LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
| For pro-life news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com. |
Current Headlines
• Pro-Abortion Group Starts Attacking Sarah Palin, Pro-Life Women Candidates
• Poll Finds Americans Oppose Allowing Abortions at Military Base Hospitals
• Catholic Xavier University to Host Speech From Pro-Abortion President Obama
• Documents Show Botched Abortions Hurt Women More Frequently Than Believed
• Senate Democrats Will Bring Back Disclose Act Hurting Pro-Life Free Speech
• Students Who Opt Out of North Carolina Abortion-Insurance Mandate Pay The Same
• Second Pro-Life Freedom Ride Focuses on Election, Helping Women After Abortion
• Addressing Abortion From a "Positive Angle" Tough to Do When It Kills Children
• Pennsylvania Pro-Life Candidate Pat Toomey Holds Big Lead Over Joe Sestak
• Alaska Voters Should Support Parental Notification on Abortion in Primary
---> Thank you for the excellent support for LifeNews.com in our new fundraising campaign to raise $2,010 for news coverage about pro-life efforts to retake both the House and Senate. We have a good start on the $4,020 we want to bring in and need your help to get to the goal. Please use the button below to make a donation or use the donate button on the left-hand side of http://LifeNews.com
Pro-Abortion Group Starts Attacking Sarah Palin, Pro-Life Women Candidates
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The pro-abortion political group Emily's List started a new national campaign today designed to attack pro-life former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and the slew of pro-life women candidates she is supporting across the country in this year's congressional elections.
The group's president, Stephanie Schriock detailed the "Sarah Doesn't Speak for Me" campaign during a press conference at the National Press Club today.
The campaign will focus on a web site chronicling statements from Palin and pro-life women candidates like Senate nominees Carly Fiorina, Sharron Angle and others that the pro-abortion groups condemns.
The effort is seen as an attack on the "mama grizzlies" Palin has spoken about repeatedly on the campaign trail in what is increasingly seen as the year of the pro-life women -- with so many running for the House and Senate or gubernatorial posts.
In May, Palin touted "pro-women" conservatives who are, as she described, politically engaged "mamma grizzlies" against abortion and for traditional values.
"There's a whole stampede of pink elephants," she said about the large number of pro-life women candidates seeking statewide and Congressional offices this year.
"If you thought pitbulls were tough, you don't want to mess with mamma grizzlies," she said. "This year will be remembered as the year when common sense conservative women get things done for our country." Full story at LifeNews.com
Poll Finds Americans Oppose Allowing Abortions at Military Base Hospitals
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll conducted July 14-18 by The Polling Company for the Center for Military Readiness and the Military Culture Coalition has bearing on a debate in the Senate about allowing abortions at taxpayer-funded U.S. military bases. The poll finds a plurality of Americans oppose that idea.
By a 49-41 percent margin, Americans say they don't want to see abortions done in the hospitals that treat the men and women of the armed forces. The percentage of voters strongly opposed (42%) outpaced those strongly in favor (26%).
The majority of men (51%) and a plurality of women (47%) opposed authorizing abortions in military medical facilities. Pro-life voters objected 84%-9%, while pro-choice voters endorsed it 76%-15%. Military members stood against this practice, opposing it by 14 percentage points (51% oppose vs. 37% support).
The poll responds to a Senate bill containing an amendment that would turn U.S. military base hospitals into abortion centers.
The amendment, sponsored by pro-abortion Sen. Rolland Burris of Illinois, would have the military break with current longstanding policy disallowing abortions.
According to the new poll, lawmakers who vote for abortions in tax-funded military facilities do so at their own political peril as 43% of Americans would be less likely to vote for members of Congress who would vote that way. Just 21% were more likely to vote for such members of Congress and the rest said it would make no difference. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Xavier University to Host Speech From Pro-Abortion President Obama
New Orleans, LA (LifeNews.com) -- Xavier University, a Catholic college, will host a speech on August 29 by pro-abortion President Barack Obama. The speech will mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina but the college is coming under fire because it violates a request from the nation's Catholic bishops.
