DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Susan B. Anthony List Statement on Dede Scozzafava Suspending Campaign for NY-23

Susan B. Anthony List President: "Dede Scozzafava has worked extremely hard to achieve the goal of becoming the next Congressman from New York's 23rd District. It takes courage and strength to step back and make the best choice for her party, and for the voters of the 23rd District. Now it's time for the GOP to step up."

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- This morning Dede Scozzafava, Republican Party candidate for Congress in New York's 23rd Congressional District, suspended her campaign. In response, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser issued the following statement:

"Dede Scozzafava's courage and strength allowed her to make the choice to let the strongest candidate in her party move forward, and to serve the voters of the 23rd District.

"Dede Scozzafava has worked extremely hard to achieve the goal of becoming the next Congressman from New York's 23rd District. This must have been an incredibly difficult decision -- she did not get into the race to lose. It takes courage and strength to step back and make the best choice for her party, and for the voters of the 23rd District. Now it's time for the GOP to step up."

"On behalf of conservative voters, activists, and volunteers across the district, I call on the national GOP to finally throw its full support and resources behind Doug Hoffman for Congress. A Hoffman victory is within sight."

The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund, in partnership with the National Organization for Marriage, is organizing an independent conservative, pro-Hoffman grassroots ground program in the district. Field staff are recruiting over 200 volunteers to staff polls on election day, canvass churches, and distribute literature, lapel stickers and yard signs across the district. The pro-life Susan B. Anthony List has spent over $125,000 in the race so far, including over $50,000 in pro-Hoffman radio ads.

The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund joined the Club for Growth to be one of the first political action committees to endorse Doug Hoffman for Congress on September 28, 2009. The fund supports pro-life female candidates, as well as pro-life male candidates who run against female candidates in favor of abortion rights.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 167,000 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.

Document on Married Love and Reproductive Technology on Agenda for U.S. Bishops November Meeting

Image by indy_catholic via Flickr

WASHINGTON—A proposed document from the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities looks at the relationship between sex and procreation and the moral issues surrounding various technologies for treating infertility, including in vitro fertilization, embryo adoption and surrogacy. The document,"Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology," will be debated and voted on by the full body of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at their November 16-19 meeting in Baltimore.

"The Church has compassion for couples suffering from infertility and wants to be of real help to them," explains the draft document."At the same time, some 'reproductive technologies' are not legitimate ways to solve those problems. We bishops of the United States offer this reflection to explain why. We also offer it to provide hope—real hope that couples can fulfill their procreative potential and build a family while fully respecting God's design for their marriage and for the gift of children."

"Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology" draws on Church teaching, including Vatican documents Donum Vitae (1987), Evangelium Vitae (1995) and Dignitas Personae (2008), the last of which was released during the development of the bishops' document. It includes questions and answers on the issue and testimony from couples who followed the Church's teaching, and offers pastoral guidance and encouragement for couples who struggle with infertility.

The document reaffirms Catholic teaching against in vitro fertilization, egg and sperm donation, surrogacy, cloning and embryo donation. It also explains that Catholic couples may pursue a wide variety of ethical treatments, including hormonal treatment and other medications, surgery to repair damaged fallopian tubes, natural family planning, and means for alleviating male infertility factors.

Says the document:"These avenues do not substitute for the married couple's act of loving union; rather, they assist this act in reaching its potential for giving rise to a new human life."
After being debated by the U.S. bishops in Baltimore, "Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology" will require a vote of approval by two-thirds of the membership of the USCCB. This educational resource was prepared by the Pro-Life Committee as a companion to the document "Married Love and the Gift of Life," explaining the Church's teaching on contraception. Intended especially for engaged and married couples, that document was approved by the bishops in 2007 and has been distributed through many Catholic marriage preparation programs in the United States.

“Marriage only exists between a man and a woman.”

AMERICA/ARGENTINA - Declaration from the Institute for Marriage and the Family at the Catholic University of Argentina

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - "Marriage is founded on a free, permanent, and exclusive bond between a man and a woman, for mutual support, towards the procreation and education of their children. In this sense, it represents an authentic good for the society." This is what is found in a declaration published by the Institute for Marriage and the Family at the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), in light of the debate over two draft bills on so-called civil unions of persons of the same sex. "Limiting marriage to a union between a man and a woman is not unjust discrimination," and "the human right to marry is acknowledged by all people, but only in regards to a marriage formed between a man and a woman, as the International Pact of Civil and Political Rights explicitly expresses," the Institute affirms. "Recognizing unions between persons of the same sex as marriage," would mean "redefining marriage, changing

Image by 1Flatworld via Flickr

its substance and jeopardizing the common good."
Confronted with the legislative situation, "the great challenge" the UCA perceives is that of "being aware of the need for an authentically profound and serene reflection on human love," avoiding "the ideologies" and proposing "a culture that respects the memory and values of the Argentinean people." In addition to the Institute for Marriage and the Family, the declaration is also signed by the UCA Life and Family Forum, the School of Law, the Institute of Biology, the Department of Sociology of the School of Economic and Social Sciences, the School of Education, the Social Communications Institute, the Institute of Political Science and International Relations, the School of Psychology and Educational Psychology, the UCA Cultural Center, and the School of Engineering. (GT)

(Agenzia Fides 30/10/2009)

Judie Brown: "From the sicko world of Planned Parenthood"

Judie Brown

From the sicko world of Planned Parenthood

Judie Brown
October 29, 2009

One never knows what might be posted as a YouTube video, readily available to anyone with an internet connection. Among the most recent is a shocker starring Planned Parenthood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvlCx3w_tss Federation of America's vice president for medical affairs, Vanessa Cullins, M.D. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/ask-dr-cullins-6602.htm

In a recent Wednesday STOPP Report, http://www.all.org/article_printerfriendly.php?id=12279 Rita Diller, http://www.stopp.org/rita_diller.htm national director of Stop Planned Parenthood International (STOPP), described this video's basic message quite simply as "Get sexually active and get your STDs." In fact, Cullins makes it clear that you should "expect to have HPV (human papillomavirus) once you become sexually intimate; all of us get it" and that you should expect this because "most of us" are sexually active and just have to admit it.

To read the article, click here:
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/brown/091029

Planned Parenthood Missouri Attempts to Shut Down Personhood by Lawsuit

Planned Parenthood Missouri Attempts to Shut Down Personhood by Lawsuit Against State of Missouri

ST. LOUIS, MO, Oct. 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- Planned Parenthood sued the State of Missouri this week to challenge two pro-life ballot initiatives, in an apparent effort to stifle the people's constitutional right to the ballot process.

