Current
laws in Pennsylvania, including
the Pennsylvania Abortion Control
Act and Unborn Victims of Violence
Act.
Visual Aids
VIDEO: A Baby's First Months...Infinite Possibilities
Fetal Models
How You Began: A set of life-size
fetal models displaying growth and
development of unborn babies 4, 6,
10, 14 and 18 weeks after conception.
Touch of Life: Life-size fetal
models of BIOLIKETM synthetic material
representing average sizepre-born
babies 10, 15, 20 and 30 weeks after
conception.
This presentation gives the fundamental
message of PHL contained in our
Mission Statement:
"To reach as many people as
possible with the message that every
human life from conception to natural
death has absolute worth, irreplaceable
value and the right tolifelong
protection." To that end it concentrates
on the beauty of life before birth
(focusing on the undeniable humanity
of the child) and gives an introduction
to what abortion is and the laws
that have kept it legal now for
37 years."
Human life
begins at conception.
Scientifically, the fertilized
egg has everything to satisfy
being human and alive.
DNA, chromosomes, gender
A separate life from the
mother, though dependant on
her
The developing child
in the womb has three names and
characteristics associated
with its age in weeks from conception.
Zygote - Conception to 2
weeks; travels from Fallopian
tube to uterus; amazing growth
cell by cell (mitosis)
Embryo - 2 weeks to 8 weeks; implantation, heartbeat
at 19 days, brain waves at
42 days, etc.
Fetus - 8 weeks-birth; at 8 weeks all organ systems
are functioning
Abortion is a procedure
that ends a pregnancy by destroying
and removing the developing child.
Abortion is the most common medical procedure.
Kills the child, harms the woman
55 million abortions performed in the
US since '73; 85% of all abortions are
done 8-12 weeks
Abortion was made legal
in our country with the Supreme
Court handing down the Roe vs.
Wade decision on January 22, 1973.
Discuss the details of the
case, what the decision said; describe the
companion case Doe vs. Bolton-
and the "health" of the woman exception
Viable - defined in the Encarta dictionary
of MEDICINE –a word used to
describe a fetus that can survive
outside the womb.
Not long ago viability was 30 weeks;
then 25 weeks. Now viability is even
earlier.
What will it be tomorrow? Science
is constantly making progress in this
area.
The extreme speed with which
both our understanding of human
biology and our clinical practices
are advancing, affects a new category
of patient – the unborn fetus.
William J. Larsen, Ph.D., Essentials
of Human Embryology
Conception takes place in the
fallopian tube when the mother’s
egg (ovum) and the father’s
sperm meet, each contributing 23
chromosomes – resulting in
the creation of a brand new cell.
The father’s 23 chromosomes
include either the X or Y chromosome,
which will determine the gender
of the baby.
»
The human ovum is about the size
of a pencil point! »
The fallopian tube is approximately
4” long and can be compared
to a bristle on a hair brush.
1.
Zygote stage (conception to 10 days)
Baby’s own DNA – genetic
make-up; gender and blood type are
present at moment of conception.
Zygote is the name used to describe
the developing baby for the first
two weeks.
This tiny new cell, smaller than
a grain of salt, contains all of
the genetic information for every
detail of the newly created life
– the color of the hair and
eyes, and the skin tone.
The baby’s heart is beating
before the mother misses her first
period.
Mitosis – the process
of cells multiplying as they travel
down the fallopian tube during the
Zygote stage.
The lining of the uterus prepares
for implantation.
At no time after conception is
this child a part of the woman’s
body. It is merely using her womb
as an anchorage; the mother’s
contributions are nutrition and
oxygen.
Please note – when
a pregnant woman is hospitalized,
there are always two charts at the
end of her bed - one for the unborn baby and one for the mother.
Two different doctors will care
for the woman – a pediatrician or neonatalogist
for the baby and an obstetrician
for the woman.
It is helpful to understand that
a woman’s uterus (womb) is
normally a hard muscle and the cervix
is soft. After conception and implantation
occurs, the uterus becomes soft
and flexible and the cervix becomes
hard and tightly shut. The closed
cervix now will protect the unborn
baby from infection and will start
to reopen when the amniotic fluid
starts to leak, indicating the start
of the journey down the birth canal.
The baby is delivered, the umbilical
cord is cut and then app. 15-30 minutes
later, the woman continues to experience
contractions and the placenta and
umbilical cord, the "afterbirth" are delivered. During
the next 24 hours, contractions
continue and the uterus starts the process of shrinking
back to the way it was before conception.
A popular point often heard for abortion
rights is “it’s my body
and I can do whatever I want”
When a woman is pregnant, there
are two bodies – the woman’s
AND the unborn baby’s.
At
no time is the unborn a part of
the mother’s body. She is
providing only an anchorage.
