LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday, January 16, 2010
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Current Headlines
• House, Senate Close to Deal on Final Health Care Bill, Passing it a Question
• Publication Gives Obama Low Grade on Promoting Abortion, Pro-Lifers Say Higher
• Pro-Life Advocates Urge March for Life Attendance to Lobby Abortion-Health Care
• Pro-Life Avatars Head to Washington in First-Ever Virtual March for Life
• Planned Parenthood Raising Funds to Push Birth Control, Contraception in Haiti
• Focus on the Family Will Air Super Bowl Ad With Pro-Life Player Tim Tebow
• Nancy Pelosi's Bishop Admonishers Her on Abortion, Eleanor Clift Strikes Back
• Martha Coakley Attacks Pro-Life Catholics: "Don't Work in an Emergency Room"
• Rick Santorum Testing the Waters for 2012 Presidential Bid Against Obama
• Man Who Killed Pro-Life Advocate James Pouillon Will Rely on Insanity Defense
• Kentucky Senate Cmte OKs Bill Allowing Women to See Ultrasound Before Abortion
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House, Senate Close to Deal on Final Health Care Bill, Passing it a Question
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Democrats who run the House and Senate are reportedly very close to a deal to finalize the language of the health care bill that is expected to contain massive abortion funding. The question would then become whether they have the votes to get it through both chambers.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said today that, after consultation with pro-abortion President Barack Obama, Democrats are "very close" to a final deal on the government-run health care bill.
Hoyer, in an interview with CNBC, said he thought a final bill would be crafted in the next few days: "I would certainly hope that within the next 24, 48, 72 hours, that we have a general agreement between the Senate and the House." But, he told Reuters it could be as early as today: "My expectation is that we will be getting very close today. Now, whether it's at noon time or later, I don't want to speculate."
The question for the pro-life movement is whether predictions that the final bill will contain the Senate's language containing massive abortion funding and other pro-abortion threats, or if it will retain the Stupak amendment that bans abortion funding.
Once a bill is produced, it will need 60 votes in the Senate and a majority vote in the House and there is a real question about whether Democrats have the votes. Abortion funding may very well determine the outcome of the bill. Full story at LifeNews.com
Publication Gives Obama Low Grade on Promoting Abortion, Pro-Lifers Say Higher
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A Congressional publication is giving pro-abortion President Barack Obama a 33% mark on promoting abortion during his first year in office. That's despite a thoroughly pro-abortion record which saw Obama immediately fund pro-abortion groups with taxpayer dollars and promote abortion abroad.
As part of a special report, "Promise Audit: Tracking Obama's Progress on Campaign Promises," National Journal examined Obama's abortion track record.
National Journal gave Obama a 33% completion rating saying that his work is unfinished because the final version of the health care bill has yet to be crafted. Still, Obama endorsed the House version of the bill before it contained an abortion funding ban and supported the Senate version which funded abortions.
Wwriter Theresa Poulson concludes, "President Obama's reputation as an advocate for abortion rights will likely rest on health care reform, despite his progress thus far in fulfilling related campaign promises. The article notes, however, that Obama's presidency "has not been without victories for abortion-rights advocates."
It notes how Obama overturned the Mexico City Policy just days after taking over the White House to force taxpayers to fund groups that perform and promote abortions overseas. In addition, Obama proposed to reduce funding for abstinence-only sex education programs and his budget called for overturning the ban on abortion funding with government money in the District of Columbia.
Obama also raised funding levels for the UNFPA, which promotes abortion abroad and works hand-in-hand with the population control officials in China. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Advocates Urge March for Life Attendance to Lobby Abortion-Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A coalition of pro-life groups have issued a new video urging pro-life advocates from across the country to come to Washington for the March for Life. While hundreds of thousands of Americans are there, the pro-life leaders hope they will take time to lobby their elected officials on the health care bill.
The video is a production of the Stop the Abortion Mandate coalition (of which LifeNews.com) is a member) that features dozens of pro-life groups.
Kristan Hawkins, the head of Students for Life of America, is one of the pro-life advocates featured in the video.
"Our goal is to influence as many pro-lifers as possible to come to Washington on Friday, January 22nd and say 'No Abortion in Health Care' and then march up to the Capitol to meet with their elected representatives," she told LifeNews.com today. "This could be our last chance to take a public stand as a united movement that can actually influence the outcome of the current health care debate," she adds.
