Third Planned Parenthood Abortion Business Caught Covering Up Statutory Rape
Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com) -- A staff member at a third Planned Parenthood abortion business in three weeks has been caught on videotape covering up a potential case of statutory rape. This tape involves in Indianapolis Planned Parenthood and it could lead to a widening of the investigation the state's attorney general has announced. The first case showed a Charlotte, North Carolina Planned Parenthood covering up an incident of statutory rape. A second tape showed a staffer named Diana telling Lila Rose, a UCLA student who posed as a 13-year-old girl who had sexual relations with a man more than twice her age, that she didn't want to know any more about the incident. This third, newly-released footage from this past summer shows Rose, who again claims she is an underage girl who had sex with an older man, hearing from employees about her sexual abuse. This time, 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. A second Planned Parenthood counselor adds, "I don't care how old he is." Full story at LifeNews.com
Bush Admin Rules Protecting Medical Staff, Centers on Abortion Almost Ready
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The new rules the Bush administration is putting in place to protect medical centers and medical professionals who don't want to be involved in abortions are almost ready. The Office of Management and Budget has approved the "refusal clause" and now it is ready for publication in the Federal Register. Once that happens, the new rules to provide stronger enforcement of existing federal laws -- that make it so doctors, nurses and other staff can't be forced to do abortions -- will be complete. Though the rules are coming under attack from pro-abortion groups as an expansion of current law, they simply revoke federal funds from any state or local government or medical facility that forces centers or staff to participate in abortions. They also require health care facilities to certify in writing that their employees are not required to engage in procedures, like abortion, that they find objectionable. With just 34 days left before the Bush administration concludes, the publishing of the new policy is expected shortly. However, the rules prohibiting forced abortions may not stay in place for long. First, abortion advocacy groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL will flout their "pro-choice" rhetoric and file suit against the anti-forced abortion policies. If that doesn't work, the incoming Barack Obama administration is expected to overturn the rules, a process that could take several months to complete. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Health Association Applauds Obama Picking Pro-Abortion Tom Daschle
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Barack Obama's choice for secretary of the Health and Human Services Department is an abortion advocate who could preside over a national health care plan that covers abortion. But the Catholic Health Association has applauded Obama's selection of former Sen. Tom Daschle. Obama initially named Daschle in November to the post, where he will likely help Obama rescind the protections the Bush administration is putting in place any day now for pro-life doctors and medical centers. Daschle is a strong abortion advocate whose record was so poor that the National Right to Life Committee never gave him higher than a 27 percent pro-life voting record during his tenure in Congress. Yet, Sister Carol Keehan, the president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association issued a statement praising Obama's pick. She said her group "welcomes" Daschle and called him an "extraordinary and capable leader" who will "bring an enormous understanding of health care delivery issues and the need for meaningful reform for American families and businesses." ACTION: Contact the Catholic Health Association with your concerns at Catholic Health Association, 1875 Eye St., NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20006-5409, call (202) 296-3993, or email Sister Carol Keehan at ckeehan@chausa.org. Full story at LifeNews.com
March for Life Soldiers On Despite Pro-Abortion Barack Obama's Inauguration
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With the inauguration of incoming pro-abortion president Barack Obama, some pro-life advocates have been concerned that next year's March for Life will be canceled. However, that's not the case and the organizers of the March are moving full speed ahead with plans for a large event. The pro-life movement worked overtime to oppose Obama during the presidential campaign and, with his election, pro-life advocates hope a strong March for Life will send the new president a signal that they don't want him promoting unlimited abortions. This year's March will take place on January 22 -- on what will be the thirty-sixth anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that allowed abortions for any reason throughout pregnancy. In addition to concerns about the March due to the inaugural, some pro-life advocates have wondered whether the March for Life is taking place because they haven't received significant information about it. March for Life organizers had computer problems that have limited their ability to get timely information to pro-life groups nationwide as they normally do months in advance. But Nellie Gray says she is working hard to turn out the largest pro-life contingent possible. Full story at LifeNews.com
Choose Life License Plate Director Says Pro-Life Plates Had Incredible Year
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Millions of motorists on the highways of America see Choose Life license plates every day as they drive to work or play. The plates, which now adorn the vehicles of 22 states, have reminded Americans of the pro-life perspective but have also raised about $9.6 million for adoption programs and pregnancy centers. Russ Amerling tells LifeNews.com that 2008 was an incredible year that not only saw more states adopt the Choose Life plates but the beginning of efforts to get the plates approved in several others. "This was an incredible year for the Choose Life license plate in America," he said. "A donor gave us $5000 to conduct a 17 state, two month tour during which we helped start Choose Life license plate efforts in nine more states and conducted follow up visits in the rest." In Arizona, state officials were ordered to move ahead with Choose Life plates, hearings were held on plates in Missouri, and South Carolina approved its plates. Full story at LifeNews.com
Oakland City Officials Continue to Target Pro-Life Advocate at Abortion Centers
Milltown, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life sign sitting in a lot across from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in this central New Jersey town has been victimized by pro-abortion vandals. The sign read "Abortion Stops a Beating Heart" but vandals covered the words and image with red and blue spray paint. They also spray-painted the message "free choice" in the lone part of the billboard that has available white space. The two-sided sign that stands about seven-feet tall was vandalized at some point last week and Deacon Robert Gerling, who runs the Our Lady of Lourdes pro-life group talked with the Courier News about the incident. "It's not a surprise," he said. "The pro-life community is not terribly respected in the broader (national) community, if you will." Full story at LifeNews.com
