Thursday, April 30, 2009

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report 4/30/2009


President Obama Promises Abortion Compromise, Ignores Notre Dame Scandal
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- During the press conference Wednesday night marking the first 100 days of President Barack Obama's administration, Obama promised compromise on abortion. He also ignored a question on the scandal at Notre Dame, where he will give commencement at the Catholic college. CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry asked President Obama about the so-called Freedom of Choice Act and abortion. Obama retreated to the promotion of some sort of compromise on abortion and reducing abortion, even though he has compiled a thoroughly pro-abortion record during his tenure thus far. Obama essentially avoided whether he would sign the bill. "Now, the Freedom of Choice Act is not highest legislative priority. I believe that women should have the right to choose. But I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on. And that's that's where I'm going to focus," he said. Henry started out his question with a request for comment on the scandal at the University of Notre Dame, where hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates have spoken out against the invitation to Obama to give the commencement address and receive an honorary degree. "In a couple of weeks, you're going to be giving the commencement at Notre Dame. And, as you know, this has caused a lot of controversy among Catholics who are opposed to your position on abortion," Henry said. Obama never responded to the question. Full story at LifeNews.com
New Pew Poll Shows Support for Legal Abortion Drops to Lowest Level in 15 Years
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll conducted by Pew Research finds the support for legal abortions has dropped to its lowest level in 15 years. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted March 31-April 21 among 1,521 adults, finds President Barack Obama's abortion advocacy could be sparking a shift to the pro-life side of the abortion debate. The Pew poll found 46 percent of Americans say abortion should be legal in most cases (28%) or all cases (18%) and 44 percent of Americans believe that abortion should be illegal in most (28%) or all cases (16%). That two point margin in favor of abortion is the lowest margin since 1995 as Pew, and other polling firms, have been asking the same polling question of Americans across the country every year. The proportion saying that abortion should be legal in all or most cases has declined to 46% from 54% last August. Currently, 44% say abortion should be illegal in most (28%) or all cases (16%), up slightly since last August (41%). Breaking down the polling results by social groups and comparing them with Pew's results in August, men saw a 10 percent pro-life shift and women a 5 percent shift between polls. Full story at LifeNews.com
Obama Pro-Abortion Judicial Pick David Hamilton Eases Through Senate Hearing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama's first judicial nominee, pro-abortion federal district court Judge David Hamilton, sailed through a Senate hearing on Wednesday. The selection for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, who upset pro-life advocates with one of his prior decisions, faced no direct questions on abortion. The only Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee present for the hearing was pro-life Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. The senator asked Hamilton about a growing concern within pro-life circles that judges are increasingly relying on the use of international law on which to base legal decisions. That is a concern because pro-abortion courts in other nations could be cited as a basis for keeping unlimited legal abortions in the United States. After the questions, Coburn said Republican lawmakers would ask Hamilton "a large number of questions for the record" and doing so on paper. "We will be expeditious but also thorough," Coburn said. The panel held a second hearing after Republicans boycotted the first one, saying it was set up too quickly after the nomination and that they were given too little time to research Hamilton's background. Full story at LifeNews.com
 
Hillary Clinton Position on Family Planning and Abortion Violates Cairo Agreement
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- Last week at a United States (US) House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that there was a new administration in place with different values, beliefs and global agenda. Nothing illustrated this rupture with previous U.S. policy more than her admission that the Obama administration interprets the term 'reproductive health' to include abortion. In response to a question from Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ) on whether her definition of the phrases "reproductive health," "reproductive services," and "reproductive rights" includes abortion, Secretary Clinton stated that, "We [the current US administration] happen to think that family planning is an important part of women's health and reproductive health includes access to abortion that I believe should be safe, legal and rare.” Clinton's linkage of family planning with abortion is not just a severe break with the previous administration; it is a clear violation of the Cairo Program for Action, which her husband's government helped to negotiate in 1994. The Cairo document explicitly states in two places that abortion should in no case "be promoted as a method of family planning." Full story at LifeNews.com
Backer of International Abortion Right, Harold Koh, Faces Senate Hearing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- It was clear from the opening moments of the Senate hearings for the proposed new top legal advisor at the United States (US) State Department that widespread criticism of the nominee had struck a nerve. Rather than a love feast for a liberal hero, the committee seemed to be, in the words of one observer, in a "defensive crouch." Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry immediately denied charges that former Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh wants to subordinate the U.S. Constitution to foreign legal sources. To chuckles all around, Kerry said to Koh, "And you don't want to do away with Mother's Day, do you?" This referred to criticism from social conservatives that Koh supports U.S. ratification of a United Nations (UN) treaty whose monitoring committee criticized Mother's Day as promoting a negative cultural stereotype. With the exception of a few Republicans, each member of the Committee felt it necessary to rebut criticism of Koh that has been building in the conservative media and blogosphere. In his voluminous writings, Koh has vigorously supported a legal theory known as "transnationalism." Full story at LifeNews.com
Mainstream Media Give Biased Reporting on Human Cloning, Stem Cell Research
by Wesley J. Smith
I can't remember an issue in which there was so much intellectual dishonesty or malpractice in media reporting than the embryonic stem cell/cloning debates--and that's saying a lot! For example, when the Stowers Crowd began using the junk biological term "early stem cells," the Kansas City Star jumped right on that bandwagon. When Big Biotech began using the term "therapeutic cloning" to distinguish using embryos created through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) from the same technology undertaken to bring a cloned baby to birth--called "reproductive cloning"--the media jumped right on board, creating the false impression that these were different types of cloning. Because these terms misled rather than edified, the President's Council on Bioethics urged scientists and media to use more accurate terminology--"cloning to produce children" and "cloning for biomedical research," so that a rational ethical debate based on critical thinking could be engaged. But that was precisely what Big Biotech and the media did not want, so those terms were never used--as far as I know--in media reports about the cloning debate. Full story at LifeNews.com

