Tag: abortion

North Carolina Youth Group Trained Teens as Young as 14 to Become ‘Abortion Doulas’ in Two-Day Event at UNC Charlotte

A recent report has uncovered that a youth collective affiliated with Advocates for Youth hosted a two-day in-person “Abortion Support Training” at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in November, explicitly open to participants as young as 14 years old.

The event was organized by the Youth Abortion Support Collective (YouthASC), a nationwide network of young people under the umbrella of Advocates for Youth.

The training aimed to teach attendees the tools, resources, and skills needed for “abortion support” work, including how to become an “abortion doula,” companion, or support person.

According to the official event invitation, the training was described as follows:

“This training is for young people ages 14-24 and will provide an introduction to the tools, resources, and skills for abortion support work. We welcome anyone who is interested in becoming an abortion doula, companion, and/or support person. The training will center youth-led abortion support efforts, specifically for high school and college students, but we will also discuss how to offer support as community members and continue advocacy after leaving campus.”

The invitation further explained the role of an “abortion doula” using a definition from Dopo, the partner organization that helped develop the curriculum:

“Anyone that can physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually hold space for someone before, during, and/or after abortion.”

The program covered clinical and non-clinical settings for procedural and medical abortions, as well as strategies for organizing campus communities to build networks.

The training was promoted as part of a broader national effort by YouthASC to make “abortion doula” training accessible to activists aged 14–24. Advocates for Youth has run similar youth-focused programs, including multi-week online series and in-person sessions at other campuses.

The group has also hosted panels on “abortion funding for minors, challenges young people face in accessing care, and the state of abortion access in our region.”

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Depopulation agenda marches forward: UK House of Lords passes legislation legalising DIY abortion up to and during birth

Clause 208 of the Crime and Policing Bill, originally introduced in the House of Commons by Labour Member of Parliament (“MP”) Tonia Antoniazzi, was debated in the Commons in June 2025 for only 46 minutes and passed with 379 MPs for and 137 MPs against.

The House of Lords’ vote on Wednesday followed a failed attempt by Baroness Rosa Monckton to remove the clause entirely.  The change does not alter the current 24-week legal limit for abortion but eliminates criminal sanctions for self-induced terminations beyond that point.

Critics, including Christian groups and other pro-life groups like Right to Life and Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (“SPUC”), argue the Bill passed by the Lords undermines safeguards, increases risks to women’s health and could lead to more late-term abortions, including of viable babies.

When the Bill was passed through the House of Commons in June 2025, Catholic Archbishop John Sherrington said, “New Clause 1 lifts any criminal liability for women performing their abortions for any reason, at any time … Women will be even more vulnerable to manipulation, coerced and forced abortions. This legal change will also discourage medical consultation and make the use of abortion pills for dangerous late-term, at-home abortions more likely.”

“New Clause 1” was renumbered Clause 191 while passing through the legislative process in the House of Commons.

Last month, Right to Life warned that Clause 191 “would change the law so it would no longer be illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason, including sex-selective purposes, and at any point up to and during birth, likely leading to a significant increase in the number of women performing dangerous late-term abortions at home.”

Clause 191 was renumbered to Clause 208 during the House of Lords’ Report Stage.

Ahead of the vote in the House of Lords, Archbishop Sherrington said, “Apart from the further threat Clause 208 poses to the lives of unborn babies and the health of their mothers, this change would leave women more susceptible to coercion and abuse.”

Michael Robinson, Executive Director of SPUC, said, “These profound changes to the Abortion Act are being pushed through without any pre-legislative scrutiny, public consultation or a detailed impact assessment … those supporting these changes have done so based on ideology and without a proper understanding of their adverse effects.”

Former Health Minister Maria Caulfield warned that the change would mean “infanticide … would become possible with no legal consequence,” adding that “our society will be damaged and its moral credibility greatly diminished.”

