Showing posts with label Rowena Slusser. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rowena Slusser. Show all posts
Monday, June 1, 2015

President Signs Rape Survivor Child Custody Act Into Law! by Rebecca Kiessling

After passing the U.S. Senate 99 to 0, our model legislation from Hope After Rape Conception -- the Rape Survivor Child Custody Act (H.R. 1257) -- was signed into law by President Obama on Friday!  Our co-founders from HARC, Shauna Prewitt and Analyn Megison worked very hard on this, working closely with House sponsor  Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D) and Senate sponsors Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R).

The Act provides an incentive to states to pass legislation providing for a means to terminate the parental rights of rapists, using the "clear and convincing evidence” standard from the U.S Supreme Court case of Santosky v Kramer.  25% of the grant funds are to be allocated to the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program, and 75% of funds go to the Sexual Assault Services Program.  The text of the Act reads that it:  "Directs the Attorney General to make grants to states that have in place a law that allows the mother of any child that was conceived through rape to seek court-ordered termination of the parental rights of her rapist with regard to that child, which the court shall grant upon clear and convincing evidence of rape."
 
In Analyn's home state of Florida, she got the legislature to pass this legislation unanimously, which is how Wasserman-Schultz heard of our model legislation.  Several states are currently working to pass this law, including Michigan and Maryland, while some states' legislation, like Pennsylvania, are insufficient because those bills require a rape conviction. 
 
Both Shauna and Analyn had to fight their rapists for custody.  Shauna is a practicing attorney who I met when I spoke at Georgetown Law while she was attending.  Analyn is a law grad too.  
 
Another board member, Angela Grogg, has been working on getting our model legislation passed in many states, ever since her family endured a court battle fighting her 14 year old daughter's rapist for custody.  
 
Several members of Save The 1 who were conceived in rape suffered molestation by their rapist fathers because they were not protected by law, including Darlene Pawlik and Rowena Slusser.  Other women from our organization, such as Robyn McLean and Darlene Pawlik's mom, were repeatedly raped as their rapist used contact with the child to continue raping her.  As you may expect, women associated with our organization are celebrating as this news came out!
 
We encourage every pro-life organization to get behind this legislation, as Right to Life of Michigan is currently championing this bill.  Not only is it pro-life in effect -- because pregnant rape victims will be more likely to choose life if they know they'll be protected from the rapist, but you'll be able to demonstrate that you really care about these women and their children, and you'll also have the advantage of seeing rape survivor mothers testifying before the legislature at a time when legislators walls are down. Just think of how powerful it is for rape-exception legislators and pro-choice legislators to hear the testimonies of these rape survivors and the love they have for their children -- just wanting them to be protected. 
 
Only a couple of states have this clear and convincing evidence standard, and many states still have nothing at all.  With this new law from Congress, it's the perfect time to begin working with your state legislators to properly protect rape survivor mothers and their children.
 
BIO: Rebecca Kiessling is an attorney and national pro-life speaker who was conceived in rape.  She's the president and founder of Save The 1 and co-founder of Hope After Rape Conception.
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Sunday, May 10, 2015

Murder: Legal With Counseling!!! by Rowena Slusser

Murder: Legal with Counseling!!!
by Rowena Slusser 

BREAKING NEWS: The United Nations Bans The Killing of People By ISIS Members Except If Those People Are Christians. In Those Cases, The ISIS Member Must First Get Counseling From A Non-ISIS Organization To Give Them All Possible Options For Dealing With The Christians! If The Christian Is A Minor, The Parent Must First Be Notified Of The Minor Christian’s Demise.

That is a bit extreme, right?  No, not really. Today I woke up and checked my Facebook. To my horror, I found that Congress is pushing forward the HR36 Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act with a rape exception in it. The wording removes the reporting requirement, and adds that the woman needs to receive counseling, notifying her of all her options. It also says that if a minor is involved, that the appropriate legal agencies are to be notified. What this bill is saying is that aborting a child conceived in rape, a child that can feel pain, will remain legal under the ban as long as the woman gets counseling.

This rhetoric is no different than the fake headline I have above. Yet many Pro-Life groups are celebrating that this bill will go to a vote. As I engaged on social media, I actually had a person post the following in favor of exceptions,
“...Including the exceptions is a smart move, it gives the bill a more feasible chance of  either becoming law or hurting pro-abortion politicians who vote against it.”
To explain away the use of exceptions by calling it a smart move, is inexcusable.  The lives of children conceived in rape or incest/rape should not be used as a pawn to give a law more of a chance to pass or to hurt pro-abortion politicians. This way of thinking is backwards and exploits lives of pre-born babies.

