Planned Parenthood Celebrates Obama Giving Morning After Pill to Kids

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The reaction from pro-abortion and pro-life groups to the Obama administration’s decision to withdraw opposition to sales of the morning after pill to women and girls of any age is markedly different.

The Planned Parenthood abortion business is elated:

Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Cecile Richards released the following statement hailing tonight’s announcement by the Obama Administration that they are dropping their appeal to a court ruling this April lifting the age and point of sale restrictions on emergency contraception:

“This is a huge breakthrough for access to birth control and a historic moment for women’s health and equity. The FDA’s decision will make emergency contraception available on store shelves, just like condoms, and women of all ages will be able to get it quickly in order to prevent unintended pregnancy.

“Emergency contraception is a safe and effective form of birth control that can prevent pregnancy if taken within five days of unprotected sex. Planned Parenthood’s 750 health centers nationwide serve nearly three million patients a year, and we know firsthand how critical this decision is for women who need to prevent pregnancy if they have unprotected sex, or if they are sexually assaulted, or if another form of birth control fails.

But leading pro-life groups are condemning the Obama administration. Consider these responses:

Anna Higgins, J.D., director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council, said: “The Obama administration’s decision making the morning after pill Plan B available to young girls at any age is a clear example of the administration’s willingness to put politics ahead of the health and safety of girls. We are disappointed that this administration has once again sided with its political allies and ignored the safety of girls and the rights of parents.”

Alliance Defending Freedom Litigation Counsel Catherine Glenn Foster: “The lives and health of young girls should be more important than the bottom line of those who sell abortion-inducing drugs. President Obama has yet again sided with Planned Parenthood, his favorite political ally and the single largest distributor of Plan B drugs–drugs that can destroy a life. Whatever guides this administration in its decisions, it is apparently not the health and well-being of our daughters and granddaughters. The administration’s decision is nothing short of shameful.”

Americans United for Life President Charmaine Yoest: “It’s important to remember President Obama’s own concerns about distributing such drugs without adult supervision,” noted Dr. Yoest. When Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius first decided that young girls could not buy such drugs over the counter, but instead would need a prescription, President Obama told reporters:

“The reason Kathleen made this decision is that she could not be confident that a 10-year-old or an 11-year-old going to a drugstore should be able — alongside bubble gum or batteries — be able to buy a medication that potentially, if not used properly, could have an adverse effect. And I think most parents would probably feel the same way.” “Yes they do, Mr. President,” said Dr. Yoest, who added: “This decision allows the abortion industry to gamble with young girls’ health in distributing a life-ending drug, with no real understanding of the long-term implications on their bodies. Equally troubling, this allows young girls pressured into sex or even abused by adults to be manipulated into taking pills that cover up what is a criminal act.”

“Young girls need medical supervision in taking such a potent and potentially life-ending drug,” said Dr. Yoest. “The implications for informed consent — and the long-term health impact on women of all ages — are deeply troubling.”

Concerned Women for America: Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards called the government’s decision “a huge breakthrough for access to birth control and a historic moment for women’s health and equity.” Make no mistake, my friend, there is no shortage in access to birth control across our nation today. This has nothing to do with “women’s health” or justice …

This is a purely political decision, made by those who stand to profit financially from an action that puts ideology ahead of America’s girls and young women. Where is the scientific data and solid reasoning behind a decision that endangers minors? Though President Obama is himself the father of two young daughters, his Administration has abandoned common sense and will allow our nation’s teens and young girls to have access to a highly powerful drug 40 times stronger than birth control. I sincerely fear for the future health and wellness of women and children, as doctors, parents, and pharmacists are eliminated from this very serious conversation about sexual activity, pregnancy, fertility, and overall health.

Human Life International president Father Shenan J. Boquet: “The Obama administration’s agenda of unrestricted abortion and contraception does not empower women, nor will it improve women’s health in any way,” said Father Boquet. “By allowing very young girls to purchase powerful drugs like Plan B without parental notification or medical consultation this administration is showing a complete disregard for the health of young women, who may also end up unknowingly killing their unborn children.”

