We've Come a Long Way, Baby

Dr. George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P., is a family physician with COLFS (Culture of Life Family Services).  He is board certified in family medicine, hospice and palliative medicine, health care ethics, and NaProTECHNOLOGY, and has practiced family medicine since 1988.  He is a frequent conference speaker and radio guest, and is widely published, including a study for abortion pill reversal (The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Dec 2012).  On Saturday, January 18, he addressed the 2014 San Diego Walk for Life in the following words (published here with permission).

We've Come a Long Way, Baby

January 22, 1973, the day seven men in black robes decided that vulnerable unborn children and their mothers could become the prey of abortionists and others who take advantage of women and children, is perhaps the darkest day in the history of this one nation, under God.

One nation that had forgotten its roots and drifted from God and the natural law, the land of the free and the brave had lost its way.

We have allowed the development of a culture that calls killing "choice" and demands that women scorn the great gifts of femininity and motherhood in order to claim a false mantle of equality.

This same culture has pushed men and fathers to the margins of their families and society by stripping them of their true masculinity by encouraging them to abdicate their roles as servant-leaders to become sexual predators or valueless, spineless enablers.

No matter how bad things have gotten, we in the pro-life community are people of hope who never despair and never will give up the fight.  Now, we are appreciating the fruits of our perseverance.

Our society is increasingly accepting that the best option for women in crisis pregnancies is to receive help and support so that they can feel empowered to follow their hard-wired internal instincts to nurture and protect their unborn babies and themselves.

You see, abortion is a multifaceted evil.  It physically destroys an unborn child and it spiritually destroys the mother and often fathers and grandparents, too.

We as a society are again affirming that abortion is a false solution, a den of lies, a house of cards that will always fall apart, leaving a wounded woman even more vulnerable than before.

What are the fruits we are seeing now?

*Fewer abortion centers: 87 closed in 2013, leaving 572.  That's still 572 too many, but compare that to 2,176 that were operating in 1991.

*We now have an abortion pill reversal program started here at COLFS in San Diego.  The abortion pill, mifepristone, also known as RU 486, has claimed the lives of about 2 million unborn children in this country.  About 17% of all abortions are these, so-called medical abortions.  Now, women who change their minds after taking RU 486 have a second chance.  Dr. Mary Davenport and I published the first article in the medical literature describing the reversal of the effects of RU 486 using progesterone.  We have a web site, abortionpillreversal.com, and have connected women with doctors who can help them.  We have helped women from numerous states and from other countries, including Mexico, Italy, South Africa, Poland, and Australia.

*More pro-life laws are being passed.  Finally, states such as Texas are applying the same standards to abortionists as to other doctors.  Because of this law, at least 9 abortion clinics closed in the Lone Star State.

*Personhood initiatives and legislative bills continue to sprout from the grassroots.

*The court of public opinion is tilting towards pro-life as more than 50% of Americans describe themselves as pro-life or choose pro-life positions in the latest polls.

*The number of abortionists continues to fall.  Only the bottom of the barrel or the most twisted doctor will perform a procedure that conflicts with even the most poorly formed conscience.  A study in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology estimated that only 1 in 7 Ob Gyns now do abortions in the U.S.  Similarly, the number performing abortions is falling in Canada, Italy, and New Zealand.

Our call is to love others - love above all.  We are called to love all mothers, fathers, and children, both born and pre-born.  We are also called to love abortionists and clinic workers.

How do we love?  By not condemning people but criticizing evil.  By offering solutions and life-affirming alternatives.  By being joyful and hopeful, for they shall know who we are by our love.

It's time for all of us who are brave and free to take a more active role in protecting women, children, and families.  The victory of love is within reach.  We owe it to our most vulnerable; we owe it to ourselves.

God bless you, God bless San Diego, and God bless America.

And God bless you, Dr. Delgado!

Year of the Fourteen Words

2014 could be called the "Year of the Fourteen Words."  That is how the people of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Escondido, California) are thinking of it.  When we see "2014," or hear it, or write the date, we may take a moment to remember the Fourteen Words.  Some have committed to saying the 14 Words at least once a day during 2014.

What are the Fourteen Words?

They are a devotion - a meditation - consisting of two seven-word statements found in the Bible.  It's worth noting that seven is the perfect number.

The first seven words come from Luke 18:13: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

It is the perfect prayer.  It is a prayer of repentance but also much hope and faith in God's mercy.  This prayer flies into the ear and heart of God.

The second seven are from Matthew 9:2: "Take heart, child, your sins are forgiven."

This now is how God replies, through the mouth of Christ, to the first seven words.  It is the perfect word of forgiveness and absolution.  It strengthens the heart and faith, and is spoken and addressed to you personally - His child.

These are the Fourteen Words.  Seven and Seven.  And round and round it goes: a lifelong conversation between your soul and your God.  It never grows old, but rather new.

And we are taking the year to mine its riches.  Yes, I will teach on it often.  But the final lessons will be taught by the Holy Spirit and learned in the deepest place of the heart.

The Lord richly bless 2014: The Year of the Fourteen Words!