One of the ballot initiatives, submitted by Personhood Missouri, states, "Section 35, Person defined. As used in sections 2, 10, and 14 of Article I of the state constitution, the term "person" shall apply to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being."

The personhood amendment, along with another pro- life initiative, were both approved by Secretary of State Democrat Robin Carnahan on October 20th. An amendment much like this one was introduced in Colorado and found to be a single-subject issue, approved by the Colorado State Supreme Court. The Planned Parenthood lawsuit claims that the Missouri personhood amendment did not warn voters of the legal and constitutional fallout if the ballot measure passes.

"The legal and constitutional 'fallout' of a Missouri Personhood amendment, is that all humans in the state of Missouri have human rights," stated Keith Mason, of Personhood USA. "All humans are people, and must be protected."

According to the law, it is not required or necessary for ballot initiative proposers to outline every possible legal scenario if an amendment is passed.

"Our amendment is easy to understand, and simply protects all humans from their biological beginning," stated Dr. Gregory Thompson, initiative sponsor. "The Planned Parenthood lawsuit was quoted in several newspapers as incorrectly using the term, 'fertilized egg'. In fact, at the moment of biological beginning, the newly formed human being is not an egg at all, but a unique individual person."

This lawsuit will cost taxpayers additional funds and use valuable government resources, pointed out Dr. Thompson. He continued to say, "The very organization that uses tax dollars to cause the deaths of millions of innocent human beings and many mothers, along with years of physical, mental, and spiritual pain, is now using government resources again to keep this issue from going to the voters."

"The motivation of Planned Parenthood is highly suspect. This lawsuit addresses a concern about loss of funds, yet Planned Parenthood reportedly brought in over 10 million dollars in 2008 in Missouri alone, and over a billion dollars nationwide," continued Mason. "This is clearly an act of desperation by a billion dollar industry, seeking to keep the issue of Personhood away from the people of Missouri."

For Interviews Contact: Dr. Gregory Thompson of Personhood Missouri at 417-894-5768 or 417-754- 8774 or Keith Mason of Personhood USA at 202-595- 3500 ext. 3.

Personhood USA is a grassroots Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report 10/29/09

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Thursday, October 29, 2009

For news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com.

Current Headlines

• House Democrats to Unveil Final Version of Pro-Abortion Health Care Reform Bill Today
• Pro-Life Group Confirms New House Health Care Reform Bill Includes Abortion Funding
• Pro-Life Group Slams Pelosi for Crafting Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Behind Closed Doors
• Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking to Overturn Obama Embryonic Stem Cell Research Order
• Gallup: Decline in Abortion OK Helps Increase Number Who Say They're Conservative
• Man Who Shot Pro-Life Advocate James Pouillon Now Mentally Competent For Trial
• New Polls in New Jersey Show Pro-Life Governor Candidate Christie Doing Better
• Baltimore City Council Debates Fining Pregnancy Centers for Not Doing Abortions
• Britain House of Lords Sees Amendment to Okay Suicide Tourism Withdrawn
• Texas Catholic Bishops Issue Statement Opposing Pro-Abortion Health Care Legislation
• Wisconsin Pro-Life Advocates Sue Milwaukee for Harassment, Denying Free Speech
• Utah Man Who Attacked Pregnant Girl With Her Consent Gets 20 Years in Prison

-----> LifeNews.com will not be publishing regular news this week. We will return with regular full-length news stories Novermber 2, 2009. Below is a collection of newsbriefs to keep you updated on the latest pro-life news. These stories are collected online here.

----> Thank you for helping LifeNews.com. We are over 100 percent of the way to our October goal of raising $5,000 thanks to your help! Please don't forget to support LifeNews.com with a donation (or credit card) via PayPal to news@lifenews.com or by mail at LifeNews.com, PO Box 270841, Fort Collins, CO 80527.

House Democrats to Unveil Final Version of Pro-Abortion Health Care Reform Bill Today
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- House Democrats unveiled their final version of the pro-abortion health care reform bill on Thursday that pro-life groups are opposing because contains massive abortion funding and subsidies with taxpayer funds. The legislation combines three pro-abortion versions of the same bill and has been renumbered as H.R. 3962. Democrats hope to bring the measure to the House floor for a debate and vote next week, although it appears that will be done without allowing pro-life Democrats and Republicans to vote on an amendment from Rep. Bart Stupak that would disallow abortion funding. The bill includes the so-called government option or public option that expands abortion funding even further than do the subsidies that can be used to purchase health care insurance that pays for abortions. While pro-abortion House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is introducing an abortion-funding plan in the House with the government option, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has received most of the attention this week for saying he will go against the prevailing political winds in the Senate and introduced a pro-abortion bill with the government option as well. Several moderate Democrats are likely to join Republicans in voting against the Senate bill if it includes the government-run option. For Pelosi, an initial survey of House Democrats her top lieutenants conducted reveals she is about 17 votes shy of the 218 she needs to get approval for a pro-abortion bill with the public plan.

Pro-Life Group Confirms New House Health Care Reform Bill Includes Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The new House health care bill unveiled today by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is no different than the three previous versions of the legislation that all forced taxpayers to fund abortions. Douglas Johnson, the legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, told LifeNews.com today that "A vote for this bill is a vote to establish a federal government program that will directly fund abortion on demand, with federal funds." Johnson referred specifically to language on page 110 of the new bill (H.R. 3962) which explicitly authorizes the "public health insurance option" to pay for all elective abortions. The "public health insurance option" or "public plan" would be a health insurance program operated directly by the federal government, through the Department of Health and Human Services. "The public plan will be a federal agency program, and all funds spent by the agency are federal funds," Johnson said. "The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS), in an October 9 memo obtained by NRLC, confirmed that all funds spent by the bill's public plan will be federal funds. Prominent Democrats who have claimed that the federal government could pay for abortion with 'private' funds have been engaged in a big snow job -- and in swallowing such a contrived, implausible claim, many journalists have been all too gullible." To stop the abortion funding, pro-life Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan has proposed an amendment that would prohibit the federal government plan from paying for abortion but Pelosi will likely force the House to vote on the bill under a closed rule that prohibits amendments. NRLC and other pro-life groups are urging House members to vote against imposition of the closed rule preventing the pro-life amendment and that vote could come on the House floor as soon as November 5 or 6. "Anyone voting to forbid amendments to this bill is in effect voting to set up a federal government program that will directly fund abortion on demand, with federal funds," Johnson said. The bill also has a second objectionable provision relating to abortion -- it would allow federal subsidies to help pay for the cost of private health plans that cover elective abortion, a departure from longstanding federal policy. Stupak's amendment would correct this problem, as well.

