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The Southern Front

Pro-Lifers Engage Abortionist at Chula Vista Clinic

BY ANNA KRESTYN

The pro-life movement in San Diego has seen some promising events in recent months at Clinica Medica para la Mujer de Hoy, the abortion clinic located at 1550 Broadway in Chula Vista.

Established in 1997 by Dr. Nicholas G. Braemer, the abortion clinic survives mostly on Hispanic women, and it's been the site of well-publicized atrocities. Braemer and his two assistants, Dr. Mohamed Dia and Dr. Laurence Reich had among them a history of Medi-Cal fraud, botched abortions, and sexual abuse and battery of female patients. Braemer gave up his medical license in 2000 after being accused of gross negligence by the state medical board. He left the clinic in the hands of Dr. Philip Rand whose record includes over 30 lawsuits for personal injury filed against him by female patients. After yet another botched abortion, Rand surrendered his license in March of 2005. He was the fourth abortionist associated with the clinic to lose or surrender his license.

In 2001, the clinic closed its first location on Chula Vista's H Street -- half a block from Saint Rose of Lima -- but reopened the practice at the current Broadway location.

Catholics and non-denominational groups have prayed and counseled at the clinic since it opened its doors on H Street. Recently, one of the groups took a new step on the road to ending the atrocities at Clinica Medica by establishing dialogue with the new abortionist, Dr. John Rivera, who has had his own share of legal and medical board problems stemming from drug use and the groping of a young woman in the Gaslamp Quarter in September 2001.

The pro-lifer who reached out to Rivera is Luis Mendoza. He began to visit the clinic regularly over a year ago. When asked what moved him to take a more active role in pro-life issues, he began with a little family history. "I didn't plan anything," he said. "My wife and I had adopted a baby, Martin, who at five months was diagnosed with pediatric liver cancer. After going through chemo therapy, a liver transplant at the age of nine months, and multiple other procedures, he died of complications on July 12 of 2004. After his death, I told Shirley [Henry, a fellow sidewalk counselor,] that I wanted to do something in honor of Martin, and she suggested that I start coming to the clinic."

Mendoza, who now goes to the clinic three times a week, made his first visit on September 24, 2004, the day that his son Martin would have turned five years old. "I met Phil Magnan there," Mendoza recalled, "and he told me that there was a group of Presbyterians that had gotten permission to be in front of a restaurant next to the clinic. They needed a Spanish speaker, so I joined up with them and started working around the clinic hours. [The restaurant is] in a very strategic position [for sidewalk counseling.]"

Asked about his successful attempt to establish positive contact with the staff, Mendoza answered, "It's a unique situation -- you try to have some sort of respectful relationship with the staff."

When asked how he ended up getting Dr. Rivera to talk to him, he said, "It was initially confrontational with the doctor, but we gradually began talking, and at some point we went to coffee. He said, 'You're not going to change my mind, and I won't change yours, but we might as well talk.'"

This "talk" has led to a willingness on the part of the abortionist to make his patients aware of their options. "At this point," said Mendoza, "I've given him the options for women such as Birthline and Culture of Life, and he has begun to present these options to his patients and tell them that they can come and talk to those of us who are outside."

Since Mendoza has begun communicating with Rivera, the clinic has cut its hours back. Their schedule has changed from three to two days a week. Mendoza doesn't credit his efforts for the schedule change. He believes it was caused by cuts in advertising and staff.

Mendoza urged fellow pro-lifers to pray for the cause always, even when one may not have the ability to come and join in sidewalk counseling. "We can never underestimate the power of prayer," he said.

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