LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Pelosi, Democrats Twisting Arms for Pro-Abortion Health Care Suicide Mission
• Video of Planned Parenthood Hiding Sexual Abuse Sent to Wisconsin Officials
• 40 Days for Life Campaign Sees 107 Unborn Babies Saved From Abortions
•Abortion Practitioner Accused of Running Over 40 Days for Life Pro-Life Signs
• Practitioner Denies He Botched Legal Abortion That Killed Hispanic Woman
• Witness: Pro-Life Advocate Tried to Defend Himself With Sign When Shot
• Black Pro-Life Leader Defends Congressman Trent Franks on Abortion-Slavery
• Abortion is Devastating the African American Community, Is Anyone Noticing?
• Catholic Bishops Urged to Take Collection for Pro-Life Work After Dustup
• Closure of Penn Clinic Shows Need to Hold Abortion Centers Accountable
• Let's Applaud When Catholic Bishops Do the Right Thing for Pro-Life Values
• West Virginia Senate to Vote Tues on Bill Allowing Ultrasound Before Abortion
---> LifeNews.com has compiled a list of President Barack Obama's pro-abortion actions since he was elected president. Click here for that list and links to LifeNews.com articles explaining what Obama did each time.
Pelosi, Democrats Twisting Arms for Pro-Abortion Health Care "Suicide Mission"
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrats are now in the process of trying to twist enough arms in the House and Senate to railroad the pro-abortion health care bill through Congress. The vote-gathering process is derided by some Republicans as a mission of political suicide because it is so unpopular.
Democrats are bent on using the controversial reconciliation process to get the bill approved.
That's where they use a procedural trick normally reserved for important bills funding the federal government that prohibits a filibuster in the Senate -- where Democrats would otherwise not have the 60 votes needed to get the bill approved.
In an effort to gain traction in the messaging war on television and with Americans who oppose the bill by more than 20 points, they're tacking a new tack of calling the process getting a "simple majority."
Health care reform has already passed both the House and the Senate with not only a majority in the Senate but a supermajority, White House health care czar Nancy-Ann DeParle said on NBC s Meet the Press. And we're not talking about changing any rules here. All the president s talking about is: Do we need to address this problem, and does it make sense to have a simple, up-or-down vote."
And Pelosi herself has a new approach to gaining support for the bill -- inventing bipartisanship. Pelosi says she doesn't need Republican votes to be bipartisan. "The bill can be bipartisan, even though the votes might not be bipartisan," Pelosi said on CNN's "State of the Union." Full story at LifeNews.com
Video of Planned Parenthood Hiding Sexual Abuse Sent to Wisconsin Officials
Milwaukee, WI (LifeNews.com) -- The organization responsible for an undercover investigative video showing Wisconsin Planned Parenthood officials hiding a case of sexual abuse and urging violation of the state's parental consent law has sent the full tape to state and local authorities.
As LifeNews.com reported, Live Action released the 10th video in a series showing Planned Parenthood centers across the nation covering up cases of statutory rape. The videos also show officials giving misleading information about fetal development and abortion and urging teens to avoid parental involvement laws.
Live Action has made public the full, unedited video from its undercover investigation and sent it to the Wisconsin Attorney General and Milwaukee District Attorney.
Last week, Planned Parenthood Wisconsin CEO Teri Huyck called the videos "highly edited" and accused Live Action of manipulating footage to make a "false and inflammatory" video. "Assuming this patient gave us her name, we would report it," Huyck said. "The so-called patient in this case did not provide identifying information. In fact, she refused."
Yet, the full footage includes Planned Parenthood staff taking down a full name for the girl, "Janelle Marion," and a birth date, in order to help her obtain a judicial bypass waiver for her abortion.
Lila Rose, the 21-year-old president of Live Action, calls on Wisconsin state authorities to move forward on a probe of the abortion business. Full story at LifeNews.com
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40 Days for Life Campaign Sees 107 Unborn Babies Saved From Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Whenever national 40 Days for Life director David Bereit talks about the number of unborn babies saved from abortions because of the campaign, he always adds, "that we know of." That gives Bereit particular pleasure to announced that the latest campaign has spared 107 babies from abortion.
"After all, we really don't know how many lives have been spared in ways that only God will ever know. We just have to trust Him," Bereit says.
"With that in mind, I can tell you that thus far in this 40 Days for Life campaign ... 107 babies have been saved from abortion ... that we know of," he told LifeNews.com.
Bereit doesn't know, for instance, how many abortions were prevented because the abortion facility was closed one day last week in Overland Park, Kansas. Apparently, heating and plumbing problems kept the doors shut all day. "The place was empty," said Valerie, a local pro-life advocate.
Bereit continued, "Most of the time, we don't know how many women change their minds -- and simply don't show up for their abortion appointment."
