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Judge Authorizes Forced Abortion for Catholic Woman

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A Catholic woman in the United Kingdom may be forced to get an abortion against her will after a judge ruled that it was “in her best interests” to terminate the pregnancy due to her developmental disabilities and mood disorder, according to the Catholic News Agency.

The unidentified woman in her 20s is 22 weeks pregnant, and suffers from developmental disabilities that reportedly have left her with the mental capacity of a grade school-aged child. The origin of the pregnancy, whether it was conceived consensually or not, is unknown and under police investigation.

Justice Nathalie Lieven acknowledged how invasive her ruling is to the woman’s rights, but still said the need for the abortion outweighed that.

“I am acutely conscious of the fact that for the State to order a woman to have a termination where it appears that she doesn’t want it is an immense intrusion,” Lieven ruled. “I have to operate in [her] best interests, not on society’s views of termination.”

The woman is under the care of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service under an NHS trust, and her doctors have said the abortion would be less traumatic for the woman than giving birth and giving up the child to foster care. The judge agreed, and suggested that the baby, while unborn, is not “real” yet. (Read more from “Judge Authorizes Forced Abortion for Catholic Woman” HERE)

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We Make Amazing Medical Advances for Babies, Not for ‘Clumps of Cells’

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There’s some happy news in the medical headlines today, as the Cleveland Clinic has joined other top hospitals in successfully performing prenatal surgery to repair spina bifida in utero.

A press release from the clinic details that a child who received the surgery from a team of specialists was born “near full term” earlier this month and that “mother and daughter are doing well.”

“By successfully repairing the defect before birth, we’re allowing this child to have the best possible outcome and significantly improve her quality of life,” said Dr. Darrell Cass, director of fetal surgery in the Cleveland Clinic’s Fetal Center. “There are different measures of quality in determining success for fetal repairs and in this particular case, all metrics for maximum quality were achieved.”

The procedure is similar to a less invasive one recently performed in the United Kingdom, where doctors only had to make three small holes in the mother’s abdomen and womb to fix the child’s spine.

Here’s a video representation of how the surgery worked:

However, Cass also said, “Although the surgery was a success, spina bifida is never cured,” and “moving forward, the baby will require ongoing supportive care provided by a multidisciplinary team of caregivers in our Spina Bifida Clinic.”

Nevertheless, this is still wonderful news for the baby, her family, and other parents on the receiving end of a similar diagnosis. But this news also is also quite instructive for our ongoing debate about the right to life, especially for those facing life with disabilities.

Under a different set of circumstances, after all, this child could easily have been targeted for abortion because of that diagnosis. Her mother would even have found support for killing her among those who in the past few months have defended the selective abortion of people with disabilities, like the opponents of Indiana’s anti-eugenics abortion law, for example, or perhaps among those who openly wonder why a family wouldn’t want to kill a kid with a challenging diagnosis.

But joyful stories like this one remind us that we aren’t just talking about abstract clumps of cells when we discuss those still living in the womb; we’re talking about human beings with their whole lives ahead of them. We’re talking about lives that matter, lives that are worth pushing the boundaries of medical science for, regardless of their circumstances. (For more from the author of “We Make Amazing Medical Advances for Babies, Not for ‘Clumps of Cells'” please click HERE)

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Planned Parenthood Builds Clinic in Alabama Despite Pro-Life Law

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By AP. Planned Parenthood is building the stage for another possible fight over abortion in Alabama: a large women’s clinic that’s under construction despite the state’s passage of a near-total ban on abortions.

Located beside an interstate highway in downtown Birmingham, the 10,000-square-foot structure is now nothing but a steel frame and roof. Workers under the constant watch of security guards appear to be installing electrical wiring, plus heating and cooling units.

The new facility could be complete around November, which is the same time the new state law will take effect unless blocked by courts. Abortion critics vow to oppose the opening, but a spokeswoman for the women’s health organization said neither the new law nor opponents were a factor in the project. (Read more from “Planned Parenthood Builds Clinic in Alabama Despite Pro-Life Law” HERE)

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Liberty Vittert: Why Can’t Planned Parenthood Just Tell Us How Many Abortions It Provides?

By Fox News. Whether you are pro-life, pro-choice, anywhere in between, or extreme, there is a continued and serious issue with the reporting methods of Planned Parenthood (PP) that allows for serious misconceptions to be exploited on both sides of the debate. . .

Let’s take a closer look using only data from Planned Parenthood’s own 2017-2018 Annual Report.

The 94 percent assertion comes from taking the total number of abortions performed in a year by PP (332,757) and dividing it by the total number of services PP provides that Hatch and Johnson deem “pregnancy services” (prenatal services, adoption referrals, and abortions) totaling 344,646 services. Using this terminology, actually 96.6 percent of the pregnancy services provided by PP are abortions.

But in no way is that the real truth: this calculation completely ignores the over 9 million other services PP provides per year and paints a very unfair (or rather, downright wrong) picture of the work of Planned Parenthood. . .