As I watch my Twitter account explode with excitement over this bill going to the floor for a vote, my heart aches. Hearts are calloused to the truth that children conceived in rape and/or incest/rape have value, are just as human, and wanted. We want to be loved. We want to be cherished and protected.

Instead of being loved and protected, we are at the mercy of the people in our mom’s life. Will they support her and help her choose life, or will they pressure and coerce her into having an abortion? And that is where the stigma begins. The stigma that a child conceived in rape receives starts long before that baby is ever born. It is labeled with shame, disgrace and dishonor. Before the child starts his/her life outside the womb, he/she has been given a bad reputation.

This child will be forced to carry the title of the “rapist’s child” or be labeled an abomination. When the child finds out how his or her conception happened, it will most likely feel immense shame. The child will likely hear people say that because of the horrible way the child was conceived, the mom’s life would have been easier if she would have opted for abortion. The child will see news articles quoting Pro-Lifers saying abortion is murder except for the case of rape or incest. Is this truly the message that we want to send?


Have we as Christian Pro-Lifers, lost sight of the fact that EVERY LIFE MATTERS? Please search your heart and open your eyes to see that children conceived in rape or incest/rape have value, deserve to be protected and fought for under this ban. Join others and me from organizations like Save The 1, in calling for an amendment to completely remove the rape exception from the 20-week Abortion Limit bill that is headed to theU.S. House floor on May 13, 2015.

BIO:  Rowena Slusser was conceived by incest/rape. She is a wife and homeschool mother of 2.  She’s available for speaking, and is a pro-life blogger for Save The 1.  She can be contacted at treasureofvirtue@icloud.com, and  also has a personal blog at slussers41999.wordpress.com.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Conceived in Rape - Incest and Pregnant by Rape Twice by Rowena Slusser

I am sharing my story for every girl who lives in silence, and for every person to understand that all life has value and is worthy of protection.

I was conceived in father/daughter rape-incest.  My mother, Becca, was molested by her father throughout her children and was 15 when I was born.  She was offered an abortion by a doctor who had asked her if she had been a “bad girl,” to which she responded that she had not, because she really had no understanding of what he father had been doing to her.  This doctor completely failed to help her break free from the molestation.  In fact, Child Protective Services also failed to protect my mom, even though they were called by the school authorities, and while at school my mom told them what was happening.  Nevertheless, they ultimately sent her home to be abused for several more years.  Despite the pressure to abort, once my mom knew she was pregnant, she understood that a life was growing inside of her which she could not kill, and so, she refused the abortion and chose to bring me to birth.   

When I was born, she said she loved me like a baby doll, but did not know how to care for me.   As a result, her parents, Ruben and Rosa, raised me as their own until I was around 4 years old.  At that time, Becca told me that she was my mom.  Since I didn’t believe her, I asked Ruben and Rosa if this was true, and they confirmed for me that it was indeed true -- they said that what Becca said was correct and that she really was my mom.  I remember feeling confused, and to help myself deal with the confusion, I would call Rosa mom or mamma, and Becca, I would call Becky or mother.  I remember feeling weird in public because Becca was my sister to the public.  Overall, I still saw Becca as my sister and friend, even though I knew she was my mom.

My earliest memory of abuse is as a baby.  My father, Ruben, started to physically and sexually abuse me from around 1 year of age until I was 10 years old.  In once instance, my grandmother Rosa even caught him and threatened to divorce him if he ever did it again, but I was too scared to tell her what was happening.  I knew what he was doing was bad, though I didn’t know the name for it.  I knew that he was bothering me and I didn’t like it.  He was a big man (350+ lbs) and he was violent, so I was terrified of him.  I felt so dirty, defiled and ashamed.  There are so many memories of the sexual abuse and a great deal of pain in recounting any of them.

My young mom did her best to protect me.  One of my memories of her protecting me was around the age 8 or 9.  My father was upset with me about not doing a chore right, so my mom (Becca) told me to hide under the sink and be real quiet.  I did, but felt guilty because I knew what he would do to her.  Sure enough, he gave her my beating.  I could hear it and see from a small hole.  Other times, she would ask me if he was “bothering” me.  I know I would tell her both no and yes. She would ask me if I would want to go or stay if she ever left, and I would tell her that I definitely wanted her to go!  Finally, on November 16, 1988, she secretly took me out of school with the help of our oldest sister, Rachel.  My mom and I ran away with family friends to Plainview, TX, and it was about 7 years before I saw my father or my grandmother again.

Within a couple of months after moving, my mom told me the truth – that my father had sexually abused her as well, and that I was a result of that abuse.  It didn’t shock me because I had a feeling he had been doing the same things to her, but I definitely felt confused, gross, ashamed, and worthless, and wondered how my mother could really love me.

