LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Friday, July 23, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Senator Lugar Becomes Second Republican to Back Pro-Abortion Elena Kagan
• FactCheck Confirms Pro-Life Group Right on Obama Admin Funding Abortions
• Obama Ambassador to Kenya Openly Endorses Proposed Pro-Abortion Constitution
• Congressman Floats Total Ban on Abortion Funding, Hyde Amendment Plus More
• Poll: GOP More Excited About Elections Than Democrats, Could Retake House
• Catholics United to Spend $500K for Pro-Life Democrats Backing Pro-Abortion HCR
• Pro-Life Advocates Prepare for Next 40 Days for Life Campaign Against Abortion
• Archbishop Chullikatt Will Represent Holy See's Pro-Life Views at United Nations
• Abortion Advocates Expected to Protest Weekend Pro-Life Freedom Rides
• University of Wisconsin Co-Sponsors Pro-Abortion Forum With Planned Parenthood
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Senator Lugar Becomes Second Republican to Back Pro-Abortion Elena Kagan
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a pro-life moderate who sometimes upsets his party and pro-life advocates, has announced he will become the second Republican to support the nomination of pro-abortion Solicitor General Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court.
Lugar said he would vote for Kagan because she is "clearly qualified" and "has demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of court history and decisions."
"I believe that she has had a distinguished career in both education and public service and is well-regarded by the legal community and her peers," Lugar said in a statement.
But Lugar's announcement is already drawing opposition from conservatives in his state. State Sen. Mike Delph, a Republican legislator, called Lugar's decision to back the ardent abortion advocate "disappointing."
"Elena Kagan, like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, are all very liberal," Delph said, according to the Indianapolis Star. "None of these individuals is worthy of Hoosier support as they are all out of step with Main Street Indiana."
"He needs to be mindful of how people in Indiana view these nominees," Delph added. Full story at LifeNews.com
FactCheck Confirms Pro-Life Group Right on Obama Admin Funding Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new report issued by the respected FactCheck.org web site based at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania confirms the claims made last week by the National Right to Life Committee that the Obama administration had authorized abortion funding in three states.
The abortion funding would have come under the new health care plan President Barack Obama signed, except the Obama administration backed down after NRLC blew the whistle.
"We can see what caused abortion opponents to be concerned," the web site verified.
An official solicitation issued by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department specified that abortions "will" be covered if they are legal under Pennsylvania law, it explained. And according to news reports, a similar document in New Mexico listed "elective" abortions under "covered services."
FactCheck explains that the abortion funding was hidden by vague and undefined terms.
"It would be easy to miss the fact that Pennsylvania s official solicitation called for coverage of all state-legal abortions. The press release issued by the state insurance department on June 28, announcing the new program, made no mention of abortion at all," it says. "Intrepid readers could click through to find the official solicitation document describing the program more fully, but it contained phrasing the casual reader could interpret as restricting abortion coverage rather than permitting it." Full story at LifeNews.com
Obama Ambassador to Kenya Openly Endorses Proposed Pro-Abortion Constitution
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- After initially saying the Obama administration is not technically supporting the proposed pro-abortion constitution in Kenya and insisting it is merely supporting the voting process itself, United States Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger is now openly supporting it.
The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation issued a new report today saying Ranneberger has announced "his support for the proposed new constitution saying the document caters the needs of all Kenyans."
Ranneberger said the Obama administration will respect the outcome of the vote on the pro-abortion constitution on August 4, but he is now "under heavy criticism from the 'No' camp for his open support for the proposed law."
The envoy said, "We have made it clear that a new constitution is absolutely essential for the future, security and prosperity of this great nation."
"As our Vice President said during his recent visit, the country will only attract foreign investments unless the country deals with issues of corruption. This will only come about with a new constitution in place," Ranneberger added, applying economic pressure to Kenyans to approve the document.
"I therefore urge all Kenyans to take advantage of this opportunity. Kenya is poised at the most important moment of change since independence." he said.
