A picture says a thousand words as media don't show up to cover the Gosnell trial

Below is a picture from April 11 of the empty seats which have been reserved for the media during the Kermit Gosnell murder trial. If more than a handful of reporters had shown, they would have heard a former employee of Gosnell testify about working at his clinic as a high school student and how she saw him kill at least 5 infants after they were born alive. 

The picture was taken by JD Mullane, a news columnist for the Bucks County Courier Times. 

Woman who assisted Gosnell with abortions as a high school student testifies

Today's testimony in the Kermit Gosnell murder trial featured the testimony of Ashley Baldwin.  Baldwin starting working at Gosnell's abortion clinic when she was 15-years-old.  In her testimony she says she saw at least 5 infants killed after surviving abortions. 

Baldwin, now 22, and the mother of a two-year-old, today told a Philadelphia jury hearing Gosnell's murder trial of her unusual hands-on medical apprenticeship.

She also told of seeing at least five aborted babies moving, breathing and, in one case, "screeching," after procedures at Gosnells' Women's Medical Society clinic at 3801 Lancaster Ave.......
               
Starting out answering phones, Baldwin quickly moved up in the organization. By the time authorities raided the clinic in February 2010, Baldwin was going to school and working as much as 50 hours a week in the clinic, sometimes into the early morning.

Baldwin said she assisted Gosnell in abortions, applying pressure to the mother's abdomen, handing the doctor instruments and equipment.

She said she also saw Gosnell use scissors to "snip" the neck of newborns who were moving after the procedure.

FULL STORY

Dearborn abortion clinic set to close

Local prolife people have informed us that the American Family Planning abortion clinic in Dearborn is planning to close this Friday and the abortionist (73-year-old Joon-Nahm Ann) will retire.  Below is a picture of the exterior of the clinic.

Another Gosnell employee testifies about "snipping"

Abortion clinic employee Lynda Williams testified yesterday about her experience working with abortionist Kermit Gosnell.  Gosnell has been charged with eight counts of murder for killing a patient and seven infants who were killed after they survived abortions. 

Williams testified in a flat, emotionless voice and at times seemed catatonic, taking several seconds before reacting to questions.

One of her duties, Williams said, was to retrieve fetuses women would sometimes spontaneously abort in the waiting room after getting large doses of drugs to dilate the cervix.

One day, Williams testified, a woman expelled a second-trimester fetus into the toilet and it was moving.

Williams said she took a pair of scissors and snipped the spine as Gosnell showed her.

"I did it once, and I didn't do it again because it gave me the creeps," Williams said.

FULL STORY

The most prolific serial killer you’ve never heard of

It could be argued that Kermit Gosnell is America’s most prolific serial killer. For decades he operated an abortion clinic in West Philadelphia which catered mostly to poor, urban women who did not want to be pregnant. Many women who came to the clinic were far along in their pregnancies. While some abortionists worry about the possibility of a child being born alive in late-term abortions, Gosnell didn’t because he made sure abortions would result in a dead child, even if it meant killing children who were born alive.

The media adage “if it bleeds, it leads” has at least one glaring exception. If children who survive abortions are the ones who are bleeding, the story won’t lead.

Not only has it not led, the story of Kermit Gosnell on trial has been largely ignored by national networks. While local reporters have daily been chronicling the horrifying exploits of Gosnell and his staff, national networks have taken a pass. Stories which reveal the logistics of “choice” won’t be coming to a television near you.

According to his employees, Gosnell used surgical scissors to cut the spinal cords of hundreds of children who survived abortion attempts at his rundown clinic. Prosecutors, who lack physical evidence to charge him with more killings, have charged Gosnell with killing 7 infants who were born alive following abortion procedures and a woman named Karnamaya Mongar who died while having an abortion due to a deadly dose of anesthesia drugs.

While the testimonies told by clinic employees are shocking, almost unbelievable and undeniably newsworthy, the vast majority of the American public has likely never heard of Kermit Gosnell. It is, however, a story that needs to be told.

In February of 2010, FBI agents and local detectives executed search warrants at Gosnell’s abortion clinic looking for evidence that Gosnell was writing illegal prescriptions. They found something much worse.

