LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Thursday, September 16, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Pro-Life Candidates Defeat Abortion Backers in Delaware, New Hampshire
• Appeals Court Asked to Reverse Decision Allowing Embryonic Research Funding
• Pelosi Says Pro-Abortion Democrats Will "Absolutely" Keep House After Elections
• UN: Maternal Mortality Declines by One-Third Despite No Abortion Legalization
• Mike Castle's Loss Drops Embryonic Stem Cell Funding Advocate From Congress
• Britons Criticize Pope's Visit to England as Catholic Church Pro-Life on Abortion
• Obama Must Back Down From Ignoring Doctor's Conscience Rights on Abortion
• Florida: Rubio Still Holds Double Digit Lead Over Pro-Abortion Crist, Meek
• Wisconsin: Pro-Life Candidates Johnson, Walker Get Nods for Senate, Governor
• Judge Allows Louisiana Abortion Facility Not Meeting Safety Standards to Reopen
• New Jersey Legislature Votes Monday on Planned Parenthood Tax Funding
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Pro-Life Candidates Defeat Abortion Backers in Delaware, New Hampshire
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Delaware pro-life Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell surprised political pundits Tuesday night by defeating Republican Senate candidate Mike Castle, a longtime pro-abortion congressman whose pro-abortion and pro-embryonic stem cell research funding views clashed with O'Donnell's.
With 86 percent of the Delaware precincts counted, O'Donnell defeated Castle 54 percent to 46 percent.
Now O'Donnell will face pro-abortion Democratic candidate Chris Coons, but the concern for pro-life advocates is getting O'Donnell's numbers back up following a divisive primary because the latest polls show her losing to Coons. A survey last week from Rasmussen Reports showed Coons leads O Donnell by a 47% to 36% margin. Given that matchup, eight percent (8%) preferred another candidate, while nine percent (9%) were undecided.
The Susan B. Anthony List, which endorsed O'Donnell, celebrated her victory and urged pro-life advocates to rally around her in the remaining weeks leading up to the general election.
Christine O Donnell s win, combined with the successes of Carly Fiorina and Sharron Angle, continues building momentum for 2010 to be remembered as the Year of the Pro-life Woman, SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com. Christine O Donnell s come-from-behind victory is evidence that voters across America are hungry for conservative pro-life candidates.
Meanwhile, in the New Hampshire Republican Senate primary, two pro-life candidates were separated by less than one percent in their bid to keep the seat of Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, who is pro-life.
With 85 percent of precincts reporting, former state attorney general Kelly Ayotte held less than a one-point lead over businessman Ovid Lamontagne and is leading 38.2 percent to 37.4. The Associated Press indicates fewer than 1,000 votes separated the two with 257 of 301 precincts reporting.
Later in the day, the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office declared Ayotte the winner by a margin of 1,667 votes. Full story at LifeNews.com
Appeals Court Asked to Reverse Decision Allowing Embryonic Research Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Attorneys for the two adult stem cell research scientists who challenged President Barack Obama's executive order forcing taxpayers to finance embryonic stem cell research have filed papers asking an appeals court to overturn its decision striking a judge's temporary injunction preventing funding.
U.S. district court Judge Royce Lamberth granted a preliminary injunction against the funding, which Obama officials appealed.
Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington put on hold that injunction while Judge Lamberth reviews the lawsuit itself.
Today, attorneys for Advocates International, part of the pro-life legal team with the Alliance Defense Fund and the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, filed their 147-page opposition to the government's 165-page request for an emergency stay of the federal district court's order preventing funding while the case continues.
The papers oppose what the scientists believe is the Obama's administration's "unlawful, unethical and unnecessary federal funding of research involving the destruction of living human embryos."
AI's General Counsel, Sam Casey, said "the government pending appeal seeks a stay of a preliminary injunction that enjoins them from funding research using human embryonic stem cells -- cells derived by destroying living human beings at their embryonic stage of life." Full story at LifeNews.com
Pelosi Says Pro-Abortion Democrats Will "Absolutely" Keep House After Elections
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- To hear pro-abortion House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tell it, she believes her pro-abortion colleagues will absolutely keep the House of Representatives following a 2010 general election that appears as if it will produce a landslide for pro-life candidates.
Republicans and political pundits say there is an outside chance the GOP will win back control of Congress from President Barack Obama's political allies.
But Pelosi told a meeting of the Democratic caucus in the House yesterday that they will "absolutely" keep their hold on the Congressional chamber.
According to a report in The Hill, she touted the caliber of our candidates heading into the election.
They know who they are and why they came to Congress, she said. They have won their districts before and they will win them again."
