Dear Friends of Life,

As the tumultuous year 2009 winds this evening to a close and the New Year of 2010 is upon us, I am reminded of the famous words of Thomas Paine, penned in December of 1776, as our nation struggled desperately for its Independence. His words could not be more applicable to our current situation if they had been written today.

These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

Yes, these are the times that try men’s souls. Today, we are faced with a radically pro-abortion President and Congress, which are trying to force the tyranny of socialized medicine upon an unwilling nation and along with it, taxpayer-funded abortions.

When the fetters of oppressive government force men and women of conscience to fund the taking of innocent human life, the extinguishing of other liberties is not far behind.

But what is freedom without life?

The fight to restore life and freedom to pre-born Americans is a difficult one that Operation Rescue could not hope to engage in without the prayers and support of people like you.

To paraphrase Paine, he that stands by us now, deserves our love and thanks at this critical time in our history. Our nation stands at a turning point, but we have faith that the glorious triumph over abortion is within our grasp.

As we face a new year with faith and hope, we pray that you will consider making a generous end-of-the-year gift to Operation Rescue to keep us in the fray in defense of those who cannot defend themselves. This year has been financially difficult for us, and your gifts will help us to move forward into 2010 with the resources we need to press on to victory with our life-saving work.

May you cherish and enjoy all the blessings of Life and Liberty in the coming year,

Troy Newman, President

PS. Please click here now to donate easily online. God bless you!

Washington, DC – NARAL thinks that late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart deserves an award for barely keeping his failing abortion business running in spite of Operation Rescue’s “Keep it Closed” campaign. The militant abortion group has nominated Carhart for their 2009 “Hall of Fame.”

But Operation Rescue says that the aging femininist group had to do some serious “spin doctoring” to find anything but shame in Carhart’s seedy abortion operation, which is currently under investigation by the Attorney General’s office and the State Department of Health.

“It is hard to believe that even radical abortion proponents would do anything but slink away in shame from Carhart and his disreputable and shoddy abortion business,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “It is shameful that NARAL would endanger women by misleading them about Carhart to advance their political agenda. If they truly cared about women, they should be warning women away from him.”

Events generated by Operation Rescue’s campaign prompted several of Carhart’s own employees to come forward to tell The Omaha World-Herald of illegal practices and dangerous conditions at Carhart’s Bellevue, Nebraska, abortion clinic, including allegations that drugs were missing and surgical instruments were filthy. Three of these women have submitted sworn affidavits detailing their allegations to Nebraska Attorney General.

NARAL also neglected to mention other shame-worthy Carhart news:

• Carhart was caught by pro-lifers illegally operating his abortion clinic on a generator and extension cord after a fire caused by his own slovenly storage practices gutted the garage portion of his run-down abortion building. He was reported to authorities who immediately ordered him to close until the unsafe conditions could be addressed.
• After a brief petition launched by Operation Rescue, Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, said it would not extend hospital privileges or a transfer agreement to Carhart should he attempt to reopen a late-term abortion mill in the Wichita area.
• Carhart was forced to abandon announced plans for late-term abortion clinic in Kansas when he was unable to secure facilities or support.
• Carhart admits that his Bellevue abortion clinic does not show a profit and that he has failed to draw more than a small fraction George Tiller’s late-term abortion business to his Nebraska clinic.
• Operation Rescue documented that Carhart was responsible for most of the frequent abortion injuries that required emergency hospitalization in Kansas, including the third-trimester abortion death of 19-year old Christin Gilbert.

Bronx, New York – New York State Senator Reuben Diaz and his wife, Leslie, rallied with 80 pro-life supporters outside the Bronx clinic where disgraced abortionist Pierre Renelique fled after having his medical license revoked by the State of Florida. Operation Rescue worked for three years to expose Renelique and his accomplices, and we are encouraged by this rally.

“If Renelique is too dangerous to practice in Florida, then he is too dangerous to practice anywhere,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We thank Advocates for Life and other groups who are continuing the work to expose this dangerous man.”

The story below appeared December 29, 2009, in the Bronx News Network.

Pro-Lifers Rally Against Bronx Doctor
(Photos by Alma Watkins)

Dr. Pierre Renelique used to practice obstetrics and gynecology in Florida. That was until the Florida Board of Medicine revoked his license early this year following a botched abortion. Now he’s working at Clinton Place Medical Center in University Heights, to the horror of the local pro-life movement.

Two Saturdays ago, about 80 people, including State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr. and his wife, Leslie, held a prayer vigil near the center, to bring attention to Renelique’s past, and to demand action from the New York State Medical Board.

“We want to expose this clinic across the street and we want to expose the doctor,” Leslie Diaz told the crowd.

“Apparently Dr. Renelique is not good enough for Florida but he is found good enough for the women of the Bronx,” said Father Peter West of Priests for Life, a national pro-life organization.

Renelique was found guilty last February of medical malpractice, after he failed to show up for a late-term abortion in July 2006. The mother went into labor (because of drugs given to her by Renelique the day before) and unlicensed staff delivered a live baby girl, according to news reports. The baby was stuffed into a plastic bag and left to die. Police found her body a week later.

Renelique moved to New York earlier this year, and began working at Clinton Place Medical Center, at 8 Clinton Place, just west of Jerome Avenue. In November he was tracked down by Fox 5’s Arnold Diaz, for one of Diaz’s “Shame, Shame, Shame” reports. In the video clip, Diaz (no relation to the senator or his wife) is shown chasing Renelique down the street, peppering him with questions, before Renelique bats the mic out of his hand.

The vigil was organized by Advocates for Life, a Yonkers-based group, and many of the speakers spoke out against abortion and pro-choice groups, in addition to criticizing Renelique.

“A baby is a baby no matter how small it is,” said Ana Sosa, a 19-year-old local resident, and a member of In His Image, a youth group at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church on University Avenue.

Abortion is “genocide,” said Sosa, rosary beads wrapped tightly around her wrist.

“They are murderers!” said Senator Diaz, pointing at Clinton Place Medical Center across the street, which was shut that day. (Diaz, a Bronx Democrat and Pentecostal minister who typically leans right on social issues, is an ardent pro-life supporter. In the past he’s called abortion “the American holocaust.”)

Diaz’s words aside, it’s unclear whether Renelique and his colleagues actually perform abortions. A woman who answered the phone there last week said they didn’t; Renelique himself didn’t return a call seeking comment.

Regardless, the fact that Renelique is here in the Bronx, and still practicing medicine, gave the crowd reason to pray and protest.

“Enough is enough! Enough is enough!” they shouted in unison.