2. Embryo
stage - (two to eight weeks)
The fertilized cell travels out
of the fallopian tube and implants
onto the wall of the uterus (womb).
Once implantation occurs, hormones
trigger the mother’s body
to sustain a pregnancy and prevent
a monthly period.
Trophoblast surrounds the embryo.
It is a filmy substance that will
turn into the placenta and umbilical
cord. The umbilical cord connects
a baby with her mother via the placenta.
The placenta is part of this new
life and is not part of the mother.
The baby receives oxygen and nourishment
from the mother, through the umbilical
cord.
The embryo sits in a sac of amniotic
fluid.
Heartbeat, brain waves and foundation
of entire nervous system are present. »
At 3 weeks (19 days), doctors can
hear the heartbeat with a stethoscope. »
At 6 weeks the brain waves can be
detected. »
At 7 weeks the skeletal system is
complete. Baby has a mouth with
lips, an early tongue. »
At 8 weeks the fingerprints are
set. The baby is app. ½”
long.
Fetus is Latin
for “little one.” This
is what a developing baby is called
from 8 weeks until birth.
At 10 weeks every organ is in place
and starting to function. Bones begin to
calcify at this time. From this
point, the baby will only grow and
mature.
Tiny human feet are completely formed.
The fingerprints will NEVER change
for the rest of our lives. »
At 10 weeks the baby is highly sensitive
to touch (when eyelids or palms
are touched, they close). »
Baby can squint, swallow, stick
out his tongue. »
The baby is sensitive to light at
16 weeks. »
The baby responds to sounds at 27
weeks. »
The baby sleeps 90-95% of the day
at 32 weeks, and sometimes experiences
REM sleep, an indication
of dreaming. »
2/3 of human development takes place
in mother’s womb.
Abortion destroys this living,
human being.
Statistics compiled
by the Alan Guttmacher Institute
– January 2011
In 2008, 1.21 million pregnancies
were terminated by abortion
in the United States.
About 2% of all women aged
15-44 have had an abortion.
22% of all pregnancies end
in abortion.
The U.S. Share of Abortions
Worldwide is 3%. (97% of all
other abortions occur in other
countries).
Abortions by gestational
age
7- 12 weeks - 89%
13-20 weeks - 10%
21 + weeks - 1%
43% of American women will have at least one abortion by age 45. AGI 1994 study entitled "Unintended Pregnancy in the US.
Rate of abortion
by race/ethnicity –
per 1,000 women
White – 36%
Black – 30%
Hispanic – 25%
Rate of abortion
by age group
15-19 - 18% 20-24 - 33%
25-29 - 24%
30-34 - 14%
35-39 - 8%
Women who have never married obtain two-thirds of all abortions.
Guttmacher Institute/January 2011
93% of women who had 'elective' abortions cited no emotional support as their #1 reason to abort. The 2nd reason cited - money.
According to the PA. Dept. of Health, in 2009, there were 37, 284 abortions performed in Pennsylvania, and of these, 14,462 were performed on residents of Philadelphia.
Fetology is the study
of unborn babies. Scientific evidence
confirms that human life begins
at conception.
The late Jerome LeJeune, MD, Ph.D.,
one of the world’s foremost
authorities in the field of genetics,
taught us much about the intricacies
of the beginning of human life.
Dr. LeJeune called that very first
cell, the fertilized egg, “the
most specialized cell under the
sun”. He explained that the
fertilized egg contains more information
about the new individual than can
be stored in five sets (not volumes)
of the Encyclopedia Brittanica.
No other cell will ever again have
the same instructions as those in
the life of the individual being
created.
In the words of Dr. LeJeune, “Each
of us has a very precise starting
point which is the time at which
the whole necessary and sufficient
genetic information is gathered
inside one cell, the fertilized
egg, and this is the moment of fertilization.
There is not the slightest doubt
about that, and we know that this
information is written on a kind
of ribbon which we call the DNA”.
“At no time”, Dr. LeJeune stated, “is the human
being a blob of protoplasm. As far
as your nature is concerned, I
see no difference between the early
person that you were at conception
and the late person that you are
now. You were, and are, a human
being.”
[ Dr. LeJeune discovered the chromosome abnormality in humans that causes Down syndrome. Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome, known as chromosome 21, found in every cell of the body of a person with Down syndrome. ]
Ashley Montague, Geneticist and
Professor at Harvard and Rutgers,
who is unsympathetic to the pro-life
cause, said clearly, “The
basic fact is simple: life begins
not at birth, but conception”.
Prior to 1967 every state prohibited
abortion except to save the life
of the mother. After 1967, Colorado,
California, New York, Alaska and
Hawaii were the first states to
legalize abortion.
The Roe v. Wade
decision was handed down January
22, 1973, legalizing abortion in
all 50 states.
