By J.M. Glover:
‘The value of a life cannot be measured by its challenges’
Texas Right to Life highlighted the story of rare identical triplets, two of whom were cojoined. Doctors suggested that the children might not survive birth, and if they did, they might never walk. Well, they did survive birth in May 2015 at a Corpus Christi medical center, and their parents—Sylvia Hernandez Ambriz and Raol Torres—welcomed Ximena, Scarlett, and Catalina into the world. Ximena and Scarlett were cojoined at the pelvis with shared vital organs. Their dad, Raol remarked at the time that “God chose us to take care of these babies. We put our faith in God’s hands first and everything will be all right.” And “all right” the little girls would be. In May 2016, in a 12-hour operation, surgeons successfully separated Ximena and Scarlett who would remain in the hospital for a year, with Catalina and their parents residing at a nearby residence for the duration. The operation was proclaimed a “medical milestone.” Eight years later, the three girls returned to Corpus Christie with their parents, not to face surgery, but to show their gymnastic skills as cheerleaders, under the tutelage of their coach—their mom. They were competing in a state cheerleading competition, with their mom and dad looking on. Texas Right to Life points out, “When parents today receive a devastating diagnosis for their preborn baby, 63 per cent choose to abort their baby. Ambriz and Raol chose the better option—to give their three girls life, a life that sees them dancing and laughing. As the TRL article notes, “the value of a life cannot be measured by its challenges.” The parents chose life for their girls and God rewarded them abundantly! (A 3-minute video of the happy family is available at Texas Right to Life, Nov. 7.)
U.S. castigates UN priorities, wins vote against child pornography
On Nov. 20, the United States issued a warning to the United Nations Third Committee. In its U.S. Mission to the UN, it presented a message on the Rights of the Child, declaring that “many resolutions recycle the same contentious or irrelevant issues year after year.” It continued, “President Trump has delivered a very clear message: the United Nations and so many nations of the world have gotten wildly off track, exaggerating climate change into the world’s greatest threat. This practice will no longer be tolerated.” The memo continued to emphasize that language on “sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights without adequate caveats and qualifications” would also not be tolerated by the U.S. and declared that “transgender rights for children, gender ideology and other controversial issues” were “not universally agreed human rights.” The memo concluded that the UN was wasting resources where there was “little or no impact” and therefore the U.S would “request a vote” and “vote ‘no’ on this resolution.” The next day, Nov. 21, 68 countries voted with the U.S. and only 51 nations supported the European Union’s position against the U.S. Another 30 nations abstained. The U.S.-led delegation insisted that “all forms of child pornography, including virtual child pornography and sexting must be prosecuted.” The Trump Administration insisted that the vote be in line with a similar international treaty supported by the U.S. 30 years ago and still in effect: the “Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography.”
Hungary’s population plan shifts into high gear
Steven Mosher, an expert on world population, was the first American social scientist to visit mainland China in 1979-80. As a graduate student, he studied, first-hand, Mao’s one-child policy. He saw the terror in the peasants’ eyes as women were forced to endure the “savage barbarity” of abortion and sterilization to drastically lower the birthrate and initiate a “one-child-per-couple” policy. In a recent article entitled “Hungary Doubles Down on Pro-Family Policy,” (Population Research Institute, Nov. 24) Mosher outlines policies that Hungary has in place to increase the population. But Mosher wonders if it will be enough. In 2019, the Orban administration launched the Family Protection Action Plan which included, “tax breaks for women with four or more children; student loan forgiveness for couples with three or more children; housing subsidies for newlyweds; and, car purchase subsidies for large families. From 2019 to 2024, the fertility rate rose from 1.4 to almost 1.6 children-per-woman.” But this wasn’t enough. The goal is to raise the fertility to greater than 2.1, by the end of the decade. 2.1 children-per-couple is the replacement number to increase population in a nation. So, “In 2026, “the exemption from paying income tax will be extended to mothers under 30 who have only one child … In addition, all other pro-family benefits—including the country’s maternity allowance, childcare allowance, and adoption allowance—will also be exempted from taxation.” (Note: Hungary has one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe.) The government is confident that the resultant tax breaks will be money well spent on the future of the country.
‘Babies go to Congress’
The “Babies Go to Congress” campaign might be one of the most powerful pro-life events on the D.C. Capitol Hill. Beginning in 2009, Heartbeat International has sent mothers and their children annually to visit both sides of the aisle in Congress to share their stories of how a crisis pregnancy centre somewhere in the U.S. has supported them during one of their most difficult times—pregnant and needing help to get through their pregnancy. The pregnancy centres are pro-life and are there to help moms to bring their unborn babies to birth. The centres have ultrasound machines to verify to the mom that she is carrying a tiny human being. A wide range of resources are available to help the mom navigate her way, by offering counseling, housing, and mentorship. Since 2009 more than 180 moms and their babies have gone to Congress and visited the offices of almost 400 Congressmen. Here are the stories of two women. Shawnte was pregnant with her third child and abandoned by the child’s father. Shawnte’s mother booked an appointment for her with a crisis pregnancy centre where she was helped to give birth to her baby, Bella. Today, Shawnte is an ordained minister who has a contract through the court system to help women in similar situations as she was. Bella went to Congress with her mom Shawnte. Katee, a sophomore in high school was pregnant and afraid to tell her parents. Time was running out so she finally told them her circumstances. Her mom took Katee to a pregnancy centre where she found love, support, and people willing to walk the rest of the road with her. Two weeks later, Katee delivered her son, Greyson, at 25 weeks. Now a high school senior, Katee participates in girls’ sports and is raising a happy, healthy toddler, while studying to finish high school. Greyson went to Congress with his mom Katee.
The Pinkertons: an extraordinary family
Shannon and Troy grew up in California, lived down the road from one another, attended the same school, and got married. For a time, they worked together at a men’s group home. Shannon’s mother ran a group home, in addition to taking in an 18-year-old Down syndrome girl named Mary Beth. Shannon never forgot her desire to foster and adopt young people. They moved to Wyoming, bought a farm with horses where they would have the space to raise a large family, including their own four biological children. Over the years they fostered more than 30 children. Mary Beth, now 63, has lived with them for 19 years, making a total of 45 years living with Shannon’s parents and then with Shannon and Troy. Mary Beth is known as “the princess” of the house who lets everyone know who is boss. Shannon and Troy had another dream to fulfill: adopt young adults with Down syndrome. And that is what they have done. Five of six of the adoptees are Down syndrome. One of Shannon’s boys has Down syndrome so, at age 9, he went looking for a boy who looked like him, and found Joey, the first and youngest to be adopted. This was followed by Tracee, now 24, adopted at 16; Anthony, 22, adopted at 15; Julian, 17, and brother Cameron, 21, the only one not with Down syndrome; he has dwarfism. Devlin, 15, is their most recent adoptee The family has dance parties, as music is a big part of their free time. All the boys attend school. Troy spends time with showing them how to ride and care for horses. Troy is a farrier who shoes horses, and also works in a coal mine. The family loves to travel and to go camping. Shannon’s says that they are just like any other family: laughing, crying, occasionally arguing, and genuinely loving one another.
