LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report 6/1/10

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, June 1, 2010

For pro-life news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com.

Current Headlines

• Pro-Abortion Democrats to Warn Americans About Pro-Life GOP Election Wins
• Americans Expect Pro-Abortion Kagan Will be Confirmed for Supreme Court
• George Tiller's Late-Term Abortions Could Have Been Stopped Peacefully
• Pro-Life Group Running Second Set of Billboards Focusing on Blacks, Abortions
• Practitioner Faces Revised Lawsuit For Forcing Michigan Woman to Have Abortion
• Australia Abortion Practitioner Has Infected 40 Women With Hepatitis C Virus
• Indiana Abortion Advocates Challenge Fort Wayne Measure for Women's Safety
• Idaho Primary Election Sees Victories for Pro-Life Candidates Against Abortion
• Montana Personhood Amendment Backers Trying Again for Abortion Ballot Vote
• News: South Carolina, England, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Planned Parenthood

---> Looking to reach hundreds of thousands of pro-life people with a message about your organization, product, event, or something else? Email news@lifenews.com for advertising details. Our rates are lower than Google and Facebook ads.

Pro-Abortion Democrats to Warn Americans About Pro-Life GOP Election Wins
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The pro-abortion leaders of the Democratic party, sensing pro-life advocates who head up the Republican Party in the House and Senate could find themselves in charge of the legislative agenda if Americans give them big election victories in November, are preparing for battle.

As they head home for the Memorial Day recess, Democrats in Congress are asking their rank and file to tell voters there will be disastrous consequences if they elect a GOP majority in November.

The Hill newspaper indicates Democratic leaders gave party members a Memorial Day packet filled with instructions on what to say.

Plan your public events, communications, and editorial board visits at home to highlight what Republican control of Congress would mean, and your hard work for the middle class on issues," the packet papers read. "Democrats have a strong story to tell, and we hope you'll highlight this contrast with Republicans back home.

For the pro-life movement, the only story House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid have told is one of promoting abortion.

They shepherded the pro-abortion health care bill through Congress and to President Barack Obama, who signed it into law and will force Americans to pay for abortions unless the measure is overturned by the courts. Already, several states have either signed bills to opt out of some abortion funding into law or have passed them through the state legislature. Full story at LifeNews.com

Americans Expect Pro-Abortion Elena Kagan Will be Confirmed for Supreme Court
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The latest Rasmussen Reports poll shows the percentage of Americans who say they believe pro-abortion nominee Elena Kagan will be confirmed by the Senate for the open Supreme Court spot has risen. The numbers are going up despite strong opposition to her nomination.

The Rasmussen survey found ratings for Kagan have fallen over the first three surveys since Obama announced her nomination.

Some 41% of U.S. voters now hold a favorable opinion of Kagan but 47% view her unfavorably. Just 36 percent now favor Kagan s confirmation, down from 36 percent in the last poll.

Yet, 87 percent of voters now say the pro-abortion nominee is at least somewhat likely to be confirmed, up four points from a week earlier and five points from the week she was nominated.

That figure is the same percentage as those who thought Obama's first nominee, pro-abortion Sonia Sotomayor, would be confirmed, and higher than the percents of voters who believed Bush's nominees Samuel Alito and John Roberts would be confirmed. Full story at LifeNews.com

George Tiller's Late-Term Abortions Could Have Been Stopped Peacefully
Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- George Tiller, the late-term abortion practitioner, was shot and killed by militia activist Scott Roeder one year ago today. But one of the leading pro-life groups that monitored Tiller and tried to expose his shoddy abortion practices says Tiller was about ready to retire and his abortions could have ended without taking his life.

At a fundraising dinner held on May 26, 2010, Tiller friend and fellow late-term abortion practitioner, LeRoy Carhart of Nebraska, reportedly told people Tiller was set to retire.

"Dr. Carhart confided that Tiller was slated to begin his retirement not long before his death," a pro-abortion blogger wrote recently.

Operation Rescue officials told LifeNews.com today that they said publicly, as early as February 2 of last year, that they believed Tiller may have been planning to retire rather than face the disgrace of being disciplined for illegal late-term abortions by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts.

The state agency had filed an 11-count petition against him that was pending at the time of his death and was reportedly close to revoking Tiller's medical license for cases in which Tiller is alleged to have fudged the age of the unborn child in some abortions to qualify them as legal late-term abortions under state law.

"Carhart confirms that we were correct in concluding that Tiller was ready to retire," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

"We had worked since 2002, through peaceful, legal avenues to expose the heinous nature of Tiller's late-term abortion business, bring him to justice, and close his abortion clinic," Newman said. "The fact that Tiller was preparing to quit proves that our efforts were successful." Full story at LifeNews.com

Pro-Life Group Running Second Set of Billboards Focusing on Blacks, Abortions
Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) -- A Georgia-based pro-life group is set to start the second campaign of billboards exposing how abortion targets the black community. The Radiance Foundation hoped to continue the exposure of the racist and eugenics background of abortion as promoted by Planned Parenthood.

