LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Senate Votes Tuesday on Bill Allowing Abortions at Military Base Hospitals
• Senate Panel to Reconsider Obama's Pro-Abortion Judicial Picks Liu, Chen, Butler
• Poll: Religion Key in Shaping Abortion Opinions, Mostly for Pro-Life People
• Millions of Americans to Stand Up for Women, Against Abortion in 2010 LifeChain
• Congressman Paul Ryan Latest to Call For Truce on Pro-Life, Social Issues
• Support for Repeal of Pro-Abortion ObamaCare Bill Hits Highest Mark Since May
• Abortion Practitioner With Problems Replaces One Who Killed Woman in Maryland
• Pope Benedict Calls Christians to Protect Human Life From Abortion, Euthanasia
• Media Matters Taken to Task for Misleading on Abortion-Military Hospital Debate
• Planned Parenthood, Contraception Shouldn't be Included in Health Care Law
• New Jersey Senate Fails to Restore Taxpayer Funding for Planned Parenthood
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Senate Votes Tuesday on Bill Allowing Abortions at Military Base Hospitals
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate is slated to vote this week on the Department of Defense Authorization bill, which includes a provision to allow abortions on military base hospitals both domestically and abroad. The Senate will vote on a motion filed by pro-abortion Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.
He will ask lawmakers to stop the filibuster against the bill and approve a motion to proceed to a vote on the measure.
Most Republicans, potentially joined by a couple of Democrats like Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, are expected to oppose the Reid cloture vote motion and continue with their strong opposition to the bill.
Several pro-life groups have been working actively to urge pro-life advocates to contact their senators to oppose the bill and support the filibuster against it.
Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List emailed her group's members today telling them to "Please call your Senators right now, and tell them to vote against the bill if it contains language allowing abortion on military bases."
"Military doctors did not want to perform abortions for the few short years this practice was legal during the Clinton Administration, and they don't want to now," she said. "In fact, before the law was overturned, they were about to hire outside doctors to perform abortions because no military doctors would participate." Full story at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Go to this page to contact your senators and urge opposition to abortions at U.S. military bases. Urge opposition to the Burris amendment and support for the filibuster.
Senate Panel to Reconsider Obama's Pro-Abortion Judicial Picks Liu, Chen, Butler
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider sixteen of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees during a hearing Thursday, including several who have been panned for advocating abortion. Some of the more controversial nominees include Goodwin Liu, Edward Chen and Louis Butler, nominated to appeals court and district court positions.
The nominees made it past the committee before but, since they never received Senate votes and time ran out on their nominations, Obama nominated them again.
Liu, nominated to become to a United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, is most infamous for his beliefs that the Constitution evolves per the view of judges.
Chen, nominated to a district court judgeship in California, and Butler nominated to become a distract court judge in Wisconsin, are also pro-abortion.
Goodwin Liu is a professor at the liberal University of California, Berkeley and Ed Whelan, a judicial expert writing at National Review, says Liu is a problem because he believes the Constitution to be a "living" document -- the same view as those jurists on the Supreme Court who invented an unlimited right to abortion throughout pregnancy in the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton cases.
"Goodwin Liu has urged judicial invention (usually in an interstitial role) of constitutional rights," he wrote previously.
Liu "presents a volatile mix of aggressive left-wing ideology and raw inexperience," Whelan adds. Full story at LifeNews.com
Poll: Religion Key in Shaping Abortion Opinions, Mostly for Pro-Life People
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new Pew poll released on Friday shows Americans continue to say their religious beliefs have been highly influential in shaping their views about social issues, including abortion. The way in which religious beliefs play a role in shaping abortion views is more strong than for other political issues.
On the issue of abortion, 26% overall say religion is the most important influence on their opinion, including 45% among abortion opponents.
Just 9 percent of those who support legalized abortion say religion affected their conclusion about it.
Religion is more influential on abortion views compared with other hot political topics as just 19 percent say religion influenced their stance on the death penalty, only 10 percent said it influenced their stance on poverty programs, 7 percent on immigration issues and just 6 percent on the environment.
That doesn't mean the other issues are not getting an airing in church.
The vast majority of regular churchgoers (88%) say they hear about the issue of hunger and poverty from their clergy, but just 10% cite religion as the top influence on their opinions about government s role in providing assistance to the poor.
