LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday, March 20, 2010
| For pro-life news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com. |
Current Headlines
• Stupak and Pelosi Talk Last-Minute Deal on Stopping Health Care Abortion Funding
• Bart Stupak: Democrats Killing Health Care Bill over Abortion, I'm Still a No Vote
• Catholic Medical Association Confirms Senate Health Care Bill Funds Abortions
• Right to Life: Will Tell Pro-Lifers Vote for Senate Health Care Bill is Pro-Abortion
• Republican Leader Wants Democrats to Announce Roll Call on Pro-Abortion Bill
• Pelosi Calls on Catholic Saint to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Flubs Date
• Bill Would Make Obama's International Taxpayer Funding of Abortions Permanent
• Pro-Life Women's Group Runs TV Ad in Districts of Five Wavering Democrats
• Pro-Life Democrat Ellsworth OKs Senate Bill After CHA, Nuns' Abortion Mislead
• Ohio Congressman Charlie Wilson Faces Heat for Backing Pro-Abortion Senate Bill
• United Nations Women's Meeting Closes With Delegations Saying No to Abortion
• Officials Want No More Abortions at Pennsylvania Center Where Woman Died
--> ACTION: Contact your member of Congress to oppose the pro-abortion health care bill by going to http://www.House.gov and then tell every pro-life friend and family member to do the same. Urge opposition to the Senate bill, the companion measure and the Slaughter Rule.
Stupak and Pelosi Talk Last-Minute Deal on Stopping Health Care Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Rep. Bart Stupak held a serious discussion with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrats late Friday that could lead to a deal to cut the massive abortion funding from the Senate health care bill. Although nothing is in place, Stupak and his pro-life colleagues have a press conference Saturday.
Stupak spent a couple hours Friday evening negotiating with Democratic leaders and was seen spending about 10 minutes talking directly with Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
He later told The Hill that a deal is in progress but he was noncommittal -- preferring to see something on paper before announcing anything concrete. Stupak said the conversation with Pelosi was about an abortion-related "proposal that's out there."
Although Stupak provided no details on the agreement, it could consist of a "concurrent resolution" that would change the abortion language in the Senate bill, but parliamentary experts say such a resolution may not work to get a guarantee to ban abortion funding.
Pro-life advocates are concerned that an agreement could be reached and that the Senate would defeat it or President Barack Obama would sign the pro-abortion health care bill and veto the abortion funding ban.
That Pelosi is willing to negotiate after initially refusing to so may indicate she doesn't have enough votes for Sunday's planned vote on the pro-abortion bill.
Stupak said Pelosi and her colleagues "don't have the votes, or they wouldn't be talking to me."
Before the interview, Stupak announced a press conference with "other pro-life Democrats" he would not name for 11 a.m. Saturday morning. He told The Hill he "hopes" he'll have an agreement to announce, saying "there's a proposal out there but nothing yet and we want to see it in writing and massage it."
Meanwhile, pro-abortion House members shuffled in and out of Pelosi's office and left with bad expressions on their faces. The Hill indicates Rep. Diana DeGette, the Colorado Democrat who leads the pro-abortion forces, said, "Were not happy" in response to a question about the latest movement on the bill. Full story at LifeNews.com
--> ACTION: Contact your member of Congress to oppose the pro-abortion health care bill by going to http://www.House.gov and then tell every pro-life friend and family member to do the same. Urge opposition to the Senate bill, the companion measure and the Slaughter Rule.
House Paves Way for Slaughter Rule to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Without Vote
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In a new interview with "Good Morning America" on Friday morning, leading pro-life Democrat Bart Stupak said he is open to working with Speaker Nancy Pelosi on banning abortion funding under the Senate health care bill. But if she refuses to negotiate, he and other pro-life Democrats will vote no.
Stupak is the author of the famous amendment that banned abortion funding under the House measure but did not make the Senate version.
As the House prepares to vote on the Senate bill, Stupak has repeatedly tried to get Pelosi to consider allowing language to ban abortion funding, to no avail.
"There's still no change," he said of a deal and how he and about 10-12 other pro-life Democrats stand against the bill because of it. My group is holding firm." "I want to pass health care... but there's a principle that we do not want to cross," Stupak added.
"There is renewed interest in that piece of legislation that I and a number of us are ready to introduce. It's prepared, everybody's looking at it right now," Stupak said "That's one way maybe -- but we still have to deal with the Senate." Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Medical Association Confirms Senate Health Care Bill Funds Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Another prominent Catholic organization has weighed in on the abortion-health care debate and it says any Catholics who support the pro-abortion health care bill are out of step with the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Medical Association's statement follows on the heels of the Catholic Health Association giving some Democrats cover to back the pro-abortion bill.
"As the Democrat party accelerates efforts to enact comprehensive health-care legislation before the Easter recess, the Catholic Health Association, leaders of women s religious orders, and academics at Catholic institutions have endorsed Senate bill H.R. 3590 and called for the House of Representatives to pass this bill as-is," CMA told LifeNews.com in a statement late Thursday.
