"The trial was about breast cancer, not abortion or politics," said James Linnan, the attorney for 24-year-old Lisa Joseph, whose breast cancer was misdiagnosed by Planned Parenthood Mohawk-Hudson in New York. According to the Jan. 23 edition of the Glen Falls, N.Y., Post Star, Joseph was awarded a settlement in excess of $1 million. The paper reported that Joseph has two to five years to live and is undergoing weekly chemotherapy.
In a conversation with STOPP International's national director, Ed Szymkowiak, Linnan said he was not permitted to discuss the settlement; but he noted the Warren County Supreme Court trial testimony is public record. Linnan has given court transcripts to the New York State Department of Health in an effort to spur a full-scale investigation into Planned Parenthood Mohawk-Hudson's medical practices.
During the trial, Planned Parenthood.s medical director defended its nurse practitioner, who testified that she could diagnose cancer with her fingertips. Linnan said one doctor testified that such practice was "outrageous." Another doctor voluntarily testified against Planned Parenthood despite his prior association with it.
On two separate occasions, PPMH told Joseph that the lump in her breast was not cancerous. Joseph was told she was too young to have cancer. Two months later, she sought a second opinion elsewhere and had the lump removed. However, the cancer has found its way into her chest wall.
Linda Scharf, the spokeswoman for PPMH, said the case was an .unfortunate tragedy. and added, "Woman can feel secure of Planned Parenthood's sincere commitment to their health care needs." Yeah, right! For another example of Planned Parenthood's "sincere commitment," read the next story as well.
Woman awarded $672,610 in botched abortion lawsuit against Planned Parenthood
On Feb. 21, a San Francisco jury ordered Planned Parenthood Golden Gate to pay a 28-year-old Yugoslav immigrant $672,610 in damages for a botched abortion she received in December 1997. The woman, known only as "J.B." in court records, had apparently been carrying twins when she went to PP. It seems that one of the babies was aborted and the other was partially dismembered and left alive inside the womb (San Francisco Examiner, 2/24/01).
Planned Parenthood told J.B. that the abortion was complete. When she returned for a checkup two weeks later, she still felt pregnant, and later she called several times for advice. Each time, Planned Parenthood told J.B. that her symptoms were normal. Finally, in February 1998, J.B. demanded a urine test, which proved she was still pregnant. The baby was now nearly six months old. This particular Planned Parenthood clinic did not do late second-trimester abortions, so they gave J.B. a list of places that would do such late term abortions and shuffled her out the door.
An ultrasound revealed that the child had only one arm and one leg. J.B.'s attorney, Christopher Dolan, said she had been considering keeping the second baby but felt she had no choice to abort after seeing the sonogram. He said she had to go through a three-day ordeal to end the second baby's life and that she had an emotional collapse.
Dolan said his client has been haunted by visions of the babies being killed and that she cries uncontrollably when she sees young children, especially twins. He said, "She testified on the stand that she hallucinated and saw blood all over her lower legs and pelvic" (sic) area (Washington Times, 3/1/01). In addition, she has been unable to have a relationship since the abortion. When she gets close to a man, she starts shaking and often vomits.
During the trial, the judge ordered Planned Parenthood to be held responsible for its failure to turn over critical medical documents. J.B. suggested that PP was trying to cover up the evidence. After two days of deliberations, the jury awarded J.B. $650,000 for mental anguish, $1,870 in medical costs, $14,500 for future psychiatric expenses and $6,240 in lost earnings. Planned Parenthood.s lawyer has vowed an appeal. Apparently, this so-called women's health organization has no qualms about putting J.B. through even more trauma in another trail.
STOPP in no way condones the fact that J.B. went to get the abortions, but charges of malpractice at Planned Parenthood are nothing new. In the January issue of the Ryan Report, we told you about another tragic case where Linda McCown went into a coma after tubal ligation surgery at PP because oxygen was being pumped into her stomach instead of her lungs. Recently, STOPP.s national director spoke to Linda's mother. He was told that Linda is now out of the coma but has 85 percent brain damage. The mother said they are going to sue.
J.B.'s story is unique in that the case made it all the way to a jury trail. Often such cases are settled out of court and the plaintiff has to comply with a gag rule regarding the settlement. The first article on page one is such a case. What all these stories show, however, is that Planned Parenthood is a dangerous place, not only for babies, but also for grown women. The two stories on page one also show that women who have been harmed by Planned Parenthood can prevail in court. STOPP supporters can use these stories to encourage any woman who has been harmed at PP to sue and to encourage all women to avoid Planned Parenthood for any type of service. Also, please say a prayer for each of the three women in the stories above.
