The approximately 75 pro-life protestors who assembled Aug. 17
at the Belle Mead headquarters of Gynetics Inc., and at Princeton University
were well aware that the pro-death culture in the United States has expanded
fronts.
The women and men came from as far as Chicago and Virginia to alert many
passersby to the fact that Preven, the so-called "emergency contraceptive''
released by Gynetics not only works as contraceptive as the company states, but
also as an abortifacient causing an early abortion if a woman is already
pregnant.
The protest on Nassau St. at the main gate of Princeton University
immediately followed the Gynetics gathering spotlighting the hiring by Princeton
University of bioethicist Peter Singer as a tenured chair at the Center for
Human Values effective July 1.
On hand for both demonstrations were members of New Jersey Right to Life ,
Lifenet Morristown; Rock for Life (a division of American Life League in
Stafford, Va.); Priests for Life, Staten Island; and local pro-life individuals.
'Classical Deception'
Joseph M. Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League
headquartered in Chicago, called Gynetics' description of Preven a case of
"classical deception" meant to conceal from women critical information about
how the Preven kit acts, as well as some of the serious side effects of
taking the drug, even when taken according to directions.
"We have been hearing from the women who bought this kit. This one woman
vomited and had severe bleeding for a whole month. (Gynetics) doesn't tell you
all that. They make it seem very simple, easy and guiltless," he said.
"There is no doubt that the manufacturers of Preven are being dishonest with
women when they hide the truth that this product functions as an abortifacient.
It kills children and they know it. They are in it for the profit," stated John
Tomicki, executive director, League of American Families.
The issue at hand is also a "redefinition" of when a human life begins.
"Doctors and biologists know that human life begins at conception," Tomicki
stated. The embryonic baby is expelled and dies when the womb is made hostile to
its ability to implant.
Father Peter West, Priest Associate of Priests for Life in Staten Island,
said that "We are here to raise consciousness, and just as Mary stood by Jesus
at the foot of the Cross, witnessing to the dignity and value Christ's life, so
also we are witnesses to the value of the lives of these tiny human beings."
Marie Tasy, director of public legislative affairs for New Jersey Right to
Life and member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown, is especially outraged
that Gynetics includes a pregnancy test in the Preven kit.
"The makers of Preven know that the presence of an embryonic baby cannot be
detected 72 hours after intercourse, so by including the pregnancy test, women
are given the false impression that they aren't pregnant when they might be,"
she said.
William J. Calvin, president of Lifenet, Morristown, sees an ominous trend in
all of this. "(Gynetics) has redefined the beginning of human life to be
implantation" rather than conception, he said, allowing them to discard embryos.
'Princeton, Dump Singer!'
That very utilitarian mentality, which is espoused by Prof. Peter Singer,
inspired the group to continue their pro-life protest at the gate of
Princeton University. Singer is an outspoken and highly controversial
proponent of infanticide and euthanasia for the disabled. In his most recent
book, Rethinking Life and Death, he proposes replacing the Judeo/Christian
ethic with "new commandments," a non religious, eugenics mentality.
Erik and Tina Whittington, who represented Rock for Life, a division of
American Life League, traveled from Stafford, Va., to appear at both
demonstrations. They had just completed the annual pro life Crossroads walk
across the country which concluded in Washington D.C.
John Howard, a member of the diocesan Commission for Pro-Life Action and
chairman of the diocesan Euthanasia Task Force, expressed deep concern that
Prof. Singer's and anti-life beliefs "cross the line" of decency and respect for
humanity, especially since they influence so many young adults.
Priests for Life in the News