This number comes from taking the total number of abortions performed by PP in a year and dividing that by the total number of services provided by Planned Parenthood in a year (including cancer screenings, pregnancy tests, STI testing/treatment, contraception, and even services to men) which is over 9.6 million. Using this terminology, Planned Parenthood is able to say that only 3.4 percent of the services they perform are abortions. (Read more from “Liberty Vittert: Why Can’t Planned Parenthood Just Tell Us How Many Abortions It Provides?” HERE)

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In This State, Minors Need Parental Permission for Ibuprofen, but Not for an Abortion

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The Republican governor of Vermont signed legislation this week which makes it legal for minors to obtain an abortion without parental consent. Vermont law also allows non-physicians, including registered nurse practitioners, to perform abortions. To put in perspective how radical the state’s abortion standards are, consider that parents have to give their child written or verbal permission to obtain so much as an ibuprofen pill from the school nurse, but do not have to approve of their daughter’s obtaining a life-altering decision like abortion under GOP Gov. Phil Scott’s new law. . .

The bill does not include an age limit on which individuals can obtain an abortion. In fact, while the bill was going through the state legislature, several representatives tried adding amendments which would have specified that those under 18-years-old would need permission from their parents and legal guardians before obtaining an abortion. . .

The final version of the bill which Gov. Scott signed did not include any provisions about notification of a minor’s parent before that child received an abortion. Yet, according to HealthVermont.gov, students under the age of 18 need permission from parents to take prescribed and non-prescribed medicine on school grounds under state law.

The primary reason for requiring parental permission for headache medicine, according to the Vermont Department of Health/Agency of Education is to “assure that medications administered to students are done so in a way that assures safety and compliance with state law and school policies and procedures. (Read more from “In This State, Minors Need Parental Permission for Ibuprofen, but Not for an Abortion” HERE)

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State to Allow Non-Doctors to Perform Abortions

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Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill Monday permitting non-doctors to perform abortions in Maine.

The law will allow physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortions, according to a press release from Mills’ office.

“Allowing qualified and licensed medical professionals to perform abortions will ensure that Maine women, especially those in rural areas, are able to access critical reproductive health care services when and where they need them from qualified providers they know and trust,” Mills, a Democrat, said in a statement. . .

Democratic Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon sponsored the bill, “An Act to Authorize Certain Health Care Professionals to Perform Abortions.” It is set to go into effect in September, according to The New York Times. . .

Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen praised the legislation and Mills’ actions in a Tuesday tweet.

(Read more from “State to Allow Non-Doctors to Perform Abortions” HERE)

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U.S. Town Declares Itself a ‘Sanctuary City’ — for Unborn Babies

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By The Blaze. The five member city council of Waskom, Texas, has declared the small town a “sanctuary city,” but not for illegal aliens, for unborn children.

The vote took place before a packed house and was unanimously in favor of banning abortion and declaring pro-choice laws to be unconstitutional.

The ordinance says pro-abortion laws are “unconstitutional usurpations of judicial power, which violate both the Tenth Amendment the Republican Form of Government Clause, and are null and void in the City of Waskom.”

Mark Lee Dickson, the East Texas Director of Right to Life, told WETK-TV that the vote was in response to the “fetal heartbeat bill” in Louisiana.

“So we decided to take things into our own hands, and that we have got to do something to protect our cities, and to protect the unborn children,” said Dickson. (Read more from “U.S. Town Declares Itself a ‘Sanctuary City’ — for Unborn Babies” HERE)

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Waskom Unanimously Declares Itself a ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn’

By East Texas Matters. . .The ordinance was approved unanimously at a city council meeting Tuesday night before a packed house.

The ordinance declares Roe vs. Wade and other laws permitting abortion “to be unconstitutional usurpations of judicial power, which violate both the Tenth Amendment the Republican Form of Government Clause, and are null and void in the City of Waskom.”

Mark Lee Dickson, director of the anti-abortion group East Texas Right to Life, said the declaration was a response to Louisiana’s passage of a so-called “fetal heartbeat bill” banning abortion once a fetus’ heartbeat is detected.

Should that bill shut down abortion clinics in Louisiana, Dickson said, he doesn’t want any to open in Waskom. . .

Those behind the declaration say it’s all in an effort to make it to the Supreme Court in a challenge to Roe vs. Wade and win. (Read more from “Waskom Unanimously Declares Itself a ‘Sanctuary City for the Unborn'” HERE)

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State Legalizes Abortion Until Birth

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Illinois governor JB Pritzker signed the nation’s most permissive abortion bill into law Wednesday, as part of an effort to make abortion a “fundamental right” in the state.

The legislature passed the sweeping abortion bill last month in a whirlwind session that saw massive tax hikes and huge expansions in government in addition to this most recent abortion bill.

As The Daily Wire reported then, Pritzker’s landmark abortion bill repeals the state’s ban on “partial birth abortions,” legalizing the procedure all the way through pregnancy and up until the moment of birth. The bill utterly ignores the concept of viability, a particularly shocking development given that most states currently passing abortion-related regulations are greatly restricting the practice, not expanding it.