"In so doing, they have intentionally and publicly contradicted the policy position of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops," the group added.
The Catholic Medical Association said it agreed with the conclusion of Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, who said these groups have done a grave disservice to the American Catholic community by undermining the leadership of the nation s Catholic bishops, sowing confusion among faithful Catholics, and misleading legislators through their support of the Senate bill.
To the pro-life Catholic leader's statement, CMA added: "Should this political ploy prove successful in persuading some legislators to vote for this flawed bill, these individuals and groups will have done a grave disservice to human dignity and to the common good of this nation." Full story at LifeNews.com
Right to Life: Will Tell Pro-Lifers Vote for Senate Health Care Bill is Pro-Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The National Right to Life Committee sent a letter to members of the House today telling them that millions of pro-life advocates will be properly informed of how they vote on the Senate health care bill and told that such a vote is a vote to expand abortions and abortion funding.
The letter is the final plea to House members to vote against the Senate bill that funds and promotes abortions, or a procedural motion to deem it passed.
"A vote for the Senate-passed health bill (H.R. 3590) is a vote for the most expansively pro-abortion legislation ever to come before the House of Representatives, since Roe v. Wade, and will be accurately so" to pro-life advocates, NRLC officials say in the letter LifeNews.com obtained.
"We respectfully urge that you vote against this legislation and against any
measure or procedure that might be employed in an attempt to move it towards the President s desk," Right to Life asks.
On the other hand, should lawmakers vote against the Senate measure, NRLC says they can expected to be greeted with heartfelt thanks from the majority of Americans, who are pro-life on abortion.
"Pro-life citizens across America know that this is a pro-abortion bill. They know, and they will be reminded again and again, which members of the House deserve the gratitude of the pro-life movement for standing strong on this historic vote," NRLC said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Republican Leader Wants Democrats to Announce Roll Call on Pro-Abortion Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- If pro-abortion Democrats are going to make the House of Representatives vote on a health care bill that is the biggest expansion of abortion since Roe, House Republican Leader John Boehner says they should be prepared to announce their votes to Americans one at a time.
To keep abortion advocates accountable, Boehner today sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The letter requests that the final health care votes be recorded by call of the roll so that every lawmaker is required to publicly announce their vote on the House floor.
This weekend s votes will be among the most consequential votes we will ever cast as Members of Congress, Boehner says in the letter to Speaker Pelosi. As such, it is my belief that every Member should stand before the American people and announce his or her vote as the final decision is made.
According to House rules, Unless the Speaker directs otherwise, the Clerk shall conduct a record vote or quorum call by electronic device."
"The Speaker may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call by call of the roll. In such a case the Clerk shall call the names of Members, alphabetically by surname," the rules say.Full story at LifeNews.com
Pelosi Calls on Catholic Saint to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Flubs Date
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on a Catholic saint today to help her and her pro-abortion colleague pass a Senate health care bill that contains massive abortion funding. Not only did Pelosi upset pro-life Catholics in so doing, but she got the date wrong concerning the saint she mentioned.
"Today is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, particularly important to Italian-Americans," Pelosi said.
"It s a day where we remember and pray to St. Joseph to benefit the workers of America, and that s exactly what our health-care bill will do," she added.
Washington Examiner writer David Freddoso noticed Pelosi's flub.
"Speaker Pelosi should check her calendar again, because the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker is on May 1. Today is simply the feast or Solemnity of Saint Joseph," he writes.
"Either way, Joseph is also the patron saint of fathers and of happiness at the time of one's death. He would not consider the killing of unborn babies to be health care, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have appreciated working hard all day only to see the fruits of his labor taken through taxes to subsidize abortions," he added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Bill Would Make Obama's International Taxpayer Funding of Abortions Permanent
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Remember the Mexico City Policy? Most Americans are caught up in the monumental debate over health care and abortion funding and they may have forgotten about how President Barack Obama, during his first week in office, used their tax dollars to pay for performing and promoting abortions overseas.
But Rep. Nita Lowey hasn't forgotten. The new York Democrat and prominent abortion activist in the House has unveiled new legislation designed to make permanent Obama's executive order revoking the Mexico City Policy.
During the administrations of President Reagan and both Bush presidents, the Mexico City Policy made it so organizations that received money from USAID could not use the funds to pay for abortions. They were also prohibited from paying for lobbying efforts designed to get pro-life nations across the world to weaken their laws prohibiting abortions.
Instead, the pro-life presidents limits the funds to legitimate groups conducting legitimate efforts to help the needy in faraway nations.
Planned Parenthood refused to abide by the Mexico City Policy limits and lost out on the millions of dollars it could have had by backing down on promoting abortions. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Women's Group Runs TV Ad in Districts of Five Wavering Democrats
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Doing everything possible at the last-minute to try to sway wavering pro-life Democrats to vote no on the Senate health care bill. That's the idea behind a slate of new television commercials the Susan B. Anthony List has released in a handful of Midwestern congressional districts.