Judy in La Puente, California said a young man walked up to 40 Days for Life vigil participants to thank them for being there. "Because he had seen us outside praying, he had the courage to convince his girlfriend not to have an abortion," she said. "You just never know how many others never get to the abortion site because of our presence. Praise God." Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Practitioner Accused of Running Over 40 Days for Life Pro-Life Signs
Reno, NV(LifeNews.com) -- Upset by the peaceful pro-life signs that adorn the public sidewalk outside his abortion center, Nevada-based abortion practitioner Damon Stutes reportedly decided to take matters into his own hands. On Friday morning, local pro-life advocates say he aggressively ran over with his vehicle signs that have stood in front of his center for a year.
For the past year, two local pro-life volunteers have stood to pray and encourage women to consider positive abortion alternatives by offering referrals to centers that address the challenges they face due to an unexpected pregnancy.
To assist them in this effort, a local resident who had seen their small hand-held signs donated four large signs that together read Abortion Stops A Beating Heart.
Carol Marie Siedenburg of 40 Days for Life Reno informed LifeNews.com about the incident.
"On Friday morning, at approximately 8:10 am, while approaching the abortion site, Dr. Damon Stutes drove off the road and onto the dirt shoulder and ran over two of the signs before crossing back across the street and driving into the driveway of the abortion site property," she said.
"A police report has been filed and will be followed up by their criminal investigators," she added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Practitioner Denies He Botched Legal Abortion That Killed Hispanic Woman
Queens, NY (LifeNews.com) -- A New Your City abortion practitioner is denying he did the botched abortion that killed a local Hispanic woman last month. The abortion was done at the A-1 Women's Care abortion center located in Jackson Heights and, although abortion practitioner Salomon Epstein does abortions there he denies he did it.
Last month, 37-year-old Alexandra Nuñez died after a botched abortion claimed her life.
The State of New York Department of Health has opened an investigation into Epstein and his abortion center.
But, in an email received over the weekend, Epstein told LifeNews.com he did not do the failed abortion that claimed the woman's life.
"I did not treat this patient and I do not operate the A 1 clinic that is mentioned," he claims. "You may call that clinic directly ... not one of my patients ever died." "You should share this with your friends at Operation Rescue," Epstein told LifeNews.com.
After passing along the email to the pro-life group, OR investigators contacted the A-1 Clinic and didn't get very far. Full story at LifeNews.com
Witness: Pro-Life Advocate Tried to Defend Himself With Sign When Shot, Killed
Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- A witness at the trial of Harlan Drake, who stands accused of killing pro-life advocate James Pouillon as he protested abortion outside a local high school, indicates Pouillon tried to shield himself with his sign as Drake repeatedly shot the longtime local abortion protester.
The trial of Harlan Drake, the Michigan man accused of killing Pouillon and a local businessman, began last week.
According to a Flint Journal report, Alana Beamish had just dropped her son off at Owosso High School when she "had a front row seat" to the killing of Pouillon and was the first person to try to assist him afterwards.
Beamish told the court that Drake cut her off and drove past her in his white truck and stopped at the curb where Pouillon was holding a pro-life sign. She said she saw Drake take his time to steady his hand and fire off shots at Pouillon, who attempted to use his sign to protect himself. The newspaper indicates she said Drake then moved his car closer and fired again.
"The shots rang out again and he fell to the side and onto his front," she said. "He was shot all the way around his body," and there were "bullet holes everywhere." Beamish gave Pouillon CPR as another witness chased after Drake as he drove away. Full story at LifeNews.com
Black Pro-Life Leader Defends Congressman Trent Franks on Abortion-Slavery
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A prominent black pro-life leader is coming to the defense of Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona, who has been slammed over the last few days in the mainstream media and on Internet blogs for his comments saying that abortion has been worse for the African-American community than slavery.
As LifeNews.com reported, Franks released a new video in which he makes the remarks and points out how abortion disproportionately targets the black community.
"And yet today, half of all black children are aborted. Half of all black children are aborted," Franks says. "Far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by policies of slavery. And I think, What does it take to get us to wake up?"
Although abortion advocates and the media are calling Franks an extremist who should be ignored, Day Gardner, the president of the National Black Pro-Life Union, says he is right on track.
"Face it America, he's right. Abortion has exacted a greater toll on blacks than slavery," she told LifeNews.com.
"Our country brutally enslaved four million people, denying them their rights, their freedom and many times their lives. Rep. Franks is simply comparing that horrific truth to another horrific truth -- which is that abortion has killed more than 17 million black people," Gardner said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion is Devastating the African American Community, Is Anyone Noticing?
by Deal Hudson
According to the Centers for Disease Control, African American women have 40 percent of the nation's abortions, but make up only 13 percent of the population. That black children are being aborted at such a high rate has not been a subject of discussion among the Democrats in the Congress and the White House, who insist on leaving the door open for abortion funding in the health care bill.
But a recent article in the New York Times suggests that the disproportionate price being paid in the African American community for the pro-abortion advocacy of Planned Parenthood is beginning to be noticed.
