Cincinnati Right to Life

Abortion pill advertisement at US Open leaves golf fans appalled: ‘Gross and divisive’

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:55:00 GMT

By: Ryan King, originally published June 22, 2026, The New York Post

Golf fans attending the third round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills Saturday were left stunned when an airplane buzzed the course towing an advertisement promoting obtaining abortion pills by mail.

The ad was paid for by Mayday Health, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to highlighting the availability of abortion medication and birth control pills across the country.

“It just felt gross and divisive. I’m sure that’s exactly what this group intended, which is a real shame,” one fan told The Post about the stunt.

“These kids kept pointing at the banner asking their parents ‘What does that say?’ And it was clear they had no clue how to respond. I mean, what do you even say?

“Especially when there are so many golfers and spectators who are strong in their faith — this felt like an intentional distraction by outside agitators to undermine the tournament,” the fan added.

The banner flew over the Southampton property for about 90 minutes, witnesses said.

The choice of venue was likely no accident, as the US Open famously concludes on Father’s Day weekend each year.

Mayday Health was founded in 2022 after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which struck down its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling and allowed each state to set its own abortion policy.

Mayday’s advertising ploys have caused controversy across America. In 2022, Mississippi clashed with the group over its billboards touting ways women can terminate their pregnancies.

In March, the group reached a settlement with South Dakota in which it agreed to “remove any signs with deceptive and unlawful advertisements,” according to the state attorney general’s office .

The United States Golf Association and Mayday Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Wyndham Clark secured his second US Open win on Sunday, shooting a four-under-par 276 to hold off Sam Burns by one shot.

Ryan King is a politics reporter at the New York Post.

Images: Obtained by The New York Post.

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When Protecting Life Loses Its Heart

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:27:00 GMT

By: Amy O’Donnell, originally published June 11, 2026, Society of St. Sebastian

For nearly fifty years under Roe v. Wade , abortion was treated as a constitutional right deeply embedded in American law, politics, education, and culture. Organizations like Planned Parenthood aggressively promoted it, especially in low-income and minority communities. Meanwhile, pro-life advocates worked incrementally to save lives and build toward Roe’s reversal.

Laws such as parental notification and consent requirements, ultrasound mandates, informed consent rules, 20-week bans, and the 2003 federal partial-birth abortion ban steadily advanced protection. In Texas, the 2021 Heartbeat Act and Human Life Protection Act (a trigger law) took bold steps. These incremental measures saved lives and laid the groundwork for success when Dobbs overturned Roe in 2022.

This mirrors William Wilberforce’s decades-long campaign of incremental restrictions on the slave trade, which ultimately led to abolition. Progress against great moral evils rarely happens in one leap.

The Abolitionist Approach

A small faction known as “Abolish Abortion” groups have opposed mainstream pro-life efforts. They testified against all key Texas bills, including the Heartbeat Act and the Human Life Protection Act, placing themselves in lockstep with Planned Parenthood, which also opposed those bills. They proudly call themselves anti-pro-life and openly oppose our entire movement, including the pregnancy resource centers that are saving lives every day. They reject any law that does not criminalize women who obtain abortions.

Despite passing zero laws and saving zero lives through legislative efforts nationwide, the abolitionists attempt to blame pro-life organizations like Texas Alliance for Life for abortions happening illegally in Texas and for abortions occurring out of state, where our laws have no jurisdiction. The legislative record answers that charge definitively.

In contrast, Texas Alliance for Life and its partners have passed nearly 60 pro-life laws over 39 years. The Human Life Protection Act ended elective abortions in Texas once Dobbs took effect. Reported elective abortions (legally required to be reported through the Texas Health and Human Services Induced Termination of Pregnancy Report) dropped to zero, with only life-saving medical interventions remaining. Abortion providers now face severe penalties: up to 99 years in prison, $100,000 in civil penalties, and loss of medical license.

Consider what the abolitionist approach would mean for Texas. Under their equal protection framework, which lacks passage of any laws and whose supporters are on record opposing pro-life legislation currently protecting life, every surgical abortion provider would still be operating in Texas today. Planned Parenthood would still be performing abortions in Texas. And we would have no laws to hold illegal abortion providers or abusive partners who force abortion drugs on women accountable.

The Real Threat We Face

Post- Dobbs , the fight has shifted. The Biden-era FDA weakened safeguards on mifepristone, enabling widespread mail-order chemical abortions that bypass physician visits. Shield states protect out-of-state providers shipping pills into Texas. International organizations like Aid Access traffic abortion drugs from other countries entirely. The federal Comstock Act, passed in 1873, prohibits mailing or shipping any article, drug, or substance intended to produce abortion, yet it remains unenforced. Lawsuits like Louisiana v. FDA offer hope for restoring common-sense protections at the FDA.

Texas cannot constitutionally block women from traveling to other states for abortions, as Justice Kavanaugh noted in his Dobbs concurrence. Our focus must therefore remain on offering compassionate alternatives and building a culture where abortion is not just illegal but unthinkable. The better we do at supporting women facing unplanned pregnancies in our state, the less they will even consider driving out of state for an abortion, and the less they will consider ordering chemical abortion drugs from other states.

Why Criminalizing Women Is Counterproductive

The abolitionists believe criminalizing women is the silver bullet to ending abortion. They call it equal protection. Most people have no idea that in Texas, equal protection under this framework means a woman who has an abortion could face life in prison or the death penalty. The abolitionists do not lead with that. But when pressed, they have said on video that if that is where the law leads, so be it.

The same all-or-nothing demand contributed to Canada ending up with no abortion law at all, with abortion legal through all nine months and funded by taxpayers. We cannot afford to ignore that warning.

The practical consequences are just as serious. Criminalizing women shields abortion providers. To prosecute providers effectively, mothers must have immunity to testify. Targeting providers stops abortions. Targeting women leaves the industry intact elsewhere.

Pregnancy resource centers, which are saving lives right now, would be negatively impacted. Right now, pregnancy center directors tell us that abortion-minded women are walking through their doors, handing over the abortion pills, and choosing life. Right now, women who have already taken the first abortion pill are reaching out for reversal — and babies are being saved. Under the abolitionist approach, that stops. The frightened young woman with a pill in her hand does not walk into a pregnancy center if doing so could send her to prison. The woman who regrets taking an abortion pill halfway through does not pick up the phone if the call itself could be used as evidence against her. The woman seeking post-abortion healing stays silent and stays broken. Their policy does not end abortion. It ends the lifelines and the progress we have made.

Women experiencing complications from illegal abortion drugs will not seek medical care if they fear criminal prosecution. This is especially dangerous in our current chemical abortion drug landscape, where pills are shipped without a physician visit to rule out ectopic pregnancy, Rh negativity, and gestational age of the unborn baby. Each of these risk factors increases the complication rates exponentially.

The Path Forward

Texas Alliance for Life remains committed to protecting unborn children from conception while supporting women in crisis pregnancies. We must:

Advance strong enforcement against illegal abortion providers and traffickers of chemical abortion drugs.
Press for federal enforcement of the Comstock Act to stop the illegal pipeline of abortion drugs into pro-life states.
Oppose criminal penalties for women who seek or obtain abortions, so that mothers may freely access pregnancy resource centers, seek abortion pill reversal, and find post-abortion healing.
Support increased funding for and expand access to pregnancy centers, adoption services, maternal health programs, and post-abortion healing.
Promote education that affirms the dignity of every innocent human life from conception and empowers women to choose life.

It is critical to reach the women and communities who have been told for decades that abortion was their only path forward. We must elevate the value of parenting, the beauty of motherhood, and the strength of family. We must tell women that they can have their babies, planned or unplanned, and still achieve great things. No woman should feel she must choose between her child and her future.

The abolitionist equal protection approach is not tenable, and its advocates have not reckoned with what pursuing it would actually cost. It has produced no laws, only opposition to the measures that ended legal abortion in Texas. Incremental progress has saved lives and remains the proven path. We must defend it clearly, reject division, and continue building a culture of life.

We have Texas. They have nothing to show for their approach but opposition to the very laws that ended legal abortion in our state. That contrast speaks for itself, and it is the case we must keep making clearly and confidently at every opportunity.

Amy O’Donnell is Executive Director of Texas Alliance for Life.

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Why a viral tweet about maternal mortality shouldn’t be taken as fact

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:52:00 GMT

By: Nancy Flanders, originally published May 15, 2026, LiveAction.org

A recent post on X regarding maternal mortality has gone viral, but the post uses a source from nearly two years ago that has already been debunked .

Despite this, the misinformation is now making the rounds on social media and has racked up more than 8.7 million views.

Yet, the deception that intentionally killing preborn children is a lifesaving act is what’s behind this push. If the public can be made to believe that killing a million preborn babies every year “saves lives,” then the pro-abortion industry’s propaganda will have been successful.

Key Takeaways:

Though a viral tweet attempts to portray the idea that maternal mortality is higher in Texas and other pro-life states as a result of pro-life laws, going viral doesn’t make it true.
The tweet’s follow-up post links to a 2024 Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) study on maternal mortality (with the goal of attempting to prove that intentionally killing preborn babies is a lifesaving act for women).
The GEPI study purports to show increased maternal mortality in pro-life states, but its smoke and mirrors. The maternal mortality rose during the COVID pandemic, before the Texas Heartbeat Act took effect. After the Heartbeat Act took effect in 2021, the maternal mortality rate declined in Texas.
Two newer studies show no statistically significant increase in maternal mortality when compared to states with pro-abortion laws.
Correlation doesn’t equal causation. Other factors such as poverty, increasing maternal age, IVF use, and maternity care deserts may impact maternal mortality.
The Associated Press admitted that pregnant women tragically die in both pro-life and pro-abortion states from causes deemed “preventable,” with the CDC noting that 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable.

The Details:

The post on X claims: “Pregnancy related deaths in Texas have jumped 56% since abortion was banned.”

A follow-up post links to a study from the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) on Maternal Mortality in the United States After Abortion Bans. That report claimed, “Mothers Living in Abortion Ban States at Significantly Higher Risk of Death During Pregnancy and Childbirth.”

It made some seriously bold claims, including:

Women in states with pro-life laws are “nearly 2x as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or soon after giving birth, compared to mothers living” in states where abortion is legal.
“Maternal mortality fell 21% in [abortion] supportive states post-Dobbs.”
“Maternal mortality rose 56% in Texas in the first full year of the state’s abortion ban…”

But while perhaps not as catchy as propaganda, here’s the truth:

The report claims that maternal mortality increased 56% in 2022 (one year), but the data actually comes from a four-year timespan.
Most of the findings about worsened public health outcomes in pro-life states are due to correlation, not causation — meaning, worse outcomes cannot be directly attributed to pro-life laws, but the data is skewed to make it appear they were.
In pro-abortion states, the maternal mortality rate fell 20.3% from 2022 to 2023, with GEPI using 2022 as a baseline rather than comparing that to pre-COVID rates, which shows maternal mortality has increased in these states since 2016-2019.
Two more recent 2026 peer-reviewed studies on maternal mortality show no statistically significant increase in maternal mortality rates in states that enacted strong pro-life laws.

Skewed data

The cited report in the tweet claims, “In the first full year of Texas’s state abortion ban (2022), maternal mortality increased significantly. (10) The maternal mortality rate in Texas rose 56 percent.” But this is not correct; that increase was seen over a timespan of four years, including 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 (note that some of these years were the same time frame as the COVID-19 pandemic), not one year. And it rose during COVID before falling again. When looking at the data , its clear that the maternal mortality decreased by 35% after the state’s Heartbeat Act took effect in 2021 (from 43.9 to 28.5).

The data shows:

Maternal mortality in 2019: 18.3
Maternal mortality in 2020: 32 (up 75%)
Maternal mortality in 2021: 43.9 (up 37%)
Maternal mortality in 2022: 28.5 (down 35%)

The rise was not from the pro-life law, but from COVID-related maternal deaths.

Buried in footnote 10 is this admission:

The authors claim the study attempted to correct for this spike in its findings. But looking at the data from Texas, the truth is obvious. When looking at the years further back, it’s clear there has been no significant increase in maternal mortality in Texas.

Provisional data from the Texas Department of Health shows:

In 2016, the maternal mortality ratio (defined as “the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births”) in the state was 20.7 deaths per 100,000 live births.
In 2017, the rate was 20.2 deaths per 100,000 live births.
In 2018, the rate was 17 deaths per 100,000 live births.
In 2019, the rate was 17.2 deaths per 100,000 live births.

2019 was the year that Texas enacted its Heartbeat Act to protect preborn babies from abortion beginning at about six weeks. That took effect on September 1, 2019. Then COVID hit.

In 2020, the maternal mortality ratio in Texas reached 27.7 ( 24.2 , according to the study, with COVID-related deaths removed) per 100,000 live births.
In 2021, the ratio reached 39.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, but after removing the COVID-related deaths, it was actually 23.5 deaths per 100,000 live births.
In 2022, the maternal mortality was 23.9 , and, after accounting for COVID-related deaths, it dropped to 21.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. That’s a statistically insignificant difference over 2016, when the rate was 20.7.

This information also reveals that maternal mortality in Texas was declining before COVID and that it is now returning to rates seen pre-COVID.

As for the 35% decrease in maternal mortality in 2022, the year when the strongest pro-life laws went into effect in Texas, Dr. Michael New told Live Action News:

“Taking the data at face value, there was no consistent upward trajectory in the maternal mortality rate ,” wrote New. “Furthermore, the year Texas’ strongest pro-life law took effect, maternal mortality actually fell .”

Correlation vs. causation

Another consideration is that there is a difference between correlation and causation. Correlation is not causation, meaning that just because two variables move together (pro-life laws take effect, maternal mortality increases), it does not mean that one caused the other. There are many reasons that maternal mortality may be higher in some states than in others, and they have nothing to do with pro-life laws.

There are many outstanding questions to consider:

Could increases in advanced maternal age impact maternal mortality? According to the National Center for Health Statistics , “Women ages 40 and older had a maternal mortality rate of 62.3 per 100,000 live births, which is nearly five times higher than the rate for women younger than 25, which was 13.7.” NPR notes that while the birth rate is declining in general in the U.S., it’s actually increasing among mothers aged 40-44. “Between 2013 and 2023, the percentage of births to moms aged 40 to 44 increased by almost 40%,” the article notes. Since risks increase in pregnancies with advanced maternal age, how might this affect maternal mortality?
Could increases in IVF use impact maternal mortality? From 2013 to 2022, the use of artificial reproductive technology to become pregnant more than doubled , and the number of infants born using these methods increased by 44.5% . In vitro fertilization (IVF) accounts for 99% of ART procedures. According to research , IVF is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, hypertension, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Might this affect maternal mortality?
Could poverty rates impact maternal mortality? As Dr. Michael New explained to Live Action News, “Most states that have enacted strong protections for the preborn are located in the South. Southern states typically have higher poverty rates, which tends to lead to worse public health outcomes.” He then added that it is likely that “the higher poverty rate… is driving the below-average public health outcomes — not the pro-life laws.”
Could maternity care deserts impact maternal mortality? In addition to higher poverty rates in Southern states where pro-life laws are more common, much of the South is also more rural. Maternity care deserts are significantly affecting pregnant women in these states. Between 2010 and 2022, several Southern states, including Alabama and Mississippi, saw more than 60% of their rural hospitals operating without maternity services. According to Stateline, “Rural states saw the most profound losses. The states with the highest percentage of all hospitals lacking obstetrics by 2022 were North Dakota (73%), Oklahoma (63%), West Virginia (62%), Louisiana (60%), South Dakota (60%) and Mississippi (60%).” In Texas, 17 OB/GYN units closed between 2011 and 2021, according to the UTHealth School of Public Health.

“Preventable deaths” among pregnant women happen everywhere

Pro-life states are not alone in experiencing preventable maternal deaths.

The Associated Press admitted that pregnant women tragically die in both pro-life and pro-abortion states from causes deemed “preventable.”
Preventable pregnancy deaths occurred under Roe , and they are still happening in pro-abortion states.
The number of women dying in the U.S. from pregnancy-related causes more than doubled in the 20 years between 1999 and 2019 — during the reign of Roe v. Wade — according to a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
A comparison between pro-abortion California and pro-life Georgia showed that despite having the same number of maternal deaths (113) from 2018 to 2020, California had the higher percentage of maternal deaths determined to be preventable .

Newer studies show no significant increase in maternal mortality

Two new studies have emerged since the 2024 Gender Equity Policy Institute’s skewed look at maternal mortality.

⦿ The JAMA Network ‘s peer-reviewed study published in April 2026, which examined “12 ,993 pregnancy-associated deaths from 2018 to 2023,” showed “ no significant overall increase in pregnancy-associated mortality was found in ban vs nonban states . State-specific estimates were heterogeneous, but none reached statistical significance.”

Researchers were clear:

The JAMA study found that maternal mortality rates are declining in all states.

According to Dr. New’s review of the study, “Since enacting its Heartbeat Law, Texas saw its maternal mortality rate drop by 2.4 percent. Other states with strong pro-life laws saw their maternal mortality rate drop by 3.3 percent.”

He added that “this analytically rigorous JAMA Network Open study which analyzed data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia provides strong evidence that pro-life laws do not increase the maternal mortality rate.”

Results showed that from 2018 to 2023, pregnancy-associated mortality dropped by 9.8% in pro-abortion states. In states with pro-life laws (excluding Texas), there was a 2.4% decline in pregnancy-associated mortality. Texas itself saw a decline of 3.3%. The researchers explained (emphasis added):

⦿ The 2026 AJPH study , a publication of the American Public Health Association, reported, “There was no detectable increase in maternal mortality” among the 14 states that implemented pro-life laws by the end of 2022.

The study showed:

Across all states , the maternal mortality rate rose slightly from 18 per 100,000 live births in 2016-2019 to 18.5 in 2023 after hitting a high of 32.6 in 2021, likely due to COVID.
In pro-abortion states, the maternal mortality rate rose from 15.4 in 2016-2019 to 16.2 in 2023. (That’s an increase, not a decrease, as the Gender Equity Policy Institute claimed in its 2024 study.) Rather than using the 2019 rate as it did to claim a maternal mortality increase in pro-life states, GEPI used 2022 as the baseline for pro-abortion states. According to the AJPH study, this would show 20.3% decrease in maternal mortality in pro-abortion states. However, from 2016-2019 to 2023, the maternal mortality actually increased very slightly in abortion friendly states.
In states with pro-life laws , excluding Texas, the maternal mortality rate decreased from 26.6 in 2016-2019 to 23.7 in 2023.
In Texas, the maternal mortality rate increased from 20.3 in 2016-2019 to 24.3 in 2023 (a 19% increase). From 2019 (17.2) to 2023 (24.3), it increased by about 41%, largely thanks to COVID, but it decreased from a high of 44.0 in 2021 . GEPI used 2019 as the baseline for Texas; if it had used 2022 for a baseline, as it did for pro-abortion states, it would have shown a 13.2% decline in maternal mortality for Texas from 28 to 24.3.

As explained by New, “The only [GEPIT] finding that is slightly interesting is that they claim maternal mortality went down by 21 percent in the 24 states where abortion is legal. The authors also acknowledge that maternal mortality decreased by 16 percent overall. Back of the envelope calculations would strongly suggest that maternal mortality also fell in states with pro-life laws — so there is no public health disaster there. That said, even in this section the authors of the report do not provide any data about the specific timeframe of these maternal mortality declines.”

Zoom Out:

Data from outside the United States can offer evidence that pro-life laws actually allow for a lower maternal mortality rate.

As previously reported by Live Action News, “It is worthwhile to note that Poland has the most restrictions on abortions, yet has the lowest rate of maternal mortality. The same was once true for Ireland , prior to the country’s legalization of abortion in 2019.”

In addition, pro-life Malta has a maternal mortality rate of just eight per 100,000 live births. And Chile , which protects most preborn children from abortion, has a maternal mortality rate of 10 per 100,000 live births.

Why It Matters:

The best maternal mortality rate would be zero , and improving maternal health is a serious issue on which the U.S. should be focusing. But claiming abortion improves maternal mortality is a lie that could lead to further maternal deaths.

Abortion is the direct and intentional killing of preborn children and carries significant risks to the women who choose it, both immediately and in the years that follow. Damage to the cervix and uterus from abortions can cause complications in future pregnancies that increase risks to women’s health.

Most maternal deaths are preventable — not by intentionally killing preborn children, but by actually treating the source of the problem and not delaying care.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80% (or four in five) of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are determined to be “ preventable .” It reports that the “leading underlying causes of pregnancy-related death” are:

Mental health conditions (including deaths to suicide and overdose/poisoning related to substance use disorder) (23%)
Excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) (14%)
Cardiac and coronary conditions (relating to the heart) (13%)
Infection (9%)
Thrombotic embolism (a type of blood clot) (9%)
Cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle) (9%)
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (relating to high blood pressure) (7%)

Claiming that pro-life laws cause such deaths ignores the real issues of medical neglect, mental health struggles, and substance abuse.

The Bottom Line:

The lie that pro-life laws are causing women’s deaths is meant to cause emotional shock and horror among Americans to increase support for abortion, which is the direct cause of death for millions of innocent children.

Nancy Flanders is Associate Editor for Live Action News.

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Trump FDA finally begins abortion pill review after pressure from pro-lifers

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:22:00 GMT

By: Calvin Freiburger, originally published June 5, 2026, LifeSiteNews.com

The Trump administration Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally begun its review of the data on abortion pill harms, more than a year after the move was promised to frustrated pro-lifers.

In May 2025, the Trump administration promised to review abortion pill data, but a year without updates prompted criticism from the pro-life movement , with U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) going so far as to question if the study was underway at all. Administration officials have insisted that the review was still coming.

Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that commencement of the review was “kicked… into high gear” thanks to pressure on the White House from pro-life advocates, as well as an October deadline imposed by a judge as part of Louisiana’s lawsuit against the federal government. The report suggests that, all this time, the agency has allegedly been “making preparations by acquiring data and examining whether a study was feasible.”

“The effort is expected to take about six months, administration officials said, meaning it likely won’t be completed before the midterm elections,” WSJ adds, lending credence to allegations and speculation that the administration was intentionally foot-dragging so as to prevent the eventual findings from influencing voters this fall.

The news follows the May ouster of FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, whose tenure was marred by discontent over his handling of several issues, including abortion pills.

Remote distribution of abortion pills to be taken at home has become key to the abortion lobby’s effort to preserve “access” in a post- Roe v. Wade environment, despite the risks to the women who take them and their fatal harm to the unborn.

Pro-lifers point to an April 2025 analysis by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), which concluded that almost 11 percent of women suffer sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or other major conditions after taking mifepristone, according to insurance data, plus similar findings by the Restoration of America Foundation, as part of a “growing body of evidence indicating that the health risks associated with mifepristone abortions are severe, widespread, and significantly underreported.”

While pro-lifers would welcome any change to the current permissive rules, many have consistently said that the above evidence should render a new review unnecessary to take action, as should the fact that distributing abortion-inducing drugs by mail is already illegal under federal law, irrespective of safety. The Biden administration ceased enforcement of that provision in response to Roe v. Wade’ s overturn, and President Donald Trump announced in his 2024 election campaign he would not restore it.

Calvin Freiburger is a conservative writer at LifeSite News.

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“The happiest people on Earth’: Down syndrome families flood social media after YouTuber aborts baby due to Down syndrome diagnosis

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:08:00 GMT

By: Mary Rose, originally published June 5, 2026, The Loop/Zeale News.

Parents of children with Down syndrome took to X June 4 to share stories of love and advocacy, responding to a viral post by YouTuber Jesse Ridgway in which he announced he and his wife aborted their unborn child after learning the baby had Trisomy 21, or Down syndrome.

Ridgway, who has built a following of more than 4 million YouTube subscribers, posted a lengthy statement on X describing his initial reaction to the diagnosis.

“If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may…but I just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed,” he wrote.

He ticked through a clinical checklist of Down syndrome complications before going on to call Down syndrome “objectively sh**ty from a health perspective” and saying it “isn’t a ‘blessing.'”

Ridgway had framed his announcement as an act of mercy, citing statistics about health complications associated with Down syndrome, and said learning about the high abortion rate of unborn children with Down syndrome confirmed the “difficult decision” they had to make.

He closed by saying he and his wife are “excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome.”

In a YouTube video posted earlier, the couple had described the pregnancy as a hopeful moment during a difficult stretch. “Things have been pretty dark for a while for us, and we felt this was gonna be a nice little ray of sunshine,” he said. “And it’s not.”

Research shows that nearly 99% of adults with Down syndrome report being happy with their lives, 97% say they like who they are, and 99% feel loved by their families (and love their families back), substantially higher than U.S. national averages.

Far from a burden, their presence frequently strengthens family bonds, increases parental and sibling happiness and resilience, and creates communities marked by greater empathy and joy — outcomes that studies consistently describe as a “Down syndrome advantage.”

Users respond with stories

One of the most widely shared responses to Ridgway came from Andrew Daub, who runs the Down syndrome advocacy organization Team Iron Will for his son, whom he calls “Iron Will.”

“Absolutely the most diabolical, heartbreaking thing I’ve read in a very long time,” Daub wrote. “Iron Will is asleep right now. So I’m going to kiss his beautiful little forehead and quietly promise him — yet again — that I will fight to my last breath for him and every person with Down syndrome from the moment of conception forward.”

Daub continued: “That I will never relent in pushing back against the utterly depraved mentality that dehumanizes him and deems him as less, as unworthy of life. And then I will pray. For the little baby lost, for this broken, broken world and for redemption. Join me.”

One father shared a story of when he and his wife — first-time parents — were pulled aside and told their son’s nuchal fold was abnormally large, suggesting a significantly increased chance of Down syndrome or Turner’s syndrome. The doctor discussed termination. His wife was inconsolable. After prayer and research, the father said, they decided against further testing and resolved that whatever the Lord’s plan was, they would embrace it. Their son turns 8 this fall. He just hit a home run.

“My best friend,” the father wrote.

Another father shared the story of his 3-year-old son Josh — prenatally diagnosed at 10 weeks, born early, a month in the hospital, open-heart surgery at age 1. “Now he’s 3, loves life, and is thriving,” the father wrote. “The hard days didn’t win.”

“If anyone else finds themselves in a similar place, reach out. There’s a whole community of people here to support you. It hasn’t always been easy, but he’s worth every bit of it and then some,” he wrote.

One father posted a photo of his son Alias León, describing him as joyful and a blessing to everyone around him.

“Everything melts away when you’re interacting with them,” he wrote.

Another mom wrote, “My baby with Down Syndrome is absolutely a blessing. I’m sorry you were misinformed.”

One mother posted a photo of her daughter surrounded by brothers, captioning it “Big mistake!” She shared that her daughter with Down syndrome needed heart surgery, wears glasses, has hearing loss, and takes a little longer to learn some things, all challenges the family has embraced.

“She has made our whole family’s life a million times better just for existing,” the mother wrote. “I’m glad I didn’t listen to our doctors.”

One user shared the story of his little sister, born on Christmas Day with Down syndrome. Doctors suggested she could be aborted or institutionalized. Her parents refused. She survived multiple open-heart surgeries before age 3, went on to become an accomplished speaker, advocate, and actress with an IMDB profile, graduated high school with honors, attended college, learned to drive, got married, and lived independently.

“People who have Down syndrome can change the world,” she once said. “Being smart is not always what makes people happy. Loving and being loved is what makes people happy.”

One woman shared a video of her cousin David and said she wished Ridgway knew more people with Down syndrome. David’s 40th birthday party drew more than 200 guests.

“He’s THAT loved,” she wrote.

A grandmother described lying in her 10-year-old grandson’s bed — he had given her his room for the night, had spent the day swimming, and was already planning a chocolate cake for his birthday.

“Please don’t normalize destroying life,” she wrote.

Another user said, “They are the happiest people on earth. Please, stop aborting them,” and shared a video of their family member with Down syndrome having fun riding a lawnmower.

Several respondents also raised a factor that complicated Ridgway’s framing: false positives. A former FBI agent wrote that she and her husband received a positive prenatal test for Down syndrome during her second pregnancy. As Catholics, she said, abortion was never on the table. When their daughter was born, she did not have Down syndrome.

“The test was wrong,” she wrote. “In fact, 10% of positive NIPT results for Down syndrome are false positives.”

Her daughter just finished her second year of law school. “She is my best friend and I don’t know how I could be whole without her.”

“Everyone has to make their own decision, and only God can judge, but taking a life purposefully with the rationale that they may not be perfect makes no sense to me, but that’s just me,” she added.

Others echoed the concern.

“We were told Matt had Down syndrome according to the amniotic test,” one mother wrote. “We didn’t take our OBGYN’s advice to abort. Matt was told the same about his son. They are both perfectly healthy. How many healthy babies are aborted every day?”

Those with disabilities of their own also weighed in.

“While my disability was not known until my birth (Cerebral Palsy), stories like this make me glad my mom chose life for me,” wrote one user. “It also makes me sad that ableism is so ingrained in our society that we see killing disabled babies as perfectly justified.”

Political responses

Kathy Faust, president of the children’s and parents’ rights organization Them Before Us, said she has walked with women who faced the same diagnosis and were pressured to abort at every appointment. She described three such women — one who lost her child at 21 weeks, one who lost hers at 34 weeks, and one whose child is 14 and thriving. All three, she said, “rightly determined that they are not God. They do not make life, so they cannot take life.”

Each story, she wrote, is “an example of the strong sacrificing for the weak rather than the injustice of sacrificing the weak for the sake of the strong.”

Matt Walsh, a Catholic commentator and podcast host at The Daily Wire, called the post “the most evil thing I’ve ever read on this platform. Bone chilling.”

In a follow-up, he rejected Ridgway’s framing that the abortion spared the child suffering. “Children with Down syndrome are famously some of the happiest people you’ll ever meet in your life,” Walsh wrote. “They are not in fact living in a state of perpetual torment. So what’s really happening is that you’re killing your child so that YOU won’t suffer the inconvenience of caring for him.”

SBA Pro-Life America, one of the country’s largest pro-life advocacy organizations, cited research on people with Down syndrome reporting being happy with their lives.

“People with Down syndrome deserve to live,” the group wrote. “They should never be targets for discrimination, inside the womb or out. Period.”

Others pointed out that Ridgway and his wife have publicly celebrated their disabled dog, which they called their “hero” — and argued that Ridgway was, in sharing the announcement on his content platform, monetizing the story of his child’s death.

Mary Rose is a writer at Zeale News.

The post “The happiest people on Earth’: Down syndrome families flood social media after YouTuber aborts baby due to Down syndrome diagnosis appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Detransitioner Chloe Cole urges Congress to ban gender ‘transition’ procedures for minors during heated Senate hearing

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:35:00 GMT

By: Elise Winland, originally published June 4, 2026, The Loop/Zeale News

Chloe Cole, a 21-year-old detransitioner, urged Congress during an emotional June 3 hearing to ban gender “transition” procedures for children, alleging that doctors lied to her family and left her with irreversible physical and emotional harm.

Cole — who began “transitioning” at age 12 before undergoing a double mastectomy at 15 and detransitioning at 16 — testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing titled “Protecting Our Children: Exposing the Dangers of Irreversible Gender Transition Procedures on Minors.” The hearing featured witnesses on both sides of the national debate over whether minors should be able to receive puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-trait surgeries for gender dysphoria.

Cole told senators she was diagnosed with gender dysphoria as a child after struggling with her body and identity. She argued that doctors treated her healthy female body as the problem and subjected her to “sex experimentation procedures” as a child rather than helping her work through her distress.

“To any normal adult, my middle school insecurities would seem par for the course,” she said, “but to my physicians, clearly they meant that I needed a scalpel to my breasts.”

Cole said her parents — who “never once believed that I was a boy” — were told by doctors that traits such as having short hair or wanting to become an athlete were signs that she “actually was their son” and faced a serious risk of suicide if she did not “transition.”

According to Cole, doctors gave her parents a false choice: Allow their daughter to “transition” or “bury her.”

“The entire premise of transgenderism is that I will take my own life if I don’t transition,” she told senators. “Yet here I am today.”

Cole said the puberty blockers, testosterone, and double mastectomy she received while she was still developing left her with scars, trauma, pain, nightmares, and uncertainty about whether she will be able to have children.

“This is not medicine. Medicine heals what is sick, but me being female was not a disease. The lie was the disease,” she argued. “Once doctors denied that boundary between male and female. They also denied the boundary between child and adult. That’s how my confusion became evidence. My parents’ instincts became bigotry, and a surgeon’s knife became care.”

Cole said that when she detransitioned, the “transgender cult” harassed her and her family, and even stalked her grandmother. She also said hundreds of LGBT supporters recently called for her death after learning she planned to speak on a college campus.

She told senators she knows hundreds of others with similar experiences and warned that an “entire generation of children were lied to.”

“There is no such thing as a child being born in the wrong body,” Cole added, “but there are physicians and medical bodies who prey on the confusion of perfectly healthy young boys and girls.”

Cole urged Congress to prohibit puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-trait surgeries for children. She also called on lawmakers to protect parents who refuse the procedures, investigate hospitals and advocacy groups that promoted them, require disclosure of long-term risks and conflicts of interest, and ensure detransitioners receive proper care.

“Any member of Congress who defends this should have to look parents in the eye and explain why their child’s body is now a commodity that they can sell to the gender industry,” Cole said. “Do not wait until there are more children sitting in this chair crying to you about what was taken from them.”

Republicans on the committee framed the hearing as focused on protecting children. Committee Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., urged lawmakers to ensure that medical guidelines for children reflect sound evidence rather than ideology.

“We should not confuse advisory boards being overtaken by activists as if that is necessarily sound scientific evidence,” Cassidy said in his opening remarks . “We should be treating each child with the specialized care they need, not encouraging a nine-year-old boy to become a girl.”

Democrats and LGBT supporters pushed back, arguing that decisions about gender-related medical care should remain between patients, parents, and doctors rather than federal lawmakers.

“Gender affirming care for youth should be between a doctor, a patient and their parents, not politicians and the federal government,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said during the hearing.

Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for LGBTQ Rights and a witness invited by Sanders, said that families’ “rights and freedom to make medical decisions for their children” are at stake.

Dr. Kurt Miceli, chief medical officer for the medical advocacy group Do No Harm, testified that medicine has historically embraced practices later viewed as harmful, citing lobotomies and opioid overprescribing as examples.

He argued that the procedures pose risks, including infertility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density, cardiovascular disease, and surgical complications.

“Tragically, many of these youth will experience lifelong regret, given the irreversible effects of these interventions,” he said.

Between 2019 and 2023, nearly 14,000 minors underwent gender “transition” procedures, according to Do No Harm’s Stop the Harm database. The group also reported that sex-change treatments performed on minors generated almost $120 million during that period.

The debate has also moved far beyond Congress, with legal and legislative battles playing out in states across the country. According to the Stop the Harm database , 23 states currently have age limits on “gender-affirming care” for minors.

Image: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons .

Elise Winland is a political writer for Zeale.

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Study: 64 Online Abortion Pill Vendors Ignore 10-Week Gestational Limit

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:01:00 GMT

By: Dan Hart, originally published May 27, 2026, The Washington Stand

A startling new study has revealed that the vast majority of online abortion drug vendors are shipping the pills to women whose unborn children are past the point of 10 weeks’ gestation, in violation of the FDA’s federal safety limit.

The report , released by the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) on Tuesday, found that 81% of online abortion drug sellers are actively ignoring the federal safety guidelines, amounting to 64 vendors. The study further found that eight online-only organizations are violating state pro-life laws by shipping abortion pills into those states. Moreover, 10 out of 28 websites that received warning letters from the FDA over their abuse of federal law in 2019 are still active, according to the research. In addition, 18 websites require no ID to be presented before ordering the pills.

The new study comes as the health dangers of the abortion drug mifepristone come under increasing scrutiny in the wake of the Trump administration’s ongoing failure to reinstate safety regulations that the Biden administration rescinded in 2021 and 2023, which removed the in-person dispensing requirement and allowed retail pharmacies to dispense the drug. Pro-life and women’s health advocates have decried the moves, pointing out that an in-person appointment with a health care professional is the only way to ensure that the woman seeking the abortion drug is not being coerced, does not have an ectopic pregnancy, and is not past the gestational limit of 10 weeks, all of which pose grave health risks to the mother if she ingests the abortion pill, including death.

But even when the abortion drug is taken under manufacturer-recommended conditions, studies show that over one in 10 women “experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious or life-threatening adverse event.” Despite these dangers, and despite the fact that online abortion pill shipments are violating the laws of pro-life states as well as federal laws like the Comstock Act, the Trump administration has so far not acted to address the growing crisis. A recent shakeup of leadership at the FDA could signal that changes around the abortion drug may be forthcoming, however.

Mia Steupert, a research associate at CLI who authored the report, called the state of affairs surrounding the abortion pill the “Wild West,” emphasizing that the study should serve as a “wake-up call to policymakers.”

“The abortion industry loves to claim ‘abortion is healthcare,’ but their actions and advocacy have shown they don’t want abortion to be treated with the same level of regulatory scrutiny as legitimate medical procedures,” she remarked in a statement. “No one should be able to obtain abortion drugs as easily as purchasing something off Amazon.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins concurred. “It is time for the safety of women and babies, not to mention the rule of law, to take precedence over ideology,” he wrote on X Wednesday in response to the CLI report. “What will it take for the Trump administration to take action? Are they waiting for 100% of online abortion pill companies to violate the FDA limits? Are 17 international companies sending unapproved or mislabeled drugs to U.S. customers not enough? Stop the harm. Enforce the Comstock Act and strengthen the safety regulations on mifepristone.”

Mary Szoch, who serves as director of FRC’s Center for Human Dignity, underscored that the abortion drug suppliers’ lack of regard for following safety guidelines fits squarely within the abortion industry’s ideology.

“The abortion industry does not care about women. It never has,” she told The Washington Stand. “CLI’s study showing that 81% of online abortion drug sellers do not comply with FDA standards intended to mitigate the risk to women or that 18 foreign-based companies do not require identification before ordering these drugs shouldn’t shock anyone. Online abortionists operate a business that sells drugs to kill people. They are, as the late Pope Francis often said, hitmen contracted to kill an innocent unborn child. We shouldn’t be surprised that they are not concerned about causing harm to others.”

“What should surprise us, though, is that Americans have stood idly by and allowed this to happen,” Szoch added. “Our country is one that was founded upon the belief that all men are created equal. The Trump administration has done excellent work promoting respect for the dignity of life in so many different areas — including defending the unborn and enforcing the rule of law. I pray that the Trump administration will take another step in defending the dignity of human life and enforcing the rule of law by enforcing the longstanding Comstock Act that prevents mailing drugs intended to cause an abortion.”

Dan Hart is senior editor at The Washington Stand.

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Announcing Cincinnati Right to Life’s 2026 Poster Contest Winners!

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Pro-Life Poster Contest!! We received 510 submissions! The students very brilliantly depicted this year’s theme “One Nation Under God, Protecting Life For All.”

Here are the 2026
1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place Winners:

Thank you to all those who participated!!

The post Announcing Cincinnati Right to Life’s 2026 Poster Contest Winners! appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

ACTION ALERT! Call and Email State Senators!

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:43:00 GMT

From Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio

IMMEDIATE ALERT to CALL and EMAIL
Thursday, May 28
Friday, May 29
Monday, June 1

CALL
Senate Education Committee Members

Sen. Andrew Brenner , Chair

614-466-8086

Sen. Louis Blessing, III , Vice Chair

614-466-8068

Sen. Al Cutrona

614-466-8285

Sen. Steve Huffman

614-466-6247

Sen. Kyle Koehler

614-466-3780

Call
Senate Majority Leadership

Senate President Rob McColley – 614-466-8150

President Pro Tempore Sen. Bill Reineke – 614-466-8049

Majority Floor Leader Sen. Theresa Gavarone – 614-466-8060

Majority Whip Sen. George Lang – 614-466-8072

Message

VOTE IN FAVOR of Sub. H.B. 485, Enact the Baby Olivia Act!

Reasoning

Common Sense Biology & Human Development.
Factually & Scientifically Accurate.
Other scientifically accurate videos can be used.

This Bill needs to be on the Senate floor
for a Vote before the mid-June recess!

There is one more Opponent hearing and then a Senate
Education Committee Vote.

This bill, known as the Baby Olivia Act, requires public schools in Ohio to include specific instruction about human growth and development for students in grades five through twelve. The bill mandates that schools must incorporate two key video components into their curriculum: a high-definition ultrasound video at least three minutes long showing early fetal development of organs, and the “meet baby Olivia” video (or a similar video) demonstrating fertilization and human development stages from conception to birth.

CALL TODAY!

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Republicans demand answers from Planned Parenthood on abortions, ‘gender transitions’ for minors

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:29:00 GMT

By: Calvin Freiburger, originally published May 21, 2026, LifeSiteNew s

WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) — Top Republicans on the U.S. House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency are seeking information from Planned Parenthood affiliates around the country on the abortion giant’s abortion practices and work “transitioning” gender-confused children.

The Daily Signal reported that the committee chairman, Republican Reps. Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Andy Biggs of Arizona, wrote to 11 Planned Parenthood affiliates on May 15 to follow up on failure to produce “documents and communications” pertaining to “the increased provision of abortion services and the provision of gender-affirming care services to minors without parental consent” that the committee first requested on June 13, 2025, almost a year ago.

“Planned Parenthood received nearly $800 million in federal funds in fiscal year (FY) 20232 and is the second largest provider of gender hormone therapies in the United States,” it says. “Subcommittee is concerned that Planned Parenthood and its affiliates (…) may be commingling federal funds and using them for unpermitted purposes. It is imperative that federal funds provided to Planned Parenthood via Title X of the Public Health Service Act (Title X), Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.”

The lawmakers demand the affiliates produce all “non-public financial statements and annual reports;” “documents and communications related to … formation and structure;” a “list of all independent ancillary or other related organizations supported by or under (their) control;” “policies and procedures for complying with state and federal laws and regulations regarding gender affirming care and parental consent;” “informed consent documentation provided to patients, parents, or guardians related to abortion or gender affirming care services;” “policies, procedures, or guidelines for compliance with the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and compliance with the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act;” “policies, procedures, or guidelines for abortions performed on viable or periviable fetuses;” “documents and communications related to … initial and continuing accreditation status;” itemized totals of money received from “federal government programs, grants, or other sources of federal funds, including but not limited to Title X healthcare services;” and a “list of every healthcare service provided to patients … and the frequency with which those services are provided.”

The material must cover January 1, 2020, to the present day, with a deadline for producing it by June 1.

While Planned Parenthood is best known as the nation’s largest abortion chain, it is also deeply involved in the LGBT movement. It advertises itself as a “safe and welcoming place to get transgender/nonbinary hormone therapy (sic),” including estrogen, anti-androgen, testosterone, and puberty blockers.

As of the abortion giant’s 2022-2023 annual report , 45 of its affiliates offered so-called “gender-affirming hormone therapy” in 2022. Its previous report said 30 affiliates participated in 69 medical studies, an unspecified number of which involved so-called “care” to reinforce gender dysphoria.

Notably, the latest on that aspect of the business was obscured in Planned Parenthood’s 2024-2025 annual report , which highlighted work on a study it says will detail the “harm” of “state-based restrictions on gender-affirming care” but downplayed its own involvement in that “care,” listing only a small footnote that “transgender services” were among the various items included in its 50,411 “Other Procedures.”

A large body of evidence shows that “affirming” gender confusion carries serious harms, especially when done with impressionable children who lack the mental development, emotional maturity, and life experience to consider the long-term ramifications of the decisions being pushed on them, or full knowledge about the long-term effects of life-altering, physically-transformative, and often-irreversible surgical and chemical procedures.

In 2024, National Health Service (NHS) England’s landmark Cass Review found that “gender medicine” is “built on shaky foundations” and that while such interventions require a great deal of caution, “quite the reverse happened in the field of (so-called) gender care for children,” and that “(w)hile a considerable amount of research has been published in this field, systematic evidence reviews demonstrated the poor quality of the published studies, meaning there is not a reliable evidence base upon which to make clinical decisions, or for children and their families to make informed choices.”

In April, a study of “all under-23-year-old gender-referred individuals between 1996 and 2019” in Finland (2,083 people) found that those who had gone through gender transitions had “markedly higher psychiatric morbidity (other mental health issues) than controls before and after referral, with treatment needs often persisting and even intensifying after medical interventions.”

Many oft-ignored detransitioners , individuals who attempted transitioning before regretting it and returning to life as their true sex, attest to the physical and mental harm of reinforcing gender confusion, as well as to the bias and negligence of the medical establishment on the subject, many of whom take an activist approach to their profession and begin cases with a predetermined conclusion that “transitioning” is the best solution.

“Gender-affirming” physicians have also been caught on video admitting to more old-fashioned motives for such procedures, as with an 2022 exposé about Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Clinic for Transgender Health, where Dr. Shayne Sebold Taylor said outright that “these surgeries make a lot of money.”

Calvin Freiburger is a conservative writer at LifeSiteNews.

The post Republicans demand answers from Planned Parenthood on abortions, ‘gender transitions’ for minors appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Memorial Day 2026

Mon, 25 May 2026 18:16:00 GMT

Remembering the fallen men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces

This Memorial Day, we are so very grateful for those that served our country and sacrificed their lives for our Right to Life, Liberty, Faith, & Freedom.

The post Memorial Day 2026 appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

FDA’s Ruling Allows Video Call Exams and Mail Order Abortion Drugs

Fri, 22 May 2026 21:17:00 GMT

The abortion drug protocol which incorporates the drug mifepristone now accounts for more than 60% of the abortions taking place in this county. Not only does the administration of these drugs callously abandon a mother to suffer the process of abortion alone, the abortion drugs present significant health risks to the mother who takes these pills.

According to a comprehensive study conducted by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the mother will experience “adverse events” which include hospitalization in more than 10.93% instances after taking the drug.

Adding to the risk of taking the abortion drugs is a Biden era ruling by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which currently permits a health care worker to prescribe the abortion drugs by video call, never meeting the woman personally. The FDA ruling also allows a woman to arrange to receive the abortion drugs by mail order, often from unvetted sources.

Plaintiffs recently won a victory for women’s health and safety by demonstrating to the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals the dangerous and irresponsible lack of oversight by the FDA. On May 1, 2026 theFifth Circuit, blocked the FDA from allowing mail order abortion. The Fifth Circuit expressed skepticism for the FDA’s relaxation of safety guardrails including the removal of the “in person” exam requirement.

Regrettably, on May 14, 2026 the Supreme Court suspended the Fifth Circuits order. The FDA’s ruling allowing video call exams and mail order abortion drugs has been allowed to continue while the case is argued at the Fifth Circuit. Inevitably the case will return to the Supreme Court.

Dissenting in the decision to allow the FDA’s abortion drug ruling to continue, Supreme Court Justice Alito noted the impact when mail order abortion drugs are sent to states like Louisiana which ban abortion:

Continue to pray for the overturning of the heartless and cynical ruling by the Biden Administration’s FDA that allows video call medical exams and mail order abortion. Pray that women and their babies are protected. Pray also for the attorneys and judges as this works its way through the courts.

The post FDA’s Ruling Allows Video Call Exams and Mail Order Abortion Drugs appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Pro-Life orgs ask Congress to extend moratorium on taxpayer funding of abortions

Fri, 22 May 2026 21:00:00 GMT

By: Hannah Hiester, originally published May 20, 2026, Zeale News

A coalition of 60 pro-life organizations across the U.S. have signed a letter urging Congress to extend a moratorium — set to expire at the beginning of July — that protects taxpayer funds from being used for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

In an emailed press release, Christus Medicus Foundation (CMF) said that it and the other organizations are asking Congress to uphold its “moral, ethical, and fiscal obligation” to extend the moratorium, which went into effect last summer as a provision of the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

“The principles of justice and human dignity obligate Congress to stop sending hundreds of millions of dollars to an abortion industry that destroys unborn life and victimizes pregnant mothers,” CMF stated.

The organization pointed to the Hyde Amendment, which has for decades banned taxpayer funds from paying for abortions and called for the idea behind the amendment to be “broadened to ensure that no federal tax dollars go to any organization or entity that kills unborn children and harms pregnant mothers.”

In addition to the letter asking for an extension on the moratorium, CMF has urged Congress to permanently ban taxpayer funding of abortions, renewing its calls especially as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary this July.

CMF stated, “Defunding the abortion industry will protect the life of thousands of unborn children, protect mothers and families, and help begin a new era in the United States as we begin our next 250 years.”

Hannah Hiester is a staff writer at Zeale News.

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Southwest Airlines pays pro-life flight attendant nearly $1 million

Mon, 18 May 2026 01:56:00 GMT

By: Nancy Flanders, originally published May 15, 2026, Pregnancy Help News

Southwest Airlines has paid a pro-life flight attendant nearly $1 million after she was fired for expressing her pro-life views.

Charlene Carter was fired from Southwest Airlines after she sent pro-life messages to the Transport Workers Union because the union was supporting the 2017 pro-abortion Women’s March. Carter filed a lawsuit against Southwest and the Union, and a federal court sided with her.

Southwest appealed, but the appeals court uphold the original ruling. Nine years after her case began, Carter was awarded nearly $1 million.

Southwest is not out of the woods yet as the judge found the airline in contempt for its “misleading” messages to employees following a court order.

Charlene Carter worked for Southwest Airlines for two decades before she she was fired from her job for standing up for her pro-life views.

In 2013, Carter resigned from the Transport Workers Union Local 556, but she was required to keep paying dues. Then, the union supported the 2017 pro-abortion Women’s March, and Carter sent an allegedly “ graphic ” message to the union leadership expressing her disapproval and her pro-life views. The union president reported the messages to Southwest, and Carter was fired as a result.

Email communications revealed that members of the union mocked Carter for being unable to prevent her money from going to the pro-abortion cause. A union member called Carter an “incredibly dangerous” “cancerous tumor” that must be “eradicated when ever possible or it spreads.” He also wrote that he was in favor of “targeted assassinations.”

Carter filed a lawsuit and in 2022, a federal jury sided with her and ruled she was wrongly terminated . The court said that her messages were about religious expression and Southwest had not attempted a religious accommodation before firing her.

Southwest appealed, arguing that Carter’s pro-life messages were a form of harassment, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision. U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr told the airline to reinstate Carter and pay her $810,000 in damages and $150,000 in back pay. The airline, however, did not do so.

Judge Starr held Southwest in contempt for failing to pay Carter, and last week, the airline finally followed through, paying her $946,102.87.

“Today is a victory for freedom of speech and religious beliefs,” said Carter. “Flight attendants should have a voice and nobody should be able to retaliate against a flight attendant for engaging in protected speech against her union.”

The legal battle remains ongoing .

Judge Starr held Southwest in contempt for failing to comply with a court ordered notice to employees regarding religious discrimination. The airline sent “misleading” messages to employees by saying it “does not discriminate” against employees for religious beliefs while also warning them they should not engage in workplace communications similar as Carter’s. That order was deemed to be inadequate.

According to Live and Let’s Fly , the district court is still considering if Southwest should face additional penalties as a result.

Nancy Flanders is Associate Editor for Live Action News.

Image: David Syphers/PregnancyHelpNews.

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HeartBeats for Life 5K Run 2026 was a great success!

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:15:00 GMT

Cincinnati Right to Life’s Annual 5K Run/Walk, held this past Saturday, May 9th at Lunken Playfield, was a fun-filled, life-affirming day for all those who participated!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a day of family fun! We had beautiful weather, wonderful food, inspiring testimony, and karaoke!

Thank you to all the many volunteers and sponsors that helped make this a wonderful event!

2026 HEARTBEATS FOR LIFE SPONSORS:

Jennifer Black

David Taylor for Congress

Andrew and Barbara Schmitt

Jane Elfers

The Madison Place Coffee Shop

J.T.M. Food Group

Old World Bakery

The post HeartBeats for Life 5K Run 2026 was a great success! appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Women’s Health and Safety Secured Common Sense Made Common Again – And it lasted about 48 Hours

Fri, 08 May 2026 23:54:00 GMT

On Friday May 1, 2026, the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals slapped the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with an overdue dose of common sense. In Louisiana v. FDA , a panel of judges of the Fifth Circuit took up the issue of whether the FDA should permit the prescription of the abortion drug mifepristone by video call and delivery by mail of the dangerous abortion drug.

The abortion drug, mifepristone, has a demonstrated history of health complications. Of course the drug is fatal for the unborn child. It’s use also presents significant physical and psychological risks to a mother. According to a comprehensive study conducted by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the mother will experience “adverse events” which include hospitalization in more than 10.93% instances after taking the drug.

In 2000 the FDA approved mifepristone for use. Given its dangerous side effects, the FDA at that time required close supervision by a prescribing physician and mandatory reporting of complications. Subsequent administrations reduced ‘safety guardrails’ for the abortion drug.

After the US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs, which returned regulation of abortion to the states, Louisiana joined a group of uncompromising pro-life states protecting the unborn. Louisiana Statute 40:1061 states:

No person may knowingly administer to, prescribe for, or procure for, or sell to any pregnant woman any medicine, drug, or other substance with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being.

In an effort to subvert the laws of pro-life states such as Louisiana following the Dobbs decision, the Biden FDA made it possible for abortion drugs to flood into states with strong pro life protections. The Biden FDA allowed a doctor to prescribe by ‘video call’ the life threatening abortion pill which would then be delivered by mail. The Biden Administration’s ideology of promoting death of the unborn at all costs overrode common sense precautions intended to protect women. Chemical death delivered by mail, in a brown paper wrapper, to a mother who aborts her child alone, without proper medical supervision and unaware of the risks to her life.

Medical providers, legislators and others from Louisiana and pro-life states, appalled by the dangerous and callous practice allowing a doctor, who has never met in person with a woman, to prescribe an abortion pill delivered by mail order, filed a legal challenge to the FDA rules.

In State of Lousiana v Food and Drug Administration the Fifth Circuit, blocked the FDA from allowing mail order abortion. The Fifth Circuit expressed skepticism for the FDA’s relaxation of safety guardrails including the removal of the “in person” exam requirements. Among other things, the Fifth Circuit determined:

The FDA’s removal of in-person in favor of ‘video call’ dispensing requirement was arbitrary and capricious relying on insufficient data
That Louisiana, with strong protections for the unborn, suffered both in terms an attack on state policy, as well as financially, when woman were harmed by ‘mail order’ drugs entering the state

Common Sense Prevails

In light of the factors described above and, for other reasons, the Fifth Circuit on May 1, 2026 issued a halt to dangerous practice of video visits and “mail order” abortion pending further examination.

And Then, Common Sense Becomes Uncommon, Again

On May 5, 2026 Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued a one week pause on the ban blocking the FDA’s ‘telehealth’ and ‘mail order’ abortion scheme. During this pause, parties to the case will file with the US Supreme Court their arguments regarding the dangerous practice of the FDA.

Take Action

We ask you to pray. Pray for the pro-life litigants that their arguments will be compelling for the protection of women and the unborn. Pray for the justices on the Supreme Court who are being called upon to protect the intent of the Dobbs decision and the ability of citizens to pass laws protecting the rights of the unborn.

Louisiana v. FDA Mail-Order Abortion Drug Case: What You Need to Know

The post Women’s Health and Safety Secured Common Sense Made Common Again – And it lasted about 48 Hours appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Democrat congressman slammed for ‘demonic’ comments about ‘favorite kind of abortion’

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:19:00 GMT

By: Calvin Freiburger, originally published April 30, 2026, LifeSiteNews.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) — Pro-life U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill’s (R-TX) recent grilling of an abortion advocate has provoked hostility from pro-abortion voices, but arguably the most revealing so far has come from U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI).

During a recent hearing on Capitol Hill, Gill illustrated the barbarity of abortion by pressing abortion advocate Jessica Waters on her “favorite method of abortion.” She refused to answer as he pressed on with graphic descriptions of several abortion methods.

“You don’t want to talk about abortion itself – why is that? Is it because it’s uncomfortable to talk about?” Gill asked. “It should be uncomfortable […] I wouldn’t want to talk about this either if I were you, because it is barbaric and evil.”

On X, Indian-born Thanedar, who represents part of Detroit, opined on Gill’s remarks, “Remember folks, Republicans are NOT the party of creepy men trying to intrude their way into women’s private business, they just want to interrogate you about your favorite abortion method at a national congressional hearing.”

Gill responded by posing his original question to Thanedar, who replied, “My favorite kind of abortion is the kind that’s safe, legal, accessible, and none of your d-mn business to regulate. And no amount of fearmongering by describing what goes on to a half-ounce fetus with no consciousness, self-awareness, or feeling of pain is going to change that.”

Thanedar’s post doubles down on casting the “half-ounce fetus” as essentially worthless, without attempting to engage Gill’s original point that simply describing abortion highlights not only its violence but the humanity of the preborn humans it destroys .

Many respondents told the congressman what they thought of his answer:

Gill shot back with, “Not surprising that the Congressman who made his money abusing dogs also has a favorite method of abortion,” referring to allegations that a testing lab that Thanedar owned abandoned over a hundred beagles after defaulting on loans. “I care a lot more about saving babies than being politically correct,” Gill added . “We are done with euphemisms when talking about abortion. It’s not ‘reproductive healthcare.’ Abortion is barbaric and evil.”

Over the past 20 years, the Democrat Party has steadily removed any trace of moderation on abortion, to the point that congressional Democrats have consistently voted against both the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require medical care for infants delivered alive after botched abortions, and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would ban most abortions after five months with exceptions for rape, incest, and medical emergencies.

The party, including former President Joe Biden and his Vice President, failed 2024 presidential nominee Kamala Harris, almost unanimously favors abortion-on-demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy, paid for by taxpayers. They also favor codifying and expanding a “right” to abortion in federal law via legislation such as the so-called Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) , which would forbid states from passing any law that not only prohibits abortion but would be “reasonably likely to delay or deter” or “indirectly” raise the cost of abortions, effectively ruling out virtually any state pro-life measures.

Calvin Freiburger is a Wisconsin-based conservative writer for LifeSiteNews.

Image: LifeSiteNews.com/news-Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

The post Democrat congressman slammed for ‘demonic’ comments about ‘favorite kind of abortion’ appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

She Didn’t Want an Abortion. The FDA’s Policy Made It Impossible to Say No.

Wed, 06 May 2026 14:46:00 GMT

By: Suzanne Bowdey, originally published May 5, 2026, The Washington Stand

Not every woman taking the abortion drug has a choice. Rosalie Markezich knows, because she’s one of them. When she missed her period and took a pregnancy test, she admits that even though it wasn’t planned, “deep down, I also kind of wanted it to be positive.” When she saw the line, Rosalie remembers, “the first thing I did was smile.” Her boyfriend, the world now knows, did not.

It was October of 2023. Rosalie waited a week to tell him, and for a few days, “it seemed like we were on the same page.” Out of the blue, things changed. “It was just like a 180 flip of a switch,” she tells people now . He told Rosalie he didn’t want the baby, even when she emphasized that she did. He started arguing with her, telling her a baby would ruin his life. Then, one day, a package of abortion drugs showed up in the mailbox in her name — even though they’re against the law in Louisiana and even though she’d never consented.

Rosalie tried lying, telling her boyfriend that she’d already taken them. “He did not believe me for one second.” So, she did the only thing she could think of: she stood her ground. “I want to keep it,” Rosalie declared. But he got angry, snapping and raising his voice. As someone who’d suffered domestic violence, she started to panic, sensing the situation was starting to escalate to a dangerous place. “[I] feared for my life and my child’s life.” So she swallowed the pills while he watched. “I felt pressured,” Rosalie says emotionally.

“My plan was to immediately go and throw them up,” she recalls. “And so, I started freaking out, having a panic attack. [M]y legs and arms all locked up and [started] shaking.” Rosalie got out of the car and ran to the bathroom, trying to get the pills out of her system. But it was too late. “The blood started coming, and at that moment, I knew [the] chances were not in my favor. And so, I just laid there bleeding, crying.” She spent the rest of the night on a towel in the garage, “soaked in blood.” Blood, she shudders, that didn’t stop for over a week.

Rosalie eventually got up and went to work with the kids that she loved. But she would go and look at those children and think, “I [will] never be able to hold the hand of my baby.” The mental anguish, she says now , “has never left.” “I am still haunted by the trauma, and I will mourn my child that I thought I was going to have [forever].”

A year and a half later, she knows that her situation could’ve been different if the laws of her home state had been enforced. If her boyfriend couldn’t have accessed the drugs outside Louisiana, Rosalie wouldn’t be telling her story at press conferences, to Congress, or the courts. She wouldn’t be the center of one of the biggest mifepristone cases in the last decade. “If mail-order abortion wasn’t a thing, I’m 100% sure I would have my child,” she insists now. “My then-boyfriend would not have been able to order these drugs if the FDA hadn’t recklessly removed the requirement for an in-person office visit before prescribing them. And if he had tried to force me to go to an abortion clinic to get these drugs, I would have told the doctor, ‘I do not want this.’ But I was denied of that opportunity.”

That, she says, is why she’s speaking out. “No woman should have to experience what I went through. And yet I’m hearing story after story of women who are placed in unacceptable situations like mine, because the FDA failed to protect them. And that’s why I’m fighting back,” Rosalie stresses. “I want to be a voice for those women and their babies, and I want to hold the FDA accountable for these destructive actions against women and their children.”

While nothing can bring back her baby, Rosalie’s case has the power to change how the government treats chemical abortion. On Friday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Louisiana’s request to block the dangerous Biden-era policy on mifepristone that allows the drug to be shipped in the mail to any state, regardless of their pro-life laws. Thanks to Rosalie’s courage — and the work of state Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) and others — there’s a strong chance that, at the very least, women will have to see a doctor in person before the pills are prescribed.

Although the Supreme Court announced Monday that it will wait to enforce that requirement until it considers the legal arguments, Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Erin Hawley explained to Family Research Council President Tony Perkins that pro-lifers shouldn’t be discouraged by the temporary order. “It is quite typical for the court to enter what’s called an administrative stay so that the full court can consider the stay request. So [it’s] nothing unusual,” she reassured Americans who might not understand why SCOTUS is blocking the changes. “We expected Justice [Samuel] Alito to grant this administrative stay. And now,” Hawley stressed, “the really important part starts. Louisiana will file on Thursday a response to that application before the court. And we hope that the full Supreme Court will let the Fifth Circuit’s … reinstatement of those crucial protections for women continue.”

As Erin has reiterated for months, the Biden administration made this whole situation “infinitely worse” when it decided to relax the rules governing mifepristone. “Drugs can now be mailed to dorm rooms or homes without ever talking to, much less seeing, a doctor. … It’s unconscionable,” she argued at a press conference last month. “Make no mistake, abortion drugs are not about women’s health. They are reckless. … And when the Biden administration stripped away that last remaining safeguard [for prescribing them], they did so in the face of studies that acknowledged that more women would be sent to the emergency room, that more women would be hospitalized. And they did it anyway.”

The whole point of the Dobbs ruling was to return the question of abortion to the states. Dozens of them acted immediately, passing strong protections for the unborn and women. But now, thanks to Biden — and now, the Trump administration’s indifference — those democratically-enacted laws have been tossed aside, unconstitutionally.

“The state’s pro-life laws are utterly unenforceable” in this environment, Hawley underscored on “Washington Watch” Monday. “Nearly 1,000 abortions take place every month because pro-abortion doctors mail these drugs across state lines.” And while the Trump FDA has promised to study the drug and its shocking side effects (almost 11% of women experience “serious adverse events” from the drug, research shows), there’s no proof those studies are actually taking place.

