The Life Runners are gearing up for a big race October 15th in Kansas City. Enjoy this article that tells more about their exciting journey and their efforts to support the Alpha Center's life saving services.
Check out this great article about our huge win in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding women and their constitutionally protected right to have a relationship with their child.
September 2, 2011
Victory for South Dakota Women!
Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit upheld a vital piece of the 2005 Informed Consent litigation that requires doctors to inform pregnant women considering an abortion has "an existing relationship with that unborn human being and that the relationship enjoys protection." According to Leslee Unruh, Alpha Center founder, "This decision is a huge victory for women in South Dakota and is a vital step in the unraveling of Roe vs. Wade."
Previously, this court also upheld another vital disclosure of the 2005 Informed Consent law that doctors inform women that abortion ends the life of a "whole, separate, unique, living human being." Today, the court only narrowly upheld the South Dakota District Court judge's decision with regard to the "risk of suicide" provision and Planned Parenthood calls this a victory for them. However, Circuit Judge Raymond Gruender wrote in dissent that "even the evidence relied upon by Planned Parenthood acknowledges a significant, known statistical correlation between abortion and suicide. This well-documented statistical correlation is sufficient to support the required disclosure that abortion presents an 'increased risk' of suicide, as that term is used in the relevant medical literature." According to Leslee Unruh, "We agree with Judge Gruender's dissent and we look forward to seeing victory in this area of the litigation as well."
If you are pro-life and you want to help take this case and future cases to the Supreme Court, contact the Alpha Center at 605-361-3500. In light of this tremendous victory for the women of South Dakota, the Alpha Center is committed to continue our involvement in this case but we need to hear from you that you are standing with us. Just like the babies we save, we are alive and kicking and we hope you will join us.
If you are a member of the media and have questions about today's decision, please contact the Alpha Center at 605-361-3500.
Located at 801 East 41st Street, the Alpha Center is a non-profit agency that provides a full range of services to women and men involved in an unplanned pregnancy and has served the area for since 1984. Our goal is to provide positive alternatives to abortion with practical support.
To make a donation to the Alpha Center, click here!
The proceeding today in the Federal District Court is the beginning of what is likely to be a long court battle. Whether or not the District Court determines to preserve the status quo by entry of a preliminary injunction - which is the normal course in abortion litigation of this kind - the case is just starting.
We have every confidence that the State shall ultimately prevail on all of the material provisions of the statute. It shall prevail because the statute is designed to protect the constitutional rights of pregnant mothers in their fundamental interest in their relationship with their children.
The unhappy reality is that many, if not most, women are subjected to forms of coercion that result in many women losing children they would prefer to keep and raise. The mother's right to keep and raise her child is of such paramount importance that the legislature found it necessary to give precedence to protection of the mother's fundamental interest in her relationship with her child over the method of terminating that relationship by an abortion.
Until now, abortion, in our judgment, and in that of the legislature, has been given undue precedence over the mother's sacred relationship with her child. This law does not prohibit abortion at all. Rather it attempts to give balance to the decision making process to guard against coercion and lack of information. It protects the mother's rights, it does not interfere with them.
Abortion, as it has been practiced in South Dakota, has been more than an undue burden on the pregnant mother's fundamental right to her relationship with her child: it has been the destruction of that right, often against a mother's wishes when she wants her child.
We have every confidence that the courts will uphold this important attempt by South Dakota to protect the constitutional rights of the pregnant mother.
Located at 801 East 41st Street, the Alpha Center is a non-profit agency that provides a full range of services to women and men involved in an unplanned pregnancy and has served the area for since 1984.Our goal is to provide positive alternatives to abortion with practical support.
To make a donation to the Alpha Center, click here!
Alpha Center registers with the state as a pregnancy help center as defined in pro-life House Bill 1217. Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit against the state over this bill. CLICK HERE to read Alpha Center's statement.
Planned Parenthood sues the state over pro-life House Bill 1217. CLICK HERE to read the article. CLICK HERE to read the Alpha Center's response to their lawsuit.
The Life Runners were featured by LifeNews.com. Thank you Life Runners for your endurance in running the race for life. For more information on how you can become a Life Runner and support the Alpha Center Fleet for Little Feet, CLICK HERE.
Check out this new ad playing on Bott Radio Network about how you can become a LIFE Runner and participate in the Kansas City half or full marathon on October 15, 2011. LIFE Runners raise money for the Alpha Center mobile pregnancy care bus.