Wal-Mart's family foundation still supporting PP
If one goes to the 2000 Grant Awards at Wal-Mart's Walton Family Foundation web site, one sees that this foundation is continuing its financial support of Planned Parenthood. (The 1999 grant list also included Planned Parenthood.) Although the foundation is technically a separate entity from the Wal-Mart Corporation, Walton family members started both, and the Waltons still take an active part in running Wal-Mart. S. Robson Walton is Wal-Mart's chairman of the board. Under the category of "Health," the Walton Family Foundation gave the following grants to Planned Parenthood affiliates in 2000:
| PP of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma |
$23,750 |
| PP of Arkansas, Inc. |
2,250 |
| PP of Central and Northern Arizona |
5,000 |
| PP of San Diego and Riverside County |
62,000 |
STOPP supporters can voice their displeasure concerning these grants by contacting the Walton Family Foundation, P.O. Box 2030, Bentonville, AR 72712; phone: 501-464-1570; fax: 501-464-1580.
PP and environmentalism
Mary Shallenberger, PPFA chairperson states on page two of the 1999-2000 PPFA annual report that she "became a volunteer because Planned Parenthood advances those causes I care about most deeply: women.s empowerment, environmentalism, and reproductive freedom." Interestingly, when President Clinton revoked the Mexico City Policy two days after he took office, he claimed that that policy had undermined family planning programs abroad and stated that promoting such programs "is one of the most important environmental steps we can take." PP has used this link to ally itself with the environmental movement.
STOPP supporters are urged to be wary of environmental initiatives for this very reason. Too often, self-proclaimed environmentalists are willing to sacrifice the lives of innocent humans by abortion and abortion-inducing family planning drugs in an effort to protect the material environment. Of course, STOPP is not opposed to legitimate responsible stewardship of the material world the Lord has given to us, but we must never pervert such stewardship into justification for killing God's children.
Behind every choice is a story
The title of Planned Parenthood Federation of America's 1999-2000 annual report reflects a basic mode of PP argument in the public arena. PP types love to tell a personal, often heart-wrenching, tragic story, about a woman facing a difficult situation in order to justify a change in public policy. Gloria Feldt zeros in on the importance of this tactic on page two. She says, "These stories remind us that the personal is always political, and the political is always personal. Margaret Sanger knew it. That's why she was able to define the last century." Feldt goes on to point out how important such tactics are today as "we face off against extremists who would use America's political institutions to wage war on personal liberties worldwide."
Such personal, often factless arguments are very popular and effective in our day. Such stories were a favorite of Al Gore during the last election. Unfortunately, these emotional arguments are prone to exaggeration. One has only to look at the history behind Jane Roe (Norma McCorvey) in the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade to find a tragic example of how one women.s personal story was distorted and used by pro-aborts with a well thought-out political agenda. When the facts are not available to support PP's cause, you can bet that one of its operatives will tell some personal story to gain the emotional upper hand. PPFA's latest annual report is stuffed with such personal feel-good stories designed to paint the Planned Parenthood "family," Feldt says (page two), "as champions of liberty and justice, choice and access; our vision inspired by stories telling us that our mission is the most important in the world."
While that last sentence from Feldt is certainly ridiculous, her earlier claim that Margaret Sanger "was able to define the last century" is true in many respects. Sanger's influence has outlasted other great evil philosophies of the 20th century such as Nazism and Communism. When one stacks up Sanger's 20th century body count via her legacy of abortion-causing drugs and devices and surgical abortions, it outstrips Hitler's and Stalin's via wars and executions. Sanger and her successors have succeeded in spreading her evils worldwide. For nearly five decades, Sanger was at the forefront of the movement that has ingrained the contraceptive/abortion mentality all over the globe. She is the chief architect of today's Culture of Death. Now there's a personal story PP won't tell.
Missionaries to the Preborn heads west
Missionaries to the Preborn will be heading west with its Unmasking Planned Parenthood Tour, June 4-16. The tour will visit eleven cities in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. For more information on this tour, and the Wisconsin tour from July 23 to Aug. 3, call 414-462-3399 or visit Missionaries to the Preborn.