Plainview was supposed to be a new start, but unfortunately, we ended up in an abusive cycle again.  My mom met my step-father at church, and he was a charmer.  He swept my mom off her feet.  I don’t remember exactly how I felt about him, but I do know that I wasn’t happy that he was taking my mom away.  Shortly after my 11th birthday, he talked my mom into letting me spend the night with him and his girls, and she took his youngest son.  That night, my future step-father sexually abused me.  I tried to tell my mom, but the church we were going to gave her bad advice, and they blamed me.  After that, I felt alone and trapped as the abuse continued over the next five years.  

At age 13, I became pregnant by my step-father, though hadn’t realized at the time that I was actually pregnant because I didn’t understand what was going on with my body, and now that I’ve experienced four miscarriages in my life, I realize that I was pregnant by him, ending sadly in miscarrying the baby.  He had told me that if I ever got pregnant, he would force me to have an abortion.

Until after my sixteenth birthday, I was trapped in a very destructive relationship with my step-father.  He was completely warped and told me strange things such as that he wanted to marry me and wanted me to raise my younger sisters and brother.  I prayed for a way out!  I thought that I would suffocate from the inside and out.  My way out was close, though I didn’t know that at the time.

My family started going to a new church.  This church would be the path to freedom that God used to end the abuse.  One day, in June of 1994, my mom walked in on my step-father raping me.  The feeling of doom was so thick, I was smothered by it.  I was sure that my mom was going to send me away, but the next day, she went to our pastor and told him what happened.  This time, the pastor called the police.  Finally, my cage door was opened!  

He was charged and arrested, my step-father and mother got a divorce, the grand jury indicted him, but then the prosecutor cut a plea bargain, so he spent 10 years in prison.  Although some would call this justice, I remember feeling at the time very upset that I did not have my say in Court and I wanted my voice to be heard.  Finally after all of these years, I have the opportunity to be heard!

I have survived sexual assault and rape by my biological father, uncle, half-brother, step-father and other men.  Healing started to happen as I sought out counseling.  At the age of 19, I met my future husband.  He was the first man who treated me with respect and dignity.  We dated for two years before getting married in October of 1999, and he’s been my biggest supporter.  

While my husband was away for training with the United States Navy, when I was 22 years old, I was raped by a stranger in a home invasion while I was sleeping.  I did everything “right” – I went to the hospital where we reported it to the police, and I had a rape kit done.  I was offered the Morning After pill, but I declined because I knew the risks involved.  The perpetrator was never caught.  My husband came home within 48 hours of the rape, and we moved to a new location for obvious reasons. 

About a month later, I had a positive home pregnancy test.  I was scared and alone.  My husband was back at Naval Training again.   I went to a pregnancy clinic, not knowing the difference between a pro-life pregnancy resource and an abortion-friendly clinic which encourages and refers out for abortions.  At this clinic, I was strongly encouraged to have an abortion -- particularly because I was pregnant by rape.  I was completely shocked and appalled!  I told them I did not want an abortion, and I promptly left.  I told my husband that I was pregnant, and I asked him if he would raise the child with me.  I was so scared that he might say no! He told me that just as I was a miracle, this child is also a miracle, and that he would love the child like his own.  In that moment, I felt secure and protected, but at the same time, I felt unworthy of such unconditional love.  Within another month, I began to bleed, and I either miscarried or had a false positive pregnancy test.  I had a accepted the fact that I was going to have a baby, and felt sad realizing that the baby’s life was gone.

I have had four miscarriages and the doctors told me that it was my genetic makeup due to my conception which makes me more susceptible to miscarriages.  Gratefully, my husband and I have two healthy children together.  My path of healing has taken so much hard work, but it has been worth it -- God has been so gracious to me!  I reconciled with my biological father before he died and forgave him.  I have worked with my mom to rebuild a broken and confused relationship.  I am a Christian and find my Hope in Jesus Christ.  I have come to a place of peace about my conception and I can now voice my deep found identity in the One who created me.  

I have now shared my story as pro-life speaker with church groups, youth groups, college groups, in the media and testifying before the state Legislature.  I desire to speak to the value of life -- even the lives of those who, like me, were conceived in incest and/or rape.  As I have come to see my life as a precious gift given to me, I want the unborn lives of all to be protected from abortion, and I want every child to be protected from sexual assault.

I am going on 16 years of marriage with my husband Casey.  We have two beautiful children -- a son and a daughter.  My family and I are members at Heritage Christian Fellowship. This coming Fall, I will be enrolled at Liberty University where I will be getting my degree in Government --Western Legal Traditions, so I may continue on to Law School.  My goal is to become a Constitutional Attorney so I can fight for the rights of the unborn, including those conceived in incest and rape.  I am working towards getting more involved in the Yahoo email support group for those who have conceived in incest/rape or who became pregnant by incest or rape.  I know God is calling me to use my story to offer hope and healing to others, and to show His goodness in my life!

