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Epilogue

Last week, we discussed the issue of death-crazed Minnesota removing protection for children born alive after surviving an attempted abortion (1). We noted that, given the administration’s desire for all abortion, all the time, and the relaxing of safeguards around abortion pills, we can expect to see a lot more dead children in dumpsters and alleyways soon. Recall the pro-abortion cheerleaders say that, 1) late-term abortions never happen and, 2) if a child survives an abortion attempt, legislation protecting the child is unnecessary as newborns are already protected. Of course, both of those are patently untrue. Over 13,000 late-term abortions occur yearly in the US (2) and the death lobby fiercely opposes any legislation protecting the unborn and born-alive survivors. To quote Minnesota State Representative Tina Liebling, the ghoulish co-author of the legislation removing protection for abortion survivors, “The idea that every infant that is born alive should have intensive intervention is false (1).” To answer the cultural hot-button question, which lives matter? Certainly not those of unborn children.

Our speculation about mifepristone misuse was validated and underlined this week when the case of Carla Foster made the news (3). Mifepristone, the first drug used in the two-pill chemical abortion regimen, is noteworthy in that it is the first and only drug approved by the FDA for the purpose of ending a human life. Let that sink in. Lots of medications can be used to end human lives in euthanasia and lethal injection, but they are drugs that have been designed and approved for other, medicinal purposes. They are re-purposed to end life. Similarly, Zyklon-B was not designed to exterminate Jews and other victims of the Nazis’ genocidal regime. Zyklon-B, a product of the IG Farben Company, was designed as a fumigant for eliminating vermin from grain storage facilities. The Nazis repurposed it to kill humans. So, mifepristone and Roussel-Uclaf are unique in having brought to market a drug designed to kill people. A progesterone antagonist, mifepristone decreases blood and nutrient supply to the unborn child, killing it, and then misoprostol forces the uterus to contract and expel the dead body.

Here’s the thing, although approved for use through 10 weeks of pregnancy and commonly used at up to 13 weeks, this combination should be effective at any stage of gestation. At later stages, the mifepristone may or may not actually kill the child, as the fetus is somewhat less dependent on the delicate hormonal balance of early pregnancy. Misoprostol simply causes uterine contractions to expel whatever is inside, dead or alive. This is why “abortion by mail” is reckless and dangerous, certainly not only to the child, but also to the mother.

Later in pregnancy, simply blocking progesterone may not kill the developing child and, even if it does, the size of the child and attachment of the placenta may not be easily expelled, leading to life-threatening bleeding and other serious complications in the mother. This is precisely why surgical abortions are performed after 13 weeks of gestation. In all the cacophony about abortion being “essential health care” the whole “health” thing goes out the window when necessary for political gain, such as abortion pills through the mail.

Simply put, mailing abortion pills directly to the consumer makes as much sense as mailing fentanyl to people for pain management. There is a reason why some medications are restricted for use under medical supervision. Eliminating medical supervision from abortion is a recipe for Carla Foster.

Carla Foster is a 44-year-old woman in Great Britain who, having 3 children (one with special needs), moved in with an estranged partner while pregnant with a child from another man. She claimed to be in emotional turmoil and, seeking an abortion, contacted the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) to obtain abortion pills by mail under an exemption due to the COVID crisis, (previously, direct medical supervision was required to obtain a medication abortion). In Great Britain, abortion is legal up to 24 weeks gestation and medication abortion is permitted up to 10 weeks gestation. Ms. Foster, approximately 32-34 weeks pregnant, lied to the BPAS and stated she was about 7 weeks pregnant. She then received and took the mifepristone/misoprostol combination. Shortly thereafter, Foster called emergency services after going into labor, apparently delivering her child while on the phone.

Responders found the child, a 34-week gestation infant, unresponsive and not breathing. The child was not able to be resuscitated and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at a local hospital. Subsequent investigation found searches on Foster’s computer for terms like, “how to hide pregnancy” and, “how to lose a pregnancy at 6 months.” Foster was arrested, tried, and convicted of illegally obtaining abortion medication and causing the death of her child, under the contrary to the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. Sentenced to 28 months in prison, she will likely have to serve 14 months in confinement and another 14 months under supervised release (3).

There is widespread uproar in England and the UK regarding Carla Foster’s case. Protests and petitions are rampant. Do you suppose the protests are over such a light sentence for what is clearly a case of premeditated murder with malice aforethought? The 1861 Offences Against the Person Act carries a potential life sentence for this. 28 months seems preposterously light, and the UK is outraged?

Of course not.

As we said earlier, unborn lives don’t matter. The widespread outrage in the UK is over the “criminalization” of Carla Foster’s act. You read that right, the pro-abortion echo chamber is outraged that the premeditated murder of a 7+ month-gestation infant is being “criminalized.” Is there outrage from the pro-life side that no one is speaking for the victim here? Outrage for a laughably light prison term? No, of course not. The pro-life side is speaking in platitudes and generalities and of Ms. Foster being as much of a victim as her murdered child. Predictably, the defense attorneys and abortion lobbyists claim that Ms. Foster is emotionally devastated by what has occurred and the Crown Prosecutor is being decried as depriving three children of their mother. (Not sure I would want to be Ms. Foster’s disabled child when things get tough. Smothering with a pillow is not as clean as mifepristone, but still effective.) Also predictably, the Catholic Church has been silent. No risk of outrage or even strongly worded statements there.

The media, popular opinion, abortion cheerleaders, and “health care professionals” all have lined up in support of Carla Foster, “victim” of an unfair criminal justice system (3). Internet searches for how to end a full-term pregnancy, knowingly deceiving the BPAS, obtaining abortifacients under false pretenses, and then willfully killing her nearly full-term unborn child, all seem to be irrelevant, as irrelevant as Carla Foster’s unborn child. Adoption and voluntary abandonment are apparently out of the question. No ability to internet search for pregnancy crisis or emergency psychiatric counseling, we suppose.

Dear readers, this is all the natural outcome of the course of our society. The extermination of unborn children is so routine, so normal, so admirable that standing for life is considered an aberration, worthy of FBI surveillance.

Not only the Catholic Church, but basic human decency cries out for Carla Foster’s child, and the 65 million murdered in the name of “reproductive freedom.” Jesus weeps, but when does the mercy, grace, and sorrow of God turn to anger? When comes the reckoning?

In AD 57, Saint Paul wrote to the Romans, just after 16-year-old Nero had ascended to the throne. Today, nearly 2000 years later, the words are truer now, than ever:

“The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them.
Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse;
for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened.
While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.
Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies.
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural,
and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper.
They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite. They are gossips and scandalmongers and they hate God. They are insolent, haughty, boastful, ingenious in their wickedness, and rebellious toward their parents.

They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Although they know the just decree of God that all who practice such things deserve death, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

                                                              Romans 1: 18-32

(Dear friends, we feel that we have covered many of the high points and discussed the most pressing issues in Catholic bioethics and medical theology. We hope you are motivated to follow the lead of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be peaceful warriors, standing for the life and dignity of every human being, created in the image and likeness of God. We do not wish to be repetitive or hostile, and the constant drumbeat of Satan and the culture of death are tiring. Our work is important and demands time, energy and prayer. Soon we hope to open the world’s most faithful Catholic medical school and set the world afire. How we wish it were already kindled!

This column will take a hiatus. When new or important bioethical issues arise, we will revisit you, as necessary. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, or if you see clouds on the horizon, of which we should be aware. Please keep us, yourselves, and the world in your prayers. God bless you.)

This concludes the audio portion of this article. Thank you for listening.