Life Advocacy Briefing

Spotlight on the Abortion Industry

A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH MAY HAVE COME last week in the SanFrancisco courtroom of Judge William Orrick, who is presiding over the trial of Center for Medical Progress undercover investigators brought because of videos showing Planned Parenthood involvement in the trafficking of body parts from aborted babies. We are publishing Operation Rescue’s detailed report on the self-impeachment of the plaintiffs’ supposed star witness at the close of this Life Advocacy Briefing, and we commend it to our readers. We celebrate the prospect of justice stemming from this witness’s testimony, and we celebrate the potential for greater public understanding and concern over the awful truth about the abortion cartel.

Parade of Horribles

THOSE WHO THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PARADE are focused on seeking to impeach President Trump were given a dose of policy positions in last Tuesday’s televised forum among 12 of the candidates. Each, notes Calvin Freiburger for LifeSiteNews.com, “[took] pains to cast themselves as the strongest ally to abortion-on-demand.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) “claimed,” notes Mr. Freiburger, “that overturning Roe v. Wade would return America to a world where ‘rich women still got abortions, because they could travel,’ while abortion would be denied to ‘14-year-olds who were molested by a family member.’ In fact,” declares the LifeSiteNews writer, “there is documented evidence of rapists taking young victims to have abortions in order to hide and continue their abuse” – particularly a factor in the heartbreaking crime of incest.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Warren, Senators Cory Booker (NJ) and Amy Klobuchar (MN), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI) and Obama Regime cabinet officer Julian Castro “all reiterated their support for legislation to codify a ‘right’ to abortion in federal law,” reports Mr. Freiburger, a current drive of the abortion lobby to render prospective reversal of Roe v. Wade a moot point.

Sen. Booker and California Sen. Kamala Harris, reports Mr. Freiburger, “also touted their proposals to create a ‘White House Office of Reproductive Freedom’ and to have the Justice Dept. review state pro-life laws before they can take effect,” truly sacrificing America’s constitutional system of government on the altar of abortion fanaticism.

Sen. Harris used the occasion to take a shot at duly elected lawmakers at the state level, calling pro-life state legislators “‘outdated and out of touch, mostly men,’” she claimed, “‘who are telling women what to do with their bodies,’” and she insisted, reports Mr. Freiburger, “‘there needs to be accountability and consequence.’” Then she makes the logically inconsistent claim: “‘Women have been given the responsibility to perpetuate the human species; our bodies were created to do that. And it [?] does not give any other person the right to tell a woman what to do with that body.’”

Sen. Klobuchar, whom many see as among the “moderates” in the race, weighed in with a claim, reports LifeSiteNews, that “‘over 75% of people want to keep Roe v. Wade on the book.’” She was joined in that claim by Sen. Warren, who declared, reports Mr. Freiburger, “‘When you’ve got three out of four Americans supporting it, we should be able to get that passed through Congress. … We should not leave this to the Supreme Court. We should do it through democracy, because we can.’”

Notes the LifeSiteNews reporter: “Polls have found that support for Roe and its abortion protections drop dramatically when respondents are informed of what the ruling actually does and that babies’ hearts start beating as early as six weeks.

All the Democratic Party’s candidates, reports Mr. Freiburger, “have … pledged to appoint pro-abortion justices to the Supreme Court.”

In his own extensive commentary on the Democratic hopefuls’ fanatical embrace of abortion, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins notes the agony of the group Democrats for Life of America, whose “leaders,” he writes, “begged moderators to ‘facilitate a real debate’ about what restrictions on the procedure – if any – the candidates would agree to. ‘Does the party have a message,’” asked the DfLA leaders, “‘to 20 million pro-life Democrats other than “drop dead”?’”

In the States

• LAWMAKERS IN MICHIGAN WILL SEEK TO OVERRIDE the veto of Gov. Gretchen Witmer (D) of some $700,000 earmarked for the Michigan-based service of a pregnancy help provider called Real Alternatives, founded in Pennsylvania and operating also in Indiana and (till now) in Michigan. Michigan’s network includes a network of 12 social service agencies and three pregnancy help centers. Its funding has been targeted by the abortion lobby, which put their full weight behind the Whitmer election in 2018. The legislature is controlled by narrow GOP majorities in both chambers.

