Wednesday, December 31, 2008

FROM LIFENEWS.COM


Merck Stops Producing Vaccines Without Cells From Babies Killed in Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life group is worried about a new decision from the pharmaceutical giant Merck. The company has decided to stop producing some vaccines that are not made based on fetal cells from abortions. Merck & Co. Inc has stopped the production and sale of its monovalent vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella. Instead, the company will focus on combination vaccine, MMRII, which accounts for 98 percent of the company's sales of the vaccines targeting those diseases. "Merck's separate dose for rubella, Meruvax, uses aborted fetal cell lines and taints the entire MMR II vaccine," Debi Vinnedge of the pro-life group Children of God for Life tells LifeNews.com. "The separate doses of Attenuvax (measles) and Mumpsvax (mumps) use chick embryo. Without these separate doses for measles and mumps, there will be no moral alternative for parents." Merck spokeswoman Amy Rose said the decision to eliminate the monovalent vaccines was made for both financial and health reasons. ACTION: Contact Merck and express your desire for the company to reverse its decision and make the non-abortion vaccines available. Contact Richard Clark, CEO, Merck & Company, One Merck Drive P.O. Box 100, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100. Call 908-423-1000 or find more information at http://www.merck.com/contact
Full story at LifeNews.com

Federal Unborn Victims Law Used for First Time to Prosecute Double Murder
Albuquerque, NM (LifeNews.com) -- Members of Congress approved the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act in 2004 and a case out of New Mexico may be the first to involve a prosecution under the law. The law makes it so criminals are held accountable for killing both mother and child in an attack on the pregnant mother. Previously, federal prosecutors were unable to charge the assailant with killing or injuring the unborn child -- which failed to provide both victims with protection and adequate justice. The New Mexico case involves Frederick Beach, 37, who is charged with the deaths of Verlinda Kinsel, 29, and her unborn child, who Beach allegedly fathered. Beacher reportedly killed both Kinsel and her baby in September and he has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child abuse charges and a charge of murder related to the baby. U.S. Attorney Greg Fouratt told the Albuquerque Journal his office searched and had not found any other cases prosecuted under the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Some 35 states have similar laws on the books and most murders or assaults are prosecuted under those laws. The federal law is invoked when those acts take place within the context of a federal crime or in a federal jurisdiction such as a military base, national park, or, in this case, an Indian reservation. Full story at LifeNews.com

New Study Further Disproves Freakonomics Abortion-Crime Reduction Theory
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new study offer more reasons for doubting the Freakonomics theory put forward by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt that claims legalizing abortion reduced crime. The study shows a large rise in homicides by black teens in recent years even though black women have the highest abortion rate. Respected criminologist James Alan Fox of Northeastern University has released a new study showing homicides by blacks between the ages of 14 and 17 have jumped 34 percent from 2000 through 2007. The number of crimes for white people in the same age range did not increase. In the book Freakonomics, Levitt claimed legalizing abortion led to a major drop in murder and other violent crimes in the 1980s and 1990s. He theorized that the babies who were victimized by abortion would have been more likely to commit crimes. But Fox's study shows violent crime in the black community has gone up in the last decade -- not down. "Yes, it's not nearly as bad as it was in 1990, but it is worse than it was in 2000," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. Yet, if Levitt's hypothesis is true, crime should have gone down significantly in the black community because of a higher abortion rate. Full story at LifeNews.com

Christian Group Starts Prayer Campaign for Obama to Change Mind on Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A Christian pro-life group has started a new prayer campaign to pray that incoming president Barack Obama will change his mind on abortion. Beginning tomorrow and extending for the next 19 days, the Christian Defense Coalition will lead prayer for Obama outside the White House. The prayer vigil will take place every day at noon until the inauguration. The group will close with a large prayer vigil on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday on Monday, January 19 at noon. The Christian Defense Coalition is encouraging the faith community to pray for Obama and his conversion on abortion at noon in their homes, churches and local communities all across the nation. The group will be praying daily for Obama from the 40 year old Inaugural Prayer of Dr. Billy Graham. Full story at LifeNews.com

Missouri Judge Says Amendment 2 Would Trump Law Banning ESCR Funding
Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) -- A Missouri judge issued a new ruling on Tuesday saying that Amendment 2 would trump state law prohibiting taxpayer funding of human cloning and embryonic stem cell research. The amendment is the measure Missouri voters very narrowly approved in 2006. Missouri Roundtable for Life filed a lawsuit seeking to block $21 million in public funds from going to the Life Sciences Research Board for grants for the controversial science. The law that created the Life Sciences Research Trust Fund, which sends the money to the board, specifically prohibits the funding. However, Cole County Judge Richard Callahan said Tuesday that the state constitutional amendment appears to trump the law. The board plans to disburse the funds early next year for the stem cell research grants it is considering funding. Pro-life groups don't want to see money go to scientists who are destroying human beings in research that kills them for their stem cells. In July, Callahan denied a request from pro-life advocates to temporarily stop the funds from going to the board for 15 days. Full story at LifeNews.com

Sarasota, Florida Planned Parenthood Denied Govt Funds Now Does Abortions
Sarasota, FL (LifeNews.com) -- In October, county officials in Sarasota County in Florida cut thousands of dollars of funding to a local Planned Parenthood. Now, pro-life advocates say the facility has started doing abortions in what may be an attempt to generate more in annual income. Officials, citing poor economic conditions and the need to better balance the city budget, removed the second $12,500 of the original $25,000 allocated for Planned Parenthood family planning programs. Despite the efforts of dedicated pro-lifers in Sarasota, Planned Parenthood has opened its new abortion center and did abortions for the first time last Friday. Jim Sedlak, the head of STOPP International, a Planned Parenthood watchdog group, shed more light on the situation in an email to LifeNews.com.
"Planned Parenthood was met by a group of pro-lifers who are dedicated to be present whenever babies are scheduled to die," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com

British Abortion Practitioner Allan Templeton Gets Award From Queen Elizabeth II
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Months after a prominent abortion practitioner in Canada received one of the nation's top civilian honors, a British abortion practitioner has receive an award as well. The honor is prompting outrage from pro-life advocates who say it is a injustice. Professor Allan Templeton, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, has been made a commander of Order of the British Empire for services to medicine. The award comes directly from Queen Elizabeth II. Anthony Ozimic, the political secretary for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children tells Lifenews.com that doing abortions is not a service to Britain.
"Abortion is neither honorable nor is it medicine," Ozimic adds. Full story at LifeNews.com


FROM LIFENEWS.COM

Abortion, A Doctor's Conscience and Obama's Lack of Campaign Commitment

by Paul Weyrich
December 29, 2008

LifeNews.com Note: Paul M. Weyrich is the late chairman of the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation. He was an early pro-life advocate starting in the 1970s and this is likely his last column on the subject of abortion prior to his recent death.

