Card. George Refuses to Stop Pro-Abort Al Sharpton from Appearing at St. Sabina's

Catholic Citizesn of Illinois ^

[provakatuer]

By Karl Maurer, Vice President and Treasurer

Chicago Catholics are reacting with anger and shock over a press release by Cardinal George late Friday afternoon.

The release reads as follows:

"Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., learned from the news media that the Rev. Al Sharpton has been invited to speak at St. Sabina's on February 9 in the course of celebrating Black History Month. The Cardinal supports the celebration but does not approve of the invitation because of the Rev. Sharpton's present political candidacy and his pro-abortion stance."

"Since the homily at Mass is a liturgical action, the homilist is to be a bishop, priest or deacon. This is the normal sacramental discipline of the Catholic Church. Archdiocesan policy also respects the civil internal revenue laws prohibiting direct political campaigning during a worship service."

"The Cardinal believes, however, that making a case of this invitation at this time would be a futile gesture and a waste of effort."

Rev. Michael Pfleger, the pastor at Roman Catholic St. Sabina's on Chicago's south side had scheduled Rev. Al Sharpton to preach at St. Sabina Church Sunday, which was reported by Irv 'Kup' Kupcinet in the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday Feb. 4 and also Sun-Times religion writer Cathleen Falsani on Tues. Feb. 5.

Rev. Sharpton, who has declared himself to be a presidential candidate in the upcoming Democratic primary, is a Pentecostal minister ordained at age 10 in 1964.

In addition to Al Sharpton, black-focused academic Cornel West, a self described Marxist, will speak at St. Sabina Friday Friday Feb. 7.

In an interview with Falsani, Fr. Pfleger indicated that Sharptor and West were not expected "to contradict [parishioners'] beliefs as Christians." They are to "cause [them] to think out of the box, ask the difficult questions and wrestle with the answers."

The two were allegedly invited to publicize "poverty and homelessness and racism and health care," which are "on the backburner [and are] not even being addressed" because Americans are "obsessed with . . . overseas terrorism [and have] ignored the terrorisms we had here long before Sept. 11."

Earlier this week, Jim Bowman of Blithe-spirit.com reported, "Rev. Sharpton, who supports the right to abort a baby, has a checkered past. He gained national fame when he vigorously espoused the cause of a New York woman who falsely claimed that some policemen had raped her and has never admitted he was wrong."

Sharpton told Falsani during her interview with him that this was his first time preaching in a Catholic church. "The comfort," however, "is that Father Pfleger is a different kind of a Catholic priest," he said. Different, indeed.

During the activities in Washington DC on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, Sharpton appeared at several events sponsored by pro-abortion groups, and indicated his support for abortion on demand and the so-called "woman's right to choose."

Fr. Pfleger has given his pulpit to other pro-abortion speakers, including singer Harry Belafonte on Sunday 1/20, when Belafonte chastized Bush for being pro-life and threatening a "woman's right to an abortion."

Pfleger has also several times hosted Black muslim firebrand Louis Farrakhan, ridiculer of the Pope and castigator of Judaism as "a gutter religion."

Canon Law in the Catholc Church prohibits any person who is not a bishop, priest or deacon of the Catholic Church to preach during Mass, specifically precluding Sharpton from speaking, and putting Father Pfleger in direct violation of Catholic Church regulations. Cardinal George's press release today curiously excluded any mention of this obvious breach in Church law, which Pfleger has committed several times, evidently with little fear of reprisal or disciplining.

The appearances of Sharpton, Belafonte and Farrakhan aren't the first times anti-Catholic speakers have been welcomed to use Catholic pulpits to disseminate their un-Catholic views.

In 2000, The United Power for Action and Justice held a rally at St. Alexander's in Palos Heights, Illinois where several pro-abortion speakers, including then State Senator Lisa Madigan, spoke in favor of health care reform legislation that actually included provisions for abortions. Speakers at that meeting also campaigned for increases in welfare spending, and encouraged attendees to vote against politicians who objected to welfare programs. Palos Heights resident and Roman Catholic State Senator Patrick O'Malley, upon hearing of the meeting, took his concerns directly to the Cardinal.

