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January 27, 2000
The Reporter
"Abortion raised in House race"
by Iva-Marie Palmer

Terrence McGlynn, one of two candidates seeking the Republican nomination to
run against incumbent state Rep. Jim Brosnahan (D-36, Evergreen Park),
believes his opponent, Patricia Vlasis, of Oak Lawn, didn't take a strong
enough stand against Christ Hospital and Medical Center's recently drafter
abortion policy.

Vlasis, who says she is "absolutely pro-life," serves as president of the
Auxiliary Board of Christ Hospital, and also holds an ex-officio, or
nonvoting slot on the hospital's Governing Council. McGlynn, an attorney who
lives in Oak Lawn, believes Vlasis should have resigned from her hospital
posts following the formation of the hospital's abortion policy, which allows
abortions in specific cases, such as a threat to the mother's life, and in
cases when the fetus cannot sustain life.

"I just can't believe how, if she was on that committee, she can say she's
pro-life," McGlynn said Tuesday.

Vlasis, who formerly worked as a head nurse at Christ Hospital, said she
"wanted to work within the organization to have an opinion in changing the
policy." However, upon Advocate Health Care's approval of the system-wide
abortion policy, Vlasis decided to limit her Auxiliary Board president term
to one year, rather than the two years she is allowed, she said Tuesday.
Vlasis, who also lives in Oak Lawn, turns over the Auxiliary Board president
gavel to Bob Kuenster this week, she said.

Following Advocate's approval of the abortion policy, Republican state Sen.
Patrick J. O'Malley (R-18, Palos Park) resigned from his spot on the
hospital's Governing Council. McGlynn said Tuesday that if Vlasis didn't see
the policy written the way she thought it should be, the "respectful" action
to pro-life constituents would have been to step down "like Sen. O'Malley
did."

Vlasis affirmed her commitment to the good works done by the hospital and
auxiliary.

"We've done a lot of good things in the community," Vlasis said of the
hospital. Recently, the Auxiliary Board worked to raise $330,000 for Hope
Children's Hospital, she said. Also, the hospital is working to add a
woman's wellness center, she said. Vlasis has a 30-year relationship with
Christ Hospital and she noted the new abortion policy was decided by the
Advocate Board of Directors, not by Christ Hospital itself.

Vlasis doesn't believe in abortion under any circumstances, and makes "no
exceptions for rape, incest or for the life of the mother; anyone who knows
me knows my values," she said. Her father-in-law, the late Dr. George
Vlasis, delivered more than 250,000 babies, would not prescribe birth control
pills and taught abstinence, she said. "I proclaim and live a pro-life," she
said.

Vlasis also noted that Evergreen Park Republication leader Martin Ozinga,
Worth Township Republican Committeeman Maureen Murphy and Sen. O'Malley, who
all attended her campaign kickoff breakfast, "would not be endorsing my
candidacy if I was not pro-life," she said.

McGlynn met Sen. O'Malley for the first time at a pro-life inter-faith prayer
vigil at Green Oak Reformed Church, 10100 S. 52nd Ave., Saturday, he said.
"We spoke for a little while; he gave me some good advice," McGlynn said.
However, O'Malley did not say which of the candidates he supported in the
primary election. "It's up to the voters in the Republican primary," he said
Monday.

To McGlynn, the abolition of abortion is a big campaign issue. "I've been
out in the community meeting people and I know they're very much pro-life,"
he said.

Vlasis hopes "it isn't just a one-issue crusade," she said.

Vlasis also thought her opponent should "perhaps run on the Democratic
ticket," she said. Voting records show McGlynn voted on the Democratic
ballot in the pat three primary elections in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

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