The President-elect appears to have stepped back from some of his campaign promises. That merely is speculation. We shall see. The President-elect did make a dogmatic statement regarding the so-called "Freedom of Choice" Act (FOCA).

He said he will propose FOCA, which would eliminate all State and Federal restrictions upon abortion. It would purport to force Christian hospitals to perform abortions or close. It would demand that physicians perform abortions or give up their practice.

Whatever happened to freedom of conscience?

Continue reading this article here: http://www.lifenews.com/nat4677.html

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

FROM LIFENEWS.COM:

Blagojevich Appoints Pro-Abortion Roland Burris Obama's Senate Seat
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected to name pro-abortion former state attorney general Roland Burris to fill the remainder of Barack Obama's term in the Senate. However, the Senate may reject Burris' appointment because of accusations that Blagojevich engaged in a pay-to-play scandal. Blagojevich has been under fire for weeks that he attempted to obtain significant campaign donations, a job or a seat on a board of directors in exchange for appointing someone Obama favored to his seat. Top Obama aides, including his selection as White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, are coming under fire for reportedly talking to Blagojevich about the appointment. Although Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a pro-abortion Democrat, has written to Blagojevich telling him the Senate will reject his appointment, the Illinois governor appears ready to defy Reid. Burris was the first African-American to serve in a statewide office in Illinois when he became comptroller in 1983. He served in that position to 1991 and as attorney general from 1991 to 1995. During his tenure as the state's top attorney, he came under criticism from pro-life advocates for determining that the state's anti-stalking law is gender-neutral and declaring that it could be used to prosecute pro-life advocates who offer information to women outside an abortion center. Full story at LifeNews.com

Roland Burris Watered Down Abortion-Infanticide Law Barack Obama Refused to Fix
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Roland Burris has been named by embattled pro-abortion Gov. Rod Blagojevich to serve the remainder of Barack Obama's term in the Senate. However, pro-life advocates are not happy with appointment in part because Burris watered down an anti-infanticide law that was contentious in the presidential campaign. During the presidential debate, Obama came under fire for repeatedly voting against an Illinois version of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act while he was a state legislator. Lawmakers put forward the bill because existing law had lost its effectiveness in making sure newborns who survive failed abortions or are purposefully born prematurely receive adequate medical care. Chicago-area nurse Jill Stanek had exposed the practice at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn where babies were left in soiled utility rooms to die instead of receiving treatment.
Burris rendered the state's born alive law unenforceable by signing a consent decree. The 1975 law protected only infants the abortion practitioner believed to be "viable." That subjective view could allow abortion practitioners to leave babies to die following botched abortions despite the medical possibility that they may live if given proper medical care. The decree eviscerated the law further by nullifying the use of key definitions. Members of the Illinois legislature had to put forward a bill to strengthen the law in part because of actions Burris took. Full story at LifeNews.com

Poll: Plurality of Americans Want All or Most Abortions Illegal, Want Pro-Life Laws
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new Harris Poll finds a plurality of Americans want all or most abortions to be illegal and overwhelming majorities of Americans want more abortion limits in law. The nationwide poll showed just 9 percent said abortion should be legal for any reason at any time during pregnancy -- Barack Obama's position. The Harris survey included 2,341 adults and was conducted December 10-12. It found 82 percent of Americans said abortion should either be illegal under all circumstances or would limit its legality. More specifically, 49 percent of those polled took a pro-life position wanting all abortions made illegal (11 percent) or wanting almost all abortions illegal except for very rare cases of saving the mothers life or in rape or incest (38 percent). "These findings are remarkable," said Deirdre McQuade, who is the spokeswoman for the pro-life office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which sponsored the poll. "Fewer than one in ten Americans support legal abortion for any reason at any time during pregnancy. But that is precisely the current state of abortion law under Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that made abortion legal throughout the nine months of pregnancy for virtually any reason," she told LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com

Survey : Majority of Doctors Support Bush Admin Abortion Conscience Rule
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new survey finds half of physicians nationwide support the new rules the Bush administration put in place that protect the conscience rights of doctors on abortion. The rules make it so medical centers and staff aren't forced to do abortions or refer for them. They provide better enforcement for existing federal laws by potentially revoking federal funding from violators and making them certify in writing that they will respect conscience rights. A new national study among 1,736 physicians conducted by HCD Research reveals 50 percent of physicians support the new rules. Just 33 percent oppose the rules and the rest had no opinion. A majority of those who responded also said they believed the "government should be involved in protecting health workers who refuse to participate in care they find ethically, morally or religiously objectionable." A majority of physicians who responded also agreed with the statement that "doctors and hospitals have the right to refuse to perform any procedure that is inconsistent with their personal beliefs. Full story at LifeNews.com