“[A] year ago, they said they were going to review it,” Perkins reminded people. “Nothing yet. … So in the meantime, Louisiana has a right to act.”

Hawley underscored that point, suggesting that what Biden did blatantly undermined states’ rights. And yet, the fact that the Trump administration refuses to use its power to reinstate the FDA’s safety standards and stop the flood of abortion drugs to pro-life states continues to confound Americans. Radical governors like California’s Gavin Newsom (D) and New York’s Kathy Hochul (D) shouldn’t be determining the abortion policy of red states like Louisiana.

“This is just insulting, right?” Marc Wheat, general counsel for Advancing American Freedom told The Wall Street Journal. Perkins had another word for it: “unprecedented.” “You have Republican states that are challenging a Republican administration over this because their laws are being undermined. Pro-life voters are going to be wondering what’s going on when they head into the polls in November.”

Suzanne Bowdey serves as editorial director and senior writer at The Washington Stand.

The post She Didn’t Want an Abortion. The FDA’s Policy Made It Impossible to Say No. appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Study finds childlessness rising among young women regardless of educational levels

Tue, 05 May 2026 21:56:00 GMT

By: Hannah Hiester, originally published May 5, 2026, Zeale News

Young women are increasingly likely to be childless and unmarried, and those patterns are occurring regardless of whether they have a college degree, pointing to shifts in priorities and behavior, according to a recent study .

The Institute for Family Studies (IFS) analyzed data from the Current Population Survey collected between 1995 and 2024 to examine women’s fertility and marriage trends. The study questioned the popular theory that a particular subgroup, such as working-class women or highly educated women, is driving America’s fertility decline.

The study divided the women into four birth cohorts — those born in the late 1970s, early 1980s, late 1980s, and early 1990s — and compared outcomes by educational attainment.

College-educated women were more likely to have fewer children than those without degrees, the study found. However, fertility at age 30 dropped significantly in both groups. Between the 1970s and 1990s birth cohorts, fertility fell by 31% among women with degrees and by 17% among those without.

Similar trends occurred among the shares of women who were childless or unmarried at 30. Childlessness at 30 rose by 31% among college-educated women and by 50% among those who did not go to college. Meanwhile, the share of women who had not married by 30 increased by 47% among those with degrees and by 50% among those without.

According to IFS, the consistent fertility and marriage patterns were “striking” and disproved theories that one socioeconomic group is responsible for the fertility decline. The study suggests that younger women “are placing relatively less emphasis on early family formation and parenthood,” with their views of marriage and family being shaped by shifting social norms and economic and relationship factors, IFS said.

“In short, the decline in fertility in the United States is not a story about one group of women delaying or foregoing childbearing,” IFS wrote. “It is a broad, population-wide shift that cuts across educational lines, reflecting deep changes in how young adults are organizing their lives and making decisions about family formation.”

Hannah Hiester is a staff writer at Zeale News whose work has also been published by the College Fix and the Archdiocese of Kansas City’s newspaper, the Leaven.

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SCOTUS grants emergency stay to abortion pill companies, blocking in-person dispensation requirement

Tue, 05 May 2026 21:37:00 GMT

By: Hannah Hiester, originally published May 4, 2026, Zeale News

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued an emergency administrative stay May 4, pausing an appeals court ruling that required chemical abortion pills to only be prescribed in person while an FDA safety review continues.

The decision follows emergency requests from two abortion pill manufacturers, Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, which asked SCOTUS to halt the appeals court’s May 1 ruling. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had sided with Louisiana in the state’s case against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As Zeale News previously reported , Louisiana sued the FDA for approving mail-order abortion pills, arguing that the policy allowed out-of-state providers to ship the drugs into Louisiana and circumvent its pro-life laws.

The stay will remain in effect at least until May 11 as the Court considers taking up the case at the request of the drug companies. Louisiana has until May 7 to submit a response.

In its May 1 decision, the 5th Circuit wrote, “We agree with the district court that Louisiana has shown it is suffering irreparable harm,” adding that the FDA policy “injures Louisiana by undermining its laws protecting unborn human life and also by causing it to spend Medicaid funds on emergency care for women harmed by mifepristone.”

The ruling also ordered the reinstatement of safety regulations for dispensing abortion pills that had been suspended by the Biden administration in 2023. The directive applied to prescribers across the country.

According to SCOTUSblog, the two companies argued in their emergency appeals that the order “injects immediate confusion and upheaval into highly time-sensitive medical decisions” and “unleashed regulatory chaos.”

Danco also contended that the 5th Circuit should have found that Louisiana did not have standing to bring a suit against the FDA in light of a similar 2024 SCOTUS decision that struck down a case brought by medical providers. At the time, SCOTUS ruled the providers did not have standing to challenge the FDA’s policy since it did not harm them. Danco argued that Louisiana’s claim of standing — based on costs incurred by paying physicians to treat complications arising from abortion pills — the argument is simply a “ more attenuated version of the” suit brought by the providers two years ago.

GenBioPro also objected to the 5th Circuit’s interpretation of legal standing and said it “would allow States to challenge virtually any agency action whenever they allege downstream costs or interference with state policy.”

SCOTUS Justice Samuel Alito, who is responsible for emergency requests from the 5th Circuit, granted the stay until the full court decides whether to grant the companies’ request. The emergency order temporarily restores women’s ability to access abortion pills without an in-person visit.

As Zeale News previously reported, abortion pills account for more than 60% of abortions performed in the U.S.

Hannah Hiester is a staff writer at Zeale News whose work has also been published by the College Fix and the Archdiocese of Kansas City’s newspaper, the Leaven.

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BREAKING: Supreme Court sides with pro-life pregnancy centers targeted by New Jersey

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:13:00 GMT

By: Raymond Wolfe, originally published April 29, 2026, LifeSiteNews.com

The Supreme Court unanimously backed a challenge to a subpoena issued by New Jersey’s Democratic AG demanding pro-life centers turn over massive amounts of donor records and other documents.

WASHINGTON, D.C. ( LifeSiteNews ) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously backed a group of faith-based pregnancy centers suing New Jersey for trying to force them to turn over massive amounts of donor information and confidential internal documents.

The justices ruled that First Choice Women’s Resource Centers could challenge in federal court New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s subpoena demanding donors’ names, phone numbers, addresses, and places of employment, as well as more than 20 other categories of documents.

The sweeping subpoena “did not explain why the Attorney General sought First Choice’s donor records,” the Supreme Court noted, and did not cite any wrongdoing. It also “warned twice that failure to comply may render the group liable for contempt of court and other penalties.”

Platkin, a strongly pro-abortion Democrat, had issued a “consumer alert” after the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 denouncing pregnancy centers. His office collaborated with Planned Parenthood on the alert, emails later revealed.

“An official demand for private donor information is enough to discourage reasonable individuals from associating with a group. It is enough to discourage groups from expressing dissident views,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the court’s ruling.

“From its allegations and declarations, and given our many and longstanding precedents in the area and reasonable inferences about third party behavior, First Choice has established that the Attorney General’s demand for private donor information injures the group’s First Amendment associational rights,” he added.

The Supreme Court’s decision in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin reverses a lower court ruling declaring that the pro-life centers had to first challenge the subpoena in New Jersey state courts.

Alliance Defending Freedom is representing First Choice Women’s Resource Centers. The Trump administration had also backed the pregnancy centers in the case.

Raymond Wolfe is a faithful Catholic journalist and editor at LifeSiteNews.

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CVS disputes Planned Parenthood’s ‘strategic partnership’ claim as report language changes; critics push back

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:25:00 GMT

By: Jasmine Baehr, originally published April 25, 2026, FoxNews.com

CVS is disputing a Planned Parenthood claim of a “strategic partnership” on abortion pill access after the organization’s website no longer includes language that previously referenced such a relationship.

“The team that manages our reproductive health program is unaware of anything related to that organization beyond standard abortifacient dispensing for individuals with prescriptions,” a CVS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

The company added that it “do[es] not have a formal partnership with Planned Parenthood of Greater New York beyond filling prescriptions.”

CVS added it did not indicate any agreement or coordination with Planned Parenthood beyond dispensing legally prescribed medication.

“There’s a little bit of mystery here,” Shawn Carney, president of 40 Days for Life , told Fox News Digital.

“CVS is for sure downplaying their role,” he added. “They say they’re just distributing abortion pills — that’s exactly what Planned Parenthood wants them to do.”

But Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s annual report previously described a “strategic partnership with CVS,” stating that patients can “pick up the abortion pill from their local pharmacies.”

That language was removed from the report as of April 24, 2026.

“Through our strategic partnership with CVS, patients can now pick up the abortion pill from their local pharmacies, allowing them to experience abortion care, with the supportive guidance of our expert clinicians, in the comfort of their homes,” the report previously stated.

The report also stated that patients can pick up medication abortion prescriptions at CVS pharmacies.

Carney said he believes the arrangement would mark a first of its kind.

“This would make CVS the first publicly traded company in the United States to distribute abortion pills,” he said.

CVS maintains its role is limited to standard prescription dispensing, where permitted.

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, however, did not directly address its use of the term “strategic partnership.”

“PPGNY makes strategic decisions about its operations and its association with various companies, partners and organizations,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement.

“We are happy our patients are able to fill their abortion pill prescriptions at local pharmacies, including CVS, which expands access to critical healthcare .”

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s report appears to have been updated between April 23 and April 24.

Fox News Digital contacted the organization for comment during that same timeframe. A version of the report viewed by Fox News Digital April 23 described a “strategic partnership with CVS,” while the current version, as of April 24, no longer includes that language.

The organization did not address the change in its statement.

Medication abortion, which typically involves a two-drug regimen, has increasingly been offered via telehealth in recent years after the FDA expanded access around the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mifepristone also remains under federal scrutiny.

The FDA said as of April 2026 that it was conducting a safety study on the drug and had received reports of serious adverse events, including deaths, in patients associated with mifepristone while also saying those events cannot be definitively attributed to the drug.

“Nobody wants to go to their CVS and buy a Snickers bar and buy their milk and think, ‘Oh, they’re distributing abortion pills through the drive-thru,’” Carney told Fox News Digital. “That’s not what we want.”

Planned Parenthood reported performing 19,673 medication abortions in its most recent fiscal year.

Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.

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Abortion Center is Demolished After Killing Babies for 40 Years

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:17:00 GMT

By: Steven Ertelt, originally published April 28, 2026, LifeSiteNews.com

The EMW Women’s Surgical Center, Louisville’s last abortion facility that had been killing unborn babies for over 40 years, has been demolished.

The building that housed the abortion clinic was recently reduced to rubble, Kentucky Right to Life announced.

“From ashes… the fall of EMW is a milestone—but not the finish line. It is a reminder that perseverance matters. That truth endures. That faith, lived out over time, changes history,” the pro-life group posted on X .

It added: “Over 40 years, EMW Women’s Surgical Center in Louisville—has been reduce to rubble.”

The abortion center, established in 1981, had killed thousands of unborn babies until the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed Kentucky to enforce its abortion ban that helps women and protects babies.

It became the state’s sole abortion business in early 2017 after its Lexington satellite clinic closed due to stringent licensing regulations designed to protect women.

State data showed abortions in Kentucky fell sharply after the ban took effect.

In 2021, there were 4,441 abortions that killed babies in the state. That number shrank to 2,250 in 2022 — meaning 1,891 babies were saved. From January to July 2023, reported abortions dropped by almost 100% compared with the same period in 2021, according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ Office of Vital Statistics, with only 13 reported versus 2,591 previously.

With the closure of EMW Women’s Surgical Center and Planned Parenthood Louisville following the ban, Kentucky no longer has any centers that kill babies but dozens that protect them and care for women, according to pro-life advocates.

The demolition marks the end of an era in which the facility operated despite repeated efforts by state officials to shut it down.

Steven Ertelt is the founder and editor of LifeNews.com and has provided the pro-life community with news via the internet since 1993.

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2026: ProLife Across Ohio Gaining Traction

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:22:00 GMT

In November 2023, Ohioans voted to enshrine so called “Reproductive Rights” into the Ohio Constitution. Supporters of Issue 1 continue to turn to progressive Ohio courts, seeking to expand the boundaries of unrestricted abortion well beyond the morality and values Ohioans hold with respect to life.

In what has become increasingly routine since the passage of Issue 1, Ohio courts have been called upon to dismantle even the most basic of common sense limitations on the termination of an unborn life. For example:

“Heartbeat Bill” signed into law in 2019 this bill sought to prohibit an abortion if a baby’s heartbeat was detected. Contrary to the will of Ohioans, in 2024 a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins ruled the Heartbeat Bill unconstitutional
Down Syndrome Discrimination Law passed in 2017 to prohibit ‘eugenic’ abortions for the sole reason of a baby’s diagnosis of Down Syndrome. This law seeking to protect the defenseless was challenged unsuccessfully by pro-abortion activists when the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the government has the right to protect children from disability discrimination before and after birth.
24 Hour Waiting Period/In Person Visit Requirement/Information Requirement Regarding the Abortion Procedure Plaintiffs including abortion providers have filed suit in Preterm-Cleveland v. Yost seeking to declare unconstitutional common sense measures meant to provide pregnant women with information and an opportunity to meet in person with a doctor.

Recent legislation introduced in the Ohio Statehouse shows the pro-life movement in Ohio has not only begun to ‘hold the line’ but pushing back in defense of the unborn and expectant women.

She Wins Act sponsored by State Representatives Mike Odioso and Josh Williams and recently passed the house and moves to the Senate. She Wins seeks to require the abortion procedure meet the same informed consent standards as all medical care. The act:

◦      Assures a pregnant woman meets with a physician
◦      That the physician provides specific information to the pregnant woman
◦      The pregnant woman provides written informed consent 24 hours before an elective abortion

Ohio House Health Committee Chair Jean Schmidt notes She Wins, “provides women with the right to knowledge and empowers them to make fully informed decisions”.

Patient Protection Act sponsored by State Representatives Adam Mathews and Meredith Craig and passed by the House. This bill seeks to provide transparency by informing women of the risks associated with “chemical abortion” procedure. The Abortion Pill Harms Women study by Ethics and Public Policy Center reveals:

◦ 10.93 percent of women experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days following a mifepristone abortion.
◦ The real-world rate of serious adverse events following mifepristone abortions is at least 22 times as high as the summary figure of “less than 0.5 percent” in clinical trials reported on the drug label.

The Patient Protection Act would require a patient being prescribed a “high risk” medications, one with at least a 5% chance of severe harm, to meet in-person with the prescriber of the abortion drug. “By requiring direct evaluations and prohibiting the mail-order delivery of dangerous drugs, this legislation protects Ohioans from gaps in oversight that can occur through telehealth,” said Representative Craig. Representative Mathews observed, “The Hippocratic Oath is to ‘Do No Harm,’ and with the proliferation of mail order medication, some drugs are severely injuring over one in twenty patients.”

The Baby Olivia Act sponsored by State Representative Melanie Miller and passed the Ohio House, the Baby Olivia Act would enhance health education in Ohio schools by requiring medically accurate video about early human growth and development in school curriculum in grades three through twelve. The bill’s name is inspired by a video entitled Baby Olivia , which shows a developing child in the womb with scientifically accurate descriptions of the stages of human development. This bill will debunk the idea a child in the womb is only a “clump of cells” or “tissue.”

These bills join others introduced in both the Ohio House and Senate seeking to educate as well as protect Ohioans. They are encouraging signs the tide is beginning to turn in Ohio against the unrestricted excesses of Issue 1.

The post 2026: ProLife Across Ohio Gaining Traction appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Great News for Coffee Drinkers

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:31:21 GMT

Great news coffee drinkers

There is a 100% pro-life coffee company that now donates 15% of the sales to Cincinnati Right to Life when purchased with our unique code!

Seven Weeks Coffee holds a mission to promote Godly values, provide excellent coffee, and protect every beating heart. The coffee is sourced through Direct Trade. This is the only way to ensure farmers are paid honest and legitimate wages. The coffee is specialty grade and is harvested from small lot farms in award winning coffee regions. Pesticide and mold-free.

In addition to the vital support you already give, if you are already a coffee drinker, please consider switching your brand to a Seven Weeks Coffee subscription. 15% of all spending will be donated to our great pro-life work. SHOP SEVEN WEEKS COFFEE HERE

Drink awesome coffee and assist in funding the great work of
Cincinnati Right to Life!

Miscarriage and Ectopic Pregnancy are not Abortion

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:26:36 GMT

Celebrate every life while you support our pro-life mission

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:21:26 GMT

Scan the QR code below, or use code: CINCRTL10 at checkout for 10% off of your next purchase

Meet EveryLife , the pro-life diaper company with a very simple purpose: to create high-performing diapers for every little miracle.

EveryLife believes that every child is a gift from God that deserves to be protected and cherished, just as we do here at Cincinnati Right to Life!

Scan the QR code below, or use code: CINCRTL10 at checkout for 10% off of your next purchase

Life’s 5th Quarter – 5th Saturday Mass & Prayer Vigil

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:36:13 GMT

Pro-Life challenge to high school and college students on the 5th Saturday of the month. Mass at 8:00 a.m., followed by Rosary prayer walk to Planned Parenthood. Contact Adam Schad at 513-728-7870 or aschad@cincinnatirighttolife.org , www. facebook.com/lifes5thquarter .

May 30, 2026 8:00AM

Location

Holy Name Church, 2422 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219

The Missionary Families of Christ Rosary for Life

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:34:36 GMT

Every first Saturday of the month, 2 p.m. at All Saints Parish. Contact Leo DeVela at 513/791-1011.

May 02, 2026 2:00PM

Location

All Saints Parish, 8939 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

First Saturday Pro-Life Rosary and Mass

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:32:48 GMT

Rosary and Mass at the Holy Spirit Center at 9:00 a.m. followed by coffee and speaker. Contact Jerry Schmidt at 513-509-9841 or jschmidtgj@fuse.net .

May 02, 2026 9:00AM

Location

Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, 5440 Moeller Ave., Norwood, OH 45212

Sidewalk Advocated for Life Training

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:30:27 GMT

Saturday, May 16th, 2026

From 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Cincinnati Right to Life office, 2406 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219

To sign up or for more info, call the office at 513-728-7870, email Adam Schad at ASchad@cincinnatirighttolife.org or use QR code below

Location

2406 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219

Event Contact Adam Schad | Email

Heartbeats for Life 5K – Miles for Moms

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:28:21 GMT

Saturday, May 9th, 2026

Lunken Airport Playfield – Mother’s Day Weekend

Lunken Playfield
4740 Playfield Ln.
Cincinnati, OH 45226

Doors open at 8:00 a.m. – Race begins at 9:00 a.m.

The Heartbeats for Life 5K is sponsored by Cincinnati Right to Life and Cincinnati Life Runners to bring the pro-life community together for a family-friendly day full of fun, fellowship, and life. Proceeds go toward pro-life efforts to affect culture and public policy.

All proceeds benefit Cincinnati Right to Life Educational Foundation and Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati projects to protect the sanctity of human life in Southwestern Ohio and beyond.

Lunken Airport Playfield, 4740 Playfield Ln., Cincinnati, OH 45226

Mother’s Day Flower Sale

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:23:44 GMT

Is your church participating in our Annual Mother’s Day Flower Sale?

This annual fundraiser is an easy way to show mom your appreciation as well as help raise greatly needed funds to support the work of Cincinnati Right to Life.

If your church would like to be involved, please call or email Eliza at Wildwood Flora, 513-348-6020, info@wildwoodflora.com , to let her know your church delivery address and quantity of baskets needed.

You may also contact our office at 513-728-7870

Membership 2026

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:42:09 GMT

Increase in Profits from Preborn Deaths at Planned Parenthood

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:12:00 GMT

All corporations have certain objectives in common. To grow larger, to produce more ‘product,’ and earn more profit. Year after year, the Planned Parenthood corporation has grown larger to include transgender reassignment ‘therapies’ and chemical abortions. Planned Parenthood’s ‘product’ is literally measured in the number of deaths. So, we ask, who ultimately profits from the business of Planned Parenthood?

In Planned Parenthood’s annual report 2023-2024, perversely entitled, “ A Force for Hope, ” the corporation cites, as evidence of its success, having performed 402,200 abortions. The following year’s annual report for Planned Parenthood 2024-2025, entitled, “ Care Continues,” shows an increase in product, growth, and profit, reporting 434,450 abortions. An increase of more than 32,000 abortions!

The Planned Parenthood Corporation and its deadly business does not go unchecked. Pregnancy centers have provided care in record setting numbers. ⁱ

Citing a report produced by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, Live Action reports:

Live Action describes the report found:

Pregnancy centers saw 1,012,976 new clients in 2024.
8 in 10 centers provide free or low-cost medical services, staffed by over 10,000 medical professionals.
Material support provided rose by 48% from 2022, proving that pregnancy centers are stepping up to meet the needs of women and families after the fall of Roe v. Wade.
Pregnancy centers provided 6,353,386 packs of diapers, 1,604,996 packs of wipes, 4,980,839 baby outfits, and 373,531 cans of formula in 2024.
81% of pregnancy centers provide ultrasounds (636,514 of them in 2024), 92% provide material item services, and 85% provide prenatal/parenting education programs.
29% of pregnancy centers provide abortion pill reversal.

The business of pregnancy centers continues to grow, providing service to expectant mothers and their babies, and the protection of each baby and its’ mother. The Charlotte Lozier Institute’s “ Pregnancy Centers: Rising to the Occasion with Unwavering Care, ” documents the dedication of these centers to the cause of life. This is something all can celebrate.

The post Increase in Profits from Preborn Deaths at Planned Parenthood appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati’s 2026 Pro-Life Poster Contest

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:48:08 GMT

Dec 27, 2025—Feb 27, 2026

Event Contact Karen Byrne | Email

It’s time once again for Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati’s Annual Pro-Life Poster Contest, open to all students in Kindergarten through 8th grade from private, public, home schools, home, or catechetical programs.

More than 250 years ago, America’s Founding Fathers understood a timeless truth: the first and most fundamental right is the right to life. They recognized that without life, no other rights can exist. This foundational principle remains at the heart of our nation and calls each generation to protect and defend the most vulnerable among us.

From the very beginning of our nation, America’s foundational documents have affirmed the sanctity of life. The Declaration of Independence , the United States Constitution , and the Bill of Rights all recognize life as a fundamental and God-given right. These cornerstone federal documents establish that the purpose of government is to protect life, liberty, and justice, making the defense of innocent human life not only a moral responsibility, but a foundational American principle.

In a culture that increasingly discards the unborn, the aging, the handicapped, the infirmed, and the “inconvenient”, we must reach the hearts of our youth proclaiming the value and worth of each unique human life from the moment of conception, made by the most loving Lord. Whether a person lives for a few minutes or for centuries, thriving or struggling, EVERY human person mirrors God.

There are three age categories for the the contest: K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th. Cash prizes and prize ribbons for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will be awarded in each age group. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Each poster will be evaluated on its originality, use of medium, interpretation of theme, and presentation of a pro-life message. Selections of the top entries will be chosen. We kindly ask that no copyrighted material be used.

Entry forms and rules are attached and may be reproduced. Additional copies may be obtained from the Right to Life office (513/728-7870) or downloaded from CincinnatiRighttoLife.org.

Deadline for entries is Friday, February 27, 2026. Please note the size requirement of 9″ x 12″. If you have any questions, please call Karen Byrne at the Right to Life office, 513-728-7870. We look forward to seeing your creative and inspiring artwork!

Trump releases 2027 budget plan that defunds Planned Parenthood, ‘gender transitions’

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:34:00 GMT

By: Calvin Freiburger, originally published April 9, 2026, LifeSiteNews.com

Trump’s budget proposal includes the Hyde Amendment and other pro-life policies and blocks federal funding for transgender drugs and surgeries, research with aborted babies, and more.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) — The Trump administration has unveiled its budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal year, which contains numerous provisions aimed at denying federal tax dollars to the abortion industry.

The proposal maintains longstanding limits on abortion funding, including the Hyde Amendment against direct funding of most abortions, the Hyde-Weldon Amendment against funding entities that discriminate against pro-life healthcare providers, and the Kemp-Kasten provision against funding any organization involved in coercive abortion programs. New language states that “None of the funds appropriated in this Act, and none of the funds in any trust fund to which funds are appropriated in this Act, shall be expended for any abortion”; or for “health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion” or transgender drugs or surgeries.

Additional provisions forbid State Department grants from going to organizations that perform or promote abortions, ban any funding of research involving the use of aborted fetal tissue or cells, require medical students to have to consciously opt in to any abortion training they might take rather than being required by default and having to opt out, blocking funding of abortions in federal prison, banning funds from going to elective abortion via the Peace Corps and Federal Health Employee Benefits program, and more.

The plan offers a thorough pro-life vision of keeping taxpayers’ money away from abortion and continues the most pro-life aspect of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Within weeks of returning to office, Trump began enforcing the Hyde Amendment, reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which forbids non-governmental organizations from using taxpayer dollars for elective abortions abroad, and cut millions in pro-abortion subsidies by freezing U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) spending.

Last July, he signed into law his controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (BBB), a wide-ranging policy package that includes a one-year ban on federal tax dollars going through Medicaid to entities that commit abortions for reasons other than rape, incest, or supposed threats to the mother’s life.

However, White House budget proposals are not binding, and actual budgets typically end up falling far short after working their way through Congress. Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has reportedly ruled out including a renewal of Planned Parenthood’s aforementioned defunding in the upcoming reconciliation bill, in the interest of passing a clean renewal of funding for the Department of Homeland Security and with it the president’s deportation agenda.

The administration also angered pro-lifers recently by renewing Biden-era Title X grants to Planned Parenthood for one more year. The White House claims it was bound by law to do so, but stressed this would be the final year. Pro-lifers have urged Trump to reinstate his first term’s Protect Life Rule, which required complete “financial and physical” separation between Title X recipients and involvement with abortion.

Calvin Freiburger is a conservative writer at LifeSiteNews.

The post Trump releases 2027 budget plan that defunds Planned Parenthood, ‘gender transitions’ appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Life-affirming help centers far outweigh number of abortion clinics

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:35:00 GMT

Planned Parenthood’s Annual Report is out for 2024-2025 and there has been a staggering 8% increase in the number of abortions performed. 434,450 preborn children lost their lives at Planned Parenthood locations across the U.S.

While there are other abortion clinics besides Planned Parenthood – including a new “help center” that provides the abortion pill in Cincinnati – Planned Parenthood seemed to boast of their renown as an abortion provider, stating “As the nation’s largest sex educator and reproductive rights advocate…”

We need to keep educating the community that there are far more life affirming help centers than abortion clinics. And we will continue to fight for the truth in Life !

The post Life-affirming help centers far outweigh number of abortion clinics appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Happy Easter 2026

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:22:00 GMT

He is Risen!

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes”

– John 5:21

The post Happy Easter 2026 appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Twenty-one years ago,

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:40:00 GMT

March 31, 2005, Terri Schiavo succumbed to a court ordered death by starvation and dehydration. There were those who sought to misdirect from the infamy which had led to the death of Terri by pointing out she had “no quality of life” or that her “suffering had come to an end.” Whatever the ‘spin,’ a life was agonizingly terminated in reliance on false compassion and in contemplation of the ‘inconvenience’ of caring for an innocent and defenseless life.

In the United States, fourteen states legally permit medical aid in dying with more states seeking to adopt similar legislation. “Ohio End of Life Options” is promoting assisted suicide across our state of Ohio. European and other countries continue to expand active euthanasia. Canada’s Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) reported a record 16,499 people put to death by Canada’s national euthanasia policy. Canada’s ironically titled “ Minister of Health,” Marjorie Michel, observed “the federal legal framework protects those who are vulnerable, while supporting freedom of choice and personal autonomy.” The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) reported, “Nearly 23% of Canadians overall cited “isolation or loneliness” as a reason for seeking euthanasia. Medical practitioners reported about 50% of people requested euthanasia because of being a “perceived burden on family, friends, or caregivers.”

Nearly twenty-one years after Terri Schiavo’s fight for life ended, twenty-five year old Noelia Castillo Ramos became the youngest person in Spain to be euthanized under Spain’s 2021 law. Noelia decided to end her life, having experienced mental illness and multiple instances of terrible abuse. Noelia’s father argued his daughter lacked the ability to make a decision regarding euthanasia while he appealed for medical and psychiatric treatment for his daughter. Despite an outpouring of spiritual and material offers of support from donors and public figures, Noelia was deliberately killed in a Spanish hospital.

The legal representative for Noelia’s parents, Attorney Polonia Castellanos of Abogados Cristianos, commented on the failure of Spain’s euthanasia law.

“We’ve been told it was a law for very extreme cases, for people who were very ill, who were practically dying. Here we see that it’s being used to end the life … of a girl of only 25 years who has her whole life ahead of her and who has a treatable illness.”

As Terri Schiavo, Noelia Castillo Ramos and now tens of thousands of others across the world demonstrate, we must stand to protect the innocent, the voiceless and the defenseless.

The post Twenty-one years ago, appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

40 Days for Life Spring Update – Holy Week

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:55:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
Week of March 29, 2026

HOLY WEEK

Final Update of the Spring/Lenten Campaign

Prayer Hour of Thanksgiving

We held out closing “Prayer Hour of Thanksgiving” on Palm Sunday with a procession from Holy Name Church to Planned Parenthood while praying the Way of the Cross for the Victims of Abortion . Thanks to Deacon Dave Shaffer who lead the prayers and gave his remarks. He noted that as we heard in the reading of the Passion of Christ that morning in St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, which in Aramaic means “Place of the Skull” because the hill resembles a skull with hollow eye sockets. A long-standing Christian tradition claims the skull of Adam was buried at the base of the hill. Jesus’ blood ran down through the cracks in the stone, thus signifying Christ’s victory over death where it first began.

40 Days for Life 365

Between the two yearly 40 day/24 hour prayer campaigns, we are joining with about 60 other cities who are taking part in 40 Days for Life 365 . The goal is to eventually have prayer at Planned Parenthood during all of their office hours. We are beginning by asking for help to cover 8am to 5pm (last hour 4-5pm) on Wednesdays with April 8 ^th being the first day.

Finally, our entire 40 Days for Life core team is very grateful to you for sacrificing your time and convenience through COLD, snow, rain, wind and some beautiful days to take part in covering the 960 hours of our Spring/Lenten campaign.

We wish you a Blessed Holy Week and a Happy Easter Season!

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office

Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY

Dearborn County, Indiana Catholic Churches (St. Mary, Aurora, IN; St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN; St. Teresa, Bright, IN; All Saints, Guilford, IN)

Divine Mercy, Belleview, KY

Divine Mercy parish family (Our Lady of the Visitation; St. Joseph, North Bend; St. Jude, Bridgetown)

Eastside Catholics (St. Cecilia; St. Mary, Hyde Park; Oratory of St. John Vianny, Madisonville)

Immaculate Conception, Norwood

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY

Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family (St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill; St. Ann, Groesbeck; St. James the Greater, White Oak; St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Miami University Students for Life, Oxford

Most Holy Eucharist parish family, Cincinnati (St. Antoninus, St. Martin of Tours, St. Catharine of Siena, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Our Lady of Lourdes)

Old Saint Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati

Pregnancy Center Plus

Pregnancy Center West

Queen of Apostles parish family (Our Lady of the Valley, Reading; Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills; St. James of the Valley)

St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY

St. Antoninus, Cincinnati

St. Catherine of Siena, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Columban, Loveland

St. Edmund Campion Academy

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (St. Mary Magdalene parish family)

St. Francis De Sales, Lebanon

St. Gertrude, Madeira

St. Gregory the Great Parish Family (IHM, Anderson Twp., Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington; St. John Fisher, Newtown)

St. Henry, Erlanger, KY

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Monfort Heights

St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Road

St. John the Evangelist, Deer Park

St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY

St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY

St. Margaret of York, Loveland

St. Mary, Arnheim

St. Mary, Oxford

St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY

St. Paul, Florence, KY

St. Paul the Apostle parish family (St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints), Kenwood

St. Philip, Melbourne, KY

St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY

St. Susanna, Mason

St. Thomas, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Thomas More (Stella Maris parish family)

St. Timothy, Union, KY

Vineyard Northwest

The post 40 Days for Life Spring Update – Holy Week appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Six

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:20:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
March 27, 2026

Weekly Update – Week Six

National Team Visit & Closing Day Prayer Hour of Thanksgiving

The National Team Visit – On Tuesday evening, between 60 and 70 of us welcomed national 40 Days for Life team members Heather Gardner, Dr. Haywood Robinson and his wife Daphne and Kristi Hofferber to the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood. They were in town for the Heartbeat International convention and we were honored to have them take the time to be with our local campaign.

Heather Gardner led off with a prayer and relayed the story of a winsome response she witnessed while praying at a 40 Days for Life location. When confronted by someone who asked what the pro-lifer was doing for the homeless, he gently and sincerely asked the woman what she does for the homeless so he could perhaps learn from her. This led to a conversation which softened the woman’s stance towards pro-lifers.

Kristi Hofferber gave her testimony of learning her birth mother had been a victim of abuse for 20 years by a family member and that Kristi was conceived through that abuse. Her birth mother said that meeting Kristi years later and being accepted by her was a healing moment.

Dr. Robinson told the story of his path from performing abortions to becoming pro-life and his conversion to Christ (which was 40 years ago this week!). Commenting on Kristi’s story, he said, “where there’s life, there’s hope.”

Sunday, March 29, 2:00pm – Closing Prayer Hour of Thanksgiving –

Procession to Planned Parenthood starting at Holy Name Church Parking Lot – Procession to Planned Parenthood while praying the Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion and other prayers in thanksgiving for a successful campaign. Information about ongoing public prayer will be available. See LOCAL EVENTS on our website for details.

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office

Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY

Dearborn County, Indiana Catholic Churches (St. Mary, Aurora, IN; St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN; St. Teresa, Bright, IN; All Saints, Guilford, IN)

Divine Mercy, Belleview, KY

Divine Mercy parish family (Our Lady of the Visitation; St. Joseph, North Bend; St. Jude, Bridgetown)

Eastside Catholics (St. Cecilia; St. Mary, Hyde Park; Oratory of St. John Vianny, Madisonville)

Immaculate Conception, Norwood

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY

Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family (St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill; St. Ann, Groesbeck; St. James the Greater, White Oak; St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Miami University Students for Life, Oxford

Most Holy Eucharist parish family, Cincinnati (St. Antoninus, St. Martin of Tours, St. Catharine of Siena, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Our Lady of Lourdes)

Old Saint Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati

Pregnancy Center Plus

Pregnancy Center West

Queen of Apostles parish family (Our Lady of the Valley, Reading; Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills; St. James of the Valley)

St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY

St. Antoninus, Cincinnati

St. Catherine of Siena, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Columban, Loveland

St. Edmund Campion Academy

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (St. Mary Magdalene parish family)

St. Francis De Sales, Lebanon

St. Gertrude, Madeira

St. Gregory the Great Parish Family (IHM, Anderson Twp., Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington; St. John Fisher, Newtown)

St. Henry, Erlanger, KY

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Monfort Heights

St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Road

St. John the Evangelist, Deer Park

St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY

St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY

St. Margaret of York, Loveland

St. Mary, Arnheim

St. Mary, Oxford

St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY

St. Paul, Florence, KY

St. Paul the Apostle parish family (St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints), Kenwood

St. Philip, Melbourne, KY

St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY

St. Susanna, Mason

St. Thomas, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Thomas More (Stella Maris parish family)

St. Timothy, Union, KY

Vineyard Northwest

The post 40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Six appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Ohio House Passes Pro-Life Bill to Help Women, Save Babies From Abortions

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:24:00 GMT

By: Steven Ertelt, originally published March 26, 2026, LifeNews.com

Today, the Ohio House voted 64-31 to pass HB 347, the SHE WINS Act, a bill that will enact a reflection period before the life-altering decision of abortion is made. Ohio Right to Life supports this life-affirming legislation.

The process of allowing time between information about a medical procedure and the actual procedure is standard across all areas of medicine. Patients undergoing surgical or serious medical procedures are routinely given time to review information, ask questions, and reflect before proceeding. This process protects patient autonomy, strengthens trust in the medical system, and ensures decisions are made deliberately and with full awareness of potential outcomes. The SHE WINS Act applies this same standard of care to abortion procedures, recognizing that women deserve the same protections afforded in other medical contexts.

A structured reflection period ensures decisions are thoughtful and informed rather than reactive or influenced by external pressures. This approach respects women as capable decision-makers who deserve the dignity of time, clarity, and support.

“For a decision as monumental as abortion, a time of reflection first is the least we can ask,” said Carrie Snyder, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life. “The constitutional amendment regarding abortion specified that the State has a right to advance an individual’s health in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based standards of care. Ensuring patients receive details of a major procedure with time to process the information before the procedure occurs is certainly a standard of care practiced in other areas of medicine.”

Steven Ertelt is the founder and Editor of LifeNews.com, and has provided the pro-life community with news via the internet since 1993.

The post Ohio House Passes Pro-Life Bill to Help Women, Save Babies From Abortions appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Why convicted murderer Kermit Gosnell still matters – and what the media still won’t say

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:50:00 GMT

By: SBA Team , originally published March 26, 2026, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America

Infamous Pennsylvania abortionist and convicted murder Kermit Gosnell died this month , 16 years after the shocking trial that almost didn’t make national news. He was 85, serving life in prison.

Who was Kermit Gosnell?

On the Senate floor in 2024, pro-abortion Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), ironically, suggested people Google Kermit Gosnell. Take his advice – but steel your stomach.

Gosnell’s abortion technique frequently entailed delivering babies alive – “ still moving, whimpering or breathing ” – and “snipping” their spinal cords with scissors. He was convicted on three counts of murder (though the true number is hundreds or thousands) and multiple charges of violating Pennsylvania’s late-term abortion law.

See Actual Photo of “Baby Boy A” [Warning – Graphic]

For 30 years Gosnell got away with murder – it was suspicion of drug trafficking that finally brought him down.

Even investigators weren’t prepared for Gosnell’s “Women’s Medical Society.” The nearly 300-page grand jury report describes a true house of horrors: Unsanitary instruments. Cat feces. Baby feet in jars. Intact babies in the freezer, remains in milk cartons…“The only thing Gosnell seemed to care about was the cash he raked in from his illegal operation,” around $10-15,000 daily.

Not only babies

The Federalist’s Jordan Boyd notes :

When Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old refugee , overdosed on cheap painkillers given by Gosnell’s unlicensed staff, Gosnell wasn’t even present. His defibrillator was broken. By the time paramedics arrived, Mongar was gone.

All-systems failure

The grand jury savaged the National Abortion Federation, which rejected Gosnell’s membership application after seeing his facility – but never informed authorities. Not only that : Under “pro-choice” Republican Gov. Tom Ridge, annual inspections of abortion facilities ended, favoring “access” to abortion instead. Even after Karnamaya Mongar died, the state health department didn’t bother – their chief counsel stating flatly at the trial, “People die.”

A “soldier” against poverty?

Gosnell’s attorney spoke of “prosecutorial lynching”: “This is a targeted, elitist and racist prosecution of a doctor who’s done nothing but give (back) to the poor and the people of West Philadelphia.” Contemporary reports indicate Gosnell saw himself as a pillar of the community:

We shudder – but similar views still have high-profile sympathizers today, like Janet Yellen to Sen. Tim Scott shortly after the Dobbs leak:

Media blackout

At first, the case only drew attention from area reporters and small blogs. That began to change when Bucks County Courier Times reporter JD Mullane posted a photo of the empty courtroom press gallery:

National columnist Kirsten Powers blasted the media :

When Mollie Hemingway called out The Washington Post, the now-famous reply was that this story was merely “local crime.” (The reporter has since moved on to The New York Times.)

An old saying in journalism goes, “If it bleeds, it leads.” So why the silence?

Here, too, the grand jury’s conclusion is revealing: “We think the reason no one acted is because the women in question were poor and of color, because the victims were infants without identities, and because the subject was the political football of abortion. ”

When it was covered – such as years later when independent filmmakers wanted to run ads – outlets like then-taxpayer-funded NPR continued to censor the facts, refusing to call Gosnell (accurately) an abortionist.

Not an outlier

Corporate media still won’t acknowledge the truth: Gosnell is hardly alone in the abortion industry. He’s just one of the few who went to jail.

Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, attempted damage control following the trial. But only two years later, undercover videos exposed their callous harvest and sale of baby body parts . And in 2019, the hoarded remains of more than 2,200 aborted children were discovered on abortionist Ulrich “George” Klopfer’s Indiana property only after his death.

Today, politicians still ignore, cover up, or try to explain away abortion industry horrors – like Tim Walz , Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro , Ralph Northam or D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser .

Contrast Gosnell’s crimes with the case of the D.C. Five , whose brutalized but well-developed bodies – bearing injuries consistent with illegal partial-birth abortions, a federal crime – were discovered along with 100+ more aborted children in a medical waste box four years ago this week.

Though congressional legislation has been introduced, to date, D.C. has conducted:

No investigation
No autopsies
No arrests
No trial

Late-term abortionist Cesare Santangelo, who was caught admitting he’d do nothing to save a baby that was born alive, remains free – even showing up for “work” in an arm cast – while pro-life activists who peacefully protest late-term abortion were imprisoned under President Biden until President Trump pardoned them.

Break the silence

Today, most people still won’t hear about America’s biggest serial killer on the news. Gosnell’s Associated Press obituary isn’t even 250 words long. Once again, citizens of good conscience must speak up and demand that the awful truth about Kermit Gosnell – and most importantly, the humanity of all abortion victims – not get buried with him.

Images: Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

The post Why convicted murderer Kermit Gosnell still matters – and what the media still won’t say appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Infamous abortionist Kermit Gosnell Dead at 85

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:30:00 GMT

By: Raymond Wolfe, originally published March 23, 2026, LifeSitenews.com

Kermit Gosnell was sentenced to life in prison for murdering three infants born alive in illegal late-term abortions by cutting their spinal cords with scissors.

PHILADELPHIA ( LifeSiteNews ) — Notorious Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was sentenced to life in prison for brutally murdering three newborn babies, has died at age 85.

Gosnell died at a hospital earlier this month, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. The monstrous abortionist is believed to have killed thousands of babies born alive in his “house of horrors” abortion facility, in addition to grotesquely injuring female clients, at least two of whom later died.

Gosnell was charged in 2011 on seven counts of first-degree murder and convicted by a grand jury two years later on three of the counts. He was also convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the case of a woman who died due to multiple unrecorded doses of the dangerous sedative Demerol, administered by Gosnell’s unlicensed workers.

Gosnell, who began working as an abortionist in the 1970s, was further convicted on 21 counts of committing illegal late-term abortions and more than 200 counts of violating Pennsylvania’s required 24-hour waiting period before abortions.

As noted by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer, the pro-life journalists and filmmakers who wrote the book Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer , the grand jury investigating Gosnell’s crimes “wanted to charge him with 200 recent murders but the move was stymied and reduced to just seven after pressure from senior political and law enforcement officials.”

“According to sources close to the investigation, law enforcement and politicians did not want their homicide numbers to spike in an era of falling crime and murder statistics,” they added.

Employees testified under oath that they had seen Gosnell kill countless newborn babies by “snipping” their spinal cords, as Gosnell called it.

“Over the years, there were hundreds of ‘snippings.’ Sometimes, if Gosnell was unavailable, the ‘snipping’ was done by one of his fake doctors, or even by one of the administrative staff,” a grand jury report attested. However, most of the killings could not be prosecuted, as Gosnell destroyed files about the cases.

One baby whose murder Gosnell was convicted for – “Baby Boy A” – was almost 30 weeks’ gestation and weighed nearly six pounds. He was “breathing and moving” when Gosnell killed him and put his body in a shoebox for disposal, according to the report.

The boy was “so big that his feet and arms hung out over the sides of the container” and continued to move after Gosnell cut his spinal cord with scissors, meaning that he likely spent his last moments “in excruciating pain.” The baby’s teenage mother developed an infection and blood clots that travelled to her lungs and almost died herself.

Another baby was born into a toilet and “looked like it was swimming” before a worker cut his or her neck.

Gosnell notably scheduled abortions of “really big” babies on Sundays, when his facility was closed and regular staff were off. On the other days of the week, “Gosnell routinely aborted and killed babies in the sixth and seventh month of pregnancy. The Sunday babies must have been bigger still,” the grand jury report states.

The abortionist’s other barbarities included cutting off the feet of his baby victims and preserving them in jars.

Catastrophic injuries to women, ‘filthy’ facility

Gosnell additionally caused devastating harm to women throughout his decades in the abortion industry, as the grand jury report recounts:

Gosnell’s so-called “Women’s Medical Society Clinic,” like many other abortion centers, was filthy and replete with rusty, dirty equipment:

Investigators who raided his facility in 2010 also found babies’ remains in milk jugs, cartons of orange juices, and cat food containers. They described the building as “filthy,” “deplorable,” “disgusting,” “very unsanitary, very outdated, horrendous,” and “by far, the worst” that they had ever seen.

McElhinney and McAleer related that Gosnell’s handyman “frequently complained that the toilets and drains were blocked with the ‘arms and feet’ and other remains of aborted babies.”

Moreover, Gosnell relied heavily on untrained workers, including a teenage high school student.

The abortionist escaped the death penalty by waiving his right to an appeal in exchange for two consecutive life sentences. He later received a third life sentence and another 30-year sentence for illegally distributing enormous amounts of narcotics out of his abortion center.

Pennsylvania officials knew about Gosnell killing, injuring women but did nothing

Of particular concern is that Pennsylvania authorities knew for years about Gosnell seriously injuring women and grossly violating health standards but failed to take action, even after the death of one of his clients in 2000.

The grand jury report especially faulted the administration of pro-abortion Pennsylvania Republican Governor Tom Ridge, during whose tenure “the Pennsylvania Department of Health abruptly decided, for political reasons, to stop inspecting abortion clinics at all.”

“With the change of administration from Governor [Robert] Casey to Governor Ridge, officials concluded that inspections would be ‘putting a barrier up to women’ seeking abortions. Better to leave clinics to do as they pleased, even though, as Gosnell proved, that meant both women and babies would pay,” the report said.

Multiple inspections of Gosnell’s “Women’s Medical Society Clinic” by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in the 1980s and early 1990s revealed various health violations, though it was allowed to keep operating.

Officials continued to ignore Gosnell after the medical examiner of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, notified the department that Gosnell had committed an illegal abortion on the 30-week-old unborn baby of a 14-year-old girl.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health finally moved against the abortionist after his facility was raided as part of a federal investigation into his drug dealing activities: “Only after the raid occurred, and the story hit the press, did the department choose to act. Suddenly there were no administrative, legal, or policy barriers; within weeks an order was issued to close the clinic.”

The report similarly faulted the Pennsylvania Department of State, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and the University of Philadelphia for dismissing widespread evidence over years of Gosnell’s grave harm to his clients and horrific health violations.

Gosnell’s abortion center was far from the only known for dangerous, unsanitary conditions and serious risks to women. A New York Times report last year revealed that Planned Parenthood is facing “scores of allegations” of botched abortions and other injuries, its staff members often lack the most basic medical training, and its facilities are “in dire need” of repairs. Dozens of medical emergencies are documented at Planned Parenthood and other abortion facilities around the country each year.

Indeed, one of Gosnell’s former colleagues, Leroy Brinkley – who recently opened a new late-term abortion business in Wilmington, Delaware – previously ran an abortion center in Louisiana linked to the deaths of multiple women.

Gosnell’s demise also comes as Democratic lawmakers, including in Maryland, have proposed bills that would block investigations into babies being killed or left to die after abortions. Around 10,000 abortions are estimated to occur in the U.S. after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and thousands of babies are estimated to have survived abortions .

Raymond Wolfe is a faithful Catholic journalist and editor at LifeSiteNews and is happily married.

The post Infamous abortionist Kermit Gosnell Dead at 85 appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Five

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:56:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
March 20, 2026

Weekly Update – Week Five

Big Events Next Week and Closing Day – National Team Visit, Exodus Day & Closing Day Prayer Hour of Thanksgiving

Tuesday, March 24, 6:30pm at Planned Parenthood- National Team Visit – We have the privilege of hosting three members of the national 40 Days for Life headquarters team who are visiting locations in Ohio and beyond. Heather Gardner, 40 Days for Life 365 coordinator, Dr. Haywood Robinson, former abortionist and Director of Medical Affairs and Education and Kristi Hofferber, Campaign Strategist. Tell everyone you know and join us for this rare opportunity to hear from leaders of 40 Days for Life right here in our city! Print copies of the flyer from the RESOURCES list on our website.

Friday, March 27 – Exodus Day . This is the day each year when Abby Johnson’s organization, And Then There Were None, encourages abortion workers to walk out together. Here is a post by Abby: “March 27 is Exodus and I hope to see you on the sidewalk. On that day, we’re asking abortion workers across the country to walk out together. If you’re planning to be on the sidewalk, show up early, show up prayerfully, and show up ready to be helpful. You might be the first safe person someone has seen all day. If an abortion worker steps out and needs help, point them straight to @attwnministry. We can help with next steps, support, and a real way forward.

Please go to exodusnow.com ( http://exodusnow.com/ ) and print our signs and flyers so you have them in hand and can share them with your local team. And if you’re an abortion worker reading this and you’ve been thinking about quitting, please hear me: you are not alone and you are not trapped. We are here for you. On Exodus Day, no one walks out alone.

Sunday, March 29, 2:00pm – Closing Prayer Hour of Thanksgiving – Procession to Planned Parenthood starting at Holy Name Church Parking Lot – Procession to Planned Parenthood while praying the Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion and other prayers in thanksgiving for a successful campaign. See LOCAL EVENTS on our website for details.

So have you signed up to add to our numbers on the sidewalk yet? Let’s end the Lenten campaign with full sidewalks. Go to www.40daysforlife.com/cincinnati and register if you have not already (you don’t have to re-register each campaign) and sign up for prayer hours. There is no limit to the number of people who can cover any hour. If you are new to public prayer, sign up when you see a number “1” or more on an hour when you can come to pray so you know that you will not be on the sidewalk alone.

If you need help in signing up, download “ Volunteer Website Tutorial” from the RESOURCES list on the right of our webpage, or contact me. – We need all of you.

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office

Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY

Dearborn County, Indiana Catholic Churches (St. Mary, Aurora, IN; St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN; St. Teresa, Bright, IN; All Saints, Guilford, IN)

Divine Mercy, Belleview, KY

Divine Mercy parish family (Our Lady of the Visitation; St. Joseph, North Bend; St. Jude, Bridgetown)

Eastside Catholics (St. Cecilia; St. Mary, Hyde Park; Oratory of St. John Vianny, Madisonville)

Immaculate Conception, Norwood

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY

Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family (St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill; St. Ann, Groesbeck; St. James the Greater, White Oak; St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Miami University Students for Life, Oxford

Most Holy Eucharist parish family, Cincinnati (St. Antoninus, St. Martin of Tours, St. Catharine of Siena, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Our Lady of Lourdes)

Old Saint Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati

Pregnancy Center Plus

Pregnancy Center West

Queen of Apostles parish family (Our Lady of the Valley, Reading; Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills; St. James of the Valley)

St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY

St. Antoninus, Cincinnati

St. Catherine of Siena, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Columban, Loveland

St. Edmund Campion Academy

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (St. Mary Magdalene parish family)

St. Francis De Sales, Lebanon

St. Gertrude, Madeira

St. Gregory the Great Parish Family (IHM, Anderson Twp., Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington; St. John Fisher, Newtown)

St. Henry, Erlanger, KY

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Monfort Heights

St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Road

St. John the Evangelist, Deer Park

St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY

St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY

St. Margaret of York, Loveland

St. Mary, Arnheim

St. Mary, Oxford

St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY

St. Paul, Florence, KY

St. Paul the Apostle parish family (St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints), Kenwood

St. Philip, Melbourne, KY

St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY

St. Susanna, Mason

St. Thomas, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Thomas More (Stella Maris parish family)

St. Timothy, Union, KY

Vineyard Northwest

The post 40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Five appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

She Wins!

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:32:00 GMT

Wednesday March 18 ^th House Bill 247, the She Wins Act, moved out of the Ohio House Health Committee and to full consideration by the Ohio House. The She Wins bill is sponsored by Representatives Odioso and Williams and would impose common sense reforms which would protect women from being coerced into abortion and provide them information to make an informed decision regarding themselves and their unborn child.

Cincinnati attorney Brian Hurley has been a decade long advocate for this legislation, tirelessly working to bring this bill before the Ohio Legislature. It is a huge step forward to protect women by making sure they are fully informed of the consequences, both physically and emotionally, of the abortion procedure.

For more information please see:

https://www.lifenews.com/2026/03/19/ohio-panel-passes-bill-to-stop-coerced-abortions/

The post She Wins! appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Four

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 21:50:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
March 13, 2026

Weekly Update – Week Four

Half Way Point – Help Us Swell Our Numbers For The Rest Of The Campaign

If you missed it, our Cincinnati campaign was featured in Shawn Carney’s March 3 daily update. If you are registered on our Cincinnati website, but don’t receive Shawn’s updates, it’s because you need to check the box at the bottom of your registration that says “Allow campaign leaders to email me.” If you are on this email list but are not registered on our Cincinnati website, I encourage you to do so.

Shawn’s updates are short, but various 40 Days for Life locations around the world are featured daily and it’s such an encouragement to see how other locations are carrying out the 40 Days for Life campaigns. Perhaps it will be an incentive for you to pray for all the campaigns around the world in addition to our own local campaign. And if you have not yet taken part in our campaign or it’s been a while since you have, please consider joining us on the sidewalk. One person each hour is not enough. We need you.

PLEASE JOIN US – Friday, March 13, 7pm – Group prayer hour at Planned Parenthood to mark the midpoint of this campaign. No sign up necessary for this hour. It is one of the few times when we can meet as a group to pray during the campaign.

Tuesday, March 24, 6:30pm – We have the privilege of hosting three members of the national 40 Days for Life headquarters team who are visiting locations in Ohio and beyond. Heather Gardner, 40 Days for Life 365 coordinator, Dr. Haywood Robinson, former abortionist and Director of Medical Affairs and Education and Kristi Hofferber, Campaign Strategist. Tell everyone you know and join us for this rare opportunity to hear from leaders of 40 Days for Life right here in our city! Print copies of the flyer from the RESOURCES list on our website.

Sunday, March 29, 2:00pm – Closing Prayer Hour of Thanksgiving – See LOCAL EVENTS on our website for details.

So have you signed up to cover open vigil hours yet? Go to www.40daysforlife.com/cincinnati and register if you have not already (you don’t have to re-register each campaign). There is no limit to the number of people who can cover any hour. If you are new to public prayer, sign up when you see a number “1” on an hour when you can come to pray so you know that you will not be on the sidewalk alone.

If you need help in signing up, download “ Volunteer Website Tutorial” from the RESOURCES list on the right of our webpage, or contact me. – We need all of you.

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office

Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY

Dearborn County, Indiana Catholic Churches (St. Mary, Aurora, IN; St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN; St. Teresa, Bright, IN; All Saints, Guilford, IN)

Divine Mercy, Belleview, KY

Divine Mercy parish family (Our Lady of the Visitation; St. Joseph, North Bend; St. Jude, Bridgetown)

Eastside Catholics (St. Cecilia; St. Mary, Hyde Park; Oratory of St. John Vianny, Madisonville)

Immaculate Conception, Norwood

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY

Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family (St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill; St. Ann, Groesbeck; St. James the Greater, White Oak; St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Miami University Students for Life, Oxford

Most Holy Eucharist parish family, Cincinnati (St. Antoninus, St. Martin of Tours, St. Catharine of Siena, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Our Lady of Lourdes)

Old Saint Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati

Pregnancy Center Plus

Pregnancy Center West

Queen of Apostles parish family (Our Lady of the Valley, Reading; Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills; St. James of the Valley)

St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY

St. Antoninus, Cincinnati

St. Catherine of Siena, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Columban, Loveland

St. Edmund Campion Academy

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (St. Mary Magdalene parish family)

St. Gertrude, Madeira

St. Gregory the Great Parish Family (IHM, Anderson Twp., Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington; St. John Fisher, Newtown)

St. Henry, Erlanger, KY

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Monfort Heights

St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Road

St. John the Evangelist, Deer Park

St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY

St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY

St. Margaret of York, Loveland

St. Mary, Arnheim

St. Mary, Oxford

St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY

St. Paul, Florence, KY

St. Paul the Apostle parish family (St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints), Kenwood

St. Philip, Melbourne, KY

St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY

St. Susanna, Mason

St. Thomas, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Thomas More (Stella Maris parish family)

St. Timothy, Union, KY

Vineyard Northwest

The post 40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Four appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Three

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:27:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
March 6, 2026

Weekly Update – Week Three

Pray That This Conversation At Planned Parenthood Leads To A Change Of Heart

In her own words, here is the interaction between a faithful parish pro-life leader covering her vigil hour and a passerby on the second day of this campaign:

“I want to share with you an interaction I had with a young woman today at Planned Parenthood. It was clear that God arranged this interaction, or quite possibly Our Blessed Mother.

As I was praying a young woman began angrily yelling things from across the street. With this, I began praying a series of Hail Mary’s for her. She left for a moment, and then returned and approached me. She asked me questions about my beliefs about life in the womb and when abortion is “Okay”. We talked about her perceptions of prolife laws, calling them evil. She believes these prolife laws have led to the deaths of “hundreds of thousands” of pregnant women. Through our entire conversation she remained respectful. She listened to me, but seemed quite immersed in the culture of abortion. I had a strong sense that she is seeking THE truth, yet has a profound fear that she will find it and not know what to do.

The reason I wanted to share this is because I know this interaction was not a coincidence. I know she was sent to me to intercede for her and to request the intercession of our beautiful prolife prayer warriors. I don’t know her name, but for my prayers I gave her the name Mary. I think this was because I felt our Blessed Mother’s presence during our conversation.”

Our vigil participant asked me to request prayers for “Mary” in one of my 40 Days for Life updates. Please do add “Mary” and all the other “Marys” to your prayers at the vigil and beyond. Your peaceful, public prayer witness will bear much fruit. – God bless.

SAVE THE DATES: Friday, March 13, 7pm – Group prayer hour at Planned Parenthood to mark the midpoint of this campaign. No sign up necessary for this hour. It is one of the few times when we can meet as a group to pray during the campaign.

Tuesday, March 24, 6:30pm, – We have the privilege of hosting three members of the national 40 Days for Life headquarters team who are visiting locations in Ohio and beyond. Heather Gardner, 40 Days for Life 365 coordinator, Dr. Haywood Robinson, former abortionist and Director of Medical Affairs and Education and Kristi Hofferber, Campaign Stratigest. Tell everyone you know and join us for this rare opportunity to hear from leaders of 40 Days for Life right here in our city!

So have you signed up to cover open vigil hours yet? Go to www.40daysforlife.com/cincinnati and register if you have not already (you don’t have to re-register each campaign) and check the schedule to see where you are most needed. If you are new to public prayer, sign up when you see a number “1” on an hour when you can come to pray so you know that you will not be on the sidewalk alone.

If you need help in signing up, download “ Volunteer Website Tutorial” from the RESOURCES list on the right of our webpage, or contact me. – We need all of you.

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office

Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY

Dearborn County, Indiana Catholic Churches (St. Mary, Aurora, IN; St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN; St. Teresa, Bright, IN; All Saints, Guilford, IN)

Divine Mercy, Belleview, KY

Divine Mercy parish family (Our Lady of the Visitation; St. Joseph, North Bend; St. Jude, Bridgetown)

Eastside Catholics (St. Cecilia; St. Mary, Hyde Park; Oratory of St. John Vianny, Madisonville)

Immaculate Conception, Norwood

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY

Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family (St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill; St. Ann, Groesbeck; St. James the Greater, White Oak; St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Miami University Students for Life, Oxford

Most Holy Eucharist parish family, Cincinnati (St. Antoninus, St. Martin of Tours, St. Catharine of Siena, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Our Lady of Lourdes)

Old Saint Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati

Pregnancy Center Plus

Pregnancy Center West

Queen of Apostles parish family (Our Lady of the Valley, Reading; Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills; St. James of the Valley)

St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY

St. Antoninus, Cincinnati

St. Catherine of Siena, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Columban, Loveland

St. Edmund Campion Academy

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (St. Mary Magdalene parish family)

St. Gertrude, Madeira

St. Gregory the Great Parish Family (IHM, Anderson Twp., Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington; St. John Fisher, Newtown)

St. Henry, Erlanger, KY

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Monfort Heights

St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Road

St. John the Evangelist, Deer Park

St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY

St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY

St. Margaret of York, Loveland

St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY

St. Paul, Florence, KY

St. Paul the Apostle parish family (St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints), Kenwood

St. Philip, Melbourne, KY

St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY

St. Susanna, Mason

St. Thomas More (Stella Maris parish family)

St. Timothy, Union, KY

The post 40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Three appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Newsletter Spring 2026

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:58:00 GMT

The post Newsletter Spring 2026 appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Young Families Flock to Red States as Blue States Lose Children, Data Shows

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:39:00 GMT

By: Dan Hart, originally published March 2, 2026, The Washington Stand

Data continues to show that red states are attracting more families with young children who move there as a result of more affordable housing and larger job growth than blue states, according to a new Institute for Family Studies (IFS) analysis.

As reported by IFS Thursday, an “increasing correlation” is developing between how family-friendly a state’s policies are and how many families are forming within that state. As Ethics and Public Policy Center Fellow Patrick T. Brown observes, blue states are seeing a significant uptick in young people and families leaving and moving to red states, particularly in the years following the COVID pandemic. He notes that even though overall fertility in the U.S. continues to fall, the states that voted for President Donald Trump in 2024 saw an increase from 43.1 million kids under 18 in 2019 to 43.7 million in 2024. But in states that voted for Kamala Harris, the total number of children under five dropped from 8.2 million to 7.6 million over the same time period. In general, IFS has found that red states have higher fertility rates than blue states.

Brown further highlighted how deep blue states like California are playing a key role in the loss of children in liberal states, losing 290,000 kids under five. While part of this is due to declining fertility, it is also due in large part to families fleeing states controlled by Democrats. As IFS previously found , the five states that lost the most families from 2021-2022 were California, New York, Illinois, Washington, and Oregon. Overall, census data released earlier this month found that the five fastest-growing states are all run by Republicans (South Carolina, Idaho, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah), while four out of the five states that lost population were Democratic strongholds (Vermont, Hawaii, West Virginia, New Mexico, and California).

So what is driving families to leave blue states for red ones? Brown contends that a key factor is housing costs. As he observes, “Idaho, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia ended the last half-decade with 10% more married families with children under five than they started with.” In contrast, California, New York, and Illinois lost married couples with young kids over the same time period. Using the affordability metric of median mortgage cost relative to median income, Brown found that the “states with cheaper housing tend to have better luck attracting or keeping parents of young children,” with the large majority of those states being red.

Another factor that Brown emphasized as being key to families flocking to is where job growth is the strongest, including Wilmington, N.C., Charlottesville, Va., and Chattanooga, Tenn. These cities are part of a large shift that is happening “in the geography of American parenthood ,” where ruby blue cities like New York and San Francisco are “los[ing] middle-class families to Sun Belt states and commuter towns.”

Brown further advised red states “to not rest on their laurels” when it comes to staying attractive to young families, including continuing to ensure housing affordability by “freeing up land and legalizing denser housing in cities and suburbs” as well as offering “state-level child tax credits” and other “tangible benefits like paid leave.”

