in this issue:
abortion: BLACK GENOCIDE
birth control pill: NEW ZEALAND
catholic hospitals: HEMLOCK WARNING
emergency contraception/morning-after (abortion) pill: BRITISH METHODISTS
help wanted: ALL; MINNESOTA
imposed death: CALIFORNIA
organ procurement: CADAVERIC ORGAN PROCUREMENT
organ transplantation: OVERVIEW
sexually transmitted disease: RATES
web news: DAYTON RIGHT TO LIFE
zinger: PISTOL-PACKIN’ MAMA/GRANDMA
reflection for prayer: THOMAS a KEMPIS
abortion: BLACK GENOCIDE
birth control pill: NEW ZEALAND
catholic hospitals: HEMLOCK WARNING
emergency contraception/morning-after (abortion) pill: BRITISH METHODISTS
help wanted: ALL; MINNESOTA
imposed death: CALIFORNIA
organ procurement: CADAVERIC ORGAN PROCUREMENT
organ transplantation: OVERVIEW
sexually transmitted disease: RATES
web news: DAYTON RIGHT TO LIFE
zinger: PISTOL-PACKIN’ MAMA/GRANDMA
reflection for prayer: THOMAS a KEMPIS
abortion
BLACK GENOCIDE: The most recent figures on abortion and women of reproductive age in the United States reveals that while it is claimed that surgical abortion is on the decline, quite the opposite is true among minorities. Black make up 12.1 percent of the U.S. population, but blacks accounted for 35.9 percent of all abortions in 1999, as compared to 31.9 percent in 1990.
(Reading: Calculations made by Ed Szymkowiak, director of Stop Planned Parenthood International; the numbers come from “Abortion Surveillance — United States, 1997,” Centers for Disease Control, 12/8/00, p. 17)
birth control pill
NEW ZEALAND: An insightful evaluation of the many health risks posed by the pill, and a challenge to the medical community to be frank and honest, presents the following concluding statements, “For the sake of their public credibility, it is time for these [medical] groups to stop and look carefully at any new evidence which seems to support their claim of no increased risk with third-generation pills. If they publish such evidence without due consideration, they run the risk of allowing the use of third-generation pills to rise again in New Zealand. This could lead to an increase in the rate of disability and death from this rare condition [venous thrombosis] for no good reason.”
(Reading: “Dialogue: Time to Come Clean on the Pill,” New Zealand Herald, 1/2/01)
catholic hospitals
HEMLOCK WARNING: The pro-death Hemlock Society claims that mergers between Catholic and non-sectarian hospitals may result in problems for those who wish to be killed. The Washington area Hemlock chapter reports, “the hospitals have agreed to follow church doctrine on end-of-life issues and may ignore a patient’s living will if it is deemed in conflict with church dogma.”
(Reading: “Beware of Catholic Takeover of Hospitals,” Hemlock News and Views, 1/01, p. 4, published by Hemlock Society of the National Capital Area; there is no web site for this local group; however, the national Hemlock Society does have a site)
emergency contraception/morning after (abortion) pill
BRITISH METHODISTS: A press statement from the Methodist Church of the UK outlines their position on the availability of morning-after (abortion) pills in schools to “under-age girls” and states, in part, “the best interests of young people who practice sexual intercourse below the age of consent must be advocated.” And they go on to recommend “rounded contraceptive and personal advice given to each young person by trained nursing staff,” among other points.
(Reading: “The Availability of Morning-after Pill in Schools to Under-age Girls,” 1/9/01, statement by Rev. David Deeks, coordinating secretary for church and society affairs)
SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolinians are objecting to radio commercials for the abortifacient morning-after pill. Planned Parenthood sponsored the ads, which feature an R&B singer saying, “Sometimes love goes too far and accidents happen. You wind up … wishing it would all just go away. Sometimes, it can.”
Commented Steve Lefemine of Columbia Christians for Life, “They’re basically advertising chemical abortion… I would ask those radio stations, of their own choice, to stop. They are involving themselves in something that takes the life at an early stage of another human being.”