The Grand Jury Report of the Gosnell case notes that “when the team members entered the clinic, they were appalled, describing it to the Grand Jury as ‘filthy,’ ‘deplorable,’ ‘disgusting,’ ‘very unsanitary, very outdated, horrendous,’ and ‘by far, the worst’ that these experienced investigators had ever encountered. There was blood on the floor. A stench of urine filled the air. A flea‑infested cat was wandering through the facility, and there were cat feces on the stairs. Semi‑conscious women scheduled for abortions were moaning in the waiting room or the recovery room, where they sat on dirty recliners covered with blood‑stained blankets.”

Gosnell’s license was quickly suspended and in January of 2011 he was arrested and charged with eight counts of murder. His trial began on March 18, 2013.

The testimony of abortion clinic workers describing the actions of Gosnell and climate in the clinic has included one staffer sharing how she freaked out when she heard the screaming of one child who survived an abortion, another noting how he saw one baby take a breath, and another relaying Gosnell’s explanation for why he kept the severed feet of some of his victims in dozens of jars.

Prolife magnets now available

Check out our newest item, a prolife magnet that sticks on your fridge or your car. You can get them in our online store. Sharing a prolife message is easy!

Listen to Pastor Christopher Brooks share his prolife passion during today's teleseminar

We are looking forward to hearing from Pastor Christopher Brooks during today's Teleseminar.  Pastor Brooks will share his prolife passion!

Pastor Brooks is the keynote speaker for Right to Life of Michigan's Legislative Day. As the senior pastor at Evangel Ministries, a 1,500-member church in Detroit, Pastor Brooks encourages his church members to put their faith into practice.

In addition, we will also hear from Right to Life of Michigan Legislative Director Ed Rivet.

The Teleseminar will begin at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday, April 10).

Title: Excitement Building for Legislative Day
Teleseminar Time: Wednesday, April 10, at 4 p.m.

Phone number: (206) 402-0100
PIN Code: 662744#

To attend, visit:
http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventID=39529317

Michigan abortionist operating multiple clinics without proper licenses

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has confirmed that abortionist Theodore Roumell does not currently have the necessary state controlled substance licenses to operate abortion clinics which provide surgical abortions.  This is further evidence of how numerous abortion providers in Michigan have no regard for Michigan's laws or the safety and health of women. 

Roumell is a longtime abortionist who recently took over multiple abortion clinics which were previously owned by now-retired abortionist Alberto Hodari.  

Roumell was sued in 2010 by a woman whose second trimester abortion he badly botched in 2008.  According to the lawsuit, Roumell was unable to remove the child's head.  The woman was taken to a hospital where a hysterectomy was performed because of the various injuries caused by Roumell during his attempts to remove the child's head.  

The lawsuit against Roumell and the Womancare of Southfield abortion clinic was mentioned in Right to Life of Michigan's Abortion Abuses and State Regulator Agency Failure Report which was issued in March of 2012.

ABORTION ABUSES AND STATE REGULATOR AGENCY FAILURE REPORT 

Gosnell employee recalls hearing aborted child scream

In her testimony today at the murder trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell, clinic employee Sherry West described an incident which "really freaked (her) out."  She relates how she heard a child who was born alive following an abortion scream and noted how she described the dead children as "specimens" so she could mentally deal with their deaths. 

A Delaware woman who worked for abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell recalled hearing one child "screaming" after it was delivered alive during an abortion procedure at Gosnell's West Philadelphia clinic......

"I can't describe it. It sounded like a little alien," West testified, telling a judge and Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas jury that the body of the child was about 18 to 24 inches long and was one of the largest babies she had seen delivered during abortion procedures at Gosnell's clinic.....

During her two years working for Gosnell, West said she also saw patients deliver "specimens" in the toilet, which she made a co-worker remove, adding she called aborted fetuses "specimens" because "it was easier to deal with mentally."

FULL STORY

Michigan lawyer to be honored with Susan B. Anthony Young Leader Award

The Susan B. Anthony has announced that 4 young women will receive Susan B. Anthony Young Leader Awards at their annual Campaign for Life Gala on April 11.  One of those winners will be Mary Catherine (Katie) Wilcox, a Michigan lawyer who founded Students for Life of Michigan.

