Thriller a reminder of evils of abortion

Publication:Waukesha Freeman (Conley); Date:Sep 3, 2009; Section:Opinion; Page Number:8A Thriller a reminder of evils of abortion (James Wigderson is a blogger publishing at http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com and a Waukesha resident. His column runs Thursdays in The Freeman.) Tick, tick, tick ... The time for your summer reading just ran out. Those books you didn’t read will just have to wait until next year. Local author Michael Caughill completed my summer reading list this year with, “The Abortionist.” It’s the story of a serial killer who simulates different abortion methods on his adult victims. Dr. Hannibal Lecter meets Planned Parenthood. It is definitely not a story for the squeamish. Aside from being a great thriller, what makes “The Abortionist” an interesting read is the deft way Caughill handles the abortion topic. Caughill avoids a heavy-handed, lecturing approach to the topic. Instead, his characters discuss both sides of the abortion issue in much the conversational way so many of us discuss it with friends and family. Caughill does not distract us with long Ayn Rand-like diatribes, and the action proceeds at a crisp pace throughout the book. Where Caughill makes his point is in the gruesome way the murders are conducted, reminding us that abortion is a bloody business. The methods of abortion vary. The most common method in the first trimester is called suction aspiration. It involves a powerful suction tube with a sharp cutting edge which is inserted into the womb. The blade is used to cut the fetus into pieces and the tube then sucks the parts out. Caughill’s challenge as a writer is to bring that reality of abortion to the audience without succumbing to writing political pornography. It’s a tightrope that he manages to navigate. Nobody should be under the illusion that the decision behind most abortions is easy. Caughill reminds us of the social and economic pressures that drive women to consider such a step, and he does so in a sympathetic way. The women are victims twice in the novel, first of the culture that compels them to have abortions, and then at the hands of a serial killer. But as the declining numbers of abortions would seem to indicate, the culture is changing. More women are choosing life for their baby. The number of abortions annually in the United States peaked in 1990 at 1.6 million, according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute – an abortion-friendly organization. The number has dropped since to 1.2 million in 2005. Since Roe v. Wade in 1973 legalized abortion in all 50 states, over 49 million children have been aborted. For the first time this year, a Gallup poll indicated that more people consider themselves prolife than pro-choice when it comes to abortion. Pro-abortion politicians, largely in the Democratic Party, find themselves on the defensive. Following the lead of former President Clinton, they’ve adopted the formula of “safe, legal and rare.” But wishing abortion is “rare” is a recognition that there is something intrinsically wrong with the act of abortion. President Obama, perhaps the most radically pro-abortion president this country has had, also had to concede that there was a moral argument against abortion when he told the audience at Notre Dame the decision whether to have an abortion, “has both moral and spiritual dimensions.” He said he wanted to reduce the number of abortions, too. These concessions to the public’s growing prolife sentiment come with very little change to the abortion laws themselves. Fortunately, that is a sign that we can reduce the number of abortions through education and a change in the culture. Unfortunately, it looks like the law is about to lurch the other way. The president is demonizing abortion opponents by claiming that they are lying about how “health care reform” will lead to publicly funded abortions. Among the “liars” are many of the U.S. Catholic bishops, including New York’s (and formerly Milwaukee’s) Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Health care reform will include abortion coverage as part of “the public option” and Democrats have stopped any amendments in Congress to prevent it. Worse, private insurers will probably be forced to provide abortion services to have their policies approved by the government. Despite President Obama’s rhetoric, his actions speak to a different agenda than reducing the number of abortions. Perhaps the president would have been better off adding Caughill’s book to his summer reading at Martha’s Vineyard to remind him what it is that he is defending. JAMES WIGDERSON

Wisconsin pro-life groups issue statements on on Tiller murder

Pro-Life Wisconsin Deplores Killing of Dr. George Tiller

Yesterday morning late-term abortionist George Tiller was shot and killed in Wichita, Kansas. Pro-Life Wisconsin State Director Peggy Hamill made the following statement:

Pro-Life Wisconsin is appalled by the slaying of Dr. George Tiller Sunday morning. As a peaceful, prayerful pro-life organization, working through educational and legislative means to end abortion, we deplore this act of violence – just as we deplore the killing of preborn children in the womb.