Texas Senate Approves Choose Life License Plate, State House Sitting on Bill
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The Texas state Senate has given preliminary approval to SB 1098, a bill that would allow motorists to purchase a Choose Life license plate that would help support pregnancy centers. However, the Texas House appears to be sitting on the bill and refusing to allow a hearing. The Senate voted 22-9 on second reading for the Choose Life plate bill and a final vote to approve the measure is expected on Friday. The Choose Life license plate bill has also been endorsed by Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, as well as more than 40 grassroots organizations. Nearly 15,000 Texas citizens have signed a "Petition for Choose Life license plates," pledging to purchase the plate when it is made available. In the Texas House, 82 representatives have signed on to the companion bill, HB 109, including 36 chairs and vice chairs and 13 Democrats. The House Transportation Subcommittee on License Plates held a hearing earlier this month on the House version of the measure, HB 109, but did not take a vote following the discussion. Transportation Committee Chairman Joe Pickett (D-El Paso) has refused to allow a committee vote on the bill, officials with Texas Alliance for Life told LifeNews.com.
Full story at LifeNews.com


Vermont Pro-Life Advocates Rally Against New Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide
Montpelier, VT (LifeNews.com) -- Vermont pro-life advocates are gearing up once again for a battle against legislation that would add the state to the list of those that have legalized assisted suicide. Led by Vermont Right to Life, state residents will participate in a rally in the state capital tomorrow. The pro-life organization tells LifeNews.com the Healthcare is a Human Right rally is an event to remind state lawmakers that abortion and physician-assisted suicide are not health care and should not be included in any state health care proposal. Just prior to the scheduled rally, lawmakers introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide in both the state House and Senate.
The measures, S. 144 and H. 455, are causing pro-life groups, medical organizations and disability rights groups to be concerned about the specter of a government-run system that relies on rationing of health care along with legalized assisted suicide.
"It is no accident that the push to legalize physician-assisted suicide is rearing its ugly head at the same time that pressure is being put on lawmakers to change the health care system and reduce health care costs," Vermont Right to Life director Mary Hahn Beerworth told LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com


Scotland Parliament Will Soon Debate MacDonald's Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide
Edinburgh, Scotland (LifeNews.com) -- The parliament in Scotland will soon debate a bill that would legalize assisted suicide as its sponsor, MSP Margo MacDonald, has secured enough support from colleagues to introduce the measure. MacDonald was guaranteed a debate on her measure as 21 MSPs indicated their support. Despite the upcoming vote, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish health minister, is opposed to the assisted suicide bill and worries that it will be abused to target the elderly and disabled. The British Medical Association has joined pro-life groups and disability rights advocates in opposing the bill. "The BMA would be very disappointed if we ended up with having legalized physician-assisted suicide in Scotland," Dr. George Fernie of the BMA said. "People when they have a debilitating illness that may end their life are extremely vulnerable, they're at a fragile stage. And our worry is they're going to contemplate ending their life when that really isn't their wish."
This month, the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics panned the bill, calling it "dangerous and unnecessary." Full story at LifeNews.com


Texas State House Could Vote Soon on Bill to Lower Penalties for Infanticide
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- When the Supreme Court handed down the Roe v. Wade decision that allowed virtually unlimited abortions, pro-life advocates said it would lead to a slippery slope. In Texas, legislators could slide down that slope when they vote on a bill that would lower the penalty for some mothers who engage in infanticide. HB 3318 would reduce the crime of infanticide from capital murder to a state jail felony and the measure could receive a vote soon in the Texas House of Representatives. The bill is now eligible to be scheduled on the House calendar since the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee recently approved it. Jonathan Saenz, director of legislative affairs at Free Market Foundation, who testified against the bill during the committee hearing, told LifeNews.com that Texans need to contact their lawmakers to oppose HB 3318. "We already have incomplete protection for unborn children, and the assault, under this bill, will now extend to babies once they're born by giving them less protection," he said. Current law states that if a child under the age of six is murdered, the crime is considered capital murder. HB 3318 would reduce the crime of murder against a child the age of birth-12 months to only a state jail felony with a minimum punishment of 180 days to a maximum of 2 years. Full story at LifeNews.com


