April 2003 Newsletter From the inception of his pro-life work, Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has been urging the mass media to show the American people what an abortion is. Abortion is a reality which is so horrific that words alone can never convey its meaning. Fr. Frank serves on the board of the Center for Bioethical Reform, which makes it a priority to share with the nation the world's largest collection of images of actual abortions. On the Priests for Life website, there is a section called “America Will Not Reject Abortion Until America Sees Abortion”. In this section you will see the grim reality of abortion. May God have mercy on us. The following information is from American Life League (ALL), a non-profit educational organization committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from fertilization to death. ALL is firmly established on moral and ethical principles based on the natural law (the moral law), the Word of God and the Magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church. The fact that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God is the foundation of their mission. ALL embraces Pope John Paul II's encyclical, The Gospel of Life. They recognize that in this one message, based on Scripture, there is a rich philosophy that is at the root of Christianity itself: that God, as the author of life, must be respected if man is to endure on this earth. ALL’s website is located at www.all.org. **Warning: The following is also not for the faint, but it is the truth. It happens at least 4000 times a day in the United States. It is legal. It is happening in our own backyard—at Planned Parenthood in Bloomington, Indiana. Methods of abortion Suction aspiration: The abortionist inserts a suction tube (similar to a vacuum hose with an extremely sharp end) into the mother's womb. The suction and cutting edge dismember the baby while the hose sucks the body parts into a collection bottle. Dilation and curettage (D&C): In this procedure, the abortionist uses a loop shaped knife to cut the baby into pieces and scrape the uterine wall. The baby's body parts are then removed and checked to make sure that no pieces were left in the mother's womb. Dilation and evacuation (D&E): The abortionist uses a forceps to grab parts of the baby (arms and legs) and then tears the baby apart. The baby's head must be crushed in order to remove it because the skull bone has hardened by this stage in the baby's growth. Dilation and extraction (also known as D&X or partial-birth abortion): The abortionist reaches into the mother's womb, grabs the baby's feet with a forceps and pulls the baby out of the mother, except for the head. The abortionist then jams a pair of scissors into the back of the baby's head and spreads the scissors apart to make a hole in the baby's skull. The abortionist removes the scissors and sticks a suction tube into the skull to suck the baby's brain out. The forceps are then used to crush the baby's head and the abortionist pulls the baby's body out the rest of the way. Salt poisoning: The abortionist sticks a long needle into the mother's womb. The needle contains salt, which is then injected into the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. The baby breathes in, swallows the salt and dies from salt poisoning, dehydration, brain hemorrhage and convulsions. Taking nearly an hour to die, the baby's skin is completely burned, turns red and deteriorates. The baby is in pain the entire time. The mother goes into labor 24 - 48 hours later and delivers a dead baby. Prostaglandins: Involves the injection of naturally produced hormones into the amniotic sac, causing violent premature labor. During these convulsions the baby is often crushed to death or is born too early to have any chance of surviving. Hysterotomy: This is basically an abortive Cesarean section. The abortionist makes an incision in the mother's abdomen and removes the baby. The baby is then either placed to the side to die or is killed by the abortionist or nurse. Chemical abortion: RU-486: RU-486 blocks the hormone that helps develop the lining of the uterus during pregnancy (progesterone). This lining is the source of nutrition and protection for the developing baby. The tiny boy or girl is starved to death and then a second drug, misoprostol, causes contractions so that the dead baby is expelled from the womb. Methotrexate: This highly toxic chemical directly attacks and breaks down the baby's fast-growing cells. It also attacks the life-support systems the baby needs to survive. When the systems fail, the baby dies. Misoprostol is then used to cause contractions and push the dead baby out of the womb. Abortifacient birth control (the pill, Depo-Provera, Norplant, the IUD, emergency contraception): These abortion-causing chemicals and devices can act to kill preborn children in the earliest days of life. It is well known that abortifacient methods of birth control may act to inhibit ovulation and prevent conception. However, most women don't know they also act to alter the lining of the womb so that the implantation of a newly conceived child cannot occur. If the child cannot implant in the lining of the womb to receive nourishment, he dies. Abortion risks Breast cancer: 140% increased risk following an abortion. British Journal of Cancer 1981 Post-abortion grief: This has been identified in numerous studies as a serious complication of induced abortion. Human Medicine 1991 Emotional and physical disturbances: Experienced by 1 in 2 (50%). These disturbances may last for months (may include depression, insomnia, nervousness, guilt, and regret). McGovern, Celeste, "Hag-Ridden by Post-Abortion Guilt," British Columbia Report, 10/18/93; British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1980 Complications in future pregnancies: Experienced by 1 in 4 (24.3%). May include excessive bleeding, premature delivery, cervical damage, and sterility. Acta/Obstetrics and Gynecology Scandinavia 1979 Pelvic inflammatory disease: A first-trimester abortion can result in bacterial vaginosis, leading to PID--a condition that must be treated. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1992 Uterine perforations: It can well occur that uterine perforations go unrecognized and untreated. Bernadell Technical Bulletin 1989 Tubal pregnancy: Legal abortion appears to contribute to an increase in ectopic pregnancy in younger women when associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1989 Placenta previa: A condition producing extremely severe, life-threatening bleeding in future pregnancies. 600% increased risk following an abortion. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1981 Decreased maternal bonding: The loss of a baby through abortion may cause a mother to be less affectionate toward future children and may contribute to child abuse. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 1979 Ten percent of women undergoing elective abortion will suffer immediate complications, of which one-fifth are considered life-threatening. The most common complications that can occur at the time of an abortion are: ripping or perforation of the uterus, excessive bleeding, infection, embolism, convulsions, hemorrhage, cervical injury, endotoxic shock, fever, second degree burns, vomiting, and chronic abdominal pain. This has not been a complete listing of the possible complications to abortion. However, as you can see, labeling the abortion procedure as "safe" is not accurate. According to a partial list of death certificates, autopsies, medical examiner reports, secular newspaper accounts, and/or independent medical journals compiled by Life Dynamics, a pro-life research group in Texas, there have been more than 242 deaths from legal abortion in the United States. Why is our country allowing over 1 million innocent children to die every year? And what about the mothers who are dying? This is why we must elect pro-life politicians. This is why we must overturn Roe v. Wade. This is why we must protect the unborn and all mothers. Who will cry for the children? Who will be their voice? What would Jesus do? What are YOU going to do? If you would like to become more active in the pro-life movement, please contact Martin County Right to Life at P.O. Box 11, Loogootee, IN 47553 or email me at barb4life@rbldata.com. ---------------------------------------------------- Pregnancy Care Center 120 E. Main Street Washington, IN 47501 PHONE: 812-257-1041 IN AN EMERGENCY: 812-254-4455 or 1-800-524-1056 Back to homepage
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