Tapestry #1

Welcome to Life’s Tapestry!

Dear Kentucky Friends of Life,

This is the first issue of our new magazine, Tapestry! As you may know, a tapestry is a woven piece of artwork. It combines colors, textures, and images to create a visual narrative. The overall effect of the artwork is often one of intricate detail and complexity.

Tapestry weaving uses a process of “hiding” the threads used to create the artwork. This is done by weaving threads over and under each other in a way that creates the desired images and patterns without the threads being visible. This technique is known as “weft-faced weaving,” and it is used to create a seamless and unified design.

Why call a magazine Tapestry? We pray each issue will be a tapestry of articles, faces, stories, and happenings in the Kentucky Right to Life world. We plan to keep you informed of the latest news in politics, medicine, chapters, and centers. We hope to inspire you with stories of hearts that have been changed and lives that have been saved.

Those lives, in a way, are each a tapestry of their own, created by God for His purposes. We are each a seamless and unified design with layers of threads the Designer used to create His masterpiece.

This amazing work of art comes together at conception in the mother’s womb with a completely unique design. Each new creation has its own color, shape, personality, and potential.

What’s absolutely magnificent is that each individual tapestry of life comes together with all the others in our world to create a universal tapestry of life.

As a tapestry of people pulled together with a common mission, we hope to go beyond making abortion illegal. We hope to change the hearts of the people in our country, so they see why abortion is so abominable. It tears a baby apart in what should be the safest place on earth – a mother’s womb. And chemical abortions effectively deliver capital punishment to an innocent life.

As we celebrate Kentucky Right to Life’s 50th anniversary and the historic overturning of Roe, today’s culture calls each of us to the collaborative mission of creating a world where abortion is UNTHINKABLE– and every child has the potential to weave their own unique and beautiful tapestry!

We’re striving to create a world where all babies matter from the moment they are conceived in the womb. I pray each issue of Tapestry further inspires our hearts as we work together to make abortion unthinkable and honor the dignity of every life.

Changing Hearts – Saving Lives,

Addia Wuchner

Addia Wuchner Executive Director The Right to Life Educational Foundation of Kentucky Kentucky Right to Life

Kentucky Right to Life

A Year to Celebrate the Infinite Worth and Dignity of Every Life

By Addia Wuchner, RN, KRTL Executive Director

It has been 50 years – and look where we are today!

Kentucky Right to Life was founded and formally incorporated on June 6, 1973. From 1973 to 2023, Kentucky Right to Life, our chapters, and our pro-life friends and supporters throughout the Commonwealth have been unwavering champions for the most vulnerable in our midst – unborn children and their mothers, the infirm, and the dying.

It is 2023, and we have much to CELEBRATE!

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! Kentucky ranks #12 among the most Pro-Life States! In the past two years, Kentucky has moved up six rankings from 18th!

Since 2017, the Kentucky General Assembly has enacted 18 pro-life laws. One of those, HB3 in 2022, was an omnibus bill – containing six pro-life bills in one.

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! As our first issue of Tapestry goes to print, terminating the life of an unborn child

is illegal in the Commonwealth except in extreme cases of maternal medical risk.

As this issue goes to print and we are preparing to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Kentucky Right to Life, it is “Day 236” in post-Roe America and “Day 197” in abortion Free Kentucky!

This is the longest span of days that the lives of precious and vulnerable Kentuckians have been free from termination since the nine men in black robes issued their 1973 decision that

decided the tragic fate of more than 63 million innocent children.

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! What a remarkable year it has been!

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! 2022 was an incredible pro-life year! The impact of the June 24th decision overturning Roe was immediate. Hours after the Dobbs decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced an advisory opinion indicating

that the Kentucky Human Life Protection Act, which bans abortions statewide, had taken effect.

Kentucky enacted the Human Life Protection Act, now codified at KRS 311.772, in March 2019. The Kentucky General Assembly passed the law by a bipartisan vote in both chambers. The Act prohibits abortion in most circumstances, with medical risk exceptions for maternal risks. Generally speaking, it states that no person may knowingly cause or aid in “the termination of the life of an unborn human being.”

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! Kentucky abortion facilities actually closed briefly before the overturning of Roe. In April 2022, when House Bill 3, “The Humanity in Healthcare Act,” passed the Kentucky General Assembly with an emergency clause, abortion facilities closed

for eight days until abortion providers could obtain an injunction against the new law. A major component of HB3 was restrictions on all mail-order, do-it-yourself chemical/ medical abortions. HB3 required patients to be seen by a physician, and prescribing physicians to register with the state as non-surgical abortion providers. It also set forth prescribing guidelines for a physician wishing to prescribe the chemical abortion regimen.

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! 2022 was a prolife year in the courts! We traveled to DC for the Dobbs hearing before the US Supreme Court. Prior to the Dobbs decision and the overturning of Roe, there were four Kentucky laws being challenged in the courts. KRTL was intimately involved, with our legal team following the challenges and filing one amicus brief after another.

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! The 2018 Humanity of the Child Act banning the gruesome live dismemberment form of abortion had been challenged by EWM and Planned Parenthood, and was in the courts for over four years. With the overturning of Roe, the Humanity of the Child Act was eventually released from the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals!

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! The 2019 NoDiscrimination Abortions Act, banning abortions in Kentucky based on sex, race, color, and disabilities, had been challenged in the courts for three years. When Roe was overturned, the case was eventually released from the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! For more than a year and a half, the Kentucky Right to Life legal team (in a joint case with Sisters for Life) challenged the constitutionality of the imposed buffer-zone ordinance in Louisville, Kentucky. This ordinance restricted sidewalk counseling and praying

“After more than a year of an imposed restriction on the ministry of sidewalk counseling that is offered to women as they entered and departed the EMW Abortion Clinic in Louisville, the Court affirmed the impact the City of Louisville’s buffer zone ordinance had on free speech.

