Sterilize the Unfit Says British Professor

By Hilary White

LONDON, August 30, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The mentally and morally "unfit" should be sterilized, Professor David Marsland, a sociologist and health expert, said this weekend. The professor made the remarks on the BBC radio program Iconoclasts, which advertises itself as the place to "think the unthinkable."

Pro-life advocates and disability rights campaigners have responded by saying that Marsland's proposed system is a straightforward throwback to the coercive eugenics practices of the past.

Marsland, Emeritus Scholar of Sociology and Health

Image via Wikipedia

 Sciences at Brunel University, London and Professorial Research Fellow in Sociology at the University of Buckingham, told the BBC that "permanent sterilization" is the solution to child neglect and abuse.

"Children are abused or grossly neglected by a very small minority of inadequate parents." Such parents, he said, are not distinguished by "disadvantage, poverty or exploitation," he said, but by "a number or moral and mental inadequacies" caused by "serious mental defect," "chronic mental illness" and drug addiction and alcoholism.

"Short of lifetime incarceration," he said, the solution is "permanent sterilization."

The debate, chaired by the BBC's Edward Stourton, was held in response to a request by a local council in the West Midlands that wanted to force contraception on a 29-year-old woman who members of the council judged was mentally incapable of making decisions about childrearing. The judge in the case refused to permit it, saying such a decision would "raise profound questions about state intervention in private and family life."

Children whose parents are alcoholics or drug addicts can be rescued from abusive situations, but, Marlsand said, "Why should we allow further predictable victims to be harmed by the same perpetrators? Here too, sterilization provides a dependable answer."

He dismissed possible objections based on human rights, saying that "Rights is a grossly overused and fundamentally incoherent concept … Neither philosophers nor political activists can agree on the nature of human rights or on their extent."

Complaints that court-ordered sterilization could be abused "should be ignored," he added. "This argument would inhibit any and every action of social defense."

Brian Clowes, director of research for Human Life International (HLI), told LifeSiteNews (LSN) that in his view Professor Marsland is just one more in a long line of eugenicists who want to solve human problems by erasing the humans who have them. Clowes compared Marsland to Lothrop Stoddard and Margaret Sanger, prominent early 20th century eugenicists who promoted contraception and sterilization for blacks, Catholics, the poor and the mentally ill and disabled whom they classified as "human weeds."

He told LSN, "It does not seem to occur to Marsland that most severe child abuse is committed by people he might consider 'perfectly normal,' people like his elitist friends and neighbors."

"Most frightening of all," he said, "is Marsland's dismissal of human rights. In essence, he is saying people have no rights whatsoever, because there is no universal agreement on what those rights actually are."

The program, which aired on Saturday, August 28, also featured a professor of ethics and philosophy at Oxford, who expressed concern about Marland's proposal, saying, "There are serious problems about who makes the decisions, and abuses." Janet Radcliffe Richards, a Professor of Practical Philosophy at Oxford, continued, "I would dispute the argument that this is for the sake of the children. 
  
"It's curious case that if the child doesn't exist, it can't be harmed. And to say that it would be better for the child not to exist, you need to be able to say that its life is worse than nothing. Now I think that's a difficult thing to do because most people are glad they exist."

But Radcliffe Richards refused to reject categorically the notion of forced sterilization as a solution to social problems. She said there "is a really serious argument" about the "cost to the rest of society of allowing people to have children when you can pretty strongly predict that those children are going to be a nuisance."

Marsland's remarks also drew a response from Alison Davis, head of the campaign group No Less Human, who rejected his entire argument, saying that compulsory sterilization would itself be "an abuse of some of the most vulnerable people in society." 
  
Marsland's closing comments, Davis said, were indicative of his anti-human perspective. In those remarks he said that nothing in the discussion had changed his mind, and that the reduction of births would be desirable since "there are too many people anyway."

Davis commented, "As a disabled person myself I find his comments offensive, degrading and eugenic in content.

"The BBC is supposed to stand against prejudicial comments against any minority group. As such it is against it's own code of conduct, as well as a breach of basic human decency, to broadcast such inflammatory and ableist views."

