Dear Friends for Life, Shocking news: "Ten Million Girls Killed In India". A government minister stated that ten million girls have been killed by their parents in India in the last two decades, and that this is a "national crisis." Girls are seen as liabilities by many parents because of the practice of dowry, whereas, men are seen as breadwinners who will care for their parents. The minister stated, "The minute the child is born, and she opens her mouth to cry, they put sand into her mouth and her nostrils so she chokes and dies... They bury infants in pots alive and bury the pots. They put tobacco in her mouth. They hang them upside down like a bunch of flowers to dry. We have more passion for tigers in this country, more for taking care of stray dogs on the road, but this society ruthlessly hunts down girl children." Dr. Maria Mascarenhas, a founding board member of the International Right to Life Federation, Inc. states that in Delhi, for every thousand boys born as third child,
only 219 girls are born. No Babies, No Future: Spain has the "oldest" European population. Spain's Institute for Family Policy has reported that Spain with the lowest birth rate in the western world (1.07 babies per women) is now the most rapidly aging country in Europe. Its youth population in the last two decades has dropped from 10 to 6.6 million. The Culture of Life desperately needs you: your prayers, your voice. God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI (Quote) "Catholicism is a deep matter - you can not take it up in a teacup." - Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman ****************************** ********** Lifeissues.net NEWSLETTER #493 September 26, 2010 ****************************** **********
(TABLE OF CONTENTS): 1. The Truth Behind Abortion Pills 2. Deciding Not to Screen for Down Syndrome 3. Ortho Evra dangers of birth control patch exposed 4. Archbishop urges Argentineans to defend life and family 5. Confronting the Pornography Epidemic 6. What To Do When Your Marriage is in Trouble 7. What is HIV? 8. HIV Transmission 9. Women And HIV 10. Myths about HIV 11. Cardinal affirms Chile's rejection of abortion 12. Oregon Hospices Not Participating In Assisted Suicide ****************************** ************************* (Focus on Asia): Fear among Christians in Karachi, suffering "insecurity" - There are no imminent threats, but there is still fear evident among the Christian community. In Pakistan, we Christians are in a precarious condition: we do not know what may happen in the next five minutes." http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=27455&lan=eng ****************************** ************************* ITEM #1. The Truth Behind Abortion Pills The abortion industry is in celebratory mode these days. They are rapidly achieving a long hoped-for goal of making chemical abortions more acceptable and easily accessible. The problem is they are resorting to profound and dangerous deception to get what they want. View full article at Townhall.com:
http://townhall.com/columnists/VirginiaFoxx/2010/09/15/the_truth_behind_abortion_pills/page/1 ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #2. Deciding Not to Screen for Down Syndrome Comment: I had my Karen at age 33 in the early 1980s. She was born with both Down Syndrome and a severe heart defect. The cardiologist said he would "support us either way" regarding surgery even though he said her chances of survival were 80-90%. I was appalled. As a nurse, I knew this doctor would have strenously argued for lifesaving surgery and could even obtain a court order for surgery - if Karen didn't have Down Syndrome. Sadly, Karen died of a rare complication of pneumonia just prior to her scheduled heart surgery at 6 months of age. My husband, a doctor himself, and I never regretted trying to save her life. However, Karen did open our eyes to the sad fact of medical discrimination against people with disabilities. Later on, we had another baby and decided against amniocentesis because of the potential risk to the baby and also because we would never abort our child. Many people thought we were either terribly brave or terribly stupid. We were neither. We made sure we were informed by doing our own research. One fact I stumbled upon when I called every geneticist and department at every hospital in our area was that each hospital had a different criteria for what what counts as a miscarriage caused by amniocentesis. In one case, a woman who miscarried a healthy baby 3-4 days after her amnio found out that her miscarriage wouldn't count as being caused by the amnio because, at her hospital, that was less than their criteria of 2 days after amniocentesis. I would like to ask genetic counselors if the research for this has improved. Parents need accurate information as well as support for loving their baby regardless of his or her condition. By the way, the comments section on this article shows overwhelming support for having children with Down Syndrome by parents who already have had a child with DS. --Nancy Valko, RN View full article at NYT:
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/deciding-not-to-screen-for-down-syndrome/?pagemode=print ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #3. Ortho Evra dangers of birth control patch exposed TODAY show - exposing the dangers of the Birth Control Patch "Ortho Evra" from Johnson & Johnson - lawsuits finally to expose the dangers of the patch...over 2400 women injured and 2 dozen deaths contributed to the patch...and the FDA still allows it on the market! This is a must see video - so important for women to be aware of how women are often used as guinea pigs in the birth control market....$$$ drive the industry over a woman's dignity. View full article at msnbc.msn.com:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=39303345� Additional article and videos:
Did drugmaker hide patch risks?