We are pleased and grateful that the President has decided to include a visit to the Xavier University campus as part of his visit to New Orleans on August 29 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina," Xavier President Dr. Norman Francis said, according to WDSU.
"Obama will get to see firsthand why we are so proud of the progress we have made here at Xavier during the five years since Katrina, not only restoring our campus but expanding our facilities and services since then in order to fulfill our mission established 85 years ago," he added.
But the Cardinal Newman Society, a watchdog for Catholic colleges and universities, is not pleased.
U.S. bishops' policy is clear, it said in a statement. No Catholic institution should provide an honor or platform to a public opponent of fundamental Catholic teachings. This is most important at a university that is dedicated to seeking and teaching the truth, and which embraces the Catholic faith. Full story at LifeNews.com
Documents Show Botched Abortions Hurt Women More Frequently Than Believed
Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life group released new documents today from a former abortion facility staffer showing two women injured medically by botched abortions in Columbus, Ohio in the last two months. The organization says it and other documents show women are injured more frequently than most people understand.
An abortion whistle blower provided documentation to Operation Rescue showing disturbing information about two botched abortions that took place at different abortion businesses in the Ohio state capital in the last month.
"It is our understanding from conversations with our confidential sources in Ohio that abortion patients in Columbus end up in the local emergency rooms with alarming frequency," OR president Troy Newman told LifeNews.com today.
"Our whistleblower says that these two incidents are just the tip of the iceberg. The true number of abortion complications is hidden from the public and it now appears that complications requiring emergency hospitalization have reached epidemic proportions," said Newman.
The pro-life organization is demanding that the Medical Board of Ohio conduct inspections and close the dangerous abortion businesses in Columbus and around the state. Full story at LifeNews.com
Senate Democrats Will Bring Back Disclose Act Hurting Pro-Life Free Speech
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- When the Senate comes back from its August recess, the pro-abortion Democrats who control the chamber will bring back a campaign finance bill that pro-life groups oppose because it will limit their free speech. Last month, they failed to get enough votes to stop a Republican filibuster against the DISCLOSE Act.
The bill would place stringent limits on the ability of grassroots groups to communicate to the public about legislation and elections.
Senate Republicans filibustered the legislation and Democrats held a cloture vote late last month where they need 60 votes to be able to stop the filibuster and move towards a vote on the bill itself.
However, they were unable to peel off any Republicans to support the cloture vote and lost by a 57-41 margin.
Now, representatives of Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer, the bills pro-abortion lead sponsors, say the bill will return to the Senate floor next month.
Democrats are targeting Republican Sens. Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine. They are three abortion advocates considered most likely to switch their vote to support the bill and oppose the filibuster. Full story at LifeNews.com
Students Who Opt Out of North Carolina Abortion-Insurance Mandate Pay The Same
Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) -- The national controversy involving the discovery a pro-life student group made about students who attend public universities in North Carolina having to pay for abortions in a required health insurance plan has taken another turn. Students who opt out will apparently be required to pay the same premium amount.
Students for Life of America discovered the North Carolina Board of Governors will require all students enrolled in a University of North Carolina public institution, starting with the 2010-2011 school year, to have health insurance.
Students who do not already have private health insurance are required to buy a state selected policy from Pearce & Pearce, Inc -- and it covers up to $500 toward elective abortions and has 80% PPO coverage for elective abortions.
Following SFLA's national outcry, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors announced that they will allow students opposed to abortion to "opt-out" of paying for abortion coverage.
However, students at any of the 16 UNC campuses who opt out will still be required to pay the same premiums as those who do not. Full story at LifeNews.com
Second Pro-Life Freedom Ride Focuses on Election, Helping Women After Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The first Pro-Life Freedom Ride in Alabama and Georgia saw hundreds of pro-life advocates recreate the historic rights used by the civil rights movement -- this time to press for civil rights for unborn children. The second ride takes place this September and will focus on the elections and helping women after abortion.