Save Our Hydes: Losing Pro-Life Amendment Could Drastically Increase Abortions
by Benjamin Clapper
I want to congratulate the pro-life movement on the great work we have done so far to spread the word about the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). There is no question that if FOCA passes, it would usher in the largest expansion of abortion since 1973. In fact, I believe our advocacy has been so potent that it has made pro-abortion forces lower the passage of FOCA on their list of priorities (maybe only to day 101). While we must press on against FOCA, we must not forget another serious, and maybe even more pertinent, threat: the termination of the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment, originally enacted in 1976, is a pro-life limitation amendment in the annual appropriations bill that restricts the direct federal funding of abortion through Medicaid. Without the Hyde Amendment, women eligible for Medicaid would have their abortions paid for by the Federal Government in other words, OUR tax dollars. If abortions are free to the individual, you can bet on abortion rates increasing. Because Hyde is an amendment in the annual appropriations bill, the Hyde Amendment must be passed every year to protect our tax dollars. FOCA may or may not come to the surface in 2009; however, the Hyde Amendment will have to be dealt with in 2009, making it a serious and pertinent threat to unborn human life. Full story at LifeNews.com

Arkansas Legislator Will Bring Back ERA Bill That Would Promote Abortions
Little Rock, AR (LifeNews.com) -- An Arkansas legislator plans to bring back the ERA bill that pro-life advocates narrowly defeated last year because it would promote abortion. Though pro-life advocates don't oppose equal rights for women, Arkansas' approving the federal Rights Amendment (ERA) would promote abortion. A vote could also make it a federal right to force taxpayers across the nation to pay for abortions using public funds. Last February, an Arkansas state legislative committee defeated a resolution to approve the ERA. A state House panel voted down a ratification resolution (HJR 1002) after 20 co-sponsors abandoned it following the concerted pro-life lobbying effort. Rep. Lindsley Smith, a Democrat form Fayettville, says she plans to bring it back during the 2009 session of the legislature.
Full story at LifeNews.com

Leading Bioethicist Upset Montana Medical Association Punts on Assisted Suicide
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- A leading attorney and author who is one of the top bioethicists in the U.S. says he's very disappointed that the Montana Medical Association has said it will take no position on assisted suicide. The MMA is refusing to support the state's efforts to stop the courts from making it the third to legalize the practice. As LifeNews.com reported Monday, the state doctors group will not file legal papers to support overturning a decision where a state judge misused the privacy section of the state constitution to allow doctors to help kill their patients. Smith says the MMA's decision not to get involved in the legal battle over assisted suicide hurts the coalition of pro-life, religious, medical and disability rights groups that have stopped the practice in other states. "I have been worrying in recent years that some physicians groups and doctors don't take this issue with sufficient seriousness," Smith explains. "And, indeed, as I have noted, one of the tactics of the pro assisted suicide forces is to get medical leaders to assume an attitude of 'studied neutrality' to legalization."
Full story at LifeNews.com

Women Increasingly Leading Nationwide Pro-Life Battle Against Abortions
by Maria Vitale
When the March for Life steps out in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 22, women will be in the forefront.
Women are a powerful voice in the pro-life movement, particularly those who regret their own abortions " women such as Dr. Alveda King, whose uncle was civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. King had two abortions, one without her consent, the other at her request. She has said, "My birthday is Jan. 22, and each year, this day is marred by the fact that it is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the anniversary of death for millions of babies. I and my deceased children are victims of abortion, and subsequently the Roe v. Wade decision has adversely affected the lives of my entire family." King is not alone in her grief. The Silent No More Awareness Campaign is made up of women around the country who hope to expose the pain, emotional and physical, associated with abortion. Actress and model Jennifer O’Neill is the group's celebrity spokeswoman. She has spoken poignantly of the depression she suffered after her abortion. As O'Neill said in a Capitol Hill briefing, "Of course the protection of the unborn child is at the center of my heart. However, the aftermath of abortion can be equally deadly for both mother and unborn child. (A woman who has an abortion) is sentenced to bear that for the rest of her life." Full story at LifeNews.com

Sarah Palin's Daughter Bristol Gives Birth to Son, Abortion Was Campaign Issue
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The daughter of former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has given birth to a son after her teenage pregnancy sparked a debate over abortion during the campaign. Reports indicate 18-year-old Bristol Palin gave birth to Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston on Saturday. Although the governor's office plans to release no information about the birth, calling it a private, family matter, Bristol's grandmother's sister Colleen Jones talked about the birth with People magazine. Jones says Tripp was born at 7 pounds, 4 ounces and that "the baby is fine and Bristol is doing well." The Palin family won kudos for supporting their pregnant daughter Bristol when she announced she was pregnant and would marry her boyfriend, Levi Johnston. Melinda Delahoyde, the president of Care Net, told LifeNews.com at the time of the announcement that the Palin family deserved praise for helping their daughter choose life during a difficult situation. Full story at LifeNews.com

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Confirms Opposition to Assisted Suicide Bill
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hinted at opposing a bill to legalize assisted suicide in England and, in a Tuesday interview, made that opposition solid. Brown engaged in an interview with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, a guest host of the Today program on Radio 4. Brown said he would block any legislation to legalize assisted suicide and he said he believed British law should make "absolutely clear" that it recognizes the value of human life. "I am totally against laws [allowing assisted suicide or euthanasia]," Brown said. "It is not really for us to create any legislation that would put pressure on people to feel they had to offer themselves because they were causing trouble to a relative or anyone else. I think we have got to make it absolutely clear that the importance of human life is recognized."
Full story at LifeNews.com

Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper Responds: Won't Open Abortion Debate
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- After the new leader of the all-party pro-life caucus in the Canadian Parliament wrote an editorial Monday urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to reopen the abortion debate, Harper has responded. The Conservative Party leader says he has no plans to file or support an abortion bill. Rod Bruinooge, a Conservative MP for Winnipeg South, said a new debate is needed for laws to reduce or limit abortions to reflect the value of unborn children's lives. But Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for the prime minister, said that's not going to happen. "Throughout his political career, the prime minister has been clear on this issue," Soudas said. "We will not introduce or support legislation on abortion."
Full story at LifeNews.com

LifeSiteNews.com - Tuesday December 30, 2008



* Disclaimer: The linked items below or the websites at which they are located do not necessarily represent the views of LifeSiteNews.com. They are presented only for your information.