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report 9/1/10

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Wesnesday, September 1, 2010

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

Current Headlines

• Obama Admin Appeals Ruling Stopping Tax-Funded Embryonic Research
• Gallup Poll Shows Republicans Lead Election 2010 by Unprecedented 10 Points
• Support for Obama's Pro-Abortion Health Care Drops Sharply in August
• Pro-Life Groups Blast Obama Admin's Appeal of Embryonic Funding Ruling
• Man Arrested After Trying to Shoot Pro-Life People With Gun at Abortion Center
• Successful Tea Party Movement Must Include Pro-Life Issues, Not Just Economy
• Study Claims Women Seeking Abortions in Pro-Life States Google It More Often
• Abortion Practitioner Told by Maryland Authorities to Stop Doing Abortions
• Ohio Senate Race Tightens, Pro-Life Rob Portman Still Leads Lee Fisher
• Colorado Senate: Buck Leads, Bennet Gets Support From Pro-Abortion Group
• West Virginia Race Close After Joe Manchin, John Raese Win Primary Elections
• Croatia Sees Number of Abortions Fall, No Longer Outnumber Births of Children
• Planned Parenthood Rallies Against Colorado Personhood Amendment 62

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Obama Admin Appeals Ruling Stopping Tax-Funded Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Obama administration officially filed its appeal today of a federal judge's decision striking down President Barack Obama's executive order forcing taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. The judge said the order contravened a federal law against funding the destruction of human embryos.

U.S. district court Judge Royce Lamberth granted a preliminary injunction against the funding.

Judge Lamberth's ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by stem cell researchers who said the Obama executive order and subsequent funding from the National Institutes of Health violated the Dickey amendment, the federal law prohibiting funding the destruction of human embryos via research.

The appeal asks Judge Lamberth to put the injunction on hold so taxpayer dollars can continue to flow to embryonic stem cell research projects while the lawsuit against the order moves ahead.

The Obama administration claimed the judge's order is harming research projects, even though embryonic stem cell research has yet to overcome numerous problems in animals and has never helped human patients.

"Numerous ongoing projects will likely not survive even a temporary gap in funds, jeopardizing both the potential benefit of the research and the hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds already invested in it," the Obama administration said.

Judge Lamberth's ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by two adult stem cell researchers who said the Obama executive order and subsequent funding from the National Institutes of Health violated the Dickey amendment. Full story at LifeNews.com

Gallup Poll Shows Republicans Lead Election 2010 by Unprecedented 10 Points
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- When pro-life Republicans took over Congress from their pro-abortion Democratic rivals in November 1994, the Gallup poll asked Americans in July whether they planned to vote for their Republican or Democratic candidate for Congress. This year, GOP candidates lead by an unprecedented 10 percent.

In 1994, Republicans led by a 49-44 percentage point margin.

Now, a new Gallup poll released on Monday shows Republicans ahead of Democrats by a 51-41 percent mark -- up from 7 percent in early August (50-43%) and up from 5 percent in late July (49-44%).

"The 10-percentage-point lead is the GOP's largest so far this year and is its largest in Gallup's history of tracking the midterm generic ballot for Congress,' the polling firm noted. "This marks the fifth week in a row in which Republicans have held an advantage over Democrats -- one that has ranged between 3 and 10 points."

"The Republican leads of 6, 7, and 10 points this month are all higher than any previous midterm Republican advantage in Gallup's history of tracking the generic ballot, which dates to 1942. Prior to this year, the highest such gap was five points, measured in June 2002 and July 1994," Gallup noted.

Not only do Republicans lead in the generic party matchup, but Republican voters, who are mostly pro-life, show much more enthusiasm than their pro-abortion Democratic counterparts. Full story at LifeNews.com

Support for Obama's Pro-Abortion Health Care Program Drops Sharply in August
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Support for ObamaCare, the national health care program President Barack Obama signed into law that contains taxpayer-funded abortions, dropped sharply in August, according to a new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

The results make it so one issue Democrats hoped to use to perform well in the upcoming elections will likely work against them.

The Kaiser poll has support for the pro-abortion government-run health care program dropping 7 percent to just 43 percent. Opposition rose 10 percentage points to 45 percent --- the weakest showing for ObamaCare since Kaiser's poll in May.

Democrats hoped support for ObamaCare would increase as the elections drew closer and it could tout some of the provisions they believe the public would support. But Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, admits that's not happening.

Public opinion on health reform has been stuck in a fairly narrow band and is not changing dramatically, he said. Full story at LifeNews.com

Pro-Life Groups Blast Obama Admin's Appeal of Embryonic Funding Ruling
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The decision by the Obama administration today to appeal a federal judge's ruling -- saying President Barack Obama's executive order making Americans fund embryonic stem cell research with their tax dollars -- is not going over well with pro-life organizations.

Federal District Court Judge Royce Lamberth issued the injunction against the government s use of tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research based on a reading of the Dickey-Wicker amendment.

That 1996 law prohibits federal funding for research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed and was the foundation for legal challenge when Obama signed his 2009 order which allowed embryos to be destroyed in research paid for with tax dollars.

