As you probably are aware, it has come to light that Pittsburgh is now a “hub” for fetal tissue experimentation, with a “quid pro quo” relationship between Pitt, Magee and Planned Parenthood. Watch this short video to learn more:
There has been much energy in the pro life community in Pittsburgh this week, with a rally in front of Magee on Monday and a discussion panel at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Oakland on Tuesday, featuring David Daleidan!
At least 100 pro lifers gathered in front of Magee Women’s hospital on Monday to protest their participation in unethical fetal research Following the rally, there was a prayer walk around the hospital.
Speakers in yesterday’s discussion panel included (L to R), Rep. Tim Bonner, Judge Cheryl Allen, Cecily Routman, Dr. Joseph Meany, David Daleidan and Congressman Keith Rothfus
David spoke of Pitt’s attempt to become the nation’s hub for fetal procurement by applying for grants from the NIH, saying that they should get the grants because they are somehow able to procure the organs from a fetus with no ischemia time….meaning that at the time of procurement…the blood in the organs is still oxygenated. Meaning…the heart is still beating. Meaning…they are cutting into the bodies of labor-induced, or partial birthed premature infants…WHILE THEY ARE ALIVE. This is against Pennsylvania law, which states that if a baby is born alive, it must be given care. So, it appears that Pitt is breaking the law. David also spoke of Pitt’s experimentation on fetal scalps…grafting them onto rodents to see if the baby’s hair will grow (it did). He explained that in order to get an intact scalp from an aborted fetus, it cannot come from a D & E (Dilation & Extraction) abortion, because those skulls need to be crushed to get them out, and in the process, the scalps become lacerated and unusable. Therefore, if the University is obtaining intact scalps for their “humanized mice” experiments, the only way they could be getting them is by inducing labor and delivering intact infants, which are then killed. Also, he said that in order to extract the kidneys (the kidneys sit above the navel), they would have to deliver the baby (feet first), PAST the navel (which is illegal), before cutting out the kidneys on the still-alive infant.
I know all this is very upsetting, but we cannot just bury our heads in the sand and pretend that we don’t know. As Dr. Joseph Meany, President of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia stated today, “The University of Pittsburgh trying to be the HUB of this atrocity is such an incredible evil that it needs to be confronted.”
Cecily Routman, President of The Jewish Pro Life Foundation, told the story of a young Jewish man who was in Auschwitz and suffered medical “experimentation” at the hands of the Nazi Doctor, Dr. Josef Mengele. This man survived the horror of the death camp, and went on to live into his 80’s. He described what Dr. Mengele did to him by saying that while he was awake and conscious…the doctor opened up his back with a scalpel and extracted one of his kidneys. He said that he screamed in pain and begged God to let him die, as he stared at the sight of his own kidney…still pulsating in the doctor’s hand. Can you imagine such brutality? And yet, the exact same thing is happening here in our own city. I wonder, do these tiny babies scream? Are their vocal chords developed enough yet to cry? Where are the hearts of these medical researchers, to commit such cruel and inhumane acts?
I guess what bothers me the most is the fact that most people…”nice” people…seem not to be bothered by this! My husband told a friend (a life-long Catholic and retired Catholic schoolteacher) that we were going to the rally at Magee on Monday, and told him why. His friend said that he didn’t understand why we were protesting, because, “The babies are being killed anyway…why not use their organs to help others?”
That was exactly the logic that the German Doctors used in the concentration camps. Why kill a prisoner and just incinerate his body, when he could do a service to mankind by allowing his body to conduct research that would benefit the “greater good”. Bringing good out of evil. Isn’t that the devil’s lie?
That is why I titled this post “Without Truth, we are lost”. Truth is Jesus Christ. The Word of God. Without it, we can justify the most heinous evils and call them good. Without God’s truth we succumb to the greed, selfishness and malice that is part of our human condition. There is no cure for our disease but Christ. Our culture is so sick, and the sickness is so far advanced, that we cannot hope to win this war with reason alone. It is a spiritual disease, and so we need a spiritual cure; Prayer, fasting and activism. That is the prescription that our Divine Physician has given us.