Foundation giving to PP
Life Research Institute tracks foundation giving to PP and other organizations involved in the abortion industry. Click on the "miscellaneous" link at Life Research Institute's home page and then scroll through the topics to "Foundation Giving to Promiscuity Education and Abortion."
STOPP In Ohio and Northern Kentucky
On March 12-14, STOPP's national director, Ed Szymkowiak, visited Cincinnati, Ohio, and northern Kentucky to expose the evils of Planned Parenthood. St. Cecilia's Right to Life Committee in Independence, Ky., arranged the trip. Ed's guide for the trip was long-time STOPP supporter Russ Connors. Russ used to live in Dutchess County, N.Y., and took part in STOPP's early campaigns there against Planned Parenthood back in the late 1980s.
After a wonderful supper cooked by Russ's wife, Marie, Ed spoke to a group of about 70 at St. Antoninus Church in Cincinnati. Many of those who attended were associated with crisis pregnancy centers in the city.
The host for the event was Joanne Loebker of Pregnancy Center West, Inc. (4900 Glenway Ave.). The first speaker was Terry Huwel, a long-time regional pro-life activist and director of Old St. Mary's Pregnancy Center, a new center established in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods (123 E. 13th St.).
Ed began his talk by pointing out how important such CPCs are in the battle against PP, and he encouraged those present to actively support such centers. He then reviewed some of the latest PP statistics regarding finances and services and focused on the PP game plan of sex-ed, contraception and abortion. Examples of how PP has been successfully opposed were given.
Of special interest to the CPC counselors present were some of the newly FDA-approved "contraceptives" PP will be using, such as the new monthly injection, Lunelle; the new implant, Jadelle; and the newly approved IUD, Mirena. Ed pointed out how these and other so-called contraceptive drugs and devices sometimes end human life by preventing the implantation of the 5- to 7-day old human being.
Early the next morning, Russ took Ed to WKRC radio in Cincinnati for a live guest appearance on the Jerry Thomas (conservative) and Craig Kopp (liberal) morning drive-time show. From about 7:40 to 8:00, Ed had a chance to zero in on PP's enormous income, especially the portion provided by taxpayers.
He had a copy of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky's IRS Form 990 that he cited. It showed that 32 percent of this PP affiliate's $6.6 million income (fiscal year 98/99) was profit! Ed questioned why taxpayers had to give this PP over a million dollars in government grants during its 98/99 fiscal year when, during the same time, this PP made a profit of over $2 million!
Later that morning, from 9 to 10, Ed was the guest on Mike McConnell.s live talk show on WLW radio. While Mike expressed some pro-life views regarding abortion, he hadn't made the connections between abortion and contraception and sex-education. Ed made those links and quoted past PP president Alan Guttmacher, who said in 1973 that the "only avenue" that PP "could travel to win the battle for abortion on demand is through sex education" (Humanity, Aug/Sept 1979, p. 11).
That afternoon, Russ took Ed to visit the office of Northern Kentucky Right to Life Committee in Covington, Ky. This is an uncompromising, 100 percent pro-life organization whose president, attorney Robert Cetrulo, has a reputation for being the backbone of the right-to-life movement in this region and has actively promoted pro-life legislation in the Kentucky legislature as well. He has an excellent article in the March issue of Homiletic and Pastoral Review about euthanasia. Northern Kentucky RTL's strong presence in the region is reflected in the fact that although Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky has several clinics in Cincinnati, it has not established a clinic across the river in northern Kentucky.
Next, Russ and Ed visited the office of U.S. Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky, and spoke with Bunning.s state director about pill bill legislation and Title X funding. Afterward, a similar visit was made to the office of Kentucky's 4th District Congressman, Ken Lucas, where Ed discussed the same issues with Lucas. district director.
That evening, after an excellent supper prepared by St. Cecilia's RTL Committee at their parish hall in Independence, Ky., pro-lifers gathered at Mass in the church. The celebrant was St. Cecilia's pastor, Fr. Paul L. Berschied. The people of St. Cecilia's have been blessed with a solidly pro-life pastor whose faithful spiritual guidance obviously has a lot to do with the vigorous pro-life community in that parish.
After Mass, the leader of St. Cecilia.s RTL Committee, Gayle Piron, introduced Ed. He began his talk by pointing out how important prayer and fasting is in our battle against PP. He then covered many of the same topics described above. When it came time to show the audience Planned Parenthood's Joe Sperm cartoon (Ryan Report, Dec. 2000) and PP's condom lollipop (Ryan Report, Feb. 2001), people cringed and expressed shock that Planned Parenthood could stoop to such depths to pervert our children.
