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November 2, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) — A few weeks back, I interviewed Dutch pro-life activist Kees Van Helden, a national leader who works both on the grassroots level as well as the political level. He told me a story that has been virtually non-existent in the media: That the Dutch abortion industry has been paralyzed by massive financial fraud scandals, exposed first by the investigative reporting of a pro-life newspaper, and then further fraud being discovered by a second newspaper.

The Dutch pro-life movement is doing everything it can to utilize this opportunity — over half of the abortion clinics in the country have been shut down — to save pre-born children wherever they can. Van Helden described how they are offering women seeking abortions economic assistance and actually assigning them a partner who will buy everything they need for the baby on behalf of the pro-life movement and provide emotional support during the pregnancy and beyond. Many women, Van Helden says, have already taken them up on their offer.

The abortion industry and their allies are enraged, and are attempting to deflect from their guilt by bemoaning the fact that some women may not be able to abort their children by the legal cut-off point (24 weeks) and may instead be stuck with a baby. The media, of course, is sympathetic to that storyline, which has come to dominate much of the coverage. For more on the unfolding situation in the Netherlands, I interviewed freelance journalist Sjoukje Dijkstra:

What is currently happening with the abortion industry in the Netherlands?

CASA clinics, an organization that is responsible for half the abortions in the Netherlands, appears to have committed a fraud worth nearly 6 million euros during the last decennium. To top it off, recent research shows the amount was even bigger: clinics reimbursed an amount of 9 million euros at insurance companies for non-existing clients, which brings the fraud to a total amount of nearly 15 million euro.

The clinics charged an additional amount of money to give anesthesia, whereas they were not entitled to do that. As a consequence, these abortion clinics have received millions of subsidies from the Dutch state. Money that  is paid by the Dutch taxpayer. Moreover, as it turned out: treatments costs were submitted for reimbursement twice. 

Who discovered the fraud?

The fraud was investigated by the Dutch newspaper 'Nederlands Dagblad' (6 million euro). Another newspaper 'De Volkskrant' later on found out the amount was even bigger than assumed (the 9 million euro).

Which abortion workers and clinics were implicated in the discoveries?

At this moment 4 out of 7 CASA clinics are closed, because of financial problems. The clinic is under investigation. After the fraud came out, Ron Leenders (former director of the CASA clinics) suddenly left (the sinking ship). Former CASA director Bert van Herk is also one of the people who can be held accountable for the fraud at CASA clinics. Nevertheless, he received a golden handshake to the amount of nearly 500.000 euros when he left. At the moment he is Regional Treasurer at Rutgers WPF, an affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF)

CASA clinics is not the only abortion organization that committed fraud during the past years. According to the ‘Nederlands Dagblad’ the abortion clinic Bloemenhovekliniek in Heemstede also appears to have committed a fraud worth 800.000 euros during the same period of time. Thea Schippers is currently the director of this clinic. In 2016 she was royally awarded for the ‘support’ she offers to women in need. She was rewarded for killing the unborn by the Dutch Minister of Health.

What has the result of these discoveries been?

Till now it only resulted in investigation at the clinics. Furthermore, CASA was already suffering financial problems. They were declared partly bankrupt in the last months, which resulted in the fact that waiting times for women who request an abortion are now high, and work pressure in remaining open clinics (and the Bloemenhove Clinic) is sky-rocking high. Question is: can they still guarantee the safety of the women coming in for treatments? (Of course we all know, a safe abortion doesn't exist…)

How many abortion clinics have shut down, and how many are left operating?

4 out of 7 CASA clinics were closed. CASE Clinics is responsible for half of the 31.000 abortions in the Netherlands. Bloemenhovekliniek is still operating. 

How has the media covered these discoveries?

It is unbelievable that the media once again fell for the ‘heroic victim role’ the abortion industry always seem to take on. The focus in the news has shifted from the fraud to women, who are now ‘victims’ because they may end up with an unwanted child. Journalists are not talking about the consequences of an abortion; they talk about workload within clinics and waiting lists. That is newsworthy to them. This is not surprising considering the fact most media are pro-choice, and therefore consider abortion as a right, which should not be discussed. 

How has the government responded to this news?

The former minister of health care Edith Schippers has started an investigation. Not only CASA, also other clinics are being investigated. 

What is the Dutch pro-life movement doing to take advantage of this situation?

Well … first of all, I think we cannot speak about: taking advantage of the situation. These women who had abortions in the last years, received care from non-qualified personnel could have endangered their health. The Dutch pro-life movement is just continuing their work, by supporting women with unplanned pregnancies. We are continuing to educate society about abortion: by telling the inconvenient truth about abortion and the consequences to everyone, everywhere, and anywhere we can. 

What is the status quo with regards to abortion in the Netherlands? 

Abortions still continue every day. Maybe fewer abortions are being committed, but we can only tell in a later stadium how the situation is of influence on the number of abortions. 

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Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States.

He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions. Some of these topics include abortion, pornography, the Sexual Revolution, and euthanasia. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform.

Jonathon’s first book, The Culture War, was released in 2016.