Pro-Life Law Firm Offers to Help Orange County Against Planned Parenthood Grant
Santa Ana, CA (LifeNews.com) -- The Orange County Board of Supervisors in southern California restored the $300,000 grant it initially revoked from the Planned Parenthood abortion business in March. Supervisors said they were worried about a lawsuit from the abortion business but a pro-life law firm has offered to help. The board initially voted to suspend the grant for family planning services because Planned Parenthood does abortions. After hearing from county attorneys, supervisors restored the grant on Tuesday saying they were concerned in part about a potential lawsuit from the pro-abortion group. Now, Alliance Defense Fund attorneys have offered to defend the Orange County Board of Supervisors pro bono in the event it faces any threats of legal action by Planned Parenthood. They are also offering to defend the Board of Supervisors' new policy that, among other provisions, makes it so the family planning services can't be provided in the same location as abortions. That would require Planned Parenthood to establish a new facility that solely provided the contraception the grant funds. Full story at LifeNews.com

Latest Pew Poll Finds Support for Legal Abortion on Sharp Decline Among Independents, Liberal and Moderate GOPers

DFLA banner at the 2006 March for Life, courte...Image via Wikipedia
 
Latest Pew Poll Shows 'Blame Social Conservatives First' Crowd is Wrong

Pro-Life Stand is a Winning Issue


WASHINGTON, April 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- In response to today's release of polling data from the Pew Research Center, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser offered the following statement:

"The blame social conservatives first crowd rests its premise on sand. No matter what losses conservatives suffer, their mantra is the same: 'social issues are driving folks away.' As the polling data released by the Pew Research Center proves, the 'blame social conservatives' habit is the very definition of cognitive dissonance. There is a compelling, sharp decline in support for legal abortion over the last eight months. The largest numbers of converts to the pro-life cause have been self-identified independents and liberal to moderate Republicans -- the very voters who decided last year's Presidential election. If Republicans want to improve their electoral performance, standing on the side of Life is one of the best decisions they can make."

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press was conducted from March 31-April 21 among 1,521 adults. Highlights include:

· Overall support for legal abortion down 8%. The proportion saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases has declined from 54% last August to 46% this month.

· Support for abortion declined by 24% among moderate and liberal Republicans. The Center reported 67% of liberal and moderate Republicans said abortion should be legal in August 2008. In this month's survey, that number had fallen to only 43%.

· Support for abortion declined by 11% among independents. The Center reported 55% of independents said abortion should be legal in August 2008. In this month's survey, that number had fallen to 44%.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 156,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.


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This is a major victory for the pro-life movement.

1,000,000 surgical abortions

Image by thebigdurian via Flickr


President Obama's Flip on the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) Shows He Recognizes the American Public is not Ready to Embrace His Radical Abortion Agenda

WASHINGTON, April 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- This is a major victory for the pro-life movement.

At a national news conference last night, the President said the passage of FOCA was not a top legislative priority for him.

This is a total reversal of his position in 2007 where he stated the passage of FOCA would be one of the first pieces of legislation he passed.

This complete turn around shows the White House recognizes that America is not ready to remove restrictions on abortion or expand it.

The comments by Mr. Obama shows the grass roots strength of the pro-life movement across the nation and reflects the position that America is embracing a culture of life.

The statement by President Obama is also a warning to the pro-life movement to be even more vigilant as this Administration's expansion of abortion will by a "piece meal" process as opposed to the passage of sweeping legislation like FOCA.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states,

"President Obama's complete reversal of his major support for the quick passage of the Freedom of Choice Act is a major victory for the pro-life movement. It clearly demonstrates how the White House realizes that the American public would never accept the sweeping expansion of abortion under FOCA.

However, the President's position offers new and unique challenges for the pro-life movement. There is no doubt that the President still embraces a radical pro-abortion position. The only thing that is changing is his strategy not his policies.

The pro-life community must watch very carefully how Mr. Obama will implement his abortion policies. We can expect the elements of FOCA will attempt to be passed in an incremental way. A clear example will be making taxpayer funded abortions a part of health care. In light of these comments, the pro-life community must be more vocal, passionate and bold in standing for human rights and ending the violence of abortion in our culture."

For more information or interviews call:

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741




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LifeSiteNews.com NewsBytes for April 30

 - Obama and the Democrats, Obama Crushing of Free Speech, Obama's Angry Feminists

* 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.

The Obama administration is causing grave concern about how fast it is moving to radically change the policital, economic and cultural landscape, not only of the United States, but also the world.

Even LifeSiteNews, as much as it warned about the Obama agenda long before the election, did not expect such rapid and massive actions by his administration against life, family, faith and freedom. It appears that the danger is much greater than even we anticipated, even though most North Americans thought our reports were being excessively negative and pessimistic.

Steve Jalsevac
LifeSiteNews.com

OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS

Air Force One Photo Op Questions
At least one news organization and one citizen advocacy group was mulling filing a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the release of the manifest for the Air Force One New York flyover to determine if any Obama donors or other interested parties were on board the flight. From the get-go, this was a top secret operation, which raises a whole bunch of red flags."
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/04/29/flyover-launcher

100 Days of the Poser Presidency - 100 days of reckless photo-op hubris By Michelle Malkin
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/29/100-days-of-the-poser-presidency/

Obama's old/ new socialism
Socialism is a protean beast and has changed since the 1970s, not to mention since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Communism. The new left is focused on the environment and much more concerned with regulation and setting the "right" market prices. It has also discovered how easily the corporate sector can be co-opted or threatened into supporting "corporate social responsibility" and "sustainable development." So President Obama's aim is social justice, white heat and green power.
http://www.financialpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=f2c6f257-5f8d-46a0-a7b7-394d4c9f30db

