Which baby has more rights?

My hometown has a University Research Center which specializes in the breeding, management and importation of a diverse range of nonhuman primate species for the purpose of research aimed at promoting human and animal quality of life.  There are about 6000 nonhuman primates residing on a 100 acre site with indoor and outdoor cages.  The research began in 1984 and was expanded in 1990 to include bio medical research  and the efficacy evaluation of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products.

In April of this year, the US Department of Agriculture filed a complaint against the Research Center for violations leading to the death of 1 primate, injuries to another, and the escape of 5 primates.  These violations occurred between 2012 and 2014.  The violations sited are the mishandling of a rhesus monkey that resulted in a fracture to the animal’s arm and a separate violation for failure to diagnose the injury for 5 days,  and a design defect which resulted in the death of a macaque when its hand was trapped between one of the bars of the cage and another piece of equipment.  SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation Now), a national animal welfare group is calling for stiff federal penalties.  SAEN was founded in 1996 and has a mission to end the abuse of animals in laboratories.  There are occasionally protesters at the Research Center, animal rights activists who are opposed to the use of animals for research.  These protests are always covered by the media.

In 2013, the Research Center paid out $38,571 in fines over the death of 3 rhesus macaques and an injury to a chimpanzee.

Since 1973 and the decision of Roe vs. Wade, there has been legalized and regulated research which involves aborted fetuses.  In 1974 the National Research Act created a national commission to oversee research involving fetuses.  In 1988, NIH Scientists requested approval from HHS to begin transplantation experiments using fetal brain tissue.  HHS approved but imposed a temporary moratorium on federal funds for research in fetal tissue transplantation.  This moratorium was extended indefinitely by Secretary Sullivan in 1989, but then lifted by President Bill Clinton in 1993.   In 1993 Congress passed the NIH Revitalization Act which permitted tissue from any abortion to be used for fetal tissue research.  The Act included an elaborate consent and documentation requirement and criminalized the sale or purchase of fetal tissue and designation of the recipient of fetal tissue.

Let’s make a comparison.

SAEN is calling for stiff penalties due to the death of one nonhuman primate and the injury of another.  The Department of Agriculture is involved.    There have been thousands of dollars in fines already paid due to the death of 3 nonhuman primates. Protests by concerned citizens have resulted in media coverage and government action.

44 MILLION UNBORN HUMAN CHILDREN ARE KILLED IN THEIR MOTHER’S WOMB EVERY YEAR WORLD WIDE.  These aborted babies are tortured and dismembered.  They are suctioned, injected and poisoned, and crushed.  Most of these deaths occur after 8 weeks of life.  At 6 to 7 weeks, a baby has arms and legs growing, the cranial nerves are visible, the heart is beating and blood is pumping.  At just 9 weeks the baby has nipples and hair follicles, toes and all essential organs. By 13 weeks, the baby has nails, genitals, and tooth buds. Another 6 weeks and the baby can hear and swallow.

The abortion supporters are comforted that these dead babies are being used for research.

Planned Parenthood who has been investigated and accused with video evidence of breaking federal laws regarding the sale and profit of fetal tissue is receiving over 1 MILLION FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS EVERY DAY.  The White House has refused to give any credit to the lengthy investigation into Planned Parenthood and refuses to investigate any wrong doing by Planned Parenthood, while launching instead an investigation into the very organization which took 30 months to collect the video evidence against Planned Parenthood.  These videos are graphic and show exactly the demise of the unborn children who are dismembered, torn apart and thrown in garbage bags.  A protest at Planned Parenthood Centers resulted in huge numbers of pro-life supporters rallying in front of over 300 Centers nation wide.  The protests and videos have largely been ignored by the media.

I am sorry that four nonhuman primates have been killed at the University Research Center.  No animals should ever be tortured or neglected.  However, I am more sorry for the unborn children who are ripped apart and sold for a profit and seen as “line items.”

It is sad that a nation that bends over backwards to treat NON-HUMANS humanely is at the same time treating a large population of HUMANS as garbage.  Their little lives are literally sucked out of existence and they are literally torn from their mother’s womb.

It is time to protect the most defenseless among us.  It is time to give all children, born and unborn, the dignity and respect they deserve.  Stop the hypocrisy.  All human life should have rights above the rights of non-humans.

Vote Pro-Life.  Lives depend upon it.