BIO:  Rowena Slusser is a wife and homeschool mother of 2.  She’s available for speaking, and is a pro-life blogger for Save The 1.  She can be contacted at treasureofvirtue@icloud.com, and  also has a personal blog at slussers41999.wordpress.com.
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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

God’s Plan Trumps Murphy’s Law – Our Journey for Justice! by Robyn McLean

It all started with a text:    “Can you drive five hours to Santa Fe to testify before the NM Judiciary Committee on Friday?”

Rebecca Kiessling, a dear friend of mine and Founder and President of Save the 1 -- for which I am a pro-life speaker and writer, wanted me to go to a hearing on two bills being presented to protect unborn children which has exceptions of babies conceived in rape – exceptions not typically included at the state level in late-term abortion bans and parental notification laws.  Rebecca was conceived from rape, and so was my sweet son.  Therefore, we have an even deeper, personal passion in protecting other children coming from similar circumstances.
Earlier, I didn’t have much in the budget for a trip like that, but I had just received some income that week from my website-building business.  Rebecca was able to make the trip because a Facebook friend of hers whom she’d never met had donated the frequent flyer miles in response to Rebecca’s plea in a status update.  I said I was a “go” if I could bring my 4 year old son AJ and if she would be willing to fly into Denver, trek to Colorado Springs, and drive us down to Santa Fe, since I’m a stay-at-home mom and was uncomfortable doing the driving for a long, unfamiliar trip, especially with the snow we were expecting in Colorado Springs.  I knew the snow may be bad in town, but thought how bad could it be if Rebecca and I both from the upper Midwest?   Plus, the forecast for the rest of the trip was all clear – when we checked.
Our obstacles to take off for this cause started early on when I went to put gas in the car.  I didn’t know much about the car my husband and I just purchased, though he tried to tell me it wouldn’t drive as well as the other cars in snow.  Again, I thought, “Hey, I am from Minnesota and drive in crazy North Dakota weather conditions where we had high snow and icicles into May, so I can do this.”  NOT.  I discovered my car was not an option for even picking up Rebecca in Denver after snow was dumped on us and I crashed into a curb on a turn,  then got stuck on a hill where I had to be rescued by my husband.  So Rebecca needed to take the Colorado Springs Shuttle, and had to rent a car – which I said I’d split the cost with her.  Rebecca would have to make the 10:30 shuttle on a 10:04 arrival, or it would be another two hours.  Her flight was delayed 15 minutes, but the shuttle company said they’d give her until 10:45.  She just barely made it!
As it turns out, it was a good thing she didn’t plan to rent a car in Denver, because her credit card was lost and had her husband’s which wouldn’t suffice for renting a car!  My husband secured the rental with Rebecca as a driver, costing us all more of course.  When she arrived with the rental to pick me and AJ up, we got stuck in the parking lot – three times!  We were exhausted after much shoveling, pushing, ice-chipping, and grueling work, and we hadn’t even left the parking lot!"  More than two hours later than originally estimated, we finally hit the road.
Most of our trip was through blustery snow and extreme blizzard conditions.  We saw traveling vehicles in ditches and a few wrecks, so we took extra caution, finally arriving in Santa Fe at 10 p.m.,  after 11 hours of driving for Rebecca, when it should have been 7 hours in clear conditions.  Just four miles from the highway, there was not a single snowflake in Santa Fe!  We celebrated our arrival with Save The 1 Board Member Dyanne Gonzales and conceived in rape speaker/writer Rowena Slusser , both of whom are from New Mexico.  We made it!  If we had known what our journey would have been like, we never would had planned to go -- Rebecca definitely would not have flown into Denver first, but we knew in that moment that God had a plan for us to be there!  As it turns out though, there was a terrible storm in Albuquerque the next morning – highways closed, and Rebecca never would have made it 45 minutes away in Santa Fe if she’d flown into Albuquerque that morning – which she would have done if I hadn’t agreed to go!  The airport may have even been closed that morning.
So Friday morning, Rebecca had a radio interview on an Albuquerque Christian Station – KDAZ with Dan Rosecrans who said at the end of the interview – on the air -- that he felt that he and other pro-life activists and Christians owed Rebecca and others like her an apology for having been willing to compromise on the lives of those conceived in rape.  Before leaving our hotel, the concierge asked to take a photo of Rowena with her “Conceived in Rape/Incest – I Love My Life!” sign, telling us how moved she was.  Then we had an interview with a local newspaper reporter at the “Roundhouse” – New Mexico’s Capitol.  We could see how God was already at work!