Northern Kentucky RTL President Bob Cetrulo filled in the audience on some local battles and Ed finished up the event answering questions regarding specific issues in the battle against PP. Of particular interest to Bob Cetrulo was the statement Ed read from PPFA president Gloria Feldt, which she made during the Senate Judiciary Committeee hearing regarding John Ashcroft. We have reprinted part of her statement in the next article. It admits the pill prevents implantation and is, as Bob said, a valuable statement for pro-lifers direct from "the horse's mouth."
The STOPP trip to Ohio and Kentucky was a wonderful event packed with activity for Ed. Groups considering inviting Ed or Jim to their region are encouraged not only to arrange talks but also to coordinate radio interviews and stops at politicians' offices as well. Russ Connors and the people of St. Cecelia's really planned things well and made Ed feel right at home. Our thanks to them all!
PP.s Gloria Feldt admits pill prevents implantation
The following excerpt is taken from the Jan. 18 testimony given by Gloria Feldt, president of PPFA, during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the appointment of John Ashcroft as attorney general.
Taking one of the most extreme positions among those who oppose a woman's right to make her own reproductive choices, John Ashcroft actually believes that personhood begins before pregnancy, at the moment that sperm meets egg, the moment of fertilization. He holds this belief in spite of the fact that it contradicts the medically accepted definition of pregnancy as the time when a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterine wall -- the moment of conception. (6)
Planned Parenthood does not oppose Senator Ashcroft's appointment because of his personal beliefs; we oppose him because of his record of using his positions of governmental authority to enact his views into law, and thereby to impose those views on all citizens. Cases in point: John Ashcroft has sponsored the most extreme version of the so-called "Human Life Amendment,"(7) which would have given his personal ideology-based definition of pregnancy the force of law by declaring that life begins at fertilization. When he was governor of Missouri, he signed into law legislation declaring that it is the policy of Missouri that life begins at fertilization. (8)
And he was one of eight senators to sign a "dear colleague" letter opposing a Senate amendment requiring that federal employees get the same coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices that they receive for other prescription drugs and devices. In the letter, they said, "We are concerned with what appears to be a loophole in the legislation regarding contraceptives that, upon failing to prevent fertilization, act de facto as abortifacients." (9)
The practical, and intended, result of these and similar efforts would be not only the criminalization of abortion as we know it, but also of some of the most commonly used and effective methods of contraception, such as the birth control pill, which frequently acts to prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum" (STOPP's emphasis).
Well, there it is.right from the horse's mouth. Feldt has verified what pro-lifers have been saying for years. The next time someone claims it is some pro-life propaganda that the pill frequently acts to prevent implantation, show him or her Gloria's own words. This may be especially useful in convincing politicians facing votes regarding the morning-after pill, which is just a heavy dose of regular birth control pills. The text of Feldt's entire statement can be obtained from the U.S. Senate web site.
The footnote number 6 in the above excerpt cites what appears to be an obstetrics textbook. Notice the re-definition of conception from what was always traditionally held to be (fertilization) to implantation instead. Feldt.s perverting of the definition of conception now makes it necessary for pro-lifers to be very careful about defining exactly what we mean when we use the word "conception." It is advisable to say that "life begins at fertilization" so that our meaning is less likely to be distorted.
Notice also how Feldt blurs the distinction between life/personhood and the idea of pregnancy. Even though some obstetrics text may have defined pregnancy as beginning at implantation, that doesn't change the fact that life and personhood begin at fertilization. However, we really don't have to be sucked into a debate with PP about when pregnancy begins if we just keep our focus upon when life/personhood begins.
PP lies, is found out, files desperate lawsuit
On Feb. 26, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England filed suit in U.S. District Court against the City of Manchester, N.H., Zoning Board of Adjustment for revoking a building permit that had been granted to the owner of a building being renovated for a new PP clinic in Manchester. The zoning board's decision came after protests from area pro-lifers. They had exposed the fact that, while applying for a variance, the building owner never mentioned Planned Parenthood would use the site. See the Ryan Report's February and March issues for details about the early phases of this battle.