Love,

Sherry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sacred Truths

My husband and I viewed the movie “Heaven is for Real” today.  I had read the book and found it a very moving testimony, especially since the testimony is from a four-year-old!  God uses all of us –  no matter our age – no matter how long we lived on this earth- no matter if all our whole life was in our mother’s womb – to divulge His truths and lessons.

I am sure most people are aware of Colton Burpo’s story.  Colton’s father, Todd, is a pastor and he was certain that Colton experienced heaven and spoke to Jesus for a reason.  After some soul-searching, Colton’s family decided their mission was to spread the message that heaven is real – a real place where we can love and serve our Lord after we leave this earth.  After reading Colton’s story, I became convinced that there was another message.

Colton told his dad that Jesus had a message for him.  He informed his dad that Jesus wanted his dad to know that He loved the children.  When Colton’s dad responded he already knew that Jesus loved all the children; Colton repeated several times, “But He REALLY loves the children.”

This message from Jesus along with the fact that Colton met his sister who “died in mommy’s tummy”, led me right away to believe that Jesus wanted Todd to preach about the precious unborn.  The Burpos had lost a child of God before they even knew if the child was a girl or boy.  This little girl presented herself to Colton as his sister and could not stop hugging him.  Colton was only four and had not been told of his mother’s miscarriage.  When he related this encounter with his sister to his parents; they truly believed Colton had experienced something very few of us live to tell.  Soon after this revelation, the Burpos were blessed with another baby.

It was revealed to a four-year-old that all life is sacred.  Even the very young in a mother’s womb, who never have a chance to be named or see this earth, share in our eternal glory with God.

I have my own personal experience with this message.  After reading “Heaven is for Real”, I shared my love for the story with someone very dear to me.  She went out that same day and bought the book.  She was in the early stages of her first  pregnancy and she and her husband read the book together.  One week later, the two of them went for a 2 month ultrasound and learned that she was carrying twins.  Double the reason to rejoice – but no, one of the babies was alive, the other baby was dead.  I was out of town when I heard this news and hurriedly called her knowing that she would take this news extremely hard.  But, the Lord had prepared her.  In His mercy He had allowed me to share the story of Colton and He led her to read the book with her husband.  She was calm.  She told me that they were very grateful that one baby was healthy and alive and they knew the other twin was in heaven and they would see Angel one day.

Yes the Lord loves us and sends us messengers.  He guides us and consoles us.  We do not know the reasons for the bad things.  We only know that He knows what is best for us!

God sent His only Son, the Word, to spread the truth.  He now calls each of us to continue what Jesus taught.  It may mean suffering or persecution.  We should follow the example of His Son and take up our cross.

Corinthians 4:1  “You should think of us as Christ’s servants, who have been put in charge of God’s secret truths.”

Thank you Burpo family for picking up your cross and spreading God’s sacred truths!

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

 

 

Regrets…..Rebirth

Last week I stopped by and visited a friend I have had for years.  She lives in another state, so we do not get to see each other often.  We had a very nice visit which included sharing with each other our Christian faiths.  That day my friend shared a very personal experience from her past with me that I have found to be one of the most profound and dramatic narratives of God’s Love and Mercy.  She has given me permission to now share her story with you.

My friend, about forty years ago, was nineteen, married, and pregnant with her first child.  The pregnancy left her extremely ill.  She did not eat much for two months, and when she did she became very nauseous.  There were further complications of bleeding.

Her doctor met with her and her husband and advised an abortion.  The doctor claimed that the pregnancy was making her too sick; and he insisted that the loss of blood would create a brain-damaged baby.  My friend’s husband at the time, a preacher, was extremely pro-child.  He wanted a wife and family as soon as possible; however, he did not want any “damaged” children.  The preacher insisted upon the abortion.  My friend was heartbroken and was unconvinced that the pregnancy would not turn out a viable child.  She asked her husband that they take one night to reflect.  All agreed.

Upon leaving the doctor’s office, my friend became hungry.  Her husband took her to a restaurant, and she had a hearty meal without becoming sick for the first time in two months.  She took this as a sign.  She begged her husband to reconsider and let the pregnancy progress.  He adamantly refused.  The preacher said his mind was made up, the procedure would happen the next day.

