Abortion pill worries spark local protest

(Photos by Randy M. Cauthron) Monday morning, and again Monday evening, supporters of the right to life movement from around the region reponded to the call when they were informed that RU486 was going to be introduced to the Spencer Planned Parenthood service offerings. Members of the area Knights of Columbus chapters with the Catholic Church, as well as representatives from the state Right to Life organization took part in the peaceful, prayerful protest. [Order this photo]

The former shopping mall includes community college classrooms and a cluster of professional offices, including Planned Parenthood. Activists from several faith-based organizations have the impression medical professionals at the Spencer clinic will begin dispensing Mifepristone, previously referred to as RU-486 and commonly called the abortion pill.

The drug essentially blocks a hormone needed for a pregnancy to continue. Because the terminated pregnancy may cause significant bleeding, doctors administer the drug under strict guidelines.

Kim Lehman, president of Iowa Right to Life, reminds protesters outside Spencer's Planned Parenthood offices that they are there in love for those that work within the offices and those who seek services there. Lehman asked those taking part in the peaceful protest to make their voices heard in a positive way in the battle for life. [Order this photo]

Marilyn Bose of Estherville is the president of Respect for Life, Inc., an organization which focuses it efforts in the Estherville, Spirit Lake and Graettinger areas. The group also sends out a newsletter, which is received by some Spencer-area residents.

"I came here because I was notified that Planned Parenthood is trying to sneak in and give RU-486 to young women," Bose said. "I'm here to demonstrate and to support young women not to get pulled into this. I'm hoping to stop Planned Parenthood from even trying to bring it into our area. It would be a bad thing."

Kim Lehman, president of Iowa Right to Life, told the group: "We're here for the women, we're here for the unborn babies and we're here for the rest of Iowa."

Mifepristone is currently offered at six Planned Parenthood locations: Sioux City, Ames, Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Iowa City and the Quad Cities. Lehman remains convinced the abortion pill is on its way to Spencer.

"You guys normally don't do abortions," Lehman said. "Now you will."

Jill June, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa talked about the organization's general philosophy, but did not directly confirm plans to add Mifepristone at the Spencer clinic.

"We are always evaluating the need for the services that we provide throughout the state," she said. "That's something that we do on a consistent and routine basis -- where our clinics are located, what is provided at the clinics, what need exists within the community -- so we are always reviewing and evaluating that. Even though the vast majority of what we do is prevention of unintended pregnancy and providing access to birth control and contraception, we still see people protesting these common-sense programs."

June also said Mifepristone is offered in the very earliest stages of pregnancy.

"It's only available directly from a heath care provider," she said.

Lehman said she called a few churches to let them know about the need for a protest, but credited the community for getting the word out. The protesters met at 11:30 a.m. and left after a brief presentation by the Iowa Right to Life president.

"I'm absolutely shocked at the number of people that are here," she said. "For a small town, this is an incredible turnout. They obviously care about this."

Lehman, 45, said she had an abortion at the age of 21. She said the decision haunted her for the next decade, saying "I didn't know there was a heartbeat at 18 days." She felt medical professionals didn't fully guide her on the ramifications of her decision.

Grand Knight Joe McLaughlin of the Knights of Columbus Council 3965 received word about the protest from Mike Gaspers, a state deputy for the organization a little over a week ago, but didn't have a date confirmed.

"We had it announced in our churches, saying abortion isn't right no matter how they do it," he said.

Michael Skonhovd, a past grand knight and faithful navigator for the Spencer-based council wanted to emphasize the organization's role as a Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization.

"It's the Knights of Columbus' belief that we do things for people in need," he said. "In this instance it is to have a voice for children that have no voice. We'd encourage anybody from any faith to call legislators or go to protests like this -- this is a peaceful, positive protest -- and just stand up for the rights of children across the country."

He continued: "Planned Parenthood -- there's good people that work there, too, but when it comes to the starting-up of their use of RU-486, the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic community are steadfast and unified against this policy."

WAS THERE A REASON TO PROTEST?

Kim Lehman, president of Iowa Right to Life, contacted a state deputy with the Knights of Columbus.

Lehman said she acted on reliable information, from an undisclosed source, which suggests Mifepristone -- informally called the "abortion pill" or "RU-486" will become available at Spencer's Planned Parenthood clinic.

The state deputy who took Lehman's call then contacted leaders of the local Knights of Columbus, Council 3965, to help organize Monday morning's protest.

In a telephone interview, Jill June, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa was asked specifically whether Planned Parenthood has identified Mifepristone as a need in Spencer. Here's an exchange from that portion of the interview:

Q: "Do you anticipate that Mifepristone is going to be administered from the Spencer office?"

A: "If we determine that there was a need at any one of our locations throughout the state, we would work to provide and meet the needs of the women in that community."

Q: "So, would women in this community be able to anticipate that being available here shortly?"

A: "No, I wouldn't say that. I would say that, again, Mifepristone is offered at six clinics throughout the state right now and Spencer is not one of them."

Q: "OK, would you like to see it expanded beyond the six locations?"

A: "I would like to be sure that women have access to all of the medications that they need throughout the state."

Q: "What I'd like to pin down -- and I know that I've been asking it in a different way several times here -- in Spencer, do you think you would like to add the Mifepristone?"

A: "As I said, we do not offer Mifepristone in Spencer. We would not rule out offering it anywhere that we believed that women needed it and couldn't get it."

---- Russ Mitchell