LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday May 1, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Republican Leader: We'll Try to Repeal Pro-Abortion Health Care if We Win House
• Sarah Palin Joins Texas Gov Rick Perry to Raise Money for Pro-Life Media Group
• Rick Santorum Woos Pro-Life Crowd in Wisconsin With Speech Blasting Abortion
• Dear Abby Ignores Baby and Promotes Abortion, Decision is "Nobody's Business"
• Daily Kos Article Says Number of Abortions is "Too Low," Doesn't Want Rare
• Looking Back: Why Catholic Bishops Opposed Pro-Abortion Health Care
• Florida House Sends Bill for Pre-Abortion Ultrasound to Governor Charlie Crist
• Kansas House Fails to Override Parkinson Veto of Bill to Stop Late-Term Abortion
• Push Resumes to Extend Pro-Abortion Maputo Plan of Action in African Nations
• New York Nurse Files Lawsuit Against Mt. Sinai Hospital Over Forced Abortion
• University of Nebraska Gets Funds From Obama for Embryonic Stem Cells
• Pro-Life News: Nurses, Abortion, EBay, Kevorkian, Colorado, New Zealand
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Republican Leader: We'll Try to Repeal Pro-Abortion Health Care if We Win House
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The top Republican in the House of Representatives said today that GOP lawmakers will try to repeal the pro-abortion health care bill President Barack Obama signed into law if Americans give them the majority after the November congressional elections.
House Republican Leader John Boehner, who is getting an award from a pro-life group for trying to stop the abortion funding in the bill, made the remarks in an NPR interview.
"I think that we need to repeal the health care law and replace it with common-sense steps that will lower the cost of health insurance in America," Boehner said.
Boehner said Republicans are hoping for a repeat of 1994, when a slew of pro-life advocates were elected to Congress in reaction to the pro-abortion policies and health care takeover by the Clinton administration.
Although Republicans have a long way to go to capture control of the House and Senate from pro-abortion Democrats, they believe there is a chance they can do so or will come close.
The GOP leader said he believes "at least 100 seats" are in play in the House, which would give Republicans enough opportunities to defeat pro-abortion House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Full story at LifeNews.com
Sarah Palin Joins Texas Gov Rick Perry to Raise Money for Pro-Life Media Group
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin continues helping pro-life organizations around the nations raise money for critically-needed efforts. Last night, she joined pro-life Texas Gov. Rick Perry to support Heroic Media, a group that spread the pro-life message via television and radio advertising.
Palin turned her attention to the Obama administration and called Barack Obama the most pro-abortion president to ever occupy the White House.
She also took a shot at Obama saying some politicians just believe abortion is another political issue to debate "or those who say the argument is above their pay grade, but that's a cop-out."
On the other hand, she praised Texas for its so many pro-life pro-family legislators and my friend Rick Perry.
You're not afraid to cling to your guns and your religion, she told the pro-life people in attendance, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Perry joined in on exposing Obama's pro-abortion record and focused on him overturning the Mexico City Policy and forcing Americans to pay for funding groups that promote and perform abortions overseas. Full story at LifeNews.com
Rick Santorum Woos Pro-Life Crowd in Wisconsin With Speech Blasting Abortion
Milwaukee, WI (LifeNews.com) -- Former Pennsylvania senator and potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum wood pro-life advocates Thursday night with a speech blasting abortion. Santorum was the featured speaker at a fundraising event for Wisconsin Right to Life.
Santorum, who has maintained a national presence since he was defeated for re-election, is considered a credible potential candidate because of his strong ties to the pro-life community.
The former member of Congress looked back and reminded the large crowd how he led the fight to ban partial-birth abortions.
"In 1996, I stepped up as the leader on the partial birth abortion issue," he said, adding that it was a great education effort as well because "with the partial birth abortion issue, there's one thing you can't miss -- the baby."
Santorum also had a personal connection to the gruesome abortion procedure.
"My wife Karen was 19 weeks pregnant with our fourth child, the age at which many partial birth abortions are performed," he said. "Two weeks later, Karen gave birth to our son Gabriel. And we were told he would not live. We held him for two days, and then he died." Full story at LifeNews.com
Dear Abby Ignores Baby and Promotes Abortion, Decision is "Nobody's Business"
by Maria Vitale
Advice to Dear Abby: Remember the child. In her latest column, Abigail Van Buren, aka Jeanne Phillips, claims that the decision to have an abortion is nobody s business but the couple who conceived the child.
