LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday, August 14, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Pro-Life Groups Concerned About Potential FDA Approval of Ella Abortion Drug
• Congressman: FDA-OKd Abortion Drug Ella May Be Funded in ObamaCare
• Obama Administration Clears Itself on Illegally Lobbying for Abortion in Kenya
• Catholic Network Starts New Anti-Death Penalty Campaign, What About Abortion?
• California's Barbara Boxer Responds to Slip in Polls to Fiorina With Abortion Ad
• Nevada Poll has Pro-Abortion Harry Reid Leading Pro-Life Sharron Angle by Two
• Pro-Life Students Finish Cross-Country Walk Against Abortion This Weekend
• Indiana: Court Issues Ruling on Fort Wayne Abortion Law, Pro-Lifers Say Victory
• California Student Wins Free Speech Case Over School's Denial of Pro-Life Shirt
• Pro-Life Advocate Celebrates Decision on Sidewalk at DC Planned Parenthood
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Pro-Life Groups Concerned About Potential FDA Approval of Ella Abortion Drug
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Leaders of four pro-life groups participated in a conference call this afternoon to discuss the potential decision by the FDA to approve the abortion drug ella. They are concerned the decision will be billed as okaying a morning after pill even though the drug operates as an abortion agent.
In June, the FDA Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs gave its approval to the early abortion drug on two 11-0 votes.
Billed as a better morning after pill, because it can be used longer after sexual intercourse than the traditional Plan B drug, the drug would almost always cause an abortion because it would begin working days after conception, which confers into existence a new, unique human being.
Supporters of the drug have gotten around that fact by redefining the beginning of pregnancy as implantation rather than conception, or fertilization.
Wendy Wright, the president of Concerned Women for America led off the conference call saying that the FDA could be in a position to mislead American women.
"If the FDA approve the ella abortion drug without saying it is an abortion drug, it would be a disservice to women," she said.
She pointed out how the FDA could be following its decision during the latter part of the Clinton administration to approve the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug -- which has killed at least 13 women, and potentially dozens more, and injured more than 1,100 in the United States alone according to FDA reports. Full story at LifeNews.com
Congressman: FDA-OKd Abortion Drug Ella May Be Funded in ObamaCare
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Reacting to the decision by the Food and Drug Administration today to give prescription approval to the abortion drug ella, billed by the FDA and drug supporters as a morning after pill, one congressman is concerned the abortion drug will be included in the government-run health care plan.
As LifeNews.com reported, the FDA approved the drug that its maker says is a better morning after pill, because it can be used longer after sexual intercourse than the traditional Plan B drug.
However, pro-life groups and physicians say it works as an abortion agent because it works after conception and destroys the life of a day-old unborn child.
Because it causes an abortion and because it could qualify for federal funding under eh new ObamaCare health system, New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith says he wants President Barack Obama to ensure that won't happen.
Ella might even be mandated as a preventive service under Obamacare thus forcing insurance companies to cover this new abortion drug," he told LifeNews.com in a statement.
"I call on President Obama to issue an Executive Order prohibiting any federal agency from providing funding for ella or insurance coverage that includes ella," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Obama Administration Clears Itself on Illegally Lobbying for Abortion in Kenya
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Obama administration has cleared itself of illegally lobbying for abortion in Kenya when it spent $23 million financing groups participating in the Yes campaign supporting the draft constitution Kenyans approved earlier this month that would essentially allow unlimited abortions.
The State Department's inspector general released a report Thursday specifically looking at whether United States Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger violated the law by endorsing the constitution.
Its review of documents both classified and unclassified said Ranneberger did not violate the Siljander amendment, a law making it so the United States is not allowed to lobby for or against abortion in other nations.
According to AllAfrica, the State Department inspectors report said they "did not find any evidence that US embassy officials made any private or public statements to Kenyan government officials, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), or any other actors expressing either a positive or negative position on the abortion provision in the draft Kenyan constitution."
The review did, however, find that some of Ranneberger's public statements in April could be taken as "advocating for a 'Yes' vote" on the constitution itself.
It appears Ranneberger and the Obama administration were able to carefully avoid technically violating the law by saying they were supporting the voting process for the constitution in general and talking up the benefits of supporting it without specifically promoting the provisions in the document that will allow abortions and essentially go against the pro-life laws of the nation protecting women and unborn children.