Hugo Chavez Says Venezuelan Socialism Has Begun to Reach U.S. under Obama
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46896

Beck Claims Knowledge of 'Mafia Tactics' Used to Coerce Banks to Agree to TARP
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2009/04/20/beck-claims-knowledge-mafia-tactics-used-coerce-banks-agree-tarp

$%^&*!!: Civility and tolerance in the Age of Obama By Michelle Malkin 
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/22/civility-and-tolerance-in-the-age-of-obama/

Obama's Torture Policy for the Unborn
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/04/23/obamas-torture-policy-for-the

White House Plans For National Day of Prayer Are Uncertain
http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2009/04/white-house-plans-for-national-day-of.html

Former CIA Director - "For the first time in my experience we've crossed the red line of properly protecting our national security in order to gain partisan political advantage,"
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/04/goss_obama_decision_crossed_a.asp

Israel shocked by Obama's approval of large Turkish arms sale to Lebanon
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=6039

Obama's Mexican Recipe: Failed Statism
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/04/22/obamas-mexican-recipe-failed-s


OBAMA CRUSHING OF FREE SPEECH

Nation's talkers meet on 'imminent threat'
Top radio hosts hold unprecedented summit to stop efforts at government control
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=96260

The Fight for the Survival of Free Speech
Most Americans are sleepwalking right now through the early reign of Obama the Magnificant. He tells them he is cutting spending, cutting taxes, and cutting the deficit, and they believe him. When they find in 2010 and 2011 that he deliberately misled them and has been doing just the opposite, and they are deep in the soup as a result, public opinion will turn decisively against him. The extremists taking over our country are not satisfied with taking over radio and television and shouting down public protests from network TV. They are targeting the Internet as well. Our country and our fundamental freedoms are in mortal danger. Now is the time to act.You don't want your children and grandchildren to be asking "Where were you when they took away our freedom of speech?"
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/04/29/the-fight-for-the-survival-of/2

U.S. regulatory czar nominee wants Net 'Fairness Doctrine'
Cass Sunstein sees Web as anti-democratic - Would require opposing opinions be linked and also has suggested angry e-mails should be prevented from being sent by technology that would require a 24-hour cooling off period. Sunstein also has argued in his prolific literary works that the Internet is anti-democratic because of the way users can filter out information of their own choosing.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=96301

A Newspaper Bailout Helps 'Diversity of Opinion'? Or Would It Underwrite More Bias?
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2009/04/22/newspaper-bailout-helps-diversity-opinion-or-would-it-underwrite-more-bi

Pentagon official blames U.S. for al-Qaida attacks - Worked for George Soros, argued for government control of media
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=95630

Judiciary Committee greenlights 'hate crimes'- Members refuse to protect Christian pastors from charges
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=95923


OBAMA'S ANGRY FEMINISTS

Hillary Clinton Compares Margaret Sanger to Thomas Jefferson
http://www.prisonplanet.com/hillary-clinton-compares-margaret-sanger-to-thomas-jefferson.html

Secretary Of State Clinton
"I have spent a lot of my time trying to bring down the rate of abortions and it has been my experience that good family planning and good medical care brings down the rate of abortion," Clinton said. "Keeping women and men in ignorance and denied the access to services actually increases the rate of abortion."
http://wcbstv.com/national/hillary.clinton.secretary.2.991639.html

Pelosi Worships Politics
On Friday, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed critics of federal funding of life-destroying embryonic stem-cell research with this argument: "We've had a situation where it's faith or science — take your pick,"
http://www.ncregister.com/daily/pelosi_worships_politics/

Napolitano makes Bush administration look well informed
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/04/21/don-martin-napolitano-s-makes-bush-administration-look-well-informed.aspx

Sebelius' Radical Abortion Past - A Perspective From Kansas
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/16890/CWA/life/index.htm

Senator Feinstein sought $25 billion for agency that awarded contract to spouse
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/21/senate-husbands-firm-cashes-in-on-crisis/

State Lawmakers Clash with Planned Parenthood Officials Over Undercover Footage

AURORA, IL - OCTOBER 02:  Curt Massie protests...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Unedited Undercover Videos Submitted to TN Law Enforcement

MEMPHIS, April 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- Following the release of undercover footage from a Memphis Planned Parenthood clinic, state lawmakers have introduced legislation that could divert taxpayer subsidies from Planned Parenthood in Tennessee. In response to Planned Parenthood of Greater Memphis Region's contesting the veracity of the footage, the group responsible for filming, Live Action, has sent the state Attorney General and Memphis District Attorney an unedited version for review. The full footage is also on YouTube for public viewing at http://youtube.com/watch?v=IvAGwJcs6c8

Lila Rose, 20-year-old president of Live Action, says the unedited video further exposes Planned Parenthood's reckless counseling practices. When Lila, posing as a 14-year-old girl impregnated by a 31- year-old man, mentions, "My boyfriend said he could pay for everything--But he shouldn't come here to pay 'cause you'll see him, right?" the counselor replies, "It doesn't matter. As long as your parents are not here and can't identify him, he can just pay and that's it. He could be like your older brother or whatever." Tennessee law states that a minor must have parental consent before undergoing an abortion.