In a meeting with the Cardinal George, Senator O'Malley indicated his support for policies reported to be in use in Pennsylvania, which made then Gov. Tom Ridge (a 'pro-choice' Catholic) ineligible to discuss public policy on property under the control of the Bishop.

"Cardinal George's response," stated Senator O'Malley, "was that he was familiar with the Bishop in question, that he held him in high regard, and the policy in our diocese was much the same as the policy described in the news article. Cardinal George also informed me that local pastors were bound to enforce the rule, and further, they were obligated to know who was a pro-life official and who was not."

Local Catholics have responded to Cardinal George's decision with bitter disappointment.

Chicago Archdiocese parishioner Tina Mahar left several messages with the Archdiocese and recieved no response. "This is a clear violation of Canon Law," noted Mahar. "Al Sharpton should not be speaking ANY time in ANY Catholic Church!"

Bill Beckman, also a Roman Catholic and Executive Director of Illinois Right to Life was equally outraged. In a letter to Cardinal George, Beckman pointed out that Pfleger's conduct was clearing in contradition to the policies the Cardinal had assured Senator O'Malley were in place. "This subject was raised previously," said Beckman.

Beckman went on ask who was running the Archdiocese, George or Pfleger? "Who is in charge of whom? What is so difficult about requiring that Al Sharpton appear in the parish hall AFTER Mass, consistent with norms you cite? How can that be a "futile gesture and a waste of effort'?"

Mary Anne Hackett, President of Catholic Citizens of Illinois, was also disappointed. "The comment, “this is a futile gesture and a waste of effort” is outrageous," said Mary Anne Hackett, President of Catholic Citizens of Illinois. "I can only hope that Cardinal George has been misquoted. But I can tell you for every baby killed because of Al Sharton’s position on abortion, it is not a waste of effort. For every Catholic pro-lifer who expects some moral leadership from the Church, it is not a waste of effort. For every Catholic pro-abortion politician headed for Hell, it is not a waste of effort. We want this pro-abortion preaching in our Catholic Churches to stop. It is already 30 years late."

The Illinois Leader (www.illinoisleader.com) has reported that a protest has been planned outside of St. Sabina's on Sunday morning at 10:30AM. St. Sabina's is located at 1210 West 78th Place Chicago, Illinois 60620 (one block north of 79th and Racine.) Oddly enough, calls to the Archdiocesen Pro-Life Office on Friday afternoon confirmed there was going to be a protest at St. Sabina's, and that representitives of the Pro-Life office intended to participate in the protest!

Cardinal George has spoken out strongly against abortion in the past, and was highly visible in Washington DC during the Roe vs. Wade anniversary. Hundreds of a pro-life activists from Illinois visited Washington, and were warmly welcomed by Cardinal George at several pro-life events.

Father Pfleger has been a thorn in the side of the chancery for several years. His recent conduct is a continuation of past outrageous acts in defiance of Roman Catholic Church authority. Some Catholics have speculated that Father Pfleger is trying to force a showdown with Cardinal George, who has already suggested that Father Pfleger consider leaving the Catholic priesthood based on his apparent disdain for Catholic teaching and norms.

Maybe by Monday morning, that will have happened.

[provakatuer]

We have pro-abortion Catholic politicians, because we have Bishops who do nothing to stop them, or any other pro-aborts.

[ultima ratio]

Notice how these bishops and cardinals place political correctness ahead of the faith. They do this with the gay issue as well. Their real religion is liberalism. The Catholic faith comes second.

[NYer]

"The Cardinal believes, however, that making a case of this invitation at this time would be a futile gesture and a waste of effort."

Time to freep the cardinal ....