AJ was over-stimulated at the Roundhouse, so Rebecca took me and AJ to the hotel to unwind, and I began looking into some type of child care for a few hours, so I could testify without him being uncomfortable sitting for several hours .  I was told we could possibly lose our spot in the hearing room if we had to step out.  However, the fees were prohibitive.   I prayed for a pastor's family, or someone connected in a similar way, who could watch AJ, and that he could have a fun time, not something boring, but something special.  Feeling a bit hopeless at the hotel about taking the grueling trip only to not be able to testify at the hearing, I made the decision to put it in God's hands -- everything that had happened was already a blessing, and I was just going to enjoy my time with AJ.  I knew He'd make a way if He wanted me to be there.  Not long after I prayed and put it in His hands, Rebecca called me and put a lady on the phone.  She kindly introduced herself -- a pastor's wife,  home schooling mother of four, and actively involved in children's ministries!  Whoa!  After talking a bit with her, I knew she was perfect and everything I was hoping for -- patient and sweet.  I told her that I had just pretty much prayed specifically for her.  With an exchange of the car set, she brought me to the Roundhouse and took AJ with two of her children for an amazingly fun time for him
While I was at the hotel, Rebecca and Rowena dropped off lit pieces with their stories off at the Governor’s office, as well as the bill sponsors, and had the opportunity to speak with the sponsor of the parental notification bill – Rep. Baldanado.  He said he doesn’t like exceptions, but that he wasn’t going to take them out because he felt the pro-life Democrats in the Senate wouldn’t approve the bill with them in it.  However, he did say he’d like to work with Save The 1 in the future to try to educate legislators on this issue more.  Then Rebecca asked if he would sponsor the model legislation from Hope After Rape Conception – to terminate the parental rights of rapists.  As it turns out, he sponsored such legislation last year, and introduced us to the Representative who was behind the bill and who had just re-introduced it this legislative session!  Rebecca and I got to take photos with Rep. Conrad James, she reviewed his bill, suggested tweaks to it, and the two of them are going to work together to have rape survivor moms there to testify so the bill doesn’t get killed again this year by legislators who don’t think it really happens – that rapists sue for custody or that rape survivor moms actually have their children, love them and choose to raise them!   So we just kept seeing God’s providence in having us there.
 After being seated with Rebecca in the hearing room, I was calm as the sweet pastor’s wife kept in touch, updating me on how AJ was doing --  enjoying a kids meal with her two children who he came to adore, and he was off to have more fun!  I relaxed and focused on what God had for me to say to these legislators.
But then, yet another obstacle:  we learned they made a list for those who were allowed to testify, which we were told was an unusual thing.  We were NOT on that list. Rowena has been warned to be quiet by a legislator after she testified a week prior, and things were said to Rebecca to suggest that she should not try to disrupt things by insisting that the rape exception be removed.  And now, it appeared that they were succeeding in silencing us before the committee.  But our new friend Lorenzo Espinosa – a no-compromise pro-life activist from New Mexico, leaned over to us and said, "This is New Mexico.  I got this!"  We didn't quite know what he meant by that – whether he would cause a scene, so we sat there awaiting the moment.  I just knew I was not accepting that we miraculously pushed through so many obstacles, close calls, and had very specific needs met, only to find out we were not able to testify.  Again, I just started praying.  I believed we were there for more, and I prayed God would create an opportunity! 
One member of the short list to testify was Alan Sanchez with the Bishop’s office.  We sat there shocked when he testified that it was moral and right for a Catholic legislator to vote for the bill with the rape exception because of EV 73 (Pope John Paul II’s Evangelium Vitae.)  Rebecca had just debated this issue with him by phone only a couple of hours earlier.  She told him about her radio interview with Cardinal Dolan on the Catholic Channel one month ago when he agreed with Rebecca, calling it “preposterous” to suggest that EV 73 justifies any legislator or leader to support a bill which discriminates against an entire class of persons.  But Alan Sanchez replied that he serves the Bishops in New Mexico and not Cardinal Dolan.  He refused to answer her hypothetical question of whether it’d be right – under EV 73 – for a Catholic legislator in Lebanon to support a bill banning abortion except in cases of Catholic babies.  It was extremely sad to watch a church leader defend discrimination.
 After the pro-life list of witnesses was completed, the bill sponsor explained that their expert witness was running late due to weather and would arrive in about 10 minutes.   Lorenzo immediately used this opportunity and stood up with a plea to the committee Chairman that Rebecca had traveled all the way from Michigan to testify, explaining that she’s a national pro-life speaker, leader and attorney.  He requested that she be able to speak while we waited for the expert witness, and the Chairman shrugged his shoulders and said, “Sure!”   I knew Rebecca wanted me up there, and so I frantically asked her, "What do I do?! Do I go up with you?" She motioned me to and whispered, “Come on!”  So, I follow her up there. 
Rebecca introduced herself, explained the mission of Save The 1, pointing to me as a mother from rape, and sharing her testimony of having been conceived in rape, but alive today because she was protected by Michigan’s law before Roe v Wade.  She explained why they should not discriminate, why children conceived in rape don’t deserve the death penalty, and urged them to amend the bill to remove the discriminatory exceptions.  Watch here.