Pro-Life Group Slams Pelosi for Crafting Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Behind Closed Doors
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Family Research Council is upset that the new pro-abortion health care "reform" bill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled today was negotiated behind closed doors. FRC president Tony Perkins emailed LifeNews.com the following: "Unfortunately, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi waited until this morning to let Americans in on her secret overhaul of the system. After long weeks of keeping voters -- and members -- in the dark, Pelosi's version of reform is finally public. From what we can tell, her plan retained little of what was hashed out in committee. Instead of relying on collaboration, the bill is solely a Pelosi product that makes a mockery of the committee process." Although she claims the legislation isn't a "robust public option," FRC says the government-run health care system is definitely a part of the legislative measure. "What she proposes would lead to a government takeover of health care and steamroll private plans in the process. Any cost-conscious Members will still be troubled by the price of reform. Depending on whom you ask, Pelosi's plan is slated to cost anywhere from $900 billion to more than $1 trillion in 10 years," he notes. FRC's greatest concern is that the new bill, HR 3962, still includes government-funded abortion over the loud protests of pro-life groups, members of Congress and the public. It does. "But there's an easy solution for Pelosi: exclude abortion funding from the final bill," Perkins said. "According to a new poll, plenty of Americans would support her in that decision. The idea of taxpayer-funded abortion is hugely unpopular among a large sample of U.S. women. WomenTrend, a division of the polling company, just released new numbers from a sweeping survey and found that 67% of women regardless of age, race, region, and marital and parental status don't believe the government should pay for abortion. Even in Pelosi's own party, a majority (55%) of Democratic women are unwilling to subsidize abortions. This issue is a non-partisan no-brainer."

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking to Overturn Obama Embryonic Stem Cell Research Order
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A federal judge has dismissed the case filed by a collection of pro-life groups and an adoption agency that involves the adopts of unborn children frozen at fertility clinics. They had sued the administration of President Barack Obama saying that he should not have issued an executive order forcing taxpayers to finance embryonic stem cell research that involves the destruction of human life. They based their lawsuit on the Dickey-Wicker amendment, a federal law that disallows funding of research on human embryos that involves their specific creation and destruction. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth put the brakes on the lawsuit, which also said Obama's order, and a second one stopping funding of embryonic stem cell research alternatives, makes less money available for adult stem cell research and fewer human embryos available for adoption. Judge Lamberth dismissed the case for now and the collection of pro-life groups and Nightlight Christian Adoption Agency could still appeal. "Embryos lack standing because they are not persons under the law" and the unborn have no right to life protected under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, Lamberth said, citing U.S. Supreme Court rulings. For Nightlight to have grounds to sue, Lamberth ruled, potential embryo donors have to choose to donate their embryos for research and not for adoption. He also called the question of embryos available for adoption speculative. "With these rules, the Obama administration and National Institutes for Health are rushing to pour more taxpayer dollars into a technique that provides incentives for destroying embryos. Unlike the previous administration, President Obama is emphasizing the poorest science and ignoring real hope for patients," Family Research Council president Tony Perkins said in response. "While he may not recognize the groundbreaking progress of adult stem cells, scientists do. In this political climate, many are working even harder to deliver on the potential of this ethical and effective technique. Despite this disappointment, it's important to remember that the adult stem cell research is speeding ahead, treating real patients who are alive and healthy because of it."

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Gallup: Decline in Support for Abortion Helps Increase Number Who Say They're Conservative
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A decline in the number of Americans who say they are supportive of legalized abortion has made it so the number of people who self-identify as conservatives is on the rise. Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group. The 2009 data are based on 16 separate Gallup surveys conducted from January through September, encompassing more than 5,000 national adults per quarter. Conservatives have been the dominant ideological group each quarter, with between 39% and 41% of Americans identifying themselves as either "very conservative" or "conservative." Between 35% and 37% of Americans call themselves "moderate," while the percentage calling themselves "very liberal" or "liberal" has consistently registered between 20% and 21% -- making liberals the smallest of the three groups. Changes among political independents appear to be the main reason the percentage of conservatives has increased nationally over the past year: the 35% of independents describing their views as conservative in 2009 is up from 29% in 2008. By contrast, among Republicans and Democrats, the percentage who are "conservative" has increased by one point each. As is typical in recent years, Republicans are far more unified in their political outlook than are either independents or Democrats. While 72% of Republicans in 2009 call their views conservative, independents are closely split between the moderate and conservative labels (43% and 35%, respectively). Democrats are about evenly divided between moderates (39%) and liberals (37%). Gallup noted abortion's impact on the results: In addition to the increase in conservatism on this general ideology measure, Gallup finds higher percentages of Americans expressing conservative views on abortion in 2009 than in 2008.

Man Who Shot Pro-Life Advocate James Pouillon Now Declared Mentally Competent For Trial
Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- The man who allegedly shot and killed pro-life advocate James Pouillon and a local businessman has now been declared mentally competent to stand trial. Local resident Harlan Drake stands accused of shooting Pouillon as he protested abortion outside a high school and he had been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial last month. Now, a judge this week has accepted the latest report saying his mental health has improved after getting treatment. Drake's competency means he understands the charges and can assist his defense. His lawyer, Robert Ashley, still might pursue an insanity defense if the case goes to trial. Ashley is seeking approval for a separate evaluation of Drake's mental health at the time of the shootings of Pouillon and Mike Fuoss. District Court Judge Terrance P. Dignan signed an order last month remanding the 33-year-old to the State Department of Mental Health for treatment, though Judge Dignan said there was a good possibility that treatment would make it so Drake will attain competence enough to be tried for the September 11 shootings. He said Drake's suicide attempt two days after the shooting was a factor along with a 2004 crash Drake was involved in that resulted in the death of two teenagers which saw them fail to yield to his truck. Drake was scheduled to receive receive treatment at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry for a maximum of 15 months, and the first trial on the charges had been postponed until then. Shiawassee County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Sara Edwards indicated the case will move forward as soon as Drake is ready to stand trial and explained that the mental facility is a secure facility.