“We pray the abortion facility will never open again, but should they open, pro-life compassionate Kentuckians will be there, along with Sisters for Life, Ed Harpring, Mary Kenny, Joe Lynch, and all those who serve the ministry of sidewalk counseling expressing our mission, loving both the mom and her baby, offering compassion and hope, walking with women and restoring a culture that welcomes and supports life.”

at abortion clinics. On December 21, 2022, the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled in our favor on the grounds that the buffer zone infringed upon the First Amendment rights of pro-life groups that offer the compassionate practice of sidewalk counseling. Sweet victory! Thank you, Lord!

LET’S CELEBRATE PRO-LIFE KY! From June 24th to August 2, 2022, the Human Life Protection Act (i.e. the trigger law) endured weeks of legal battles between the Kentucky Attorney General’s team and abortion providers. After weeks of watching the life of the child get volleyed back and forth in the courts, on August 2 the Kentucky Court of Appeals reinstated Kentucky’s trigger law as well as a separate law that restricts abortion at six weeks (known as the Heartbeat Law), making abortion illegal in the Commonwealth.

We celebrate and pray in thanksgiving for precious lives saved! Historically, approximately 350 abortions had been reported monthly in Kentucky. While we know some women may have traveled out of state to secure their abortions, potentially 2,300 lives have been saved since the law passed.

As this first issue of Tapestry goes to print, abortions are banned in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Pro-life Kentucky rejoices as our state’s Supreme Court has ruled abortion facilities will remain closed, returning the case to lower courts.

Because we believe that every life is a gift of immeasurable worth from conception to natural death, our mission continues: working together, changing hearts to make abortion unthinkable, and cultivating a culture where the dignity of every life is valued and honored.

- Kentucky Right to Life Executive Director, Addia Wuchner, expressed appreciation after the Court’s decision.

Risky Business

The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Abortions

The abortion industry brazenly promotes abortioninducing drugs as “DIY abortions.” They want to convince women that these abortions are safe, easy, and nearly painless. They want to expand telemedicine to distribute more abortion pills faster so providers can dispense these drugs en masse, then sit back to enjoy the profits –leaving women to fend for themselves. Women have died as a result of the dangerous side effects involved, which include severe infection, heavy bleeding, and temporary or permanent loss of fertility. In short, chemical abortion

shifts all risk to the woman; and she’s usually alone.

House Bill 3 Passed in 2022

NO MAIL ORDER ABORTIONS IN KENTUCKY!

In 2022, Kentucky passed House Bill 3, the Humanity in Healthcare Act, an omnibus bill with six pro-life bills in one. In an attempt to head off the risky business of doit-yourself abortions, and in anticipation of the expected FDA modifications, the Kentucky General Assembly

Chemical abortion is not safe for women. Despite the fact that abortion-inducing drugs are four times more dangerous than surgical abortion, we continue to see a reckless, all-out push for their expansion without proper safeguards. This is risky business.

(At the time of this article, all abortions except in the case of serious maternal risk are restricted in Kentucky. There has not been an abortion except for two medical exceptions since August 3, 2022.)

created a new section of law outlawing the mailing of chemical abortion medications in the state of Kentucky. Additionally, the new law on chemical abortions requires the physician who wishes to prescribe these medications to register with the state as a non-surgical abortion provider.

By law, the physician is required to see the patient, examine her to determine the gestational weeks of pregnancy, Rh factor, and any other possible medical risks before prescribing the medication.

In Kentucky, only a physician may prescribe chemical fetal-life-termination-inducing medication, and it must be dispensed by a pharmacy certified by the manufacturer of these medications. The pharmacy is also required to be registered with the state of Kentucky as a dispensing pharmacy, and confirm their certification by the manufacturer. For the past five years, Kentucky had already required a physician prescribing and dispensing these medications to report on a form specifically designed by vital statistics. The 2022 legislation updated the form, which is now online for the physician and pharmacies to use.

We currently have laws in place to restrict mail-order abortions in Kentucky, as well as all abortions. One of these laws is currently before the Kentucky Supreme Court. Should the Supreme Court of Kentucky rule unfavorably and create a right to abortion that is not in the Kentucky Constitution, this could allow abortions to begin again in Kentucky.

The Current Administration in DC and the FDA Continue to Cater to the Abortion Industry

On Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated labeling for mifepristone (generic for Mifeprex) that would allow pharmacies to dispense the drug.

Unfortunately, both CVS and Walgreens – and now Rite Aid – have stated that they will sell the drug in select

pharmacies, which would place women at greater risk than ever before.

“Mifepristone takes the life of an unborn baby and places her mother at risk of death,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “In no way can that be considered health care.”

Mifepristone is used in combination with misoprostol, a prostaglandin, to cause an abortion. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, causing the death of the unborn baby, while the second drug, misoprostol, causes powerful, painful uterine contractions to expel the dead or dying baby.

Mifepristone is used to kill babies up to 10 weeks gestation.

“More than two dozen deaths and thousands of complications are associated with the use of these drugs,” said Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D., director of education and research for National Right to Life. “These ‘adverse events’ on record with the FDA include serious infections, severe hemorrhaging, and the rupture of previously undiscovered ectopic pregnancies.”

The FDA’s revised Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for Mifeprex would require that the drug be dispensed only by pharmacies that have completed certification. Such certified pharmacies could dispense the drug only when prescribed by certified prescribers

“Mifepristone takes the life of an unborn baby and places her mother at risk of death,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “In no way can that be considered health care.”

who have pledged to follow FDA guidelines regarding the screening and counseling of patients to ensure they know the risks and dangers.

“Retail pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid should consider whether it is a sound business risk to be selling dangerous abortion pills that can put women in the hospital,” said Scott Fischbach, National Right to Life’s Executive Director. “Their customers will not be happy to find out that their local drugstore where they get their life-saving medicines is now stocking and distributing pills for the purpose of killing unborn children in their community.” NRLC will continue to work to protect unborn children and their mothers.