For General Inquiries:
Archdiocese of Chicago
155 E. Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611
312-751-8204
312-751-5307 - Fax

Apparently Fr. Pfleger is no stranger to controversy. The following story appeared in The Black Electorate news magazine.

The majority vote of the Southside Catholic Conference to deny the entrance of a Black Catholic Church, St. Sabina, into its youth sports league on grounds that its neighborhood is too dangerous to play in has sparked a heated discussion in Chicago over faith and race. At the center of the controversy is Rev. Michael Pfleger, the White pastor of St. Sabina's who, for years, has challenged the Catholic Church to become more responsive to racism, and a man who has a very unique relationship with Nation Of Islam Leader Minister Louis Farrakhan.

There is a growing number of conservative black politicians who can speak intelligibly and responsibly, providing a more balanced view, especially during Black History Month.

[heyheyhey]

Time to freep the cardinal ....

I would be more careful. You may unwittingly join the side of the enemies of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal George is one of the finest and the most orthodox bishops in the US.

I recommend reading his bi-weekly columns in the Catholic New World.
Chicago isn't exactly a Boston, but there are very many comparable problems there with disobedient and unorthodox clergy.

Please see SHARPTON'S ST. SABINA VISIT UPSETS CARDINAL in today's paper.

[heyheyhey]

The pastor at St. Sabina is the one who invited Al Sharpton. On March 30, 2000 Zenit wrote about Fr. Michael Pfleger,

CHICAGO PRIEST PAYS PROSTITUTES TO LISTEN TO GOSPEL
Parishioners Enthusiastically Support Program

CHICAGO, MAR 30 (ZENIT).- Fr. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina's Parish in Chicago has come up with a novel method of bringing the Gospel to women victimized by prostitution. He is paying them to listen to the Gospel.

"We want to buy their time, whether it's for 10 minutes or 30 minutes, whatever it takes," he stated. "If you're selling yourself on the street, you're not in a relationship with God. Obviously there's something missing, something out of whack with their lives; I'm not afraid to make that assumption."

Fr. Pfleger has gained attention in the past by his protests against the Jerry Springer Show and against the marketing of alcohol and tobacco to teenagers. However, he assures confidentiality in this program, whose outreach times will not be publicized, so as to protect the prostitutes from the intrusive eyes of the media.

He told the Chicago Tribune that parishioners "ran out of the pews and started bringing money and placing it on the altar," when he announced the plan during a Sunday Mass. This outreach fits in as part of the Archdiocesan evangelization program, which will start next month.

"It's time to start being the Church in reality, besides having church on Sunday mornings," stated Fr. Pfleger. "We've forgotten that our call is to go outside of the Church."

[heyheyhey]

Another piece of information about Fr. Pfleger from his parish website,

http://www.saintsabina.org/outreach/billbrd.htm

[Dionysius]

The real Roman Catholic Church was flushed down the toilet of Vaican II. I'm not sure of what entity George is a representative.

[heyheyhey]

Pro-Abortion "Reverend" Al Sharpton to Speak at St. Sabina's in Chicago
Catholic Citizens of Illinois ^ | 2/5/2003 | Jim Bowman

Posted on 02/06/2003 6:55 AM PST by provakatuer

[Land of the Irish]

Cardinal George is one of the finest and the most orthodox bishops in the US.

Yeah, tell us about "orthodox".

Jim Dwyer, chief spokesman for the cardinal, said George decided to issue the statement regarding Sharpton's appearance after his office was flooded with complaining calls and e-mails.

But the cardinal isn't demanding that the invitation, made by the Rev. Michael Pfleger, St. Sabina's pastor, be rescinded because "making a case of this invitation at this time would be a futile gesture and a waste of effort," the statement said.

[heyheyhey]

Yeah, tell us about "orthodox".