New Polls in New Jersey Show Pro-Life Governor Candidate Christie Doing Better
Trenton, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- Two new polls from New Jersey show gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie, who has the backing of pro-life groups and advocates, faring better against pro-abortion Gov. Jon Corzine and a pro-abortion independent candidate. The latest Rasmussen survey shows Christie taking the lead over Corzine, 42 to 38 percent, with Independent Chris Daggett winning 14 percent of the vote. Last week, Corzine held a one-point lead over Christie, 37 to 36 percent in the initial ballot test. When soft Daggett supporters were pushed to support either Corzine or Christie, Christie maintained a 46 to 43 percent lead, with Daggett at seven percent. A separate poll from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling finds that late-deciding voters are lining up behind Christie. The poll shows Christie leading Corzine by four points, 42 to 38 percent with Daggett at 13 percent. Christie only led by one point over Corzine in the last PPP survey two weeks ago. Interestingly, the PPP poll shows that Daggett voters are more likely to support Corzine as a second choice by a 10-point margin, 42 to 32 percent. "This race is going right down to the wire," said PPP pollster Dean. "The Daggett voters seem to be pretty volatile so if they go back to the Corzine camp he'll have a good shot of pulling it out." Pollster Scott Rasmussen e-mails: "All our poll results, for all elections after Labor Day, are reported including leaners. So, we consider the 46-43 numbers our official results for NJ." Corzine has promoted abortion and embryonic stem cell research that destroys unborn children and has yet to help any patients.

Baltimore City Council Debates Fining Pregnancy Centers for Not Doing Abortions
Baltimore, MD (LifeNews.com) -- The Baltimore City Council on Tuesday debated a proposal that would target pregnancy centers by making them post a sign saying they do not offer abortions or provide contraception. The measure does not contain any stipulations for abortion centers requiring a disclosure indicating they do not provide comprehensive abortion alternatives. City Council Bill 09-0406 would fine pregnancy centers $500 per day if they do not comply with the city ordinance. Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and 10 members of the council are sponsoring a measure that pro-life advocates say is at the behest of Planned Parenthood and NARAL and is in the council's judiciary committee. "This bill is not about the abortion debate. This bill is about truth in advertising," she said. Bishop Denis J. Madden, who spoke on behalf of the Archbishop of Baltimore, opposed the bill. "This bill would raise widespread and unnecessary controversy for the City Council and be a distraction for those important issues like high crime rates, supporting schools and budget woes," he said. "The proposal serves no useful purpose. It harasses pregnancy resource centers." Jay Schwartz of the Maryland Catholic Conference added: "You've gone too far. Unlike the state bill of a couple years ago, your OB/GYN offices would have to post a sign, and given the definition in the bill, a maternity shop would have to post a sign." Rawlings-Blake said she will support amendments to lower the proposed $500 fine and to change the penalties from criminal to civil ones. According to the Catholic Review, Councilman Robert Curran asked representatives several times if abortion businesses would be required to post signs listing what services they will not give to pregnant women. Carol Clews, executive director of the Center for Pregnancy Concerns, said the bill "is impugning our integrity.

Britain House of Lords Sees Amendment to Okay Suicide Tourism Withdrawn
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the British House of Lords were expected to vote again on an amendment that would promote assisted suicide, but it was withdrawn. The expected vote would have come after after the July defeat of another amendment that would have made it easier for Britons to engage in assisted suicide. Following the defeat in the summer of Lord Falconer's attempt to widen the law on assisted suicide to allow so-called suicide tourism, Lord Alderdice re-tabled his amendment to the Coroners and Justice bill. SPUC, the British pro-life group, informed LifeNws.com that the amendment was opposed by a majority of those Lords who spoke in the debate and was withdrawn. Anthony Ozimic of SPUC Pro-Life said: "The idea of allowing assisted suicide was condemned tonight as discriminatory, highly dangerous and threatening. Lords were offended by Lord Alderdice's suggestion that coroners should decide who may live or die under his amendment. His amendment was described as 'dismal', a 'travesty' and surrounded by 'weasal words'. We congratulate those Lords who so firmly opposed the amendment, and the many members of the public who lobbied Lords prior to tonight's debate. The director of public prosecutions should read tonight's debate closely as he drafts his policy on prosecuting assisted suicide." After a passionate debate, the Lords defeated the Falconer amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill by a 194 to 141 vote. Like the Falconer amendment, the new measure would say that "no offence shall have been committed if assistance is given to a person to commit suicide" and sets for provisions for when assisted suicides can be carried out. Both amendments would repeal the already-raddled law that prevents suicide tourism. That is the practice where residents of Britain travel to other nations, typically Switzerland, where Dignitas euthanasia centers are located, to kill themselves. The current law in England prohibits suicide tourism and calls for as long as 14 years in prison for aiding a suicide, although the law is almost never enforced. Some figures show as many as 115 people have gone to other nations to help kill loved ones without facing any prosecution.

Looking for a Pro-Life Speaker?

Looking for a pro-life speaker for your next banquet, conference or convention? LifeNews.com can help you find a low-cost speaker who can entertain and educate your audience as well as help with a fundraising pitch if necessary. For more information, email LifeNews.com Editor Steven Ertelt at ertelt@LifeNews.com.

Texas Catholic Bishops Issue Statement Opposing Pro-Abortion Health Care Legislation
Houston, TX (LifeNews.com) -- Every Catholic bishop in Texas has joined together to release a joint statement warning that the current health care bills pending in Congress do not adequately protect against forcing taxpayers to finance abortions. The statement from the Texas Catholic Conference, representing all 15 diocesan offices statewide, says the bishops "hope that our national leaders will work together to bring about genuine life-affirming reform to our nation's health care system." They continue, saying, "Our Catholic moral tradition teaches that every human being, from the moment of conception to natural death, has an innate dignity that entitles him or her to certain rights and protections, including the fundamental right to life and the right to affordable healthcare, which flows from the right to life." The bishops said the Capps amendment, a phony amendment that does not actually stop abortion funding, "does not adequately ensure the protection of all human life." As is the case with the nation's bishops' agency, the USCCB, they warn that they will have to oppose the health care legislation if it is not rendered abortion neutral. "The Catholic Bishops of Texas will continue to support reform of our nation's health care system in ways that respect the lives of all human persons while providing affordable access to health care for all. We will be a committed partner in advancing reform on this life-and-death issue; but if the final form of the legislation does not include acceptable language in these areas then we will have to oppose it vigorously." Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and a member of the USCCB Committee for Pro-Life Activities, signed the document.