The Lords also voted to reject an amendment by Baroness Philippa Stroud to reinstate in-person consultations with a doctor to be able to receive abortion pills.  “A return to such appointments, removed during [covid] lockdown, would have better protected against women taking the pills after the ten-week limit which they are designed for,” The Christian Institute said.

Adding, “Abortion pills are not supposed to be used beyond very early stages, but the current ‘pills-by-post’ scheme allows women easy access to the drugs regardless of their child’s gestational age.”

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TN bill would allow death penalty for women who have an abortion

Two Tennessee Republicans are seeking to impose the death penalty on women who have abortions, requiring the same penalties for women “involved in the homicide of her own unborn child” as defendants charged with homicide.

An amendment drafted for House Bill 570/Senate Bill 738 that’s not yet been voted on would allow prosecutors to charge women who obtain abortions with fetal homicide, punishable by life imprisonment, life without parole, or in some cases, the death penalty.

Sponsored by Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, and Rep. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, the bill was referred to the House Population Health Subcommittee and is not yet on the calendar to be considered.

The bill specifically removes legal protections for pregnant women currently in statute, and classifies harm done to an unborn child as equal to assault on a person “born alive.”

It would not apply to “a spontaneous miscarriage,” or to “unintentional death of an unborn child” after “undertaking life-saving procedures” to save the life of the mother and “to save the life of the unborn child.” No other exceptions are specified in the amendment text.

Retroactive prosecutions of women who were “involved in the assault of her unborn child” or “involved in the homicide of her own unborn child” before the bill goes into effect would not be allowed.

If passed, the bill would take effect July 1.

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Gretchen Whitmer Defends Abortion: Killing Babies for Profit is “Just Good Economics”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defended the killing of unborn babies in abortions Wednesday during her State of the State address, claiming pro-abortion laws are “just good economics.”

Whitmer, a pro-abortion Democrat, was re-elected to office in November along with a new Democrat-controlled state legislature. Together, they have promised to repeal a 1931 state abortion ban and ensure that abortion on demand remains legal in Michigan for years to come.

Speaking at the state Capitol in Lansing, Whitmer made the argument that killing unborn babies in abortions is good for the economy, according to a video of her speech from The Recount.

Portraying abortion as a “freedom” and a “right,” she said: “Protecting these freedoms is the right thing to do, and it’s just good economics. States with extreme laws are losing talent and investment, because you know what? Bigotry is bad for business.”

The Democrat governor promoted killing unborn babies even while promising to work for a “brighter future” for all Michigan residents, State of Reform reports.

“I can’t wait to share my vision for our state as we move towards our bright future, and lay out my plans to lower costs, bring supply chains and manufacturing home to Michigan, and ensure Michiganders have unparalleled economic opportunity and personal freedom,” she said ahead of her speech.

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Virginia Democrats Pass Amendment for Abortions Up to Birth

Virginia Democrats have pushed through a radical constitutional amendment to enshrine abortions up to birth in the state constitution, sending the measure to voters in a November referendum after party-line votes in the General Assembly.

The amendment, which would establish a so-called “fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” advanced quickly in the Democrat-controlled legislature. It cleared the House on party-line votes after committee action on January 14, and the Senate followed suit.

Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, a key sponsor, framed the amendment as protecting health care and contraception, even though it would allow killing babies up to birth for any reason.

Republicans opposed the amendment unanimously. Some attempted amendments to preserve parental consent laws or ensure care for babies born alive, but these were rejected by extreme Democrats who want no limits on killing babies before birth.

From a pro-life perspective, the amendment represents a grave threat.

Virginia’s Catholic bishops, Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington and Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond, condemned it as “extreme and deadly,” warning it would enshrine virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy.

In their joint statement following the passage, the bishops called the fast-tracked approval “truly shocking to the conscience” and said the measure “would go far beyond even what Roe v. Wade previously allowed” by providing “no protections whatsoever for preborn children.”

