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Contents © 2000
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

NEWS
NOVEMBER 2000

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F.D.A. APPROVES SALE OF ABORTION PILL The Federal Drug Administration approved marketing of the RU-486 abortion pill in the United States on September 28. It appears from published reports that the drug will be imported from the People's Republic of China.

"Only four months ago, after years of study, the FDA recognized the substantial risks of this two-drug abortion method, proposing restrictions such as requiring administration within one hour of an emergency room," commented Randall O'Bannon, National Right to Life Committee director of education, said "Now, four months later, the FDA has dropped most of these protections for women's health. What has changed, other than a four-month campaign of political pressure by the abortion industry and its allies? The FDA opted for the convenience of abortionists over the safety of women." O'Bannon noted that a detailed story in the September 5 Wall Street Journal strongly suggests that the abortion pills will be imported from the People's Republic of China, although Danco Laboratories has been unwilling to confirm or deny this. According to leaked document, Daco Laboratories anticipates sales of $34.2 million by 2004.

Experts say it is grossly inaccurate to state that the RU-486/misoprostol method is a "morning-after pill" or causes the expulsion of a fertilized egg. The FDA apparently plans to approve the RU-486/misoprostol method up to 49 days "LMP" (i.e., after a woman's last menstrual period, which is 35 days after the life of a new human being has begun at fertilization). By the time a woman misses her period and has a positive pregnancy test, and thus might consider obtaining a drug-induced abortion, she is at least two weeks and in most cases three weeks or more past fertilization (thus, four or more weeks past her LMP). Thus, the baby is two weeks or more past the "fertilized egg" stage. By the time a woman's pregnancy test shows positive, she carries already implanted within her womb a human being, defined in technical medical terms as an "embryo." The drugs kill this human embryo by cutting off nourishment and then inducing uterine contractions. The RU-486/misoprostol method also poses serious health risks to women. During U.S. trials, one woman in Iowa nearly bled to death.


A LIFELINE FOR THE UNBORN Ross Foti is hardly a household name in California pro-life circles, but he is well known in the offices of abortion attorneys throughout the state. Foti, 66, a retired Belmont businessman, is a sidewalk counselor who spends much of his free time trying to talk pregnant women out of doing away with their babies at Bay Area abortion mills. Through his efforts he has come to know the names of some of the children he has saved, but he has also been harassed, assaulted, and sued by the 'pro-choice' camp. Foti patrols the sidewalks in front of abortion mills at least three times a week from Daly City to Menlo Park. He has been able to carry out his life-saving mission with the assistance of the Life Legal Defense Foundation, a group of volunteer attorneys and aides who stand ready to serve the cause of human life from conception to natural death.

Another foundation client, Patsy Gonzales of Redwood City, was arrested for battery for pushing away the hand of a pro-abortion clinic 'escort' who was holding a noisemaker up to her ear. With the help of the foundation, the criminal charges were dismissed, and Gonzales was granted a restraining order against the escort. The foundation has been coming to the aid of pro-lifers since 1989.

Dana Cody of Sacramento is the foundation's executive director, and Katie Short of Atherton its legal director. Notre Dame Law Professor Charles Rice is a member of the foundation's board. Rice said, "Picketing, praying, and counseling outside the abortion clinics has increased dramatically over the last few years. The abortion industry, often abetted by the criminal justice system, has launched a full-scale attack on the fundamental rights on these pro-life activists. The foundation opened a second office in Citrus Heights in October. "Future plans call for the developing of an extensive intern program for law students," said Cody. "We want to expand our staff so that no one is overworked." Cody continued, "Our needs, other than monetary donations, are prayer support, a law library for our Citrus Heights office, and we would like to get online research programs for the attorneys on our staff." Tax deductible donations may be mailed to: Life Legal Defense Foundation, PO Box 2105, Napa, California, 94558, also at http://www.lldf.org


PROJECT GABRIEL is a nationwide pro-life initiative aimed at assisting women in crisis pregnancy situations. Its concept is simple. Outside churches of all denominations a sign is set up with an 800 number inviting women to call for assistance, which can include clothing, transportation, health care, counseling, and employment. Aid is provided by volunteer groups in each church, as well as by volunteers on the 800 line. Project Gabriel is flourishing in Oakland, and is now gaining a foothold in the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Diocese of San Jose. The Project Gabriel hotline is: 1-800-533-0093 (English), or 1-800-643-5007 (Spanish). For volunteer information, go to http://www.gpscl.org/


HUMAN LIFE INTERNATIONAL President, Father Richard Welch, resigned in early August after a tenure which saw the departure of the organization's founder and long-time president, Father Paul Marx. A search committee has been appointed to select a successor. Father Matthew Habiger, chairman of the group's board, will serve out Father Welch's term which expires in December. In the past year, the group saw staff resignations and firings, a dramatic drop in donations, and a sharp drop in morale. Father Marx is currently in retirement at St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota.


THE PLUCKY COMMITTEE TO SAVE ST. BRIGID CHURCH sponsored an outdoor Mass on Saturday, September 23 at Lafayette Park, which was attended by about 50 people. Although the church, located at Van Ness and Pacific, was closed in 1994, the group continues to hold regular meetings and events for the purpose of convincing the archdiocese to reverse its decision to close the church. Monsignor John J. O'Connor, pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral, offered the Mass.


BEIJING NOT HAPPY WITH THE POPE. In late September, after John Paul II announced plans to canonize 120 Chinese martyrs on October 1, the Chinese government reacted angrily, noting that their own celebrations marking the founding of the People's Republic by Mao Tse-tung were scheduled for the same day. London's Daily Telegraph quoted the Chinese foreign ministry saying, "The Vatican's actions have seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and the dignity of the Chinese nation, which is absolutely not tolerated by the Chinese government and people." China also expressed anger that some 80 of the martyrs being canonised were killed during the Boxer Uprising of 1900. Vatican sources insisted that the choice of October 1, which is the feast of St. Theresa of Lisieux, was not meant as a provocation.


ACCORDING TO LIFELINE DAILY NEWS, Mexican Cardinal Norberto Rivera responded to Mexico City's push to liberalize abortion laws by stating in September that "anyone who promotes or practices abortion, including legislators and governors, will be excommunicated by the Church."

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