Ryan Bomberger, the head of the organization, tells LifeNews.com he also hopes to see strong emphasis placed on adoption and foster care.

The goal is to show how the racial politics of abortion "impede this beautiful solution" from saving black unborn children from abortion.

On the heels of massive national and international media coverage of their Endangered Species campaign, the Radiance Foundation is announcing its Black & Unwanted public awareness initiative.

This billboard and Internet campaign "continues to expose abortion s devastating impact on the African-American community while highlighting the need for more adoptions," Bomberger says.

In conjunction with Georgia Right to Life nearly 60 billboards with the Black & Unwanted theme will be featured across the state.

Bomberger has personal experience with the issues as he was, as a child, adopted into a multi-racial family of fifteen.

"Women and children (born and unborn) deserve much better from our society. Although adoption isn't the only solution to unintended pregnancies, it is a beautiful alternative to the destruction of abortion," he tells LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com

Practitioner Faces Revised Lawsuit For Forcing Michigan Woman to Have Abortion
Flint, MI (LifeNews.com) -- A Michigan abortion practitioner faces a revised civil lawsuit from a patient who says she was forced to have an abortion even after she changed her mind on the operating table immediately before the abortion was about to begin. Caitlin Bruce, 20, had the abortion at the Feminine Health Care Clinic run by Albert Hodari.

Bruce filed a lawsuit previously, but her attorney submitted new paperwork last week at the Genesee County Circuit Court, according to ConnectMidMichigan.

She said, He was inserting the speculum, and I told him I'm nervous. I just told him stop please. I'm really nervous and I don't want to do this anymore.

Hodari reportedly had a nurse hold Bruce down so he could finish the abortion of her child.

Hodari responded to the news service, saying When she said stop, it was too late I told her I would stop, but when I take my instrument there was blood and tissue on it from pregnancy, so I couldn't stop.

However, obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Mona Hardas told the Michigan news outlet that Hodari handled the situation poorly. She said Hodari could have taken Bruce to a local hospital for a second opinion rather than forcing her to have the abortion.

Even if someone has signed a consent form, if someone wants you to stop you have to stop. I am shocked. I can't believe this is still happening in this day and age," she said. Full story at LifeNews.com

Australia Abortion Practitioner Has Infected 40 Women With Hepatitis C Virus
Melbourne, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- An Australia abortion facility worker is facing more accusations that he infected dozens of women with hepatitis C during abortions. The heath chief of the Australian state of Victoria released the accusations against the abortion practitioner in April.

Since then, the number of potential victims has jumped form 12 to 44 as the outbreak at the Croydon Day Surgery abortion business appears worse than earlier reports as the probe continues.

The Herald Sun newspaper indicates the health department investigation into the abortion operation where James Latham Peters was the anesthesiologist will expand -- potentially to as many as 3,600 women who had abortions at his center since 2006.

The newspaper indicates the Victorian Police and the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria has revealed the patients' infections are an identical genetic match to his own hepatitis C strain in 22 of the confirmed 44 cases.

"It is difficult to know exactly what went on in that clinic, but we are diligently providing full support to Victoria Police, to the Medical Practitioners Board, but most importantly to those women," Health Minister Daniel Andrews said, according to the Herald. "This is not about system failure, this is about the appalling, totally inappropriate behavior of one particular person." Full story at LifeNews.com

Indiana Abortion Advocates Challenge Fort Wayne Measure for Women's Safety
Fort Wayne, IN (LifeNews.com) -- Abortion advocates say they want safe abortions, but they are challenging a new Fort Wayne, Indiana measure designed to keep women's health and safety in mind. In April, the county commissioners approved an ordinance cracking down on botched abortions that injure women.

Because so many women suffer from botched abortions that require immediate follow-up medical care, local officials approved what it said is a needed ordinance.

It requires any abortion practitioners coming to Fort Wayne from out of town to inform a local hospital because they would not have proper admitting privileges to admit women who are victimized by failed abortions and need immediate medical care.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, both pro-abortion legal groups, filed a lawsuit against the Patient Safety Ordinance.

Their suit alleges the act creates an undue burden on women seeking abortions, even though it only applies to out-of-state abortion practitioners. It requests that a judge block the ordinance before it is slated to take effect on Tuesday. Full story at LifeNews.com

Idaho Primary Election Sees Victories for Pro-Life Candidates Against Abortion
by David Ripley
Boise, ID (LifeNews.com) -- Idaho's primary election last week brought numerous blessings to the pro-Life movement.

There was plenty of concern that grassroots conservatives would not participate in the numbers we needed to overcome serious cross-over threats. In fact, as the election day drew closer - that threat increased as Mayor Dave Beiter issued a clarion call to Democrats to help elect his candidates to the Ada County Commission.

