January 2012 Newsletter: 2011 Year In Review

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

New Mexico Abortionist Quits For the Sake of His “Sanity” 

“Abortion is not good for anyone, not for babies, not for women, and according to Bruce Ferguson, someone who would know, abortion is not good for the doctors performing them. We are happy to learn that our efforts to inform women of the dangers of abortion are having an impact and that fewer women are aborting their babies.”

This month we confirmed that abortionist Bruce Ferguson retired on December 30th, 2011, and will no longer be performing abortions.  His Albuquerque abortion clinic is now closed.  According to his website, he has been performing abortions for 30 years.  Watch the undercover video of Ferguson here

Also in December, Santa Fe abortionist Lucia Cies retired. The closure of her abortion clinic made Santa Fe an abortion-free community.  Read about it here

 2011 Year in Review

 This year has gone by so fast, but so much has been accomplished: 
(Click on the links below to read the full stories!)

~Countless babies were saved and moms helped. 

~Bud testified in Santa Fe regarding pro-life legislation.

~We helped PDL open it’s 2nd Pregnancy Help Center across from UNM abortion clinic. 

~A local Newspaper, The NM Breeze wrote an amazing article capturing the heart of our ministry after their journalist witnessed a baby saved outside the late term abortion clinic in ABQ. This baby was born in September. 

~The NM Breeze has continued to publish our press releases and in turn is keeping the public informed.  

~We endured persecution for righteousness sake and Bud was assaulted outside of the late term clinic
~We obtained a total of 14 911 recordings, documenting serious abortion injuries. 3 were from the UNM abortion clinic, while the other 11 were from the late term clinic.  

~We filed complaints with the NM Medical Board for all 14 abortion injuries. 

~We met with Governor Martinez to discuss these complaints as well as abortion in NM. 

~We received several tips regarding the UNM abortion clinic from a confidential informant. 

~We are still using this information to further investigate abortion abuses at UNM. 

~We exposed the landlord of the late term abortion clinic, Sandia Foundation. 

~We exposed tax funded abortions, costing tax payers millions.  

~We wrote and released an Exposé about UNM’s abortion agenda. Members of PDL, including Tara presented concerns about UNM’s abortion agenda at the UNM Board of Regents Meeting.
~We maintained a presence at two of the local abortion clinics. 

~Between the two of us we were on the radio numerous times and did several church and small group Bible study presentations. 

~We worked closely with Operation Rescue doing investigations and publishing our findings. 

~Our press releases were also picked up by other local media outlets as well.  

We’re thankful to everyone who helped make this year a success. Glory be to God! 

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.  Psalm 17:6

We appreciate all of the prayers lifted up on our behalf this past year. We are also so grateful for all of the encouragement and support we have received that has kept us going. Thanks for partnering with us to save lives and further the kingdom of God. 

Here is our prayer request list, we know that God is going to do even more than we can imagine this year.  Please pray...

~For an end to abortion in New Mexico. 

~For the conversion of every abortion doctor and clinic worker. 

~For softened hearts of the women we speak to each day at abortion clinics. 

~For the moms who have already chosen life and for the means to continue to serve them. 

~For a continued grace filled and Christ centered ministry focus.  

~For more opportunities to share the truth about abortion and it’s effects with the Christian community. 

~For the Christian community to rise up out of apathy and a spiritual awakening. 

~For more workers for this ripe harvest. 

~For our safety in this spiritual battle. 

We are full-time Pro-Life Missionaries and raise our own support from individuals who have a heart for our  life saving work!  Your generous support makes our work possible!

If you would like to donate to our life saving ministry you can do so here.

We are using now Cornerstone to process our on-line donations which is a Pro-Life alternative to PayPal.

  Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Mexico Abortionist Quits For the Sake of His "Sanity"

Albuquerque, NM- Project Defending Life has confirmed that abortionist Bruce Ferguson is retiring on December 30th, 2011, and will no longer be performing abortions.  His Albuquerque abortion clinic will also close.  According to his website, he has been performing abortions for 30 years.

In a phone call, Ferguson told an undercover investigator that he was retiring due to his health, his family, and his own "sanity." He stated, "Someone else needs to carry the burden now." Ferguson also mentioned as a reason for his retirement a steady decline in abortion patients each year, which is a trend that is being seen nationally.


Project Defending Life and Operation Rescue have been keeping the public informed about the dangerous conditions at two other Albuquerque abortion clinics. It appears that after receiving this life-saving information women are not flooding Bruce Ferguson's office, but are opting out of abortion altogether.

"Abortion is not good for anyone, not for babies, not for women, and according to Bruce Ferguson, someone who would know, abortion is not good for the doctors performing them," stated Bud Shaver, spokesperson for Project Defending Life.  “We are happy to learn that our efforts to inform women of the dangers of abortion are having an impact and that fewer women are aborting their babies.”  


"As abortionists like Ferguson quit, retire, or are stripped of their licenses, they are not being replaced," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “It sounds like Ferguson has called it quits, but we need to remain vigilant because, with the shortage of abortionists, Ferguson could turn up somewhere else.  Given his apparent emotional state, that would be dangerous for women.”

Project Defending Life is committed to serving the pregnant women of New Mexico and is continuing their effort to expose how abortion destroys all the lives involved in this horrific procedure.

"In 2011 our prayers and efforts to end abortion in New Mexico are becoming a reality. This is great news for the women and pre-born children of New Mexico. Abortion bears many consequences and one less 'doctor' to provide them is a benefit to all women," stated Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, Director of Project Defending Life. "In fact, this is the second abortionist this month to retire and close down in the state of New Mexico."

Earlier this month, Santa Fe abortionist Lucia Cies retired.  The closure of her abortion clinic made Santa Fe an abortion-free community.

Watch the Undercover Video Here:

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Members of Project Defending Life Present Concerns at UNM Board of Regents Meeting

On December 13, 2011 Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, Director of Project Defending Life and Tara Shaver, also with Project Defending Life along with several other concerned citizens spoke before the UNM Board of Regents. "Our main goal was to educate and inform the Regents about how women's lives are being placed in danger as a result of the tax funded UNM Center for Reproductive Health abortion clinic," stated Tara Shaver. Others shared their disdain regarding UNM's current participation in providing abortions as well as the fact that the majority of abortions done in New Mexico are performed on Hispanic women.

Earlier this year Project Defending Life obtained three 911 recordings documenting serious life threatening abortion complications requiring three women to be rushed to UNM Hospital. These serious complications included: vomiting, seizures, a woman not breathing, being unresponsive and turning a grayish color. Another woman endured an attempted abortion even though her 8 week old baby was not in her uterus, this is also known as an ectopic pregnancy.

Most recently, Project Defending Life has released an Exposé revealing UNM's abortion Resident Training Programs and the fact that New Mexico tax dollars are being used to fund their abortion agenda.

It is vitally important that the UNM Board of Regents know how dangerous this abortion facility is so that they will promptly act to protect the women of New Mexico. Fr. Stephen Imbarrato Founder and Director of Project Defending Life issued the following statement after speaking before the UNM Board of Regents, "We appreciate the opportunity given to us by UNM Board of Regents President, Jack Fortner to share our concerns about the safety of women as well as our desire for the University of New Mexico to protect and affirm all life. In addition, we would like to see everyone in leadership positions in the state of New Mexico, from the Governor on down, to urgently work to turn New Mexico into a safe haven for pre-born babies. New Mexico can no longer be seen as the abortion capital of the Southwest."

