatically over the last decade, their services and their number of clients has dropped.

Maybe someone in the media should ask Hillary Clinton why Planned Parenthood should get more tax funding when they're providing fewer services to fewer clients. 

New video compilation "Harvest" released by the Center for Medical Progress

Today, the Center for Medical Progress released another compilation video showing segments from their various undercover videos.  In this video, various Planned Parenthood employees and employee of fetal parts buyers discuss how the parts of unborn children are harvested. 

Watch the video below:

Teleseminar on Life Uninvited scheduled for January 14

Mark your calendar to join Right to Life of Michigan for a teleseminar update on the premiere of our new 30-minute TV documentary Life Uninvited! The teleseminar will be this Thursday, January 14 at 11:30 a.m.

You will hear from Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing and Art & Marketing Director Audra Holt. We'll talk about the film, recap the compassion project ads from last year from which we have Life Uninvited, and suggestions for ways to promote Life Uninvited to your members, friends and family.

For promoting this film through social media, please use the hashtag #lifeuninvited (and the social media graphic available on the website). We're also using #MILIFE as our official hashtag to promote all of our prolife activities moving forward, so please use that too.

The teleseminar will last about 30 minutes. It’s open to all prolife people, feel free to share this information with your Michigan friends and family members.

There are two ways for you to listen in:
Use your phone and call (425) 440-5100; PIN Code: 662744#
Or, listen via the Internet: http://iTeleseminar.com/79432824

We are looking forward to connecting with you on Thursday at 11:30 a.m! 

Representative Huizenga speaks on defunding Planned Parenthood

On January 6, 2016, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 240-181 to defund Planned Parenthood.  This is the first time a bill to defund America's leading abortion provider has been sent to the president. 

Before the vote, a variety of legislators spoke on the bill including Representative Bill Huizenga from Zeeland, Michigan.

Watch Representative Huizenga’s speech below. 

Pro-abortion groups flock to endorse Hillary Clinton

This week, two leading pro-abortion groups, NARAL and Planned Parenthood, have announced they are endorsing Hillary Clinton for president.  They’ve done this despite the fact that the other two candidates in the Democratic presidential primary also have perfect pro-abortion voting records.
       
Leaders of both organizations displayed their confidence in Hillary Clinton’s desire for unfettered abortion on demand. 

NARAL's president Ilyse Hogue, in a statement outlining 5 reasons why NARAL is endorsing Clinton, says, "We know Hillary will be the champion for women and a champion for all."  When Hogue says "champion for all" she clearly isn't including unborn children. 

An article in the New York Times indicates Planned Parenthood plans to spend $20 million on efforts to elect Clinton and other pro-abortion candidates. They probably consider that a sound investment for themselves as Planned Parenthood received more than $550 million in government grants and reimbursements according to their latest annual report. 

Right to Life of Michigan calls on President Obama to defund Planned Parenthood

Right to Life of Michigan calls on President Obama to sign into law legislation that would defund Planned Parenthood.

Yesterday the U.S. House voted 240-181 to approve legislation that would result in a one-year moratorium on most federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates. The legislation would also repeal major portions of the Affordable Care Act.

Planned Parenthood released their 2014-2015 Annual Report a few days ago. Comparing their current annual report to the numbers they reported last year shows a significant decline in clients served and health services provided. Their abortion figures showed no similar decline, yet their tax funding increased.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "Why are prolife citizens forced to give their money to Planned Parenthood to provide less of everything except for abortions?"

Major declines include serving 7 percent fewer clients overall, 6 percent fewer sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests and treatments, 18 percent fewer birth control services, 25 percent fewer breast exams and 49 percent fewer family practice services.

The number of abortions provided by Planned Parenthood was largely the same. They reported 323,999 abortions in their current annual report, down from 327,653 the previous year (a 1 percent decrease). Their level of funding from government grants and contracts increased 5 percent.

STI testing, birth control, breast exams and primary care are not unique services only Planned Parenthood can provide. Those services can be provided without controversy at one of the more than 9,000 community health center locations in America that serve 23 million people.

Listing said, "What is the only unique service that Planned Parenthood provides? Abortion."

Planned Parenthood 2014-2015 Annual Report
Planned Parenthood 2013-2014 Annual Report

New video focuses on how Planned Parenthood profited from selling body part of aborted children

The Center for Medical Progress has released a new video which feature multiple clips from various undercover videos showing a profit motive behind Planned Parenthood's practice of selling the body parts of aborted children. Video clips of Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards disingenuously claiming Planned Parenthood didn't profit are also included. 

Planned Parenthood is under investigation by Congress and other authorities and has recently changed their policy of accepting money for the body parts of aborted children.

Watch "PROFIT" below:

How Planned Parenthood is spending your tax dollars

Recently, Planned Parenthood released their 2014-2015 Annual Report. The report gives statistics on several Planned Parenthood programs. Comparing their latest report with the previous year's report poses an important question:

Why is Planned Parenthood getting more tax funding while serving fewer clients and providing fewer health services? 

Planned Parenthood had 2.5 million clients in 2014, a 7% decrease from 2013.  Their family practice services declined 49%. Their sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatments declined 6%.

Planned Parenthood most often defends itself as a committed provider of birth control and breast cancer prevention services, even to the point of lying about providing mammograms. Their birth control services declined 18% and breast exams were down 25%.

What didn’t decline? The number of abortions they did was largely the same. They did 323,999 abortions, down from 327,653 the previous year (a 1% decrease). Their tax funding did increase 5%, to $553.7 million, which is 43% of their total budget.

The 2014-2015 report also shows Planned Parenthood continues to be a profitable non-profit as their income over expenses was $58.8 million.  

Why are prolife citizens forced to give their money to Planned Parenthood to provide less of everything except for abortions?

 

For a better perspective, let’s compare their recent 2014-2015 Annual Report to their 2004-2005 Annual Report.

Over the last 10 years, Planned Parenthood's total clients are down 14%. The number of clients receiving contraception is down 14% as well. Breast exams are down 61%.

Can you guess what increased? 

If you guessed abortion and tax funding, you're right!  Abortions are up 27%, from 255,015 to 323,999. Tax funding has more than doubled, increasing 103%.

Reasonable people would assume that when an organization repeatedly receives increases in government grants, they are improving or expanding their services offered to people in need, not losing clients.

STI tests, pregnancy tests, contraceptives and breast exams are not unique services. Those are simple things that can be provided without controversy at one of the more than 9,000 community health center locations in America that serve 23 million people. Many of those services can be purchased from one of more than 20,000 name-brand pharmacies and countless other stores across the county.

What is the one specialty and unique “service” that Planned Parenthood provides? Abortion.