All Africa indicated the report noted Ranneberger himself admitted he was "walking a fine line between advocating reform and voting 'Yes'."
The State Department report also referenced a report USAID issued last month saying some of the $23 million went to groups promoting the pro-abortion constitution. It said Ranneberger said he did "not review the specific grant language and had been unaware of the specific wording" contained in the summaries of grants for the groups backing the constitution. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Network Starts New Anti-Death Penalty Campaign, What About Abortion?
by Deal Hudson
On January 29, the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Death Penalty (CMN) was launched. According to its executive director, Karen Clifton, the CMN was created "with the encouragement of the USCCB."
The support of the bishops' conference is substantial. The Coordinating Committee includes both Kathy Saile, the director of the Office of Domestic Concerns, and John Carr, the executive director of the Department of Justice, Peace & Human Development. The organization's Web site carries the logo of the USCCB and contains welcome videos from Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore and Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin.
As most Catholics know, Church teaching on the death penalty developed under the leadership of Pope John Paul II. His encyclical Evangelium Vitae did not rule out use of the death penalty altogether, as some people think, but stated it should be used only "in cases of absolute necessity," adding "such cases are rare, if practically non-existent" (56). For John Paul, the dignity of the human person demanded that Catholics look for "bloodless means" to protect the common good from the threat of those who are guilty of taking innocent human life.
Thus, there's no avoiding the fact that political arguments about the death penalty are going to play a role in the pro-life debate. Clifton makes this point in her article written for the Catholic Conference for Kentucky:
To have a consistent ethic of life, we need to deliberate and come to understand that all life is precious to God, even those guilty of heinous crimes. As Catholics we are called to be consistently Pro-Life.
The "seamless garment" argument used by Clifton, of course, raises questions about what those connected with the Catholic Mobilizing Network will be saying about the pro-life position of politicians. As everyone knows too well, this version of Catholic social teaching has been used for more than four decades to provide cover for Catholic politicians who do not oppose abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com
California's Barbara Boxer Responds to Slip in Polls to Fiorina With Abortion Ad
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll in the California Senate race shows pro-life candidate Carly Fiorina has increased her lead over pro-abortion incumbent Barbara Boxer to five percentage points. Not content with the results, Boxer has released a new Internet ad that bashes Fiorina on abortion.
The new CBS 5 KPIX-TV poll released Thursday has Fiorina leading Boxer 47-42 percent with the rest undecided or favoring a minor party candidate.
The poll also noted that Fiorina s support is essentially unchanged among men and women, young and old voters, and white and Hispanic voters while Boxer has lost a bit of ground with men, younger voters, and independents.
Fiorina is capturing 27 percent of the black vote, leads Boxer among independents by 17 percent, and trails Hispanics by just six points.
Fiorina has also upped her lead in the Central Valley from 7 percent to 21 percent in the latest Survey USA poll.
Just hours after the polling results were released, the Boxer campaign dropped a new 15-second Internet ad blasting Fiorina on abortion -- an issues Boxer's people believe will help her in a state that does not follow the rest of the nation in opposing abortion.
The ad bashes Fiorina for saying, I absolutely would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade if the opportunity presented itself" in a KTKZ - AM interview in January. It highlights several endorsements Fiorina has received from pro-life groups and pro-life leaders. Full story at LifeNews.com
Nevada Poll has Pro-Abortion Harry Reid Leading Pro-Life Sharron Angle by Two
Carson City, NV (LifeNews.com) -- A new Mason-Dixon poll sponsored by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and 8NewsNow shows the Senate race in Nevada essentially tied. It has pro-abortion Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid leading pro-life candidate Sharron Angle by two percentage points.
Reid edged out Angle 46 percent to 44 percent in what is the best showing for both candidates, whose negative ratings are sky high as they go after each other.
Only 5 percent of voters were undecided, two percent wanted another minor candidate and three percent of voters said "none of the above" when asked.
Some political observers say the question of Reid's key status in the Senate could determine the outcome of the race, but the poll found 51 percent said his position as the head of the Senate is not too valuable to give up while 45 percent said it is valuable enough to retain.
