What do you know about China's one child policy?

I frequently hear people dismiss China's one child policy as something that is in the past.  They talk of it as if it's no big deal.  An entire nation forcing its women to be injected with Depo Provera or to have babies aborted all the way up to nine months of pregnancy is tragic, inhumane and something we cannot continue ignoring.  

Source

In college, I was able to read "A Mother's Ordeal: One Woman's Fight Against China's One Child Policy," which I would recommend to anyone who would like to know what the "policy" is really like.  It reads like a novel, but it is tragically non-fiction.  

Rep. Chris Smith, who has long fought for the rights of the Chinese people, recently wrote about current United States legislative efforts to fight the one-child policy, which he describes in part as:

For more than three decades, most brothers and sisters have been illegal. And the price for failing to conform to the limit of one child per couple is staggering. A Chinese woman who becomes pregnant without a government permit will be put under mind-bending pressure to abort. She knows that “out-of-plan” illegal children are denied education, health care, and marriage, and that fines for bearing a child without a birth permit can be ten times the average annual income of two parents. Families who can’t or won’t pay are jailed, or their homes are smashed.

If the brave woman still refuses to submit, she may be held in a punishment cell. If she flees, her relatives may be held and, very often, beaten. Group punishments will be used to socially ostracize her. Often, her colleagues and neighbors will be denied birth permits. If the woman is, by some miracle, still able to resist this pressure, she may be physically dragged to the operating table and forced to undergo an abortion.

The result of this policy is a nightmarish “brave new world” with no precedent in human history, where women are psychologically wounded, girls are the victims of sex-selective abortion, and children grow up without brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, or cousins. The United States government must take active steps to fight this atrocity.

Rep. Smith goes on to outline his efforts in Congress currently, as well as the support for the one-child policy given by the current administration (and, by extension, our taxes).  It's important to read and to know what is happening in China. 

It's not just China, however, that is choosing who should have children and how many.  Kenyan bishops recently drew attention to a puzzling tetanus vaccine campaign in their country (emphasis added):

According to reports from CISA agency in Nairobi, during a press conference in Nairobi, His Exc. Mgr. Paul Kariuki Njiru, Bishop of Embu and Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Catholic Health Commission of Kenya, questioned why the national tetanus campaign is aimed at girls and women aged between 14 to 49, excluding girls under the age of 13, in addition to the male population. Mgr. Kariuki Njiru reported the church had conducted laboratory tests on the vaccine used in the Tetanus campaign of March 2014 and found out that it contained the Beta HCG sub unit. HCG according to the findings is necessary for pregnancy. This substance, combined with the tetanus vaccine, actually becomes a vaccine against pregnancy. A similar methodology was used in previous tetanus campaigns in the Philippines, Nicaragua and Mexico.

This morning, I learned that in India this week ten women died and dozens more were critically injured during a government-sponsored sterilization campaign.  The women were pressured by the promise of $23 if they agreed to be sterilized.  The medical conditions were unsanitary, rushed and not remotely patient-centered.  And women died.

Why don't we hear more about this very real "war on women?"  Why instead are we as a nation concerned with who is going to pay for women's birth control pills, when women around the world are being mutilated and their children destroyed?  We have been silent for years as families suffer.  We turn a blind eye rather than learn what is really occurring.  It's uncomfortable to know.  But we really must ask what is really happening in China, India, Kenya and other nations.  And then we must ask what we can do to stop it. 

The future of fertility?

Professor Carl Djerassi, a chemist who contributed to the development of the birth control pill, recently spoke to Britan's "The Telegraph" about his predictions for the future of sex, babies and their connection (or lack thereof).

According to Djerassi, by perhaps 2050, the majority of women will choose to freeze their eggs in their early twenties, thus "freeing" them to experience their careers without the worries of a baby interfering.  

Source

Next, these women will be sterilized, thereby "freeing" them to live life without the specter of an unexpected pregnancy haunting their limitless sexual encounters.