Kentucky Right to Life is an Affiliate of National Right to Life, and we ask you to please visit the website to the right and sign the petition to CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.

Petition to Stop Chemical Abortions

President Biden’s FDA is now allowing retail pharmacies to dispense abortion drugs. We are asking you to contact CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid and sign our petition to them.

Let them know that dispensing death is bad business!

Print copies of the petition for distribution by going to lifeatrisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/petitionpharmacy-2023.pdf

Learn more about the abortion pill and the reversal process at lifeatrisk.org/

Contact information for CVS and Walgreens can be found at www.votervoice.net/NRLC/ Campaigns/99767/Respond

Thank You to Our Gala Speaker

Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr, MD, is Founder and Chairman of the American Cornerstone Institute, a new think tank/dotank whose mission is to promote the four founding principles that are cornerstones of our country: faith, liberty, community, and life. The Institute also pursues common sense solutions that challenge conventional groupthink.

Dr. Carson most recently served as the 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For nearly 30 years, Dr. Carson served as Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a position he assumed when he was just 33 years old, becoming the youngest major division director in the hospital’s history. In 1987, he successfully performed the first separation of craniopagus twins conjoined at the back of the head. He also performed the first fully successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in 1997 in South Africa.

Dr. Carson received dozens of honors and awards in recognition of his achievements, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. He is also a recipient of the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored

People (NAACP), and has been awarded over 70 honorary doctorate degrees. Dr. Carson authored nine books, four of which he co-wrote with his wife, Candy. The U.S. News Media Group and Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership named him among “America’s Best Leaders” in 2008.

Dr. Carson and his wife co-founded the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments. The Fund is currently operating in 50 states and the District of Columbia, and is this year celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first awards ceremony. The organization has now awarded more than 10,000 scholars over $8 million in scholarships. Before the end of this year, the Fund will have installed more than 250 Ben Carson Reading Rooms around the country.

Born in Detroit to a single mother with a third-grade education who worked multiple jobs to support her family, Secretary Carson was raised to love reading and education. He graduated from Yale University and earned his MD from the University of Michigan Medical School. He and his wife are the proud parents of three adult sons and eight grandchildren.

We Can Reverse Chemical Abortions!

A current executive director of a pregnancy center in Kentucky shared a story that stirred her heart and planted a seed that would produce fruit years later. One Saturday morning, she heard a knock on the door. The center hadn’t even opened yet.

Standing outside was a girl weeping uncontrollably. She had an unexpected pregnancy and had taken the first of two chemical abortion pills at an abortion clinic the morning before. She shared that she knew with every fiber of her being it was the wrong decision as soon as she swallowed that pill. She tormented herself all night and didn’t know who to turn to. She had called the abortion clinic, which told her

there was nothing she could do and that she needed to take the second pill.

She came to her local pregnancy center to see if they could save her baby. At that time, the center did not have a protocol to help her. They called their Medical Director, an OB, as well as other OBs they knew. While these doctors

agreed to see her, no one could help save her baby. That was eight years ago. Today, we can help women reverse chemical abortions!

One of the biggest weapons we have in the battle against chemical abortions is a simple hormone that’s already legal and used daily in OB/GYN offices around the country.

When a woman takes the abortion pill RU486 (mifepristone), the drug causes the mother to cease production of the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, the baby can’t survive – but the drug doesn’t kill the baby immediately.

In fact, if the progesterone supply is restored within 72 hours, it is possible to reverse the devastating effects of the drug and save the baby’s life. All we have to do to restore the supply is give the mom tablets of progesterone. OB/GYNs give progesterone to women prone to miscarriage on a daily basis. It saves babies every day. And, it can stop chemical abortions.

Data shows that we can successfully reverse the effect of the abortion pill 68% of the time if we initiate the antidote within 72 hours of the mom taking the pill. A network of over 500 doctors across the country has saved the lives of almost 4,000 babies to date.

Abortion pill reversal is a growing area of ministry for pregnancy centers around the country. These centers are on the cutting edge of educating the public about the abortion pill, and also connecting patients with physicians who have the expertise to help them.

The Kentucky pregnancy center that was visited by that tearful client years ago has seen it work firsthand. They made the decision to be there for women who experience a change of heart. Once abortion pill reversal procedures were in place and medicines in house, a woman called from a neighboring state. She was nearly two hours away, but she was determined to drive to the center for treatment.

When she arrived, the ultrasound revealed that the baby still had a heartbeat. The nurse administered her first dose right

then. The mom left with a prescription and a hopeful heart. She came back every week until she felt she was ready to see her obstetrician. The mom delivered a healthy baby without any complications.

This abortion pill reversal protocol does not increase the risk of birth defects. It simply supplies the mom with the life-saving hormone that her body normally produces. It saves lives!

“I ended up taking the first pill, and immediately after, I realized I’d done the wrong thing. I contacted the Abortion Pill Reversal hotline and they got me in touch with a doctor to start the reversal procedure with the progesterone. I started taking that, and now my baby is healthy and everything is perfectly fine. I’m having a girl, and I’m naming her Giselle.”

~ Samantha

To date over 4,000 babies have been saved by the abortion pill reversal protocol. It may not be too late.

If you have taken RU486 and have a change of heart, please contact your local pregnancy center or call the Abortion Pill Reversal Helpline, 877-558-0333, for help. You can save your baby! And your local pregnancy center can help you walk through this decision!

Saving Babies From Abandonment in Kentucky

Michelle didn’t know she was pregnant until the day before she gave birth. The discovery was shocking. What was she going to do?

She did the unthinkable!

The next day, after she gave birth, she threw the baby in a dumpster and left it to die. Fortunately, someone found the baby, but Michelle is now in jail.