December Newsletter: "A Time of Refreshing and a Departure"

The end of October and first week of November for us was a time of refreshing and spending time as a family. We were blessed to spend time in both Colorado and Flagstaff, AZ. It was our first time to CO where we were actually able to do some hiking and exploring. We met some new people and Charlie and Tirzah had a great time.

In Flagstaff, we had many people to see and reconnect with. We love our church family and friends in Flagstaff and always enjoy our visits there. It was really amazing being in an abortion free Flagstaff as well. We are thankful to have had this time to spend with Charlie as well. It was his last road trip and vacation with us.

On Sunday, November 20th Charlie flew back to Texas to be reunited with his mom after living with us for one year. While it has been hard to see him go, we entrust him to God’s care and pray that this past year has blessed him as much as it has us. Please continue to lift up Charlie and Tara’s family in prayer. Our prayer will always be that Charlie grows up to be a strong man of God, never wavering from the truth set before him.

Opportunities to Share the Truth

Our outreach at two separate abortion clinic’s continue. This crucial aspect of our ministry can also be the most emotionally draining. We put so much prayer and effort into our time out at the clinics. We are always effective as we touched on in last month’s newsletter, however, our desire is that every abortion minded woman would run over to us with open arms and leave with help, hope, and her precious child. Most of the time, tragically, this is not the case.

We know that God uses our presence when these woman are dropped off, and we are still there when they come out of the clinic after their abortion. Over the past few months, we have passed out a lot of post-abortion information and resources as well as prayed with some of the friends and boyfriends who dropped off these women. Please pray that these prayers and resources will bear fruit in the lives of these wounded women!

On November 19th, we were graciously invited to set up a table at ABQ’s first Festival of Praise. This free event was held to raise money for the National Day of Prayer week in May. There were many different singing groups as well as Christians from all over the area. We set up an educational table with fetal models and information to get the word out about what is happening in ABQ.

Apart from this event Tara was interviewed on a local Christian radio station. This interview was with regard to our latest press release/expose’ on the University of New Mexico’s abortion agenda. Our press release has already bore much fruit and we hope to share a lot of good news with you next month. If you have not read our latest press release: Exposé: Tax Funded Abortion Training and the Betrayal of True Medicine at UNM, you can read it posted earlier on our blog.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Exposé: Tax Funded Abortion Training and the Betrayal of True Medicine at UNM

By Tara Shaver, Project Defending Life



Albuquerque, NM- A recent investigation conducted by Project Defending Life with the help of Operation Rescue has revealed that tax money received by the University of New Mexico (UNM) flows freely to the university-run UNM Center for Reproductive Health (UNMCRH) abortion clinic in Albuquerque.

This money is used for the following purposes:

Finance the UNMCRH abortion clinic.

Train UNM medical residents in abortions techniques, particularly late-term abortions.

Conduct experimental research on patients with regard to abortion, contraception and sterilization.

The University of New Mexico prides itself on being a public research university. It is the largest post-secondary institution in the state as well as one of the state’s largest employers. The University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) is a teaching hospital located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, north of the University of New Mexico’s main campus. It is the only Level I Trauma Center in the State of New Mexico.

Nearly $91 million poured in from state coffers in 2011

In 2008, the University of New Mexico received $344.8 million from the New Mexico state legislature, making the state contribution 17% of UNM’s total operating budget. According to the Bernalillo County Treasurer’s office The University of New Mexico Hospital receives a percentage of all property taxes paid in the county. They receive a minimum of 6.4% a year from both residential and non-residential properties in Bernalillo County. However, the percentage can go even higher than that. In 2011 UNMH received 15.51% which amounted to $90,919,020. UNMH received the 4th highest amount of property tax funds in 2011.

UNM’s dirty little secret

Since UNM receives so much tax payer money, the public should know about the programs this entity is running.

UNM’s dirty little secret is their free standing abortion clinic in Albuquerque, the UNM Center for Reproductive Health. Abortions are performed up to 22 weeks gestation and research with regard to abortion, contraception and sterilization is conducted. For these reasons this “prestigious” institution falls short in its lifesaving efforts, because not all lives are being saved. In fact, 911 emergency records recently revealed that three women have been seriously injured as the result of abortion complications at the UNMCRH.

“I call upon Governor Martinez, who has been a consistent advocate for the unborn and opponent of abortion, to investigate this misuse of NM tax dollars. It is certain that the people of NM do not want their tax dollars used to prop up the abortion industry through their state university,” said Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, Director of Project Defending Life.

Abortion business administrators

The Health Sciences Center Department of OB-GYN, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine collaborate together for patient care and educational opportunities. Their collaboration runs and oversees the UNM Center for Reproductive Health abortion clinic. The Health Sciences Center has a newly formed Board of Directors that answer to UNM’s Board of Regents. The members of the Health Sciences Center Board of Directors were announced in April of this year and include:

Carolyn J. Abeita, Chair

Don L. Chalmers, Vice Chair and also Vice Chair of the UNM Board of Regents

Ann Rhoades

Jerry D. Geist

John (Mel) Eaves

Lt. Gen. Bradley C. Hosmer, USAF (Ret.)

Ronald (Ron) James Solimon

Training grant helps keep the abortion clinic doors open

The UNM Center for Reproductive Health is funded in part by a Ryan Residency Training grant. The Kenneth J. Ryan residency training program is a national, privately funded initiative based at the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco. The Ryan program was founded in 1999 with the goal of improving training in abortion and contraception for ob-gyn residents in the United States and Canada. The following quote is on the programs website, “Access to experience with induced abortion must be part of residency education.” This quote is directly from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and reveals an agenda bent on expanding abortion services. It best sums up the mission of the program. Training medical residents to kill is the worst betrayal of true medicine.

Trainers participating in the Ryan program are late-term abortionist Curtis Boyd and his wife, Glenna. Boyd has stated that he trains at UNM and other universities across the country. Documents obtained through open records requests show that Boyd’s own abortion clinic in Albuquerque has been recently responsible for eleven abortion-related medical emergencies, with life-threatening injuries occurring at the rate of one every ten weeks.

Experimental abortion, birth control, and sterilization

Apart from the Ryan Program, UNM is also offering a post graduate Fellowship in Family Planning (FFP). The FFP is also based at the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health UCSF. The Fellowship in Family Planning is the only fellowship in the nation that provides the opportunity to develop high-level research and clinical skills in contraception and abortion.

