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Re: LifeSiteNews Fully Stands by Original Report in Wake of National Post Whitewash of St. Joseph’s Hospital “Early Inductions”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09022402.html

Fr. Prieur insisted that such procedures were not abortion. “Now it’s not called abortion. We’re not killing the baby. We’re bringing the baby out and allowing the baby to die. That’s a very important distinction,”

Call it what one will, there is an important distinction to be made where the life of the mother is in imminent danger and where the chromosomal or structural anomaly of the child in utero poses no immediate risk to the mother whatsoever.

Furthermore, during the course of an induction abortion the uterus contracts so forcefully that, in some cases, the membranes rupture, the umbilical cord is either compressed or falls out of the cervix and the fetus is deprived of oxygen. This according to testimony by Dr. Stephen T. Chasen, of high risk obstetrics and gynecology, at New York Presbyterian Hospital to Judge Casey in 2004. He testified on behalf of the National Abortion Federation versus Ashcroft. When asked, “How long does the process of fetal death before asphyxiation take from the onset of contractions and induction abortion?” Answer: “It could take many minutes.” Under further examination he made it very clear that the woman was his main concern during the “procedure” and he didn’t care if he was hurting the baby.

Let it never be forgotten that the child is a patient too. No, early inductions kill the baby prematurely. Forget about “allowing the baby to die” and allow him to live, cradled in the arms of loving parents, if only for a few minutes, days or weeks.

L. Kennedy
Ontario
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The Editor:

Among the competencies expected of soldiers in battle are the capacity to fire a weapon accurately, as well as sufficient eyesight to be able to distinguish the enemy from allies or innocent bystanders. If the soldiers lack these competencies, then, at best, they do no good for the cause for which they are fighting. At worst, they do harm to that cause.
 
Father Michael Prieur, a good and holy man, is being falsely accused of complicity to commit murder. If this accusation were made in bad conscience, then the act of accusing would be gravely sinful. I am assuming that the accusations are being made in good conscience. Even so, the act of accusing is objectively, gravely wrong.

In waging warfare in defence of life, the people at LifeSiteNews have taken poor aim with their intellectual weapons, and they have mistaken an ally for an enemy. This misfire is, at best, doing no good for the pro-life cause. At worst, it is doing it harm.
 
(Rev.) Michael Smith, pastor
St.Theresa’s Parish
Témiscaming, Québec

LifeSiteNews responds:

LifeSiteNews did extensive research and quoted many sources for its factual reports on this issue. The matter was brought to our attention by knowledgeable persons who were deeply concerned about what they knew was going on at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

If the letter writer’s charges were valid, then the United States Catholic Bioethics Centre and the various professional and pro-life leaders quoted by us, as well as the mother who was the subject of our most recent report, would also all be implicated in the charge of false accusations in the LifeSiteNews reports.

LifeSiteNews reported the facts and will continue to do so on this very important matter with broad implications for the future treatment of pregnant mothers and their unborn babies with lethal fetal anomalies. Without the very frank revelations in our reports it may be that the St. Joseph’s protocol and worse would spread to many other Catholic health care facilities in Canada and elsewhere – if they have not already done so. The public has not been aware of this going on and has a right to that information and comments from both sides of the issues. LifeSiteNews has fulfilled that need.