LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Monday, April 12, 2010
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Current Headlines
• President Barack Obama Talks About Potential Replacement for Pro-Abortion Justice Stevens
• Senate Republicans: Nomination of Pro-Abortion Elana Kagan Would Spark Court Fight
• NARAL, NOW Urge Barack Obama to Select Pro-Abortion Supreme Court Justice Replacing Stevens
• Pro-Abortion Obama Pick Dawn Johnsen Withdraws Name for Justice Department Slot
• Pro-Life Groups Respond to Retirement of Bart Stupak After Pro-Abortion Health Care Vote
• Pro-Life Movement Must Engage in the Battle to Stop Legalizing Abortions in Kenya
• British Pro-Life Group Sponsors National Life Chain Against Abortion Like American Version
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President Barack Obama Talks About Potential Replacement for Pro-Abortion Justice Stevens
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama talked about the kind of Supreme Court nominee he will seek to replace retiring pro-abortion Justice John Paul Stevens. The member of the high court's 5-4 pro-abortion majority plans to leave his post this summer and prompt a Supreme Court battle in the months leading up the November congressional elections.
Obama said he would seek a nominee with an independent mind, a record of excellence and integrity, a fierce dedication to the rule of law and a keen understanding of how the law affects the daily lives of the American people.
It will also be someone who, like Justice Stevens, knows that in a democracy, powerful interests must not be allowed to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens, Obama said.
Stevens said Friday he will step down when the court finishes its work for the summer in late June or early July.
He said he hopes Stevens successor will be confirmed "well in advance of the commencement of the court's next term."
Obama hailed Stevens as an "impartial guardian of the law" despite his support for the case that ushered in an era of 52 million abortions and promised to move quickly to nominate a replacement.
"We cannot replace Justice Stevens' experience or wisdom," Obama said at the White House. "I'll seek someone in the coming weeks with similar qualities. It will also be someone who, like Justice Stevens, knows that in democracy powerful interests must not be allowed to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens."
Leading candidates to replace Stevens include pro-abortion Solicitor General Elena Kagan, 49, and federal appellate judges Merrick Garland, 57, in Washington and pro-abortion Diane Wood, 59, in Chicago. Full story at LifeNews.com
Senate Republicans: Nomination of Pro-Abortion Elana Kagan Would Spark Court Fight
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senate Republicans responded to the retirement of pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens by saying one of the top potential replacements Obama may look to would cause a significant battle. GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee indicated a nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan, an abortion advocate, would spark opposition.
Top Republicans on the panel spoke out in advance of what is expected to be a clash on a likely pro-abortion nominee.
Our nation deserves a Supreme Court nominee who is committed to deciding cases impartially based on the law, not on personal politics, preferences, or what s in the nominee s heart, said Sen. John Cornyn, a pro-life Texas Republican who is a member of the committee.
Every president has an obligation to nominate judges who understand and are committed to their proper role in our system of government, added Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican and former chair of the committee.
One Republican staffer on the Senate Judiciary Committee told the Daily Caller that Kagan lacks a judicial record that would allow fa vigorous debate of the law.
The staffer also said Kagan is less desirable than other potential Supreme Court selections.
A record like hers is harder to nail down than, say, a judge who has lots of opinions, one Republican staffer on the Senate Judiciary Committee said. The debate is, or should be, really about the criteria.
The lack of a legal record would make it difficult for Republicans to criticize her on specific cases that constitute the legal records of other potential nominees who have served as lower court judges. Full story at LifeNews.com
NARAL, NOW Urge Barack Obama to Select Pro-Abortion Supreme Court Justice Replacing Stevens 
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Two prominent pro-abortion groups are urging President Barack Obama to select a strong abortion advocate when he chooses a Supreme Court nominee to replace retiring pro-abortion Justice John Paul Stevens. Justice Stevens was a member of the majority of Supreme Court justices who support the Roe v. Wade decision and its 52 million abortions.
After Stevens announced his upcoming retirement this summer, NARAL praised Justice Stevens' record and implored Obama to nominate a new high court judge just as strenuously pro-abortion as Stevens.
"Given the current composition of the court, we will assess the eventual nominee's complete record on privacy and other relevant issues in the same way we did during Justice Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation process," NARAL President Nancy Keenan said.
"One thing is certain: opponents of women's freedom and privacy will use this vacancy on the court as an opportunity to further their attacks on nominees who have taken pro-choice positions," Keenan added.
The National Organization for Women also weighed in on Stevens' retirement and called on Obama to ignore qualified male jurists and only pick a woman for the high court.
NOW, a longtime abortion advocacy group, wants another woman to go along with pro-abortion Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.
"NOW is dedicated to achieving gender parity on the Supreme Court, and we call on President Obama to nominate a woman to fill this seat," NOW President Terry O'Neill said in a statement. "The Supreme Court is out of balance, with women making up a mere 22 percent of the bench. That's simply not enough."
The pro-abortion women's group also hailed Justice Stevens's record, including his support for the killing of unborn children. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Abortion Obama Pick Dawn Johnsen Withdraws Name for Justice Department Slot
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Dawn Johnson, the ardently pro-abortion Indiana University law professor President Barack Obama selected for a prominent Justice Department position has withdrawn her name from consideration. With all Republicans and a couple of Democrats joining together to filibuster her nomination, Johnsen's nomination languished and she has now pulled out of the process.
Obama named the former NARAL legal counsel to be confirmed as head of the Justice Department s Office of Legal Counsel, but she withdrew her name on Friday because of the lengthy delays and political opposition to her stalled nomination.
