LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Thursday, January 28, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Pelosi Promises Democrats Will Pass health Care Bill, Pro-Life Groups Worry
• Details Emerge on Hispanic New York Woman Killed in Botched Abortion
• Tim Tebow Confirms Super Bowl Ad About Pro-Life Values, Defends It
• Pro-Life, Pro-Abortion Groups Clash on Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad
• Pro-Abortion Clinton Says Second Term as Secretary of State Not Likely
• Ben Nelson Flip-Flops Again, Backs Reconciliation for Health Care Bill
• Scientists' Advance Further Renders Embryonic Stem Cell Research Obsolete
• National Gallery of Art Under Fire for Blocking Woman With Pro-Life Lapel Pin
• Pro-Life Legal Group Releases Report on Obama's Pro-Abortion Nominees
• Virginia Legislature Defeats Pro-Abortion Bill Attacking Pregnancy Centers
• Canadian Judge Rules Medical Care For Baby Isaiah Can Continue For Now
• Scott Roeder Will Testify in His Own Defense on Killing Abortionist Tiller
• Utah House Cmte OKs Bill After Rare Teen Abortion-Miscarriage Case
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 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! |
Pelosi Promises Democrats Will Pass health Care Bill, Pro-Life Groups Concerned
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised today that Congress will eventually approve a pro-abortion health care bill. Although Democrats appeared to put the brakes on a bill for now, a final strategy on where to go from here is expected next week and pro-life groups remain concerned.
Pelosi insisted today that the House and Senate will pass a bill even though Americans remain very strongly opposed to it and the Senate no longer has a filibuster-proof majority.
"I don't see (failure) as a possibility," Pelosi said. "We will have something." The current health care system is "unsustainable," she said. "We will make progress. Whatever it is -- one way or another -- we will go forward."
Pelosi also said she has the votes to pass the pro-abortion Senate health care bill if reconciliation is used. "What I'm saying to you is the Senate bill, stand-alone, I don't see any chance of it [passing the House]," she said. "Reconciliation resolving some of the issues: then we can pass this thing."
Democratic leaders are now working on a plan for the House to pass the Senate bill and for the Senate to use the controversial reconciliation process to approve the changes, none of which are expected to stop the massive abortion funding and other problems currently in the bill. Full story at LifeNews.com
Tim Tebow Confirms Super Bowl Ad About Pro-Life Values, Defends Showing It
Mobile, AL (LifeNews.com) -- College football superstar Tim Tebow defended a Super Bowl commercial Focus on the Family has filmed that is generating national attention. Tebow confirmed the commercial will focus on pro-life values and tell the story of how his mother decided against an abortion.
After the Senior Bowl practice on Wednesday, Tebow admitted he was surprised at the growing attention the Super Bowl commercial is receiving.
I definitely didn't think it would have this much hype, Tebow said, according to an Orlando Sentinel report. It s something I believe in and I'll stand up for.
Tebow would not give any spoilers about the content of the ad -- which Focus on the Family has confirmed will run with the message "Celebrating Family, Celebrating Life" -- but confirmed it would share his mother's story.
I don't think it s anything that s negative or anything like that, Tebow said, according to the newspaper. It s a good time and place. There are a lot of people watching. It s a great opportunity to show something very happy and a special story and my mom fighting for me. There are a lot of great things in that. Full story at LifeNews.com
Details Emerge on Hispanic New York Woman Killed in Botched Legal Abortion
Queens, NY (LifeNews.com) -- More details are emerging on a botched legal abortion that killed a New York Hispanic woman that took place on Monday at an abortion center in Queens. Officials say the 37-year-old was killed after a botched abortion claimed her life at the A-1 Women's Care abortion center located in Jackson Heights.
As LifeNews.com reported on Monday, emergency officials responded to an emergency call from the A1 Medicine facility at 95-45 Roosevelt. There, they found Alexandra Nuñez bleeding very heavily following an abortion procedure and she was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital Center where she was later pronounced dead.
The abortion severed one of her arteries and she went into cardiac arrest.
The New York Daily News today indicates police have interviewed the staff at the A1 Medicine facility, which does abortions in addition to plastic surgery. However, no charges have been filed yet in connection with Nunez's death.
"There is an investigation going forward," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said according to the newspaper, "but as of yet, there's no indication of any criminality." Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life, Pro-Abortion Groups Clash on Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad, Lobby CBS
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The controversy over the coming Super Bowl ad from Focus on the Family about pro-life University of Florida football star Tim Tebow is generating as much, if not more, attention than it will when it runs before and during the championship game.
Now, pro-abortion and pro-life groups are clashing on the ad with both sides lobbying CBS to allow or disallow the commercial.