The expert witness arrived before she finished, and I thought, "Oh no, I hope they let me speak!"  Rebecca finished, I stepped forward to speak into the mic, but the “gatekeeper” went to grab my mic, and I thought, “He’s not going to let me speak!”  Instead, he turned to me, smiled and said, “Here, let me adjust that for you.”  God’s providence again!
 I gave my testimony of having become pregnant by rape from an abusive relationship, and that I believed my son had just as equal value as any other baby worth protecting.  Democrats and liberals who know me, couldn’t imagine my life without him, see him as valuable and special, and wouldn’t wish his life non-existent.  I proceeded to say how much I valued all their lives were no matter their mistakes, circumstances, backgrounds, etc..  I ended with saying, "Your life has value, and so does my son's, no matter how it happened." Mission accomplished – our voices were heard! 
We sat and watched as the committee members debated the bill.  One Democrat pro-choice legislator pointed out the hypocrisy that the pro-life legislators were willing to compromise on the rape exception, but then he said something strange while looking at us – that this issue doesn’t poll well, and politicians care about polls.  Another surreal moment was when the bill sponsor explained to committee members that it would be unjust discrimination to have exceptions for babies with special needs – but he didn’t see his own discrimination!  Finally, they took the vote, and it was disheartening to watch them approve the late-term abortion ban, with the rape and incest exceptions included.
The sweet pastor's wife who watched AJ, treating him to a good time, came and got me after the hearing and brought us back to the hotel.  The others stayed for the hearing on the parental notification bill.  I tried to pay her, but she kindly and adamantly refused; she just wanted to help and bless us.  AJ gave her daughter a big hug after she brought up his car seat to our room. 
After the second hearing, Rebecca, Rowena and Dyanne were all treated to sandwiches at the Roundhouse by Lorenzo and his friend Alan.  Not only did further connections take place between them and several other pro-life activists and NM leaders, but Lorenzo's patron of his pro-life ministry, Alan, gave Rebecca an envelope with an apology note to her and others like her.  He was pro-life, but willing to compromise on the rape exception  -- until he watched the DVD with Lorenzo  the night before, “Conceived in Rape and Other Exceptions,” featuring Rebecca and other member s of Save The 1. His heart and perception changed that they were just as human and valuable as any other baby worth protecting, and he understood why compromise is wrong.
After giving Rebecca his apology note, he asked her, "How much was your car rental?"  He ended up coming back three times, asking about meals, the shuttle, gas, parking – ultimately covering all of our trip expenses!  Rebecca was so grateful – in tears as she told me of God’s provision!   Both of us were funding the trip with our own money, aside from the donated frequent flyer miles and the rooms being donated by Dyanne and her husband.  My expenses were going to come from what I had just earned that week.  I couldn’t wait to tell my husband, and to share this blog with you all – a story of seeking justice, sacrificing, speaking out, and relying upon God’s provision!
As we relished everything we plowed through and all that had been provided, we enjoyed a sisterly time back at the hotel, laughing well into the night.  In the morning, we had fellowship with Lorenzo, Alan and another friend of theirs, discussing pro-life strategy in-depth.  Rowena’s husband and children came to pick her up, and we had a nice time with them.  Rebecca filmed Dyanne’s pro-life testimony as she shared her story with all of us. We said our goodbyes, having had an incredibly bonding time of activism and fellowship.
Rebecca and I still had a long journey back.  The forecast was good, but we were low on gas, so backtracked south to a gas station.  Who happened to be in the car right next to us as we pulled into the gas station?  Dyanne!  Yet another providential moment.
We had clear skies almost all of the way back to the Colorado Springs airport to return the rental car, but my husband’s right tire blew out on the highway on his way to pick us up and he didn’t have a jack in my new car.  So Rebecca and I came to him, and he changed the tire with the rental car jack.  Were the obstacles finally over?  No!  The next morning, as we were taking Rebecca to the airport, she tried checking in on her smartphone, but the airline said there was no reservation!   She was worried the flight was overbooked.  At the airport kiosk, she got the same message.  But at the counter, her reservation was there – phew!
We had a wonderful trip full of obstacles, but filled with purpose, bonding, provision, and fulfillment.  It was like God’s plan was consistently overcoming Murphy’s Law!  Most of all though, this trip was made because we care about seeking justice and protecting all, and we know that we pierced the darkness and this is just the beginning of a shift in the pro-life culture of New Mexico.
BIO:  Robyn McLean is an inspirational speaker and writer on a wide spectrum, builds websites, and enjoys sharing coffee-time with people.  She is a wife and mother and resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Learn more about her, and her personal story of having become pregnant by rape at www.RobynMcLean.net, and stay connected on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/CoffeeWithRobynMcLean.  Robyn is a blogger and national pro-life speaker for SaveThe 1.
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Monday, February 23, 2015