The bill also removes licensing requirements for medical professionals conducting abortions, mandates that all insurance providers within the state pay for abortions in full — even Christian health-share insurance options — and permanently repeals protections for doctors and other medical professionals who refuse to take part in performing abortions. It also strips away any remaining licensing and inspection requirements for abortion clinics in the state — even though several have been targeted for unsafe practices — and repeals penalties for providing abortion services without a license.

Worse, the bill changes the legal language of the state’s bevy of laws on “reproductive rights” in an effort to ensure that abortion is treated as a “fundamental right” by the Illinois constitution and legal code. Without any specifications on what constitutes a “fundamental right,” it is likely only a matter of time before the new law is used to challenge existing parental notification laws and mandatory reporting laws.

The ACLU has already indicated that it will use the new bill to challenge any remaining abortion restrictions in Illinois. (Read more from “State Legalizes Abortion Until Birth” HERE)

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Mass Companies: Abortion Necessary to Be Successful in Business

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The top executives of more than 180 companies have signed a letter that says abortion is essential in order for people to be successful in their businesses.

“When everyone is empowered to succeed, our companies, our communities and our economy are better for it,” the executives say in the letter posted on a newly launched website titled “Don’t Ban Equality.”

“Restricting access to comprehensive reproductive care, including abortion, threatens the health, independence and economic stability of our employees and customers,” they said, adding:

Simply put, it goes against our values and is bad for business. It impairs our ability to build diverse and inclusive workforce pipelines, recruit top talent across the states, and protect the well-being of all the people who keep our businesses thriving day in and out.

(Read more from “Mass Companies: Abortion Necessary to Be Successful in Business” HERE)

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Instead of Promoting Abortion, This Massive Food Chain Is Funding Adoption

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By The Blaze. According to a Tuesday article published on Live Action, Wendy’s clearly has adoption on its mind over abortion.

According to the Family Council, some of the companies that widely support Planned Parenthood include Aetna, Clorox, Deutsche Bank, Mondelez International, Nike, Starbucks, United Airlines, and more.

In May, Netflix employees donated at least $20,000 to Planned Parenthood. Netflix announced that it would be reconsidering filming in Georgia as a result of the state’s new “heartbeat” law. . .

Through Wendy’s Wonderful Kids — a program belonging to The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption — children who belong to a group considered “more difficult-to-place” are given a leg up in achieving adoption.

That group includes those children who are “older, have special needs, or are part of a sibling group.” These kids are able to engage with the Wonderful Kids program to “find loving homes using evidence-based, child-focused methods.” (Read more from “Instead of Promoting Abortion, This Massive Food Chain Is Funding Adoption” HERE)

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As Businesses Rush to Support Abortion, Wendy’s Raises Funds for Adoption

By Live Action. Planned Parenthood frequently purports to be about “choice,” but only if the choice involves abortion. Although in 2018, just .03% of their services included adoption referrals (and even this must be questioned, as the corporation’s idea of “adoption referrals” is highly suspect), the abortion giant is frequently the recipient of lavish media and corporate support, while truly pro-life efforts like adoption get overlooked. Fast-food chain Wendy’s and its partner, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, has at its heart the interests of the children who are frequently trotted out as “reasons to abort” — those who are in foster care waiting to be adopted. According to a previous Live Action News article, “There are about 400,000 children in the U.S. foster care system. Just over 100,000 of them are eligible to be adopted, according to AdoptUSKids, and will likely be adopted by their foster parents. The majority of children in the foster care system are waiting to be reunited with their birth families, who are taking steps to get their children back.”

The Dave Thomas Foundation has its origins in being an advocacy group. Through their program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, they help the more difficult-to-place children — those who are older, have special needs, or are part of a sibling group — find loving homes using evidenced-based, child-focused methods. The Foundation is now seeking to go nationwide, and has partnered with Snapchat through the Cause Cup program. Starting in May, the Cause Cups at participating Wendy’s will have a Snapcode that, when scanned, will donate $5 to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption — for a total of up to $500,000. The donations will help bring the program to all 50 states and DC by 2028.

(Read more from “As Businesses Rush to Support Abortion, Wendy’s Raises Funds for Adoption” HERE)

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Watch: 2020 Dem Makes a Disgusting Argument for ‘Paying for Abortions’

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Abortion rights advocates are furious with former Vice President Joe Biden for flip flopping on the Hyde Amendment, which bans taxpayer funding of abortions. At the beginning of May, he told an ACLU activist that yes, he would abolish the law. But on Tuesday he said he actually still supports it.

That opinion doesn’t fit in with the progressive wing of the party, so fellow presidential candidates like Seth Moulton are wishing Biden “would change his position.”

“I think it’s wrong,” Moulton said during a CNN interview on Thursday. “It disproportionately attacks women who don’t have the private means to afford an abortion.”

He then made an interesting – no, egregious – comparison.

“It’s sort of like saying, ‘I support the troops, but I don’t want to pay them.'”

(Read more from “2020 Dem Makes a Disgusting Argument for ‘Paying for Abortions'” HERE)

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