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Published: August 26, 2008

“Don't let anyone pressure you into doing this”

Pro-lifers continue saving babies from certain death in San Diego

News from the Trenches

Family Planning Associates, San Diego
Saturday, Aug. 9

We had six prayer warriors and one sidewalk counselor at FPA this morning. Thanks be to God and through all your prayers, we had one miraculous save today! One couple chose life for their unborn baby.

Between 7 and 8 a.m. it was busier than usual, with approximately seven women/couples in that first hour. The abortionist, Robert Santella, arrived at 8:10. I was able to hand out the flier on Santella's horrific medical history, the pink flier outlining the emotional/physical/spiritual effects of any abortion, as well as a rosary to most who came in that first hour.

One older man and woman were sitting in their car (in the parking lot) waiting for the nurses to arrive. When they exited to enter the mill, there was a very young girl (she looked no more than 13) who walked up to the mill with another young woman and the older man and woman. I sensed it was this youngest girl who was going in for the abortion. The older man was the first to come out of the mill and waited on the ledge. Then, the older woman came out, followed by the other young woman. After a while, they exited the parking lot, driving up to me.

With his window down, I approached the man and told him about the horrific medical history of Santella. He listened and then said, "She was raped (referring to his youngest daughter) and we came here to get rid of it." What struck me, first, was the word "it." I found myself repeating the word out loud and then said to him, "I can only imagine your anger towards whoever hurt your daughter and can understand your anger. Your daughter must feel scared, but the ‘it’ here is her rape and not the unborn baby inside her. What will happen, now, is your little girl is going to feel victimized twice, violated twice. You couldn't stop the first rape, but you can stop her from the worst experience of her life. You can rescue her, now, and help her begin to heal," and then explained Culture of Life Family Services, etc.

While he listened to everything, his only response was, "We're all hungry and we want to go get something to eat now." Continuing to pray non-stop to the Holy Spirit for help, I said, "I know you'd rather not think about this, but that is your daughter up there and part of that innocent little unborn baby is a part of her, your grandchild. They both desperately need your help. You couldn't help her the first time, but you can help her now." Sadly, he said he had to go. Right before he pulled out, I handed him the pink flier with the ectopic unborn baby, a Rachel's hope flier and two rosaries and told him I would pray for him, his daughter and his family.

The young woman in the second car appeared to be 3-4 months pregnant. When she and her boyfriend pulled into the parking lot, I told them all about Santella's record. Then I said to the young woman, "You look as if you may be in your second trimester" and when she nodded, I then explained a little about how dangerous second trimester abortions are, as well as what her unborn baby looks like (and can do) at this stage. The young woman, ‘C,’ nervously smiled, as did her boyfriend, ‘S.’ Giving them a COLFS card and rosary, I told them they didn't have to do this and that there is help for them and explained exactly how COLFS could help them. They took all the information and drove in.

Almost 45 minutes later, they drove out the driveway, by me. Thank God, she had not had the abortion -- though I could tell she had been crying. I asked them what happened and the boyfriend said, "We thought about what you said, we couldn't sign the papers and decided we are going to keep our baby." Looking at the young woman (who was obviously upset) I said, “I know you are scared. You did make the right decision and God will help you both." Then I told them where COLFS is located and explained when they're open, etc. They both smiled and said thank you and then left.

Several cars came in after they left. Most of them took the information on Santella's horrific medical record and a COLFS business card. One man drove past me, very fast, in a brand new, expensive car with the windows up, and without looking at me, gave me the finger.

A car with two women in it drove past me and the driver would not take anything. However, the driver looked angrily at me. When they exited the car, it was the driver who went into the mill and the passenger who drove out of the parking lot. When she stopped to wait for the traffic, I attempted to hand her a flier and a rosary, but she wouldn't take anything. So, I said, "God bless you, honey" as she drove off. Awhile later she drove back into the parking lot and parked right by me and motioned me over to her. She said, "I tried to talk my girlfriend out of having this abortion, but she wouldn't listen. A few years ago I, myself, came to a place like this but couldn't do it and decided to keep my baby," and then showed me the picture of her child.