In the video, Hawkins is joined by leaders such as Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, African-American pro-life advocate Day Gardner, and David Bereit of 40 Days for Life. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Avatars Head to Washington in First-Ever Virtual March for Life
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates will take to the streets of the nation's capital next weekend in the March for Life. But the majority of Americans who are pro-life now have an option on how to join them that doesn't require planning a trip across country.
Americans United for Life is sponsoring the first-ever Virtual March for Life that allows pro-life advocates to create an avatar -- a likeness of a man or woman that they can "send" to the March for Life in their place.
AUL explains the concept at its new web site VirtualMarchforLife.com:
"Now you have the opportunity to march online, alongside your fellow pro-lifers - even if you can't be in Washington," the site explains. "It will only take seconds, sign up, select your own 'avatar' and then invite your pro-life friends and family to participate as well. It's the best way to 'be there' even if you can't be there."
The web site allows a chance to input a person's contact information and join the people are virtually marching. Marchers then have a chance to share their virtual march participation with friends and family via email, Twitter or Facebook. A map overlay allows marchers to see the collection of people heading to the Capitol and to find their own avatar marching with the masses. Full story at LifeNews.com
 Help Focus Thank Pregnancy Centers - Each day, pregnancy centers help moms choose life for their babies -- and now, you can say thank you! Visit BeAVoice.net to help Focus on the Family thank pregnancy centers for serving women and saving lives. Tell your friends! |
Planned Parenthood Raising Funds to Push Birth Control, Contraception in Haiti
Port-au-Prince, Haiti (LifeNews.com) -- Following the earthquake in Haiti, millions of people are dealing with death, a lack of food and water, shelter, and basic medical care. Planned Parenthood, sending a good time for a fundraising opportunity, is asking for donations for its local affiliate to promote birth control and condoms.
In a new note sent to its supporters on Facebook, Planned Parenthood talked about the giving opportunity.
"The international Planned Parenthood arm is accepting donations for PROFAMIL, a locally based Haitian organization," the abortion business says. "Fully 100% of donations will go directly to PROFAMIL s operations."
At the International Planned Parenthood secure giving web page, the abortion giant says PROFAMIL has been operating in Haiti since 1984 to provide "sexual and reproductive healthcare."
The group "educates the public about prevention and ensures widespread access to condoms" to "young people aged 10-25" with "regular condom demonstrations." In other words, Planned Parenthood is asking for money to help it pass out condoms and birth control to children who are looking for their next meal and medical care for injuries they and their family sustained in the earthquake. Full story at LifeNews.com
Focus on the Family Will Air Super Bowl Ad With Pro-Life Player Tim Tebow
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Focus on the Family has confirmed that it as moved ahead with a planned Super Bowl television commercial featuring pro-life Heisman trophy-winning football player Tim Tebow. Although the pro-life group won't confirm the content, it could feature the story of how Tebow's mom refused an abortion.
Tebow is the University of Florida star quarterback whose mother decided not to abort him in a crisis pregnancy.
The Super Bowl ad would be costly -- as a spot during the game and three 30-second commercials before it would reportedly run about $2-3 million -- but provides a unique exposure to a large national and international audience.
The pro-life group confirmed today to the Denver Post that it will air a 30-second ad both right before and during the Super Bowl.
Focus spokesman Gary Schneeberger would not divulge the content but said Tebow agreed to appear in the ad because he feels strongly about his pro-life convictions.
Jim Daly, Focus on the Family president and chief executive officer, said in a statement that the Tebow message comes at a good time because "families need to be inspired." "Tim and Pam share our respect for life and our passion for helping families thrive," Daly said. "Focus on the Family is about ... strengthening families by empowering them with the tools they need to live lives rooted in morals and values." Full story at LifeNews.com
Nancy Pelosi's Bishop Admonishers Her on Abortion, Eleanor Clift Strikes Back
by Ken Shepherd
Lamenting how Nancy Pelosi's archbishop has "slap[ped] her down," in an online statement addressing the House Speaker's excuse-making for her pro-abortion record, Newsweek's Eleanor Clift used a January 15 Gaggle blog post to praise Pelosi, no stranger to pastoral rebuke, as both a good pro-choice Democrat and a good Catholic:
It's anybody's guess whether in the new world of Internet media the archbishop's online commentary rebuking Pelosi falls under his pastoral duties, or public advocacy. Either way, Pelosi remains unshaken in her views, and in her Catholic faith.