I was talking about orthodoxy in the Roman Catholic Church :-)

To learn why getting into the St. Sabina mess would be a futile gesture and a waste of effort read the following 2001 articles,

The Cardinal's Statemnt on St. Sabina

Bishop's Reflections on the St. Sabina Controversy

MALIK MIAH's [whoever that is...] reflections on St. Sabina

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

I emailed the Archdiocese on Thursday and predicted that George would do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about Pfleger. The way to get the Cardinals' attention is to have the collection basket go empty beginning this weekend throughout the Archdiocese. Place notes of explanation inside the offertory envelope in lieu of cash/check. Instead, Chicago Catholics should send their money to EWTN or Priests for Life or some other Catholic organization that understands what being Catholic means.

Saint Athanasius was right.

[Land of the Irish]

Your links have nothing to do with the issue:

A non-Catholic, pro-death presidenial candidate is invited into a Catholic church, by a Catholic priest, to tell the parishoners to "think outside the box".

What will Francis George do?...........Nothing!


1 posted on 02/05/2003 9:47 PM CST by Land of the Irish

[Land of the Irish]

If you're talking about race issues: has Rev. Michael Pfleger ever invited Alan Keyes, a Catholic, pro-life former presidential candidate to speak to his congregration?

[ELS]

Actions speak louder than words.

Canon Law in the Catholic Church prohibits any person who is not a bishop, priest or deacon of the Catholic Church to preach during Mass, specifically precluding Sharpton from speaking, and putting Father Pfleger in direct violation of Catholic Church regulations. Cardinal George's press release today curiously excluded any mention of this obvious breach in Church law, which Pfleger has committed several times, evidently with little fear of reprisal or disciplining.

Do orthodox bishops allow flagrant violations of Canon Law by clerics who clearly dissent from Church teachings to occur without any disciplinary consequences?

Why are heretics allowed to run rampant in most archdioceses while faithful, practicing Catholics are either ignored or walked all over?

[St.Chuck]

Thanks for the links. St. Sabina and Fr. Pfleger are certainly complex issues. Was surprised to learn that Fr. Pfleger is an adoptive father. Have been listening to what he says in his sermon. No surprise that he would invite Al Sharpton to visit.

[St.Chuck]

Fr. Pfleger has one foot in schism....in his last sermon he actually challenges the pope and the cardinal to remove him from this church.

[heyheyhey]

IMO, the heart of the problem is the enormous size of archdioceses like LA, Chicago, Boston. You may have the best bishop on earth put in charge of it and physically not being able to oversee all properly.

[heyheyhey]

Fr. Pfleger needs to be freepped and not the Cardinal. Pfleger is otherwise a good man and could be a very good priest if he were obedient to the teachings and the authority of the Church.

His example shows the confusion among some clergymen that the "social justice" issues are separated from and placed above the pro-life issues. Somehow they don't see the obvious connection.

[St.Chuck]

You may have the best bishop on earth put in charge of it and physically not being able to oversee all properly.

I was hoping that auxiliary bishops were assigned to help out in that regard.

[heyheyhey]

Instead, Chicago Catholics should send their money to EWTN or Priests for Life or some other Catholic organization that understands what being Catholic means.

Cardinal George is very much pro-life and at the top of the NOW's and Planned Parenthood's black lists.

Every January he travels to DC to participate in the March for Life.

[heyheyhey]

I was hoping that auxiliary bishops were assigned to help out in that regard.

But still it is primarily the Ordinary Bishop's responsibility as we see from the massmedia's attention :-)

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

A person so committed to life wouldn't allow bigoted, racist, baby murdering proponents like Belafonte, West or Sharpton inside a Catholic Church in his archdiocese, let alone near the altar, unless they were there to convert with humble and contrite hearts. These people publicly mock the teachings of the Church. He also wouldn't allow a person like Pfleger to remain a priest. George has dropped the ball.

[nickcarraway]

Has anyone heard Rev. Sharpton talk about anything vaguely Christian?

