Author Archives: Matthew Wagner

“God’s Not Dead” Movie: Every Life Is Meaningful through God

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A movie with the provocative title, “God’s Not Dead” opened in theatres over the weekend. Although I tend not to be an opening weekend kind of girl, I had been eagerly awaiting this film, ever since I saw the eye-opening trailer.

God'sNotDeadThe intriguing plot centers on a college student who finds his Christian faith challenged on the first day of his philosophy class by a professor with a Mt. Sinai-sized chip on his shoulder. A number of interweaving subplots demonstrate the drama of faith—both the callous rejection of it and the courageous embrace of it.

While the story is fictitious, it is based on a number of fundamental truths about human nature, creation, and relationships. As the final credits indicate, the film was also inspired by real-life court cases, some of which involve college pro-life groups and the challenges they can face on campus.

And that got me to thinking. While pro-abortion groups sometimes use members of the clergy to sell their message about “reproductive rights,” there is something fundamentally atheistic about the whole business of legalized abortion.

For it denies the supremacy of the Creator in determining when life begins and when it ends. It cuts the Almighty out of the equation.

In one poignant scene of “God’s Not Dead,” a pastor helps a young woman to understand that she is not a mistake, because God doesn’t make mistakes. Yet, more than three thousand times a day, the abortion industry tells American women that their babies are mistakes, and therefore should be eliminated. Pro-abortion apologists attempt to shore up the argument by claiming that these undesirable children would have ended up committing crimes and otherwise wreaking havoc on society, as if they were programmed to cause trouble from the moment they appeared in the womb. On one hand, abortion advocates argue that life does not begin at conception, while on the other hand they claim they can know from the start that this baby should not be given a chance at life.

The film deftly points out that a public denial of the existence of God can mask a deep hurt stemming from a profound tragedy which occurs during the course of one’s life. The age-old question appears: How can an all-loving God permit evil? One might wonder, too, what emotional scars prompt a woman to seek abortion—or a doctor to turn to abortion to make a living. Read the book The Hand of God by the late Dr. Bernard Nathanson, NARAL’s founder, and you can catch a glimpse of the world of pain that can exist within an abortionist’s soul.

Nathanson went from being an atheistic abortion rights pioneer to a Christian pro-life advocate. His conversion to the pro-life stand preceded his religious conversion—he first began to see the humanity of an unborn child in an ultrasound before he was able to touch the face of God.

One can come to the conclusion that abortion is unjust purely through the force of reason. Indeed, there are atheists and agnostics who do recognize abortion to be the taking of an innocent human life.

But there is also a profound religious argument to be made in defense of the pro-life stand: Abortion is the ultimate rejection of God and His merciful love.

Pennsylvania Remains a Leader in the Fight for Life

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By Maria Gallagher, Legislative Director
gallagher@paprolife.org

A national group recently claimed that Pennsylvania is losing ground, as far as the fight for life is concerned.

Thankfully for Pennsylvanians, this is actually NOT the case.

Capitol-front-viewLargePennsylvania has made incredible progress in defending innocent human life in the past three years. We’ve seen at least six abortion facilities shut their doors. Abortion totals have nosedived nearly 5 percent. We’ve also passed landmark legislation such as our abortion center regulation law, which ensures that abortion facilities follow the same safety standards as outpatient surgery centers. And we enacted a law guaranteeing that no taxpayer funding of abortion will occur in the Keystone State under the health insurance exchange created by the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.

The prosecution of abortionist Kermit Gosnell also awakened a number of Americans to the horrors that can occur inside a legal abortion facility. Gosnell and his associates–who killed infants and whose negligence resulted in the death of a female patient–have been brought to justice.

The political arm of Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion operation, is targeting Pennsylvania because of the stunning victories we have achieved on the pro-life front.

It can easily be argued that, in the past few years, Pennsylvania has made more pro-life progress than in the past twenty years. That is due to pro-lifers across our state, who are calling and emailing our public officials as never before, lobbying on behalf of life. And we must also thank our state legislators and our Governor for their steadfast determination to protect babies and their mothers from harm.

Pennsylvanians have every reason to be proud of our pro-life achievements. They are helping to not only save lives, but improve the quality of life for our citizens.