Other experts like Matt Carpenter, who serves as director of FRC Action, say that the data is proof that blue states are paying a big economic and political price for their high tax and regulation policies.

“These findings ought to serve as a wake-up call for the anti-natalist Left in blue states,” he told The Washington Stand. “American families do not have to suffer the bloated state budgets, sky-high tax burdens, and radical anti-family policies of blue states. They can move to a red state with smaller government, more freedom, more affordable housing, and probably some better policies on school choice. Indeed, that’s precisely what’s happening, and the political consequences will be huge.”

Carpenter continued, “The longer blue states persist in this doom loop, the steeper their decline in electoral power will be. Every family relocating from a blue state to a red state brings with them not just much-needed revenue, but their children; future voters who will shape reapportionment and tilt the electoral college toward red states. In other words, this is a zero-sum game. All the additional voters and wealth red states attract is necessarily deducted from blue states. In fact, some of the projections I’ve seen for the post-2030 census electoral college show traditionally red states picking up 10 to 11 votes in the electoral college.”

“This will mean Republican states will be home to more congressional districts and be able to draw those districts,” Carpenter added. “It also means Republican presidential candidates will not have to compete in as many battleground states to win 270 or more in the electoral college. Rather, they will have to hold onto traditionally red states and pick up a battleground state or two.”

Dan Hart is senior editor at The Washington Stand.

The post Young Families Flock to Red States as Blue States Lose Children, Data Shows appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

2025 Ohio Abortion Report Released

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:14:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Strietmann, Executive Director
Cincinnati Right to Life
513-728-7870
mail@cincinnatirighttolife.org
cincinnatirighttolife.org

New Ohio Abortion Report Shows 15% Increase in Deaths of Preborn Children Cincinnati Right to Life Relocated Two Blocks from Planned Parenthood in Response

CINCINNATI, OH — The newly released 2025 Ohio Department of Health Abortion Report reveals a sharp increase in the number of preborn children killed across the state, with Hamilton County continuing to rank among the highest in Ohio.
According to the state’s official data:

25,135 preborn children were killed in Ohio in 2025, up from 21,829 in 2024 — a 15% statewide increase.
In Hamilton County , abortions rose from 4,161 in 2024 to 4,438 in 2025 — 277 additional preborn lives lost locally in just one year .

For further perspective, in 2022 — the year Roe v. Wade was overturned — Hamilton County reported 3,129 tragic abortion deaths. The rise from 3,129 in 2022 to 4,438 in 2025 represents 1,309 additional preborn children killed annually and approximately a 41.8% increase in abortion deaths in Hamilton County since Roe was overturned.

Abortion totals were previously released in October of the following year. However, due to a reporting requirement included in the state budget, these numbers are now released much sooner — by March 1 — allowing for more timely and transparent public awareness.

To put the scale of loss into perspective:

25,135 lives lost in 2025 exceeds the entire undergraduate enrollment at Miami University (Oxford) (~20,000 students).
It represents more than half the total student body of the University of Cincinnati (~46,000 students).
It is nearly half the size of Ohio State University’s Columbus campus (~61,000 students).

While there are many alarming statistics in this year’s report, particularly disturbing is that the Cincinnati Planned Parenthood ranks as the top abortion facility in Ohio for abortions performed on minors. In 2025, there were 560 abortions performed on minors statewide, and 124 of those occurred in Hamilton County alone — representing 22% of all minor abortions in Ohio. The concentration of abortions on young girls in our community raises serious concerns.

In response to the rising numbers in Hamilton County, Cincinnati Right to Life has relocated its headquarters to a new facility just two blocks from Planned Parenthood.

“This is not just a policy debate — it is a humanitarian crisis,” said Laura Strietmann, Executive Director of Cincinnati Right to Life . “More than 25,000 preborn sons and daughters were destroyed in the womb in Ohio last year. With Hamilton County serving as a hub for abortion activity, we made the decision to relocate two blocks from Planned Parenthood because we cannot remain distant while the slaughter continues. We must be present — offering truth, compassion, and real support to mothers and their children.”

Our new location just two blocks from Planned Parenthood positions Cincinnati Right to Life to expand peaceful pro-life outreach efforts, strengthen support for mothers facing crisis pregnancies, increase community education, and partner more closely with local pregnancy resource centers — all while continuing to advocate aggressively in Columbus and Washington, D.C.

In the face of this humanitarian crisis, Cincinnati Right to Life is actively advancing the She Wins Act (HB 347) through the Ohio House. This informed consent legislation would require expecting mothers to be fully informed of the emotional, physical, and psychological risks associated with abortion. Proponent testimony, including expert witnesses, was held in February, with opponent testimony scheduled for Wednesday, March 4 in Columbus at the Statehouse.

“This is what the destruction of children in the womb looks like after making the slaughter a constitutional right and after the ACLU and Planned Parenthood stripped away legal protections from children in the womb,” Strietmann added. “We will continue to stand for preborn sons and daughters, support mothers, and fight to restore protections for the most vulnerable among us.”

Cincinnati Right to Life is calling on community members to respond to the alarming increase by getting involved, supporting life-affirming ministries, and advocating for policies that protect preborn children.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Laura Strietmann, please contact Cincinnati Right to Life at the information listed above.

The post 2025 Ohio Abortion Report Released appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Two

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:19:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
February 27, 2026

Weekly Update – Week Two

Baby Saved By Former Abortion Minded Woman

Right at the beginning of this present spring/Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign, this story of God’s perfect timing was relayed by one of our faithful Sidewalk Advocates.

“Two and a half years ago, a young woman decided to turn away from Planned Parenthood and keep her baby. I’ve kept in touch with her. Her little one, Eve, is absolutely precious. They live north of Indy. She texted last week and asked if I still did sidewalk advocacy because she would like to join. I told her we would be there on Wednesday. Miracle of miracles…God’s timing and all of his divine Providence…our friend arrived when we were talking to an abortion-minded woman at the gate. She (the woman who had kept her baby) came up and gave a personal testimony. ‘I was right where you were 2-1/2 years ago. Here’s my little one and I can’t imagine life without her…’ The 21-year-old woman going into Planned Parenthood ended up turning away! God’s ways are mind blowing!!!”

Praise God!

If you need help in signing up, download “ Volunteer Website Tutorial” from the RESOURCES list on the right of our webpage, or contact me. – We need all of you.

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office

Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY

Dearborn County, Indiana Catholic Churches (St. Mary, Aurora, IN; St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN; St. Teresa, Bright, IN; All Saints, Guilford, IN)

Divine Mercy parish family (Our Lady of the Visitation; St. Joseph, North Bend; St. Jude, Bridgetown)

Eastside Catholics (St. Cecilia; St. Mary, Hyde Park; Oratory of St. John Vianny, Madisonville)

Immaculate Conception, Norwood

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY

Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family (St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill; St. Ann, Groesbeck; St. James the Greater, White Oak; St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Miami University Students for Life, Oxford

Most Holy Eucharist parish family, Cincinnati (St. Antoninus, St. Martin of Tours, St. Catharine of Siena, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Our Lady of Lourdes)

Old Saint Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati

Pregnancy Center Plus

Pregnancy Center West

Queen of Apostles parish family (Our Lady of the Valley, Reading; Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills; St. James of the Valley)

St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY

St. Catherine of Siena, Ft. Thomas, KY

St. Columban, Loveland

St. Edmund Campion Academy

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (St. Mary Magdalene parish family)

St. Gertrude, Madeira

St. Gregory the Great Parish Family (IHM, Anderson Twp., Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington; St. John Fisher, Newtown)

St. Henry, Erlanger, KY

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Monfort Heights

St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Road

St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY

St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY

St. Margaret of York, Loveland

St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY

St. Paul, Florence, KY

St. Paul the Apostle parish family (St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints), Kenwood

St. Philip, Melbourne, KY

St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY

St. Susanna, Mason

St. Thomas More (Stella Maris parish family)

St. Timothy, Union, KY

The post 40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week Two appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

The First Right Left Out

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:07:00 GMT

By: Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

Tuesday night, during the State of the Union address delivered by Donald Trump, millions of Americans tuned in to hear the President outline his vision for the year ahead. As he spoke about the economy, border security, crime, and America’s strength on the world stage, one critical group of Americans went unmentioned: our preborn children.’

For those of us that dedicate their lives to defending children in the womb, that silence was deafening.

Just behind the President was Cincinnati’s own Vice President, J.D. Vance — who as a Senate candidate participated in our Mini-March for Life — a man who has spoken publicly and passionately about the dignity of every human life. His presence was a reminder that Ohio has been at the forefront of defending life. Yet in one of the most significant speeches of the year, the fundamental right to life for children in the womb was not directly addressed.

At a time when chemical abortion pills now account for most abortions in America, when taxpayer dollars remain under constant threat of being used to fund abortion at home and abroad, and when state-level battles over life continue to intensify, the omission is deeply concerning.

While the President did not address the preborn in his remarks, pro-life leaders are continuing to speak clearly and courageously. Just recently, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, delivered a “State of the Unborn” address on YouTube, offering a sobering but hopeful assessment of where the movement stands.

As Dannenfelser said:

“The fight for life has never been about politics alone — it is about whether we, as a nation, recognize the humanity of the child in the womb and the dignity of every mother. The unborn are not a special interest. They are our neighbors.”

Her message was clear: the pro-life movement cannot afford to retreat or soften its commitment. The chemical abortion industry is expanding rapidly, and federal policy decisions in Washington will either protect mothers and children — or abandon them.

Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review wrote in her criticism of this week’s speech, “The president, of course, doesn’t have much to show on the pro-life front in his second term. He once needed pro-life groups and voters to get through primaries and be nominated and elected.”

And as President Trump and the Republicans seem to be abandoning the poor sweet children in the womb, polls are revealing how wrong this plan is.

Recent polling from Cygnal , a polling group, reinforces that this issue remains central to the Republican base — and the numbers are not ambiguous.

Overall:

80% of Republican voters — including 84% of Trump Republicans and 85% of MAHA Republicans — want the FDA to restore in-person requirements for the prescribing and dispensing of mifepristone.
71% — including 77% of Trump Republicans and 76% of MAHA Republicans — oppose allowing the abortion drug to be prescribed remotely and mailed.
74% say that allowing mifepristone to be mailed across state lines undermines red states with pro-life laws in place.
72% — including 73% of Trump Republicans and 74% of MAHA Republicans — oppose the FDA’s approval of a generic version of mifepristone.

In addition, Republican voters overwhelmingly support:

Restrictions on chemical abortion drugs
Preserving the Hyde Amendment’s protections against taxpayer-funded abortion
Safeguards that ensure abortion policy reflects respect for life

This is not a fringe concern. It is a priority for voters who believe that the first duty of government is to protect the most vulnerable.

As our nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, we must ask ourselves: will America truly be blessed if we fail to defend those who cannot defend themselves?

Scripture reminds us that a nation is judged by how it treats the least among us. The preborn child — unseen, unheard, and entirely dependent — is the ultimate test of whether we mean what we say about human equality.

And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40

Cincinnati has long been a city that values life, faith, and family. We call on our national leaders — including President Trump and Vice President Vance — to make the protection of the preborn a visible, unapologetic priority.

Economic strength matters. National security matters. But without the right to life, every other right is built on fragile ground.

And, as we look toward July 4, 2026, may we recommit ourselves to ensuring that liberty and justice truly extend to all — born and preborn alike.

To emulate the words of my pro-life friend Kathryn Lopez,
who never shies away from proclaiming the LIFE issue
boldly and with certainty:

“I sound like a broken record, but this is the
human-rights issue of our lifetime.”

And we must start living and leading like that is true.

We hope you notice the Cincinnati Right to Life response to that call — and the hard work happening every single day because we deeply believe this is the human-rights issue of our lifetime.

You see it in our expanded sidewalk advocacy efforts, where we are present consistently and compassionately, offering real help in real time. You see it in the deployment of an ultrasound van provided by Created Equal , bringing life-affirming care directly to mothers who might otherwise never have the chance to see their child. You see it in the long hours spent rewriting pertinent and necessary legislation — even with abortion tragically enshrined in Ohio’s constitution — because surrender has never been an option.

You see it in the baby showers we host for mothers we first met on the sidewalk, celebrating life and surrounding them with ongoing support. You see it in our presentations in churches and on university campuses, forming the next generation of courageous advocates. You see it in the billboards to our south , reaching abortion tourists entering our region, and in our increased advocacy both in Washington and in Columbus, ensuring that the voices of the preborn and their mothers are heard where decisions are made. You see it in our 24-hour presence during 40 Days for Life — a visible, prayerful witness that does not waver.

This is what it looks like to refuse to be occasional. This is what it looks like to refuse to be comfortable.

For those who have remained with Cincinnati Right to Life for many years, we praise you and we thank you. Without you, our organization would not be where we are.

The post The First Right Left Out appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Irish Man’s Crime Is Latest Example of Women Being Forced to Take Abortion Pills against Their Will

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:07:00 GMT

By: Ellie Gardey Holmes, originally published February 25, 2026, The Washington Stand

We are again witnessing the dangers of COVID-era policies that swept away any requirement for a woman to meet in-person with a medical professional before being prescribed abortion pills. Such policies make it much easier for men to force women into abortions, or even to lace their food with abortion pills.

Last week, an Irish man, Adeleke Adelani, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for telling the woman he was seeing, who loved their unborn baby, that he would beat her until their baby died unless she took abortion pills he had obtained in Dublin.

Adelani had invited the woman into his home for a Valentine’s Day date under the pretense that he wanted to raise their baby together. He recorded the premeditated encounter on his phone, and his words are truly chilling.

“It’s either you eat this, or I beat that kid out of you tonight,” he said . “I’m dead serious. … I’m forcing you. I don’t care. Take it.”

According to the judge, the woman’s tears are “audible” in the recording.

Adelani gave the mother five misoprostol tablets and then locked her in a room until she swallowed them. After she swallowed the abortion pills, she was in great pain and passed clots of blood as well as the baby. She called the police, who arrested Adelani on the scene.

At the time of the baby’s murder, which occurred in 2020, the baby’s parents were young — the mother was 20, and the father was 22. The baby was around nine weeks’ gestation, meaning that he or she had formed his or her eyes and his or her fingers and toes.

In court last week, the baby’s mother testified to her love for her baby and how devastated she was to lose him or her: “My baby was real to me. I had hopes, dreams, and a bond with the life that was growing inside me, and all of it was violently stolen from me in a moment of cruelty that I will never forget.”

“When he wrongfully imprisoned me and caused the termination of my nine-week pregnancy, he took far more than my freedom,” she said. “He took my child. He took my sense of safety. He took a future that I had already begun to plan and love.”

The baby’s mother heroically followed Christ’s call to forgiveness. During her victim impact statement, she said: “I have forgiven the defendant. The forgiveness does not mean what he did was acceptable. It means I refuse to let what he did continue to control my heart and my life.”

The man pleaded guilty to unlawfully ending the life of a fetus and assault against the woman. The final two years of his 11-year sentence are suspended because he apologized for the killing.

This case in Ireland is far from isolated. There are numerous cases in the United States of men accused of intervening with deadly action to end the lives of their unwanted babies. This trend has accelerated following the Biden administration’s April 2021 decision to allow the dispensing of abortion pills without an in-person visit. Doctors previously used such in-person visits to verify that a woman wanted an abortion of her own free will.

An Ohio doctor, Hassan-James Abbas, was accused last year of holding his girlfriend down by the throat in the middle of the night and forcing crushed abortion pills into her mouth in order to kill their baby. His medical license was suspended in November, and he faces charges of abduction and unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug.

In June of last year, a Texas man, Justin Anthony Banta, was charged with murder for allegedly putting abortion pills into his girlfriend’s drink and cookies when they met at a coffee shop. The couple’s baby died after the mother experienced heavy bleeding and went to the emergency room. The woman had the drink but not the cookies; FBI testing found that the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol were present in the cookies. Surveillance video in the coffee shop showed him pouring a white substance into her drink.

In August 2025, Illinois man Emerson Evans was charged with two counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child after police discovered a horrible scene of a dead baby in a toilet, a large amount of blood, and a woman crying. Evans allegedly told police that he was helping “make the decision for her.” Evans is accused of giving the mother of his baby abortion pills without her knowledge. The baby was around seven weeks’ gestation.

In January 2023, the Biden administration’s FDA made permanent its emergency rule ending the requirement for an in-person visit for the dispensing of abortion pills. The Trump administration has chosen to keep that rule in place, meaning that it is incredibly easy for men to obtain abortion pills via telemedicine, even in states where abortions are illegal or heavily restricted. And blue states are increasingly passing laws that allow doctors to avoid putting their names on telemedicine abortion pill prescriptions, allowing them to avoid responsibility for what is done with the pills.

In the case of Abbas, the Ohio doctor indicted for forcing his girlfriend to ingest abortion pills, he was able to easily obtain the drugs by filling out his ex-wife’s name on an online form. There was no check of his identity, or whether the woman he was impersonating really wanted to abort her baby. He was later charged with identity fraud and deception to obtain a dangerous drug.

Unfortunately, the full scale of this phenomenon is unknown because men can lace their wives or girlfriends’ food with abortion pills, and women will likely think they just suffered a miscarriage. There are practically no guardrails on telemedicine abortions in the U.S. to ensure abortion pills will be used voluntarily.

The Trump administration has faced pressure from pro-life advocates to restore the in-person dispensing requirement for abortion pills, or to revoke the FDA’s approval of mifepristone entirely. Pro-lifers have mostly focused on the argument that abortion pills are dangerous to women.

Last year, the Ethics and Public Policy Center published a study of 865,727 prescribed mifepristone abortions that found that 10.93% of women who took the drugs experienced “sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event.” This is 22 times higher than what is claimed on the drug’s label.

Another danger with abortion pills relates to ectopic pregnancies. In cases of ectopic pregnancy, which occurs in 1-2% of pregnancies, it is extremely dangerous for a woman to take an abortion pill because it could lead her to believe that her symptoms are due to her baby’s death, when in reality an abortion pill will not end an ectopic pregnancy. An untreated ectopic pregnancy can cause a severe medical emergency and even result in a woman’s death. For this reason, the original guidelines for the dispensing of abortion pills in the United States required a medical provider to verify that the pregnancy was not ectopic. In practice, this meant that an ultrasound was performed prior to the dispensing of abortion pills.

In the case in Ireland, Adeleke Adelani obtained the abortion pills he used a few months before Ireland implemented an emergency pandemic provision to pause the requirement for women to make two in-person visits in order to receive abortion pills. Ireland has kept that same policy in place post-pandemic.

Eilís Mulroy, spokesperson for the Irish organization Pro Life Campaign, said following Adelani’s sentencing that this is only one of several cases of forced abortions in Irish courts in recent years.

Mulroy said that the phenomenon is related to the removal of the in-person dispensing requirement, which makes it difficult to identify if a woman is being coerced.

“The shift to telemedicine ‘at-home’ abortions during Covid-19 — a measure later made permanent by the Government — removed the safeguard of an in-person consultation with a doctor before abortion pills are dispensed,” she said. “This makes it harder to identify cases where a woman may be under pressure or coercion.”

Mulroy continued, “The ease with which controlling partners can obtain abortion pills should raise serious red flags. Telemedicine abortion needs to be closely looked at and reassessed by any taskforce addressing coercive abortion. There should be no delays. The investigation must happen now.”

Likewise, the Trump administration needs to be held to account for how its continuation of the Biden administration’s abortion pill policy has enabled men to easily kill their unborn babies without mothers even knowing.

Ellie Gardey Holmes is the author of “Newsom Unleashed: The Progressive Lust for Unbridled Power” and a reporter at the American Spectator.

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On Dying Well: Ben Sasse and the Vocation of Suffering

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT

By: Christopher O. Tollefsen, originally published February 15, 2026, Public Discourse

Ben Sasse’s recent announcement reveals to us both goods and virtues that show in his dying a glimmer of light, a stirring of hope, and the possibility of spring even in one’s final winter.

February is a good month to write, read, and think about death and dying. It is still constantly dark, it is cold, and winter seems to have now become a permanent reality. Yet at the same time, spring is on the horizon; we begin to see a glimmer of light, to feel the stirrings of hope.

So, all in all, a propitious time to reflect on Sen. Ben Sasse’s announcement , in December of last year, that he has been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. As he says, that diagnosis is without doubt a death sentence, a death that will be upon him rather quickly. He has now prematurely entered his own winter, and however much time he has left will in some ways be an ongoing February of suffering.

Yet Sasse’s announcement reveals to us both goods and virtues that show in his dying a glimmer of light, a stirring of hope, and the possibility of spring even in one’s final winter. All of us labor under the same death sentence that Sasse does, and so it is worth our time to reflect upon the lessons he offers us.

Let’s start with the importance of knowledge. How many of us might be tempted to fantasy when given a lethal diagnosis? But Sasse confronts the truth: “Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.” No mincing words; no turning away from truth.

Unquestionably this knowledge brings suffering. Indeed, suffering just is the awareness that things are not right, that our world, our character, our relationships with other human persons and with God, are broken. But Sasse’s unflinching acknowledgment of the truth of his situation is good in itself, as all knowledge is, but also essential for him to be able to address his dying days in a way that allows him to suffer well, to realize whatever aspects of human flourishing—and there are many—that remain for him.

One of the goods available to him is friendship. One cannot read Sasse’s announcement without rejoicing that he will not die alone. To have “half-a-dozen buddies” who are like brothers is indeed, as he says, a blessing. And “friends,” for Sasse, and it is to be hoped for all of us, includes family. Sasse movingly writes of his wife of three decades as “the best friend a man could ever have,” and he writes equally of the friendships he shares with his siblings, parents, and children.

To reiterate, such friendships are a blessing in dying as in living, and those who wish to die well need to remember this essential truth: not to die alone requires that one not live alone. Of course, one cannot cultivate real friends simply in order to have company in one’s death; but one’s life will be deficient in its living and ending if one has not sought and made good friends.

Sasse writes, “We’re zealously embracing a lot of gallows humor in our house, and I’ve pledged to do my part to run through the irreverent tape.” Good! Death and dying are serious business, but even serious business can be enhanced by playfulness, by a recognition that the tragedy of human existence is complemented by its continuing comic nature.

Those old enough to remember the ad that went “How do you spell relief? R-O-L-A-I-D-S” can perhaps appreciate my family’s response, almost forty years ago, to the funeral home director who oversaw our own father’s death at forty-five from cancer, and who intoned to us, “I hope sorrow brings relief.” Many a Rolaids joke followed, and the humor kept us going in dark days. I hope the same is true for the Sasse family.

Let me mention one more good I discern in the way Sasse seems to approach death and dying: the good of beauty. Looking to the next life, he anticipates an “enduring beauty,” and an eternity of singing God’s praise.

It is impossible to think this longing for beauty and song in the life to come will not manifest itself now, in the life he still lives. And so should it be for us all. In addition to being, like humor, a balm against suffering, the enjoyment of real beauty offers us, I believe, a foretaste of that life to come. Those who are dying should seek it out; those who care for the dying should strive, amid their many other responsibilities, to make it available.

I have thus far discussed the goods that are available to Sasse in his dying and that still, all the evidence of his announcement shows, animate his living: knowledge, friendship, family, humor, beauty. But Sasse also points to how certain virtues can make all the difference between dying well and dying poorly.

Begin with gratitude. It surely helps in bearing one’s sufferings if one is at the same time a grateful person: grateful for the life one has been given, for the goods of that life including friends and family, perhaps even grateful—at the extreme edge of virtue, to be sure—for what one has been asked to endure. Sasse is well aware of this—the goods of which I have just been speaking are, indeed, his ongoing reasons for gratitude: “I couldn’t be more grateful to constantly get to bear-hug this motley crew of sinners and saints.”

It must be a terrible spiritual burden to be incapable of gratitude in suffering and dying, however difficult the achievement of that virtue is. But all of us have more immediate opportunities to develop the virtue of gratitude now. Being a grateful person on a day-to-day basis is an important form of preparation for suffering well, and Sasse’s posture of gratitude is a salutary reminder of that fact.

One likewise must have hope. For many who suffer, hope encompasses the possibility that the source of suffering can be addressed and the burdens of suffering relieved. That is part of why we suffer: to motivate action toward the relief of suffering. And some of what is suffered even at the end of life remains within the realm of such hope. There are opportunities, for example, to restore our damaged or broken relationships, whether with friends, family, or God.

But the call to Christian hope is always, even when accompanied by temporal hope, also a call to hope for salvation and entrance into God’s Kingdom. This is not, Sasse rightly notes, “an abstract hope in fanciful human goodness; not hope in vague hallmark-sappy spirituality; not a bootstrapped hope in our own strength.” No: it is hope in and for “a real Deliverer—a rescuing God, born at a real time, in a real place.”

This kind of hope cannot be detached from, and indeed seems to require an acceptance of, one’s suffering. The hope of the Christian in suffering and dying has to be a hope that bears the suffering one has been given, and never abandons the reliance on God’s promised fidelity. That is surely one of the hardest of the hard Christian truths: that suffering well requires one not simply seek to eradicate it, but to in some measure accept it. How is that acceptance even possible?

I close with some brief and inadequate reflections on this topic.

In his apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris , Pope Saint John Paul II writes, “Christ does not explain in the abstract the reasons for suffering, but before all else he says: ‘Follow me!’ Come! Take part through your suffering in this work of saving the world, a salvation achieved through my suffering! Through my Cross.’”

The Pope is here meditating on the words of St. Paul in Colossians: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church.” Christ offers us in our sufferings, to which he has joined himself, the privilege of sharing in that salvific work itself, of continually completing that work with Christ. As John Paul elsewhere says, “In the cross, God has changed radically the meaning of suffering. The latter, which was the fruit and testimony of sin, has now become participation in Christ’s redemptive expiation. As such, it contains within it, already now, the announcement of the definitive victory over sin and its consequences, by means of participation in the glorious resurrection of the Saviour.”

How can we understand this “participation”?

The starting point is a recognition that the condition of sin is one of alienation: alienation from the world, with which human beings now stand in a broken relationship; alienation from one another; and above all, alienation from God. Christ’s suffering and death on the cross is of course an atonement for sin, a sacrifice offered on behalf of all human beings in order to restore our relationship to God. Christ perfectly fulfills the will of his father, as Adam did not, remaining faithful to his mission of calling all peoples to repentance and the Kingdom even to the point of death. He thus overcomes, in his own humanity, the alienation caused by sin between human persons and God. God the Father in turn responds to that sacrificial gift by raising Jesus from the dead.

The complete fulfillment of this atoning work remains to come to fruition in the definitive Kingdom of Heaven, an ongoing and dynamic state of affairs marked by perfect communion between all persons, human and divine, and continuing, indeed ever-deepening, fulfillment in human goods.

But while Christ’s atoning work restores humanity to a right relationship with God, it remains necessarily incomplete in relation to each person who is called, as Sasse is now, to some form of personal suffering. For each such person must also, albeit with Christ’s help, remain faithful to his or her own vocation to the end.

I believe that our vocations include suffering: the compassionate suffering with others that we are called to in acting like Christ, and the suffering that is permitted to us by God so that we may draw closer to him. Thus, the form of fidelity that is demanded of each of us, in order to complete the sufferings of Christ, is fidelity in suffering. That is what the pope calls “participation in Christ’s redemptive expiation.”

In the notes he left for his funeral homily, the theologian Germain Grisez offered this close paraphrase of section 39 of Gaudium et Spes . From the Second Vatican Council:

In my discussion of Ben Sasse’s announcement, I’ve tried to indicate some of the good fruits of his, and by extension our, present suffering. Those fruits can include a deepening of our appreciation for and realization of human goods such as knowledge, friendship, family, or beauty; a deepening of the virtues of hope and gratitude; and ultimately, if these brief gestures toward a theology of atonement are sound, a closer relationship with the divine and a participation in Christ’s redemptive work on our behalf.

In accepting his suffering in ways that at least approximate these fruits, Sasse thereby fulfills his vocation and shares in Christ’s atoning work insofar as that work is an overcoming of the various alienations of sin and a reconciliation with God. He is thereby likewise building up the Kingdom of Heaven, that these goods and virtues, the fruits of his suffering, may eventually be found again “in the land of the living … cleansed of all dirt, lit up, and transformed.”

Ben Sasse has led a noble life of public service marked by personal integrity and sacrifice. Yet in modeling an upright death that shares in the atoning work of his Savior, he strives now to meet the great final challenge given to him as part of his personal vocation. Let us pray for him in this final stage of his pilgrim journey.

Image: Ben Sasse/PublicDiscourse-Gage Skidmore-WikimediaCommons.

Christopher Tollefsen is Professor of Philosophy at the University of South Carolina.

The post On Dying Well: Ben Sasse and the Vocation of Suffering appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

French Govt to remind 29 year-olds of biological clock

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:37:00 GMT

The French government plans to send all 29-year-old citizens a letter warning them about the challenges of infertility as the country grapples with the question of what to do about ongoing demographic decline.

Hundreds of thousands of French 29-year-olds are due to receive the letter containing “targeted, balanced and scientifically based information on sexual and reproductive health”, according to the Ministry of Health.

It is intended to help young people avoid the “‘if only I had known’ mentality”, the ministry said.

The letter comes as part of a broader effort to address infertility in France, which according to a 2022 government report affects over three million people.

The strategy, which was launched late last week, will see a public awareness campaign launched and a focus placed on fertility methods such as egg freezing.

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said during the launch that the “challenges of infertility have been analyzed in all their aspects” to allow the “immediate launch of concrete and long-awaited measures”.

However, Ms Rist stressed that the measures are not intended to pressure people regarding their decision as to whether or not to have children.

“The role of politicians is not to dictate whether or not to have children; what we must avoid is continuing to hear ‘if only I had known’,” Le Parisien reported Ms Rist as saying.

The material promulgated as part of the plan will emphasise that fertility is a “shared responsibility” between men and women, the ministry said.

According to Le Parisien , another element of the strategy would see dozens of new egg-freezing centres opened across the country, enabling the operation of private companies in the area.

The letter is to be sent to 29-year-olds as that is the age at which the State begins funding egg-freezing for interested citizens, until the age of 37.

The infertility focus comes as the country grapples with ongoing demographic decline.

Last year, for the first time since the end of the Second World War, France saw more deaths than births.

The national statistics institute recorded 651,000 deaths and 645,000 births across France in 2025, while the fertility rate dropped to 1.56 – the lowest rate in over a century.

A fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is required to maintain population levels.

Image: Courtesy of LifeInstitute.net/blog.

Jason Osborne is an author at Gript Media.

The post French Govt to remind 29 year-olds of biological clock appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Why we can’t ignore the growing threat of well-funded abortion training programs

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:15:00 GMT

By: Michael Seibel, originally published February 23, 2026, LiveAction.org

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this guest post are solely those of the author.

As pro-life advocates celebrate hard-won victories in closing Planned Parenthood clinics across the country, a far more insidious threat has been quietly expanding under our noses.

Ignore the threat and lose the fight

The Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program in Abortion and Family Planning—better known as the Ryan Program—has grown into a nationwide network that trains thousands of doctors in abortion procedures, legitimizes the practice as “health care,” and embeds pro-abortion ideology deep within America’s medical establishment.

If we continue to focus solely on defunding Planned Parenthood while ignoring this academic powerhouse, we risk losing the long-term fight. It’s time for pro-life organizations to investigate, expose, and combat the Ryan Program at the university level.

The Ryan Program was founded in 1999 by Dr. Uta Landy and Dr. Philip Darney at the University of California, San Francisco. Since then, that single initiative has grown exponentially:

It has ballooned to over 100 active programs in 37 states .
These programs represent about 38% of all obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) residency programs in the U.S.
It now reaches 121 universities nationwide , with its rapid expansion largely unopposed since 2015.
It has trained more than 7,000 residents in abortion techniques , including first- and second-trimester procedures, over the past two decades.
Around 40% of these trainees intend to provide abortion care after residency , with many integrating it into routine practice, according to program evaluations.

This isn’t just education—it’s indoctrination, turning medical schools into factories for abortion providers.

Propping up Big Abortion

These programs don’t operate in isolation. They forge partnerships with independent clinics, often providing low-cost or subsidized abortions while training residents. For example:

The University of Cincinnati , a Ryan Program site, has a dedicated family planning section and openly aligns with Planned Parenthood affiliates through student groups and advocacy.
In New Mexico, where the University of New Mexico hosts a Ryan Program, residents receive extensive training in contraception and abortion, and the state has contracts with clinics like Planned Parenthood for services.

I’ve personally reviewed contracts in New Mexico involving university residents training at independent clinics run by providers like Curtis Boyd, MD, PC, and Planned Parenthood, where trainees perform abortions as part of their education.

These arrangements allow universities to supply clinics with a steady stream of trained hands, sustaining the abortion industry even as standalone facilities face pressure.

Shifting money toward abortion training

While pro-life efforts have successfully shuttered some Planned Parenthood locations, the Ryan Program ensures the abortion pipeline remains open.

Michigan is a prime example: In recent years, four Planned Parenthood clinics in the state closed due to funding cuts and operational challenges. Yet around the same time, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation— a major funder of abortion access— poured over $45 million into the University of Michigan, which hosts a Ryan Program.

The Buffett Foundation, known for donating billions to reproductive health and abortion causes, could have easily redirected a fraction of that to prop up the clinics.

Instead, priorities have shifted to academia, where abortion is rebranded as essential health care.

Why save a few clinics when you can embed the practice in prestigious universities , training the next generation of providers?

A self-reinforcing cycle leading to ‘infestation’

The academic legitimization of abortion through Ryan Programs extends far beyond training.

Residents learn protocols in an expanding network of university-based providers, and then:

They secure grants from foundations, professional societies, and even government sources to produce research favoring abortion access.
Pro-abortion studies are peer-reviewed by sympathetic professors within the network, overwhelming pro-life research from institutions like the Charlotte Lozier Institute or the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
If they can’t block pro-life studies, they flood the field with counter-narratives, drowning out evidence of abortion’s harms .

This creates a self-reinforcing cycle.

Ryan-affiliated professors are eager advocates, testifying at legislative hearings, serving as court experts, and penning op-eds in support of pro-abortion bills and amendments.

They’ve even influenced the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to mandate access to abortion training in ob-gyn residencies since 1996, though residents can opt out for moral reasons.

This requirement has normalized abortion in medical education, allowing programs to “infest” local medical societies and shift community standards toward viewing it as routine care.

The long-term dangers

The long-term dangers are already manifesting.

Since 2003, Ryan Programs have quietly added mifepristone—the abortion pill—to public university hospital formularies.

A paper by Ryan-affiliated professor Dr. Eve Espey, titled “You Can’t Do That ‘Round Here,” detailed introducing medical abortion at a university hospital two decades ago, and it took pro-life groups years to mount a response.

Now, we’re seeing states like New Mexico, under Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, announce state-run “reproductive health” clinics that include abortion services, often in partnership with universities. If unchecked, this model could spread, using taxpayer dollars to fund government-backed abortion hubs.

We must bring the fight to where the power lies

Pro-life organizations must pivot.

Start by investigating local Ryan Programs—map their spread, expose their partnerships with clinics, and highlight how they use public funds for abortion training. This will energize your base: A majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding for abortions.

Rally local leaders to contact state legislators and governors, pushing for laws that limit university authority in abortion education and reduce funding to these programs.

We’ve started to close Planned Parenthood doors; now let’s bring the fight to the ivory towers where the real power lies. Ignoring the Ryan Program isn’t just shortsighted—it’s a recipe for defeat.

Michael Seibel is a pro-life abortion malpractice attorney based in Albuquerque. Mr. Seibel has prosecuted abortion malpractice cases on behalf of women injured by the abortion industry.

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GOP Abandoning Pro-Life Policies May Hand Democrats Midterm Victory, Data Shows

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:01:00 GMT

By: S.A. McCarthy, originally published February 24, 2026, The Washington Stand

With midterm elections looming, the GOP has focused much attention on maintaining its razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. While President Donald Trump and his allies have pushed for Republican-controlled states to aggressively redistrict and net the GOP extra House seats, a new survey is suggesting that the efforts may be for nought if the Trump administration and congressional Republicans don’t act decisively to regulate the remote prescription and shipping of the abortion drug mifepristone.

According to a February 17 memo from polling and data analytics firm Cygnal, GOP leaders risk severely dampening midterm enthusiasm and voter base turnout if they retreat from key pro-life positions. “GOP primary voters are overwhelmingly committed to pro-life principles, but frustrated with federal health agencies’ abortion policies under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” Cygnal pollster and senior partner John Rogers wrote. “The national data show a significant disconnect between base Republican voter expectations and current federal actions, creating real enthusiasm risks for the November midterm general election.”

One of the chief points of contention is the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) failure to restore previous safeguards surrounding the abortion drug. Cygnal found that over 70% of Republican primary voters oppose the present mifepristone regulations, which allow the drug to be prescribed and dispensed remotely and sent via mail or courier. That share is even higher among self-described “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Republicans (76%) and Trump Republicans (77%).

Overall, 80% of Republican voters (including 84% of Trump Republicans and 85% of MAHA Republicans) want the FDA to restore in-person requirements for the prescribing and dispensing of mifepristone, 71% (including 77% of Trump Republicans and 76% of MAHA Republicans) oppose allowing the abortion drug to be prescribed remotely and mailed, 74% say that allowing mifepristone to be mailed across state lines undermines red states with pro-life laws in place, and 72% (including 73% of Trump Republicans and 74% of MAHA Republicans) oppose the FDA’s approval of a generic version of mifepristone.

Additionally, the GOP’s “pro-life base remains solid,” Cygnal’s survey found: 86% of Republican primary voters oppose federal tax dollars being used to fund abortions, 79% want to keep the Hyde Amendment, 75% support defunding Planned Parenthood, 71% want a future Republican presidential candidate to “clearly articulate a pro-life policy agenda to drive down the number of abortions,” and 65% oppose “the overall HHS direction on abortion,” including the generic mifepristone expansion and delaying a promised safety review on mifepristone. Rogers wrote, “This is not a marginal constituency, it is the GOP primary core.”

Only one fifth of surveyed Republican voters were aware that abortions have actually increased since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which reversed Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, effectively eliminating federal protections for abortion. “Republican voters likely expected that Dobbs would lead to fewer abortions and certainly expected that the leaders around President Trump would work hard to extend pro-life protections everywhere possible in the federal government,” Rogers observed in his memo. “Instead, under Secretary Kennedy, HHS is actively facilitating access to the chemical abortion drug mifepristone.”

According to Cygnal’s survey, the Trump administration’s inaction on abortion is “creating fractures in the GOP base,” causing a “trust crisis” and threatening to cripple voter enthusiasm and turnout in the midterms if unaddressed. If Republican leaders “weaken or abandon pro-life policies,” the survey results warned, nearly one third (32%) of Republican voters (including nearly 40% of the “most engaged” Republican voters) said that they will have decreased enthusiasm for voting and over one third (34%, including almost 40% of the “most engaged” voters and 45% of evangelicals) said that they would be less willing to volunteer or campaign for Republican general election candidates.

“A diminution in enthusiasm among one-third of the Republican base would be devastating in close U.S. House and U.S. Senate races in November,” Rogers warned. Furthermore, were the GOP to weaken its commitment to the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortions in the U.S., 30% of Republican voters said that they will be less enthusiastic about voting in November, while nearly 80% of Republican voters said that they consider the Hyde Amendment to be “important.”

In comments to The Washington Stand, Mary Szoch, director of the Center for Human Dignity at Family Research Council, suggested that a stronger pro-life stance from Republican leaders would likely inspire confidence among Republican voters. “With mid-term elections on the horizon, it would be helpful for the Trump administration to deliver a major pro-life win reminding Americans that the Trump administration is the most pro-life administration in history,” Szoch asserted. “Democrats are the party of abortion on demand, paid for by taxpayers, through the entirety of pregnancy. Pro-lifers cannot allow Democrats to triumph in the midterm elections. We must come out and vote for life — and a recent pro-life win will help encourage pro-lifers to do so.”

Since pro-life laws began taking effect in red states in 2022, the lax guidelines surrounding mifepristone have allowed blue states where abortion is legal — and, in many cases, even protected abortionists via “shield laws” from prosecution — to ship mifepristone across state lines and into red states, violating those states’ pro-life laws. In the absence of more stringent safeguards and in-person dispensing requirements from the FDA, a growing number of Republican-led states have enacted or moved to enact provisions empowering citizens to sue out-of-state abortionists for violating state pro-life laws, effectively circumventing blue state “shield laws.”

Louisiana has also led 21 other states in a lawsuit to compel the FDA to restore in-person prescribing and dispensing requirements for the abortion drug, although the Trump administration has asked to have the lawsuit dismissed.

S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.

The post GOP Abandoning Pro-Life Policies May Hand Democrats Midterm Victory, Data Shows appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

A New Beginning for Kroger – And for Preborn Children

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:25:00 GMT

By: Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

Kroger has announced that Greg Foran — former CEO of Walmart’s U.S. division — will now lead the company following what it described as an “extensive” year-long search for “an innovative retail leader with a strong track record.” Kroger, America’s largest traditional grocery chain behind only Walmart in overall sales, has been seeking new leadership since March 2025, when former CEO Rodney McMullen was ousted over an undisclosed ethics violation. With Walmart historically holding to more traditional corporate values than Kroger in recent years, many are asking: Could this mark a new beginning for our hometown grocer? Could they begin to respect life in the womb? Will we be able to shop here once again?

A New Chapter for Kroger: What Walmart Leadership Could Mean

Cincinnati Right to Life has long engaged with Kroger as concerned members of our community. As a company headquartered in our own backyard, Kroger’s corporate decisions directly impact not only the marketplace but the moral climate of our city.

In recent years, Cincinnati Right to Life has not hesitated to take action when Kroger adopted policies that conflicted with our mission to protect innocent human life. Our organization organized boycotts, held peaceful protests, and directly engaged company leadership. Rachel Citak delivered testimony at a Kroger shareholder meeting addressing the company’s abortion travel benefit policy, urging the corporation to reconsider its involvement in facilitating abortion.

Walmart’s Corporate Position

While no corporation is perfect, Walmart has demonstrated a more restrained posture on several contentious cultural issues. Notably:

Walmart has confirmed that it has no plans to seek certification to dispense mifepristone , the abortion pill.
The company has avoided deeper corporate entanglement in abortion expansion policies.
Walmart has not aggressively positioned itself as a corporate activist on divisive social agendas.

As consumers who want the best for the companies serving our communities, it is not simply a brand’s response to a current controversy that matters. It is one thing for a company to say it is not taking political sides at the moment. It is another thing entirely to state clearly that it has no plans to expand its involvement in the abortion industry in the future. Walmart, to its credit, confirmed it does not intend to pursue dispensing mifepristone.

A Concerning Moment — and a Public Response

There was even a brief and troubling moment when abortion pills appeared on Kroger’s website. The public backlash was immediate. Concerned consumers and pro-life advocates spoke up quickly and clearly. Kroger soon removed the listing, stating that it had been an error and confirming that the company had not actually dispensed the drugs.

That moment demonstrated two important realities: first, that the abortion pill — now responsible for over 60% of preborn child deaths in America — represents a growing and tragic threat to innocent life; and second, that consumer voices matter. When families raised concerns, Kroger reacted.

The Responsibility of Consumers

As consumers, we are not passive observers. Every dollar we spend is a message about the values we want businesses to uphold.

We want Kroger to succeed and thrive in a competitive marketplace. But long-term success is built on trust, stability, and strong families — not on policies that contribute to the destruction of preborn children, who are quite literally future customers and members of our community.

When corporations involve themselves in controversial moral issues that harm preborn children and their mothers, they risk alienating loyal families and undermining their own long-term growth. A company that claims to serve families should promote pro-family policies that protect life, not facilitate its ending.

A Moment of Opportunity

Kroger’s previous decision to offer abortion travel benefits placed the company in the middle of a deeply divisive moral issue. Leadership changes create moments of opportunity.

With new leadership shaped by Walmart’s corporate culture, Kroger now has the chance to turn the page — to step away from abortion-related policies and refocus on supporting mothers, protecting preborn children, and strengthening the families who fill their stores every day.

As consumers in Cincinnati and beyond, we will continue to encourage policies that respect life and reflect the pro-family values of our community. Our hometown grocer should lead by serving families — not by facilitating the destruction of the very next generation.

The post A New Beginning for Kroger – And for Preborn Children appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Protecting Mothers in Post-Issue 1 Ohio: SHE WINS Moves Forward

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:19:00 GMT

By: Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

Attorney Nick Bunch, a legal expert on Ohio’s informed consent laws, addressed the committee directly, referring to codes and statutes in Ohio law and explaining how this legislation is best for all Ohioans. He expressed many expert legal points, including, “Regardless of what the decision is, it will be an informed one.”

“We would be ignoring the elephant in the room if we thought the abortion procedure was similar to any other medical procedure. We don’t know of any United States Supreme Court cases on gallbladders — but we all know about Roe v. Wade,” responded Mr. Bunch.

His testimony emphasized that abortion is unlike other medical procedures in both its gravity and its long-term consequences.

“The reason abortion is different than any other procedure is because it’s taking the life of an innocent human being and it should be thought about over 24 hours. It is very reasonable — what is the problem with offering a 24-hour waiting period?”

Rep. Miller’s comments highlighted the commonsense nature of a waiting period and providing proper information on potential abortion side effects as a safeguard to ensure mothers have time to fully consider their decision with complete and accurate information.

Cinny Roy, a clinical psychologist and expert witness who has worked extensively with post-abortion-injured women — and even men — shared sobering testimony from her professional experience.

In her practice, Cinny has seen the toll abortion has taken on women and even men. “Anger directed at the abortionist and at the law for not telling them the whole truth. ‘They lied to me’ is a direct quote,” shared Cinny.

These powerful words speak to the necessity of full disclosure — not only regarding the surgical procedure of abortion but also chemical abortion, which is increasingly common and often portrayed as simple or risk-free.

Dr. Giebink, who traveled to Columbus from South Dakota, stated, “There is so much value in providing women with important information — all the information. This is so extremely important.” She also went on to explain the complications of surgical and chemical abortions, discussing lacerated cervixes and perforated uteruses.

After Dr. Giebink, Brian Hurley, the mastermind behind this bill testified and shared so much valuable information, including in his live testimony, “This isn’t a burden, this is a benefit. It shouldn’t matter if you’re pro-life or pro-choice.”

Cincinnati Right to Life remains committed to advancing policies that protect mothers and their children from abortion. We are grateful to the legislators, expert witnesses, and legal partners who continue to stand for transparency, compassion, and life.

We also must thank our supporters who invest in our work. Without you, we would not be continuing to advance such needed legislation.
We will keep you updated as SHE WINS moves forward.

Do yourself a favor and please view the expert witness testimonies here where they begin close to the thirteen minute mark Ohio House Health Committee – 2-18-2026 | Ohio House of Representatives

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Abortion Pill Rescue Network tops 8,000 lives saved

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:06:00 GMT

By: Lisa Bourne, originally published February 17, 2026, Pregnancy Help News

The medical treatment that reverses the effects of the chemical abortion pill has reached another milestone in the number of lives it has saved . Heartbeat International announced Tuesday that its statistics show more than 8,000 lives have been saved through the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network ( APRN ).

The latest statistical landmark in efforts to provide immediate medical care to women who regret beginning a chemical abortion comes as more women inquire about Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) and abortion-supportive elected officials continue their legal assault on the protocol.

The APRN, managed by Heartbeat International, includes nearly 1,500 healthcare professionals, pregnancy centers, and hospitals worldwide that administer the APR protocol, often around the clock. Heartbeat is the largest network of pregnancy help organizations in the U.S. and globally.

“Our APRN team is heads down, every day, working with women who have only hours for that last chance to choose life,” said Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International.

“To then look up and see the life-saved counter pass 8,000 is no small thing,” he said. “One life at a time suddenly begins to look like a town-size population.”

“This is even more remarkable with the headwinds of opposition arising from both Big Abortion and Big Tech,” Godsey said. “With this milestone we celebrate the amazing dedication of our APRNetwork to answer the call around the clock for every day on the calendar.”

The majority of all U.S. abortions are chemical abortions, and chemical abortion continues to rise as it remains largely unregulated and abortion pill vendors skirt existing laws to sell the drugs.

There are two drugs in a chemical abortion, the first, mifepristone, blocks progesterone in the pregnant woman’s system, starving her child of nutrients. The second drug, misoprostol, taken a day or so later, causes the mother to go into labor and deliver her deceased child.

APR is an updated application of a treatment used for decades to prevent miscarriage. It entails prescribing bioidentical progesterone to counter the effects of mifepristone.

If a woman has taken mifepristone and acts quickly enough, it may be possible to save her child with APR. Results are best within 24 hours, but reversals have successfully occurred as long as 72 hours after mifepristone was ingested.

A 2018 peer-reviewed study reported reversal rates between 64% and 68%, with no increase in birth defects and a lower preterm delivery rate than the general population.

The APRN connects with thousands of women each year, roughly 200 per month who qualify for reversal, and around six women start APR each day. The Network has assisted women in 98 other countries and all 50 states in U.S. and seen a 30% increase in reversal starts in the latest fiscal year.

Christa Brown, senior director of Medical Impact for Heartbeat International and executive director of the APRN, remarked that the success in connecting women for reversal treatment through the APRN “speaks to the dedication of the nurses and APR Network who served the women well.”

“Most who speak with a nurse (90%+) start reversal,” Brown told Pregnancy Help News . “And most (80%+) are connected to help in under and hour no matter where they reside in the world.”

Still, APR has been the target of suppression by tech companies , elected officials , abortion proponents , and abortion states, and Heartbeat faces lawsuits from two state attorneys general over sharing information about APR .

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Heartbeat International and a group of affiliated pregnancy medical clinics in the state to block “advertising Abortion Pill Reversal as safe and effective.”

There are also numerous lawsuits in state and federal courts initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James and her efforts to suppress promotion of APR .

Nonetheless , Brown said the APRN remains available to serve and assist women who regret starting their chemical abortion and wish to pursue reversal.

“While abortion proponents openly admit their opposition to APR is rooted in abortion politics, rather than in medicine, APR remains safe for moms and safe for babies,” she said. “It is simple and effective. And while chemical abortion continues to expand worldwide, the APR hotline and network stand ready to assist anyone having regret, no matter where she resides in the world.”

Heartbeat International’s general counsel spoke about the human impact of the latest lives saved statistic for APR.

“Today we stand on a powerful, soul‑stirring milestone,” Danielle White said. “This number shows exactly why it is so important to continue to fight against the silencing of our life-saving message.”

“Today, mothers will hug children the abortion industry attempted to erase,” White said. “These mothers and families deserve to hear our message of hope, and as we celebrate this beautiful milestone in our ministry, we remain resolved to continue to walk beside women in their most vulnerable moments, offering compassion and support, even in the face of efforts to silence us.”

Brown noted how the thousands of children saved through APR walk among us alive, a joy to their families, regardless of what the protocol’s detractor’s claim.

“If you saw any one of these children in the grocery store, playing basketball, dancing in a recital, or graduating high school, you would never know they were once counted as an abortion statistic,” she said. “Their brave mothers chose life for them despite challenging circumstances and influencers telling them that finishing the abortion is the only way.”

“Although many would want to silence our message and hinder our work, these women and families express tremendous joy as they hold their children in their arms,” Brown said. “It is humbling and a great joy to see these miracles happen every single day.”

Below are direct quotes from moms who have started APR shared with the APRN during January and February 2026:

My baby is fine, went for the scan Monday and heard the heartbeat, I’m 8 weeks now. Thank you for checking up on me

Everything is going well. My baby is healthy and I’m having a girl.

I’m very thankful to APR. God bless you.

I gave birth to twin boys.

I’m doing fine, baby boys are growing great, I’m 25 weeks and 1 day today thank you for checking in!

I had the baby on January 23rd. Thanks again for all the support.

I just really really made a big mistake and I’m so glad something like that exists.

Baby and I are doing good. I finished the progesterone a few days ago. I had an ultrasound two weeks ago and everything was looking good.

Yesss everything is fine! I had my baby on January 8th. She was 8lbs. She’s doing good and I’m doing fine as well.

Hello, yes I have a healthy beautiful baby girl. She’s now 4 weeks old!

Thank you for following up, I’ve had a wonderful reversal experience. This is my last week taking the hormone.

Lisa Bourne is Managing Editor of Pregnancy Help News and Content Writer for Heartbeat International.

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40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week One

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:25:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
February 20, 2026

Weekly Update – Week One

First week of the Spring/Lenten Campaign Underway

Our Sunday, February 15 Kickoff Rally was one of our best. Our guest speaker was Brian Gibson, 40 Days for Life Leader in St. Paul, Minnesota and Director of Pro-Life Action Ministries (PLAM) there. PLAM has been conducting sidewalk counseling for over forty years and has saved thousands of babies’ lives over that time. Brian believes that PLAM and prayer go hand in hand.

Brian emphasized three key points about the 40 Days for Life campaign:

(1) It is VITAL that everyone who is physically capable signs up to commit to prayer hours (once a week?) throughout the campaign. We should be praying our hearts out and adding sacrificial fasting to that commitment. We MUST be present at the abortion site because prayer is powerful but our presence AND prayer is even more powerful.

(2) Who are we trying to protect? Hold on to the fact that the preborn are human beings. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that because we can’t see them.

(3) The number one life that is going to be impacted by your public prayer witness is YOU! We experience real spiritual growth when be come out to the sidewalk to pray.

So have you signed up to cover open vigil hours yet? Go to www.40daysforlife.com/cincinnati and register if you have not already (you don’t have to re-register each campaign) and help us fill the many open hours in the early days of the campaign. If you need help in signing up, download “ Volunteer Website Tutorial” from the RESOURCES list on the right of our webpage, or contact me. – God bless.

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY

Dearborn County, Indiana Catholic Churches (St. Mary, Aurora, IN; St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN; St. Teresa, Bright, IN; All Saints, Guilford, IN)

Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office

Divine Mercy parish family (Our Lady of the Visitation; St. Joseph, North Bend; St. Jude, Bridgetown)

Eastside Catholics (St. Cecilia; St. Mary, Hyde Park; Oratory of St. John Vianny, Madisonville)

Immaculate Conception, Norwood

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY

Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family (St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill; St. Ann, Groesbeck; St. James the Greater, White Oak; St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Miami University Students for Life, Oxford

Most Holy Eucharist parish family, Cincinnati (St. Antoninus, St. Martin of Tours, St.

Catharine of Siena, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Our Lady of Lourdes)

Old Saint Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati

Pregnancy Center Plus

Pregnancy Center West

Queen of Apostles parish family (Our Lady of the Valley, Reading; Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenhills; St. James of the Valley)

St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY

St. Columban, Loveland

St. Edmund Campion Academy

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (St. Mary Magdalene parish family)

St. Gertrude, Madeira

St. Gregory the Great Parish Family (IHM, Anderson Twp., Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington; St. John Fisher, Newtown)

St. Henry, Erlanger, KY

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Monfort Heights

St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Road

St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY

St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY

St. Margaret of York, Loveland

St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY

St. Paul, Florence, KY

St. Paul the Apostle parish family (St. Vincent Ferrer and All Saints), Kenwood

St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY

St. Susanna, Mason

St. Thomas More (Stella Maris parish family)

St. Timothy, Union, KY

The post 40 Days for Life Spring Update – Week One appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Presidents Day Reflection: What Would Washington and Lincoln Say Today?

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:10:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

Presidents Day gives us an opportunity to reflect not only on the men who led our nation, but on the principles that shaped it.

George Washington is often remembered for chopping down a cherry tree or for his wooden teeth — stories that, while colorful, hardly capture the depth of the man. He was far more than folklore. He was a leader who understood that liberty could not survive without moral restraint and that rights are not granted by rulers, but endowed by our Creator.

Abraham Lincoln, too, is often reduced to simple images — a Kentucky log cabin, a tall black hat, a rail splitter turned president. But Lincoln was far more than a symbol of humble beginnings. He was a statesman who confronted one of the greatest moral crises in our history and refused to yield to the idea that some human beings could be excluded from the promise of equality.

This Presidents Day, the pro-life movement continues that same enduring conversation about who is included in America’s founding promise.

Does liberty extend to every child, including those still in the womb?
Can a nation truly protect freedom while allowing the smallest and most vulnerable to be excluded from legal protection?

Washington reminded us that morality sustains liberty.
Lincoln reminded us that justice requires courage.

May we carry forward that legacy by building a nation where every mother is supported, every child is welcomed, and the promise of equality applies to all, even children in the womb.

In Christ,
Laura Strietmann, Executive Director of Cincinnati Right to Life

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CDC provisional data shows drop in US births in 2025

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:01:00 GMT

By: Bridget Sielicki, originally published February 15, 2026, LiveAction.org

Newly released provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show that there were approximately 24,000 fewer births in the United States in 2025 than in 2024 — a downward trend consistent with declines in birth rates seen worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

Provisional numbers from the CDC indicate fewer births in 2025 than in 2024.
The data is not finalized, but is not estimated to change more than “a few thousand additional births.”
Data on the nation’s birth rate have not yet been released.
A decline in the number of births has long-term ramifications on the nation’s economy and well-being.

The Details:

The Associated Press reports that the CDC released its provisional data showing a drop in the US birth rate in late January.

According to the CDC’s estimations, 3.6 million births were recorded in 2025, about 24,000 fewer than in 2024.

Robert Anderson, a statistician who oversees birth and death tracking at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, said that though data are still being compiled, the final result will likely only amount to “a few thousand additional births.”

The CDC’s calculations do not yet include any data on fertility rates for the year. A rate of 2.1 children per woman is considered the replacement rate, though the United States has been well below that number for years.

Karen Guzzo, a family demographer at the University of North Carolina, told the Associated Press that the decrease in the number of births correlates with people worrying about the state of the economy.

“I wouldn’t expect birth or fertility rates to have risen; I would expect them to fall because childbearing is highly related to economic conditions and uncertainty,” she said.

The Big Picture:

The CDC’s data follows a January report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicting that the nation’s death rate will be higher than the birth rate by 2030.

Experts say that these numbers will have a drastic impact on the nation’s economic outlook.

As Nadège Ngomsi, economist at IMPLAN, told Newsweek :

The U.S. is far from alone in this demographic crisis. Nations across the globe are currently dealing with fewer births and a population that is aging faster than its replacement rate.

The Bottom Line:

Promoting marriage and family life is more important than ever. A society can’t thrive unless it welcomes children and implements policies that promote the family.

Bridget Sielicki is a pro-life writer and editor with over 15 years of professional experience, many of which have been spent covering issues like abortion and euthanasia. She is committed to defending the preborn, protecting the vulnerable, and advancing a culture of life.

The post CDC provisional data shows drop in US births in 2025 appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Promote Marriage. Protect Life. The Legacy of St. Valentine

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:04:00 GMT

By: Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

St. Valentine lived as a devoted Roman Catholic priest in the third century, at a time when Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriages for men serving in his army, believing that soldiers without family ties fought better. Valentine, however, recognized marriage as a sacred blessing from God and a foundation for strong families.

In quiet defiance of the emperor’s order, he joined couples in holy matrimony, honoring God’s design for love and family even though it placed his own safety at risk. Because of this brave commitment to God’s truth, Valentine was eventually arrested, held in prison, and gave his life for his faith. His example teaches us that real love is more than sentiment — it is courageous, self-giving, and rooted in fidelity to what is right.

In many ways, we already know a powerful part of the answer to ending abortion — promoting and strengthening marriage.

The fight to end abortion does not begin in a courtroom or a legislature — it begins in the human heart. It begins by boldly proclaiming the truth of God’s PERFECT design for the human person and encouraging each man and woman to embrace their authentic vocation. When we strengthen and promote faithful, lifelong marriage between a husband and wife, we lay the foundation for stability, responsibility, and sacrificial love. Strong marriages form strong families, and strong families build a culture where every child is welcomed, and every mother is supported.

This is why pro-life work requires perseverance and long-suffering. At its heart, we are not merely advancing policy — we are proclaiming truth and extending love. Our mission reaches into every corner of society: into our churches, schools, and homes, into the halls of government, into the fabric of our culture. And when necessary, it leads us to stand prayerfully and faithfully on the sidewalks outside abortion facilities, witnessing to the dignity of every human life. In all these places, we remain steadfast, knowing that authentic love is patient, courageous, and willing to endure for the sake of the vulnerable.

If we truly desire to end abortion, we must renew our commitment to God’s beautiful plan for love, life, and the family. In doing so, we follow the courageous example of St. Valentine — defending marriage, strengthening families, and building a culture where every human life is protected and cherished.

This cartoon was so sweet and full of truth, we had to share—courtesy of our friends in Ireland: Life Institute.

The post Promote Marriage. Protect Life. The Legacy of St. Valentine appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Trump Should End the FDA’s 25-Year Cover-Up on the Abortion Pill

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 19:46:00 GMT

By: Tim Chapman and Marc Wheat, originally published February 14, 2026, The National Review

Mifepristone has not gotten safer; the FDA has just gotten more political.

In 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved mifepristone, a drug used to end the lives of unborn children and one that has proven unusually dangerous for the women who take it. For a quarter of a century, the FDA has not answered for that decision. Instead, it has relied on legal delay and bureaucratic maneuvering to avoid accountability. The Trump administration now has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to end that cover-up, restore basic medical safeguards, and hold the agency to account.

When the agency receives a new drug application, it is charged with approving only those with benefits that exceed risks. And if that goal requires specific safety rules in the form of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, the FDA is supposed to impose it. The FDA found that it could not approve mifepristone through its ordinary evaluation process, so it used a fast-track procedure reserved for drugs to treat life-threatening illnesses, which employs more relaxed standards. Because the drug proved so dangerous, the FDA kept in place, for more than a decade, safety rules much stricter than for most other drugs.

But when the Obama and Biden administrations vowed to make all abortions more accessible, the FDA did as it was told and began dropping requirements for in-person medical visits and reporting most medical complications. It even approved getting abortion pills by mail without seeing a doctor at all. Mifepristone did not get safer; the FDA just got more political.

Politicized medicine hurts everyone, erodes trust, and leaves the most vulnerable without a voice. The FDA was never meant to function as an ideological actor insulated from judicial review and democratic accountability.

The Trump administration did not create this problem, but it can end it. By opposing further delay and restoring commonsense safeguards, it can prevent further harm to women, families, and the rule of law.

Image: National Review-Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters.

Tim Chapman is the president of Advancing American Freedom, the conservative advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence.

Marc Wheat is the group’s general counsel.

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An extra billboard this month!

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 23:38:00 GMT

Cincinnati Right to Life has a long-standing relationship with our billboard company, and this month, through a series of events, they were able to donate an additional billboard. We’re incredibly grateful—our messaging is strong, and this billboard sits in a PRIME location!

The post An extra billboard this month! appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

You might tune in to the Super Bowl for the Game this weekend…

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:38:00 GMT

This Super Bowl, the most important message won’t be in the game.
It will be in this commercial — a glimpse of love choosing life.
A culture awakening to hope.
We pray this is the beginning

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Planned Parenthood Drops Lawsuit – But the Fight Is Not Over-CALL TO ACTION

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:34:00 GMT

There is encouraging news to report in the ongoing effort to defend preborn children and protect taxpayers from being forced to fund abortion.

The law is clear: so-called “family planning” or reproductive health organizations that received more than $800,000 in Medicaid funds in 2023 and that commit abortions are barred from receiving Medicaid funding for one year—unless they stop committing elective, induced abortions. Planned Parenthood refused to stop committing abortions and instead chose to sue.

