Life Issues

Maria Rojas was seemingly a Houseton midwife delivering babies, but behind the scenes she was posing as a doctor and handing out abortion pills via multiple clinics she set up. Now the long arm of the law has caught up to Rojas. Even though she denied everything a grand jury found her guilty on twelve felonies of practicing medicine without a license and three counts of performing illegal abortions. In Texas abortion is largely prohibited. So, if convicted Rojas could spend the rest of her life in prison and face thousands in fines. In the face of all this she’s appealing the State Supreme Court to reopen her clinics. This is the life of an illegal, back-alley abortionist. She’s a danger to women and babies.

Soon my wife and I will return to South Africa. I’ll be keynoting a national pro-life conference. Afterward we’re fulfilling a long-anticipated bucket list item – flying to Mozambique to work in a clinic. We’re traveling with a Life Issues board member who with two other surgeons will be doing cataract surgeries. Ellen and I will help out wherever we can. Experience has taught me cataract surgery is simple and painless. But imagine you’re blind and living in the bush with no medical support. That’s where Doctors for Life International come in. Staffed by volunteers, God willing, they restore sight to the blind. Not like Jesus, mind you, but we may share a bit of the awe experienced by the disciples when the bandages come off. Please pray for everyone involved.

Here’s a chilling development in Canada. Nine years ago they legalized euthanasia and have been working since then to kick every safeguard to the curb. Recently, Prime Minister Mark Carney eliminated the minister position from his cabinet who would oversee the protection of people with disabilities. All the while expanding their euthanasia program. Canadians with disabilities are deeply concerned and I see why. Already more than half of those victimized by euthanasia indicated on a survey they had a disability. It takes up to eight months to receive disability support but only ninety one days to obtain euthanasia. Equally disturbing is the lack of outcry from Canadian citizens to what is clearly a pathway to killing those who are too expensive for medical services. They now have a price on their heads.

Here’s some very encouraging news! The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Department of Health and Human Services has the constitutional right to deny Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood while the court case continues. This kingpin of the abortion industry has the largest chain of abortion facilities in the nation. Currently Planned Parenthood receives over two million tax dollars every day. Yes, every day. Most of this obscene amount of money comes from Medicaid reimbursement. Planned Parenthood tries to downplay their abortion activities. But over ninety-five percent of all pregnant women who seek their services opt for abortion. Over two-thirds of women who have abortions say they were pressured into killing their babies. Yes, let’s defund Planned Parenthood.

We were all shocked to learn Charlie Krik was brutally assassinated.  And that the evil act was done in front of his family.  Charlie clearly loved Jesus and shared the gospel message to tens of thousands of young Americans.  Many desperate to be fed the Bread of Life that is Jesus.  I didn’t know Charlie but I shared his passion for America’s unborn babies.  He never wavered in advocating for the most vulnerable citizens among us.  Satan had a seething hatred for Charlie because he was an effective mouthpiece for our Savior.  John Mac Arthur once said, “All death can do to the believer is deliver him to Jesus.”  Charlie quoted this multiple times and he believed it.  This young icon of the conservative movement now rests in the arms of Jesus.

Some time ago I told you about a baby left in a dumpster, rescued and adopted by a nice couple.  Early indications were this baby was a diamond in the rough.  Boy was he!  Freddie Figgers was bullied in school and called “trash baby.”  But at nine he fixed a broken computer his dad brought home.  By thirteen he was regularly repairing them and at fifteen had his own repair business.  Freddie used his parents’ living room to build his first system.  He invented devices that enabled doctors to monitor patients remotely.  At nineteen Freddie sold one of his inventions for over two million dollars.  By the age of twenty-five Freddie had developed more than eight software programs.  Imagine how many of God’s treasures intended for use were aborted.

Planned Parenthood was caught lying again, this time in Pennsylvania. Some of their websites bragged about offering prenatal and postnatal care. Then pro-lifers called all of them and not one offered these services. Pro-abortion Governor Josh Shapiro posted on X that defunding the abortion giant would result in denying “essential lifesaving care such as…prenatal and postpartum care.” Either the Governor is ignorant of the facts or is also lying. Both reflect poorly on the man. Planned Parenthood was caught doing the same thing eight years ago and took the lies off their websites. But the lies came back and they were caught again. Many of us remember the ruse of Planned Parenthood claiming they offered mammograms until it was revealed not one center in America did them. They’re only about abortion.

Since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the state of Texas has been at the forefront of passing pro-life legislation. The State Legislature overcame a key hurdle in the House passing legislation that attacks chemical abortion pills from a different direction. The Texas Woman and Child Protection Act allows Texans to sue for civil damages and grants added powers to the state attorney general. Plus, it allows wrongful death claims. Normally the House Speaker votes only when the legislation is of the highest priority. Speaker Dustin Burrows voted in favor of the bill. Family members of the unborn child may sue and receive one hundred thousand dollars. The Texas legislature is confronting abortion on different levels which I believe is a great strategy.

Nine years ago Canada legalized euthanasia. Back then advocates promised it would only be used for terminal patients with less than six months to live. Quickly and surely the so-called protections for patients have fallen by the wayside. And now the Quebec College of Physicians is advocating the legalization of euthanasia for infants. They claim it’s only for infants born severely ill. Killing infants regardless of their condition is inherently wrong. But who determines the definition of “severely ill?” It’s likely to include a child with Down syndrome or one born with a missing arm or leg. In less than a decade euthanasia accounts for five percent of all deaths in Canada. That’s the population of an average small town. Now they want to kill infants. God have mercy on them.

A new strategy is emerging to protect unborn children. The Wall Street Journal reports that fathers are suing those involved with the death of their unborn babies. Dads have every right to be informed and give permission before their unborn child can be killed at the hands of an abortionist or through chemical abortion pills. Jerry Rodriguez is suing his girlfriend’s mother and estranged husband for coercing her into taking abortion pills against her wishes during two pregnancies. And he’s asking the abortionist be forbidden to send the pills into pro-life states. Another father sued and won a judgement against a New York abortionist for mailing abortion pills to his girlfriend. He was never informed of the pregnancy until the pills caused a medical emergency. Fathers deserve a place at the table.