While Beiter's effort was partially successful - pro-life conservatives across Idaho participated in strong numbers to nominate one of the most conservative legislatures in memory.

Idaho Chooses Life lost a couple of our endorsed candidates, but those losses are mitigated by the fact that the victors are also pro-life. We want to thank Sens. Lee Heinrich and Mike Jorgenson for their consistent votes in defense of the innocent.

The clearest set-back came in Canyon County, where Steve Kren lost to newcomer Christy Perry. We don't know where she stands on the abortion issue. Rep. Kren offered strong opposition to the abortion lobby's agenda. Full story at LifeNews.com

Montana Personhood Amendment Backers Trying Again for Abortion Ballot Vote
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- Supporters of a personhood amendment are trying a second time to get a measure to define unborn children as people starting at conception on the ballot in Montana. Should they obtain a November vote and Montana residents support it, the measure would challenge legal abortions and head for an immediate court battle.

Last year, the attorney general's office approved the ballot language for the amendment.

Constitutional Initiative 102 would define a human "person" under the scientifically accurate notion of the beginning of human life taking place at conception, or fertilization.

The measure, meant for the 2010 elections, is the second effort to get a personhood proposition on the ballot and it requires 48,000 signatures from state residents. The first measure, in 2008, failed to get enough to qualify.

Personhood USA co-founder Keith Mason told WorldNetDaily today that his group is working feverishly to collect the signatures but the effort faces strong opposition from Planned Parenthood.

He said the abortion business Planned Parenthood is calling every voter, "telling them this is going to hurt voters and not give women access to healthcare. They don't want us to win."

Mason told WND the group is mobilizing volunteers for the June 8 primary election to get signatures from voters heading to the polls.

However, some pro-life groups are not on board because they say the measure would be declared unconstitutional and that the focus should be on changing the Supreme Court so Roe v. Wade can be overturned. Full story at LifeNews.com

Work At Home with Christian Pro-Lifers! Achieve financial freedom by representing household products free of harsh ingredients. No Selling! Get paid to educate on How to Create a Healthy Home! Request info today and a Pro-Life Team Member will contact you: http://www.mom7stayathome.com

Pro-Life News: South Carolina, England, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Planned Parenthood

South Carolina Gubernatorial Candidates Oppose Abortion, Differ on Exceptions
Columbia, SC (LifeNews.com) -- The candidates for governor in South Carolina all oppose abortion, but they differ on some of the exceptions on when they believe abortions are justified. The candidates are vying to replace pro-life but scandal-plagued Gov. Mark Sanford.

British Pro-Life Group Doesn't Want Sexual Education Plan Revived
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has launched a new education bill, aimed at reforming the school system. One of the stated aims of the bill is to give individual schools more control over the curriculum.

Wisconsin Right to Life Endorses Sean Duffy for 7th District Congressional Race
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- The Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action Committee last week announced its endorsement of Sean Duffy in the 7th Congressional District race.

Pro-Life Group Challenges Planned Parenthood's Free Speech Intrusion in DC
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood in the nation's capital has put up a fence around public property and threatened to arrest members of the pro-life community who attempt to pray and counsel on the public sidewalk and property.

Pittsburgh May Have to Pay Attorney Fees After Losing Abortion Buffer Zone Case
Pittsburgh, PA (LifeNews.com) -- The city of Pittsburgh may have to pay attorneys fees after it lost a case regarding the buffer zone law that has been the subject of lawsuits by pro-life advocates. The debate revolves around a 2005 bubble zone law that restricted access to public areas surrounding abortion businesses.

Full story at LifeNews.com

Encourage Friends to Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com

Plans to eliminate Masses, visits from priests to minister to the ill & bless newborns at county owned and operated Santa Clara Valley Medical Center have been scuttled.

This story reminded me when I worked as a Lieutenant in a private hospital in New York City, we had Mass in a small chapel on Sundays and Holy Days for the doctors, nurses and employees who had to work that day. I assisted the celebrating priest many times as deacon. What was also wonderful, there was a tabernacle in the chapel where Our Lord was always present and Communion could be brought to a dying patient as Viaticuum even in the night! What a blessing for the sick and dying! And this was a secular hospital too!

Deacon John

-- 

"Not just spend money on Catholic rituals"

Compromise reached, plan to end Masses at Santa Clara County's public hospital cancelled – for now

Plans to eliminate Masses and visits from priests to minister to the ill and bless newborns at county owned and operated Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose have been scuttled after the parties involved were able to reach a compromise, the San Jose Mercury News reports. 

The county had threatened to eliminate the Masses, which have been offered at the hospital for more than 25 years, as a cost-cutting measure and to downplay Catholicism in favor of a more ecumenical viewpoint. The county had planned to terminate the Masses in February. 