“The FDA claims that Plan B One-Step will not stop a pregnancy, but this statement is deceptive and completely ignores recent large studies indicating that Levonorgestrel-only contraceptives, such as Plan B, most often do not block ovulation and may result in the death of a tiny living human being by inhibiting implantation after conception,” said Father Boquet. “In other words, Plan B is most likely not a contraceptive at all, but an abortifacient pill. So while real abortion deaths will rise, these deaths will never be recorded in ‘official figures,’ and it will be as if these innocent lives created by God never existed.”

“Allowing young girls unrestricted access to these drugs could lead to long-term health problems in their adult life, and sends the dangerous message that there is a ‘safe’ way to avoid the natural consequences of risky sexual behavior,” he said. “This message risks leading young women to objectify themselves for use by men, and to not see themselves as loved and valuable. This is a lie, and is denigrating and dangerous for young women who will be more likely to take risks with the false belief that there is a safe ‘Plan B.’”

“Further, making ‘emergency contraceptives’ as freely available as Aspirin provides a convenient method of hiding the sexual abuse of young girls, and creates the potential for already skyrocketing STI rates to increase even more,” said Father Boquet. “The assault on young women by those pushing a culture of abortion and contraception in the U.S. and around the world only serves to line the pockets of special interests while the morality of society decays, human lives are lost, and the health of women suffers.”

Study: Facial Expressions of Unborn Babies in the Womb Show They Feel Pain

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A newly-published research study shows unborn children are capable of feeling pain in the womb, as evidenced by the grimaces they show in their facial expressions.

The study will soon be published in the academic journal PLOS ONE.

Researchers from Durham and Lancaster Universities in England say unborn babies learn to show pain in their facial expressions as part of the process of fetal development. They took 15 scans of healthy unborn children and found that, when responding to painful stimuli, the babies were capable of one-dimensional expressions of pain in their faces at 24 weeks — such as moving their lips in a negative fashion.

At the 36th week of pregnancy, the researchers found unborn children can perform complex multi-dimensional facial expressions similar to what children make after birth.

Lead researcher Dr Nadja Reissland, of Durham University’s Department of Psychology told Sky News, “It is vital for infants to be able to show pain as soon as they are born so that they can communicate any distress or pain they might feel to their carers.”

“Our results show that healthy foetuses ‘learn’ to combine the necessary facial movements before they are born,” he said. “This suggests that we can determine the normal development of facial movements and potentially identify abnormal development too. This could then provide a further medical indication of the health of the unborn baby.”

Baltimore Ravens Player Skips White House Visit Because Obama Backs Abortion

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Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Matt Birk is pro-life — so when it came time for the Ravens to visit President Barack Obama for the annual congratulations to the Super Bowl winners, he decided not to go.

The pro-life NFL player explained his decision:

“I wasn’t there,” Birk told The Power Trip. “I would say this, I would say that I have great respect for the office of the Presidency but about five or six weeks ago, our president made a comment in a speech and he said, ‘God bless Planned Parenthood.’”

Birk, who also took a public stance during the recent gay rights movements that swung through our country last year, is a very open and public Catholic and claims that he took offense to these comments that were made by President Obama. So much so, that he declined a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and be honored by the President at the White House.

“Planned Parenthood performs about 330,000 abortions a year,” Birk explained. “I am Catholic, I am active in the Pro-Life movement and I just felt like I couldn’t deal with that. I couldn’t endorse that in any way.”

Planned Parenthood is one of the nations leading sexual and reproductive health care providers. Their stances on birth control, abortion and the morning after pill have often pinned the in a head on clash with many Catholic and Conservative Christian groups across the nation.