What if this story had a completely different ending? What if Michelle could have simply dropped the baby off at a local fire or police station, hospital, or EMS office? The baby would have been safe and placed for adoption. And Michelle wouldn’t be in jail.

Now, thanks to Kentucky’s new Safe Haven Law, this ending can be a reality for new mothers who have decided they’re not ready to take care of their babies.

House Bill 155, which legalized Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Kentucky, was passed and enacted in 2021. This law provides access to temperature-controlled boxes

where new moms and dads can anonymously leave their newborn infants when they can’t care for their babies.

Monica Kelsey, who started Safe Haven Baby Boxes (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), says, “All the parent has to do is open the door, place her uncharted newborn that is 30 days old or less inside the baby box, shut the door, and a series of alarms are already going off. She’s not going to hear anything.”

Kelsey says the first alarm sounds as the door opens. Once the baby is inside the box, a second alarm sounds. Then the box calls 9-1-1 on its own. If this happens at a fire station while the firefighters are away, dispatch notifies a nearby police officer or EMT to attend to the baby.

Since the box stays between 75 and 85 degrees at all times, the baby is safe and warm. Most importantly, babies stay inside for only two to three minutes at most before someone secures them.

The babies are then placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital for evaluation. From there they enter

a temporary foster home and are then placed for adoption within a couple of months. So far, 100% of the babies surrendered across the country have been adopted and are in permanent homes.

State Rep. Nancy Tate sponsored House Bill 155 and House Bill 442, which expanded the law so boxes could be placed at EMS facilities. Now, Rep. Tate is working with Kelsey to get the word out.

According to Rep. Tate, “We have 120 counties in Kentucky. The original bill was House Bill 155. So my goal is to have 155 boxes across the state—at least one in every county.”

To reach this goal, Rep. Tate is encouraging people across the state to become advocates for these boxes in their counties. “The first thing you have to do is go to your local judges and make sure they are aware that this service is available. County judges would be responsible for handling the paperwork with Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Once the paperwork is signed, staffing, training, and maintenance scheduling is put in place.” At least once a week the boxes must be tested to make sure all the buttons and alarms are working properly.

Since abortion is not legal in Kentucky, Rep. Tate says these boxes will save lives. “Sometimes families simply cannot take care of a newborn. We want to make sure they have every opportunity to do what’s best for that baby and for their family. Everyone should know that this service is available and accessible.”

Anyone interested in helping place a Safe Haven Baby Box in their county is encouraged to visit www.shbb.org for more information.

First Newborn Surrendered Anonymously in Kentucky

The Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Kentucky have saved their first baby. In early February 2023, just before this magazine went to press, a healthy newborn was surrendered anonymously in Bowling Green. This box was placed in December 2022.

Monica Kelsey, the executive director of Safe Haven Baby Boxes explained, “Each time we have an infant surrendered in one of our Baby Boxes, it is an affirmation that we need anonymous surrender options. We do not know when an infant will need to be surrendered and when that mother in crisis may want to protect her identity. However, we do know that being prepared is the safest option for this situation.

“This Baby Box location hasn’t been open for three months yet, but it was there when needed and that is the key. We know this infant was loved by their birth mother and will be quickly adopted by a family who has been eagerly awaiting a baby. We rejoice for the opportunity to make a positive outcome out of tough circumstances.”

A New Vision for Life Supreme Court Decision Changes the Focus of the Pro-Life Movement

~ By Dr. William Lile

Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz once said, “If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done anything today.” This is the attitude the pro-life movement needs now!

The recent US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was a huge victory for the cause of life. We need to celebrate this victory and rejoice. A lot of people worked very hard to see this day in our nation. They deserve our honor and respect. But if the decision to overturn Roe was

big, what we need to do now is even bigger. The political battle has now shifted from one court in Washington, DC to 50 different state courts, legislatures, and governors.

However, there’s an even bigger and more important battle — it’s in every pregnancy resource center in the country, particularly in states that will increase the restrictions on abortion. In these states, we’ll see a much higher number of women who will, praise God, be delivering their babies.

We were already seeing an increase in the number of women carrying their babies to term as states implemented more restrictions on abortion. But now the number will go up significantly. This is what we wanted. This is what we fought for.

We can’t abandon these women and children. We have to be prepared to help them in their time of need, and stick with them as they go through their pregnancies and births, and as they raise their children. If we want to see this nation turn to the Lord, we have an opportunity before us that will help us do just that.

You see, pregnancy resource centers are on the front lines of the Gospel. Every woman who comes into a pregnancy resource center needs Jesus. Her husband or boyfriend and her babies need Jesus. And there is no one who has a better opportunity to share Jesus with them than the people who work and volunteer at these centers. If we could lead all of these women and those connected to them to a right relationship with their Creator, we would see this nation turn toward Christ.

Remember, we are all created in the image of God — not at the time of our birth, but at the time of our conception. At the moment of conception, each baby is genetically unique from the mother and also from the father. In fact, each child is genetically unique from the other seven billion people on the planet. He or she is a whole person from the very start.

From our conception, we bear the image of God. And this spiritual dimension frames the entire issue, for abortion is fundamentally an attack against God. In Genesis 1:26, the triune God said “Let us make man in our image.” Abortion is an attack against that image, and thus a war against God leveled at the evidence of Him that we can see and touch.

This is why your local pregnancy resource center deserves the time and support of the church. Church leaders need to understand how many people come to know Jesus in these centers. They are a Gospel-centered ministry that sees lives saved spiritually and physically every day. Few local ministries come close to this kind of impact.

Turning women away from abortion and toward Christ is an effort that is much bigger than defeating Roe v. Wade. It requires all of us to be involved — now! Please become

familiar with the local pregnancy center in your area. Contact the people there and let them know that you will be praying for them, that you appreciate their ministry, and ask how you can support their ministry.

