Life Links 12/4/09

Ross Douthat notes a double standard with regards to pro-choicers who oppose the governmental funding of crisis pregnancy centers.

Again, I can see why the pro-choice side dislikes crisis pregnancy centers, and especially dislikes the idea of public dollars being funneled their way. But if we don’t want to fund ideologically charged organizations that cut ethical corners in the counseling they provide to pregnant women, there’s a case to be made for taking a look at Planned Parenthood’s millions as well.

AUL’s blog discusses the passage of the Mikulski amendment.

Today the Senate accepted the Mikulski (D-Md) amendment to the Senate health care bill by a vote of 61-39. The amendment does not explicitly require abortion coverage, but it also fails to explicitly exclude it. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) could categorize abortion as “preventive care,” and would therefore recommend coverage for abortion by all private plans. The recommendation would force private plans to offer abortion coverage, furthering the abortion lobby’s agenda of mainstreaming abortion as health care.

The Murkowski amendment, which would have explicitly excluded abortion from being included as preventative care, was defeated 41 to 59.


Abortionist LeRoy Carhart has admitted to the New York Times that he is performing abortion past 24 weeks at his Bellevue abortion clinic. The article also notes that some of Carhart’s employees supposedly quit because he announced he would start performing later term abortions at the Bellevue clinic.

Dr. Carhart declined to provide specifics on how late in a pregnancy he would be willing to perform an abortion. Dr. Tiller performed them, in some cases, as late as in the third trimester of pregnancy. Dr. Carhart’s fee schedule lists prices for abortions up to 22 weeks and 6 days (at that point, $2,100 in cash or $2,163 on a credit card), but notes that abortions after 23 weeks are available “after consultation with our doctor,” and that abortions after the 27th week may take four days.

A woman from Garden City, Michigan has been arraigned for attempted murder after allegedly abandoning her newborn baby girl in a trash can. Television station WXYZ has an interview with 4 six-graders who heard the child crying and helped save her life.