Cheryl s Fiance in Phoenix writes that he and the woman he s engaged to recently decided to have their baby aborted at six weeks gestation. He notes that his future sister-in-law, Nicki, is opposed to abortion and didn't want to associate with him anymore.
Cheryl s fiancé asks Abby whether he should continue asking for Nicki s forgiveness, or whether he s done enough already. That gave Abby the opening to launch into a response which ignores the rights of the pre-born child:
So how did Nicki get inserted in the middle of something that was none of her business in the first place? Surely, she didn't have a vote. Neither did the child.
Certainly, if a couple made a personal decision to batter a two-year-old, it would be somebody else s business. It would be the business of child protective services, law enforcement, neighbors, friends, and family. Intervention would not be just an option, it would be a duty. Full story at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Readers wishing to respond to Dear Abby can write to her at www.DearAbby.com or at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA, 90069.
Daily Kos Article Says Number of Abortions is "Too Low," Doesn't Want Them Rare
by Sarah Knoploh
April 28 was apparently Abortion Uber Alles day at the liberal Web site Daily Kos. Aimee Thorne-Thomsen of the Pro-Choice Public Education Project stated that the number of women who receive abortions is too low in Keep Abortions Safe and Legal? Yes. Make it Rare? Not the Point.
A separate article blasted the new law in Oklahoma that makes it mandatory for woman to receive ultrasounds by making crude comparisons and calling it blackmail.
Even though 1.21 million abortions were performed in 2005, this was not enough for Thorne-Thomsen. She wrote, On the other hand, if those 1.21 million abortions represent only the women who could access abortion financially, geographically or otherwise, then that number is too low. Yes, too low.
She never explained how many abortions a year would be enough for the Pro-Choice Public Education Project, but continued to write, We say we care about women and want them to have access to all the information, services and resources necessary to make the best decisions they can for themselves and their families. That is at the core of reproductive justice. Not reducing the number of abortions.
Of course, Thorne-Thomsen didn't care for women enough to mention the negative consequences of abortions. Suicide, depression, infections, sterility, and even death can result from abortions. Full story at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Contact KFC at 1-800-225-5532 or http://www.kfc.com/contact
Looking Back: Why Catholic Bishops Opposed Pro-Abortion Health Care
by Richard Doerflinger
Some teachers like to pose riddles to their students on "lifeboat ethics." People of various ages and professions --a sea captain, a cabin boy, etc. -- are drifting at sea in a lifeboat, with limited provisions, and we have to decide which passenger to kill so the others can survive.
The final situation with health care reform this spring might have been crafted to stump these students. The House of Representatives had passed a reform bill that the Catholic bishops commended for ensuring access to health care for the poor and immigrants, and for respecting longstanding current laws on abortion and conscience rights.
But the Senate refused to consider this bill. Instead it approved its own version that was deficient in all these areas, and said: This is our final answer. Due to a change of one Senate seat, that chamber said it no longer had 60 votes to pass a bill with further substantive changes (though it could make purely fiscal changes under a reconciliation process requiring a simple majority).
So the final take it or leave it bill could be improved on affordability for the poor. But it would perpetuate injustices to both legal and undocumented immigrants. Full story at LifeNews.com
Florida House Sends Bill for Pre-Abortion Ultrasound to Governor Charlie Crist
Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The Florida state House gave final approval to a bill that contains a pro-life measure that would allow women a chance to see an ultrasound before having an abortion. When used in pregnancy centers, most women decided against having an abortion after seeing the images of their unborn children. 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.
The House voted 76-44 today after the state Senate voted 23-16 for the bill.
Pro-abortion lawmakers opposed the measure and claimed it would force women to pay for ultrasounds. However, studies show most abortion centers typically use an ultrasound before an abortion to determine the age of the unborn child beforehand.
Rep. Janet Long, a Democrat from Tampa, turned the debate into a sexist one, telling male legislators to "Stand down if you don't have ovaries."
But Rep. Kelli Stargel, a Lakewood Republican, said she had an unplanned pregnancy as a high school student and says women deserve the additional information an ultrasound provides. Full story at LifeNews.com
Kansas House Fails to Override Parkinson Veto of Bill to Stop Late-Term Abortions
Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) -- The Kansas state House failed today in its attempt to override the veto of Governor Mark Parkinson of a bill that would help the state stop late-term abortions. The vote of 82-4 fell just two votes shy of the 84 votes needed to override and provide new reporting standards that could stop more abortions.
The legislation holds late-term abortion practitioners accountable by making them report to the state health department a precise diagnosis used to justify late-term abortions.
Previously, late-term abortion practitioners like George Tiller have been able to merely cite the law when doing abortions on unborn children later in pregnancy rather than providing medical reasons that supposedly justify the abortion.