Read on for the stories of those who brought the “cure” to the sidewalk today…especially Guardians for Life, St. Peter’s; Mary, Mother of God Parish; and St. Matthew Parish
Peggy & Charlene 7-9
It was not as sunny as it has been but starting your day with Diane, Tom, Randy, and Peggy provides a brightness of its own. One passerby told us, “They don’t do abortions here. You are standing in the wrong place.” Hmmm…maybe that’s why the numbers seem lower at first shift. Right! We had Beaver County sheriffs bring in a woman in shackles. So sad. It always reminds me of a quote I have and I don’t know where I got it, but I love it. “Trust Me. I am doing something even in this horrible situation. Watch and Wait.” And Pray!! Bless you…Charlene
Terri & Elsie 9-11
Peaceful Dan standing watch Oh the irony! This was the sticker on back of the vehicle with the shackled woman. Terri and Barb from Divine Redeemer Parish
Elsie and I were alone, but were soon joined by lovely Barb. She is from Elsie’s parish and read about our campaign in her church bulletin. She tried to show the pin with the baby feet to any passerby who would pause. Elsie and I passed out information to passersby and tried to engage those going into the doors. There was a sheriff’s vehicle parked on the street. Two female guards had escorted a shackled woman inside. I stayed later today and was there when they came out at around noon. My heart went out to that poor woman who has obviously lost all hope and felt unloved. The irony was the sticker on their vehicle that read, “In God We Trust.’ There is nothing Godly about transporting a woman to kill her own child.
Katie & Sharon 11-1
When I got there I heard about the two police officers who had brought a woman in, and they brought her back out during my shift. I was trying to talk with someone else who was about to go in, and the one officer put her hand on the other girl’s back and gave her a little bit of a push towards the door, then yelled at me for being in the circle. I have some good news to report from last week. A woman came by with her 3 kids and was telling me about how they needed to get back to NYC but couldn’t pay for the bus tickets. Sharon had already gone to get her car, and when she got back to pick up Joyce I told her about her, and that they would be at the bus station. Well she must not have heard me say that part, so the two of these wonderful ladies drove around for an hour and a half looking for “M” and her children. But, long story short(er) she finally found them at the bus station and between the two of us we were able to get them back home! (But of course as we’ve been told many times, we only care about them before they’re born!) Another important thing is this: Elsie had told me about the stickers abortion supporters are putting around the city to direct people to a website that sends abortion pills through the mail. If you’re ever walking around, keep an eye out for these and tear them down! (Also keep a sharpie with you to cover up at least the QR code, the website, and the name of the website on the sides, because of the 6 or so I’ve found a couple I had to just cover up. Thanks to Sharon, Joyce, Fr. Tim and the Guardians for Life, Dan, Rudy, Helen, Ronald and both Barbs!
Chris & Conrad 1-3
Today, I was joined by Conrad, my Shift Buddy, Bonnie from Sts. Joachim and Anne, Ron from St. John Neumann, Barb & Helen from Mary Mother of God, Barb from Mother of Sorrows, and Glenn from Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Faithful and persistent Katie and Conrad offered fetal growth and pregnancy-help brochures to every passerby. We prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary together, bearing witness to the sanctity of human life and praying that all who entered PP would choose life for their child.
Steve & Eileen (3-5) coming soon…
Joe, Charlie & Amy 5-7
October 13th, anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun… We had our own Miracle of the Sun today, 11 Faithful members from St. Matthew’s, Saints John and Paul, Holy Trinity Ukranian, and Mary Mother of God came to pray, share, and witness for life on yes, a sun splashed fall evening on Liberty Ave. Debbie from Saints John and Paul and Mary’s Place had been there since the beginning of the prior shift. Sharing, praying and even witnessing / counseling on the sidewalk for the first time – awesome!
Then we were joined by my Brother Knight of Columbus, Frank from Mary, Mother of God. Frank ended up having a lengthy discussion with a troubled young man that stopped by to talk…
The St. Matthew’s group came strong in both numbers and in faith – leading us in rosaries, chaplets, and some scriptural reading, meditation and prayer (Lectio Divina style)…Everyone were true Warriors in Christ and stayed until the end of the shift – An evening that ended that truly was a Miracle of the Son, eh?
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. .
O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil,
who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day.