The Christian Medical Association, a party to the original lawsuit that led to the preliminary injunction, told LifeNews.com today that "politics and greed have driven grants toward embryonic stem cell research -- not a rational strategy to develop cures."

"The Obama administration should prioritize curing patients -- not fighting the court ruling that has stopped their illegal funding of embryonic stem cell research," said CMA director Dr. David Stevens.

"The irrational insistence on diverting hundreds of millions of federal dollars away from proven sources of cures and toward speculative embryonic stem cell research has been driven by a political calculus and by a tax-dollar-dependent research community -- not by a medical calculus that prioritizes real treatments for real patients," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com

Man Arrested After Trying to Shoot Pro-Life People With Gun at Abortion Center
Albuquerque, NM (LifeNews.com) -- A man was arrested on Saturday outside a late-term abortion facility in New Mexico after he threatened to shoot two pro-life women providing alternatives to women going to the Southwestern Women's Options abortion center. The abortion center is operated by late-term abortion practitioner Curtis Boyd.

The unidentified man and his wife were escorting their daughter to the abortion center when the wife and daughter walked towards the pro-life sidewalk counselors to discuss alternatives to abortion.

The man reportedly became angry and ushered his family towards the abortion clinic.

"When we come out, I'm going to put a bullet in your head if you talk to her," the man told the pro-life women, whose identities pro-life advocates are withholding to protect their security.

Former Operation Rescue intern Bud Shaver said the man then lifted his shirt to reveal a dark object to the two pro-life women that they described as looking like a gun. The women called police who, Shaver said, "responded appropriately and took him away in handcuffs."

Shaver said the man's threat had the opposite effect of allowing abortions as a police SWAT team arrived and shut down the abortion center for two hours, preventing abortions from taking place.

"They cleared Boyd's clinic to search for the gun SWAT style. Everyone, including staff, had to come out with their hands up," Shaver, who witnessed the scene, said. Full story at LifeNews.com

Successful Tea Party Movement Must Include Pro-Life Issues, Not Just Economy
by Tom Glessner
Political change is blowing in the wind but it is not the change promised by Barack Obama when he ran for the presidency. For sure, Obama has brought political change to the nation, but his transformational policies have meant bigger government, higher taxes, federal subsidies of abortion on demand, and greater governmental control over the lives of American citizens.

Hundreds of thousands of citizens across the nation have raised their voices to protest Obama s policies of change. They are crying out for a different change that will honor the integrity of each individual and create an atmosphere where true liberty in all spheres of life economic, cultural, and spiritual- reigns. Political pollsters are now predicting a huge seismic shift in the political landscape this November. The recent Glenn Beck sponsored rally in Washington D.C., attended by thousands upon thousands of grass roots activists, indicates that this public outcry of protest is real and powerful.

The Tea Party movement is comprised of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents from all walks of life. The political ruling elite, the corporate world, and the media have completely failed to comprehend this populist movement dismissing it as marginal, extreme and even racist. However, this movement is not composed of ignorant and bigoted individuals, as suggested by the political class. Rather, it is an authentic grassroots movement of thoughtful and patriotic people demanding real change from an out-of-touch political establishment.

The Tea Party movement, for the most part, centers its protest on economic issues and concern about the loss of freedom that an ever-growing federal government brings. These concerns are valid and appropriate. Most leaders of this movement also believe in the sanctity of life and the need to halt the wholesale destruction of innocent human life through abortion and other life related issues such as embryonic stem cell research. However, many in the Tea Party movement have made it clear that while they are sympathetic with the pro-life cause, the abortion issue is not formally part of the Tea Party agenda. Full story at LifeNews.com

Study Claims Women Seeking Abortions in Pro-Life States Google It More Often
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new study by two Boston Children s Hospital doctors claims women seeking abortions from pro-life states Google the term abortion more often than others. Their suggestion is that women in places with fewer abortion centers and less access to abortion are more likely to search for it online.

Dr. Ben Reis and Dr. John Brownstein reviewed the abortion rates and policies of all 50 states and 37 counties. They reviewed that information against the number of Internet searches for the term, "abortion."

In places where abortion access is readily available, people can go to their mainstream health care providers, Reis told the Boston Herald newspaper.

He said people may be going on the Internet to find alternate routes" in places that don't have easy access to local abortion businesses and said the pattern was found in every states he and his colleague studied.

We were actually very surprised. There is a very consistent, strong relationship, Reis told the newspaper.