Conceived in Rape-Incest, I Was Bullied After Testifying Before the NM Legislature, by Rowena Slusser

On Friday, February 20, 2015, I went to the New Mexico Roundhouse to speak out in support of HB 390 Late-term Abortion Ban -- without the rape exception.  My family and I got there early, and I was excited, but nervous! This was a big step for me on so many levels.  While I have shared my story with more people than I can count, I had never spoken in front of a legislative committee with opposition around me.  Why would I go before the committee and share how I was conceived in incest/rape?  Because the lives of the rape/incest-conceived matter, and as a follower of Christ, I must stand for what is right!  A bill with the rape exception IS NOT RIGHT, NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS!  Before I go into the details of that comment, I want to share what my day was like.

The House Regulatory and Public Affairs Committee allowed those who were against the ban to speak first.  Their testimonies went for 2 or 3 hours.  Listening to the pro-abortion statements was difficult, to say the least. Some of the comments were almost comical because the facts presented seemed staged.  I had to cough a few times to clear my throat so I could stifle the chuckle.  It was heartbreaking to watch soon-to-be physicians and MD’s spout the lies they believe about abortion. Some of these women were so young!  Even as I listened to them, I was praying for God to reveal the truth to them.  There were women who were virtually shouting at the committee that it was their body, their lives and that the legislators had no right!  I sat in my chair beside my husband and children, thinking how selfish those comments were.  I saw hatred spewing from these women’s mouths onto our legislators.  It was sad.
After the opposing side had its turn, the line of speakers for HB 390 started to line up.  Since I am in a power chair, moving around this crowded room was a chore.  When I got to the line of those who wanted to testify in support of the bill, I started to navigate through the stream of people.  I was treated with kindness and allowed to be second to speak.  Oh man, I was conflicted!  I was relieved that my task would soon be over, but I was also so nervous!  What if I forget to properly address the committee?  What if I freeze up completely?  What if I just cry?  What if I make a fool of myself?  What if the committee or anyone else hates me and I am mistreated?  Those are just a few of the thoughts which I was fighting against.
Though I knew for days before that I was to speak, yet every time I would sit to write out what I was to say, the paper stayed blank. I sought the Father for His guidance.  What did He want me to tell this committee?
I finally wrote down a few words on a piece of paper, while I waited to testify. Here is what I wrote” “Madam and Mr. Chair and Committee, My name is Rowena Slusser and I am in support of HB 390 with an amendment to remove the rape/incest and sexual abuse exception.”  I still didn’t know what else I was to tell this legislative body.  Finally, it was my turn to the microphone.  I vaguely remember reading the introduction off the paper.  I remember saying something about the exception being a civil rights issue.  The rest of my testimony is a fog.  I have seen my video, so I know that I said what was needed, but it was the Lord who put those words in my mouth!  
I told my story of having been conceived when my biological father raped his own daughter, and how at 5 months pregnant, doctors tried to pressure my mom into a late-term abortion. I also shared how I later became pregnant  at the age of 13 when my step-father raped me, but I tragically miscarried.  I explained to them that he would have forced an abortion upon me, which would have only protected and enabled him.  As I testified, I remember seeing the committee through what I can only describe as a wall of water because I was so full of emotion.
I can only imagine how Moses felt going before Pharaoh, knowing that Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened!  What of Esther?  She becomes queen, only to go before the king, unannounced (which is punishable by death), to speak up for the life of her people!  But my own life certainly wasn’t on the line -- I was not in any physical danger. The bravery of these two biblical heroes is astounding to me, while yet inspiring me. I felt as though I was pleading for the lives of my people!  Who are my people?  They are men and women who were conceived in rape or incest! They are the pre-born babies conceived in rape or incest! They are the women who are marginalized and mistreated for wanting to keep their children!  They are the parents who have adopted a rape or incest-conceived child!  We are the first to be offered up as a sacrifice upon the altar of the politics of compromise.  When our lives are extinguished, so many suffer.
Out of all the “pro-life” speakers who testified, only four of us took a stand, asking for the rape and incest exception to be removed.  Not one Albuquerque pro-life leader stood against the exception!  One of the “pro-life” leaders recently called me a “good friend” on Facebook, but good friends have each other’s backs.