According to their website the clinical training is as follows:

“Fellows are trained in abortion and contraception care, using evidence-based medical and surgical methods. The UNM Center for Reproductive Health is an off-site clinic about 6 miles from the hospital. This clinic serves the family planning and STI needs of women in the University system. Training will also be accomplished at Planned Parenthood. Later second trimester abortion will occur at UNM and with Dr. Curtis Boyd in his clinic either in New Mexico or in Dallas.
Uterine evacuations up to 22 weeks gestation are performed in the clinic with participation of medical students and residents. The medically complex and later gestational cases are performed in the main operating rooms at UNM. The UNM Family Planning Section of the Gynecology Division performs medical abortion, surgical abortions to 24 weeks, and labor induction.
Additional abortion training up to 19 weeks is available at Planned Parenthood of New Mexico in Albuquerque as well as supplemental training in 20-24 week abortion with Dr. Curtis Boyd. Dr. Boyd has a high volume clinic in Dallas, Texas and we anticipate that Fellows in their second year will complete one to three 2-week sessions in Dallas to train to competence in later abortions.
After orientation and training, the UNM Fellow will supervise residents and medical students at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health including complex contraception, miscarriage management as well as diagnosis/treatment of first trimester pregnancy complications, in-office hysteroscopy, Essure and endometrial ablation…The UNM Fellow will become expert at the range of family planning and abortion care while maintaining and promoting generalist skills.”

“Most people would be shocked to learn that women are being used as human guinea pigs at UNMCRH for the development of new ways to kill babies and sterilize women – all at taxpayer expense,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

“The number of abortion clinics has dramatically decreased by over 66% since 1991, partly because young doctors do not want to dirty themselves with the abortion business. Abortionists who quit, retire, or are stripped of their licenses are not being replaced. It is clear that, with the help of tax funding, UNM is in bed with Planned Parenthood and late-term abortionist Boyd to crank out new abortionists in order to stabilize and expand abortion services nationwide. This radical agenda must be exposed.”

Back alley abortionist embraced by UNM

It is alarming that UNM is collaborating with Curtis Boyd who openly admits to being an illegal abortionist before Roe vs. Wade. Part and parcel of the pro-abortion rhetoric is that women need open access to abortion to protect them from having to resort to seeking out “back alley abortionists.” The University uses New Mexico tax dollars to bring a confessed “back alley abortionist” to the University and thrusts unsuspecting students and vulnerable women into his hands. Boyd admits to having conducted “pain management” experiments on his patients as well as having used them to experiment new abortion methods. As previously mentioned, over the past two years alone, there have been eleven documented life-threatening injuries at Curtis Boyd’s late-term abortion mill, demanding these women be rushed to the UNMH emergency room.

UNM abortionists use tax dollars fund radical agenda

While the medical community is supposed to heal and save lives, doctors at UNM are training up the next generation of physicians to do just the opposite. Instead of serving people through the practice of medicine, these doctors are learning how to take the lives of the most defenseless of our society.
UNM physicians are determined to use tax dollars to further their pro-abortion agenda.

Eve Espey serves as the Medical Director for the Center for Reproductive Health abortion clinic. She is also Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and holds the position of Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Her main interests include family planning and medical student education. Espey is on the faculty of the Health Sciences Global Health Program (GHP). The Global Health Program has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a collaborating center on education, service and research. Espey’s focus with the GHP is family planning and abortion in Mexico and Central America. While Eve Espey deceptively claims to be helping the people of Mexico and Central America, in reality by promoting abortion Espey is really advancing a population control agenda. This begs the question: “Why is Eve Espey targeting this population for extinction?”

Larry Leeman directs the Family Medicine Maternal and Child Health service and is co-medical director of the UNM Hospital Mother-Baby Unit. Leeman is also actively studying ways to expand contraceptive availability, including studies that have been completed on oral contraceptives and breastfeeding, immediate postpartum IUD insertion, and attitudes and practices of abortion care among New Mexico Family Physicians and Ob/Gyns. He is very active at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health and performs abortions on the days he is not delivering babies at UNMH. Leeman was on the Board of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, the leading physician’s group advocating for women’s reproductive rights until June 2011 when he was appointed to the Institute of Medicines’ Standing Committee on Family Planning.

Tony Ogburn is the UNM School of Medicine OB/GYN Residency Program Associate Director, Professor. The Residency Program includes rotations in Family Planning and abortion at the Center for Reproductive Health. Ogburn is also the UNM contact for breastfeeding and emergency contraception.

Rameet Singh and Eve Espey serve as the Family Planning Fellowship Directors. Singh is also an assistant professor in the OB/GYN department at UNM.

“The residents of the state of New Mexico should not be footing the bill for UNM to train abortionists to kill babies. It is vital that the people of New Mexico be informed about where their money is going and how it is being used. Until UNM closes down their abortion clinic they should not receive any more tax funding,” stated Bud Shaver, spokesperson for Project Defending Life.

Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, Director of Project Defending Life issued the following plea, “We are calling all people of conscience in New Mexico to contact UNM President David Schmidly and the UNM Board of Regents President Jack Fortner to let them know that you want UNM and UNMH to preserve and protect all life and not destroy it by abortion.”
Contact:

UNM President David Schmidly
505-277-2626 Phone
unmpres@unm.edu
UNM Board of Regents President Jack Fortner
jack@fortnerdalley.com

November Newsletter: The Crisis Continues; “Who is My Neighbor…?”

Investigation Reveals Tax Funded Abortions

In October, Project Defending Life and Operation Rescue, launched an investigation showing that Medicaid pays not only for abortions, but completely covers third-trimester abortions for no medical reason whatsoever.

An undercover phone call was made to ABQ’s late term abortion clinic. The caller identified herself as having a healthy pregnancy in the 26th week of gestation to a Southwestern Women’s Options employee named Sue. She told Sue that the reason she wanted an abortion was because her husband had just lost his job.

We discovered that an abortion in the 26th week of pregnancy costs $9,000 and in New Mexico, is covered 100% by Medicaid. There are an additional 15 states in the country that fund abortions through state and federal tax payer dollars.

This investigation was done to help educate the public about where their tax dollars are going. It is clearly disturbing and shocking that funds are being used to take innocent human life especially when the vast majority of the American people strongly object to their tax money being used in this way.

In addition, we uncovered that Medicaid also pays for abortions done on babies diagnosed with down syndrome. October is Down Syndrome awareness Month, however, 90% of children diagnosed with down syndrome in America, are killed by abortion simply for being disabled. We found in our investigation, that an abortion performed on a child with down syndrome in the 30th week of pregnancy costs anywhere from $10,000-$16,000 and is paid for by us...taxpayers.

We’re reminded that all life is precious, sacred to God, & deserving of protection no matter what!

The Crisis Continues...

Another 911 tape revealing an additional botched abortion was uncovered this month by Tara. We released the tape to Operation Rescue and filed an additional complaint with the NM Medical Board. This latest call to 911 from Southwestern Women’s Options was placed on September 22, and makes a total of 14 life-threatening abortion complications over the past two years.

It is vital that the public as well as the Medical Board are aware of this continuing crisis. These life threatening injuries are continuing, so please pray that the doctors involved will be held accountable for their actions, legally forced to stop and surrender to Christ as their Lord!

Thankfully, the local media continues to cover this urgent crisis and Tara was able to do several interviews on local Christian radio stations.

Another Baby Born!

This month, we found out that in June of this year another baby was born into our ministry, by the grace of God. When Tara met Samantha*( not her real name) it was truly a divine appointment. Samantha had just come from a horrible interview for a job that she was trying to obtain. She was completely distraught, in fact she was physically shaking.

Tara soon found out about her situation and about the fact that she had previously had an abortion. Samantha would not recognize her baby as a person and insisted her baby was an “it.” Thankfully Samantha attended some parenting classes and Project Defending Life also provided her with maternity clothes and much needed love and encouragement. She delivered a healthy baby boy in June. We are so happy for her and rejoice in her courage to choose life for her son.

