LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Monday, February 15, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Poll Shows 61% of Americans Say Scrap Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Start Over
• Leading Senate Republican: Health Care Summit is Show for Pro-Abortion Bill
• Actress Candice Bergen Sends Fundraising Email for Big Pro-Abortion Group
• Like the Tim Tebow Ad? VirtueMedia Offers Pro-Life Commercials You Can Use
• Adult Stem Cells Continue Showing Better Success Than Embryonic Cells
• Controversial Film "12th and Delaware" Debuts at Sundance Film Festival
• North Carolina County Drops Abortions From Employees' Health Insurance Plan
• Indiana Man Who Shot Pregnant Woman, Killed Unborn Children, Gets 53 Years
• Vienna Archbishop Praises Pro-Life Movement in Visit to Priests for Life Office
• Brazil Residents Strongly Oppose Abortion According to New National Poll
• Pregnancy Centers Get Boost Via Oklahoma Legislation Supporting Them
• Illinois College Students Head to Springfield to Lobby Against FOCA Abortion Bill
• West Virginia Pro-Abortion Group Accused of Misleading Legislators on Abstinence
• Vermont Legislature Won't Take Up Unborn Victims Bill to Protect Women, Children
• Idaho House Passes Health Freedom Act to Fight Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill
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Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows 61 percent of Americans say Congress should scrap the existing government-run health care bill that funds abortions and has other pro-abortion problems. They prefer the House and Senate to start over with a brand new bill that is less objectionable on abortion and for other reasons. The new survey, released Thursday, finds just 28% who think it is better to build on the health care plan Congress is currently considering. Fifty-three percent (53%) of Democrats say Congress should build on the health care plan that has been working this way through Congress. Republicans (84%) overwhelmingly disagree and think Congress should scarp that plan and start all over, a view shared by two-thirds (66%) of voters not affiliated with either major party. Only 35% of voters believe Congress should pass health care reform before the upcoming midterm elections anyway. Fifty-four percent (54%) say Congress should wait until voters select new congressional representatives in November. Other polls have found high number of Americans saying incumbent members of Congress need to be defeated. One major reason for this anti-incumbency attitude is the high level of opposition to the health care plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats. Thirty-nine percent (39%) now approve of that plan, while 58% disapprove. The emotion continues to be on the side of the opponents, too: The overall numbers include 19% who Strongly Approve of the plan and 48% who Strongly Disapprove of it. However, 41% still worry Democrats will railroad the pro-abortion health care bill through Congress. Full story at LifeNews.comLeading Senate Republican: Health Care Summit is Show for Pro-Abortion Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading Republican in the Senate said today that the upcoming health care summit the White House is sponsoring is merely for show. Sen. Jon Kyl, a pro-life lawmaker from Arizona, says the meeting is a show designed to garner support for the pro-abortion health care bill and not a legitimate attempt at bipartisanship. Most Republicans have said they would attend the February 25 summit. Speaking on CNN s State of the Union, Kyl a recent Wall Street Journal article that asserted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has set the stage for using reconciliation to force the pro-abortion bill through Congress. What that means is they've devised the process by which they can jam the bill through that the president has supported in the past, without Republican ideas in it, Kyl told CNN host Candy Crowley. Reconciliation is not the process for comprehensive bills like this. It s for balancing the budget I don't know why we would be having a bipartisan summit down at the White House if they've already decided on this other process by which they're going to jam the bill through. Instead, Kyl called for redrafting the legislation from scratch -- another common request from Republicans and the public in recent weeks.Full story at LifeNews.com
Actress Candice Bergen Sends Fundraising Email for Big Pro-Abortion Group