“I’m very confused by [the President’s] statement,” Birk questioned. “For God to bless a place where they’re ending 330,000 lives a year? I just chose not to attend.”
Birk is a longtime pro-life advocate who has a thoughtful position against abortion and a family story to share.
Birk grew up in St. Paul Minnesota, where Planned Parenthood did abortions for decades and then the godfather of one of Birk’s five children opened a pregnancy center across the street from the abortion facility. Adrianna, Birk’s wife, volunteered at the center, and eventually the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic closed.Birk was a featured speaker at the Maryland March for Life previously and he said his Catholic faith and being a father are two of the big reasons he is pro-life and he shared how he was overwhelmed to hold his first child.“It was unbelievable the love that I felt for her,” he said in a prior interview, “and any parent knows exactly what I’m talking about. At that point, you know it’s not a choice. Life is a gift that’s given to us. We are supposed to accept it. It’s not our choice whether we decide a baby lives or not.”Birk said participating in the March for Life is “one of the coolest things I’ve done.”“It seems like our society and media want to push pro-lifers to the side and hope that we would shut our mouths and go away quietly,” said Birk. “Let’s not do that.”

“We all need saving,” he said, “and there’s one thing that can save us all, and that’s prayer,” he added.

“I don’t think I’m a superstar by any means,” Birk said, “but I’m glad (for) the platform that football allows me. I’m glad to use it to support causes that I passionately believe in and this is one of them. For me, it comes down to what’s right and what’s wrong – what’s God’s will and what’s not.”

Judge Intervenes to Help Dying Girl Have Transplant After Sebelius Balks

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A federal judge has intervened to give hope to a young girl who needs a lung transplant as doctors have only given her weeks to live. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius received national condemnation after she refused to get involved to help the girl.

Sarah Murnaghan has been hospitalized for three months with end-stage cystic fibrosis. She is not giving up hope. She wants to be a singer, but needs a lung transplant to live. Her parents have been with her constantly while she waits at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

This morning, Sarah’s parents asked a federal judge to intervene and order the Obama administration to alter longstanding organ-donation rules so she can get the lung transplant she desperately needs. A report shows the judge have given them hope that she can be put on the adult list:

A big victory in federal court today for 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan, a dying girl in need of a lung transplant.

This afternoon, a federal judge granted the Murnaghan family’s request for a temporary restraining order, telling the Secretary of Health and Human Services to cease application of the “Under 12″ rule when it comes to Sarah.

The 10-year-old Newtown Square, Pa. girl has been hospitalized at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia for three months with end-stage cystic fibrosis.

The temporary restraining order will last for 10 days. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for June 14.

Earlier today, her parents filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction in federal court. According to a news release sent by the family, they hope to prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services from enforcing a policy that prevents children under the age of 12 from getting a lung transplant from an adult donor.

“We will not stand by and let Sarah die and we have filed in federal court for an immediate injunction to do what Secretary Sebelius will not: give Sarah and other children in her position a fair chance at life,” said Janet Murnaghan, Sarah’s mother.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has more on the request for the judge:

The parents of Sarah Murnaghan have asked a federal judge to intervene and order U.S. health officials to alter longstanding organ-donation rules so the 10-year-old Newtown Square girl can get the lung transplant she desperately needs.

In a complaint filed Wednesday morning in Philadelphia, lawyers for Janet and Francis Murnaghan contend that the rules discriminate against children under 12 by giving older candidates priority for donated adult lungs, regardless of their medical urgency.

The lawyers have asked for an emergency hearing and hope to persuade U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson to enjoin U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from enforcing the so-called Under 12 rule.

“If Sarah does not soon receive a set of donated lungs she will die,” says the 18-page complaint, filed by a team of attorneys from Pepper Hamilton LLP.

According to the lawsuit, Sarah’s doctors have concluded she is an appropriate candidate for an adult lung transplant, and that pool of donated organs is 50 times larger than the pool of available lungs from child donors.

The lawyers contend the Under-12 rule “serves no purpose” and was crafted in 2004 when health officials had insufficient data to build a system to determine the child organ-transplant candidates with the greatest need, as it does with adults.

And they argue that “downsizing” and transplanting an adult lung into a child may once have been a medical challenge, but “that no longer is the case.”