One Year after Kermit Gosnell’s Trial, We Must Stay Vigilant

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One year has passed since abortionist Kermit Gosnell went on trial, and his horrific crimes are still having an impact today.

Pennsylvania and other states have taken action to help prevent other abortionists like Gosnell from preying on vulnerable women and their babies; but there is still so much work to be done.

Star Parker, a pro-life leader in the black community, writes at LifeNews.com:

gosnell40“Anecdotes of those who worked (at Gosnell’s abortion facility) suggest the scope of murder, illegal abortions, abuse of women — mostly low income minority and immigrant women — was far beyond what could be adequately documented to stand up for the trial.

“The years that Gosnell committed his atrocities with no regulatory oversight, and the challenges to get national media attention to his trial once it began, should provoke extra vigilance today to ad-dress the issues involved that still are not getting adequate attention and the extent to which similar abuses are occurring elsewhere.

“At the conclusion of the Gosnell trial, the chairmen of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Energy and Commerce committees wrote to Attorneys General and leading health officials in all the states.

“Attorneys General were asked whether ‘state and local officials are being stymied in their efforts to protect the civil rights of newborns and their mothers by legal or financial obstacles that are within the federal government’s power to address.’ State health officials were asked how they regulate and monitor abortion clinics to protect the health and safety of women.

“We’d like to know the results of these inquiries and how this information can be used to create better policies for protecting women and children.

“My colleagues find in their investigations around the nation that Kermit Gosnell was by no means one of a kind. There are more. And, to our dismay, irresponsible and inhumane behavior continues regarding the treatment of women, particularly low-income minority women, in these facilities.”

Pennsylvania, under pro-life Governor Tom Corbett, has done a lot to help protect women and babies from abortionists who would prey on their vulnerability.

Right now, the Pennsylvania Senate is considering a bill that would enact harsher penalties for impersonating a doctor – something several of Gosnell’s employees did.

We must stay vigilant. We must never forget the women and babies who Gosnell slaughtered. And we must never stop working to protect them.

Discovering Pro-Life Truths in the New “Son of God” Movie

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By Maria Gallagher, Legislative Director

A couple of things struck me as I watched “Son of God,” the movie of Jesus’ life produced by “Touched by an Angel’s” Roma Downey and mega-hit TV producer Mark Burnett of “Survivor” fame.

SonofGodMovieThe first thing that made me pause was when Pontius Pilate asked, “What is truth?” My mind turned to those who are non-committal when it comes to the point at which human life begins.

At one point in my life, I was in that category. I could understand a being of three months’ gestation being called a baby, but before that, I wasn’t so sure. It took a radio news editor to get me back on track, saying that life began at conception. It seemed an inconvenient truth to me but, in the end, logic demanded that I accept it. The beginning doesn’t start with the heart beat or the brain wave—it begins with the union of sperm and egg. Any other proposed starting point would be entirely arbitrary and, well, untrue.

Another particularly poignant point in the film was when Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who put him to death because they know not what they do. I have known so many, many people who did not understand the cruelty of abortion, who did not know relevant facts about fetal development, who really did not fully comprehend what they were doing when they were advocating for abortion or procuring one.

That is why pro-life education is so vitally important—for opening the eyes of women and men alike to the horror of abortion. Whether the education comes in the form of a fetal model, a 4D ultrasound image, or a full description of a dismemberment abortion, it is critical for persuading the public that abortion is, in truth, the taking of an innocent human life. So too, post-abortive women need to be encouraged and supported when giving their gut-wrenching testimonies about the devastating impact abortion has had on their lives. It can be frustrating to think that, after more than four decades of legalized abortion, we still need to share some basic truths, but that is, in fact, the case.

We also need to empower those who believe that abortion is bad for women, but who are not quite brave enough or motivated enough to work for its end. If we are not speaking out about the world of hurt that abortion causes…if we are not educating our children about it, writing letters to the editor, contacting public officials…we are passive bystanders to the greatest human rights violation of our day.

For, in truth, each child who has been conceived is a son or daughter of God, of infinite value and undeniable dignity, who should be protected both in the womb and beyond.

Mom Rejects Abortion after Seeing Friend’s Facebook Post

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Just a short note today. It’s a reminder about when we feel ineffective or discouraged as advocates for life.

