Pro-life news brief 5-9-13
by JivinJ, host of the blog, JivinJehoshaphat
- The Gosnell jury continues to hear the re-reading of testimony. Based on JD Mullane’s picture of the charges, the jury deliberations could take some time:
The jurors are also apparently still wrestling with minor charges as well, asking to see files related to two babies that were allegedly aborted past Pennsylvania’s legal limit for abortions of 24 weeks. The panel of 12 also sent out a question asking if the medical files were the sole basis for the 227 misdemeanor charges against Gosnell for allegedly violating Pennsylvania’s 24-hour waiting period on abortions.
- At National Review Online, Michael New argues that greater availability of contraception (such as the morning-after pill) for younger women may actually result in increased sexual activity, rather than in decreasing the abortion rate.
- The New York Times covered Live Action’s InHuman video of abortionist LeRoy Carhart (pictured left). While writer Erik Eckholm says Carhart uses “some imprudent phrases while discussing the process of a late-term abortion,” the article is largely a defense of Carhart and fails to mention his blatant lies regarding the deaths of Jennifer Morbelli and Christin Gilbert:
The new video captures the doctor, LeRoy H. Carhart, using some imprudent phrases while discussing the process of a late-term abortion with women posing as patients. At one point he describes a fetus that has died after an injection in the womb as softening like “meat in a Crock-Pot.” But the video provides no evidence of illegal action or subpar medical techniques.
Other medical experts as well as defenders of abortion rights said the comparison with Dr. Gosnell, who seemed to show blatant disregard for his patients and the law, was misleading and unfair.
- Ramesh Ponnuru and Robert George call for Congress to hold hearings on how states regulate (or in some cases don’t regulate) abortion clinics:
The grand-jury report suggests as well that the fact that the victims were poor and black partly explained the passivity of state officials. This claim, if true, strengthens the case that the state was failing to fulfill its legal duty. There is, of course, all too much precedent for such state failure to enforce civil rights granted by the Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment contemplates such failure and offers a solution: Its fifth and concluding section confers upon Congress the power to enforce its substantive guarantees. In this case, power clearly implies duty. It is a power Congress has often used to force states to do the right thing, or to step in itself to bring justice where states refused.
[Photo via Daily Mail]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I would have expected, given the current climate and the fact that some pro-life potential jurors were dismissed, that a quick verdict would be bad news. So hopefully the jury is actually taking time to thoughtfully examine the mass of evidence against Gosnell. Another possibility is that they are studying just how little Gosnell can be charged with and how light a sentence they can give him while still looking like they’re doing something about his horrible crimes. I’m praying and hoping for the former.
“At National Review Online, Michael New argues that greater availability of contraception (such as the morning-after pill) for younger women may actually result in increased sexual activity, rather than in decreasing the abortion rate.” That’s a nice confirmation but of course it’s nothing new. Planned Parenthood knows this very well thanks to their research arm the Gutless err Guttmacher Institute. That’s why they encourage free sex and the free use of birth control, including over the counter Plan B down to age 15. More pregnancies, more abortions, more money.
“Other medical experts as well as defenders of abortion rights said the comparison with Dr. Gosnell, who seemed to show blatant disregard for his patients and the law, was misleading and unfair.”
So Carhart’s crude sexual jokes and lying about the deaths of two women under his “care” was not blatant disregard for his patients?
How about practical steps to decrease partnered sex? Chaperoned dating would help. So would more work from home.
Do we need greater gender separation? That might at least decrease the type of sex that can lead to pregnancy and subsequent abortions.
What are other ways to decrease the type of sexual activity that leads to pregnancy?
Denise, must every thread become about your pet projects?
JDC says:
May 9, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Denise, must every thread become about your pet projects?
(Denise) Jill Stanek quotes Michael New as saying that more contraception doesn’t actually reduce unwanted pregnancies because over-confidence in contraception leads to more sexual activity of the sort that causes pregnancy.
Thus, it is appropriate and relevant to discuss ways to decrease this type of activity.
JDC,
The answer is YES.
Denise…
What other ways are there to decrease sexual activity that leads to pregnancy???? How about SELF CONTROL!! Of course, our society no longer teaches this…in ANY form. We want what we want WHEN we want it. Heck…people can’t even wait in line for food without complaining! This is an instant gratification society. No one wants to work for what we get…..or WAIT for what we want!
If everyone would just keep their pants on and their legs closed because WE SHOULD…there would be a whole lot less grief in the world.
Nancy,
Denise Noe asks a standard question here.
What types of sexual activity do not lead to pregnancy? She types this question over and over and over.
It is a lesson in frustration to engage. Trust me.
@ Nancy: I agree. I also think we need to work on putting people under less temptation. Chaperoned dating or courtship is popular among some conservatives for this reason.
Gender segregation is common among some cultures because it is believed it will lead to less temptation.
It seems to me working from home could lead to less temptation.
There must be other ways to decrease temptation and, with it, pregnancies.
Common Sense and Self Control.
Super powers!!
@ Nancy and Carla: There are 3 million unplanned pregnancies in America PER YEAR. STDs have spread at PANDEMIC rates. The consequences of irresponsible sexual behavior are DEVASTATING. Common sense and self-control are starting points but we must decrease situations of temptation. Sex is leading to an incredible amount of harm.
@Carla….you were right.
Note to self: stop engaging with Denise.