Sebelius says she doesn’t want to intervene in the transplant case when other sick children are dying, but Sarah’s family says hey want the policy changed for all children awaiting a lung transplant, not just Sarah.

Meanwhile, members of Congress asked Sebelius during a congressional hearing about Sarah’s case:

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius rebuffed an appeal from Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., on behalf of a girl who needs a lung transplant but can’t get one because of a federal regulation that prevents her from qualifying for a transplant.

“Please, suspend the rules until we look at this policy,” Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., asked Sebelius during a House hearing Tuesday on behalf of Sarah Murnaghan, a 10-year-old girl who needs a lung transplant. She can’t qualify for an adult lung transplant until the age of 12, according to federal regulations, but Sebelius has the authority to waive that rule on her behalf. The pediatric lungs for which she qualifies aren’t available.

“I would suggest, sir, that, again, this is an incredibly agonizing situation where someone lives and someone dies,” Sebelius replied. “The medical evidence and the transplant doctors who are making the rule — and have had the rule in place since 2005 making a delineation between pediatric and adult lungs, because lungs are different than other organs — that it’s based on the survivability [chances].”

Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of Pastor Saeed Abedini, was able to address the United Nations Human Rights Council for the first time directly on Tuesday

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Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of Pastor Saeed Abedini, was able to address the United Nations Human Rights Council for the first time directly on Tuesday, calling on world leaders to stand up for the principles they say they uphold and help her imprisoned husband.

“For nearly a year, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to silence my husband, Saeed Abedini, through illegal imprisonment, torture, and threats against our family. Why is he being held – because he exercised his rights of religious freedom, expression, and peaceful assembly,” Naghmeh Abedini began.

“I hope that my presence here today will put a face to those who suffer when a government does not uphold its obligation to protect these freedoms. . . .”

The pastor, who is a U.S. citizen, has been held inside Evin Prison in Tehran since his arrest in September 2012. While the Iranian court convicted him of endangering national security, the American Center for Law and Justice, which is representing his wife and two children in the U.S, said that the 8-year sentence was more to do with his Christian faith.

Naghmeh Abedini argued before the Council that her husband has broken no law, and that he simply exercised his rights that Iran had said it would uphold. “Iran has kept Saeed imprisoned because he believes that Jesus Christ died on the cross for forgiveness of sin and to reconcile humanity to God,” Naghmeh said.

She continued by stating that she does not know whether Abedini will live or die while in prison, and urged the international community to do more on the issue and hold Iran to its promises to respect human right laws regardless of religion, nationality, or ethnic background.

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“I call on this body to do more. Each member state here has an obligation, and I respectfully ask that you join me in this fight. Please help bring my husband home to me and our two young kids,” Naghmeh added.

The ACLJ said that the unique opportunity Naghmeh had to plead her husband’s case before the U.N. cannot be overstated.

“It is impossible to overstate the importance of this unique opportunity for Pastor Saeed’s wife to present her husband’s case directly to world leaders. They looked her directly in the eyes, heard her pleas and saw her pain. The empathy and compassion of the world could be felt as she delivered her remarks. Her comments were well received by non-governmental organizations as well as member states,” wrote Jordan Sekulow, the ACLJ executive director.

Naghmeh Abedini’s full statement can be read here.

Late last week, the White House said it is pressing Iran on Abedini’s case, calling for him to be given proper medical treatment and to be released from prison, but has said that so far it has received no communication from the predominantly Muslim country.

“We remain deeply concerned about U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini who has been sentenced to 8 years in prison in Iran on charges related to his religious beliefs. We can confirm that Mrs. Abedini and her lawyer met with U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva Eileen Donahoe. We have reached out to numerous international partners to raise awareness of Mr. Abedini’s case and to press Iranian officials to provide him medical attention and to release him,” the White House said Friday.

IRS Made Us Not Protest Planned Parenthood, Pro-Lifer Tells Congress

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At a hearing today over the Internal Revenue Service and how it targeted conservative and pro-life group, the head of one pro-life organization provide details about how the federal agency discriminated against it.

