“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, and though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3)

On Jan. 12, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Aside from the obvious death toll, estimated to be at least 50,000 and perhaps as high as 100,000, there are numerous pro-life developments related to the disaster.

Rita Diller of Stop Planned Parenthood says Haitians need real help, not abortion and contraception

The day after the disaster, the International Planned Parenthood Federation launched a fundraising appeal seeking urgent support for PROFAMIL, its Haitian affiliate. The IPPF says the funds are necessary to maintain “basic medical services” at PROFAMIL facilities which provides “low-cost, quality sexual and reproductive healthcare.” Rita Diller of Stop Planned Parenthood condemned the abortion outfit’s attempt to capitalize on the disaster: “Planned Parenthood, true to form, is using the disaster and the suffering in Haiti to raise money to perpetuate itself in its ongoing attack on decency, morality, and the right to be born.” Diller said money should go to food, clothing, and legitimate medical care, not condoms.

Writing in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, former abortionist Joyce Tarnow advocates denying refuge in Florida to Haitian refugees because it could lead to overpopulation in the state. Tarnow, who operated an abortion mill in Ft. Lauderdale for 28 years, says, “Give them all the help they need, but don’t bring them to this country.” She closed her abortion mill to become head of Floridians for Sustainable Population. In 2004, Tarnow called for tougher immigration restrictions and cited Haiti specifically, saying it “denuded the whole land” and said the country should, “Stew in your own juices … We need to help nations that can subsist and let others wither on the vine.”

Jim Hughes, vice president of the International Right to Life Federation, reminds Canadian pro-lifers to be vigilant in their support of organizations operating in Haiti. Groups such as UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, and the International Committee of the Red Cross either support abortion or work with groups that promote abortion. Pro-life groups, or at least organizations that do not collaborate with pro-abortionists, include Aid to the Church in Need, Chalice, Coram Deo International Aid (Reformed Churches of Canada), Cross International, Haiti Mission, Missionaries of Charity, Samaritan’s Purse, Serving Charity and the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

Dr. Robert Walley’s MaterCare International is a pro-life group that will bring obstetrical support to Haiti. Walley told LifeSiteNews.com that he plans to initiate a long-term project to help rebuild maternity care in the country.

Frank Chauvin, a Canadian who returned his Order of Canada medal, founded an orphanage in Port au Prince.

Last year, Frank Chauvin, former Windsor police officer and founder of Haiti’s first orphanage for girls, launched but lost a federal court application to review the process by which the nomination of Henry Morgentaler was named a recipient of the Order of Canada. On Jan.11, one day before the Haiti earthquake, Chauvin returned his Order of Canada medal. Chauvin’s orphanage, the Holy Name of Mary Food Fund, a registered charity, houses 70 girls in Port au Prince, the capital city. It was not immediately known whether the children and orphanage survived the earthquake. He vows to provide relief to the victims of the disaster.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center warns that abandoned, separated and orphaned children are the targets of human traffickers who “literally kidnap children to sell into slave labour rings.”