[heyheyhey]

Women in Distress Not an Appropriate Target for Cardinal's Protest Says Catholic Leader

Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a Free Choice, responded today to the news that Cardinal Francis George, leader of the archdiocese of Chicago, will lead 900 anti-abortion demonstrators in a protest outside a Humbolt Park abortion clinic.

[St.Chuck]

It is likely that Pfleger would remain pastor at St. Sabina's and the whole church would leave the Catholic fold. Is that a good result of George removing him? And of course, George and the Catholic church would be painted as racist and elitist, and hypocritical in terms of it's preference for the poor. It appears that the Cardinal is in a predicament here. What would you do, your eminence?

[heyheyhey]

Cardinal George to Celebrate Mass in D.C. During Pro-Life Activities, Jan. 21-22

George to lead anti-abortion vigil

Cardinal criticizes abortion verdict

Time for all Catholics to oppose the N.O.W.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Surely both you and the Cardinal realize that the Church is not a democracy. Pfelger and all his parishoners are free to pack up and leave. No one is holding them hostage and there are far too many CINOs among the laity and clergy already. They won't be missed. St, Sabina's isn't the personal possession of Pfelger, he's a caretaker. Had George been proactive rather than reactive he wouldn't find himself in this current dilemma. Pfelger should have been history a long time ago, even before he started adopting children.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Cardinal George tolerates supporters of the murder of babies speaking in Churches in his Archdiocese. Instead of traveling to DC to say Mass he should stay home, behave in a consistent manner and clean up the mess at St. Sabina's.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Pfelger = Pfleger

[heyheyhey]

I don't intend to get into further arguments, I just have a lot of confidence in Cardinal George. He is a 100% solid pro-lifer.

He is the one and only who definitely decides what is best for the parish and the Archdiocese. I trust his judgment in this matter more than anyone else's, including the good Catholic Citizens of Illinois.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

He is a 100% solid pro-lifer.

His inaction regarding Pfleger and Saint Sabina's contradicts your statement.

[heyheyhey]

Last November Pfleger said he might leave the priesthood if he could not serve a fourth term as a pastor at St. Sabina. The whole thing is politically, racially and emotionally charged. Cardinal's heavy-handed action could bring even more devastation.

If I were the Cardinal I'd just wait and see; some people need an extra time to realize their folly. It's like the fruitless fig tree from the Gospel that needs an extra year and extra fertilizer to grow fruit.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

George is following the path of convenience as opposed to the path of conscience. You don't really believe that Pfleger is going to undergo an epiphany and realize the error of his ways, do you? Think that those projects Pfleger wants to complete include defacing more billboards and recruiting more hookers or hearing more confessions? George is the Archbishop, not Bernardin and not Pfleger.

[heyheyhey]

More Pflegerconfusion among the faithful,

Some St. Sabina parishioners speculated that Pfleger was being punished [by the Cardinal] for his often high-profile ways — he’s taken on drug dealers, painted over alcohol and tobacco billboards in his community and been arrested some 40 times for acts of civil disobedience. He’s also said there’s racism in the Catholic Church and that there is not a consistent level of support of the black community by the church.

[heyheyhey]

Pflegerconfusion debunked.

[Notwithstanding]

Pfleger is a George Stallings wannabe - Stallings played this game in D.C. and eventually left the Church and appointed himself a bishop of his new church and then performed pseduo-ordainations.

Stallings is liberal goofus. So, too, this Pfleger.

[St.Chuck]

Pfleger is a George Stallings wannabe

Thank you. I've been trying to remember that scenario all day. That situation is exactly what Cardinal George is trying to avoid.

[Aloysius]

He is a 100% solid pro-lifer.

He may be anti-abortion, but that doesn't make him pro-life. Can you provide a slew of links where Cardinal George speaks out against the evils of birth control?

[ninenot]

George has dropped the ball.

Well, I manage to agree with BOTH of you. He's a solid man but has dropped the ball.

What's intriguing is the question "why?"

It's obvious that the public statement expresses both disapproval and frustration. There's a little more, though, and that's the reference to "...at this time."