"Valley Medical Center had intended to end the Mass and regular priestly visits for two reasons: to save the county an annual $30,000 it had contracted with the diocese, and to develop a program that better reflected the rainbow of religions in the county, and not just spend money on Catholic rituals," the Mercury News reported May 26. "Thus far no other religious group has asked for regular services at the hospital, although clergy members from various faiths do visit when patients request them." 

But, when 76-year-old Theresa Asquith learned in late February only one more Mass was planned at the hospital, "she phoned up high-powered players to uphold the religious tradition," the newspaper reported. Asquith, said the Mercury News, is "the retired co-founder of Mother's Milk Bank, who has attended Mass at the county hospital for more than 25 years." 

Among the leaders who became involved was Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Church in San Jose, who contacted all the parties involved, according to the newspaper. "Over the past three months, this agreement has been hammered out by Cortese, the California Province of the Society of Jesus, the vicar general at the Diocese of San Jose, and Sylvia Gallegos, acting director of the Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System," said the Mercury News. 

The details of the compromise, said the San Jose newspaper, include: "The two Jesuit priests, the Revs. Gene Corbett and William Stout, who are both semiretired and in their 70s, will continue to lead Saturday and Sunday Mass in the meditation room, for free, as long as they are willing and able. They will also be available to visit hospital patients, where one in four are Catholic, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m." 

"But these are older gentlemen, and they won't be taking the emergency night calls anymore,'' Fr. Alfred Naucke, an assistant to the Jesuit Provincial in Los Gatos, told the Mercury News. 

"That responsibility will now fall to the diocese, which can send out priests for after-hour calls, which is what they do for all other non-Catholic hospitals," said the newspaper. "There are no promises that once Corbett and Stout stop celebrating Mass and visiting the sick that replacements will step up."

Article came from http://www.calcatholic.com/

Abortionist Tiller Was Slated To Soon Retire Before His Death:

• Written by Operation Rescue
• Posted May 31, 2010 at 9:37 am

Tiller's planned retirement proves Operation Rescue's work was successful. Roeder was wrong.

Wichita, KS – At a fundraising dinner held on May 26, 2010, abortionist LeRoy Carhart told attendees that his employer, George Tiller, was making plans to soon retire prior to his murder by Scott Roeder last year.

The information was reported on a feminist blog site by a woman who attended the event.

"Dr. Carhart confided that Tiller was slated to begin his retirement not long before his death," the blogger wrote.

Operation Rescue stated publicly in a commentarypublished on Feb. 2, 2010, that we believed that Tiller may have been planning to retire rather than face the disgrace of being disciplined for illegal late-term abortions by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which had filed an 11-count petition against him that was pending at the time of his death.

"Carhart confirms that we were correct in concluding that Tiller was ready to retire," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "We had worked since 2002, through peaceful, legal avenues to expose the heinous nature of Tiller's late-term abortion business, bring him to justice, and close his abortion clinic. The fact that Tiller was preparing to quit proves that our efforts were successful. Unfortunately, Tiller's murder a year ago was a senseless and despicable act that wrongly took a life and denied the people justice under the law. If Roeder had not acted, Tiller would be retired today and his abortion clinic closed without violence. We were right. Roeder was as wrong as it gets."

The following is an excerpt from OR's February 2 commentary:

In March, 2009, Tiller was acquitted of the 19 criminal charges during a trial that took the jury less than 25 minutes to decide. But within minutes of that verdict, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, newly under the direction of Jack Confer, issued a statement that the Board was proceedingwith eleven similar charges that could have led to the revocation of Tiller's medical license. Confer assured the public that the KSBHA worked under a different burden of proof than the criminal courts and that the outcome of the criminal case would have no effect on the KSBHA's case.

The timing and content of that release sent a strong message to the community that they could expect a different outcome from the KSBHA case. That message, along with indications that Tiller had taken steps to disband ProKanDo prior to his criminal trial and other intelligence gathered by Operation Rescue, led to the logical conclusion that either Tiller would soon have his license stripped by the KSBHA, or that he would retire in order to avoid the humiliation of revocation. We were cautiously optimistic that Tiller's infamous late-term abortion mill would be closed within months – through peaceful, legal means.

About Operation Rescue® 

 

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006.  From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.Click here to support Operation Rescue.  

________________________________
Web site: www.operationrescue.org

E-mail: info@operationrescue.org

Abortion Mill attacks Priests:

Attacks On Catholic Priest

By frank

Created 05/29/2010 - 12:22am

Rockford Abortion Mill Continues Vicious Attacks On Catholic Priests

As number of abortions decline in Rockford, the abortion mill seems to be (rightly) blaming the spiritual power of Priests.

 

 

Rockford IL,  May 29, 2010  - In September of 2008 a group of Catholic Priests began praying every week at Rockford's abortion mill special prayers of the Church that the abortion mill be cleansed from evil.  Immediately, the pro-life women who sidewalk counsel at this abortion facility noticed a dramatic decline in the numbers of mothers coming for abortions and a tangible rise in the numbers of mothers who choose life at the abortion mill driveway. 