Dr. William Lile, DO, FACOG, “The ProLifeDoc,” is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is licensed to practice medicine in both Florida and Alabama. He has been an instructor for both the University of Florida and Florida State University, OB/ GYN residency programs. He is the former chairman of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL. He has an active practice in Pensacola, FL.

This is a list of legislative victories Kentucky’s Right to Life has experienced in recent years. We’re working with your legislators to enact pro-life laws to restore legal protection to those threatened by abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia.

2023

As we go to print, the Kentucky Supreme Court just ruled abortion facilities will remain closed, returning the case to lower courts.

2022

Humanity in Healthcare Act

Awaiting Supreme and Appeals Courts Rulings

• 6 PRO-LIFE BILLS IN 1 – PARENT CONSENT, DIGNIFIED CARE OF FETAL REMAINS, REPORTING TERMINATIONS, NO TAXPAYER FUNDING - HB3

2021

“Yes for Life” Constitutional Amendment

• ON THE BALLOT IN 2022 TO STATE THAT KY CONSTITUTION DOES NOT SECURE OR PROTECT A RIGHT TO ABORTION - HB91

“Born Alive” Law

• ENSURES ALL INFANTS BORN ALIVE ARE GIVEN MEDICAL HELP AND NOURISHMENT - SB9

Attorney General Empowered

• MAY TAKE ABORTION CLINICS TO COURT AND PENALIZE CLINICS THAT VIOLATE STATE LAW - HB2

“Safe Haven Baby Box”

• FOR ANONYMOUS, SAFE SURRENDER OF BABY BY MOTHER - HB155

2019

“No-Discrimination” Abortion

Released from litigation, July 2022

• NO ABORTION BASED ON SEX, RACE, COLOR, DISABILITY, OTHER - HB5

Human Life Protection Act

Awaiting 2023 KY Supreme Court Ruling

• “TRIGGER” LAW ENDS ABORTION IF/WHEN SCOTUS OVERTURNS ROE OR STATES ARE EMPOWERED TO PROHIBIT ABORTION - HB148

Laws “Heartbeat Bill” Awaiting 2023 KY Supreme Court Ruling

• NO ABORTION AFTER DETECTION OF A HEARTBEAT - SB9

Abortion Pill Reporting Requirements

• MUST TELL WOMAN ABOUT ABORTION REVERSAL PILL - SB50

2018

Webcam Abortion Consultation Prohibited

• CONSULTATION MUST BE IN PERSON - SB112

Human Rights of the Child Act

Released From Litigation, August 2022

• BAN DISMEMBERMENT OF LIVING PREBORN CHILD - HB454

2017

Ultrasound Law

• CLINIC MUST OFFER VIEW OF AN ULTRASOUND AND AUDIO OF FETAL HEARTBEAT TO WOMAN SEEKING ABORTION - HB2

• NO ABORTION AFTER 20 WEEKS WHEN CHILD IS “PAIN CAPABLE” - SB5

“Pain Capable”

This is not an exhaustive list. Every human being has an inalienable right to life, a life that is precious and must be protected.

Joe,

Judge

Elected Officials to Contact

NATIONAL

President Joseph Biden

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington, D.C. 20500

VP Kamala Harris

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington, D.C. 20500

U.S. SENATORS

Senator Mitch McConnell 317 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Senator Rand Paul 167 Russell Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20510

US REPRESENTATIVES FROM KENTUCKY

Rep. James Comer (1st Dist. - R)

Rep. Brett Guthrie (2nd Dist. - R)

Rep. Morgan McGarvey (3rd Dist. - D)

Rep. Thomas Massie (4th Dist. - R)

Rep. Hal Rogers (5th Dist. - R)

Rep. Andy Barr (6th Dist. - R)

U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121

Andy Beshear

Governor

Jacqueline Coleman Lt. Governor

Michael Adams Secretary of State

The Kentucky Legislature

Daniel Cameron Attorney General

Address: State Capitol Frankfort, KY 40601

The Kentucky Legislature is comprised of two houses – the Senate, which has 38 seats, and the House of Representatives, which has 100 seats.

To Contact Your Legislator

Email and office contact information for each legislator can be found on their individual Senator or Representative bio pages at legislature.ky.gov

If you would like to call and leave a message for your legislator, please call the Legislative Message Line at 800-372-7181.

Kentucky Right to Life

Changing Hearts, Saving Lives Award

Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Edward Kurtz - 2023 Recipient The Archdiocese of Louisville

PROLIFE ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

A culture of compassion and love quietly permeates our pro-life cause. Love and compassion change hearts, change minds, and save lives. “How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love.” –

Mother Teresa 1994

Kentucky Right to Life, Changing Hearts ~ Saving Lives ProLife Advocate of the Year Award is presented in recognition of an individual who has a heart inspired by God to see the beauty of each life as a gift from God. Their strength of conviction to extend a helping hand and their heart to love beyond measure, recognizing the dignity and potential of every life, are a reflection of Kentucky Right to Life’s own mission and ministry. It is bestowed in honor of their significant personal or professional contributions, demonstrated through their dedication to pro-life activities and their unwavering respect for the most vulnerable in our midst, especially unborn child and their mothers.

The Kentucky Right to Life Changing Heart ~ Saving Lives Award Is Inspired by the Tradition of the “Red Rose ~ White Rose”

You may be familiar with the red rose as a symbol of the prolife movement’s respect for the lives of preborn babies and their mothers. But are you aware of the history of the White Rose?

By the mid-1930s, ending the lives of those deemed physically or socially unfit was openly accepted in Germany. By 1939 the “mercy killing” of babies born with abnormalities, the elderly, the chronically or incurably ill, the mentally ill, and the physically or mentally disabled was

officially legal.