Rose commends the Tennessee state lawmakers, led by Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and Sen. Jack Johnson, who have questioned the state's over $700,000 funding of Planned Parenthood. "Why would citizens tolerate paying the bills of an organization that protects statutory rapists and victimizes young girls? This is the sad result of the careless abortion-first mentality that has persisted at Planned Parenthood for decades."

On Monday, Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region CEO Barry Chase sent an email to state legislators asking them to stop the bill and claimed that Live Action's president, Lila Rose, refused to send his organization the unedited footage, even though neither Rose nor Live Action received any correspondence from Planned Parenthood.

"We have not received a request from Planned Parenthood for the raw footage, so their efforts to raise doubts about the validity of the tapes are made only to mislead," Rose said in response. "The typical last- ditch effort of Planned Parenthood is to wantonly suggest that the unedited tapes might prove them innocent. But to better illustrate the deliberate cover up of statutory rape and abuse by Planned Parenthood, we have made the entire video public."

Live Action has also responded to gross errors in Mr. Chase's email to legislators: "It is all the more troubling to think that even a novice counselor at Planned Parenthood would know to recommend this law-evasion strategy. How prevalent must law-evasion be at Planned Parenthood clinics when even the 'interpreters' are implicated?" states Live Action's letter to TN lawmakers. See the letter here: www.liveaction.org/memphis/letter.html.

Live Action has released similar footage from five other clinics, located in Arizona and Indiana, as part of its Mona Lisa Project, which shows Planned Parenthood employees as they respond negligently to reports of statutory rape and offer secret abortions instead. Find out more at www.liveaction.org.




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Archdiocesan newspaper says Mexico’s capital has become a “murderous city” after two years of legalized abortion

Greater Mexico City, extending to the states o...Image via Wikipedia

“Hedonistic, irresponsible and egotistical”

Archdiocesan newspaper says Mexico’s capital has become a “murderous city” after two years of legalized abortion

Mexico City, Mexico, Apr 28, 2009 / (CNA) -- The Archdiocese of Mexico City’s weekly newspaper, Desde la Fe, has called the second anniversary of the legalization of abortion up to the twelfth week “disastrous,” saying the Mexican capital has been turned into a “murderous city,” with more than 23,000 abortions and 14 maternal deaths as a result.

In an editorial, the newspaper reported that during the last three years organized crime has taken the lives of 10,000 people, but in two years legal abortion has taken more than twice that number in public hospitals.

The editorial warned that this “immoral, unjust and intrinsically perverse” law is clouding “the consciences of all those involved,” but above all it is poisoning new generations that are beginning to see abortion as something normal, despite the fact it entails the death of innocents in the maternal womb.

However, the newspaper praised the measures taken by numerous Mexican states to modify their constitutions, “close the door” to the legalization of abortion and thwart the efforts of intolerant and aggressive groups.

These groups, the paper charged, “do not hide their hatred for the Church and their evil inspiration, and seek to impose on all of society their hedonistic, irresponsible and egotistical idea of fulfillment.”
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Southern California Pro-Life Leader Taking Fight to University of Notre Dame



Will Protest Notre Dame's Undermining of Right to Life Teachings, and is Available as Guest Speaker

ANAHEIM, April 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- "The University of Notre Dame's honoring of pro-abortion Barack Obama on May 17 will be a disaster for America's preborn babies and for Catholic pro-life teachings. That's why I'll be in South Bend to protest."

So said Kenneth R, Fisher, the founder and chairman of Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc. (CRCOA), as he announced his plans to join in pro- life protests on the weekend of May 16-17 against Notre Dame's hosting of Obama.

"Obama will mislead Notre Dame's graduating class," said Fisher. "He will make it sound as if Catholics can support the continued legalization of aborting babies, and he will pretend that he can reduce the number of babies aborted - even though every single one of his policies and his personnel appointments is geared to increasing abortion."

"Obama will try to weaken Catholics' efforts to protect the babies, so why is the president of Notre Dame, Fr. John Jenkins, giving him a forum to do that?" asked Fisher.

Fisher said that during his weekend in the Midwest, May 15-17, he will stay at the Chicago home of Joe and Ann Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League.

Fisher also announced that in between protests that weekend, he will be available to speak to groups in the Chicago area on another topic: Why all pro-lifers and faithful Catholics must oppose Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony's annual Religious Education Congress, the world's largest training event for Catholic schoolteachers.

"Many of Cardinal Mahony's invited speakers are not objectionable, but too many are pro-'gays,' women- priest advocates, New Agers and anti-Pope rebels," Fisher warned. "They tell Catholic educators what to teach, and then the teachers go home and infect innocent Catholic children with those errors."

"Why is Cardinal Mahony promoting such speakers?" Fisher asked. "Shouldn't a cardinal make sure his speakers are loyal to the Church?"

Fisher said anyone interested in hearing him speak may contact him at: crcoa@dslextreme.com. Call him at: 714-491-2284 or on his cell phone, 714-260-3821, from now through the weekend of May 15-17.