Wisconsin Pro-Life Advocates Sues Milwaukee for History of Harassment, Denying Free Speech
MIlwaukee, WI (LifeNews.com) -- Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a lawsuit Monday against the city of Milwaukee on behalf of several pro-life advocates to end a long pattern of harassment. For years, numerous pro-life advocates peacefully sharing their messages have been arrested, jailed, cited, harassed, threatened, and even physically assaulted. This has occurred even though they have maintained, out of an abundance of caution, a distance of at least 25 feet from any abortion center because of a 1993 court order issued against unrelated parties. "Pro-life advocates shouldn't be punished and discriminated against for expressing their beliefs," said ADF senior legal counsel Mike Johnson. "Treating these peaceful demonstrators as criminals is a crime in itself, not to mention a blatant violation and suppression of their First Amendment rights." In 1993, a court order against 38 defendants prohibited them from sharing their message within 25 feet of abortion businesses in Milwaukee. Nonetheless, since that time, virtually all other pro-life advocates in the city attempting to peacefully express their views have been victims of harassment and discrimination by local authorities, who often cite inapplicable city ordinances to justify their actions. The lawsuit also alleges that certain local officials have conspired with area abortion centers to deprive pro-life advocates the equal protection and enforcement of the law. Pro-life advocate Tom Pelkey has repeatedly been the victim of excessive force, once while being handcuffed and thrown into city jail for displaying a pro-life sign, even though he held it in a manner compliant with a police officer's unlawful directive. While holding a pro-life sign on another occasion, Pelkey was pushed over a fire hydrant and injured by a woman who admitted her anger over his sign spurred the attack. Pelkey didn't address or even see the woman as she was approaching the center, and Planned Parenthood videotape of the incident shows he was distracted by a phone call at the time. Nonetheless, police refused to arrest the assailant. In another incident, in which police did nothing after an Affiliated Medical Clinic employee kicked Pelkey, clinic personnel can be heard on surveillance video saying, "These police officers have become our friends."

Utah Man Who Attacked Pregnant Girl With Her Consent Gets 20 Years in Prison
Salt Lake City, UT (LifeNews.com) -- A Utah girl who paid a man to hit her in the stomach in an attempt to cause a miscarriage-abortion was declared by a judge to not be guilty of violating any state law. But, the man who did the deed is headed to prison. The case involves 21-year-old Aaron Harrison whom the unnamed 17-year-old girl asked in May to help her cause an abortion to kill her seven-month-old unborn child. The court documents show the girl's boyfriend had threatened to leave her if she did not get an abortion. Harrison, a friend of the girl, reportedly struck and bit her and she paid him $150 to do so. The unborn baby survived the attack and doctors induced labor so the baby could be born. Harrison was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to 20 years in the Utah State Prison. "Your conduct was unconscionable. You just seem to be a rule unto yourself," said 8th District Judge A. Lynn Payne. "I think your conduct shows remarkable disregard for human life; to meet somebody casually and agree to take a life for money." Harrison pleaded guilty to attempted murder, a second-degree felony, and faced a possible sentence of one to 15 years in prison. But Payne said the crime fit better with a new Utah abortion statute for attempted killing of an unborn child, a third-degree felony. The judge sentenced him as if he'd pleaded to that crime and ordered him to serve zero to five years in prison for the beating. The new law, which went into effect in May, allows prosecutors to file such a criminal charge if proper procedures are not followed in a legal or illegal abortion. According to court records, Arron Harrison also slapped and bit the pregnant teen before he was paid $150 by the girl. The pair admitted to their actions not long after the incident was reported. Prosecutor Mark Thomas argued that Arron Harrison should be sentenced on the attempted murder charge. He said the crime did not fit the lesser third-degree felony abortion statute because Arron Harrison is not a physician.

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ACLU Works to Kill Family Rights in Illinois

Chicago-Based Thomas More Society Intervenes to Defend Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act

CHICAGO, Oct. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, the Thomas More Society filed a petition to intervene, on behalf of three Illinois state's attorneys, in Cook County Circuit Court to defend the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently brought suit in Illinois state court to enjoin or block the Act, after the ACLU lost its bid in federal court earlier this year to stop the Act from going into effect.

State's Attorneys Stewart Umholtz of Tazewell County, Edward Deters of Effingham County, and Raymond Cavanaugh of Henderson County are seeking to intervene in order to have the case dismissed. The petition is expected to be heard at 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 2, 2009, along with the ACLU's motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the Parental Notice of Abortion Act. Thomas More Society attorneys will be available for comment after the hearing.

"At some point, the ACLU will realize that Illinois law, just like the law in 36 other states, provides parents the right to know before their underage daughters are taken for abortions," said Peter Breen, Executive Director & Legal Counsel for the Society. "Until that time, we will defend against the ACLU's continued attempts to thwart the will of Illinois voters, the large majority of whom support parental notice before an abortion."

The suit brought in Illinois court by the ACLU did not name Illinois state's attorneys, as had been done in the earlier federal case. The Thomas More Society's filing asserts that the ACLU's case is barred because of the earlier loss in the federal courts. The Society also asserts that the Illinois Constitution of 1970 did not include a right to abortion, based on the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention. Also, abortion remained illegal in Illinois, under almost all circumstances, after the 1970 Illinois Constitution went into effect and up until the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which was based only on the U.S. Constitution.

About the Thomas More Society
The Thomas More Society is a public interest law firm that counsels and defends those who work to protect innocent human life, defends those who proclaim faith-based values in our nation's public square, and strives to protect the institution of marriage as a union of man and woman formed to beget, bear and nurture new human lives. For more information, please visit: www.thomasmoresociety.org.

New Report Shows Late-term Abortionist Martin Haskell Above the Law and Dangerous

Operation Rescue also seeks women who have had abortions in Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue has released a three-part report documenting how late- term abortionist Martin Haskell has used his considerable influence over years of legal wrangling in order to keep his Dayton abortion clinic open even though it does not meet the safety requirements prescribed by law.

Haskell is most famous for being the first to describe the partial birth abortion method, one he falsely claims to have invented.

Part One of the report recounts the arduous legal battle to compel Haskell's compliance only to end with the state granting Haskell a "variance" from having to comply with laws requiring clinics to obtain transfer agreements with local hospitals. To this day, Haskell has no hospital privileges in the Dayton area, and no hospital will grant him a transfer agreement.

Part Two of the report documents with actual tapes of 9-1-1 calls made earlier this year, that his Dayton area abortion clinics remains unsafe. It further exposes accomplices in the Dayton area that enable the Haskell clinic to remain open in spite of the dangers to women.

Part Three documents connections between Haskell and his wife, Valerie, to social institutions and politicians who may have helped cover for Haskell over the years. It reveals a shocking connection between the Haskells and former Sen. John Glenn, who accepted Haskell campaign contributions then went on to defend partial birth abortions on the floor of the Senate and nominate a Federal Court judge who was the only judge ever to rule in Haskell's favor.

"If Haskell is considered by every hospital in the Dayton area to be unqualified to treat patients at their facilities, then he shouldn't be allowed to practice at all," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, recently named by CNN the "abortionists' No. 1 foe."

Operation Rescue also outlines a three-point action plan for using peaceful, legal means to stop Haskell's Dayton area abortion clinic from continuing illegal operations.

"This is the first step in a plan to protect women from Haskell's dangerous abortion operation. We are committed to helping the people of Ohio rid their state of this scourge," said Newman.