And, finally, when women are ready to check "motherhood" off of their to-do list, IVF will be performed (possibly with frozen sperm, but that needs to be experimented with and researched first).  Genetic screening will become standard.

Sex will officially be "just for fun."  No one will have to worry about having an "unwanted" child.  Daily Pill-popping and abortion will be no more.

Apparently, Pro. Djerassi is unfamiliar with the number of women who have aborted their children who were "wanted" and conceived by IVF after they changed their minds.

Surprisingly, he did not mention artificial wombs entering into the equation, thereby "freeing" women from the biological constraints and responsibilities of pregnancy.  Such an arrangement would also give men equal womb access, which would give the equality-as-sameness that the Pill seeks.

A brave new world indeed!  Where is the beauty of the mystery of fruitfulness, rooted in something (Someone) greater than ourselves?  Where is child-as-gift instead of child-as-commodity?  It's staggering to consider how detrimental this would be to society.  More than ever we would say, "We've forgotten who we are."

A very real -- and "pro-choice" -- look at abortion

I don't know that I have the words just yet to process this piece from New York Magazine written by an "abortion doula."  It is the most realistic, riveting, devastating description of abortion I have ever read ... and it is written by a woman who sits in the procedure room every week.  

She says she can't judge and wants to help the women, but she hauntingly describes what it is like to look at the blood and the pieces and to hear the screams of mothers in the midst of an abortion.  

It's graphic and a very difficult read, but one that exposes the reality of abortion far more compellingly than any pro-life literature really can.  You can find it here.

Another case of "Don't trust that headline!"

Perhaps you've seen the news that China is "relaxing" or "easing" or "ending" their one-child policy?  Most people don't realize that China still has a one-child policy to which they strictly adhere.  But in any event, upon closer examination, we see that China is not ending their policy.  They are barely "relaxing" it.  Instead, China will now allow couples of whom the mother or father is an only child to have two children.

That's right, it's a modified two child policy.  

Certainly, it's a modified victory for those couples who thought they could only legally have one (and to illegally become pregnant is to face forced abortion, fines and other punishments), but it's no reversal of the hideous policy.  Rather than praise China for their newly found leniency, we should continue to challenge them to embrace life and to see the negative effects of limiting children across the country for now and in the long term.  

The possibility of having two children reintroduces concepts such as, "aunt," "uncle," and "cousin" to the nationwide vocabulary, but it's not good enough, and we can't settle for this "concession" as a massive victory.

What's really going on in Texas?

The other day I spent significant time listening to the Texas House's debates regarding "HB2," the pro-life bill on the table.  Along with listening and watching the livestream, I also monitored Twitter reactions to the issue at hand.  Right now, the Texas Senate is debating passage of the same bill, which the House passed.


I've been involved in pro-life work for more than a decade.  So, I have seen and experienced pro-abortion arguments, strange logic and even abusive treatment.  I've seen the signs and heard the chants.  I've also had meaningful conversations that stepped away from debate and soundbites and really engaged the issues at hand -- sometimes issues that were far below the surface.


But observing the HB2 debate in Texas has been nothing less than draining.  I have friends who have been in the Capitol building and outside at the rallies.  I'm just at home.  Nevertheless, listening to the arguments used, and monitoring the stack of tweets that bashes the bill has been a bit deflating.  


When HB2 was on the House floor a few days ago, amendment after amendment was presented by those who disagreed with the bill in order to stem its affects.  One amendment said women who are victims of rape or incest should be able to abort past week 20.  One said that young women who have not had good sex education should be able to abort past week 20.  One said if abortion clinics in Texas are closed due to higher standards, then the state should pay for the transportation costs of those who are impacted.  


One representative decorated the microphone with a wire coat hanger, while other representatives stood around her holding the same.


Arguments were made about women's rights to control their own bodies.


