LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Obama to Sign Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Tuesday, Will "Keep Word" on Order
• Lawsuit and Repeal Efforts Move Forward After Pro-Abortion Health Care Passes
• Stupak Defends Decision for Executive Order on Abortion, Trusts Obama
• Pro-Life Republican Lawmaker Admits Baby Killer Comment During Stupak Talk
• Pro-Life Groups Pledge to Defeat Pro-Abortion Lawmakers After Health Care Vote
• Planned Parenthood: Pro-Abortion Bill a Victory, Executive Order Meaningless
• Possible 2012 Obama Challengers Blast Passage of Pro-Abortion Health Care
• Democrats for Life Sole Pro-Life Group Defending Pro-Abortion Bill, Stupak
• Milestone Sees 40 Days for Life Celebrate 2,500th Baby Saved From Abortion
• Fox Program "The Family Guy" Mocks Terri Schiavo Near Anniversary of Death
• Pro-Lifer Father Paul Marx, Founder of Human Life International, Passes Away
--> ACTION: The next battle of the pro-life movement has begun to replace the members of Congress who gave us the pro-abortion health care bill. Please urge people to sign up for news from LifeNews.com to join this fight. People can sign up for LifeNews.com pro-life news, daily news at http://www.Lifenews.com/digest and weekly at http://www.Lifenews.com/weekly
Obama to Sign Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Tuesday, Will "Keep Word" on Order
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced this morning that President Barack Obama will sign the pro-abortion health care bill into law on Tuesday. She also pledged Obama would "keep his word" on signing an executive order purporting to ban abortion funding.
The House approved the Senate health care bill, that funds and promotes abortions, on a narrow vote Sunday night.
The vote came after Rep. Bart Stupak and a group of "pro-life" Democrats reached an agreement with Obama to support the health care bill in exchange for an executive order that will supposedly ban abortion funding in the bill.
However, pro-life groups opposed the deal saying an executive order can't be used to change federal law and pointing out that the order itself wouldn't stop the several ways in which abortions are funded and promoted under the legislation.
Sebelius said in an interview with the "Early Show" on CBS that Obama will sign the bill Tuesday and she claimed Americans will be "enthusiastic" about the measure.
Sebelius said she was "absolutely convinced" that "once people understand what's in the bill and the fact that a lot of what they've been hearing has never been contemplated, has never been in the bill, that they'll be very enthusiastic about what Congress did last night."
Asked whether Obama would keep his word and sign the disputed executive order, Sebelius said "Clearly, he intends to keep his word."
"He's kept his word all along. This is the kind of reform he said would happen if he were elected president. He talked about this for two years on the campaign trail. And here we are with, finally, a promise kept to the American people," the pro-abortion HHS Secretary told CBS. Full story at LifeNews.com
Lawsuit and Repeal Efforts Move Forward After Pro-Abortion Health Care Passes
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With the House passing the pro-abortion health care bill Sunday night and President Barack Obama pledging to sign it into law on Tuesday, pro-life groups, state attorneys general and Republican lawmakers are moving forward with plans to file lawsuits against the bill and repeal it in the next Congress.
Once Obama signs the bill into law, the lawsuits will begin from all corners.
Attorneys General from Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota and several other states have already announced plans to file suits against the health care law.
"The health care reform legislation passed by the U. S. House of Representatives this evening clearly violates the U.S. Constitution and infringes on each state's sovereignty," Florida's Attorney General Bill McCollum announced. "If the President signs this bill into law, we will file a lawsuit to protect the rights and the interests of American citizens."
Leading pro-life groups will join them as officials from the American Center for Law and Justice are already preparing suit.
This health care package fails the American people and does not provide permanent protections for the life of the unborn, Jay Sekulow, the ACLJ chief counsel, told LifeNews.com today.
This flawed health care package may have passed - but it is far from being implemented," Sekulow explained. Full story at LifeNews.com
Stupak Defends Decision for Executive Order on Abortion, Trusts Obama
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In comments to Fox News today, Congressman Bart Stupak admitted pro-abortion President Barack Obama could repeal the executive order he promised Stupak in exchange for a handful of pro-life Democrats supporting the health care bill that funds and promotes abortions.
"The president didn't sign it to rip it up tomorrow," Stupak said about the executive order Obama is supposed to sign along with the legislation.
Yet, he added, "You're right, Megyn, there is nothing that would stop this president from a month from now, a year from now, ten years from now, of repealing this executive order."