“Who is My Neighbor…?”

Recently we were asked, “Are you successful in your ministry?” That’s a great question and we know it carries some baggage since hundreds of women have abortions each month in ABQ. Our answer was an emphatic, “YES!" Here we’d like to touch the tip of the iceberg of this question. One of our goals is to simply “be there” to reach abortion minded women in order to offer life affirming alternatives. These alternatives are foreign to most of the women we speak to, they think that abortion is their only option. We can’t make the choice for them, but we can be modern day “Good Samaritan's” and offer help to our neighbors and not pass them by.

Where are abortion minded women? According to another ABQ pregnancy center Director, most of their clientele are women who want to carry their babies to term. The majority of women in ABQ, who visit pregnancy centers, have already made up their minds to keep their babies, they just need assistance. So if abortion minded women aren’t going to pregnancy centers for help, where are they going?

Everyday in America these women go to abortion clinics. At these clinics they are sold abortions and told that there is no harm in it. They go in healthy pregnant women with bright futures ahead of them, only to leave wounded, maimed and forever changed. As the body of Christ we offer hope to these women, in the last moments before they reach the point of no return. If we as Christians do not reach these women at these places of death, who will? God emphatically commands us, in Proverbs 24:11 to, “Rescue those being led away to death.” How can we do this if we refuse to be at the places where people are dying?

With God’s help and provision we are successful in offering every woman we see hope and help in her situation. Countless babies lives have been saved and women have been spared a life of regret. As Christians aren’t we called to be salt and light, aren’t we called to “go” and make disciples? How can we do that if we continue to sit in pews and expect other Christians to do all of the “work?” Choose to be obedient and a blessing for life, get involved and join us. God wants to use you and these women and their babies need you!

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Call Reveals Medicaid Paying $16,000 to Abort 30-Week Down Syndrome Baby

Written by Operation Rescue

Watch Video Here: www.youtube.com

Albuquerque, New Mexico – As Down Syndrome Awareness month concludes, Operation Rescue has released a video containing excerpts from an undercover call to a late-term abortion clinic that assured the caller that Medicaid would pay the total costs of an abortion at 30 weeks gestation on a pre-born baby diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Estimated cost of the abortion was between $10,000 and $16,000.

“We know that 92 percent of all women who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome end up aborting their babies. Now we know that it is done at great expense to the taxpayer, who foots the bill for outrageously expensive abortions,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

“These precious babies do not deserve to die and certainly the taxpayers should not be paying to kill them. The fact that our tax money goes to exterminate innocent children with disabilities is abhorrent to most Americans. Cutting off the tax funding will go a long way toward ending this barbaric and intolerant practice.”

The call was placed on October 12, 2011, to Southwestern Women’s Options, a late-term abortion clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that made headlines when a similar undercover call revealed that late-term abortions are being done at tax-payer expense on healthy women with healthy pregnancies. Operation Rescue and Project Defending Life documented 15 states where Medicaid funds pay for abortions.

Southwestern Women’s Options also recently attracted attention for the excessive number of abortion complications there requiring emergency hospitalization. Operation Rescue published the 911 calls showing women suffering from various life-threatening abortion-related injuries and complications. The clinic’s abortionists, Curtis Boyd, Shelley Sella, and Susan Robinson, are currently under investigation by the New Mexico Medical Board based on complaints filed by Operation Rescue and Project Defending Life.

Please call your Senator and demand an and to ALL tax-funded abortions.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Undercover Calls Reveal Medicaid Pays $9,000 For Late Term Abortions with Our Tax Dollars

Written by Operation Rescue

Watch Video Here: www.youtube.com/watch

Albuquerque, New Mexico – As debate over tax-funding of abortions in Obamacare is scheduled in Washington, D.C. for Thursday, an investigation conducted by Operation Rescue and Project Defending Life shows millions of tax dollars are already paying for abortions each year. Operation Rescue has released a short video containing excerpts from an undercover recording showing that Medicaid pays not only for abortions, but completely covers third-trimester abortions for no medical reason whatsoever.

The caller identified herself as having a healthy pregnancy in the 26th week of gestation to a Southwestern Women’s Options employee named Sue. She told Sue that the reason she wanted an abortion was because her husband had just lost his job.

“It’s shocking that our tax dollars would pay $9,000 for a third-trimester abortion simply because of a lost job. The vast majority of the American people strongly object to their tax money being used in this way,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Operation Rescue has identified 15 states where Medicaid funds pay for abortions. Those states are Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.

The undercover caller phoned abortion clinics in 12 of those states and in every case was told that Medicaid would pay for abortions.

Medicaid is a joint government program that is funded completely by tax dollars. Up to fifty percent of the money comes from state taxes and the rest comes from the Federal tax coffers, depending on the state’s poverty level.

Federal Medicaid funds are not supposed to cover abortions, but do so in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother, exceptions that have been exploited in the past to include more abortions. But it is State money that generally funds abortions to the tune of millions of dollars annually.

For example, California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, paid out over $23.6 million to cover abortions in 2007 alone.

Abortion clinics are well aware of Medicaid funding and jump at the chance to use it. One abortion fund website coaches women how to obtain free abortions through Medicaid and the number one way is to go through the abortion clinic for assistance.

“If we are serious about stopping tax-funded abortions, then we need end it in every government program at the State and Federal levels,” said Newman. “We encourage everyone to contact their U.S. Congressman this week and demand a complete end to publicly funded abortions.”

Contact your Congressman

Click to listen:

Full, unedited recording to SWO. (18 min. 23. Sec.)
Written Transcript
Calls from Alaska, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Botched Abortion Crisis Deepens As New 911 Call Reveals Continuing Dangers at Albuquerque Clinics

Written by Operation Rescue

Listen and watch video here: 11th 911 Abortion Emergency Call from SWO
 
Albuquerque, NM – Another woman has suffered complications from a botched abortion at Southwestern Women’s Options, a late-term abortion mill in Albuquerque, New Mexico, owned and operated by Curtis Boyd.

The latest 911 call obtained by Tara Shaver of Project Defending Life and released to Operation Rescue shows a 31-year old woman who is suffering uncontrolled bleeding after an abortion. The abortion clinic worker who placed the call requested that the patient be transported to the hospital.

This is the eleventh such abortion-related medical emergency at Southwestern Women’s Options in less than two years, and the fourteenth reported abortion emergency overall in Albuquerque in that same time frame.

Both Project Defending Life and Operation Rescue filed complaints about the recent flood of botched abortions with the New Mexico Medical Board (NMMB), but received mixed signals about whether an investigation would be conducted.

Since then, the Attorney General’s office has contacted NMMB’s Executive Director Lynn Hart, regarding the incidents, requesting her “assistance in handling this matter”.

In addition, members of Project Defending Life met with Gov. Susana Martinez to discuss the dangerous conditions that have spawned so many life-threatening abortion complications.

“Our concern is for the safety of women in New Mexico. We were encouraged to hear that Governor Martinez shares these same concerns. In fact, we were thoroughly impressed that the Governor’s office not only knew about the 911 calls, but had already contacted the Executive Director of the Medical Board to insure the investigation was progressing. We now have confidence that the New Mexico Medical Board is conducting a proper investigation,” said Fr. Stephen Imbarrato of Project Defending Life after the meeting.