»
The Chief Justices divided a pregnancy
into trimesters – first, middle
and last. »
Roe mandates that States may not
prohibit any abortions before “viability”. »
The Court justified decision under
the Constitution’s “right
to privacy”. * ** »
The Court determined that the fetus
is not a person but a “potential
life”, and thus does not have
constitutional rights of its own.
Therefore, “the word ‘person’,
as used in the Fourteenth Amendment,
does not include the unborn”.
Roe vs. Wade legalized
abortion for any reason (on demand)
during the first trimester. During
this first trimester of pregnancy,
a woman’s privacy right is
strongest and the state may not
regulate abortion for any reason;
They allowed abortion to be legal
in the second trimester if a medical
reason necessitated it and required
it to be done in a hospital and
by a medical doctor. Third trimester
abortions are permitted only in
the case of the exceptions –
rape, incest or if the life of the
mother is at risk.
*“The Constitution does not
explicitly mention any right of
privacy”, but the Court has
found “at least the roots
of that right” in the First,
Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and Fourteenth
Amendments, and in the penumbras
of the Bill of Rights. Roe v.Wade
410 U.S. at 129.
** It said the right to privacy “ is broad enough –to
encompass a woman’s decision
whether or not to terminate her
pregnancy.”
· Because this abortion issue
falls under a woman’s “right
to privacy”, very few health
regulations apply to abortion clinics. »
In fact, a veterinarian must abide
by more restrictions and regulations
than an abortionist. »
The right-to-privacy is determined
to be more important than the right-to-life.
The annual March for Life takes
place on the anniversary of Roe
v. Wade in Washington, DC. Marchers
gather for inspirational speeches
and then march slowly to the Supreme
Court.
The Dred Scott Decision in 1857
(Taney vs. Scott) determined a slave
is not a legal person – he
is property of his slave-owner.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled “a
man has a right to do what he wants
with his property”. They also
said that Mr. Scott was only 3/5
of a human being. Mr. Scott only
wanted the right to vote.
Please note the same language is
used in both the Dred Scott Decision
as well as the Roe v. Wade Decision.
The Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court
Decision, handed down by the same
court on the same day as Roe vs.
Wade, allows abortion to be legal
up to the day before delivery if
a mother’s health* necessitated
it. Therefore, under Roe
and Doe, a woman must be permitted
to obtain an abortion through all
nine months if it is for her “well-being”.
*Mother’s health is defined
as physical, emotional, financial,
age of mother, psychological and
familial.
In Planned Parenthood of Missouri
v. Danforth, (1976). this court
case ruled that the father (married
or unmarried to the mother) has
absolutely no rights regarding the
abortion decision and this has been
upheld countless times in court
cases.
Ironically, the father, married
or unmarried, is responsible for
a living child’s financial
support until they turn 18.
Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992).
The law on abortion was further
clarified in this case. In this
1992 case the Court said states
could regulate abortion to require
parental involvement when minors
were involved, require a waiting
period between seeking and obtaining
an abortion, and require doctors
to provide detailed medical information
before obtaining consent for the
abortion. The Doe vs.Bolton health
exception to abortion restrictions
throughout pregnancy was not altered.
*Planned Parenthood of Southeastern
PA. V. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992).
In 2000 the Supreme Court again
ruled on abortion in Stenberg vs.
Carhart. Here the Court said that
a state could not prohibit the late-term
abortion procedure called partial-birth
abortion.
* Planned Parenthood v. Carhart,
530 U.S. 914 (2000).
The Pennsylvania Abortion Control
Act was passed in 1989 (due to the
determined efforts of Rep. Steve
Freind from Havertown, Delaware
County) but was held up by court
injunction until 1994.
This resulted in the sharpest drop
in the daily abortion rate. It dropped
more than 22% in four years.
As a result, Pennsylvania was among
the nation’s leaders with
the third-fastest declining abortion
rate in the nation.
Abortion
for unemancipated (supporting
herself) minors (less than 18
years of age) requires the informed
consent of both the pregnant woman
and one parent prior to an abortion.
If both of the parents or guardians
of the pregnant woman refuse to
consent…or if she elects
not to seek the consent…the
court of common pleas of the judicial
district in which the applicant
resides or in which the abortion
is sought shall…authorize…the
abortion if the court determines
that the pregnant woman is mature
and capable of giving informed
consent. (Judicial Bypass).
Women
are provided a right to know for
informed consent 24 hours prior
to an abortion. Informed
consent is designed to insure
that when people make important
medical decisions, they have been
told the truth and have been truly
informed.
Abortion
is legal for any reason by any
means during the first six months
of pregnancy, the second trimester
abortions must be done in a hospital,
but in the last trimester of pregnancy
abortion is restricted only to
cases that affect the life or
the health of the mother is seriously
threatened.