She cried all night.  She climbed onto the hospital gurney the next day crying and cried up until they put her to sleep for the procedure.  When she awoke, her doctor told her matter-of-factly, “It’s a good thing we terminated; you had triplets in there!”  Well, those words finished her off!  Not only did she end one child’s life, she ended the lives of three.  The pain in her heart was greater than she thought could be possible without the heart just tearing in two.  It seemed as if the life had been ripped out of her body; that she was a shell, broken.

She cried for a year.  The grief of the loss of her dear triplets was compounded by the fact that her mother had lost triplets in a miscarriage.  After a year with no conception and little relief from the pain in her heart, her husband informed her that she had two years to conceive his child or there would be a divorce.  No child came and the husband was true to his word.  The marriage ended.

Turning to her faith and her God, my friend prayed for healing and the grace to one day bring another life into this world.  She received an answer.  After a Sunday service, a fellow church member told her that the Lord had spoken and told them that she would one day conceive and have a child.  The messenger told her God had promised.

She married again, and for 12 years they lived a married life with no protection against pregnancy.  One day at age 38, my friend was feeling ill and for fun took a pregnancy test.  The test was positive.  Her husband was in disbelief and accompanied her to a doctor visit.  The doctor confirmed – she was seven weeks pregnant.  She knew this was the promised child.  Her husband was still in shock, but she was on top of the world.

Until the phone rang the very next day.  She had to return to the doctor.  She and husband were again handed news.  This time the news was bad, cervical cancer.  Once again she was told by a doctor to terminate her pregnancy.  The words stung like a knife in her heart.

Immediately she asked the doctor two questions: 1 – Do you believe in Jesus Christ? and 2-Do you believe cancer can go into remission or be cured?  Her doctor said yes to believing in Jesus and said in “most cases cancer.”.  She stopped him. She asked him again and warned him that the wrong answer would prevent him from continuing as her doctor.  He finally said yes, cancer can go into remission.  Her husband by this point had found his voice and was asking for termination of the pregnancy.  She told the doctor, “congratulations, you have a patient”… and come hell or high water she informed both the doctor and the husband that she would be carrying the child to term.  She did not care about what would be happening to her body; she knew this was God’s promise and it would be fulfilled.

She called her prayer warriors, starting with mama, and told everyone “pray for this baby, do not pray for me.  I accept God’s will for me, but I want this baby to live.”

That baby and his mother survived.  She now has a son who has given her two beautiful granddaughters.

I sat stunned at her story.  I was in awe that God saw fit to put her in the same situation nearly twenty years later.  She not only got a second chance at giving life, but she also received the chance to make the right choice.  Most facing her decision, would have said it just wasn’t in the cards and would have put themselves first.  She chose life and self-sacrifice and God’s Mercy rained down upon her!

Her three little babies in heaven must have been so proud!  Their mother was willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to save a loved one’s life.  One day in heaven, she will be surrounded by her children; her family will at last be reunited in Christ.

God always has a plan.  It is up to us to follow, although the road may be treacherous and hard, He is with us and helping us.

Thank you my friend!  You have lifted me up!

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

is Knowledge really Power?

Genesis 2:14  Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.  He told him, “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.”

Genesis 3:4  The snake replied, “That’s not true; you will not die. God said that because He knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad.”

What did Adam and Eve do?  They wanted to be like God and so they ate the forbidden fruit.  Who was telling them the truth?  Of course, it was God who is the Truth.  They were given everything, and still they yearned for more.  Man turned away from God’s truth and innocence.  The sad part is that thousands of years later, nothing has changed.

The forbidden fruit today is everywhere.  Knowledge is at our fingertips like never before.  As technology and man’s knowledge of this world advance, dependence on our God and His Truth decline.

Think about it; what does all this knowledge really do for us?  Are we using this knowledge to guide us in the path towards God’s Kingdom?

I will give one example of a technological advance that has brought about good, but also much evil;  something as simple as an ultrasound.  Ultrasounds have great medical value.  It gives doctors eyes into our bodies.  They are able to diagnose, treat, and heal with greater accuracy and less evasiveness.

I had my first ultrasound when I was expecting my second child.  (My first child was born two years earlier and at that time ultrasounds were only used during pregnancy if the doctor suspected a problem.)  My husband and I were thrilled to find out we were expecting our first boy during this first ultrasound, and that he was healthy.  Unfortunately not all parents receive that kind of news.

