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Prayer credited for closing of abortion clinic [Eugene, OR]
Catholic Sentinel ^ | 7-25-02 | Ed Langlois

Posted on 08/01/2002 10:08:24 AM PDT by Salvation

Prayer credited for closing of abortion clinic
07/25/2002 Ed Langlois

EUGENE — The only abortion clinic in the southern half of Oregon has closed and pro-life leaders are crediting simple prayer.

The second-busiest abortion provider in the state — All Women’s Health Services — abruptly ceased Eugene operations July 16 eight years after a group of Catholics began holding weekly rosary vigils outside the building.

Directors said the decision was a business move intended to strengthen the organization’s Portland clinic.

But many say the somewhat mysterious closure may have come because of the Catholics who have come out every Saturday and many Wednesdays to pray for the pregnant women and the unborn children.

“I attribute the whole closure to their faithfulness in prayer and God answering it,” says Gayle Atteberry, executive director of Oregon Right to Life. “Obviously there was some business decision made, but when you get down to it, I am serious, I can’t think of any reason other than prayer. And in the end, fewer unborn children will be killed.”

Oregon Health Division statistics show no dip in demand for abortions in Lane County.

The small building is near the University of Oregon and students often were recruited to guide women from their cars to the clinic to avoid conversations with worshipers.

Father Richard Janowicz, pastor of Nativity Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Springfield, on occasion has joined the vigil at the clinic.

“This was unexpected and very encouraging,” the priest says of the shutdown. “The prayer out there, so consistently so regularly, made the difference. It was not a protest; it was prayer out front. It was really a prayerful caring.”

Those at the vigil would pray the rosary peacefully. Some would hand patients information about abortion alternatives and free ultrasound examinations. No one, Father Janowicz says, got belligerent.

Clinic operators often called police, who grew tired of making the trip to the clinic. Those at the vigils say they remained on the sidewalk, where they are allowed by law.

“It’s the rosary that made this happen,” says Norm Skarda, a member of St. Mary Parish who has helped organize the clinic vigils. “We are delighted.”

Skarda points out that the closure came on the day of the Marian feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Before the All Women’s Health Services vigils, the group met for prayer at another local abortion clinic. That one closed, too.

A couple that volunteered at the All Women’s Health Services was so moved by the abiding vigil in the past year that they stopped the work, joined the prayer, and are in the process of becoming Catholic.

Skarda and others troubled by abortion may not have long to rest. The group is discussing going north each week for a vigil at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Salem.

Also, Planned Parenthood officials are discussing the possibility of beginning abortions at its clinic in Eugene. They see the closure as leaving a gap in access. The Eugene clinic performed 1,400 abortions in 2001.

Those favoring legal abortions have long complained bitterly that the procedure is not available enough in Eugene. The charge is most often made against Sacred Heart Medical Center and its Catholic parent organization, PeaceHealth.

Eugene and Lane County have the most abortions of any county in the state, other than Portland and Multnomah County.

“This is going to limit options for women and further complicate their lives,” says Kitty Piercy, public affairs chief for Planned Parenthood Health Services of Southwestern Oregon.

Now, the only abortion clinics in Oregon are in Portland, Salem and Bend. But doctors in 10 Oregon counties reported to the state in 2000 that they opened their offices to perform abortions.

Jeanine Mudd, a nurse at 1st Way crisis pregnancy center in Eugene, says her organization was “very happy” to hear about the closure. Occasionally, sidewalk counseling or pamphlets handed out at All Women’s Health Services helped a woman change her mind and seek aid from 1st Way.

The organization then gave support, supplies, medical referral, adoption information and the free ultrasound exams.

“We have many ladies who are abortion-minded and once they see the ultrasound they decide against it,” Mudd says.



TOPICS: General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: abprtion; prayer
This is truly a miracle for Eugene -- hippie town -- Oregon!
1 posted on 08/01/2002 10:08:24 AM PDT by Salvation
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To: All
Another miracle!

A couple that volunteered at the All Women’s Health Services was so moved by the abiding vigil in the past year that they stopped the work, joined the prayer, and are in the process of becoming Catholic.

2 posted on 08/01/2002 10:09:52 AM PDT by Salvation
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To: All; Litany; JMJ333; Siobhan
Those at the vigil would pray the rosary peacefully. Some would hand patients information about abortion alternatives and free ultrasound examinations.

The power of the Rosary.