Hans Scholl, a young medical student in Germany in 1941, is said to have heard a sermon on this “terrible thing” – the government sanctioned killing of innocent people. Scholl and a group of students then formed the Weisse Rose (White Rose). Using a small duplicating machine, the students distributed thousands of pamphlets denouncing the Nazi regime and its crimes against life.

Joseph Edward Kurtz was ordained a priest of Allentown, Pennsylvania on March 18, 1972. He has served the Catholic Church as a priest for over 50 years, 23 years as a bishop.

Bishop Kurtz was serving as bishop for the Diocese of Knoxville, TN, when he was called to become the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville. He served in that office from 2007 until his retirement in 2022. During his active ministry, he was elected Vice-president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2007-2010, and then elected President of the USCCB from 2013-2016.

Respected for his life of service, he is loved for his welcoming smile and known for his authenticity and gracious manner. Archbishop Kurtz is known for his sincerity and his commitment to life when it comes to ending the legalized killing of innocent unborn children in America. Speaking to the crowds at the Vigil Mass for the 42nd Anniversary March for Life in Washington, DC in 2015, Archbishop Kurtz shared his own first public witness for life:

“In 1973, I was a priest — at that point, ten months ordained. They call that ‘priests who are wet behind the ears.’ And, I remember the first letter to the editor that I ever wrote. It’s

now 42 years ago, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. You can guess what it was about. It was protesting the Supreme Court decision against life and wanting to stand up for life. That was a public action.”

Archbishop Kurtz would go on to get a degree in social work and serve in Catholic charities for more than 20 years. He labored in programs such as Caring Heart that reach out to those who, in many cases through no fault of their own, are being sold a bill of goods and turning away from life and choosing death instead.

If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, then the picture of Archbishop Kurtz, taken by a reporter for the Louisville Courier while the archbishop was on his knees, praying, in front of the EMW Abortion facility in Louisville, said it all.

PAST RED ROSE ~ WHITE ROSE AWARD RECIPIENTS

1987 - Arnold Turner, Prestonburg

1988 - Frank Schwendeman, Lexington

1990 - Hilda Pullen, Lexington

1994 - Al J. Arbogast, Lexington

1995 - Art Brestel, Wilmore

1996 - Vera Amann, Villa Hills

1997 - James and Carolyn Mathieu, Salem

1998 - Paul and Elsie Gardner, Bardstown

1999 - Rosemary Fister and Edward Norton, Lexington

2000 - James and Janice Smith, Owensboro

2001 - Sister Mary Prisca Pfeffer, R.S.M.

2002 - Joseph D. Calvert, Louisville

2010 - Little Sisters of the Poor

2012 - Dr. Jack and Barbara Willke, Cincinnati, OH

2015 - Darlene Livers, Webster

2022 - Amanda Westerfield

The Right to Life Educational Foundation

Educational Foundation of Kentucky Award

Nancy Tate - 2023 Recipient State Representative

Nancy Tate is a woman whose faith is an integral part of her daily life. She is blessed with the love and support of her husband and children. In 2019, she was elected as State Representative serving the citizens in the 27th House District, which is comprised of Meade County and part of Hardin County. Representative Tate serves as the co-chair of the Pro-Life Caucus in the General Assembly.

Representative Tate serves as President of the Meade-Breck Right to Life. Her pro-life advocacy didn’t just begin when she arrived in Frankfort. Representative Tate has been an advocate for the sanctity of human life for almost four decades. She holds in her heart the conviction that every life is created with a purpose. When ‘life begins’ is not theory but the platform of her convictions that she brought with her to the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Upon being elected,Representative Tate wasted no time working with her colleagues and leadership to craft pro-life and pro-family legislation and policies. In the 2022 Legislative session, she was the chief sponsor of House Bill 3 – working with her colleagues and pro-life organizations, such as Kentucky Right to Life, to craft the Humanity in Healthcare Act, a prolife omnibus bill, capturing six significant prolife bills in one act.

Working with Representative Tate you know just how much her faith inspires her convictions. When you know that each and every human life that comes into existence is made in the image and likeness of God, it helps you to realize what’s at stake in the abortion battle and in the pro-life movement as a whole.

Representative Tate’s composure and inner strength are evident whether she is standing firm in long legislative debates or in the face of often harsh criticisms and tough questioning from the media. She has earned the trust of her constituents and the admiration of pro-life Kentuckians across the state for her steadfast support of the right to life.

Lexington, Kentucky

Past Recipients of the Educational Foundation Award

1985 - Sister Mary Imelda Lee, R.S.M.

1986 - Jane Grimm

1987 - Virginia Corley

1988 - John S. Mills

1989 - Mike Stengel

1990 - Joe James

1992 - Reverend Joseph Hamilton

1993 - Mary Ann Hubbs & Ruth Thomas

1994 - William J. Smith

1995 - Darlene Pajo

1996 - Jim Maier & James Roy Cecil

1997 - James Roy Cecil (posthumously)

1998 - Joseph M. Norton

1999 - Mary Lou Bryant

2000 - Robert F. Greene, Esq.

2001 - Don Gilmour

2005 - Juanita Mattingly

2006 - Lisa Arnold

2007 - Margaret Lyon

2008 - Angela Minter

2009 - Joan Smith

2010 - Jenny Hutchinson

2011 - Wade Poole III

2012 - Vince Heuser

2013 - Fr. Kenny Kamber

2014 - Chris Walker

2015 - Phyllis Donlon

2016 - John DeFriend

2017 - Cecil A. Blye, Jr.

2018 - Anne Yeiser

2019 - Cathie Murr Young

2020 - Ellen Wichmann

2021 - Kent Ostrander

2022 - Michael J. Ryan

Right to Life of Central Kentucky

Take Time for Life Award

Ronda Webber - 2023 Recipient Director, Assurance Care

Ronda Webber has served as the Executive Director of Assurance Care since 2014. Ronda has an ability to see what is needed and possible, as well as what it means to trust God to move and do what seems impossible. Under her keen and thoughtful leadership, Ronda has faithfully led Assurance through multiple levels of expanded services, an increase in staffing, and a global pandemic.