The study, published last week in the medical journal BMC Public Health, could have an impact on the pro-life community in that pro-life advocates and pregnancy centers reaching out on the Internet may want to focus on keyword advertising and local optimization to reach these women searching for abortion information online. Full story at LifeNews.com

Abortion Practitioner Told by Maryland Authorities to Stop Doing Abortions
Annapolis, MD (LifeNews.com) -- Maryland officials have told embattled abortion practitioner Steven Chase Brigham to stop doing abortions in the state. The move comes after Pennsylvania officials told him to close his abortion businesses there after he was found to be employing unlicensed staffers and putting women's health at risk.

Brigham has been issued a cease and desist order by the Maryland State Board of Physicians ordering him to stop the illegal practice of medicine, including abortions, at five locations throughout Maryland.

Officials say Brigham does not and never has been licensed in that state.

The order, dated August 25, 2010, indicates that Brigham has been practicing illegally in Maryland since January, 2010.

It referred to an incident that occurred on August 13, 2010, where Brigham had begun a surgical procedure reportedly thought to be an abortion. However, something went wrong and Brigham instructed the woman to travel to his abortion center in Elkton to complete the alleged abortion "on an urgent basis."

"The health of Maryland patients is being endangered by the Respondent's unlicensed practice of medicine in this State," the order read, according to the pro-life group Operation Rescue, which provided LifeNews.com with the information. Full story at LifeNews.com

Ohio Senate Race Tightens, Pro-Life Rob Portman Still Leads Lee Fisher
Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- The Ohio Senate race has tightened in a new poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports, but pro-life Republican Rob Portman still leads pro-abortion candidate Lee Fisher. The race is one of several that have the potential to determine which party controls the Senate, which is currently run by abortion advocates.

Portman now picks up 44% support while his opponent, Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, earns the backing of 39% in the latest Rasmussen statewide telephone survey of likely voters.

Seven percent prefer another candidate and another 11% are undecided.

When leaners are included in the new totals, Portman still leads. With the leaners, 47% will vote for Portman and 41% for Fisher. That could mean the large share of undecided voters will break for Portman as the November election comes closer.

The race is a bit closer than it was two weeks ago, when Portman held a 45% to 37% lead over Fisher. Two weeks ago, Portman led Fisher 48% to 39% when leaners were included. The latest numbers prompted Rasmussen move this race from a Leans Republican projection to the toss-up category. Full story at LifeNews.com

Colorado Senate: Buck Leads, Bennet Gets Support From Pro-Abortion Group
Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll in the Colorado Senate race shows pro-life Republican candidate Ken Buck still leading pro-abortion Sen. Michael Bennet. Yesterday, the Colorado affiliate of the pro-abortion group NARAL endorsed Bennet and the senator reaffirmed his support for abortions.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of likely voters finds Buck picking up 47% support, while Bennet earns the vote from 44%. Five percent prefer another candidate while four percent are undecided.

When leaners are included in the new totals, 49% favor Buck while 45% support Bennett.

Earlier this month, Rasmussen had Buck leading Bennet by a 46-41 percent margin, showing both candidates are picking up support following bruising primaries they each faced in early August, though Rasmussen notes Bennet is picking up more.

"Though Buck has consistently led the incumbent since March, this is the highest level of support Bennet has received all year. In each of six previous surveys stretching back to May, the former Denver school superintendent had earned between 39% and 42% of the vote," the polling firm indicated. "A county prosecutor, Buck has captured between 44% to 48% of the vote during that same time frame." Full story at LifeNews.com

West Virginia Race Close After Joe Manchin, John Raese Win Primary Elections

Charleston, WV (LifeNews.com) -- The West Virginia race for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by the late pro-abortion Robert Byrd is close now. After weeks of pro-life Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin leading by huge margins, pro-life businessman John Raese has closed the gap to make it a competitive contest.

Although both candidates are pro-life, the race could determine whether pro-life Republicans or pro-abortion Democrats run the Senate.

That has a huge bearing on whether Congress continues promoting President Barack Obama's pro-abortion agenda and approve his pro-abortion judges for the Supreme Court and other courts.

The latest statewide telephone survey of likely voters by Rasmussen Reports shows Manchin attracts 48% of the vote while Raese earns 42% from West Virginia voters.

Just after state legislators officially approved a special Senate election this year to replace Byrd, Manchin led Raese by a 51% to 35% margin. Full story at LifeNews.com

Croatia Sees Number of Abortions Fall, No Longer Outnumber Births of Children

Zagreb, Croatia (LifeNews.com) -- The number of abortions in Croatia continues to fall as it has for the last nine years and abortions no longer outnumber births of children as they once did. The Croatian Department of Public Health statistics show there were 10,417 abortions last year, although the figure also includes the number of miscarriages.