That lawsuit was filed in July, almost immediately after the President signed the bill into law. The reason is obvious. Planned Parenthood’s abortion business brings in more than $200 million annually, and the organization is unwilling to part with that blood money.

The one-year defunding of Planned Parenthood is a historic victory for the pro-life movement, but it is only temporary. Congress and the administration must be pressed to make this defunding permanent.

It is time for Governor Mike DeWine to do the same.

We need your voice—now.

Join us in writing Governor DeWine today and tell him that Ohioans are displeased, that our tax dollars should never fund abortion, and that it is time to stand for life.

Together, we can save lives, protect mothers, and hold our leaders accountable.

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The Culture War After Dobbs

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:28:00 GMT

By: Mike Flinn, originally published on January 22, 2026, Crisis Magazine

The pro-life movement was so focused on the courts that they often overlooked where the actual battle was being fought.

On June 24, 2022 , the pro-life movement won. Roe was overturned. Prayers of thanksgiving went up, corks were popped, and the movement finally exhaled. After 50 years, we finally had a victory—the victory we’d been marching for, praying for, and fighting toward for half a century.

But while we exhaled, the pro-abortion movement sprang into action in the states. They understood that while they lost the federal court, that defeat meant nothing if they could win the minds of the people. While we attempted to pass strict abortion bans in states, our opponents understood that the average American was not ready to vote for those bans. The data proves they were right.

The latest statistics from the Society of Family Planning show that abortions have increased every year since Dobbs , including a 4 percent increase in month-to-month abortions over the first six months of 2025 compared to 2024. We cannot win without winning the culture; and right now, we are not doing enough.

Much of the increase since Dobbs is due to an increase in telehealth abortions, which the Society of Family Planning reports as accounting for 27 percent of all abortions nationwide. With abortions now easier to access than ever, we know that the legal, court-focused pro-life fight has failed. We need to win the culture first, court battles later. To do that, the pro-life movement needs to adopt a core Catholic Social Teaching principle—subsidiarity. Once we do that, we have to accept incremental wins in the courts whenever we can get them.

Winning the Culture Through the Idea of Subsidiarity

Subsidiarity is the Catholic principle that problems should be solved at the lowest level competent enough to solve them. In other words, problems are best solved at the level at which they arise. In practice, this means that the federal government shouldn’t decide local zoning regulations, nor should your city council dictate national foreign policy. Each level of society has its proper sphere.

The pro-life movement must adopt this framework. If problems should be solved where they arise, then we must begin where abortion actually originates: in the individual conscience. For 50 years, the movement was fixated on overturning Roe at the federal level; meanwhile, public opinion shifted decisively toward accepting abortion.

Yes, there have always been sidewalk counselors and prayer vigils outside abortion clinics. But that’s not enough to shift opinion nationally.

If the best-case scenario occurred and 100 percent of abortion-seeking women encountered a sidewalk counselor, changed their minds, and then became pro-life advocates themselves, that would mean only 1.54 percent of the female population of child-bearing age are being swayed each year. That’s the percentage of women who seek abortions every year, per the Guttmacher Institute. While, over time, that would add up, the reality is that the best-case scenario rarely occurs.

Most women proceed with abortion despite sidewalk counseling. Those pro-life advocates deserve respect—their sacrifice matters. But it is not enough to shift a nation.

The pro-life movement needs a cultural campaign aimed at the individual conscience, not courtroom battles. This campaign must reach beyond the 1.5 percent of women who seek an abortion; it must persuade the nation. It could take many forms—billboards, local television, social media—but the content must be consistent.

Focus on the science of fetal development. Too many pro-life advocates argue from a theological perspective, which alienates the secular and the conflicted. Science speaks differently. Show people what a baby looks like at each stage of development with realistic images. If you are a sidewalk counselor, use actual photos of aborted babies, no matter how gruesome they are. Present the biological facts with no apology. Images persuade where words often fail.

Pro-abortionists win the PR battle with emotional narratives—the raped 12-year-old, the abused orphan, the homeless woman. Those stories represent a miniscule fraction of abortions nationally; we don’t need to grant them credence. Rather than matching story with story, all we need are images and science. A single photo of a post-abortion baby is more powerful than a thousand edge-case stories from the pro-abortion crowd.

Winning the culture takes time, but it is winnable. It’s winnable if we start with the individual conscience and then work outward. And yes, eventually we also need to win in the courts. Lucky for us, we have been given a blueprint on how to do this.

Incremental Change Is Better Than No Change

The pro-life movement learned a painful lesson in Kentucky and Kansas after Dobbs . Both states put constitutional amendments on the ballot designed to clarify that their state constitutions do not protect abortion rights. But the pro-abortion side successfully reframed the issue by telling the voters that these amendments would eventually lead to a complete ban on abortion. Alarmed by this, voters rejected the amendments. Why? Because the people weren’t ready for what they thought would come next.

Nebraska did it differently. Rather than ask voters about constitutional interpretation, Nebraska asked them directly: Do you support a 12-week abortion limit? The voters said yes. Nebraska understood what Kansas and Kentucky did not: when you give people a clear, understandable choice about abortion policy, they will support reasonable restrictions. Or, more accurately, the voters will support what they see as reasonable.

Yes, Nebraska’s 12-week limit is not ideal. Abortions still occur. But Nebraska’s pro-life leaders grasped a crucial truth: the American people are not ready for total bans. Yet they also reject the anything-goes, abortion-until-birth position. The middle ground is where voters will actually vote for protections on life. In Nebraska, that middle ground was 12 weeks; it may be 15 or 18 weeks in other states. But a 15-week ban, even an 18-week ban, is better than nothing.

We must work on two fronts at once: find and pass the middle ground that voters will support now, while changing hearts and minds for the future. Once we begin changing individual minds, then we can incrementally tighten restrictions. Pass a 15-week ban today, then spend years building support for a 12-week ban. Then move to 10, then six. The strategy is simple: ask for what the people will give, then slowly change their minds so they will give more. If we push too far right away, we lose everything.

We waited 50 years to overturn Roe . It’s time we prepare for 50 more to win back the culture. But we must do it the right way—start with the hearts of individual Americans, not the courts.

Mike Flinn is a political commentator and content creator. You can find his work on YouTube at @Mike_Flinn and on X at @TheMikeFlinn.

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Pope tells political conference attendees the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:59:00 GMT

By: Grace Porto, originally published February 2, 2026, Zeale.com

Pope Leo XIV on Jan. 31 addressed members of the “One Humanity, One Planet” conference — an international group of young political leaders working on proposals for political impact — and told them that the greatest threat to peace is the murder of unborn children.

“I am delighted to meet with you, young people from every part of the world, “ the Pope began, “united by a shared commitment to the pursuit of the common good through political engagement.”

He thanked the group for their commitment to peace.

“Peace, indeed, is above all a gift,” Pope Leo said. “We receive it from those who came before us, and for this we must be grateful. Peace is also a covenant, which binds us to one another and commits us to safeguard it where it exists and to pursue it where it is absent. Finally, peace is a promise, because it opens before us the hope of a better world, a hope shared by all people of good will.”

He urged the members of the conference to find ways to allow citizens to participate in their governments, which he said is the foundation of universal fraternity.

He added that peace is impossible while humanity wages war against itself by mistreating, ignoring, or discarding the weakest members of society.

He quoted Mother Teresa, who said at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1994 that “the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion.”

“Her words remain prophetic,” the Pope commented. “No policy can genuinely serve the people if it denies the unborn the gift of life, or if it neglects to support those in need, whether in their material circumstances or in their spiritual distress.”

He exhorted the group to take courage, and told them that God Himself created the earth to be a home for all people.

“Therefore, the title of your conference, ‘One Humanity, One Planet,’” he said, “finds its fullest expression when completed by the words ‘One God.’”

The Pope then gave the audience his apostolic blessing.

Grace Porto is a staff writer for Zeale News.

Image: Zeale News.com.

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The family is America’s last line of defense – and it’s breaking fast

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:02:00 GMT

By: Kevin D. Roberts, originally published January 24, 2026, FoxNews.com

No marriage. No babies. No future. America’s going from birth to death

If traditional families continue to disappear, we will eventually lose America itself

A new report by the Congressional Budget Office shows that, absent immigration, America’s population will begin to shrink by 2030. As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, this projection underscores a hard truth: the collapse of marriage and family life represents the gravest threat to our great nation’s future.

That is why The Heritage Foundation has released the first in a series of special reports on Saving America by Saving the Family . The central argument is straightforward. Our country cannot afford to continue ignoring our declining marriage and birthrates, as lawmakers on both the Left and Right have done for decades. The discussion ranges from eliminating all marriage penalties embedded in welfare programs, to new tax credits for married families , to offering public honors to couples for every decade they remain married.

These proposals reflect a blend of longstanding conservative priorities and new ideas, all animated by a shared belief: that strong American families were at the heart of the nation in 1776 and remain essential to its future. They are not offered as a final word, but as the beginning of a long-overdue national conversation about how to halt America’s demographic and social collapse.

Unfortunately, there are those—on both the radical Left and the libertarian Right —who are rigidly and ideologically opposed to our key ideas for supporting married families.

Critics on the Left argue that opposition to abortion and support for married parents who prefer to provide home child care (usually through the mother) amount to a patriarchal assault on women’s “autonomy” and “reproductive freedom.” Meanwhile, critics on the libertarian Right contend that government has no business trying to incentivize decisions related to family structure.

Few dispute that marriage rates are falling, that traditional families are weakening, or that the nation stands on a demographic precipice. What is striking is how our critics echo each other in saying the government should not be doing anything proactively about it.

The problem is that if traditional families continue to disappear, we will eventually lose America itself.

America is a nation rooted in its people, culture, laws and customs, as well as its ideals—and it cannot be sustained if Americans themselves do not marry, form families, and raise children. And yes, we do believe it is legitimate for government to encourage ways of life that allow its people to endure and flourish, and the social science is crystal clear—traditional married families outpace the alternatives in a host of wealth, education, health, and happiness measures.

We make no apology for wanting to persuade more young Americans to marry, own homes, raise the next generation, and find deep fulfillment in family life.

We also do not believe the solution lies in mass immigration when we can’t even assimilate the immigrants that are already here. Nor do we believe that modern technology can substitute for the home, the neighborhood, and the family.

The quintessential American Dream of a family with a house and a white-picket fence remains as important as ever to the American imagination, and our task is to convert that dream into a reality. We want to make sure young Americans can realistically achieve these goals by, at a minimum, removing obstacles that stand in the way, and by assuring our policies actually privilege, prefer and support married family formation .

That is a winning message conservatives would do well to embrace in 2026. And the good news is that President Trump is already leading the way. He recently announced his intention to tackle the unaffordability of single-family homes and abuses in the credit-card industry, and Heritage looks forward to contributing our thoughts and recommendations into that discussion and those to come.

More broadly, we will continue to answer those—on the Left and on the libertarian Right—who either see no problem or see no solution. They are wrong on both counts. A society that refuses to defend marriage and child-rearing is not neutral; it is choosing between accelerated or managed decline. And a movement that shrugs its shoulders in the face of that decline offers nothing but surrender.

If our critics have new ideas, they should by all means present them. But we are done watching our kids fall further behind, our families struggle and our societal pillars crumble, and we are calling for action that meets the moment. Heritage will be proud to work on ushering in a new American Golden Age, centered on the family, and the next phase in reaching that goal begins now.

Kevin D. Roberts is president of the Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America.

Images: FoxNews.com/opinion-KevinRoberts.

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Celebrate every life while you support our pro-life mission

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:16:00 GMT

Meet EveryLife , the pro-life diaper company with a very simple purpose: to create high-performing diapers for every little miracle.

EveryLife believes that every child is a gift from God that deserves to be protected and cherished, just as we do here at Cincinnati Right to Life!

Scan the QR code below , or use code: CINCRTL10 at checkout for 10% off of your next purchase

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‘Dancing on Ice’ star’s failed IVF attempts led to shocking answer to her ‘unexplained infertility’

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:19:00 GMT

By: Nancy Flanders, originally published January 30, 2026, LiveAction.org

“Dancing on Ice” star Alex Murphy Klein and her husband, YouTuber Paul Klein, recently shared their infertility story with This Morning , including the shocking diagnosis they finally received for their “ unexplained infertility. “

Key Takeaways:

Alex Murphy Klein and her husband, Paul Klein, were unable to become pregnant before they were diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” and opted to try IVF.
After one round of IVF failed, they were preparing for another when Murphy Klein decided she didn’t want to move forward with it. Instead, the couple sent samples of their blood to a testing company and learned that they each had a genetic marker that made implantation nearly impossible.
Murphy Klein’s body was acting as though it were “allergic” to her husband’s DNA and attacking the children they conceived together.
Thanks to the blood test results, Murphy Klein is now undergoing treatments to tell her body to accept her husband’s DNA in hopes of achieving a successful pregnancy.

The Details:

Murphy has shared her infertility story on social media before, but she went into more detail in a recent interview, saying that after not being able to conceive and then going through one failed round of IVF, she and her husband decided not to move forward with another round of IVF. They had taken that route after being told that their infertility was “unexplained” — a ‘diagnosis’ that didn’t sit right with Murphy. If there was nothing wrong with either of them, as doctors said, why were they unable to become pregnant?

“I just had to put the brakes on,” she told ITV’s This Morning.

She continued, “We got an at-home medical blood testing kit from a company called Fertilysis. They send you the tests in the mail, and you give them a blood vial and so we went down to the Pharmacy and got our bloods drawn. We sent them overseas to Greece, and we found out that we have a genetic pre-disposition that makes me incompatible with Paul’s DNA — which is crazy.”

Fertilysis found “immune-related genetic factors affecting embryo implantation , alongside elevated sperm DNA fragmentation.” It explained, “By reviewing these findings… we identified immune issues contributed to implantation failure and early pregnancy loss, despite routine fertility tests appearing normal ” (emphases added). Sperm DNA fragmentation can prevent fertilization, cause poor embryo development, recurrent miscarriage, and male infertility.

Murphy Klein explained, “I have this thing called KirAA and Paul has a gene called HLAC2 and when these genes come together, they kind of repel. My genes put the brakes on and say ‘let’s attack this.’ So no matter what we had done at that point in time [to become pregnant], it wouldn’t have worked.”

Murphy Klein believes they made the right call in refusing further rounds of IVF. Had they chosen to do multiple rounds, they would not have had success because of the way her DNA reacts to Klein’s — but they never would have understood why.

As a result of the blood test findings, the couple has begun a treatment called LIT therapy, which involves injecting processed samples of Klein’s blood into Murphy’s body to help her immune system build up a tolerance. “It’s like immunotherapy,” she explained. She is also undergoing additional treatments to help her body “ accept ” her husband’s DNA. They hope to become pregnant as they progress with the treatments.

Why It matters:

IVF has been called the “ Band-Aid ” approach to fertility for good reason.

Often, as with this couple, fertility businesses don’t search for the direct cause of infertility. Instead, they charge tens of thousands of dollars to undergo IVF, creating more children than the couple intends to have, and then offering further unethical options such as egg or sperm donation or surrogacy when the IVF fails. This was the path Murphy Klein and her husband may have been on if they hadn’t sought further information from Fertilysis.

Restorative Reproductive Medicine is an ethical approach to fertility care that uses fertility charting and tracking as well as male fertility screening, specific medical testing, blood tests, and personalized treatment plans to help couples become pregnant naturally or carry a pregnancy to term after repeated miscarriages.

The Bottom Line:

No couple should be subjected to the destructive and costly process of IVF that treats children as commodities. Couples seeking fertility care should always search for the true cause of their infertility so that personalized, ethical treatments can be offered.

Nancy Flanders is Associate Editor for Live Action News.

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Trump-Vance DOJ Undermines Pro-Life States, Denies Abortion Drug Survivor Justice for “a Year or More”

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:09:00 GMT

A Statement from Susan B. Anthony, originally released January 27, 2026, SBA ProLife.org

Washington, D.C. – Today the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal district court to deny relief in Louisiana v. FDA, claiming both the state and a survivor of abortion drug violence lack standing and are not suffering ongoing harm from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Covid-era policy of allowing deadly abortion drugs to be sent in the mail.

The State of Louisiana, led by Attorney General Liz Murrill, and abortion drug coercion survivor Rosalie Markezich sued the FDA to block the Biden administration’s mail-order abortion drug rule for harming women, ending the lives of countless unborn children, and undermining efforts by states like Louisiana to enforce protective pro-life laws. In Louisiana it is a crime to poison women with abortion drugs .

Markezich has spoken out about how the Biden rule enables coercion and abuse toward women who are unwilling to abort their babies. Tragically, Markezich’s baby died.

Louisiana is one of a growing number of pro-life states suing the FDA based on the harms mifepristone has caused to their residents and the fact that current FDA policy allowing mail-order abortion undermines dozens of state laws.

Peer-reviewed research found three quarters of ER visits within 30 days after abortion drug use were coded as severe or critical. Two separate , independent studies also found more than 1 in 10 women experience at least one severe adverse event. Complications can include hemorrhaging, infection, sepsis, and even death.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary previously did not give a timetable on a promised safety study of mifepristone, but now the DOJ states that the process could take “a year or more to conduct.”

SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser issued the following statement:

“Today’s denial of justice by the DOJ is completely unacceptable. It slams the door on women like Rosalie Markezich and their babies, who are suffering very real harm as the Trump-Vance administration refuses to reimplement basic guardrails on deadly mail-order abortion drugs. Abortion drugs accessible by mail are killing more Americans than fentanyl, cocaine or heroin combined . Women and children are dying and do not have ‘a year or more’ to wait on the FDA. They deserve safeguards NOW.

“As abortions in America go up instead of down, women are coerced, poisoned and ending up in emergency rooms, and state laws are undermined, it is states like Louisiana that are leading the charge to stop the mail-order abortion drug crisis. The Trump-Vance administration should be standing with Louisiana and supporting states in enforcing their pro-life laws against unscrupulous drug dealers, not holding onto Joe Biden’s disastrous Covid-era policies.

“Nearly a year ago, Secretary Kennedy promised a comprehensive study of the real-world harms of abortion drugs, yet the FDA has slow-walked it out of political fear . Now we are told it will be at least 2027 – well after midterms. That is unacceptable. But this study also should not substitute for plain common sense: Deadly abortion drugs do not belong in the mail with no in-person doctor visit, no ultrasound, no meaningful medical oversight and no accountability.

“The more the Trump-Vance administration drags its feet, the worse it is for them ahead of midterms. As we saw at the March for Life, pro-life voters are watching and expect action . Ignoring the pro-life base is a tremendous miscalculation. Seven in 10 voters overall, including 57% of liberal voters , agree Biden’s Covid mail-order abortion drug rule must go. No more delays – at a minimum, the Trump-Vance administration must re-establish in-person doctor visits immediately.”

Following a l etter in October from 51 U.S. senators to the FDA and HHS calling to reinstate commonsense safeguards on abortion drugs, 175 House GOP representatives also sent a letter demanding answers from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Commissioner Makary.

In a letter to U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Makary admitted hundreds of women have required blood transfusions due to abortion drugs. SBA Pro-Life America has called for Makary to be fired.

In a September 2025 hearing, Kennedy revealed Biden’s FDA ‘ twisted ’ data to bury safety signals on mifepristone.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.  

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Abortion pill ads at KY gas stations target of attorney general investigation

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:11:00 GMT

By: Austin Horn, originally published January 23, 2026, Lexington Herald Leader

Attorney General Russell Coleman announced an investigation Friday into gas stations and companies that “could be participating” in delivering pills to Kentucky for medical abortions.

Coleman’s office sent subpoenas to six gas stations in Western Kentucky counties — Christian, Logan and Simpson — that had advertisements for abortion medication, according to a Jan. 23 news release from his office.

The advertisements read: “Pregnant? Don’t want to be? Learn more at Mayday Health.”

Mayday Health’s website says it is a reproductive health education nonprofit, which aims to “share information about abortion pills, birth control and gender-affirming care in any state.”

Medication used to abort pregnancies made headlines in Kentucky recently when a Wolfe County woman was indicted on charges of fetal homicide, concealing the birth of an infant, evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse after she induced an abortion using medication she’d purchased online.

The charge of fetal homicide was later dismissed , as the statute does not apply to women who end their pregnancies.

A 2022 law passed by the Kentucky General Assembly , which had already enacted a near-total ban on abortion in the state following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs overturning landmark Roe v. Wade, prohibited mailing or delivering abortion medication in Kentucky.

“Out of state activist groups who are targeting the vulnerable here should be on notice: Keep your illegal pills out of our Commonwealth or face the full weight of the Attorney General’s Office,” Coleman wrote in the news release. “These deadly and unlawful pills cannot be allowed to continue flooding into Kentucky through the mail, and we will thoroughly pursue every lead to hold bad actors accountable.”

This is not Mayday Health’s first rodeo. In fact, they’re locked in a similar legal battle with the attorney general of South Dakota.

Liv Raisner, the nonprofit’s executive director, said in a statement to the Herald-Leader that the ads are free speech.

“It turns out Attorney General Russell Coleman doesn’t like free speech as much as he says. This just happened when we put up signs at gas stations in South Dakota,” Raisner wrote. “We won a temporary restraining order against the South Dakota Attorney General.

“We think everyone in Kentucky, and South Dakota, and around the country, should know that abortion pills are safe and available.”

The Kentucky chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which was previously involved in a class action lawsuit against Kentucky’s abortion ban , agreed with Raisner.

“We know abortion bans are harmful, particularly to vulnerable populations such as those in counties where there are no practicing obstetricians or gynecologists. The attorney general cannot prevent information about abortion from being shared in Kentucky, and any attempt to do so will only further isolate pregnant Kentuckians seeking to educate themselves about medical care,” Amber Duke, ACLU of Kentucky’s executive director, wrote.

This story has been updated with comments from Mayday Health and the ACLU of Kentucky.

Austin Horn is a politics reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

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The Trump Administration’s Inaction Motivates Pro-Lifers to Keep Marching

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:55:00 GMT

By: Chuck Donovan, originally published January 28, 2026, The Washington Stand

The annual pro-life march in Washington, D.C. has become a fixture in our national life. Three-and-a-half years after the reversal of Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs case, it is more evident than ever that there is need for a national expression of revulsion at the toll taken by abortion on demand. Despite the pleas of some political leaders, including President Trump, that sanctity of life issues return to their presumed status as matters for the states, life is a transcendent subject of concern to the whole country. Both sides in the debate at the 2026 March offered definitive proof.

In civic life, no issue can be said to exist if discussion and action about it are sporadic and peripheral. Dissatisfying as some of the speeches and remarks on this occasion were, the fact is that the 2026 March in Washington was not merely an occasion for speech but a mandate for deeds. The national media routinely underreport the youthful crowds that peacefully populate the Mall, but elected and administration officials know of their presence and of the demand they address the next generation with actions that match their rhetoric. They dare not come to the podium empty-handed. For this reason alone, there will be a national March for Life in 2027 and for many decades to come.

The real reason, of course, is not mere politics. The very fact that the speeches generally convey a national and international — even “civilizational” — significance is intrinsic to the subject. The topic is not tax rates or regulation of the internet — the topic is who counts as human and what is the duty of government at all levels to render an expansive judgment on the question of who is one of us. The speeches delivered on January 23 and 24 at March-related events gave broadly affirmative answers to that question and to the stakes in the debate over the right to life. The language itself answered the question, “Does the human right to life matter in Albany and Topeka and Jackson, but not in Washington, D.C.?” Can you be regarded as a human being in Tennessee but disposed as refuse in Sacramento?

Speaking to massive crowds on the Mall, this is the question leaders cannot avoid as they talk about prudence and increments. Those virtues are relevant, but they do not define reality. One million lives taken each year in the wealthiest nation ever to exist cannot be a satisfactory outcome, and none of the key speakers, no matter how temperately they formed their phrases, limited their invocations so softly. Vice President J.D. Vance compared our current situation to pagan child sacrifice. He intoned:

Those stark words affronted some critics who are apparently more comfortable with the discarding of the slain unborn via incineration or flushing them into sewer lines. For a more centrist description of the significance of abortion, the vice president was equally vivid:

“Our vision is simple. We want life to thrive in the United States of America. We want Americans, every American from all walks of life, to have happy, healthy children, and we want them to raise those kids with confidence that they’ll do well and grow up in safety and prosperity, that they’ll have access to good jobs, great schools, safe streets, and warm houses in which to raise their kids. And we want all of our American families to be able to do it with the confidence that their nation will stand with them, just as they have stood with the United States of America.”

Whichever form of eloquence one prefers, these exhortations have one thing in common: they reject the notion of localism. It is unimaginable that any nation, much less the one “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,” would gaze impassively on the erection of blood-stained pyramids in Chicago or turn a blind eye to batches of generic abortion pills shipped to anyone who orders them through the mail. Whether he wishes to or not, the vice president is summoning the nation to a new course the administration has not merely resisted but undermined to date.

Other leaders these last few days have similarly summoned the public to a deeper passion for life. Just before Vice President Vance spoke, President Trump appeared at the March via video and said that every unborn child has “infinite” worth and is a gift from God. In his Proclamation for National Sanctity of Human Life Day 2026, a tradition begun by President Reagan in 1984, President Trump went to the heart of the matter, the consonance of a right to life with America’s founding principles:

With language like this regarding a human right that transcends age, race, or condition of dependency — a right that is “unalienable” and the legacy of those who wrote and ratified our Constitution — no pro-life administration can appear on a dais and disown steps to affirm these truths we hold “self-evident.” On this the Trump administration did as other pro-life administrations have done before, announcing a string of welcome actions, from extending the scope of the Reagan-era Mexico City Policy, to enforcing federal conscience legislation against states that have attempted to force physicians to refer for abortions, to ending federal funding for alleged research that relies on tissues taken from the bodies of the aborted unborn.

Welcome as these steps are (though some certainly did not require a year to be accomplished), there remains the widely acknowledged “elephant in the room.” This particular pachyderm is restless. In its first year, beginning six months after aggressively diluting the historic pro-life Republican platform, the Trump administration:

Approved a cheaper generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone, a drug which is likely responsible in toto for more than two-thirds of U.S. abortions;
Opposed several pro-life states in federal court seeking to enforce their state laws barring telehealth distribution of the abortion pill regimen;
Carried out its 2024 campaign pledge, first articulated by then-candidate J.D. Vance, to support access to mifepristone as approved by the Food and Drug Administration;
Cast doubt, in the president’s own words, on its determination to protect the half-century old Hyde Amendment and its application to health insurance plans financed under the tax credit scheme known as Obamacare.

Then, to top matters off, just days after the buses bearing excited marchers left Washington, D.C., the Trump Department of Justice lent its weight again to protecting a federal abortion policy from action by the states, actions that the Trump administration had said would be the proper level of government for decisions on life. On Tuesday of this week, the DOJ filed a brief in a case brought by the state of Louisiana, which has passed legislation to treat mifepristone as a controlled substance and now seeks to prosecute entities that prescribe and ship abortion pills into the state in violation of its life-protection statutes. The Trump administration challenges Louisiana’s standing to bring the lawsuit in the first place and contends Louisiana’s action is premature as the administration itself may take action on the pills after FDA review. The brief likewise opposes the standing of a Louisiana woman who was subjected to the abortion pill when a boyfriend ordered them from another state and pressured her to take them.

All rhetoric aside, the administration has not earned public trust on this array of questions. Its consistent defense of inaction has been purely political — that avoiding the issue or demoting it to the states is necessary for their own victory at the ballot box. The FDA case underscores how the idea of a states-only legal regimen cannot work in the era of pharmaceutical abortions. In August 2024, J.D. Vance told the nation the Trump-Vance ticket would “veto a national abortion ban” if it came to the president’s desk. “I can absolutely commit that,” Vance said on “Meet the Press.” It is not hard to see why the administration has not earned the benefit of the doubt about their intentions with respect to an FDA review that will certainly override the states and is contributing to the loss of a million lives and harm to many thousands of women each year.

With these confusing and contradictory signals proceeding, there is no doubt that marches for life must continue in state capitals and, above all, in Washington. When it comes to the urgency of the stakes involved, look no further than to the speeches of the people making our national decisions for and against life.

Chuck Donovan served in the Reagan White House as a senior writer and as Deputy Director of Presidential Correspondence until early 1989. He was executive vice president of Family Research Council, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, and founder/president of Charlotte Lozier Institute from 2011 to 2024. He has written and spoken extensively on issues in life and family policy.

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Trump FDA seeks pause on abortion pill lawsuit while it reviews drug’s risks

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:45:00 GMT

By: Carole Novielli, originally published January 28, 2026, LiveAction.org

he Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Trump administration has petitioned a federal court to pause the state of Louisiana’s abortion pill lawsuit, which is seeking a review of the 2023 safety regulations on the drug.

The troubling motion comes just days after President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance spoke to pro-lifers gathered in Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life. Both men previously stated they would not “block” the abortion pill, which has already ended the lives of over 7.5 million preborn babies since its original FDA approval just over 25 years ago.

Key Takeaways:

Trump’s FDA, which recently approved the second generic abortion pill, claimed Louisiana’s lawsuit seeking to put a “stay” on the 2023 REMS safety protocols (which allowed mail-order and pharmacy dispensing of the abortion pill) would “short circuit the [FDA]’s orderly review and study of the safety risks of mifepristone.”
The FDA asked the courts to ‘stay judicial review’ until the FDA completes its own review of the drug, which it claims will be done in less than a year’s time.

The Details:

On January 27, 2026, the FDA petitioned the Court to “stay all proceedings in this matter” while the agency “reviews the mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy.”

The accompanying memorandum of law reads in part:

In addition to a request that the Court “stay this case pending FDA’s review,” the FDA’s motion asked that the Court “deny Plaintiffs’ motion without prejudice .”

The Backstory:

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed the lawsuit, State of Louisiana v. FDA , on behalf of the State of Louisiana and Rosalie Markezich, a woman whose “ex-boyfriend ordered mifepristone from a California doctor, received it by mail, and coerced Rosalie to take it, ending her baby’s life.”

The Plaintiffs challenged the 2023 REMS safety regulations on the abortion pill as “unlawful” and are seeking to “restore the in-person dispensing requirement.”

The 2023 REMS essentially removed the in-person dispensing requirement for the drug, enabling the deadly abortion pill to be distributed by mail and in pharmacies. This created a ‘wild west’ of sorts, in which pro-abortion states have begun to shield abortion providers who mail the drugs into pro-life states.

In addition, mail-order dispensing enabled incidents of coercion in which pregnant women were given the deadly pills without their knowledge or consent:

FDA to ‘reconsider the restrictions on mifepristone’

FDA is citing its own review of the abortion pill (mifepristone) as a reason for requesting the stay, calling “the validity of FDA’s restrictions on mifepristone” a “hotly contested legal and scientific issue that has been the subject of litigation for many years”:

FDA: Louisiana’s request to stay REMS would “short circuit” review

At this time, “FDA continues to work on the collection of the robust and timely data that is necessary for a well-controlled study with adequate statistical power,” the FDA wrote:

“Plaintiffs now threaten to short circuit the agency’s orderly review and study of the safety risks of mifepristone by asking this Court for an immediate stay of the 2023 REMS Modification approved three years ago,” FDA claimed.

FDA: Defer judicial review until agency’s review is complete

The FDA asked the court to defer judicial review until its review of mifepristone is complete, claiming that “awarding preliminary relief to these Plaintiffs could easily prompt other plaintiffs to seek a conflicting injunction that would sow administrative and judicial chaos.”

FDA went on to suggest that if the court hearings continue, it will “waste judicial resources.” They alleged that it would not be “far fetched” for a back-and-forth “disruption” in the courts, with one side getting relief and the other filing for conflicting relief.

FDA: Plaintiffs lack standing to challenge 2023 REMS

In its motion, the FDA claimed the Plaintiffs “lack standing” to challenge the 2023 REMS because these claims are “not traceable” to “defendant” (the FDA):

Yet, the Plaintiffs have made several important points describing the harm the 2023 REMS has on the state, on the taxpayers, and on women, including the following:

“Louisiana has suffered, and continues to suffer, a classic pocketbook injury from the 2023 REMS in the form of hundreds of thousands of dollars in increased Medicaid costs attributable to mifepristone-induced abortions that have required emergency care — costs that would not be incurred but for the 2023 REMS .”
“… Rosalie is not alone. Consider the well-known story of Margaret Carpenter, a New York doctor who mailed mifepristone to a Louisiana woman who forced the drug on her pregnant teenage daughter… The teen faced a medical emergency alone at home, called 911, and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after delivering a dead fetus…”
“[C]onsider data from the Louisiana Department of Health showing that over $92,000 in Medicaid dollars were paid for emergency room care and hospitalization resulting from just two mifepristone-induced abortions in 2025 …”

The FDA claimed:

The agency suggested that if the Plaintiffs prevail before the FDA review is complete, “it could prompt the sponsors of mifepristone to file supplemental applications seeking modifications to the REMS.”

Commentary:

In response, Senior Counsel and Director of the Center of Life Erik Baptist told Live Action News:

The Context:

Three lawsuits involving six states are challenging the expansions of the abortion pill. The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM) was the initial challenge ; however, in 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiff doctors in AHM did not have standing to sue, and they eventually dropped their challenge.

January 2025 : Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled the states of Missouri, Kansas, and Idaho could intervene in AHM’s case and file a complaint in Amarillo, Texas.
May 2025 : Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) called for dismissal of the lawsuit.
August 2025 : States of Texas and Florida first petitioned the court to intervene — and one month later ( September 2025 ), Louisiana along with Rosalie Markezich filed a motion to do the same. Markezich claimed in her complaint that her boyfriend ordered abortion pills from a California provider and coerced her into taking the pills. Her baby died.
August 2025 : Judge Kacsmaryk denied motions by Texas, Florida, and Louisiana and moved the venue to Missouri.
October 2025 : Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) refiled the lawsuit in State of Louisiana v. FDA (along with Rosalie Markezich ) in the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division.
December 9, 2025 : A new lawsuit , State of Florida and the State of Texas v. FDA , was filed in the Northern District of Texas, Wichita Falls Division.
December 17, 2025 : Louisiana filed for preliminary injunctive relief.
January 27, 2026: FDA filed a motion to stay the case.

Go Deeper:

Live Action recently rele a sed a white paper documenting the history and horrors of the abortion pill, including Big Abortion’s deliberate and lengthy scheme to hide adverse events from the FDA.

Editor’s Note, 1/28/26: A quote from ADF counsel has been added to this post since original publication.

Carole Novielli is an author at LiveAction News with over thirty years of research experience on abortion, Planned Parenthood and eugenics.

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Indiana Doctor Loses His License for Facilitating Killing Baby in Illegal Abortion

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:58:00 GMT

By: Steven Ertelt, originally published January 27, 2026, LifeNews.com

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita recently secured the revocation of the medical license of Rensselaer physician, Dr. Patrick Sheets, for facilitating an illegal abortion, having sexual contact with patients and prescribing to addicts.

The Office of the Attorney General became aware of serious violations of state law, including Dr. Sheets’ facilitation of an illegal abortion for a patient with whom he had engaged in a sexual relationship and prescribing controlled substances despite her history of addiction.

Following a nearly 8-hour hearing on Thursday before the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana, Attorney General Rokita’s team successfully argued for the revocation of Dr. Sheets’ Indiana medical license.

“Vulnerable patients should not be preyed upon when seeking health care services, and the provider is expected to act in the patient’s best interests,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Dr. Sheets’ actions violated the trust that so many of us have in our health care providers and the boundaries we expect they maintain as professionals. Our office will continue to protect Hoosiers from unsafe medical practices.”

Over a period of several months, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also received multiple consumer complaints alleging that Dr. Sheets engaged in dangerous prescribing habits, including prescribing controlled substances such as alprazolam to a patient with known substance abuse issues without proper evaluations, improperly securing a controlled substance key fob, and falsifying medical records.

In one complaint, a family member of a patient reported that Dr. Sheets continued prescribing addictive medications to their mother despite being informed of her addiction and alcoholism, contributing to her arrests and repeated rehabilitation stays. Another complainant, a former patient, alleged that Dr. Sheets coerced them into illegal activities to maintain access to prescribed medications and engaged in inappropriate relationships with patients and staff while prescribing controlled substances to them.

Attorney General Rokita expressed gratitude to Deputy Attorneys General Ryan Eldridge, Kelsey McKnight, Carah Rochester and Investigator Cassie McDaniel for their work on this case. Their thorough work bringing this case before the board resulted in the future protection of Hoosier patients.

In July, the Indiana State Board of Pharmacy agreed to accept an agreement by Dr. Sheets to suspend his license to prescribe controlled substances for 90 days.

The public is encouraged to report any concerns about medical practices to the Consumer Protection Division at www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 317-232-6330.

Steven Ertelt is the founder and Editor of LifeNews.com, and has provided the pro-life community with news via the internet since 1993.

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Ryan Anderson: The March for Life Is Needed ‘to Rejuvenate the Pro-Life Grassroots’

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:11:00 GMT

By: Zelda Caldwell, originally published January 22, 2026, National Catholic Register

Since 1974, demonstrators at the annual March for Life have gathered in the nation’s capital to call on legislators to defend the unborn and to urge the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade . Now, more than three years after Roe was overturned, the march continues — but it is far from a victory lap.

After decades of decline, the abortion rate is on the rise again, the pro-life side has suffered a series of losses at the state level, and President Donald Trump — whose appointments to the Supreme Court made Roe ’s overturning possible — has shown himself to be decidedly politically pragmatic when it comes to abortion. He has urged Republicans to be “flexible” on the Hyde Amendment and failed to restrict the abortion pill, which today accounts for the majority of abortions in the United States.

One the eve of the 53rd March for Life, the Register interviewed Ryan Anderson , president of the Ethics and Public Policy Institute, about where the pro-life movement stands today. One of the nation’s leading thinkers on human dignity and the right to life, Anderson is the author or co-author of five books, including Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing .

President Donald Trump has faced criticism from pro-life advocates for not using all the tools at his disposable to protect the unborn. What should the movement’s approach be for the remainder of his administration?

The single most important thing President Trump could do to advance the pro-life cause and protect women would be to reinstate the in-person doctor-visit requirement on chemical abortion that President Biden’s FDA eliminated using the COVID emergency as an excuse. Online, mail-order abortion pills pose significant risks to women’s health and safety, as well as their autonomy, as we have seen multiple tragic cases of coerced abortions. They also undermine state laws when an abortionist in California can mail abortion pills into pro-life states.

What can the pro-life movement do to maintain its leverage over politicians and candidates running for office at the state level?

Remind politicians that they serve justice and that pro-life voters are key to any successful campaign. Those who refuse to defend the unborn should be primaried.

The pro-life movement has lost almost every ballot initiative since Roe was overturned. Should pro-life activists put their efforts into supporting national legislation outlawing abortion?

Incremental protections should be enacted at the federal level. Start with returning the in-person doctor-visit requirement. Not only will this protect the health, safety and autonomy of women, but it will also ensure that state abortion laws are not violated by abortionists from out of state.

In 2024, you wrote an article for First Things in which you proposed a way forward for the pro-life movement after Dobbs , noting that public opinion had shifted drastically in favor of abortion in the last decade. Even Christians, you wrote, see abortion as emergency contraception and are hesitant to want to make it unavailable. Do you see any signs of progress in your proposal to launch the sort of pro-marriage or pro-chastity movement that you said is needed?

Unfortunately, not much. Part of the challenge here is for civil-society leaders and donors to be willing to play the long game in cultural renewal. And it’s just more difficult work.

Since you wrote that article, there are reports of an incipient spiritual revival taking place in this country, especially among the young. Does this make you hopeful that this would usher in a pro-life revival?

There are encouraging signs of renewal, but the data still shows significant headwinds and structural challenges when it comes to younger generations and faith and younger generations and pro-life convictions. This just highlights the importance of continued evangelization and religious formation.

How important is it that the GOP candidate for 2028 is strongly pro-life? What needs to happen to make sure that happens?

It is essential. Pro-life citizens need to engage in the primary process. Endorsements and support should only follow pro-life records and commitments.

How relevant is the March for Life today?

Quite relevant, to rejuvenate the pro-life grassroots and remind the D.C. elite of where the people stand.

Zelda Caldwell is senior writer at the National Catholic Register based in Washington, D.C.

Ryan Anderson is president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

Images: Ryan Anderson-National Catholic Register.

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Feds Will No Longer Use Your Tax Dollars To Do Experiments On Aborted Babies’ Bodies

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:30:00 GMT

By: Jordan Boyd, originally published January 22, 2026, The Federalist

For pro-lifers the NIH’s decision is a payoff on their decades-long lobbying effort to end taxpayer-funded experiments involving aborted babies.

American taxpayers will no longer fund research that uses aborted baby body parts after the National Institutes of Health announced on Thursday that it will cut financial ties with any programs experimenting with human fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions.

NIH marketed the historic move — which applies to “all NIH-supported extramural research,” such as grants, cooperative agreements, awards, and other contracts — as “a significant milestone in the Trump Administration’s efforts to modernize biomedical science and accelerate innovation.”

“NIH is pushing American biomedical science into the 21st century,” NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said in a statement. “This decision is about advancing science by investing in breakthrough technologies more capable of modeling human health and disease. Under President Trump’s leadership, taxpayer-funded research must reflect the best science of today and the values of the American people.”

For pro-lifers who will gather together in Washington, D.C., to March for Life this weekend, the NIH’s decision is a payoff on their decades-long lobbying effort to end taxpayer-funded experiments involving aborted babies.

For decades, the people dedicated to protecting unborn babies and the sanctity of life have pleaded for a prohibition on the purchase of aborted baby body parts. Despite a partisan regulatory battle over the issue, one that spanned the Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, the NIH ultimately poured millions of Americans’ hard-earned dollars into experiments on human fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions over a period that spans roughly 75 years .

Opposition to such experiments appeared to pick up momentum after Center for Medical Progress (CMP) undercover journalist David Daleiden recorded footage in 2015 showing Planned Parenthood staff discussing the process of harvesting aborted baby parts to traffic them. Clips of the footage, which then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris withheld from the public until a congressional subpoena in 2024 , depict individuals identified as Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ann Schutt-Ainé and Vice President of Abortion Access Tram Nguyen discussing the sale of fetal body parts.

California officially ended its years-long political prosecution of Daleiden and his partner for filming the interaction last year . Yet the federal government, even after the release of Daleiden’s footage and the exposure of barbaric experiments on aborted babies by the University of Pittsburgh , continued to allow the purchase of baby body parts with Americans’ hard-earned dollars in the name of science.

In fact, under the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services halted the NIH ethics board assigned to oversee human fetal tissue research. At the bidding of President Joe Biden, HHS also reversed a first-term Trump administration rule that banned government employees from using tax dollars to buy human fetal tissue used in studies.

The NIH claims research involving aborted baby body parts has “declined steadily since 2019” but still accounted for 77 taxpayer-funded projects in the 2024 fiscal year. The agency’s latest pivot from experimenting on human fetal tissue, “ mostly obtained” from elective abortions , to “robust alternatives that can drive discovery while reducing ethical concerns” should effectively bring that number down to zero.

“The updated policy ensures that limited public resources are directed toward research approaches that offer the greatest potential to improve health outcomes for all Americans,” the NIH announcement assured.

While the NIH will no longer finance research on aborted baby body parts, taxpayer-funded studies involving the remains of babies who were stillborn or miscarried will still be conducted.

Jordan Boyd is an award-winning staff writer at The Federalist and producer of “The Federalist Radio Hour.”

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Marching With Urgency: A Morning in Washington, D.C.

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:59:00 GMT

“Please Drive Away”: A Mother’s Cry on the Sidewalk

Dear friends of Cincinnati Right to Life,

This morning in Washington, D.C., my heart felt the weight of why we do this work—and why we cannot grow weary. I had to send this email right away with my heart breaking as I now sit in a vital pro-life training. This story just happened, less than 2 hours ago.

For 18 of the past 19 years, I have traveled to our nation’s capital for the March for Life. In the beginning, I marched to stand against the atrocious law in our country that allows the slaughter of children in the womb. (Thanks mom and dad for raising me pro-life.) Later, I marched in defense of the mothers and babies I served inside a pregnancy center—faces and stories I will never forget.

And over the years, something else happened too: the March began to strengthen me.

There is something deeply edifying about being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of like-minded people—men and women who refuse to accept that abortion is “healthcare,” who believe that every human life is made in the image of God, and who are willing to stand publicly for what is right. In pro-life work, we can often feel alone. The March reminds us we are not. It renews our courage. It reminds us that conviction still lives—and that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

But today, I march with a different kind of urgency. And that urgency became even more clear to me this morning.

Before the crowds gather tomorrow and before the speeches begin, before heading to important meetings and trainings today, I joined pro-life friends outside Planned Parenthood for a prayerful presence, a speaking rally, and most importantly—for sidewalk counseling. We stood outside that facility of death where mothers are rushed inside by deathscorts (I counted 17 going in when I was there), often overwhelmed, often pressured, often convinced there is no other way… in this facility babies are killed, even into the third trimester.

We prayed. We spoke truth. We offered hope. We pleaded for life.

And as I stood there watching mothers approach those doors, I was reminded again: the battle is not theoretical. This is not just politics. This is not just rhetoric. These are real mothers. Real babies. Real choices made under fear and confusion. And the answer cannot be silence.

As I stood there in the calm before the storm (literally), a mother in a dark SUV slowly drove past Planned Parenthood, with her friend in the passenger seat. I approached the vehicle and was able to signal to get her to roll the window down. I smiled at both ladies and asked if they were there for an abortion appointment. The driver confirmed she was bringing her friend.

I then asked the expecting mother how she was feeling, acknowledging that this must be incredibly hard to be there. When I noticed a car seat in the second row, my heart sank. I began a conversation recognizing how painful and overwhelming their situation must be.

Amazingly, they did not speed off. Instead, they agreed to pull over around the corner so we could talk. I walked down the street and listened as these two beautiful women shared more of their story. They revealed they were both mothers—and the mom with the abortion appointment had just celebrated her youngest child’s first birthday.

With tenderness, I asked, “As a mother… why do you feel this baby cannot live, like all of your other children?”

The answers came quickly, and they were heartbreaking:

“Sometimes you just can’t have another baby.”

“I receive no help.”

“Times are hard. I barely make ends meet.”

As we talked, this dear mother poured her heart out about the crushing weight of caring for her children alone. The father had left—and he didn’t even show up or help with her baby’s recent first birthday.

Friends, this is the reality of abortion in America.

Women are not choosing abortion because they want a dead baby. They are choosing abortion because they feel trapped—financially, emotionally, relationally—like they have no support and no way forward. Women have been sold the lie that abortion is “healthcare” and that our tax dollars should fund this tragedy.

Planned Parenthood’s own research arm has acknowledged that the majority of women who seek abortion cite financial hardship as a driving factor. And standing there in the street this morning, I was looking directly into the face of that statistic. I wasn’t seeing a political talking point—I was seeing a mother in pain.

So, call me crazy, but I offered to help.

I offered to jump in the back seat and go straight to the store with them—to load up on everything her children needed. I offered to call her landlord and cover rent so she could breathe again. I offered to connect her immediately to the pregnancy center near her home—about 100 miles away—and promised that there are people ready to walk with her, mentor her, and support her.

They continued to talk. They continued to listen. And each time, the friend tried to justify the second-trimester abortion that was about to happen. The mother shared she had taken a pregnancy test before Thanksgiving. She hadn’t yet seen a doctor. She hadn’t had an ultrasound but knew she was past 15 weeks.

I begged her to let us help—to let her baby live. I kept smiling.

We prayed together. She watched the video on my phone as I explained what happens in a second-trimester abortion. I told her the truth: that her baby is not removed gently, but violently—dismembered, discarded, treated as medical waste. I asked her how she would one day explain to her one-year-old that there had been another sibling… but they were gone.

I also told her what the abortion industry will never say out loud: women can be harmed, and women can die—especially in later abortions.

By the end of our conversation, this mother was in tears. She pleaded with her friend to drive away.

But I do not know what happened next.

They did not accept my help. And I watched them go, not knowing whether they drove away to safety—or turned back toward the doors of death. I did not see them come back in the next 45 minutes. I am carrying this moment with me right now as I sit in a pro-life training in Washington D.C. and I had to share as my heart is still breaking.

Because this is why we must fight. This is why we must speak. This is why we must give. This is why we must build a true safety net around mothers—so they are not pushed toward abortion by fear, poverty, and isolation.

This is why we need to be on the sidewalk in front of abortion facilities.

Please pray for that mother and her baby. Pray for her other children. Pray that she chose life. And pray that God would continue to send people—right on the sidewalk, at the exact moment of decision—who will step forward with truth and love.

And if you are looking for a tangible way to help save lives like this, I want to encourage you: support Cincinnati Right to Life. Support the efforts that make it possible for a mother to hear, for the first time, “You are not alone. We will help you.” Join our sidewalk training and get involved.

Because no mother should feel abortion is her only option. Not in Washington, D.C. Not in Cincinnati. Not anywhere.

In Christ,

Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

P.S. Cincinnati Right to Life is working every day to save lives and save souls—from the sidewalk , to the Statehouse , to the U.S. Senate . Thank you for standing with us and supporting us as we defend mothers, protect babies, and speak truth with courage wherever God places us.

The post Marching With Urgency: A Morning in Washington, D.C. appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Ohio man indicted for gruesome assault on pregnant mother and baby

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:11:00 GMT

By: Angeline Tan, originally published January 18, 2026, LiveAction.org

A25-year-old man in Toledo, Ohio, has been indicted on 18 felony charges after allegedly kidnapping, raping, strangling, and torturing a woman who was 21 weeks pregnant.

Key Takeaways:

Jamere Jones, 25, was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly kidnapping, raping, torturing, and strangling a pregnant woman over the course of two days in December. She was 21 weeks pregnant.
Though the woman survived, doctors warn there could potentially be harm to her preborn child due to the extreme brutality of the attack.
Pregnant women are known to be at a high risk for violence.

The Details:

On January 13, a Lucas County grand jury indicted 25-year-old Toledo resident Jamere Jones, directing multiple charges against him such as kidnapping, rape, felonious assault, and strangulation.

Court records indicate that Jones blocked off a doorway on December 30 and 31, confining the 21-weeks-pregnant woman within his house as he subjected her to repeated assaults, rapes, strangulation, and threats to gun her down with a rifle or burn her alive.

Jones purportedly doused the woman’s head with rubbing alcohol and held a lighter to her, threatening to set her ablaze. He also pressed a loaded rifle against her chest, pledging to kill her before taking his own life.

He allegedly also pummeled her with his fists, a hammer, and assorted objects, and repeatedly strangled her — once so brutally, it left her unconscious. The victim required hospitalization following the attacks, with doctors cautioning of potential harm to her preborn child.

WTOL.com reports the indictments against Jones as follows :

3 counts of kidnapping, a first-degree felony
7 counts of rape, a first-degree felony
1 count of strangulation, a second-degree felony
3 counts of strangulation, a fourth-degree felony
2 counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony (one with firearm specification)
1 count of attempted felonious assault, a third-degree felony
1 count of domestic violence, a fifth-degree felony

The judge set Jones’ bond at $590,000, and mandated that he avoid all contact with the victim while surrendering any weapons.

The Big Picture:

Jones’ cruel attack on the vulnerable pregnant mother and her developing child mirrors wider trends of violence against pregnant women, frequently victimized by people they know. Pregnant and postpartum women are at a higher risk of homicide.

In many states (39 according to National Right to Life as of January 2024), laws “recognize the unlawful killing of an unborn child as homicide in at least some circumstances.”

The Bottom Line:

Abortion advocates often frame such violence as justification for unrestricted abortion, claiming it allows women to escape from crisis pregnancies. However, not only does abortion fail to empower women, it murders an innocent child in the womb while leaving mothers to struggle with post-abortion trauma.

Pro-life alternatives, such as pregnancy resource centers that offer ultrasounds, counseling, maternity homes, and material aid, support women and families with real assistance, helping to build a culture of life.

Angeline Tan is an author at Live Action News.

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This Week, We March for Life

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:21:00 GMT

Shared by Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

For decades, overturning Roe served as the legal and cultural north star of the pro-life movement, after this horrific decision elevated the death of babies in the womb to a protected status that silenced countless mothers and families, erased the humanity of the preborn, and reshaped the conscience of our nation. While we remain grateful that Roe was ultimately overturned, that victory did not end the fight. It simply returned the battle to the states—and in many ways, increased the urgency of our work.

Now that Roe has fallen, abortion continues to be promoted as “healthcare,” pregnancy is framed as a problem to be solved, and human life is too often measured by convenience rather than dignity. Now, state borders determine if a beautiful preborn baby deserves love and protection or should be able to be dismembered or poisoned in the name of “healthcare.” The slaughter did not disappear. It intensified. The need for courageous, faithful, and compassionate witnesses has never been greater.

Here in Ohio, that reality is becoming heartbreakingly clear.

Cincinnati Right to Life has never been a pro-life organization of convenience, compromise, or exception. We believe every human life matters—from the first spark to the last breath—and that protecting life is not negotiable. Our principles do not shift with political trends or election cycles. God’s original plan for marriage and human life are at the heart of our organization. We defend these truths without compromise.

And while the situation in Washington may appear uncertain, the state of life in Ohio is just as troubling.

This week is a reminder that the pro-life mission is far from finished. We do not gather simply out of tradition, or for symbolism, or because it is easy. We gather because the truth still matters, because human dignity is still under attack, and because the preborn still need defenders.

We march to stand for mothers who deserve better than abandonment.
We march to stand for babies who deserve the right to live.
We march to insist that Ohio—and the nation—must choose life with clarity, courage, and conviction.

And we will not be silent.

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Hyde Came Through Ohio–This Vote Hurts

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:35:00 GMT

For nearly half a century, the Hyde Amendment has stood as the single most effective pro-life protection ever enacted by Congress. On the day Congressman Henry Hyde died, National Review Online rightly declared that the Hyde Amendment — which doubtless saved countless lives — was “without question the most important piece of pro-life legislation ever to pass Congress.”

This is not rhetoric. It is reality.

And now, Ohio is directly participating in the erosion of this historic protection.

Hyde, Ohio, and Cincinnati: A Shared Pro-Life Legacy

Cincinnati Right to Life’s own founder, Dr. Jack Willke, widely regarded as the “Godfather of the pro-life movement,” shared a close friendship with Congressman Henry Hyde. Both men were united by unwavering moral clarity and a shared set of principles: they never denied that abortion is the taking of innocent human life, and they firmly believed that no American taxpayer should ever be compelled to fund the slaughter of future generations.

It is fair to say that Hyde came through Ohio — and through Cincinnati — and that is why this betrayal stings especially deeply here. Their partnership and friendship helped shape a movement rooted not in political convenience, but in truth, courage, and an unflinching defense of life.

A Vote with Deadly Consequences

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 230–196 to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years. While the vote may sound procedural, its consequences are anything but.

This vote advances policies that further entangle federal healthcare subsidies with abortion funding — weakening Hyde in practice and accelerating its political abandonment.

Millions Saved — and Millions Now at Risk

The Hyde Amendment has saved millions of children — children who are alive today because their mothers were not handed a government-funded abortion as the “solution” to hardship. Hyde protected vulnerable mothers from a system that too often offers abortion instead of real help, real support, and real hope.

To weaken Hyde is to abandon both mother and child.

Ohio’s leaders should know this. Ohio’s senators should know this. Ohio’s representatives should know this.

A Call to Ohio’s Conscience

Cincinnati Right to Life calls on Ohio’s congressional delegation — especially those who claim to be pro-life — to remember the legacy they are now putting at risk.

Hyde was not an abstraction. Hyde was not a talking point. Hyde was a lifeline.

Ohio once helped lead the nation toward life. Today, that legacy demands defending — not retreating.

Take Action: Contact Ohio’s Senators

We urge all Ohioans to call and email Senator Jon Husted and Senator Bernie Moreno immediately. They must know that Ohio voters will be deeply disturbed and morally outraged by any action that allows taxpayer dollars to fund abortion.

Ohioans should never be forced to subsidize the killing of preborn children in the womb. Our senators must stand firm for life, uphold Hyde’s legacy, and make clear that no federal policy will use Ohio taxpayers’ money to underwrite the destruction of innocent human life.

Cincinnati Right to Life will continue to speak, to advocate, and to hold our elected officials accountable — because the lives of unborn children, and the dignity of their mothers, demand nothing less.

Contact Your U.S. Senators From Ohio

Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH)

Phone (Washington, D.C.): (202) 224-2315
Phone (Cincinnati Office): (513) 684-1021
Email Senator Moreno HERE

Senator Jon Husted (R-OH)

Phone (Washington, D.C.): (202) 224-3353
Phone (Columbus Office): (614) 369-4925
Email Senator Husted HERE

Dear Senator [Moreno/Husted],

As your constituent, I am writing with deep concern over reports that the Hyde Amendment may be weakened or bypassed during negotiations over Affordable Care Act subsidy legislation.

Here in Ohio, we see every day the devastating consequences of abortion. The Hyde Amendment has saved millions of lives by ensuring that American taxpayers are not forced to fund abortion. I strongly urge you to stand firm in defense of Hyde and to oppose any policy that would allow federal funds to be used—directly or indirectly—to pay for abortion coverage.

Ohioans should never be compelled to subsidize the taking of innocent human life. Please make clear that you will uphold Hyde’s long-standing protections and defend the sanctity of life.

Thank you for your service and for considering the serious moral concerns of your constituents.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

The post Hyde Came Through Ohio–This Vote Hurts appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

The Unregulated IVF Industry: A Human Rights Crisis Gains Concern Among Americans

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:15:00 GMT

From AAPLOG, originally published January 8, 2026

The rising popularity of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the United States continues to expose serious flaws in the industry’s largely unregulated business model, one that permits the widespread discarding of and research on embryonic children.

The IVF process often involves creating multiple embryos to (1) reduce costs, (2) improve implantation success rates, and (3) select the healthiest embryos for implantation—a process that raises concerns about a form of eugenics.

Pro-life medical professionals, including those at AAPLOG, have long voiced ethical, moral, and medical objections to these practices, and those concerns are gaining traction in the public sphere.

The November 2025 Future of the Family Survey from the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) revealed that “four in five voters have at least some concerns about the future of embryo screening, and that very few Americans want Silicon Valley to ‘hack’ reproduction.”

AAPLOG has developed resources and a Committee Opinion addressing the ethical implications of IVF and advocating for the dignified treatment of human embryos. Thanks to the support of our members, we can share these perspectives widely and influence public understanding of life from fertilization—including embryonic children who are successfully implanted, those who are not, and those tragically left frozen for years.

The Catholic News Agency reports “the abortion industry claimed about 985,000 lives from July 2022 through June 2023—suggesting that the IVF industry could be ending nearly twice as many human lives annually.”

The current state of IVF practice is not just a medical issue – the unregulated nature and lack of respect for the dignity of embryonic life has led to a profound abuse of the rights of the most vulnerable. AAPLOG will continue to educate on this issue, offer guidance of how we can best defend the rights of all our patients and educate on the growing body of evidence supporting more ethical (and possibly more effective) alternatives to IVF. Stay tuned for a webinar on that this spring!

AAPLOG Member Website

The post The Unregulated IVF Industry: A Human Rights Crisis Gains Concern Among Americans appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Nowhere to Hyde: Trump’s Chaotic Abortion Stance Rattles GOP

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:00:00 GMT

By: Suzanne Bowdey, originally published January 9, 2026, The Washington Stand

Republican leaders knew they were coming back to a headache on health care. What they didn’t know was that the president would be the biggest migraine of them all.

In what was supposed to be a GOP retreat laying out some of the biggest priorities of the year, Donald Trump decided to throw a stick of dynamite into a debate that was already as combustible as it gets for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s (R-S.D.) tiny majority. “You have to be a little flexible on Hyde,” Trump told Republicans. “You know that.” But not surprisingly, the suggestion that Hyde — the only amendment standing between Americans and the Democrats’ dream of taxpayer-funded abortions — is negotiable after 50 years set off a string of fire alarms up and down the conservative movement.

“I almost fell out of my chair,” one House Republican admitted to Politico afterward. Thune had already conceded that getting past the Democrats’ objections to the Hyde Amendment was “probably the most challenging part” of any negotiations on the Obamacare subsidies. But now, with Trump’s sudden shakiness on a core value, more senators and congressmen are racing to underscore what an unmitigated disaster abandoning Hyde would be — not just for the party, but for millions of innocent lives.

“I’m not flexible on the value of every single child,” Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) insisted to Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on Tuesday’s “ Washington Watch .” “Every single child is valuable,” he argued. “There aren’t some children that are disposable, and some children that are valuable. Every child is valuable. And so, that’s not an area that I’m flexible on.”

Like so many conservatives, the Oklahoman hands it to Trump for all of the pro-life strides he’s made but underscores what a fatal mistake surrendering on Hyde would be. “I do give him credit. He’s done what’s called the Mexico City Policy [to take away] funding from international abortions with taxpayer dollars. He has actually restored funding that Biden took away from pro-[lifers] with different grants that go to different states. He has been very good on defunding Planned Parenthood. So, there’s been a lot of very, very strong pro-life things that he’s done.” But this, Lankford shook his head, “That’s a red line I’m not going to cross. I’m not going to break [away from] what we’re doing in health care. The VA doesn’t do abortions,” he pointed out. “DOD doesn’t do abortions. [Native American] health care doesn’t do abortions. We don’t do abortions with Medicare, Medicaid. We should not have it anywhere.” Right now, he explained, “The only place that abortion funding for elective abortion exists and subsidizing it is in Obamacare. And that needs to go away.”

Lankford, who held a press call Wednesday morning reiterating that he “cannot support something that intentionally goes around Hyde,” emphasized that he and other Republicans “have been very outspoken to the Trump administration” on this. “They should reverse all those policies,” he said of the COVID-era decision to allow taxpayer-funded abortion in the Obamacare subsidies. “They have had no shame in reversing other Biden policies. They should reverse this policy as well.”

Obviously, everyone in the GOP is desperate to solve the country’s health care problem — especially in an election year when both sides have so much to lose. But walking away from 50 years of principle is a losing strategy in a party where a whopping 83% reject the idea of taxpayer-funded abortion . Americans expect this kind of radical policy proposal from Democrats, who are operating from an ideology untethered from morality. But to see Republicans give even an inch on this outrageous notion that Americans should be forced to bankroll the destruction of human life is astounding.

But then, what do Republicans expect after the miserable excuse for a party platform in 2024? The 16-page memo was a shell of its 2016 self in all the ways that mattered. Gone were the calls for protecting life from conception, for opposing taxpayer-funded abortion at home through the Hyde Amendment or abroad through the Mexico City Policy. FRC’s Perkins warned that gutting the language of the GOP’s guiding document would lead to disastrous fallout like this. Without a clear and specific commitment to life uniting Republicans, there’s nothing to bind the president — or anyone else — to conservative absolutes.

Instead, the 2024 document states simply: “We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied life or liberty without due process and that the states are, therefore, free to pass laws protecting those rights. After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the states and to a vote of the people. We will oppose late term abortion while supporting mothers and policies that advance prenatal care, access to birth control, and IVF (fertility treatments).”

The version concocted by the RNC and Trump slashed the pro-life language from more than 1,300 words in 2020 to a paltry 90, telling Americans everything they need to know about its priority (or lack thereof) in this party. Now, a year and a half later, conservatives are wondering why there’s no fidelity to the most basic contract on abortion between this country and its leader.