Hollywood, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Actress Candice Bergen recently sent out a fundraising plea for the extreme pro-abortion group Emily's List, which supports candidates who back partial-birth abortions and want taxpayers to be forced to pay for abortions. The former Murphy Brown and Boston Legal said abortion advocates should support Emily's List because the group backs "strong, intelligent women to office who fight for the issues that matter most." The actress wrote, "Having pro-choice Democratic women in Congress standing up for us has never been more critical. We must retain and increase the number of Democratic women in Congress -- and stop Republicans' plans to regain power in this year's midterm elections. Please join EMILY's List, before you do anything else. Republicans have set their sights on gaining seats in the Senate and the House, and we simply can't let that happen." Bergen complained that pro-life advocates "know this year's midterm elections are their best chance to make gains, and they're pulling out all the stops -- raising money, activating their base, and targeting many of the women we've helped elect. That's why becoming an EMILY's List member is so important." She said she "recall ever seeing the right so energized" and admitted that abortion advocates "have our work cut out for us." bergen sent out the email and Emily's List officials must have liked it so well, they sent it again a week letter with a reminder to donate. Bergen did a similar fundraising pitch last year for the pro-abortion group. ACTION: Contact Candice Bergen c/o, Toni Howard or Tom Burke, International Creative Management, 10250 Constellation Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90067.Full story at LifeNews.com
Atlanta, GA (Lifenews.com) -- The commercial featuring the Tebow family and their pro-life story created a nationwide buzz and attracted more than 100 million television viewers, countless viewers online and millions in free publicity and nationwide discussion. VirtueMedia, a national not-for-profit media organization, hopes to be able to run its own professional commercial during next year's Super Bowl. The group would air Hero, a 30-second commercial celebrating dads and their role in the lives of their children. The commercial promoting parenting, adoption, and fatherly responsibility features Dylan, a 6 year old boy who proudly proclaims, My hero chose to have and love me .my hero? My dad!. The organization also has dozens of professionally-produced commercials state and local pro-life groups, churches, and other organizations can use, and they have been very effective. This past year, VirtueMedia's PregnancyLine.com ads generated 49,045 requests for help in 2009 from abortion vulnerable women. Of those nearly 50,000 responses to the VirtueMedia ads, 56% were via phone inquiries while 44% were generated through web inquiries. Those phone calls and web site visits resulted in lives saved from women who were considering an abortion. To see more pro-life commercials and find out how you can air them in your community, go to http://www.virtuemedia.orgFull story at LifeNews.com
Adult Stem Cells Continue Showing Better Success Than Embryonic Cells
by David Prentice of Family Research Council
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Adult stem cells continue to show success after success at improving the health of patients, even though many still haven't heard the good news. But while many physicians and scientists (and politicians) ignore the tangible benefits of adult stem cells, veterinarians have pushed ahead. The latest story is that of the over-$1-million-winning horse Thorn Song. The horse had been severely injured in his final start at Del Mar last summer and had an almost zero chance at survival after developing laminitis. Laminitis is a disease of the hoof that is extremely painful and often fatal for horses; it is the disease that led to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro being euthanized. Dr. Doug Herthel is the vet who founded Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center and treated Thorn Song. Alamo Pintado was the first private equine practice in the United States to open an onsite adult stem cell laboratory; they have used the procedure successfully to treat hundreds of horses with joint, tendon, and ligament injuries. However, only a few horses have been treated for laminitis with adult stem cells. According to Dr. Herthel: I thought there would still be a less than 10% chance for him even if we tried stem cell. But within 48 hours we saw a turnaround. There was a dramatic decrease in pain and swelling, and within two weeks we started seeing amazing hoof growth. We were blown away. It went beyond our expectations. It may be the most exciting thing I have ever seen. Technology is moving forward. Adult stem cells have successfully treated many horses and dogs. And thousands of human patients, too. And that s not horsing around.Full story at LifeNews.com
Controversial Film "12th and Delaware" Debuts at Sundance Film Festival