During her tenure at Assurance, Ronda expanded the men’s ministry, opened up a separate STI Health Clinic in addition to offering STI testing to our pregnancy clients, instituted a telecare option that begins to offer compas-

sionate care to women and men before they even step foot in our building, began a bridge program that helps connect and network clients with community resources after being served at Assurance, and so much more. Ronda is presently working to offer abortion pill reversal for clients who have taken the abortion pill and changed their minds. Her care for clients and her dedication to equipping staff to serve clients with excellence is unmatched. Ronda has been married to her husband, John, for 17 years, and they have 14-year-old twin sons.

Past Take Time for Life Award Recipients

The board of Right to Life of Central Kentucky bestows the Take Time for Life Award annually, selecting someone who has consistently sustained a high level of commitment to God’s unborn children and other pro-life causes. The only stipulation is that the recipient cannot be a member of the Right to Life of Central Kentucky board.

1988 – Margie Montgomery

1989 – Joe & Eleanor Hayden

1990 – Joe Bouvier

1991 – Kaye Myers

1992 – Millie Williams

1993 – Shirley Collins

1994 – Jim Ishmael

1995 – Pastor Wayne Smith

1996 – Mary Belle Garner

1997 – Tom Boyle

1998 – Barbara Mason

1999 – Paul & Marilyn Kissell

2000 – Fr. Maurice Brinker

2001 – Charles & Frances McElfresh

2002 – Al Arbogast

2003 – Peter & Sylvia Sutherland

2004 – Cathy Buncher & Kent Ostrander

2005 – Fred & Jennie Doster

2006 – Patrick Schneider, II, M.D.

2007 – Jim & Beth Loiselle

2009 – Jim & Caroline Cloud

Stephen & Carolyn Gedney

2010 – Leo Brown

2011 – Rosemary Fister & Frank Schwendeman

2012 – Mary Ann Strunc

2013 – Edward Norton

2014 – Kathy Rutledge

2015 – Hilda Pullen

2016 – Cindy McDaniel

2017 – Congressman Andy Barr

2018 – Lorrie Parker

2019 – Daniel A. Fister

2021 – State Rep. Stan Lee

2022 – Monica King

Kentucky Right to Life is our Commonwealth’s oldest statewide pro-life, pro-woman, pro-family organization. Our Chapters are the heartbeat that unites pro-life Kentuckians in one voice supporting life from conception to natural death.

Kentucky Right to Life Chapters

Bluegrass Region

Right to Life of Madison County, Inc.

P O Box 361

Richmond, KY 40476

(859) 661-6877

www.madisoncountyrtl.org

President: Connie Wason

Right to Life of Central Kentucky

1724 Regency Road, Suite 4

Lexington, KY 40503

859-272-3920

www.ckrtl.org

President: Lorrie Parker

Eastern Coalfields

Gateway Right to Life

2979 Northridge Drive

Mt. Sterling, KY 40353

(859) 585-0196

Executive Director: Michelle Record

Northeast KY Right to Life

P O Box 117

Morehead, KY 40351

(877) 651-7054

President: Helen Hayes

Barron River Area

Franklin Right to Life

3534 Salmons Blackjack Road

Franklin, KY 42123

(270) 776-6177

President: Colleen Rafferty

Jackson Purchase

West Kentucky Right to Life

6800 Clinton Road

Paducah, Ky 42001

(270) 559-1168

www.wkrtl.org

President: Andrea Rhodes

Jefferson County

Right to Life of Louisville

1974 A Douglass Blvd.

Louisville, KY 40205

(502) 897-5433

www.rtllou.org

Executive Director: Corey Koellner

Pennyrile

Right to Life of Christian County

3440 Hermitage Drive

Hopkinsville, KY 42440

(270) 885-2888

President: Bill Rush

Lincoln Trail

Right to Life Heartland

Elizabethtown

(270) 723-4724

www.kylife.org

President: Joey Redmond

Meade-Breck Right to Life

115 Garrett Road

Brandenburg, KY 40108

(270) 750-1057

Find Us On Facebook

President: State Rep. Nancy Tate

Western Coalfields

Right to Life of Owensboro

P O Box 506

Owensboro, KY 42303

(270) 929-8075

President – Kevin Dorth

www.rtlo.org

Executive Director – Stacey Davis

Right to Life of Central Kentucky

Respect Life Clergy Award

Mark Horton – 2023 Recipient Senior Pastor, Faith United Community Church

Mark Horton was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and grew up attending the Wesleyan Church. His grandfather was a pastor in that church. He learned “people skills” from his Dad, who worked 40 years in the corporate environment. Mark joined the Air Force at the age of 18 and spent four years on active duty, followed by two years in the Air Force Reserve. It was during his time in the service that he gave his life to Jesus while attending the Church of the Bible Covenant.

He soon met his future wife, Joyce, who was the daughter of a pastor. They were married on New Year’s Day in 1983, and recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

Past Respect Life Clergy Award Recipients

The “Respect Life Clergy Award” is given annually by the board of Right to Life of Central Kentucky to a pastor or priest who has displayed a dedication to the sanctity of human life. The recipient of the clergy award has been a steadfast defender of the unborn through both sermons and personal work in the pro-life community.

2013 – Fr. John Moriarty & Fr. Raymond Stratman

2014 – Dr. Tim Turner & Fr. William Bush

2015 – Pastor Kenny Davis, Jr.

2016 – Tyson Cummings

2017 – Pastor David Prince

2018 – Fr. Nick Pagano

2019 – Fr. Mark A. Fischer

2021 – Pastor Wayne Johns

2022 – Pastor Todd Martin

Mark and Joyce are the parents of four children—three sons and one daughter. He has been a pastor for 36½ years, and has been the senior pastor at Faith United Community Church in Jessamine County for the past 12 years. Mark said he enjoys being a pastor and helping people get to know Jesus.

