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Lutherans For Life of Michigan

August.September.October 2014

The mission of LFL is to equip Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

02 — Board Members…’Thank You’

03 – National LFL Conference in Grand Rapids, MI

04 — Ingathering for National LFL Conference

05 — Statewide Diaper Shower Report

06 — What’s Happening… 07 — …in Michigan?

08 — What’s Happening in Michigan? cont’d

09 – Shared Women’s Pregnancy Center in Lansing

10 – Legislative Update

11 — Membership…Teaching For Life Online

12 — Notes & Quotes

We who are FOR LIFE must remember ALL the victims of abortion. Yes, we must continue to speak, to advocate, to vote, to pray – we must continue to fight the plague of abortion with everything in us. It is the cause of our day! Yet as we do so, we do so with an understanding that the old evil foe – Satan – always attempts to manipulate things to his benefit. He uses the demonic power of lies to do so, and the abortion industry is rife with lies. But we have the Truth. God’s Truth. Every human life is a gift from the Creator of all things. We owe it to our nation, to our fellow citizens, to our families, to our children, and, yes, to the women (and men) who have been deceived and hurt by the sin of abortion – to stand in Truth, in Love, in Christ – until the respect for each and every human life is restored to our great republic! God help us. Amen.

Pastor Paul Clark, Pastoral Counselor

Lutherans For Life of Michigan

Abortion claims many victims. The unborn baby, of course, is the obvious one. But how many women – and men – have been scarred emotionally by abortion? No one will ever know, because so many hide their scar deep within their soul, where it often festers and causes untold pain and hurt and longing. Yet it all remains unseen by others. There is but one source of help for the woman who regrets having an abortion. It is to have the fiery flame of guilt and shame submerged into the fountain of grace and forgiveness that is in Christ Jesus. He alone can bring healing, because He alone died to forgive our sins. It does not matter whether we are talking about an abortion, or addiction, or lying, or cheating, or sexual promiscuity, or the everyday sins of thought, word, and deed that we all do – the one true God calls us to repentance. He calls us to turn from our sin, and by the miracle of the Holy Spirit’s working through the Word, to turn to Jesus. There, baptized into Christ, we find the water of release. There we are made clean again. There, by the blood that was poured out on Calvary, and given to us in the Sacrament of the Altar, we are made holy. There – in Christ - we find rest for our souls. It is not that we are good. It is not that we earn His favor. Rather, the Great Exchange has occurred. Jesus became sin for us, and died on the cross for that sin. Now we sinners are declared righteous – receiving the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus. In other words, Jesus became all the bad that we are so that we might have all the good that He is.

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LFL Vision Statement: Every Lutheran congregation upholding the God-given value of human life and influencing society to do the same.

LFL-MI BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Spiritual Advisor: Pastor Paul Clark [517] 420-4826

President: Connie Davis [586] 949-9261

Vice President:

Secretary: Lauren Schaidt [586] 228-2348

Treasurer: Earl Iseler [616] 866-8026

Life Ministries Coordinator:

Urban Outreach: Susan Hill [586] 468-7871

Youth/Campus Outreach: Cassie Makela [989] 486-3746

Lutheran Schools Outreach: Chris Schultz [734] 241-1607 Post Abortion Healing Outreach: Laverne Santangelo [586] 945-4949 Legislative Reporter: Pastor Paul Clark [989] 593-2354 Board Members at Large: Dorothy Zink [517] 694-7189

Life Issues Project Consultants: Lori Looker [Written Projects] [586] 557-7833 Jeff Davis [Artistic Projects] [586] 913-5993 Honorary Members: Fred & Millie Gallert [616] 538-5791 Lifelines of Michigan LFL is mailed free of charge to Michigan LFL supporters. Articles may be reprinted with attribution to source. Email address: lflmi@comcast.net Website: www.lflmi.org

A Reason to Celebrate!

