LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tueday, November 3, 2009
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Current Headlines
• Pro-Life Group: House Health Care Bill Would Fund Abortions "For Years to Come"
• President Barack Obama Violating Pledge For No Abortion Funding in Health Care
• House Health Care Bill Has Death Panels, Tax-Funded Assisted Suicide Promotion
• Opposition to Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Jumps After New Pelosi Bill Introduced
• Elections in Virginia, New Jersey, New York Provide Opportunity for Pro-Life Gains
• Planned Parenthood Director in Texas Resigns, Watched Ultrasound of Abortion
• Pro-Life Doctors Group: Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Hurts Physicians, Patients
• 40 Days for Life Pro-Life Campaign Concludes With 2,000 Abortions Prevented
• Kennedy Will Meet With Bishop Tobin After Saying Catholic Church Not Pro-Life
• Vitae Monologues Presents the Heart-Wrenching Aftermath of Abortion for Women
• Illinois May Not Enforce Parental Notification Abortion Law ACLU Wants Overturned
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Pro-Life Group: House Health Care Bill Would Fund Abortions "For Years to Come"
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The pro-life movement is unified in its opposition to the House health care reform bill Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled last week because of its abortion funding. In a new letter to members of Congress, the National Right to Life more exactly spells out what is at stake in the votes expected later this week. Members of the House could hold multiple votes on health care as soon as Thursday -- with votes coming on the rules for debate, one massive amendment from Pelosi and ruling Democrats, and a vote on the bill itself. When they vote, the National Right to Life Committee says their decisions will affect the status of government funding of abortions for years to come. NRLC has one main message it hopes lawmakers and pro-life advocates will understand before the votes take place: "The bill would create a national federal agency health program, the 'public option,' and would explicitly authorize that federal agency program to pay for elective abortions." "This federal agency program will pay for abortions with federal funds (which are the only kind of funds that federal agencies can spend)," the letter, provided to LifeNews.com, spells out. NRLC notes that pro-life Representatives Bart Stupak and Joe Pitts have "proposed an amendment that would apply the long-established principles of the 'Hyde Amendment' to the federal 'public option' program, but Democratic leaders have made it clear that their Rule will not allow a floor vote" on it. Full story at LifeNews.com
President Barack Obama Violating Pledge For No Abortion Funding in Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- During an address to Congress in September, President Barack Obama promised there would be no abortion funding in his health care plans. However, a new report today indicates Obama has been personally lobbying members of Congress to vote for the current bills, all of which fund abortions. During the speech, Obama said, "One more misunderstanding I want to clear up -- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions." Since then, Obama has come under fire from some liberal activists for not doing enough to push through the current health care reform bills. Yet, a new Politico report issued today indicates that "in private meetings and chance encounters and during Air Force One flights, Obama has worked behind the scenes" to promote the current pro-abortion health care bills. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, a top abortion advocate who is responsible for the Capps amendment that allows abortion funding in the new health care reform bill Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled last week, confirmed to Politico that Obama has been lobbying for the bills. "He's making phone calls, meeting with members" and spending considerable time lobbying members of the Senate, Waxman confirmed. Full story at LifeNews.com
House Health Care Bill Has Death Panels, Tax-Funded Assisted Suicide Promotion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The new House health care reform bill unveiled last week by Speaker Nancy Pelosi contains more than the controversial "death panels" panned in the previous legislation. The new bill, H.R. 3962, contains direct taxpayer-funded promotion of assisted suicide in the states where it is currently legal. HR 3962 contains two clear end-of-life provisions -- including one that requires insurance companies to distribute advance directives and other planning tools to all who are insured on the new government-run exchange. The other allows Medicare reimbursement for optional end-of-life planning consultation. Both provisions appear to exclude assisted suicide from the consultations and advance directives, but those exclusions have no meaning in the Washington and Oregon (and possibly soon in Montana) where assisted suicides are legal. There, state law says that "death with dignity," the legal terms in those states for assisted suicide, does not actually constitute assisted suicide. In both states, state law says actions under the assisted suicide statute "shall not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing or homicide, under the law." Full story at LifeNews.com
Opposition to Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Jumps After New Pelosi Bill Introduced
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Now that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has introduced the latest version of the government-run health care reform bill that funds abortions, the latest polling data shows opposition increasing. A Rasmussen Reports survey shows opposition up from 6 to percent since before the Pelosi bill. Rasmussen had opposition to the pro-abortion health care bill pegged at 51-45 percent during the latter part of October. Following the unveiling of the Pelosi bill, HR 3962, late last week, the number now stands at 54 percent opposed and 42 percent who favor the legislation. Only 23% of all voters Strongly Support the plan while nearly twice as many, 44 percent, remain strongly opposed. As has been the case for months, Democrats favor the plan while Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party are opposed. The latest numbers show support from 69% of those in the president's party. The plan is opposed by 80% of Republicans and a plurality, 48 percent, of unaffiliated voters. Full story at LifeNews.com
Elections in Virginia, New Jersey, New York Provide Opportunity for Pro-Life Gains
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The off-year elections in Virginia, New Jersey and New York provide the pro-life movement with an opportunity for pro-life gains. They also provide the first chance for voters to sound off on the pro-abortion record President Barack Obama has compiled since taking over the White House. The Virginia governor's race appears to be the one that will provide the most dividends for pro-life advocates. There, pro-life former Attorney general Bob McDonnell is taking on pro-abortion candidate Creigh Deeds. In New Jersey, the New Jersey Right to Life and National Right to Life PACs, along with pro-life leaders like Rep. Chris Smith and Deal Hudson, are behind Chris Christie as he takes on pro-abortion incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine. Polls have shown a true toss-up in the race in recent weeks -- complicated by the fact that pro-abortion independent candidate Christopher Daggett is getting the support in the high single digits. The pro-life choice in New York is Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. He is running in the election to fill the seat in New York's 23rd congressional district left vacant when pro-abortion President Barack Obama selected pro-abortion Rep. John McHugh to be Secretary of the Army. Full story at LifeNews.com