Despite opposition from pro-life groups, the executive order "is worth more than the paper it is written on... History shows us that an executive order has the whole force of law. It is just as good as having a law,'' Stupak said. "Would I have liked to have had a law... absolutely."
"The only option you had was leave the Senate language or strengthen it to prevent abortions under an executive order -- that's what we did, we stayed true to those principles -- or vote no.,'' he said. "So you kill the bill and we do not have health care... I've always said I want to see health care for the nation.''
Stupak claims that a law banning abortion funding could just as easily be overturned as an executive order, even though the Hyde amendment has withstood for decades while the Mexico City Policy has been revoked with every pro-abortion president. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Republican Lawmaker Admits Baby Killer Comment During Stupak Talk
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life Republican lawmaker has come forward and admitted he made the infamous "baby killer" remark while Congressman Bart Stupak defended his decision to trade his vote for the pro-abortion health care bill for an executive order that pro-life groups say amounts to nothing.
Texas Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer says he is the one to make the comment during Stupak's floor speech.
Stupak was speaking when Neugebauer apparentlyshouted "baby killer" in response to what pro-life groups are calling Stupak's "sellout" by agreeing to a disputed executive order to supposedly ban abortion funding.
After the shout, members of Congress groaned and one replied, "Who said that?"
Last night was the climax of weeks and months of debate on a health care bill that my constituents fear and do not support, Neugebauer said in a statement.
However, the pro-life congressman, who represents a west Texas district known for its conservative and pro-life values, said the statement wasn't directed at Stupak himself.
In the heat and emotion of the debate, I exclaimed the phrase it s a baby killer in reference to the agreement reached by the Democratic leadership. While I remain heartbroken over the passage of this bill and the tragic consequences it will have for the unborn, I deeply regret that my actions were mistakenly interpreted as a direct reference to Congressman Stupak himself," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Groups Pledge to Defeat Pro-Abortion Lawmakers After Health Care Vote
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- If major pro-life organizations have anything to say about it, the pro-abortion members of the House who voted for the pro-abortion Senate health care bill Sunday night will lose their seats in November and be replaced by pro-life candidates who vow to repeal the legislation.
Yesterday, the House passed the Senate health care bill with a multitude of abortion funding provisions and passed the reconciliation bill to increase funding for one abortion funding program.
Neither contained conscience protections previously approved by the House.
Family Research Council Action president Tony Perkins told LifeNews.com that pro-life advocates would not have a short memory about the roll call of the vote.
"FRC Action will seek to defeat many of the Members from majority pro-life districts who voted wrong today, and they will have plenty of free time to realize the grave mistake they have committed on the unborn today with their vote," he promised.
Americans United for Life Action president Charmaine Yoest also pledged to defeat pro-abortion lawmakers as well.
"Given that seven out of ten voters agree that no public funds should pay for abortion, I am confident that with hard work we will succeed," she said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Planned Parenthood: Pro-Abortion Bill a Victory, Executive Order Meaningless
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood called the pro-abortion health care bill the House approved late Sunday night a victory and applauded the financial windfall it expected to reap as a result. The abortion business also dismissed the executive order President Barack Obama promised Congressman Bart Stupak as harmless.
For more than a year, Planned Parenthood has worked tirelessly for a health care" bill, its president Cecile Richards said in a statement today. "It's a huge victory for women's health, but our work isn't over yet."
With passage of the legislation, "monumental progress was made toward achieving these goals."
Richard dismissed the executive order, which has been slammed by pro-life groups, as a "a symbolic gesture ... to anti-choice Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI), which has diverted attention from the central goal."
Despite Stupak's contention that the executive order would implement his abortion funding ban, Richards says that's not the case.
'What the president s executive order did not do is include the complete and total ban ... that Congressman Bart Stupak (D MI) had insisted upon," Richards said. "So while we regret that this proposed Executive Order has given the imprimatur of the president to Senator Nelson s language, it is critically important to note that it does not include the Stupak abortion ban." Full story at LifeNews.com
Possible 2012 Obama Challengers Blast Passage of Pro-Abortion Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Five of the top potential Republican challengers against President Barack Obama in 2012 have spoken out against the pro-abortion health care bill the House passed on Sunday night. Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and Tim Pawlenty all opposed the bill in comments after it passed.
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee didn't mine any words in his condemnation of Obama and his Democratic allies.