She also shared with me that they had a couple who told her girlfriend, ‘N,’ not to have this abortion and that this couple would adopt the baby, but ‘N’ would not listen. I asked if ‘N’ had more than one abortion and she said, "Yes. Several." I told her she would be a better friend if she didn't drive ‘N’ to the abortion mill and instead prayed for her. She agreed. I gave her the blue flier on Santella, the pink flier -- and then I gave her the rosary I prayed on all morning. "This is the rosary I have been praying on this morning,” I said. “Take this inside with you and through Christ and His mother, get your friend out of there. You can do this." She took the rosary and said, "Yes, I can," and then we prayed together before she went back into the mill. She stayed inside a very long time. Sadly, she eventually came out alone.

The last couple I spoke to was young. The young woman and her boyfriend were both 20. When I handed her a COLFS business card, she said had already phoned them (another day) and since they didn't do abortions, she came here. I hadn't met them before today. She looked very frightened. He looked determined. She told me she thought she was at least 12 weeks pregnant, and while she and I were talking, he kept interrupting stating he had to take time off from work and wasn't taking anymore time off to go anywhere. I then offered to take her to COLFS myself (at her convenience) so that she could get an accurate ultra-sound and to talk to their staff.

The boyfriend then said, "She was partying and so she has to have the abortion." I responded to both of them, "Her partying before and up to now in her pregnancy doesn't mean anything. However, stopping now would." I could tell she was very hesitant and he was the one pressuring her and so I said to her, "Please wait until Monday to talk to a competent doctor, COLFS, and you can see your ultra-sound. (She had been told she needed one to see how far along she was). Don't let anyone pressure you into doing this. Abortion is legal, but not safe and has many consequences.” Then I reviewed what some of them are (and showed her the pink flier and the six-week-old ectopic baby). I asked her, again, to give herself until Monday and then asked her to consider my offer of transportation. The boyfriend insisted that they had to go and before they did, I handed her a rosary. As we were leaving for the day, I noticed that they weren't going in the mill, but were talking to each other (and reading the fliers) outside the door. After a while, sadly, they, too, went inside. We left. So, I have no idea if they ever came out again. Please pray for them.

Thank you to the six public prayer warriors who came out to FPA today and to those who prayed, at home or at work. Your prayers continue to save lives!

Please continue to pray for ‘C & S’ so that they continue in their resolve of choosing life for their unborn baby, for ‘N’ and all the others who went into to FPA today, and for Robert Santella and staff. Please also pray for the young woman who tried to talk her friend out of having the abortion and, though not Catholic, gladly, accepted a rosary with confidence.

-- Terry

Family Planning Associates, San Diego
Aug. 2, 7:40 a.m. to 10 a.m.

We were blessed with seven prayer warriors who prayed reverently in front of a crucifix they had set up on a small altar.

In the two hours I spent in front of this abortuary, I counted 12 women entering -- substantially down from the 20 to 30 we used to count at their previous address.

At 8:19, I spoke with the driver of a car as it entered the parking lot. There was a female passenger in the front seat and another in the back seat. Handing the driver a brochure titled “A Few Things You Should Know About This Clinic,” I went over the acts of gross negligence that have been committed by the mill’s abortionist and are summarized in the brochure. They listened intently. The driver said a decision had not been made, but they wanted to go in and ask some questions. I handed the driver a Rosary, but he politely refused it saying he did not believe in that.

At 8:37, I spotted the same car exiting the parking lot. From where I stood, only the driver and front seat passenger could be seen. The back windows of the car were tinted, making it impossible to see anyone in the back. The driver gave me a friendly wave as they left. This may have been a change of heart on the part of the abortion-minded mother. But since I could not see the second passenger, I will call this a possible turnaround. When I left the mill at 10, the car had not returned.

At 8:51, I spoke with a Hispanic couple. We spoke about the abortionist’s record of negligence and about the blessings of giving a baby to a loving couple in adoption. They listened but still went into the mill. When I left at 10, they were still in the mill. Her name started with a ‘V,’ his with a ‘G.’ Please lift up this couple in prayer.

-- Luis Mendoza, MEV

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