LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Pro-Life Advocates May Capture Senate From Pro-Abortion Lawmakers in Election
• Company Claims First Patient Treated With Embryonic Stem Cells, Not The Case
• 40 Days for Life Prayer Campaign Reaches 3,000 Babies Saved From Abortion
• "Pro-Life" Democrat Files Criminal Complaint to Silence Pro-Life Group's Ads
• Polls From Last Week Show Pro-Life Candidates Winning or in Close Races
• Abortion Center Director Guilty of False Bomb Threat Report, Used Egg Timer
• Nevada's Sharron Angle Supported by $200K Pro-Life Advertising Campaign
• Hearing Coming Wednesday for Abortion Practitioner Violating Health Standards
• Catholic Nuns' Support for Pro-Abortion Health Care Now Playing Role in Elections
• ACLU Wrong to Attempt to Force Catholic Hospitals to Do Some Abortions
• Catholic Hospitals Up for Sale, Pro-Abortion ObamaCare Blamed for Decision
• Council of Europe Defeats Attack on Abortion Conscience Rights for Medical Staff
• Abortion Center Run by Late-Term Abortion Practitioner George Tiller for Sale
• Appeals Court Hears Pastor's Case Against Oakland Abortion Buffer Zone Law
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Pro-Life Advocates May Capture Senate From Pro-Abortion Lawmakers in Election
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Months ago, when political observers began examining the 2010 congressional elections, it appeared pro-life advocates had the potential to capture the House of Representatives but not the Senate. Now, both are in play as the Senate could change hands and see its top pro-abortion lawmakers defeated.
Should the November election turn out as polls indicate is possible, pro-life Republicans may very well capture the Senate from the pro-abortion Democrats who brought the nation abortion-funding ObamaCare and pro-abortion Supreme Court judges Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
Also, the top Democrat, pro-abortion Sen. Harry Reid, and the leading pro-abortion activist in the chamber, Sen. Barbara Boxer, could wind up on the losing side of the vote.
Republicans must win 10 seats currently held by Democrats to wrest control of the Senate form them.
With three weeks to go in the elections, voters in Arkansas, Indiana and North Dakota appear almost certain to turn pro-abortion seats into pro-life ones. Another six seats controlled by abortion advocates -- in Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin and West Virginia -- are all currently trending Republican according to the latest polls.
Democrats could hope to salvage their control of the chamber by winning in competitive races where GOP seats are up for grabs in Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and Ohio -- but polling data shows the pro-life candidates vying for those seats appear headed to victory.
That leaves four states as the true tossups that will determine which party controls the Senate: California, Connecticut, Delaware and Washington. Full story at LifeNews.com
Company Claims First Patient Treated With Embryonic Stem Cells, Not The Case
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Geron Corporation, a California-based firm that conducts embryonic stem cell research and has a history of making dubious announcements to see a boost in its stock price and reputation, is apparently at it again. The firm has announced it has treated the first patient with embryonic stem cells.
However, the patient did not receive an injection of actual embryonic stem cells -- because scientists have still not been able to overcome significant problems in their use with animals.
Specifically, the cells, once injected, cause tumors and are rejected by the immune system.
But that didn't stop Geron from announcing today that it injected the cells into the first patient ever under the first clinical trial authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and the Washington Post, in a story posted today, repeated the false claim.
"The first patient has been treated with human embryonic stem cells in the first study authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to test the controversial therapy," the Post claimed. "A patient who was partially paralyzed by a spinal cord injury had millions of embryonic stem cells injected into the site of the damage."
However, former Indiana State University biology professor and Family Research Council fellow Dr. David Prentice says that's not the case. Full story at LifeNews.com
40 Days for Life Prayer Campaign Reaches 3,000 Babies Saved From Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The national 40 Days for Life prayer campaign reached a historic milestone today as it can now confirm 3,000 babies have been saved from abortions as a result of the prayer and abortion alternatives efforts of pro-life advocates at abortion centers across the nation.
Shawn Carney, the national organizer of the event, informs LifeNews.com that local participants have confirmed saving 3,000 unborn children since the very first coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign started in the fall of 2007.
"Three thousand -- to God be the glory for reaching this major milestone," he said. "That's a lot of children and mothers spared from abortion. And that's a lot of great stories."
"Praise God for these -- and all -- the 3,000 lives saved from abortion due to local 40 Days for Life campaigns. And thank you for your prayers, your fasting, your steadfast response to God's call," he said to those who have participated over the years.
Carney said the 40 Days for Life campaign has a simple message -- praying against abortion -- that works and he recounted a story from Carol, a pro-life advocate in Houston, where two unborn children were spared from abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com
"Pro-Life" Democrat Files Criminal Complaint to Silence Pro-Life Group's Ads
Cincinnati, OH (LifeNews.com) -- Upset that the Susan B. Anthony List is holding him accountable for violating his pledge to represent pro-life values in Congress by voting for the abortion-funding ObamaCare health care bill, Ohio Rep. Steve Driehaus has filed a criminal complaint against the pro-life organization.
He filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against the pro-life women's group for the billboards the SBA List wants to run in his district complaining that he supported abortion funding by backing the bill.
