LifeNet

Human Life International - "In Memoriam Dr. Bernard Nathanson"

From Monsignor Ignacio
Barreiro-Carámbula
HLI Interim President

Human Life International -- and indeed, the entire pro-life movement -- will sorely miss Dr. Bernard Nathanson.  He was a great friend to, and collaborator with, HLI and our founder, Fr. Paul Marx, O.S.B., who passed away in April of last year. His courage, knowledge and humor brought light to a difficult struggle, and his knowledge of the inner workings of the abortion industry were priceless.

For years he was a favorite at HLI conferences. His conversion story is well known, and has helped inspire similar conversions. His tales of the distortion tactics the early pro-abortion activists used not only to legalize abortion, but to promote it as an essential aspect of "women's health," were devastating to the credibility of the cause he came to oppose. With palpable regret, he admitted that he and others in the abortion vanguard routinely invented statistics meant to shock people into first allowing, then advocating for, abortion; statistics such as the "thousands" of women who used to die annually from illegal "back alley" abortions.

His groundbreaking films "The Silent Scream" and "Eclipse of Reason," remain startlingly effective in revealing the true nature of abortion and of the movement that strove to enshrine this assault on the unborn in American law.

His post-conversion life story was one of redemption--a struggle to undo as many as possible of the wrongs that he had done. To see such a brilliant man suffer from the knowledge of what had wrought is a painful thing to behold, but to see him courageously and humbly seek to set things right was inspiring, reminding us that sincere repentance leads to an effort to make just reparation of the damages caused.  Would that we all could open ourselves to the Grace of true and ongoing conversion, and let Christ reform our lives, change our hearts and guide us toward Him

We are reminded again that no one is beyond redemption, and that the power of Grace is stronger than the power of evil. We have only to avail ourselves of His saving power, and He can help us recover and employ our gifts to His glory, which is all that a true Christian could ask for in this life.

In the early '90's, Dr. Nathanson, who grew up in a Jewish family but had lived his entire adult life without religious faith, came to believe that there was more to redemption than just the undoing of wrong. Only the true forgiveness of his Creator would suffice, so he began a journey that led to his entry into the Church in December of 1996, when he was baptized by the late Cardinal John J. O'Connor. Fr. Marx was one of many who attended his baptism in New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral on that wintry day, and one of many who basked in the warmth of the soul of a friend who came to know the forgiveness and redemption that only Christ can give.

Indeed, the Lord's ways are amazing. Recently we have witnessed another prominent conversion story, although one in a much earlier stage; that of Mrs. Abby Johnson. The former Planned Parenthood clinic director, whose story is also changing hearts and minds, has only begun as a leader in the defense of the unborn. Of all the parallels between their stories, I see nothing more crucial than the obvious fruitfulness of prayer--of faithful, specific prayer from those who loved them enough to pray for their conversion, and of many others who showed up to pray for them without knowing them. This is also why we promote the offering of the prayer of St. Michael after each Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the conversion of abortionists. 

Seeing these examples of the Lord's grace, let us continue our efforts of constant prayer for conversion--for our own ongoing conversion, and for the conversion of those who promote and defend the culture of death. No one is beyond redemption, so have hope! Look at the great things the Lord can do with those who come to see the truth, and choose life. Let this hope imbue our efforts as we work to do His will, even in the face of daunting challenges.

At St. Michael's Chapel at HLI headquarters we will pray that soon the doors of Paradise might be open to receive Dr. Nathanson. So please join us in our prayers for his soul, and for those of all the faithful departed. 

 

 

Bernard Nathanson "Rememberance" in Wall Street Journal

The link may not function - WSJ is a subscriber website.

But here it is - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703610604576158894030077096.html

Here are some excerpts:

Onetime Abortionist Who Joined Other Side

A onetime self-described militant for abortion rights, Dr. Nathanson in 1969 picketed a New York City hospital and pushed for passage of the New York state act legalizing abortion the following year. He acted as a spokesman for NARAL in its early years, calling for increased access to abortion for the poor, and became director of Manhattan's Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health.

"We're interested in the poor people who have had to use the back-alley butchers in the past," Dr. Nathanson told the Christian Science Monitor in 1970.

Yet within a few years, Dr. Nathanson, at the time a self-professed "Jewish atheist," became convinced by ultrasound and EKG imagery that the fetus was a human life.

"There is no longer serious doubt in my mind that human life exists within the womb from the very onset of pregnancy," he wrote in 1974.