The event, sponsored by Priests for Life along with black pro-life leader Alveda King, was inaugurated last month with a ride from Birmingham to Atlanta.
The second phase begins next month with a nine-week period of prayer and action starting on September 1 and concluding on Election Day.
Participants and supporters will join a national webcast on September 7 to discuss how people can participate in their own communities in the activities of these weeks.
The event will also include the National Voter Registration Sunday projects on September 12, where pro-life advocates are urged to get church members and pro-life people registered to vote.
Then, the pro-life freedom riders will board buses and tag along in automobiles as they drive from Knoxville, Tennessee to Chattanooga. Full story at LifeNews.com
Addressing Abortion From a "Positive Angle" Tough to Do When It Kills Children
by Bryan Kemper
A Christian leader recently asked me to talk about abortion from a "positive angle" -- here is my attempt.
Abortion is positively an act of homicide Homicide is defined as one person killing another person.
Abortion is positively the killing of a human person Every single person aborted is a unique, full and equal human person in a different stage of their life. Zygote, Embryo, Fetus, Infant, Toddler, Teen, Adult, Senior Citizen: all stages of the life of a human person.
There are positively no exceptions that justify abortion Because abortion always ends the life of a human person, there is no way to justify this homicidal act. While there may be tragic circumstances that lead to the conception of some human persons, this does not change the genetic make up or value of that individual person. While the mother carrying that individual human person in her womb may have medical complications, this does not justify killing that human person.
We would never accept the killing of a three year old to save the life or protect the health of a mother; in the same manner we cannot accept the killing of that same person when they were at an earlier stage of their life. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pennsylvania Pro-Life Candidate Pat Toomey Holds Big Lead Over Joe Sestak
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Pat Toomey, the pro-life candidate for the Senate in Pennsylvania to replace pro-abortion Sen. Arlen Specter. has taken a big lead over his pro-abortion rival Joe Sestak. A new survey from Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firm, shows Toomey jumping out to a 9-point lead, 45-36, with 20% still undecided.
That's a big difference from the June poll from the firm showing the race dead even at 41 percent.
Sestak gets only 64% of Democrats to Toomey s 74% of Republicans, and Toomey s support among unaffiliated voters is now a majority, 50-23.
Sestak also now has a net-negative favorability rating by 10 points, after breaking even in June, while Toomey keeps a barely positive mark.
The polling firm says its surveying of likely voters finds a much different group of people turning out this November than in the presidential elections that resulted in the election of pro-abortion President Barack Obama.
"The likely 2010 electorate reports voting for John McCain by 1 point over Barack Obama, as opposed to Obama s actual 10-point victory," PPP said of likely Pennsylvania voters. Full stories at LifeNews.com
Alaska Voters Should Support Parental Notification on Abortion in Primary
by Joel Davidson
They say you should understand your opponent s strongest argument before disagreeing with their conclusion.
On August 24, Alaskans will vote on a proposed law that would require for at least one parent of a minor girl to be notified before she undergoes an abortion.
Opposition to Ballot Measure 2 is led by Planned Parenthood and their affiliated organization, Alaskans Against Government Mandates. They say some teens are unable to safely communicate with parents because of abuse in the home. These teens, as the argument goes, might be at further risk if they are required to notify an abusive parent prior to an abortion.
That is the main criticism of the parental notification law.
In response to this, it must be noted that the law includes specific exceptions for these rare cases.
A judicial bypass procedure allows judges to waive parental notice on a case-by-case basis. Teens could simply call the judge without ever standing in court. In cases of abuse, a minor could have another person with knowledge of the abuse sign an affidavit, which effectively waives the parental notice requirement.
It is ironic that opponents of this bill cast themselves as defending young girls from abuse. In reality, some of these minor girls have already been abused by boyfriends or older men people who have vested interests in erasing evidence by way of secret abortion. Full stories at LifeNews.com
Encourage Friends to Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