Heart to Heart Ministries in Howell, Michigan has become the 322nd

chartered chapter of National Lutherans For Life. LFL of Michigan thanks

Mary Yigon, from Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church, for her

dedication and persistence in getting this new chapter of LFL chartered and

active in her community. Other Lutheran congregations in the Howell area

are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Heart to Heart pro-life

ministry. For further information or to become involved in Heart to Heart

Ministries, please contact Mary at 517-545-3407.

Thank you…

Pastor Timothy & Betty Loewe, Temperance [in honor of their family]

Ruth Menge, Ann Arbor

[Thrivent Choice funds]

St Michael Lutheran Church, Richville [St Michael Kidz Ministry Mission donation]

George & Margie Milz, Livonia

Kevin & Dianne Stresman, Vassar

Lucille Palmiter, Monroe [in memory of husband, Calvin Palmiter]

Mt Olive Lutheran Women’s Guild, Grand Rapids

Albert & Evelyn Caspers, Bay City [in memory of loved ones who have gone to heaven]

Pastor Gilbert & Phyllis McDonald, Clarkston

Dennis & Judith Williams, Lansing [in memory of Jon Jenkins]

Pastor Paul & Peggy Burow, Macomb

Carl Oehling, Coloma

Pastor Richard & Kathleen Mundt, Hemlock

Janet Hecht, Vassar

The Paul Keiser Family, McLean, VA [in memory of Ruth Koenig]

Pastor Karl & Mary Fuhlbrigge, Monroe

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lewiston

Daniel & Linda Ramthun, Dearborn

Dean Reuschle, Plymouth

Our Savior Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids

[continued on page 8]

Please note that LFL-MI has a new treasurer and all

donations should now be sent to:

Earl Iseler

6833 Woodhill NE

Rockford, MI 49341-9214

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Youth

Lock-in

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2014 Lutherans For Life National Conference

The 2014 Lutherans For Life National Conference will be held in Grand Rapids, MI at St Matthew Lutheran Church, 5125 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25. The theme is Matters of the Heart. See the website below for details about the conference and for information on how to register for the conference: http://www.lutheransforlife.org/conference/ A sponsorship form is available on the website and a conference poster can be downloaded from the website.

There will be an opening worship service on Friday, October 24 at St Matthew at 5:00 pm. The offerings from the Opening Service will go to the Grand Rapids Pregnancy Resource Center and to Cradles of Grace.

Cradles of Grace serves single women in the greater Grand Rapids area who are in an unplanned pregnancy. Single women in unplanned pregnancies find their lives very limited in terms of what they can do; for example, going to school, making good choices about relationships, providing for themselves and their children. Cradles of Grace volunteers walk along side of them throughout their pregnancy and for up to a year after their delivery. Cradles of Grace inspires life-transformation through the love of Christ by providing Christian mentoring, education, and housing.

People coming to the conference are encouraged to bring items for an in-gathering for the Grand Rapids PRC and/or Cradles of Grace.

Items needed by the PRC are listed below: * Infant & toddler clothing, sizes birth to 4T (new or gently used) * Winter outer wear, including coats, snow suits, hats, mittens, boots, and sox (birth to 4T) * Receiving blankets, fleece blankets, hand-knit or quilted blankets * Crib sheets, mattress pads, pack-n-play sheets * Diapers, pull-ups – all sizes * Diaper bags * Formula – all brands, types * Baby food / cereal * Diaper rash cream * Baby wash / lotion * Baby wipes * Pacifiers, baby bottles, feeding items, sippy cups, bibs, burp cloths * Nursing pads / breast pumps * Infant and toddler toys (new or gently used) * Toddler books, Bible story books, Children’s Bibles * Cribs (new or used stationary cribs only)

Items needed by Cradles of Grace are listed below: * Diapers size 4 and up * Wipes * Soap * Shampoo * Toilet paper * Napkins * Paper plates * Paper towels * Gas cards * Toothpaste * Kid’s toothpaste * Kid’s toothbrushes * Kids shampoo * Kid’s body wash/soap * Laundry soap * Household cleaners * Kid sunscreen * Kid-friendly bug spray Complimentary Pastors’ Luncheon Pastors, please note that there will be a luncheon for you and your wives on Friday, October 24 at 11:30am. Dr Lamb will speak on Matters of the Heart. The lunch is free and conference registration is not required. However, please e-mail Trish Adams at tadams@lutheransforlife.org or call 888-364-5433 if you plan to attend.