Dr. Nathanson's conversion brought with it a denunciation of his former allies, whom he accused of "moral myopia" in his 1979 book, "Aborting America."

He accused pro-abortion crusaders—including his former self—of outright lies about the number of women killed by illegal abortions, said by supporters of abortion rights to be 5,000 to 10,000 a year. The real number, he wrote, was far lower.

>>>>>>>>

Joan Andrews Bell, a Catholic anti-abortion activist who has served time in prison for blocking access to clinics, said, "He knew what the other side was thinking, but he also humanized the other side for us."

>>>>>>>>

In 1996, he was baptized a Catholic at St. Patrick's Cathedral by Cardinal O'Connor. "I have such heavy moral baggage to drag into the next world," he told the Washington Times that year.

 

NY Times obituary for Dr. Bernard Nathanson

And go here for wikipedia entry for Dr. Nathanson

 

The NY Times obituary:

B. N. Nathanson, 84, Dies; Changed Sides on Abortion

Dr. Nathanson accused his critics of rationalizing. Responding to a doctor from Cornell’s medical school on the television program “Nightline,” he said, “If pro-choice advocates think that they’re going to see the fetus happily sliding down the suction tube waving and smiling as it goes by, they’re in for a truly paralyzing shock.”

 

Joseph Scheidler of the Pro-life Action League: statement on Dr. Nathanson

We are printing this in full:

Why Joe Scheidler Trusted a Man Who Killed 75,000 Babies

 

Pro-Life Action League’s Leadership Praises the Abortion Doctor who became a Beacon of Light for the Pro-Life Movement  

 

STATEMENT FROM JOE SCHEIDLER, NATIONAL DIRECTOR, PRO-LIFE ACTION LEAGUE ON DR. BERNARD NATHANSON 

“The pro-life movement lost a powerful voice in defense of unborn children in the recent death of former abortionist Dr. Bernard Nathanson.

“Along with Lawrence Lader he had founded NARAL (then called the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws). He had performed abortions enthusiastically for many years, directed the largest abortion facility in the Western world, and by his own accounting was responsible for 75,000 deaths.

“As difficult as it is to say now, at the time of his pro-life conversion many years ago, I did not quite trust him. I was skeptical of his story that he didn’t realize abortion was the taking of a human life until he saw an ultrasound. Perhaps he just seemed too matter-of-fact about what he’d done, without the contrition that his role in the abortion business would warrant.

“Most pro-lifers accepted him with open arms, but when other stood and applauded at his presentations, I sat quietly.

“Then one day in Indianapolis, I saw him in the lobby of the hotel where we were both staying, and he asked me if I would like to have a talk. We sat down together and I told him frankly of my misgivings.

“For some time he sat in total silence. And then he said, “Joe, do you realize what I have to face some day—75,000 lives on my conscience? If I would admit outright the horror of what I was doing, I could not live with it. Someday I will face my judge with all those lives on my conscience. It’s almost too difficult to admit what I have done, so I have to approach my conversion in a way that will help me keep my sanity.”

“I could see in his face that he was sincere—that his role as an abortionist and abortion promoter weighed on him more than he could express—and the only feeling I had for him was compassion. From that time on, we became good friends.

“Shortly after that conversation, Nathanson told me that I could call him any time, and he would attend any conference I wanted him to address, at no charge. He was true to his word.

“I saw him once in New York and asked if he would do an interview for one of our Meet the Abortion Providers videos, and he joined us immediately. Whatever his plans might have been, he changed them to assist a fellow pro-lifer and a friend.

“When I got a call from him in December 1996 asking if I could attend his baptism, confirmation, and first Holy Communion at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, he was the happiest I had ever heard him. He later said that since becoming a Catholic, he had found a peace he had never known before. He had been forgiven.

“In later years, as his health deteriorated and he became less actively involved in the pro-life movement, I lost contact with him. But he was still very much in my prayers.

“Dr. Bernard Nathanson was a modern-day Saint Paul. Just as Paul had persecuted the early Church, only to become her greatest advocate, Nathanson turned away from the abortion movement he helped found to become one of the foremost champions of unborn children.

“May his great soul now rest in peace.”

 

Contact: Tom Ciesielka, 312-422-1333, [email protected]

Pro-Life Action League website  http://prolifeaction.org/index.php

Tom Ciesielka

TC Public Relations

333 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1322, Chicago, IL 60601

[email protected]

www.tcpr.net

(312) 422-1333 office

(312) 403-1333 mobile

Bernard Nathanson

The co-founder of NARAL, who became prolife.