Pro-Life Wisconsin prays for the conversion of abortionists and those involved in the abortion movement. Tragically, George Tiller was denied the opportunity to have a conversion of heart and mind unlike many former doctors and nurses who have left the abortion industry and now work to promote life. We pray for the repose of the soul of George Tiller.

Wisconsin Right to Life Strongly Condemns the taking of George Tiller's Life
Monday, June 1, 2009

Yesterday, Dr. George Tiller was shot to death. In reaction to this tragic act of violence, Wisconsin Right to Life Executive Director Barbara Lyons has issued the following statement:

"Wisconsin Right to Life was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Dr. George Tiller, who was shot yesterday. We condemn this terrible act of violence and we extend our prayers to the Tiller family. Wisconsin Right to Life has consistently and publicly condemned such acts of violence and those who carry out those acts. Our organization is dedicated to using only peaceful, legal means in building a culture of life our nation."

Late-term abortionist shot and killed on way into church

George Tiller, a doctor who performs late-term abortions in Kansas, was shot and killed as he walked into church this morning.

George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who became a national lightning rod in the debate over abortion, was shot to death this morning as he walked into church services.

Tiller, 67, was shot just after 10 a.m. at Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th, where he was a member of the congregation. Witnesses and a police source confirmed Tiller was the victim.

No information has been released about whether a suspect is in custody. Police said they are looking for white male who was driving a 1990s powder blue Ford Taurus with Kansas license plate 225 BAB.

This is a horrible crime and if the person who did it thought that he was aiding the pro-life movement, he was horribly wrong and deserves to be punished for his crime.

The Wichita Eagle reported this appropriate statement from Operation Rescue:

"We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down," anti-abortion group Operation Rescue said in a statement on its Web site. "Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ."

Update! 4:41 PM The suspect is now in custody.

Statements from the Pro-Life movement condemning the murder:
Kansans for Life

"Kansans for Life deplores the murder of Dr. George Tiller, and we wish to express our deep and sincere sympathy to his family and friends.

Our organization has a board of directors, and a 35 year history of bringing citizens together to achieve thoughtful education and legislation on the life issues here in Kansas.

We value life, completely deplore violence, and are shocked and very upset by what happened in Wichita today."

--Mary Kay Culp, state executive director, Kansans for Life

Priests for Life

"I am saddened to hear of the killing of George Tiller this morning. At this point, we do not know the motives of this act, or who is behind it, whether an angry post-abortive man or woman, or a misguided activist, or an enemy within the abortion industry, or a political enemy frustrated with the way Tiller has escaped prosecution. We should not jump to conclusions or rush to judgment.

"But whatever the motives, we at Priests for Life continue to insist on a culture in which violence is never seen as the solution to any problem. Every life has to be protected, without regard to their age or views or actions."

--Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life

Operation Rescue

"We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down. Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ."

Bishop Michael O. Jackels

"The Catholic community extends sympathy to the family of Dr. George Tiller, a victim of violent crime made even more heinous, if that is possible, by being committed in a church as he was preparing for worship.

"Many Catholics have over the years engaged in peaceful protest outside of Dr. Tiller's clinic, praying for an end to abortion, and especially late-term abortions; I have on occasion joined them for this purpose. This position and hope cannot however serve as a justification for committing other sins and crimes, like the willful destruction of property and, even worse, murder.

"It is my prayer that the Tiller family find consolation, that Dr. George Tiller find mercy and the fulfillment of the great hope of Christians, and that all will find peaceful and legal means to resolve differences."

A shift in the demand curve in favor of life

Barbara Lyons of Wisconsin Right to Life took a look at the poll numbers showing some consistency in the majority opposition to abortion. She found an even more encouraging trend behind the shift in opinion:

Fueling the pro-life position are women, women, women — especially younger women. The Pew poll showed the most significant change in women 18-29. This substantiates research data from many sources over the past five years showing that the millenials, ages 13-27, hold pro-life positions.

The best news — since most abortions are performed on women 18-34, this shift to a pro-life position for women 18-29 could signify even more decreases in the number of abortions.

Quote of the day

Obama calls for "common ground" on abortion at Notre Dame graduation ceremony. I agree, but I can't help but feel this is a little like slave owners calling for common ground on slavery.