The representative with the wire coat hanger told the story of her own daughter who found herself unexpectedly pregnant.  After her mother (the representative) told her about all of her options, the young girl eventually decided to give life to her son.  The representative shared that her grandson is now 30 years old and has given her a great grandson.  Yet, she said that if she could go back in time she would still want her to daughter to have access to either choice -- to give birth to her son or to abort him.


I couldn't help but wonder if her grandson was watching and what he could be thinking.  "So, you don't care if I'm alive or not?  You wouldn't stand up for me?  My son -- your great grandson -- is just a matter of choice to you?"


It was chilling.


There was a lengthy conversation about matters of rape and incest.  Certainly, these are horrific situations.  But the representatives argued that a woman who is the victim of rape or incest would be punished every day of her life is she gave birth to a child conceived as a result of one of these horrific experiences.  The example of the three young women who were recently released from years of kidnapped captivity in Cleveland, Ohio was given.  One of the representatives said that if one of these young women were pregnant when she escaped, then surely an abortion would be a desirable way to terminate the pain.


I couldn't help but think of those children who are alive today who were conceived as a result of rape or incest, including the child of one of the young women from Cleveland.  What about their inherent dignity?  How do they feel when someone tells them they should not be alive, that every breath they take is a punishment to their mother?  Perhaps some day I will share on the blog a conversation I had with a woman who was conceived in rape.  It's a story and a perspective that more people need to hear.


Meanwhile, Twitter explodes if a man says anything in favor of HB2, because clearly he just "hates women."  And if a woman is in favor of the bill, then she is dumb.


It's just mind boggling to me that this whole debate is happening.  Texas is trying to pass a bill that would ban nearly all abortions after 20 weeks (which amounts to less than 400 annually) and would give stricter guidelines to abortion providers.  Yet, the promoters are considered anti-woman for wanting more safety regulations to be in place.  And they are pulling out wire coat hangers as a symbol of the future, when thousands of abortions in Texas would be considered legal, just as they are today.


It used to be argued that abortion should be "safe, legal and rare," but the arguments against this bill only appear to be concerned with the legality.  


There is even an outrage over the idea of following the FDA's guidelines on distribution of the RU-486 abortion pill.  


The old arguments for abortion are being dropped in the dust, while the debate around HB2 unveils the real arguments -- the idea that babies of any age and stage are nothing but parasites on women, that the right to abortion is the ultimate right, that women are autonomous, self-determining individuals who live in the isolated world of, "My body, my choice."


Things have been getting radical in Texas.  Part of the radicality is not so much the arguments in and of themselves, but the fact that they are being championed, celebrated and broadcast so widely.  "Safe, legal and rare" has been trampled by, "Control, power and privacy" or by, "Me, myself and I."  And it's all on display.


This already lengthy post could probably be much longer, but let's just pray for Texas and for all those involved in this debate -- not only for a pro-life bill passage, but also for all of us to become loving, selfless people who live our lives "for" others. 

The world is upside down

As always, Anthony Esolen has a way with words. His column, "Welcome to the Mental Ward" is an excellent depiction of the craziness of our nation and world right now.
A taste:

On the next Monday—for the lunacy outlasts the phases of the moon—we are told that a pregnant woman is, emotionally, a tender flower, who must be protected against people praying for her and her child as she enters the abortuary. On Tuesday, we are derided for being impossibly old-fashioned if we suggest that it might not be a good thing for women who are possibly pregnant to be crawling on their bellies on a battlefield, where men will be shouting things much more terrifying than the Hail Mary. On Wednesday we are told that a church’s failure to provide free contraceptives to its employees is a terrible sin against the common good. On Friday, we are told that the notion of the “common good” is trumped by the individual’s supposed right to be antisocial in matters of sex.

On Saturday, we are told that no man is an island. On Sunday, we are told that every woman is an island. On Monday, a bad man is sued to support a child conceived out of wedlock. On Tuesday, a good man is told to shut up when he sues to support his child conceived within wedlock, rather than have it aborted. On Wednesday, we complain that there are no good men to marry. On Thursday, we make sure to destroy the last institution that made for good men.