First 300,000 Petition Signatures Delivered to Notre Dame Board Members, Fr. Jenkins Copies Are Being Rushed to Rome, Papal Nuncio, USCCB and ND Bishop John D’Arcy

Seal of the University of Notre Dame

Image via Wikipedia

The Cardinal Newman Society

  For Immediate Release

 

April 29, 2009

 

First 300,000 Petition Signatures Delivered to Notre Dame Board Members, Fr. Jenkins

Copies Are Being Rushed to Rome, Papal Nuncio, USCCB and ND Bishop John D'Arcy

 

Manassas, Va. –  Today, April 29, 2009, the first 300,000 names of individuals who signed the petition at NotreDameScandal.com — opposing the University of Notre Dame's decision to honor President Barack Obama at commencement — are being delivered to Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., the Board of Trustees and the Board of Fellows as they prepare for scheduled meetings on Friday, May 1, at Notre Dame.

 

As of this morning, more than 344,000 people have signed the petition, but because of the overwhelming numbers it took The Cardinal Newman Society more than 24 hours to prepare the data and print more than 64,000 sheets of paper, double sided, which were then bound in notebooks and sent via FedEx to Father Jenkins and individual members of the Notre Dame Board of Trustees and Board of Fellows.

 

Copies of the petitions are also being rushed by The Cardinal Newman Society, which sponsored the petition, to Archbishop Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education; Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican ambassador) to the United States; Francis Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Bishop John D'Arcy, of Fort Wayne-South Bend, who presides over Notre Dame; and Bishop Robert McManus, Chairman of the USCCB Education Committee.

 

"Only the Notre Dame Trustees and Fellows have direct authority over Father Jenkins, so their meetings on Friday are our best hope for an end to this scandal," said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. 

 

"It is critical for all of us to pray that the Trustees and Fellows charged with safeguarding Notre Dame's Catholic identity will heed the 50 bishops and hundreds of thousands of faithful Catholics urging Notre Dame to withdraw its invitation to President Obama."

 

The University of Notre Dame is governed by a 12-member Board of Fellows, including six Holy Cross priests, who are charged with ensuring "that the University maintains its essential character as a Catholic institution of higher learning."  The Fellows delegate most of their governing authority to the 38-member Board of Trustees, comprised mostly of lay people.

 

The university's charter states: "The essential character of the University as a Catholic institution of higher learning shall at all times be maintained, it being the stated intention and desire of the present Fellows of the University that the University shall retain in perpetuity its identity as such an institution."

 

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The president's litany of anti-life decisions began immediately after his election

President Obama's First 100 Days: Major Abortion Promotion, Attacking Pro-Lifers

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 29
, 2009

  

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama marks his first 100 days in the White House today and his record is replete with aggressive promotion of abortion and attacks on pro-life advocates. Obama has used tax dollars to pay for abortion and embryonic stem cell research and stacked his administration with abortion advocates.

The president's litany of anti-life decisions began immediately after his election in November, when he selected a long-time abortion advocate as his White House chief of staff.

Obama began fulfilling his promises to abortion advocates during his first week in office when he overturned the Mexico City Policy that prevented forcing taxpayers to fund groups that promote and perform abortions in other countries.

Continue reading here: http://www.lifenews.com/nat5005.html




FROM CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC DAILY: Cardinal rebuffs Kmiec

“The truth is the opposite”

Cardinal rebuffs Kmiec over Catholic News Service column defending Obama’s stem-cell policy changes

(Editor’s Note: This story was brought to our attention by Jack Smith, editor of The Catholic Key, the newspaper of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri. Below we provide a brief summary of the controversy, with a clickable link to Mr. Smith’s blog, which contains the full story.)

Douglas Kmiec, the controversial Pepperdine University professor who created a stir in Catholic circles last year when he endorsed Barack Obama for president, last week wrote a column for Catholic News Service, an agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in which he defended Obama’s shift in federal policy on embryonic stem cell research.

Kmiec’s column, "New ethically sensitive stem-cell guidance from the Obama administration," proved too much to take for Cardinal Justin Rigali, the head of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities. The cardinal penned his own CNS column this week in which he took Kmiec to task.

“Law professor Douglas Kmiec states in an opinion piece distributed by Catholic News Service that the new policy is ‘ethically sensitive’ and in important respects ‘more strict’ than President George W. Bush’s policy that preceded it,” wrote Cardinal Rigali. “The truth is the opposite.”

To read the full text of Cardinal Rigali’s rebuttal on the Catholic Key blog, Click Here.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Sebelius Confirmation Will Do Little to Diminish Mounting Opposition to President Obama's Radical Abortion Nominees

WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 25:  California Governor...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife


WASHINGTON, April 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today the U.S. Senate voted 65-31 to confirm Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as President Obama's Secretary of Health and Human Services.

"Despite the results of tonight's vote, we're finding that more and more Americans are waking up to the danger of President Obama's nominations of extreme abortion advocates to serve in his administration," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "The high profile Sebelius confirmation battle has generated new interest and brought thousands of new activists on board for the pro-life cause. This grassroots energy will only increase our momentum as we confront the next round of President Obama's extreme pro-abortion nominees, beginning with former NARAL Legal Director Dawn Johnsen. We expect all pro-life Senators will oppose Dawn Johnsen's nomination for Office of Legal Counsel, and their support will be critical to keeping her extreme abortion views out of the White House."