Now PPNNE is claiming that the board violated PPNNE's constitutional rights by revoking the permit. STOPP supporters in the region obtained a copy of the 24-page complaint filed by PPNNE and sent a copy to STOPP's office. The complaint reveals just how sneaky PP can be when it is trying to establish a new clinic and is worth reviewing for future reference for pro-lifers seeking to keep PP from getting a variance and building permit in their town.
On Mar. 15, 2000, the owner of the property applied for a variance to renovate the office for "medical office" use. PPNNE says the application form did not require the identification of potential or existing tenants. Two days later, PPNNE entered into a 10-year lease with the owner. PPNNE admits that when the zoning board held a hearing on the requested variance on Apr. 5, 2000, and questioned the construction engineer representing the owner as to what purpose the offices would be used for, he said, "General practitioners office -- two, maybe three doctors practicing with their staff." PPNNE glosses over this obvious misrepresentation by saying the engineer did not know the identity of the tenant. The board granted the variance.
It wasn't until Sept. 21 of last year that the owner applied for a building permit from the Manchester building commissioner with plans that revealed the true identity of the tenant (and included provisions for bulletproof glass). Most of the middle portion of PPNNE's complaint covers ground we already reviewed in previous issues of the Ryan Report.
Near the end of the complaint, PPNNE says the zoning board's decision unconstitutionally punishes PPNNE because PPNNE provides and promotes abortion and, by treating PPNNE differently than others, the board has discriminated against PPNNE and thus violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Furthermore, by denying the building permit, PPNNE claims the board intended to impose a burden on women seeking an abortion or family planning services. PPNNE also claims the board deprived it of its freedom of speech but does not clarify how this was done.
As PPNNE spokesperson Jennifer Frizell held a press conference outside the federal courthouse in Concord, N.H., the day the suit was filed, Hillsborough County Right to Life President Betty Breuder and her 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, were present nearby with a sign that read, "Save our children from Planned Parenthood's deadly business."
Frizzell claimed that "they have attempted to deceive the entire Manchester community by calling us an 'abortion clinic' when they know that 95 percent of the services at Planned Parenthood are preventive woman's health care and may prevent unintended pregnancy." (Concord Monitor Online, 2/27/01). Well, it seems that Planned Parenthood never tires of lying. As readers of last month's Ryan Report Special Issue 2001 know, abortion made up about 29 percent of Planned Parenthood's clinic income for fiscal year 1999-2000.
Frizzell did make one statement with which STOPP can agree. She said, "If the tactics of a vocal minority can threaten access to our basic health services in the state's largest city, those tactics and the threat to reproductive health care could be duplicated in any community across the state." STOPP's hope is that people all across the country will duplicate these tactics!
Finally, pro-lifers in Manchester are taking nothing for granted. Eleven of them showed up at the Manchester aldermen's meeting Mar. 20 to make sure the city will mount a strong legal fight against the PP lawsuit. Apparently the owner of the proposed new PP clinic site, Dick Anagnost, is also a developer who has obtained over $2 million in city grants and loans for other projects in Manchester. Barbara Hagen, former president of New Hampshire Right to Life, indicated she is worried that this relationship might lessen the city's willingness to defend itself in this case (Union Leader, 3/21/01).
Rock for Life rallies against Planned Parenthood
On Friday evening February 23rd, Bryan Kemper of Rock For Life, along with dozens of young people, marched to Planned Parenthood in Park City, Utah, following a pro-life rally. The rally was held by Rock For Life, Survivors, and Generation Life and was part of a ski and ride for life weekend in Park City. The youths, along with a few of their parents, held a candlelight prayer vigil and worship on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood.
After the rally, the chief of police came up to Bryan and Rev. Patrick Mahoney, the director of the Christian Defense Coalition, and thanked them for inviting him to the event. The members of the Park City Vineyard, the only church in Park City, have made plans to start a Rock For Life chapter in that area. To find out how you can start a Rock for Life chapter in your town, contact Bryan Kemper at 540-659-4171.
Monrovians fighting PP
They're not from some foreign country, and they're not an ethnic group. Monrovians Against Planned Parenthood is the name of a group in Monrovia, Calif., that has recently formed to oppose a new Planned Parenthood clinic on Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia. MAPP president John O'Neill has been in regular contact with STOPP for advice, and he provided much of the information in the following paragraphs.
PP obtained a building permit last September. City officials claim that since the area was already zoned to allow such a clinic, there was nothing the city could do to block it. In October, about 10 area church leaders met to discuss the clinic. Dick Sullender, president of the local network of churches, said, "From a ministerial point of view we're definitely against them coming here" (MediaNews Group, 1/11/00).