Is Pfleger out of there, but just doesn't know it yet??

[ninenot]

That situation is exactly what Cardinal George is trying to avoid.

I've been around in business for too long to have ANY hope that it will be avoided. There's no doubt in my mind that Pfleger will leave the Church--it's only a question of when and how.

George should be working hard on tactics which will make Pfleger's departure favorable to the Church--not to Pfleger.

[Notwithstanding]

I think the cardinal is trying to give Pfleger enough rope by which to hang himself. Perhaps he has given Pfleger a departure date - a firm one - and he expects Pfleger to try to fight him on it. By allowing this sinister crap now the cardinal thinks he is buying himself some "reasonableness points" with the congregation and press. If Pfleger's days are already numbered, the cardinal may be right about this fight no being worth the triuoble, but I always hate to see blatant, public abusive behavior by priests go unpunished by the bishops.


My theory is that we are better off withOUT priests and bishops (and Catholic laymen) who persist in snubbing their noses at the Truth in such bold and public fashion. But I am not a clergyman or a bishop and I try very hard to trust the Holy Spirit to guide those who are. It is hard to know when or if that same Holy Spirit is asking me to raise hell when I see things that are fishy.

[Land of the Irish]

What is debunked?

Flap over Pfleger at press time, a flurry of media reports incorrectly stated that Father Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Parish on the South Side, was being “ousted” as pastor by Cardinal George. A statement regarding Pfleger’s tenure was released April 12 by the Pastoral center. It said, “Priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago serve as pastors for six-year terms. Normally each priest serves two terms ... and is then assigned to another parish. Exceptions are built into the Priest’s Placement Policy, which permits the extension of a second term or even the granting of a third term if a priest is near retirement age or engaged in a special project.” Hundreds of priests are transferred each year. Pfleger completed his third term in November. “Contrary to media reports,” said the statement, “he has not been ‘ousted’ as pastor of St. Sabina, any more than any other pastor is ‘ousted’ at the end of his term.” Discussions with Pfleger, Cardinal George and the Priests’ Placement Board have been ongoing for some time. Reports in secular newspapers and TV quoted Pfleger as threatening to leave the priesthood if he was reassigned.

You have an apostate priest being not only tolerated, but pampered by a so-called Prince of the Church. Good riddens to Pfleger and all his supporters, including George.

[victim soul]

What in the world are Cardinal George and this pastor thinking of??

How can Al Sharpton be considered a Civil Rights hero when he appeared with NARAL celebrating 30 years of abortion on demand and promised to deny The Civil Rights of newly created American children of God while tens of thousands of Catholic youth filled the streets of Washington for the March for Life?

Al Sharpton is is cooperating with known racists. He supports NARAL and Planned Parenthood,the population controllers extraordinaire, who "provide for a fee and taxpayers dollars" the annihilation of his race.

Due to the policies of Planned Parenthood et al, the Black community has been ravaged by population controllers providing abortions and thus eliminating a disproportionate share of the black community which has not only lost a future generation but also their permanently decreased voting voice.

Giving this man a platform in a Catholic Church while his political party is passing laws to mandate Roman Catholic institutions and hospitals to provide sterilization, contraceptives and abortifacients is nothing less than despicable.

Abortion is the ultimate child abuse and I can only pray that Freepers will demand that his invitation to speak is withsrawn.

And this pastor should be sent on a retreat and be assigned the duty of sitting through some Project Rachel meetings and listen to the pain and sorrow of post abortive women.

A public apology is due to all the unborn who have no voice and the Faithful who are stunned by his lack of discernment.


What in the world is Cardinal George thinking of??

"In 1992, ...Black teenagers' rates of pregnancies, births and abortions were 2-3 times those of whites;

http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/journals/2911597.html

Hispanic teenagers had rates of births and abortions between those of blacks and whites.

