2001 Little Notes
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Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

MARCH 2001 LITTLE NOTES

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Attorney Bill Gillespie of the United States Justice Foundation, who represented Brock and Sullenger, considered the ruling good news. "We won on the most important issues of law, "he said.

Although other provisions of the injunction were upheld, including a 25-foot buffer zone around the clinic's only entrance, Gillespie seemed confident that those more minor issues could be dealt with successfully during the trial. No trial date has been set in the case first filed in March, 1999, against Brock, Sullenger, Sylvia Sullivan, Troy Newman, Ken Scott, and Scott's wife, JoAnn. Sullivan and Mrs. Scott were dismissed earlier from the case and each awarded $11,000 in attorney fees, a decision Planned Parenthood attorney James McElroy is appealing.


PATRONS AT TOM HAM'S LIGHTHOUSE on Harbor Island Sunday morning, January 28 faced a line of pro-life posters as they prepared to eat a $35 brunch put on by California Abortion Rights Action League.The guest speaker was the league's director Belle Taylor McGhee, joined by congresswoman Susan Davis.

During the protest, a woman approached pro-lifer Ken Davies and told him "You are a blot on the landscape." Pointing to his poster, Davies responded, "You are so angry because you have consented to this. You are celebrating murder." The woman walked past two female pro-lifers to confront Royce Sullivan, telling him, "You are a disgusting creature." Several motorists including the driver of a San Diego Charter Company bus made obscene gestures at the group; however, one jogger gave a thumbs-up sign as he ran past saying, "Thank God we've finally elected a president who has some pineapples."

News Notes reporter Allyson Smith spotted a car license plate that said "BARKACS." Following the vehicle into Tom Ham's parking lot, she confronted Craig Barkacs, USD professor and candidate for Duncan Hunter's congressional seat in November.

"Are you Craig Barkacs?" Smith asked. "Yes, I am," answered Barkacs. "Did you run against Duncan Hunter?" "Yes, I did." "Do you teach at USD?" "Yes, I do." "Are you here for the banquet?" pressed Smith. "Yes, I am," confirmed Barkacs. Smith identified herself as a writer for News Notes and asked Barkacs how he could teach at a Catholic university and attend a pro-abortion banquet. Barkacs responded, "Your school [USD] is in favor of academic freedom, and that's why I support freedom of choice."

"You can't support this," said Smith. Barkacs insisted, "I do support the right of people to decide for themselves; I really do, and I'd be a hypocrite [to do otherwise]."


IT'S NOT EASY. Channel 5, Channel 7/39, and Channel 6 reporters covered the January 28 pro-abortion brunch at Tom Ham's, during which they interviewed pro-lifers and abortion supporters. Channel 7/39 reporter Stephanie Taylor shared her husband's positive reaction to viewing an ultrasound of their pre-born son. As Taylor was leaving, a pro-lifer asked her, "How do you handle being pro-life and working in the mainstream media?" Taylor replied, "It's not easy, believe me. There are very few of us."


FULL RIOT GEAR. Roe v. Wade anniversary activities began on Saturday, January 21, with sidewalk counseling and prayer at the Family Planning Associates abortion clinic in La Mesa. 75 pro-lifers gathered. They carried signs asking Bush to protect the babies and one of them carried a large American flag and a sign reading "God Bless John Ashcroft."

Police presence was unusually heavy; officers in full riot gear from La Mesa and the San Diego police departments observing the gathering.

Later that morning nearly 40 of the pro-life supporters participated in a prayer walk in the neighborhood of abortionist Robert Santella. Santella is serving a four-year term of probation with the Medical Board of California, his second such disciplinary action, for hurting women in his ob-gyn practice. Led by Pastor Adlai Mack of Christians United in the Word of God and Pastor Gary Cass of San Diego Christians United, the group gathered to pray for Santella's repentance and conversion.

A smaller group of about 30 gathered in the late afternoon at the First United Methodist Church in Mission Valley during an evening service there to expose the congregation's support of abortion. Preaching and prayers over a bullhorn by pastors Mack and Cass underscored the Biblical position on respect for life and begged the church to come to repentance.

On Sunday, January 21, the California Life Coalition sponsored a memorial service at West Hills Christian Fellowship. Pastor Ralph Ovadal, from Wisconsin Christians United exhorted the group of over 100. Testimonies were given by David Garcia and Evelyn Wills of San Diego Christians United, who told of babies saved through their activism.

The coalition held a press conference on the Roe v. Wade anniversary in front of Planned Parenthood in Mission Valley to comment on President Bush's decision that morning to ban funding of groups that provide or promote abortion in foreign countries. Sylvia Sullivan and Pastor Gary Cass praised Bush's decision and called for Governor Gray Davis to follow suit.


DON'T KILL ALL THE LAWYERS. California Life Coalition director Cheryl Sullenger was contacted on January16 by San Diego police, five days prior to her group's Roe v. Wade memorial activities concerning their intent to assemble in the neighborhood of abortionist Robert Santella. She was informed that the city attorney's office had advised the police that signs bearing the abortionist's address were in violation of a city ordinance restricting residential picketing and warned her that anyone carrying such signs could be subject to "citizen's arrest."