Today, I read about a woman who posted a pro-life photo and article on her Facebook page. It was a simple post, but it made all the difference to someone who saw it.Unborn baby picture

After posting the photo, she received this note from a woman who was considering having an abortion:

“So, not really sure how I know you exactly or why we’re Facebook friends, just know that your 12 week old image and article had a profound effect on me and my current situation. Thank you… Just know that your post has changed my outlook. Thanks, girl, for more than you know.”

Because of that simple post, the woman chose life for her baby. You can read the full story here.

I just wanted to encourage you, readers, to keep doing what you’re doing. You may be doing something simple like posting a photo to Facebook or something mundane like folding newsletters for a pro-life organization.

Just remember, even the little things can make a big difference for life.

Support Makes All the Difference to Women facing Unplanned Pregnancy

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Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Delores, a dedicated sidewalk counselor, on our LifeLines radio show/podcast. (Listen here.)

During the interview, Delores told me about one day when she noticed a man waiting in the alley behind the abortion center in Harrisburg. She prayed, took a deep breath, and went over to ask him why he was there. He told her that his girlfriend decided to have Choose Life!an abortion.

At that moment, Delores said God inspired her with these words: “Sir, you should go in there and tell her, ‘Baby, I love you, and I love our baby. We’re going to make this work.’”

And that’s exactly what he did. He walked into the abortion center and several minutes later walked out again. When Delores approached him, he told her that his girlfriend just had to sign some papers and then they were leaving – with their baby.

A few minutes later, another couple walked out. They had overheard the other couple and decided, “If they can make it work, we can, too.”

Her story made me wonder if those couples would have gone to the abortion center if abortion was illegal. And I wonder how many others go there because they feel like no one supports them.

Legalized abortion has become an excuse for not supporting pregnant and new moms. Whether the woman feels pressured to abort or she’s simply told, “It’s your decision,” she feels unsupported and alone. I’ve heard so many stories where lack of support is at the heart of a woman’s decision to abort.

About a month ago, a young woman from my home community shared her abortion story with me. She found out she was pregnant in high school. Though she was young, she was excited. She even went shopping and bought baby clothes with her boyfriend. Then her boyfriend started having second thoughts, and he told her to have an abortion. The young woman was heartbroken, but she had the abortion. It’s a decision she now profoundly regrets.

That’s why pregnancy resource centers are so important. They help to fill the support gap for many pregnant and new moms. They encourage fathers and family members to support women and their babies, too.

Sadly while abortion remains legal, it will always be easier for people to pressure a woman into having an abortion. But we as pro-lifers are making a difference with the support we offer to women and their babies.

After Miscarriage, Mom Reflects on Baby’s Unnoticed Life

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Every now and then, someone asks me, “If life begins at the moment of fertilization, why do we celebrate birthdays, not conception days?”

Birthdays mark a special point when we celebrate new life. But, some people use birthdays to conclude that we don’t value life before that point.life-potential

It’s really an unobservant conclusion if you think about it. Just picture the bubbling joy of a young married couple who discovers they are pregnant for the first time. Or the sorrow of a couple who loses their baby in a miscarriage.

Recently a woman from northeastern Pa. shared her story with me — her personal response to the birthday question.

When she discovered she was pregnant with her second child, she was anxious to share the good news with everyone. She didn’t want to wait the recommended three months before telling people about the new baby.

Then she and her husband received bad news. The ultrasound tech couldn’t find their baby’s heartbeat. Their baby had died.

Months later, she reflected on her miscarriage:

The hardest thing about following the three-month rule, about not sharing news of a baby, is allowing the baby to go unnoticed. Unremembered.

I don’t feel I need need others’ sympathy, but I do want people to know about the Little One. I need them to know that we are no longer a family of three, even though only three toothbrushes are near the sink, three coats hang by the door and three heads lay on their pillows at night. One of us is not here.

My life is forever different.

It looks the same to most. There are no visible signs of change.

But my life is changed. And not merely changed back to what it was before I knew I was pregnant.

It changed once when we discovered the Baby was alive. It changed again when we discovered My Little One was gone. (Read more here.)

Her’s is a sad but beautiful answer. Her little boy or girl never had a birthday, yet he or she was loved and mourned. Her baby and every baby are valuable human beings from the very first moment of life.