While similar proportions of pregnant black and non-Hispanic white teenagers had abortions (40% and 38%, respectively), the proportion was lower among Hispanics ( 29%).

Among all women 15-19, the birthrate rose 12 points between 1987 and 1991; one-third of the rise (four points) may be attributable to a fall in the abortion rate. Between 1991 and 1995, the birthrate of black teenagers fell from 116 to 96 per 1,000, a level well below that of Hispanics (106 per 1,000)."

The American Black population has a huge proportion of abortions and their teenage girls have been used a guinea pigs for all kinds of experimental contraceptives. Norplant in particular -- as didn't you know the black girls are not bright enough or responsible to take their pills.


(Norplant® is the registered trademark of the
Population Council
for levonorgestrel implants.)info at http://www.plannedparenthood.org/BIRTH-CONTROL/Norplant.htm)

PRI Weekly Briefing
6 September 2002
Vol. 4/ No. 21


>ABOUT FACE: Norplant Victim Sues Wyeth, OBGYN for $120 Million
By Steve Mosher

>The Norplant victim featured in a recent PRI Weekly Briefing (June 18,2002) is suing Norplant maker Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and the OBGYN, Yazoo City Medical Clinic, 307 E. Fifteenth Street, Yazoo City, Mississippi,
which provided her with the dangerous contraception and then informed her that her serious side effects were not the result of the implant.

The suit points out that as a direct result of the Norplant implant received by this woman in 1993, she has suffered, and will continue to suffer, headaches, dramatic weight gain, facial, chest and stomach hair growth, and constant bleeding, blurred vision, heart damage, seizures which render her disabled, and other damage to her mind and body.

In addition, the mother “has been caused to suffer… enormous medical costs… loss of enjoyment of life and her normal daily activities and >reduction of her life expectancy. She has also suffered a loss of earnings and her earning capacity.”

“Defendents Wyeth and the Yazoo City Medical Clinic should have known, and in fact did know, that Norplant potentially causes these and other drastic side effects… also causes additional serious negative effects on the physiology and biochemistery of tissues in many women taking Norplant, and
thus has a general toxic effect upon such women. Defendant, Wyeth,continuously and deliberately failed to make full disclosures of information regarding known risks of Norplant to the public. Specifically,Defendant Wyeth failed to disclose to the appropriate agencies known conditions and circumstances wherein the use of Norplant presented an
increased risk of dramatic weight gain, debilitating headaches withseizures, and birth defects.”

The suit notes that the woman sought her attending physician at the Yazoo clinic to remove the implant but she was informed that “in no way couldher symptoms be attributed to Norplant.”

Also named as a plaintiff in the suit is the woman’s husband, who is now deprived of his wife’s society; and their daughter, who was conceived in 1996 before the Norplant was removed, and born prematurely. This young
girl will suffer serious abnormalities throughout her life. The daughter’s abnormalities include underdeveloped lungs and kidneys.

The suit points out that the mother’s “condition only worsened over the years, until her present attending physician removed the implant; however,although the implant was removed… she is now permanently disabled from the
accompanying seizures.”

Wyeth “deliberately concealed” the known risks of Norplant from potential consumers and caused victims “to believe that Norplant could be safely continued.”

Throughout the period that defendant, Wyeth, was concealing information about the risks of Norplant, from consumers, Wyeth was reaping enormous profits from the sale of the drug.” The suit includes seven counts of wrongdoing: fraudulent misrepresentation; strict liability; breach of
express warranty; breach of implied warranty; negligence; reckless and negligent misrepresentation and lack of informed consent.

Norplant Contraceptive Off the Market

Could countless lawsuits have led to Norplant’s demise?

By Sara E. Weltz
October 30, 2002

http://cwfa.org/library/life/2002-10-30_norplant-fda.shtml

Taking birth control once and not worrying about it again for the next five years may sound like some women’s dreams. But is it worth losing their vision (some or all), bleeding 572 out of 630 days, losing hair or gaining excessive hair in unusual places, gaining 40-60 pounds, or experiencing seizures and/or headaches? Women around the world who are suffering these effects are shouting a resounding, “No!”