Sue Martinek, President of the Coalition for Life of Iowa, explained to the House Ways and Means Committee that her pro-life group “is a grass-roots, low-budget public charity founded in 2004, to provide prayer, education, and related activities about the sanctity of life from conception to death.”

“Throughout our history, we have organized and sponsored educational forums and engaged in peaceful prayer activities,” she said.

When the group sought nonprofit status, she said, “The IRS’s questions centered on our educational activities, potential political activities, our prayer groups, and signage.”

Later, the IRS made the pro-life group commit to not protesting Planned Parenthood, the nation’s biggest abortion business.

“In June of 2009, [IRS Agent] Richards told me verbally that we needed to send in a letter with the entire board’s signatures stating that under penalty of perjury we would not picket/protest or organize groups to picket/protest outside of Planned Parenthood,” Martinek said. “Upon receiving such a letter, she indicated that the IRS would allow our application to go through.”

“[T]he IRS continued questioning us,” Martinek continued. “On June 22, 2009, IRS Agent Richards sent us additional written requests, as follows: ‘Please explain how all of your activities, including the prayer meetings held outside of Planned Parenthood are considered educational as defined under 501(c)(3).”

She added: “Organizations exempt under 501(c)(3) may present opinions with scientific or medical facts. Please explain in detail the activities at the prayer meetings. Also, please provide the percentage of time your organization spends on prayer groups as compared with the other activities of the organization. Please explain in detail the signs that are being held up outside of Planned Parenthood and explain how they are considered educational.’ When we met at our next board meeting, we all were disappointed with the IRS’ request.”

Martinek concluded: “We had worked so hard to get the application correct. We had a local attorney skilled with this process helping us. We understood that we could hold up signs with educational information about abortion and the sanctity of life, without the IRS questioning their validity. We never thought we would have to defend our prayer activities. As Christians we knew we needed to pray for a better solution to unplanned pregnancy than abortion, why not at the source?”

Boy Scouts Ignore Two-Thirds of Membership by Lifting Ban on Homosexuals

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PHILADELPHIA – By now, it is common knowledge that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has changed their policy and lifted a ban and now accepts homosexual boys as members into their organization. Many believe that the BSA capitulated to strong-arm tactics from special-interest groups by changing its policy to allow boys who claim to be gay to be included in their ranks. According to the BSA’s own survey, 61 percent of its members were in opposition to changing the policy yet the delegates ignored the members and were pressured by the national BSA leadership to vote against upholding the longstanding BSA policy.

The Pennsylvania Pastor’s Network (PPN, www.papastors.net) has condemned this decision as irresponsible and damaging to the innocence of youth and the Scout’s long-standing tradition of teaching boys to embrace the principles of God, Country, Flag, and Morality. Boys, instead of being offered a view of morality consistent with a biblical worldview that honors marriage and masculinity, will now be exposed to an opposing view of morality and masculinity. In addition, it will introduce innocent young boys to possible sexual experimentation by other boys who are openly confused and struggling with cultural messages regarding their sexual identity. Parents who would never dream of forcing young boys and girls to share a tent together, will now be forced to allow boys with sexual attractions to other boys to share sleeping accommodations, as well as locker rooms and other close quarters.

Although deeply disappointed by the Scouts decision, Sam Rohrer, president of PPN, is not surprised. In a recent survey conducted for PPN, one out of five evangelical pastors said they would not teach a biblical view of morality in their churches, even where it concerned issues of sexuality.

Rohrer states, “We’ve seen the leadership of the Boy Scouts of American crumble under pressure from homosexual activist groups and we know this because the BSA leadership just a couple of years ago was adamant that they would not allow homosexual members or leaders into the organization. The integrity and moral compass of our nation is quickly going haywire and the Church is partially at fault. When the people, and especially those in the pulpit, don’t believe God’s Word is authoritative, and replace God with themselves or look to culture to give guidance to moral directives, a nation can only decline and its people will suffer.”

