LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Obama TSA Nominee Erroll Southers Calls Pro-Life Advocates Terrorists in Video
• Letter Details Six Ways Senate Health Care Bill Results in Abortion Funding
• Catholic Bishops Activate 19,000 Churches to Stop Abortion in Health Care
• Opposition to Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Increasing as Final Version Looms
• March for Life and White House Protest Part of Pro-Life Events Marking Roe
• Pro-Life African-American Leaders Upset by Harry Reid's "Negro" Comment
• Scott Roeder Trial Delayed for Shooting Death of Abortion Practitioner George Tiller
• Catholics Should be Upset CCHD Still Funding Pro-Abortion Organization
• Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth Prompts Concern He May Flinch on Abortion Funding
• Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Disrupted by Pro-Life Advocates at Capitol Speech
• Report: China's One-Child, Pro-Abortion Policy Creating Nation of Bachelors
• India Doctor Arrested in New Case of Botched Abortion That Killed Woman
• South Dakota Legislature May Vote on Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding Ban
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Obama TSA Nominee Erroll Southers Calls Pro-Life Advocates Terrorists in Video
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama's nominee to head the agency charged with keeping American travelers safe from terrorism thinks pro-life advocates are terrorists. A new video shows Transportation Security Administration nominee Erroll Southers including pro-life advocates in a list of terrorist groups.
The new video from 2008 shows Southers responding to a documentary-style interview question about terrorist organizations.
The documentary asked Southers, "Which home-grown terrorist groups pose the greatest danger to the U.S."
Southers explained, "Most of the domestic groups that we pay attention to here are white supremacist groups. They're anti-government, in most cases anti-abortion, they are usually survivalist type in nature, identity oriented."
"Those groups are groups that claim to be extremely anti-government and Christian identity oriented," he continues.
Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, has put a hold on the nomination of Southers to head the TSA, and the new video is likely to expand opposition to his nomination. Full story at LifeNews.com
Letter Details Six Ways Senate Health Care Bill Results in Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- As Congressional Democrats work on merging the House and Senate versions of the government-run health care bill, a new letter from the National Right to Life Committee details six ways in which the Senate version mandates taxpayer funding of abortions.
The details are important because the Senate version of the legislation, especially when it comes to language concerning abortion, is expected to form the basis of the merged bill.
The letter to members of Congress comes at a time when pro-life groups are hoping to urge pro-life Democrats to hold fast against any final bill that includes abortion funding.
The NRLC letter says the "House-passed bill (H.R. 3962) and the Senate-passed bill (H.R. 3590) are far more divergent on abortion policy matters than one would understand on the basis of accounts in the news media."
While the House bill contains the Stupak amendment to stop abortion funding, the Senate bill contains the Nelson-Reid deal that allows states to force taxpayers to finance abortions. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Bishops Activate 19,000 Churches to Stop Abortion in Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops have activated nearly 19,000 churches across the country to stand up to efforts in Congress to force Americans to pay for abortions under a government-run health care bill. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' effort could have a dramatic effect.
When the nation's bishops called on church-goers to support a ban on partial-birth abortions, they responded with millions of postcards flooding Congressional offices.
Now, in a nationwide call to Catholics to prevent health care reform from being derailed by the abortion lobby, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent bulletin inserts and pulpit announcements to almost 19,000 parishes across the country.
As long-time advocates of health care reform, the U.S. Catholic bishops continue to make the moral case that genuine health care reform must protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all, especially the poor and vulnerable, the insert says.
"Health care reform should not advance a pro-abortion agenda in our country," it reads, according to a statement the USCCB sent LifeNews.com.
As Congress negotiates a final health care bill, the insert encourages Catholics to contact their Senators and Representatives, urging them to keep longstanding restrictions against federal funding of abortion and full conscience protection in the legislation. If these criteria are not met, Catholics are asked to urge Congress to oppose the final bill, the insert says. Full story at LifeNews.com
Opposition to Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Increasing as Final Version Looms
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Opposition to the pro-abortion health care bill in Congress is increasing now that the Christmas holiday has concluded and lawmakers in the House and Senate are working on merging the two very different bills they each approved.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows just 40% of voters nationwide favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats.
Fifty-five percent are opposed to the bill and the poll finds those with the most passionate views on either side of the debate strongly opposed to the bill. As has been the case throughout the debate, those who feel strongly about the issue are more likely to be opposed. Just 19% of voters strongly favor the plan while 45% are strongly opposed.