LIFE ISSUES

Born at just 23 weeks, the baby who defied UK abortion laws
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1102516/Born-just-23-weeks-baby-defied-abortion-laws.html

A New Vaccine Research Initiative That Needs the Support of the Whole Pro-Life Community
http://www.hli.org/sl_2008-12-19.html

Tiny Catholic Parish goes toe to toe with Abortion clinic-sees dramatic drop in abortions!
http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/16803/


RELIGION

India, an Exporter of Priests, May Keep Them
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/us/30priest.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1230646037-dWxf8K/t6z1tAmvOybfaYw

Atheists suing to remove religion from inauguration
http://www.examiner.com/x-2044-Atheism-Examiner~y2008m12d29-Atheists-suing-to-remove-religion-from-inauguration

The celebrations of the Nativity are "the only response to the evils that afflict the world," says Bartholomew I, Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14095&size=A

Disney pulls out of Narnia Film, citing costs but real reason may be creative differences over the inclusion of faith elements that were prominent in the children's novel.
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/508474.aspx

Christians called to abandon public education - Children's worldview determined by 14,000 hours in classrooms
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=84603

Tony Blair: "I regularly read the Koran, practically every day"; Muhammad "an enormously civilizing force"
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/024064.php



CANADA

MP Rod Bruinooge in National Post: "Why I am pro-life
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1121520

Fate unclear for Liberals backing anti-abortion cause
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081230.ABORTION30N/TPStory/National

Parliamentary group wants to reopen abortion debate
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081228/abortion_politics_081228/20081228?hub=Canada

Ezra Levant: Jennifer Lynch, jet-setting lawbreaker - In other words, who'll strike her down first, Canada's Supreme Court, or Canada's Parliament?
http://ezralevant.com/2008/12/jennifer-lynch-jetsetting-lawb.html

13 CHRC Personnel Have Been Investigating Conservative Website
http://ezralevant.com/2008/12/12-chrc-bureaucrats-investigat.html



MISCELLANEOUS

Supreme Success: Thanks to Bush, we have a chance for a Roberts Court.
http://www.eppc.org/publications/pubID.3651/pub_detail.asp

Obama the most admired man in the world, American poll says
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/26/barack-obama-most-admired-man

RNC draft rips Bush's bailouts - "We can't be a party of small government, free markets and low taxes while supporting bailouts and nationalizing industries, which lead to big government, socialism and high taxes at the expense of individual liberty and freedoms,"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/30/rnc-pushes-unprecedented-criticism-of-bailouts/

AP Attacks Gov. Palin EVEN in Birth Announcement of Grandson
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2008/12/30/ap-attacks-gov-palin-even-birth-announcement-granddaughter

Massive Pro-Family Rally Floods Spain
http://christianpost.com/article/20081228/massive-pro-family-rally-floods-spain.htm

Students push for coed dorms, devalue modesty
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=368454

Titanic China has an appointment with an iceberg - The headlines proclaim China's growing financial power. But its ageing population may scupper its ambitions. 
http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/titanic_china_has_an_appointment_with_an_iceberg/


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SILENT NO MORE

Help Women and Men be Silent No More!

Janet A. Morana
Co-Founder, Silent No More Awareness Campaign

As you may know, Priests for Life, in conjunction with Anglicans for Life, coordinates the largest mobilization in history of women and men who have lost children to abortion. It is the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. It is first of all a clearinghouse for healing resources. Anyone who needs healing, or needs to refer others to it, can go to www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org to find the help they need, no matter what their religious background may be.

Then, for those who have experienced healing and feel so inclined, we help them share the testimony of their pain and healing. "I Regret My Abortion" and "I Regret Lost Fatherhood" are the signs the mothers and fathers, respectively, hold as they stand in public gatherings, the premier one being the annual March for Life in Washington DC on January 22.

Throughout Church history, in Scripture, in the lives of saints and prophets, personal testimony to the power of God's grace has been an integral aspect of the spread of the Gospel. Jesus himself, after all, is the one who gives testimony to what he has seen and heard from the Father.

You can help us gain ground in the fight against abortion by helping us identify those post-abortive moms and dads who are willing to stand before others and show, by personal experience, how abortion hurt them and how Christ healed them.

Help us gather a thousand such people in Washington, DC this year for the March for Life. Even if one is not going to speak publicly about his/her testimony, it is fine just to be there and carry the sign, "I Regret My Abortion," or "I Regret Lost Fatherhood."

To sign up, visit www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org.

Come with us and make history!

From Rachel's Vineyard

Promote Healing After Abortion: www.RachelsVineyard.org, 877-HOPE-4-ME, A Ministry of Priests for Life.


Rachel's Vineyard on the Road: Post Abortion Training Days held at Dioceses across the U.S.  

The last few months have been a busy but fruitful time for Pastoral Associates Kevin and Theresa Burke, founders of Rachel's Vineyard (a ministry of Priests for Life) and leaders in post abortion education. They offered training for dioceses in Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Dakota, and Michigan addressing nearly 1000 counselors, clergy, health care professionals, RV volunteers and interested lay people.

Presentations included "Sharing the Heart of Christ," "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," "How Emotional Trauma Impacts the Brain," and other presentations including how men deal with abortion loss, the impact of abortion on relationships and families, and how clergy, clinicians, nurses can best attend to those in their care dealing with the aftermath of abortion. 

The Clinical conferences and Rachel's Vineyard Regional Team Trainings were well received. To quote Sue Williams of the Office of Family Life in Norwich, CT, "all the feedback received thus far has been overwhelmingly positive for the insightfulness of the information on such an important ministry." The word "excellent" can be found on virtually every comment card, along with praises like "Very compelling...very eye-opening"; "a powerful, training and spiritual experience."

Another key element for the consistent success of these training days is revealed as one attendee expressed in "the ability of the Burkes to take technical psychological information and present the material in a very understandable format." Everyone from the local clinical psychologist to the eager volunteer can walk away from a Clinical Training with the Burkes feeling informed and armed with knowledge to help spread the healing message of Rachel's Vineyard.