 

An unofficial count of mothers entering the mill within a month of these devout Priests praying showed the abortion totals to be cut at least in half. This is also when signs started appearing in the mill windows attacking Catholic Priests. 

 

On Friday May 29th, the abortion mill sank to a new low even for them.  As a Priest was quietly praying the prayers of the Church accompanied by a seminarian, someone inside the building that houses the Northern Illinois Women's Center put a sign that clearly stated, "F.... Your Perverted Priests."

 

 

 Catholic Priests have also had to endure personal insults from the abortion mill landlord and security guard.  The car of one Priest has been egged by an abortion supporter at this mill.  A Priest has also had a hand-written sign taped to his car while he was quietly praying on the sidewalk in front of the mill.  The sign read, "I Rape Children."

 

 

 One thing is certain.  This abortion facility and its supporters know one of the major reasons their numbers of dead babies have gone down is because the committed, faith-filled, and courageous Catholic Priests are praying consistently that the evil that surrounds and drives the abortion industry is replaced with the grace of Jesus Christ.  In Rockford these Priests and their prayers have saved countless lives and souls.  That's why this mill hates and attacks them in this vicious manner.

 

As one Rockford area pro-lifer said, "This group of Priests has prayed at this mill no matter the weather, intimidation, and mocking threats they have faced.  In the spirit of Jesus Christ, they have responded to these attacks with prayer, humility, and love."

 

A Rockford man said of one of these Priests, "Last winter on a day with the wind chill well below zero, Father was in prayer on the sidewalk with his coat open.  Everyone told him he needed to cover up better, but Father knew that people entering the mill needed to know a Priest was there.

One young Hispanic woman looked at Father, saw his collar, and saw him praying for her.  She immediately left the mill and never returned."

 

It is the hope of the Rockford Christian community that Rockford city officials will look into the long and hate- filled history of the abortion mill and come to a decision that this kind of bigotry is not acceptable in our city.

 

As for these holy men who pray and work for life and for an end to the demonic inspired culture of death in Rockford,  we owe them our support, prayers, and grateful thanks for leading us in this battle against sin, Satan, and death.

 

 

In the person of Christ the Head . . .

1548 [1] In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ Himself who is present to His Church as Head of His Body, Shepherd of His flock, High Priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis:

It is the same Priest, Christ Jesus, whose sacred person His minister truly represents. Now the minister, by reason of the sacerdotal consecration which he has received, is truly made like to the High Priest and possesses the authority to act in the power and place of the Person of Christ Himself (virtute ac persona ipsius Christi).

Christ is the Source of all priesthood: the priest of the old law was a figure of Christ, and the priest of the new law acts in the Person of Christ.

1549 [1] Through the ordained ministry, especially that of bishops and priests, the presence of Christ as Head of the Church is made visible in the midst of the community of believers. In the beautiful expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch, the bishop is typos tou Patros: he is like the living image of God the Father.

From Rockford Pro-Life http://prolifecorner.com/node/333

BABY STEPS: 4D ULTRASOUND VIDEO (AMAZING!)

Summer 2010 Pro-Life Walks Across America

From San Francisco and Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.

Pro-life students begin annual trek across U.S. "witnessing to the dignity and sanctity of all human life"

News from the Trenches

Beginning on Saturday, May 22, groups of college and university students set out from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle for three simultaneous pro-life walks across the U.S. This year's treks mark the 16th year in a row students have made the journey, which culminates in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14 at the U.S. Capitol building.

The walks are sponsored by Crossroads, which, according to its website, "was started in response to the late John Paul II's call to the youth of America at the World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado to 'build a Culture of Life.'"

Crossroads also has a Canadian walk starting in Vancouver (same dates as above) and ending in Ottawa at the Canadian Parliament, said a news release from the group.

SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES & CANADA - For the 16th summer in a row, students from colleges and universities across the country will be walking with Crossroads on our THREE simultaneous pro-life walks across America.

These summer long walks start on Saturday, May 22nd in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and will end together in Washington, DC on August 14th at the U.S. Capitol building.

Crossroads also has a Canadian walk starting in Vancouver (same dates as above) and ending in Ottowa at the Canadian Parliament.

From the Pacific coast to the Capital, these simultaneous walks for life will cover over 13,000 miles, pass through 38 states, 4 provinces and thousands of towns and cities.

"Crossroads was started in reponse to the late John Paul II's call to the youth of America at the World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado to 'build a Culture of Life'" said Jim Nolan, president of Crossroads. "He challenged the youth of America and the world to 'Be not afraid'.

For more information on Crossroads or to find out how to support these young people, check us out on our website at www.crossroadswalk.org or give us a call at (800) 353-8817.

