Skip to comments.
Michael Clancy: The Photographer Whose Amazing Pro-Life Picture Changed the World
Life News ^
| 7/4/08
| Steven Ertelt
Posted on 07/04/2008 3:44:16 PM PDT by wagglebee
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- He took the photograph that has become one of the most recognized pictures in the pro-life community and he shared his story with attendees at the National Right to Life convention. He recounted how a childhood filled with agony and despair led to a life-long dedication to advancing the pro-life perspective.
The photographer is Michael Clancy and his picture is of Samuel Armas grabbing a doctors hand during the operation.
Clancy grew up in a tough home where a rough upbringing and abuse of his siblings led him to contemplate suicide many times.
Im not a professional speaker, Clancy related in his heartwarming speech, I just take pictures.
Clancy said he lived 43 years without purpose until he became a Christian and, within three months of his conversion, he received a call from USA Today to take a picture of a surgery of an unborn child with spina bifida.
If that isnt a slap in the face and a clear a calling for a mission, he said.
Clancy said he was so squeamish he didnt think he could eat the night before because he had never filmed a surgery in progress.
He said it hit him early on that the surgery was controversial because it was to improve Samuels life and could have life of death consequences for the baby.
Clancy described how Samuel not only reached out of the womb during the surgery but flailed his arm about.
Just as he lifted his hand in the motion I fired the first frame of a four frame sequence, he said.
At 21 weeks in utero the child is a human being that has the earliest interaction
. You can obviously see Samuel interact. Samuel stopped the action in the pictures, Clancy explained.
Its not just my word against the doctors, its an amazing story that took a few seconds of time, he said.
Clancy said one of the nurses involved in the operation said this was nothing unusual, making it clear to him he didnt just imagine the picture he took.
Oh, they do that all the time, she responded.
Since Clancy took the photo, the Vanderbilt University doctor who performed the procured and mainstream media outlets have both denied that Samuel moved his hand willingly. Time Magazine had planned to run a story featuring a staged picture similar to Clancys and the magazine offered Clancy money to never show the world the photo of Samuel he took.
But Clancy wont relent.
I will dedicate my life defending this photo and its authentic, he said. This is Gods picture.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; michaelclancy; moralabsolutes; prenataldevelopment; prolife
At 21 weeks in utero the child is a human being that has the earliest interaction
. You can obviously see Samuel interact. Samuel stopped the action in the pictures, Clancy explained. It's no surprise that the culture of death wants to denounce the photos.
1
posted on
07/04/2008 3:44:17 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; narses; 8mmMauser
2
posted on
07/04/2008 3:44:46 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: 230FMJ; 50mm; 69ConvertibleFirebird; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; An American In Dairyland; ...
3
posted on
07/04/2008 3:45:10 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: wagglebee
This man has received the grace of God.
4
posted on
07/04/2008 3:47:50 PM PDT
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: wagglebee
Pray for an end to abortion and the culture of death!
5
posted on
07/04/2008 3:49:42 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines, RVN 1969. St. Peregrine, patron saint of cancer patients, pray for us.)
To: wagglebee
I noticed a big change in my FIL’s attitude about abortion after he saw this picture.
6
posted on
07/04/2008 3:51:07 PM PDT
by
Scotswife
To: Scotswife
It’s IMPOSSIBLE to dismiss it as a “clump of cells.”
7
posted on
07/04/2008 3:57:10 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: wagglebee
God bless you Clancy.
It’s depressing to know that in just a few short months, we could have a president Obama, that believes it would be ok to toss such a baby on a counter and let it die.
8
posted on
07/04/2008 3:57:49 PM PDT
by
Gator113
(Drill here, drill now...... or die.)
To: wagglebee
I can’t believe these nutjobs offer money never to show pictures of a child in the womb.
9
posted on
07/04/2008 3:58:13 PM PDT
by
freekitty
(Give me back my conservative vote.)
To: wagglebee
This photo caused Drudge to lose his gig on fox also!
They didn’t want him to show it, he wanted to, and lost his television career!
Good on Drudge!
10
posted on
07/04/2008 4:03:09 PM PDT
by
Randy Larsen
(Arrogance IS my virtue!)
To: wagglebee
What a beautiful wonderful story of Gods love.
11
posted on
07/04/2008 4:04:53 PM PDT
by
GloriaJane
(http://www.download.com/gloriajane)
To: wagglebee
That pic doesn’t speak 1,000 words, it speaks 40,000,000.
12
posted on
07/04/2008 4:11:50 PM PDT
by
GOP_Raider
(Happy Birthday to My Mom, Al Davis, and America!)
To: wagglebee
And they,(the Media) would have us to believe the President mis-led us!!!! It is evident, that those who mislead believe all others mislead!!!!They believe if you supress the truth it will make you free!!!!The opposite of John 8:32
13
posted on
07/04/2008 4:18:13 PM PDT
by
LetMarch
(If a man knows the right way to live, and does not live it, there is no greater coward--Anonymous))
To: wagglebee


The second image was taken during surgery at 20 weeks (the child was born at 33 weeks).