Michael Petrides of Connecticut shared:

"Theresa and Kevin Burke understand that the abortion healing that they champion is necessary for our societal transformation and survival. The emotional wounds of fathers, mothers, siblings, grandparents, cousins, and friends are too deep.... The Burkes integrate therapeutic clinical and pastoral information and answers in a truly sensitive, compassionate model."

Kevin and Theresa bring their passion for healing with them everywhere they go, spreading deep roots for a vineyard that will continue the mission to heal the pain of abortion - one weekend at a time.

If you are interested in having the Burkes present in your community please contact:

Kathryn Boyle, speakers@rachelsvineyard.org, 610-354-0555.

40 DAYS FOR LIFE LEADER TO SPEAK AT PERSONHOOD CONFERENCE


MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30 December 2008
CONTACT: Katie Walker
540.659.4942| kwalker@all.org 

40 DAYS FOR LIFE LEADER TO SPEAK AT PERSONHOOD CONFERENCE

Washington, D.C. (30 December 2008) – David Bereit, director of the nation-wide 40 Days for Life campaign that has reinvigorated the grassroots pro-life movement, will be speaking at American Life League's Personhood Conference Jan. 23, 2009.

Bereit's revolutionary campaign, combining prayer, fasting, constant vigil and community outreach touched 204 cities across 49 states.

He is part of an exceptional group of speakers  taking part in the Ninth Annual Training and Activism Week in Washington, D.C.

"David Bereit is a hero in the pro-life movement," said Marie Hahnenberg, project director for the 2009 Training and Activism Week. "His dedication to ending abortion through regular, peaceful presence outside of Planned Parenthood facilities and other abortion clinics has sparked a passion in thousands of people for protecting and defending the preborn."

Reports from around the country say that at least 1,100 lives have been spared from abortion thanks to the 40 Days for Life campaign.

"He has inspired so many people to become activists in their home towns and we are very happy to have him share his knowledge and experience," Hahnenberg said.

The ALL Training and Activism Week and Personhood Conference on Jan. 23 will also feature ALL president Judie Brown, Ambassador Alan Keyes, Kristi Burton, architect of the Colorado Personhood movement, Lila Rose, president of Live Action Films and renowned pro-life blogger Jill Stanek. David will be speaking on how to use today's technology to spread the pro-life, personhood message.

The event celebrates the reinvigoration of the personhood movement that works toward cultural and legislative recognition of all human beings from the moment of creation until natural death.

American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to natural death.  For more information or press inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

American Life League: Training and Activism Week and Personhood Conference
http://www.rockforlife.org/taw/

American Life League: Student Leader of the CO Personhood Movement to Speak at A.L.L. Conference (23 December 2008)
http://www.all.org/article.php?id=11724.

American Life League: A.L.L. Personhood Conference Features New Media Stars (10 December 2008)
http://www.all.org/article.php?id=11709

# # #


_______________________________
Katie Walker
Director of Communication
American Life League
1179 Courthouse Road
Stafford, Virginia 22554
540.659.4942
kwalker@all.org
http://www.all.org/




The Decline of the Human Family

'Demographic Winter' Producer Encouraged by Catholic-Orthodox Statement on Declining Birth Rates

MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- Barry McLerran, producer of the documentary "Demographic Winter: the decline of the human family," said he was encouraged that the First European Catholic-Orthodox Forum chose to emphasize the coming crisis of declining birth rates.

"We hope this ecumenical recognition of what could be the most important issue confronting humanity in the 20th century will spark renewed interest in 'Demographic Winter,' the only documentary of its kind," McLerran said.

Meeting in Trent, Italy, December 10-14, 30 delegates from the Orthodox Churches, European Bishops Conference and the Vatican met to discuss their common concerns on family matters. Those attending the historic Forum included Russian Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfejev and Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Budapest and Primate of Hungary.

In their joint statement, "The Family: A Good for Humanity," the delegates observed that despite the current focus on the global economic crisis, "Another vital element of this turning point is the crisis in regard to the family."

The statement continues, "The demographic trends alone in Europe are clear signals of a crisis much greater than the financial one."

To put this in perspective, the Statement declares: "The family, born of marriage between man and woman, that gives rise to children and an extended network of relationships, needs to be rediscovered as valuable social capital. We appeal to political and social leaders to address this major issue before it is too late. Without this attention, lack of financial funds will pale before the lack of social and human resources that the family brings."

McLerran responded: "That's exactly the message of 'Demographic Winter.' While our approach emphasizes the social sciences - including the views of demographers, economists and sociologists - our conclusion is the same as that reached by these distinguished religious leaders."

A 4-minute trailer for "Demographic Winter" can be viewed at www.demographicwinter.com. For more information or to schedule an interview with a spokesman for "Demographic Winter," contact Communications Director Don Feder at 508-405-1337 or dfeder@rcn.com.

Abortion industry asks Obama for billions

After reading this and if you are concerned make a comment on Obama's web site see more at Make a comment on Obama's web-site concerning FOCA and the 55 page pro-abortion mandate posted there....

Abortion industry asks Obama for billions in funding-"A major abortion provider wants taxpayers to fork over more money, even while the economy is down.

Over 50 pro-abortion groups have submitted a 55-page wish list called "Advancing Reproductive Rights and Health in a New Administration" to the incoming Obama administration. Jim Sedlak of American Life League's (ALL) Stop Planned Parenthood, or Stopp International, has tallied the cost. "They want unfettered abortion. They want the government paying for all of its programs," he contends. "In fact, [if] you total up everything that they've asked Obama for, Planned Parenthood and their friends want the taxpayers to give them $4.6 billion next year." According to an ALL press release, the document requests $700 million to fund Title X, $900 million for international "family planning" programs, and additional millions for STD and sex education programs. Putting it under a microscope, Sedlak says the request is shocking when there are people on the streets looking for an income. "We have to remember that last year, Planned Parenthood got $356 million in government money and [got] $114 million in profit," he points out. Sedlak suggests the wish list represents a request to support an agenda, rather than a genuine need."

Indiana Planned Parenthood under investigation-" probe is under way of an Indiana Planned Parenthood after an undercover video revealed alleged criminal actions.