“It is really remarkable,” FRC’s Quena Gonzalez admitted to Perkins on Tuesday. “It’s been in every party platform since Roe v. Wade until two years ago. And President Trump,” he reminded everyone, “issued an executive order in his first month in office on enforcing the Hyde Amendment. So this is a remarkable moment we’re in.” He paused before adding, “Compromise here on something seemingly small, maybe seemingly temporary, is really a red flag because we don’t want to be the party of compromise.”

The problem, FRC’s president pointed out, is that once an exception is made, there’s no going back. “If we say, ‘We’ve got to address this crisis in health care … and the Democrats won’t vote for it unless it covers abortion, so Republicans [have to be flexible]’ … [then] you basically throw [your] principles out the window. If you do it one time,” he contended, “you’ll do it a second time. And if you do it a second time, you’ll do it a third time, and before you know it, we are funding abortions in this country wholesale.”

Meanwhile, the frustration from long-time pro-lifers is palpable. “‘We need to be flexible?’” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) repeated. “What does that mean?” he wondered on “ Washington Watch .” Trump’s whole statement is bewildering, Smith echoed. “[These are children who are] about to be exterminated in a very painful way, especially through dismemberment, [or] starved to death through the abortion pill [which is] very dangerous to women. Based on the most recent data that came out last April, [there’s] a complication rate of 11%, when they advertised that it’s less than one-half of 1%. So women are suffering. Babies are suffering,” he underscored. “We need to reassert our commitment to the most defenseless group of people on earth: unborn children.”

Amazingly, the Hyde Amendment’s history, as Joe Biden’s pre-presidential run showed, was a story of bipartisan consensus. Until Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016, the idea of forcing open Americans’ wallets and ordering them to pay for the destruction of life was never really a question. Year after year, the Marist organization finds that while Democrats may have staked out extreme ground on the issue, voters haven’t followed. As recently as 2025, 57% of the country still rejects the idea that abortion’s cost should be footed by taxpayers.

One of the greatest fallacies about the Affordable Care Act, Rep. Smith wants people to know, is that President Obama signed an executive order that made the Hyde Amendment apply to his 2010 namesake. “It does not. … [Suggesting that] Obamacare is covered by Hyde [is the] biggest lie I have seen in 45 years as a member of Congress. But it convinced some of the pro-life Democrats to vote for it.” In his home state of New Jersey, “You can’t even get a policy under Obamacare that does not pay for abortion on demand [in my state]. And we allow abortions right up to birth in my state.”

With a touch of bittersweetness, Smith noted the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment this year. “[Hillary] Clinton tried to get rid of it. Obama tried to get rid of it. Biden tried to get rid of it. But there was once a very strong bipartisan consensus. When I first got here in 1981,” Smith reflected, “there were about 80 pro-life Democrats. Now they’re down to zero. … It’s the party of death, the Democratic Party. I say that with sadness.” He paused before stressing, “We need to get abortion out of Obamacare. Precedent becomes potentially habitual, and we don’t want that. So we’ve got to be very concerned about [this].”

We don’t have to imagine how many children would have lost their lives if the Hyde Amendment had never passed. We know. Two million, six hundred thousand . They’re alive today because our leaders realized what everyone should: no matter what you think about abortion, forcing people to finance the culture of death is un-American and inhumane. And yet, as pro-lifers blow out the candles on five decades of life-saving legislation, the Left is determined to snuff out future generations. The last thing this nation needs is for Republicans to help them.

Suzanne Bowdey serves as editorial director and senior writer at The Washington Stand.

The post Nowhere to Hyde: Trump’s Chaotic Abortion Stance Rattles GOP appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

New Pro-life billboard campaign aims to hold abortion industry accountable

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:45:00 GMT

By: Carole Novielli, originally published January 4, 2026, LiveAction.org

Pro-Life Wisconsin (PLW) just launched a new initiative placing Abortion Injury Billboards near abortion facilities to hold Big Abortion accountable for physical and emotional injuries inflicted on women. The billboards include a website that will connect women who have suffered abortion related injuries to medical malpractice legal experts.

Key Takeaways:

Billboards in Wisconsin are connecting women who have suffered abortion related injuries with the legal experts who can help them.
Created by Pro-Life Wisconsin, the new initiative, the Abortion Injury Billboard Campaign, launched the first billboard directly across from Care for All WI abortion facility on December 30.
More billboards are planned to go up in 2026.

The Details:

According to a press release , The Abortion Injury Billboard campaign launched the first billboard on December 30 at 35th Street in Milwaukee, directly across from the Care for All WI abortion facility. It asks, “Experiencing Infertility after Your Abortion?” The billboard directs women to the AbortionInjury.com website, which is operated by a staff of medical malpractice legal experts.

“Because the Abortion Injury Billboard Campaign will talk about dangerous aspects specific to a chemical (medication) abortion, this campaign will have a chilling effect on the abortion market in Wisconsin,” said State Director for Pro-Life Wisconsin, Dan Miller. He continued:

Pro-Life Wisconsin plans to use the FDA warning label for the abortion pill, commonly known under the trade name Mifeprex® or mifepristone, as a guide to create more billboards as the initiative continues in 2026.

Medical malpractice lawsuits hold abortion industry accountable

AbortionInjury.com claims, “Medical malpractice is one of the most common grounds for abortion-related lawsuits. Examples include botched procedures, incomplete abortions leading to sepsis, or failure to diagnose life-threatening conditions such as ectopic pregnancy. These are not minor mistakes; they can permanently alter a woman’s health, fertility, and emotional well-being.”

The website explains:

The website is overseen by a legal team “dedicated to helping women and families pursue accountability and secure the compensation they need to heal and move forward.” That includes Michael Seibel, a private malpractice attorney who has spent his career serving the pro-life community, including by holding abortionists accountable for negligence and abuse; and Justin Hall, a trial attorney with more than 25 years of courtroom experience, including against Big Tobacco.

Legal options for women harmed by abortion

Seibel wants to put the abortion industry on notice for failing to follow the standard of care and to help women who are injured by abortion. He consults with women to determine whether they have cause to sue.

“We hope when women see these billboards, it will give them pause and allow them to reconsider their abortions and choose life,” Seibel told Live Action News.

AbortionInjury.com states :

Legal options for women harmed by abortion

“We hope when women see these billboards, it will give them pause and allow them to reconsider their abortions and choose life,” Seibel told Live Action News.

AbortionInjury.com states :

Some of the possible harms of abortion include:

Infections and sepsis
Uncontrolled bleeding
Infertility and future pregnancy complications
Psychological harm and suicidal thoughts
Ectopic pregnancy rupture

Abortion pill harms

The website specifically calls out the abortion pill, noting that it is marketed as “safe and simple,” yet thousands of women have suffered severe complications, including hemorrhaging to life-threatening infections, after taking these drugs. Prescribers are failing to properly warn women, despite the FDA black box warning. Women have the right to seek justice.

Another potential abortion-related harm that Pro-life Wisconsin’s billboards highlight is infertility.

Seibel explained:

Seibel is referring to the reckless way that the abortion pill is now being dispensed, where providers fail to conduct important blood tests (including Rh factor determination) and accurate gestational dating, which are necessary to exclude the presence of dangerous ectopic pregnancies.

Danco Laboratories, which oversees US manufacturing of the abortion pill, writes on its website , “The use of MIFEPREX is assumed to require the same preventive measures as those taken prior to and during surgical abortion to prevent rhesus immunization.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic , “Rh incompatibility becomes a problem if you become pregnant a second time and have another Rh-positive fetus…Rh disease can be life-threatening for the fetus.”

In addition to physical harm, Live Action News previously documented that Planned Parenthood even tells abortion clients that any potential emotional effects after taking abortion pills could also include feeling “depressed” — which it categorizes as “not normal.”

“The billboards not only provide women with an avenue for justice against an unsafe and unregulated abortion pill, but also educates the general public of the adverse effects of an inherently dangerous abortion pill,” Seibel told Live Action News.

The Bottom Line:

Abortion injuries are often kept hidden by the abortion industry, and women who experience them willingly keep quiet, wanting to keep their abortion a secret. Abortionists have become so brazen about injuries that they have even kicked women out to the door after an injury, telling them to call 911 themselves. They also sell women the abortion pill and instruct them to go to the ER if they experience a complication and tell doctors there that they are experiencing a miscarriage. These unethical practices help to keep the dangers of abortion quiet, as women suffer.

“Women who have been harmed by abortion often don’t realize that they may have legal options,” said AbortionInjury.com. “Depending on the circumstances, lawsuits may be filed against negligent abortionists, reckless clinics, careless drug manufacturers, or abusive individuals who forced or coerced a decision. These legal claims are more than cases; they are paths to justice, truth, and recovery.”

Carole Novielli currently serves as the Research Fellow at Live Action, and as a contributing writer for Live Action News.

Image: from Live Action News.

The post New Pro-life billboard campaign aims to hold abortion industry accountable appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

URGENT ACTION NEEDED

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:29:00 GMT

Dear Friends in the Pro-Life Community,

Our nation stands at a critical crossroads—one that will shape the future of life, liberty, and conscience in America.

This week, President Trump urged Republican lawmakers to consider “flexibility” on the Hyde Amendment in ongoing negotiations over renewing Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) health insurance premium subsidies. His call comes as Congress and the White House attempt to reach a deal to extend federal subsidies that lowered premiums for those enrolled in Obamacare that expired in December. The Affordable Care Act was never, in fact, affordable.

The Affordable Care Act used an accounting maneuver instead of openly funding abortion. Insurance plans are allowed to cover elective abortions, while federal subsidies help pay for those plans. The law argues abortion is not federally funded because insurers separate abortion dollars on paper—often just a one-dollar monthly fee. But, in fact, your tax dollars through the Federal subsidies, fund abortion.

For nearly 50 years, the Hyde Amendment has been a bedrock protection for innocent human life in federal spending. It prohibits federal dollars from paying for most abortions—signaling that no taxpayer should be forced to underwrite the destruction of a developing child. First enacted in 1976, the amendment prohibits the use of federal tax dollars for abortion, with narrow exceptions for rape, incest, or when a mother’s life is in danger. Congress renews it each year through appropriations bills, and lawmakers from both major parties have upheld it for nearly its entire history.

A study from the Charlotte Lozier Institute estimates that the Hyde Amendment has saved more than 2.6 million lives. According to a poll conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, which was commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, nearly 6 in 10 Americans oppose tax funding for abortions.

But now, as lawmakers work to renew ACA subsidies, some in Washington are signaling that Hyde might be negotiable or relaxed in exchange for support. This would undermine decades of consensus and open the door to allowing federal funds to support insurance plans that could cover elective abortions—even if indirectly through subsidies.

We cannot stand silent. Cincinnati Right to Life notes that Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America leader Marjorie Dannenfelser reminded pro-lifers that, prior to these comments, President Trump consistently supported the Hyde Amendment, including issuing a January executive order to enforce it that accused the Biden administration of disregarding this “commonsense policy.”

Cincinnati Right to Life stands with Susan B Anthony as well as Students for Life Action who shared: “Any healthcare plan that prioritizes a ‘deal’ over saving lives – in and out of the womb – deserves to die, not children. Republicans need to fix what the Democrats profoundly broke. Former President Barack Obama destroyed the American healthcare system with Obamacare, driving up costs and pushing life-ending policies with taxpayer funds. The GOP must work not for any deal, but for the right deal, one that cares for the least of these. Pro-Life voters will not stay loyal if the GOP cannot fix healthcare without destroying lives with abortion.”

In October, Cincinnati Right to Life stood alongside over 100 pro-life organizations in a joint letter to Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate, calling on lawmakers to reject taxpayer-funded abortion under Obamacare.

“As pro-life leaders, we urge you to raise your voice to unequivocally oppose any consideration of extending the COVID-era subsidies without Hyde protections. The pro-life Congress must not be a party to Obama’s abortion funding scheme.”

We in Ohio implore our senators to stand firm and say NO to any weakening of Hyde protections — no exceptions, no compromises. They must be reminded of the blood bath across Ohio, where TODAY ALONE, sixty, six-zero, 60 children in the womb in Southwest Ohio will die by abortion. Our tax dollars CANNOT fund this diabolical massacre.

Contact Your U.S. Senators From Ohio

Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH)

Senator Jon Husted (R-OH)

What You Can Say

Here is a sample message to help you reach out:

Dear Senator [Moreno/Husted],
As your constituent, I am writing with deep concern about reports that Hyde protections might be weakened in negotiations over ACA subsidy legislation. In Ohio, we witness the ongoing massacre of preborn children every day. I urge you to stand firm and oppose any flexibility on the Hyde Amendment or any policy that would allow federal funds to be used—directly or indirectly—for abortion coverage. Our tax dollars should never pay for the destruction of human life. Thank you for defending the sanctity of life.

Sincerely,
[Your Name, City, OH]

Why This Matters

• Hyde is a lifesaving safeguard that has stopped countless taxpayer dollars from being used for elective abortions.

• Relaxing Hyde opens the door for federal subsidies to indirectly fund abortion through health plans.

• Ohio is bleeding innocent life. Our mothers and their babies deserve better than a government that funds death with our tax dollars.

This is a defining moment. Your voice makes a difference. Please take a few minutes today to call and email Senators Moreno and Husted and demand they defend Hyde without compromise.

Their offices measure the calls and emails…every connection makes a difference! Please speak for these poor babies!

Please forward this email to all your connections that might take action.

In Christ for Life,
Cincinnati Right to Life

The post URGENT ACTION NEEDED appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Abortion Was the Leading Cause of Death Worldwide in 2024, Killing 73 Million People

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 23:28:00 GMT

By: Steven Ertelt, originally published Jan 2, 2025, LifeNews.com

More human beings died in abortions than any other cause of death in 2024.

A heartbreaking reminder about the prevalence of abortion, statistics compiled by Worldometers indicate that there were over 73 million abortions world-wide in 2024. The independent site collects data from governments and other organizations and then reports the data each day, along with estimates and projections, based on those numbers.

Worldometers bases its daily abortion figures on a May 2024 fact sheet from the World Health Organization , which estimates a tragically high number of babies killed in abortions.

“Around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year,” the WHO says.

Abortion is also the leading cause of death in the United States.

“In the USA, where nearly 30% of pregnancies are unintended and 40% of these are terminated by abortion, there are between 1,500 to 2,500 abortions per day. Nearly 20% of all pregnancies in the USA (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. Guttmacher Institute reports 930,160 abortions performed in 2020 in the United States, with a rate of 14.4 per 1,000 women,” Worldometers reports.

When contrasting the abortion numbers to other causes of death, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, traffic accidents and suicide, abortions far outnumbered every other cause. By contrast, an estimated 10 million people died from cancer in 2024, 6.2 million from smoking, 17 million from disease, and 2 million died of HIV/AIDS. Deaths by malaria and alcohol are also recorded.

With 67.1 million people dying last year from a cause other than abortion and 140 million people dying in total from abortion and all causes, that means abortions accounted for almost 52% of every death around the world last year.

Unborn babies are not recognized as human beings even though biology indicates that they are unique, living human beings from the moment of conception and they die brutal, violent deaths in abortions.

The abortion number is incomprehensible, but each of those 73 million abortions worldwide in 2024 represents a living human being whose life was violently destroyed in their mother’s womb. Each unborn baby already had their own unique DNA, making them distinct from their mother. That DNA indicated if the child was a boy or girl, their eye and hair color, their height, possible genetic disorders and other disabilities, and much more. In most cases, the unborn babies’ hearts are beating when they are aborted, too.

In America, just under 1 million babies are aborted every year. Though abortion rates have been dropping in the past decade , abortion remains the leading cause of death in the United States as well.

An estimated 66 million unborn babies have been killed in abortions in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade in 1973 . In January, pro-life advocates will gather for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. to remember the anniversary of that infamous decision and call for restored protections for the unborn.

Steven Ertelt is the founder and Editor of LifeNews.com, and has provided the pro-life community with news via the Internet since 1993.

Image from LifeSite News.

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Membership 2026

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 16:47:00 GMT

The post Membership 2026 appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Today Is the Last Day of Warren Buffett at the Helm of Berkshire Hathaway – and Ohio Has Paid a Heavy Price

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:41:00 GMT

Today marks the final day of Warren Buffett’s leadership at Berkshire Hathaway. Nationally, he is praised as a legendary investor — the man who turned a failing textile company into a corporate empire that includes household names like Pampered Chef and Benjamin Moore, and major holdings such as Kraft Heinz.

But here in Ohio, Warren Buffett’s legacy looks very different.

Behind the headlines celebrating his business success is a quieter but devastating reality: millions of Buffett dollars have poured into Ohio to advance abortion — abortions that detroy life rather than protect it — embedding abortion deeply into the state’s medical institutions and sustaining Ohio’s largest abortion facility.

Ohio Institutions, Buffett Money

Much of Buffett’s wealth has been distributed through the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation , which investigative reporting has identified as the largest private funder of abortion advocacy in the world. Nationally, the foundation has poured nearly $4 billion into abortion-promoting organizations over two decades.

Ohio has not been spared.

According to the foundation’s 2023 IRS Form 990 , both the University of Cincinnati and The Ohio State University received more than $700,000 each from the Buffett Foundation in a single year. These are taxpayer-supported public universities — and both play a direct role in training abortionists.

University of Cincinnati: Planned Parenthood Rotations

At the University of Cincinnati, abortion training is not hidden. The university’s own OB-GYN residency curriculum openly states that residents participating in the Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program complete a rotation at a local Planned Parenthood affiliate.

This is not speculation or inference — it is stated plainly on the university’s website. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion organization, known for performing abortions rather than protecting life. Buffett money flowing into the University of Cincinnati helps sustain an academic pipeline that sends future physicians directly into abortion facilities as part of their training.

Ohio State University: Part of the National Ryan Network

The Ohio State University is also an active participant in the Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program , according to the program’s official listing of participating institutions.

This places Ohio State within a nationwide abortion-training network designed to normalize abortion within medical education and ensure a steady supply of abortionists. When Buffett Foundation dollars flow to Ohio State , they are flowing into an institution that has chosen to embed abortion into its residency training model.

Cleveland: Funding Ohio’s Largest Abortion Facility

Buffett Foundation funding has also flowed to Preterm in Cleveland, the largest abortion facility in Ohio. Preterm performs abortions and participates in training individuals who carry out abortions.

For Ohioans, this means Buffett’s money has not only supported academic abortion training but has also helped keep abortion operations running in our state, particularly in Northeast Ohio. In 2023 alone, $367,000 was given to Preterm to kill preborn babies and potentially train future abortionists.

What This Means for Ohio

Ohioans often hear that abortion is a matter of “choice” or “health.” But what Buffett’s funding reveals is a deliberate strategy: pour money into universities, abortion facilities, and advocacy groups to make abortion permanent, normalized, and institutionalized.

This strategy has real consequences here at home:

Ohio universities training abortionists
Ohio students rotating through Planned Parenthood
Ohio clinics sustained by national abortion money
Ohio unborn children paying the ultimate price

A Moment for Ohio to Reflect

As Warren Buffett steps down today, Ohioans should take a sober look at what his philanthropy has meant for our state.

Yes, Buffett was a business success. But how wealth is used matters. And Buffett chose to use his fortune to expand abortion — abortions that harm life rather than protect it — including through Ohio’s public universities and abortion facilities.

For a state that founded the pro-life movement and has worked hard to affirm the dignity of every human life, this moment should strengthen our resolve.

Ohio must decide whether it will continue allowing outside money to shape our institutions — or whether it will stand firmly for life, for mothers, and for the unborn.

That is the real legacy Ohio is left to confront today.

Dear Friends of Cincinnati Right to Life,

It was difficult to share this news today. And while there is even more to report, as today’s national headlines focus on Warren Buffett’s retirement, we felt it was necessary to also report what his success has meant for the Buckeye State. It has meant death and destruction.

As we continue seeking funds for our worthy work, often feeling like David against Goliath, much more now makes sense — especially why Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry appear to have endless financial resources. These realities help expose the root of why Ohio is being so aggressively targeted to become a top abortion state.

We have much work ahead in 2026,
but we are filled with hope.

Bringing these facts to light and exposing the forces behind the abortion industry strengthens our resolve and our mission. This is not Ohio’s legacy — and it will never be the legacy of our beautiful families.

We will never tire in working to end this scourge and to defend life, mothers, and children with courage, truth, and perseverance.

We pray to the Lord to never tire, never stop trusting, and never stop telling the truth, even when it is difficult.
Thank you for standing with us.

— Cincinnati Right to Life

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Between the Crib and the Cry of the Innocents

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:33:00 GMT

A Reflection from Laura Strietmann, Cincinnati Right to Life — 2025

Each year, the Church draws us into a profound and unsettling movement of grace—from the radiant joy of Christ’s birth on December 25 to the deep sorrow of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents on December 28. In 2025, this tension feels more real than ever before.

God chose to enter history not with force, but as a newborn baby, hidden in the arms of His Mother. Before He ever spoke a word, His presence was proclaimed by another child not yet born. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the preborn John the Baptist leapt for joy in his mother’s womb. Even before birth, John recognized Christ. Even before birth, life testified to Life.

This moment reveals an eternal truth the world has always resisted: every human life, from its very beginning, is capable of encountering God, responding to grace, and bearing witness to truth.

Yet almost immediately, the Church turns our gaze from this truthful joy to tragedy. Just days after Christmas, we commemorate the Holy Innocents—children murdered by Herod in his fear and hunger for power. These children never spoke a word, yet the Church honors them as martyrs. Their blood cries out across the centuries, reminding us that when innocent life is rejected, violence is unleashed.

The closeness of these feasts is not accidental. Christmas joy and the cry of the innocents stand side by side—just as they do in our own time.

In 2025, Cincinnati Right to Life moved our offices to a location less than two blocks from one of the Midwest’s busiest facilities where preborn children are killed. On a daily basis, our sidewalk advocates stand witness. Hundreds of cars enter the facility of death each week, carrying mothers, families, and friends into what is promised as a solution but more often becomes a place of irreversible loss.

There are moments when the weight of this is overwhelming. Standing so close, it feels as though we are witnessing a modern echo of history’s darkest chapters—times when death and injustice were organized, sanitized, and carried out in plain sight. Like the smoke that once rose from Auschwitz, or the slave pens and riverfront blocks along the Ohio River where bounty hunters captured and returned enslaved people from free Ohio to the South, this reality confronts us daily with the devastating consequences of dehumanization and the grave cost of deciding that some lives are disposable.

And yet—hope endures.
Hope endures with every mother who turns away.
Hope endures with every child saved.
Hope endures in every loving conversation, every honest word spoken, every moment when truth is offered with compassion to those entering what has become a business of severe sorrow and REAL evil.

We stand on those sidewalks not in judgment, but in witness. We stand because a newborn baby once changed everything. We stand because a preborn child once leapt for joy at the presence of Christ. And we stand because the innocent—then and now—are worthy of protection, love, and sacrifice.

So much has changed in 2025. And yet, so much has remained the same.

Fear still drives the powerful to destroy the innocent. Mothers are still pressured and misled. Children are still targeted because they are small, unseen, and defenseless. But this truth has not changed: God still enters the world through vulnerable human life, and He still calls His people to defend it. We live between the crib and the cry of the innocents—between Christmas joy and profound sorrow. And it is precisely there, in that tension, that the Gospel calls us to remain.

Christ is born.
Life is sacred.
And the innocent must be protected.

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These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things…FOR LIFE in 2025

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:18:00 GMT

As 2025 comes to a close, Cincinnati Right to Life pauses with deep gratitude to reflect on the victories, growth, and moments of God’s unmistakable guidance throughout the year. While the challenges before us remain great, so too does the resolve of those who stand for life.

Here are a few of our favorite things from 2025—each one a testament to perseverance, faith, and the power of showing up for the preborn and their mothers.

1. A Year of Defunding Planned Parenthood—and Real Impact

Although efforts were made to defund Planned Parenthood for a longer period, bureaucracy limited the victory to one year. Even so, the results were undeniable. Four Planned Parenthood facilities closed in Ohio in 2025, proving once again that when taxpayer dollars are removed from the abortion industry, lives are saved.

This year also required significant travel for Cincinnati Right to Life as we advocated on Capitol Hill, in Columbus, and worked diligently to build new relationships with pro-life champions, including U.S. Senators John Husted and Bernie Moreno. These investments strengthened our voice and influence at the national level.

2. A Redeemed Headquarters—Steps from Planned Parenthood

After more than three decades located 30 minutes from where abortion occurs, Cincinnati Right to Life relocated our headquarters to less than two blocks from Planned Parenthood. Our new office space once was Planned Parenthood—from 1964 to 1989. For 25 years, the culture of death was promoted within those walls, and later the preborn were killed there. Today, that same space is dedicated to defending life. Talk about redemption—and God clearly showing us the way.

3. The Victory and Installation of Senator Bernie Moreno

In one of the most expensive and contentious U.S. Senate races in American history, Senator Bernie Moreno emerged victorious—unseating Sherrod Brown, whose entire political career earned an “F” rating from National Right to Life. Senator Moreno is a strong advocate for the preborn , and his election marks a critical shift for Ohio and for life nationwide.

4. A Monthly Abortion Dashboard in Ohio’s Budget

For the first time, Ohio now includes a monthly abortion dashboard in the state budget. This provides a clearer picture of the level of death and destruction occurring in our state and allows Cincinnati Right to Life to more accurately inform the public and report on Ohio’s direction.

5. Growth in Sidewalk Advocacy on Auburn Avenue

Our sidewalk advocacy continues to save lives . In 2025, this ministry is confirmed to have saved at the very least, 14 lives, with many additional turn-aways.

Cincinnati Right to Life also hosted two 40 Days for Life campaigns with 24-hour prayer vigils , and we are grateful to the Knights of Columbus and the men of our region who prayed faithfully through the night. Advocates stand in all weather, offering truth, compassion, and hope before a final decision is made.

6. Advocating for the SHE WINS Act

Cincinnati Right to Life is advocating for the SHE WINS ACT alongside attorney Brian Hurley, who for more than 15 years has worked to transform informed consent for mothers seeking abortions in Ohio.

Ohio’s current abortion information laws fall far below the standards required for any other medical procedure. While remaining within Article I, Section 22 of the Ohio Constitution, the SHE WINS Act ensures mothers are fully informed about the dangers of abortion—which could lead many to rethink their decision and choose life.

After 15 years of trying to get an informed consent bill introduced in Ohio, this finally happened in 2025. We thank Reps. Jean Schmidt, Josh Williams and Mike Odioso for advancing this protective legislation. We also thank AUL for assisting in the rewrite of this legislation for a post-Issue 1 Ohio and a post-Dobbs America.

7. Increased Intentional Prayer

We are deeply grateful for the intentional group of prayer warriors who meet weekly in our office, praying specifically for the abortionists at the local Planned Parenthood. Under the guidance of an exorcist, these prayers are offered with deep intention, trusting the Lord to move where human efforts cannot. We have already seen signs of His work. A local pregnancy center informed us of a 22-week-pregnant mother who was turned away because a new abortionist at Planned Parenthood would not perform abortions past 20 weeks. While every preborn life matters, this moment reminds us that hearts can change and prayers are heard. Sometimes transformation is slow, but we fully trust in the Lord to release the hold on these abortionists.

8. The Medina Decision at the U.S. Supreme Court

In 2025, the Medina decision before the U.S. Supreme Court marked a significant moment in the ongoing legal battle for life. The Court ruled that the statute at issue in Medina could go much farther—prohibiting Medicaid reimbursement for any services provided by entities that also perform abortions.

This decision delivered a major blow to Planned Parenthood and opened the door for Governor Mike DeWine to sign an executive order cutting off public funding to the abortion giant in Ohio. The ruling reaffirmed the state’s authority to ensure taxpayer dollars are not used to support the abortion industry and represented a critical victory for life. We now continue to work and wait (and advocate!) on Governor DeWine to sign an order in Ohio.

9. Ohio’s Own JD Vance—From Cincinnati to Vice President of the United States

We are proud to recognize Ohio Senator—and now Vice President—JD Vance as a strong and consistent voice for the preborn. While running as a U.S. Senate candidate, his first public pro-life event was with Cincinnati pro-lifers at our Mini March for Life, standing shoulder to shoulder with those on the front lines. Cincinnati Right to Life was one of the first pro-life organizations in Ohio to endorse then-candidate JD Vance, recognizing his commitment to defending life. Today, as Vice President of the United States, we rely on him to continue being a bold advocate for the preborn from Washington. His powerful remarks at the National March for Life serve as a reminder that leadership rooted in conviction can—and does—make a difference.

Looking Ahead with Hope

Each of these moments from 2025 reflects perseverance, faithfulness, and the unmistakable hand of God at work through Cincinnati Right to Life. We are deeply grateful to our donors, supporters, volunteers, and prayer warriors whose generosity and commitment made these victories possible.

Truly, NONE of this would have happened without every dollar you so generously give and your every prayer for our mission and evey minute you advocate alongside Cincinnati Right to Life.

As we close out the year and look toward 2026, we invite you to consider making a year-end gift or to begin the new year by partnering with us financially.

Your support helps us meet essential needs—such as paying our rent in our new headquarters near Planned Parenthood—and allows us to invest in the growth of existing programs and launch new life-saving initiatives in 2026.

Together, we will continue to defend life, serve mothers, and bring hope where it is needed most.
For Life. Always.

SUPPORT Cincinnati Right to Life HERE

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Merry Christmas from Cincinnati Right to Life!

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:43:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

As we celebrate the holy season of Christmas, we are drawn once again to the profound mystery of the Incarnation—the moment when God entered the world as a child.

From the Annunciation on March 25 to the Birth of Christ on December 25, we are reminded of a powerful and unmistakable truth: the Savior of the World was once a preborn child. Hidden in the womb of His mother, Jesus sanctified every stage of human life by His very presence.

Scripture itself bears witness to the dignity of life before birth. When the Blessed Mother visited Elizabeth, “the infant leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41). Even before birth, life recognized Life.

By this truth, we know that every child in the womb of his or her mother is made in the image and likeness of Christ. Each baby bears infinite dignity. Each life is sacred. And each deserves life—nothing less.

This is why the mission of Cincinnati Right to Life matters so deeply. It is why we will continue to stand, to speak, and to act with courage and compassion. We will fight for every single life and not give up—because love does not give up, and truth does not retreat.

And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth. John 1:14

May the peace of the Christ Child fill your heart and your home this Christmas season. Thank you for standing with us, for defending the most vulnerable, and for being a witness to life in a world that so desperately needs hope.

Merry Christmas, and may God bless you abundantly.

In Christ,
Cincinnati Right to Life

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A Pro-Life Reflection on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:30:00 GMT

From Laura Strietmann, Executive Director of Cincinnati Right to Life

When Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on December 12, 1531, the culture she entered was marked by death. An estimated 20,000 human sacrifices were offered each year, and in one Aztec pyramid feast alone, nearly 80,000 people were sacrificed over four days. These gruesome acts were offered to idols and false gods that demanded blood.

Into this darkness came a Mother—pregnant with Life. We know she was pregnant because of the black sash around her waist, a clear sign of pregnancy in indigenous culture. Our Lady chose not a ruler or priest, but a simple indigenous man, Juan Diego, to carry her message of life and hope.

In the quiet area of Tepeyac outside Mexico City, Mary asked Juan Diego to go to the bishop and request that a church be built in her honor. When the bishop asked for a sign, Our Lady instructed Juan Diego to gather miraculous roses blooming on the barren hill of Tepeyac in winter. When Juan Diego opened his tilma before the bishop, the roses fell to the floor—and the miraculous image image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was revealed, a lasting sign of her maternal presence.

Because of her loving intervention, hearts were converted. Nearly 10 million people embraced the faith within ten years—the largest mass conversion in human history. A culture rooted in death was transformed into a culture open to life.

The original Tilma is displayed in Mexico for tens of millions to venerate each year. Completely preserved, after almost 500 years, the miracle still stands as a sign for the miracles that are still to come.

Today, the stone pyramids are gone—but human sacrifice remains.

Here in Ohio, especially southwest Ohio , blood continues to flow through human sacrifice, hidden behind closed doors in dark buildings that sell death over life. These places serve the same false god—one that rejects the dignity of the unborn and the sacred role of mothers.

Yet miracles still happen. This year alone, more than 40 Planned Parenthood facilities have closed nationwide, including four in Ohio. The founding Margaret Sanger Center in New York is closed , and the former mega–death center in Houston— modeled after an Aztec shrine —has been shut down for good. These signs of change remind us that darkness does not prevail forever and that conversion is still possible.

This gives us real hope for Ohio.

Our Lady of Guadalupe now asks each one of us to respond. She calls us to defend life, support mothers, and help transform our culture once again—beginning where we live.

May we, like Juan Diego, answer with humility and courage, trusting that God still changes history through faithful obedience.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Unborn, pray for us.

USCCB Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Divided Senate Rejects Dueling Obamacare Bills

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:20:00 GMT

By: Joshua Arnold, originally published December 12, 2025, The Washington Stand

A Senate effort to address expiring subsidies on Obamacare premiums fell short on Sunday after a Democratic proposal and a Republican proposal both failed to clear the 60-vote threshold to advance. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) had promised Democrats a vote on health care measures as part of the deal to end the government shutdown, but he never promised Republican support for subsidies “spending taxpayer dollars on abortion or gender transition procedures,” as FRC President Tony Perkins described them in October.

The bill advanced by Democrats proposed a clean, three-year extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies that Democrats first authorized without GOP support during the COVID era. Republicans have never voted for the subsidies and had repeatedly expressed concerns about the lack of guardrails against funding abortions or gender transition procedures.

“Democrats continue to be dismissive about Hyde protections, because they say they’re effectively in there,” complained Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). “If they’re interested in actually extending the subsidies, if they’re effectively in there, then why should they worry about us putting language in that assures that?”

Last month, Perkins argued the Democrats had to pass enhanced subsidies “because Obamacare is a failed system. The Affordable Care Act is an example of government malpractice — it’s a failure. These subsidies are riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse — and worse, they fund insurance plans that cover abortion and gender transition procedures.”

In his final pitch, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) simply argued, “Our bill is the last train leaving the station,” apparently without realizing that this was an argument against boarding a train in the wrong direction.

However, the Democratic bill failed to clear the 60-vote threshold in a 51-48 vote. Republican Senators Susan Murkowski (Alaska), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), and Josh Hawley (Mo.) voted with Democrats for the plan, not wanting to see the subsidies lapse (Steve Daines, R-Mont., was absent for both votes).

The bill advanced by Republicans proposed to repurpose the expiring subsidies to expand health savings accounts (HSAs), an alternative to major insurance companies that gives more control to the user. The bill directed the Department of Health and Human Services to load up to $1,500 into “HSAs paired with bronze or catastrophic plans on the Obamacare exchanges in 2026 and 2027.” It also ended the controversial funding for abortion and gender transition procedures.

The Republican bill won soft support from President Trump, who said he “likes the concept … of money going directly people, not to the insurance companies.” Trump left the legislative details up to the legislature.

However, the Republican bill also failed in a 51-48 vote, with Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voting against the measure because he believed it amounted to “Obamacare lite.”

The Senate’s failure to advance either measure Thursday prompted discussion of a renewed attempt to address the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which expire on December 31, before the Senate recesses for Christmas break. If no solution is found, 20 million Americans who locked into an Obamacare health plan may see their premiums increase by $1,000 over the next year.

“When we get through this exercise this week the question is, ‘Are there enough Democrats who want to fix the problem?’” asked Leader Thune the day before the vote. “Obviously, we don’t have a lot of time to do this, but I think there are ways in which you could, where there’s a will.”

The House of Representatives has also discussed various health care proposals, with some members circulating discharge petitions to bring their measures to the floor. Republican leadership is also working on a plan, which they could unveil as early as this weekend.

Joshua Arnold is a senior writer at The Washington Stand.

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Poll Finds Most Americans Still Don’t Know Abortion Pills Cause Most U.S. Abortions

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:01:00 GMT

By: Sarah Holliday, originally published December 8, 2025, The Washington Stand

How do Americans view chemical abortion? A fresh poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) offered revealing insight.

The KFF Health Tracking Poll was done partly in response to a September letter from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announcing that the FDA would be conducting a safety review of the abortion pill mifepristone. As KFF observed, “Public awareness of the pill and its longstanding safety record is limited.” To address that gap, KFF surveyed American adults to gauge what Americans actually know — and how they feel — about chemical abortion.

Key findings highlighted significant unawareness: While 53% of respondents had heard of mifepristone, just 24% realized it now drives the majority of abortions nationwide. On the drug’s safety, 42% described it as safe “when taken as directed,” with only 18% deeming it unsafe and four in 10 expressing uncertainty. Among women aged 18 to 49, 41% viewed it as safe, 21% as unsafe, and 37% remained unsure. “Notably,” KFF observed, “public perception of the pills’ safety has dropped since 2023, when 55% of the public said abortion pills were safe when taken as directed, 9% viewed them as unsafe, and 35% were not sure.”

The poll’s timing adds context, following President Donald Trump’s signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill on July 4, which temporarily slashed Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses for one year. This policy shift led to over 20 Planned Parenthood facility closures — a development celebrated by pro-life advocates. Yet, KFF’s survey claims “that most (65%) of the public oppose banning these clinics from receiving Medicaid payments, while about one-third (35%) support it.” Opposition was strongest among Democrats (83%) and Independents (65%), while Republicans were divided, with 55% in favor and 45% against.

The low awareness of chemical abortion’s grip in U.S. procedures — now over 60% of all abortions — prompts deeper questions about the risks and dangers. Beyond ending the lives of unborn children, studies from groups like the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) show how thousands of women report experiencing severe complications, such as heavy bleeding, infections, and emergency medical interventions following mifepristone use. These concerns have stirred pro-life campaigns to further urge the FDA to restore safety guidelines that were removed by the Biden administration, such as in-person consultations and follow-up protocols. But, in relation to this, what did KFF find?

Despite these documented hazards, KFF’s respondents appeared to largely favor unrestricted access, with a majority opposing legislation that aimed at restricting or banning the pill. Even KFF itself, which purports to be non-partisan, claims that “twenty-five years of mifepristone’s availability in the U.S. has shown the medication is safe when taken as directed by a doctor or other health care provider” — a sharp contrast to the concerns that telehealth expansions, for example, have eroded necessary oversight.

Ultimately, public opinion remains fractured along partisan lines, and widespread unawareness amplifies the stakes. And yet, pro-life voices remain steadfast in their call for stronger protections for the well-being of both mothers and unborn babies. This sentiment was echoed by Family Research Council’s Joy Stockbauer in remarks to The Washington Stand.

“I believe that Americans generally care about the health and well-being of women,” she said. “Unfortunately, the pro-life movement is up against the abortion lobby, which pours endless dollars into messaging campaigns designed to frame abortion as female empowerment. In reality, abortion dehumanizes and harms women and ultimately kills their children. It is vital that we continue speaking up and educating our neighbors about the truth of abortion.”

On fostering cultural change, Stockbauer emphasized patience and persistence. It “isn’t something that happens overnight — it will take consistency, time, and effort.” She highlighted the impact of personal outreach, noting, “Every conversation you have with someone in which you lovingly share the truth about abortion and the alternatives available to women makes a difference.”

Reflecting on the KFF results, Stockbauer viewed them as a milestone, specifically how it “signifies a very positive shift in the culture over the past two years. It notes that now only 42% of the public sees the abortion pill as safe, compared to 55% in 2023. This shift in public opinion is a positive outcome for the pro-life movement and is indicative that our efforts to educate the American people are succeeding.”

From FDA reviews to funding battles, debates over mifepristone continue to unfold. As such, Stockbauer concluded with a call for ongoing action: “Continue volunteering at pregnancy resource centers, engaging in hard conversations with friends and family, and using social media as a positive tool for change.”

Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.

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Where Have All the Boundaries Gone?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:56:00 GMT

By: Mark Bradford, originally published November 19, 2025, WordOnFire.org

Is there a more fundamental human aspiration than for a young man and a young woman to meet, fall in love, get married, and then, by expressing their love in marital intimacy, nine months later welcome a beautiful child into their family? It is the inspiration for romance written into stories and song, the making of history, and a pledge to the future. What an incredible gift of God’s love that in the sacred surrender of spousal love, we have the power to engender new life, into which he infuses another soul—a soul that will continue to write the story of humanity through time into eternity.

The order that God established to sustain his creation is beautiful. It is a source of wonder, but when one or more of those steps are skipped—like the marriage part—or when lust drives a person to commit a violent and horrific crime against another, disorder occurs; souls and bodies are crushed. Since the introduction of in vitro fertilization in the late 1970s, there has been another kind of violent rupture in the natural order. Technology has placed itself between spouses and provided options for engendering children who can now be created to our specifications.

I wrote recently about how science has triumphed over the poetic in married love, and I used as an example a FemTech startup called Orchid. The company states on its website that it was founded to provide “cutting-edge whole genome embryo screening that is done as part of the IVF process that combines Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A), Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single Gene Defects (PGT-M), and screens for hundreds of genes linked to severe monogenic diseases.”

Orchid was founded so couples could avoid the risk of dealing directly with Mother Nature. In the old days, we had to trust that nature knew best—that it possessed a conventional wisdom rooted in the laws that governed it, a wisdom we didn’t always understand but one we humbly accepted as best for us, even when the consequences weren’t always what we had hoped for. There are some who are too willing to shift their trust from God (who many deny exists anyway) to science.

Venerable Jérôme Lejeune (1926–1994), the French geneticist who discovered that Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of the twenty-first chromosome, cautioned that “we are certainly more powerful today than ever before, but we are not wiser.” Why? Because “technology is cumulative, wisdom is not.”

Orchid is cutting edge in reproductive technologies, but it has already become old news. An even newer investigation into technological meddling in human procreation was presented in an article in Nature Communications on September 30, 2025: “ Induction of experimental cell division to generate cells with reduced chromosome ploidy .” The article presents research that provides proof of concept that human embryos can be generated using skin cells and an egg that has had its nucleus—i.e., all its genetic material—stripped out of it. So much for the mystery of falling in love and having babies through marital intimacy. Science presumes it can do a much better job.

To briefly summarize this research, investigators used a process very similar to human cloning, except cloning creates an identical copy of a person. This research used a donor egg and removed the nucleus, which contained the woman’s genetic material. They then reprogrammed a somatic cell (in this case a skin cell) from a different person so that it could support embryonic development, and put that cell’s nucleus into the enucleated egg and injected sperm to fertilize it, creating an embryo with a unique genome. The challenge they faced was that somatic cells have twice the number of chromosomes as sperm and egg, so the unique contribution of this research is the process they developed to reduce the number of chromosomes in the somatic cell by half. After the somatic cell’s nucleus had been inserted into the enucleated egg, they induced a process to trigger the division of chromosomes in the somatic cell. Similar to what happens in natural reproduction, that process created a “polar body” that discarded the excess chromosomes, leaving twenty-three in the egg: the number necessary to create an embryo with the correct number of chromosomes. At least, that was the goal. The actual result wasn’t always a perfect forty-six, but their goal wasn’t perfection—just proof it could be done.

That description may be confusing, but the details aren’t as important as knowing that this kind of research is ongoing.

But we need to ask why, and to what end. Theoretically, this process could be used to avoid passing on genetic diseases, but same-sex couples, who are by definition infertile, could also use it to engender a child who is a true biological product of each of the “parents”—just like the result of old-fashioned natural procreation, but with a wholly unnatural and perverted twist. Of course, a same-sex male couple would still need the services of an egg donor and a surrogate to gestate and deliver their child. Same-sex female couples would probably need to wait a few years until researchers perfect creating synthetic sperm .

The most important question we should be asking with all these developing reproductive technologies is who sets the boundaries around science that hold researchers accountable to ethical standards and the common good. Lejeune tells us what we already know: It would be foolish to depend on the wisdom and moral conscience of researchers. History has proven he was right. Even when boundaries have been imposed to regulate how research involving human subjects is conducted, some have ignored them.

The Nazis conducted crude experiments on humans, and the revelation of the depth of their atrocities inspired international agreements after World War II. The first of these was the Nuremberg Code in 1947, which required voluntary informed consent for any medical intervention and set guidelines that prohibited the use of human subjects for medical research without that consent. The Declaration of Helsinki was then adopted in 1964 by the World Medical Association as a formal statement and further guidance on the use of human subjects in medical research. But the Tuskegee Syphilis Study was already underway when both agreements were adopted; it was later discovered that between 1932 and 1972, physicians had been misleading 600 African American men in Alabama in order to research the progression and treatment of the disease by not giving them proper care. Similar horrors occurred from 1956 to 1971 at the Willowbrook State School on Staten Island, where individuals with developmental disabilities were used like lab animals and infected with hepatitis—once again, to follow the progression and treatment of the disease. Apparently race and disability nullified human rights in these researchers’ immoral minds. Willowbrook finally closed, and the Belmont Report was the result of the moral outrage over what happened at Tuskegee.

The Belmont Report (1979) was drafted by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research to ensure that research participants are treated with dignity, informed about the study, and protected from harm while ensuring fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of research.

Research on human fetal material is complicated by the ambiguity in law over whether the human fetus is, well, human, or at least protected by the same rights that human persons have—persons who have been born. Historically, though, cloning has had a different consideration. In 2005, the United Nations called on all states to prohibit all forms of human cloning “inasmuch as they are incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life.” But a UN declaration has no force of law, and the 2005 UN Declaration on Human Cloning was received with an ambivalent response by the member states and has been the subject of ongoing debate almost since it was drafted.

Not by statute but by general agreement, there is a rule that prohibits laboratory culture of human embryos from developing past fourteen days. But with regard to research, regulatory guidelines in the US for experimentation on human embryos and fetal tissue, especially when derived from voluntary abortion, have mostly been tied to funding and who controls Congress and the White House. Private and institutional research that doesn’t involve the use of federal funds is governed by individual states and institutional review boards that evaluate the ethical standards used in research according to their own adopted policies.

Of all the disciplines within science that might involve the use of human embryonic or fetal material, investigations into human procreation are the most pernicious—and they are also heavily driven by industry because they are some of the most lucrative. The global market for artificial reproductive technologies in 2018 was $21.32 billion and is projected to reach $45.06 billion in 2026.

Of course, for those concerned about the future of humanity, the financial consideration is secondary compared to concerns about the integral development of the family—what Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis called “human ecology.” They warned against the consequences of manipulating human life and treating persons as means instead of ends in themselves. Human persons are not machines, nor are we livestock that should be genetically manufactured according to our specifications to satisfy our fickle concept of perfection or avoid fear of genetic mistakes.

You might want to go back and reread the first paragraph of this essay. Technology is pushing the noble simplicity of romance, marriage, and the natural begetting of children to the margins. Noor Siddiqui, the founder of Orchid, expressed the new belief of many by saying in a New York Times feature that “sex is for fun, and embryo screening is for babies.” We must wonder when the utopian dreams of these technocrats—dreams that are the dystopian nightmares of those who value the wisdom and beauty of God’s design—will become the norm. God forbid!

The wisdom of religion sings the sweet song of the natural order. It is sweet because its lyric expresses the accumulated wisdom of the ages, and its tune resonates within the human soul as true, good, and beautiful.

Who, ultimately, will establish boundaries to hold technocrats accountable to the ends of true human flourishing? As Shakespeare wrote in Henry VIII , “Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge that no king can corrupt.” If we don’t heed the voice of wisdom and set boundaries that hold science and technology to account, nature will eventually impose its own consequences. The Bard’s words are indeed true: There is a judge, and heaven is above all yet.

Mark Bradford is an author and passionate advocate for those born with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

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Newsletter Winter 2025

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:29:00 GMT

The post Newsletter Winter 2025 appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Ohio’s Moreno and Husted Shape National Debate as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 22:32:00 GMT

From Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

The Senate is preparing for a high-stakes vote Thursday on the fate of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. The debate over how—or whether—to extend these subsidies was a major factor in the 43-day government shutdown that ended November 13. Now, the issue is back at the center of national attention, and Ohio leaders are playing a significant role.

Both Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen . Jon Husted have entered the discussion with competing proposals, showing how influential Ohio has become in shaping the next steps for federal healthcare policy. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced Tuesday that the Senate will vote on a plan to shift from expiring ACA subsidies to federally supported Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) designed to help Americans cover out-of-pocket expenses.

A major point of contention remains the inclusion of Hyde Amendment protections, long-standing safeguards ensuring federal funds do not subsidize abortion. For pro-life Americans, including Cincinnati Right to Life, these protections are essential in any healthcare agreement.

Since its first passage in 1976, the Hyde Amendment has been routinely reaffirmed to prevent federal dollars from funding abortion. Its future has now become a political flashpoint at the center of the healthcare debate.

Ohio’s Competing Proposals

The Collins–Moreno Plan , introduced Monday by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Moreno, would extend the enhanced ACA premium tax credits for two more years. It would also end subsidies for households earning over $200,000 annually and require lower-income Americans to contribute a minimum $25 monthly premium. However, the proposal does not directly include Hyde protections—raising concerns among pro-life advocates.

The Husted Plan , by contrast, explicitly maintains Hyde safeguards within any new subsidy or HSA structure, ensuring taxpayer dollars are not connected to abortion-covering insurance plans. This approach has drawn strong interest from pro-life lawmakers who view Hyde language as non-negotiable.

What Comes Next

Thursday’s vote will help determine whether Congress extends subsidies temporarily, shifts toward HSAs, or adopts a hybrid approach. With just weeks left in the year, lawmakers face intense pressure to resolve the issue while upholding the moral and fiscal commitments central to the pro-life movement.

In addition to the proposals offered by Ohio’s Moreno and Husted, Senate GOP leadership is signaling where most Republicans may ultimately land. Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized that the expanded ACA tax credits championed by Democrats are “a failed program,” arguing that they inflate premiums and ultimately benefit insurance companies rather than families.

Thune said the majority of Senate Republicans now back the Crapo–Cassidy plan, which he described as focused on patients, not insurance companies, reducing premiums, and ensuring federal dollars are used responsibly. “The proposal that we will put out there will bring insurance premiums down, it will be fiscally responsible, and it will get us away from the practice of giving the money all to the insurance companies and put it back in the hands of the patients,” Thune said.

The plan currently appears to have broad GOP support, SBA Pro-Life America has indicated it has no concerns that the Crapo–Cassidy framework would allow abortion funding—an important point of clarity as pro-life Americans evaluate the options before the Senate.

Cincinnati Right to Life will continue monitoring developments as Ohio’s leaders play pivotal roles in shaping a policy that protects both mothers and their children before birth.

Your Voice Matters

Please consider contacting Senator Bernie Moreno and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to emphasize how important it is that Hyde Amendment protections be included in any legislation moving forward regarding the Obamacare exchange. Ensuring that federal funds are never used to subsidize abortion is a principle that must remain at the center of all healthcare negotiations.

Call Senator Moreno:
(202) 224-3121
Email HERE

Call Senator Husted:
(202) 224-3353
Email HERE

Your Message (feel free to copy/paste):

As an Ohio voter, I urge you to ensure that Hyde Amendment protections are included in any final plan addressing the expiring Obamacare subsidies. No federal healthcare funding should support abortion. Please stand firm for life in all negotiations.

The post Ohio’s Moreno and Husted Shape National Debate as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Court Overrules Leftist Judge, Allows Planned Parenthood Defunding to Continue

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 22:30:00 GMT

By: Steven Ertelt, originally published December 9, 2025, LifeNews.com

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday overruled a preliminary injunction from liberal U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, allowing a federal provision to defund the Planned Parenthood abortion business through Medicaid to take effect and continue during ongoing litigation.

The decision, which lifts a temporary block on the funding ban, marks a significant victory for pro-life advocates who have long pushed to redirect taxpayer dollars away from the abortion company.

The American Center for Law and Justice, which filed amicus briefs supporting the government’s position, hailed the ruling as a “crucial” step in “defending the sanctity of life and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund organizations that perform abortions.”

Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee in Massachusetts, issued a preliminary injunction against a pro-life provision in Congress’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The measure bars Medicaid reimbursements to tax-exempt organizations that kill babies in abortions and received more than $800,000 in such funds during fiscal year 2023.

Pro-life advocates had championed the law as a critical step to redirect taxpayer dollars away from abortion companies, ending federal taxpayer support to large entities like Planned Parenthood.

The ruling applied to a coalition of 22 states led by California, Connecticut and New York, plus the nation’s capital.

Talwani found that the states are “likely to prove that the law imposes an unconstitutional, retroactive condition on state participation in the Medicaid program,” which provides health coverage to low-income Americans. She described the provision as “impermissibly ambiguous,” noting that allowing it to take effect would “increase the percentage of patients unable to receive birth control and preventive screenings, thereby prompting an increase in states’ healthcare costs.”

Now defunding can continue nationwide thanks to the appellate court.

Planned Parenthood, which sued separately, has seen 48 of its abortion centers close this year.

Steven Ertelt is the founder and Editor of LifeNews.com, and has provided the pro-life community with news via the internet since 1993.

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Major Pro-Life Group Demands FDA Commissioner Be ‘Fired Immediately’ for Slow-Walking Abortion Pill Review

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 22:20:00 GMT

By: Kamden Mulder, originally published December 9, 2025, The National Review

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is calling for Marty Makary, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, to be fired from his position, citing concerns that he “slow-walked” a study into the effects of abortion drugs on women.

Makary and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised lawmakers and state attorneys general that the FDA was in the process of compiling a safety study on the chemical abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. Yet Makary told officials to stall the review, Bloomberg reported.

“Enough is enough: FDA Commissioner Makary should be fired immediately. The FDA is doing nothing while every single day abortion drugs take the lives of children, put women and girls at serious risk, empower abusers and trample state pro-life laws,” Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. “The FDA needs a new commissioner who will immediately reinstate in-person dispensing as it existed under President Trump’s first term and immediately conduct a comprehensive study.”

Studies have shown women frequently experience adverse effects from taking chemical abortion drugs; three-quarters of emergency room visits post-chemical abortion are coded as severe or critical, according to peer-reviewed research from the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Women were more likely to experience a severe or critical-coded visit after taking abortion drugs than those who had surgical abortions or had to go to the hospital after a live birth.

Complications from taking mifepristone and misoprostol can include hemorrhaging, infection, sepsis, and even death.

“FDA’s comprehensive scientific reviews take the time necessary to get the science right, and that is what Dr. Makary is ensuring as part of the Department’s commitment to gold-standard science and evidence-based reviews,” HHS told National Review in a statement.

The FDA approved a generic version of mifepristone and misoprostol in October, without reversing the Biden administration’s abortion drug mail-order policy, which allowed women to order the drugs online without an in-person medical visit. Women can acquire and take these drugs without a sonogram to confirm how far long the pregnancy is or to confirm that their pregnancy is not ectopic. Currently, abortion drugs account for 63 percent of abortions.

“Commissioner Makary is severely undermining President Trump and Vice President Vance’s pro-life credentials and their position that states should have the right to enact and enforce pro-life protections. Makary must go,” Dannenfelser said.

Last month, 175 lawmakers sent a letter to Makary and Kennedy, demanding that the FDA reinstate common-sense safeguards on abortion drugs. At a minimum, the letter called for reinstating mandatory in-person visits before mifepristone and misoprostol can be prescribed.

Reports continue to emerge of pregnant women who are unknowingly drugged by their abusers, who do not want the women to carry through with their pregnancies. One report includes an Ohio medical resident who was indicted on six felony counts for allegedly drugging his pregnant girlfriend. He allegedly unlawfully acquired the pills and forced them down her throat.

An October McLaughlin & Associates survey found that nine out of ten voters support more transparency on the risks of taking chemical abortion pills, including adding FDA labels to the drugs themselves to include the real symptoms and side effects women experience after taking the drugs.

Kamden Mulder is a William F. Buckley Jr. Fellow in Political Journalism. She is a graduate of Hillsdale College.

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Top 5 Moments From SCOTUS Arguments In Key Pro-Life Pregnancy Center Case

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 18:31:00 GMT

By: Shawn Fleetwood, originally published December 3, 2025, The Federalist

‘Now I don’t know how to read that other than it’s pretty self-executing to me, counsel,’ said Justice Neil Gorsuch.

The U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments in a key case on Tuesday that involves New Jersey’s targeting of a state-based pro-life pregnancy center.

Known as First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin , the case came to fruition several years ago after New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, a Democrat, filed a subpoena against First Choice Women’s Resource Centers seeking to obtain “ years’ worth ” of data (internal communications and donor information) from the organization. As summarized by Oyez, the state’s seemingly partisan inquiry stemmed from investigators’ concerns that First Choice was allegedly misleading its donors and clients “about its services, staff qualifications, and medical practices.”

While proceedings related to the subpoena remained ongoing in state court, First Choice filed a lawsuit challenging its legality in federal court. A district court and the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the suit as “unripe,” arguing that the matter can’t be examined in federal court due to ongoing state proceedings and the fact that the subpoena had yet to be enforced.

With no other options, First Choice petitioned SCOTUS to take up the case and address the question of, “Where the subject of a state investigatory demand has established a reasonably objective chill of its First Amendment rights, is a federal court in a first-filed action deprived of jurisdiction because those rights must be adjudicated in state court?”

During Tuesday’s oral arguments , the justices probed parties on the facts of the case and whether First Choice has standing to sue in federal court while state proceedings remain ongoing. Here are some of the biggest moments from the hearing.

Thomas Exposes New Jersey’s Absurd Subpoena Standards

During an exchange about the subpoena against First Choice. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas homed in on the weight a subpoena carries in comparison to a request from an administrative agency. He specifically asked Platkin’s chief counsel, Sundeep Iyer, to differentiate between a subpoena like the one issued by the New Jersey AG’s office and a request.

Iyer argued that “this subpoena is a predicate under state law for the state executive branch to be able to go to a court to seek a court order requiring production,” and that they “couldn’t do that if we had just sent a letter request.” More notably, however, he attempted to claim that “in other critical respects, there’s really not a difference in terms of the legal obligations that are actually imposed upon a recipient of a subpoena.”

The response didn’t seem to satisfy Thomas, who asked Iyer once again to address his original question. In his response, Iyer claimed that “there is not a difference in terms of the change in legal obligations for Petitioner.”

To underscore Iyer’s weak argument, Thomas proceeded to read directly from New Jersey law regarding the issuance of subpoenas, which appears to contradict the claim put forward by Platkin’s chief counsel.

“So, if I were to request these documents from an organization as an administrative agency, would I write this sentence: Failure to comply with this request — and I’m substituting … ‘request’ for ‘subpoena’ — failure to comply with this request may render you liable for contempt of court?” Thomas asked. “How would I write that …?”

Iyer admitted that the subpoena “does say exactly what [Thomas] said, and it says that an individual who receives the subpoena is commanded to produce.” In an apparent effort to weasel out of the tough questioning, he then pointed to an appendix on the subpoena that “says that one entirely appropriate way for a party to respond is to object to some or even all of the requests contained in the subpoena.”

Gorsuch Grills New Jersey on ‘Non-Self-Executing’ Subpoenas

Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch took Iyer to task on New Jersey’s position that the subpoena against First Choice is non-self-executing (i.e. that it’s not automatically enforceable). He specifically pointed to New Jersey law, which he seemingly surmised contradicts the state’s argument.

“[J]ust looking at the statute, it says the AG’s subpoenas have the force of law, and if a person fails to obey the subpoena, the AG may apply to the superior court and obtain an order adjudging such person in contempt of court,” Gorsuch said. “Now I don’t know how to read that other than it’s pretty self-executing to me, counsel. Now … maybe that’s anomalous. Maybe that’s wrong. Maybe the New Jersey Supreme Court read it differently. But that’s not the materials I have before me, so help me out.”

As part of his reasoning, Iyer cited a past New Jersey Supreme Court decision ( Silverman v. Berkson ) dealing with state agencies’ subpoena power, which prompted Gorsuch to interject and ask whether he believes that decision answers his original question.

“I do think Silverman speaks very strongly to that question,” Iyer said, to which Gorsuch replied, “Speaks strongly to the question. That’s a little bit different, counsel.”

Barrett Catches New Jersey Flat-Footed

When questioning Iyer, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett probed the New Jersey AG official about his opening statement, in which he, as summarized by the justice, argued that if the Supreme Court adopted plaintiffs’ “ pre-enforcement theory ,” then the court “would be throwing the door open wide and that there would be all manner of challenges in federal court to subpoenas issued in New Jersey.”

In an attempt to further ascertain the logic behind the state’s reasoning, Barrett asked Iyer to provide her with “some examples of this Pandora’s box.”

Seemingly caught off guard, Iyer admitted that “It’s a difficult question to answer.” He then attempted to claim that it’s hard to provide such an answer, “in part, because this would represent a pretty dramatic sea change in historical practice.”

“Petitioner and the United States haven’t identified a single case that adopts this credible threat of enforcement theory for subpoenas in particular,” Iyer said. “So, this would be a pretty extraordinary change. And I think the risk would be that federal courts would potentially be inundated by these subpoena cases.”

“In what kinds of cases? And are we only talking about First Amendment cases? Are we talking about other constitutional challenges?” Barrett asked.

Iyer replied that the argument put forward by the United States — which sided with First Choice in the case — would apply to First Amendment challenges, as well as “Fourth Amendment challenges … due process challenges, [and] extraterritoriality challenges.”

Roberts and Gorsuch Blast New Jersey’s Dismissal of Potential First Amendment Violations

Iyer also faced extensive grilling from Chief Justice John Roberts, who probed the defendant on whether he believes First Choice has credible concerns that their First Amendment rights are being chilled by the state’s subpoena. He specifically asked, “Do you think there is a credible chilling effect from the state seeking full names, phone numbers, addresses, present or last known place of employment, of every one of their donors who gave through any means other than the one specific website?”

In disagreeing with First Choice’s position, Iyer claimed that “if you look at [the group’s] complaint allegations, all of the harms they identified are tethered to a future downstream state court order requiring disclosure, but they’re not tethered to the subpoena itself.” In other words, he argued, plaintiffs’ “allegations are focused on the harms from the disclosure of documents that identify First Choice’s donors, but all of those harms, again, are contingent on a future downstream state court [order].”

That answer didn’t appear to sit well with the chief justice, who further probed Iyer on whether he believes that the state’s actions “might have an effect on future potential donors to the organization to know that their name, phone number, address, etc. could be disclosed as a result of the subpoena.”

“It certainly has not in this case,” Iyer replied, to which Roberts asked, “How do you know that?”

After attempting to answer the chief justice’s inquiry, Roberts interjected and again questioned how the state would go about getting that evidence to bolster such a claim.

“Well, how do you get that evidence? Somebody comes in and say[s], ‘I’m chilled, I don’t want to reveal my name, address, phone number, etc., and here is my affidavit.’ That’s not going to work, is it?” Roberts asked.

“I absolutely think that that is something they could have pled here, but they did not plead it,” said Iyer, who subsequently downplayed comments from a group of anonymous First Choice donors who said they “would have been less likely to donate to First Choice if [they] had known information about the donation might be disclosed.”

Iyer’s claim that “that’s a backwards-looking statement of harm” and is “not about prospective chill” prompted a rebuke from Gorsuch, who admonished the New Jersey official for “pick[ing] over the tense of a verb that they chose.”

Thomas Nukes New Jersey’s Lawfare with One Question

In his questioning of Iyer, Thomas focused in on Platkin’s rationale for subpoenaing private information from First Choice in the first place. He specifically asked Iyer whether the state AG’s office received “any complaints that formed the basis of [his] concern about the fundraising activities [by First Choice].”

After initially attempting to avoid addressing the question, a follow-up question from Thomas resulted in Iyer disclosing that Platkin’s office hasn’t “had complaints about this specific [center],” claiming he “thinks” this was made “clear from the outset.”

Read more about the full exchange here .

Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington.

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Leftist war on pro-life pregnancy centers faces Supreme Court reckoning

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:50:00 GMT

By: Mary Fiorito, originally posted December 2, 2025, Blaze Media/Align

The Supreme Court has the opportunity to remedy an egregious error.

Women across America want real choices. Unfortunately, pro-abortion advocates have spent decades determining what “choice” women should want — while attacking pregnancy resource centers that offer women what they need.

For the past three decades, it has been my privilege to serve as a volunteer and board member at Aid for Women, a network of pregnancy centers and maternity homes in Illinois. The success of pregnancy resource centers like ours in offering women genuine support and resources has made us targets for pro-abortion smear campaigns, lawfare, and even physical attack .

Pro-abortion activists don’t seem to care if women, children, and families are cut off from the support they need.

On Dec. 2, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that perfectly encapsulates the targeting and harassment organizations like ours have suffered for years.

The case, First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin , will determine whether the New Jersey attorney general can arbitrarily demand private donor lists and other confidential information from First Choice Women’s Resource Center without cause.

It’s critical that the Supreme Court rule favorably toward First Choice Women’s Resource Centers and send a warning to those targeting pro-life work nationwide.

Pro-abortion attacks on pregnancy resource centers have escalated in recent years.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , pro-abortion radicals unleashed a summer of rage that included physical violence on nearly 100 pregnancy resource centers nationwide. These attacks were shocking to those of us stepping up to meet the need post- Dobbs , especially after fresh polling revealed that 60% of post-abortive women said they would have preferred to parent if they had more resources and support.

We were baffled why anyone would want to cut off support networks for women, many of whom clearly wanted to choose life, at a time when increased limits on abortion made our work more essential than ever. Even in blue states that do not have a single restriction on abortion, pro-abortion politicians have striven to strangle our support networks and shut us down.

Those of us at Aid for Women felt each of these attacks personally. Even still, we had no idea that we would soon experience pro-abortion “rage” firsthand.

This past August, our center staff served countless babies and moms, oblivious to the Democratic National Convention that was being held in our state.

At that convention, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Democrat nomination acceptance speech fearmongered about President Trump’s abortion agenda, alleging that Trump and his allies would endanger women and their rights.

Just hours later, one of Aid for Women’s Chicago pregnancy centers was badly vandalized, with doors cemented shut and red paint thrown on the windows, graffiti reading, “Fake Clinic! The dead babies are in Gaza.” The political vitriol from the DNC undoubtedly inspired the physical attack on our center.

Unfortunately, the vandals only succeeded in hurting the very women they claim to champion.

The following day, a dozen pregnant mothers who had booked prenatal appointments at Aid for Women were unable to be seen by the organization’s physician and nurse practitioners due to the vandalism. Dozens more could not visit to pick up the diapers, formula, infant and maternity clothing, and household supplies that Aid for Women provides — all free of charge and all without any government assistance. Every service and item given to pregnant women is provided through the generosity of donors.

What those attacking our center failed to realize is that many of our clients live below or just skimming the poverty line. Some have housing insecurity. And their inability to access our center for the care that they needed likely affected them dramatically.

Unfortunately, pro-abortion activists don’t seem to care if women, children, and families are cut off from the support they need.

As we approach oral arguments in First Choice Women’s Resource Center, Inc. v. Platkin , the attacks on centers like ours serve as a powerful reminder that those offering alternatives to abortion have become punching bags of abortion extremists that will do anything to stop lifesaving work and promote abortion.

For example, the New Jersey attorney general is alleged to have singled out First Choice Women’s Resource Center because of its pro-life and Christian views. New Jersey officials allegedly have spent months harassing First Choice with crippling administrative requirements, threatening legal sanctions if the organization refused to produce private donor records and other private information — all of which is confidential to protect those involved from the very real threat of pro-abortion retribution.

Compounding this injustice was the shocking truth that New Jersey officials did not have a just cause for this burdensome lawfare and still have not submitted any evidence of wrongdoing by First Choice or any of its associates.

Despite this, donors and volunteers engaging in charitable work face the possibility of intimidation and retribution for putting their money — and their time — where their mouths are.

It’s critical that the Supreme Court end this unfair lawfare against First Choice and draw a line to stop pro-abortion attacks on pregnancy resource centers once and for all.

Mary FioRito is a senior fellow at the Catholic Association, a Chicago-area attorney, and a longtime pro-life volunteer.

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New Pregnancy Help Report Shows Major Service Growth

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:39:00 GMT

By: Chuck Donovan, originally published December 1, 2025, The Washington Stand

The latest report on the work of pregnancy care centers is out from the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), and it is the most encouraging yet. Titled “Pregnancy Centers: Rising to the Occasion with Unwavering Care,” the research concludes that 2,775 of these life-affirming centers provided over $452 million worth of medical care, education, and material support to women, babies, and families in 2024. Medical professionals associated with the centers now number more than 10,000 women and men, and the centers saw more than 1,000,000 new clients for support, care, and counsel.

An article published here last week lays out more details of the CLI-directed survey, the sixth of its kind published since 2009. The report represents a unique collaboration of pro-life service providers across the United States. Contributors besides CLI include Heartbeat International, CareNet, Focus on the Family’s Option Ultrasound Program, and center coalition leaders in the states. The history of the report is interesting and offers a model for future efforts to protect babies and their mothers in a culturally hostile moment.

The first pregnancy center report was published by Family Research Council in the first year of the Obama administration. Its title was “A Passion to Serve, a Vision for Life: Pregnancy Resource Center Service Report 2009.” The report was produced by FRC after a meeting of pregnancy center leaders identified the utility of combining information from their center networks to demonstrate the breadth of their efforts. The report authors were keenly aware of the annual reports released by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), which detailed their total clients and service numbers, including a steadily growing toll of abortions. The PPFA reports consistently yielded sizable numbers, secured thanks to the affiliation structure of PPFA and a uniform reporting system managed by a special affiliate. The pregnancy center movement, in contrast, although it had been in existence for nearly four decades, was more diffuse and had never combined data about its accomplishments, impressive though they proved to be.

FRC produced the report in the face of significant challenges. The various networks in existence at that time did not generally produce national totals for service reports. FRC staff members, some of whom continued to contribute to later reports, were forced to rely on an array of documents obtained from individual centers and from Internal Revenue Service Forms 990s. The latter contained audited numbers on personnel and finances and service provision but suffered from a lack of detail and varying fiscal year end-dates. The process led to a significant amount of estimation. In turn, this report included valuable historical information on the founding of pregnancy held centers prior to the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. Even more important, the 2009 report created a mode of cooperation that has only deepened with each report, bringing in new centers and leading to ever-stronger reports on what now assuredly stands as one of the most effective nonprofit movements in the nation’s history.

FRC was also the issuing organization for the second national PHC report , released in 2011. It was likewise named “A Passion to Serve,” with the subtitle, “How Pregnancy Centers Empower Women, Help Families, and Strengthen Communities.” The report tabulated the results from 1,969 PHCs for 2010, relying on data from CareNet, Heartbeat International, and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, the three largest U.S. networks. As subsequent reports did with increasing detail, the second edition estimated the public cost savings emerging from the private, free-to-the-client services rendered to PHC patients. The estimate for all services was $108.9 million, with more than two-thirds of the savings due to free patient consultations and free ultrasounds. The total number of people served exceeded 2.3 million. The value of services performed by PHC employees and their 71,000 volunteers, including medical professionals, was calculated based on then-current federal data for social agency employees and other national sources.

After the second edition, a hiatus of several years occurred in the conduct of analyses and release of reports. Then, at mid-decade, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins generously granted permission to the Charlotte Lozier Institute to carry on the PHC report tradition. Rechristened “A Legacy of Life and Love,” the third edition in the series was researched and written by former FRC staff member Moira Gaul, MPH, with new support from statistics expert Mai Bean, a CLI associate scholar. It should be noted that nationally recognized scholar Michael J. New, Ph.D. has contributed enormously to these works, responding to the challenges of synthesizing accurate data across organizational practices. Appearing a decade after “A Passion to Serve,” the third edition — called “A Half Century of Hope” — benefited from vastly improved data collection by the national center groups and increasing participation by smaller PHC networks that fill a variety of important roles in the center matrix.

The report’s findings demonstrated continued progress. All told, 2,600 centers responded via online surveys, allowing calculations that the centers provided nearly 2,000,000 women and youth with free services with an estimated community cost savings of $161 million in 2017. Released in 2018, the report confirmed a pattern of service expansion as the PHCs increased their range, adding post-abortion counseling; sexually transmitted disease testing and, in many instances, treatment; abortion pill reversal; and community referrals for employment training, housing issues and drug treatment. The report also described the lay/health professional volunteer mix, identifying an estimated 7,500 medical professionals alongside approximately 67,400 volunteers.

Since the third edition, Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research and education arm of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, has maintained a schedule of releasing reports roughly every two years. They include:

2020: “Pregnancy Centers Stand the Test of Time.” The report shows the centers once more served nearly 2,000,000 clients via some 2,700 centers, providing services with an estimated value of nearly $270 million. Former CareNet general counsel Jeanneane Maxon joined the report team, bringing invaluable expertise to technical and legal questions addressed by the report.
2022: “Hope for a New Generation.” This report was issued in the wake of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center. The report drew on information garnered from some 2,750 PHCs. It documented how the centers responded to increasing demand in the midst of the COVID epidemic and the stresses it imposed on health care systems. Using a modified metric, “Hope for a New Generation” found that centers conducted in-person and online visits on nearly 3.26 million occasions, providing health, education, and material services worth nearly $368 million in 2022.
2025: “Rising to the Occasion with Unwavering Care.” This most recent report, released on November 15, 2025, and described above, shows the levels of support from the nation’s PHCs rising yet again — to some $452 million in services.

Viewing these reports in summary, it is clear that life-affirming pregnancy care continues to advance, a counterweight to an admittedly challenging national picture in which roughly a million unborn lives per year are still lost to abortion. Sadly, among these challenges are continuing efforts by abortion activists and a handful of state and federal legislators to impede or block PHCs from carrying out their mission to serve mothers by protecting them and their children. This, despite one of the most arresting statistics of all, a constant in the FRC/CLI survey and other literature, showing patient satisfaction persistently high and reaching a record 98% in the most recent reporting period.

Despite numbers like these and the additional fact that PHCs tend to reduce rather than increase reliance on taxpayer funding, the centers continue to suffer attacks from forces that seek to compromise their life-affirming character and conscientious commitment to professional standards in the information and resources they share. The most recent example is a case now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court wherein a group of New Jersey pregnancy centers is attempting to protect itself from a state subpoena seeking certain records, including donor information, whose privacy is generally protected by law on First Amendment grounds. Meanwhile. the Attorney General of California, Rob Bonta (D), continues his lawsuit against pro-life pregnancy help centers in California that offer women the choice to use natural progesterone to reverse abortions induced with the drug mifepristone. Attorneys for Heartbeat International at the Thomas More Society recently succeeded in persuading an Illinois court to uphold a demand for key documents on abortion pill reversal from the pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

These actions against pregnancy help centers are relentless and a costly distraction from the truth. Pregnancy centers offer meaningful and effective alternatives to abortion, and they make clear that this is their mission. They do not offer procedures that they believe are inimical to individual and social well-being. The services and support they offer are almost uniformly agreeable to women, who praise and welcome those services irrespective of their views on the permissibility of abortion. As the latest report in the “Legacy of Life and Love” series shows once more, women and communities nationwide support genuine providers of life-affirming choice.

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URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:32:00 GMT

Urgent Prayer Request and LISTEN LIVE TODAY!

Dear Friends,

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a critical case that could have far-reaching consequences for pregnancy centers and other pro-life organizations across the country. We are asking all Cincinnati Right to Life supporters to join us in prayer today—praying for wisdom for the Justices, protection for the work of supporting mothers and their babies, and a ruling that upholds the dignity of life.

You can listen LIVE to the oral arguments today, 10 a.m. at the Supreme Court’s website LINKED HERE.

As you listen, please continue to pray for truth to be upheld and for all involved in this case. Your prayers matter.

With extreme gratitude,
Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

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Supreme Court, end harassment of pro-life pregnancy centers

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:27:00 GMT

By: Erin Hawley, Opinion Contributor, originally published December 2, 2025, USA Today

The mantra from pro-abortion politicians used to be that abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Now, many of those same politicians say that women should “shout their abortions.”

They wrap their pro-abortion agenda in pretty packaging with words like “choice” and “reproductive health care,” but the sad reality is that many of those preaching “choice” are doing all they can to limit women’s choices.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 , numerous state attorneys general have engaged in a concerted effort to punish pro-life pregnancy centers simply because they do not perform abortions.

One example of such lawfare against pregnancy centers is happening thanks to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, and it got the Supreme Court’s attention . Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for Dec. 2.

Pregnancy resource centers assist mothers in choosing life

First Choice Women’s Resource Centers is a faith-based group that provides parenting classes, ultrasounds, baby clothes and more to its community – free of charge. Pregnancy centers like First Choice provide free, compassionate care to women facing unplanned pregnancies, but they do not provide or refer for abortions.

For this act of defiance, Platkin assembled a “strike force” that issued a statewide “consumer alert” against pregnancy centers – all because they value the life of the mother and child.

The New Jersey attorney general’s office even asked Planned Parenthood, which profits from abortions, to help him draft the consumer alert and then thanked the organization for its “partnership,” as shown in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin.

Unsatisfied, Platkin issued a sweeping subpoena to First Choice, demanding that it produce “over a decade’s worth” of documentation , including the identities, phone numbers and personal addresses of nearly 5,000 of its donors. All this despite the fact that the attorney general has not identified a single complaint against First Choice.

We believe that these demands are politically motivated retaliation for First Choice’s pro-life viewpoint. And they rob New Jersey women of the practical help and support that First Choice provides.

Disclosure would create a chilling effect for donors

Platkin’s subpoena also violates the Constitution. The First Amendment protects the right to associate and to do so privately.

Because revealing one’s membership or support for an advocacy group tells the world about a person’s most deeply held beliefs, the Supreme Court has held that donors have a constitutional right to anonymously support causes.

It stands to reason that donors to First Choice would be unlikely to donate knowing their information could be exposed to a state official who has a history of hostility toward pro-life viewpoints.

Because Platkin’s subpoena squelches the First Amendment rights of First Choice and its donors, the pregnancy center filed a federal lawsuit urging the courts to protect those freedoms. The lower courts dismissed the lawsuit without even reviewing the First Amendment issues.

Before the U.S. Supreme Court, New Jersey’s attorney general is arguing that subpoenas generally may not be challenged in federal court until a state court first enforces them . But when that happens, other judicial doctrines would effectively close the federal courthouse door.

That violates the promise of the Civil Rights Act of 1871 – that victims of unconstitutional treatment by state officials are entitled to seek relief in federal court, rather than be relegated to state court. We at Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents First Choice, are asking the Supreme Court to affirm our client’s right to its day in federal court.

Harassment shouldn’t be tolerated

This case will set a crucial precedent for pregnancy centers nationwide facing similar harassment and intimidation by state officials. Take, for example, California and New York , where attorneys general have attempted to censor pro-life pregnancy centers that tell women it might be possible to reverse the life-ending effects of the abortion drug mifepristone.

Not long after the Supreme Court reversed Roe, pregnancy centers in multiple states were vandalized and firebombed . Many of them are still awaiting justice .

Pregnancy centers should be free to serve women and offer the support they need without fear of unjust government retaliation. Women facing unplanned pregnancies should be able to access the support and services they deserve to make informed decisions about their pregnancies.

The Supreme Court has a chance to safeguard First Choice’s right to challenge Platkin’s unconstitutional actions in federal court and to discourage other state actors from making the same mistakes. Let’s allow First Choice to get back to doing what it does best: Serving women.

Erin Hawley is senior counsel and vice president of the Center for Life and regulatory practice with Alliance Defending Freedom ( @ADFLegal ), which represents First Choice Women’s Resource Centers.

The post Supreme Court, end harassment of pro-life pregnancy centers appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

We only can sustain our fast-paced work because of you!

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:09:00 GMT

We began our Giving Tuesday LAST WEEK….THANK YOU for all who have contributed to our matching $10,000 donation.

As a reminder, this Giving Tuesday, Cincinnati Right to Life is raising funds for our powerful Pro-Life Billboard Campaign — and thanks to a generous local supporter who was deeply moved after seeing our billboards again and again, every gift will be matched up to $10,000!

Last week, Adam, our dedicated sidewalk advocacy staff member, told us, “Every day I am out there, I see at least one—and sometimes more—Florida license plates.” This is exactly why we’re working to expand our billboards into Kentucky, reaching these “abortion tourists” before they cross state lines. With your Giving Tuesday investment, we can purchase more boards that offer hope and direction. So often, mothers in unexpected pregnancies are literally “looking for a sign.”

In my own years of serving mothers facing the unknown, I heard this more times than I can count. Billboards turn mothers away from death and give their sons or daughters the chance at LIFE. Your support makes that lifesaving impact possible.

Truly, thank you for considering a gift that will create an impact for life!

The post We only can sustain our fast-paced work because of you! appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Happy Thanksgiving! Another reason to be grateful in Ohio!

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:45:00 GMT

Dear Friend of Life,

As I set my Thanksgiving table this year, I found myself thinking of a story—one shaped by the hundreds of post-abortive mothers I’ve met over the years.

Martha always set her table for eight. But every Thanksgiving, she felt the quiet ache of the child she lost to an abortion in 1975—a child who would have been fifty this year. A child who might have had children and grandchildren of her own.

Martha had walked through healing. She knew God’s forgiveness. Yet every holiday, every special moment, she remembered.

And at Thanksgiving when her grandchildren run through the door shouting, “Grandma! We’re here!” she whispers a prayer that so many post-abortive mothers silently pray:

“Thank You for who is here, Lord. Help me honor who is missing.”

While mostly fictional, based on pieces of stories I’ve encountered, this tale reflects the real grief I see in mothers more often than I anticipate.

Nearly twenty years ago, when my dear friend Janie Klare first invited me to volunteer in the pro-life movement, I said yes for the babies. Raised in a pro-life family, I could finally put my faith in action. But what I quickly discovered is, I had no idea how deeply abortion wounds mothers and causes hidden lifelong regret. I had no idea how severely our nation has been decimated and damaged by abortion.

Entering into this work, originally for the babies, today I stay in the battle for the moms too. I stay in the battle for our nation. And of course, I stay in the battle to serve the Lord fully and completely.

And I can only stay in the battle and serve Cincinnati RTL because of you.

This Thanksgiving, I am deeply grateful for:

Those who supported our move and strengthened our mission,
Those who stand on sidewalks in every season and spiritual climate,
Those who pray unceasingly, covering our work and families in prayer,
Partners who staff and supply our ultrasound van,
Sidewalk counselors who turn mothers from despair toward hope,
Workers in the pregnancy centers across our region,
Our billboard supporters whose anonymous impact will be revealed in eternity,
Our event sponsors, and everyone who sends in extra funds that sustain our mission,
Our lawmakers—the ones who listen and are deeply troubled about Cincinnati and the abortion tourism here-and they vote and act to end the injustice.

Because of you, Cincinnati Right to Life continues to stand as a legacy organization—boldly confronting tragedy and boldly proclaiming truth in our city, Columbus, and Washington, D.C.

The post Happy Thanksgiving! Another reason to be grateful in Ohio! appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Victory Worth Giving Thanks For in Ohio!

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:30:00 GMT

From Laura Strietmann

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude — because life has a victory in Ohio.This week brought news that reminds us why we pray, why we advocate, and why we never give up:

Planned Parenthood is closing yet another Ohio facility.

What a powerful reminder that even in what has become mission territory for life, God is moving , and mothers and babies are being protected.

At the start of this year, Planned Parenthood operated 14 facilities across our state. Now—with earlier closures in Springfield and Hamilton, and the newly announced closing of the Franklinton location—the number will fall to a less dreadful 11.

Every closure represents more than a statistic. It represents:

Fewer mothers being misled.
Fewer babies at risk.
More room for hope.

And that hope is real, because Ohio is not a state without help — despite Planned Parenthood’s predictable “doom and gloom” messaging.

Our state is blessed with:

400+ Federally Qualified Health Centers , and
Nearly 200 pregnancy help centers

—places where mothers are welcomed, supported, and honored with dignity and genuine care.

But Here in Cincinnati, the Front Line Remains Intense

While we celebrate these closures across Ohio, here in Cincinnati we know the battle remains fierce. Our own Auburn Avenue facility — the southernmost on-demand abortion business along the entire I-75 corridor — has dug in its heels with heartbreaking determination. The devastation endured in our neighborhood is real: in 2024, 73% of the babies lost there were Black , a statistic that should shake every conscience in our city.

This is precisely why we answered God’s unmistakable call to move our offices just two blocks from that place of sorrow. We stretched our budget, took on full market rent, and planted ourselves on the front lines — because that is where the pro-life movement needs us most, and where truth must be present.

We also moved to set an example for pro-lifers across Ohio: that we must enter more deeply into the battle and confront this diabolical injustice head-on, not from half an hour away, but from the very ground where lives are being lost.

Why This Closure Happened — And Why It Matters

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio has confirmed deep financial problems — and this year, for the first time in decades, those financial losses were no accident . Thanks to the pro-life protections written into the One Big Beautiful Bill , Planned Parenthood is finally being defunded at the federal level.

Cincinnati Right to Life personally lobbied, traveled, and advocated with our representatives in Washington to help make this happen. Yes, our travel and operational expenses have increased — but our work is worth every dollar you entrusted to us. That money was not lost; it was invested for exactly this moment. To witness the demise of Planned Parenthood.

For years, we watched an open firehose of federal money flow to the nation’s largest abortion business. Now, as the spigot tightens, we are seeing the real-world impact: layoffs, closures, and the undeniable weakening of Planned Parenthood’s once-boastful empire.

The Franklinton facility will officially close on November 28, 2025 , after 17 more staff were laid off this month. Earlier in the year, 20 others were cut. Even their own leaders admit they have trimmed their administration “as lean as it can go,” and still they cannot sustain operations. We pray these workers who left this diabolical industry find abortionworker.com-a ministry for those who left the industry.

And while Planned Parenthood closes doors, life-affirming centers are opening theirs wider than ever, ready to serve mothers with love, dignity, and real help. And Cincinnati Right to Life will continue to advocate boldly and fiercely to our lawmakers, ensuring that life is defended, protected, and advanced at every level of government.

This closure is not an accident. It is the fruit of your prayers, your perseverance, your faithful support.

Every time a door of deception closes, a door of hope opens wider.

Cincinnati Right to Life exists because of supporters like you — people who refuse to believe the lie that mothers must choose between their future and their baby’s life. People who show compassion and courage.

Thank You for Making Victories Like This Po ssible

Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we continue the mission.

Because every mother and every baby deserve protection, love, and truth — and together, we are building a future in Ohio where abortion is not the “norm” and our tax dollars are withheld from supporting death in wombs.

The post Victory Worth Giving Thanks For in Ohio! appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Giving Tuesday: Your Gift Helps Cincinnati See the Truth – and Now It’s DOUBLED!

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:44:00 GMT

This Giving Tuesday, Cincinnati Right to Life is raising funds for our powerful Pro-Life Billboard Campaign — and thanks to a generous local supporter who was deeply moved after seeing our billboards again and again, every gift will be matched up to $10,000!

He saw the impact.
He saw the hope.
He saw the truth displayed boldly across our city. (And in Northern KY, reaching out-of-state abortion tourists.)

And now he wants to challenge our entire community to match his generosity and expand this life-saving work.

Why Our Billboards Matter

Our billboards do far more than raise awareness — they teach, they guide, they inspire, and they save lives.

Our billboards share clear, life-affirming truths that break through confusion and culture’s noise.

Billboards point vulnerable mothers to real, compassionate support at the moment they need it most.

Fathers matter, and our message speaks directly to their responsibility, courage, and love.

Our billboards proclaim the beauty, dignity, and worth of Black mothers and their babies — especially important as Planned Parenthood continues to target Black neighborhoods with abortion.

Stories reach us regularly of people moved, challenged, and changed — including the wonderful passerby whose generosity made this matching grant possible.

Your Giving Tuesday Donation Is DOUBLED

Because of this matching gift, your support goes twice as far today:

$50 becomes $100
$100 becomes $200
$250 becomes $500

Every dollar funds more billboards — more teaching, more hope, more protection, more inspiration.

Join Us Today

This Giving Tuesday, help us fill Cincinnati with messages that save lives, strengthen families, and uplift communities.

Donate now — and double your impact for life!

Thank you for helping us bring hope, truth, and life to our city
through your generous support.

The post Giving Tuesday: Your Gift Helps Cincinnati See the Truth – and Now It’s DOUBLED! appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Poll: 4 In 5 Americans Are ‘Concerned’ About Silicon Valley’s Unregulated Embryo-Screening Scheme

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:29:00 GMT

By: Jordan Boyd, originally published November 19, 2025, The Federalist

American adults are uneasy about the eugenics-like methods the fertility industry has built into reproductive technology such as IVF.

It’s no secret that polls often overstate Americans’ support for in vitro fertilization (IVF) by preying on their ignorance about the mass destruction of embryos . A new survey from the Ethics and Public Policy Center and YouGov, however, found that Americans’ concerns about unregulated reproductive technology, such as IVF, are far more widespread when questions center on the morally and ethically contentious practice of screening embryos for those traits deemed less desirable.

According to the results of the November 2025 Future of the Family Survey, four out of five of the 1,100 18-to-45-year-olds polled had “at least a little concern about genetic screening of embryos.”

Overall, women showed slightly more concern about the genetic testing of embryos than men. Older women, approximately 83 percent of females 46 years and over, showed the most concern about “allowing parents to choose their embryo’s characteristics, like eye color, IQ, or athletic ability.”

Because IVF is so expensive and risky, fertility specialists often tout genetic testing as standard practice for embryos produced in a lab. Research, however, shows that one of the most common embryo screening regimens, PGT-A, does not increase the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy or baby. Instead, it gives parents an excuse to discard or indefinitely freeze embryos that receive a “less than” grade. Already, 93 to 97 percent of test tube babies will not make it to birth or even a womb.

It is illegal in several states to abort unborn babies who receive a prenatal chromosomal abnormality diagnosis. IVF biotech startups “backed by billions of dollars,” such as Orchid and Nucleus , however, sell a process for culling embryos, testing them for potential diseases, disorders, cancers, defects, and chromosomal abnormalities without legal repercussions.

They claim ranking embryonic life and discarding the little lives that don’t make the cut is a “positive moral choice” that “prevent[s] … diseases.” Their quest is boosted by leading fertility industry activists such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which hails such polygenic screenings as an “exciting” addition to the array of genetic tests IVF clients can use to determine which of their embryos gets a chance at life outside of a cryopreservation tank.

This technology, the EPPC brief notes, is “still unproven.” Yet its widespread use could further commodify children created with reproductive technology.

“This would radically change the nature of parenthood, turning would-be parents from recipients of the gift of a new child to consumers looking for a product made to order,” the brief continues. “It would undermine social support and research funding into diseases that would have otherwise been screened out, casting parents who have children naturally as taking an unacceptable risk.”

An Appetite for Change

Despite moral, ethical, and functional questions about IVF, President Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to “increase access” to the reproductive technology “to make it easier for all couples to have babies, raise children, and start the families they’ve always dreamed about.”

A majority of Trump’s voters, however, think embryo screening for sex selection, physical traits, cosmetic traits, personality traits, and projected intelligence should be outlawed. Only when it comes to screening embryos for “predicted medical traits like congenital disease or inherited disorders” did the number of Trump 2024 voters who claimed they were “okay with being legal, but I wouldn’t use it myself” outpace those who said the practice “should be illegal.”

Even then, 37 percent of MAGA supporters still expressed the desire to ban health-prediction embryo screening. Only 21 percent of Trump voters said they were “glad” such screenings existed and claimed they would “use it myself if given the option,” compared to the 45 percent of Kamala Harris voters who said the same.

Overall, most adults who cast their votes for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election said they were okay with embryo screening across the other categories being legal, but agreed, “I wouldn’t use it myself.”

While the total number of adults willing to utilize genetic embryo testing remained a minority, the EPPC brief about the survey data warned “that share is likely to grow over time if these tools are culturally normalized and achieve economies of scale.”

Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and producer of The Federalist Radio Hour.

The post Poll: 4 In 5 Americans Are ‘Concerned’ About Silicon Valley’s Unregulated Embryo-Screening Scheme appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Help Us Meet a $10,000 Matching Gift for Pro-Life Billboards

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:25:00 GMT

What a blessing!

In a world where we can all click or swipe away images we do not want to see, pro-life billboards remain one of the most consistent and powerful ways to reach our community across Southwest Ohio with the beautiful message of life.

These billboards are funded through a generous grant from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and by faithful supporters like you! (God bless you and THANK YOU!)

Because of this support, we are able to tailor our pro-life messages to the cultural moment—whether addressing seasonal themes, highlighting mothers in need, or speaking directly to the dignity of every preborn child.

Thanks to unexpected generosity this year, we have placed more billboards in strategic interstate locations, allowing us to reach an estimated 23 million sets of eyes by the end of 2025. Recently, when one of our billboards was vandalized, our billboard company immediately replaced it. That simple act sparked something remarkable.

A man who regularly travels through Cincinnati for work—moved deeply by the messages he sees on our billboards—called our office after hearing what happened. He shared how profoundly these messages have impacted him and issued an incredible challenge to our community:

He will match every dollar donated—up to $10,000—to keep pro-life billboards shining brightly across our region.

If we meet this challenge, another $20,000 will allow us not only to maintain our billboards but to expand into Northern Kentucky, reaching the growing number of abortion tourists flooding into our area.

Will you help us meet this challenge?

Your gift today directly supports bold, compassionate messaging that encourages mothers and families to turn away from the deadly and destructive decision of ending the life of their precious preborn child.

Every dollar you donate today becomes two. Every gift helps save lives.

Thank you for standing with us—for life, for mothers, and for the most vulnerable among us.
We continue to pray and work.

The post Help Us Meet a $10,000 Matching Gift for Pro-Life Billboards appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Response to the Bloodshed in Southwest Ohio

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:12:00 GMT

Cincinnati Right to Life and Dayton Right to Life have issued a deeply urgent and emotional joint response to what they are calling the Southwest Ohio Bloodbath.

On Wednesday, both organizations hand-delivered a letter to Governor Mike DeWine to ensure he fully understood the tragedy unfolding in a region he knows well—a region where babies in the womb are being killed at a horrifying and unprecedented rate. The southwest corner of the Buckeye State, long familiar to the governor and his family, has become a place where innocent children in the womb are losing their lives every single day.

Earlier this week, it was reported that 60 babies — every single for-profit business day— are either decapitated, dismembered, or suffocated in the womb by their own mother’s “choice.”

Laura Strietmann of Cincinnati Right to Life shared that they composed the letter and ensured it was hand-delivered so the governor could grasp “firsthand the tragedy unfolding in Ohio.” Margie Christie of Dayton Right to Life added that after years of coming close to shutting down Martin Haskell’s late-term abortion business, its sale to Planned Parenthood has resulted in an explosion of innocent lives lost—an increase so staggering and brutal that neither organization ever imagined witnessing such devastation.

Pray for Governor DeWine to sign an executive order to defund Planned Parenthood from Medicaid reimbursements, as governors in 3 other states, inlcuding most-recently, Nebraska , have done. He has the authority to stop some of this bloodshed, and Ohio’s mothers and babies urgently need his leadership.

Please contact the Governor and implore him to take this action — an action that, while courageous, is one his faith should already be calling him to.

The post Response to the Bloodshed in Southwest Ohio appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Ohio House Passes Two Major Pro-Life Bills: The Baby Olivia Act and the Patient Protection Act

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:11:00 GMT

Thank you House members!

Yesterday, in a marathon session, the Ohio House of Representatives advanced two significant pieces of pro-life legislation: House Bill 485 (HB485), the Baby Olivia Act, and House Bill 324 (HB324), the Patient Protection Act. Together, these bills strengthen education on human development and provide vital safeguards for mothers considering high-risk abortion drugs such as mifepristone.

Patient Protection Act (HB324)

Sponsored by Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Rep. Meredith Craig (R-Smithville), the Patient Protection Act was advanced by The Ohio House late yesterday.

The bill requires an in-person evaluation before any drug with at least a 5% chance of causing severe adverse effects—such as death, sepsis, organ failure, or hospitalization due to infection or hemorrhage—can be dispensed. The bill also mandates a follow-up appointment to ensure patients are responding safely and that early warning signs of complications are caught promptly.

Additionally, HB 324 directs the Director of Health, in consultation with relevant state boards, to maintain a public, regularly updated list of medications that meet this high-risk threshold, promoting transparency and accountability.

Cincinnati Right to Life expressed strong support for the measure, citing the growing dangers associated with unregulated mail-order drugs. “There is an urgent need for these protections. With many Ohio women seeking abortion drugs online without ever seeing a doctor, mothers and their babies face heightened danger and significant risks. We thank the Ohio House for moving this vital legislation forward quickly.” shared Laura Strietmann, Executive Director.

Rep. Mathews, who marches for life annually on Auburn Ave., shared, “The Hippocratic Oath is to ‘Do No Harm,’ and with the proliferation of mail order medication, some drugs are severely injuring over one in twenty patients. This legislation provides a proper standard of care and protects everyday Ohioans from unscrupulous actors taking advantage of Ohioans.”

A recent study reveals that mifepristone results in serious complications —including hemorrhaging, sepsis, and hospitalization—for nearly 1 in 9 mothers, a rate 22 times higher than what the FDA’s label suggests. HB324 ensures mothers receive the oversight and information necessary to safeguard their health.

Baby Olivia Act (HB485)

Sponsored by Rep. Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), the Baby Olivia Act ensures that students across Ohio receive accurate, science-based education on human growth and development from grades 5–12. Schools will now be required to show:

A high-definition ultrasound video of early fetal development
An educational video illustrating each stage of a baby’s journey from fertilization to birth, such as Meet Baby Olivia

This legislation affirms the dignity of every preborn child and equips young people with truthful information about life in the womb. Similar legislation is gaining momentum nationwide.

More than 20 states have introduced Baby Olivia–style bills this session, and several—including Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, Tennessee, Iowa, and Indiana—have already enacted comparable measures into law.

Despite public support human development education, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio sharply condemned the House’s passage of H.B. 485 . Their executive director claimed:

“H.B. 485 does nothing to address Ohio’s high teen birth rate and STI rates, and instead forces school children to watch false medical information about sex education that is inappropriate at any age or grade, especially for elementary students.”

Planned Parenthood’s opposition is of no surprise to pro-lifers; it simply exposes their discomfort with the truth that life begins at conception. They know that allowing students to see the undeniable, scientific reality of a child developing in her mother’s womb undermines the very narrative they rely on to justify executing hundreds of thousands of preborn children each year.

Both bills now move on to the Ohio Senate.

The post Ohio House Passes Two Major Pro-Life Bills: The Baby Olivia Act and the Patient Protection Act appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Babies, Made to Order: The New York Times Sounds the Reproductive Technology Alarm

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:46:00 GMT

By: Glenn T. Stanton, originally published November 9, 2025, Public Discourse

If Siddiqui’s new moral imperative for artificial, disembodied procreation to ensure perfectly healthy babies becomes the norm, have we not lost something truly beautiful and human, the link between physical sexual communion and procreation?

Editors’ Note: This essay is the third and final in a three-part series on the challenges of Western parenting . This essay poses the question: what will family formation look like in a world where optimizing our children’s genetic makeup becomes a moral imperative?

In his “Interesting Times” podcast earlier this year, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat gave his audience a profound opportunity to see where in vitro reproductive technology is leading us, and wondered aloud whether it might replace natural, marital procreation. His guest was Silicon Valley entrepreneur Noor Siddiqui, who was a Thiel Fellow at age seventeen. She articulated a moral imperative for that displacement.

Shortly after the interview, social media erupted into heated debates about the ethics of IVF. Though that has mostly died down, Douthat’s interview with Siddiqui is worth revisiting, as it sheds light on a darker side of America’s fertility crisis: our desire to optimize, shape, mold, and control how we bring life into the world and what kind of life we create, … and to discard those who don’t fit our vision of what kind of life is worthy.

Noor Siddiqui is the founder of Orchid , a genetic testing company that “gives parents the power to protect their children before pregnancy begins,” by isolating potential monogenic diseases (from mutations of a single gene) and polygenic diseases (combined results from multiple genes) that in effect promise a perfectly healthy child for life, which is neither realistic nor human. In fact, the opening banner on the firm’s website touts its mission, which reads as a mandate: “Have healthy babies.”

The moral imperative is clear: create your children in a laboratory’s petri dish, and have each screened by Orchid, which can sequence over 99 percent of the child’s DNA. You then receive a complete genome report on each embryo of any illness, birth defect, disease, neurodevelopmental disorder, adult- or pediatric-onset cancer marker, etc., that is likely to develop at any stage of your chosen child’s life, all delivered to your smart phone. The price tag: $2,500 per embryo.

But of course, you must create enough embryos to give you a sporting chance of obtaining a perfect option. Siddiqui and her husband harvested twenty of her own eggs, creating sixteen embryos in order to have the four children (two boys and two girls, she says!) she and her husband desire over the coming years. As far as they know, they have no fertility issues. Siddiqui expresses a firm moral obligation to protect her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in this way because her mother developed a rare degenerative eye condition that ultimately rendered her blind.

In her interview with Douthat, Siddiqui praises the American virtue of choice, saying each woman who desires to become pregnant can do so through the “old-fashioned” way or via technology. “I think this should be about parental choice, parental freedom, and parental autonomy.” She adds, in classic progressive parlance, “I think the bottom line is that we shouldn’t be shoving our moral beliefs on other people.”

However, that is precisely what she does as she continues her interview with Douthat. He challenges her point that gene selection has become a moral imperative. Douthat says:

He adds, “You are running a business and you are saying it would be good to live in a society where the embryo that became my mother was assessed and ruled out of bounds.”

Siddiqui confesses, in response:

Siddiqui has no qualms about telling us what her grandmother and mother’s proper moral choice would have been.

She then praises the prospect, thanks to a directive from President Trump, that “IVF itself is something that is going to hopefully be covered for everyone.” She adds, “In addition to that, hopefully we’ll be able to get access to screening technologies like Orchid.” She is not shy about saying she wants her product fully funded too. “I think it’s something that in the very near future hopefully we’ll be able to mobilize enough excitement around so that it’s something that’s going to be covered for everyone.”

Then, this is where nobody would ever expect a New York Times writer to go, exactly where any good Christian ethicist should go. Douthat: “You are excited about a world in which lots and lots more babies than is the case right now are born from laboratory fertilization.” Given that, he asks Siddiqui the profound question: If her new moral imperative for artificial, disembodied procreation to ensure perfectly healthy babies becomes the norm, have we not lost something truly beautiful and human, the link between physical sexual communion and procreation?

Douthat then claims “podcaster’s privilege” and introduces a section of a poem by Galway Kinnell entitled “ After Making Love We Hear Footsteps: ”

Douthat, a father himself, gets emotional as he reads these last words, realizing the power and beauty of what Kinnell is describing. He apologizes for the vulnerability, then asks Siddiqui, “Do you worry about removing or diminishing from human experience that aspect of being a husband and a wife, in a relationship, with a child?”

It is indeed a profound humanistic question. Remarkably, the incredibly well-educated woman responds blankly, “ What do you mean ?”

How can she not know what he means? He is describing one of the most universal, beautiful truths of human experience. In the ideal, it is the mystery that brought each of us into the world. But her technological worldview has blinded her to the beauty the poet is describing. Sadly, those who listen to the false promise of technology’s siren song will also, in time, find themselves blind to the ineffable beauty. And we will all be much poorer for the loss.

But this blindness gives Douthat the opportunity to shine a light. He says directly:

In the new moral imperative, created by technology’s bold promise of ever-healthy babies guaranteed free from all maladies, great and small, Douthat asks, “I’m wondering if you think anything would actually be lost if that goes away?”

He adds, “If 90 percent of babies are born through IVF, and having sex and having a baby out of that becomes this weird thing that the Amish do, aren’t you pushing some really intimate and important aspect of human experience out of human experience?”

Siddiqui flippantly answers with a quip she has clearly used in marketing pitches many times over: “Sex is for fun; Orchid and embryo screening is for babies.”

Douthat then admits, “Yes, I didn’t want to quote that to you because I thought it was so ridiculous.” He is exactly right, because it is so anti-human. We all know sex is so much more than just “fun.” But fertility technology turns this fruitful love into another commodity to be customized. In Siddiqui’s world, children are not a gift to be received with wonder and curiosity, but another product to be optimized in order to fulfill adult wishes. We have Amazon for that. We don’t need to subvert human reproduction in the same manner.

Siddiqui must know she has been challenged by a more honest and true view of human procreation, so she doubles down and becomes morally manipulative. The very thing she just warned us we should never do to one another.

Feeling as if she must soften her landing, though, she offers more happy marketing talk. “I think it’s their personal choice, and I think freedom and choice is what makes America a great place to live and to be.”

Douthat, realizing his listeners had just gotten an all too chilling picture of where fee-based technologized disembodied procreation is taking us, thanked his guest for joining him.

Glenn T. Stanton is the director of global family formation studies at Focus on the Family and a regular contributor to World Opinions and The Federalist.

The post Babies, Made to Order: The New York Times Sounds the Reproductive Technology Alarm appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

SHOCKING: Number of lives lost to IVF now surpasses those lost to abortion

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:37:00 GMT

By: Nancy Flanders, originally published November 9, 2025, LiveAction.org

A report released by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) earlier this year exposed a dark reality of in vitro fertilization (IVF): in adults’ quest to create children, most of the children they create using IVF will not survive .

As the number of IVF cycles increases year after year, so does the number of lives lost to the process — and it’s staggering. The total number of lives lost as a result of IVF is now surpassing the number of lives lost to induced, elective abortion each year.

Key Takeaways:

More children are now dying from the IVF process than are dying from abortion in the U.S.
In 2023, there were 432,641 IVF cycles at 371 reporting clinics, but only 95,860 babies were born.
That year, an estimated 1,946,884 embryos did not survive to be implanted, and another 1,759,664 were either frozen, destroyed, donated to research, or released for embryo adoption.
In comparison, there were 1,037,000 abortions in the US in 2023.

The Details:

According to SART, which is an affiliate of the pro-abortion American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the number of IVF cycles carried out in the US continues to rise at a faster rate than the number of live births associated with IVF.

In 2023, the number of IVF cycles carried out at the 371 reporting SART member clinics reached 432,641, an increase of nearly 11% from 2022 (389,993). But the number of babies born from IVF totalled just 95,860, an increase of only 4.45% from 2022 (91,771 in 2022) — a small fraction of the number of embryos created. Where are all of those other children?

Reproductive Medicine Associates offers this chart detailing an example of the process:

For comparison, the IVF company Alfie offers this breakdown :

Based on these charts, there is an average of 10-12 embryos created per IVF cycle, but fertility businesses often list anywhere from seven embryos up to as many as 17 per cycle. Using a conservative nine embryos as the average number created per cycle, at 432,641 cycles, that totals about 3,893,769 embryos created via IVF in 2023 alone. Yet only 95,860 babies were born.

Here’s how those numbers break down. Up to half of the original 3,893,769, likely did not survive beyond the next two stages: the blastocyst stage and the genetic testing stage. The embryos were graded and labeled during testing, and those not deemed healthy enough were automatically destroyed.

That’s about 1,946,884 embryos who died or were deliberately killed without being given a chance to be implanted.

Of the remaining estimate of 1,946,884, SART states that 91,360 were automatically “banked” for “future use,” as was the parents’ plan when they began the process. We also know that after being graded, labeled, selected, and transferred, only 95,860 survived to birth.

That leaves 1,759,664 human embryos unaccounted for. They survived to the blastocyst stage and passed genetic testing, but they were then either miscarried, destroyed, donated to researchers (and ultimately destroyed), released for embryo adoption ( just 1-6% ), or are frozen indefinitely. The data don’t tell us, but we can estimate that at least 1.9 million died before even making it to the implantation or freezing stage of the IVF process, and another 1.7 million are not statistically accounted for.

In comparison, according to Guttmacher, 1,037,880 abortions were committed in the US in 2023.

Why It Matters:

The number of humans dying during the IVF process each year has surpassed the number of humans dying from abortion each year in the US.

The mere fact that half of the IVF embryos won’t make it beyond the initial first steps after fertilization, including the health screening, should be enough to prove that IVF is not about creating life but about controlling it, determining which lives are accepted as valuable and worthy and which are automatically destroyed for being deemed ‘subpar.’

A process marketed as “pro-life” can never involve the deliberate destruction of human life. No human being deserves to be graded, labeled, and destroyed for not living up to expectations or to be treated as a commodity aimed at fulfilling a fertility clinic’s desire to give clients a “quality product.”

Nancy Flanders is Associate Editor for Live Action News.

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Southwest Ohio: Ground Zero for Abortion Expansion After Planned Parenthood Takeover

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:07:00 GMT

Read it and weep……and PRAY and FAST!

Less than one year ago, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio (With Nan Whaley at the helm) acquired Martin Haskell’s notorious Women’s Med Center in Kettering, OH — one of the most infamous late-term abortion facilities in the nation — and moved swiftly to rebrand and expand abortion in southwest Ohio. The timing was no accident. With the tragic passage of Issue 1 in November 2023, abortion is now enshrined in Ohio’s Constitution, and our region has rapidly become a hotbed for abortion tourism.

Planned Parenthood Cincinnati and the former Women’s Med Center now function as a combined operation, sharing abortionists and coordinating pre-born child deaths. And the data coming from the Ohio Department of Health’s monthly abortion dashboard paints a grim, heartbreaking picture from these businesses of pain, suffering, and death.

A Staggering Spike in Kettering Abortions

In only the second month of the new Ohio Abortion Dashboard’s release, southwest Ohio is experiencing what can only be described as an all-out bloodbath.

Kettering abortions (Women’s Med/Planned Parenthood):
September: 228
October: 946
(An increase of more than 400% in a single month.)

Cincinnati abortions (Planned Parenthood Mt. Auburn):
September: 429
October: 422
(Essentially unchanged.)

And here is one of the most shocking findings:

In southwest Ohio, Planned Parenthood committed an average of 60 abortions every single business day in October — 1,368 abortions in just 23 business days.

This level of intentional killing of pre-born children is unprecedented in our region’s history.

Why the Surge in Kettering?

The contrast raises a pressing question:

Why did Kettering’s abortions skyrocket while Cincinnati’s remained stable?

Is the abortion business intentionally funneling vulnerable, frightened mothers to Kettering — away from the strong, visible pro-life presence in Cincinnati?

Cincinnati’s Presence Matters

Cincinnati has a robust sidewalk-advocacy community, a consistent year-round pro-life presence, and recently completed our third 24-hour 40 Days for Life campaign. Mothers encounter peaceful, prayerful support and immediate alternatives.

The abortion industry knows this — and avoids it whenever possible.

What About Dayton?

Dayton Right to Life also maintains a committed presence outside the Kettering facility and fights tirelessly to protect mothers and babies. This makes the October surge even more shocking. Why would pre-born child deaths in Kettering more than quadruple in one month when both cities have active pro-life outreach?

Some possible explanations demand further investigation:

Planned Parenthood’s acquisition created a unified regional network, allowing them to direct mothers to whichever location maximizes profit and minimizes pro-life visibility.
The rebranded Dayton facility may now be marketed more aggressively to out-of-state women seeking quick abortions with fewer questions.
The abortion industry may be shifting high-volume operations to Kettering while keeping Cincinnati’s numbers stable to avoid public scrutiny.

Whatever the reasons, the trend is unmistakable:

Southwest Ohio is now a prime destination for abortion tourism—and the consequences are deadly.

A Call to Action

The pro-life movement in both Cincinnati and Dayton must remain united, vigilant, and determined. Planned Parenthood’s expansion is strategic, well-funded, and ruthless in its pursuit of increased abortion numbers. Our region has become the abortion capital of the Midwest.

The data is clear. The crisis is real. And the need for prayer, outreach, and advocacy has never been greater. Lord have mercy!

The post Southwest Ohio: Ground Zero for Abortion Expansion After Planned Parenthood Takeover appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Post-Shutdown Debate Sharpens Over Abortion Restrictions in Obamacare Subsidies

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:48:00 GMT

As Congress considers extending Obamacare subsidies following the government shutdown, a new fault line has emerged: Should these subsidies be subject to Hyde Amendment protections that prevent taxpayer-funded abortion?

Pro-life lawmakers say yes — and warn that without clear restrictions, Obamacare continues to operate with loopholes that allow federal dollars to support abortion coverage. Because Obamacare funding bypasses the normal appropriations process, the law was originally crafted without Hyde language, leaving consumers in plans that may cover abortion without transparency.

Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune, insist that any subsidy extension must include Hyde-like safeguards. New legislation from Senators John Boozman and Roger Wicker would explicitly bar insurers from using federal subsidies for abortion and require clear billing for any abortion-related coverage.

Ohio’s congressional delegation reflects the national divide.

Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH), who held a press conference inside Cincinnati’s Planned Parenthood this summer, criticized the push for pro-life restrictions, telling the Washington Examiner that it is “frustrating.”

“I think they should let people just have their healthcare… They continue to put up roadblock after roadblock after roadblock, and voters hate it.”

In sharp contrast, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) defended Hyde protections and rejected expanding Obamacare subsidies without them:

“The ACA subsidies should not be extended for many reasons, but especially if they are not subject to the Hyde Amendment. Taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund abortion.”

In October, Cincinnati Right to Life joined more than 120 pro-life organizations in signing a formal letter to Congress urging lawmakers to reject any extension of ACA subsidies without Hyde protections. The letter underscored that continuing subsidies under the current ACA structure would effectively force taxpayers to fund abortion — a direct violation of long-standing federal policy.

Cincinnati Right to Life extends sincere gratitude to our area lawmakers who entered this conversation and stood strong against allowing the extension of subsidies that could fund abortion . Their principled leadership — especially from those who publicly defended Hyde protections, such as Rep. Warren Davidson and Rep. David Taylor— ensures that the voices of Ohio’s pro-life families are heard in Washington.

At a time when federal policy debates often blur moral lines, their willingness to speak clearly and courageously for mothers and their unborn children is deeply appreciated.

The post-shutdown debate over Obamacare subsidies is an opportunity for Congress to reaffirm that taxpayer dollars should never be used to end the life of an unborn child. By insisting on Hyde-style protections, pro-life lawmakers are defending both the conscience rights of Americans and the dignity of vulnerable children and their mothers.

Cincinnati Right to Life will continue to stand firmly for policies that honor life — and we thank those leaders who do the same.

The post Post-Shutdown Debate Sharpens Over Abortion Restrictions in Obamacare Subsidies appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Ohio Doctor Suspended After Forcing His Girlfriend to Take Abortion Pills

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:43:00 GMT

By: Steven Ertelt, originally published November 11, 2025, LifeNews.com

A University of Toledo Medical Center surgery resident has been suspended from practicing medicine in Ohio after admitting to secretly obtaining and administering abortion drugs to a pregnant woman.

The Ohio State Medical Board on November 5 issued an emergency suspension of Dr. Hassan-James Abbas’ medical license, finding “clear and convincing evidence” that his actions posed “an immediate danger” to the public.

The board’s notice detailed Abbas’ alleged use of his estranged wife’s personal information to order the drugs and his subsequent forcible administration of them to his girlfriend, who had refused an abortion.

The woman, who is seeking a protective order against Abbas, described the ordeal as a violation of her autonomy and health. And she’s concerned the University of Toledo didn’t take the abortion assault on her seriously.

“I think it’s important for people to know that UTMC says they hold their employees to the highest standards; however, they have had this information since the beginning of this year and they chose to still employ him and not place him on leave until now,” she told the AP.

Abbas, 32, began a romantic relationship with the woman, identified in board documents as Patient 1, after separating from his wife in October 2024. She informed him of her pregnancy, and he urged her to have an abortion, according to the board’s findings. She refused.

The next day, Abbas ordered mifepristone and misoprostol —the drugs used to kill babies in abortions— from an out-of-state abortion pill seller. He placed the order using his estranged wife’s name, date of birth and driver’s license number without her consent, while charging his own credit card and directing delivery to his address.

A week later, the woman awoke to find Abbas physically restraining her. He allegedly held her down, forced crushed abortion medication into her mouth and ignored her resistance. She fought free, fled to the kitchen and called 911, but Abbas seized her phone and ended the call, the board’s notice stated. A hang-up call was logged at 4:50 a.m.

The woman drove herself to a hospital emergency department, arriving at 5:59 a.m. Her chief complaint was documented as an assault.

In a July interview with board investigators, Abbas admitted researching and ordering the abortion drugs after learning of the pregnancy. He confessed to using his estranged wife’s identifying information without permission, crushing the pills to dissolve faster and deviating from administration instructions based on his own judgment.

Abbas claimed the woman had agreed to take the medication but acknowledged forcibly administering it around 4 a.m., taking her phone to end the 911 call and discarding the remaining pills by throwing them out his car window on the way to work

The board alleged Abbas violated Ohio law by prescribing and administering drugs for non-therapeutic purposes, committing felonies including identity fraud, deception to obtain a dangerous drug, unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug, abduction, disrupting public services and tampering with evidence.

Abbas has 30 days to request a hearing. The board could revoke his license permanently, barring him from ever practicing in Ohio, and impose fines up to $20,000. The suspension passed with all members voting in favor except one abstention.

UTMC placed Abbas on administrative leave after the suspension.

“Dr. Hassan Abbas, a surgical resident at The University of Toledo, was placed on administrative leave after the State Medical Board of Ohio suspended his license on Wednesday, Nov. 5,” the hospital said in a statement.

Lucas County Sheriff’s Office search warrants from late December 2024 and early January 2025 targeted Abbas’ family home, citing suspicions of attempted murder, assault and disrupting public services. One warrant sought evidence related to the misoprostol purchase via Abbas’ computer. No criminal charges have been filed, Sheriff Mike Navarre said.

Ohio Right to Life Executive Director Carrie Snyder emailed LifeNews about the case:

“These allegations against the doctor are sickening and frightening, and highlight one of the many dangers women face from abortion drugs. Beyond the potential serious medical complications from taking the drugs, women face the unknown danger of a partner acquiring abortion pills and attempting to give them the drugs without their knowledge or consent.”

“If the allegations are true, this is attempted murder, plain and simple.”

“Radical activist judges in Ohio have continued to block Ohio laws that would limit easy access to abortion pills. They bear some responsibility for this. We look forward to the Ohio Supreme Court overturning the lower court ruling. In the meantime, Ohio Right to Life calls on the legislature to pass HB 324, the Patient Protection Act, which would prevent situations like this from happening by restoring common sense laws in the prescription of the dangerous abortion drug mifepristone. We will also pursue other ways to restore the protections of women which have been stripped away by judges who are subverting the will of Ohio voters.”

Steven Ertelt is the Founder and Editor of LifeNews.com.

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Ohio Baby Box in Clermont County Saves a Life as Hamilton, OH Installs First Safe Haven Baby Box

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:35:00 GMT

A newborn was recently and safely surrendered at the Union Township Fire Station in Clermont County, Ohio—another life saved through the Safe Haven Baby Box program. Founder Monica Kelsey confirmed the surrender, noting that the child was healthy and that every baby placed through their boxes has been adopted.

This lifesaving news comes just days after Hamilton installed its first Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station #22, the 395th box in the United States and the first in Butler County. The Safe Haven organization reports 71 newborns have been rescued nationwide.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes offer a secure, legal option for mothers in crisis. The temperature-controlled boxes lock once a baby is placed inside, giving the mother time to leave safely before an alarm alerts first responders. Babies are then taken to a hospital for care and placed in state custody, where they are typically adopted quickly.

This surrender is a powerful reminder that abortion is never necessary. Every child is a wanted child, and there is always a family ready to love and welcome a newborn. The brave birth mother who chose life provided a plan for her child’s future—one rooted in hope, safety, and dignity. Her decision reflects the courage and compassion that Safe Haven laws are designed to support.

Ohio law allows mothers to legally surrender unharmed newborns 30 days old or younger at baby boxes, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and EMS providers. Ohio’s first Safe Haven Baby Box surrender occurred last December in Lebanon, demonstrating the ongoing importance of these resources.

The Safe Haven National Hotline—1-866-99BABY1—is available 24/7 for confidential counseling and information.

Cincinnati Right to Life remains committed to defending life and supporting mothers by promoting safe surrender options, pregnancy care resources, and compassionate alternatives to abortion.

The post Ohio Baby Box in Clermont County Saves a Life as Hamilton, OH Installs First Safe Haven Baby Box appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Infant Surrendered To Ohio Safe Haven Baby Box

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:49:00 GMT

By: Katherine Hamilton, originally published November 11, 2025, Breitbart.com

A newborn was surrendered to a Safe Haven Baby Box at a fire station in Clermont County, Ohio.

“The circumstances surrounding the surrender at Union Township — we needed to keep this as quiet as possible,” Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey said, according to Local12.

Kelsey said the infant was surrendered several months ago at the Union Township Fire Station. Fire Chief Austin Clements told the local news outlet the baby was healthy, and he is grateful the community has a resource for struggling mothers.

“Clements said that firefighters followed procedure, handing the case over to the Department of Family Services. Out of respect for privacy, they can’t discuss the specifics of the outcome. However, Kelsey says every baby that’s come through their program has been adopted,” according to the report.

Baby boxes were created to deter parents from abandoning their newborns in unsafe conditions, potentially leaving them to die. Baby boxes are temperature-controlled incubators often built into exterior walls of fire stations, police stations, and hospitals that can be accessed from inside. At-risk mothers can safely and legally place their newborns inside. Once the baby is inside the baby box the outside door locks and the mother has time to leave before an alarm goes off alerting first responders or hospital staff to the child’s presence.

The baby is then quickly removed and sent to a hospital for a wellness check. From there, the infant is usually placed into state custody and is often adopted quickly.

In Ohio, unharmed infants up to 30 days old may be legally surrendered to baby boxes, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and EMS providers, according to the organization.

Ohio saw its first Safe Haven Baby Box surrender last December when a baby girl was left at a box at a fire station in Lebanon. The latest surrender occurred before a new baby box was unveiled at Fire Station #22 on Tuesday in Hamilton, according to the report.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes also has a confidential National Safe Haven Hotline, 1-866-99BABY1, that provides free counseling and information about safe surrenders, including face-to-face surrenders.

Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News.

The post Infant Surrendered To Ohio Safe Haven Baby Box appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Pro-Abortion Culture, Not Just Abortion Itself, Is Dangerous And Deadly For Women

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:43:00 GMT

By: Jordan Boyd, originally published November 5, 2025, The Federalist

The repercussions of radical abortion culture ultimately ripped a teen mom and her baby away from the world.

Pro-abortion policies and the politically motivated weakening of abortion safeguards are responsible for much harm to women and babies. Less emphasized, however, are the dangerous and deadly consequences those same women and babies suffer due to our increasingly pro-abortion culture.

One such example cropped up last week in Florida, where a 23-year-old man could face the death penalty after he was convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend because she did not abort her unborn baby.

A jury found Donovan Faison guilty of first-degree murder, killing an unborn child, and burglary last week after they concluded he “lured” and shot 18-year-old Kaylin Fiengo and her baby in her Nissan Versa during a pre-planned meeting at Coastline Park in Sanford, Florida in 2022. Crime scene investigators reported that Fiengo died next to an ultrasound image of her child .

Fiengo had recently informed Faison with a texted picture of two positive pregnancy tests that she was expecting. Faison not only “erupted” at the news but immediately demanded Fiengo get an “Abortion!!!”

According to the prosecutors, text messages obtained from Faison’s phone suggest he was “angry and felt pressured because he was living with another woman who suspected him of cheating.” In one conversation, Faison appeared to inform his friend he intended to “crop [Fiengo] out.”

There’s no doubt that widespread promotion of abortion for all at any time gives cowardly, sexually degenerate men an out when pregnancy comes into play. When abortifacients abound, men can use Plan B , mail-order mifepristone , or pressure to ensure they don’t have to be a loving and present husband and father. The predators, abusers , and child traffickers know to take advantage of the baby-killing industry’s deliberate laxities also benefit and profit from the prominence of abortion.

Women who show resistance to such tactics are punished with abortion pill poisonings or, in Fiengo’s case, murder. In fact, 70 percent of abortions are believed to be unwanted, coerced, or inconsistent with the mother’s values and desires.

Because of our culture’s forgiving and even welcoming posture towards abortion, countless babies have died, and the women who wanted them have suffered abortion pill poisonings or coerced abortions that caused them physical, mental, and emotional harm.

This death culture is not limited to Democrat states or marches swamped with pink genital hats. Faison’s hasty “Abortion!!!” reply to Fiengo’s positive pregnancy test text confirms the prominence of “abortion or else” has easily taken hold in pro-life states such as Florida, which passed a 15-week ban on abortions the same year Fiengo was murdered around 14 weeks gestation.

Abortion activists and their abortion-for-all allies in the Democrat party like to pretend that ending an unborn baby’s life is a “choice.” For babies who are aborted before they even had a chance to take a breath, there was no choice. For women like Fiengo, who are harmed and even die because they wanted to protect the little lives in their wombs, there was no choice. In fact, it was Fiengo’s opposition to aborting her unborn baby that motivated Faison to murder her in the first place.

Abortion certainly would have yielded physical, mental, and emotional distress for Fiengo and her family had it happened. Yet, it was the repercussions of radical abortion culture, not even abortion, that ultimately ripped the teen mom and her baby away from the world and left her family, friends, and community to mourn the consequences .

Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and producer of The Federalist Radio Hour.

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Honoring Our Veterans: Guardians of Freedom and the Sanctity of Life

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:33:00 GMT

Today and every day, we pause to thank the brave men and women who have served our nation — our veterans. Their courage, sacrifice, and steadfast devotion have safeguarded the freedoms that define the American spirit. Because of them, generations have lived with the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Our veterans stood ready to defend our homeland, often far from their own homes and families, so that others could live safely and freely on American soil. Their service reminds us that freedom is never free — it is earned and preserved through courage, sacrifice, and faith.

Without their sacrifice, we would not have the opportunity to proclaim our belief that all men are created equal — born and unborn — each endowed by our Creator with the right to life. Their defense of liberty allows us to continue the mission of protecting the most vulnerable among us, from conception to natural death.

As we work in our own communities to protect life and uphold the values that make our nation strong, we do so on the very soil secured by their bravery. Let us pray for our veterans, honor their legacy, and thank each one for their part in keeping America free.

May God bless our veterans, their families, and this great nation they have served so faithfully.

Read a beautiful story of LIFE CHOSEN from a U.S. Service Member!

The post Honoring Our Veterans: Guardians of Freedom and the Sanctity of Life appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Ohio’s New Abortion Dashboard Reveals Startling Numbers

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:30:00 GMT

When Governor Mike DeWine signed the state budget this summer, one of the included provisions was an update to Ohio’s abortion reporting system. This new online dashboard —launched in September—offers monthly abortion data, providing greater transparency into what is happening in our communities.

According to the most recent numbers, published in mid-October, 429 abortions were committed in Hamilton County in September 2025. If we can rely on these numbers—reported by the abortion industry itself—that means more than 105 abortions per week, or about 26 each day. Every hour, four precious babies lost their lives inside the massive abortion facility on Auburn Avenue.

Hamilton County now has the second-highest number of abortions in the state, behind only Cuyahoga County. Sadly, this comes as no surprise to Cincinnati Right to Life. Our team and volunteers regularly witness out-of-state cars filling the driveway and parking lot of this for-profit business, as mothers are drawn in from across the region.

Yet even in the face of this reality, there is hope. Our faithful sidewalk advocates continue to stand in love outside this facility of death, offering truth, compassion, and life to all who will listen. Many cars have turned away before entering, and mothers have been guided to one of the outstanding pregnancy centers in our city—places where real help, hope, and healing await. Each “turn-away” represents a life spared and a mother spared from untold pain.

These numbers are heartbreaking. But they remind us of our mission and calling. We can—and must—do better. Together, we can be an extension of love and mercy to mothers in crisis, offering hope, support, and life-giving alternatives.

Let’s continue to pray, to act, and to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

The post Ohio’s New Abortion Dashboard Reveals Startling Numbers appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Nebraska Defunds Planned Parenthood – Ohio Pro-Lifers Urge Governor DeWine to Follow Suit

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:25:00 GMT

Nebraska has become the latest state to take bold action to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding South Carolina’s similar policy.

Last week, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed an executive order prohibiting abortion providers from receiving state tax dollars. According to data from the governor’s office, Nebraska’s Medicaid program paid $172,164 in fiscal year 2024 and $341,972 in fiscal year 2025 to abortion providers for so-called “non-abortion services.” While these payments were not for abortion procedures, they effectively subsidized facilities that profit from ending innocent preborn lives.

Governor Pillen reaffirmed his commitment to life, saying his administration “will always stand for the dignity of life and the protection of the unborn.” His leadership follows South Carolina’s successful defense of its right to cut off state funds to abortion providers — a major victory for the pro-life movement nationwide.

Ohio Must Act Next

Here in Ohio, pro-life leaders are calling on Governor Mike DeWine to take similar action. Reports indicate that over $15 million in state Medicaid reimbursements have gone to abortion providers in recent years — funds that could be redirected to life-affirming healthcare providers who truly serve mothers and babies.

Cincinnati Right to Life (CRTL), along with other leading pro-life organizations across the state, has been at the forefront of this effort. CRTL recently sent a formal letter to Governor DeWine urging him to end taxpayer funding of abortion businesses. In addition, CRTL and partner organizations have launched a statewide petition campaign calling for Ohio to defund Planned Parenthood and all abortion providers once and for all.

“Ohio families should not be forced to bankroll the abortion industry,” said Laura Strietmann, Executive Director of Cincinnati RTL. “Our tax dollars must reflect our values — and that means funding providers that protect life, not end it.”

A Turning Tide for Life

As Nebraska, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and other pro-life states take courageous steps to separate taxpayer funding from abortion providers, Ohio has a vital opportunity to join this growing movement.

Cincinnati Right to Life urges all Ohioans who value life to contact Governor DeWine and add their names to the petition demanding that Ohio follow Nebraska’s example.

Together, we can ensure that no Ohio tax dollar ever supports the destruction of human life.

The post Nebraska Defunds Planned Parenthood – Ohio Pro-Lifers Urge Governor DeWine to Follow Suit appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

The Moral Truth About IVF and Surrogacy

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:28:00 GMT

By: Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, originally published November 10, 2025, Human Life International

Earlier this summer, authorities raided a mansion in Arcadia, California. There they found 21 children, almost all of whom were born through surrogacy.

Police say the case began in May, when a two-month-old infant was hospitalized with severe head injuries. A subsequent search of the couple’s home uncovered 15 children, with six more found in nearby residences.

The legal parents, 38-year-old Silvia Zhang and 65-year-old Guojun Xuan, were arrested on felony child endangerment and neglect charges.

Investigators allege the couple operated an unregulated surrogacy scheme, employing numerous surrogate mothers, many of whom were unaware of the full scope of the operation.

“It’s horrific, it’s disturbing, it’s damaging emotionally,” said Kayla Elliot, one of the surrogate mothers hired by Zhang and Xuan. Elliot believed that she was helping an infertile couple have a child. In reality, she was conned by a couple with deep connections to organized crime.

Officials say Zhang was listed as the mother on multiple birth certificates, and the pair may have been running what one investigator described as a “baby mill” under the guise of private surrogacy.

Police also said that evidence suggested that the nanny, 56-year-old Chunmei Li, had verbally and physically abused the children. Video footage reportedly shows her violently shaking one infant.

All 21 children, most between the ages of one and three, are now in protective custody with Los Angeles County child services. Meanwhile, federal and state investigators, including the FBI, are examining whether the couple’s activities violated surrogacy laws, human trafficking statutes, or financial regulations.

Common Abuse

As disturbing as this story is, it only scratches the surface of the abuses being perpetrated the world over by the surrogacy industry.

And I use the term “industry” advisedly. If you were to listen to many pro-surrogacy advocates, you would think that surrogacy is always, or nearly always, a matter of charity and compassion. Surrogacy is sold under the premise that surrogate mothers are almost always kindly women seeking to aid infertile couples to achieve their dream of becoming parents in the face of heartbreaking infertility.

In reality, surrogate mothers are often vulnerable women from impoverished circumstances, who are so desperate that they will undergo the hardships and humiliations involved in selling their bodies as incubators, “carriers” to make a living.

Surrogacy agencies are often run by unscrupulous operators whose overriding interest is snagging lucrative agreements with foreign “buyers,” and minimizing costs so as to maximize profits. And while the “parents” who pay the surrogate to carry their child are sometimes well-intentioned couples suffering from infertility, in other cases they are same-sex couples, single individuals with questionable motives, or shallow women who simply wish to outsource the difficult aspects of pregnancy onto a third party.

Kallie Fell, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Bioethics & Culture Network, told NBC News that experiences like that of Elliott are not uncommon. She said she has spoken with “hundreds” of surrogate mothers who shared with her (in the words of NBC News) “nightmare scenarios.”

“There’s so many ways these kinds of things can go sideways, and no amount of law will protect a woman or child, because surrogate pregnancies are high-risk by nature,” she said.

Exploitation of Vulnerable Women Worldwide

Many of the worst stories of abuses involving surrogacy come from the developing world, or jurisdictions that are generally known for lax regulations.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for example, the massive surrogacy industry in Ukraine received global attention. With Russian tanks bearing down on Kiev, surrogacy agencies were sent into a panic mode, as they sought ways to ensure that children born to surrogates were able to be transferred to their intended parents.

That publicity shone a light on the murky world of commercialized surrogacy, in which women sell the use of their bodies for 9 months, and in which the patchwork legal framework can leave the surrogate mothers and their children in legal limbo.

However, as the California story illustrates, it would be a mistake to think that, just because the United States is a wealthy first-world nation that has at least put up a pretense of carefully regulating surrogacy, similar abuses don’t occur here.

In fact, even when surrogacy and artificial reproductive technologies (ARTs) work exactly as intended (though IVF and surrogacy are always illicit, see Donum vitae , Catechism of the Catholic Church , nos. 2376-79), they often take us into strange worlds that test our fundamental ethical instincts.

Moral Confusion of Love

Take, for instance, the case of MaryBeth Lewis, which recently received enormous media attention .

Lewis is 68 years old. In her twenties she married a pilot and had six daughters with him. However, she had a deep desire to continue having children. In her late 40s, she began using in vitro fertilization (IVF) to get pregnant. Ultimately, by means of IVF she gave birth to her 13 ^th child, when she was 62 years old.

Here, we are already far into the world of science fiction, with an advanced-middle-aged woman giving birth to children at a time in her life when she should be becoming a grandmother, and when the likelihood of her being able to live to see her children grow up is much diminished.

However, Lewis wasn’t done. She subsequently went to a surrogacy agency and contracted with a surrogate to carry twins for her. However, in order to accomplish this, she had to deceive the agency, regulators, and her husband.

When Lewis went to the hospital to collect the twins, she was told that they were being held in state custody. She has since spent $500,000 trying to retrieve the children, who not only were not carried by Lewis, but bear no biological relationship to Lewis or her husband.

So, whose children are these? Lewis’? The sperm donor’s? The egg donor’s? The surrogate mother? Who on earth is to say? How can anyone decide? Once again, the natural order of things has been so drastically subverted that it’s impossible to make heads or tales of the case.

The only thing we can say for sure, is that those poor children, whose rights were violated, should never have found themselves in this situation.

The Times’ report on Lewis’ situation portrays her motives in a positive light. “MaryBeth loves children. She always has,” they write. And indeed, in so many respects Lewis seems to be a tender-hearted, if deeply hurt individual.

Conceived in Love Not in a Lab

However, this is the inherent catch-22 of technologies like IVF and surrogacy (both morally unacceptable practices). There is no question that many people who resort to IVF or surrogacy are motivated by good, even commendable, desires to bring life into the world. And yet, there is clearly an inherent logic to certain technologies that cannot be overridden simply by having good intentions – “An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention. The end does not justify the means” ( Catechism of the Catholic Church , no. 1759; see also nos. 1755-1758).

IVF and surrogacy yank sacred matters out of their natural, sacred context, placing them firmly within the realm of science and technology. What ought to occur within the loving embrace of a husband and wife, becomes subject to the harsh glare of the laboratory, and in the process loses much of its sacredness.

To be clear, the resulting child is always sacred, having inherent human dignity. A child is in no way diminished by the means of his or her conception. However, this does not mean that the method is without consequences.

The Gift of Life

One of the tragic details in The Times’ profile of Lewis is that she seems to be a practicing, and indeed devout, Catholic. And yet, somehow, she seems not to have internalized the Church’s wisdom on this topic.

One of Lewis’ friends, Mona Meagher, wondered: “If she’s that staunch of a Catholic, then if God was done having her have babies naturally, why not stop, rather than go this route of fertilizing?”

It is a very good question.

This is why the Catholic Church teaches that there is no unilateral “right” to have a child by any means. Any such view is fatally one-sided, ignoring the “rights” that a child has (see Catechism of the Catholic Church , no. 2378). As the Vatican document Donum vitae puts it, in speaking about IVF, “These procedures are contrary to the human dignity proper to the embryo, and at the same time they are contrary to the right of every person to be conceived and to be born within marriage and from marriage” (§ 6).

Unfortunately, ignorance or outright bullheadedness on this issue is widespread not only within the broader culture, but also within the Church. Far too many Catholics have never heard the Church’s teachings on IVF, or if they have, pay them no heed. The Church states clearly that IVF is “morally unacceptable” because it separates the marriage act from procreation and establishes “the domination of technology” over human life ( The Catechism of the Catholic Church , no. 2377; see also Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services , nos. 38-43).

Policies Over People

The consequences of this ignorance and opposition are significant. A few weeks ago, the Trump administration announced that it would be following through on campaign promises to make IVF more affordable and accessible to Americans. Ostensibly, the purpose behind this policy is to aid the U.S. in addressing the growing fertility crisis, with women having fewer and fewer children with every passing year.

Unfortunately, expanding access to IVF is a totally wrong-headed response to this problem. I was very pleased that Bishop Michael Burbidge, the bishop of the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia (the diocese where Human Life International is situated) put out an excellent statement on the issue.

“‘Expanding access’ to IVF as described in this executive order is likely to unjustly promote IVF in a way that will result in the abandonment or death of millions of embryonic human persons,” the bishop said, “involve all taxpayers with a serious moral injustice, provide federal subsidies for already lucrative IVF businesses, and ignore the risks to parents and children of America’s broadly unregulated IVF industry.”

Life Is Precious

CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt also put out an excellent statement , compassionately but clearly addressing the fraught issue of IVF. “As Catholics who believe every human life begins at conception and deserves protection, we are deeply disappointed by the White House’s decision to promote IVF, a practice that routinely destroys or discards embryonic children in the name of ‘treatment,’” she said. “The longing for a child is holy, but a child can never be the product of a laboratory process that treats life as disposable.”

Reinhardt urged the Trump administration to invest in the kind of holistic healthcare that can in many cases heal the root causes of infertility (i.e., Restorative Reproductive Medicine). Unfortunately, such holistic healthcare is often overlooked by the healthcare system, in part because it is often much cheaper than costly IVF procedures, which produce massive profits for IVF providers. Healing, on the other hand, is far less lucrative.

“America should invest in medicine that heals, not in an industry that creates life only to discard it,” said Reinhardt. “True compassion respects both the dignity of the parents and the lives of their unborn children, every single one of them.”

Ban Surrogacy

I am in the very unusual position, in ending this column, of stating that every nation on earth must listen to the United Nations report on surrogacy.

The UN is hardly a bastion of conservative or pro-life values. And yet, even its Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, could not contain her horror in the face of what the surrogacy industry is doing to women and children.

“The practice of surrogacy is characterized by exploitation and violence against women and children, including girls,” she wrote in the recent report. “It reinforces patriarchal norms by commodifying and objectifying women’s bodies and exposing surrogate mothers and children to serious human rights violations.”

Alsalem minces no words in the conclusion to her report. States that are members of the United Nations, she says, should “take steps towards eradicating surrogacy in all its forms .”

I couldn’t put it better myself. Women deserve this. Children deserve this.

Fr. Shenan J. Boquet is president of Human Life International, and a leading expert on the international pro-life and family movement.

The post The Moral Truth About IVF and Surrogacy appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

How Respecting Women’s Biology Fosters A Culture of Life

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:47:00 GMT

By: Joy Pullmann, originally published October 31, 2025, The Federalist

Research shows that abortifacients, not lack of money, are the top driver of the world’s population bomb.

This is the written version of a speech the author gave in September at the Lutherans for Life annual conference.

According to demographer Nicholas Eberstadt, for the first time in human history since the bubonic plague in the medieval 1300s, global population is declining. The world’s fertility rate just hit a 60-year low , and it’s set to keep decreasing. The nations with replacement-rate fertility are largely terrible places where people die young, such as Somalia, the Congo, and Afghanistan.

The United States faces a population bomb of not too many people, but too few. We’re a slight outlier among Western nations in losing our population at a slightly slower rate, but only narrowly. And that’s entirely due to importing foreigners whose families require larger outlays from our welfare state and who mostly worship pagan gods.

Using foreigners to mask our population decline makes the nation’s problems worse, because it more quickly erases the traditional American Christian culture required to return to freedom under self-governance. It also is an anti-life policy because open borders facilitate child trafficking. Children who are trafficked are at much higher risk for early deaths via dangerous travel routes, abuse, and drug addictions. The Biden administration lost track of some 300,000 trafficked children, tens of thousands of whom authorities still can’t find.

Contrary to widespread claims that most people aren’t having enough kids because they don’t have enough money, the nations with the lowest birthrates are much wealthier than the nations with the highest birthrates. While money is certainly useful for raising children, all over the world and in U.S. history, people are and were much poorer while having many more children.

Indeed, and more to our point at a pro-life conference, research shows that abortifacients, not lack of money, are the top driver of the world’s population bomb. Because this is an area of deliberate confusion among abortion apologists such as our mass media and mass education ecosystems, let me be very clear about what I mean by abortifacients. I include in that term not just elective chemical abortions like Plan B, but also the vast majority of what we usually call contraceptives . The truth is, the Pill kills babies, too.

Contraception Is Killing Our Future

I thank God that years ago, when I was considering using a chemical contraceptive, I read articles by Dr. Donna Harrison, who also spoke here this week. In them, she explained science everyone in our country needs to know: Just about every form of chemical contraception may be able to cause abortions by starving a tiny embryo to death. The Pill can do this, and so can IUDs.

So, scientifically speaking, chemical contraception likely causes abortions. This means it is a scientific fact that chemical contraceptives are abortifacients. That means that for Christians, it is a grave moral evil to use these kinds of contraception. It also means our forefathers and foremothers were right in objecting to contraceptive use on other moral grounds, namely the refusal to welcome life within a marriage.

A minority of churches and pastors teach this, but they simply have to. Every Christian needs to know that he or she could become a murderer by using chemical contraception. For anyone grieved in his or her heart by learning or discussing these facts, I want to mention that God will always forgive you if you repent. Jesus Christ died for this sin, too.

The point here is that abortion is a lot bigger than even we prolifers often realize. It’s not just the estimated 63 million elective abortions performed in the United States between Roe v. Wade and Dobbs v. Jackson . There are likely tens of millions more that no one knows happened, simply as a result of the mass use of chemical contraception.

Reject The Anti-Human, Child-Free Way of Life

Contraception — or abortion — is now an unquestioned way of life for Americans, and increasingly people all over the world. This means hundreds of millions of lives and entire societies are built upon ensuring the deaths of tens of millions of tiny unknown children. Our entire ways of life, our cultural scripts and expectations, are built around the cornerstone that most women will use abortifacients, including most Christians.

And this cornerstone emanates from the ungodly demand from feminist ideology that we treat men and women as interchangeable, something I talk about in my recent book, False Flag . The truth is, men and women are not interchangeable. The Bible says, “Male and female He created them.”

As prolife Christians, we must work to establish Christian cultural scripts that welcome life. That starts with recognizing that men and women are different, and that the chief goal of any career or education is to serve a family, not an ego or bank account.

So let me talk about a few ways we need to change our ways of life to support a prolife culture that do not rest on the un-Christian and anti-life expectations that women will take abortifacients or that young people should prioritize starting families last. Every change we want needs to start with us, in our own lives, families, and churches.

Pushing Women Into a Male Life Script

A friend who is a professor at a Catholic university recently shared with me that the parents of female students come in insisting their daughters get the top classes, do sports and other efforts to get scholarships, have a clear path to a career upon graduation, make all the right internships, and select the best extracurriculars.

There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that. I believe a robust education can prepare women well for our primary vocations as wives and mothers. What’s wrong is what my friend told me was missing. He also said the parents of young men generally do not do the same kind of Type A hustle. This is weird, because if our society really wanted to support women, we would support women’s life-giving capacity, which means making space in young women’s lives not for full-time careers, but for full-time motherhood.

Nothing is wrong with women earning scholarships — I graduated college debt-free thanks to scholarships, and I’m very grateful to those who made that possible, because it made marriage after graduation so much easier with half the debt load. My husband and I had a faster path to saving a down payment for a house because of those scholarships.

And we needed a house pretty quick, because our six children were born within nine years, with the first arriving on our first anniversary. I was nursing babies for nearly ten years straight. I hardly remember anything about those years, as you can imagine. That taught me it’s cruel to ask women to be mothers and work full-time. Compassion for women and children means making it possible for women to mother their children.

If anyone gets pushed towards careers, it should be the men, not the women. Women should be encouraged towards motherhood and careers compatible with motherhood, and men towards fatherhood and careers that sustain fatherhood.

Women must be released from anti-woman, anti-family pressure to pursue careers in a manly fashion, which is to say full-time, full-throttle. I work part-time at The Federalist. What’s more, much of my work is flexible, so I can pause it for a bit if I have a sick child, family emergency, or fussy baby.

Separating Children from Mothers Hurts Us All

Women want these kinds of jobs, and they can be compatible with putting their families first, but many employers instead push nonfamily childcare as if children need mothers and fathers in exactly the same way. They don’t. Little children need their mothers physically present for the vast majority of their waking hours.

Although suppressed for political reasons, substantial research shows that children start showing signs of psychological and behavioral problems when their time away from their mother extends past 15 to 20 hours per week. This is why I have never had a babysitter more than six hours per week for my children, and my husband and I coordinate our schedules to care for our children ourselves.

We don’t really need research to tell us what simple observation and common sense can. First-grade and kindergarten teachers always know which children coming into their classrooms have gone to daycare or preschool, because they are more violent and emotionally dysregulated. Research also confirms this to be true.

This means churches should re-evaluate the daycare and preschool programs they offer. They should offer low-hours options, such as a few mornings or afternoons a week, and encourage families to use them instead of full-time care. Kindergarten and preschool should be half-day. Ideally, children would start formal schooling at age six — Finnish children start at age seven, and they are among the best-performing students in the world.

For children who must be in non-parent care much of their days, such as with a single mother who must support her family alone, churches should help place them with a family or at-home grandma rather than providing overstimulating center-based programs with large caregiver-to-child ratios and frequent staff turnover.

Christians should publicly advocate for government to support family-based care and for employers to accommodate children as much as they can while not going broke. Instead of offering to freeze women’s eggs and IVF procedures with high death counts for babies, we should encourage employers to offer part-time and flexible work to mothers whenever they can.

Men Need More Attention and Mentoring

Parents, teachers, pastors, and career counselors should steer young people into adulthood with as little debt as possible. It’s pretty easy now to encourage young people to avoid college debt. But there’s still a gap between people recognizing young people need that freedom and our society making it possible for men to earn a family-supporting wage by their mid-20s.

Parents should be at least as concerned about their sons’ career paths as they are about their daughters’, and they should be talking with their daughters about work differently than they do with their sons, because sons and daughters are different.

I’m not only using one anecdote to support that position, either. For decades now, young men have earned fewer college degrees of all kinds. We now have the largest population in American history of prime, working-age men with no disabilities who are not working. Of men aged 25 to 54, one in six is not working at all, and one in eight isn’t even looking for work. Research, also by Nicholas Eberstadt , shows that most of these men are spending their days playing video games and watching movies.

This is a complete reversal of what is good and natural. Our culture has everything backwards. We have large numbers of men refusing to provide for others and women refusing to provide children to anyone. Those are literally the linchpin roles that men and women, respectively, play in society as the natural outgrowth of our biological capacities. Men can’t bear children. Women can’t protect themselves or keep all the sewers and farms running as well as men can.

Woman-Run Schools Set Boys Up to Fail

Another way our ways of life stamp on human biology is that schools are set up as a woman’s world. But the truth is, the average boy doesn’t turn into a great man when he is raised mostly by women. We know this because boys raised without fathers always talk about that as a massive challenge they must battle, sometimes their entire lives. Boys become the best and strongest men through the mentorship of men.

Our society has decided to prioritize the mentorship of women, and ignore men. One harbinger of this is what used to be called the Boy Scouts, which is now Scouts because it admits both boys and girls. It seems the girls get two scouting organizations to choose from, and the boys get half of one.

Our churches must fill in this gap because it is a spiritual gap driven by a false theology that says men and women are the same. We need to encourage parents to raise their boys as boys, not as defective girls.

This means cheerful and meaningful discipline. Directing boys’ natural aggression into positive behaviors demands firm, loving, prompt discipline. Mothers need to listen to fathers about this and allow their husbands to administer such discipline instead of turning their sons into weaklings by getting in the way of their husbands’ instinctive knowledge of what boys need.

Our schools need to encourage boy-friendly pedagogy, such as memorizing facts, competition, recognizing excellence instead of blue ribbons for everyone, and seeking to employ male teachers who are paid a breadwinner wage. Our church body should not make it impossible for our schools to pay a breadwinner wage to men by burdening schools and churches with highly expensive health insurance and pension plans that take from the young to pay for the old.

Encourage Women to Put Family First

While it is very easy and popular in our society to beat up on lazy men, it is not as easy and popular to beat up on child-averse women who don’t respect men or their own biology. To be truly pro-life, we need to communicate to women that children are good, a blessing, that they are the only thing on earth we might be able to take with us to heaven, and that dedicating our lives to raising them is more meaningful than shuffling paper in an office.

It’s not prolife to communicate to your daughter that her womb needs to be chemically castrated with the Pill until she’s 35 and her ovaries start to decline. That communicates to her that money matters more than children, which is false. Children matter more than money, and where God gives children, he will provide for them.

We need to hear this in our catechism classes, in our schools, and from our pulpits. And when pastors lovingly rebuke women for the sins we tend to fall into, just as they also lovingly rebuke the men for theirs, women need to accept it and not make their pastor’s life miserable for telling us the truth.

As a church, we need to catechize our people better, especially about biological science. Every Christian child should know that chemical contraception can kill a human life and that this is wrong, and we must never participate in it. These are scientific and moral facts.

‘A Good Man Leaves an Inheritance’

And we must build a church culture that respects such facts of biology, and welcomes children rather than treating them like an obstacle and burden. The Bible teaches in Proverbs that “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”

We need to instruct our people in the stewardship of wealth that results in reversing American culture’s habit of enabling the old to steal from the young. It is the duty of the old to sacrifice for the young, of parents and grandparents to give up their comforts for the benefit of the children. God gives children partly to sanctify parents and grandparents and challenge our natural selfishness.

This doesn’t mean that children should be idols or that we should disregard the needs and weaknesses of old age, of course. The Bible commands families to care and provide for their own, and there are mutual duties of care between young and old — the old to nurture and provide for the young, and the young to return these gifts when the old no longer can provide for themselves. Being prolife obviously includes respecting the dignity of the aged.

But today the social contract is very lopsided against the young and in favor of the elderly, in an ungodly way. Here’s an uncomfortable example: Our society spends massive amounts of money trying to extend the lives of the elderly just a few more months when Christians are commanded not to fear death, and indeed that “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” While as a pro-life person I would never advocate killing the sick or elderly for any reason, it is not murder for people to die naturally when their time has come.

It is Christian to face death bravely and not spend your children’s inheritance trying to gain another few months or years after a full life because you fear death like a pagan. Money is not just an abstract concept; it represents part of someone’s life because people must give their time and labor to earn money. Taking someone else’s money is therefore taking a part of his life. And, as we prolifers know, it’s wrong to take someone’s life without his conviction for a capital crime.

So it is time for our pastors and theologians to develop and distribute Christian counsel about end-of-life situations that includes looking at whether it is consistent with Christian ethics to get a new heart transplant or triple-bypass surgery when one is elderly and without dependents.

I know this is a touchy subject, but it has to be brought up. Besides our nation’s unjust foreign wars and our unjust redistribution from those who work to those who will not, what’s bankrupting our children’s future is our health system that steals from the young and those who choose to be healthy on behalf of those who choose to be unhealthy and whose death is only slightly delayed with highly expensive treatments that quickly fail.

The top two costs driving up health insurance for families to half of the median family income just to be insured, not to receive any health care at all, are preventable illnesses like diabetes and obesity, and end-of-life interventions that cannot stop death. It is wrong to steal from young families to slightly prolong the life of someone whose responsibilities to his children are completed.

The Young Need What the Old Can Give

To those of you who are past childbearing years or are physically unable to grow children, but you worry about our culture’s hatred of life and the families who nurture it, I want you to know there is a lot you can do when your body cannot generate children. While I have just said some touchy things about old age, I’m going to end with some positive things about old age.

One of the things that drives me nuts is snide comments about boomers. These have become culturally acceptable. And sure, like everyone else, my parents’ generation has committed plenty of sins. But for Christians, those sins are covered by Jesus’ blood. That blood makes for peace between peoples, between mothers and the children who make their lives difficult (but also more holy), between men and women, between old and young.

The standard American ways of life for Boomers, Millennials, and Zoomers alike are hostile to our faith. But we can unite in seeing that and working to bring Christ’s mercy and forgiveness to every aspect of our daily lives.

The last one I’d like to leave you with is an encouragement about the great power that grandparents and the elderly have to benefit the lives of the young. Part of why I hate the anti-boomer rhetoric is because boomers are my parents, my aunts and uncles, my adopted grandparents at church. They are faithful, blessed, wonderful people who give to me and just about everyone they encounter. I want anyone who is a parent or grandparent here today to hear just how much power God has given you to bless the young, and not to be put off by the cultural messaging designed to make you feel ashamed of your age and vocations.

Boomers and Xers can make a difference not just by strategically deploying the unprecedented wealth they’ve laid up on behalf of the next generation, as the Bible commands. They can also make a difference in giving their time, hands, and friendship. Instead of fading away onto a golf course, parents and grandparents can lend a hand to lift the load of young parents and the otherwise needy in their families and churches.

Your lives matter, and you have a lot to offer that my generation and those younger need, even if sometimes we crab about it. Ignore the whining just like you would ignore the whining of a toddler, and perform your vocational duties to pass down your faith, your experience, your institutions, and your knowledge to the next generation. We need it, and we are grateful.

Demographic decline is not a sure death sentence to our culture. Data models can get a lot wrong, as we’ve seen with global warming and Covid projections. God is sovereign, and we should never be afraid to act on that reality. We have a future and a hope, and every life is an expression of eternity, because every human is made in God’s image.

Joy Pullmann is executive editor of The Federalist.

The post How Respecting Women’s Biology Fosters A Culture of Life appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Confirming Thomas Bell Could Bring Justice To The Aborted Babies Harvested For Parts

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:32:00 GMT

By: Ryan Navarro, originally published November 4, 2025, The Federalist

Bell’s confirmation would open the door to a thorough look at abortion facilities and their tangled relationships with researchers.

Arecent nomination hearing was held in the U.S. Senate in which lawmakers considered Thomas March Bell, a former fetal tissue investigator, for the inspector general role at the Department of Health and Human Services. The Senate Committee on Finance will now determine whether his nomination is advanced to the full Senate.

If confirmed, Bell will have the opportunity to revive a 2021 federal investigation into the University of Pittsburgh’s potentially illicit use of fetal tissue obtained from aborted babies. In one particularly gruesome study published in 2020, the scalps of second-trimester infants aborted at an affiliated hospital were sliced off and attached to mice and rats by Pitt researchers.

Bell was named in March to replace former HHS Inspector General Christi Grimm, whom President Trump fired in January. In a letter sent before the hearing to U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Democratic members demanded that Bell’s consideration be tabled, writing that Grimm’s removal by Trump was “unlawful and illegitimate.”

The members have been unhappy with Grimm’s potential replacement due to his criticism of how the abortion industry has conducted business. Between 2015 and 2017, Bell served as staff director and chief counsel for a House select panel examining the purported sale of fetal tissue for research in Planned Parenthood facilities, which have ties to the University of Pittsburgh.

During the hearing, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., criticized the Biden administration, stating that it “wouldn’t touch” abortion facility oversight, including whether facilities complied with proper medical procedures. Last year, Lankford cosponsored a bill aimed at ending the use of federal taxpayer funds for research involving human fetal tissue from abortions and closing legal loopholes that have enabled the trafficking of aborted fetal body parts. Bell said that he would “follow the law and follow the facts” when asked if he would track the issue.

The HHS-OIG investigation into Pitt’s fetal tissue research was initiated after suspicions of unlawful conduct — including claims of altered abortion procedures to obtain tissue — were detailed by Republican lawmakers in multiple letters to the Biden administration. The assertions were primarily based on a 2015 grant application submitted to the National Institutes of Health in which the university highlighted its ability to minimize the time between collecting fetal tissue and cooling it for storage.

Former Inspector General Grimm indicated that her office would follow up upon completion of the inquiry, and Pitt got out in front of the probe by hiring one of the university’s graduates and his law firm to conduct a regulatory assessment of the research studies involving fetal tissue. The effort seemed to pay off, as the federal investigation died off shortly after the law firm’s report , which claimed no serious wrongdoing, was published.

The law firm review’s most glaring omission was a failure to look into the nearby hospital, UPMC Magee-Womens, which contains one of the university’s tissue banks and provides fetal organs for the vast majority of Pitt studies. Allegations of partial-birth abortions and the harvesting of fetal organs to enhance research outcomes went unexamined, according to the final report. Bell’s confirmation would open the door to a thorough look at this facility and its tangled relationship with the university.

Shortly after nominating Bell earlier this year, President Trump announced that his administration planned to “look into” the harvesting of aborted baby organs. His National Institutes of Health director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, vowed during his Senate hearing that he would discontinue the use of aborted fetal tissue in grants funded through the agency.

So far, the administration appears to be following through. Last month, the NIH pledged that more than a dozen human fetal tissue projects initiated by the Biden administration and intended to continue into next year would not be renewed. The University of Pittsburgh has been a major recipient of NIH funding, currently ranking sixth in the country for research dollars among all colleges and universities.

Ryan Navarro is a therapist in Pittsburgh who formerly interned and worked at UPMC.

The post Confirming Thomas Bell Could Bring Justice To The Aborted Babies Harvested For Parts appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

All Saints’ Day: Our Playbook for Defending Life in Ohio and Beyond

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:02:00 GMT

Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

On All Saints’ Day, we remember that our mission to defend life is not merely political—it is spiritual. In every generation, God raises up men and women who bear witness to the truth that every human person is sacred. These examples of pro-life heroes and their courage, humility, and faith form a kind of heavenly playbook for how we must live and lead in our own time.

As we work to defend life here in Ohio and beyond, we face challenges that are both legislative and deeply moral. The saints remind us that we cannot win this battle by strategy alone—we must win it through holiness. Whether as parents, doctors, teachers, lawyers, scientists, or public leaders, each of us is called to be a light in the darkness.

Blessed Karl of Austria (1887–1922): A Political Leader Who Never Wavered from the Truth

Blessed Karl of Austria, the last emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, sought to rule as a faithful servant of Christ during a time of war and upheaval. He viewed his political office not as a privilege, but as a sacred duty entrusted to him by God.

Even as his empire fell apart, Karl remained steadfast in his moral convictions. He promoted peace, defended the sanctity of marriage and family life, and refused to compromise his faith for political gain. His life reminds us that true leadership begins with obedience to truth—a lesson that resonates deeply today, as our society struggles to remember that moral integrity must come before power.

For those engaged in the pro-life mission within civic and political life, Blessed Karl stands as a shining model: courage without arrogance, faith without fear, and service rooted in love for God and neighbor.

St. Thomas More (1478–1535): Standing for Truth Against Power

St. Thomas More, another statesman and martyr, refused to betray his conscience, even when pressured by the king himself. Like Blessed Karl, he placed fidelity to God’s truth above worldly success. His courage reminds us that conscience—formed in truth—is our strongest weapon in the defense of life and freedom.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922–1962): The Heroism of a Mother’s Love

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a physician, wife, and mother, chose life for her preborn child even at the cost of her own. Her sacrificial love mirrors the heart of the pro-life movement: that every human life, no matter how fragile, is worth protecting.

Servant of God Jérôme Lejeune (1926–1994): The Scientist Who Defended the Least

Servant of God Jérôme Lejeune, the French geneticist who discovered the cause of Down syndrome, stood courageously against abortion when his discovery was used to justify it. “Tonight,” he told his wife after speaking against abortion at an awards banquet, “I lost my Nobel Prize.”

His example shows that faith and science are not enemies—but allies in the defense of truth and human dignity.

Servant of God Dorothy Day (1897–1980): Redeemed by Mercy, Champion of the Poor

Before her conversion, Dorothy Day experienced an abortion—an act she later deeply regretted. Yet, through God’s mercy, she was transformed into one of the Church’s greatest witnesses to compassion and justice.

Her life is a testament to the healing grace of God, showing that those who have experienced abortion are not excluded from the pro-life movement—they are often its most powerful witnesses.

St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941): Love Stronger Than Death

At Auschwitz, St. Maximilian Kolbe offered his life in place of another man, a husband and father, condemned to die. His sacrifice revealed the unbreakable dignity of every person, even amid the darkest evil. For all who defend life, his example calls us to love with courage and to trust that even in suffering, God’s love triumphs.

St. Gerard Majella (1726–1755): Patron of Mothers, Defender of the Innocent

St. Gerard Majella, beloved as the patron saint of expectant mothers, was once falsely accused of impregnating a woman. Though innocent, he remained silent, entrusting his reputation to God. His humility was later vindicated, and miracles followed his prayers for mothers and preborn children. His story teaches us that the defense of life requires patience, trust, and gentleness—even when we are misunderstood.

The Battle for Life: A Call to Holiness

The saints and servants of God remind us that the battle for life begins in the soul. It is a spiritual struggle that demands prayer, courage, and holiness. Like Blessed Karl of Austria, we are called to lead with integrity; like St. Gianna, to love with sacrifice; like Dorothy Day, to witness mercy; and like St. Maximilian Kolbe, to embrace love even when it costs everything.

As we continue the work of defending life here in Ohio, let us remember that our ultimate goal is not only to change laws—but to transform hearts. The saints are our allies in this mission, guiding us by their example and interceding for us from Heaven.

“The saints did not all begin well, but they ended well.” — St. John Vianney

May we, too, persevere until every life is loved, defended, and cherished from conception to natural death.

The post All Saints’ Day: Our Playbook for Defending Life in Ohio and Beyond appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

She Thought They Were Celebrating Her Pregnancy – Then He Shot Her in the Head for Refusing to Have an Abortion

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 23:56:00 GMT

By: Chris Spargo, originally published October 29, 2025, People.com

Donovan Faison, 23, shot Kaylin Fiengo, 18, in the head and then left her and their unborn child to die after learning she was pregnant.

NEED TO KNOW

Donovan Faison, 23, was convicted of murdering his girlfriend and their unborn child by a Florida jury on Oct. 28
Kaylin Fiengo was just 18 when she was fatally shot in the head after Faison lured her to a Florida park on Nov. 11, 2022
Prosecutors said that Faison murdered his girlfriend after she informed him she was pregnant with their child, but refused to have an abortion

A Florida man who lured his girlfriend to a remote park and then shot her dead after learning she was pregnant has been found guilty.

Donovan Faison, 23, was convicted by a jury on charges of first-degree murder, killing an unborn child and burglary, and now could face the death penalty.

The charges stem from the death of 18-year-old Kaylin Fiengo, who was shot dead as she sat inside her car at Coastline Park in Sanford on Nov. 11, 2022.

Faison was arrested 10 months later and charged with the murders of his teenage girlfriend and her unborn child.

His arrest came after investigators with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office were able to find text messages between Fasion and Fiengo in which he expressed his displeasure when he learned about the pregnancy.

When Fiengo first announced the news of her pregnancy to Faison by sending a photo of two positive pregnancy tests, he accused her of lying and then texted “Abortion!!!,” according to Matt Reed, the public information officer for the State Attorney’s office in the 18th Judicial Circuit.

Prosecutors argued at trial that Faison was “angry and felt pressured because he was living with another woman who suspected him of cheating,” according to Bell.

Also introduced at trial was a text Faison sent a friend when Fiengo refused to get an abortion.

“On my brothers grave, I’m gonna crop her out,” Faison wrote in that text, according to prosecutors.

Shortly after sending that text, prosecutors said that Faison convinced Fiengo to meet him at Coastline Park, where he shot her in the head and left her and the unborn child to die in her car.

Investigators later found an ultrasound image of the unborn child just a few feet away from Fiengo’s body.

Prosecutors were later able to place Faison at the scene thanks to a friend who said Fiengo had told her she was going to the park to meet him.

In their closing arguments, prosecutors highlighted the text Faison sent to his friend prior to Fiengo’s murder.

“He said he was going to do it, then he did it. The police got the right guy,” said Domenick Leo.

Faison started the death penalty phase of his trial on Wednesday, Oct. 29, which is expected to last at least two days.

His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

Chris Spargo is an investigative reporter with over a decade of experience covering crime. He joined PEOPLE in 2025 as a senior reporter.

The post She Thought They Were Celebrating Her Pregnancy – Then He Shot Her in the Head for Refusing to Have an Abortion appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

40 Days for Life Fall Update – Week Six

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:57:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
October 31, 2025

Weekly Update – Week Six

We Walk By Faith & Closing Prayer Event

I received the following narrative from a faithful prayer warrior about an encounter she had this week while at Planned Parenthood with a group from her parish who have been taking a weekly prayer hour during 40 Days for Life campaigns for years. I thank her for sending it to me and I hope it inspires you to keep up your prayer witness as we never know when our presence and kindness may make a difference in someone’s life.

I just want to let you know that when I was at PP on Tuesday afternoon, a young lady (maybe 20?) was pulling into the PP driveway when I happened to be right near the entranceway. She must have felt the need to stop to be extra careful, or maybe she was looking at our pro-life signs, but after a brief pause, and not really responding to my offer to speak with her, she decided to back up a bit, then continue driving north on Auburn Ave. She went into the big lot next to PP and parked her car. I watched to see if she would exit her car, but she didn’t. I decided to walk up the street and into the parking lot to approach her & start a conversation.

As I came near her car, I waved friendly so as to not frighten her. She saw me and rolled down her window. I asked if she needed any help, and she nervously answered that she was only there to “meet someone”. I asked which building, and she couldn’t answer. So, I just told her that I would be glad to help if she needed me. Then she smiled, and I said, “You are really beautiful”, She seemed to like the compliment , and I told her that I liked her head scarf too. Then I said, May God bless you! several times, and she smiled at me. Then I walked away.

When I was back with the other ladies who were praying the rosary, (on the sidewalk), I continued to watch the car. Within a few minutes, she drove away. We watched to see if she would return, but, within the next 30 to 40 minutes, she did not. I don’t know if she really was going to pick up someone, or if she was the person who intended to go into PP, but maybe Our Lady heard the prayers of our rosary. We thanked God that she did not return.

IMPORTANT – This Sunday, November 2, 6:30PM
Ramona Trevino at Closing Prayer Event
Please join us in welcoming 40 Days for Life Outreach Director, Ramona Trevino, to our Closing Prayer Event. Ramona is a former Planned Parenthood manager and her experience is invaluable in helping us know how to properly approach those working the abortion industry and the clients. Meet at Holy Name Church, 2422 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219 (2 blocks from Planned Parenthood). Bring your families, friends, and fellow church members to help us close another successful 40 Days for Life campaign.

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

All Saints, Guilford, IN (Dearborn County Catholic Parishes)
All Saints, Kenwood (St. Paul the Apostle Family)
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office
Bishop Fenwick Knights of Columbus Council #2927
Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY
St. Cecilia, Oakley (Eastside Catholic)
Good Shepherd, Montgomery
Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington (St. Gregory the Great Family)
Helpers of God’s Precious Infants (Prolife Mass & Rosary Procession – 1 ^st , 3 ^rd , & 4 ^th Sat.)
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Anderson Twp. (St. Gregory the Great Family)
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY
Mary Queen of Heaven, Erlanger, KY
Mary’s Mantle (Prolife Mass & Rosary Procession – 2 ^nd Sat.)
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West
Old St. Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati
Our Lady of Lourdes (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
Our Lady of the Visitation (Divine Mercy Family)
Pregnancy Center Plus
Queen of Apostles Family (Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of the Valley, St. James of the Valley)
St. Aloysius Gonzaga (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
St. Andrew, Milford (St. Mary Magdalene family)
St. Ann, Groesbeck (Mary Queen of Heaven family)
St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY
St. Antoninus (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
St. Barbara, Erlanger, KY
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Mary Queen of Heaven family)
St. Catharine of Siena (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
St. Catherine of Siena, Ft. Thomas, KY
St. Columban, Loveland
St. Edmund Campion Academy
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Milford (St. Mary Magdalene Family)
St. Gertrude, Madeira
St. Henry, Erlanger, KY
St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, Monfort Heights
St. James the Greater (Mary Queen of Heaven Family)
St. John Fisher, Newtown (St. Gregory the Great Family)
St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Rd., Colerain Twp.
St. John the Evangelist, Deer Park
St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY
St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY
St. Joseph, North Bend (Divine Mercy Family)
St. Jude, Bridgetown (Divine Mercy Family)
St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN (Dearborn County Catholic Parishes)
St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill (Mary Queen of Heaven Family)
St. Margaret of York, Loveland
St. Martin of Tours (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY
St. Mary, Aurora, IN (Dearborn County Catholic Parishes)
St. Mary, Hyde Park (Eastside Catholic)
St. Patrick, Taylor Mill, KY
St. Paul, Florence, KY
St. Paul the Apostle Family of Parishes (St. Vincent Ferrer, All Saints, Kenwood)
St. Philip, Melbourne, KY
St. Philip the Apostle, Morrow
St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY
St. Susanna, Mason
St. Teresa, Bright, IN (Dearborn County Catholic Parishes)
St. Thomas More, Withamsville (Stella Maris Family)
St. Thomas, Ft. Thomas, KY
St. Timothy, Union, KY
St. Veronica (St. Mary Magdalene family)
St. Vincent Ferrer, Kenwood (St. Paul the Apostle Family)
The Oratory of St. John Vianney, Madisonville (Eastside Catholic)

The post 40 Days for Life Fall Update – Week Six appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Homicide is the Leading Cause of Death for Pregnant Women in America

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:23:00 GMT

By: Stanton Public Policy Center, originally published October 28, 2025, Christian Newswire

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2025 / Christian Newswire / — Stanton Public Policy Center shares that homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant women in the United States, surpassing all other causes.

Women’s healthcare organization calls for urgent protection of women facing domestic violence, abortion abuse, and homicide during pregnancy.

Homicide (particularly femicide committed by intimate partners) is the leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women in the United States, according to national studies. The data underscores a devastating reality: women are at their most vulnerable during a time that should be filled with hope and anticipation.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Stanton Public Policy Center is urging legislators, public health officials, the medical community, and faith leaders to confront this growing epidemic of violence against pregnant women and their preborn children.

“Every woman deserves to feel safe during pregnancy, a season that should be marked by hope and new life, not fear and violence,” said Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare and Stanton Public Policy Center. “At Stanton Healthcare, we see firsthand the deep trauma that domestic violence inflicts on women and their children. Through compassionate, life-affirming medical care, supportive advocacy, and tangible resources, our clinics are helping women find safety, healing, and strength.”

Brandi Swindell continues, “Domestic violence during pregnancy or postpartum has also been accompanied by abortion abuse, which is the act of pressuring a woman into an unwanted or forced abortion. Far too often, if a woman refuses to get an abortion, her life is placed in danger. It’s time we start protecting and supporting the victims of abortion abuse and domestic violence during pregnancy and beyond. As a nation, we cannot remain silent while women are being targeted and killed simply because they are pregnant. Protecting women and their children must become a moral, cultural, and legislative priority. America must rise to meet this crisis with compassion, courage, and conviction.”

Samantha Doty, PA-C, Director of Clinical Services at Stanton Healthcare, added, “As a clinician, I’ve cared for women surviving abuse… women who are often frightened, isolated, and unsure where to turn. We provide a safe environment, trauma-informed medical care, and ongoing support so that women can begin to rebuild their lives. This is more than healthcare; it’s hope in action. The violence facing pregnant women is a public health emergency, and our nation must work together to ensure that every woman and every child is protected and valued.”

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Chief Strategy Officer for Stanton Public Policy Center based in Washington, DC, stated, “As an ordained Presbyterian minister and member of the clergy, the faith community must boldly and publicly address the horrific reality of homicide being the greatest risk for pregnant women. We must use our pulpits, platforms, areas of influence, and most importantly, the power of prayer and faith in action to protect women and children, especially at their most vulnerable time: during pregnancy. Pregnancy should never put women at risk of violence.”

Stanton Public Policy Center is calling for a unified national response that includes stronger legal protections for pregnant women, increased public awareness, expanded resources for victims of domestic violence and abortion abuse, and a renewed commitment from faith and community leaders to stand with women in need.

Supporting Research

• According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, nearly 70% of women who had abortions described them as coerced, pressured or inconsistent with their own values and preferences — highlighting abortion abuse as a significant concern in women’s healthcare.
https://lozierinstitute.org/hidden-epidemic-nearly-70-of-abortions-are-coerced-unwanted-or-inconsistent-with-womens-preferences/

• Research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and other peer-reviewed studies shows that pregnant and postpartum women in the U.S. are more likely to be murdered than to die from obstetric causes, underscoring homicide as a leading cause of death during pregnancy.
https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/homicide-leading-cause-of-death-for-pregnant-women-in-u-s/

Stanton Public Policy Center is a women’s advocacy and educational organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to addressing human rights and justice issues that empower and inspire women.

The post Homicide is the Leading Cause of Death for Pregnant Women in America appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Our Increasingly Dangerous Abortion-Pill Reality

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 19:36:00 GMT

By: Kathryn Jean Lopez, originally published October 17, 2025, The National Review

“We have reason for hope. Look at you. Look at you. There is our hope. Look at the wonder of you.” — the late New York Cardinal John O’Connor, founder of the Sisters of Life .

I plugged that quote into Google, and AI told me it was from Elvis Presley. I suppose I can roll with the disinformation. The more it is attributed to Elvis, perhaps the more likely people will be to consider its truth?

One of the things we talked about at the Leading with Love Conference at the Catholic University of America last week was the reality that if you do not know that your life is worth living — and celebrating — it’s going to be next to impossible to welcome new life into the world with enthusiasm and the kind of radical hospitality and self-sacrifice it requires.

Celebrate birthdays. Let yours be celebrated, too. These are important. You are important. That’s how we love, by being loved.

The ‘Vital Interest’ of the World Is ‘the Life of the Child’

You may remember the famous debate between William F. Buckley Jr. and James Baldwin. Do you recall, though, James Baldwin on abortion?

There’s a new biography out on Baldwin, and at Angelus magazine, columnist Monsignor Richard Antall writes :

Privatizing Abortion

Do we actually care about chemical abortions?

In October 2025, this is a question we all need to ask ourselves.

Because we are simply privatizing abortion in America. We’re relegating it to something that happens in the bathroom. Something that is none of anyone’s business.

Is that what we want to be doing? Is that what we ought to be doing? I know the answer to the second question is no. I fear that the answer to the first may be a resigned yes for many more than might care to admit it.

As the Queen Debbie Downer who brings up abortion all too often, I know too well how much people don’t want to think about abortion. I get it. I don’t actually want to. But now is the time when we are living. And abortion is easy to access — and increasingly so. The pressure is high, and so are the expectations that abortion be considered just another health care choice. And how many of us are suffering in some way from the repercussions of abortion? In our families? In our own bodies? More than a half century of abortion in America has left walking wounded — real human lives ended, others forever changed. And with the added culture that insists you pretend that your root canal was more dramatic than your abortion.

In this brief video , a young woman talks about her coerced abortion. Hers is a live Alliance Defending Freedom case against the FDA. Rosalie’s boyfriend got the abortion pills in Louisiana from California. “If mail-order abortion wasn’t a thing,” she says “I’m 100 percent sure I would have my child.”

The FDA should have never approved the abortion-pill cocktail in the first place. It should not have allowed the Biden administration to remove the in-person mandate for prescribing the pills. And now, the FDA should not have approved a generic version of mifepristone, the key component in chemical abortions.

There were a few pieces this week on chemical abortion, some occasioned by the recent generic approval.

Carmel Richardson writes at First Things :

Marjorie Dannenfelser in USA Today :

John Gerardi on NRO: FDA’s Approval of Mifepristone Generic Raises Troubling Questions

Virginia Is for . . . Killers?

I hate to be harsh, but Virginia is out of control. As I write, that Jay Jones character is still running for attorney general there, despite his horrendous text-message outbursts and other conversations wishing violence against Republicans and, in one case, the children of a politician. Meanwhile, as you may have seen, Abigail Spanberger, the party’s gubernatorial candidate, won’t take back her endorsement of him and has also made clear that not only does she support legal assisted suicide in the state, she also is opposed to anyone opting out (doctors, Catholic hospitals) for conscience reasons (read: basic religious freedom). So no life. No (religious) liberty. Want to throw in no pursuit of happiness, too? Of course, if you don’t have life or liberty, I suppose we’ve covered that too now, haven’t we?

So much for love.

The Godfather Knew Evil

Diane Keaton has died — God rest her soul — and, of course, one of her classic roles was in The Godfather . It was in the sequel where (spoiler alert) she told Michael Corleone that it wasn’t a miscarriage that ended her pregnancy, but an abortion. It was a boy. She wanted to end the evil of the Mafia family lineage. She did something “evil,” “unholy.” She “killed.” Would such words make it to the final cut of a major motion picture today?

Rachel Weeps

It’s not a major-motion picture, but maybe the 2025 equivalent compared with Godfather days — there’s a new season of the Apple TV series The Morning Show . It’s been an ode to abortion in the past, especially around the Dobbs decision. But this isn’t a comment on any of the (crazy/amoral) plotlines. While doing publicity for the new season, former Friends star Jennifer Aniston was asked why she has never adopted children. The tabloid press has long made her relationships and fertility struggles everyone’s business. She said that she tried many things — including IVF — but was “selfish” in never opting for adoption. She wanted the biological connection to her child.

First, I know she is a celebrity and that such interviews go with the territory, but she’s also a woman and this is among the most intimate questions you can demand and answer to. Also: Adoption should not be second-best. It should not be a fallback plan. It’s not mandatory if you are having fertility obstacles. Adoption is a calling. It’s a calling that more need to consider — especially for as long as there are children in foster care in the United States. But it should never be that thing you are stuck doing because your body isn’t cooperating with the creation of new life.

And About Donald Trump and IVF

Infertility is an agony. IVF is not the solution.

The White House announcement Thursday could have been worse. It could have had mandates. It could have had subsidies.

Still, in vitro fertilization creates life and destroys it, too. Also suspends it on ice. The full implications of all of this — moral, medical, financial — aren’t necessarily explained to a couple desperate for a child to love.

Gratitude should be whispered to God for those who worked behind the scenes to make this less problematic than it could have been. But the president made clear he doesn’t understand pro-life objections. Or scientific ones, for that matter. This was an unnecessary move that makes more of a moral mess of life and in a vast majority of cases overhypes the hope that IVF represents to those struggling with infertility. (Just ask Jennifer Aniston, who has a few dollars to spare for some decent health and fertility care.)

Some further insta-thoughts and links elsewhere on NRO .

Other Things

You, like me, might remember the opening of the Houston Planned Parenthood mega-center almost 20 years ago. Shawn Carney from 40 Days for Life posted a new photo of the building , now closed, with the Planned Parenthood sign officially removed. I’ve said before and I will say millions of times again, I suspect, that the end of so many Planned Parenthood clinics is a sign of the times – the clinics aren’t as needed as they once were. Your local pharmacy is an abortion clinic now. Still, it’s remarkable to see !

A headline from Michigan: “ After Planned Parenthood closure, doctors pioneer new abortion access model in Upper Peninsula ”

What’s the new model? Pills at urgent care.

Feels like the same as it ever was.

In Victoria, Australia, Catholic bishops are warning against the further liberalization of assisted suicide, including the erosion of the conscience protections.

In Minnesota, children in foster care have the right to see their siblings. But they don’t know that . Keeping siblings together is just about the best thing, in addition to permanency, this needs to be known and accomplished.

HerPlan has some practical ways to “Help Moms and Babies” during the government shutdown — and they actually could and should become things we simply do: like helping struggling families by making donations to pregnancy centers and food pantries that are resources for them.

From the National Council on Adoption: “ Beyond the Immediate Family: Engaging Family and Friends in the Adoption Journey ”

Upcoming

Are you a birth mom? Brave Love would like to celebrate you on November 13. Check out if they will be in your city here .

Applications are open for the GIVEN Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Program this June. I just spoke at one of their gatherings and have been an encourager of the initiative — involved as a speaker, mentor, spiritual director, and maybe other things over the years. If you are or know a young Catholic woman 21 to 35, send her the link .

I’ll be in Grand Rapids , New York City, D.C., West Palm Beach , Mexico City , Dallas, New Haven , Steubenville, and wherever I am forgetting in the coming weeks. Some talking about WFB at 100, others talking about antisemitism and Nostra Aetae , the pope’s Augustinian motto, gratitude as a civic virtue. If your school or group wants in on the K-Lo calendar — especially on the future of the pro-life movement, the civil rights issue of our time — email klopez@nationalreview.com .

And can I ask for prayers for Jennifer and Joe Fulwiler? First of all, we’ve been a part of one another’s lives for years, thanks to the house that WFB built.

You may know Jen’s name because she’s an author, she has been a radio-show host, and she’s a stand-up comedian. She got into the comedy thing seriously after Kate Spade died of suicide. She wears a Kate Spade bracelet and wanted to find a way to reach women like Spade, who are secular and as in need of hope as anyone — people she didn’t think she was reaching necessarily on her Catholic Channel show on Sirius (though anything is possible, I say, as one who has a weekday feature there and pray that God works with everything). Jen and Joe are loving parents whose world has been rocked by the diagnosis of their daughter, Lane, with a cancerous brain tumor. Please pray for Lane, her five siblings, and Jen and Joe.

Send messages of encouragement to Lane and the family at katlyn@thejfshow.com . And a friend set up a GoFundMe for donations for the Fulwilers here .

More next week. See you in New York or Grand Rapids, or somewhere, before then.

Kathryn Jean Lopez is a senior fellow at the National Review Institute and an editor-at-large of National Review.

The post Our Increasingly Dangerous Abortion-Pill Reality appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Championing a little-known IVF alternative

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 19:08:00 GMT

By: Bekah McCallum, originally published October 7, 2025, World News Group

Restorative reproductive medicine can fix root causes of infertility, supporters say

Joseph Meaney and his wife Marie married in 2000 and expected babies to come along pretty quickly. But after a year without a pregnancy, the couple started looking around for some help with fertility issues. Most fertility doctors the couple visited only offered in vitro fertilization, which the Catholic couple objected to on religious grounds.

After meeting with specialists in multiple states, the Meaneys learned that Marie suffered from endometriosis, a condition caused by tissue growing outside the uterus. Joseph also needed surgery to treat a low sperm count.

“We ended up having to travel pretty long distances and pay a lot out of pocket to get the kind of healthcare that we wanted to receive,” said Meaney, who is now senior fellow of the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

Last month, two medical groups addressed U.S. lawmakers about treatment options for couples facing infertility: One championed IVF, while the other argued for restorative reproductive medicine (RRM), the kind of medical care the Meaneys had sought out. About 1 in 5 women of childbearing age struggle to get pregnant, but many women often assume IVF is their only option. Advocates for natural infertility care would like to change that misconception but say the fertility industry wrongly places RRM in a category of fake medicine.

Restorative reproductive medicine traces its roots to 1976, when Dr. Thomas Hilgers began developing the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. The diagnostic tool helps doctors monitor and pinpoint irregularities in a woman’s menstrual cycle. Today, RRM has become an umbrella term for an approach to infertility that addresses root causes. Physicians may use a variety of methods including the Creighton Model to assess patients.

Human IVF technology also made strides in the 1970s, with doctors delivering the first baby via IVF in 1978.

“Once IVF became successful, that’s where all the research and the big money went,” said Dr. Jean Golden-Tevald, an RRM specialist at MorningStar Family Health Center in Flemington, N.J. In the United States, the IVF market was valued at $5.9 million last year. Today, IVF makes up nearly 3% of U.S. births.

The procedure came under scrutiny when Alabama’s Supreme Court declared last year that embryos created via IVF should have the same legal protections as born children.

Following that ruling, then-presidential hopeful Donald Trump doubled down on support for IVF. Once back in office for his second term, President Trump issued an executive order pledging to “ensure reliable access to IVF treatment” and make the treatment “drastically more affordable.” In May, the administration reportedly considered enshrining IVF as an “essential health benefit” under the Affordable Care Act.

But the effort to subsidize IVF has hit some speed bumps. The Trump administration in April dismissed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staffers responsible for collecting IVF data. In August, The Washington Post reported that the White House doesn’t plan to require insurance companies to cover the treatment, since the president doesn’t have that kind of unilateral authority—a mandate would likely have to come from or in conjunction with Congress. Legislators have introduced at least five bills to expand access to IVF this year, and 15 states mandate some form of insurance coverage for it.

On Sept. 16, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine hosted a congressional briefing to inform lawmakers about IVF—and warn them about the “limitations” of RRM.

That same day, less than half a mile away, the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine held its own congressional briefing to clarify “misinformation” and allow patients to share their experiences with RRM. Tracey Parnell, director of communications and development for the group, told WORLD it didn’t plan for its event to coincide with the pro-IVF society’s hearing. “We really wanted to make sure that the voices of our patients were heard, not just the professionals from these associations,” she said. “Patients need to know they have options.”

Conservatives have become increasingly critical of IVF. At least 1.5 million fertilized embryos are discarded every year , while the process results in only about 100,000 live births. “There is no procedure that has a 90% failure rate that is allowed to continue,” said Joseph Meaney.

The treatment is also expensive. Per round (also known as a cycle), the procedure can cost up to $30,000 . Successful conception rates vary by a woman’s age , with women under 35 having a 54% success rate that drops to about 13% by age 41. Around 40% of embryo transfers result in live births, though younger women have a much higher chance of having healthy IVF babies.

Some health experts believe that IVF usually fails to address why a couple struggled with infertility in the first place. As MorningStar’s Golden-Tevald explains, a variety of problems—like hormonal imbalances, blockages in the fallopian tubes, or low sperm counts—can contribute to infertility. “Almost all the time it’s not just one thing,” she said.

Addressing the root causes of infertility leads to live pregnancies in about 37% of cases, according to Parnell’s organization. Women who opt for IVF are also three times more likely to deliver their babies prematurely compared with those who receive RRM care.

And even if couples don’t achieve pregnancy, they often appreciate having some answers. “Finding out maybe why this did not happen is comforting,” she said.

Still, Golden-Tevald believes RRM is widely mischaracterized. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, for example, has labeled RRM as a “nonmedical approach … focusing only on female patients.”

But Golden-Tevald argues that RRM addresses problems in men and women and is “completely” scientific. “We use all the tools and diagnostics that are just part of general medicine,” she said.

Some medical organizations, like the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, argue that IVF practitioners offer the same diagnostic services provided by RRM specialists.

But Emma Waters, a policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation and a contributor to WORLD Opinions, said that’s not accurate. “They are doing basic semen tests … basic hormonal panels,” she said. “Those basic tests or treatments don’t result in a clear understanding of what’s causing infertility. Their outcome is always the same, which is, ‘You need to go to IVF.’”

Waters believes that IVF and RRM aren’t opposing treatments. “The two can actually function in tandem with each other, recognizing that there are times and places when IVF may be the option a couple chooses to have a child,” she said. “And if they first prioritize optimizing their health, they’re actually setting themselves up for success.” For example, explained Waters, a couple might struggle with frequent miscarriages. Using RRM to address that issue might enable a woman to successfully carry an IVF embryo to term.

Waters expects the White House to issue an executive order about expanding access to infertility treatment, although she declined to speculate on the details. “What we certainly know is that restorative reproductive medicine aligns very closely with the Make America Healthy Again model, which is all about providing root cause care for patients,” said Waters.

But currently, most couples don’t have sufficient access to RRM or know that it exists. That’s why Waters helped to draft the RESTORE Act , legislation introduced in the House and Senate in May. The bill aims to fund RRM research, provide grant opportunities for aspiring RRM practitioners, and enable insurance companies to cover the cost of the care. Arkansas passed a similar bill in April .

Meaney said that if IVF had been their only option, he and his wife would have accepted infertility. But it didn’t come to that. In 2009, the Meaneys welcomed their daughter Thérèse.

As a bioethicist, Meaney finds it troubling that many couples aren’t always informed about their infertility treatment options. “They go to the doctor and the only thing they hear is like, ‘OK, well, we’ll make an appointment for you at the IVF clinic, because that’s all that we can do for you,’” said Meaney. “That’s just wrong.”

Bekah McCallum is a reviewer, reporter, and editorial assistant at WORLD News Group.

The post Championing a little-known IVF alternative appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

The Slippery Slopes of Assisted Suicide and Abortion

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:25:00 GMT

By: Chuck Donovan, originally published October 28, 2025, The Washington Stand

As 2025 enters its final months, battles over the legalization of assisted suicide continue to advance toward uncertain outcomes. The battlefields include the British House of Lords, New York State, and the Australian State of Victoria. Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick on the expansion of “access” to assisted suicide in Canada, where the effective date has been moved to March 17, 2027 for “medical aid in dying” (MAID) to become available for people whose “sole underlying condition is a mental illness.”

Altogether, the pending proposals and arguments on their behalf illustrate what Wesley Smith calls the “slippery slope” of assisted suicide: “The ultimate destination for all of this will be the creation of a fundamental right to be made dead, regardless of the reason, i.e., death on demand.”