They highlighted risks to Virginia’s parental consent law for minors, health and safety standards for women, conscience protections for healthcare providers, and restrictions on taxpayer-funded abortions.

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Virginia Democrats Move To Establish Limitless Abortion, Ban Guns, And Gerrymander Districts

The Republican-run government of Virginia has four days left in office, and Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., along with Democrat majorities in the Commonwealth’s legislature, are going to start the ball rolling with expanding abortion, making sure felons can vote, and implementing gun restrictions.

Responsible political leadership in Virginia might be focused on answering things like the housing affordability crisis, which has been made much more acute with the importation of foreigners to the most populous areas of the state.

Democrats coming into power in Virginia will hold a 21-19 majority in the state Senate and a 64-36 majority in the House of Delegates. Their top priorities include four proposed constitutional amendments: To expand abortion even later in the pregnancy and make it impossible to restrict (Virginia already allows most abortion up to 26 weeks — the most permissive in the entire South); to enshrine homosexual unions as a right; to automatically restore voting to felons who have completed their sentences; and to allow for mid-decade congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms, where Democrats could nuke up to four Republican-held seats through gerrymandering.

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Puerto Rico Enacts Groundbreaking Law Recognizing Unborn Babies as Persons from Conception

In a significant victory for the pro-life movement, Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón has signed a new law that officially recognizes unborn babies as “natural persons” from the moment of conception.

The legislation, known as Senate Bill 504 or PS 504, amends the territory’s Civil Code to affirm the preborn baby’s personhood for civil purposes, such as inheritance rights.

Signed into law in late December, the measure establishes a legal and moral precedent by embedding the recognition of life beginning at conception within Puerto Rico’s framework.

While it does not alter the island’s existing abortion statutes or introduce new protections against abortion, pro-life advocates hail it as a symbolic step toward building a culture of life.

Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life, celebrated the development, telling Life News, “National Right to Life celebrates this landmark achievement for the pro-life movement. Puerto Rico’s clear and courageous recognition of preborn babies as persons reflects a deep respect for life and provides a powerful example for lawmakers throughout the United States. Legal personhood for the preborn is not only consistent with science and human dignity but is the foundation upon which a culture of life can flourish.”

Tobias further emphasized the law’s broader implications, saying, “Puerto Rico’s action stands as a compelling reaffirmation that the protection of human life at all stages is a fundamental civil right. This measure underscores the essential truth that every human being—born and unborn—deserves equal protection under the law.”

The law aligns Puerto Rico’s civil code with the biological reality that human life begins at fertilization, promoting equal protection for the unborn.

“This historic legal recognition marks one of the strongest pro‑life affirmations within U.S. jurisdictions. By explicitly acknowledging the inherent dignity and personhood of the preborn, Puerto Rico has taken a principled and scientifically grounded step to align its civil law with the biological reality that human life begins at fertilization,” Life News explained.

Pro-life groups describe it as one of the strongest affirmations of life within U.S. jurisdictions, potentially paving the way for future legislation that could include an abortion ban to safeguard preborn children.

By acknowledging the inherent dignity of the unborn, Puerto Rico sets an example that could inspire similar actions in other states and territories, reinforcing the pro-life stance that every life deserves respect and protection from conception onward.

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Book Aimed at 5-Year-Olds Claims Abortion Is ‘Superpower’

A radical abortion group is selling a children’s book that frames killing unborn babies in abortions as a “superpower.”

Shout Your Abortion has been promoting a book aimed at children five to eight years old called “Abortion is Everything,” which will begin shipping to purchasers in January 2026. A description on the organization’s website says the book tells children “about what abortion is, how it might feel, and why people have abortions.”

The description of the book reads:

With accessible, inclusive language, Abortion Is Everything frames abortion as the actualization of a uniquely human superpower: our capacity to imagine the future and make choices that lead us towards the life we envision. Abortion is a tool that allows human beings to shape our destinies, and which has shaped the entire world around us,” the description of the book reads.