"More people are saying we don't need him there" in Washington pollster Brad Coker told the Las Vegas newspaper. "That's the kind of number that may foreshadow what the vote might look like when we get to the end. I think this race is more a referendum on Harry Reid than about Sharron Angle."
If the race becomes about Reid rather than Angle, political observers say that favors the pro-life candidate over Reid, who is primarily responsible for moving the pro-abortion, government-run health care bill through the Senate. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Students Finish Cross-Country Walk Against Abortion This Weekend
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- On Saturday, nearly four dozen young adults and college students from colleges around the country will meet in Washington, D.C. to cap off three different cross-country walks. Their participation in the Crossroads event is a way to highlight opposition to abortion nationwide.
Crossroads has sponsored these pro-life walks across America every summer since 1995.
Passing through 36 states and thousands of towns and cities, they have witnessed the reality that the overwhelming majority of Americans identify themselves as pro-life.
Walking night and day, through rain or shine, these young people have spent the last 12 weeks witnessing to hundreds of thousands of Americans.
Wearing shirts that are emblazoned with the words "PRO-LIFE" in big letters on the front, these dedicated walkers have had an amazing summer.
"The mainstream media may tell you different, but we can say with authority and through actual experience at the grass-roots level, that America is truly a pro-life country," Martha Nolan, the national director of the group, told LifeNews.com today.
"The reality is that the Obama Administration is sadly out of touch with the values of mainstream America. We know because what we experience firsthand from the hundreds of thousands of people we meet along the way is in stark contrast to the strident stances now coming from the leadership in Washington," she said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Indiana: Court Issues Ruling on Fort Wayne Abortion Law, Pro-Lifers Say Victory
Fort Wayne, IN (LifeNews.com) -- A judge has issued an initial ruling in the case abortion advocates brought against 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.
Alliance Defense Fund attorneys representing Allen County say the court order the judge issued denies most of abortion practitioner George Klopfer's motion to stop critical aspects of the new Patient Safety Ordinance.
ADF tells LifeNews.com that means those provisions can go into effect and that the door is open for other Indiana counties to enact similar legislation.
A patient s health is more important than an abortionist s bottom line, said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Steven H. Aden. Full story at LifeNews.com
California Student Wins Free Speech Case Over School's Denial of Pro-Life Shirt
Fresno, CA (LifeNews.com) -- In a victory for pro-life speech in public schools, a federal court entered a judgment Thursday against a California elementary school and three school officials. The court determined they violated the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights of a 6th grade student who wore a pro-life T-shirt.
School officials barred Tiffany Amador from wearing her pro-life T-shirt at McSwain Union Elementary School, a kindergarten through 8th grade school located in Merced, north of Fresno.
On April 29, 2008, Amador wore a shirt sponsored by American Life League, which sponsors the annual National Pro-Life T-shirt Week.
The shirt, given to the young girl by her church, prominently featured the word ABORTION over a series of panels, two of which depicted endoscopic pictures of a baby developing in the womb and the third filled in with black. The caption read, growing growing gone.
Amador testified in the case that she wore the shirt to school because she wanted other students to known that abortion is wrong.
The school claimed the images of the baby were disruptive to the school environment because of their graphic nature but could not explain what made them so graphic that they would have caused any disruption. Full stories at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Advocate Celebrates Decision on Sidewalk at DC Planned Parenthood
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life advocate is celebrating the decision form Washington, D.C. city officials saying the sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood abortion business in the nation's capital is public property. The decision may allow pro-life advocates to pray there without interference.
As LifeNews.com reported, yesterday, the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General has concluded that the location is, in fact, public property and is available for use by the public.
That's important because Patrick Mahoney, a pastor who heads the Christian Defense Coalition, challenged signs Planned Parenthood posted saying its sidewalk is private property.
For the past several months, Washington D.C. police officers have been threatening peaceful pro-life activists with arrest for simply praying and counseling on the public sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood.
"We thank God for this important victory for free speech, public prayer and the First Amendment," Mahoney told LifeNews.com late Thursday.
"The City of Washington, D.C. got it right when they reversed their tragic decision to arrest American citizens for simply praying on a public sidewalk," he added. "It would have been unthinkable for our nation's capital to ban and prohibit prayer on a public sidewalk, just blocks from the White House, to protect abortion and Planned Parenthood." Full stories at LifeNews.com
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