But one top Republican says he is confident key gubernatorial races in some states will drive up the turnout of pro-life and conservative voters who will help candidates for the House and Senate win their elections as well.
Governors races drive turnout, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said, The Hill reported. Usually, governors races are better funded, and they take a lot of the responsibility in the ground game. Full story at LifeNews.com
UN: Maternal Mortality Declines by One-Third Despite No Abortion Legalization
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- UN agencies and pro-abortion groups have told women and governmental bodies across the world that the only way to reduce maternal mortality is by legalizing abortions. Even though abortion has not been made legal in a slew of new nations, the UN today reports maternal mortality has declined by one-third.
The number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth has decreased by 33%, a new report shows.
The report is titled "Trends in maternal mortality" and released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Bank. Those are all agencies that have come under fire for promoting abortion as the solution for cutting maternal mortality figures.
Their report shows 546,000 women died in 1990 during childbirth and 358,000 died in 2008, without a corresponding legalization of abortion in countries on continents such as Africa and South America.
"The global reduction in maternal death rates is encouraging news," says Dr Margaret Chan, the Director-General of WHO. "Countries where women are facing a high risk of death during pregnancy or childbirth are taking measures that are proving effective; they are training more midwives, and strengthening hospitals and health centers to assist pregnant women." Full story at LifeNews.com
 Medical professionals are on the frontlines of battle in life issues. From abortion to assisted suicide and euthanasia and all issues in between we are challenged in the workplace to defend our beliefs and risk our employment. The National Association of Pro-life Nurses has been here for nurses since the beginning of this battle. Join with us in our efforts to protect those voices. www.nursesforlife.org |
Mike Castle's Loss Drops Embryonic Stem Cell Funding Advocate From Congress
Dover, DE (LifeNews.com) -- Delaware Congressman Mike Castle lost his bid to become the Republican Senate nominee to a pro-life candidate, Christine O'Donnell. With the defeat, the pro-life movement makes a huge gain by ridding itself of one of its top proponents of forcing taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research.
While most Republicans take pro-life positions on abortion and embryonic stem cell research, Castle is pro-abortion -- though he has voted for some limits.
But it is Castle's unyielding advocacy of embryonic stem cell research funding that has made him a household name among pro-life advocates.
Castle worked closely with pro-abortion Rep. Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat, to push legislation that would supposedly codify the executive order President Barack Obama issued to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. But their desire is to go further and to overturn the Dickey-Wicker amendment that is the reason a federal judge used to invalidate Obama's order when considering a lawsuit against it.
The defeat of Castle is a huge victory for pro-life advocates, says Dr. David Prentice, a former Indiana State University biology professor who is now a fellow at the Family Research Council.
"Congressman Castle has been a leader of legislative efforts promoting taxpayer funding for embryo destructive research as well as cloning of human embryos for experiments," he told LifeNews.com today. "Perhaps his defeat by a pro-life candidate will give Mr. Castle an opportunity to re-think his positions." Full story at LifeNews.com
Britons Criticize Pope's Visit to England as Catholic Church Pro-Life on Abortion
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Normally, a visit from the Pope is an occasion of celebration and notoriety for nations having the privileged of hosting his visit. However, liberal Britons are speaking out aggressively and saying they're not happy he is coming to England because the Catholic Church is pro-life on abortion.
In today's Guardian, more than 50 prominent Britons published a letter criticizing the Pope Benedict XVI's official visit, which is his first ever to the U.K., because of the Vatican's record on abortion.
"We believe that the Pope, as a citizen of Europe and the leader of a religion with many adherents in the UK, is of course free to enter and tour our country. However, as well as a religious leader, the Pope is a head of state," the letter says.
They accuse the Catholic Church of "opposing the distribution of condoms and so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of AIDS" and "denying abortion to even the most vulnerable women."
Signatories on the letter to the newspaper included atheist biologist Richard Dawkins, comedian Stephen Fry, and writers Terry Pratchett and Philip Pullman. Full story at LifeNews.com
Obama Must Back Down From Ignoring Doctor's Conscience Rights on Abortion
by Dominique Monlezun and Kristan Hawkins
Get the pitchforks out --America is hunting physicians. Instead of calling off the dogs, President Obama is leading the charge.
In March of 2009, Obama called to rescind the conscience protection clause that was implemented by Health and Human Services on January 20, 2009. Then he adamantly backed the passage of the healthcare reform law, which leaves physicians conscience rights open for attack from nearly all sides.
Why should you care about the conscience rights of doctors? Because whether doctors have conscience rights may determine whether you have a doctor.