Parents, caregivers, and educators who work with children have long been searching for a tool to talk with kids about abortion, especially given the volume of political noise currently surrounding the issue.

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WEAPONIZATION EXPOSED: Justice Thomas Corners New Jersey AG’s Counsel — Confirms Subpoena for Pro-Life Donors Issued Even Though NO ONE Complained

Justice Clarence Thomas forced New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin’s chief counsel to admit that the state launched an intrusive investigation into a pro-life pregnancy center without receiving a single complaint about the organization.

During oral arguments in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin, Justice Thomas methodically dismantled the state’s justification for issuing a donor-snooping subpoena targeting First Choice, a faith-based, pro-life pregnancy support network that has operated for over 40 years.

Justice Thomas drilled into a simple, devastating question: “You had no basis to think that they were deceiving any of their contributors?”

Sundeep Iyer, chief counsel to AG Platkin, conceded that New Jersey received zero complaints about First Choice Women’s Resource Centers.

Instead, he claimed the state merely “canvassed public information” before issuing a sweeping subpoena demanding years of internal records, including confidential donor information.

Iyer further admitted that the state did receive complaints about other pregnancy centers, but not First Choice.

First Choice, a faith-based pro-life nonprofit operating in New Jersey since 1985, provides free ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, counseling, and material support to women. It is fully upfront about its pro-life mission, stating on every page of its website that it does not provide or refer for abortion services.

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Pregnancy Center Lawfare: Will the Supremes End This?

Tuesday, Dec. 2, will determine whether America’s crisis pregnancy centers can operate freely or whether politicians in pro-abortion states can continue to harass them with lawfare. Tuesday the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin. 

At stake is “the future of pregnancy centers in America” said David Bereit, executive director of Life Leadership Conference. 

How the case started

In November 2023, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin sent subpoenas to the First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, demanding 10 years’ worth of records. The material requested included all solicitations and ads, statements on abortion pill reversal, information given to women, information about outside organizations First Choice worked with, and, most worrisome, staff information and identities of their donors.

There were “no allegations of wrongdoing…. It was a fishing expedition,” said Aimee Huber, executive director of First Choice Women’s Resource Centers. “The idea of compiling this… was daunting,” she said during an emergency webcast briefing scheduled by the Life Leadership Conference. 

Thousands of people nationwide and 40 different pro-life organizations attended the briefing Monday night, said David Bereit, executive director of the Life Leadership Conference. He called it “a pivotal case…weaponizing government power to intimidate, investigate and shut down centers.”

First Choice has served over 36,000 women over the last 40 years through its five locations. “New Jersey has the fifth highest abortion rate,” Huber said. “Since do not refer for abortions, we are a target.”

Critics of pregnancy centers such as First Choice smear them as ‘fake clinics” just for that reason.

Erin Hawley, senior counsel and vice president of the Center for Life, Alliance Defending Freedom, will be arguing for First Choice Tuesday in front of the Supreme Court.  ADF filed a suit in federal court asking the district court to enjoin the subpoena. 

Hawley explained that the district court dismissed the subpoena, saying that federal courts were not a remedy because First Choice first had to go to state court. “Once the state court rules, then there are a couple of legal doctrines that basically say, once one court has decided it, another court can’t,” she said. This is even through Congress expressly provided legislative relief allowing this. 

Numerous organizations not ideologically aligned with First Choice filed amicus briefs supporting First Choice. “They all agree the right to present first amendment claims in federal court when you have been harassed by a hostile official is something that is guaranteed,” said Hawley.

Since the Dobbs decision reversed Roe v. Wade in 2022, pregnancy centers have been busier than ever supporting women and children. Last week the Charlotte Lozier Institute released their 2025 report stating that pregnancy centers had helped over one million women in 2024, and that material support (everything from diapers to car seats) skyrocketed 48%. 

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