- Brian Hagedorn

Thoughts on the president's speech Sunday at the Notre Dame commencement ceremony

If we take the president at his word, always a dodgey proposition I concede, we do see in his speech a concession that there is something intrinsically wrong with abortion.

That's when we begin to say, "Maybe we won't agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this heart-wrenching decision for any woman is not made casually, it has both moral and spiritual dimensions.

So let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions, let's reduce unintended pregnancies.

If there was nothing wrong with abortion, it would not have those "moral and spiritual dimensions" and we should have no desire to see the number of them reduced.

So if we are to seek common ground, we must begin at the understanding that abortion destroys human life. If that is what the president also understands, then quite apart from any theological considerations he has a moral and ethical responsibility to oppose abortion. If that is not what the president understands, than any hope of common ground is lost and the president's wish for less abortions is just a bunch of meaningless pixels on the teleprompter. He asks for fair words, we might ask for honesty.

That said, whatever hope Fr. Jenkins may had for "dialogue" was certainly not achieved by the president's appearance at Notre Dame and the acceptance of the honorary degree. The cost to Notre Dame was high in donations and in its reputation. What good did it achieve?

One other remark from the president stood out:

And I also want to thank you for the honorary degree that I received. I know it has not been without controversy. I don't know if you're aware of this, but these honorary degrees are apparently pretty hard to come by. (Laughter.) So far I'm only 1 for 2 as President. (Laughter and applause.) Father Hesburgh is 150 for 150. (Laughter and applause.) I guess that's better. (Laughter.) So, Father Ted, after the ceremony, maybe you can give me some pointers to boost my average.

How petty. President Obama spoke at Arizona State's commencement last week and some Obama supporters were bugged he didn't receive the wall decoration honorary degree. And on Sunday Obama revealed his own irritation.

How else can you explain the rude and ungrateful remarks of the president? Surely being asked to speak at a major university's commencement was honor enough?

His little attempt at humor would be like if you went to dinner at one friend's house and they didn't offer dessert. The next week you went to another friend's home within the same circle. When they brought out dessert, you announced how grateful you were to be in a home that understood the importance of dessert - unlike some people. Who within that circle of friends would think highly of you after that obnoxious display?

We have the measure of Obama's character, I think, and it is vindictive and small.

Quote of the day

“Certainly NARAL or Planned Parenthood would never invite Benedict XVI, much less extend an award to him.”
- Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, ND

The American Papist has the video, too.

Obama goes back to school

When it was learned that President Obama was not going to get an honorary degree from Arizona State, the left “netroots” were outraged. How could a sitting president speaking at a graduation commencement be denied an honorary degree?

And you can see their concern. After all, it’s not like President Obama has much else to his resume to justify a mention in Who’s Who. A couple of honorary degrees on the wall to fluff up his anemic record of experience can only help.

Meanwhile, Catholic university Notre Dame is being a bit more hospitable. President Obama has been invited to speak at their graduation commencement as well, and they, too, are adding a decoration to the President’s wall.

Unfortunately, the issue is a bit more serious than at ASU.

Notre Dame is a Catholic university. As a Catholic university, the expectation of the university is that it attempts to inculcate some semblance of Catholic teaching in it’s student body, and that the scholarship should be to the promotion of Catholic beliefs.

President Obama is not Catholic. That in itself is not a problem. Notre Dame welcomes all to its campus in expectation that something of the Catholic experience will touch all who come to visit and to learn.

But President Obama is actively hostile to some of the very basic tenets of the Catholic Church, including the sanctity of human life, especially at its earliest stages. More over, President Obama is actively hostile to the very notion that the Catholic belief should be respected beyond just as a source of identity.

President Obama is supportive of the passage of the misnamed “Freedom of Choice Act.” FOCA, as it is known, would make national the legalization of abortion under any circumstance. Worse, FOCA as it is currently conceived would deny the right of Catholic medical providers (and others) not to perform abortions despite the Catholic prohibition to abortion.

No less a figure than New York’s new Archbishop Timothy Dolan has said if FOCA were to become law, Catholic hospitals across the country would be forced to close.