[article submitted by Earl Iseler]

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Statewide Diaper Shower Report

Diaper collection centers at Grace Lutheran Church in Wyoming [at left] and Immanuel Lutheran Church in St Clair [at right] encouraged congregational members to donate items to assist families in their local communities.

This year, 28 congregations reported a diaper tally for the Statewide Diaper Shower…an annual outreach project sponsored by Lutherans For Life of Michigan. The total number of diapers collected was 29,015. Congregations who participated are listed below:

St Paul Fowler St Paul New Boston St Timothy Otisville Immanuel St Clair Christ Milford Trinity Monroe St Paul Albion Holy Cross Oxford* Our Redeemer Muskegon Faith Whitehall Mt Calvary Greenville Trinity Oscoda* St John Rochester Trinity Grand Rapids* St Matthew Mancelona Trinity Conklin Grace Wyoming St Mark Kentwood St Mark Flint St John Au Gres St Michael Richville St Martin Port Huron St John Grand Haven Our Savior Grand Rapids St James Grand Rapids St Peter Macomb Bethlehem Lewiston Our Savior Scottville

[* indicates 1st year participants]

We thank those congregations and their members who extended the love of Jesus to mothers, infants and families in their communities who are in need. Well done, good and faithful servants! We look forward to hearing from even more congregations next year!

Because of the vacancy on our board due to the death of our beloved brother in Christ, Jon Jenkins,

the LFL of MI Board of Directors is accepting applications for a legal advisor.

We are also looking for a board member to assume the position of Life Ministries Coordinator. This

would entail contacting pregnancy resource centers throughout the state and writing an article for

Lifelines highlighting those particular PRCs. [see page 9 for an example of submitted articles]

If you, or someone you know, is interested in volunteering their expertise in these particular areas,

please contact Connie at 586-949-9261 or Pastor Paul Clark at 517-420-4826. Thank you.

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On Sunday, April 27th, President Connie Davis presented Benjamin VanVechten, of Resurrection Detroit, with his 2nd place award for the statewide Life Essay Contest. Benjamin is home schooled. Pictured, on the right, with Benjamin are his parents, Roger and Sharyl VanVechten and Pastor Scott Benjamin.

At the April 30th school chapel service, Gabrielle Kitto of St Peter Lutheran School in Macomb, was presented with her 1st place award for the statewide Life Essay Contest sponsored by Lutherans For Life of Michigan. Pictured, on the left, are Teacher Jason Murray, Gabrielle, Connie Davis, and Principal

Kyle Chuhran.

Following the worship service on Sunday, May 4th, Pastor Ainslie Wagner presented Life Essay Contest winner, Erin Schalow, from Trinity Lutheran Church Onekama, with her 3rd place award.

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LFL Board member, Chris Schultz, hosted the LFL-MI exhibit at the North & East Pastors’ Conference in Grayling on May 6th.

LFL-MI Board members, Susan Hill and Connie Davis, hosted the LFL exhibit on May 13th-14th at the South & East Pastors’ Conference in Frankenmuth. Visitors to the exhibit included: [on the left] Pastor Eric Ekong from Trinity Lutheran Church in Jackson and [on the right] LCMS Michigan District President David Maier.

Chris Schultz, Lutheran Schools Outreach Coordinator, and Pastor Paul Clark, Spiritual Counselor for LFL of Michigan hosted a FOR LIFE exhibit at the INCH [Information Network for Christian Homeschoolers] Conference on May 15th-17th in Lansing.

