by James L. Lambert
ENCINITAS, CA (AgapePress) – Pro-life advocates are concerned about a growing trend in the medical community where well-known, local hospitals are joining forces with Planned Parenthood to offer a variety of abortion services, either directly or through a “referral service.” This trend is occurring in neighborhoods unbeknownst to local churches and residents.
Such was the scene one Saturday morning last month right here in Encinitas, California, home of e3mil.com. Representatives and activists from Operation Rescue West, California Life Coalition, and Open Eyes Ministry gathered to protest a local hospital's association with Planned Parenthood of San Diego.
Cheryl Sullenger, Director of California Life Coalition, notes that many hospitals contract with Planned Parenthood so that they can participate in the fee income HMOs now offer for abortion services. Many of the protesters agree that “this is big business” and many in the community have no idea what is going on “in this leased space provided by this hospital,” contends Sullenger.
Troy Newman of Operation Rescue West went a step further. He feels strongly that each community that condones the presence of an abortion clinic is “culpable and guilty of shedding innocent blood.” Referencing an Old Testament scripture (Deuteronomy 19:10), he also believes that Christians should not patronize hospitals that are involved, either directly or indirectly, in the abortion business.
Rev. Gary Cass of Westhills Christian Fellowship thinks that Christian activists must do “a better job in communicating” this issue. “Some of the pastors we have met with (in our community) have chosen not to be involved,” Cass said. “They have objected to the tactics or don't like the signs.” What saddened Cass “is they [religious leaders] don't want to do anything else in place of it.”
Nevertheless, Cass remains optimistic. He and his other compatriots plan on trying to convince as many people of faith as possible of the need to oppose the abortion industry. He is hopeful that the “moral outrage” of abortion — and particularly the partial birth abortion procedure — will convince Christians to approach their religious leaders and encourage them to speak out about abortion.
Cass, Sullenger, and Newman believe that they will ultimately “get our message out [locally] that abortion is a moral outrage” and hope that church members will finally approach their pastors on this matter. As for this community of 56,000 in California, it looks like they will have to get used to seeing pro-life groups on the street each month for a long time to come.
(This update courtesy of Agape Press.)
Pregnant Delaware Teen Fighting to Save Her Baby from State
by Allie Martin
(AgapePress) – The American Family Association's Center for Law & Policy is promising to fight state officials in Delaware who want a pregnant teenager to either have an abortion or give up her baby.
The 16-year-old girl is three months pregnant and in foster care. Social workers in Delaware allegedly tried to coerce the young woman into having an abortion against her will. State officials are now allegedly threatening to take custody of the baby after it is born.
Michael DePrimo is an attorney with the AFA Center for Law & Policy. He says the state has even tried to keep the teenager from talking with AFA attorneys.
“This young woman has the right to an attorney of her choice,” DePrimo says, “and to prevent her from talking with her attorney raises very, very serious ethical questions.”
DePrimo says the girl's foster parents and natural parents are both in favor of her having and keeping the baby.