Ranneberger said he will not be drawn into a political war of words with the No camp and the Kenyan elected officials and church leaders who are heading up its campaign against the constitution. Full story at LifeNews.com
Congressman Floats Total Ban on Abortion Funding, Hyde Amendment Plus More
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- When it comes to taxpayer funding of abortions from the federal government, pro-life advocates have to wage a set of battles annually to ensure abortion funding isn't present in various funding bills -- from HHS and USAID to health care and the District of Columbia.
What if all of the provisions against abortion funding could be rolled into one piece of legislation ensuring the federal government is not funding elective abortions?
That was the question Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, the chairman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, asked himself.
He's answered it with a new bill titled the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act that he will introduce next Thursday to establish a consistent government-wide prohibition on abortion funding.
"For over 30 years, a patchwork of policies has regulated federal funding for abortion. Together these various policies ensure that the American taxpayer is not involved in funding the destruction of innocent human life through abortion on demand," Smith said in a letter to colleagues today that LifeNews.com obtained.
"This comprehensive approach will reduce the need for the numerous separate abortion funding policies and ensure that no program or agency is exempt from this important safeguard," he added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Poll: GOP More Excited About Elections Than Democrats, Could Retake House
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll finds Republican voters are more excited about the upcoming November congressional elections than are Democrats. That enthusiasm gap has produced victories for pro-life candidates already in off-year elections and it could result in more victories and potentially retaking one or both houses of Congress.
The new national survey from the Public Policy Polling Institute, which leans Democratic, finds "enthusiasm gap is still out there and certainly a problem Democrats are going to have to contend with this fall."
The survey found 66% of Republicans 'very excited' about voting this fall to only 51% of Democrats, for a 15 point gap.
Similar enthusiasm gaps helped pro-life and Republican candidates -- with polls showing it was 26 points in Massachusetts when voters elected Scott Brown to help try to stop the pro-abortion health care bill. Then, about 89% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats were very excited about voting.
The enthusiasm gap was 26 points in Virginia as well where 64% of Republicans and 38% of Democrats were very excited about voting.
The enthusiasm gap is also larger than the one in New Jersey -- it was 12 points there with 47% of Republicans and 35% of Democrats 'very excited' about voting -- that produced an election victory for pro-life Governor Chris Christie.
PPP's post-poll analysis said the gap helps Republicans but cautioned that it thinks it may not result in an overwhelming landslide. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholics United to Spend $500K for Pro-Life Democrats Backing Pro-Abortion HCR
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The organization Catholics United, which has been much maligned in the pro-life community for warping and twisting pro-life Catholic principles, says it plans to spend $500,000 this election cycle supporting the pro-life Democrats in Congress who voted for the pro-abortion health care bill.
The half a million in campaign expenditures will go towards paying for advertising and staffers who will focus on turning out the vote for the Democrats, who have come under heavy criticism from pro-life groups.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper indicates Catholics United will spend money supporting two of those members of the Stupak coalition in Ohio, Democratic Reps. John Boccieri and Steve Driehaus.
Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper in Pennsylvania and Tom Perriello in Virginia will also benefit from its support.
Catholics United spokesman James Salt told the newspaper his organization won't be supporting any pro-life Republican members of Congress because they all voted against the health care bill, which was condemned by every pro-life group because it contains massive abortion funding.
In a press release, Salt said Catholics United is putting together the campaign to respond to defend the "pro-life" Democrats who supported the pro-abortion health care bill because they are facing a "coordinated misinformation campaign from a host of self-proclaimed pro-life groups intended to perpetuate the misconception that the health care reform bill passed earlier this year allowed for federal funding of elective abortion." Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Advocates Prepare for Next 40 Days for Life Campaign Against Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Thousands of pro-life advocates from around the country can start making preparations for the next 40 Days for Life campaign that will begin this Fall. The new campaign, which builds on successful previous ones that have saved lives from abortion and closed down abortion centers, begins in September.