LifeNews.com has reported on the ad several times and it will likely feature the story of how Tebow's mom refused an abortion.
The New York-based Women's Media Center has coordinated an attack on the ad -- launching a campaign with the pro-abortion National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority and other groups to persuade CBS not to run it.
Today, in an email to its supporters that LifeNews.com obtained, NARAL is also urging its members to lobby CBS and, surprisingly, used the term "pro-life" to refer to it.
"CBS has cleared the way to subject nearly 100 million people to Focus on the Family's extreme agenda by agreeing to air its new pro-life ad during the Super Bowl," the group's president Nancy Kenen said.
"Focus on the Family has an unmistakable anti-choice ... agenda," Keenan continued. "If that isn't bad enough, its views on women are just plain insulting and dangerous." Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Abortion Hillary Clinton Says Second Term as Secretary of State Not Likely
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Hillary Clinton says it is not likely that she will serve a second term as Secretary of State should pro-abortion President Barack Obama win re-election to another term. Clinton, an abortion advocate herself, has taken Obama's mandate to promote abortion across the globe.
In an interview expected tonight on the PBS show Tavis Smiley Reports Clinton indicates she would probably not serve a second term.
"You see how tough the job is, can you imagine yourself doing all four years and, if asked, doing it for another four years?" Smiley asks. "No, I really can't. I mean, it is just " Clinton responds.
"No to what? All four or eight?" the host interjects. Clinton responds, "The whole, the whole eight, I mean, that that would be very challenging. But I, you know, I don't want to make any predictions sitting here, I'm honored to serve, I serve at the pleasure of the President, but it s a, it s a 24/7 job, and I think at some point, I will be very happy to pass it on to someone else."
The pro-abortion former presidential candidate also ruled out a future presidential bid. Full story at LifeNews.com
Ben Nelson Flip-Flops Again, Backs Reconciliation for Pro-Abortion Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson has flip-flopped again -- this time saying that he can back the controversial reconciliation process that the Senate may use to railroad the pro-abortion health care bill through the chamber. Nelson first flip-flopped on abortion funding.
Nelson drew the ire of the pro-life movement when he changed his mind on supporting a firm ban on all abortion funding under the bill and compromised with Harry Reid to force some taxpayers to fund abortions.
He eventually supported a bill that pro-life groups say has several abortion-related concerns in addition to taxpayer funding of abortions.
With the House not having the votes to get the Senate bill through its chamber, Democrats say they are looking at approving a revised version of the bill through the House and using reconciliation to pass the changes -- which won't include backtracking on abortion funding -- in the Senate.
After saying yesterday that Democrats should abandon their efforts to get the bill through Congress, Nelson now says he can support reconciliation as long as he supports the underlying bill.
"I've been asked about whether I'd support using the process known as reconciliation now. So, I want to make it clear: If I support a bill, then I will vote for it regardless of whether it takes 50 votes to pass or 60 votes to pass. My position doesn't change just because the House or Senate decides to change the process," Nelson said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Scientists' Advance Further Renders Embryonic Stem Cell Research Obsolete
Palo Alto, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Scientists have made a major breakthrough using the process known as direct reprogramming that further renders embryonic stem cell research obsolete. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have succeeded in transforming mouse skin cells directly into functional nerve cells.
With the application of just three genes, the new cells make the change without first becoming a pluripotent type of stem cell -- such as an embryonic stem cell. That is a step long thought to be required for cells to acquire new identities.
"We actively and directly induced one cell type to become a completely different cell type," said Marius Wernig, MD, assistant professor of pathology and a member of Stanford's Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. "These are fully functional neurons. They can do all the principal things that neurons in the brain do."
Dr. David Prentice, a former biology professor from Indiana State University now associated with the Family Research Council, talked with LifeNews.com about the breakthrough. "This is a striking advance in the ability to transform cells into desired functional tissues. The direct reprogramming technique shortcuts any need to revert cells to a pluripotent, flexible state," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
National Gallery of Art Under Fire for Blocking Woman With Pro-Life Lapel Pin
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The National Gallery of Art is coming under fire from a pro-life advocate who says officials there prevented her from entering the facility because she had a pro-life lapel pin. Meghan Duke writes about her experience in a blog post at the First Things web site. "While visiting the National Gallery of Art this past Saturday, I ran into a pair of errant security guards who have taken to interpreting the Constitution in their spare time," she writes.
Duke planned to stop in to see some of the famous works of art after spending time at the March for Life.
Searching for inspiration for her interest in photography and anticipating a visit to an exhibit on processes of photography before the digital age, Duke entered the facility excited about her time there.
