LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Thursday, April 29, 2010
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Current Headlines
•Polls Show November Elections Could Yield Landslide for Pro-Life Movement
• Obama's Pro-Abortion Policies Empower Catholic Dissidents Against Pro-Lifers
• States Should Follow Mississippi, Arizona to Cut Health Care Abortion Funding
• Baby Boy Survived Abortion, Lived Two Days After Doctors Left Him to Die
• Mississippi Sends Bill to Ban Abortion Funding in Health Care to Govr Barbour
• Florida Senate Adds Amendment to Health Bill for Ultrasound Before Abortion
• Curtis Boyd Making Albuquerque, New Mexico New Late-Term Abortion Capital
• Oklahoma Law to Allow Women Ultrasound Before Abortion Subject to Lawsuit
• Louisiana Senate Advances Abortion-Ultrasound Bill, Makes Viewing Optional
• Ohio Voters: State on Wrong Track, Respect Ohio Right to Life Pro-Life Group
• California Personhood Amendment on Abortion Fails to Qualify for 2010 Ballot
• Pro-Life News: New York, Bloomgberg, Mexico, Rand Paul, Fieger, Scott Roeder
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Polls Show November Elections Could Yield Landslide for Pro-Life Movement
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Two new polls show the November mid-term congressional elections could yield a landslide for the pro-life movement. As pro-life groups look to replace the aggressively pro-abortion Democratic leadership that gave Americans the health care bill and its taxpayer funding of abortions, polls show change is coming.
With the leadership of the Republican Party in the House and Senate strongly pro-life and with most GOP candidates taking a pro-life stance and most Democrats backing abortion, a party change in Congress benefits pro-life interests.
With that in mind, a new Gallup poll shows a marked enthusiasm gap in this year s electorate.
Republicans narrowly lead on the generic ballot, 46 to 45 percent, which is very rare for the GOP as Democrats typically lead in party versus party polls.
But among voters who say they are very enthusiastic about voting, Republicans lead, 57 to 37 percent. Democrats hold a lead among voters who say they are not enthusiastic about voting this November and among those who say they are only "somewhat" enthusiastic.
"Gallup has consistently found Republicans expressing a higher level of enthusiasm than Democrats about voting in this year's election campaign. Theoretically, those who are enthusiastic about voting would be more likely to turn out to vote than those who are not enthusiastic," Gallup notes. Full story at LifeNews.com
Obama's Pro-Abortion Policies Empower Catholic Dissidents Against Pro-Lifers
by Deal Hudson 
The present White House is having a huge impact on the Church in America. It's typical to hear talk about the influence of the Church on politics, but at the present moment the influence is definitely in the other direction.
The pro-abortion forces in this country and the social justice/seamless garment crowd in the Church have been empowered by the new Congress and presidency. The reason the Church is so weak right now is the sudden power of groups like the Catholic Health Association, Catholics United, and Catholics In Alliance for the Common Good.
These groups, and their leadership, have straight lines of communication throughout the Church, through the USCCB, chanceries, parishes, and various Catholic associations. This is the network that drove the twisted interpretation of Faithful Citizenship through parishes nationwide in 2008.
They plan to do an even better job in 2012, unless we do something about it, unless we stop them.
Obama s leadership, along with that of Pelosi, has strengthened the hand of the most anti-Catholic, anti-life elements of our culture, both here and in Europe, at the EU and the UN. Full story at LifeNews.com
States Should Follow Mississippi, Arizona to Cut Health Care Abortion Funding
by Daniel McConchie and Mary Harned 
After much debate, the Mississippi House took the important step Saturday of voting for a bill that would prohibit insurance plans in the soon-to-be-created federal health care exchanges from covering abortion.
Some in the media have argued that this is an unnecessary bill and a waste of the legislature s time. The bill s opponents say that the state already prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion and that the bill s proponents are merely grandstanding.
In reality, this is an important and necessary fight.
According to the new health care law passed just last month, Mississippi will soon be compelled to create a new health care exchange where insurance policies can be issued that cover abortion. While rules are in place that are intended to prevent direct taxpayer funding of abortion, it is a fact that the insurance policies themselves will be able to receive federal taxpayer subsidies for anyone earning between 150% and 400% of poverty level.
This new subsidy is a significant departure from current federal policy regarding taxpayer funding of abortion.