Today the Susan B. Anthony List launched a $200,000 television advertisement campaign aimed at pricking the consciences of these pro-life Democrats.
The ad exhorts these members to vote No on the healthcare bill which includes federal funding of abortion, fails to protect consciences, and creates numerous abortion mandates.
This has been a long and difficult battle since we began targeting members and drawing attention to constituent opposition to federal funding of abortion in a healthcare reform bill more than a year ago, the SBA List president, told LifeNews.com. Our latest ad targets those whose vote will make or break this bill: pro-life Democrats sitting on the fence.
The ad is focused on Reps. Jason Altmire and Chris Carney of Pennsylvania, Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill of Indiana and Alan Mollohan of West Virginia. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Democrat Ellsworth OKs Senate Bill After CHA, Nuns' Abortion Mislead
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- An Indiana Democrat who has voted pro-life and was considered one of the Stupak 12 who would vote against the Senate health care bill because of its abortion funding has flip-flopped. Brad Ellsworth says he will back the bill and cites the misleading statements from Catholic nuns and the CHA as his reason why.
Ellsworth's office released a statement where the upcoming Senate candidate noted the Catholic Health Association endorsement.
And it ignores the new statement from the Catholic Medical Association saying the Senate bill funds abortions and taking CHA to task.
"As a pro-life Hoosier, one of my central concerns has been preventing federal funding of elective abortion," he said, according to the PlumLine blog.
"After assurance from the Catholic Health Association, Catholic nuns, and pro-life advocates, I am confident in my heart that this bill meets pro-life principles and upholds the policy of no federal funding for elective abortions," Ellsworth claimed. Full story at LifeNews.com
Ohio Congressman Charlie Wilson Faces Heat for Backing Pro-Abortion Senate Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Rep. Charlie Wilson, an Ohio congressman who is normally included on lists of pro-life Democrats in the House, is facing heat for his decision to support the Senate pro-abortion health care bill. A national pro-life women's group says Wilson is abandoning his constituents, who oppose abortion funding.
The House is expected to vote Sunday on the Senate health care measure, which funds and promotes abortions.
Wilson is justifying his vote by denying abortion funding is part of the bill.
This bill is not perfect, but it is a strong step forward," he told the Vindicator newspaper. I am confident that the language in the Senate bill ensures that there will be no federal funding for abortions."
In a press call with liberal religious leaders who are putting health care above pro-life principles, Wilson expanded on his support for the pro-abortion measure. "As a pro-life Catholic, I think the language in the Senate bill clearly ensures that there will be no federal funding of abortion," he added.
But Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com "Wilson's rationale for this support flies in the face of church teaching and the Catholic Bishops, who have condemned the language." Full story at LifeNews.com
| Looking for a pro-life speaker for your next banquet, conference or convention? LifeNews.com editor Steven Ertelt is a low-cost speaker who can entertain and educate your audience as well as help you with a fundraising pitch if necessary. He can also speak on any pro-life topic. For more information, email news@LifeNews.com. |
United Nations Women's Meeting Closes With Delegations Saying No to Abortion
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- Last week, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) closed its annual session with delegations defining abortion out of a resolution on maternal mortality. Over the course of this year's two-week commission, United Nations (UN) member states were embroiled in heated negotiations over "reproductive rights" language which some delegations believe would be used to promote abortion.
The United States (US) delegation introduced the resolution calling for increased political will to tackle maternal mortality. The US delegate argued that their resolution underscored the importance of guaranteeing all of women s human rights, "including sexual and reproductive health rights."
Based on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton s testimony to Congress last year, the current US administration is on record that reproductive health includes access to abortion.
The resolution was adopted by consensus at CSW on Friday, but contrary to an Associated Press article which stated that abortion was a non-issue during the two-week session, a number of states including Chile, Saint Lucia and Iran, made explanations of position to ensure that "reproductive rights" and other health service terms in the text would not be later misinterpreted to include abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com
Officials Want No More Abortions at Pennsylvania Center Where Woman Died
Philadelphia, PA (LifeNews.com) -- Officials in Pennsylvania have taken action to ensure no more abortions are done at the Philadelphia abortion center where a woman died from a botched legal abortion last year. As LifeNews.com reported, authorities investigated the Women's Medical Society after an abortion patient died last November.
Massive amounts of drugs found in the victim's system led authorities to suspect Gosnell was illegally prescribing pain-killers.
Abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell, who runs the Women's Medical Society, lost his license in both Pennsylvania and neighboring Delaware.
During the probe, officials found dozens of unborn children killed in abortions who were frozen for decades. They are now determining whether or not they may have been victims of illegal late-term abortions.
Now, the Pennsylvania Department of Health took action to make it so no other abortion practitioner can do abortions at the Women's Medical Society.
The Health Department is seeking an order prohibiting abortions at Gosnell s facility because of dangerous conditions found there. Full story at LifeNews.com
Encourage Friends to Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