• IT IS NOW LAW IN CALIFORNIA that public colleges and universities are mandated to dispense abortion chemicals at campus health centers by the year 2023, a law so radical that even left-wing Democratic former Gov. Jerry Brown refused to sign it during his last year in office; he was succeeded by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who has no such scruples. Since Gov. Newsom boasted, in signing the new law, about using technology, we anticipate he intends the law’s implementation to include a heavy dose of telemed abortions, a practice which some states have sought to outlaw in the interest of protecting the physical and mental health of abortion customers who are given the drug without continuing medical supervision or even a live, in-person encounter between so-called doctor and abortion customer. Students for Life of America has established a new Internet website to assist students and others in fighting this latest foray into California extremism – and to help prevent it from spreading to other states whose public officials are courting abortion radicals – at www.nocampusabortions.com.

In the Courts

• ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE CHALLENGING MISSISSIPPI’s LATE-TERM abortion ban were presented Oct. 7 at the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals. The law, reports Catholic News Agency (CNA), “allows abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy only when the mother’s life or a major bodily function is in danger or when the unborn child has a severe abnormality and is not expected to be able to live outside the womb at full term.” Violations subject abortionists to potential loss of medical licenses and, “if they falsify records about the circumstances of the procedure,” notes CNA, “a civil penalty of up to $500.” The law is currently unenforceable because of a permanent injunction issued in 2018 by federal District Judge Carlton Reeves, who was appointed by Pres. Barack Obama (D). “In defending the law,” reports CNA, “the state argued that it has an interest in protecting the life of the unborn as well as maternal health. State attorneys,” the news service notes, “have pointed to an increased risk of complications for the mother when abortion is performed further into the pregnancy. They have also made a case that unborn babies are capable of feeling pain prior to viability.”

• A THREE-JUDGE PANEL of the 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals has handed down a split (2-to-1) ruling blocking enforcement of Ohio’s law banning abortions on babies diagnosed with Down syndrome. The lawsuit against the 2017 law was brought by the ACLU, representing “several abortion providers,” reports Jessie Balmert for the Cincinnati Enquirer, who notes, “A spokesman for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the state will appeal the decision to the full 6^th Circuit. Wrote Judge Bernice Bouie Donald, an appointee of ex-Pres. Barack Obama, quoted by the Enquirer, “‘The state’s interest in preventing discrimination does not become compelling until viability.’” In that line she was joined by the Circuit’s Chief Judge, R. Guy Cole Jr., a Clinton appointee. Dissenting was Judge Alice Moore Batchelder, an appointee of Pres. G.H.W. Bush, who wrote, according to Ms. Balmert, “‘Ohio concluded that permitting physicians to become witting accomplices to the deliberate targeting of Down syndrome babies would undermine the principle that the Down syndrome population is equal in value and dignity to the rest of Ohio’s population.’”

• THE JULY UPHOLDING OF OKLAHOMA’s DISMEMBERMENT ABORTION BAN is being appealed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion cartel litigation arm. The law was enacted in 2015 and was upheld in July by Judge Cindy Truong, who denied a motion to keep the law from being enforced pending appeal. CRR filed the appeal early this month with the state’s Supreme Court, appealing also a ruling upholding the state’s 72-hour waiting period law. The waiting period law has been enforced since its passage in 2015, but the state agreed not to enforce the Dismemberment Ban until the Supreme Court considers it. “‘These two laws will devastate abortion access in Oklahoma,’ claimed Julie Rikelman, senior litigation director at the New York-based CRR,” reports Dave Andrusko in National Right to Life News, who notes the dismemberment ban passed the legislature by votes of 84 to 2 in the state House and 37 to 4 in the Senate. When Judge Truong upheld the dismemberment ban in July, reports Mr. Andrusko, the state’s Attorney General Mike Hunter (R) “celebrated the victory. ‘Dismemberment abortions are barbaric [and] brutal and subject unborn children to more cruelty than we allow for death-row inmates,’ he said” in the NRL News report. “‘It is unconscionable to think that we would allow this practice to continue. Judge Truong is to be commended for declaring this legislation constitutional.’” He further called the ruling “‘a major victory for basic human decency in Oklahoma.’” If allowed to stand, it will also be an important milestone in the fight to restore human decency and compassion to American jurisprudence and to discourage the continued tyranny of the abortion industry. Dismemberment is the most commonly used procedure in second-and-late-term abortions, and its criminalization would be a major blow to the cartel.

Quick, Easy Witness

THE PROLIFE CHECK GUY IS BACK with a new series of appealing, informative bankchecks demonstrating the miracle of new life. Check them out at www.theprolifecheckguy.com, scroll down on the home page to the lower right corner, where arrows will take you through the series under the title “New Life Series.” While there, click through the arrows under the checks at the left corner titled “God’s Precious Children Series.” And think about employing these mini-billboards in your own transactions.

