Dear Friends for Life,
In November, a new law took effect in Honduras. It prohibits the consumption and marketing of the morning-after pill in this small Central American country. No Morning-After Pill period.
Morning-After Pill in Scotland? There is a move afoot to give secondary school nurses the authority to give the morning-after pill. The idea is to cut the teenage pregnancy rate. A spokesman for the church in Scotland however said, "The morning-after pill is like the equivalent of putting an ambulance at the foot of a cliff instead of putting a fence at the top."
The "Pill" increases stroke. Loyola University Health System Neurologist reports that oral contraceptives almost exactly double the risk of stroke from 4.4 to 8.5 strokes per 100,000 women.
And finally we see that the International Planned Parenthood Federation has issued another document declaring that governments are obligated to guarantee sweeping "sexual rights" including abortion, "sexual freedom" and "comprehensive sexuality education." They call it an intricate component of human rights. Yes, we have heard this before.
God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI
(Quote) "By removing the Bible from schools we would be wasting so much time and money in punishing criminals and so little pains to prevent crime. Take the Bible out of our schools and there would be an explosion in crime." - Founding Father Benjamin Rush
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Lifeissues.net NEWSLETTER #463
March 7, 2010
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(TABLE OF CONTENTS):
1. Life is Worth Living: The Resilience of the Human Person
2. Two Keys to a Happy Marriage
3. Euthanasia drug snares younger Australians
4. Living together first puts marriage at risk
5. An Imaginary Confession: The aborted Child and redemptive Love
6. Internet Pornography: An occasion of sin for our time
7. Catholic hospitals: we won't kill you
8. Memories of Madeline
9. CyberSurvivor - A Tool for Kids Battling Bullying and a Resource for Parents and Teachers
10. Catholic girls gone wild?
11. Too much, too soon
12. Dealing Death - A Pro-Life Nurse Looks at Dangerous Developments in Organ Procurement
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(FOCUS ON ASIA): "UN Aging Report Warns Of Dire Effects Of Fertility Decline" - Because fertility is decreasing in the developing world, there will be fewer and fewer workers to support aging citizens, the report found. The ratio of workers to older non-workers dropped from 12 to 9 between 1950 and 2009. By 2050, there will be only 4 workers supporting every retiree: "The reduction of potential support ratios has important implications for social security schemes, particularly for pay-as-you-go pension systems under which taxes on current workers pay the pensions of retirees." http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.1584/pub_detail.asp
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ITEM #1. Life is Worth Living: The Resilience of the Human Person
One of the privileges our modern age demands is the right to declare that certain lives are not worth living. And yet there are so many stories of people who have overcome enormous obstacles and who live full and rich lives. Some are missing limbs, others are blind, still others struggle with disease. Some have overcome poverty and injustice, others paralyzing accidents or great tragedies. And they are living witnesses to us that we ought never be the judge of what lives are worthwhile and what lives are not worth living. It is true that none of us would wish to be born missing limbs, or blind or in poverty, or with chronic conditions. But we must reverence those who are, learn to appreciate their gifts, and summon them to courage and greatness.
View full article at Archdiocese of Washington:
http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/life-is-worth-living-the-resilience-of-the-human-person/
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ITEM #2. Two Keys to a Happy Marriage
Almost every marriage starts out as a huge celebration. Together with their family and friends, each couple is full of hopes and dreams for their future life together. But the road to a happy marriage is far from easy. And as today's divorce statistics demonstrate all too well, many couples opt not to complete the journey.
View full article at Family & Marriage & Relationships:
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/family/km-happy-marriage.html
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ITEM #3. Euthanasia drug snares younger Australians
COMMENT: Note this quote: "Dr Nitschke said that while young people and those with mental illnesses could access Exit's instructions on the internet, the risks of this had to be weighed against the benefits for many others.
"There will be some casualties, but this has to be balanced with the growing pool of older people who feel immense well-being from having access to this information," he said.
This callousness and irresponsibility are breathtaking. Here in the US, we have over 33,000 suicides yearly in contrast to a few dozen reported assisted suicides. Dr. Nitschke and the public should do the math. On a practical basis, it makes no sense. Some assisted suicide supporters may not intend it but the demand that laws be changed to force the assistance of medical professionals (or anyone else) in suicide is a cruel act of selfishness by people insisting on total control no matter who it hurts. -Nancy Valko, RN
View full article at The Age.com.au:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/euthanasia-drug-snares-younger-australians-20100214-nzgl.html
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ITEM #4. Living together first puts marriage at risk
When will young adults get the message that living together does not increase their chances of a lasting marriage? New analysis of US national data shows that, on average, cohabitation actually decreases by 6 percentage points the likelihood of marriage lasting 10 years or more.
View full article at MercatorNet.com:
http://www.mercatornet.com/family_edge/view/6702/
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ITEM #5. An Imaginary Confession: The aborted Child and redemptive Love
Women who have had abortions often struggle with overwhelming sadness and guilt. In this compassionate and theologically sound pamphlet, Fr. Wall recounts the imaginary confession of such a mother and shows, through the priest's response, how she can find peace. This pamphlet has brought relief and healing to countless post-abortive women.