An atheist, turned Catholic

We just received this:

 

Dr. Bernard Nathanson, Pro-Life Champion, died at home

By Christopher and Joan Bell

FOR INFORMATION CALL 201.920.4986

Bernard N. Nathanson, M.D., former abortionist, whose conversion was a modern-day St. Paul story, died today, Feb. 21, at 84. He became one the most eloquent and informed pro-life voices in America and his death, at his New York residence after a prolonged battle with cancer, with his wife Christine by his side, will not silence his defense of life.

Bernard delivered our first daughter and became Joan’s godson.

Joan first met Bernard in Delaware at a pro-life meeting during 1980.  He later visited Joan in a Florida prison where she was incarcerated for a peaceful, prayerful attempt to stop abortion. 

            She said about him, “His intellect was incredibly diverse. When he visited me in Florida he brought a large stack of books and he questioned me on a wide range of subjects including philosophical, historical , medical and theological. What an incredibly sharp mind with deep ethical insights he had.”

            She add, “I was deeply honored by his presence in my life. He was a great doctor as well. I loved him and his goodness very much. He had a very great attraction to goodness and truth. I could feel his love for the pre-born children, including each child he had aborted and each child threatened by abortion today. It was a profound experience being in his presence and seeing the love and contrition in his eyes. I believe he came to totally accept God’s forgiveness. It all seemed real to him. His conversion is like St. Paul’s.”

            Christopher first met Bernard at a N.J. Right to Life banquet where they sat together on the Dias. Bernard was fasting, as he often did, before speaking. He launched a boycott of McDonald’s hamburger restaurants at that banquet after explaining that McDonald’s foundation was funding research on unborn babies.

            Christopher and Joan, along with hundreds of other pro-lifers including Bernard were in front of Planned Parenthood in New York City peacefully trying to stop abortions during 1990. Christopher saw how pensive Bernard was and asked, “May I ask you a question?” Bernard said, “Anything except about my spiritual life.”  He was obviously contemplating the journey of his soul. He’d later explain that it was the love he saw in the pro-lifers he met which helped him believe in God. 

            It was then through the intellectual stimulus of  Fr. C.J. McKlosky, a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei, that Bernard found his way to accepting Baptism in the Catholic Church.  Joan was his godmother.  Bernard attended the baptism of Mary, our daughter whom he delivered, in the crypt at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at the hands of Cardinal John O’Connor. Mary, who was then 4, witnessed Bernard’s baptism at the hands of Cardinal O’Connor in the same crypt of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on December 9, 1996.

Bernard was married in a Catholic ceremony to Christine Reisner, who was with him at the time of his death. She is the daughter of Dr. Edward H. Reisner Jr., a hematologist who was a longtime colleague of Bernard’s’s at St. Luke’s Hospital. Bernard is also survived by his son, Joseph, who’s mother, Adele Roban was always pro-life and once ran for the U.S. Senate on the Right to Life Party Line.

             Born in New York to a Jewish family, Bernard  received his medical degree from McGill University Medical College in Montreal, Canada, and served as a doctor in the U.S. Air Force for a few years. After his military stint, he built a thriving New York medical practice, at one time working at the same hospital as his father. In the late 1960’s, he was one of the founders of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (now called Naral ProChoice America), and later became the operator of the nation’s busiest abortion clinic, located in New York.

            An obstetrician-gynecologist, Bernard estimated that he oversaw the performance of about 75,000 abortions in the 1960s and 1970s before performing his last procedure in 1979 and turning his support to the pro-life movement. He wrote a number of books, including the biographical “The Hand of God,” and produced the famous 1986 film “The Silent Scream,” showing ultrasound images of an unborn child shrinking from the instruments of an abortionist. Bernard said that the development of quality ultrasound technology and a class in perinatology brought him face to face with the personality of the pre-born child. Then he knew abortion is the murder of an individual human being. He said, “Even as an atheist I knew that it was just wrong.”

  

            After joining the pro-life movement, he lectured widely, published numerous scholarly articles, and earned a master’s degree in bioethics from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he also became a visiting scholar.

A Funeral Mass is planned for St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, the current head of the Archdiocese of New York.      

