Melissa Ohden

Dear ProLife Colleague: 3 items today: 1. I have previewed the 1 hour film “A Voice For Life.” Every pregnancy resource center should have a copy! I have found it to be a unique, sensitive, compassionate and realistic presentation of a woman, who, as a 7 month fetus, survived a Saline Abortion. This story is a very best expression of our pro-life ideals and desires and ministry. Melissa Ohden has done a wonderful job of telling her story in a way that sanctifies life, honors God, and meets the needs of many hurting people. I found it interesting that many post-abortive women received a measure of healing from hearing Melissa’s story, and a number of them emotionally “adopted” her in place of the child they had aborted, giving them some measure of comfort in their pain. Melissa is available to speak at events. Contact info and bio is found at: http://www.melissaohden.com/bio This is a wonderful website. Check out the “media” link for a number of video clips detailing victories over abortion. The website to obtain the 1 hour video is www.avoiceforlife.com 2. Horatio Storer is an early American gynecologist. He is even better known for the “physicians’ crusade against abortion” which he started and carried out with the assistance of the American Medical Association. Most people today are surprised to learn that induced abortion was common among married Protestant women in the United States in the 1850s. The “physicians’ crusade” led to the passage of laws in almost every state that protected the fetus from conception. These physicians, and the new abortion laws they worked to create, taught people that the fetus was alive prior to “quickening,” the point in the pregnancy when movements of the fetus were first felt by the woman. For more info on Dr. Storer, see http://horatiostorer.net/ 3. We’re glad for Court victories, and for prolife legal groups representing us: Excerpt from “Maryland pregnancy centers in the clear,” Onenewsnow.com by Charlie Butts. June 29, 2012–ADF is proud of the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for ruling against two unconstitutional ordinances that regulated pro-life pregnancy centers in Maryland. The Baltimore and Montgomery County laws required pro-life facilities to post signs saying they do not provide birth-control or abortions. Abortion clinics, however, were not required to advertise the services they do not offer. So, Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that pro-life centers should not be required to post material that discourages women from working with them. “Pregnancy centers offer real hope and help to women. They should be free to share that message and not be forced to provide the government’s preferred message,” attorney Matt Bowman contends. “Pregnancy centers offer emotional support and practical resources to women, giving them more choices. They should not be made to speak negatively about the services they provide, and the Fourth Circuit was right to rule against that in both of these cases.” The Fourth Circuit decision upholds federal district court ruling last year that declared the ordinances infringed on the pro-life facilities’ free speech rights (see earlier story). Similar ordinances in San Francisco and Austin, Texas are also facing court challenges. Jdc/aaplog