From September 22 through October 31, pro-life advocates will pray at abortion facilities nationwide and offer help for women considering abortions.
The peaceful, prayerful event has become so popular in the Untied States, pro-life advocates in other nations have taken it up for their own efforts.
Shawn Carney, the campaign director for 40 Days for Life, emailed previous participants and said the upcoming November elections make the latest campaign especially important.
"With everything that's at stake at this crucial moment in history, let's mobilize the Body of Christ and bring an end to the tragedy of abortion," he said.
He said the interest in the next campaign is very high. Full story at LifeNews.com
Archbishop Chullikatt Will Represent Holy See's Pro-Life Views at United Nations
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- Late last week, Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt as the new permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations (UN) in New York, succeeding Archbishop Celestino Migliore, who was recently appointed papal nuncio to Poland.
Archbishop Chullikatt has extensive experience as a member of the Holy See diplomatic corps, having served most recently in one of the most challenging posts, apostolic nuncio to war torn Iraq and also Jordan, a position he has held since 2006. Born in Bolghatty, India in 1953, he is the first non-Italian to head the Holy See Mission in New York.
Chullikatt began working as a Vatican diplomat in 1988 and served in Honduras, several countries in southern Africa, and the Philippines. From 2000 to 2004, he served as Counselor for the Holy See Mission to the UN in New York.
Following this, Chullikatt worked in the Secretariat of State for the Vatican in Rome until his appointment to Iraq and Jordan. He is fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Latin.
Observers who have followed the work of Chullikatt in Iraq gave him very high marks for his outspoken defense of the persecuted Christian and other religious minorities there, his work on interreligious cooperation and good relations with Muslim leaders, and his personal courage. Terrorists frequently targeted Christians and churches in Iraq, as well as Chullikatt s residence on several occasions. Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Advocates Expected to Protest Weekend Pro-Life Freedom Rides
Birmingham, AL (LifeNews.com) -- The organizers of this weekend's pro-life Freedom Rides say they have heard abortion advocates will turn out to protest. The freedom rides involve top pro-life Catholic and African-American leaders recreating the historic civil rights rides, this time for the rights of unborn children.
The rides begin in Birmingham, Alabama and conclude in Atlanta, Georgia.
Fr. Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life, told LifeNews.com on Wednesday that pro-abortion groups in the Atlanta area are protesting the Freedom Rides, which will arrive in Atlanta on Saturday to pray at the tomb of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
These groups accuse us of lying and distorting historical facts, Pavone said. But the Freedom Rides intend to show the nation the truth about abortion."
Pavone challenged abortion advocates to, for example, defend the reality of a partial-birth abortions.
"Abortionist Martin Haskell has said under oath, describing the abortion procedure, The skull is brought out in fragments rather than as a unified piece. Do these pro-abortion fanatics really expect us to believe that Martin Luther King Jr. would want that kind of violence legally protected? he asked. Full story at LifeNews.com
University of Wisconsin Co-Sponsors Pro-Abortion Forum With Planned Parenthood
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- After having been the subject of many months of criticism for building a new second-trimester abortion center, the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority is now facing criticism for co-sponsoring an event with Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business.
An open records request, conducted by Pro-Life Wisconsin, revealed a $2,000 check written to sponsor a day-long summit purportedly focusing on Wisconsin women s health.
The $2,000 check was written by the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority [UWHCA], and in return, University of Wisconsin Health was listed as a sponsor.
PLW officials told LifeNews.com today that the Wisconsin Women s Health Policy Summit, held this past May, included presenters such as Nicole Safar and Lorraine Lathen of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and promoted abortion under the guise of reproductive health.
Planned Parenthood was also a sponsor of the event along with the University of Wisconsin.
Donna Katen-Bahensky, president of UWHCA, approved the sponsorship, according to emails the pro-life organization obtained. Full story at LifeNews.com
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