Judie Brown: "Agony, mercy, and murder"

 

Judie Brown

Agony, mercy, and murder

Judie Brown
May 29, 2010

In 2005, http://www.sacredchoices.org/is_abortion_murder.htm dissident Catholic theologian Daniel C. Maguire wrote in an essay:

There may be serious and justifying reasons for killing pre-personal, fetal life. The decision on that belongs naturally to the woman who carries that life. Women have a far better track record than men when it comes to cherishing and protecting life. Let's leave abortion decisions up to them.

In other words, the man favored the direct taking of the life of a preborn child, whom he preferred to relegate to the status of non-person.

To read the article, click here:
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/brown/100529

 

 

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report 5/29/10

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday, May 29, 2010

For pro-life news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com.

Current Headlines

• Poll: Abortion Morally Wrong, Embryonic Research OK, Assisted Suicide Split
• Republicans Introduce Bill to Repeal Pro-Abortion Health Care Law Obama Signed
• Senate Committee OKs Amdt to Allow Abortions at US Military Hospitals
• Abortion Drug EllaOne Concerns Pro-Life Advocates, Gets FDA Hearing Soon
• Pro-Life Group Opposes Disclose Act Campaign Finance Bill Over Free Speech
• Pro-Life Students Hit the Road Again to Raise Awareness Against Abortion
• California Pro-Life Group Says Top Gubernatorial Candidates Pro-Abortion
• Ohio Senate Passes Pro-Life Bill to End Abuse of Abortion-Judicial Bypass
• Illinois Parental Notification Law Delayed Again, Pro-Life Attorneys Respond
• Oklahoma Won't Override Veto of Bill Stopping Abortion Funding in Health Care

---> Looking to reach hundreds of thousands of pro-life people with a message about your organization, product, event, or something else? Email news@lifenews.com for advertising details. Our rates are lower than Google and Facebook ads.

Poll: Abortion Morally Wrong, Embryonic Research OK, Assisted Suicide Split
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The latest national poll of thousands of Americans from Gallup finds people believe abortion is morally wrong, are split on assisted suicide, and believe research involving the destruction of human embryos is okay. The results show pro-life advocates have more educational work to do on bioethics issues.

The findings are from Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey, conducted May 3-6.

Respondents were given a list of actions or contentious issues and asked to say whether they believed it morally acceptable or morally wrong.

On abortion, Americans found it morally wrong by a 50-38 percent margin, Americans approved of "medical research using stem cells obtained from embryos" on a 59-32 margin, and they split on assisted suicide 46-46 percent.

Americans also opposed human cloning by a 88-9 margin and opposed animal cloning on a 63-31 percentage point margin.

Breaking down those results further, only 39 percent of independents and 26 percent of Republicans believe abortion is morally acceptable and just 51 percent of Democrats agree.

Some 68 percent of Democrats, 62 percent of independents and 47 percent of Republicans are okay with embryonic stem cell research. And 52 percent of Democrats, 46 percent of independents and 40 percent of Republicans say assisted suicide is morally acceptable. Full story at LifeNews.com

Republicans Introduce Bill to Repeal Pro-Abortion Health Care Law Obama Signed
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- House Republicans have introduced a bill designed to repeal the government-run health care system President Barack Obama put into place that includes massive abortion funding. The measure would repeal the law and replace it with an alternative GOP lawmakers support to improve the current system.

Although pro-abortion Speaker Nancy Pelosi would likely never allow hearings and a vote on the measure, Republicans say it helps them frame the health care debate heading into the November elections.

Rep. Roy Blunt, a pro-life Republican leader from Missouri, says the bill is needed because polling data shows Americans increasingly opposing the pro-abortion health care law.

As unpopular as this healthcare bill is today, it s at the height of its popularity, Blunt said, according to The Hill. The more the American people know about it, the more concerns they are going to have, and the more they are going to look at alternatives.

In total, 20 Republican lawmakers have signed on as co-sponsors of the repeal legislation including pro-life House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, pro-life Majority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, and pro-life GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana.

Rep. Wally Herger, a pro-life Republican from California who is the top GOP member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Healthcare, is the official sponsor of the legislation given his committee position. Full story at LifeNews.com

Senate Committee OKs Amdt to Allow Abortions at US Military Hospitals
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A Senate committee yesterday approved an amendment to a bill that would turn U.S. military base hospitals into abortion centers. The amendment, sponsored by pro-abortion Sen. Rolland Burris of Illinois, would have the military break with current longstanding policy.

Abortion advocates have tried for years to force military bases hospitals to do abortions on female service members. The Burris amendment is more expansive than a 2006 effort because it allows abortion on both domestic and overseas military bases.

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 15-12 for the amendment with all Republicans and Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson voting against it and all other Democrats voting for it.

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi led the fight in the committee against the amendment and spoke out about it today on the Senate floor.

"The committee yesterday decided to reverse this long-standing policy and to say that indeed abortions, for whatever reason, will be performed in these facilities that are paid for by taxpayer expense," he said. While military base hospitals should be "there for the care of our service members to keep them healthy and to repair their injuries," Wicker said "we're going to use those facilities for elective abortions."