Bryan, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The director of a Texas-based Planned Parenthood has resigned her position saying that she has had a change of heart on abortion. The development highlights the powerful results ultrasounds have in convincing people of the humanity of the unborn child and the need to oppose abortions. Abby Johnson had been the director of the Planned Parenthood center in this college town, that is home to Texas A&M University, until she turned in her resignation on October 6. She tells KBTX that seeing an ultrasound instantaneously prompted her to quit. "I just thought I can't do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me and I thought that's it," she said. In the interview, Johnson admitted that Planned Parenthood doesn't make its money on promoting contraception or family planning, but through abortion. "It seemed like maybe that's not what a lot of people were believing any more because that's not where the money was. The money wasn't in family planning, the money wasn't in prevention, the money was in abortion and so I had a problem with that," she admitted. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Doctors Group: Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Hurts Physicians, Patients
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The new health care reform legislation put forward by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not only includes a new program that funds abortions with government money, but would also hurt doctors and patients. That's the message from a national organization for Christian and pro-life physicians. The 16,000-member Christian Medical Association, the nation's largest faith-based association of physicians, has problems with the 2,000-page healthcare overhaul bill (HR 3962). The group told LifeNews.com today that the measure far exceeds the need for targeted reforms, instead injecting massive government intervention that threatens the patient-physician relationship. "This legislation is an overdose. With this massive legislation, we are getting much more than is actually needed to fix our healthcare system," CMA director Dr. David Stevens explained. "What we need is a targeted reformation of areas needing reform, but this legislation is an attempt to totally transform our healthcare system into a government-run system that dictates what healthcare treatment each patient will receive." Full story at LifeNews.com
40 Days for Life Pro-Life Campaign Concludes With 2,000 Abortions Prevented
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The latest 40 Days for Life campaign has concluded and it reached an important milestone at the same time. Organizers of the national event, which sees pro-life advocates pray and help women heading to abortion centers find positive alternatives, has now helped prevent 2,000 abortions. "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," says national director David Bereit. "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 explained. "Who knows what wonders each of these children will bring to the world," he told LifeNews.com late last week. Full story at LifeNews.com
Kennedy Will Meet With Bishop Tobin After Saying Catholic Church Not Pro-Life
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Patrick Kennedy says he will meet with his Catholic bishop after saying that the Catholic Church is not pro-life because it opposes the health care bills in Congress over their government funding of abortions. Kennedy said that in an interview last week and was quickly rebuked by Bishop Thomas Tobin. Kennedy told CNS News in an interview that the Catholic Church is fanning "the flames of dissent and discord" by taking the position. "You mean to tell me the Catholic Church is going to be denying those people life saving health care? I thought they were pro-life?" he said. "If the church is pro-life, then they ought to be for health care reform because it's going to provide health care that are going to keep people alive." Tobin called on Kennedy to issue an apology and said he is a "disappointment" because of his pro-abortion voting record. Now, Kennedy has accepted an invitation from Tobin to discuss the issue of health care reform and abortion. An AP article indicates no date has been set for the meeting. Kennedy told AP that he never meant to slight the Catholic Church and added that it has ever right to promote its pro-life teachings. Full story at LifeNews.com
Vitae Monologues Presents the Heart-Wrenching Aftermath of Abortion for Women
by Maria Vitale
Theatre at its best explores the depth of the human experience, showcasing both tragedy and triumph in well-chosen words and spellbinding performances. But it is a rare thing indeed for a modern play to accurately portray the trauma that is abortion. The Vitae Monologues does just that, piecing together the real-life testimonies of women and men who have gone through the agony of the abortion experience. It's hard not to be moved, seeing the anguish of a woman doubled over in emotional pain, or a man cradling an invisible baby. I had a chance to view the Vitae Monologues for the first time in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania as part of the play's current East Coast tour. The cast consists of just two people -- Jeremy and Sarah Stanbary, a husband-and-wife team who brilliantly capture the heartache that comes with abortion. Jeremy and Sarah manage to create a number of entirely believable characters who are trying to deal with the emotional fallout from their abortions. Full story at LifeNews.com
Illinois May Not Enforce Parental Notification Abortion Law ACLU Wants Overturned
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Illinois officials may not enforce the new parental notification on abortion law expected to take effect on Tuesday. They may lengthen the 90-day grace period they already gave abortion practitioners even though similar laws are in place in more than two dozen states across the country. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation granted the initial temporary waiver in August and it may grant another one. Some pro-life advocates who have spoken with LifeNews.com about the ate of the parental notification measure -- which requires informing parents before an abortion can be done on a minor girl -- say it is a delay tactic. The delay is meant to hold up enforcement of the law until the ACLU, which has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn it, gets a temporary injunction from a court to delay enforcement while its suit proceeds. IDFPR spokeswoman Susan Hofer told AP that the agency issued an extension last Friday and said the state's Medical Disciplinary Board meets on Wednesday to determine what steps to take next. Not content to run an operation that guides young women on how to avoid a parental notification law and have a secret abortion, the ACLU of Illinois filed a lawsuit last month seeking to overturn the statute. Full story at LifeNews.com
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