I recently read a wonderful book by Chad Judice, Eli’s Reach.  Chad and his family also live in southern Louisiana.  The book was a follow up to his first book, Waiting for Eli.  The two books chronicle the story of Chad and Ashley and their second son, Eli, who was diagnosed with spina bifida while still in the womb.  Although 80% of children diagnosed with spina bifida in the womb are aborted, Chad and Ashley chose to trust in God and His plan.  Today their son Eli is a blossoming five-year-old, who does have medical problems, but also has above average intelligence and the hearts of everyone who meet him!  Chad is active in the pro-life movement as a public speaker and has changed many lives with the story of Eli.

How many Eli’s are never given a chance to live?  Most parents with the KNOWLEGE that their child will be born with major medical issues and possible brain damage, chose to bite that forbidden fruit.  They think they have the POWER of God, and can decide whether or not a child should be born.  Too often they decide that their child’s life would have little value.  How could anything God creates be of little value?

Adam and Eve sinned against God and brought death upon man.  Jesus and Mary said yes to God.  They asked for His Will to be done.  This brought about new life for man.  It saddens me to think how much Jesus suffered for our sins.  He was abandoned, betrayed, tortured, and crucified.  He left this world with no possessions.  His mother had to watch in horror the treatment of her Lord and Son.  What mother has suffered more?

When will we learn that there is no knowledge outside God’s Truth?

Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.  Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.  Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong. If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains.”

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

 

 

 

 

To Be or Not to Be

I was in the grocery store last week, waiting in the check out line.  A magazine caught my eye.  The words “No Kill Nation” had my attention.  I immediately picked up the magazine, opened it up to the center section, and began to read:  “Long considered by some as an idealistic, unworkable goal, the no-kill effort has now moved into the mainstream. ‘Even just a decade ago the majority of Americans probably believed that a no-kill approach was improbable.’…But today as people see cities, such as Reno, Kansas City and Austin successfully establishing no-kill programming, they increasingly believe the ideal can become a reality.”

I had high hopes upon seeing the words “no-kill” that I was picking up a pro-life magazine.  I had hopes that the idealistic goal of no-kill was one pertaining to humans.  I was wrong, this magazine and article were advocates against euthanizing dogs.

There has been much debate of late with regards to euthanasia and the term brain-dead.  I have watched the news regarding the 13 year old Jahi and her parents’ fight for her chance to prove her doctor’s diagnosis of brain-dead wrong.  I have seen a husband take a hospital to court to remove his pregnant brain-dead wife from life support.  I was sadly disappointed to hear that Belgium has allowed legal euthanasia for people of all ages, including children.

I am glad there are advocates against cruelty to animals.  No creature made by God should be treated as anything less than a Godly creation.  What I do not understand is why are humans treated as less valuable?

The unborn human child is thought of as tissue.  Women are told that pregnancy is a choice and they do not have to stay pregnant if they are not ready to be a mother . The truth is that child from the moment of conception is a child of God; has a soul and a guardian angel.  He or she from the moment of conception has a mother.  That mother will either be the mother of a live baby or a dead baby.  That is the only “choice” being made.  To kill or not to kill.

A child lies in a coma and doctors say she is brain-dead.  Her parents see signs of life and want to see their child continue treatment.  The hospital refuses.  The hospital sees no value in the child’s life and no hope for any recovery of her brain function.  The truth is that the brain is far from being understood.  The book “Proof of Heaven” written by a neurologist who was supposedly “brain-dead”, proves that man cannot know God’s plan.  God can work a miracle any time and any place.  Why should a parent have to fight for a child’s life at a hospital.  To kill or not to kill.

I hope and pray that one day we will be a No Kill Nation.  One that respects the life of all humans – born and unborn.  A nation that respects the Creator and leaves all decisions regarding life and death in His capable hands.

Sirach 18:1 “The Lord, who lives forever created the whole universe and He alone is just.  He has given no one enough power to describe what He has done, and no one can investigate it completely.  Who can measure His majestic power? Who can tell the whole story of His merciful actions? We cannot add to them; we cannot subtract from them. There is no way to comprehend the marvelous things the Lord has done. When we come to the end of that story, we have not even begun; we are simply at a loss for words.”

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

God, the Author of Life

January 22, 1973, Roe vs Wade was decided by the United States Supreme Court.  January 22, 1973, Life in the United States drastically changed.  In a country that was founded on the principle that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are LIFE, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness”, LIFE was taken out of that Declaration which was signed July 4, 1776 by our founding fathers.

