Washington University, Planned Parenthood and Abortion

It is no secret that Planned Parenthood and Family Planning Services really have nothing to do with family. They have everything to do with preventing one through abortions. Last week a friend of mine, who is in church with me, wrote a letter to the Dean of Washington University School of Medicine. What he found out was that WU has began working with, and is funded by Planned Parenthood and Family Planning Services to train physicians on how to perform abortions.

Jim works at WU and after not receiving a response from Dr. Larry Shapiro, he forwarded the message out to the whole WU email distribution list, approximately 3000+ people, including many, many physicians. Well he did get reprimanded; however people started coming out of the woodworks in support of him. That same week, another organization took out a full page add in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on the fact that WU was working with the abortion clinics. Just yesterday a director of one of these abortion clinics announced yesterday she has "converted" to prolife because of what she saw. Coincidence? No way, the Lord is at work. Jim Ide has been a champion and took a major step of faith because he is now under persecution at his job, he may even lose his job. With Jim's permission I have attached the contents of his letter that was sent to all of WU:

*************************************************************************************
Dear Dr. Shapiro,

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter as I know you are a busy man. I wanted to express to you my concern about an issue that is very near and dear to my heart—the sanctity of human life. As a Christian, I am called to be “salt and light”

I was stirred to communicate to you how disturbed I am to have recently learned that Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital have entered into a partnership with Planned Parenthood of St. Louis to train Fellows in the practice of performing the abortion of innocent pre-born children. I am referring to the Family Planning Fellowship Program which provides training to Fellows to become expert in all methods of first and second trimester abortions.
http://www.lifenews.com/state4423.html
http://www.familyplanningfellowship.org/whatis.html
http://www.familyplanningfellowship.org/locations.html
http://www.familyplanningfellowship.org/whatopps.html

My position starts with how I define “conception”. Fertilization, scientifically speaking, is conception; the initial event along the road of human development. When 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 chromosomes from the father combine to determine everything from the physical features to the personality of the new human being, a unique person’s life begins. This human being is distinctly not the same genetic makeup of the mother or the father, but is a complete and fully new human being from the earliest stage of life. The DNA is different than either parent and is not part of the mother’s body. It just happens to reside there during the early stages of growth.

Not too long ago, somewhere between 1995 and 2000, the scientific community began a redefinition of when life begins. What frightens me is the question, “just how much farther will this redefining go before reaching the definition that accommodates their research goals?”

Here’s my point. Until recently, conception was synonymous with fertilization. In fact, in the 26th edition of Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, conception was defined as the “act of conceiving, or becoming pregnant; fertilization of the oocyte (ovum) by spermatozoon to form a viable zygote.” Conception was defined as the time of fertilization. However, something interesting happened in the next five years. In the 27th edition of Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, conception is defined as follows: “Act of conceiving; the implantation of the blastocyte in the endometrium.” Note here that implantation is now the defining point in conception. The scientific community arbitrarily, without any scientific justification, redefined the starting point of life.

According to the redefined view, a zygote less than nine or so days old, having not yet completed implantation, would not be considered alive. If it is not alive, it certainly cannot be human. This change was completely arbitrary, for there was no basic change in the understanding of the developmental process that would make this redefinition necessary.
The new definition has great implications in the political, ethical and moral arenas. Personal and governmental decision-making on such issues as embryonic stem cell research, cloning, and the so-called “morning after pill” directly depends on the validity of this definition. If preimplantation blastocysts were not alive, they could be guiltlessly harvested or destroyed prior to the six-to-nine day mark because “conception” had not yet occurred.

Life begins at conception. Even though the names change throughout this life process and certain milestones in development are evident, the process set in motion at the moment of conception is a continuous chain of events. In this sequence, groups of cells multiply and develop into specific body parts with amazing precision and a remarkably low rate of error. However, at no time in this process is there a scientific point at which the developing individual clearly “becomes a person,” any more than a baby becomes more human when it walks, talks, or when it is weaned. These milestones in zygote, blastocyst, embryonic, and fetal development are simply descriptions of anatomy, not hurdles met in the test of humanness. From a scientific point of view, the words are arbitrary and purely descriptive. Each stage flows seamlessly into the next with a great number of detailed embryological changes followed by organ growth and finely tuned development all orchestrated with precision. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made”.

Although science has shown us the wonderful continuity of the development of life throughout all its stages, science has not been able to define the onset of humanness. However, there is more than enough information in Scripture for us to determine the answer to this. The Bible contains many references to the unborn. Each time the Bible speaks of the unborn, there is a reference to an actual person, a living human being already in existence. These scriptures, taken in context, all indicate that God considers the unborn to be people. The language of the text continually describes them in personal terms. Since the Bible treats those persons yet unborn as real persons, and since the development of a person is a continuum with a definite beginning at the moment of fertilization, the logical point at which a person begins to be human is at the beginning. The answer is that life begins at conception (using the now older definition of the term, here to be synonymous with fertilization). No other conclusion is possible from Scripture or science.

So, why do I think this is important? Simply, the status of the zygote/embryo/fetus is central to many issues facing our society. Here are four of the main issues. (1) The most obvious in this regard is abortion. If the zygote is a human life, then abortion is murder. (2) The same can be said of the issues surrounding the embryonic stem cell debate. If the embryo is human, then destroying it is murder, no matter what supposedly altruistic reason is given as justification. (3) The ethics of cloning require consideration of the concept of humanness and the timing of its onset. (4) A person’s acceptance or rejection of the controversial morning after pill is based upon the determination of when human life begins.

Dr. Shapiro, Life is a precious gift from God. Washington University has a long history of being at the top in medical research and development of life-saving medicines and procedures. The university has always used its resources to save and extend life. I’m asking that Washington University take a stand against the taking of innocent life. I’m asking that we remain a leader and not a follower in a society that seems to have less and less regard for human life. I’m asking that you make every effort possible to end this partnership with Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Planned Parenthood of St. Louis.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this very important issue. I pray that this letter contains the sting of salt and enough light to help you see clearly. I will be praying for the leadership of Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.


For Jesus the Creator,

James R. Ide IV


*************************************************************************************

Jim is an example to me and should be to all of us, Christians need to be salt and light, we are the ambassadors of the Gospel. We need to do it in love and with gentleness and respect. We need to stand up, like Jim did, and be willing to lay it all on the line. Abortion is one of many sins that are defining this nation and if there is one thing I know out of the scriptures, when a nation turns its heart against the Lord Almighty there is judgment. The Lord is long suffering, look at how many prophets He sent to Israel before judgment came.

Jim, thank you for being a bold man of God!