For the benefit of her readers, Clift quoted on piece of Archbishop George Neiderauer's rebuke:
"Free will cannot be cited as justification for society to allow moral choices that strike at the most fundamental rights of others. Such a choice is abortion, which constitutes the taking of innocent human life, and cannot be justified by any Catholic notion of freedom."
Yet Clift left out another key excerpt from Neiderauer's "archbishop's journal" column. Full story at LifeNews.com
Martha Coakley Attacks Pro-Life Catholics: "Don't Work in an Emergency Room"
Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) -- Massachusetts Senate candidate Martha Coakley is coming under fire today for comments showing her attacking the conscience rights of pro-life Catholics. In a Thursday interview, Coakley is asked whether doctors and nurses working in a hospital emergency room have religious freedom.
Because they oppose dispensing the morning after pill because it can sometimes cause an abortion she says Catholics should not be allowed to work in hospital emergency rooms.
In an interview yesterday with radio host Ken Pittman, Coakley comments on a conscience clause to allow pro-life medical workers to opt out of engage in actions that violate their deeply-held religious or moral views.
"In the emergency room you still have your religious freedom," Pittman tells Coakley.
She responds: "The law says that people are allowed to have that. You can have religious freedom but you probably shouldn't work in the emergency room." Full story at LifeNews.com
Rick Santorum Testing the Waters for 2012 Presidential Bid Against Obama
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum is a darling of the pro-life movement by virtue of his leadership on the partial-birth abortion ban that is now federal law. Santorum, who has maintained a national presence since he was defeated for re-election, is considering a 2012 presidential run.
In a new fundraising letter sent to members of his political action committee, the America s Foundation, the pro-life Catholic sheds more light on his thinking.
Santorum says that Obama has represented "Change we can't afford," and criticizes President Barack Obama for a lack of leadership. "I'm really concerned about the direction Barack Obama is taking our country," he says.
And, he announces he is actively considering the 2012 race."
I'm convinced that conservatives need a candidate who will not only stand up for our views, but who can articulate a conservative vision for our country s future," he says, After talking it over with my wife Karen and our kids, I am considering putting my name in for the 2012 presidential race," Santorum continues. Full story at LifeNews.com
Man Who Killed Pro-Life Advocate James Pouillon Will Rely on Insanity Defense
Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- The man who shot and killed pro-life activist James Pouillon as he protested abortion outside a local high school will rely on an insanity defense in the case. Pouillon was a long-time pro-life street activist from Owosso, Michigan, who was gunned down on September 11.
A local man, Harlan Drake, has admitted to targeting Pouillon for death because he did not agree with his views on abortion and use of graphic pictures.
Attorney Robert Ashley, who is representing Drake, says he plans to rely on an independent mental health evaluation that he admitted conflicts with an official mental health evaluation made by the state.
We believe we have a defense of lack of criminal responsibility, Ashley told AP. We're going to be presenting that defense. ... This is a question for the jury. Drake is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Pouillon and a local businessman he also shot, with whom he reportedly had an ongoing feud. Full story at LifeNews.com
Kentucky Senate Cmte OKs Bill Allowing Women to See Ultrasound Before Abortion
Frankfort, KY (LifeNews.com) -- A Kentucky state Senate committee has approved a bill allowing women to see an ultrasound of their unborn baby before an abortion. When used in pregnancy centers ultrasounds help more than 80 percent of women decide against an abortion and to keep their baby.
On Thursday, the Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Tori, a Republican. The measure now goes to the full Senate for consideration after the unanimous vote on the judicial panel.
Abortion is a life-changing and life-ending procedure, said Robert Castagna, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, according to Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper.
Good public policy demands that before a woman gives truly informed consent and allows an irreversible procedure to be performed on herself and her unborn child, she should be fully informed by the most complete and current information," he said.
Kentucky pro-life advocates hope this year's bill goes further than the 2009 version, which received Senate approval before dying in a House committee. The state Senate signed off on that bill on a 33-4 vote but, for the second year in a row, the Kentucky House Health and Welfare Committee shot down the measure. Full story at LifeNews.com
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