“This latest abortion emergency further instills a new sense of urgency to the Medical Board’s ongoing investigation,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “It is obvious that Albuquerque abortion clinics are ill-equipped to handle complications that occur on a regular basis and are using paramedics as a back-up plan for when things go terribly wrong. This presents an unacceptable risk to public health. If Boyd and other abortionists insist on running unsafe abortion mills with high complication rates and a dangerous lack of access to emergency resources, then they should not be allowed to operate at all.”

• Read written transcript of 911 call
• Read CAD transcript
• Background

October Newsletter: "Meeting with the Governor & Two More Babies Born!"

Encouraging Meeting with Governor Susana Martinez

This month Bud and I along with Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, Director of Project Defending Life, met with Governor Susana Martinez to discuss the urgent abortion crisis in New Mexico. Last month’s newsletter mentioned how we obtained thirteen 911 calls, ten of which, came from the notorious late-term abortion clinic Southwestern Women's Options. These ten calls were placed over a 30 month time span and reveal a troubling pattern of life threatening abortion complications. The reality is that on average every 10 weeks a woman is being rushed to the hospital as a result of serious injuries inflicted by local abortionists.

The other three 911 calls were placed from the University of New Mexico's very own abortion clinic, the UNM Center for Reproductive Health. The University of New Mexico as well as UNM Hospital are publicly funded institutions receiving funds directly from New Mexico tax payers. Another troubling issue is that the University of New Mexico is also training resident students to do abortions at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health abortion facility. The meeting with Governor Martinez addressed concerns raised by the 911 calls and also mixed messages that came from the New Mexico Medical Board.

Our concern is for the safety of women in New Mexico. We were encouraged to hear that Governor Martinez shares these same concerns. In fact, we were thoroughly impressed that the Governor's office not only knew about the 911 calls, but had already contacted the Executive Director of the Medical Board to insure the investigation was progressing. We now have confidence that the New Mexico Medical Board is conducting a proper investigation. We were very thankful for the open line of communication with the Governor's office. We feel confident that the Governor's office will stay on top of pro-life life issues. Also present at the meeting were Senator Bill Sharer and Representative Dennis J. Roch.

Two More Babies Born

In September two more precious children were born as a result of God’s power and presence at work in our lives. In the photo Tara is with baby Natalie who was born on the 28th. Tara met her mom outside of Boyd’s late term clinic. She had an appointment with heart doctors at the University of New Mexico Hospital and had gotten lost. Thankfully a friend of ours who also prays at the clinics with us took her to UNMH and stayed with her for her appointment. This mom who has health concerns was told right from the start that an abortion would likely be necessary to preserve her life. However, with love and encouragement as well as monetary help she carried her healthy baby girl to term. Please continue to pray for this mom and her baby.

The second baby born was to a woman who experienced a dramatic turn around outside of Boyd’s late term clinic. You may remember several month’s ago the article done by the NM Breeze titled, “Miracle Outside of a Late-Term Abortion Clinic.” Our presence is so vital out at abortion clinics! We must speak up compassionately and graciously offer the help necessary to save these precious lives. Because we are working with Project Defending Life, we were able to provide housing and other material necessities to this mom. She also attended many of our parenting classes and grew from her experiences at Project Defending Life. These precious lives are a testimony to the power of prayer and a public witness. Without these two crucial elements these babies may not be alive today. Thank you for helping us to save lives in Jesus’ name!

Exposing the “Landlord” of Late-Term Mill...Sandia Foundation

We also released documentation this month which shows that the Sandia Foundation acts as landlord for late-term abortion clinic, Southwestern Women’s Options; owned and operated by Curtis Boyd and his wife, Glenna Halvorson Boyd. The Sandia Foundation is a respected non-profit foundation based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with roots in the Catholic Church. They give money to Catholic Charities and various parishes in New Mexico. Also, Sandia board member Bernard “Gig” Brummell serves on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Finance Council.

This documentation puts the Sandia Foundation squarely in the abortion business. They profit from the lease and therefore are enablers and collaborators in Boyd’s grisly late-term abortion business. Bernalillo County records show that Sandia owns the land at 522 Lomas Boulevard, Northeast, in Albuquerque, and continues to pay taxes on that property and some improvements. Curtis Boyd only pays property taxes for personal property located at that address. The document we released is an “Assignment and Assumption of Lease” signed by the Boyd’s and Sandia President and Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Goodman, who acts as “Landlord” for the Boyd’s abortion business.

Sandia Foundation was founded “to aid and assist educational, scientific, benevolent, religious and charitable institutions”, not to profit from the shedding of innocent blood though abortion. We urge Sandia Foundation to get out of the abortion business and return to the noble purpose that group was founded upon. We encourage those who have concerns about the Sandia Foundation’s involvement in profiting from dangerous, late-term abortions to contact them at gail@sandiafoundation.org, or call them at 505-242-2684. To read the documents released, go to: www.operationrescue.org/pdfs/sandia-boydleasedoc.pdf

God Continues to Provide Opportunities!

This month the Albuquerque Journal newspaper covered the 911 calls and the investigation by the New Mexico Medical Board. Tara was also able to do several interviews with local radio stations. This month we held a seminar at Grace Outreach Center, Tara was a keynote speaker for the kickoff rally for 40 Days For Life, and Bud did a presentation for a local Catholic lay organization. God continues to provide opportunities for us to share how He is “moving mountains” here in Albuquerque, NM and opportunities for people to get involved.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Members of Project Defending Life Had Encouraging Meeting with Governor Susana Martinez

Written by Bud & Tara Shaver

Albuquerque, NM- September 19, 2011--On Wednesday September 14,  Father Stephen Imbarrato, Director of Project Defending Life as well as Bud and Tara Shaver, also with Project Defending Life, met with Governor Susana Martinez to discuss the urgent abortion crisis in New Mexico.

Tara Shaver of Project Defending Life recently obtained 13 911 calls, ten of which, came from the notorious Late-Term abortion clinic Southwestern Women's Options.These ten calls were placed over a 30 month time span and reveal a troubling pattern of life threatening abortion complications. "The reality is that on average every 10 weeks a woman is being rushed to the hospital as a result of serious injuries inflicted by local abortionists," states Tara Shaver.

The other three 911 calls were placed from the University of New Mexico's very own abortion clinic, the UNM Center for Reproductive Health. The University of New Mexico as well as UNM Hospital are publicly funded institutions receiving funds directly from New Mexico tax payers. Another troubling issue is that the University of New Mexico is also training resident students to do abortions at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health abortion facility.

The meeting with Governor Martinez addressed concerns raised by the 911 calls and also mixed messages that came from the New Mexico Medical Board. Father Stephen Imbarrato, Founder and Director of Project Defending Life issued the following statement after the meeting: "Our concern is for the safety of women in New Mexico. We were encouraged to hear that Governor Martinez shares these same concerns. In fact, we were thoroughly impressed that the Governor's office not only knew about the 911 calls, but had already contacted the Executive Director of the Medical Board to insure the investigation was progressing. We now have confidence that the New Mexico Medical Board is conducting a proper investigation."