"We are also seeking to speak with women who have had abortions at Haskell clinics in the past year. We encourage anyone with information that could lead to the closure of Haskell's clinic to contact us immediately."

Read the report:
Part 1; Part 2; Part 3

About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre- born in obedience to biblical mandates.

40 Days for Life Reaches Milestone: 2,000 Babies Saved from Abortion

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Through the grace and mercy of God -- and the faithful prayers of more than 200,000 volunteers standing vigil outside abortion facilities -- an incredible miracle has taken place," said David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life.

"Starting with the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College Station, Texas in 2004, and continuing through the international 40 Days for Life effort that is under way this fall, we now have confirmed reports of at least 2,000 babies whose lives have been saved from the tragedy of abortion," Bereit said. "Who knows what wonders each of these children will bring to the world!"

Two thousand children would be enough to fill at least 80 classrooms. Two thousand children would be enough to make up 180 teams of little soccer players - - "and just as importantly," said Bereit, "this could represent 180 teams of soccer moms -- women who will enjoy watching their children run and jump and shout -- blessings they would have never known if they had fallen for the lies that are so often disguised by the rhetoric of 'choice.'"

Frequently, it is simply the sight of people peacefully standing in prayer that will convince a woman to turn away from abortion. "When people ask me what to say when they're at the vigil," said Bereit, "I often say -- just pray and don't worry about it. We have countless stories of women rejecting abortion and leaving the clinics even when not a single word was spoken."

It is often the prayer of children that has this effect. "Just last week, I heard about two little girls who were singing 'Jesus Loves Me' at a 40 Days for Life vigil," he said. "They sang as a woman went in for an abortion appointment -- then watched as she left the clinic in tears, read the number of a pregnancy resource hotline, and called for real assistance."

40 Days for Life ( www.40daysforlife.com) is the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history. The fall 40 Days for Life campaign, which began September 23, will conclude on November 1. The initiative, in 212 cities across 45 American states, five Canadian provinces, and Denmark, consists of 40 days of intense prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, peaceful vigils outside abortion facilities, and grassroots community organizing.

Since 2004, some local 678 campaigns have been conducted in 282 communities, covering all 50 American states, the District of Columbia and American Samoa, as well as Canada, Australia, Northern Ireland and Denmark.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report 10/28/09

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Wednesday, October 28, 2009

For news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com.

Current Headlines

• Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid Will Push for Public Option With More Abortion Funding
• House Leader Says Stupak Amdt Cutting Abortion Funding in Health Bill May be Forthcoming
• Pro-Life Democrat Working to Stop Abortion in House Health Bill: Pelosi Hates Me
• Pro-Life Group Concerned Abortion-Funding Health Care May Sneak Through House
• Fake Embryonic Stem Cell Researcher Hwang Woo-Suk Convicted of Fraud
• Law and Order Television Episode Takes Surprisingly Balanced Abortion Approach
• Kill the Persistent Vegetative State Diagnosis, Not Patients Like Terri Schiavo
• Euthanasia Leader Accused of Lying About Top Pro-Life Bioethics Attorney Wesley Smith
• Spain Poll Shows Majority Oppose Proposal Allowing Abortions For Teens Without Parental Notice
• Chinese Police Arrest Dozens in Baby Selling Trafficking Ring, Result of One-Child Policy
• Virginia Polls Show Pro-Life Advocate Bob McDonnell May Have Governor's Race Sewn Up

Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid Will Push for Public Option With More Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will push for a public option in the Senate version of the health care reform bill that will allow massive abortion funding. Senate committees had approved two versions of the bill -- one with the government-run option and another without it -- and Reid has said the option will be included when he and other Senate leaders combine the two measures together. That will likely make it so more abortion funding will be included in the legislation unless senators adopt a specific amendment, which has been rejected in both committees, to make sure none of the funding in the bill can pay for abortions. Reid dismissed White House worries and went against his own reputation as a pragmatic lawmakers by announcing the would push for the public option even though there do not appear to be 60 votes in the Senate to cut off debate on it. Reid is betting he can is betting that he can sway the last few moderate Democrats to support it who have said they can't. The White House said President Barack The White House, however, issued a statement praising Reid's move, saying that Obama is "pleased that the Senate has decided to include a public option for health coverage, in this case with an allowance for states to opt out." Reid is hoping the opt out clause would make it so the bill will get the additional support he needs. Two Democratic holdouts, Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, have refused to commit to voting either way on the bill until they review it. And Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, the mostly likely Republican to support the bill, has said it would be "difficult" to support any bill with a government insurance option. She said she was "disappointed" by Reid's decision. Reid seemed undeterred, saying "I believe we clearly will have the support of my caucus to move to this bill and start legislating." Reid could get 60 votes to begin debate on the bill but not the 60 he needs to end it. Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent Democrat from Connecticut, has already said he will filibuster Reid's bill. Meanwhile, pro-abortion House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Tuesday that Democratic leaders want to bring their massive health care overhaul legislation to the floor next week, if they can line up a majority behind a single "public option" proposal.

House Leader Says Stupak Amdt Cutting Abortion Funding in Health Bill May be Forthcoming
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A top congressional leader says the amendment from pro-life Rep. Bart Stupak to ensure that abortion funding is not in the House version of the health care reform bill may be forthcoming. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a pro-abortion Maryland Democrat, told CNS News that he thinks Stupak's amendment could be included in the manager's amendment that leaders of both parties agree to before bringing up for a vote on the House floor. Hoyer would not tell CNS News whether he would actually support having a vote on Stupak's amendment itself. Hoyer said he talked with Stupak recently and hopes to satisfy him. "The issue is being worked on and Bart Stupak is very much a part of the working group on this," said Hoyer. "I talked to Bart Stupak on the floor Thursday and he is very hopeful that something will be worked out that will accommodate the legitimate concerns that Bart Stupak and other members have, and I'm hopeful that will happen." Told that Stupak has said repeatedly that he and his pro-life Democratic colleagues will vote against the rules for debate on the bill and maybe the bill itself if an amendment is not included to stop abortion funding, Hoyer repeated that he hoped to work out the situation and include the Stupak amendment in the manager's amendment. "What I said was that I hoped that this will be worked out and it may be included in a manager's amendment and he's working on that and others are working on that," said Hoyer. Stupak's spokesperson, Michelle Begnoche, told CNS News the pro-life lawmaker is not optimistic. "While Representative Hoyer may be more optimistic that this issue can be worked out, Congressman Stupak remains hopeful they can come to an agreement on the issue of federal funding for abortion," said Begnoche. "However, at this point he has not seen language to indicate that there will be a manager's amendment on this issue." According to Stupak, House Rules Chairman Louise Slaughter has told him there is "no way" her committee would allow rules for debate on the bill that would allow his amendment an up or down vote on its own in the full House.

