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Chicago Tribune -- August 30, 1999
"Prayer vigil at hospital urges halt to therapeutic abortions"
by Janice Neumann

"More than 300 members of various churches in the south and southwestern suburbs attended a prayer vigil Saturday outside Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn in an effort to discourage the health-care facility from performing therapeutic abortions.

'We're praying they have an open ear to us,' said Rev. Tim Harlow of Tinley Park Christian Church, emphasizing the gathering would be a peaceful one. Harlow helped organize the prayer vigil with representatives from Catholic and Protestant churches in the surrounding area, as well as several anti-abortion groups. He said the groups organized the vigil because they believe abortions should not be performed at all.

Susan Reimbold, director of public relations for the hospital, said the medical facility recognizes 'there are diverse beliefs on the issue so we're trying to as accommodating as possible.' 'Abortions are extremely limited [at Christ Hospital] and done under very rare circumstances when the life or health of the mother or fetus are at risk,' she said.

Advocate Health Care of Oak Brook, which owns Christ Hospital, and eight other Chicago and suburban hospitals formed a task force in June to develop a policy about when therapeutic abortions should be performed at their hospitals."

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