News for April 2012

In section 34, the statement affirms that “ . . . it needs to be stated that there is a duty to refuse to use such ‘biological material.’” However, there may be situations when it’s appropriate to consider the vaccines. The document specifies: “Thus, for example, danger to the health of children could permit parents to use a vaccine which was developed using cell lines of illicit origin, while keeping in mind that everyone has the duty to make known their disagreement and to ask that their health care system make other types of vaccines available."

Therefore, it is ethically acceptable to use such vaccines if:

1. There is no alternative vaccine,
2. There is a threat to health that is diminished by the vaccines and
3. Those accepting the vaccines make their reservations known to the medical providers and to vaccine manufacturers and request that they use or develop replacement vaccines with cell lines or media that are not morally tainted

There is another, new concern about vaccines grown on human cell cultures: contamination of vaccines with human DNA. That issue will be addressed in a future newsletter.

Email us at HealthMatters@colfs.org for a topic you would like to see in a future newsletter.

Of course, Catholic and other Christian organizations that do not want to be held responsible for participating in the culture of death have the option of closing their doors in response to governmental oppression. Shuttering the services of Catholic-run hospitals, schools, charitable organizations, and other non-profits would force the government to perform these services instead, which would become a further drain on the ever-expanding national debt. Unfortunately, there will be no governmental office to take the place of pro-life organizations that save lives and close abortion facilities throughout the country.

Where does that leave COLFS and its supporters? The most important item of action is prayer and sacrifice. Jesus promised us in the Gospel of Matthew that the gates of hell would never prevail against His Church (16:18). After 2,000 years, we have seen the Lord’s protecting hand, even in times of severe adversity in the Church—so we have every reason to believe that Christ’s words will hold true now and forever. Our prayers for strength and wisdom are important to the success of defeating the mandate.

If you are called to do more, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site (www.usccb.org) contains conscience protection action items. Initially, Catholics were lulled by promises from the current administration that we would not have to act against our consciences in regard to the national health care regulations. We see now that more must be done—not only as Catholics, but as U.S. citizens interested in protecting the freedoms afforded to us by the Bill of Rights.

May God bless us all in our fight for truth and justice to prevail!

Debbie spread awareness of our support to women in crisis pregnancy situations and of our 100% pro-life family medical care. Hearing about our pro-life physicians on staff makes it more likely that word spreads to build our patient base. Thank you, Msgr. John Dolan and St. Rose of Lima parishioners, for making this a successful event!

If you would like COLFS to bring awareness of our pro-life ministry and medical clinic to your parish or group, please call Ashley @ 619-692-4401 or email aburns@colfs.org

Dr. Delgado introduced our new abortion pill reversal website, www.AbortionPillReversal.com, to his hosts. This site and its associated telephone hotline serve as a new means to rapidly and efficiently connect women who have taken the abortion pill, mifepristone (RU 486), and regret their decision, with medical providers who can attempt reversal of the drug with progesterone. The “morning after pill” Ella, which like mifepristone is a progesterone blocker, also can potentially be reversed by progesterone.

I told her I was going to go to the doctor and see if I was pregnant. She asked for my number, and we kept in touch. When I knew I was pregnant, I told my parents, and they supported me with everything. I told Debbie, and she said she can give me clothes, diapers, etc. She gave me everything I needed for my baby.

I am so thankful to God for the phone number I saw on TV because, thanks to Debbie, I have my baby boy with me! She opened my eyes and helped me, and she is always there for me. She saved my baby’s life. I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for her--maybe I would have killed my little angel.

Candy (center) pregnant with her baby boy

I want to tell all the single moms like me that if I’m able to keep my baby so can you, and if you don’t want to keep it, there are other people out there willing to adopt a baby. Don’t kill the baby, but give the baby and a family out there a chance to be happy. If you think you’re alone, you’re not because Culture of Life Family Services can help you.

It’s not easy being a single mom, but it’s a great gift to be happy and be with my baby. When I look at him, I thank God for Debbie because she changed my mind. Now I love being a mom! God sent me an angel and for him I’m going to follow my dreams again. I’m going to go back to school so he can be proud of me, and I’m going to work hard so I can buy him everything he needs. If I can do it myself, so can someone else.

Every successful sidewalk counselor I know, started by praying in front of an abortion mill. Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have against abortion, and it is a fairly easy thing to do. You stand or kneel in front of an abortion mill while praying for the women going in—that they will open their hearts to God and realize the precious gift of life they carry inside is priceless and can never be replaced.

While you are praying, you quickly realize those women in front of you are not just some generic, unknown group, like a herd of cattle. They are your neighbor’s daughter, your niece, your co-worker’s sister. They are real, individuals who either don’t understand the magnitude of what they are about to do or are so overwhelmed they feel like they have no other choice. It be comes personal, even though you don’t know them. It is a spiritual battle that is hard to walk away from. “Prayer warriors,” who put their souls into their prayers, experience a deep involvement in helping save a woman and her unborn baby from abortion.

There is no “typical” Saturday morning for a sidewalk counselor. Every car that enters the parking lot carries a unique story: a young woman not ready to start a family; a couple with three kids, who think they can’t afford another one; a vulnerable woman afraid of losing her boyfriend, who doesn’t want to be a father. The sidewalk counselor has a few brief seconds to size up the situation while explaining the risks of an abortion and other information that the doctor and nurses in the abortion mill will not tell them.

The counselor looks for clues while talking, such as an empty car seat in the back of the car, a Rosary hanging from the mirror, or the facial expressions of the woman and her boyfriend/husband. The car seat tells the counselor that the woman has already been a mother, and she knows the bond between a mother and her child. This is often the key to a woman’s heart. The Rosary tells the counselor that the woman may be open to the love of God, who is the source of all life. The facial expressions reveal the inner emotions taking place for both the woman and her companion while the counselor is talking. They reveal where the counselor is making progress and help determine what direction the counselor should take in reaching the heart of the woman. Above all,the counselor needs to show compassion and understanding. Behind all of this are the prayers of those on the sidewalk.