This is not an idle threat. When Massachusetts legalized gay marriage, and required that adoption agencies recognize gay marriages when considering the placement of children, the Catholic adoption agencies in that state closed.

It’s a matter of deepest conscience and faith, and while many on the left seek to limit the influence of religious thought in the public square, President Obama and his followers do not see that the public square should have any limits in imposing its will upon the Catholic faith.

President Obama’s support of legalized abortion surpasses those elected officials who claim to be opposed to abortion personally but believe it’s legal status should be protected. Upon taking office, President Obama reversed the “Mexico City” policy and federal funds again flowed to overseas organizations that promote abortion as a means of birth control.

This promotion of abortion is not for the usual exceptions cited: rape, incest and the life (health) of the mother. The change in policy is to promote more abortions among the poor of the Third World, as if those lives have less importance.

President Obama is also an advocate of using human embryos for scientific research, and using federal funds to promote the practice. We’re fortunate that so far his administration’s draft policy (subject to change) limits the killing of human embryos to those discarded as part of in-vitro fertilization, but having drawn such an artificial line of moral judgment the question remains how long before his administration will allow the cloning of human embryos in the lab solely for the purpose of scientific experimentation.

On these fundamental questions on which the Catholic Church has weighed in with full authority President Obama has revealed himself to be hostile to the very nature of Catholic teaching on the importance and sanctity of human life.

If there was any doubt that President Obama is hostile to the intent and mission of the Catholic universities, last week’s events surrounding the president’s appearance at Georgetown University should have erased them. Using the Catholic university as the backdrop for a public policy address, President Obama’s team made sure to eradicate any sight of religious imagery from the public’s eye as the president spoke.

Draping a cover over a statue by former Attorney General John Ashcroft was enough to draw the continual jeers by a Washington press corps ready to make sport of the religious. But President Obama’s fear of being pictured with any symbols of Christ and the Catholic religion has largely drawn silence of the mainstream media.

But Catholics should ask, if the President cannot stand to be seen by the side of Christ or the symbols of the Catholic Church, why then do we invite such a hostile figure into our academies of Catholic teaching? What is to be gained?

We understand why the president would seek such highly visible moments before the Catholic faithful. During his presidential campaign, it was reported how President Obama found himself short of Catholic support in the presidential primaries. As a politician, it’s natural to reach out to constituencies, especially those that have traditionally been part of the Democratic political coalition.

However, Catholicism is not an ethic identity, or just another social identity to be wooed like African Americans or union members. Being Catholic is not only something into which someone is born, but also a faith with strong teachings and intellectual traditions. Catholics are called to believe in a series of teachings starting with the recognition that Jesus Christ is Our Savior, that His Sacrifice is Our Redemption from mortal sin.

These teachings cannot be conveniently ignored when Caesar decides to bestow his greatness upon our presence. No more than the Jews would accept the statue of Caligula in their temple, or Christ tolerated the presence of the moneychangers in the temple, should we honor those who are hostile to the very precepts of our Church, regardless of the recognition and honor we would receive from secular sources in return?

Notre Dame’s president Father Jenkins wishes to honor the symbolic achievement of America electing an African American as president. Laudable, and President’s Obama’s rise to the position of the head of state should be congratulated, if uneasily. However, this can be done without honoring the president himself or providing a Catholic stage for his views. For in honoring President Obama, we honor the pride in the secular achievement over the sacred.

Father Jenkins assures the public that Notre Dame’s invitation to President Obama is part of a “dialogue” with him. Whom Father Jenkins has in mind to challenge President Obama’s thinking on his hostility to the basic protections of human life demanded by the Catholic Church he does not reveal.

It would certainly be unprecedented to have such a dialogue at a graduation commencement, when normally the speaker is expected to convey some important insight as advice to the graduating class. It’s normally assumed the speaker is an authority to whom the graduates should listen. What wisdom is it that Father Jenkins is hoping President Obama will convey to the graduating class?

Having lost sight of the meaning and mission of a Catholic university, perhaps Father Jenkins does not understand why the faithful among his students are protesting, why local Bishop D’Arcy has cancelled plans to attend, why Catholic bishops and organizations across the country are protesting Notre Dame’s invitation to the president and the university’s plan to give President Obama an honorary degree.