Pew also asked voters involved in the survey which issues matter most to them in the upcoming midterm elections. For most voters, the economy and jobs outpace all other issues in the election this fall, but abortion is still important as well -- with 43 percent of those polled saying so. Full story at LifeNews.com
Millions of Americans to Stand Up for Women, Against Abortion in 2010 LifeChain
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life people around the nation will be literally standing up for women and unborn children next month. They'll be taking part in an event known as Life Chain, a pro-life tradition that has been attracting media attention for years as pro-life people silently and peacefully oppose abortion and help women.
The event primarily takes place the afternoon of Sunday, October 3, but some cities and towns will coordinate their LifeChain events later in the month.
The idea for the annual event was born back in 1985, when organizer Royce Dunn was inspired to get people together in the rural town of Yuba City, California, to show support for the sanctity of human life. More than 2,000 people turned out for the event.
In the years since, Dunn estimates that millions of people in cities and towns across North America have come together to form human chains to show their opposition to abortion.
Dunn tells LifeNews.com that the purposes of the LifeChain are two-fold: the first is the obvious public outreach with the pro-life message the events afford local communities but the second is its purpose to call on local pastors, priests and churches to speak up more against abortion.
"National Life Chain Sunday 2010 is only one step toward ending the curse of legal abortion, yet it offers a strategic and peaceful opportunity for clergy and laity," a chance to speak out, he says. 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 |
Congressman Paul Ryan Latest to Call For Truce on Pro-Life, Social Issues
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin became the latest potential presidential candidate and Republican with a national profile to call for a "truce" on social issues. He joins Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Mississippi Gov. Hailey Barbour, who called for Republicans to back down on pro-life issues.
They say that, because of the downturn in the economy, Republicans and conservatives should back down on pressing social issues like abortion to avoid potentially turning off voters.
Ryan, the top Republican on the Budget Committee who has a strongly pro-life record and is viewed as a conservative who is very knowledgeable on health care issues, talked about the place social issues have in the election.
"We will agree to disagree on those issues," Ryan said last Monday on CNBC. "But let's rally around the tallest pole in our tent: fiscal conservatism, economic liberty."
That stands in stark contrast to the remarks of several pro-life leaders who spoke at the Values Voter Summit over the weekend. They emphasized that pro-life values can't be placed behind fiscal concerns.
Rep. Mike Pence, the Indiana Republican who won the presidential straw poll vote from among the 2,000 people who gathered for the event, made it plainly clear what place he thinks social issues have in the party and in the election.
Now I know some say that Republicans should stay away from such issues this year that the American people are focused on jobs and spending and our movement would do well to stand aside, bank the win and return to fight after this fiscal and economic crisis has passed," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Support for Repeal of Pro-Abortion ObamaCare Bill Hits Highest Mark Since May
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Support among likely voters for the repeal of the health care bill that contains massive abortion funding hit its highest mark since May. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Americans have shifted towards repealing the bill with the 2010 midterm elections in full focus.
Sixty-one percent of likely voters now at least somewhat favor repeal of the new national health care law, including 50% who say they strongly favor it.
That s up eight points from a week ago and the highest level of opposition measured since late May, when 63 percent of Americans said they wanted the pro-abortion health care bill reversed.
The new Rasmussen Reports survey finds only 33 percent of Americans say they oppose repeal of the bill President Barack Obama and his pro-abortion Democratic allies in Congress pushed through the House and Senate.
"Since the passage of the bill in late March, a majority of voters have consistently favored repeal of the new law, with support ranging from a low of 53% to a high of 63%," Rasmussen indicated.
Only 33% say the health care plan will be good for the country, the lowest level measured since late July. Fifty-six percent of Americans disagree and believe the new law will be bad for the United States. Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Practitioner With Problems Replaces One Who Killed Woman in Maryland
Annapolis, MD (LifeNews.com) -- Just one week after abortion practitioner Romeo A. Ferrer had his medical license suspended a pro-life group has learned that the abortion practitioner who replaced him isn't much better. Last week, the Maryland Board of Physicians signed the suspension order for Romeo A. Ferrer.
He may also face criminal charges in connection with the death of a woman from a failed abortion he performed.
