Dear Friend of Life,
If you watched the news at all this past week, you probably saw reports concerning a new undercover, investigative video released by a non-profit group, The Center for Medical Progress, alleging that Planned Parenthood is involved in the illegal sale of aborted baby body parts. Additionally, the video demonstrates that one way they obtain fetal body parts is through a procedure that is now banned by federal law and considered a felony — the partial-birth abortion procedure.
This information, it should be noted, did not come from a lower level staff member, but their lead abortionist: Planned Parenthood’s senior medical services director, Dr. Deborah Nucatola. In the video, she describes harvesting fetal body parts — in a very cavalier, disturbing manner — as she eats a salad and enjoys a glass of wine.
Watch both the condensed and full video footage (+ transcript) here: http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/cmp/investigative-footage/
This video was released as one piece of evidence gathered during a 2.5 year+ undercover investigation into Planned Parenthood by the Center for Medical Progress.
During this particular meeting caught on tape, undercover investigators posing as buyers from a human biotech company solicit a conversation about obtaining fetal body parts for research, and Dr. Nucatola casually discusses how she harvests baby body parts — how she crushes above and below certain body parts to obtain the best “specimen” — and what the fees would be associated with each part. In the same footage, Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, is seen praising Dr. Nucatola for her role in the organization which is known to be the largest abortion provider in the United States.
Upon the release of the video early last week, the reaction of the American public seemed to be conclusive: sad. barbaric. disturbing. How could anyone do this? Much less, discuss killing a preborn child and obtaining his parts for prospective gain in such a terribly casual manner?
In the wake of this video coming to light, Planned Parenthood was all over the news and social media was trending with the video and subsequent discussions. Several state governments announced an investigation into Planned Parenthood. Most Presidential candidates made a heartfelt call to defund them as soon as possible. And Congress announced they would investigate Planned Parenthood, as well!
In short, it was a very bad week for the largest abortion provider in the United States.
Planned Parenthood released both a statement from their communications department within 24 hours, as well as a video statement from Richards a couple of days later. Still, while Planned Parenthood tried to explain away their actions under the guise of “tissue donation” for medical research — simultaneously apologizing for Nucatola’s “tone and statements” — it seemed as though the damage had been done.
Apparently, up to a dozen more videos are coming that reinforce what is seen in the first video. In short …wow. For an organization that tries to paint itself as the compassionate choice for women, it shows itself to be what we have known all along: an organization that cares most about making money off the most vulnerable in society.
In the coming days, I humbly ask you to join me in prayer: pray for those involved with the latest undercover investigation, pray for everyone in the pro-life movement, pray for the hearts of the American public (and world) and especially, pray for those involved with the latest Planned Parenthood scandal. Let us pray that Cecile Richards, Deborah Nucatola and everyone who works inside America’s largest abortion chain will come to know the abundant, merciful, redeeming love of Christ.
Meanwhile, we will continue our essential mission: rapidly working towards the day that no abortion facility in our country goes without peaceful, loving sidewalk counselors and that every abortion-bound woman knows that she has help, hope and a community of support right in her backyard. Since this effort began in April 2014, we have witnessed over 650 babies saved, 186 hopefuls and 20 workers who have left the business and been referred to And Then There Were None abortion worker ministry …all thanks to God’s amazing grace! We invite you to join us in the movement to transform hearts and save lives at abortion facilities all over the country and beyond — applications to bring Sidewalk Advocates for Life to your town or city are open August 1-31!
Tuesday, July 28, our Program Advisor, Students for Life of America, will be holding nationwide rallies in response to this latest Planned Parenthood scandal; go to http://www.womenbetrayed.com/ for more details!
Stay tuned! After all …we might be witnessing the final days of Planned Parenthood.
In Christ, for Life,
Lauren Muzyka
Executive Director
Sidewalk Advocates for Life
lauren@sidewalkadvocates.org
www.sidewalkadvocates.or
BI-WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL (JUNE 6 – JULY 25, 2015): “THE BEDROCK OF OUR BEING”
by Jeff Reedy, Shipping Coordinator, Sidewalk Advocates for Life
Verse(s): Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, `What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, `I AM has sent me to you.'” — Exodus 3:13-14
Reflection: We are awash in a sea of moral ambiguity today. The Supreme Court has handed down two decisions that leave many people scratching their heads and wondering what is going on in this country. It has recently been discovered that Planned Parenthood has been selling the body parts of unborn babies.
All of this can be overwhelming. But our verse today lets us know that we have someone we can trust. When Moses asked “Um… who should I say is sending me to this big powerful leader of a nation?” God said, “Tell them I AM WHO I AM sent you.”
God is. He always has been the perfection of justice, love, grace and mercy. He is the same perfection that He has always been. He will always be that same perfection. We can trust in Him, the bedrock, the ground of our being.
Faith Challenge: Armed with the knowledge that nothing can shake us because our bedrock is the unchanging, unmovable God of the ages, let us pray for our nation, that it might return to Him.