Congratulations Katie!
       

"These young women are leaders when it comes to protecting life at all stages. Like Lt. Governor Kleefisch and Congressman Ryan, they do not back down from a fight." said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.  "Each one of these women has a unique set of talents and is using them to strengthen and grow the pro-life movement. We are grateful for these trailblazers who embody the legacy of our namesake, Susan B. Anthony."
   
.........

Katie Wilcox – Katie is a lawyer at a Michigan firm and graduated from Ave Maria School of Law where she served as Vice President of the Lex Vitae ("Law of Life") Society. Her law review note, "Why the Equal Protection Clause Cannot ‘Fix' Abortion Law," was published in the Human Life Review and the Ave Maria Law Review. In high school, Katie volunteered for Right to Life of Michigan and started a Students for Life club. She went on to serve as President of Michigan State University Students for Life, where she planned the first statewide pro-life rally on MSU campus, and eventually founded Students for Life of Michigan.

FULL STORY

"Absolutely NO Abortion Clinics"

The new owner of Reginald Sharpe's former abortion clinic in Livonia has put the building up for lease and he makes it clear that another abortionist won't be moving in. 

Photo by Lynn Mills

Congresswoman demands answers from Planned Parenthood on infanticide

Congressman Marsha Blackburn has sent a letter to Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, asking her to come clean on Planned Parenthood's advocacy against legislation to treat infants who survive abortion.  Blackburn's letter notes the recent testimony of a Planned Parenthood lobbyist in Florida who said any decision regarding how to treat an infant who survives abortion "should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician."

Planned Parenthood owes the American taxpayers answers to some very basic questions. Any organization receiving taxpayer funding should not lobby in support of expanding abortions, especially controversial propositions like infanticide which dramatically calls into question the way Constitutional rights are bestowed upon every person born in this country,” Blackburn said. “Planned Parenthood’s disturbing testimony is just one more reason why we must pass H.R. 61 – to end taxpayer funding for big abortion businesses through the Title X grant program.

FULL LETTER (PDF)

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S ABORTION AGENDA

Abortion clinic employee saw "about 100" infants killed after they were born alive

On Thursday, Stephen Massof testified in the Kermit Gosnell murder trial.  The unlicensed doctor said he saw about 100 infants born alive and then killed by having their spinal cords "snipped" after they survived abortions. 

Massof smiled oddly Thursday as he gave graphic testimony about conditions at the clinic, which he said deteriorated during his five-year tenure. He made only $200 to $300 a week to oversee a high volume of second-trimester patients going through labor — and, often, delivery. He said he saw at least one baby take a breath, and another jerk its leg. Gosnell told his staff that such movements were "spontaneous," Massof said.

Massof estimated that he saw about 100 babies born alive and then "snipped" with surgical scissors in the back of the neck, to ensure their "demise."

FULL STORY

New prolife T-Shirt - "I Stand for Life"

Are you prepared for National Pro-Life T-Shirt Week at the end of this month? Check out our newest t-shirt, you can order it in our online store. 

 

The text reads "At each point in history when vulnerable groups were threatened someone stood up on their behalf. I stand for life."

Senator Moolenaar editorial on religious freedom, conscience rights

The Detroit Free Press has an editorial by State Senator John Moolenaar in which he describes and defends SB 136, his legislation to protect the religious liberty and conscience rights of health care workers and health care entities.

This type of religious objection is not new to our state. In fact, Michigan has had a conscience protection law for individual health care providers regarding abortion for more than 30 years. This legislation is designed to extend conscience protection measures to health care services in general.

Consider the psychological impact on a medical professional who is forced to remove a life-sustaining feeding tube in violation of his or her conscience. Under this bill, that professional could object to violating his or her beliefs without fear of losing his or her job.

FULL EDITORIAL

CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO SUPPORT SB 136

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION

Philadelphia's House of Horrors

At the Weekly Standard, Gary Bauer provides his thoughts on the Kermit Gosnell murder trial.       