Prague Gets It Right

Oct. 15, 2019, The Point commentary by John Stonestreet & David Carlson

            When the general manager of the NBA’s Houston Rockets tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters, China retaliated, banning NBA games from state TV. Also, Chinese companies dropped NBA sponsorships, costing the NBA [National Basketball Assn.] a lot of money. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who boycotted North Carolina over its supposedly anti-transgender bathroom bill, offered an almost simpering apology to the Chinese.

            Juxtapose the NBA’s response with that of the city of Prague, which recently terminated its sister-city relationship with Beijing – a bold move given the level of Chinese investment in the Czech Republic. The Chinese embassy issued a threatening statement with a “wrong side of history” flavor to it.

            Of course, unlike most Americans, the citizens of Prague know what it’s like to live under Communism. The political party of Prague’s mayor posted this on Facebook: “We are a country of free people …We refuse to bow to such an authoritarian regime that is responsible for ‘re-education’ camps and trafficking in illegal organ transplants.” And, I’d add, forced abortions.

Persistence in Attempted Tyranny

Oct. 17, 2019, The Point commentary by John Stonestreet & David Carlson

            In 2016 the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not force the Little Sisters of the Poor to provide contraceptives under the HHS mandate. The Court then ordered the government to find a way to get contraceptives to women who want them without involving the Little Sisters. So, in 2018, HHS finalized a new rule that would exempt the Little Sisters and other religious organizations.

            Case closed, right? Not so fast. Pennsylvania then sued the Little Sisters, claiming the federal government had no right to issue those exemptions. So far, the lower courts have ruled against the Little Sisters. Again, the Little Sisters have appealed to the Supreme Court.

            The Little Sisters minister to the elderly poor – people nobody else is caring for. Yet Pennsylvania is willing to fine this religious order into oblivion over contraceptives that are readily available already. Please pray for the Little Sisters, for Becket Legal and for the Justices.

Truth Will Come Out

Oct. 17, 2019, Eyewitness courtroom report by Cheryl Sullenger, Operation Rescue vice president

            Dr. Deborah Nucatola, former Medical Director for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, took the stand in an ongoing federal trial against pro-life activists, who are defending themselves against Planned Parenthood’s accusations that they violated the Federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) when they secretly filmed evidence that Planned Parenthood was engaged in the illegal trafficking of aborted baby tissue and organs for profit.

            Nucatola was the subject of the first video summary released by the Center for Medical Progress on July 14, 2015. She was shown munching salad and sipping wine while she dispassionately discussed in graphic detail the ways she altered second-trimester abortion procedures – her specialty – to ensure that organs were intact for organ procurement companies, which paid Planned Parenthood for the aborted baby tissues.

            Nucatola was supposed to be Planned Parenthood’s star witness.

            A source inside the courtroom, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Operation Rescue that Nucatola said she has been conducting on average 200 abortions per month for her entire 21-year career as an abortionist. This means she has – so far – been responsible for the deaths of over 50,000 pre-born babies.

            She reportedly told the court, “I provide abortions to 24 weeks, and beyond if needed.” Nucatola noted that she prefers to use the [euphemistic] term “tissue donation” instead of “selling baby body parts for a profit.”

            Nucatola also described how she was upset about the release of the videos, and again sobbed when relating how she and her family were “damaged” by them.

            That moment may have provided a turning point for the defense.

            Upon cross examination one pro-life attorney questioned Nucatola about the damages caused by the video. Then he brought up statements she had made under oath during an earlier deposition. In deposition, Nucatola said that the release of the videos was “no big deal,” that “did not damage me.” In addition, she had made sworn statements such as, “I did nothing wrong.” “I don’t care if these videos are released.” “There is nothing wrong with what I said.”

            This completely impeached Nucatola’s testimony and destroyed her credibility.

            Then came the defining moment for the pro-life defendants, which include Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, Sandra Merritt, Albin Rhomberg and David Daleiden.

            Judge William Orrick had previously denied all requests to show any of the video taken by the Center for Medical Progress to the jury. However, yesterday, he allowed the playing of five minutes of raw, uncut video from the lunch meeting between Nucatola and the undercover pro-life journalists who posed as representatives of an organ procurement company.

            The courtroom observer told Operation Rescue that tears could be seen on the faces of some members of the jury as they watched Nucatola speaking on video about livers, lungs, hearts, muscle and calvarium (baby heads) that were harvested from the bodies of aborted babies.

            “The jury was stunned. It was the first time during the three-week trial that they had seen any of the debated video,” the observer told Operation Rescue. “It was a game changer and a huge victory for the pro-life defendants. Planned Parenthood’s star witness turned into a star witness for the defense. It could not have been a better day.”