He believes the biggest problem for churches today is getting people to understand they must get to know who Jesus is so they can center their lives around Christ. Christians must live every day like Jesus expects us to live. To do this, Christians need to realize that we must be a people set apart from the world and the culture.

Alternatives to ABORTION Statewide Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Hero at Heart Awards Right to Life of Central Kentucky

Hero at Heart Award recipients are recognized because, through their personal or professional contributions, they have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the pro-life movement, to promoting respect for the dignity of the human person –especially Kentucky’s unborn children, and to advocacy for an end to the culture of death.

2022 was an amazing year for pro-lifers. With the non-stop challenge to our pro-life laws, the voices of Kentucky pro-life champions echoed in the halls of Frankfort, to Court Houses across the Commonwealth, to the Supreme Court of the United States. We witnessed the Pro-Life Constitutional Amendment campaign unite our grassroots pro-life champions from every faith and community. The extraordinary efforts of Kentuckians to promote the culture of life were especially significant, demonstrating their unwavering support for the dignity and sanctity of life.

When Admiral Bill McRaven, author of T he Hero Cod e, was a young boy growing up in Texas, he dreamed of being a superhero. He longed to put on a cape and use his superpowers to save the earth from destruction. But as he grew older and traveled the world, he found real heroes everywhere he went. None of them had superpowers; none of them wore capes or cowls; but they all possessed qualities that gave them the power to help others. They had physical and moral courage, humility, a willingness to sacrifice, and a deep sense of integrity.

Recipients of the Kentucky Right to Life Hero at Heart Award reflect all the characteristics Admiral McRaven wrote about as they possess not the powers of fictional superheroes but the magnanimity of heart and passion to stand unwavering in defense of pre-born children. We are grateful for their leadership and their commitment to the dignity and sanctity of life.

“Kentucky Right to Life’s 2023 Hero recipients are the tapestry of pro-life Kentucky. From towns and communities across the Commonwealth to the halls of Frankfort, to our State Courthouses, to the Supreme Court of the United States, they are a woven fabric of hope reflecting the heartbeat of our pro-life mission, past, present, and future.”

– Addia Wuchner, Director, Kentucky

Right to Life

John C. Iffert

Tessa Redmond

Chrystal York

Richard White

Matt Kuhn

Daniel Cameron

Dana Douglas

Shane Baker

Tim Truett

Danny Bentley

April Hunt

Saundy Huffman

JeanMarie Passafiume

Rebecca Downs

Mike Davis

Tony Beimesch

Kenny Davis

Mark Harrell

Marie Curran

Andrea Rhodes

Michelle Record

Helen Hayes

Stacey Davis

Connie Wasson

Lorrie Parker

Joey Redmond

Bill Rush

Lorrie Parker

Corey Koellner Lou

Buddy Dole

Richard Nelson

Jason Hall

Michelle Smith

Julie Gallenstein

Jean Marie Bramer

Frank Simon

Juanita Schick

Allison Ball

Nolan Graham

Diana Maldonado

Dave Holzwarth

Chris Wiest

Angela Minter

Melinda Prunty

Jacki Sommers

Kenny Davis

Celesta Arnold

Cathy Greulich

Becki Osborne

Scott, Kaylee, Kevin & Emily at RunSwitch PR

David Walls

Whitney Westerfield

Tom Johnson

Stuart Hamilton

Thank you to everyone for making our 2023 Celebrate Life Gala a huge success.

We would like to thank our generous sponsors who have made this evening possible. Thanks to their unwavering commitment, all proceeds tonight will directly impact our mission of Changing Hearts and Saving Lives! We are grateful to God for inspiring their hearts and their support for the dignity of life.

Platinum Sponsor

Mr. & Mrs. John Stafford

Kyle & Gaye Whalen

Silver Sponsor

Lorrie & Steve Parker

Peggy & Steve Sheiko

Addia & Jan Wuchner

The Family Foundation of Kentucky

Table Host Appreciation

Gold Sponsor

A Gift From The Heart – Anonymous

Duncan & Carol Taylor

Knights of Columbus Kentucky State Council

Knights of Columbus Council 14130 Christ the King

Knights of Columbus Council 11470 St. John/St. Francis

Knights of Columbus Council 10263 St. Luke

Thank you for supporting our mission and inviting your family and friends to our 2023 Celebrate Life Gala. “Sharing a table is one of the most uniquely human things we do. No other creature consumes its food at a table. And sharing tables with other people reminds us that there’s more to food than fuel. To take up a place at that table is to occupy sacred space where stories are told, values and dreams shared.”

Assurance

Audio Authority Corp - Jonathan Sisk

Bethel Baptist Youth Group

Carrie Sanders McKeehan

Dana Douglas

Dave & Sandy Holzwarth

Forcht Bank - Lexington, KY

Gateway Right to Life

Henry County Friends of Life

Hon. Melinda Prunty & Pro Life Friends

Jack Kain Ford

Jan & Hon. Addia Wuchner

Joe & Ruthie Bessler & Family

Mr. & Mrs. John Stafford

KY State Representative, Hon. Nancy Tate

Kyle & Gaye Whalen

Lorrie & Steve Parker

Madison County Pregnancy Help Center

Mark & Cathy Buncher

Marilynn Easterly

Northern Kentucky Right to Life

Pastor Mark Horton

Porter Memorial Baptist Church

Sisters for Life

St. James, Elizabethtown Respect Life Committee

Steve & Peggy Sheiko

The Family Foundation

Seat of Wisdom Home School Co-Op

Eric White Paul Del Rio Camden MiraclePearson Shafer

Luke LyleAllie Pennington