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Upcoming Events

September 6 – LFL-MI Exhibit at Our Savior Flint Urban Family and Community Health Fair

September 6 – Solemn Prayer Assembly at the Capitol in Lansing. Spiritual battlefields such as life issues, marriage & the family, and the persecuted church will be addressed in prayer. Pastor Paul Clark, Spiritual Advisor for LFL of Michigan, will offer the benediction at the event. Cynthia Khan, originally from Pakistan, will speak on the persecuted church. [submitted by Denny & Judi Williams, Our Savior Lansing]

September 24-November 2 – 40 Days For Life [for details go to http://40daysforlife.com]

October 5 – National Life Chain Sunday

October 13-15 – LFL-MI Exhibit at Professional Church Workers’ Conference in Dearborn

October 24-25 – National Lutherans For Life Conference at St Matthew Lutheran in Grand Rapids [see pages 3 & 4 for details]

November 8 – LFL of Michigan Board Meeting at St

Matthew in Holt

On May 20th, LFL-MI president, Connie Davis, spoke to the MOPS group at St John Fraser on the theme What the World Needs Now:

Teaching Children to Love and Value Life.

Thank you…continued

Pastor Larry Sr & Geri Loree, Pigeon [in honor of granddaughter Ana Jane Loree’s 16th birthday]

[in honor of grandson Myles Blossey’s 16th birthday]

Elda Rolf, Saginaw [in memory of husband, Eugene Rolf]

Loide Bahr, Unionville [in honor of Pastor Al & Loide Bahr’s 65th wedding anniversary]

Pastor & Mrs Richard Hillenbrand, Frankenmuth

Gary Peters, Bay City [in honor of wife, Jean Peters, birthday]

Alan & Sharon Jenkins, Richmond [in honor & thanksgiving for their grandchildren]

Joyce Adams, Bay City

Miriam Bunge, Monroe [in memory of husband, Harold Bunge]

Carl & Irmgard Roggow, Drummond Island

Richard & Laura Greiner, Dansville [in memory of Jon Jenkins]

Robert Koeppen, Midland

Alfred Lutz, Grand Haven

Christ Lutheran School, Stevensville [Chapel offerings]

St Peter Lutheran School, Eastpointe [Chapel offerings]

Ann Abrams-Carlman, Leroy

Life News…

is a monthly bulletin insert with life issue news, quotes, facts/stats, and an encouraging devotion to keep your congregation informed…available free as a reproducible PDF file at www.lutheransforlife.org

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121 South Garfield Avenue Suite C

Traverse City, MI 49686

Phone: 231-929-3488

Website: www.friendsofpcc.org

History: After the outcome of the Roe V Wade decision in 1973, a group of concerned Christians came together to advocate for life in the heart of Lansing. In 1982, Shared Pregnancy Crisis Center (now Shared Pregnancy Women’s Center) was established. With only a small office and small closet for storage space, their services were limited. But God has provided for their ministry over the years and in 2006 graced them with their first ultrasound machine. They could help abortion–vulnerable women see their baby and make a decision for life. In late 2012, God graced them with an amazing anonymous donation which allowed them to expand their building greatly. They now have more counseling rooms, bigger storage space, a separate ultrasound room, and a big enough front room in which to host classes. SPWC’s ministry is constantly growing to help mom’s choose life. In 2013, they had 10,304 client contacts and close to 17% of those were dads.

Mission Statement: Helping women through unexpected or challenging pregnancies and helping families with babies. Goals: Provide a holistic approach in walking with people who have unexpected or challenging pregnancies by helping them to make life-affirming choices through factual information and a loving presence.

Services provided by the Center: Free walk-in pregnancy tests with counseling following For abortion-minded or women unsure about their pregnancy, they offer free non-diagnostic ultrasounds Provide a Learn and Earn Program to help clients learn parenting and life skills while earning items for their children Provide spiritual support, compassion, personal concern, material resources, and appropriate referrals to anyone about a pregnancy.