For
the purpose of promotion of maternal
health, a report of each abortion
performed shall be made to state
officials. The report
forms shall not identify the individual
patient by name and shall include
the following information:
1. Identification of physician.
2. The county and state in which
the woman resides.
3. The woman’s age.
4. The number of prior pregnancies
and prior abortions of the woman.
5. The gestational age of the
unborn child at the time of the
abortion.
6. The type of procedure performed
or prescribed and the date of
the abortion.
The
abortionist must offer the woman
information about:
1. The gestation of the unborn
child.
2. The physical dangers of abortion
for her health. Abortion is an
invasive procedure.
3. The opportunity to view her
child on an ultrasound. Studies
show that when a woman in crisis
has a chance to view her unborn
baby on the ultrasound screen,
85% will decide against abortion.
4. Alternatives available to the
woman, including financial assistance
if she bears the child. * The
mother is allowed under law to
refuse any or all of this information,
but the law requires the abortionist
to make it available.
5. Information about adoption
options.
The woman then must wait
24 hours to reflect on her decision
before the abortion can be performed.
*The Delaware Valley Pro-Life Alliance
– DVPLA – provides a 24 hour
hotline – 610-626-4006.
The DVPLA are agencies that share
a common desire to provide real,
practical options that include pregnancy
testing and counseling, comprehensive
pre-natal and post-natal care, housing
assistance, family support, post-abortion
counseling, and adoption services.
Dr. Vincent Rue wrote about abortion's aftermath in 1994, and put it into a cultural context. It is a social and political issue.
Abortion is a death experience.
The aftermath of abortion
will be an issue long after the
abortion.
»Physically – damaged cervix,
perforated uterus, hemorrhage, infection.
200 women have died since 1973 when
abortion became legal. 10% of women experience immediate physical complications (lifedynamics.com) »Emotionally – regret, anxiety,
depression, low self-esteem and
guilt. Numerous studies show abortion is more harmful than giving birth. »Spiritually - women turn away from God; they fear being punished or don't know that God is forgiving.
Three typical reactions
as determined by Vincent Rue, Ph.D., in
Post-Abortion Syndrome.
1. Immediate
2. Anniversary
3. Delayed – the most common,
but manifests destructive behavior.
70% of relationships fail
one month following the abortion.
Support for women experiencing post-abortion pain:
In the Philadelphia area alone
there are 100 Crisis Pregnancy Centers
and more than 3,500 throughout the
United States.
*Catholic Social Services - Pregnancy & Adoption Services - 1-800-CARE-002
*Birthright - 1-800-550-4900
*Cora - Lifeline - 215-342-7660
*A Baby's Breath - 610-630-9630
Please go to Pro-Life Resources section of website, then to LINKS and there is more contact information.
Post-Abortion Counseling
Project Rachel – 215-587-5640
or www.hopeafterabortion.com Project Rachel is a post-abortion ministry of the Catholic Church, for help and healing their emotional and spiritual wounds. The priests and counselors in the Project Rachel network are specially trained caregivers who have led thousands of grieving women and men from despair to hope and peace.
Silent No More Awareness Campaign - www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org The truth About Abortion: Experience vs. Rhetoric. A campaign whereby Christians make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women and men. The campaign seeks to expose and heal the secrecy and silence surrounding the emotional and physical pain of abortion. This year 47 women shared their testimony at the 2011 March for Life.
Rachel’s
Vineyard- 1-877-hope4me (1-877-567-3463) or www.rachelsvineyard.orgRachel's Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by babortion. Weekend retreats offer a supportive, confidential and non-judegmentalenvironment where men and women begin the process of healing. In 13 years more than 50,000 men and women have attended retreats given in 30 countries and in ten languages.
TheElliott
Institute-
www.afterabortion.org The internet's largest resource re: Post-Abortion issues.
Fortress International is a rape crisis support group.
They can be contacted at PO Box
7352, Springfield, Il 62791 217-529-9545
Bethesda - the House of Mercy welcomes anyone hurting from abortion. The Community members are always available for prayer and spiritual support. www.bethesdathehouseof mercy.org or 800-482-4100
You Began: A set of life-size
fetal models displaying growth and
development of unborn babies 4, 6,
10, 14 and 18 weeks after conception.
dual being
created.
toplasm. As far
as your nature is concerned, I
see no difference between the early
person that you were at conception
and the late person that you are
now. You were, and are, a human
being.”
Wade in Washington, DC. Marchers
gather for inspirational speeches
and then march slowly to the Supreme
Court.
Pennsylvania Abortion Control
Act was passed in 1989 (due to the
determined efforts of Rep. Steve
Freind from Havertown, Delaware
County) but was held up by court
injunction until 1994.