Peace,
christopher bell +

Visit our newly updated site: www.goodcounselhomes.org
 
If you're on facebook visit http://www.facebook.com/goodcounselhomes?v=app_4949752878&ref=ts and click LIKE to help spred the word OR share with your friends who might be on Facebook.

 

Fr. Benedict Groeschel interviews John Paul II biographer, George Weigel

This is EWTN's "Sunday Night Live" from February 20th. It is over fifty minutes long but well worth listening to, if you have any interest in the soon-to-be beatified John Paul, and current issues in the Catholic Church.

The link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYGaXJIzlVw

Or watch/listen here:

 

Roll call vote results: how House Representatives voted on de-funding Planned Paranthood

The vote was 240-185 to de-fund. Seven Republicans voted against the bill and ten Democrats for it.  One Republican voted "present" (?) and there were seven representatives who did not vote.

Republican Nan Hayworth, who is prochoice/proabortion and defeated prochoice/proabortion John Hall last year in the NY 19th Congressional District, had campaigned in favor of legal abortion but opposed to government funding. However in recent days she had been non-committal on how she would vote on de-funding.

She did vote with the majority to de-fund.

Go here for full listing of Representatives -  H R 1 RECORDED VOTE 18-Feb-2011 2:13 PM

Former Planned Parenthood manager Abby Johnson, on O'Reilly Factor

Go here -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxgx-7EHMmk

House votes 240-185 to de-fund Planned Parenthood

This from ALL and STOPP -

ACTION ALERT YOU DID IT – Planned Parenthood defunding amendment passes CONGRATULATIONS.   We wrote to you earlier this week asking you to contact members of the House in support of efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. Just a few minutes ago, the House of Representatives voted 240-185 to add Amendment #11 to the Continuing Resolution bill. This amendment, introduced by Representative Mike Pence, prohibits any federal government money going to Planned Parenthood until, at least, September 30, 2011. It is a major victory and your prayers and actions made it happen.   The fight is not over. This amendment must also be passed in the Senate. It will be a major struggle and Planned Parenthood is already saying it will put all of its emphasis on defeating it in the Senate. Planned Parenthood has over $1 billion to throw at this. We, at American Life League will continue to be there for you as the battle rages. Our congressional team is ready to educate every senator on the evils of Planned Parenthood. We believe we can win, but we need your help. First, please pray for our efforts. Then, please send us your maximum donation as soon as you can. We will need funds for producing material to counteract what Planned Parenthood has promised to be a massive propaganda effort on its part. You can donate online, or mail your contribution to: American Life League P.O. Box 1350 Stafford, VA 22555   Or simply call us at 888-546-2580. Whatever you can send will greatly help in our efforts to maintain this victory and defund Planned Parenthood completely.   Thank you. _______________________________ Judie Brown President American Life League P.O. Box 1350 Stafford, Virginia 22555 540.659.4171 http://www.all.org/

Kathryn Jean Lopez: "Planned Parenthood's Misery Index"

 A look at Abby Johnson's book Unplanned.

Planned Parenthood’s Misery Index - While my sisters gently weep

And then a “client” left the clinic: a woman who had just had an abortion.

The religious sister “fell to her knees and wept with such grief . . . that I couldn’t help but think to myself, She feels something far deeper than I ever will . . . this grief at knowing that client had an abortion.” Sister Marie Bernadette would be back, every week, on the days the clinic performed abortions. And, Johnson writes, “We could continue to see that she was deeply and personally grieved by abortions.”

The weeping sister affected Johnson: “I tried to shake it off but couldn’t get past the fact that a nun was grieving over what was happening inside my clinic.” Johnson asked herself, “How many other people cry outside my workplace because of the work I am doing?”

Michelle Malkin: "Defund Planned Parenthood"

Michelle Malkin had a very fine column and blog posting.

The column also provides plenty of links to useful articles, videos, etc.

De-fund the predators of Planned Parenthood

Republicans have had the opportunity to de-fund Planned Parenthood many times over the years and failed. Do they have the will and the courage to pay more than lip service now? In the wake of the Philadelphia Horror and related “women’s health” butcher cases, the momentum to strip the abortion industry racket of taxpayer funding is stronger than ever. Over the past several years, some brave undercover journalists at Live Action Films — long chronicled on this blog — have repeatedly exposed the group’s willingness to aid and abet sexual predators, skirt disclosure laws, and perpetuate a criminal enterprise at the expense of pregnant mothers and their unborn children’s health, safety, and lives.