Gosnell is evil and possibly crazy, but he has said one reasonable thing since his arrest. When at his arraignment Gosnell was read the charges against him (one count of murder for the botched abortion and seven counts of murder for the born alive babies he killed) he responded, "I understand the one count. But I don't understand the seven counts."

Gosnell's bafflement is understandable. He operated in a country whose highest court has declared that the right to kill one's children is embedded in its constitution and whose president has opposed laws to criminalize some of the very acts for which Gosnell is being prosecuted.

Kermit Gosnell's victims will haunt our consciences for years to come, reminders not only of the abortionist who slaughtered them but also of the society that let it happen.       

FULL STORY

This month is Abortion Recovery Awareness Month

April is Abortion Recovery Awareness Month. Even though our society tells us that abortion is legal for women, it has harmful after-effects on the lives it has touched. If you or someone you know is suffering after an abortion, confidential help is available.

MORE ON POST-ABORTION SYNDROME AND LINKS TO RESOURCES

2013 Prolife Youth Award winner named

James Knarian is Right to Life of Michigan's 2013 Youth Award recipient, nominated by Huron County Right to Life. James is graduating from Bad Axe High School and plans on attending Central Michigan University. His essay stressed that his generation has the power to end abortion through energetic effort and not fearing the controversy surrounding abortion when discussing it with others. His volunteering highlights include participating in many activities with Huron County Right to Life, attending the March for Life in Washington D.C., the annual Roe v. Wade memorial services in Huron County and local prolife youth rallies.

Katie DeVries of Grand Rapids Right to Life was the runner-up. Anna Mikowski of Grand Traverse Area Right to Life and Jennifer Evans of Barry County Right to Life also received honorable mentions. 

You can read excerpts from their essays and learn about their volunteer activities on our Youth Award page.

Michigan abortionist who recently closed two clinics botches another abortion

Shortly after closing his two abortion clinics, Reginald Sharpe was hired to perform abortions at the Summit Women's Center abortion clinic.  On March 23, he was performing abortions at Summit abortion clinic when an ambulance arrived, carted a woman out of the clinic and brought her to a local hospital.  Sharpe closed his two abortion clinics after filing for bankruptcy amidst being sued by former patients for botching abortions. 

FULL STORY

BACKGROUND ON SHARPE'S CLOSED CLINICS

Prolife Bus takes effect

On March 31, legislation to regulate abortion clinics in the state of Michigan took effect.  The legislation requires abortion clinics who perform more than 120 abortion a year and publicly advertise to be licensed by the state and be inspected.  Currently, only a small percentage of Michigan's abortion clinics are licensed and inspected.

Of Michigan's 32 clinics that offer surgical abortions, four have licenses. The state estimates 16 more abortion providers need to be licensed as freestanding outpatient surgical facilities under the law because they perform at least 120 abortions a year. Licensure brings annual inspections and a $238 yearly fee, though facilities can avoid licensure if they stop publicly advertising abortion services.

           
FULL STORY

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION

Planned Parenthood spokesperson testifies against providing life support to children who survive abortions

When asked what Planned Parenthood would do if a child survives a botched abortion, Florida Planned Parenthood's lobbyist Alisa LaPolt Snow responding by saying the following:

"We believe that any decision that's made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician,"

FULL STORY

Why has the national media failed to cover an abortionist's murder trial?

Abortionist Kermit Gosnell

At Newsbusters, Brent Bozell describes the national media's avoidance of covering the murder trial of infamous abortionist Kermit Gosnell.  While Gosnell has been charged with committing numerous horrific crimes on sympathetic victims, large media outlets have keep the story at arm's length. 
       

One emerging story proves the degree to which our "objective" media's views on abortion are dogmatic and extreme. Abortionist Kermit Gosnell is on trial in Philadelphia, and not just for killing babies outside the womb, but also for killing a mother through reckless use of anesthesia. Network TV coverage of the trial? Zero on ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, NPR, and PBS. CNN's entire coverage seems to be one sentence from Jake Tapper on March 21.

The New York Times wrote one story before the trial began on March 19 (buried on page A-17). The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today couldn't be "national" newspapers and report this trial.