The 55-40 percentage level of opposition is higher than the 52-42 percentage point opposition in the prior Rasmussen poll conducted just after New Year's Day.
The latest numbers show that 72% of Democrats favor the plan while 83% of Republicans oppose it. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 30% are in support of the plan, and 60% are opposed. Full story at LifeNews.com
March for Life and White House Protest Part of Pro-Life Events Marking Roe
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- When the calendar reads January, the majority of Americans who consider themselves pro-life according to several 2009 polls can count on one thing. That's the annual March for Life that sees hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates heading to the nation's capital.
They gather for the event -- which sees a 20-30-person-wide sea of people for block after block parading down the main streets of Washington -- to mark their opposition to abortion.
Specifically, the event is a condemnation of the 1973 Supreme Court decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton that, together, ushered in an era of abortion on demand that has resulted in more than 50 million abortions and tens of millions of women injured physically and emotionally.
This year, for the first time ever, organizers of the March for Life also plan a White House protest.
They will hold a two-hour rally the night before the March for Life at Lafayette Park, across from the White House, in an attempt to show strong opposition to the pro-abortion record of President Barack Obama.
Although the March for Life is an ecumenical event, the Catholic Church and Catholic pro-life groups will be sponsoring a variety of events. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be holding the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, the new head of the pro-life committee of the USCCB, will celebrate the evening Mass. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life African-American Leaders Upset by Harry Reid's "Negro" Comment
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Two of the leading American-American pro-life leaders are upset by revelations that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used the term "Negro," which is causing the top Democrat a huge dustup. They say the comment devalues black Americans in the same way abortion devalues unborn children.
A new book reveals Reid called then-presidential candidate Barack Obama a light skinned with no Negro dialect unless he wanted to have one" in comments making him appear to believe Obama is not an authentic black American.
Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a prominent pro-life advocate, says she is livid about both Reid's comment and the response from the black community.
This type of thinking by Senator Reid and others is sadly outrageous, no matter what the ethnic or political viewpoint happens to be. We are one human race, and polarizing people because of skin color is horrendous," she told LifeNews.com. King said if any conservative, pro-life advocate had made the same remark, "the remarks would be labeled racist and plastered over every available news outlet," but she noted Reid's comment is not getting the same media-obsessed attention.
As it stands, only a few brave souls are publicizing the comments while there is a massive push at damage control from those who wish to bury the elitist pattern that is prevalent in our government today," King continued. Full story at LifeNews.com
Scott Roeder Trial Delayed for Shooting Death of Abortion Practitioner George Tiller
Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- The case involving the shooting death of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller has been delayed as prosecutors seek to challenge a judge's ruling allowing Scott Roeder's defense team to potentially use a manslaughter defense against a first-degree murder charge.
Roeder, who has no connections with the pro-life movement, has been accused of killing Tiller.
He admitted he killed Tiller to stop abortions and Sedgwick County District Judge Warren Wilbert issued a ruling saying he can try to build a case that the slaying was voluntary manslaughter because he sincerely believed it was necessary to save unborn babies.
Voluntary manslaughter is defined in Kansas law as ''an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force.''
Now, Judge Wilbert set a hearing on the prosecution s motion for Tuesday in its attempt to stop Roeder's attorneys from using the defense. Jury selection had been scheduled to begin today and now that will be pushed back to Wednesday. In their motion, according to the Kansas City Star, prosecutors say allowing such a defense, which could get Roeder a five year prison term instead of a life term, could lead to anarchy. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholics Should be Upset CCHD Still Funding Pro-Abortion Organization
by Deal Hudson
Only a few months ago, it was revealed that the Catholic Campaign for Human Development was funding organizations actively promoting abortion and same-sex marriage. As a result, several organizations were defunded, and the CCHD was declared back on track.
But with regard to at least one CCHD grantee, The San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), that doesn't appear to be the case. Last fall, Bellarmine Veritas Ministry caught SFOP receiving a $200,000 grant for a clinic offering both birth control and emergency contraception.
CCHD and the Archdiocese of San Francisco subsequently investigated SFOP and reaffirmed their support, adding their admiration for its initiatives toward creating a model program for universal health care.
American Life League, in coalition with Reform CCHD, then took a closer look at these insurance initiatives -- Healthy San Francisco and Healthy Kids. Both programs heavily promote and provide funding for abortion, birth control, and comprehensive sex education. (For evidence, see p. 42 of San Francisco Health Plan, the Healthy San Francisco mailer, the Healthy Kids Web site, and the recent investigation by Bellarmine Veritas Ministries.)