Susan B. Anthony List activists generated over 60,000 letters of opposition to Senators regarding the Sebelius nomination. Already over 37,000 letters have been sent in opposition to the Johnsen nomination.

While Johnsen served as Legal Director for NARAL, she authored numerous legal opinions rejecting any and all restrictions on abortion. Some notable quotes from Johnsen's amicus curiae brief in the case Webster v. Reproductive Health Services include:

"Abortion restrictions 'reduce pregnant women to no more than fetal containers.'"

"The argument that women who become pregnant have in some sense consented to the pregnancy belies reality...and others who are the inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery no more 'consent' to pregnancy than pedestrians 'consent' to being struck by drunk drivers."

Johnsen awaits a floor vote by the full U.S. Senate to gain confirmation to head the Office of Legal Counsel.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 156,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.

www.sba-list.org



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Parents Excluded from Multisexual Issues in Schools

At Home in San Francisco

Image by bunky's pickle via Flickr


MEDIA ADVISORY, April 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Parents are being purposely excluded from multisexual issues in schools, as seen in mounting evidence from California school districts, the National Educational Association, and more.

Kindergarteners learn the definition of "gay," "lesbian," and "transgender."

Students discuss different kinds of families, including kids raised by a mom and dad, grandparents, and same-sex parents. In all age groups, the multisexual message is being woven into everyday instruction.

"This is a mainstream effort to force parents out of the classroom. If it's not this way in your school, it is only a matter of time before your school is confronted with efforts to exclude parents," said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute.

State law now mandates that schools provide special accommodations for homosexual, bisexual, and transsexual behaviors. San Francisco Unified School District explicitly interprets state law to mean that it does not need to notify parents about multisexual curriculum and activities.

In a website launched just this month, SFUSD wrote, "As long as human sexuality is not the focus of the discussion, parent notification is not required." It claims a right to teach about same-sex romantic attraction, same-sex parenting, and much more -- starting in kindergarten.

"California leads the nation, and on this issue, San Francisco is leading California. Other school districts and influential organizations are pushing to follow the same path," England said.

"Do you want San Francisco school policies coming to your school district next?" she said.

The NEA issued standards for multisexual issues several years ago, which instruct school employees to "respect confidentiality." "This includes not telling other colleagues or a student's parents or guardians that someone has 'come out' to you without a specific reason," it said.

"The NEA says that parents -- who brought these children into the world and care for them daily -- may 'not react well' and even throw their kids out of the house," England said. "This is arrogance. It says schools have more right to know about students' sexuality than parents."

What if parents must be notified? School employees should attempt to "explore parents' likely reaction with the student first." "Come up with strategies for worst case scenarios. Do not blindside students by telling family members without their knowledge," advised the NEA School Employee's Guide to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Issues.

"What a burden on teachers. They must call Bob 'Betty' at school, but woe to them if they slip and say 'Betty' in conversation with that child's own parent," England said.

People must understand this is not a fringe attitude. Parental exclusion is being officially, systematically pushed for the so-called "safety" of kindergarten to high school students.

"Educators want students to totally embrace 'healthy attitudes' on multisexuality, instead of outdated traditional values -- without getting parents knowing it," England said.


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American Life League’s president, Judie Brown, issued the following statement:


MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28 April 2009
CONTACT: Katie Walker
540.659.4942| kwalker@all.org 

'PRO-LIFE' SENATORS APPOINT RADICALLY PRO-ABORTION SEBELIUS AS H.H.S. SECRETARY

Washington, DC (28 April 2009) – American Life League's president, Judie Brown, issued the following statement today on the Senate's confirmation, 65 - 31, of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Sebelius received the support of Kansas senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, two so-called pro-life leaders.

"Today we witnessed a tragedy. Two good men, Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, cowed by political expediency and a despairing pragmatism, have cooperated with evil and helped pave the way for the Obama administration's virulently pro-abortion agenda.

"Faced with the most extreme anti-life presidential administration in history, these two 'pro-life' men had the opportunity to radically change the course of Gov. Sebelius' confirmation process and make a heroic stand against the evil of abortion.

"Instead, they chose to congratulate, support and appoint a woman who, wedded to the Kansas abortion lobby, helped make that state the 'late-term abortion capital of the world.'

"In her new position as secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebelius will have the power to make the United States the abortion capital of the world. 

"Now is not the time to make concessions to evil. Now is the time to stand tall for the personhood of all human beings, from their biological beginning. We will not be intimidated into compromising our principles. Faced with persecution by the Obama administration, we will flourish and overcome the chokehold the culture of death has on our nation.

"The nomination of Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary has taught us one thing above all. We cannot count on our elected officials to lead the charge toward human personhood.

"The change – and the charge – starts with each one of us living, breathing and fighting each moment for the day when human personhood is proclaimed and recognized by and for all."

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:

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes: On the Nomination of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00172


# # #


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







Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts of Kansas both voted to confirm Sebelius over the strenuous objections of pro-life, conservative groups.

Sebelius Confirmed By Divided Senate

April 28th, 2009

Washington, DC - Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services today in the U.S. Senate after hours of debate, by the vote of 65 to 31.

Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts of Kansas both voted to confirm Sebelius over the strenuous objections of pro-life, conservative groups.

Most Senators who rose in opposition to Sebelius during the sometimes tedious debate voiced concern for her connections to late-term abortion George Tiller and her lack of candor over campaign contributions she received from him.

Dr. Tom Coburn, Senator from Oklahoma said today that late-term abortion is "barometer for the soul of our nation," and that Sebelius "lacks part of the moral clarity" needed to lead our nation.

"This is obviously a step in the wrong direction for our nation. With Sebelius, we can expect to see increased protections on predatory abortionists, taxpayer funded abortions, and rationed health care that could cost lives," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "With this confirmation, Obama is continuing to build a Culture of Death in our nation.

"However, we are encouraged that 31 senators rose in opposition to Sebelius. That is more that we had first expected and we are grateful to each of them for their efforts to block this pro-abortion nomination. It shows a divided Senate that will be keeping a close eye on Sebelius in the coming term."

________________________________

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



Teenager Commits Suicide Using Book Authored by Founder of Hemlock





April 26, 2009 (Secondhand Smoke)

This has happened before and it will happen again. A teenager has apparently committed suicide using the deathNot yet available information contained in Derek Humphry's (pictured) book Final Exit.
Who is Derek Humphry? He founded the Hemlock Society--now Compassion and Choices--with his second wife Ann Wickett, after becoming famous for a book he wrote about assisting the suicide of his first wife, called Jean's Way.
Humphry abandoned Wickett when she was diagnosed with breast cancer (as did the rest of the "right to die" community), and she was ultimately befriended by Rita Marker, the hated enemy of "the ultimate civil liberty."
(continue reading . . .)

Broadcasters could face fines for even a single curse word

CWA Applauds the Supreme Court's Decision to Protect American Families 

cwa.jpg
WASHINGTON, April 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Supreme Court ruled today that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is authorized to regulate "fleeting expletives." The decision overturns a ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a case initiated after broadcast networks aired the "F-word" and "S-word" from live events. Concerned Women for America (CWA) agrees with the Supreme Court's determination that the FCC's ban on profanity was "neither arbitrary nor capricious." 

Penny Young Nance, former policy Advisor to the Federal Communications Commission on indecency issues and current CWA board member, stated: 

"Today's Supreme Court decision in Fox v. FCC is a huge victory for American families. Once again the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the government does have a role in protecting children. Justice Scalia said the FCC's policy to ban fleeting expletives is entirely rational. American families understand that the public airwaves, like public parks, are owned by all of us. The networks do not have the right to pollute the airwaves with the 'F-word' at will." 

CWA President Wendy Wright said, "Broadcasters have the ability to bleep out offensive and crude language, but networks refused to act responsibly. Today the Supreme Court recognized that the FCC has the right to step in to protect viewers, especially young viewers, from offensive material. This is a step in the right direction to once again make television a safe form of entertainment." 

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.




Monday, April 27, 2009

The Bravery of Glendon


The Bravery of Glendon

While some leading Catholic universities in America are so anxious to curry favor with the secular culture that they are willing to compromise their very identity, one woman stands unafraid...

By Andrew Rabel
 MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2009 — Dear friends,

I am here late in the evening in the office of Inside the Vatican in Rome, and I have just learnt this fabulous news— that the former US Ambassador to the Holy See, the Catholic professor of law at Harvard, Mary Ann Glendon, has declined Notre Dame University's invitation to attend its commencement in May and receive an award.
 
Let me tell you, I am no gymnast, but I have been doing cartwheels over the wooden floor.
But to be serious, this is one of the most extraordinary actions taken by a Catholic for a long time, due to the outrage she and many of us fellow Catholics feel at the decision to invite President Barack Obama to Notre Dame University to give the commencement address there next month, despite the fact that he is the most pro-abortion president the US has ever had.
I have just been on the phone to Mary Ann's daughter, Elizabeth Lev, who works as an art historian and occasional columnist here in the Eternal City, and she is as delighted as I am.

Mary Ann was being used by the likes of Fr Jenkins (Notre Dame's president) and company, to give the event some respectability.

After a succession of less than traditional Catholic American women in recent years, like Geraldine Ferraro, Nancy Pelosi, and Kathleen Sebelius, here is one American woman who shines with her love for Jesus Christ and His Church and who abhors this terrible destruction of lives in the womb.

Hopefully the spirit of St Thomas More will come back to more Catholics in public life, at this time.

Mary Ann, we are so proud of you. It can't be a coincidence that you have the names of the mother and grandmother of Our Lord in your name. God bless.

=================

Here is the complete text of Mary Ann Glendon's historic letter. —The Editor
 
April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame's Laetare
Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame's most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops' express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions "should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles" and that such persons "should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions." That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution's freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that "talking points" issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

• "President Obama won't be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal."

• "We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about."

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame's decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church's position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops' guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame's example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,

Mary Ann Glendon

Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.


"Inside the Vatican is a magazine I read cover to cover. I find it balanced and informative. I especially appreciate its coverage of art and architecture. It is not only an important magazine, it is also a beautiful one." —Prof. Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard University Law School, former United States Ambassador to the Holy See
 
 
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