Those present at the meeting are very thankful for the open line of communication with the Governor's office. The pro-life community should feel confident that the Governor's office will stay on top of these types of issues. Also present at the meeting were Senator Bill Sharer and Representative Dennis J. Roch.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Albuquerque’s Sandia Foundation Profits from Troubled Late-term Abortion Business

Written by Operation Rescue

Albuquerque, New Mexico – Operation Rescue has released documentation which shows that the Sandia Foundation acts as landlord for Southwestern Women’s Options, a late-term abortion clinic owned and operated by Curtis Boyd and his wife, Glenna Halvorson Boyd. The Sandia Foundation is a respected non-profit corporation based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with roots in the Catholic Church.

“This puts the Sandia Foundation squarely in the abortion business. They profit from the lease and therefore are enablers and collaborators in Boyd’s grisly late-term abortion business,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Southwestern Women’s Options has been in the news recently for ten life-threatening botched abortions that resulted in calls for emergency assistance. The New Mexico Medical Board has confirmed that is it currently investigating Southwestern Women’s Options and another abortion clinic based on complaints filed by Operation Rescue and Project Defending Life.

Bernalillo County records show that Sandia owns the land at 522 Lomas Boulevard, Northeast, in Albuquerque, and continues to pay taxes on that property and some improvements. Curtis Boyd only pays property taxes for personal property located at that address.

The document released today is an “Assignment and Assumption of Lease” signed by the Boyd’s and Sandia President and Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Goodman, who acts as “Landlord” for the Boyd’s abortion business.

Sandia originally made a “ground lease” on the property with Neurosurgery Partners in 1983. That company transferred their lease to the Boyd’s on July 15, 2008. On December 16, 2010, Goodman signed a transfer of the lease from Curtis and Glenna Boyd to 522 Lomas, LLC, a limited liability company controlled by the Boyd’s.

“Sandia was founded ‘to aid and assist educational, scientific, benevolent, religious and charitable institutions’, not to profit from the shedding of innocent blood though abortion,” said Newman. “We urge Sandia to get out of the abortion business and return to the noble purpose that group was founded upon.”
Members of the Sandia Foundation’s Board of trustees are as follows:

Vaden Bales, CEO of Wrangler Properties LLC, a commercial real estate development and investment company.

Bernard “Gig” Brummell, a Branch Manager for Dean Whitter and former UNM baseball star who serves on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Finance Council.

Don Chalmers, owner of Don Chalmers Ford dealerships in Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Albuquerque

Rod J. Pera, who has been deeply involved in the Hershey Chocolate empire.

Robert M. Goodman, an Albuquerque banking executive and former president of Sunwest Bank.

Suzanne Barker Kalangis, Executive Director of the Thornburg Charitable Foundation and Manager of Barker Properties real estate companies.

Annette S. Parker, Vice President and Treasurer of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

John Perovich, former President of the University of New Mexico.

We urge those who have concerns about the Sandia Foundation’s involvement in profiting from dangerous, late-term abortions to contact them at gail@sandiafoundation.org, or call them at 505-242-2684.

Read the document.

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Informant Tells of Abortion Death While New Mexico Medical Board Members Obstruct Investigation of 13 Abortion Injuries 

Written by Operation Rescue

Albuquerque, NM – A confidential informant has come forward and told pro-life groups that a woman died from abortion-related injuries at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health in Albuquerque, New Mexico, last month. In a related development, the New Mexico Medical Board is now sending mixed signals concerning a promised investigation into 13 life-threatening abortion injuries revealed by a series of 911 emergency calls.

The informant spoke several times with Tara Shaver of Project Defending Life and expressed concern about the death. According to the informant, an emergency vehicle picked up the body and transported it to an unknown location. Clinic workers who were visibly upset and shaken at the time of the incident were told not to discuss the situation with anyone. Other details provided by the informant gave credibility to the story.

Operation Rescue and Project Defending Life have attempted to independently corroborate the patient death, but HIPAA laws have so far prevented the groups from doing so.

The alleged abortion death has been reported to police.

“We have seen several abortionists, such as Rapin Osathanondh and Kermit Gosnell, criminally charged and sent to jail after abortion deaths. Because of the fact that a death is involved, and because there appeared to be an attempt to cover up the death by ordering workers not to talk, it became our duty to report this to the police,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

The informant came forward after hearing news reports concerning a 911 call placed by the UNM Center for Reproductive Health that had been released by Operation Rescue. During that disturbing call, the patient in the background could be heard groaning and struggling for life.

Operation Rescue and Project Defending Life both filed complaints with the New Mexico Medical Board concerning that call and 12 others from UNMRCH and Southwestern Women’s Options (SWO), a late-term abortion mill operated by Texas abortionist Curtis Boyd. (Listen to the calls.) A letter from the Board dated July 14, 2011, notified Sullenger that an investigation of three SWO abortionists had been initiated.

Last week, complainants Tara Shaver and Operation Rescue’s Cheryl Sullenger received troubling, factually inaccurate letters from a Board attorney that improperly demanded that they supply information that is protected by patient privacy laws.

Sullenger asked Board Executive Director Lynn Hart last week by telephone to clarify whether there would be an investigation. Hart spoke rudely with Sullenger, often interrupting and raising her voice.

“Ms. Hart was unprofessional and accusatory, reiterating the demand that I ascertain patient names and other private information before the Board would proceed with any investigation. Her language revealed to me a radical pro-abortion mindset. At one point she told me there would be no investigation of any complaint filed by me,” said Sullenger.

“To add confusion, Hart followed up with a letter restating her demand for private patient information. It is improper for the Board to ask us to do their investigation for them. The Medical Board has all it needs to investigate the thirteen abortion-related injuries in our complaints. Hart is trying to tank this investigation by making demands that are above and beyond what are actually needed to investigate why women are being injured and possibly killed at two Albuquerque abortion clinics at the rate of one every ten weeks. For the Board to not investigate this medical crisis is to shirk their duty to protect the public from negligent medical practices. Hart is putting her pro-abortion political agenda ahead of the health and safety of women and in doing so has made New Mexico the most dangerous state in America for women.”

Sullenger and Shaver plan to submit additional information as appropriate to the Board this week in an attempt to satisfy some of Hart’s demands. However patient privacy and safety concerns would best be served by a confidential Board investigation instead of asking private citizens to discover patient identities.

Contact Lynn Hart and demand that she put patient safety above her radical pro-abortion agenda.

The New Mexico Medical Board needs to know people are watching this case and will hold them accountable. Without public scrutiny, these cases will likely be swept under the rug. Now is the time for those concerned about innocent life and injustice to contact Lynn Hart and ask her to move forward with investigations into serious abortion injures in New Mexico.

Lynn Hart
Executive Director, New Mexico Medical Board
505-476-7221
lynns.hart@state.nm.us

September Newsletter: God is "Moving Mountain's!"

One Step Closer-Update

In August we experienced more twists and turns with regard to our last newsletter. In July we obtained five 911 recordings that reveal the true nature of abortion and how it physically harms women. We also filed complaints with the NM Medical Board. With reference to the complaints we and Operation Rescue filed, initially we were told that the calls were going to be investigated. Then we received letters stating that we hadn’t provided enough information. The Board was insisting that we provide patient names and the doctors that were on duty during the times of the 911 calls. This information is impossible for us to obtain, in fact it’s not our job to be the investigators, that is why we contacted the Board.

Needless to say our month was full of phone calls back and forth to the Medical Board. The end result is that we believe the Executive Director of the Board was acting as an obstructionist due to her pro-abortion views. She made these views clear on a phone call with Cheryl Sullenger from Operation Rescue. The Board has now removed us from being (the complainants) and have placed the Board itself as the complainants. This means that the Board is held accountable to no one. They don’t have to tell us anything about the status of their supposed investigation or let us know when it’s closed. Please pray that these calls will not be swept under the rug and forgotten about at the Board. These abortionists must be held accountable for their actions and the truth needs to be revealed about what is really happening in these places of death.

We have since obtained eight more 911 recordings for a total of 13. Ten of these calls were placed from the notorious late term clinic here in Albuquerque, Southwestern Women’s Options. The other three call were placed from the University of New Mexico’s free standing abortion clinic. The injuries obtained at these clinics were: a uterine rup-ture with heavy bleeding, an 18-year old patient with chest pains, numbness, and a severe headache after a late-term abortion., a cervical laceration with hemorrhaging., uncontrolled bleeding after first and second trimester abortions, multiple seizures, as well as an abortion on a woman with an undiagnosed ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.

Clearly there is a serious problem here. On average every 10 weeks in Albuquerque another woman is injured as a result of having an abortion. This rate of what we call botched abortions should alarm the Medical Board and these abortionists licenses should be suspended until the investigation is complete. If this were any other doctor’s office or even a dentists office there would be no question about halting all operations at the particular facility. What we are seeing here is a strong pro-abortion bias at work, and sadly the abortionists are protected and women are thrown by the wayside.

Our next plan is to appeal to recently elected Pro-Life Governor Susana Martinez. We are going to ask her to personally oversee the investigation so that the Medical Board does have to answer to someone.

We know that this whole situation is grievous to the God we serve. Please join us in fervent prayer asking Him to ensure that a proper investigation into these calls be performed and that Governor Martinez will take these calls seri-ously as well and hold the Medical Board accountable.

On a side note- Tara was on a local news channel in August as a result of our Medical Board complaints. She was able to share the truth about the dangers of abortion and how it is directly affecting our community. We were thankful that the media picked up on the Medical Board investigation and that Tara was given a platform to speak. Tara was also invited to speak on a local Christian Radio station. This interview encompassed the 911 recordings, late term abortion in ABQ as well as an opportunity to appeal to abortion minded and post abortive women. We praise God for these times to share the truth with the “masses.” Please pray for more opportunities to speak up for the pre-born.

Informant Tells of Abortion Death

A confidential informant came forward and told us that a woman died from abortion-related injuries at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health last month. The informant spoke several times with Tara and expressed concern about the death. According to the informant, an emergency vehicle picked up the body and transported it to an unknown location. Clinic workers who were visibly upset and shaken at the time of the incident were told not to discuss the situation with anyone. Other details provided by the informant gave credibility to the story.

We have met with the Albuquerque Police Department to give them this information. At this point it doesn’t look like APD is going to probe very far into this investigation without more information. Please pray that God gives us more proof of this woman’s death. Each day women’s lives are being put at risk each time they set foot into these clinics.

Flagstaff, Arizona is Abortion-Free

During our time in Flagstaff, God opened our eyes to the reality of one of the greatest injustices in American history…abortion. Our prayer for Flagstaff was that it would become abortion free. This past month that prayer became a reality as the Planned Parenthood clinic stopped doing abortions.

We began our outreach in Flagstaff covered in prayer. We had a peaceful, prayerful and public presence every hour of every day that abortions were performed. We prayed individually and collectively with others, at home and in public. About a year after we began this ministry God called us to full time pro-life work. We entrusted our work to a faithful servant, Johnny Wallace who then maintained a peaceful prayerful presence.

Putting the death knell to abortion in Flagstaff required faith, prayer, boldness, knowledge, love, and dedication. We must pray big, serve and love unconditionally, reach out intentionally, and expect to see God “Move Mountains.” With faith all that is possible, is possible when God is in it. Our prayer is that with your faith in action, God will move the mountains of injustice in your communities, too.

Assault Update

On August 3oth Bud appeared in court with a locally retained lawyer to see what would come of the woman who assaulted him in July. Unfortunately, she only received a slap on the wrist and will not be fully held accountable for her actions. We understand that justice isn’t always served in this life and we’re ok with that. Our prayer continues to be that this woman will find healing through Christ and that others like her will refrain from taking their guilt and shame out on us. Please make this your prayer as well.

August Newsletter: ABQ is One Step Closer...

One Step Closer...

We are continually amazed how God is moving and working here in Albuquerque. He continues to provide opportunities to speak with and minister to women outside of the abortion clinics here. We also continue to be encouraged by how many volunteers continue to pray with us on a weekly basis and how new volunteers are getting involved in many different ways each month. 

At the end of last month's newsletter we stated that we wanted to share with you one of our biggest accomplishments since we arrived here one year ago. Our ministry has many different facets, especially since there is so much to do. With four abortion clinics, one performing abortions through all nine months and a state funded University that has a free standing clinic that trains medical students to perform abortions, we have our work cut out for us.

We realize the need and urgency to be at the clinics to reach out to the women going in. It's also vitally important to provide resources to these women in order to help them, which PDL does so well. However, we must also work to close down these clinics following God’s strategy. Time and time again throughout the nation clinics have been closed down because the public and the Medical Boards have been forced to see, examine, and take direct action to what really happens behind closed doors in these clinics. 

In order to expose the truth, Bud and I obtained five 911 recordings. A friend of ours saw an ambulance at the UNM clinics back in February, and that is what prompted us to request the tapes. 911 tapes are public record and available to any member of the public, One call was made from the University of New Mexico abortion clinic and the other four were made from Curtis Boyd's late term clinic. All five calls were made within a 15 month time period. We know that abortions are never safe for the babies and each tape that we obtained provided documented proof that abortions are not "safe" for women either.

Videos of the calls were created by Operation Rescue and sent to the nationwide media outlets by OR and PDL in order to educate the general public. We also filed complaints with the NM Medical Board and have sent the audio files to the NM Governor Susanna Martinez. You can listen to all of the calls here: http://www.operationrescue.org/archives/five-911-calls-expose-crisis-of-life-threatening-abortion-injuries-in-albuquerque/

The women in the calls were near death as a result of 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester abortion procedures. One woman was turning gray and not breathing normally, three others were experiencing heavy hemorrhages due to a perforated uterus and one woman had a ruptured uterus during a late term abortion. Clearly abortion is not safe and continues to hurt women across the nation everyday. We must get this information out so that women will think twice about trusting these abortionists with their lives, and so these clinics will be shut down

 .
The big news this month: Albuquerque is one step closer to becoming abortion free! Please pray regarding these efforts and that the Governor and the NM Medical Board will take direct action to close down these clinics. To God be the Glory!