Lila Rose of Live Action Films filmed visits to two Indiana Planned Parenthood clinics. She posed as a 13-year-old impregnated by a 31-year-old man. While at the clinic, she was advised on how to get an abortion without getting the boyfriend in trouble. The Indiana attorney general's office and one grand jury are now investigating.
"But we need to keep the pressure on the district attorney and the attorney general of Indiana," says Rose. "[W]e need to ensure that this investigation is thorough and it is not side blocked by anything that Planned Parenthood might put out in order to impede that investigation."

FROM OPERATION RESCUE:

Lila Rose Chosen As Operation Rescue's 2008 Person Of The Year

December 30th, 2008

Wichita, KS - Operation Rescue announces that Lila Rose, a 20-year old UCLA student that has made national headlines exposing wrong-doing at abortion clinics, is the recipient of its 2008 Person of the Year Malachi Award.

"Lila Rose exemplifies the new wave of pro-life activism and best reflects Operation Rescue's own efforts to expose illegal conduct in our nation's abortion mills," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "Her work has helped raise public awareness of the seedy underbelly of the abortion industry and has helped to launch criminal investigations that we pray will eventually hold out-of-control abortionists accountable for their criminal acts."

Lila Rose is the president of Live Action Films and has released a number of undercover sting videos of Planned Parenthood employees coaching girls to cover up for men who are committing statutory rape.

Each year Operation Rescue presents the Malachi Award to pro-life activists who are impacting the nation for the cause of life. The award is named after an aborted baby that was discovered in an abortion clinic dumpster, whose image has been used nationally to bring attention to the desperate plight of the pre-born.

Previous recipients include Dr. Johnny Hunter of LEARN, who is exposing the devestating effects of abortion on the African-American community, Leslee Unruh, who spearheaded efforts to ban abortion in South Dakota, and Phill Kline, the Kansas prosecutor whose abortion investigations have led to 107 criminal charges against Planned Parenthood.

________________________________

About Operation Rescue® 

 
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation.  Operation Rescue recently made headlines when it bought and closed an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas and has become the voice of the pro-life activist movement in America.  Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates. Click here to support Operation Rescue. 

________________________________
Web site:
www.operationrescue.org

E-mail: info@operationrescue.org

Monday, December 29, 2008

GALLUP SAYS AMERICA IS LOSING FAITH


By Judie Brown

Perhaps it is not unusual, shortly before a new year arrives, to see a plethora of headlines telling us what is best and worst about many facets of daily life. For example, Yahoo just announced the list of singers who destroy songs and CNN is telling the world about the "Top 10 entertainment stories of 2008." Not really very life shattering, is it?

But what disturbed me – and was not at all entertaining – was the new Gallup poll that found that among those queried, 67 percent "think religion is losing its influence on U.S. life." The USA Today reporter compared this percentage to that of a Gallup poll conducted three years ago, when it appeared that Americans "were nearly evenly split on the question." But you see, the wrong question was asked to begin with, and that is what is causing me not a little concern.

Let's face it. Up front and off the bat, the media is no friend of God. They make it perfectly clear, in report after report, that unless there is a sex scandal of some sort, they are not going to "report" accurately on Catholic bishops or Protestant ministers, not to mention other religious groups in the U.S. and around the world. There is no room for God in the public marketplace of ideas, according to most of the mainstream, "drive-by" media.

But apart from that, pro-life Americans know that our nation's people are not only moving away from Christ-centered, biblically-oriented frames of reference, but in many cases have already left the building.

Take, for example, the comments of allegedly Catholic MSNBC host Chris Matthews, who provided the Media Research Center's "quote of the year," selected from 2008's "most outrageous and/or humorous news media quotes." While Matthews was being interviewed by CNN's ever-memorable Keith Olbermann, here is how the "best" quote went down:

Matthews: "I have to tell you, you know, it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My – I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often."

Olbermann: "Steady."

Matthews: "No, seriously. It's a dramatic event. He speaks about America in a way that has nothing to do with politics. It has to do with the feeling we have about our country. And that is an objective assessment."

Note that the man refers to "feeling," but his comment indicates he has separated his supposed Catholicism from the stark reality that Obama is committed to doing all he can to protect a "a legal right to abortion" – thereby aborting our nation's future.

Surely Matthews could stand a heavy dose of realism, not to mention objectivity. His comment, however, says a lot about where many Americans are today in their thinking and their ability to relate their own faith in God to their emotions – emotions which subsequently dictate their actions, whether in a voting booth, on a street corner near an abortion mill or in a cathedral where they might have to slide their chewing gum over to the side of their mouth in order to receive the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion.

The suggestion that Americans are losing touch with faith or their own religious identity is not only obvious, but also chilling. What is even more disastrous, though, is the idea that much of the public and many of those who report the news to the public are not swayed by factual evidence but rather by warm, fuzzy feelings one might experience after hearing a stirring song or seeing an emotionally charged movie. These feelings could, in a very short time, bring disaster to the healthcare profession, to our families and to future generations.

My dear friend Paul M. Weyrich wrote in a commentary published after his death on December 18,

The President-elect did make a dogmatic statement regarding the so-called "Freedom of Choice" Act (FOCA). He said he will propose FOCA, which would eliminate all State and Federal restrictions upon abortion. It would purport to force Christian hospitals to perform abortions or close. It would demand that physicians perform abortions or give up their practice…

It is inconceivable to me that a majority in Congress can't agree upon freedom of conscience. Counting the votes, I doubt that there are enough pro-lifers in Congress to maintain the restrictions previously passed by Congress. However, even honest liberals would favor allowing a physician to practice medicine consistent with his or her life-saving principles of conscience. Most Republicans, as well as many Democrats, ran as pro-lifers in the 2008 election. This fundamental issue may become the first test of their commitment to life. If we force hospitals and physicians to perform abortions against their beliefs, in other words in violation of their conscience, then we will be on a downward spiral from which there may be no return.

This will be a test, America. God help all of us.

