“Women’s Health” Focus of National Pro-Life Gathering

COLUMBUS, OH — Pro-life community leaders from hundreds of organizations around the country that provide intervention, prevention, and healing from abortion and/or sexual trauma gather to redefine reproductive health at the 34th Annual Heartbeat International Conference in Chicago, IL, April 27-30, 2005. Interview opportunities available for the following:

&#8226 Eve Sanchez Silver, Executive Director of Cinta Latina Research, resigned from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Advisory Board because they fail to acknowledge that abortion can cause breast cancer and they give thousands of dollars to abortion providers.

&#8226 Jill Stanek was a labor and delivery nurse at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL, when she discovered that babies were being aborted alive to die without care. She was eventually terminated in 2001 for her outspokenness on the hospital's abortion practices. However, she continues to speak out on women's health and other issues.

&#8226 Doug Weiss, Ph.D., Executive Director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center, is a nationally known author and therapist specializing in sexual abuse and trauma. He has appeared on such shows as Oprah, Sally Jesse Raphael, Leeza, Fox Files, and many other national television and radio shows.

&#8226 Tony Melendez, born without arms, taught himself to play the guitar with his feet and played for Pope John Paul II. His music and faith journey provide inspiration.

“We are redefining reproductive health care in a way that benefits the whole woman and her family, and we're training pregnancy center staff and volunteers to deliver these needed services effectively and professionally,” said Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., who will deliver the opening keynote on God's plan for our sexuality.

Heartbeat International, founded in 1971, is the first pregnancy support association founded in the U.S. to educate women about the risks of abortion and help provide alternatives. It is a Christian association of nearly 900 pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and life-affirming medical clinics in 50 states and 33 countries. Heartbeat International is dedicated to creating an environment where every human heart is cherished and protected — within the womb and within strong families.

Heartbeat International provides Option Line (1-800-395-HELP), a joint venture with Care Net, to connect callers with the local pregnancy center for the help they need. Each month Option Line receives approximately 6,000 calls and provides 50,000 information sessions online at www.optionline.org.

This update courtesy of Heartbeat International.