A Glimpse of American Persecution

 Each day as we stand for life, we stand for much more than simply the life of the precious child. Most of the focus regarding abortion is directed to the child and rightfully so. The child is most imminently affected by abortion. However, as we mentioned earlier in this newsletter, women's lives are also placed in jeopardy due to the high risks of abortion complications.

While Pro-Choice/Abortion women dogmatically defend the right to abortion, most of them know firsthand the guilt and shame they carry in their own conscience after their abortion. These post-abortive women are the most hostile to any pro-life outreach, because their choice is exposed for all to see and openly confronted. While we reach out with grace and com-passion, these post-abortive women respond with anger and at times even violence.

I (Bud) was attacked this month outside of the late term clinic by such a woman. She punched and kicked me and another sidewalk counselor. She left a significant gash in my head from her keys. As bad as the incident was, it could have been much worse. God is definitely in control and He is our refuge and protector. Our only concern is for this woman, that she will receive the help and healing she desperately needs. The result of an abortion is deadly for children, devastating for women, and as I learned firsthand this month, often taken out on peaceful sidewalk counselors. How much more should we love these women to Christ and daily stand in the gap on their behalf? If you live in Albuquerque or the surrounding areas please consider joining us in this life saving and life changing ministry.

Watch news coverage of the assault here: Pro-life activist attacked outside abortion clinic  also, read more about the assault here and watch the violent beating here: Abortion Supporter Bloodies Peaceful Pro-Life Activist in Violent Beating.

Strength in Numbers

In July we added two more opportunities for the pro-life community to be a witness for life. The first and third Friday evenings from 4:30-5:30 we held rallies outside the UNM and late term clinic. We had about 25 people join us at each rally. This presence is perfect for the rush hour traffic to see the truth about abortion and that we are resolved to peacefully see abortion end here. Through prayer, outreach and exposing the truth, abortion will end here and across the nation.

July Newsletter: Tears of doubt, fear, & despair turned into tears of joy!

Q & A Time at Legacy

Another Child is Born!

God continues to heap blessing upon blessing on our efforts here in New Mexico. Each month comes with trials, yes, but the blessings and favor of God outweigh them by far. On June 3rd Maribella was born. We met her mom Jen* several months ago by divine providence. You may remember the miraculous story of how another one of our moms (Tina*) brought Jen in to PDL. Tina and her son Candido were featured in our newsletter a couple of months back.

Jen* had an appointment at the Planned Parenthood (PP) next to PDL on the day we met her. Her baby was about 6 weeks old. She pulled her car into our parking lot and there she met Tina and asked where PP was. Tina asked her what she needed and asked her to come in and talk to myself and another volunteer. Jen felt the same way a lot of the moms we work with feel. She didn’t think the timing was right and her boyfriend didn’t want another child and was pushing hard for the abortion. Jen knew though, that she wanted her baby, she just didn’t know how it would all work out. What she needed at the end of the day was encouragement and to hear that she could have her baby and everything would work itself out.

Thankfully, about 4 weeks after we met her she came back to PDL for an ultrasound! I was so excited to see her again, because you often aren’t sure if the mom will come back. At the very first glimpse of her baby all she could say was, “that’s my child”. It was a beautiful day. Since that time Jen moved back to CO to be with her mom and pursue a college degree. Needless to say, Maribella is the love of her life. Glory be to God!

Speaking the Truth, in and out of Season

Tara & I had a presentation at Legacy Church (one of the larger churches in ABQ). We shared a biblical context for the need of the Christian community to reach out to abortion minded couples; to restore justice and minister to the oppressed from John 15:1-8 & Isa.5: 1-7.We also shared about late-term abortion clinic in ABQ and ways to get involved. Many in the audience were surprised by what they heard but also eager to help. We ended the presentation with a Questions & Answers session. It was a blessing to inform even more Christians about the reality of injustice not in some foreign, distant land, but in our own community.

A second presentation we did was on an Indian reservation about 45 minutes from ABQ. Our presence was in collaboration with our friends Manny and Grace. They organized a weekend outreach that included other speakers, free lunches, ac-tivities for kids, and gospel presentations. For a first time event, it went great. Their vision was that if even one person receives Christ and their life is changed as a result of the weekend, it is worth it. We couldn’t agree more! We as Christians should always have that  mentality as we live our lives for Christ.

Tears of doubt, fear, and despair turned into tears of joy! 

There were 4 turn-arounds and two babies saved this month at the late-term clinic. We consider turn-arounds to be when women leave the clinic after speaking with us. Saves are when a woman actually tells us that she is choosing life instead of abortion. One couple had come from Arizona. They went inside the clinic but came right back out and left. As they were leaving they took information from us. The woman burst into tears, and ex-pressed her thanks for our presence and help.

A family pulled up in a large vehicle but didn’t get out. In order to enter the late-term abortion clinic everyone has to pass by several strategically placed signs showing the graphic truth about abortion, pictures of live babies (both inside and outside of the womb), several life affirming word signs, and people in prayer (the most important witness and spiritual component) . No doubt this family was taking in all of this. After 20 minutes they decided to leave. I waved them over and held up some literature. They pulled up and I was able to speak with them and direct them to Project Defending Life. They wouldn't tell me why they were there, but they were appreciative for the help.

Another woman chose life for her baby simply because of our presence at the late term clinic here. She walked into the clinic after seeing our signs and after hearing our words of compassion. She came right back out of the clinic in tears, the holy spirit had convicted her. She shared with us, "Going into that clinic was against my very nature because I am a Christian. However, my family and boyfriend were pressuring me to have the abortion.” Knowing that our presence was used by the holy spirit to convict her solidifies what we already know about being present at these clinics. It saves lives! Praise God, his spirit is moving powerfully here in ABQ!

On another day a taxi drove up and dropped off a young girl. I waved to her and asked her to come and speak with me. She came over and I politely asked her why she was there. She told me she had come from Alamogordo, NM (200 miles) for information from the clinic. I give her life affirming information that we had and told her all the ways we could help her at Project Defending Life. She said she was 18, a Christian, and the mother of 2 children. I told her that if she was currently pregnant that she was actually the mother of 3 children. She started to cry and told me she felt alone, and didn't know what to do. She was going through a lot back home. I prayed with her, and pleaded with her to let us help her. I told her all the risks of abortion and as much information as I could. She said that she needed to get inside. I told her that we would be there for 45 more minutes if she changed her mind.

She went inside and we continued to pray for her. As I was packing up all my signs, she called out and came over to talk with me just as I was about to leave. She confided with me that she was in fact there for an abortion, but that she had changed her mind. She wanted to give me a hug. She was so thankful for the life affirming support and she started to cry again, but this time it was tears of joy. To God be the glory, it is his spirit that convicts of sin righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).

Reflecting on Our First Year in ABQ 

God has done some amazing things in our lives and in this city since we moved here last June. We have been so blessed to have Tara’s nephew Charlie come live with us. We’ve also been blessed with some really great friends. Next month’s newsletter will be more about our big accomplishment of the year but for now we want to consider that Albuquerque, NM is truly the Late-Term abortion capital of at least the U.S.A, and quite possibly North America. This month a family came from Mexico. Through the course of the year we have seen cars from Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, California, Kansas, Idaho, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Montana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, New York, and I have spoke with women who came from Hawaii and Canada. Please keep our work in prayer and may God use us to help women choose life that come here from all over North America.