Sullenger contacted attorney Katie Short of Life Legal Defense Foundation, which helps pro-life activists. Short faxed a letter to city attorney Casey Gwynn, mayor Dick Murphy, and San Diego police chief David Bejarano clarifying that San Diego's ordinance does indeed not restrict information on signs since content-based restrictions are unconstitutional. Short was contacted two days later by assistant city attorney Leslie Devaney who concurred that the address signs were legal and assured her that Sullenger's groups would have no problems conducting their usual activities in Santella's neighborhood.

During the event, police were courteous and there were no incidents. "Everything went very smoothly, thanks to Katie and Life Legal Defense," noted Sullenger. "She had a response on the city attorney's desk within three hours of the initial call from the police."


ABORTION PILL HITS TOWN Family Planning Associates announced on February 6, 2001, that they would be dispensing RU486, at their La Mesa abortion clinic. At least two other local abortionists have refused to offer the drug. Dr. David Priver stated his objections in the San Diego Union Tribune (September 28, 2000): "The drug ... can take a week, 'and some women will bleed and cramp through the whole time,' Priver said. 'The uterus is empty, but they've been through a bit of an ordeal....' Priver had another concern that doctors who 'aren't too good at what they're doing' may mistake the age of the fetus and prescribe RU486 for women who are 10-12 weeks pregnant or more....' After that, you can get partial abortion and hemorrhaging,' he said."

A receptionist in the office of abortionist Bruce Tarzy indicated to a recent caller that he also would not prescribe RU486. "He thinks its a hassle for women," she said.


PRO-LIFERS WHO RETURNED to Granite Hills High School on January 18 were not sure what to expect. Last October, several of the group were attacked and spit upon by students and adults as they attempted to distribute literature to students of the high school located on Madison Avenue in El Cajon. This time they invited City Councilman Bob McClellan to observe.

But before the first pamphlet could be handed out an adult dressed in a Granite Hills lacrosse team T-shirt approached pro-lifer Steve Klein. "He was threatening me, but I just walked away," Klein said. The man left and returned a few minutes later with a lacrosse stick and seemed to be on friendly terms with the high school staff. He later tried to pick a fight with pro-lifer Mike Horutz but the police intervened and sent the man on his way.

Pro-lifers had video cameras rolling as the bell sounded to dismiss students for the day. As one student approached them, he removed his jacket to display his T-shirt, "Get God Out of El Cajon." Another student knocked fliers out of a pro-lifer's hands and kicked over a stack of pamphlets that had been placed on the sidewalk.

"Although there were no physical attacks, I think this time was actually worse than the first," noted Ronald Brock, who arrived in a motor home sporting a large sign bearing the Ten Commandments.

Staffers told students to keep moving and discouraged them from accepting the pamphlets or talking with the pro-lifers. One girl stopped to look at the signs and was approached by a male staffer who put his arm around her and walked her away from the signs.

An woman, identified as Linda, attempted to place a painting over photos held by the pro-lifers. Two other women arrived with a sheet and held it over one of the pro-life signs, all the while bumping and jostling with the protesters. Complaints to the El Cajon Police officers on duty, including Lieutenant Jim Cunningham, fell on deaf ears.


CALIFORNIA'S ENERGY CRISIS is taking its toll on abortionist-owned Los Alamitos Race Course, according to a small article buried in the sports section of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The notorious Edward Allred, owner of Family Planning Associates, owns the Orange County quarter-horse track, which is running during daylight hours for the first time since 1994. Business is down 30 percent as a result. "Our electric bill is typically $700 to $800 a night," said Jeff True, Los Alamitos' director of marketing and simulcasting. "We were looking at $80,000 just to turn on the lights. You can't stay in business that way."


THE CULTURE OF LIFE FAMILY SERVICES CENTER will open its doors in Escondido this March to provide natural family planning classes in English and Spanish, free of charge. The classes, all of which start at 7 pm, are taught by diocesan-certified instructors. The Spanish-language class, taught by Ismael and Liz Onofre (760-727-5111) will be held on March 13 and 27, April 10 and 24 and May 8 and 22. The English-language class, taught by Carol Lazarus, will be held on March 14 and 28, April 22 and 25 and May 9 and 23. The Center is a new outreach of the St. Dismas Guild, headed by Deacon Ken Finn, his wife Marie and Dr. Nicholas Jauregui, MD. The Center is located at 221 South Grape Street in Escondido, adjacent to the office of Dr. Arthur Stehly, MD, at 211 South Grape. For more information in English and Spanish, call the Center at 760-746-4503 or contact the St. Dismas Guild, P.O. Box 2129, Escondido, CA 92033, phone: 760-751-8541, e-mail: bendictus1@aol.com, web site: www.stdismas.org.

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