Update on HB 1366

Friday, 11 February 2011, Action Alert

Action Alert from Heartbeat International

Surprised and disappointed!

The Pregnancy Help Centers in Washington State are in a fight for their lives. Yesterday, they lost a round. We are discouraged but not despairing. We are disappointed, but ready to fight on for our right to provide free services to women, freely, as we deem best, as neighbors helping neighbors.

The Washington State House Health & Wellness Committee passed HB 1366, in a straight party-line vote. HB 1366 slanders pregnancy help workers as not being truthful and forces them to advertise services they do not provide. It demands centers post signs saying, among other things, that they do not provide or refer for abortion. We know of no other business, profit or non-profit, required to advertise what they do not provide.

The bill is most likely headed to the House floor for final vote. It still could be derailed by the Rules Committee. More detailed information and reaction is available. But in summary, "The committee made no effort to respond to serious concerns regarding the unconstitutional 'forced speech' and 'viewpoint discrimination' provisions. They are fully aware that a similar bill in Baltimore was declared unconstitutional by a federal judge in Maryland, and that Rob McKenna, our Attorney General, indicated that he thought this bill was even more clearly in violation of the First Amendment than the Baltimore ordinance."

Thank you for praying. God did not bring us the victory we hoped for yesterday. But let us fight on though prayer and help in every way we can. This battle is part of a nationwide strategy that is coming to your neighborhood soon, if it is allowed to succeed in places like Washington State.

Your co-laborer in the Great Work,

Rev. John Ensor, VP for Mission Advancement

P.S. Stay updated with all of the latest news out of Washington State by signing up to receive Heartbeat's Action Alerts and Stay Updated emails.

Washington Votes Thursday on Bill Attacking Pregnancy Centers | LifeNews.com

Washington Votes Thursday on Bill Attacking Pregnancy Centers | LifeNews.com

Mom: Woman who left baby in toilet can't remember

It's hard to imagine a woman who has already had one child giving birth to a second one without even knowing that she was pregnant. So, assuming this mom did have an inkling but for some reason was not able to deal with the fact that she was expecting, Lois' Lodge could have presented a wonderful opportunity for both mom and baby. And that support would have continued to be available after the child was brought into this world safely and securely. Lois' Lodge is an organization which offers practical support to families experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Our services include a residential setting which is available when housing is required and non-residential services through our Mom Shoppe. If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy or know of someone else that is, please check out Lois' Lodge. www.loislodge.org. It could mean the difference between a baby that is born in a toilet and one that has received tender loving care prenatally and beyond. Debbie

GREENVILLE, S.C. – A South Carolina woman accused of giving birth in an arena toilet and leaving her baby to die didn't know she was pregnant and can't remember the birth, her mother told a judge Wednesday.

"She has not shown any signs of being pregnant whatsoever," Anita McAuliffe said during a bond hearing for her daughter, Jessica Blackham.

Blackham, 24, felt ill during a circus performance and went to the arena's bathroom, McAuliffe said. She told the judge that her daughter can't remember what happened next and later went to a hospital, where she was treated for bleeding.

Blackham, who is also mother to a 4-year-old child, gave birth to the 6-pound boy and left him in the toilet's cold water Friday night, police said.

Blackham was charged Tuesday with one count of felony child abuse and one count of unlawful neglect toward a child. Her bond was set at $30,000. If convicted of both charges, she could face up to 30 years in prison.

Arena workers found the asphyxiating child and called authorities. The infant, now in the care of the state Department of Social Services, was in good condition at a hospital.

Prosecutor Walt Wilkins said the charges are serious because the infant was abandoned for at least 90 minutes.

"During that time a newborn needs to be in a warm atmosphere," said Wilkins, who Blackham has no criminal record.

Authorities would not discuss the identity of the infant's father. Blackham is married but is estranged from her husband, McAuliffe said.

The baby was found suffering from hypothermia, which an expert said is one of the biggest risks for babies born away from medical care. The condition could lead to infection or breathing problems if not treated quickly.

"When a baby is moist and has exposure of its skin to the air, it will lose heat very rapidly," said Dr. Christopher Robinson, a fetal and maternal medicine professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Roger Newton, president and general manager of the 13-year-old Bi-Lo Center, said he'd never encountered anything like this in his 33 years of managing arenas from Ottawa, Canada, to Miami. He said the cleaning crew members deserved high praise.

"They did everything they should have, and we're very proud of them," he said.

The custodians said they found the infant with his feet in the water and head resting on the toilet rim.

"I never expected something like that to happen in my life — a baby in the toilet," Eder Serrano, 32, said during a news conference Wednesday. "But God gave me the strength to handle that."

Serrano called 911 while a co-worker, Marco Calle, pulled the baby from the toilet and used a finger to pull mucus from the boy's mouth.

Following instructions from operators, Calle, 41, wrapped the baby in a towel and used a piece of string to cut the boy's umbilical cord.

Both men have children. Calle said he felt relieved when he heard Tuesday it appeared the boy would survive.

"I'm happy because he is alive," Calle said, with a big smile.