Read it all here.

Unbelievable

I don't think words are really necessary ...

Unbelievable

Live Action just released a new video in their Inhuman campaign.  I'm still in shock at the casual way that this 23 week old baby is described and handled.  It truly is inhuman.  

 

Mandatory free sterilization coverage for college women

Does the headline sound like it comes from a Communist country, or perhaps Nazi experimentation in concentration camps? No, not this time.

It's our own country. Apparently, last Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that free sterilization must be offered to all women of college-age (enrolled in college or not).

First of all, why are we not hearing this? There are a limited number of news services where I have seen the story, and unfortunately, this one, covers the story, but also shares a mostly "uncovered" picture of a celebrity in the margin, which I must warn you of before proceeding.

Secondly, why, oh why, would we ever think that offering 18-23 year olds free sterilization is a good idea? It's demeaning. It's degrading. It's heartbreaking. It says fertility is a major disease. It says we don't believe life is good enough to say yes to in the future. It says we don't want to be generous with love and life. It says we are incapable of self-sacrifice.

It says a lot ... and I could vent about it for a long time. But for now, please know that we must be vigilant about the anthropology of our government -- an anthropology that says I am made for this world and nothing more. Don't we want the beauty of knowing we are called to be more?

And I thought vending machines were to sustain life

There just has to be a positive news story out there somewhere, right? Well, this one is not. Marcel Lejeune is alerting readers to the fact that Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania is now selling the Plan B chemical abortion pill in vending machines. It's for convenience, of course, that we are now able to encourage young college women to behave sexually however they so choose, and then head to the campus building that provides easy, confidential access to a pill that supposedly erases the effects of what they did last night. With the ease of purchasing a coke or a pack of M&Ms on a whim, college women can now purchase death for their own children.

And now for some good news ...

The Susan G. Komen Foundation is no longer supporting Planned Parenthood! Read the story here.

On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Marching for Life from home

Sacred Heart Radio's newest feature, The Catholic Beat, has the scoop on pro-life events in the Tri-State area this weekend to participate in the spirit of the March for Life from home. I highly encourage you to check out the events, if you are unable to be in Washington, DC for the annual March. It's a wonderful opportunity to unite with others in seeking a culture of life.

Getting a haircut and defending life

Kelly Clinger, a former backup singer for Britney Spears, shared a recent encounter at a hair appointment:

I’ve been putting off getting my hair done for a while because it’s hard for me to rationalize spending the money AND spending 2 hours being still. (I know, first world problem!) ☺ But, alas, my roots were quite blond so I scheduled an appointment for today. I’ve been battling the blues for a few days and would probably have stayed in bed had it not been for the appointment.

I walked in and took a seat while I waited for my stylist to come get me. I can’t even make up what happened next.

On the other side of the wall, I heard this conversation:

Girl #1: “Well, I’ve always been pro-choice, especially if there’s something wrong.”

((I look around for candid camera.))

Girl#2: “Yeah I’ve been sick for a month. I just don’t think I can do this if there’s something wrong with the baby.”

((After I get over my shock, I begin to pray. I thought I was here to get my hair colored, but apparently You have other plans, Jesus.))

Girl #1: “I think you did the right thing by making the appointment. It’s harder to talk yourself out of it once you have a time to get it done. Will your husband drive you?”

((HUSBAND??))

Girl #2: “No, he doesn’t know I’ve been thinking about abortion. I think I will just tell him I had a miscarriage.”

((Here we go!))

As I round the corner with my “Pray to end abortion” t-shirt and my LIFE band, I felt the Holy Spirit say, “meekness and kindness, Kelly”, and I thanked Him for the reminder.

Me: “I couldn’t help but overhear what you guys were talking about and I’ve never felt stronger in my life that I was put in this room by God.”

