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Fifteen years ago, whenever
I would attempt to discuss embryonic stem cells, I would get that "deer in
the headlights" look. Huh? What's a
stem cell, people would ask? The
Clinton administration had recently put this issue in the limelight by
proposing federal funding that would involve the deliberate destruction of
human embryos for research purposes. And
yet the enormity of this depravity was just not sinking in with the prolife
movement.
I knew my work was cut out for me and I didn't like it one
bit, but I also knew it was what God was calling me to do: "You
don't have to change the world Debi, just tell them the truth."
Who, me? I don't even like science, I whined in
reply. I remember mumbling something
about how this was really going to mess up my perfectly well-ordered life but I
humbly complied. And so, Children of God
for Life was born as a prolife organization that would educate the public on
these issues that no one else seemed to want to touch at the time.
Now, ignorance breeds fear and so I began giving talks on the
differences between adult and embryonic stem cells. I ran
full page ads in secular newspapers, encouraging people to write and voice their
concerns during the time period for public response.
So when the Clinton administration tabled the issue, I
thought it was over and I happily settled back into my normal routine. But less
than two weeks later I would read an article that was about to change my life
forever: "Vaccines from abortion
judged morally acceptable". I
was shocked, stunned and horrified on many levels, particularly by the
nonchalant acceptance of a Catholic bioethicist quoted in the article.
Now in fairness, this bioethicist knew nothing about the
history of the abortions or the ensuing research. What we did know is that these
tiny martyrs had been reduced to nothing more than biological numbers, patents
and product ingredients. I was nauseated to realize that my own
children had received some of these vaccines.
I felt deceived, angry, violated.
How many other moms felt the same, I wondered? And while I knew something had to be done,
I also knew that I didn't want to be the one to do it.
Now, I like to think of myself as a faithful willing servant
if God calls upon me, but I am also not stupid.
The pharmaceutical industry is huge, powerful, rich. Talk about David and Goliath!
So I chalked it up as yet one more nasty attack on the
culture of life, sighed and tried to move on with my life. But there was this
constant tugging at my heart that wouldn’t go away. And I knew that once again,
God was leading me somewhere I didn't want to go.
That place would begin with exhaustive research into the
past and what I would uncover aged me beyond my years, broke my heart, and
shattered my soul. There were science
reports and patents dating into the early 1900's, detailing forced abortions, sterilizations,
intact babies removed from their mothers, hearts still beating, live
dissections, experiments with various fetal organs - all in the name of science
and the almighty dollar.
Somehow we have been lulled into believing that this
barbaric, utilitarian practice is the right thing to do – alas, we have no
choice – we must protect society from infectious disease at all costs – unfortunate,
but so very necessary.
I can only respond in a word that would not be permissible
in this writing, so suffice it to say that using aborted babies as products to help those
children fortunate enough to be born is akin to the most vile form of
cannibalism imaginable. Yet we are asked to accept it for every polite
reason except one that begs the question:
What kind of a civilization have we really progressed to
when we can find no better way to protect ourselves than by using the remains
of murdered children?
Despite the seemingly insurmountable barriers, Children of God for Life has made progress.
We expanded our education efforts to over two dozen foreign countries; we launched
a successful campaign to ensure moral vaccine options in the event of a
bio-terrorist attack; we exposed the use of aborted fetal cells in cosmetics and
as testing material for the food and beverage industry; we mounted a
victorious boycott of Pepsi which convinced them to change their research and development
and last but not least, we have partnered with a prolife biotech firm that is
working to provide moral alternatives for all vaccines and medicines that
utilize aborted fetal material.
There is great hope as we move forward. And I have no doubt we will win this battle
with God on our side, just as He gave David the strength to defeat Goliath. For with Him, all things are possible.
Debi Vinnedge is the
founder and Executive Director of Children of God for Life. For more information on their work visit www.cogforlife.org
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This is the third installment of a series where pro-LIFE leaders are asked to share their journey with us. See the first two posts
here and
here.
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