Friday, 04 March 2011 00:00 GFP Columnist - Michael R Shannon
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Last week a man who personally performed or supervised 75,000 abortions - including two on his own girlfriends - died. He helped found NARAL, the most largest abortion lobby in the US. And before a 'progressive' Supreme Court legalized infanticide, he used loopholes and subterfuge to perform abortions that were marginally legal.

Yet he departed this world redeemed because - like John Newton in the 19th Century - Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson repudiated his participation in the greatest moral evil of his age.

Newton was a former slave ship captain who ferried human cargo. On a typical voyage 15 percent of the slaves died and the rest were essentially dead to the moral sensibilities of their fellow man. Newton found Christ in the depths of his depravity and later wrote, 'Amazing Grace.'


“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.”

Nathanson was blind and wretched, too before he confronted the evil known as “choice” in sophisticated circles, but in his words is “the satanic world of abortion.”

Once he realized the depth of his error, Nathanson produced a testimony in the form of film depicting the abortion of a 12–week–old unborn called “The Silent Scream.” Viewable at: www.silentscream.org

Nathanson’s public confession and rejection of the abortion industry was an unexpected asset for the Choose Life movement. President Reagan screened the film and urged members of Congress to do the same.

Strangely enough the Associated Press obituary refers to this titanic reversal as a “change of heart,” making it sound like one day Nathanson decided to stop wearing argyle socks and stick with solids instead.

In fact, Nathanson’s very public repudiation of his life’s work was an indictment of everything he had been, done and advocated previously. The atheist abortionist transformed into a Catholic advocate for the unborn.

What’s equivalent to this “change of heart?” Hitler becomes a rabbi? David Duke organizes an Obama fundraiser? Rosie O’Donnell marries a man? It’s difficult to imagine a comparison that does the change justice.

Still, it’s unfortunate Dr. Nathanson didn’t live to see the Virginia General Assembly break a 20–year deadlock and finally pass a bill that regulates abortion “clinics.”

Prior to the passage of this bill, Choose Death advocates were perfectly happy with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell as long as it applied to abortion mills. We have their sincere assurances that first–trimester abortions are among the “safest procedures.” (But we have to take their word for it, because Virginia abortionists have fought every reporting requirement tooth and nail.)

And if you are one of those indecisive women who require a second or third–trimester abortion, “Planned Termination” refers you to an equally “safe” out–of–state abortionist like Philadelphia’s Dr. Kermit Gosnell.

Unfortunately for Karnamaya Mongar of Woodbridge, VA, the Gosnell clinic was where she died at the hands of the highly recommended Dr. Gosnell who now faces murder charges for her death and killing seven babies born alive.

I’m sure VA abortion providers will be updating their Gosnell review on Yelp.com.

Abortion cheerleader Jessica Honke was quoted as saying passage of the bill was “a devastating day for women of Virginia” because some, most, all (it depends on the hysteric who’s asked) of the Virginia abortionaries will be forced to close because they will be “regulated as hospitals” and can’t afford the cost to upgrade the facilities.

A surprising sentiment. I thought big–government “progressives” supported an all–encompassing commercial regulatory regime specifically designed to run under–capitalized, fly–by–night operators out of business. I guess in Virginia that only applies to yoga instructors.

As Susan Hays of AAA Women for Choice in Manassas observed, “Dental offices and even barbershops have more regulations than these clinics.”

The truth is the regulations will be produced by the Virginia Board of Health, which is currently dominated by appointees of Tim “personally opposed, but still willing to lend political support to abortion” Kaine. And it’s not one size fits all, hospital categories include inpatient, psychiatric, rehabilitation and outpatient surgical. Each category has its own set of rules.

No doubt those worthies on the board will favor the weakest regulatory system possible. I predict the final requirements will fall somewhere between a nail solon and a chiropractor’s office. But it’s a start.

Image Courtesy of WikiPedia - Dr. Bernard Nathanson, known as a 'King of abortion', would later be an active member of a pro-life and anti-abortion organization.


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