They're not unaware of it. CBS aired one story after the initial clinic raid in 2011. NBC offered 50 words. CBS even passed along that Gosnell's clinic was described as a "house of horrors."  Now it's in court, and the networks can't find any horrors.

FULL STORY

Does abortion on demand really help women's health?

Abortion supporters often argue women will die if abortions are banned. National Right to Life's blog yesterday examined how prolife countries like Chile and Ireland have better maternal mortality figures than the U.S. with our abortion-on-demand. Women's health is about education, clean medical facilities and well-trained doctors, not the deaths of millions of unborn children.

Both Chile and Ireland are placed among the world safest nations for motherhood in their respective regions.

In the case of Chile, excluding deaths due to non-obstetric causes (also called indirect causes), 30 maternal deaths were registered during 2010, with a mortality ratio of 11.9 per 100,000 live births. This places Chile second only to Canada in the American continent, with better maternal health than the United States of America.

In Ireland, only three maternal deaths were registered out of 74,976 live births, giving a mortality ratio of four per 100,000 live births, and placing this country among the five nations with the lowest maternal mortality in Europe.

Interestingly, these two countries have the least permissive abortion laws in the world, while still displaying negligible abortion-related mortality. This challenges the myth according to which the restriction of abortion leads to hundreds — even thousands – of deaths due to abortion. That is untrue.

LEARN MORE

Pro-abortion state representatives introduce bill to stop minors from tanning at salons

My body, my choice.  Who decides? Only women can decide what's best for them.  This decision should be left to a woman and her doctor.   

Sound familiar?  These are slogans abortion advocates use every day.  Abortion advocates claim they believe all women should be allowed to choose whether to have an abortion and have unfettered access to abortion.  They oppose abortion clinic regulations. They even oppose laws which require minors to receive a parent's consent before having an abortion.
 
While they believe women and female children should have an absolute right to bodily autonomy and abortion, a group of pro-abortion state representatives in Michigan have plans to restrict the rights of minors when it comes to their bodies and their choices.

Her right to abortion?  Oh no.  That's a choice. 

They want to restrict her right to tan.

Representative Jim Townsend has introduced HB 4405, a bill which would make it illegal for a tanning facility to allow a minor to use a tanning device.

During a press conference Townsend came out strongly in favor of restricting the tanning choices of young men and women:

"This is about saving lives, this is about empowering young women in particular to do what's best for them to protect themselves from a dangerous carcinogen,"

What happened to "her body, her choice?" What happened to her being able to decide what's best for her?

Michigan's current law requires tanning facilities to obtain the permission of a minor's parent or guardian before allowing a minor use a tan device. 

The bill is co-sponsored by Reps.  Jim Townsend, Marcia Hovey-Wright, Dian Slavens, Adam Zemke and Ellen Lipton.  All of these representatives were endorsed by Planned Parenthood in the 2012 election. 

All of these representatives think it should be illegal for a minor to tan at a tanning facility with parental permission while at the same time believing a minor should have unrestricted access to abortion.

Gosnell killed woman with dangerous use of anesthestics, expert testifies

The Philadelphia Inquirer continues their coverage of the Kermit Gosnell murder trial. The latest article focuses on the testimony of Dr. Andrew Herlich, an expert anesthesiologist, and his belief that Gosnell's method of anesthetizing one woman during her abortion resulted in her death.

The "custom" formula - a potent cocktail of Demerol, promethazine, and diazepam - that Karnamaya Mongar got several doses of on Nov. 19, 2009, kept her unconscious throughout the abortion.

It also put her in a coma and killed her, Pittsburgh anesthesiologist Andrew Herlich told a Philadelphia jury Thursday at Gosnell's murder trial.

"The dose given to her exceeded the norm," testified Herlich, of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy. "It would make her stop breathing."
.......
Questioned by Assistant District Attorney Edward Cameron, Herlich criticized every aspect of Gosnell's use of painkillers and anesthetics.

Herlich said that given Mongar's size - 5-foot-1 and 110 pounds - the anesthesia would have put her "into a coma."

Herlich also criticized Gosnell's practice of having staff - none with medical training - administer anesthesia and perform other medical tasks.

FULL STORY