3 posted on 08/01/2002 10:12:47 AM PDT by Salvation
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To: Salvation
simple prayer.

I wish "Operation Rescue",would have adopted this simple method,instead of their confrontational style.

4 posted on 08/01/2002 10:16:26 AM PDT by Codie
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To: Salvation; Askel5
The Eugene clinic performed 1,400 abortions in 2001.... Now, the only abortion clinics in Oregon are in Portland, Salem and Bend. But doctors in 10 Oregon counties reported to the state in 2000 that they opened their offices to perform abortions.
I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade, here -- the closing of any abortion mill is definitely cause for celebration -- but it sounds to me as though abortion mills do not do enough business to be economically feasible and that the new trend is toward private practitioners who perform abortions as part of their practice.

Would you know whether the number of abortions performed annually is down in Oregon, overall, or just the number of abortion mills?

5 posted on 08/01/2002 10:39:54 AM PDT by eastsider
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To: eastsider
the new trend is toward private practitioners who perform abortions as part of their practice.

Excellent point.

Indeed, I think this is part of the reason abortions are now including in general training (as highlighted recently in New York). It may not be the woman's own OBGyn but certainly one of the physicians within the physician practice might perform the abortions.

I don't think the current trend of suing OBGyns for failure to detect an imperfect and therefore justifiably "abortable" baby bodes well either. If malpractice insurers are paying out for such cases, the precedent has been established that it's just "Good Business" not only to detect imperfect children but ensure they are aborted timely without risking the woman's health.

6 posted on 08/01/2002 10:48:46 AM PDT by Askel5
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To: Askel5
I don't think the current trend of suing OBGyns for failure to detect an imperfect and therefore justifiably "abortable" baby bodes well either.
I wasn't aware of this trend. : (
7 posted on 08/01/2002 11:56:14 AM PDT by eastsider
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To: Salvation
Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen
8 posted on 08/01/2002 3:42:41 PM PDT by Litany
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To: Askel5

Also, there's the "chemical abortions" that can be performed up until nine weeks or so, (not the "morning after pill") that just involve taking some pills. It could be more women are having those instead of going to an abortion mill. Would be almost impossible to keep track of.


9 posted on 09/02/2004 12:14:29 PM PDT by Butterflykidsmom
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To: Butterflykidsmom

=== It could be more women are having those instead of going to an abortion mill.


another thing to remember is that more and more hospitals and "Women's Health" clinics are performing abortions as abortions -- the most common elective surgical procedure in the land -- becomes mainstreamed.

Given the fact that Republicans argue abortion MUST be legal in cases of rape or incest, it only makes sense that all surgeons and all hospitals in the land be prepared to handle this exception to the rule against homicide.


10 posted on 09/02/2004 12:33:30 PM PDT by Askel5 († Cooperatio voluntaria ad suicidium est legi morali contraria. †)
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To: Salvation

=== But many say the somewhat mysterious closure may have come because of the Catholics who have come out every Saturday and many Wednesdays to pray for the pregnant women and the unborn children.


I hope they will continue to offer their thanks in prayer. I know I was impressed -- each week at the five-decade rosary for life -- when our family friend and inveterate pro-lifer would open each week with thanks for the closing of the abortion mill in Mary Esther, Florida.


11 posted on 09/02/2004 12:34:56 PM PDT by Askel5 († Cooperatio voluntaria ad suicidium est legi morali contraria. †)
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To: cpforlife.org

=== But doctors in 10 Oregon counties reported to the state in 2000 that they opened their offices to perform abortions.



Any idea precisely where one searches state records to find out what hospitals and private practice physicians are performing abortions?


12 posted on 09/02/2004 12:36:07 PM PDT by Askel5 († Cooperatio voluntaria ad suicidium est legi morali contraria. †)
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To: Askel5

20-decade ... I always get that wrong. =)


13 posted on 09/02/2004 12:43:01 PM PDT by Askel5 († Cooperatio voluntaria ad suicidium est legi morali contraria. †)
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To: Askel5

It’s important to know that there is now at least one if not more abortion clinics working in Eugene, Or. There’s the Boors Clinic on East 11th and I believe another clinic that operates directly across from the new Sacred Heart Riverbend Hospital in Springfield.


14 posted on 01/25/2009 2:58:45 PM PST by blueyedmule
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To: Salvation

ping for your list!


15 posted on 07/26/2013 8:30:56 PM PDT by Coleus
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