But, after searching her bag, two guards at the Gallery told her, "You're good to go in, but first you need to remove that pro-life pin. Full story at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Contact the National Gallery of Art at 401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004, (202) 842-6466 or at http://www.nga.gov/xio/phone.shtm
Pro-Life Legal Group Releases Report on Barack Obama's Pro-Abortion Nominees
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life legal group has released a new 72-page report detailing the extreme pro-abortion agenda of many of President Barack Obama's nominees throughout his administration. The Liberty Counsel report highlights the radical views of nominees ranging from the Supreme Court to obscure positions.
This report documents the beliefs, words and actions of more than 100 radicals that Obama has hand-picked to "change" our nation, the group told LifeNews.com today.
The list includes more than 850 citations to articles, web sites and cases regarding these individuals, and took weeks to compile.
"President Obama has chosen the most radical group of ideologues ever assembled by an American president," the pro-life group says. Full story at LifeNews.com
Virginia Legislature Defeats Pro-Abortion Bill Attacking Pregnancy Centers
Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- The Virginia state legislature wasted little time rejecting bills sponsored by abortion advocates attacking pregnancy centers that provide pregnant women with help and support. The Virginia affiliate of NARAL designed the legislation to intimidate women who go to pregnancy centers for options counseling.
The bill, which followed a new ordinance the Baltimore city council approved to target pregnancy centers, sought to remove the funding stream available to pregnancy centers via the purchase of Choose Life license plates.
The bills (SB 188 and HB 452) would have required the centers to post signs saying they don't do abortions and that would have given women the impression the centers are not legitimate, professional or that they give inaccurate medical advice.
However, both the House and Senate versions of this legislation were killed in subcommittee late Tuesday.
"This was the best possible outcome we could have ever imagined," Family Foundation president Victoria Cobb told LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com
Canadian Judge Rules Medical Care For Baby Isaiah Can Continue For Now
Edmonton, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A Canadian judge has ruled that medical care and treatment for Baby Isaiah can continue for now while attorneys re-examine what has turned into a controversial case of potential euthanasia. Baby Isaiah was born in October and suffered severe oxygen deprivation. His parents are fighting a hospital in the latest futile care case to gain attention that has Alberta Health Services wanting to terminate treatment because Baby Isaiah's case is supposedly hopeless.
Doctors say they've done everything possible. But his parents believe their son is showing signs of improvement.
The boy was placed on a ventilator in the hospital s neonatal intensive care unit and then Alberta Health Services sent the parents a letter January 13 saying the boy's doctors believed all medical procedures had been exhausted.
Now, a judge ruled today that Isaiah James May can stay on life support at Stollery Children's Hospital for a few more weeks while attorneys for the parents and the hospital battle it out.
Madame Justice Michelle Crighton ruled care and treatment can continue until February 19, as Rebecka and Isaac May point out how their son's condition continues to improve. Full story at LifeNews.com
Scott Roeder Will Testify in His Own Defense on Killing Abortionist George Tiller
Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- Scott Roeder, the former militia activist who has no ties to the pro-life movement, is expected to take the stand on Thursday in his own defense. Roeder stands accused of killing late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller, and has already admitted doing so.
Defense attorney Steve Osburn tells AP that Roeder will testify tomorrow when the defense presents its case.
Roeder is charged with first-degree murder in shooting Tiller, the late-term abortion practitioner whom pro-life groups already have exposed for illegal abortions and killing a mentally-disabled woman in a botched abortion.
Roeder is expected to talk about abortion as a reason for killing Tiller, even though pro-life groups solidly condemned it. Full story at LifeNews.com
Utah House Cmte OKs Bill After Rare Teen Abortion-Miscarriage Case
Salt Lake City, UT (LifeNews.com) -- A Utah state House committee approved a bill today that would allow charges to be filed in cases where a woman tries to arrange an illegal abortion. The bill is a response to a case that received national attention where a Utah girl who paid a man to hit her in the stomach in an attempt to cause a miscarriage-abortion.
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 and the child was placed in state custody.
In November, 8th District Juvenile Judge Larry A. Steele used a state abortion law that one state legislator says was applied wrongly to absolve her of any responsibility. He said Utah abortion law is "unambiguous" when it states, "a woman who is seeking to have or obtains an abortion for herself is not criminally liable."
Today, Republican Rep. Carl Wimmer won approval for his bill that was sparked by the unusual case.
The bill clarifies when abortions are legal and when "terminating a pregnancy" in a non-abortion manner is a charge of criminal homicide, a second-degree felony. Wimmer agreed to draft an amendment specifically exempting spontaneous miscarriages from HB 12. Full story at LifeNews.com
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