View full article at CERC:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/abortion/ab0162.htm
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ITEM #6. Internet Pornography: An occasion of sin for our time
The facts and the statistics about Internet pornography. Internet pornography specifically refers to sexually explicit material available to consumers on the Internet accessed for the purpose of arousal. Cybersex refers to a consensual sexual discussion on-line for the purpose of achieving arousal or an orgasm.
View full article at CERC:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0197.htm
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ITEM #7. Catholic hospitals: we won't kill you
The U.S. bishops have insisted that at Catholic hospitals food and water are not extraordinary means of treating patients near the end of life.
Article is located at MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35550235/ns/health-health_care/
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ITEM #8. Memories of Madeline
An Australian journalist remembers her stillborn daughter. On February 19, 2001, when I was 38 weeks pregnant, I felt my daughter give an almighty kick as I rested in bed. I thought no more of it. I turned over and went back to sleep. The next morning, February 20, when I woke up I realised I hadn't felt her move all night. Not even a little bit. I told my husband and watched the panic I was beginning to feel, being reflected on his face.
Article can be found at ABC:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/19/2824605.htm?sitethedrum
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ITEM #9. CyberSurvivor - A Tool for Kids Battling Bullying and a Resource for Parents and Teachers
Bullying via the internet, email and cyberspace is becoming increasingly common with primary as well as secondary school kids one of the most easily accessed and susceptible targets. But Australia's kids are now fighting back, thanks to the digital media program, CyberSurvivor which is now a staple subject in more than 213 school and youth programs across Australia.
View entire text at Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney:
http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au//news/latest_news/2010/2010223_553.shtml
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ITEM #10. Catholic girls gone wild?
A survey finds that coeds at Catholic colleges are more likely to "hook up" than women at secular schools. Researchers from Mississippi State University considered a survey of 1,000 college students nationwide and were surprised to find that "women attending colleges and universities affiliated with the Catholic Church are almost four times as likely to have participated in 'hooking up' compared to women at secular schools."
A "hook up" is defined as a casual physical encounter with a male student, without the expectation of an ongoing relationship. Not many years ago, such encounters were taboo among Catholics as clear violations of women's dignity and the sanctity of marriage -- the only place where sexual activity is healthy and positive, according to Catholic teaching.
View entire text at The Washington Post:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/03/catholic_girls_gone_wild.html
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ITEM #11. Too much, too soon
As possibly one of its last acts as government, British Labour bids to make sex education compulsory. Sex education. The very words strike a note of gloom. Long, long ago, back in the 1950s when schoolgirl pregnancies were a rarity, and anyone who gave children contraceptives and urged them to enjoy "safe sex" would have been arrested, things looked different.
View entire text at Mercator.Net:
http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/too_much_too_soon/
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ITEM #12. Dealing Death - A Pro-Life Nurse Looks at Dangerous Developments in Organ Procurement
Dr. Shea reminds us that the general public has not been properly informed about what really happens when organs are transplanted. Catholic healthcare providers and bioethicists should educate themselves - as well as their patients and students, respectively - thoroughly on these issues, particularly "donation after cardiac death." A thorough reading of Rady's, Verheijde's, and McGregor's critical analysis in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine is a good place to start. The website physiciansforlife.org, also has several links to articles explaining organ donation.
View entire text at LifeIssues.net:
http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/stu/stu_02organprocurement.html
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YOU CAN CHANGE SOCIETY:
1. BE INFORMED: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. Visit Lifeissues.net Website for insights into current Life Issues www.lifeissues.net. All prior email Newsletters Archives are located online at http://lifeissues.net/newsletters/mojo.cgi?flavor=archive&list=lifenews&start=0
3. PRAY DAILY: for the courage to be God's presence in society and to strongly support those who are deemed "unworthy of life". "If My people who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
4. BECOME INVOLVED: Several years ago Fr. Jerry created a project entitled, "Journey for Life into the Heart of Asia". The project appeals for donations to help finance plane travel for lectures and seminars to developing countries in Asia. Strong focus centers on reaching Asian Catholic Major Seminaries, Universities, Parishes, Hospitals and Family/Pro Life related groups. The lectures place emphasis on "The Asian Family at Crossroads: Life Issues, Trends and Challenges".
For information about no-cost Pro Life Talks to your group in Asia: contact Fr. Jerry at jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp.
To become a supportive Missionary participant for this Asian project, kindly send your donations to:
** Fr. Jerry Novotny, OMI
** LifeIssues.net, Editor
** Akebono-cho 1-15-9
** Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072
(or transfer donation directly to ProLife bank account: Jerome Novotny, Shikoku Bank, Asakura Branch, No. 102-1-0080824)
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Contact EDITOR:
Jerry Novotny, OMI
Akebono-cho 1-15-9
Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072
[tel/fax: 088-843-0406]
[email: jerry@lifeissues.net (or) jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp]
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Websites by Editor:
English LifeIssues Site: http://www.lifeissues.net,
Japanese LifeIssues Site: http://www.japan-lifeissues.net,
OMI Site: http://www.omijapankorea.net/index.html
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