Pro-Life Democrat Working to Stop Abortion in House Health Bill: Pelosi Hates Me
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Michigan Democrat who is leading the charge in the House against abortion funding in the government-run health care bill now says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn't like him because he and his colleagues are willing to vote against the bill and rules of debate on it to make sure abortions are not financed with taxpayer funds. Rep. Bart Stupak told CSPAN Speaker Pelosi is not pleased with his effort During an interview on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" show, Stupak said he is undeterred in trying to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not pay for abortions. He acknowledged that some in his party are upset with his public campaign to change the bill. "The Speaker is not happy with me," Stupak said. Stupak pointed out that he and Democratic leaders have a fundamental disagreement on whether health plans that receive subsidies from the government should be allowed to provide coverage options on abortions. Stupak wants a vote on the House floor to strike the language, and predicts he would have the votes to pass such an amendment. "This has been federal law since 1976," he said. "We have to have a vote. Somewhere in this process, we have to be able to vote our conscience... If this language [funding abortion] is there, many of the 40 will not vote for this bill." If he doesn't get one, Stupak said he and as many as 39 other Democrats will vote no on a procedural motion to bring the health bill to the floor. A House vote on healthcare reform could be taken next week. Stupak stressed he wants to vote for healthcare reform and is "still somewhat optimistic" that the abortion funding problem can be resolved, though he won't back down until that happens. "I'm comfortable with where I'm at. This is who I am. It's reflective of my district. If it costs me my seat, so be it."

Pro-Life Group Concerned Abortion-Funding Health Care May Sneak Through House
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- One of the leading pro-life organizations issued a massive legislative alert today urging pro-life advocates to call their members of Congress now about the pro-abortion health care bill pending in the House. Although some political observers don't expect votes on the bill, HR 3200, until November, National Right to Life is worried that pro-abortion House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will attempt to sneak the legislation through the House on short notice. "Pelosi is planning to try to ram the massive health care bill through the House on short notice, without allowing consideration of a critical pro-life amendment," NRLC officials told LifeNews.com Monday. "National Right to Life is urging every pro-life citizen to immediately telephone the office of his or her representative in the U.S. House of Representatives with a clear and firm message urging a 'no' vote on the so-called rule, which is the procedural vote that would allow passage of H.R. 3200 with no amendments allowed, and also to vote against the pro-abortion bill itself." NRLC urged calls to legislators because so many members of Congress have changed their email systems to make it so only people who live in their congressional district can get through. The pro-life group also called on pro-life advocates to call again, even if they have called to oppose the pro-abortion health care bill before. "Even if you have already called and written your representatives in Congress about the health care bills, it is critical that you call again now," the group told LifeNews.com.

Fake Embryonic Stem Cell Researcher Hwang Woo-Suk Convicted of Fraud
Seoul, South Korea (LifeNews.com) -- The South Korean scientist who brought international embarrassment to the field of embryonic stem cell research due to his fraudulent studies, was convicted today of embezzlement and illegally obtaining human eggs from his female subordinates. Supporters of Hwang, who was, at one time, a national hero because of his work, cheered as he was given a two-year suspended sentence instead of the four years in prison demanded by government prosecutors. He was also acquitted of one of the charges against him – fraudulently raising funds from private organizations. Hwang's lies were an international scientific scandal and a particular source of embarrassment to Science, the world renowned journal which published his fraudulent findings. In 2004 the magazine published a paper by Hwang and fellow scientists at Seoul National University, in which they claimed that they had created the world's first cloned human embryos, and extracted from them embryonic stem cells. A second paper announced that Hwang's team created lines of stem cells genetically matched to particular patients -- overcoming the immune system rejection issues that continue to plague embryonic stem cell research. Both claims, and virtually all of the information in the papers, were false. The judges found today that Hwang had misappropriated 830 million won ($600,000+) of research funds, but ruled that this had not been for his personal enrichment. He was acquitted of fraudulently obtained private donations worth another 2 billion won. Since his disgrace, Hwang, who first qualified as a veterinary scientist, has been stripped of his right to carry out stem cell research, and has focused on researching dog cloning at a private research center. To date, embryonic stem cell research and human cloning have yet to cure a single patient while the use of more ethical adult stem cells have helped patients with more than 100 diseases and conditions.

Law and Order Television Episode Takes Surprisingly Balanced Abortion Approach
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The reaction from pro-life and pro-abortion advocates to last Friday's episode of Law & Order on NBC makes it clear that the program chalked up the opposite result from what pro-life advocates expected. Instead of upsetting pro-life advocates, abortion proponents are infuriated while pro-life people are pleasantly surprised by the fair treatment the program gave to abortion. The episode, titled "Dignity," began with the murder of a late-term abortion practitioner during a church service -- reminiscent of the shooting of George Tiller. After the murder, the assailant is captured and confesses and his attorney argues that the killing was justified because the attacker was protecting unborn children. While the attacker is eventually found guilty, the episode covers the abortion debate and uses arguments that are normally not seen when pro-life advocates are covered. National Right to Life blogger Dave Andrusko responds: "What makes the Law & Order episode so riveting is that virtually every pro-life argument you knew you would never hear on a network program is a part of 'Dignity.'" He continued, "More important, it occurred to me as I listened in utter astonishment that each of these observations could have been presented in a way that was artificial, forced, or (as so often is the case with network portraits of pro-lifers) something that you would expect from an idiot. None of that was the case. These were real flesh-and-blood people, not caricatures." In one instance, detectives Lupo and Bernard argue about abortions in the cases of rape or incest. Lupo says making a young girl have the baby is horrendous but Bernard responds: "You got it backwards, man! The horrible thing is the rape! Not the bringing of a life into the world." He talks about how he was born to an unwed mother and than Lupo almost had a different partner because she could have had an abortion. But abortion advocates are incensed. Sarah Seltzer of RHRC says: "Balanced it was not. An episode that was meant to focus on the prosecution of a cold-blooded murder ended up putting women's rights on trial--and viewers picked up on its slant right away." She pledged to fight the NBC producers, saying "we know how deeply seriously our anger is taken by the media."