According to the piece, Georgia Right to Life changed its tactics last year by having minority outreach coordinator Catherine Davis visit black churches throughout the state, "delivering the message that abortion is the primary tool in a decades-old conspiracy to kill off blacks."
Pro-life activists have long known that Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, explicitly recommended the "eugenics value" of abortion as a means of suppressing minority populations. But now the story of the nefarious roots of the abortion movement are gaining traction among the African Americans that Davis met with.
As a result, Georgia Right to Life expanded its outreach effort by leasing space on 80 Atlanta billboards, all bearing the message, "Black children are an endangered species," along with a special Web site, www.toomanyaborted.com. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Bishops Urged to Take Collection for Pro-Life Work After Abortion Dustup
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- After a months-long dustup involving Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) grants to pro-abortion organizations, a pro-life group is urging the nations Catholic bishops to consider putting together a national day in January to take a collection at churches for pro-life activities.
Several pro-life groups in a coalition have been monitoring CCHD grants and have caused some organizations to be de-funded as a result of their exposing their pro-abortion positions.
Now, Catholic Advocate is calling on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to launch a National Collection for Life on the weekend prior to the national March for Life.
"Creating a National Collection for Life will allow American Catholics to tangibly demonstrate the importance of building a culture of life in our society," Catholic Advocate vice president Matt Smith told LifeNews.com. "A consistent source of funds to national pro-life activities will open opportunities to promote the sanctity of life at all stages."
Catholic Advocate recommends proceeds from the collection be used to support the programs of the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. The group says it will put together more specific proposals for the collections for the bishops as January 2011 approaches. Full story at LifeNews.com
Closure of Pennsylvania Clinic Shows Need to Hold Abortion Centers Accountable
by Denise M. Burke
Since the 1960s, abortion proponents have argued that legalized abortion is beneficial to the health and well-being of American women. In support of this assertion, they have often put forth a litany of purported advantages. A primary advantage they often cite is increased medical safety for women undergoing abortions.
When their campaign to legalize abortion began, abortion proponents argued that if abortion was legal the procedure would be safer for women because it would become an accepted part of mainstream medical care, proper surgical procedures and standards for pre- and post- surgical care would be followed, and skilled and reputable gynecologists and surgeons would perform the procedure. Simply, unskilled and incompetent butchers would no longer perform abortions.
These were the promises. But has it proven to be the reality? Has 37 years of legalized abortion eliminated these problems from our national consciousness? No, it has not and a case out of Pennsylvania last week aptly demonstrates that abortion clinics across the nation have become the true back-alleys of abortion mythology. Full story at LifeNews.com
Let's Applaud When Catholic Bishops Do the Right Thing for Pro-Life Values
by Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
Ought we rejoice in Lent? Well, Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Oregon, has given us the absolute best reason to rejoice in a penitential season: he yanked the title "Catholic" from a hospital in his diocese that refuses actually to be Catholic. What a refreshing development in episcopal leadership.
In fact, Lent is probably the perfect time for such an act to take place because it is an exercise of discipline and courage, which we love to see in our prelates. Bishops who are true shepherds, and not politicians, strengthen us and enliven our faith - thank you, Bishop Vasa!
The point of contention that the good bishop had with the St. Charles Hospital in Bend, OR was the hospital's practice of surgical sterilization. Apparently the Board of Directors thought that the Church's clear prohibition of this practice was, uh, optional.
So after a fair and timely investigation, the bishop could not convince the hospital administration to change practices and simply yanked the Catholic name and insignia from the building with the exception of the cross on top to remind them of their failure to live up to the challenge of the Cross.
Can't you hear the bishop wince when the president of the healthcare chain, James Diegel, said that the hospital had "an obligation to provide comprehensive health care services to our patients while remaining true to our values of compassion and caring for all"? Full story at LifeNews.com
West Virginia Senate to Vote Tuesday on Bill Allowing Ultrasound Before Abortion
Charleston, WV (LifeNews.com) -- West Virginia pro-life advocates point to the high number of women in pregnancy centers who change their mind about having an abortion once they see an ultrasound of their unborn children. They hope to replicate that success in abortion centers through a bill getting a vote in the West Virginia state Senate.
The Ultrasound Option bill (SB 597) is scheduled to be on the floor of the state Senate for a vote on Tuesday and, if it passes, will likely go to the House Health and Judiciary Committees before it goes to the House floor for passage.
The legislation, which easily cleared the Senate Health and Judiciary committees last week, amends the existing Women s Right to Know Act which helps women get information about abortion's risks and alternatives.
West Virginians for Life is strongly supporting the bill while the pro-abortion group WV FREE calls the bill allowing women more information about the development of their unborn child an attempt to coerce them.
Under the legislation, women are not forced to view an ultrasound, but abortion practitioners who do one before an abortion are obligated to inform mothers they have the right to view one. Full story at LifeNews.com
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