Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus, local pastors, pro-life advocates and dozens of local citizens gathered in front of the old Dillman Eye Clinic on North Logan Avenue in Danville, Illinois at noon Monday, March 27th to protest the planned opening of an abortion facility.
State Representative Chris Miller (R-Oakland) opened the press conference and was joined by State Representatives Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) and Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur). Rep. Miller is also the chairman of the Illinois Freedom Caucus.
In his opening remarks, Rep. Miller lamented the fact that this newly planned clinic is just yet another example of the expansion of the abortion industry, calling Illinois, “the baby killing capitol of the Midwest.” Miller went on to criticize Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker who issued a proclamation on March 10th to be “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day.”
Speaking about the tyrannical “Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act” (SB 1909) and the wonderful “Ultra-Sound Opportunity Act” (HB 1148), Miller added:
The pro-death advocates want to talk about choice, but they’re the same ones who are actively promoting legislation to shut down crisis pregnancy centers here in Illinois. They’re also the same ones who are against legislation that requires abortion providers to provide 4D image scans for anyone that’s seeking an abortion. The reality is that abortion is only a matter of choice when the choice is to pay an abortion provider to have an abortion.
State Rep. Niemerg was the second speaker, and he began his statements by insisting that “the people of Danville don’t want this abortion clinic in their community.” He continued by reporting how his office is getting a flood of calls from local residents who are upset with this development.
Rep. Niemerg grieved the fact that abortion “is the most protected industry in Illinois,” saying:
Abortion providers in Illinois get proclamations from the governor, recognizing them. They get to perform abortions on minors. Minors who can’t go on a school field trip without a parent or guardian signature, but can have abortions in Illinois without parental notification.
Abortion providers get immunity from lawsuits. Abortion doctors that have lost their licenses in other states can open up a clinic here in Illinois and get their licenses restored, no questions asked. This new clinic in Danville won’t have to live up to the same standard of care we require for other providers. They get to provide cheaper, less safe care with zero liability. But of course, abortion advocates in Illinois say they are taking care of women.
It is a complete farce. We don’t need more abortions in Illinois and we certainly don’t need this clinic.
If we really wanted to do something to improve healthcare in rural Illinois, we would work to find a solution to the doctor’s shortage that we are now experiencing. About 75 of 102 Illinois counties are considered primary care deserts. We have a physician shortage in rural Illinois, and the far left solution is akin to a mechanic changing the tires on a vehicle to fix the fuel pump. The physician shortage is real…
One of the things that my office encounters a lot is the exasperating process of assisting licensed physicians and nurses from other states to get licensed within the state of Illinois. They often have to wait months to get licensed here. Many professionals simply just give up and go get licensed elsewhere. The state of Illinois pulls out all of the stops to help get abortion providers up and running, and then they even go do further things than that. This double standard needs to stop. We should be prioritizing nurses and doctors who save lives instead of propping up and promoting those whose practice is oriented around destroying lives.
Speaking to the moral and spiritual warfare side of abortion, Pastor Paul Rebert of First Baptist Church of Danville:
A society that kills for convenience, that tolerates and promotes the victimization of those without a voice, but feels it has the right to decide which innocent lives live or die. That advances the logical fallacy that because a human being is on the wrong side of a cell wall, it no longer deserves to live. A society that elects officials that are elected on the platform of genocide is one that is in deep need of God’s mercy. And there in our community, it’s not only a resistance to those who want to put this forward, but there is a broken-heartedness over children who are going to lose their lives. I think of the words of Habakkuk who looked out on a society like we see in America, like we see in Illinois, and he said these words.
“In the midst of wrath, in the midst of a society who deserves God’s wrath. God, would you be merciful?”
And so, we as a group, we come and we ask the Lord to be merciful. Merciful to children who will no longer exist. Merciful to moms who once this is all over will live oftentimes a guilt-ridden life, whether they admit it or not. Mercy for a community who desperately needs God’s grace. And while decision makers in Chicago make choices, we as pastors are left to pick up the pieces of destroyed lives. That’s what we’re left to do.
And so, we need God’s mercy. Mercy in a battle over the lives of those who’ve been victimized because they’ve been sold a bill of goods. This is their right. Mercy for those who live in depression, then hopelessness and despair because they think that there isn’t any other way out, and the way they thought would help actually ends up doing more harm and destruction.
When I say beloved, there is an answer, and his name is Jesus. He is the solution to what we face. He loves you. He gave us life for you. He will help you. He will save you. And can I commend to you his words?
“Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
That’s the answer to our community…
Pastor Rebert closed his remarks in prayer.
Other speakers included Mary Kate Zander of Illinois Right to Life and Mark Lee Dickson, of Right to Life of Eastern Texas.
Background
The work before us continues here in deep blue Illinois. Our ongoing mission is to educate family members, friends and neighbors about the evils of abortion. We’ll need to continue working to change hearts and minds regarding the science of when life begins, and, most important, the fact that we are all created in the image and likeness of our Creator. As such, every human has an intrinsic and inestimable dignity and worth. (Genesis 1:27)
Our culture is drifting far and fast away from God. We no longer seek for or value the things of God. We see proof of that in a birth rate which is disastrously low and STI rates which are disastrously high. The disregard for life is also evidenced in the gang violence in our cities and by the skyrocketing suicide and overdose rates plaguing communities throughout the nation. Abortion is merely a quick fix that enables us to get back to these hedonistic pursuits.
In response to the explosive growth of the abortion industry in Illinois, followers of Jesus Christ must be diligent in praying for the courage, strength, and wisdom to engage the culture forthrightly on the abortion issue. According to an article posted by WCIA.com:
President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois Jennifer Welch sent a statement to WCIA 3 saying: ‘[We] support expanding equitable access to abortion care to all those who need it in our safe haven state.’ She also said reproductive healthcare is a human right and we need as many providers as possible.
Expanding the number of abortion facilities in Illinois to accommodate the dismemberment and destruction of innocent pre-born human beings does not constitute the gain of women’s “reproductive healthcare.” Abortion robs the pre-born of bodily autonomy, body integrity, and the most fundament human right: the right to life.
We agree with Pastor Paul Rebert: “Lord have mercy!”