Pregnancy Resources Free Women from Pressure to Abort

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An 18-year-old woman found herself all alone when she discovered that she was pregnant.

She was estranged from her mother, and the boyfriend who she was living with told her that she had to either move out or have an abortion.Choose Life!

Who could she turn to?

Fortunately, someone directed the young woman to a pregnancy resource center where, for the first time, someone actually listened to what she wanted. She felt encouraged, and the volunteers helped her to reconcile with her mother. Through the pregnancy center, the young woman received the resources and support that no one else was giving her.

She is just one of the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania women who found help at a pregnancy resource center.

Here in Pennsylvania, we recognize the critical need to provide support for pregnant and new moms so they don’t feel like abortion is their only choice. Real Alternatives, the state alternatives to abortion program, believes the answer to a crisis pregnancy is not to get rid of the baby but to get rid of the crisis.

“If the best we can do in this society is offer a woman in a crisis pregnancy an abortion, we have ceased to become the greatest nation on earth,” said Kevin Bagatta, the president and CEO of Real Alternatives.

Every year, Real Alternatives centers help more and more women and their families. Last year, 19,325 women were provided comprehensive free, caring and compassionate pregnancy and parenting services, according to a press release from the organization.

Their services are very much needed. Studies have found that more than half of all abortion-minded women are being pressured into making the decision. Pregnancy centers offer support to women so they don’t feel trapped into having an abortion.

Women and their babies deserve better. If you or someone you know is pregnant and needs help, click here to find pregnancy resources near you.

Each of the 34,536 Abortions in PA Is a Missing Life

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Today, I want to share our new graph of Pennsylvania’s abortion numbers in the past 13 years. I like looking at graphs and numbers and the trends that they show.

This new graph shows a downward trend in the number of abortions performed in our state. In just one year, abortion numbers dropped by 5 percent. That’s encouraging.

2014AbortionGraph

Sometimes, though, I get so caught up in looking at the numbers that I forget about what they represent. We lost 34,536 human lives in our state to abortion – in just one year.

I want to encourage you that when you look at this graph, don’t just look at the bars and the numbers. Think about the faces and smiles of these missing children. Think about a baby’s laugh or piercing cry. Think about them crawling, then talking, then imagining and dreaming. And remember how all of this was cut short when that baby lost his or her life to abortion.

Yes, we need to look at these numbers. They help us to understand what is happening in our state and what can be done to keep the abortion rate declining.

But we can’t stop there. We need to look, make a plan, and then take action, because these aren’t just numbers on a page. Every number represents a precious human life lost to abortion.

Young Woman’s Abortion Death Reminds Us There Is Still Inequality, Injustice

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At least some justice has been done for a black woman who died from a botched abortion.

In 2012, Tonya Reaves bled to death at a Chicago Planned Parenthood. The abortionist killed her baby, injured her, and the reportedly waited five hours before sending her to the hospital.

tonyareaves

Tonya Reaves

The case involving Reaves’ death settled this month: Planned Parenthood is required to pay $2 million to Reaves’ young son, according to LifeNews.com. Sadly, the abortionist continues to work; and the Planned Parenthood is still open. How can this be?

I grieve when I think of this young woman. They probably didn’t tell her that pregnancy resources are available for her and her baby. They didn’t tell her that abortion can hurt or kill her as well as her preborn baby. They didn’t tell her that an abortion could leave her older child motherless.

Abortion centers target women of Reaves’ age and race. According to a Life Issues Institute study, 79 percent of Planned Parenthood abortion centers are located in minority neighborhoods.

Abortion statistics also point to racial targeting. In Pennsylvania, blacks make up about 11 percent of the population but have 41 percent of the abortions, according to the 2012 report from the Department of Health.

This month is Black History Month, a time when we recognize great men and women who helped to shape our nation. From inventors like George Washington Carver to civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, they have done so much to create a culture that respects and values all human beings.

But the work is not done. Quietly, abortion centers are eroding those values.

This February, let’s not just remember these great leaders. Let’s follow their example and continue to fight against discrimination – not just in the black community but in every community where abortion occurs. Let’s fight to protect every human life – born and unborn!