Wicker promised pro-life lawmakers would do everything possible in the House and Senate to stop the amendment from going forward. Full story at LifeNews.com

ACTION: Go to http://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm to see the members of the committee and express your opinion about their vote.

Abortion Drug EllaOne Concerns Pro-Life Advocates, Gets FDA Hearing Soon
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The relatively new abortion drug ellaOne still concerns pro-life advocates, who are monitoring the Food and Drug Administration and whether it will allow the drug to come to the United States from Europe. Billed by abortion backers as a morning after pill, the drug works much differently.

While the morning after pill has the ability to cause an abortion when used after implantation ellaOne, also known as Ulipristal, works as an abortion drug.

That's because the drug is meant to be taken by women longer after sexual intercourse -- not just 24-48 hours but as much as five days later. At that point, if a pregnancy has occurred, the drug will undoubtedly cause an abortion and kill a unique human being immediately after conception.

Bradley Mattes, the director of Life Issues Institute, talks more about the problems associated with ellaOne.

"Unveiled in Europe last year, ellaOne is classified as emergency contraception, but it works much like the abortion pill RU 486 by blocking progesterone from reaching the womb. Both drugs ultimately kill an unborn baby," he explains.

Mattes says abortion advocates can get away with calling the drug a morning after pill that prevents pregnancy or conception because a physicians group pro-abortion activists control has redefined the medical terms.

"As word starts to spread, you'll likely hear much like we did with the Plan B Pill that ellaOne only prevents pregnancies," Mattes adds. Full story at LifeNews.com

Pro-Life Group Opposes Disclose Act Campaign Finance Bill Over Free Speech
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The National Right to Life Committee is asking members of Congress to oppose the DISCLOSE Act (H.R. 5175), on free speech concerns. The pro-life group called the legislation a "bullying political power grab," which is "not a curb on corruption, but itself a type of corruption.

NRLC says the measure is "a corruption of the lawmaking process, by which incumbent lawmakers employ the threat of criminal sanctions, among other deterrents, to reduce the amount of private speech regarding the actions of the lawmakers themselves."

The pro-life group is so concerned about the measure that it will include the dispositive roll calls on it in its scorecard of key pro-life votes for the current Congress.

In a four-page letter to members of the House, NRLC Executive Director David O'Steen and Legislative Director Douglas Johnson said the bill "has been carefully crafted to maximize short-term political benefits for the dominant faction of one political party, while running roughshod over the First Amendment protections for political speech that have been clearly and forcefully articulated by the U.S. Supreme Court." Full story at LifeNews.com

Pro-Life Students Hit the Road Again to Raise Awareness Against Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- They're back -- the pro-life college and high school students who literally walk a mile, or thousands, for the pro-life cause. To raise awareness against abortion, the students associated with the Crossroads are again trekking from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle to the nation's capital.

The students typically find a warm welcome in the cities and towns the pass through on their way through dozens of states.

Since 1995, Crossroads has organized 12 week long walks across America from the Pacific coast to Washington and Canadian participants head from coast to coast as well.

During the journey, each walker averages over 1,000 miles and takes an active role in the organization's mission by speaking to parishes and pro-life groups. Crossroads walkers also engage local communities through peaceful, prayerful protests and sidewalk counseling at abortion centers in the cities they travel through along the way.

From the Pacific coast to the Capital, these simultaneous walks for life will cover over 13,000 miles, pass through 38 states, 4 provinces and thousands of towns and cities, Crossroads said in a statement.

Crossroads was founded in 1995 by Steve Sanborn, a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) as a response to Pope John Paul II's call to take an active role in the pro-life movement in order to establish a culture of life. Full story at LifeNews.com

Work At Home with fellow Christian Pro-Lifers! Achieve financial freedom by representing household products free of harsh ingredients. No Selling! Get paid to educate on How to Create a Healthy Home! Request information today and a Pro-Life Team Member will contact you: http://www.Home4Kids.com

California Pro-Life Group Says Top Gubernatorial Candidates Pro-Abortion
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) -- There are three major candidates seeking to become the next governor of California, to replace outgoing pro-abortion Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggar. However, the California Pro-Life Council has nothing good to say about the positions of any of the three candidates.

Although there are several candidates vying for the nomination of both the Republican and Democratic parties, the three top candidates are all pro-abortion.

"During his previous term in office, Jerry Brown embraced the abortion industry's positions on key issues," the pro-life group says about the leading Democrat. "He appointed pro-abortion judges that twisted the state constitution to mandate taxpayer funding of abortion in California."

"Brown embraced the decision and never wavered from a pro-abortion policy. Pro-abortion groups support him now," CPLC added.

About Meg Whitman, one of the Republican candidates, CPLC says she tells people she supports legalized abortion. The group says she backs modest abortion limits but it ultimately no friend of unborn children.