Kill the Persistent Vegetative State Diagnosis, Not Patients Like Terri Schiavo
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The following editorial comes from Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schiavo: With all of the current debate in the United States over President Obama's proposed health care legislation, people seem to have firmly chosen sides—based on their political leanings and not necessarily the actual content of the bill, HR 3200. In a nation that professes a profound reverence for the lives and wellness of its citizens, it is no argument that our system of healthcare delivery fails many patients and that insurance companies and health maintenance organizations have long dodged the bullet of responsibility when they've rationed care or denied coverage for certain types of treatments and therapies. That rationing and denial of coverage is most rampant among our most vulnerable citizens—when such treatments and therapies are essential for daily living. And now the government wants in. Though our current system is in serious need of repair, many fear that a government-run system could open the doors for bureaucrats to make decisions in life and death for patients whose diagnoses are less than promising. This becomes most alarming when certain diagnoses can equal a death sentence for someone who is helpless to save themselves. On September 20, 2009, Scientific American published a report titled "Conditional Consciousness: Patients in Vegetative States Can Learn, Predicting Recovery." Citing a study published by Nature Neuroscience, the report states that patients who were previously diagnosed as being in a vegetative state were able to relearn behaviors—suggesting cognition in people who had failed more traditional tests for cognitive function and awareness. Read the full article here.

Euthanasia Leader Accused of Lying About Top Pro-Life Bioethics Attorney Wesley Smith
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The following is an update from Wesley J. Smith, a top pro-life bioethics writer and attorney: Barbara Coombs Lee, head honcho at the assisted suicide advocacy group Compassion and Choices, has written a column in the Huffington Post that lies about me. She doesn't mention my name, perhaps because that would permit people to look me up and find out for themselves about whether what she writes about me is actually true. She references my recent National Review cover story on assisted suicide–"A Myth is as Good as a Mile"–but without the courtesy of linking it so that her readers can see whether she told the truth about what I wrote. There's a reason for that. In the article, I exposed the "Oregon Myth" that assisted suicide there has been without abuses in that state. Letting people have easy access to my piece would, thus, be shall we say, inconvenient to shoveling the propaganda. Coombs Lee is free to link or not link, grapple with my actual criticisms or pretend they don't exist, as she chooses. In fact, not doing so is par for the course with this crowd. The assisted suicide movement doesn't like to engage with their opponents' actual arguments. But she is not free to lie about my positions on unrelated issues. Lee writes, "As one might expect, the writer opposes personal choice in most important life decisions. A believer in intelligent design, he opposes contraception, stem cell research and choice in dying." Coombs Lee's mendacity illustrates something people need to know about her: Truth doesn't ultimately matter in her advocacy. What counts is the emotional narrative–including outright fear mongering and libeling doctors as "torturers"–and winning by any means necessary. Read more about Lee's antics here.

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Spain Poll Shows Majority Oppose Proposal Allowing Abortions For Teens Without Parental Notice
Madrid, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll shows a majority of the citizens of Spain oppose the government's proposal to allow teenagers to get abortions without any parental notification or consent. The NC Report conducted a survey for the La Razon newspaper that shows 58.4 percent of Spanish citizens oppose allowing 16-year-olds to get an abortion without the consent of their parents while another 46 percent oppose the proposal to expand legal abortions. The poll found 30 percent oppose abortion "in all cases," and another 30 percent support abortions only "in justified cases." Just 35.5 percent support legal abortions for any reason. A majority of respondents also opposed the distribution of the morning-after pill without a prescription. The survey found that, for 41.1 percent of residents of Spain, the main reason for obtaining an abortion is economic or job-related. Nearly 19 percent said abortions were for social, family or cultural reasons. Eighteen percent attributed abortions to the failure of contraceptives, and only 7.5 percent believe the majority of abortions are performed for medical reasons. La Razon indicated the results "contradict the claims of abortion clinics. According to official statistics of the Ministry of Health and Social Policy, around 99 percent of voluntary pregnancy terminations recorded in Spain occur for the life or health of the mother. In addition, on this point the youngest respondents (those aged 18-44) were the ones who attributed pregnancy termination to economic problems." The new poll also found 55.6 percent of Spaniards believe that a policy supporting childbirth would reduce the number of abortions in the country. Read more about the government's move.

Chinese Police Arrest Dozens in Baby Selling Trafficking Ring, Result of One-Child Policy
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- Chinese police have arrested 42 alleged members of a trafficking ring that sold dozens of infants stolen or bought from their rural parents, the official Chinese news agency reported. Such trafficking rings are the results of the one-child policy whereby Chinese couples are prohibited from having any more than one baby and are fined, jailed or even subjected to forced abortions and sterilizations if they violate the rule. The ring had separate units to handle the procurement, transport and sale of the children, the Xinhua News Agency reported. It trafficked 52 children over two years, earning the equivalent of nearly $60,000, the report said. China has a thriving black market in girls and women, often used as laborers or as brides for unwed sons. A traditional preference for male heirs also drives the market in baby boys, who fetch a considerably higher price than girls. Some families sell their female babies in order to try for a boy, since they can only have one child. Xinhua said the ring had operated in impoverished rural areas of the country's north. It began to falter after officers stopped a van in May containing three men and a baby boy, the report said. It said the child had been rejected by his would-be new parents for not being healthy enough and was on his way to being returned to a pair of middlemen who had procured a total of 13 babies for the ring. The ring had earned 400,000 yuan ($58,600) from the sale of the 19 boys and 33 girls, Xinhua said.

Virginia Polls Show Pro-Life Advocate Bob McDonnell May Have Governor's Race Sewn Up
Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- Two new polls released on Tuesday make it appear that pro-life advocate Bob McDonnell, the Republican candidate for governor, may have the race sew up against his pro-abortion opponent Creigh Deeds. A PPP survey of 729 likely voters puts McDonnell at 55 percent and Deeds at 40 percent. McDonnell is carrying more self-identified Republicans (94 percent) than Deeds is winning Democrats (84 percent), and McDonnell has a commanding 59 percent to 34 percent lead among political independents. Deeds continues to be hurt by a poor public image. Just 38 percent of respondents said they viewed him favorably, compared to 56 percent who said that about McDonnell. Just one in four voters thinks that Deeds is running a "positive" campaign, vs. 59 percent who think he is waging a "negative" campaign. Deeds is hurt by the fact that pro-abortion President Barack Obama is doing poorly in the state. The survey gives him an approval rating of just 42 percent and a disapproval rating of 52 percent in a state that he carried with 53 percent of the vote in the 2008 election. The other poll of Virginia voters from SurveyUSA and conducted Oct. 25-26 puts McDonnell up by 17 percentage points. It's the fifth public poll in the past week that gives him a commanding, double-digit lead over Deeds. The SurveyUSA poll, which canvassed 502 voters who say they are likely to cast a ballot on Nov. 3, has McDonnell up by 58 percent to 41 percent. McDonnell also has a strong lead among political independents, 60 percent to 38 percent. SurveyUSA says that McDonnell is winning 38 percent of those who support abortion and has a solid majority among pro-life voters.

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