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, the president of Human Life International, recently shared the news of the controversial film "12th and Delaware" debuting at the Sundance Film Festival. The film is an HBO documentary film that focuses its attention on a corner in Fort Pierce, Florida where the battle for the defense of the unborn rages daily. Euteneuer, who appears in the film, stated, "Despite the efforts of the directors and the editors of the film to malign the reputation of Pregnancy Care Center and distort the truth, the grisly reality of abortion still takes center stage in this real-life drama. Even the best editors in the film industry cannot frame abortion in a positive light. Human Life International stands behind the staff of Pregnancy Care Center, and affirms their sacrificial and completely ethical efforts to save the lives of the unborn and assist their mothers." The film is certain to raise eyebrows amongst the pro-life and pro-abortion communities alike, because of its intimate look at abortion behind the closed doors of both a pregnancy care center and an abortion center. Both Euteneuer and Anne Lotierzo, the Executive Director of Pregnancy Care Center and main feature of the film, say the film has numerous factual errors and leaves out several key details. "Perhaps is it divine justice that the film won no awards," said Rev. Euteneuer. "However, our hope is that those who view the film wherever it is shown will see and appreciate the immense heroism of those who work in the more than 3000 pregnancy care centers across this great country." Views should be aware of the bent of the film against pro-life advocates. Full story at LifeNews.com
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North Carolina County Drops Abortions From Employees' Health Insurance Plan
Raleigh, NC (LifeNews.com) -- Wake County has dropped coverage for elective abortions from its employee health plan. Officials say a 29-year-old state Supreme Court ruling makes it illegal to use tax payer money to pay for the procedure and that an oversight of the rule allowed the practice to continue since the late 1990s. County Manager David Cooke ended the practice on Wednesday. The Board of Commissioners will consider the change on Monday. When I heard about it, I couldn't believe we were actually spending Wake County tax payer money for elective abortions, Tony Gurley, of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, said. So I checked with the county attorney and county manager and unfortunately, through our oversight, we were. So we've got to stop doing that. It's illegal. We can't continue breaking the law. But the alternative is to follow the law as it's currently written for federal employees, so I think that's a good compromise. Attorney and state House Minority Leader Paul Stam, R-Wake, said he called fellow Republican Tony Gurley, the newly installed chairman of the county commissioners board, to discuss the court ruling and to make sure Gurley knew Wake County's insurance covered elective abortions. "I promised him that someone would bring legal action against counties that didn't stop it," said Stam, who was the plaintiff in the 1981 court ruling. Planned Parenthood of North Carolina and the American Civil Liberties Union oppose ending abortion coverage. Planned Parenthood vice president Melissa Reed said Stam was playing politics with employees' benefits. Full story at LifeNews.com
Indiana Man Who Shot Pregnant Woman, Killed Unborn Children, Gets 53 Years
Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com) -- In Indiana man who shot a pregnant woman and killed her unborn children during a robbery in 2008 will be sent to prison for 53 years. Brian Kendrick, 30, was found guilty last month in the deaths of Katherin Shuffield's unborn twins. Kendrick shot Shuffield in the abdomen in a robbery at a Huntington Bank Branch and the twin unborn children died two days later. He was convicted of attempted murder, feticide, robbery and carrying a handgun without a license, but Kendrick said as he was led from court that he's innocent. "I didn't do that. I wouldn't do anything to hurt a beautiful woman. I wouldn't do anything like that. I'm not that kind of person at all," Kendrick said. "I feel very bad for that woman, and I just want to let the public know that the Huntington Bank shooters are still out there, and I'm going to prison for it for a very long time." The shooting inspired Indiana's new feticide law, which maintains that killing of "a fetus that has attained viability" is murder, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter. Kendrick could have been sentenced up to 87 years in prison. Shuffield said that the length of the sentence didn't make much difference to her. "I don't know how to feel," she said. "As a mother, nothing will be enough for me. It doesn't matter if it's 50, 80 (years) or his life, nothing will be enough, because that will not make my babies to be with us."Full story at LifeNews.com
Vienna Archbishop Praises American Pro-Life Movement in Visit to Priests for Life Office
Staten Island, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, praised the work of Priests for Life and the American pro-life movement during a stop in New York on his six-day trip to the United States. The Cardinal visited the headquarters of Priests for Life on Staten Island and met with Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, and his pastoral team. We look with a certain envy to your country, where for so many years the life issue has been so central, said Cardinal Schönborn. The Cardinal was particularly interested to learn how the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and Rachel s Vineyard both ministries of Priests for Life -- are reaching men who have lost children to abortion. He was especially impressed by the statement Men Regret Lost Fatherhood, which is a theme that the Silent No More Awareness Campaign is emphasizing. The concept of lost fatherhood is the central drama of our time, the Cardinal noted. After his visit to the Priests for Life headquarters, Cardinal Schönborn offered Mass in St Patrick s Cathedral, where he was joined by Fr. Pavone and other priests and bishops. The Cardinal hosted a dinner after the Mass, to speak about the International Theological Institute in Gaming. Priests for Life promotes the work of the Institute, where Fr. Pavone has been invited to make presentations on the theme of the defense of life. Full story at LifeNews.com