This trend is unmistakable in the way laws in various American states have evolved toward ever looser standards, but it seems ever clearer in the language employed by assisted suicide advocates. The group Death with Dignity published an article last July bestowing praise on three governors who signed assisted suicide bills (in California, New Jersey, and Maine) and urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to do the same before the end of the year, when she must decide whether to approve or veto a legalization bill that has reached her desk. The article cites statements by each of the governors. New Jersey’s Phil Murphy (D) says that assisted suicide provides terminally ill patients and their families with the “humanity, dignity and respect they so richly deserve at the most difficult times any of us will face.” Maine’s Governor Janet Mills (D) goes further and declares, “It is not up to the government to decide who may die and who may live, when they shall die or how long they shall live.”

Mills’s paean to laissez-faire mortality is a far cry from the thought of Thomas Jefferson, who wrote in a letter to the Republicans of Washington County, Maryland, on his retirement from the presidency: “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.”

As debates proceed around the world, advocates for the expansion of the categories and conditions under which suicide can be pursued are making their intentions plain. Chief among these debates is the one that has lasted in the British Parliament for more than a year. At each stage of the multi-step process toward the adoption of this landmark law, the measure has lost support. Some proponents, like chief sponsor MP Kim Leadbeater, have touted the bill’s safeguards against abuse. But not all supporters have done so, especially Lord Falconer, who first introduced a legalization bill more than a decade ago.

Falconer is now the prime sponsor of assisted suicide in the House of Lords. In the intricate process required to approve the measure in Parliament, the Falconer-Leadbeater bill survived second reading in the House of Lords in mid-September. Because of its faltering support — speakers against the bill heavily outnumbered supporters — Lord Falconer agreed with opponents to conduct a committee review of the bill for potential amendments. The report of the committee is due by November 7, which would pave the way for a third reading beginning November 14 during which further amendments could be considered. The aim of assisted suicide supporters is to see the bill approved by the Lords before the end of the year, when it would otherwise expire, and then present it for royal assent, the traditionally pro forma approval by King Charles that would make it British law.

The Select Committee review is now underway, but it too is meeting severe criticism. Opponents complain that the committee is relying solely on the advice of “experts” who have previously participated in the bill’s process and that the committee will not take oral or written testimony from outside critics of its inadequacies and harms. Lord Falconer’s remarks have not alleviated that criticism. Speaking in committee this week, he reportedly said that people with “learning difficulties or autism” could, with “proper assistance,” access assisted suicide. It has been many months since assisted suicide sponsors abandoned the original bill’s guarantee that assisted suicide cases would be individually reviewed by the British courts — the posture now is for cases to be handled by an expert panel without judicial review.

The message is clear that once introduced, assisted suicide will begin, as Wesley Smith has documented, a relentless course of expansion. Proponents of this death-dealing cite dignity and autonomy as the goal, but it is impossible to believe that considerations of cost and devaluation of the disabled and the very sick will not drive the actions of parties who now suffer from fiscal shortfalls and declining respect for human life. Smith summarizes how five amendments introduced by the government in Victoria, Australia to its pioneering assisted suicide bill push for expansion in each instance.

Among them are proposals to expand the time range for a prognosis of terminal illness from six months to 12 months, creating a new group of candidates for assisted suicide, and requiring “registered health practitioners who conscientiously object to provide minimum information” about assisted suicide. Violations of conscience along these lines will facilitate suicides and, moreover, can serve to bar entry into the medical profession in the first place by practitioners who adhere to a Hippocratic standard.

The news from South America is similarly bracing. Earlier this month, Uruguay became the first nation in the region to allow euthanasia . The terms of the law regarding who is eligible and the need for the presence of “unbearable suffering” are similar to other nations’ assisted suicide statutes, with the wrinkle that Uruguay’s does not allow death to come by self-administration. Instead, the health care professional administers the lethal dose, a condition that would seem like cold comfort from a historical perspective.

The worst abuses of vulnerable patients have historically arisen in the context of physicians compromising or abandoning their roles as healers and not agents of death. Chile’s left-wing president, Gabriel Baric, has reportedly renewed his campaign for assisted suicide in his majority-Catholic country. Baric has also worked with the Chilean Minister of Women and Gender Equity Antonia Orellana to legalize abortion in a nation where limits on the practice have been associated with improved maternal health .

Hochul’s decision on the assisted suicide bill could come at any time. If her position on abortion , death-dealing at the other edge of life, is any indication, it is hard to be optimistic that a veto is in the works. The election of Zohran Mamdani, who voted for the assisted suicide law as a member of the New York General Assembly, may encourage the governor to ratify the measure and make New York the 10th state in the union to approve a practice that, once enacted, expands into new territory.

At the federal level, the United States has just soared above $38 trillion in national debt. Assisted suicide and abortion can be construed as short-term solutions to government expenditure issues, but the truth is likely to lie in the opposite direction. The cost of medical care for people late in life is part of the natural cycle, and the resources to support it depend on people having been valued for a lifetime. The same is true of the unborn. Decisions for death compound human losses and foster attitudes that lead to even more devastation.

News reports say that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in a few weeks has no planned discussion of assisted suicide. It is hard to overlook the role that nominally Catholic politicians have played on this issue in New Jersey, California, New York, and now in Latin America. Catholic bishops have generally been outspoken on the matter during the months-long debate in the British Parliament, and unconfirmed accounts have appeared of King Charles facing doubts about giving his assent to bills that will lead to the deaths of the most vulnerable young and old in the United Kingdom.

One can only hope that these reports are true and pray that, if it comes to that and the bills are not defeated in Parliament, a king of England and religious leaders there and here will rise to the occasion and say no to this slipperiest of slopes.

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Trump’s Trusted Pollster: Even Pro-Aborts Say Mifepristone Is Dangerous And Needs FDA Regulation

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:19:00 GMT

By: Mollie Hemingway and Jordan Boyd, originally published October 28, 2025, The Federalist

It is easier now than during the first Trump administration for people, including abusers and traffickers, to obtain harmful abortion pills.

Data collected by President Donald Trump’s trusted pollster suggests a majority of likely voters want the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect women from the dangerous drug responsible for more than half of U.S. abortions .

The August 2025 survey obtained exclusively by The Federalist from McLaughlin and Associates, the pollster President Donald Trump once referred to as “one of the most highly respected in the industry,” concluded the sample of voters, even though a majority of them claim to hold pro-abortion views, overwhelmingly believe mifepristone is dangerous and requires further FDA oversight.

More specifically, a majority of the 1,600 likely voters surveyed appeared to welcome restoring the abortion drug guidelines that were designed to protect women from injury and abuse but were ultimately weakened and stripped by recent Democrat administrations.

Voters Consider Abortion Pills Unsafe

A majority — 59 percent — of respondents said they held a “favorable” view of the nation’s largest abortion business Planned Parenthood. Yet, hesitancy about pill-induced abortion and the harms it has on women extended far beyond the 40 percent of self-proclaimed pro-lifers to include the 57 percent of likely voters who consistently claimed to be pro-abortion.

Despite abortion activists and their allies in the corporate media and the Democrat Party’s best efforts to paint the pill regimen as “safer than Tylenol,” only 16 percent of respondents believed the abortion drug to be “very safe.” On the contrary, roughly six in 10 respondents said they believed the mifepristone and misoprostol combination to be “unsafe” or were unsure of its safety.

Increasing uncertainty about chemical abortion across all likely voters was further confirmed when 71 percent of respondents approved of the FDA requiring women to visit the doctor to obtain an abortion drug prescription. Three-in-five voters even went so far as to agree that “chemical abortions are far more dangerous than advertised, and women deserve a doctor’s care to prevent serious health complications like hemorrhaging, bleeding, or infections.”

Approximately seven in 10 of those surveyed, after agreeing that “chemical abortion drugs are used by sexual abusers to cover up rape, exploitation and sex-trafficking,” said doctors should also be required to “screen for and report signs of coercion or abuse” before prescribing mifepristone.

A majority of abortions, 70 percent, are believed to be unwanted, coerced, or inconsistent with the mother’s values and desires. The Biden administration’s radical expansion of the Obama administration’s already questionable abortion pill policies to allow mail-order mifepristone, however, only made it easier for abusers to harm vulnerable women and babies.

When the FDA rushed its approval of the abortion drug in 2000, the pill regimen was only prescribed by a physician after three in-person doctor visits that included an exam to confirm the gestational age of the unborn baby. After taking the drug they obtained in person, women were required to follow up with physicians who were obligated to report any and all serious complications that resulted.

Before President Joe Biden left office, he ensured all of those safeguards were rolled back or modified to make it easier for women to get mifepristone in the mail or through a drug store pharmacy without a doctor visit and initiate at-home abortions without medical oversight.

Not only have countless unborn children been aborted as a result of these expansions, but women have also suffered injuries and even died after taking mifepristone without medical supervision. Some of those women, like abortion pill poisoning survivor Rosalie Markezich , sued after they were drugged with mifepristone against their wills.

In a couple of cases, the perpetrators who allegedly slipped pregnant women abortion drugs were charged with homicide after the pills not only killed their unborn babies, but also forced the women to seek emergency medical attention for complications.

Approximately 81 percent of poll respondents agreed “no one should be able to get chemical abortion drugs online or from a foreign country and be able to give them to a woman without her knowledge or consent.” For 69 percent of those surveyed, “the number of women experiencing serious, harmful effects from taking chemical abortion drugs has risen dramatically” enough that it only “makes sense” to them that the FDA should restore the protections removed by Biden.

An even higher number of those surveyed, 72 percent, agreed that mifepristone manufacturers have prioritized profit over “women’s health and safety” and “have pressured the FDA to lower the health and safety standards on their chemical abortion drugs to sell more of them.”

A staggering 87 percent supported a mifepristone label change that would “accurately report the real-world impact of the chemical abortion drugs on patients who take it” including “possible harmful side effects and complications of the abortion drug, such as heavy bleeding, sepsis, stomach pains, infections, scarring, pre-term labor in future pregnancies, and depression and mental health issue.”

An Appetite For Reversing Course

The Trump administration has the regulatory power to reverse course and reinstate some of the common-sense abortion pill safeguards, such as an in-person doctor visit, that a majority of likely voters desire. Until that happens, it will remain easier now than it was in the first Trump administration for people, including abusers and traffickers, to obtain abortion pills.

According to the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Office of New Drugs, the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) for a particular drug can be modified if the regulatory agency deems it “necessary,” especially in light of the “frequency and severity of adverse events associated with the use of a drug.”

A recent review of private medical insurance data determined that more than one in 10 women who take mifepristone suffer a serious adverse event. Their review of private medical insurance data suggested the rate of life-threatening complications such as hemorrhage and infection after pill-induced abortion is at least 22 times higher than what the FDA and mifepristone manufacturer Danco Laboratories boast.

Another study released in May suggested the number of serious complications that result from abortions could be higher than estimated after researchers found that the number of post-abortion emergency room visits that were misclassified as miscarriages has increased significantly over the last decade.

While the second Trump administration has already capitalized on the momentum that stemmed from the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson to secure pro-life victories, such as walking back Biden’s attempt to force taxpayer-funded abortion overseas and defunding Planned Parenthood for a year, their movement on mifepristone has been slow.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged since before Trump was inaugurated that the administration would “study the safety of mifepristone.” By March 2025, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary also promised “to build an expert coalition to review the ongoing data which is required to be collected as a part of the REMS program.”

Mounting pressure from Republican attorneys general in September prompted the pair to announce “HHS –through the FDA – is conducting its own review of the evidence, including real-world outcomes and evidence, relating to the safety and efficacy of the drug.”

Mere weeks after launching its review, however, the FDA approved a generic version of mifepristone for sale. At the time, the FDA claimed to The Federalist that the HHS secretary was required “by law” to “approve an application if it demonstrates that the generic drug is identical to the brand-name drug.” Yet, the off-brand abortion pill went unapproved for 1,207 days on Biden’s watch and 253 days under Trump before the FDA greenlit it.

Voters’ appetite for change heading into the midterm election season is alive and well. In fact, 54 percent of likely voters still think the nation is on the wrong track. Their feelings about abortion, especially the prevalence of abortion pill-induced harm to babies and women, overwhelmingly suggest they want that change in the form of FDA action to protect women and their unborn babies from the harms of mifepristone.

“The majority of Americans believe we need more restrictions on the abortion pill,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. said in a statement to The Federalist. “Mifepristone is extremely dangerous and even deadly for women, with nearly 11 percent of women who take it experiencing an adverse health event – sometimes serious enough to send them to the emergency room. Not to mention, the drug is 100 percent lethal to the child. It’s time for the FDA to restore common-sense safety standards to the chemical abortion drug immediately.”

Mollie Ziegler Hemingway is the Editor-in-Chief of The Federalist .

Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and producer of The Federalist Radio Hour.

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Southwest Ohio Pro-Life Organizations Applaud State’s Move to End Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:05:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cincinnati, OH & Dayton, OH — October 28, 2026 — Cincinnati Right to Life and Dayton Right to Life applaud the Ohio Department of Medicaid for taking action to protect taxpayer dollars by proposing the termination of state Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio.

According to letters recently sent to both affiliates, the state Medicaid office has moved to end participation in the Medicaid program by Planned Parenthood entities that continue to perform or refer for abortions. This step marks a significant effort to ensure that taxpayer funds are not used to support or subsidize abortion businesses in any form.

Planned Parenthood’s attorney has publicly stated that the letters cite federal law and reference the One Big Beautiful Bill signed by President Donald Trump earlier this summer, which suspended federal Medicaid reimbursements to abortion businesses for one year. However, the true legal authority for Ohio’s action lies in the recent Medina decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which affirmed that states have the right to terminate Medicaid funding for organizations that perform abortions. This Medina ruling grants states the power to cut off such reimbursements and redirect funds toward providers offering genuine healthcare.

“Ohio taxpayers should never be forced to subsidize abortion businesses under the guise of healthcare,” said Laura Strietmann, Executive Director of Cincinnati Right to Life. “The Medina decision reaffirmed what pro-life Ohioans have long supported — that our state can and should prioritize authentic healthcare providers that protect both mother and child.”

Margie Christie, Executive Director of Dayton Right to Life, added, “Ohio’s women and families have robust alternatives to Planned Parenthood. With more than 641 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and free pregnancy care centers spanning every region of the state, women have access to comprehensive, life-affirming care without turning to abortion businesses.”

Southwest Ohio: Epicenter of Abortion Industry Growth

Southwest Ohio is home to two Planned Parenthood abortion businesses that end the lives of children in the womb through violent abortion procedures. Since the fall of Roe, Ohio has tragically become an “abortion tourist destination state,” drawing women from across state lines for abortions. According to recent data, the state has seen a 245% increase in out-of-state abortions, a devastating trend that underscores the urgent need for Ohio to cut off taxpayer support to any business involved in abortion. Ohio tax dollars should never fund the killing of innocent children or keep these abortion businesses open.

Together, Cincinnati Right to Life and Dayton Right to Life joined forces to launch a statewide digital petition campaign urging Governor Mike DeWine to issue an executive order immediately defunding Planned Parenthood and ending all state Medicaid reimbursements to abortion businesses. Other pro-life groups across Ohio have united in this effort.

Additionally, in August, a letter was sent to Governor DeWine urging him to protect millions of hard-working Ohioans’ tax dollars from being directed to Planned Parenthood.

Thousands of Ohioans have already signed the petitions, calling on the Governor to act swiftly considering the Supreme Court’s Medina decision and the state’s clear legal authority. The organizations continue to rally citizens, churches, and community leaders to make their voices heard and demand that Ohio stand firmly for life in both law and practice.

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‘Dr. Maggie,’ Notorious Abortionist

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:37:00 GMT

By: Ellie Gardey Holmes, originally published October 9, 2025, The American Spectator

Her kill count of unborn children must be high

Dr. Margaret Carpenter is a zealot for killing unborn children.

Luckily for Carpenter, the post- Dobbs age of abortions via telemedicine has enabled her to build up an extensive kill count.

Carpenter, who provided abortion pills remotely from New York, joined the ranks of the most prolific abortionists in history by shipping off abortion pills, in an unknown but undoubtedly large number, to places where abortions are illegal or severely limited.

A serial killer is going to be limited in his ability to kidnap women to kill. A nurse secretly killing babies might reach a higher kill count with greater ease. But an abortionist operating from the comfort of her own home — slippers on, feet up on her desk — can kill unborn children indiscriminately.

Last year, a woman desiring to end the life of her unborn child could simply fill out an online form on the site Aid Access, and “Dr. Maggie” — as she is known by her abortion activist compatriots — would be happy to be her hitman. Within days, pills dispensed by Dr. Maggie that would bring about the child’s death would arrive at the woman’s home.

Now, however, “Dr. Maggie” is facing trouble with the law. She was ind i cted this year for allegedly providing a Louisiana woman with abortion pills. The state says that the woman, wanting to end the life of her unborn grandchild, used “coercion” to make her teenage daughter take the pills. The girl was sent to the hospital as a result of the bleeding she experienced. Louisiana’s governor, Jeff Landry, noted that the teenage girl had even been planning a gender reveal party before the unhappy new grandmother took action. Further, Landry said the woman “conspired” with Carpenter “to get a chemical abortion pill in the mail.”

According to the indictment, the Louisiana woman obtained the pills from Dr. Maggie through the abortion-dispensing mill she worked with, Aid Access. The site only requires that people fill out an online form to get abortion pills shipped to them — and their identity is not checked.

The form process means that anyone, regardless of whether they are pregnant, can receive abortion pills if they answer the questions the “right” way. Any unhappy fathers — or grandmothers — can easily obtain the pills in order to eliminate any undesired children or grandchildren. This can be accomplished by browbeating a pregnant mother with the pill bottle or sneaking the medication into her food or drink.

Carpenter has been charged with “criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs,” which is a felony. The crime is punishable by one to five years’ imprisonment.

Yet New York Governor Cathy Hochul has refused to extradite Carpenter to Louisiana, apparently viewing as laudatory Carpenter’s illegal and entirely blind dispersal of abortion pills to this unhappy grandmother.

In a video announcement, Hochul said , “I do not recognize this request and will sign my rejection. That’s what we stand for. That’s who we are as New Yorkers.”

That sets up a legal battle that could go to the Supreme Court. Pro-life states are pushing for this, given that blue states are wielding so-called “shield laws” to refuse extradition orders, seemingly in violation of the Constitution’s Extradition Clause.

But the legal battle over Carpenter goes further than this case.

Carpenter was also sued in December by Texas for allegedly providing abortion drugs to a woman who ended the life of her unborn baby. When the woman went to the hospital for severe bleeding, the father of the child was shocked to learn that his child, whom he had not known about, had been killed by drugs allegedly dispensed by Carpenter.

*****

What explains why Carpenter has gone to such lengths to abort so many children? Why is she motivated to bring about so much death in spite of the legal risks it brings upon her?

Carpenter’s life tells the story of a woman assured of her own moral superiority and who has long performed and promoted abortions to stroke that ego.

As an undergraduate at Brown University, she was already fixated on promulgating the practice of unborn child killing. She volunteered in those days for Planned Parenthood before soon heading to medical school and shortly picking up surgical as well as medical abortions. Dr. Maggie proudly proclaimed in one bio of herself that she had been performing both surgical and medical abortions by the close of the 20th century.

Alongside her work ending the lives of unborn children, Maggie founded the organization Go Doc Go to provide women in poor African countries and Haiti with screenings for cervical cancer and HPV tests. One bio attributed the founding of the organization to Carpenter’s “passion for global health,” but, put in the context of her decades-long drive to kill unborn children, one gets a sense that this is a woman who views herself as worthy of transforming the world according to her own vision, a vision in which women should have a godlike power of life and death over their unborn children.

Dr. Maggie is extremely connected with the most devout members of the pro-abortion movement. And she has acted with determination to use her power and connections to do everything she can to share with new mothers this power to bring about death.

The year Roe v. Wade was overturned, she co-founded , along with two other leaders of the movement, the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine Access. The advocacy organization’s purpose is to make abortion pills available via telemedicine in states where abortion is illegal. It does not provide abortions, but it equips doctors with the tools to do so, including by providing them with malpractice insurance.

One of Carpenter’s co-founders, Julie F. Kay, told Glamour magazine before Carpenter’s indictment that the organization’s goal is “to pass, protect, and expand safe, legal, and accessible telemedicine.” She said they founded the organization because they felt the “traditional reproductive rights organizations” weren’t doing enough to ensure women in states where abortion is illegal or restricted could receive abortion pills.

Additionally, Carpenter helped launch the organization Hey Jane, which advertises itself as providing women abortion pills “from the comfort and convenience of your phone.”

So here we have a woman who is religiously devoted to causing more unborn children to die at the hands of their mothers. It is disturbing. Yet Dr. Maggie is perfectly proud of herself and convinced she is the one saving the world. She basks in the attention of her friends, who deem her a hero.

“She’s brave, she’s creative, she’s an advocate, she’s kind, she’s fun, she’s a problem solver, and addresses things in ways that are just innovative and new,” her friend Ingrid Frengle-Burke told CNN. “That, to me, makes her a hero.”

“I know Carpenter as ‘Dr. Maggie,’” said another woman praising the abortion doctor. “She has been a hero of mine for a long time, but not just for standing up for people’s rights to reproductive health.”

Dr. Maggie is a general of the pro-abortion movement with a kill count of unborn children that rivals history’s biggest serial killers. How she can surround herself with friends who deem her a hero, saving women all over the world, even as she wreaks this destruction, seems maddening, but it is a warning of how evil thrives when masquerading as righteousness.

It remains to be seen whether Dr. Maggie will face consequences for her actions in this life, but Louisiana and Texas are certainly going to try.

Ellie Gardey Holmes is Reporter and Associate Editor at The American Spectator.

Image: Abortion doctor Margaret Carpenter/YouTube Snippet.

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Trump Sends Message to Pro-Life Governments

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:37:00 GMT

By: Stevano Gennarini, J.D., originally published October 24, 2025, Center for Family & Human Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 24 (C-Fam) President Trump said he was “proud” to rejoin the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a pro-life international declaration launched during the first Trump administration that Joe Biden reneged on his first day in office.

“I will never waver in protecting the sanctity of every human life. I will always be a voice for the voiceless and a defender for the most vulnerable among us,” said President Trump in a letter to a gathering of 40 governments that signed the declaration. The commemorative event took place at the Willard Hotel on Wednesday and celebrated the 5 ^th anniversary of the Declaration. The event originally scheduled to take place at the capitol building had to be moved because of the government shutdown.

“My administration is steadfastly devoted to restoring a culture that values the inherent dignity of every child and to upholding the eternal truth that every person is created in the holy image and likeness of God, with infinite hope and boundless potential,” he continued. “Together with our allies and partners across the world, we will continue to build a future rooted in faith, family, and freedom.”

The event proved the staying power of the Geneva Consensus Declaration which continues to be one of the most effective and low-cost foreign policy initiatives of the first Trump administration. Despite relatively little expense and effort, and in the face of active attempts by the Biden administration and the European Union to sabotage the Declaration, it has remained a powerful tool to convene governments around the protection of life, optimal women’s health, the family, and sovereignty. This year not only did the U.S. rejoin the declaration, the Republic of Guinea also joined for the first time.

Congressmen and representatives of governments from across the world who spoke at the event insisted on the sovereign right of countries to legislate in favor of the family and against abortion, free of international pressure.

“The international community has no right to tell any country what our policies should be on life and family,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. He decried UN officials and bodies who “appoint themselves as international arbiters” on social policies that should be decided “democratically, by our own people.” He also emphasized that respect for sovereignty must be the “organizing principle” of all international relations.

Pro-life congressional leader Chris Smith (R-NJ) lamented how the Biden administration had ushered into several “dark years” where President Biden tried to “put abortion in everything he could.” As a result, Smith said, abortion industry giants International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International wielded abortion as a “weapon of mass destruction” causing the deaths of millions of unborn children each year.

Smith also accused the World Health Organization of putting women’s lives on the line through dangerous abortion practices. He cited a study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center published earlier this year showed how, according to health insurance carriers, 11% of women who took the abortion pill had serious complications, one of the most common being hemorrhaging. “In the developing world hemorrhaging is a death sentence,” Smith said.

During the event, the president of the Institute for Women’s Health Valerie Huber, presented an award for Victor Orban, the President of Hungary. His Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, attended the event and received the award in Orbán’s stead. Szijjártó highlighted Hungary’s pro-family policies, including policies designed to eliminate any economic disincentive for families to have children through baby bonuses, tax breaks, favorable government housing loans, and other initiatives.

Stefano Gennarini is the Vice President for Legal Studies at the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam).

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40 Days for Life Fall Update – Week Five

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:31:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
October 24, 2025

Weekly Update – Week Five

Still Time to Join the Prayer & Closing Prayer Event

Have you been to the sidewalk to pray yet this campaign? If not, and you are able to carve out time this week or next before the end of the campaign, that would be wonderful. Remember, just because you look at the calendar and see that the hour you planned on coming shows a “1” or “2,” that doesn’t mean you can’t also come to pray. I know when I’m the only person signed up for an hour of prayer and someone else shows up, it’s a blessing. And when more people are present, we are a more visible witness to passersby and those entering Planned Parenthood.

If you need some incentive to sacrifice time and convenience to come to the sidewalk to pray, here are some words to assure you that your efforts are not in vain:

“In a world and a Church sincerely devoted to doing many good works that could bring about peace, we might sometimes overlook the fact that the greatest work of all is prayer. We dare not abandon the good works, but let us remember that peace is ultimately God’s desire and God’s achievement: Let us pray earnestly, ‘Thy will be done’” ( Editor – Magnificat, September 2025 )

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.” – Thessalonians 5:16-18

IMPORTANT – SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, November 2, 6:30PM

Ramona Trevino at Closing Prayer Event

Please join us in welcoming 40 Days for Life Outreach Director, Ramona Trevino, to our Closing Prayer Event. Ramona is a former Planned Parenthood manager and her experience is invaluable in helping us know how to properly approach those working the abortion industry and the clients. Meet at Holy Name Church, 2422 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219 (2 blocks from Planned Parenthood). Bring your families, friends, and fellow church members to help us close another successful 40 Days for Life campaign.

Feel free to use the paragraph above as a bulletin announcement.

Known churches and group affiliations of our participants – Please let me know if your affiliation is not listed (even if you are coming as an individual and not with a church/group).

All Saints, Guilford, IN (Dearborn County Catholic Parishes)
All Saints, Kenwood (St. Paul the Apostle Family)
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Respect Life Office
Blessed Sacrament, Ft. Mitchell, KY
St. Cecilia, Oakley (Eastside Catholic)
Good Shepherd, Montgomery
Guardian Angels, Mt. Washington (St. Gregory the Great Family)
Helpers of God’s Precious Infants (Prolife Mass & Rosary Procession – 1 ^st , 3 ^rd , & 4 ^th Sat.)
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Anderson Twp. (St. Gregory the Great Family)
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burlington, KY
Mary Queen of Heaven, Erlanger, KY
Mary’s Mantle (Prolife Mass & Rosary Procession – 2 ^nd Sat.)
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West
Old St. Mary’s/Sacred Heart, Cincinnati
Our Lady of Lourdes (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
Our Lady of the Visitation (Divine Mercy Family)
Pregnancy Center Plus
Queen of Apostles Family (Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of the Valley, St. James of the Valley)
St. Aloysius Gonzaga (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
St. Andrew, Milford (St. Mary Magdalene family)
St. Ann, Groesbeck (Mary Queen of Heaven family)
St. Anthony, Taylor Mill, KY
St. Antoninus (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
St. Barbara, Erlanger, KY
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Mary Queen of Heaven family)
St. Catharine of Siena (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
St. Catherine of Siena, Ft. Thomas, KY
St. Columban, Loveland
St. Edmund Campion Academy
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Milford (St. Mary Magdalene Family)
St. Gertrude, Madeira
St. Henry, Erlanger, KY
St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, Monfort Heights
St. James the Greater (Mary Queen of Heaven Family)
St. John Fisher, Newtown (St. Gregory the Great Family)
St. John the Baptist, Dry Ridge Rd., Colerain Twp.
St. John the Evangelist, Deer Park
St. Joseph, Cold Spring, KY
St. Joseph, Crescent Springs, KY
St. Joseph, North Bend (Divine Mercy Family)
St. Jude, Bridgetown (Divine Mercy Family)
St. Lawrence, Lawrenceburg, IN (Dearborn County Catholic Parishes)
St. Margaret Mary, N. College Hill (Mary Queen of Heaven Family)
St. Margaret of York, Loveland
St. Martin of Tours (Most Holy Eucharist Family)
St. Mary of the Assumption, Alexandria, KY
St. Mary, Aurora, IN (Dearborn County Catholic Parishes)
St. Mary, Hyde Park (Eastside Catholic)
St. Patrick, Taylor Mill, KY
St. Paul, Florence, KY
St. Paul the Apostle Family of Parishes (St. Vincent Ferrer, All Saints, Kenwood)
St. Philip, Melbourne, KY
St. Philip the Apostle, Morrow
St. Pius X, Edgewood, KY
St. Susanna, Mason
St. Teresa, Bright, IN (Dearborn County Catholic Parishes)
St. Thomas More, Withamsville (Stella Maris Family)
St. Thomas, Ft. Thomas, KY
St. Timothy, Union, KY
St. Veronica (St. Mary Magdalene family)
St. Vincent Ferrer, Kenwood (St. Paul the Apostle Family)
The Oratory of St. John Vianney, Madisonville (Eastside Catholic)

The post 40 Days for Life Fall Update – Week Five appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Italy’s Embryo Protection Law at 20: A Legacy of John II and Benedict XVI

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:37:00 GMT

By: Elizabeth Bothamley Rex, originally published October 22, 2025, The Catholic Register

COMMENTARY: Italy’s ‘Medically Assisted Reproduction Law’ remains the model legislation for the legal protection of children conceived through artificial reproductive technology.

Assisted Reproduction Technology milestones have been creating surreal headlines around the world.

On July 16, one headline in the MIT Technology Review read, “Researchers announce babies born from a trial of three-person IVF.” Another headline in the same publication just two weeks later on July 29, read, “Exclusive: A record-breaking baby has been born from an embryo that’s over 30 years old.”

“Three-Parent IVF” — also called “Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy” or MRT — is a treatment for infertility that uses and destroys donor embryos in order to provide healthy mitochondrial DNA taken from a donor embryo that is sacrificed to help “cure” an infertile couple’s own IVF-conceived embryo.

Three-Parent IVF involves creating an embryo with DNA taken from three parents: two women and one man. MRT is an artificial infertility treatment that was condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in its 2008 Instruction Dignitas Personae :

There is no consensus among moral theologians regarding “prenatal adoption.” However, Dignitas Personae says, “This proposal, praiseworthy with regard to the intention of respecting and defending human life, presents however various problems … of a medical, psychological and legal nature.”

Clearly, the entire world is struggling with the urgent need to regulate the IVF industry in order to protect the highly vulnerable lives of children conceived in vitro with strict “embryo protection” laws. Germany passed its well-known “Embryo Protection Law” in 1990, and Italy passed its less well known “Medically Assisted Reproduction Law” in 2004. This essay will discuss Italy’s excellent embryo protection law that was inspired, promoted and defended by two popes: Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

In February 2024, Italy marked the 20th anniversary of one of its most important and controversial laws : Legge 40/2004 , also known as Italy’s “ Medically Assisted Reproduction Law (MARL).” Passed after years of debate, Italy’s regulatory legislation sought to balance compassion for married couples struggling with infertility with an equal commitment to protect the dignity and the lives of children conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

At a time when most countries — including the United States — were expanding access to artificial reproduction with few or no ethical limits, Italy chose a different path: to pass a law that defends the right to life of human embryos brought into existence with the medical assistance of IVF from the first moment of their conception.

Pope John Paul II: ‘In the Interests of Children’

The inspiration for MARL came directly from the late Pope John Paul II, who had long urged lawmakers to defend life wherever it is threatened — including in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

On May 23, 2003, just months before the law was passed, John Paul II addressed the Italian Pro-Life Movement:

The law that was passed in February 2004 reflected exactly that guiding principle: “the interests of children.”

What the Law Established

Italy’s new Medically Assisted Reproduction Law established strict boundaries for the practice of IVF. It allowed infertile married couples or those in a stable relationship to access treatment, but only after medical confirmation of infertility. Key provisions included:

A maximum of three embryos could be fertilized and all had to be transferred to the mother’s womb.

No preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) or “selection” of embryos was permitted.
Embryo freezing was prohibited, except in temporary emergencies.
No donor sperm, donor eggs, or any form of surrogacy could be used.
Informed written consent – prior to the fertilization process — required that all the embryos created would be maternally received as children, not discarded or frozen as “spares.”

At its core, MARL recognized that every child — even a child conceived in vitro — is not a possession to be engineered, selected, or discarded, but a person with the same dignity as every other member of the human family.

Pope Benedict XVI, Italy’s Bishops, and the 2005 Referendum Battle

The law’s protections were immediately challenged. In June 2005, just one year after its passage, Italy held a national referendum aimed at overturning MARL’s safeguards. Supporters of the referendum sought to loosen restrictions on embryo freezing, genetic testing, and third-party gamete donation.

However, in an extraordinary intervention, the Catholic Church in Italy mobilized to defend unborn life. Pope John Paul II had died only three months earlier in April 2005, but his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, along with the entire Italian Bishops’ Conference, threw their full support behind the law.

Rather than merely urging Catholics to vote “no,” the bishops employed a unique strategy: they urged Italians to abstain entirely from voting, knowing that if turnout fell below 50%, the referendum would be invalidated.

The New York Times captured the moment in a May 31, 2005, article titled “In Political Step, Pope Confronts Law on Fertility” :

From pulpits across Italy, bishops and priests echoed the same message: protecting the lives of IVF-conceived children was not optional: it was a moral imperative. Flyers, brochures, and pastoral letters reminded Catholics that abstaining from the referendum was a form of active witness to life.

The result was decisive. Turnout reached just 25%, far short of the required 50%. The referendum failed, and Italy’s embryo protections survived.

Judicial Setbacks

Over the years, Italy’s Constitutional Court has softened some of MARL’s original restrictions. In 2009, the three-embryo limit was struck down, opening the way for embryo freezing. In 2014, the ban on donor gametes was overturned. In 2015, preimplantation genetic testing was legalized in cases of hereditary disease.

However, in 2024, the Court approved two additional “embryo protective” regulations: “post-mortem embryo transfer,” allowing a widow to transfer her frozen embryos even after her husband’s death; as well as “ex-partner embryo transfer” allowing the mother to transfer her frozen embryos after separation or divorce. These rulings emphasized that once embryos exist, and even if they are frozen, the patients’ informed consent cannot be revoked.

A Prophetic Vision

Italy’s approach to Medically Assisted Reproduction stands in sharp contrast to countries like Spain, Belgium, or the United States, where embryo freezing, genetic screening, and surrogacy remain largely unregulated.

The prophetic wisdom of MARL lies in its insistence that science and medicine must serve life, not control it. As the original law declared:

In practice, this meant that IVF in Italy was never a matter of “consumer choice.” It was a carefully regulated act of medicine, subordinated to the higher good of protecting children, mothers, and families.

Twenty Years Later: What Is at Stake?

Two decades later, MARL still provokes debate. Critics say it limits “reproductive freedom.” Supporters say it embodies a truly human vision of medicine and law, one that keeps the weakest — embryos — at the center.

For the Catholic Church, there is no ambiguity. John Paul II’s teaching remains clear: the rights of children must take precedence over the desires of adults. Benedict XVI and Italy’s bishops carried that conviction into the referendum battle of 2005. The citizens of Italy listened to the truth and defended Italy’s embryo protection law.

Today, as assisted reproductive technologies are rapidly advancing, the Catholic Church continues to urgently remind us that not everything technically possible is ethically permissible, and that strict regulations must be passed to protect human embryos from the abuses of medically assisted reproduction.

Model ART Legislation for the United States and the World

As the world marks 20 years since Italy enacted its Medically Assisted Reproduction Law , Catholics can see in it a model of how faith and reason can work together to shape laws that protect the dignity of every human being.

In an era when so many nations continue to permit the freezing, eugenic testing, and destruction of embryos, Italy’s law continues to bear witness to a higher truth: human life must be defended, respected, and cared for at every age and stage of development, beginning at conception.

Dr. Elizabeth Rex is a bioethicist and an associate scholar at The Charlotte Lozier Institute . This commentary was adapted from an essay published July 25 by the Society of St. Sebastian in its online publication, Sebastian’s Point .

Image: The Catholic Register-Gasper Furman/Frippitaun/Shutterstock.

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Trump’s IVF Policy Could Be Worse, But It’s Still Bad

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:56:00 GMT

By: Ryan T. Anderson, originally published October 17, 2025, FirstThings.com

The Trump administration’s IVF policy unveiled on Thursday is perhaps the least bad that we could have hoped for. The details are still being promulgated, but, as White House officials explained it, there will be no IVF mandate or direct government subsidies for IVF. Those who feared something akin to the Obama contraception mandate or taxpayer funding of abortion can breathe a sigh of relief. There will be no direct religious liberty or conscience violations, nor implications for taxpayer funding.

But least bad is still bad.

The entire thrust of the policy is to make something unethical (IVF) more widely practiced. Such a policy is itself unethical. So while Americans won’t be required to violate their conscience, our public policy will promote IVF more now than ever before.

None of this is necessarily to cast aspersions on those pushing for IVF. President Trump, in his remarks at the White House on Thursday, showed compassion for the many Americans who struggle with infertility, and he clearly has real affection for children. He wants to be a pro-baby, pro-family president. His motivations are good.

But there is a stark contrast between these motivations and the ethical challenges with IVF—challenges that most Americans know little, if anything, about. And that contrast was on vivid display during the White House policy announcement. Sen. Katie Britt called President Trump the most pro-IVF president in history. An IVF industry representative praised the president for the new policy, showing crony capitalism is alive and well. RFK Jr. told President Trump that Trump “was doing God’s work” in promoting IVF. Falsehoods were repeated about the Alabama court ruling that initiated this most-recent wave of IVF frenzy . And no attention at all was paid to the ethical concerns with IVF, or to the medical reality that IVF doesn’t actually treat infertility.

When a reporter asked President Trump what his response was to pro-lifers with concerns, he seemed unaware that there were concerns: “I don’t know about the views of that . . . I think this is very pro-life. You can’t get more pro-life than this.” But IVF as practiced today entails massive killing and freezing of embryonic human beings. IVF doesn’t treat underlying causes of infertility and doesn’t respect the dignity of the human person in his or her creation, where people should be begotten, not made.

Many couples experiencing infertility ache to start a family. Doctors don’t always impress on them the human costs of IVF. For one birth, doctors might create ten to twenty embryos, transfer several of the “most promising,” freeze the rest, and if more than one implants, abort the others. So the typical IVF cycle results in multiple dead and frozen embryos. And unlike in European nations, there are almost no laws in America regulating how many embryos can be created or destroyed, or how frozen embryonic human beings can be treated.

To some, this casual disregard is no accident, because IVF itself treats children as products of technical manufacture. It thus fails to respect the equal dignity of human beings in their very origins. Children are to be welcomed as the fruit of an act of marital love. Relating to a child instead as a producer relates to a product is the seed of all the abuses of the IVF industry—the casual creation and destruction of “spares,” the filtering out of “defectives,” the selection for sex and other specs (such as eye or hair color), the commodification of (often poor) women’s bodies as incubators.

The fundamental moral concerns about IVF are not sectarian. While today the Catholic Church most prominently teaches that IVF itself is wrong, the three most prominent moral thinkers who opposed IVF’s introduction in the 1970s and ’80s were non-Catholic: the University of Chicago’s Leon Kass (Jewish), Princeton’s Paul Ramsey (Methodist), and Oxford’s Oliver O’Donovan (Anglican). The arguments stand or fall on the merits, not the religious identity (or lack thereof) of those making them.

Alas, the White House event displayed no sensitivity to—or even awareness of—these concerns. But it wasn’t an outlier. Most Americans are unaware of these concerns. Indeed, truth be told, most church-attending Christians are blissfully unaware—because the Church has done such a poor job of teaching these truths.

Which makes the White House’s concern to not burden the consciences of the Americans who do oppose IVF all the more laudable. I personally met with many high-ranking White House officials to express these concerns, and I know I wasn’t the only one. I appreciate that the president’s team engaged widely throughout this policy process and not only heard but responded to at least some of the concerns expressed. That said, instead of making IVF more affordable and accessible, the Trump administration needs to take steps to address our current state of unregulated embryo fabricating, freezing, and destroying. Embryonic human beings deserve the law’s protection.

The bulk of the Trump IVF policy entails two main features: lowering the prices on IVF and other fertility treatments by lowering the costs of key drugs through Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing, and creating a new optional employer fertility insurance benefit. One aspect of this insurance benefit that was not highlighted during the Oval Office announcement but was explained to me by White House staff deserves mention: The new optional employer fertility insurance benefit is fully customizable, so that an employer could opt to offer a benefit only for ethical fertility treatments like restorative reproductive medicine. Indeed, restorative reproductive medicine is both ethically and medically superior to IVF , as it actually addresses the root causes of infertility, potentially allowing couples to conceive naturally through marital love instead of via technical manipulation in a petri dish. As the White House rolls out the details about this optional employer-sponsored fertility benefit, I know I’ll be looking into offering an ethical plan at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

All of which is to say that it could have been worse, and there are some real bright spots. But it’s ultimately a misguided policy. It highlights the reality that there is a lot of work yet to be done for those of us who believe in sound reproductive ethics.

Ryan T. Anderson is president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. His most recent book is “Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing.”

Image: FirstThings.com/archive/article-Ryan-Anderson .

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BREAKING: Over 100 pro-life groups urge Republican lawmakers not to cave to Democrat demands on abortion

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 22:15:00 GMT

(including Cincinnati Right to Life )

By: Misty Severi, originally published October 22, 2025, JustTheNews.com

The groups highlighted how Obamacare subsidies, which have been front and center for Democrats in the government funding fight, got around the 1976 Hyde Amendment that banned federal funding from being used on elective abortions.

A coalition of over 100 pro-life groups sent a letter Wednesday to Republican members of Congress, praising them for not agreeing to Democrat demands to include an extension of healthcare subsidies as a condition for reopening the government.

The groups argue that Obamacare subsidies, which have been front and center for Democrats in the government funding fight, have circumvented the 1976 Hyde Amendment that banned federal funding from being used on elective abortions.

The letter claimed that any funding for Obamacare is “forced taxpayer funding of abortion,” unless specified that it excludes elective abortions.

The letter also argued that the abortion section of the Affordable Care Act, which is hundreds of pages long, says funding is appropriated by the Treasury Department instead of through the Labor, Health and Human Services spending bill, thereby circumventing the Hyde Amendment, which is renewed each year as an attachment to the spending bill.

Just The News has reached out to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office for comment, but did not hear back by press time. Senate Democrats have demanded an extension of the subsidies, which expire at year’s end, in exchange for voting for a spending measure to reopen the government.

The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1, after the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded through Nov. 21. The House passed its version of the resolution last month.

The coalition urged lawmakers to continue standing firm in their opposition to extending Obamacare subsidies, which were expanded by the Biden administration’s COVID-19 policies.

“We are grateful that Republicans continue to stand strong against Democrats’ demands for massive spending on a continuing resolution—specifically, funding for Obamacare subsidies that cover abortion plans,” the group wrote in a letter first shared with Just The News.

“As pro-life leaders, we urge you to raise your voice to unequivocally oppose any consideration of extending the COVID-era subsidies without Hyde protections,” they concluded. “The pro-life Congress must not be a party to Obama’s abortion funding scheme.”

The letter was signed by a total of 105 groups, including the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Advancing American Freedom and the Faith & Freedom Coalition.

“Democrats are keeping the government shut down to protect the largest expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion since Roe v. Wade – Obamacare,” SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement shared with Just The News . “The more Washington funds abortion, the more unborn children lose their lives and the more moms are hurt. This pro-life Congress must not extend the Obama-Biden legacy of taxpayer-funded abortion that ends the lives of countless innocent babies.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News.

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Gratitude After a Powerful Evening for Life

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:58:00 GMT

Thank you sponsors, friends, and supporters!

Cincinnati Right to Life offers heartfelt thanks to all who joined us for our Evening for Life on October 16 at the Sharonville Convention Center. The evening was filled with faith, fellowship, and renewed purpose for defending life.

Our outstanding emcee, Annie Mitchell from Sacred Heart Radio brings a sincere spirit to our event every year. Congressman Warren Davidson joined us and offered important updates from Washington. He spoke about ongoing debates over government funding and efforts to expand abortion subsidies through Obamacare, while reaffirming his dedication to defending life and supporting efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. Thank you Congressman Davidson for taking our voices for life to DC!

We were moved by Kaya Jones, who shared her powerful journey from the glamour and emptiness of the pop music industry to a life of healing from past abortion decisions and her newfound devotion to Christ. Her testimony reminded us that God’s mercy transforms hearts and restores hope—many saw in her the spirit of Mary Magdalene, redeemed and radiant in faith. We pray for Kaya, that she continues to grow in the fullness of the faith. Her journey is still so new!

Kaya’s reflection on her dear friend Charlie Kirk—and the song she shared that he had once used in his work—was a heartfelt gift to the audience.

We were additionally blessed to be joined by Mike Seibel, a dedicated pro-life attorney who devotes his time to exposing late-term abortionists and strengthening the pro-life ground game across the nation. His words of warning for Ohio were sobering and will be heeded in the year to come as we continue our mission to protect every life.

Thank you to every guest, sponsor, and volunteer who made this night possible. Together, we stand firm for the sanctity of life and the redeeming power of God’s love.

The post Gratitude After a Powerful Evening for Life appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Former Planned Parenthood Manager to Visit Cincinnati Following Landmark Victories for the Pro-Life Movement

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:04:00 GMT

(Cincinnati, Ohio) – As the pro-life movement gains historic ground nationwide , former Planned Parenthood manager and current 40 Days for Life outreach director Ramona Treviño is bringing her powerful message of faith, victory, and life to Cincinnati on November 2, 2025. Treviño will be speaking at the Closing Event for the 2025 Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign which begins at 6:30pm at Holy Name Church, 2422 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, rallying the local community to stay bold in the fight for the unborn.

“Since the historic overturn of Roe v. Wade, our mission has entered a powerful new phase, and the faithful efforts of cities like Cincinnati are driving real change,” said Treviño. “I look forward to standing in prayer with this community and encouraging their witness for life at such a pivotal time in our nation.”

The national 40 Days for Life campaign has played a major role in shaping the post-Roe landscape, as more abortion facilities close, Planned Parenthood faces continued cuts to taxpayer funding, and more Americans embrace a culture of life. Treviño’s visit comes as part of the global movement’s effort to mobilize support, deepen local engagement, and celebrate these recent victories.

“Ramona is an inspiring speaker and a tireless leader for life,” said Mary Clark, leader of the Cincinnati 40 Days for Life campaign. “We’re honored to welcome her to Cincinnati and grateful for the encouragement she brings to our community’s peaceful and prayerful efforts.”

Cincinnati is one of 671 cities participating in the latest 40 Days for Life campaign, running September 24-November 2. The campaign is built around 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil outside abortion facilities, and grassroots outreach to the broader community.

Since 2007, 40 Days for Life has documented:

 25,000+ lives saved from abortion

 270+ abortion workers who left the industry

 170+ abortion facilities that shut their doors following local vigils

With momentum on its side, 40 Days for Life continues to expand across the U.S. and around the world, uniting people of all backgrounds in a peaceful stand for life. Treviño’s visit to Cincinnati underscores the growing influence of the pro-life movement in a post-Roe America—and the power of local communities to make a lasting impact.

To learn more about the international 40 Days for Life movement, visit www.40daysforlife.com.

For updates on the Cincinnati campaign, visit www.40daysforlife.com/cincinnati

For media inquiries, please contact Mary Clark at cincy40days@fuse.net or 513-604-9054.

The post Former Planned Parenthood Manager to Visit Cincinnati Following Landmark Victories for the Pro-Life Movement appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

40 Days for Life Fall Update – Week Four

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:54:00 GMT

Contact: Mary Clark
Cincinnati Campaign Leader
513-604-9054 / cincy40days@fuse.net
October 17, 2025

Weekly Update – Week Four

The Importance of Being on the Sidewalk

Due to preparations for last Thursday’s Cincinnati Right to Life Evening for Life, last Friday’s update was delayed until this week. At the banquet we heard from Kaya Jones who told her story of the priorities which the music industry values. Values having to do with money and fame over Christian virtue and the needs of the artists that are used by the industry.

Kaya wants women and men contemplating abortion to know that there is spiritual, emotional, and mental trauma that people have to work through for the rest of their lives. But she also doesn’t leave out the most important thing—God will forgive if you ask Him. She emphasized the need for us to be present at the abortion facility to reach out even with the simple words of support, “You can do this.” We must use whatever opportunities we have to make sure everyone knows where our pregnancy centers are and that those compassionate, supportive souls who work there will do whatever they can to make sure women know they are not alone in their pregnancies.

Challenge

This Fall Campaign we were challenged to pray, fast or do penance with a more focused intention, and or strengthen our prayers on behalf or the unborn, the mothers & fathers and, the abortion professionals & workers. So for this update here’s two more ideas:

1) Let’s make a concerted effort to include our civil and religious leaders and call on the Holy Spirit to give them the guidance and strength to act with courage, mercy and wisdom – in advocating, legislating, and voting! Let’s call on their Guardian Angels and their name saints to bolster them up and inspire their efforts for God’s will!

2) Here’s St. Augustine’s beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit – We can change the “Me” to They (by intention naming and encompassing all those in the above intention as well as ourselves! “Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.”

If you would like to share how you have you challenged yourself to enhance your prayers for the unborn, we’d love to hear from you at the email address above! Have a blest and challenging week (in a good way)!

IMPORTANT – SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, November 2, 6:30PM – Ramona Trevino at Closing Prayer Event

The post 40 Days for Life Fall Update – Week Four appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

Presidential Message on Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:14:00 GMT

By: Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, October 10, 2025, WhiteHouse.gov

From the earliest days of our Nation’s Founding, America has been guided by the sacred truth that every child is created in the holy image and likeness of God with inherent dignity and worth. This Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we recommit to this immortal truth. We celebrate the extraordinary individuals living with Down Syndrome who bring joy, wonder, and meaning to the world—and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the families and caregivers who navigate the challenges and blessings of raising children with developmental disabilities with unconditional love.

Every year, an estimated 5,000 babies—1 in every 775—are born in the United States with Down Syndrome. This condition alters the course of a child’s development and causes cognitive delays that bring uncertainty and fear to affected families. Thankfully, advancements in research, screening, protocols of care, intervention therapies, and treatments have extended the quality of life and the life span of children and adults living with Down Syndrome. There are now more opportunities than ever before for independence, meaningful employment, and integration into classrooms and communities so that all individuals with Down Syndrome can enjoy full participation in American life.

My Administration continues to proclaim the sanctity and beauty of every human life. This month, I renew my commitment to protecting the health and well-being of all the men, women, and children living with Down Syndrome—and we recommit to forging a culture, a government, and a Nation that upholds the dignity of life and respects the divine spark imprinted on every human soul.

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90,000 Canadians dead by Euthanasia (MAiD) and counting

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:40:00 GMT

By: Kelsi Sheren, originally published on October 6, 2025, Kelsi Sheren’s substack

Do you remember when we used to only provide the death penalty to the WORST OF THE WORST? Not now, now we kill anyone Canada decides is a burden to it’s society.

Canada has now crossed a line most of us never thought possible. By the end of 2024, there were roughly 16,500 euthanasia deaths, that representing 5% of all deaths in the country.

Since legalization, there have been nearly 90,000 deaths by MAID – murder.

90,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED INTENTIONALLY BY A DR.

No support, no compassion, no “how can we help you be comfortable so you can pass in a real peaceful way. Just a Dr with dead eyes being paid to take your life with two iv’s, drug kits, paralyzed and drown to death in their own fluids.

This is not compassion. This is not choice. This is state-facilitated killing on an industrial scale. Call it what it is, please! Eugenics.

Our broken country is officially out of control, the federal government’s own data confirms the trend. In 2023, Canada recorded 15,343 reported euthanasia deaths already a staggering 4.7% of all deaths. That was up from 13,241 in 2022. In 2024, the figure climbed to 16,500, or 5%.

This is not a marginal program. MAID is not a rare exception. It is now one of the leading “causes” of death in Canada.

And it keeps growing. In just the first half of 2025, Ontario alone recorded 2,551 euthanasia deaths a 4% increase over the same period in 2024.

My home province of BC should be TERRIFYING YOU. We are what people call “the canary in the coal mine.”

The 2024 data from British Columbia is especially alarming:

3,000 euthanasia deaths in 2024 , up 8% from the year before.
On Vancouver Island alone, 904 people were euthanized, more than 30% of the province’s total.

Why does Island Health have such inflated numbers? Access is easier, oversight is weaker, and a dedicated euthanasia clinic normalizes the practice. It isn’t medical care — it’s assembly-line death. When I’m talking about dedicated to death, look no further then “MAID HOUSE” the facility you walk into and never walk out. All they do is kill, 365.

But the most chilling number? 35% of BC euthanasia approvals were for “other conditions.” Of those, nearly two-thirds were classified as “frailty.” Yep you read that right. “FRAILTY”

Frailty is not a terminal illness.

Here one more time if you didn’t get it yet

Frailty is not a terminal illness.

It’s a vague label for aging bodies and comorbidities. In practice, it means Canadians are being euthanized for nothing more than being old and tired.

In the Netherlands, this is called “Completed Life.” It has been debated and remains contested. In Canada, it was never debated. It’s just happening, because well…. no one is stopping it, speaking loudly enough or calling these “Dr’s” what they are. Killers.

Name them, every single one of them. They love killing so much, so why not give them the spot light. I will be doing just that soon.

Eugenics isn’t always about forced sterilizations or gas chambers. At its core, it’s about deciding which lives are worth living and which are not — and enshrining that judgment in state policy.

That is exactly what Canada is doing:

Elderly people labeled “frail.”
Disabled people pressured to die rather than live in poverty.
The mentally ill specifically start in March 2027
Children may start in 2027

Families nudged toward the “cheap” option of euthanasia over palliative care.

When 5% of all deaths in a country come from a government-sanctioned lethal injection, you are no longer running a healthcare system. You are running a death program.Palliative medicine is almost non existent anymore, what was morphine, hospice, compassionate care has been starved of resources as MAID has expanded, all lobbied by one organization that wants everyone to die. Why fund the difficult work of supporting the dying when killing is faster and cheaper?

The “choice” narrative is a smokescreen, a lie shoved down Canadians throat until they don’t even realize they are the lambs to slaughter. In reality, many Canadians are being offered death not because it is what they want, but because it is the only option the system will fully fund.

As of September 2025, nearly 90,000 Canadians have been killed under MAID since its legalization. The numbers climb every year. The categories expand every year. And the already pathetic attempt at safeguards vanish into dust.

This is not “medical assistance in dying.” It is medical assistance in killing.

A cultural shift where the sick, elderly, disabled, and vulnerable are told, directly or indirectly you are a burden, and the responsible thing is to die.

That is eugenics, plain and simple.

Canada does not need more MAID. It needs more humanity.

We need a national reckoning before another 90,000 are sacrificed on the altar of false compassion.

And we need it now.

Kelsi Sheren is a Canadian veteran who served in Afghanistan. She is the founder and CEO of Brass & Unity, a jewelry brand that supports veterans in need.

The post 90,000 Canadians dead by Euthanasia (MAiD) and counting appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

The Wisdom of C.S. Lewis on Abortion and Pro-Life Efforts

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:28:00 GMT

By: Megan Rials, JD, originally published October 12, 2025, Sebastian’s Point

C.S. Lewis, the most prominent Christian apologist of the 20th century, commented on many moral ills and societal issues. Contemporary Christians regularly turn to his writings for commentary on various issues related to theology and apologetics, but those looking for his thoughts on one main prominent scourge of modern society, abortion, will find no help in his mainstream published work. He never offered specific public commentary on the subject, which is likely due to the fact that abortion was not legalized in England until 1968, and Lewis passed on November 22, 1963. In a private letter, however, he stated,

It is certainly not wrong to try to remove the natural consequences of sin provided the means by which you remove them are not in themselves another sin. (E.g. it is merciful and Christian to remove the natural consequences of fornication by giving the girl a bed in a maternity ward and providing for the child’s keep and education, but wrong to remove them by abortion or infanticide.)[i]

One of Lewis’s stepsons, Douglas Gresham, confirmed how strongly Lewis would feel about our culture’s casual treatment of the mass slaughter of infants that modern societal sanction of abortion has produced:

I am convinced that if C.S. Lewis were alive today, he would think he had died and was living in Hell. And it’s our fault. If you presented Jack [Lewis’s nickname] with a world in which 60 million children are murdered before they have a chance to be born, he would be absolutely horrified… I don’t like to think what Jack would feel about today’s world. And I think the apathy of many of us Christians would horrify him equally.[ii]

The next logical question would be to inquire into when Lewis believed life began. Although there is no evidence that Lewis ever commented on that specific question, he offered the following commentary:

In a normal act of generation the father has no creative function. A microscopic particle of matter from his body, and a microscopic particle from the woman’s body, meet. … The human father is merely an instrument…always the last in a long line of carriers. That line is in God’s hand. It is the instrument by which He normally creates man…no woman ever conceived a child…without Him.[iii]

Implicit in Lewis’s thoughts here is the idea that life begins at fertilization, when the “microscopic particle[s]” of the genetic material of a man and woman meet. But without specific further commentary from Lewis on abortion and the politics relating to abortion, can we as Christians seeking to promote the pro-life position still draw from his wisdom?

As a Lewis scholar, I believe the answer is a resounding yes. Lewis referred to the work of the homemaker as being “the most important work in the world,” noting, “We wage war in order to have peace, we work in order to have leisure, we produce food in order to eat it. So your job is the one for which all others exist.”[iv] The only logical conclusion is that Lewis would have enthusiastically embraced the pro-life position.

Although I do not dare to speculate on what Lewis would have believed and recommended with respect to specific political strategies and policies about abortion had he lived today (assuming he would have ventured to offer public commentary), I believe we can apply his general wisdom to an area of abortion jurisprudence and legislation that is currently hampering the efforts of the pro-life movement: the widespread availability of the abortion pill even in states that have banned abortions. Although in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the “right” to abortion established in Roe v. Wade and allowed to continue in Planned Parenthood v. Casey , loopholes nevertheless exist. In 2000, the FDA approved a two-step, chemical abortion process, which involves the mother first taking a drug called mifepristone to stop hormones from reaching the uterus, then within 48 hours, taking a second drug called misoprostol to induce contractions.[v] In 2016, the FDA expanded this process to allow for abortion up to 70 days, or from seven weeks’ gestation to 10 weeks.[vi] In 2016, the FDA also relaxed the number of required doctor’s visits from three to one.[vii] In 2019, the FDA then approved a generic form of mifepristone (marketed as Mifeprex), and in 2021, removed a significant barrier to the drug’s prescription by no longer requiring that mifepristone be dispensed only in clinics, medical offices, and hospitals, such that it became available via telehealth visits and mail.[viii]

In June 2022, however, the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the “right” to abortion established in Roe v. Wade and allowed to continue in Planned Parenthood v. Casey , and allowed each individual state to vote and decide on the legality of abortion for itself.[ix] The logical conclusion would be to assume that Dobbs halted the use of mifepristone in states opposing abortion, but such has been far from the case because of two key stumbling blocks.

First, in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine , the Supreme Court created a loophole that allows mifepristone to continue to be prescribed.[x] Although the technicalities of the opinion are beyond the scope of this piece, the Supreme Court refused to address the substance of the issue by punting on a legal technicality: that the plaintiffs, a group of pro-life doctors, did not have “standing,” or the legal right, to challenge the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, as the Court found they had not suffered a direct injury from such, as the doctors did not either prescribe or use the drug themselves. The Supreme Court thus dodged a prime opportunity to strike down the FDA’s approval of mifepristone in light of its own decision in Dobbs striking down abortion as a constitutional right.

The second stumbling block is the existence of so-called “shield laws” that states in favor of abortion have enacted to protect their own resident doctors when they prescribe abortion pills to be mailed to women living in pro-life states. Although their exact content differs from state to state, generally, shield laws purport to allow the shielding state to refuse to comply with the extradition order from another state for a doctor who has provided abortion care that is legal in the shielding state, to refuse to participate in the prosecuting state’s investigation into the doctor, and to refuse to professionally discipline the doctor.[xi]

The end result is that mifepristone and the “abortion pill” are still available, which creates significant loopholes to the full enforcement of Dobbs and restrictions on abortion. Tragically, abortion rates have actually increased since the Dobbs opinion was issued, and as of 2023, chemical abortions now account for almost two-thirds of abortions.[xii] In Texas alone, telehealth medication-induced abortions have increased since Dobbs was decided, with an average of approximately 3,500 medication-induced abortions per month reported in the last quarter of 2024.[xiii]

For Christians, what is the proper response to these issues? As Lewis notes in Mere Christianity, “[P]rogress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man…. There is nothing progressive about being pig-headed and refusing to admit a mistake.”[xiv] In light of Lewis’s wisdom, Christians must focus on closing the abortion-pill loophole to Dobbs. There are several practical steps Christians can take to address these issues.

First, with respect to the FDA, public comments are always allowed when the FDA publishes proposed regulations. Should the FDA modify any regulations with respect to mifepristone, Christians should prepare to submit public comments online to voice disapproval of the drug and the abortion pill. Christians can also submit a “Citizen Petition” to the FDA to take specific action with respect to the abortion pill, though this process is lengthier and more regulation-riddled.

The more likely battleground, however, for the fight with respect to the abortion pill is the courtroom. The legal questions that shield laws raise are already heading to the courts, as the case of Dr. Margaret Carpenter, who is facing injunctions from the Texas Attorney General and criminal indictments in Louisiana for prescribing the abortion pill to women in Texas and Louisiana, illustrates.[xv] These laws raise many constitutional questions, including those related to the Extradition Clause and the Full Faith and Credit Clause because the laws of shield states and pro-life states necessarily conflict, as well as related state sovereignty questions. These cases are bound to involve religious liberty organizations such as the Becket Fund , the American Center for Law and Justice , and First Liberty in their fight for religious freedom. To this end, Christians should support the filing of amicus briefs and these organizations. Christian lawyers can also contribute pro bono work and amicus briefs themselves.

In conclusion, though, as Lewis writes in his seminal work Mere Christianity , we must imagine ourselves as a “living house” that God has come to rebuild.[xvi] God first begins with small tasks: fixing drains, stopping up leaks, but He soon progresses to more painful repairs.[xvii] According to Lewis, “The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”[xviii]

As with the individual person, so with culture, for as the Greeks well knew, the polis is only man writ large: turning the societal tide begins with the smallest unit. For all the importance of the foregoing legal analysis, Lewis would first encourage us to remember the girl who needs a maternity bed, the child who needs a home and an education. We cannot expect to shift our legal landscape and entire culture if we forget to help the least of these in our midst. Our efforts must be predicated on helping those affected most by unexpected pregnancies through crisis pregnancy centers and our personal efforts. Lewis distinguished between “nice people” with pleasant personalities and manners from the “new men” redeemed and remade into God’s own sons and daughters.[xix] In the fight to protect and preserve life, will we prove ourselves to be only nice people who parrot the right political talking points or new men ready to pay the costs of the renovations God seeks to make in our culture?

Megan Rials, JD, is an author, literary scholar, and poet with a Master of Arts in Apologetics.

References: Society of St. Sebastian .

The post The Wisdom of C.S. Lewis on Abortion and Pro-Life Efforts appeared first on Cincinnati Right to Life .

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