The government of the eastern European nation says 4,450 abortions were done at the request of women while the rest are a combination of abortions done supposedly for medical reasons and miscarriages.

The Croatia Times says the abortion rate has fallen to the point that it is now lower than some of its European neighbors.

The newspaper says the rate is now 101.4 abortions for every 1,000 live births in Croatia, lower than the 215.4 in the Czech Republic, 167.7 in Germany, 444.6 in Hungary, and 227.3 in Slovania. Full story at LifeNews.com

Planned Parenthood Rallies Against Colorado Personhood Amendment 62
Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- The debate on the personhood amendment in Colorado began in earnest on Tuesday as Planned Parenthood sponsored a rally on the steps of the state capital. Backers of the amendment say they are not surprised the abortion business is behind the main opposition to Amendment 62.

Though the first effort for a personhood amendment failed by nearly a 3-1 margin in 2008 as other pro-life groups pointed out concerns, supporters are trying again.

The amendment defines unborn children as persons starting at conception and would draw an almost immediate legal challenge from pro-abortion groups.

Fofi Mendez, campaign director for the No on 62 Campaign, a group of pro-abortion organizations including Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, told AP that the amendment is "a sneaky attempt to provide constitutional and legal rights to a fertilized egg." Full story at LifeNews.com

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Rutherford Institute Urges Gov. McDonnell to Implement Stringent Regulations for Abortion Clinics

TRI Urges Gov. McDonnell to Implement Stringent Regulations for Abortion Clinics

Citing Risks to Women, Rutherford Institute Urges Governor McDonnell to Implement Stringent Health and Safety Regulations for Abortion Clinics

RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pointing out that many centers in which first trimester abortions are performed are treated as regular doctors' offices and are not subject to even basic licensing requirements, The Rutherford Institute is urging Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA) to implement more stringent health and safety regulations for abortion clinics. 

In a letter to the governor, Institute president John W. Whitehead calls on McDonnell to use South Carolina's Code of Regulations § 61-12, which was upheld by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2002, as a model for the Commonwealth to follow in drafting its own regulations. The Institute's letter, which was copied to members of the General Assembly, comes on the heels of an official opinion issued by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in which he concludes that the Commonwealth can regulate abortion facilities without offending constitutional principles. 

A copy of the Institute's letter to Governor McDonnell is available here. 

Under Virginia law, outpatient abortion clinics are defined as outpatient hospitals. However, as Attorney General Cuccinelli recently noted, abortion facilities that limit their practice to reproductive services often characterize themselves as "physicians' offices," whereby they are legally exempt from licensure requirements that apply to other outpatient hospitals. 

Taking issue with this exemption, Whitehead insists that the "nature of the abortion procedure and its inherent risks are reason enough to advocate for increased regulation of abortion clinics in the Commonwealth." Moreover, courts have identified a more fundamental reason for regulating these facilities even more stringently than other outpatient surgical centers. As the Supreme Court has acknowledged, abortion is different "because no other procedure involves the purposeful termination of a potential life." 

The Institute's letter concludes by urging Governor McDonnell to advocate the adoption of common-sense clinic safety regulations for the protection of women undergoing abortions and the promotion of public health. As Whitehead points out, "in light of the serious, invasive nature of abortion and the well-recognized state interest in promoting public health and welfare, the Commonwealth has both the authority and an obligation to its citizens to adopt reasonable, common-sense regulations."

“The only thing that will stop Brigham from committing illegal abortions, toss him in jail for a long time,”

Maryland Orders Dangerous Abortionist To Stop Practicing Illegally

• Written by Operation Rescue
• Posted August 31, 2010 at 12:42 pm

Operation Rescue plans to file a complaint demanding criminal charges against scofflaw abortionist Stephen C. Brigham

Elkton, Maryland – Troubled abortionist Steven Chase Brigham has been issued a cease and desist order by the Maryland State Board of Physicians ordering him to stop the illegal practice of medicine, including abortions, at five locations throughout Maryland because he does not and never has been licensed in that state.

The order, dated August 25, 2010, indicates that Brigham has been practicing illegally in Maryland since January, 2010.

It referred to an incident that occurred on August 13, 2010, where Brigham had begun a surgical procedure presumed to be an abortion, since that is the sole focus of his business. However, something went wrong and Brigham instructed the woman to travel to his abortion clinic in Elkton to complete the procedure "on an urgent basis."

"The health of Maryland patients is being endangered by the Respondent's unlicensed practice of medicine in this State," the order read.

The Maryland locations involved are located in Baltimore, Cheverly, Fredrick, College Park, and Elkton. Currently, all the clinics remain open and staffed by other abortionists.