Norplant is this birth control dream turned nightmare. Wyeth Laboratories Inc. (a subsidiary of American Home Products Corporation) manufactured the contraceptive in conjunction with the Population Council, a pro-abortion research institution.

This particular Norplant consists of six matchstick-sized rods implanted under the skin of the upper arm. The rods secrete a hormone (levonorgestrel) over the course of the next five years, which prohibits pregnancy.

Norplant is also known as an abortifacient. According to contraceptive and abortion promoter Planned Parenthood, one of its effects causes a hostile environment in the uterus, which aborts a living embryo up to a one week old. This incident occurs mainly in the third to fifth year of Norplant implantation.

The FDA approved Norplant on December 10, 1990. It claims that extensive clinical trials, involving some 55,000 women from 46 countries, have proven both the safety and the efficacy of Norplant. But 11 years later, 50,000 Americans alone have retained lawyers to sue over the traumatic effects of this drug.

Wyeth denies responsibility and blames medical providers who did not inform women of side effects or the difficulties in removing implants.

However, it can be assumed that Wyeth is feeling pressure because it has removed Norplant from the market. The company released a letter stating, “Due to the limitations of product component supplies, Wyeth does not plan to reintroduce the six capsule Norplant System.”

Wendy Wright, senior policy director for Concerned Women for America, says, “Norplant’s sordid history of being tested on poor women in developing countries without being fully informed and dealing with devastating consequences should have been enough to forewarn industry and government officials. It’s too bad the ‘product component supplies’ didn’t run out sooner.”

The first goal of the FDA’s mission is to “promote the public health by promptly and efficiently reviewing clinical research and taking appropriate action on the marketing of regulated products.”

Many Norplant patients are claiming that the FDA did not follow this structure. Joining them, CPS Communications Inc., a healthcare publisher, printed a document this September stating that the “[FDA] exists to promote industry interest, not protect consumers.”

“Putting ideology or drug company interests above patients’ health happened when the FDA approved both Norplant and RU-486 (the abortion pill ),” said Wright. “Apparently, for some in the FDA, women patients are expendable in the goal of barring babies.”

While Norplant has been removed from the market, no thanks to the FDA, RU-486 remains FDA-approved and widely available. Two women have died from RU-486 and numerous others are carrying the scars of its effect.

[Salvation]

**"Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., learned from the news media that the Rev. Al Sharpton has been invited to speak at St. Sabina's on February 9 in the course of celebrating Black History Month. The Cardinal supports the celebration but does not approve of the invitation because of the Rev. Sharpton's present political candidacy and his pro-abortion stance." **

I'm glad that Cardinal George spoke out on this. Makes me wonder, however, if the priest will get his wrist slapped.

[Salvation]

**Pfleger, who declined to comment Friday**

From the article -- looks like the priest has lost his tongue.

[Salvation]

**Fr. Pfleger has one foot in schism....in his last sermon he actually challenges the pope and the cardinal to remove him from this church.**

Let's hope the door doesn't hit in the behind when he leaves!

[Salvation]

**Fr. Pfleger needs to be freepped and not the Cardinal.**

I agree with you here!

[Scupoli]

What's intriguing is the question "why?"

Does Pfleger know any damaging information about Cardinal George?

[Jeff Chandler]

Ping.

Jump in, dude. This is low hanging fruit, ripe for the picking.

[Dajjal]

What will Francis George do?...........Nothing!

It's clear to me what Cardinal George ought to do: he ought to take full charge of this opportunity to purify the spirit of the Rev. Sharpton.

All he has to do is bring in some Native Americans and have them waft the Reverand with the smoke of smoldering sweetgrass, sage, tobacco and cedar.

This simple ceremony should purify Sharpton's soul, and, hopefully, exorcise him of his pro-abortion views.

Problem solved.