The Senate Judiciary Committee twice confirmed her nomination on partisan votes, but it has been delayed for about a year because of her radical pro-abortion views -- with Johnsen once comparing pregnancy to slavery in a legal brief.
I am deeply honored that President Obama, the Attorney General and a strong majority of the U.S. Senate have demonstrated faith and confidence in my ability to lead the Office of Legal Counsel, she said in a statement. Unfortunately, my nomination has met with lengthy delays and political opposition that threaten that objective and prevent OLC from functioning at full strength. I hope that the withdrawal of my nomination will allow this important office to be filled promptly.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, a pro-life Alabama Republican who is the top GOP member of the Senate committee, said he was pleased Johnsen withdrew her name from consideration.
In doing so, he said Johnsen "has heeded the concerns raised by many who care deeply about the Department of Justice."
"Johnsen s record of partisanship and her long history of extreme views and troubling activism relating to issues such as abortion and national security made her an unacceptable choice to fill this crucial role in the Department of Justice. It is not surprising that the Democrat-controlled Senate never made an effort to bring her nomination to a vote on the floor. Had they done so, the nomination certainly would have faced bipartisan opposition," he added.
White House spokesman Ben Labolt said Obama accepted Johnsen's request to take her name out of consideration for the prominent legal position. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Groups Respond to Retirement of Bart Stupak After Pro-Abortion Health Care Vote
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Leading national pro-life organizations appear pleased with the decision by Congressman Bart Stupak to tender his resignation from Congress after providing the crucial votes for the massively pro-abortion health care bill. However, they are disappointed he decided not to face voters at the polls in November, where he would have had to have been accountable for it.
Stupak announced his resignation on Friday after earlier reports showed him saying he would run for re-election.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, told LifeNews.com that Stupak appears to understand that votes have consequences.
"It is unfortunate that, after years of pro-life leadership, Rep. Stupak caved during the final hours of the healthcare debate and voted to fund abortions with taxpayer dollars," said Dannenfelser. "With our latest grassroots campaign we criticized his decision to do so and announced our commitment to find a true pro-life member to represent his district."
"In the days leading up to the healthcare vote our polling in the first district of Michigan showed that seventy-eight percent of his constituents said they opposed taxpayer funding of abortion. Votes have consequences and he understands now what the polling revealed: a vote for that bill was a vote against the will of his constituents. Yet he chose to do it and is suffering the consequences," the pro-life women's leader added.
Some pro-life advocates noted Stupak's long record of standing up for pro-life principles and said they were deeply disappointed he "caved" on one of the most important abortion-related votes since Roe.
Matt Smith of Catholic Advocate told LifeNews.com: "For months, Catholic Advocate and numerous other pro-life organizations around the country praised Congressman Bart Stupak for his stalwart defense of life during the health care debate and thought we finally had a pro-life Democrat willing to fight the culture of death. Then, on that fateful weekend in March, pro-life Americans shook their heads with disappointment and puzzle upon news Congressman Stupak had compromised." Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Movement Must Engage in the Battle to Stop Legalizing Abortions in Kenya
by Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
The situation in the pro-life country of Kenya is dire! Under tremendous pressure from the international abortion juggernaut and acting against the wishes of the people, the Kenyan Parliament just approved a new Constitution that intends to enshrine abortion as a legal right.
It now goes to the people for a national referendum in July. If it passes, abortion will be legal in this pro-life country.
Make no mistake. This is an assault on the very heart of Kenya. It is an imperialist move designed to rob Africa of its future by eliminating her children. It is part of the population controllers' worldwide anti-life conspiracy. And it is being led by pro-abortion Western elitists ... including many from right here in the United States!
The situation is critical and the pro-life leaders of Kenya are crying out to us for help!
It is especially important that we here in the United States help because, as I just mentioned, it is our own government that is spearheading this drive to impose abortion on the people of Kenya.
The U.S. ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, is calling on Kenya's political leaders to rally the people to pass the referendum and promised them your tax dollars to help support "a vigorous process of civic education."
One reliable news source reports that Ranneberger has promised that the Obama administration would fund a national campaign - again, using your tax dollars - to "persuade the people to adopt the document." And the recent "health care" debate in Congress revealed the "tools of persuasion" Obama's people use; namely, arm-twisting and very real threats.
Then there is our Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During a recent trip to Canada she said: "You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health and reproductive health includes contraception and family planning and access to legal, safe abortions" ... all of which is exactly what the Obama Administration is working feverishly to impose on the people of Kenya. Full story at LifeNews.com
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British Pro-Life Group Sponsors National Life Chain Against Abortion Like American Version
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The British pro-life group SPUC is sponsoring a Life Chain in England that is similar to the one that takes place annually in October in the United States.The Life Chain is a peaceful, prayerful time when pro-life people stand along the sidewalks near major streets in cities and towns and hold signs with messages such as Abortion Kills Children and Abortion Hurts Women. Others have spiritual messages such as the forgiveness of Christ following an abortion and prayers for the nation.
"Pro-life campaigners will give silent witness to unborn babies killed in the 42 years since the implementation of the Abortion Act, as well as to the hurt caused to women by abortion," SPUC said about its upcoming pro-life event.
On Saturday, April 24th, supporters of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) will form a chain, standing at intervals holding placards "which bring home the reality of abortion," the group added. The 1967 Abortion Act came into effect on April 28, 1968. Full story at LifeNews.com
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