(Reading, “Radio Ads Tout Morning-after Pills,” The State, 1/15/01)
help wanted
AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE: Associate editor needed at ALL headquarters — a well-organized individual to help write, compile, edit and proofread material for the nation’s premier pro-life publications; experienced self-starter with journalism degree and the focus necessary to deliver excellence on deadline. Must relocate to Northern Virginia. Please submit resume to “>Mrs. Clark, American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555, or via fax to 540-659-2586, or via e-mail.
MINNESOTA: Human Life Alliance is seeking an executive director. For details, please contact “>Rich Scanlon.
imposed death
CALIFORNIA: Efren Saldivar (see Communique, 4/9/99) was arrested recently following a three-year investigation into the deaths of 50 patients at a Los Angeles-area hospital. Saldivar has been charged with six murders, and the investigation is continuing. At the time of the deaths, Saldivar was a respiratory therapist.
(Reading: “Hospital ‘Angel of Death’ Arrested,” United Press International, 1/9/01; “Lab Workers Unravel Clues,” Contra Costa Times, 1/17/01; “Livermore Lab Analysis Sealed Man’s Arrest,” San Jose Mercury News, 1/15/01)
organ procurement
CADAVERIC ORGAN PROCUREMENT: Organ procurement organizations continue to have difficulty acquiring the numbers of useable organs required. A study analyzing the policies of 61 such organizations reveals that 48 percent have a policy addressing whether they follow the family’s or the deceased’s wishes, 25 percent do not address a conflict between the two, and others have varied approaches. Barring a consensus among all organ procurement organizations, researchers recommend that those who wish to increase the numbers of available organs should recognize and tailor their practices according to existing standards.
(Reading: “The Consent Process for Cadaveric Organ Procurement,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/17/01, pp. 329-333; full text requires subscription)
organ transplantation
OVERVIEW: Bioethicist Alexander Capron traces the history of organ transplantation, from the mid-1960s to the current day, focusing on defining death according to elastic terms such as “lack of brain function” and “brain death.” Capron sites a poll conducted for the American Council on Transplantation which found, “the percentage of individuals who approve of organ transplantation and would be likely to permit removal of a deceased relative’s organs is about three times greater than the number who would be likely to donate their own organs.”
COMMENT: While Capron ponders the value of utilitarianism versus self-determination, some of us wonder how many of those allegedly “dead” donors were really dead in the first place.
(Reading: “Reexamining Organ Transplantation,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/17/01, pp. 334-336; subscription required)
sexually transmitted disease
RATES: The Centers for Disease Control reports “trouble for teenagers” with chlamydia remaining “the most common reported STD, with an estimated 3 million new cases in 2000.” Also cited is “a federally funded study” by the Urban Institute on sexual practices among 15-19-year-old boys. The study of 1,200 boys revealed “two thirds of them have engaged in non-coital sexual behaviors that put them — and their partners — at risk for STDs.”
(Reading: “CDC Says Rates Are Up for Gonorrhea, Down for Syphilis,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/10/01, p. 155)
web news
DAYTON RIGHT TO LIFE: This group, which is currently following a case involving the death of a woman at the North Main [abortion] Clinic, is at the forefront of Ohio’s pro-life effort. For a view of their work, visit their site.
zinger
PISTOL-PACKIN’ MAMA/GRANDMA: A Florida mom/grandmother who was accused of forcing her teen daughter, at gunpoint, to go to a Palm Beach abortion mill pleaded guilty to reduced charges after her daughter said she would not cooperate with prosecutors. As a result, the woman will not spend time in jail. The baby was not aborted, and is due to arrive in two months.
(Reading: “Mom Who Tried to Force Daughter into Abortion Escapes Jail Time,” Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, 1/6/01; “No Jail Time for Florida Woman,” Associated Press, 1/6/01)
reflection for prayer
THOMAS A KEMPIS: From “Imitation of Christ,” Book 2, Chapter 7, Section 3:
If in all things thou seek Jesus doubtless thou wilt find Jesus. But if thou seek thyself thou wilt indeed find thyself, to thine own ruin. For a man does himself more harm if he seeks not Jesus, than the whole world and all his enemies could do.