Rohrer continues, “God’s Word is the only source for truth and confidence. God’s Word is absolute and unchanging. It is pastors who have the direct command to preach the Word and teach a purely biblical worldview. Our nation is in need of rescue and 20 percent of our pastors are falling short of the call and responsibility placed on their lives. It is impossible for those in positions of leadership to lead on matters of life and living when they themselves are not confident that God’s Word provides all the answers to all life’s questions.”

As a result of this policy change of the Boy Scouts, boys will be taught that there is no absolute when it comes to masculine identity. Instead of being encouraged to embrace the time-honored principles of strength, leadership, protector, and provider, boys will instead be confronted with a message that abandons traditional moral norms.

The PA Pastors’ Network urges Christian parents to prayerfully consider pulling their boys out of the Boy Scouts of America. Many leaders and organizations around the country have already begun to investigate the possibility of starting a new organization, where parents can continue to teach character among boys that is consistent with a more Christian biblical worldview, and that also respects the right of parents to direct discussions of sexuality with their sons. Many parents have expressed that they don’t want sexuality taught to their sons by the Boy Scouts of America

The Pennsylvania Pastors’ Network is a group of Biblically faithful clergy and church liaisons whose objective is to build a permanent infrastructure of like-minded clergy who affirm the authority of Scripture, take seriously Jesus’ command to be the “salt and light” to the culture, encourage informed Christian thinking about contemporary social issues; examine public policy issues without politicizing their pulpits and engage their congregations in taking part in our political process on a non-partisan basis.

The Pennsylvania Pastors’ Network website continues to offer a wealth of resources to pastors to help them equip their congregations to live a Christian life, from sermon notes to corporate prayers for our nation, to resources for laypeople, covering everything from preparation to finances.
The Pennsylvania Pastors’ Network is a part of Let Freedom Ring, Inc., a 501c(4) non-profit organization. To contact them visit. www.papastors.net or call 610-793-1800.

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To schedule interviews with Sam Rohrer, President of the Pa. Pastors’ Network, contact Deborah Hamilton at dhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com, 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096.

Throughout his nine terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, on finance and economic issues, Sam Rohrer served as a 14-year member of the Appropriations Committee. He served on the Speaker’s Commission on Government Reform, was Republican chairman of the House Finance Committee, he argued for strong structural limits on state government taxes and spending, and for true public pension reform, led the statewide efforts for positive changes in the Pennsylvania home school law. Sam authored the historic Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship. Sam was the Republican chairman of the Game and Fisheries Committee and he also served as Chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee.

In November of 2009 Sam formally entered the race for Governor of Pennsylvania as the conservative Republican candidate. From February to November of 2011, Sam Rohrer served as State Director for Americans for Prosperity, the largest grassroots organization in the country dedicated to defending individual freedom and liberty.

Sam and his wife Ruth Ann live in Berks County and are the parents of six children and six grandchildren. The Rohrer family considers their commitment to faith and family one of their highest priorities.

Vote Next Week on Congressional Bill Banning Abortions at 20 Weeks

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Members of a U.S. House committee will cast a vote on a congressional bill that would ban abortions nationwide at 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, chaired by bill author Rep. Trent Franks, an Arizona Republican, will hold a markup on H.R. 1797 on Tuesday. After lawmakers debate the bill, a vote is expected.

Franks has announced he will amend his bill, the “D.C. Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” (H.R. 1797) to apply nationwide. With this change, the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” will be a national prohibition on abortions of unborn children who can feel pain during the abortion process.

Congressman Franks believes the national abortion ban is timely in light of the conviction of abortionist Kermit Gosnell and news reports of potentially similar gruesome late abortion practitioners around the country.

“I know when the subject is related in any way to abortion, the doors of reason and human compassion in our minds and hearts often close, and the humanity of the unborn can no longer be seen. But I pray we can at least come together to agree that we can and should draw the line at the point that these innocent babies can feel the excruciating pain of these brutal procedures,” he said.