If God is the sole Author of Life, man is the author of death.  And so the deaths began…

A February 2008 issue of Scientific American, posted an article entitled, “Your cells are my cells“.  The article revealed that research has proven that women carry cells from every child we have ever conceived for the rest of our lives.  Surviving children also carry our cells and any subsequent children who follow the loss of a sibling carries cells from that sibling.  We are all connected because we all have one Creator.  The moment we are formed in our mother’s womb we have been created.  The moment we are formed in our mother’s womb, we are a human being, and as such, we should have the same rights and protections as all humanity deserves.

There are millions of babies who have never had a choice; never had protection under the law.  It is time that society stands up for these babies and the countless more who have yet to be created.

I met a remarkable woman this past week.  Her name is Brenda DesOrmeaux and she founded the DesOrmeaux Foundation.  After the tragedy of 1973, Brenda felt a calling and decided to act.  She became an active member of the Acadiana Right to Life, working for the Pro-Life cause.  Her years of participation in this Fight for Life led to her running the Women’s Center of Lafayette.  After forming the DesOrmeaux Foundation, Brenda gave up her role in the Acadiana Right to Life and devoted herself to defending Human Life, the sanctity of marriage, and promoting chaste relationships.  Through her efforts, Lafayette, Louisiana now has a Pregnancy Center which offers free pregnancy test, family planning counseling, free ultrasound and financial assistance; the St. Marguerite d’Youville home which provides women with a peaceful, secure setting to help them process their needs, emotions, and choices; and the Baby and Me Boutique which specializes in selling maternity and baby items at give-away prices. Brenda heard God’s calling and she responded.

These are urgent times.  The more we advance with technology, the more technology points to the fact that a pregnant woman does not hold a blob of tissue. Each person is created unique and in the image of God.

Jesus said it best to Nancy Fowler in Conyers, Georgia, January 6, 1991: “Oh what a terrible, grave sin abortion is.  Man does not know the destiny of each child conceived, does not know the destiny of any child conceived.  So popes are murdered, priests are murdered, nuns are murdered, and on and on. Does this grave sin not bring about the wrath of God?”

And again to Nancy on February 6, 1993: “You must know that abortion is murder. I am the Creator, you are not.  I am the Author of Life, you are not. Do not kill who I have created.  The commandment of God is “Thou shall not kill”. You will battle with each other over laws that you create apart from Me.”

We are all called.

Romans 11:32 “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.  Then you will be able to know the will of God – what is good and is pleasing to Him and is proper.”

September 29, 1992; Our Blessed Mother’s message to Nancy Fowler for America: “America pick up your Rosary, kneel down and pray.

This week marks the 41st anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.  Do something.  Go to a March for Life; attend a prayer service or mass; contact your state representatives…. Together we can give hope to all the children of God who are yet to be.

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

 

 

 

Little Lambs

Years ago I was viewing the evening news and was dumbfounded to hear a news report of the horrific epidemic of sheep abortions.  That was my ah ha moment.  The moment when I knew the world was upside down and turned inside out.  Where was the outcry for the millions unborn human babies lost to abortion?  Precious little innocent souls, created by God, destroyed by man, no voice, no future, no choice.

Most developed countries have laws that restrict pain and discomfort for animals. Yet, there is a huge battle right now in our own country to get the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act passed.  There is scientific evidence that the unborn can feel pain at 20 weeks. Why is there less concern over the pain of human beings than of laboratory rats?

Abortion at any stage is murder.  It is the termination of a life – a human life.  The Author of Life has a plan, a destiny, for each of His creations.  Man does not know the destiny of each child conceived.  I shudder to think of the great minds and souls that could have led this world to a much better place, but instead were the victims of “choice”.

Habakkuk 1:2 “O Lord, how long must I call for help before You listen, before You save us from violence?   Why do You make me see such trouble?  How can You stand to look on such wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are all around me, and there is fighting and quarreling everywhere.  The law is weak and useless, and justice is never done.  Evil people get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted. 2:1 The Lord’s Answer to Habakkuk: “Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.”

Corinthians 3:16 “Surely you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you! God will destroy anyone who destroys God’s temple. For God’s temple is Holy and you yourselves are His temple.”

Children are a gift from God.  Let the life of God live in you!

Pray the rosary for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalope for the passing of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and an end to legalized abortion.  Together we can make a difference.

C’est Bon

Love, Sherry