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January/February 2000
Family Voice
"Roe's Legacy of Death"
by Beverly LaHaye

The Battle Continues

The long awaited year 2000 is here, and I wish I could write a more
lighthearted note to you. But this month I need to address a heavy issue.

Over the years we have written about abortion, lobbied and taken action on
it, and prayed fervently that this abhorrent practice would end. But
friends, the value of life continues to deteriorate, and this affects our
entire society.

In recent years we have sought policies at the state and federal levels that
would outlaw partial-birth abortion. In this procedure, a baby is partially
born, feet first. then the baby's head is punctured at the base so the
doctor can suction the child's brain out and crush the head, allowing the
remainder of the baby's body to be delivered. This cruel and barbaric
procedure has thankfully been banned in many states. However, activist
judges have overturned many of these. CWA remains committed to working
toward a total ban of partial-birth abortion.

Redefining Life

But now another horrific form of abortion has surfaced. For several months
we have followed the live-birth abortion situation at Christ Hospital in Oak
Lawn, Illinois. We first learned of this procedure from nurse Jill Stanek,
who bravely came forward to speak out against it. These live-birth abortions
occur when a baby has been deemed unfit to live. Labor is then induced. If
the premature child is born alive, he receives "comfort care." That is, a
nurse or, rarely, the mother holds the baby until he dies.

Christ Hospital has called this procedure "therapeutic abortion," but
"infanticide" is more appropriate. These babies are delivered and then
cruelly abandoned to die - in a hospital.

Many of these abortions have been performed on babies because they had the
disabilities of spina bifida or Down syndrome. You may have heard about this
on "Beverly LaHaye Today" or have read about it on our Web site. CWA
Illinois State Director Karen Hayes has worked tirelessly and effectively to
get word out on this terrible situation.

Public Outcry

But we need your involvement and prayer. After receiving a great deal of
attention and pressure, Christ Hospital's parent company, Advocate Health
Care, announced a new abortion policy for this year. They stated that Christ
Hospital would no longer perform "therapeutic abortions" on babies with Down
syndrome or spina bifida, would limit other abortions, and would require a
review for each case. Unfortunately, this policy has huge loopholes.

Advocate Health Care says it will limit abortions to cases of rape, incest or
when there is "serious threat to the life and health of the mother..." As
many of you know, including this phrase leaves the door wide open for
abortions to be performed for nearly any reason.

Where's the Church?

Strangely, however, few pastors in Illinois have spoken out or acted on this
issue. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the United Church of
Christ back Christ Hospital. And although leaders within the Roman Catholic
Church have taken a strong stand against Christ Hospital's policy, there has
been little or no reaction from any other pastor or church leader.

If church leaders do not decry this horrific procedure, who will? Who else
has the moral authority to speak out on behalf of life? We are on an
extremely dangerous slope. If Christ Hopsital and Advocate Health Care do
not receive more pressure or hear more of an outcry, why should they stop
performing these "therapeutic abortions"?

Friends, as we begin this new year, I hope that you will commit to pray
consistently about this issue and take action. Live-ibrth abortions most
certainly are happening where you live, too. Whether you write letters, make
phone calls, volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center, or lobby your
representatives, you can make a difference. I encourage you to ask your
pastor to address this issue. It is Biblical and right! Find out how you
can get involved in a local CWA PrayerAction Chapter or even how you can
start one.

The action you take today can mean life or death for a child.

Media Coverage 
St. George Pro-Life | Parkview Christian Church