Maybe it’s because a degree from Notre Dame should represent a Catholic education, and not just a decoration on the wall.

The Pope and Pelosi

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit with Pope Benedict XVI may not have gone the way she planned.  No photo was released of the state visit, and the Associated Press reported,

A short statement from the Vatican said the pope "briefly greeted" Pelosi and did not mention any other subject they may have discussed besides abortion.

In their 15-minute meeting, the Vatican said Benedict spoke of the church's teaching "on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death." That is an expression often used by the pope when expressing opposition to abortion.

Benedict said all Catholics - especially legislators, jurists and political leaders - should work to create "a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development," the Vatican said.

Reminds me of a story my grandfather told me about going to confession while in the army. The next day a bishop visited the base and offered to hear my grandfather's confession. My grandfather told him it wasn't necessary as he had been to confession the day before with the chaplain. The bishop was not to be deterred and proceeded to examine my grandfather's life of sin since birth.

I'm betting that the Pope's closed-door meeting with Pelosi was just as uncomfortable for her. We can pray that some of the meeting stays with her.

Pro-Life Wisconsin ads for the new year

Pro-Life Wisconsin is continuing to partner with Virtue Media to show television ads against abortion. The group claims 220 lives were saved as a result of the campaign in 2008.  From their press release:

Two cutting-edge commercials are now running. One is a multi-cultural crisis pregnancy ad and the other uses a vivid 4-D ultrasound image of a beautiful preborn baby to declare a strong personhood message.

Pro-Life Wisconsin – partnering with Virtue Media – was able to get this life-saving media campaign underway. Right now, hundreds of commercials are scheduled to run across a broad viewing area in the Wausau area.

Hamill outlined the True to Life campaign’s necessity – it delivers the truth about the abortion culture in order to affect real change in society, educates Wisconsinites on the sanctity of human life, encourages others to take hope in restoring a culture of life and reinforces the total protection message.

“We are confident these commercials, by directing viewers to a crisis pregnancy hotline or ProLifeWisconsin.org, will save lives,” Hamill concluded.

The multi-cultural crisis pregnancy ad can be viewed by clicking here, and the 4-D ultrasound ad can be viewed by clicking here.

Nat Hentoff on Sarah Palin

Hentoff endorsed the idea of Palin as McCain's running mate back in May:

Three days after she gave birth, Mrs. Palin was back in her Anchorage office with her husband and Trig. "I can think of so many male candidates," she tells the AP, "who watched families grow while they were in office. There is no reason to believe a woman can't do it with a growing family. My baby will not be at all or in any sense neglected." Says the governor of Alaska: "I will not shirk my duties." Taking her stand for life as a holder of high political office is all the more valuable in the face of the termination of fetal lives as not worth continuing before they can speak for themselves. Mrs. Palin's stand also puts a searching light on the growing "futility" doctrine in hospitals which is affecting people of all ages.

Nancy Valko, a medical ethicist and intensive-care nurse I consult on these lives-worth-living debates, has emphasized that "with the rise of the modern bioethics movement, life is no longer assumed to have the intrinsic value it once did, and 'quality of life' has become the overriding consideration." Because of Mrs. Palin's reputation as a maverick, and her initial reduction of state spending (including pork-barrel spending), life-affirming Palin connects with voters. For these reasons, she has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate for Mr. McCain.

She would be a decided asset: an independent Republican governor, a woman, a defender of life against the creeping culture of death and a fresh face in national politics. She was described in "the Almanac of National Politics" as "an avid hunter and fisher with a killer smile who wears designer glasses and heels, and hair like modern sculpture." Moreover, I doubt that she would engage in such campaigning, as Sen. McCain's strongly implying that a Hamas terrorist saying he would like Barack Obama to be president thereby damages Mr. McCain's opponent (though Mr. Obama has totally condemned Hamas). Still unknown is whether Mrs. Palin would be as flip-flopping as Mr. McCain on the Bush torture policy that has so blighted our reputation in the world. But we would find out: If chosen as his running mate, she would create more interest in this already largely scripted presidential campaign.

And her presence could highlight Mr. Obama's extremist abortion views on whether certain lives are worth living — even a child born after a botched abortion.