Material Needs: New or gently used baby and toddler items Large sized clothing (up to 2T) Baby wipes Baby toiletries (baby oil, wash, lotion, etc.) Larger size diapers (size 3-6) Sippy cups, bottles, towels, wash cloths, pacifiers, shoes, infant tubs, and more Non-expired infant and toddler car seats, high chairs, pack-n-plays, breast pumps, baby monitors, and dressers Volunteer Opportunities: Baby Item Ministry – bundling diapers, organizing the donation rooms, making bags of clothing for the clients Teaching parenting or life skill classes on an area of expertise Handyman work And much more…just contact the center to help

Financial Needs: The need for financial contributions for the Learn and Earn Program (education materials and Learn and Earn DVDs) and for crisis counseling (pregnancy tests and ultrasound program) always exists. We would not be able to provide the amount of support – through pregnancy tests, counseling, ultrasounds, and education - without the assistance of our donors and volunteers. [Information provided by: Jordan Larsen, Director of Client Care]

Pregnancy Resource Centers save lives! Is this PRC near you? Read how you and your church can help.

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Shared Pregnancy Women’s Center 503 North Walnut Lansing, MI 48933

517-484-1882

sharedpregnancy@msn.com

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Legislative Update

In a major victory for pro-life and religious freedom, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby, saying that the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act goes too far. The mandate, if upheld, would have forced Hobby Lobby to pay for contraceptives, including abortion inducing drugs, for their employees. This is a major development in stemming the attack on religious freedom and the First Amendment in our nation, though that battle continues to rage on in many other areas. In other developments, Right to Life of Michigan reports that several prolife bills were introduced in the state House in the past week that will put a new focus on the worth and the well-being of women and unborn children, in contrast to the false rhetoric abortion advocates and the media have been perpetuating. One bill, HB 5626, would require physicians who prenatally diagnose an unborn child with a medical condition to give parents proper referrals to medical and support services. If the child has a terminal condition, the referral will be to a Perinatal Hospice program. If the condition is not fatal, the parents are to be given information on treatment options and referred to supportive organizations. Far too many parents have been given a “bad news” diagnosis, which was literally followed up in the next sentence with, “We can schedule a 'procedure' for you.” The presumption for abortion is automatic and immediate. No hope, no options, just abortion. A set of three bills have also been introduced centering on the fact that every abortion stops a beating heart. HB 5643 would require that, prior to any abortion being performed, the abortionist confirm whether the unborn child has a heartbeat and offer an opportunity for the woman to hear or see ultrasound evidence of the heartbeat. HB 5644, like bills considered in other states, would prohibit abortions after a heartbeat was detected. HB 5645 would provide penalties for violating the “heartbeat abortion ban.” The initial bill confirming the heartbeat has some significant implications for reducing abortions. Prolife pregnancy centers have long touted the powerful impact hearing their baby's heartbeat has on abortion-minded women. Another big effect confirming the heartbeat could have is to curtail unnecessary or even fraudulent “abortions.” We know some abortionists will perform “abortions” on women who have had a false positive pregnancy test, but actually are not pregnant. Furthermore, a panicked woman running to an abortion clinic at the earliest sign of pregnancy deserves to know if her baby is even developing properly. The natural rate of miscarriage is between 15% to 20% of all pregnancies. After the heartbeat is detectable, the miscarriage rate drops to about 4%. How many women are putting themselves through the agony of consciously choosing to abort their baby, when the natural course of events would have ended the pregnancy? Making sure women know the whole truth about their baby is what they deserve and can be a saving grace for them and their babies. [submitted by Pastor Paul Clark, LFL-MI Spiritual Advisor]

Did you know?...