"For months, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have insisted that they know best when it comes to health care reform," he said. "With this vote, Congress decided what kind of health care you have access to and how much it will cost. They also decided not to respect us and take us for fools."
He urged pro-life advocate to hold those who voted for the bill accountable at the polls.
"Get personally involved to dump them. Let s replace this Congress with Republicans that will listen to the people," he said.
Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate, got into the action of condemning the pro-abortion bill.
"In the weeks to come, we can expect them to try to change the subject, but we won't forget," she said. "Though they'd like us to forget, we will remember the corrupt deals, the corrupt process, the lack of transparency, the deceptive gimmicks to game the CBO score, and the utter disregard for the will of the American people." Full story at LifeNews.com
Democrats for Life Sole Pro-Life Group Defending Pro-Abortion Bill, Stupak
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Just one pro-life organization has issued a statement applauding the pro-abortion health care bill the House approved Sunday night and the executive order deal Congressman Bart Stupak stuck with President Barack Obama to get enough votes to secure its passage.
Democrats for Life of America is the national organization for pro-life Democrats who were once respected by have become the laughingstock of the pro-life movement thanks to Stupak's deal.
The organization's executive director, Kristen Day, sent LifeNews.com a statement praising the deal, Stupak and Obama.
"We applaud President Obama for his bold leadership in agreeing to an executive order that bans taxpayer-funded abortions in the health care reform bill that passed the House,' Day said. "We are proud to support this historic health care legislation."
"President Obama's Executive Order shows that when we work towards common ground in Washington, we can do the people's business and end the gridlock. By working with House leaders and the White House, DFLA shows how pro-life Democrats are a key and growing constituency," Day added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Milestone Sees 40 Days for Life Celebrate 2,500th Baby Saved From Abortion
by David Bereit
As the dust settles following the devastating U.S. House vote that imposed abortion coverage and government funding of abortion under the guise of health care, many people are feeling a sense of despair today.
But Jeremiah 29:11 clearly instructs us: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Even in the midst of this darkness, God has given us more than 2,500 reasons to have great hope. And that hope is because of you.
This past week, 40 Days for Life reached a milestone. In this, the sixth coordinated, simultaneous 40-day campaign of prayer and fasting, constant vigil and community outreach, we now know of more than 2,500 babies saved from abortion during these campaigns.
The exact total is currently 2,536. We're aware of numerous sets of twins -- and at least one set of triplets -- included in that count. Not only have 2,536 babies been spared from abortion, but the impact was also felt on each of their mothers and fathers. Full story at LifeNews.com
Fox Program "The Family Guy" Mocks Terri Schiavo Near Anniversary of Death
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Near the fifth anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo, the disabled woman whose husband won a court order to take her life, the Fox program "The Family Guy" featured a satire about her. Terri's family expressed shock and sadness that Fox would allow such insensitive programming during prime time.
Five years ago, Terri was a disabled woman whose family hoped to get medical and rehabilitative treatment.
After a lengthy court battle, her husband Michael Schiavo won a court order to kill her by depriving her of food and water. After 13 painful days, Terri died.
During the Family Guy program, a horrific sketch was titled "Terri Schiavo: The Musical," aired.
In this sketch, Terri is mocked and the memory of the suffering she endured ridiculed as she is portrayed as someone on a number of mechanical life support systems. She is referred to as a vegetable and the sketch ends with characters calling for pulling the plug. Full story at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Lodge your complaints at http://www.fox.com/familyguy
Pro-Lifer Father Paul Marx, Founder of Human Life International, Passes Away
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The pro-life community received sad news this weekend that Father Paul Marx, the respected found of Human Life International, passed away. The number of emails that have poured in to LifeNews.com praising his work is a testimony to the influence and impact Marx had on the pro-life movement.
Marx founded HLI as the Human Life Center in 1972 as a priestly response to what he saw was the global anti-life onslaught that was beginning to wash over the world, according to current HLI president Tom Euteneuer.
"As a strong spiritual father, he could not stand by and watch this evil threaten the lives of God's precious children," he said.
"He infiltrated a pro-abortion conference in California in 1971 as Dr. Paul Marx (correctly so, as he had a PhD in Sociology) and taped all the proceedings of the abortion-promoters so that he could expose their evil," the HLI president recalled. "He did this in the book, The Death Peddlers, which was the first major work of his many writings bringing the profound evil of the abortion industry to the light." Full story at LifeNews.com
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