"In newspaper accounts she supports protections for unborn children from partial-birth abortion and supports parental involvement laws. But Whitman supports the current unlimited state funding of abortion, even those that are later term or done on minors," CPLC explains.

The other leading Republican, Steve Poizner, also calls himself an abortion supporter -- but he opposes some modest abortion limits Whitman backs but backs one she opposes. Full story at LifeNews.com

Ohio Senate Passes Pro-Life Bill to End Abuse of Abortion-Judicial Bypass
Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- The Ohio Senate yesterday passed a bill to end the abuse of the judicial bypass provision in the Ohio parental notification law. The bypass is designed to be used in very rare instances when a teenager telling her parents about her desire to have an abortion might cause her physical abuse.

However, abortion centers routinely flout the law by getting pro-abortion attorneys to file requests with judges in numerous cases where teens simply don't want to inform their parents they are pregnant and considering an abortion.

Judges approve the lion's share of the requests for a judicial bypass preventing parents from knowing when their minor daughter is requesting an abortion.

Sen. Tim Grendell and Sen. Karen Gillmor, both Republicans, introduced S.B. 242, a bill to revise the process of judicial bypass under Ohio's Parental Consent for Abortion statute.

Under federal court rulings, parental consent statutes must permit a minor girl to "bypass" the parental consent requirement by convincing a juvenile judge either: 1) that she is mature and well enough informed to decide whether to have an abortion; or 2) that the abortion is in her best interests.

The bill addresses the fact that some judges are giving virtual "rubber-stamp" approval to these judicial bypass requests. Full story at LifeNews.com

Illinois Parental Notification Law Delayed Again, Pro-Life Attorneys Respond
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- The Illinois law allowing parents to know when their minor daughter is considering an abortion has been on hold since 1995 and the delay in implementing it continues much to the chagrin of the pro-life attorneys at the Thomas More Society.

Today, they filed an appeal in an effort to vacate the stay Judge Daniel Riley imposed on the implementation of the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act.

They are there is no legal basis to further delay the law.

"The Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act has held up numerous times against attacks by the ACLU and other opponents, and we believe there is no legal reason to prevent implementation of this long-overdue and much- needed law in Illinois," said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel.

He told LifeNews.com today, "It is time to enforce this law and put an end to secret abortions in Illinois."

Earlier this spring, Judge Riley dismissed a lawsuit brought by the ACLU that challenged the constitutionality of the parental notification law and imposed a stay of his decision until the ACLU's appeal of that decision is complete -- a process that could take years. Full story at LifeNews.com

Oklahoma Won't Override Veto of Bill Stopping Abortion Funding in Health Care
Oklahoma City, OK (LifeNews.com) -- The Oklahoma state legislature will not attempt to override a veto by Governor Brad Henry of a fourth pro-life bill. This measure would have allowed the state to opt out of the massive abortion funding found in the government-run health care bill President Barack Obama signed into law.

The bill would have made the state the fourth to opt out of at least some of the abortion funding -- following Arizona, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Rep. Skye McNiel, a Republican who is the House sponsor of the bill, is not going to press for a veto override vote.

That's because the legislature has to adjourn by 5:00 p.m. today and there is not enough time to get a veto override vote in before the session adjourns. McNiel said lawmakers can come back next year and approve the opt-out bill before the government-run health care scheme takes effect.

Tony Lauinger, the head of Oklahomans for Life, the statewide pro-life group, told LifeNews.com today that he understands the problems with getting a vote.

As a coach once said, "We didn't lose; we just ran out of time," Lauinger recalled. Full story at LifeNews.com

Looking for a Pro-Life Speaker for 2010?

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.

 

Encourage Friends to Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com

Thomas More Society Appeals in Effort to End Delay of Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act

CHICAGO, May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, attorneys from the Thomas More Society filed an appeal in an effort to vacate the stay Judge Daniel Riley imposed on the implementation of the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act, arguing that there is no legal basis to further delay the law. 

"The Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act has held up numerous times against attacks by the ACLU and other opponents, and we believe there is no legal reason to prevent implementation of this long-overdue and much- needed law in Illinois," said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel. "It is time to enforce this law and put an end to secret abortions in Illinois." 

Earlier this spring, Judge Riley dismissed a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that challenged the constitutionality of the Act and imposed a stay of his decision until the ACLU's appeal of that decision is complete -- a process that could take years. 

The Thomas More Society has argued that the continuation of the temporary restraining order via Judge Riley's indefinite stay violates Illinois law and contradicts the will of the people, particularly after the law had been found constitutional and valid. 

About the Thomas More Society Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society is a national public interest law firm that exists to restore respect for life in law. Based in Chicago, the Thomas More Society defends the sanctity of human life, the family and religious liberty in courtrooms across the country. The Society is a nonprofit organization wholly supported by private donations. For more information or to support the work of Thomas More Society, please visitwww.thomasmoresociety.org.