Brigham operates a number of abortion mills in several states under the name American Women's Services.

Brigham has been under investigation and discipline throughout his entire 20-year career. He voluntarily retired his medical license in Pennsylvania while under investigation just six years after graduating from medical school. Since then, Brigham had medical licenses revoked in New York and Florida, and received disciplinary action in California and New Jersey. He served 120 days in jail in 1998 for Medicaid fraud.

A judge once ordered him to stop advertising his abortions as "painless" and "safe."

"The only thing that will stop Brigham from committing illegal abortions that endanger the lives of women is to toss him in jail for a long time," said Operation Rescue Senior Policy Advisor Cheryl Sullenger. "Traditional means of discipline simply don't work with this guy. He has found that he can get away with just about anything without much more than a slap on the wrist. The only way to protect women from Brigham's predatory and unsafe abortion business is to criminally charge him and order all his mills closed. We plan to file a complaint with the authorities and demand criminal charges before the end of the week."

Read the Order

Abortion Profiteers Relying on False Claims to Attack Colorado Personhood Amendment 62

MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- Personhood Colorado and Colorado Right to Life, co-sponsors of Colorado's Personhood Amendment 62, have discovered that their only opposition, "Protect Families Protect Choices", is backed by none other than abortion profiteer Planned Parenthood. 

"Protect Families Protect Choices" is co-chaired by Planned Parenthood and NARAL, two of the largest pro-abortion organizations in the United States. Planned Parenthood has reportedly brought in over $1.02 billion dollars in recent years, and NARAL's financial reports have shown over 6 million. 

"'Protect Families Protect Choices' appears to be a cover group for Planned Parenthood," stated Keith Mason, co-founder of Personhood USA and Manager of the "Yes on 62" campaign. "Of course Planned Parenthood opposes Amendment 62, because it would cut into their profit, and tax dollars for abortion on demand. Who cares more about women: the multi-million- and billion-dollar-per-year organizations who profit from abortion, or the thousands of volunteers who don't want to see even one more woman hurt by abortion? Clearly, those of us who do not profit from abortion are more invested in speaking the truth -- abortion kills babies and harms women. Planned Parenthood and NARAL exploit women for financial gain, and Amendment 62 is primed to put a stop to their profiteering. This is a case of big money versus the people of Colorado, and the people will prevail." 

Amendment 62 volunteer researchers have uncovered a myriad of deceptions and outright lies from the abortion-proceeds camp, some of them boldly posted on the groups' websites. 

"Our opposition is relying on scare tactics to frighten voters," explained Leslie Hanks, co-sponsor of Amendment 62. "For example, NARAL's claims about miscarriages and ectopic pregnancy are patently false. Women would not be investigated for miscarriages, and of course women wouldn't be denied health care or forced to carry an ectopic pregnancy that would kill both her and the baby. Even the No on 62 slogan is disingenuous -- claiming that 62 goes 'too far', when any regulation to abortion is 'too far' for these abortion profiteers. These false claims are calculated to frighten women away from the truth." 

Continued Hanks, "'Protect Families Protect Choices' is misleading to the public. An organization that profits from the killing of children is not protecting anything or anybody. Amendment 62 supports the human rights of all human beings, while 'Protect Families Protect Choices' appears to seek the best interest of Planned Parenthood -- lining their pockets."

“Violence against pro-lifers has become something that we have to guard against every day."

Man Arrested After Threatening To Gun Down Pro-life Activists At Late-Term Abortion Clinic

• Written by Operation Rescue
• Posted at 10:51 am

Abortion clinic cleared "SWAT style" by police, stopping abortions for nearly two hours

Albuquerque, NM – A man was arrested Saturday, August 28, outside Southwestern Women's Options, a late-term abortion clinic operated by Curtis Boyd in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after he threatened to shoot two pro-life women who were offering help to abortion-bound women.

The unidentified man and his wife were escorting their daughter into the abortion clinic when the wife and daughter walked over to the pro-life women to discuss alternatives to abortion. The man became angry and ushered his family members toward the clinic.

"When we come out, I'm going to put a bullet in your head if you talk to her," the man told the pro-life women, whose identities are being withheld for their security.

Witnesses said that the man then lifted his shirt to show the women a dark object that was partially tucked into his trousers. The women recognized the object as a gun and called the police.

"The police responded appropriately and took him away in handcuffs," said former Operation Rescue intern Bud Shaver, who arrived on the scene in time to witness the arrest and the clearing of the clinic by police.

"They cleared Boyd's clinic to search for the gun SWAT style. Everyone, including staff, had to come out with their hands up."