During a public hearing, the California Catholic Conference stated its full support for Healthy Kids, in spite of the fact that "family planning" services, including contraception and elective abortion, are being offered to young people in San Francisco with this program. Full story at LifeNews.com
Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth Prompts Concern He May Flinch on Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Everyone on Capitol Hill, from top Republicans to leading pro-life groups, knows the block of pro-life Democrats in the House could topple the health care bill if it funds abortions. But, new comments from Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth prompt concerns he may go along with the Senate's abortion "compromise."
The House approved its government-run health care bill only after adding the Stupak amendment to stop abortion funding. The Senate struck a deal with Sen. Ben Nelson to include some phony limits but essentially allow abortion funding.
Now, the concern is that some of the pro-life Democrats who promised to vote no on the bill if the Stupak amendment is removed will cave in as Nelson did. Rep. Bart Stupak says he has a group of 10-12 pro-life Democrats who are steadfast, but he may not want to count Congressman Brad Ellsworth among that group.
In a new interview with the Evansville Courier and Press newspaper, Ellsworth essentially says he wants a health care bill approved as long as it doesn't fund abortions. But he threw in a caveat. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Disrupted by Pro-Life Advocates at Capitol Speech
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, who claims to be one of the pro-life Democrats in Congress, found himself interrupted repeatedly by pro-life advocates during a speech at the state capitol today. Four pro-life advocates took turns interrupting the speech and saying he voted to fund abortions.
Casey was set to deliver a speech unveiling a new photography display at the state capitol when the pro-life advocates interrupted and condemned his votes for the Senate health care bill that funds abortions.
"You say you're pro-life," one pro-life person said, "[but you] voted to fund abortion."
"I am," the senator said from the dais in response to the protestor about being pro-life.
Four people one by one took Casey to task and state capitol police eventually intervened and took each person aside as they rose up in the crowd to confront Casey over his vote for the pro-abortion health care bill. Full story at LifeNews.com
Report: China's One-Child, Pro-Abortion Policy Creating Nation of Bachelors
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- A new report indicates the one-child family planning policy in China -- which has given way to sex-selection abortions and infanticides of girl babies -- has created a nation of bachelors. The report says more than 24 million men may be unable to find a bride by the end of the decade.
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, described as the nation's leading think-tank, issued the report. It describes the tremendous gender imbalance the pro-abortion policy has created as the most serious demographic problem facing China.
According to a London Times story, the new report describes the bachelors as bare branches because they will be unable to complete a family tree beyond themselves.
The gender imbalance and the bachelor-driven society it has created is resulting in a host of social problems, the report indicates, ranging from prostitution to increased crime and violence, to social instability. Full story at LifeNews.com
India Doctor Arrested in New Case of Botched Abortion That Killed Woman
Mumbai, India (LifeNews.com) -- An India doctor has been arrested in a newly-reported case of a botched abortion that killed a woman. The is the latest case of an abortion in India claiming the life of a woman as other cases have recently come to light of post-abortion problems for women.
The cases come even as abortion advocates suggest making abortions legal makes them safer.
The Times of India indicates the Vikhroli police recently registered a case of medical malpractice against 4-year-old Dr. Vinod Ganpati Prabhu. Prabhu did an abortion on a woman who was three months pregnant in April 2006 at the Priya Maternity Home.
The newspaper indicates a panel of five doctors from JJ Hospital investigated the failed abortion and submitted their report to police on December 30, asking that Prabhu be charged. Full story at LifeNews.com
South Dakota Legislature May Vote on Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding Ban
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) -- The South Dakota state legislature may vote again this year on legislation that would overturn the state's ban on taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research. While adults tem cells have already helped patients facing more than 100 diseases and conditions, embryonic stem cells have never been as successful.
Last year, former state Treasurer David Volk of Sioux Falls created a new group called South Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures to get a measure on the state ballot.
Volk hoped to obtain 6,776 valid signatures by April 6 to get a measure overturning the ban on embryonic stem cell research funding on the state ballot. Now, he says he plans another legislative attempt to overturn the ban.
"Ballot measures can cost more than $1 million in some cases," the group's spokesman Nathan Peterson told the Argus Leader newspaper.
If past failure is any indication of future votes, the organization will have an uphill battle in its attempt to force the state to pay for research that involves the destruction of human life.
The state Senate voted 20-14 last year against legislation to repeal the ban. Full story at LifeNews.com
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