Check out this article by the New York Times. Its filled with lies about the good work of pregnancy centers. Let us correct some of their misstatements. 1. Alpha Center is no longer located in the former abortion clinic and our sign tells exactly what we do: free pregnancy testing and abortion information. 2. HB 1217 does have exceptions for medical emergencies. This article states that there are no exceptions for rape and incest. The author fails to realize that this law isn't a ban on abortion. Women can still obtain an abortion after the 72 hour waiting period. If there would be a medical emergency, a woman can still obtain an immediate abortion if deemed necessary by the physician. 3. They say our (the pregnancy help center's) "central qualification" is that we are opposed to abortion. This is a lie. Our staff/volunteer base consists of 23 medical doctors, 6 registered nurses, 2 radiologic technologists, 1 Doctorate in Counseling, 1 Masters in Counseling, and 1 Licensed Family Therapist/Chemical Dependency Counselor. 4. Rep. Peggy Gibson's quote re: "in person lecture from an unqualified, noncertified, faith-based counselor..." - refer to number 3 above. 5. The article says the SD legislature has passed "a number of laws aimed at curbing abortion, some of which have been overturned by the courts and by voters in two ballot referendums." Again, the reporter has the facts wrong. Planned Parenthood is losing the current court battle against the state, in which Alpha Center is an intervener. Further, the ballot referendums were completely different laws. One ended abortion completely and the other ended abortion except for case of rape, incest and health and life of the mother (also, both referendums were a very close vote). HB 1217 does not end abortion. Women are still allowed to get abortions. 6. This article eludes to the fact that women already have to drive so far in order to go to Planned Parenthood and that it will be a burden on them. The Alpha Center has a Mobile Pregnancy Care Bus that will go to where the women are who need help! Further, we'd be more than happy to park in Planned Parenthood's parking lot to eliminate any extra burden on these women. If they really care for women, they'll accept our invitation.7. Sarah Stoesz, president of the SD Planned Parenthood (she's not from SD by the way), says that pregnancy help centers have "record of providing misinformation...and use tactics like displaying graphic photos or quoting scripture in order to influence a woman's decision." Alpha Center does NOT provide misinformation. All of our resources are medically reviewed for accuracy. We do NOT show or endorse the usage of graphic photos. Further, the Alpha Center serves all women regardless of age, race or religious affiliations. 8. Sarah Stoesz continues, "They're (pregnancy help centers) are not licensed, they're not regulated, they're not accredited and they're openly ideological. The idea that they are being legally mandated to be coerced by people who aren't even medical professionals - not that they should be coerced by anyone - is really beyond the pale." Regarding not being licensed: see point 3 above. Our staff/volunteer pool consists of many highly trained and licensed individuals. Regarding not being regulated and accredited: the Alpha Center is over looked by three national organizations - Care Net, Heartbeat and NIFLA. But let's turn the table on Ms. Stoesz. She forgets that we are involved in a lawsuit in which the South Dakota abortion staff and volunteers were deposed. These sworn depositions revealed the following: When a woman calls PP to discuss an abortion, an unlicensed, untrained lay person, who answers the phone, schedules abortion surgery without consulting a physician and without the woman meeting with any personnel at all. When the woman arrives at the Sioux Falls facility, a clerk requires her to pay for the abortion and sign a consent to the abortion, without ANY counseling, as a precondition to seeing a so called "patient educator." The pregnant mother doesn't see a physician until AFTER she pays for the abortion, signs the consent and only AFTER she is undressed and in the operating room. Further, sworn depositions reveal that so called counseling sessions take about a total of five to ten minutes with the "patient educator," in which the "educators" volunteer NO information about options. We can continue to go on but Ms. Stoesz is either obviously misrepresenting the South Dakota Planned Parenthood (in making it sound like PP is a safer option for women because they are licensed, regulated and accredited) or those who testified in their sworn depositions lied.
Here's another article by KELO regarding Gov. Daugaard signing HB 1217. Another mention about this important legislation to protect women from coerced abortion.
Check out this article by the Rapid City Journal regarding Gov. Daugaard signing pro life HB 1217. Alpha Center founder, Leslee Unruh, is quoted. Kathi di Nicola, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, misrepresents the great work that pregnancy help centers provide. She states, "The centers are unlicensed, unaccredited and unregulated," I'd have her know that Our staff/volunteer base consists of 23 medical doctors, 6 registered nurses, 2 radiologic technologists, 1 Doctorate in Counseling, 1 Masters in Counseling, and 1 Licensed Family Therapist/Chemical Dependency Counselor.
CLICK HERE to view a Letter to the Editor by Dr. Patti Giebink, former South Dakota abortionist at Planned Parenthood who is now pro life, regarding HB 1217. This letter outlines the realities of abortion in South Dakota.
CLICK HERE to view a Letter to the Editor by Dr. Allen Unruh, founder of the Alpha Center, regarding HB 1217. This letter outlines answers to many criticisms from opponents to HB 1217.
Your urgent help is needed on pro life House Bill 1217. Help prove to Governor Daugaard that funds will be available to litigate HB 1217 should an opposing organization sue the state. Are there 2500 Christian people out there willing to send $100 to the South Dakota Pro-Life Litigation Sub Fund? Please, show your support - any amount will help! Donations can be sent to: Life Protection Fund, 1302 E. Hwy 14, Suite 14, Pierre SD, 57501-8501.
Regarding the passage of HB 1217 through the South Dakota Legislature: Governor Duagaard is quoted today as saying, “I’m pro-life and I’m inclined to sign it at this stage.”
HB 1217 passed the Senate by a vote of 21 to 13 with 1 excused. Numerous attempts to ammend the bill were made but the bill was passed intact! Please thank all the Senators and Representatives who voted yes on this bill! Please contact the Governor and ask him to sign this bill into law. Thank you for all your calls to the legislature in support of this bill!
Please call your Senators at 605-773-3821 and ask them to vote yes on HB 1217.
February 28, 2011
House Bill 1217 passes the Senate Health and Human Services Committee by a vote of 6 to 1. Please call your Senator and ask them to vote yes on HB 1217!
South Dakota pro-life House Bill 1217 will be heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Monday, February 28 at 10 am. Your presence in Pierre is vital - will you join us? Also, please call the Senators in the Committee and your Senator and ask them to vote yes on HB 1217! For more information, CLICK HERE.
South Dakota pro-life House Bill 1217 passed the House by a vote of 49 to 19 on Tuesday, February 22, 2011. This bill aims to protect women from coerced abortion through a 72 hour waiting period before having an abortion and a visit to a Pregnancy Help Center (like the Alpha Center) to receive information on what resources are available to them should they choose to keep their child. The bill now moves to Senate committee (committee and date not yet determined). Your support of this bill through calls to the South Dakota Senators is vital! For more information on this bill CLICK HERE.
Alpha Center
801 East 41st Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Phone: 605.361.3500
Fax: 605.362.4344 info@alphacenter.org