The area was cordoned off and the clinic was closed to patients for nearly two hours while police conducted their investigation.

It is currently unknown if a gun was recovered by police or what charges were brought against the man.

Death threats against pro-lifers have been viewed with greater concern in the wake of the shooting death of activist Jim Pouillon of Owosso, Michigan, who was gunned down last year as he held a pro-life sign outside a local high school. The killer admitted that he murdered Pouillon because he did not agree with his public abortion protests.

Shaver told Operation Rescue that he has been threatened a number of times since he has been in Albuquerque, but the police never responded in the way they did on Saturday.

"We are thankful that no one was injured and that the police took appropriate action," said Newman. "Violence against pro-lifers has become something that we have to guard against every day. Those who reach out to women in front of abortion clinics should not be afraid to continue to do so, but should always have security and an awareness of their surroundings in mind."

VIEW THE PHOTOS

Abortion is murder, not 'termination of pregnancy,' maintains archbishop :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Abortion is murder, not 'termination of pregnancy,' maintains archbishop :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Raymond Nonnatus, Patron of Midwives, Pregnant Women, Unborn Children & Women in Labor

Patron of midwives, pregnant women, unborn children, and women in labor.
In Mexico, he is invoked for silence and protection against curses.
He was called non natus, “not born,” because he was taken out of his mother’s womb after she died in labor.
He voluntary offered himself as a slave to save others and while in captivity,
he gave comfort to other Christians in captive and hoped to convert his captors to Christianity.
To punish and to stop St. Raymond from preaching, his lips were pierced with a
red-hot iron and his mouth closed with a padlock.

SAINT RAYMOND NONNATUS
Confessor

DOUBLE / WHITE
Raymond Nonnatus (c.1204-40), a Catalonian, was a pioneer member of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the redemption of Christians enslaved by the Mohammedans. After freeing hundreds of Christian captives in Africa, he gave himself up as a hostage so as not to expose to apostasy those still unransomed. At length he himself was ransomed and he returned to Spain. He died soon after Pope Gregory IX had nominated him a cardinal. He believed with St. John Chrysostom that the greatest charity of all is to contribute to the salvation of a soul.

Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except

COLLECT
O God, You granted remarkable success to the efforts of the holy confessor Raymond in releasing Christians from the slavery of unbelievers. May his prayers free us from the slavery of sin, so that we may fulfill Your wishes with complete freedom. Through our Lord . . .

PHILIPPINES - Catholic organizations lobbying for pro-life legislation

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ASIA/

Manila (Agenzia Fides) – Catholic groups that defend the value of human life have launched a campaign to convince members of the Filipino Congress to approve two important documents that promote the value of human life. According to a note sent to Fides, this is the "Citizen Protection Act" and "Protection of the Unborn Child Act 2010," one concerning the protection of citizens' rights and the other focused on the protection of unborn children.
The first bill calls for the defense of any citizen against forms of injustice, human rights violations, torture, or abuse of power by the military, stressing the "right to life in every human activity," and calling for a strict control over the issue of firearms, as well as "respect for life in professional and social activities."
The second bill focuses attention on abortion and calls for absolute respect for unborn human life by public and private medical facilities and medical personnel.
The two measures, the note says, are supported by the Catholic Church in the Philippines and, according to activists, will be a test to see the orientation of the new government of President Aquino. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/08/2010)

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Marked for Death' - An Abortion Survivor's Story

Melissa in 1977 and Melissa today

MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- In August of 1977, Melissa Ohden was 'marked for death,' but miraculously she survived. 

Facing Life Head-On, the weekly pro-life television program of Life Issues Institute, and recent Emmy award winner for "best of the best" in the category of Interview and Discussion, features saline infusion abortion attempt survivor, Melissa Ohden on its award winning show the week of August 29th and September 6th. 

In this two part series, host Brad Mattes takes the Facing Life Head-On audience on the journey of Melissa's remarkable survival, how her tragic beginning quickly turned into a story of love through adoption, her search for the truth and for her biological family, and how being a survivor has impacted her now as a parent, herself. 

Interviews with Melissa's adoptive mother and with a doctor regarding late term abortion attempts and the impact of these abortions on babies like Melissa give depth to a story, and a life, that is often unheard of: the story and life of the unborn. 

To view episode 1 of 'Marked for Death' or to find out how you can tune into episodes 1 and 2 of 'Marked for Life,' please visit www.facinglife.tv/episode/index.html. For more information on Melissa's survival, or to inquire about her availability for interviews or speaking requests, please visitwww.melissaohden.com.

Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles.