And I do not want to detail this thread, but when someone tries to turn you off animal research, you should point to fetal surgery as one medical breakthrough that would not be a reality today if medical researchers were prevented from performing pioneering work on non-human mammals first. Hundreds of fetal spina bifida surgical interventions alone have been successful.
14
posted on
07/04/2008 4:19:53 PM PDT
by
M203M4
(True Universal Suffrage: Pets of dead illegal-immigrant felons voting Democrat (twice))
To: wagglebee
BHO would have that little life and millions more like it stopped as a matter of convenience.
15
posted on
07/04/2008 4:21:46 PM PDT
by
Mike Darancette
(Obama's idea of trickle-down economics is to piss on business.)
To: wagglebee
I find many things liberals say to be disturbing, but let me tell you the most chilling moment I had watching politics.
Gore’s acceptance speech at the dem convention, he had many applause lines, some were met with a smattering of applause, most were actually bombing, the dims were practically falling asleep.
Then, he mentioned abortion, the place erupted, I said to myself “THIS is the only thing they get excited about?” I’ll never forget it.
16
posted on
07/04/2008 4:22:32 PM PDT
by
word_warrior_bob
(You can now see my amazing doggie and new puppy on my homepage!! Come say hello to Jake & Sonny)
To: Coleus; nickcarraway; narses; Mr. Silverback; Canticle_of_Deborah; TenthAmendmentChampion; ...
17
posted on
07/04/2008 4:26:09 PM PDT
by
cpforlife.org
(A Catholic Respect Life Curriculum is available FREE at KnightsForLife.org)
To: word_warrior_bob
It’s disgusting to think that 3500 INNOCENT AMERICAN BABIES are murdered EVERY DAY and the left gets excited about it.
18
posted on
07/04/2008 4:28:16 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: wagglebee
A Prayer For The Unborn
Lord I pray this Sunday morn
for those souls that are unborn
still a fetus in the womb
souls of love that You would groom
Keep them from man's every whim
whose abortion rates are dismal grim
destroying those that You create
playing God with children's fate
They name it "choice" to soothe their guilt
dissolving that which You have built
to live and love in You abide
is ended in infanticide
Of all the sins that man has wrought
this is the worst one of the lot
Lord, of this evil we repent
for the killing of the innocent
Woe to those on judgment day
who stand before You when You say,
"I judge you not, but to these I give,
these souls that you denied to live,
will judge you now at Heaven's gate
and hold the power of your fate
so hope their mercy will abound
for in you was no mercy found".
by Fish Hawk (also posted on Amy's Place,
Poetry and Potpourri)
To: fish hawk
Wonderful prayer, thanks!
20
posted on
07/04/2008 4:59:43 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: Mike Darancette
BHO would have that little life and millions more like it stopped as a matter of convenience. Check out my tagline. Great minds, etc.
21
posted on
07/04/2008 5:03:03 PM PDT
by
highimpact
(Abortion - [n]: human sacrifice at the altar of convenience.)
To: Salvation
Ping to this in case you missed it.
22
posted on
07/04/2008 5:26:47 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: wagglebee
23
posted on
07/04/2008 5:27:50 PM PDT
by
Salvation
(With God all things are possible.)
To: Gator113
That’s why it’s important to elect McCain.
24
posted on
07/04/2008 6:35:28 PM PDT
by
TAdams8591
(The game is over "my friends" and has been for a long time.)
To: Salvation
If Obama and a significantly increased Democratic majority are returned to Congress, we can indeed expect change for the unborn.
We’ll probably get taxpayer-funded abortion as a constitutional right. Certainly after he appoints two or three more justices to the Court.
25
posted on
07/04/2008 6:42:55 PM PDT
by
Sherman Logan
(Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. - A. Lincoln)
To: wagglebee
"THIS IS GOD'S PICTURE"
AMEN!
26
posted on
07/04/2008 9:33:33 PM PDT
by
MountainFlower
(There but by the grace of God go I.)
To: wagglebee
Samuel Armas (center, with parents Alex and Julie - Jan 2004), whose tiny hand was seen worldwide holding on to a surgeon's finger during surgery for spina bifida in 1999 while he was in the womb, strikes a broad smile during a visit to Capitol Hill for a Senate subcommittee hearing last year on intra-uterine medical procedures as an alternative to abortion. courtesy of The Christian Index.
Armas Family
Left to right, Ethan, Samuel and Zachary Armas take time out earlier this month(January 2006) on a Disney cruise for a photo. The brothers attend Ephesus Baptist Church in Douglasville with their parents, Alex and Julie.
To: wagglebee
28
posted on
07/05/2008 2:33:10 AM PDT
by
8mmMauser
(Jezu ufam tobie...Jesus I trust in Thee)
To: A.A. Cunningham
Thanks for the update and pictures.
God bless the surgeon and the photographer who shared this with the world.
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson