In today's big abortion news story a jury in Philadelphia convicted abortionist Kermit Gosnell of 3 first-degree murder charges and involuntary manslaughter for a patient that died inside his abortion clinic.

The Gosnell court trial is not the first abortion-related scandal in America. The New York Times investigated abortionists in the 1800s. These news news stories are retold in Marvin Olasky's book The Press and Abortion, 1838-1988 which covers the first 150 years of the abortion conflict in America.

In response to the Time's news coverage, Congress passed the Comstock Act which banned abortion ads through the mail.

After Roe v. Wade decriminalized abortion throughout the nation, many abortion businesses soon opened with numerous women being harmed by legal abortions. Early prolife activists such as the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League investigated the abortionists and tried to get the press to report on abortion clinic abuses.

In 1978 the Chicago Sun-Times published a series of investigative articles on the topic of abortion but the news stories had little impact on the nation. I wasn't able to find this series in Google News Archive, but did find a UPI article summarizing the Chicago Sun-Times story. FULL POST

By Mark Ellis

Eight major studies of identical twins in Australia, the U.S., and Scandinavia during the last two decades all arrive at the same conclusion: gays were not born that way.

“At best genetics is a minor factor,” says Dr. Neil Whitehead, PhD. Whitehead worked for the New Zealand government as a scientific researcher for 24 years, then spent four years working for the United Nations and International Atomic Energy Agency. Most recently, he serves as a consultant to Japanese universities about the effects of radiation exposure. His PhD is in biochemistry and statistics.

Identical twins have the same genes or DNA. They are nurtured in equal prenatal conditions. If homosexuality is caused by genetics or prenatal conditions and one twin is gay, the co-twin should also be gay.

“Because they have identical DNA, it ought to be 100%,” Dr. Whitehead notes. But the studies reveal something else. “If an identical twin has same-sex attraction the chances the co-twin has it are only about 11% for men and 14% for women.” FULL POST

Today a jury in Philadelphia convicted abortionist Kermit Gosnell on three counts of murder. The complicated court case involved initially 380 counts, reported Life News. Some of the charges were thrown out for lacking enough evidence.

The Christian Post reports, "Abortionist Kermit Gosnell has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of patient Karnamaya Mongar who died at his late-term abortion clinic, and three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of four babies born alive inside the Women's Medical Society abortion clinic in West Philadelphia, Pa., that he operated for 40 years."

This sad story shows what can happen when abortion clinics are not inspected. Abortionists fail to meet minimal standards of care.

According to ABC News, "Pennsylvania authorities had failed to conduct routine inspections of all of its abortion clinics for 15 years by the time Gosnell's facility was raided and closed down. In the scandal's aftermath, two top state health department officials were fired, and Pennsylvania imposed tougher rules for clinics."

Media bias is also apparent in that many mainstream media outlets barely reported on the court case. MSNBC still hasn't reported the court results on its website.

In a photo shared on Twitter, Robby Tiro tweeted, "@FoxNews only major national news network with a microphone awaiting the #Gosnell verdict."

Disclaimer: this has a picture from pop culture, and a picture from a 2012 campaign underneath the page break.

In an earlier article about abortion, I had stated emphatically that in a culture in which women are considered things for use, the results of such use are likewise considered things to use or to throw away. In other words, when women are regarded as things for sexual use and then as things for disposal afterward, then natural result of this use (the conception of children) are likewise regards as things for disposal. The humanity of women has been ignored and denigrated. The humanity of children has been ignored and denigrated.

Sometimes the most extreme examples explain the issue the best. Extreme examples amplify societal beliefs and attitudes to their ultimate end so that the underlying problems and the results of these problems become clearer and more obvious to see. Thus, as a society, we can see social problems more clearly.

This is a very sensitive issue, and not many people can fully comprehend what these women suffered through and survived through. I bring this up to educate people about our social problems so that people can apply this learning to become a better society. I have blogged repeatedly that abortion is dehumanizing and degrading to women. Abortion degrades and dehumanizes both women and their children. The abortions were forced in the case of Ariel Castro, but were supposedly legal in the case of Kermit Gosnell who also faces murder charges. FULL POST

Economic realities of the last few years have had a significant effect on many parents. They struggle—from providing basic needs such as food and a place to live to securing adequate childcare as they work in full- or part-time jobs that do not earn enough for them to provide life-giving homes for their children. The United States Census Bureau reported that in 2011, there were 46.2 million people in poverty. Many others are fighting each day to stay above that poverty line.

Bethany sees people and families in these situations daily, and strives to provide assistance with various programs and by partnering with others to meet needs and keep families together. The following are a few of examples.

Life Impact Fund

Research has shown that over 70 percent of women have an abortion due to financial reasons. In the United States, only 1.3 percent of births to unmarried women result in adoption. Some of the birthparents coming to us indicate that they cannot afford to raise another child as they already have one or two children. These are single parents who are working and trying to support themselves and their children. Bethany's counselors work with these mothers in a variety of ways to help them parent their children—providing assistance with immediate and urgent financial needs through our Life Impact Fund. Through this fund, small amounts of aid are provided that can help a woman with rent or food for her family’s immediate need. It is our desire that if an expectant mother chooses to place her child for adoption, it is for reasons beyond financial need. FULL POST