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/august.asp?version=63&startmmdd=0101

August 30, 2010 

EXCERPT USCCB: CATHOLICS IN POLITICAL LIFE:  "The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions."

COMMENTARY: Why Did A New Orleans Catholic College Host Obama on Katrina 5th Anniversary

VIA GUAM: Letter from Archbishop Anthony Apuron to Catholic Voters:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

May the Peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ Be With You!

We are called to participate in the upcoming elections of our local leaders for the positions of Governor and Lt. Governor, Senator, Attorney General, and Delegate to the U.S. House of Representative. As we exercise our civic duties, we are faced with issues that affect the common good of the People of Guam.

Catholics have a moral obligation to promote the common good by voting in the upcoming primary and general election. By participating in the political process, a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law that contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals. Thus, to the greatest extent possible, Catholics must avoid voting for any candidate who intends to support programs or laws that are intrinsically evil. When the candidates endorse morally harmful issues and policies, we must be responsible and vote in a way that limits the harm likely to be done.

For the Catholic voters, there are at least five (5) issues that concern actions that are intrinsically evil and must never be promoted by the law. Intrinsically evil actions are those that fundamentally conflict with the moral law and can never be performed under any circumstances. It is a serious sin to deliberately endorse or promote any of these actions. Candidates who promote and want to advance the common good will not support any action contrary to the non-negotiable actions involved with these issues.

The issues that are non-negotiable actions in the Catholic Church are the following: (1) Abortion, (2) Euthanasia, (3) Embryonic Stem Cell Research, (4) Human Cloning, and (5) Same-Sex Union. I would like to highlight at least three of the five that relates more to us on Guam.

1. Abortion Abortion is the intentional and direct killing of an innocent human being, and therefore it is a form of homicide. The church teaches that any law permitting abortion, it is "never licit to obey it, or take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such law, or to vote for it." The unborn child is always an innocent party, and no law may permit the taking of this life. Even when a child is conceived through rape or incest, the fault is not the child's who should not suffer death for other's sins.

2. Same – Sex Union Marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Legal recognition of any other union as 'marriage' undermines true marriage. Any legal recognition of same-sex union actually does individuals with tendencies for same sex a disfavor by encouraging them to persist in what is an objectively immoral arrangement.

Catholic lawmakers have a moral duty to express their opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against same-sex union. To vote in for, or advocate such action, is harmful to the common good and is gravely immoral.

3. Euthanasia Euthanasia is also known as "mercy killing" and is another form of homicide. No person has the right to take his own life, and no one has the right to take the life of any innocent person.

In euthanasia, the sick or elderly are killed by action or omission, out of a misplaced sense of compassion or misguided mercy. True compassion cannot include intentionally doing something intrinsically evil to another person.

The Church asks for each Catholic voter to adequately develop a well-formed conscience regarding key moral issues. A well-formed conscience will never contradict moral teaching. If you are unsure where your conscience is leading you, place your trust in the unwavering moral teachings of the Church. You can turn to your Catechism of the Catholic Church as an excellent source of authentic moral teaching.

Furthermore, the Church encourages every Catholic voter to not just vote based in part on your party affiliation, your earlier voting habits, or family voting traditions. Past voting habits may be how we determine support for the candidate, but we need to look further and understand the issues and where does each candidate stand on the issue. Be careful not to cast your vote based on the candidates' appearance, personality, or 'media savvy.' Do not vote for candidates just because they declare themselves Catholic. Unfortunately, many self-described Catholic candidates reject basic Catholic teachings. Also, do not vote based on "what's in it for me?" Make your decision based on which candidates will most likely promote the common good, even if you will not benefit directly or immediately from what they propose. Finally do not vote for the candidates who are right on lesser issues but who will vote contrary to the Church teachings on key moral issues (i.e. the five non-negotiable actions listed).

Therefore in the upcoming primary and the general election, please participate and exercise your civic duties as Catholic voters and make known your position by selecting the candidates who are willing to be accountable towards the common good of the People of Guam.

Through the intercession of Santa Marian Kamalen, Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, and Blessed Pedro Calungson, let us pray that as we participate in the upcoming primary and general election, that the exercise of our civic duties will lead to eventually selection of responsible and accountable leaders who seeks the common good for the People of Guam. May we continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit in proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Servus Tuus,
Most Rev. Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana

AFRICA: Catholic bishops of Nigeria denounce corruption and cash-and-carry politics

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 26- "Brief Summary on Discernment"

5. Abstinence is the mother of health. The mother of abstinence is the thought of death and firm remembrance of our Lord's gall and vinegar.        

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Prayer request?  Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com

This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.