Never once did the Supreme Court declare abortion itself to be a constitutional right. Instead, the Supreme Court said: “We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins…the judiciary at this point in the development of man’s knowledge is not in a position to speculate as to the answer.” Then the High Court made a key admission: “If this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant’s case [i.e. “Roe” who sought an abortion], of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment.” [Lifeline Newsletter of the National Pro-Life Alliance, Spring 2014]

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Each of the nine lessons contains an engaging Bible study that will help the student apply God’s Word of Life to the

lesson’s topic. The Bible study is followed by “Case Studies” which will help apply what has been learned to practical

situations. Then, for those who want even more there is “Digging Deeper,” which will allow the student to link to a

variety of readings, videos, and YouTube clips, and ideas for action.

It’s easy, fun, self-paced and packed full of Word-based and Gospel-centered For Life information.

To Start:

Go to www.lutheransforlife.org/life-issues/teaching-for-life-online

Click “Launch Course” in the upper left of the window and the For Life learning begins.

If you want to browse and check out other lessons, use the Navigator button in the tool bar.

We pray you will enjoy learning and that you will become equipped to help others become Gospel-

motivated voices For Life”!

I WANT TO SPEAK OUT FOR LIFE!

I want to become a member of LFL (Please select a membership category.)

____Annual: $35 $50 $75 Other $____ (A donation of any amount will enroll you as an annual member of LFL.)

____Sponsor: I commit to a monthly gift of $______ ( Annual & Sponsor contributions to LFL are tax-deductible.)

I’m not interested in membership, but am enclosing a contribution of $______ to support the national efforts of LFL.

Name_____________________________________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip___________________________________________ Phone #___________________________

Chapter Name/# (if applicable) _____________________ Occupation ________________________________

Congregation_______________________________________________________________________________

Church Body (Synod) AALC_____ AFLC _____ CLBA _____ ELCA _____ LCMS _____ Other _____________

Clip and send to: Lutherans For Life, 1120 South G Ave., Nevada, IA 50201-2778

1-888-364-LIFE * (515) 382-3020 * E-mail: info@lutheransforlife.org *

WebSite: www.lutheransforlife.org

LFL has a new way to help equip “Lutherans

to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life”:

Teaching For Life–Online!

This self-study, online course is designed for

junior high through adult. And it’s FREE!

The course is based on nine key For Life

concepts and instructs on all the basic life

issues.

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Lutherans For Life of Michigan 23775 – 24 Mile Road

Macomb, MI 48042

NON PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

PERMIT NO. 321

* “Dealing with the life issues is often associated with political change and rightly so…The problem inherent in political change, however, is that it can change back again. More permanent change calls for a more fundamental change – changed hearts. God’s Word changes hearts.” [Dr James Lamb, LFL Executive Director]

* “At a time in our society when the definition of marriage is being challenged in the courts it is important for us Christians to remember that marriage is not whatever we choose to make of it, but that it is what God has made it to be for us. There may be cultural and social changes that occur in marriages, but the heart of marriage as given by God must not change.” [Rev Dr Richard Eyer, Director Emeritus of the

Concordia Bioethics Institute]

* “[W]e live in a culture that is rapidly losing its capacity to recognize human personhood where it is to be found. We well have reason to fear that, in our technical sophistications and narcissistic obsession with the unimpeded pursuit of every personal preference, there is very little separating us from a new barbarism.” [Father Thomas Berg, Executive Director of

the Westchester Institute for Ethics & the Human Person]

* “Pregnancy is not a disease, and the voluntary killing of fetuses for social reasons is not medical care.” [in

May 16, 2014, Recent Letter to Members at www.aapolg.org]

* “America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the fathers’ role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts – a child – as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters.” [Mother Teresa]

* “I can think of few things more dangerous to the weak and vulnerable than to allow people having trouble ‘going on’ believe that their deaths have greater value than their lives.” [Wesley Smith, in

LifeNews.com article Euthanasia Activists Want to Harvest Organs from Conscious ICU Patients, 6/12/14]

Notes and Quotes