What Weyrich is telling us is that those elected representatives, who could impose laws on Christian hospitals making it impossible to stay in business unless they perform abortions, were elected by American citizens. Many of these very same Americans apparently have no concern whatsoever for the fate of their eternal souls or the fate of the preborn baby, his parents or subsequent generations.

Does America have a crisis of faith? Yes, it does! Will this nation recover through the self-examination that should occur in the hearts and minds of all those who, we hope, realize that they have lost touch with the Lord? Only God knows the answer, but like Paul Weyrich, a wise and faithful brother in Christ, I say "God help all of us."

Judie Brown is president of American Life League and a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Respond to Judie
http://www.all.org/newsroom_judieblog_response.php?id=2437

STORED FROZEN EMBRYOS

Stored embryos frozen in time

In vitro fertilization has given rise to a moral debate for parents

National Post Published: Monday, December 29, 2008

No statistics are kept on the number of frozen embryos in storage in Canada, but experts estimate the number is about 10% of the U.S. total, or 50,000.

No statistics are kept on the number of frozen embryos in storage in Canada, but experts estimate the number is about 10% of the U.S. total, or 50,000.

Thousands of Canadian babies have been conceived through in vitro fertilization in the years since the technique was pioneered. But experts estimate that there are tens of thousands of additional embryos holding the ingredients for human life waiting frozen in nitrogen-filled storage tanks across the country.

Read this story here: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1121495

Terri's News Alert

December 29, 2008

Why Civil Defiance Is Sometimes Right
By Kevin McCullough (Townhall.com)

I've given up on the rule of law.

It seems not to matter to the "enlightened" judiciary of the modern liberal world, so why should it matter to me?

When those who even know the truth succumb to the fear that they won't reach tenure on the law school university campus if they do not tout the leftist propaganda then we can be fairly certain society is doomed. Right?

Maybe not...

In Italy Beppino Englaro has had a tough time doing what he could have easily achieved here in the United States--legally kill his loved one.

(continue reading . . .)



FROM SPAIN:

Pope Benedict XVI during visit to São Paulo, B...Image via Wikipedia

Spain: Thousands turn out for pro-life Mass

A pro-life Mass drew thousands of people to central Madrid on Sunday to hear the case for the traditional family in a country drifting from its Roman Catholic roots.

Although city officials and police would not give an official estimate of the number of people present, the Associated Press said the crowd in the Plaza de Colon appeared to number in the hundreds of thousands.

In a message played at the start of the service, Pope Benedict XVI appealed to families to keep their love strong.

"Dear families, do not let love, openness to life and the incomparable links that join your homes weaken," he said.

He added, "The pope is by your side.”

The Mass was joined by the Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, who told the crowd that “the future of humanity depends on the family, the Christian family”.

"It is possible to conceive, organise and live marriage and family in a very different way from what is in fashion in so many areas of our society," he said in a homily.

More than 300 priests, 22 bishops and five more archbishops also attended the Mass.

The Roman Catholic Church has been a fierce advocate of the traditional family in the face of Spain’s liberal Socialist Government, which has legalised gay civil unions and introduced measures making it easier to divorce.
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FROM OPERATION RESCUE:


100 Participate In Rare Weekend Vigil At Tiller's Late-term Abortion Mill

December 29th, 2008

Wichita, KS - Operation Rescue and the Kansas Coalition for Life put out a special call for help over the weekend for volunteers to man the gates at George Tiller's abortion mill, Women's Health Care Services, in Wichita, Kansas. The call was overwhelmingly answered as over 100 Christians participated in offering help to abortion bound women during a rare weekend opening for the world's largest free-standing late-term abortion facility.

Pro-lifers spent hours braving cold Midwestern winter weather, including a snowstorm, holding a special banner that stretched above the abortion clinic driveway that read "Please do not kill your baby. You will regret it for the rest of your life." On the back side of the banner, clearly read by all inside the parking lot, were the words "Thou shalt not kill." The banner, which requires six people to display, was up for almost 15 hours over the two days.

Tiller specializes in late-term abortions that take 3-4 days to complete. Due to the holidays, Tiller was forced to open during the weekend or face losing thousands of dollars. (Read more about Tiller's abortion process.) Operation Rescue's Cheryl Sullenger reported that only a few women reported for abortions on Sunday morning, when the late-term abortions were scheduled to begin. No early term abortions were done. Each woman was offered help and information, along with the testimony of the pro-life display outside the clinic which included the over-head banner, 167 white crosses, and OR's Truth Truck.

"We want to thank each and every person who sacrificed a portion of their holiday weekend to offer prayers and support to these abortion-bound women. One family drove an hour and a half to take a 6:30 AM shift. Another family changed their plans for the weekend and drove 3 hours from Kansas City to help," said Sullenger.

"We especially want to thank KCFL director Mark Gietzen, who changed his out-of-state holiday plans to take on the job of scheduling the volunteers in shifts so that there would be a pro-life presence at the abortion mill every hour it was open. That kind of dedication is inspiring, and we are grateful to all who answered the call."

View Additional Photos (Click thumbnails to view full photos)

________________________________

About Operation Rescue®

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation. Operation Rescue recently made headlines when it bought and closed an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas and has become the voice of the pro-life activist movement in America. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates. Click here to make a secure donation online.
________________________________

FROM LIFENEWS.COM

Group Wants Pro-Abortion Rahm Emanuel to Resign in Obama Seat Scandal
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Rahm Emanuel, the pro-abortion Illinois congressman Barack Obama chose to become his White House chief of staff after capturing the presidential election, is facing pressure to resign. Emanuel is alleged to have discussed the names of possible replacement candidates for Obama's Senate seat in the Illinois pay-to-play scandal. The scandal could potentially threaten other high-ranking Obama officials and possibly the president-elect himself. It involves pro-abortion Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reportedly asking for large donations or guarantees of jobs or board positions in return for naming a certain person to replace Obama in one of his state's two U.S. Senate seats. The Our Country Deserves Better PAC, a conservative group that spent millions running ads against Obama during the presidential campaign, is behind the call for Emanuel to resign before his first day on the job. "It's time for Barack Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, to resign," the group tells LifeNews.com in an email. "The Obama administration has told lie after lie about their involvement in the corruption scandal. Obama's camp was caught lying about their involvement, because wiretaps reveal, and have forced Obama to now admit, that his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel has discussed not just once but on several occasions who should get the Senate," the group adds. Full story at LifeNews.com