The sacred doctor-patient relationship is based on the assumption that patients and their doctors share similar moral beliefs. Patients want doctors who can help them make informed decisions within our moral frame of reference because they share our values. And physicians want to be able to follow their consciences when they practice medicine and have the power to say no to certain medical procedures without having to fear being reprimanded or losing their jobs.
That s not a hypothetical situation. Full story at LifeNews.com
Florida: Rubio Still Holds Double Digit Lead Over Pro-Abortion Crist, Meek
Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Marco Rubio, the pro-life Republican Senate candidate in Florida continues to hold a double-digit lead over pro-abortion independent candidate Charlie Crist and pro-abortion Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters Rubio running at 41 percent.
The poll has Crist at 30 percent and Meek at 23 percent with two percent favoring another candidate and four percent saying they are undecided.
In late August, just after Meek beat back a tough primary challenge, the race was nearly identical: Rubio 40%, Crist 30%, Meek 21%.
The Rasmussen poll shows Florida voters are solidifying their choice for senator, which is good news for Rubio. Eighty percent of Rubio voters now say they are certain how they will vote in November, 69% of Meek s supporters say the same thing and that is up from 48% in the previous survey.
Just 45% of Crist s voters say they're sure at this point how they'll vote on Election Day.
Seventy-two percent of GOP voters now support Rubio, while just 45% of Democrats back Meek. Crist earns support from 33% of Democrats and 19% of Republicans. Voters not affiliated with either of the major parties break 42% Crist, 27% Rubio and 24% Meek. Full story at LifeNews.com
Wisconsin: Pro-Life Candidates Johnson, Walker Get Nods for Senate, Governor
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- Two Wisconsin pro-life candidates won their respective primary election races on Tuesday and now head to general election contests that will pit them against abortion advocates. Scott Walker won the GOP nomination for governor and Ron Johnson became the Republican Senate candidate. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker defeated pro-life former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann and now he will face pro-abortion Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in the November 2 election.
Walker was the early favorite among Republicans and, after winning the nomination, he said he is ready to take on Barrett.
Naumann's campaign issued a statement saying he was endorsing Walker.
Walker served nearly nine years in the Legislature before he was elected Milwaukee County executive.
Meanwhile, Ron Johnson won an easy victory in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate to be able to take on pro-abortion Sen. Russ Feingold in what will be a close contest.
Johnson defeated Dave Westlake, a Watertown businessman, and Stephen Finn, a Milwaukee plumber. Full story at LifeNews.com
Judge Allows Louisiana Abortion Facility Not Meeting Safety Standards to Reopen
Shreveport, LA (LifeNews.com) -- A state judge has lifted the emergency suspension order issued by the Louisa Department of Health and Hospitals closing a Shreveport abortion center that failed to meet state health and safety standards.
State officials said after an investigation that the Hope Medical Group for Women had violations posing "significant health and safety risks to clients."
The suspension of the abortion center's license to operate came under a new abortion regulation bill pro-life Governor Bobby Jindal signed giving the state health department more authority to suspend licenses when abortion centers run afoul of state health laws.
But State Judge District Judge R. Michael Caldwell ruled the abortion business can reopen for business even though it has not fixed the problems that made it a danger to the public and calls to the abortion center from Operation Rescue reveal it is now taking appointments for abortions.
Bruce D. Greenstein, Health Secretary for the State of Louisiana, told reporters he is disappointed by the ruling.
"The findings of the Department's survey included several egregious safety violations and at least one resulting in immediate jeopardy. The Department's conclusion was that women visiting this facility would have their health and safety compromised," he said in a statement. Full story at LifeNews.com
New Jersey Legislature Votes Monday on Planned Parenthood Tax Funding
Trenton, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- The New Jersey state legislature will vote Monday on a measure to override a veto Governor Christ Christie issued to prevent $7.5 million in state taxpayer funds from going to the Planned Parenthood abortion business. When the state currently faces an $11 billion deficit, Christ said the funding doesn't make sense.
Christie won the praise of pro-life advocates in July by vetoing a bill that would restore the family planning funds his administration cut from the state budget because of deep economic troubles.
Although it doesn't fund abortions directly, the money goes to the Planned Parenthood abortion business. The funds go to 58 family planning clinics but Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion chain, runs 29 of the facilities.
After Christie cut the funding, the state legislature approved a bill to restore it and they approve the bill he vetoed on a 30-10 vote on the Senate, more than enough to override.
However, Republicans who supported the bill appear unlikely to buck their party's governor by supporting the override vote.
Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. told the Star-Ledger newspaper in August that "There will not be enough votes in the Senate to spend money that we don't have. This is the time for fiscal discipline, and the members of the Republican caucus recognize that." Full story at LifeNews.com
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