The sidewalk counselor’s number one goal is to get the women to leave the abortion mill. For those who have enough doubt to leave, but are still undecided or not firm in their choice for life, the sidewalk counselor needs a place to send them, and it’s almost always Culture of Life Family Services. COLFS is where all their fears will be addressed, where they can be examined and reassured by a qualified doctor, and where they can actually see the growing life within their womb.

For the vast majority of women, once they see their baby on an ultrasound, confusion gives way to joy and relief, and the battle for life has been won. COLFS is the only pregnancy resource center with a doctor who will see abortion-intent woman on Saturday mornings—just minutes after being intercepted by a sidewalk counselor in front of the abortion mill. COLFS is a vital part of the teamwork approach to saving lives: prayer in front of the abortion mill, sidewalk counseling, and the doctor and resources needed to help a woman choose life. For dedicated prayer warriors, sidewalk counselors, and the people on call at COLFS, saving lives is not a part-time effort.

To find out more about Helpers of God’s Precious Infants San Diego, visit www.helpersSD.org.

By using these vaccines, we are cooperating with the evil of abortion and risking scandal. “Cooperating with evil,” from an ethical standpoint, means that we are benefiting from or promoting an unjust act, such as an abortion. “Scandal” means that we may lead others to unethical behavior by the example we set when we use these vaccines.

On the other hand, we do have a duty and a right to protect ourselves and our children from the dangers of infectious diseases. Can we, therefore, in good conscience, use these vaccines?

Next month, I will continue the discussion and offer some options.

As we prepare to enter Lent full of the hope that Easter brings, we can focus on performing acts that lead us closer to Jesus. Loving the children of God who are in circumstances that force them to consider unimaginable “choices” is one way to lead them to the love of Christ, who shines the light on the truth of life.

This month, please join us in prayer for mothers who are at risk for abortion. It is not judgment or condemnation that helps them choose life. They are gently guided with the agape form of love exhibited by sidewalk counselors, like Roger Lopez and members of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants San Diego; crisis pregnancy coordinators, like Debbie Bradel; and doctors, like George Delgado and Karen Saroki.

Thank you for your support of this ministry, which could not function without your love and dedication.

Ten days after our break up, I took a Home Pregnancy test and the result was “Positive.” I was five weeks pregnant! When I initially saw the results I almost fainted. I dropped to the floor unable to breathe and could not stop crying and screaming. Sadly, my reaction was from devastation and not happiness. The last time I cried like that was nearly five years ago when my father passed away. I kept asking G-d, “Why? Why has this happened to me? Why now? I’m a 38-year old unmarried woman without a job, money, or family nearby, and with a huge amount of school loans to pay off.”

My family, who resides on the other side of the world, is very traditional and I thought they would never approve or accept my situation. Where I come from, girls are expected to get married first and then have children. And here I am: pregnant, alone, financially constrained, and nowhere close to my life’s plans and dreams.

The only thing I could think was to get an abortion as soon as possible. I believed that my life was over and I had no other options. I searched online for a place where I could get an abortion for free, but my search was unsuccessful. I came across a few places that advertised “immediate assistance.” One was called Turning Point, and they referred me to Culture of Life Family Services for free medical care, such as an ultrasound. I made an appointment hoping they would be able to help me find a place where I could get a free abortion and get back to my life’s plan. But that first visit changed my life.

Since the moment I stepped into the office, I was surrounded by unconditional care, compassion, empathy, and support. The staff at COLFS gave me the strength I needed to look beyond my selfish pain and misery, and gave me the ability to think more clearly about my options. They gave me the hope I desperately needed and helped me understand that my life was not over. Moreover, they helped me realize that what had happened to me was not the end of the world; rather, I was given an amazing gift and a blessing. They helped me remember my training, where I learned that unexpected life-changing events, such as the one I was experiencing, often cause fear and distress that automatically impact our ability for rational thinking. When I think about life without fear, and I let go of the unknown future that doesn’t yet exist, only then could I focus on the moment and make rational choices.

When I began thinking without fear, I started thinking about my life and about G-d’s plan for me. I had a few weeks of no sleep and extreme stress, but COLFS helped me accept the miracle I had been blessed with. And thus, I began embracing the new life that was growing inside of me. I came to realize that this was G-d’s plan for me, even though it was not the plan I had for myself. The truth was there was an innocent child that was created by my actions. What right did I have to cease it and take away the life that it was given?

Shortly after I visited the clinic, I found the strength to call my family and tell them about my situation. To my surprise, they were very supportive and happy for me! It’s now been about three months since I first went to COLFS. I am currently four months pregnant and am enjoying the beautiful miracle I am blessed with. G-d has given me a gift and I embrace every moment of it. I still have my fears, but that’s ok – fear often comes up in the challenges that life has in store for us. Focusing on the positive aspects of life and avoiding the negative is the best thing we can do for ourselves—to let go of our fear and to utilize the support and resources around us. And that’s exactly what I did! I am extremely grateful for that opportunity, as my life has changed forever – and, yes, for the better.

Special Thanks: Words cannot express the gratitude I feel when I think about what Debbie Bradel, from Culture of Life Family Services, did for me. She is truly a blessing in my life. From the bottom of my heart, I thank her for being supportive through this difficult time, for the strength she has given me to see the gift that I was given, for the hope that my life is not over, and for the courage to look deeper into G-d’s plan for me and do the right thing. I also want to sincerely acknowledge Dr. Saroki and the rest of the staff at COLFS, for without them my life would be very different today.