Kansans for Life informed LifeNews.com after the vote that the "chess game" over the bill will continue and that another vote may take place on Monday.
Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican who is a pro-life leader, changed his vote to no at the last minute so he could potentially bring up the override again for a vote. otherwise, he would not be able to call the House to vote a second time. Full story at LifeNews.com
Push Resumes to Extend Pro-Abortion Maputo Plan of Action in African Nations
by Samantha Singson
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- Last week, the African Union (AU) held a continental conference on maternal and child health in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss the possibility of extending the non-binding Maputo Plan of Action on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (Maputo PoA), which was scheduled to expire this year. The conference, themed "Achieving the MDGs through the Accelerated Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in Africa," brought together maternal and child health experts from AU Member States, United Nations (UN) agencies and non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives.
They discussed ways of reducing the high rates of maternal mortality in the continent, and in particular to review a lengthy extension of the Maputo PoA through 2015 to coincide with the time frame of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Originally discussed at an AU special session of health ministers in September 2006, the Maputo PoA was designed as a short-term, three-year action plan. Among other things, it includes abortion provisions which call for AU member states to "enact policies and legal frameworks to reduce incidence of unsafe abortion" and to "prepare and implement national plans of action to reduce incidence of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion." Full story at LifeNews.com
New York Nurse Files Lawsuit Against Mt. Sinai Hospital Over Forced Abortion
New York City, NY (LifeNews.com) -- A New York nurse working at the esteemed Mount Sinai Hospital and was forced to participate in an abortion has filed a second lawsuit against the medical center. Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a lawsuit last year for Cathy Cenzon-DeCarlo and a second one in state court on her behalf.
Since 2004, officials at Mount Sinai Hospital knew that Cenzon-DeCarlo had deeply-felt pro-life views and would not consent to assisting in an abortion.
That didn't stop hospital officials from threatening her with disciplinary measures if she did not honor a last-minute summons to assist in a scheduled late-term abortion. They said she would lose her nursing license and potentially her job by not participating.
The state suit was filed in addition to the pro-life nurse's federal lawsuit, which is on appeal, because her rights of conscience are also protected by New York law.
Pro-life nurses shouldn't be forced to assist in abortions against their beliefs, ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman told LifeNews.com on Thursday. It is illegal, unethical, and a violation of Cathy s rights of conscience as a devout Catholic to require her to participate in terminating the life of a 22-week pre-born child. It was not only wrong, it was needless. 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. |
University of Nebraska Gets Funds From Obama for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Lincoln, NE (LifeNews.com) -- When the Obama administration announced earlier this week that it expanded taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research, the University of Nebraska Medical Center stood to benefit. UNMC expanded what pro-life groups call unethical research that involves the destruction of unique human beings for research that has never helped patients.
With the funding, the University of Nebraska procured a newly-released embryonic stem cell line.
That happened despite opposition from Nebraska Right to Life, says the group's director Julie Schmit-Albin.
"We urged the Board of Regents in the Fall of 2009 to reject the Administration's plans to expand the amount of new cell lines using human embryos,' she told LifeNews.com today. "Unfortunately, due to the abandonment of pro-life principles by Regent Jim McClurg, the opposing viewpoint prevailed, thus opening the floodgate for UNMC to pursue new unethical research."
In July 2009, UNMC's Dr. James Turpen told the Omaha World-Herald that UNMC may seek funding of new cell lines "within two years." Full stories at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life News: Nurses, Abortion, EBay, Kevorkian, Colorado, New Zealand
Eight Nurses at Nassau University Medical Center Punished for Refusing Abortions
East Meadow, New York (LifeNews.com) -- Eight nurses who refused to participate in an abortion at Nassau University Medical Center are resisting disciplinary action levied on them by hospital officials, according to the Long island Catholic newspaper.
EBay Takes Jack Kevorkian's Euthanasia Van Off Sales Web Site
Detroit, MI (LifeNews.com) -- The VW camper van Dr. Jack Kevorkian used during his assisted suicide campaign is no longer listed for sale on eBay after the online auctioneer cited a policy against "murderabilia."
New Zealand Pro-Life Group Wants Govt to Back Parental Notification on Abortion
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- Family First NZ will be making a submission to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee this morning (Thursday) on the Child and Family Protection Bill.
Colorado Pro-Abortion Groups Announce Effort to Defeat Personhood Amendment
Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- A coalition of pro-abortion groups are banding together once again to take on the personhood amendment that will appear for the second time on a general election ballot.
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