The line of speakers dwindled down, and I was so relieved because we had been in the hearing for over 4 hours at that point. Then I was surprised when my husband said that he wanted to testify!  He got up there, introduced himself, and said that he supported the bill with an amendment to remove the rape, incest and sexual abuse exception. Whoa -- my husband, my hero is standing up!  He has been my biggest support and encouragement -- I have always known that he has my back when it came to my past and my conception, but now he was speaking out, telling the committee that he was thankful to my mom for saying no to an abortion!  He said that this exception was wrong, telling them how much he valued me, and how much he loves me -- I was beyond words!  That was MY MAN and my man was bold!!!  I am so thankful for him!  (Casey, I love you and respect you!)
Finally, the last speaker testified, then the committee asked questions of the presenters of the bill, and the vote was taken. The bill passed committee with the exceptions in it. The vote was 4-3, along party lines.  My heart broke, but I wasn’t surprised.
I was ready to go to the hotel.  My children sat through the entire hearing and were tired.  I had completed the mission set for me, and was ready for some rest and relaxation.  But that isn’t what happened.
As we were preparing to leave, I was approached by New Mexico House of Representative Rod Montoya (R-San Juan County, District 1). He positioned himself in a way which made it difficult for me to remove myself.  I felt trapped as he whispered with a firm voice in very low tones.  He told us that he had other people get up to speak for the bill because he didn’t want the Committee to recall what the previous speaker had said -- someone else at the end who had urged that the rape exception be removed!  He warned that we had to be careful with what we say, telling me that if I continue to show that I do not fully support the bill, I could cause it to not go through.  I told him that I understood what he was saying, but that I had to speak my conscience!  He said that in the House, it wasn’t as big of a deal, but that in the state Senate, there were two Democratic senators who won’t vote for the bill’s passage if they heard the slightest opposition.  
With much fervor, he tried explaining to me that “at least some babies would be saved.” To this comment, I replied that it was the babies’ lives left out of the bill which is the problem.  So then he “assured” me that if the bill passed with the exceptions, that they would later revisit it, and cover all lives. Despite a rape exception with no reporting requirements, and despite a gaping “health of the mother” exception with no standards other than the abortionist’s “opinion,” he maintained that this bill would save 95% of the babies being aborted late-term.  I told him again that the 5% is why I am fighting, assuring him that I wouldn’t purposely try to kill the bill, but that I will not back down from defending babies conceived the same way I was!  To this, he actually eluded to me being selfish.
I then told Representative Montoya that the only possibility of me not speaking out was if he would email me “proof” of other abortion bills which had exceptions, where legislators later removed the exceptions. (Mind you, I know that he cannot do this because it hasn’t happened!)  He changed the subject and again scolded me to stay quiet!  I firmly told him that I would do what I thought was right.  He again accused me that it would be my fault if the bill didn’t pass the Senate.
At this point, my husband saw what was going on and engaged him in conversation.  I told Representative Montoya that I’ve already considered what he was saying, but that I must not back down.  My husband then asked him questions which completely stumped him, and I was finally able to remove myself from this “silencing” session.  I have seen movies where a politician tries to manipulate someone to change their stance, but experiencing this in person, on such a critical matter, was surreal, and disturbing to my spirit.
This adventure reminds me of a clip from the novel Divergent.  Tris has chosen Dauntless. She has to jump into the unknown to finalize her choice.  She has to have courage and bravery!  All she has known is how to be invisible as Abnegation. Selfless, now she has to be daring -- take risk!  I see myself a lot in the character of Tris.  I have been sheltered in my world, raising my children, being a stay-at-home wife and mom, serving others – all of which I love, but it is a sort of comfort zone for me.  Now I am being asked to jump out of my comfort zone and into battle.  My voice -- my risk has been minimal.  Now the Lord is calling me to scale mountaintops with Him. Take risks.
Testifying in the hearing was a risk, a big risk.  This risk has consequences.  Some consequences have already presented themselves.  I have had painful comments from people close to me.  I have been bullied by legislative and pro-life leaders.  My heart is broken!  Do I regret standing up, taking the risk?  No, I do not!  My Savior reminds me that He gives me His peace.  I am loved by Him so I do not have to be afraid.  This is His working!  He will continue to lead me and give me what to say, and I am certain that my day at the Roundhouse was the first of many advocating for the lives of women who conceive in rape, incest, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking, along with the lives of innocent pre-born babies who were conceived in rape, incest, sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
BIO:  Rowena Slusser is a wife, mother of 2, and blogger for Save The 1.  Read more of her story here.  Conceived in rape/incest, she advocates for the protection of all human life.  Her personal blog is “Treasure of Life.” 
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