Brazil Residents Strongly Oppose Abortion According to New National Poll
Brasilia, Brazil (LifeNews.com) -- About three quarters of people in Brazil are against abortion, according to a poll by Instituto Sensus. Some 73.5 per cent of respondents share this view, while 22.7 percent say they support legalized abortions. Brazil s penal code has typified abortion as a crime since 1940. An abortion is only permitted when a pregnancy is the result of a rape, or when the woman s life is endangered. Approximately 80 percent of Brazilian residents are Catholics and the teachings of the Catholic Church are strongly pro-life. Some policies of Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva a member of the left-leaning Worker s Party (PT) have focused on attempting to overturn or weaken the nation's pro-life laws. In June 2007, Brazilian health minister Jose Gomes Temporao announced the government s plan to distribute free morning-after pills, which can cause an abortion in some instances. On Jan. 30, the government deleted a clause from a proposed amendment to the country s Human Rights Code, which stated that abortion is a basic human right for women. Brazilian human rights minister Paulo Vannucchi apologized for including the controversial clause in the reforms.Full story at LifeNews.com
Pregnancy Centers Get Boost Via Oklahoma Legislation Supporting Them
by Daniel McConchie
Oklahoma City, OK (LifeNews.com) -- While abortion advocates like NARAL are targeting pregnancy resource centers and their life-saving work in states like Washington and Virginia, those same centers got a boost this week in Oklahoma. On Rose Day, the annual pro-life lobbying day in the Oklahoma legislature, the Senate unanimously passed AUL s model resolution supporting the state s pregnancy centers. Pro-life advocate Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, was present to discuss the importance of standing up for our shared pro-life values and seeing them implemented in law. The resolution was introduced by Oklahoma Senator Dan Newberry. Senator Newberry said it was important that the Senate express support for organizations that help women make life-affirming choices regarding pregnancy and parenting. As hundreds of Oklahomans gather today at the Capitol to promote and support the lives of the unborn, it is only appropriate that the Senate honor groups that provide assistance for women who choose childbirth over abortion, said Newberry, R-Tulsa. Pregnancy Resource Centers operate primarily through voluntary donations and the time and commitment of individuals who genuinely care about promoting and protecting life. We strongly support their efforts to serve women and men facing unplanned pregnancies. Full story at LifeNews.com
Illinois College Students Head to Springfield to Lobby Against FOCA Abortion Bill
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- On Thursday, college students from across Illinois converged in Springfield at the state capitol for Cupcakes at the Capital sponsored by Students for Life of Illinois. Their lobbying efforts focused on dissuading the Illinois General Assembly from passing "The Reproductive Health and Access Act." That's the bill that has been called the Illinois Freedom of Choice Act, due to its radical agenda to remove commonsense restrictions on abortion ranging from parental notification to right of conscience laws for health care providers. Students gave cupcakes to the legislators with the message Life is Sweet written in the icing. "So often, people go into lobbying with a demanding spirit. We want to show our appreciation for our representatives, while at the same time boldly informing them of our stance on this crucial issue," said John-Paul Deddens, the director of Students for Life of Illinois. "Nothing in last year's Illinois FOCA or what we expect to be introduced this year is meant to help women in need. It only tears down what few protections we have in Illinois." Students from over 13 different schools including University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Loyola University Chicago, Lewis University, Bradley University and Northern Illinois University lobbied at the state legislature. Full story at LifeNews.com
West Virginia Pro-Abortion Group Accused of Misleading Legislators on Abstinence