Abortion, A Doctor's Conscience and Obama's Lack of Campaign Commitment
by Paul Weyrich
The President-elect appears to have stepped back from some of his campaign promises. That merely is speculation. We shall see. The President-elect did make a dogmatic statement regarding the so-called "Freedom of Choice" Act (FOCA). He said he will propose FOCA, which would eliminate all State and Federal restrictions upon abortion. It would purport to force Christian hospitals to perform abortions or close. It would demand that physicians perform abortions or give up their practice. Whatever happened to freedom of conscience? A hallmark of professionalism in the United States has been that we never force anyone to violate his or her conscience in the performance of a duty. That is the first line of defense of the pro-life movement. Even more than the Hyde Amendment, which has prohibited funding by the Federal Government of many abortions, the idea of freedom of conscience unites all parties in the pro-life movement, which has made progress since the passage of the Hyde Amendment. There hardly has been a Congress which made no progress on the right-to-life issue. And when progress was stymied at the Federal level, many restrictions were enacted at the State level. Most were tested in the Federal courts and were held to be constitutional. Full story at LifeNews.com

Planned Parenthood Employee Resigns After Abortion-Rape Coverup Video
Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com) -- A staffer at an Indianapolis Planned Parenthood abortion business has resigned after a video showed her covering up an apparent case of statutory rape. The resignation comes on the heels of the firing of a staff member at a Bloomington, Indiana Planned Parenthood following a similar expose' video. In total, three videos have appeared in recent weeks showing the nation's largest abortion business failing to protect young girls in cases of sexual abuse. In this most recent case, two Planned Parenthood employees say they "don't care" about the age difference between a 31-year-old man and the 13-year-old girl he was reported to have impregnated. "We don't really care about who, what, the age of the boyfriend," the unnamed Planned Parenthood staff member says. Planned Parenthood of Indiana spokeswoman Kate Shepherd has recently confirmed one of the two employees resigned. She also released a statement saying the abortion business is committed to following state law, which requires the reporting of any suspicions that an underage person has been a victim of sexual abuse.
"It's always been our policy to report as the law requires," Betty Cockrum, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood of Indiana, said in the statement. Full story at LifeNews.com

A Christmas View of Abortion: The Bible's Clear, Indirect Pro-Life Message
by Andrew Tallman
"The Bible says nothing directly about abortion." Have you ever heard this claim before? I know I have. And the uncomfortable truth is that, in a certain sense, it's accurate. The deliberate termination of a pregnancy is not directly addressed anywhere in scripture. On the one hand, this could mean that the practice is merely a matter of personal choice, having been left alone by even God Himself. On the other hand, this could also mean that the culture for which the Bible was written was so deeply affirming of childbearing that the idea of aborting a baby would have been literally inconceivable to them. After all, there are no commands in the Bible to breathe, presumably because Jewish culture is staunchly pro-air. But even if the Bible doesn't quite give us a definitive proclamation on the overall question of abortion, that doesn't mean it says nothing relevant at all. One of the key points of contention in this debate is whether the fetus is a person and, if so, when in gestation this occurs. Most pro-lifers believe it's at conception, but those who believe abortion is morally acceptable think this happens at some later stage of pregnancy such as implantation, quickening, viability or birth. Until the other day, I would have said the Bible was somewhat indeterminate on this issue. But now, I would be as bold as to say that it plainly teaches us that a fetus is a person at most within the first four weeks of gestation and, more likely, even within the first few days after conception. If so, then Christians who haven't previously realized this would have to acknowledge that even early term abortions end the life of a person. And this would, in turn, affect the advice they give to others who might currently be contemplating abortion, even perhaps their own daughters. Let me show you what I found for the first time the other day. Full story at LifeNews.com


British Study Finds More Down Syndrome Babies Born, Survive Abortions
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A recent study shows that more Down's syndrome babies are being born since pre-natal screening has become a common practice. A survey of 1,000 parents conducted by the Down's Syndrome Association found that 30% of parents who decided to keep their unborn child diagnosed with Down's syndrome believed that the quality of life for people with Down's syndrome had improved, approximately one third cited pro-life beliefs, and almost 20% doubted the accuracy of the test results. One-fifth of the respondents stated that they had personally known someone with Down's syndrome. One respondent stated, "I don't subscribe to the notion of the 'perfect human being' and found the idea of selecting one child in preference to another abhorrent." Integrated education, a feeling of support from family and friends, and the belief that the stigmatism of having Down's syndrome has been less in recent years were cited by respondents of positive changes.

India Gender Imbalance Increases With Income, More Sex-Selection Abortions
New Delhi, India (LifeNews.com) -- A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health has found that the gender imbalance in India increases with income. The study found that higher income groups, as well as more educated households, have a higher male-female ratio. In a family where the head of household has completed their education, sons are 25 percent more prevalent, and higher income households are 14 percent more likely to have a son, compared to lower income households where there is only a 4 percent preference for male children. "Meanwhile, a son preference norm could simply be dormant among low income groups, as they do not possess sufficient resources to practice discrimination," said the study. Traditionally in Indian cultures, sons are preferred to daughters, but with modern medical technology, such as abortion, Indians can and, as the study's findings indicate, have used it to discriminate against women. Although the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994 was passed to check misuse of pre-natal screening technology, the study's findings have shown the legislation to be ineffective. 'The sex ratio clearly signifies that the PNDT Act failed to check sex imbalance as the odds of having a boy increased to 10 percent in the period following the implementation of the Act. The odds of having a boy were seven percent in the pre-PNDT period,' said S.V. Subramanian, the lead author of the study.