In late December, on the Feast of the Holy Family, about 200 parishioners from Immaculate Conception Church and Annunciation Church followed their respective pastors, Rev. Charles Ramirez and Rev. Eugene Herbert, in a prayerful protest at the future PP killing site. Young and old, Carmelite nuns and Knights of Columbus, joined in reciting the rosary and singing hymns (MediaNews Group, 1/1/01).
It is important to note that the battle against PP in Monrovia began with visible leadership from local clergy of various faiths. What follows is in large part due to that leadership, which laid a firm spiritual foundation for the fight and which no doubt has inspired those involved. STOPP recommends that any group fighting Planned Parenthood reach out to local clergy to enlist their support.
Responding to the growing unrest, Monrovia's mayor wrote a letter, which was published by local media in early January. He acknowledged that PP "has opened a door to controversy" and noted that city hall was getting calls and letters in protest. Yet, he maintained that the city could do nothing. In his letter he mentioned that PP had been operating a clinic in Monrovia for 30 years.
MAPP pounced on this information and found out from the public health office that PP had been using space in the Los Angeles County health department clinic rent free for 35 years! MAPP wrote a letter of protest to the county on Feb. 6, noting that Section 16, Article 6 of the California state constitution prohibits any governing body from making a "gift of value" to anybody, including non-profit organizations.
On Feb. 13, the chief of public health operations for Los Angeles County wrote a letter to Planned Parenthood of Pasadena's president, Beth Calleton, which curtly stated, in part, "This is to provide you with notice to cease utilization of the Monrovia Health Center for all purposes immediately." Praise God! MAPP was jubilant but was also busy preparing for further action.
On Feb. 13, dozens protested at the clinic site and many later appeared at the city council meeting that night to ask the council to find some means of stopping the clinic from opening. Sister Inez of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart told the council, "we stand aghast at the decision that has been made to open the clinic in the city" (Pasadena Star-News, 2/14/01).
In early February, MAPP was also hard at work preparing for a peaceful interfaith pro-life rally on Feb. 17 near the clinic site. MAPP contacted about 60 Catholic and Protestant churches in the region and went door-to-door visiting some 2,000 homes to alert people of the effort to stop PP from opening an abortion clinic in Monrovia.
MAPP reported that some 350 attended the rally, which featured speakers, music, and the collection of baby items for donation to the area pregnancy help center. Former Sen. Richard Mountjoy, who at one time was a Monrovia city councilman, questioned the city council's position that it could do nothing. He suggested that PP might need a special city permit to perform abortions.
Other speakers included Pastor Bob Spurgeon of the First Christian Church of Monrovia, and Fr. Charles Ramirez of Immaculate Conception Church. Two women who had abortions shared their tragic experiences. Lisa Burroughs, who had two abortions, one at age 19, said, "I am a 37-year-old woman and my arms are empty. We as a community need to stand up for the rights of these unborn children and also the mothers of these children" (MediaNews Group, 2/18/01). A large banner that read, "All Babies Welcome In Monrovia, Planned Parenthood Stay Out," summed up the theme of the rally nicely.
MAPP reports that it has continued its presence at city council meetings and that the crowds have grown so large now at these meetings that the overflow spills outside city hall. At the March 13 meeting, Sister Michelle, the administrator for a nearby Carmelite hospital, used the information STOPP provided MAPP about the recent PP cancer misdiagnosis case (see earlier item) to argue against Planned Parenthood. Doctors from the same hospital have also spoken out against PP at the council meetings.
MAPP has planned a Palm Sunday interfaith prayer walk and has notified 70 churches and Bishop Gabino Zavala. The walk will process from City Hall to the clinic site. MAPP has asked for prayers from STOPP. MAPP has given us an excellent example of how a community can be rallied against PP. Let's pray that God will continue to bless MAPP's efforts.
This month's action items
- To schedule a talk by either Ed or Jim, call 540-659-4171, ask for Rozann. Keep them busy by scheduling radio interviews and visits
to politicians as well.
- Use the information in this issue to let people know that PP is
a danger to women and their babies.
- Publicize Gloria Feldt's admission that the pill prevents implantation.
- Encourage youth to form a Rock for Life chapter in your area.
- Pray for Monrovia and all towns threatened by PP.
- Pray that God will lead us in our work and that we will always have the courage to do His will.