Charleston, WV (LifeNews.com) -- West Virginia Free, the abortion industry s state activist and lobbying organization, called on Monday for legislators to increase funding for contraceptive coverage in a common-sense effort to combat teen pregnancy. This institution that denies the unborn a chance to live, cites a study from Marshall University s Center for Business and Economic Research to defend their incorrect conclusion that increases in teen pregnancy can only be combated by putting more contraceptives in the hands our of teenagers. The study fails to consider or even mention abstinence education, says Jeremy Dys, president and general counsel of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia. WV Free is notorious for working to restrict information women need to make life and death decisions, he says. Now, WV Free is no longer satisfied with having prevented the passage of nearly five year s worth of pro-life laws, now they want more of our children to experiment with risky, premarital sexual behavior while using contraceptives with a failure rate second only to the Washington Generals. The FPCWV is encouraging its constituents to contact their legislators to let them know that they are in support of policy measures that embrace the sanctity of human life. In addition, the FPCWV is calling on lawmakers to consider legislation that would expand abstinence education programs in junior and senior high schools. In support of abstinence education, the FPCWV cites a clinical study released just last week in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine that suggests abstinence education decreases the incidence of teenage pregnancy. Full story at LifeNews.com
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Vermont Legislature Won't Take Up Unborn Victims Bill to Protect Women, Children
Montpelier, VT (LifeNews.com) -- Legislation that would increase criminal penalties for causing the death of an unborn child will not be taken up in the Vermont Senate this year. Judiciary Chairman Dick Sears sponsored one of two Senate bills addressing the issue of killing unborn children and the other was introduced by Senator Vincent Illuzi. But Sears says neither bill will leave his committee. He says both bills had some support. He said: "But a lot of people in my caucus and in the Senate - including Republicans and Democrats - didn't want to deal with anything. There was no consensus how to deal with this issue. And without consensus it's hard to deal with emotional issues like this." Sears says the two bills were quickly becoming a battleground between pro-life and pro-abortion groups because one bill doesn't acknowledge the death of the baby while the other does. Momentum for a fetal homicide law began building last summer. Patricia Blair, a Bennington woman who was six months pregnant, lost her twin unborn children after her minivan was struck head on. The driver of the other car has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and gross negligence with injury resulting. Vermont has no specific crime addressing the death of unborn children. Blair, and her growing ranks of supporters, wanted the more controversial language in the other bill. Strong advocacy for the legislation from pro-life contingents, Sears said, convinced him that committee discussion would devolve into a moral and religious debate over the merits of Roe. v. Wade even though no one suggested that would happen. Blair said she's "disappointed" in Sears' decision but that she will continue her advocacy on her twins' behalf. "I plan on sticking around and making this work in one way or another," she said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Idaho House Passes Health Freedom Act to Fight Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill
by David Ripley of Idaho Chooses Life
Boise, ID (LifeNews.com) -- The Idaho House of Representatives passed HB 391 on Tuesday by a lopsided 52-18 vote. Sponsored by Reps. Labrador, Luker & Clark, this legislation lays the groundwork for the State of Idaho to fight ObamaCare should it be shoved through the Congress. Sadly, the vote was a strictly partisan affair. All Democrats voted against it, all Republicans voted for the measure. One would have hoped that at least some Democrats would have joined the effort to push back against Nancy Pelosi's frightening plan to take over America's health care system. The current versions of this scheme would fundamentally alter the relationship of citizens to their government. Citizens would be required to buy health insurance, and private companies would be required to compete against a taxpayer-subsidized government entity as a first step toward us all into a single-payer system controlled by government bureaucrats. The worst features of ObamaCare, of course, are the threats to life mandated by its cut to Medicare, its massive subsidies for abortion-on-demand, and the absence of conscience protections for health care providers. HB 391 declares that "the power to require a person's choice in securing health care services is not found in the Constitution of the United States, and is, therefore, a power reserved to the people pursuant to the 9th Amendment, and to the states under the 10th Amendment." The legislation makes it illegal for any state official to enforce or otherwise participate in a federal health care system that violates this public policy. Full story at LifeNews.com
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