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39306467 ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #4. Archbishop urges Argentineans to defend life and family Archbishop Alfonso Delgado of San Juan de Cuyo, Argentina denounced the recent series of attacks against life and the family in the country, including the various attempts to legalize abortion. He called such measures modern-day manifestations of the massacre of the innocents ordered by King Herod. View full article at CNA:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/archbishop-urges-argentineans-to-defend-life-and-family/ ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #5. Confronting the Pornography Epidemic Unfortunately, society does not see how dangerous pornography is. It's no secret that we live in a pornified culture. Erotic images seem to be everywhere. In this special report for Catholic Online a clinical therapist examines the dangers, the struggles and the path to recovery. Though it does not appear that the amount of pornography in our culture will let up soon, he claims that we can win the battle gainst it by educating ourselves and taking appropriate action we can protect our families and help those who struggle and succumb to an addiction find the help they so desperately need. View full article at Catholic Online:
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=38382 ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #6. What To Do When Your Marriage is in Trouble Very often marital problems arise from different moral failures, usually by both husband and wife. At other times non-moral factors can cause them. Since God's grace and human persons cooperating with his grace can overcome all serious sins, the moral failings troubling a marriage can be overcome "if the couple uses the means necessary to do so". View full article at LifeIssues.net:
http://lifeissues.net/writers/may/may_27marriageandtrouble.html ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #7. What is HIV? The Well Project feels it's a good time to review some of "The Basics" around HIV, and put a renewed effort in getting the word out and facts straight on "What is HIV?" Article is located at The Well Project:
http://www.thewellproject.org/en_US/HIV_The_Basics/What_is_HIV.jsp ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #8. HIV Transmission Many people still misunderstand how HIV is passed from one person to another. Knowing the basics helps you avoid getting the virus if you are HIV-negative, and avoid giving it to someone else if you are HIV+. Article can be found at The Well Project:
http://www.thewellproject.org/en_US/HIV_The_Basics/HIV_Transmission.jsp ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #9. Women And HIV While there were a handful of women among the first cases, AIDS was thought to primarily affect gay men. However, as the years passed, women have emerged as another group hard hit by the AIDS epidemic. View entire article at The Well Project:
http://www.thewellproject.org/en_US/HIV_The_Basics/Women_and_HIV.jsp ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #10. Myths about HIV There are many myths about HIV. A myth is a story or an idea that is not true. In dealing with HIV, it's important to know reality from myth. Believing myths can result in fear, in denial, and even in damage to your health. View entire text at The Well Project:
http://www.thewellproject.org/en_US/HIV_The_Basics/Myths_and_Misperceptions.jsp ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #11. Cardinal affirms Chile's rejection of abortion During the celebrations commemorating Chile's bicentennial, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz of Santiago called on the faithful to continuing building their country on the foundation of the Gospel, which has been the basis for rejecting the new cultural and ideological colonialism of abortion. View entire text at CNA:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-affirms-chiles-rejection-of-abortion/ ------------------------------ ----------- ITEM #12. Oregon Hospices Not Participating In Assisted Suicide Comment: Personally, I could never refer my hospice patients to an assisted suicide law, especially in a "neutral" manner. I would use the same suicide prevention measures I would use with anyone else. Years ago, I turned down an offer to be a director of a hospice when the owner wanted us to remain neutral on assisted suicide, even though it's never been legal here in Missouri. It's outrageous that euthanasia groups are exerting such pressure on Oregon hospices. Unfortunately however, too many hospices are still allowing terminal sedation, unwarranted withdrawal of food and water, acceptance of non-dying, disabled people like Terri Schiavo, etc. that also result in premature death. -Nancy Valko, RN View full article at First Things:
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2010/09/15/oregon-hospices-not-participating-in-assisted-suicide/ ****************************** ************************** YOU CAN CHANGE SOCIETY: 1. BE INFORMED: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. Visit Lifeissues.net Website for insights into current Life Issues www.lifeissues.net. All prior email Newsletters Archives are located online at http://lifeissues.net/newsletters/mojo.cgi?flavor=archive&list=lifenews&start=0 3. PRAY DAILY: for the courage to be God's presence in society and to strongly support those who are deemed "unworthy of life". "If My people who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 4. BECOME INVOLVED: Several years ago Fr. Jerry created a project entitled, "Journey for Life into the Heart of Asia". The project appeals for donations to help finance plane travel for lectures and seminars to developing countries in Asia. Strong focus is centered on reaching Asian Catholic Major Seminaries, Universities, Parishes, Hospitals and Family/Pro Life related groups. The lectures place emphasis on "The Asian Family at Crossroads: Life Issues, Trends and Challenges". For information about no-cost Pro Life Talks to your group in Asia: contact Fr. Jerry at jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp. To become a supportive Missionary participant for this Asian project, kindly send your donations to: ** Fr. Jerry Novotny, OMI ** LifeIssues.net, Editor ** Akebono-cho 1-15-9 ** Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072 (or transfer donation directly to ProLife bank account: Jerome Novotny, Shikoku Bank, Asakura Branch, No. 102-1-0080824) ------------------------------ Get a weekly dose of clear thinking: subscribe to our free Lifeissues newsletter! Sign up at www.LifeIssues.net. Pass this free service to your friends and various groups. ------------------------------ Contact EDITOR: Jerry Novotny, OMI Akebono-cho 1-15-9 Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072 [tel/fax: 088-843-0406] [email: jerry@lifeissues.net (or) jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp] ------------------------------ Websites by Editor: English LifeIssues Site: http://www.lifeissues.net, Japanese LifeIssues Site: http://www.japan-lifeissues.net, OMI Site: http://www.omijapankorea.net/index.html ------------------------------