My column today recaps the shameful history of Planned Parenthood predation — and points out that the open, systematic undermining of parental authority by the abortion radicals deserves as much scrutiny as what they do on hidden cameras.

Pro-life political action needed in Westchester County District 12!

The following notice comes to the HVCL from Richard Brand. Rich and his wife Marie helped organize for the Yonkers Respect Life Week event at the Polish Center recently. Do your research and help them out!   Hi- There will be a special election on Tuesday, February 15th for County Legislator in the 12th County Legislative District. This seat was formally held by Tom Abinanti who was elected to the State Assembly in November. There is a clear choice for the vacant position. We are supporting Nicholas DeCicco who is pro-life and running on the Republican line. His opponent, MaryJane Shimsky, is a Democrat and totally for the choice of abortion. Since this is a special election, voter turnout will be low so every vote really counts.     We must do what we can to have DeCicco elected. We have his palm cards that can be distributed outside the churches in the 12th district.  While they do not specifically reference his pro-life position,we can hand them out after Masses at designated churches and tell parishioners to vote for him as a pro-life/pro-family candidate.  Churches in Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, and Irvington will be covered by Liz Costanza's group.    Can you help pass out the literature at Sat./Sun. Masses?  I have the Mass schedules.  Please let me know if you and others you know can help.  We will finalize distribution assignments by Friday night and arrange for distribution of the palm cards.  Thanks! Richard   [email protected] (c) 914-588-1830      12th Westchester Legislative District Catholic Churches 1.    St. Matthew- Hastings on Hudson 2.    Sacred Heart- Dobbs Ferry 3.    OLP – Dobbs Ferry 4.    Immaculate Conception- Irvington 5.    Our Lady of Perpetual Help- Ardsley 6.    Our Lady of Fatima- Yonkers 7.    Sacred Heart – Hartsdale 8.    Our Lady of Shkoda- Hartsdale 9.    Lady of Mt. Carmel – Elmsford (partial area)

Last look at the signs, posters, banners, at the Washington March for Life

Really just a small selection, from the thousands of possibilities at the March. It starts with a group shot with some of the people from the two buses that made stops from Croton to Tarrytown, NY.

Then 50(!) more, mostly of signs, with only a few crowd shots sprinkled in - so one picture for (almost) every day of the week .

And the rest, with very little commentary.

Randall Terry, who plans on running in Democratic Presidential primaries against President Obama, allowing him to show ads of what happens in an abortion. Media stations cannot turn down election ads!

Glenn Beck interviews 22 year old Lila Rose, head of Liveaction.org

Here's Lila's bio from wikipedia. It has been modified in just the last several days, by someone not very happy with her group.

 

And this is the latest video from liveaction showing Planned Parenthood culpability with sex trafficking of teenage girls. Latest Live Action Planned Parenthood expose in the Bronx; has to be seen to be believed

Here's the interview - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqbHqx5u98

Latest Live Action Planned Parenthood expose in the Bronx; has to be seen to be believed

As two staff members explain how a pimp can get his fourteen and fifteen year old "sex workers" an abortion - and with government funding.

Even for those of us who are aware of Planned Parenthood's despicable philosophy - this seven minute video is shocking. Be sure to watch the whole thing - it gets worse and worse as it goes along.

http://liveaction.org/blog/bronx-planned-parenthood/

NYC Planned Parenthood Supervisor, Employee Shown Willing to Assist Pimp/Sex Trafficker With Girls As Young As 13

Supervisor and Staffer Serve Up Business As Usual, Counsel When Pimp Tells of Underage Girls Being Used for “Sex Work”

And you heard it right - they actually told the pimp he could sign as guardian for the girls.

 

"Live Action" of Planned Parenthood cover-up of pimping under-age prostitutes; plus more!

Below  is the link to the youtube channel for Live Action - Human Rights for all Humans - including all the videos of Planned Parenthood employees explaining how to skirt laws for reporting statutory rape, sex trafficking, and other sexual abuse. The founder of Live Action is Lila Rose - here's her wikipedia bio. Here's the link to liveaction.org.

Go here for Live Action youtube channel  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj2XeLPRjns&feature=player_embedded

This is starting to be covered by the major media.

Here is NPR admitting mistakes in their coverage -

NPR Admits Errors in Planned Parenthood Sex Trafficking Video Report

Planned Parenthood bigwigs report they are "shocked" at what some of their employees have been doing ...