The complaint against Ferrer revolves around a February 2006 abortion he did on a 21-year-old African-American woman, Denise Crowe, at the Gynecare Center abortion business in Severna Park.
Now, the pro-life group Operation Rescue informs LifeNews.com today that problematic abortion practitioner Ghevont W. Wartanian is doing abortions at Gynecare in Ferrer's place.
"We thought that Ferrer's abortion mill would close with his suspension, but as far as we know, it never missed a day of business," said the group's president Troy Newman. "In fact, as bad as Ferrer was, it looks like he replaced himself with someone even worse, if that is even possible."
Newman points out the Gynecare Center abortion facility is an affiliate of the National Abortion Federation, a national trade group of abortion businesses.
While NAF claims to publish so-called "guidelines" for abortion clinics, Newman says those standards apparently do not include ensuring the abortion centers have competent licensed physicians who have not killed people with their substandard and negligent practices. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pope Benedict Calls Christians to Protect Human Life From Abortion, Euthanasia
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- During his visit to England, Pope Benedict XVI called on Christians worldwide to do more to protect human life from abortion and euthanasia. He issued a clarion call for Christians and all people to promote the pro-life ethic and respect for the worth of every human being.
Pope Benedict, speaking at a residence for the elderly, said, "Life is a unique gift, at every stage from conception until natural death and it is God s alone to give and take."
During his speech to pilgrims in Hyde Park, the Pope also said: "No one who looks realistically at our world today could think that Christians can afford to go on with business as usual."
"Each of us has a mission, each of us is called to change the world, to work for a culture of life, a culture forged by love and respect for the dignity of each human person," he added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Media Matters Taken to Task for Misleading on Abortion-Military Hospital Debate
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Americans United for Life is taking the liberal "media watchdog" Media Matters to task today for a misleading attack on one of its staff attorneys. The squabble concerns the bill the Senate will vote on that will overturn the ban on abortions at taxpayer-funded U.S. military bases. The bill doesn't authorize taxpayer-funded abortions -- women would spend their own funds for the abortions -- but having them done at taxpayer-funded military base hospitals means taxpayer funds would be involved in procuring the abortion.
Today, Media Matters incorrectly asserted that Denise Burke, AUL Vice President of Legal Affairs, falsely claim[ed] that the Department of Defense Authorization bill provides taxpayer funding for elective abortions in an editorial carried by the Washington Times.
"Abortion proponents intend to use the U.S. military as a platform to advance their broader ambitions for unfettered and taxpayer-funded abortion on demand," she wrote. "Their current weapon of choice is the Burris Amendment to this year s National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation would permit military hospitals, military personnel and taxpayer dollars to be used for elective abortions." Full story at LifeNews.com
by Susan Willis
Planned Parenthood is organizing a national effort to have contraceptives included among the free preventive services health plans must provide under the new health care reform law (Press Release, 7-14-10). Normally preventive services mean vaccines, tests, screenings, etc. that are given with minimal risk to patients to prevent or at least detect and provide an early warning of serious illness and life-threatening conditions. Common examples: blood pressure and cholesterol screening for hypertension, mammograms for breast cancer, Pap tests for cervical cancer, and vaccines to prevent transmission of communicable diseases.
But prescription contraceptives don't prevent or screen for disease. Their purpose is to block the normal functioning of a healthy reproductive system. They prevent a person from being conceived or born.
Moreover, far from preventing diseases, contraceptive use is associated with many harmful side effects and actually increases the risk of acquiring certain diseases. Full story at LifeNews.com
New Jersey Senate Fails to Restore Taxpayer Funding for Planned Parenthood
Trenton, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- The New Jersey state Senate today failed to override a veto Governor Chris Christie issued to yank taxpayer funding from the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Christie decided to prevent $7.5 million in state taxpayer funds from going it while the state faces an $11 billion deficit.
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 approved the bill he vetoed on a 30-10 vote on the Senate, more than enough to override.
However, Republicans who supported the bill would not buck their party's governor by supporting the override vote.
Although a majority of the Senate voted to restore the abortion businesses' funding, the Senate voted on a party-line 23-17 vote, well short of the two-thirds needed to override. Full story at LifeNews.com
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