((Their mouths drop open, and they just stare at me. I take a deep breath.))

Read the rest of the story.

Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity

The Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity is coming up on Oct. 18. Learn more here.

Pink

While sitting at a red light this morning, I noticed two men from a landscaping business trimming the edges of the corner gas station's grass. They were both wearing hot pink shirts. Slightly confused, I remembered it's October. And since the light was long, I also had the chance to look up and see a billboard, "Spinning for Breast Cancer," with more pink plastered across the board.

But what's the problem? Cancer awareness is not bad, but unfortunately October's pink campaign raises money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which in turn supports Planned Parenthood.

Matthew Hanley has an overview of this sticky situation in his article, "The Dark Side of 'Thinking Pink.'" Here's a bit:

Curiously, Komen also funnels millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood — already a recipient of considerable governmental largesse. By doling out tons of contraceptives and providing for more abortion than any other outfit in the country, Planned Parenthood virtually ensures that the breast cancer epidemic will persist, not shrink.

You don’t have to be a cynic to find this cozy relationship a bit fishy.

Yes, something is rotten in Pink Denmark — despite the good will that the awareness campaign evokes in many people, among other redeeming qualities. Awareness of Breast Cancer per se, of course, is not the problem. Forbidding awareness of highly relevant reproductive risk factors ineluctably undermines the overall effort, which reveals that it is committed to women’s health — only up to a certain point.

I’m sure marketing gurus could figure out a way to raise awareness of these factors tactfully and succinctly at the supermarket check out counter, where everyone without fail is regularly asked to pitch in. Or if NFL players are man enough to wear pink on the field, why couldn’t broadcasters mention these risk factors on the air — perhaps during a marquee game in New York City, where 40 percent of all pregnancies end in abortion? (The figure is 60 percent among African Americans — much higher than even Eastern Europe, which with 105 abortions for every 100 live births, has the highest abortion rate in the world.) Even if they framed it as “controversial”, that would be some serious awareness-raising.

Read it all here.

"A Lost Child, But Not Mine"

I'm a frequent reader of the New York Times' "Modern Love" section. Typically, I find the reflections sobering and hauntingly real. At the same time, I am generally frustrated by the conclusions -- "my truth" is true, there's nothing better out there, love is whatever I make it, etc.

Today, I was quite struck by the latest submission, "A Lost Child, But Not Mine" which strikingly captures the pain of a post-abortive woman. It's not written with an agenda on the margins, but rather with the capacity to articulate one woman's regret over lost motherhood. And it's in the New York Times, which will make for many readers.

Here's a particularly heart-wrenching line:

I drew my lips to match his cheery expression even though I felt shorted. I had graduated with honors, seen the first book I edited published with my name in microscopic print, and been accepted to an Ivy League graduate program. I kept trying to secure the next accomplishment that would make my decision worthwhile.

Read the whole reflection here.

There is help available for post-abortive women and men. Check out these resources: here, here and here.

Diocese of Toledo and Susan G. Komen

It's unfortunate (and tragically ironic) that the Susan G. Komen Foundation gives money to Planned Parenthood. Unfortunate because it makes supporting the organization an ethical issue. Tragically ironic because abortion increases one's risk of breast cancer, and Planned Parenthood provides astonishing numbers of abortions each year.

Read what the bishop of Toledo has decided to do about diocesan schools and parishes raising money for the foundation.

You can also read Bishop Blair's letter here.

What is your commitment to life?

An unemployed electrician in Minnesota is making headlines for turning down a job because of his pro-life convictions. He was offered an opportunity to work on a new Planned Parenthood building but weighed his moral responsibility as higher than his economic one. Read his story here. We need more people who courageously defend life by their actions and words.

What would Margaret Sanger say?

Paul Kengor shares a brief summary of the thoughts of Planned Parenthood's founder, Margaret Sanger. If you've never heard of her views before, do take time to read the quotes presented by Kengor. You can find them here.