by Matt Anderson
PROVIDENCE, RI, November 10, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Governor-elect of Rhode Island named prominent abortionist Pablo Rodriguez to his transition team on Monday. Lincoln Chafee, who was elected governor on November 2, has a long history of supporting abortion. He voted against the Partial Birth Abortion Act in 2003 and was a member of Republicans for Choice during his time as a Senator.
Rodriguez has formerly served as Medical Director of Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island.
The appointment has gained attention in recent days due to an article Rodriguez wrote in 2000 describing his time providing illegal abortions in an undisclosed South American country. In the article, Rodriguez equates access to abortion with a blessing from God.
Describing the residents of the country, Rodriguez says, “Hunger, extreme poverty and disease are so diabolic and real in their lives that anything that could somehow stem the flow of misery is nothing less than a blessing.”
Among his experiences in the Andes, Rodriguez was particularly struck by the presence of religious icons in the room he was performing abortions. “I never thought that I would be performing an abortion in a room with a picture of Jesus and the Virgin Mary,” he says. “These lay midwives, whom I trained to safely manage the complications of unintended pregnancy, have found a way to publicly view their work as God's work.”
Towards the end of his article, Rodriguez describes his reaction towards the pro-life demonstrators outside his clinic who carry religious signs and towards politicians who waver on the “right” to an abortion.
“Inside my heart, the story of the Andean cholitas (native women) spreading the gospel of reproductive rights will forever lift my spirit.”
Operation Rescue has released a statement calling for the replacement of Rodriguez. Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, said, “Chafee's appointment of an abortionist who admits not only to doing illegal abortions, but has trained others to do them, is one that shows a gross lack of good judgment.”
Rhode Island Right to Life has also responded to the appointment. RIRL Executive director Barth E. Bracy said in a statement on the group’s website, “The Rhode Island State Right to Life Committee can not stand idly by as Chafee aligns his administration with the abortion industry.”
“If Chafee will not reconsider his appointment of Rodriguez, we can only assume that he is preparing to pursue a vigorous abortion agenda. We thus call upon pro-lifers in Rhode Island to prepare to oppose Chafee’s administration during the next four years.”