There s no better proof that this is an issue than the fact that Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, in exchange for his being the 60th vote to cut off debate on the federal bill, insisted the new law contain section 1303 explicitly allowing states to opt-out of the abortion mandate by passing a law as the Mississippi legislature has just done. Full story at LifeNews.com
Baby Boy Survived Abortion, Lived Two Days After Doctors Left Him to Die
Florence, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- A 22-week old disabled boy survived an abortion attempt in southern Italy, but doctors left him to die afterwards and he survived for two days before passing away. The boy's mother was pregnant for the first time but decided to have an abortion after prenatal scans suggested the unborn child was disabled.
The London Telegraph says the abortion was done at the Rossano Calabria hospital but the baby survived the procedure.
Father Antonio Martello, the hospital chaplain, discovered the baby alive the next day -- about 20 hours after the abortion was reportedly completed.
Martello had wanted to pray over the baby but the newspaper indicates he found the child wrapped in a sheet with his umbilical cord still attached and he was moving and breathing.
After the Catholic priest notified doctors, they moved the baby to a specialist neonatal unit at another hospital for treatment -- but the child eventually died on Monday morning.
Now, the Telegraph newspaper reports the Italian police are investigating the case as a potential homicide because infanticide is illegal under Italian law. Law in Italy makes it clear doctors should provide proper medical care and treatment for children who survive botched abortions. Full story at LifeNews.com
Mississippi Sends Bill to Ban Abortion Funding in Health Care to Governor Barbour
Jackson, MS (LifeNews.com) -- Mississippi today became the latest state to send a bill to its governor that would allow the state to opt out of the abortion funding in the health care law President Barack Obama signed. The state follows Arizona and Tennessee in having the legislature give such a pro-life bill final approval.
The Mississippi House voted 88-25 Wednesday to remove a procedural hold on the bill and allow it to go to Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, who will likely sign it into law.
Backers of the bill say they want to make sure none of the money the state would authorize under the health care bill when it goes into effect in 2014 would pay for abortions.
Senate Appropriations Chair and first district congressional candidate Alan Nunnelee was the main sponsor of the legislation.
"The Legislature of the State of Mississippi finds that Section 1303 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states are explicitly permitted to pass laws prohibiting qualified health plans offered through an exchange in their state from offering abortion cove," the bill says. "It is the purpose of this act to affirmatively opt out of allowing qualified health plans that cover abortions to participate in exchanges within the State of Mississippi." Full story at LifeNews.com
Florida Senate Adds Amendment to Health Bill for Ultrasound Before Abortion
Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Florida senators today added an amendment to a health care bill that would allow women considering an abortion to see an ultrasound of their baby. Although abortion centers frequently conduct pre-abortion ultrasounds, they don't necessarily give women a chance to see them.
Sen. Alex Villalobos, a Miami Republican sponsored the amendment the Florida Senate approved on a 22-17 vote.
I just don't see the problem with having someone have a little more information before they make a decision, Villalobos said, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
The language does not require women to view the ultrasound and gives them the ability to sign a form opting out of see one. The form also ensures abortion clinics gives women the opportunity to view the ultrasound of their baby.
Sen. Ronda Storms, also a Republican, defended the amendment from abortion advocates who attacked it and said giving women information was anti-woman.
I join women who say we are not little girls. We are adult women and we are making decisions. We can walk into a clinic and we can make a decision and we are not afraid of information, she said. What this amendment does, it says I have a right to know all of the consequences. Full story at LifeNews.com
 On April 29th Wisconsin Right to Life will be tweeting LIVE from heir Annual Education Fund Dinner featuring Senator Rick Santorum. Make sure you log onto Twitter and search for #wrtlsantorum after 6:30pm to receive LIVE comments and reactions from former Senator Santorum s keynote address. |
Curtis Boyd Making Albuquerque, New Mexico New Late-Term Abortion Capital
by Cheryl Sullenger
Texas abortionist Curtis Boyd, who admits he committed illegal abortions prior to Roe v. Wade, has positioned himself to replace slain abortionist George Tiller as the "go to" man for the most controversial - and most profitable - of abortions, those done in the late-terms of pregnancy on viable babies who are able to survive outside the womb. "Boyd has the personality hallmarks of most late-term abortionists with whom we are familiar. He is arrogant and believes he is above the law, as evidenced by his own confessions to illegal abortions prior to 1973. He's an ideologue who will do abortions no matter what the law says or who gets hurt in the process. He admits he knows he's killing, but doesn't care. Abortion is his identity. In these ways, he is very much like Tiller," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.
Boyd as Tiller's Back-up Plan?