Franks added: “The case of Kermit Gosnell shocked the sensibilities of millions of Americans. However, the crushing fact is that abortions on babies just like the ones killed by Kermit Gosnell have been happening hundreds of times per day, every single day, for the past 40 years. Indeed, let us not forget that, had Kermit Gosnell dismembered these babies before they had traveled down the birth canal only moments earlier, he would have, in many places nationwide, been performing an entirely legal procedure. If America truly understands that horrifying reality, hearts and laws will change.”

“To this end, I have re-introduced the D.C. Pain Capable Unborn Protection Act, which will now be amended to broaden its coverage so that its provisions will apply nationwide,” he said. “Knowingly subjecting our innocent unborn children to dismemberment in the womb, particularly when they have developed to the point that they can feel excruciating pain every terrible moment leading up to their undeserved deaths, belies everything America was called to be. This is not who we are.”

During a hearing last week, former abortion practitioner Dr. Anthony Levatino made national news for his testimony about his abortion practice and his call for the abortion ban to be enacted.

The move to expand the bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks nationwide has the strong support of the National Right to Life Committee.

“National Right to Life strongly concurs in Congressman Franks’ decision that the time is ripe to seek protection for pain-capable unborn children nationwide,” said NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson. “Because of publicity surrounding the trial of Kermit Gosnell and subsequent revelations about other abortionists, many Americans are becoming aware for the first time that abortions are frequently performed late in pregnancy on babies who are capable of being born alive, and on babies who will experience great pain while being killed.”

Johnson says that in a nationwide poll of 1,003 registered voters in March, The Polling Company found that 64% would support a law such as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act prohibiting abortion after 20 weeks — when an unborn baby

Johnson added that the federal bill contains legislative findings and operative language very similar to bills already enacted in nine states, beginning in 2010, based on model legislation prepared by NRLC. Like those state laws, Mr. Franks’ legislation contains findings of fact regarding the medical evidence that unborn children experience pain at least by 20 weeks after fertilization (which is 22 weeks in the “LMP” system, or about the start of the sixth month), and prohibits abortion after that point, except when an acute physical condition endangers the life of the mother.

During the 2011-12 Congress, Mr. Franks’ bill garnered 222 co-sponsors in the 435-member House, and received the support of a majority of House members on July 31, 2012 (roll call no. 539).

The science behind the concept of fetal pain is fully established and Dr. Steven Zielinski, an internal medicine physician from Oregon, is one of the leading researchers into it. He first published reports in the 1980s to validate research showing evidence for it.

He has testified before Congress that an unborn child could feel pain at “eight-and-a-half weeks and possibly earlier” and that a baby before birth “under the right circumstances, is capable of crying.”

He and his colleagues Dr. Vincent J. Collins and Thomas J. Marzen were the top researchers to point to fetal pain decades ago. Collins, before his death, was Professor of Anesthesiology at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois and author of Principles of Anesthesiology, one of the leading medical texts on the control of pain.

“The functioning neurological structures necessary to suffer pain are developed early in a child’s development in the womb,” they wrote.

“Functioning neurological structures necessary for pain sensation are in place as early as 8 weeks, but certainly by 13 1/2 weeks of gestation. Sensory nerves, including nociceptors, reach the skin of the fetus before the 9th week of gestation. The first detectable brain activity occurs in the thalamus between the 8th and 10th weeks. The movement of electrical impulses through the neural fibers and spinal column takes place between 8 and 9 weeks gestation. By 13 1/2 weeks, the entire sensory nervous system functions as a whole in all parts of the body,” they continued.

With Zielinski and his colleagues the first to provide the scientific basis for the concept of fetal pain, Dr. Kanwaljeet Anand of the University of Arkansas Medical Center has provided further research to substantiate their work.

“The neural pathways are present for pain to be experienced quite early by unborn babies,” explains Steven Calvin, M.D., perinatologist, chair of the Program in Human Rights Medicine, University of Minnesota, where he teaches obstetrics.

Further documentation and links to the scientific studies can be found at: www.doctorsonfetalpain.com.