For years, Boyd has operated two abortion clinics, one in Dallas, Texas, and the other in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Around January, 2009, Boyd moved into a new, larger facility in Albuquerque, one that could handle the particular needs of a late-term abortion facility. During this time, Tiller was in court defending against criminal charges involving 19 counts of illegal late-term abortions. A well-publicized hearing that month failed to dismiss the charges and Tiller was ordered to stand trial in March of that year. Full story at LifeNews.com
Oklahoma Law to Allow Women Ultrasound Before Abortion Subject to Lawsuit
Oklahoma City, OK (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-abortion legal group based in New York City wasted no time in filing a lawsuit against a new Oklahoma law that helps women by allow them a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn child while considering an abortion. The lawsuit was filed hours after the Oklahoma state Senate override the governor's veto.
The state Senate voted 36-12 Tuesday to override Governor Brad Henry on two pro-life bills, including the ultrasound measure.
Late yesterday, the Center for Reproductive Rights sued to enforcement of the pro-life law in Oklahoma County District Court.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Nova Health Systems, which operates an abortion center in Tulsa and has filed lawsuits against pro-life legislation over the years. Larry Burns, who does abortions in Norman, also is a party on the lawsuit.
The suit claims the ultrasound measure is unconstitutionally vague, violates women's and abortion practitioner's constitutional speech rights, is an impermissible special law, and "impermissibly burdens the fundamental rights of plaintiffs' patients to terminate a pregnancy and avoid unwanted speech in a private setting."
"In addition, the Act exposes abortion providers to an array of intimidating civil and administrative penalties to which no other health care providers in the state are exposed," the lawsuit complains. Full story at LifeNews.com
Louisiana Senate Advances Abortion-Ultrasound Bill, Makes Viewing Optional
Baton Rouge, LA (LifeNews.com) -- The Louisiana state Senate advanced a bill today similar to those moving ahead in other states like Oklahoma and Florida. The measure would give women something abortion centers don't normally provide: a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn child before the abortion. When used in pregnancy centers, women considering an abortion who see the ultrasound change their mind about the abortion about 80 percent of the time.
The Senate Health & Welfare Committee sent Senate Bill 528 to the full state Senate for a debate and vote.
However, according to the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper, the panel first removed a section that would have required a "screen depicting the active ultrasound images" placed within view. Instead, the bill now gives women a chance to see the ultrasound but a right to refuse to do so.
Sen. Sharon Weston Broome, a Democrat, is the sponsor of the bill that would make the state the fifteenth to allow women the information before considering an abortion.
Dorinda Bordlee, a Metairie and attorney for the Bioethics Defense Funds, wrote the legislation and said its passage in the committee was a "pro-life victory." Full story at LifeNews.com
Ohio Voters: State on Wrong Track, Respect Ohio Right to Life Pro-Life Group
Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- Independent and Republican Ohio voters overwhelmingly believe the state is on the wrong track, and a majority of Ohioans surveyed have a positive perception of Ohio Right to Life, according to poll numbers released today by Ohio Right to Life Society.
"Our survey shows the electorate's mood is one of general unease with some sharp partisan differences as we head into Tuesday's primary elections," said Ohio Right to Life Executive Director Mike Gonidakis.
"With many contested high profile primary elections, voters are poised to send a clear message with both their choices and the intensity of their turnout," he added.
The Wenzel Strategies survey of 777 registered Ohio voters shows deep divisions between the two major political parties, with independent voters siding with Republicans.
For example, 69 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of independents believe the state is on the wrong track. However, 52 percent of Democrats surveyed believe Ohio is heading in the right direction. 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. |
California Personhood Amendment on Abortion Fails to Qualify for 2010 Ballot
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Organizers of the personhood amendment in California announced today that they failed to obtain enough signatures to qualify it for the 2010 ballot. The amendment would define a person as a human being at the moment of fertilization and would have challenged the status of legal abortions.
In the Golden State, the California Civil Rights Foundation submitted language to the state attorney general for what it called the Human Rights Amendment.
Founded by Walter Hoye, a black pro-life pastor who has been unfairly jailed for protesting abortion outside a local abortion center, the group hoped to get the measure before state voters.
The group needed 694,355 signatures to qualify for the 2010 ballot but brought in less than 600,000 signatures despite California's sizable population.
"We were so very, very close," Hoye told LifeNews.com today. Full stories at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life News: New York, Bloomgberg, Mexico, Rand Paul, Fieger, Scott Roeder
• New York City Mayor to Obama: Pick Pro-Abortion Supreme Court Nominee
• Mexico City Catholic Church Complains Abortion Money Could Help Poor, Schools
• Former Kevorkian Attorney Geoffrey Fieger Leads Michigan Governor Field
• Northern Kentucky Right to Life Backs Rand Paul for Senate Seat
Full stories at LifeNews.com
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