The information is factually untrue and this is just another attempt by Steve Chabot s supporters to spread false information, Driehaus said Thursday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Susan B. Anthony List is doing everything they can to attack pro-life Democrats, not because of what we achieved in the health care bill but because they're partisan.
The Ohio Elections Commission has set a hearing on the complaint for this Thursday and the billboards will not go up until the hearing take place.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the group, emailed LifeNews.com a response, calling Driehaus' complaint "an act of desperation and fear."
"Driehaus is attempting to use a criminal statute to silence his critics. It is a fact that Steve Driehaus has voted for a bill that includes taxpayer funding of abortion," she said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Polls From Last Week Show Pro-Life Candidates Winning or in Close Races
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A handful of new polls from late last week show pro-life candidates either winning or facing close election contests. The new numbers come as some political observers are saying the odds of pro-life advocates recapturing the House and Senate from abortion proponents is now 50-50.
In the Washington Senate race, pro-life Republican challenger Dino Rossi has edged slightly ahead of pro-abortion incumbent Democrat Patty Murray.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Washington shows Rossi with 49% of the vote, while Murray s support stands at 46%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and two percent (2%) are undecided.
A week ago, the candidates were in a virtual tie as they have been through much of the year, with Rossi earning 48% to Murray s 47%. Still, Murray s support has fallen from a high earlier last month of 51%, while Rossi's appears to be trending up slightly.
A new Rasmussen poll of the Minnesota governor's race shows pro-abortion Democrat Mark Dayton and pro-life Republican Tom Emmer are still in a virtual tie.
The poll shows shows Dayton picking up 40% of the vote, while Emmer draws support from 38%. Independence Party candidate Tom Horner remains a distant third with 15%. One percent (1%) prefer a different candidate, and five percent (5%) are still undecided. Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Center Director Guilty of False Bomb Threat Report, Used Egg Timer
Tulsa, OK (LifeNews.com) -- The former director of the Reproductive Services abortion center in Tulsa, Oklahoma has pleaded guilty to charges of making false or misleading statements after telling police she supposedly found a bomb at the abortion center.
Linda Meek reported on August 13 a bomb had been placed in a trash receptacle, but she told the court on Thursday she purchased an egg timer and place that in a trash bin and called the local police to report a bomb scare.
Officials took the threat seriously and the abortion center and a building adjacent to it were evacuated after Reproductive Services noticed an odd box in the trash bin.
She left her position with the abortion business after the false report and, on Friday, pleaded guilty in court to falsely reporting a bomb threat.
Meek, who is 63, will be sentenced in January and she faces up to 5 years in prison on the charges. U.S. Chief District Judge Claire Eagan accepted the plea and Meek remains free on bond until the sentencing hearing.
According to the Tulsa Beacon newspaper, Meek waived her right to have the case presented to a federal grand jury early last month and waived her right to a jury trial this past week. Full story at LifeNews.com
Nevada's Sharron Angle Supported by $200K Pro-Life Advertising Campaign
Carson City, NV (LifeNews.com) -- Two pro-life groups announced today they are unveiling a new $200,000 advertising campaign designed to support pro-life Senate candidate Sharron Angle in Nevada.
The Susan B. Anthony List and CitizenLink, the lobbying arm of Focus on the Family, are behind the television ad featuring personal testimonials from Nevada residents who believe Angle is the best candidate.
Angle is taking on pro-abortion Sen. Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the Senate who formerly espoused pro-life views but has watered them down over the years to the point that he has advocated abortions funded at taxpayer expense.
Sharron Angle understands Nevadans real needs and views and is poised to unseat the leader of the U.S. Senate and key proponent of Obama's pro-abortion health care plan, SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser, told LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com
Hearing Coming Wednesday for Abortion Practitioner Violating Health Standards
Trenton, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners will hold a hearing Wednesday in its case against abortion practitioner and business owner Steven Chase Brigham. He and the state attorney general have gone back and forth in the days leading up to the hearing.
Brigham has been accused of negligence and misconduct for starting late-term abortions in New Jersey and completing the, in Maryland. In at least two cases, Brigham has been accused of injuring patients in the process.
His New Jersey medical license has been suspended based on allegations that he illegally began abortions well beyond the 14 week limit in New Jersey and completed them at the Elkton, Maryland abortion center.
In legal papers his attorneys filed Thursday with New Jersey, Brigham says state officials can't punish him because he is doing the same thing he was in the 1990s, for which he says he has been exonerated.
"Ludicrous," New Jersey Deputy Attorney General Jeri Warhaftig responded, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. He said the previous ruling "did not relieve [Brigham] of the burden of exercising good medical judgment or the obligation to play by the rules."
The mid-1990s case Brigham refers to, according to Operation Rescue, was based in part on the 1994 New York case that resulted in the revocation of his medical license in that state. It detailed case after case of botched abortions and other miseries, describing what amounted to a shop of horrors operated by Brigham that also crossed state lines. Full story at LifeNews.com
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Catholic Nuns' Support for Pro-Abortion Health Care Now Playing Role in Elections
by Deal Hudson
Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D, PA-03) is running for her second term in Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District against Republican Mike Kelly. Kelly is leading in all the latest polling and evidence points to Dahlkemper's vote in support of Obamacare and its abortion mandates.
Like the other House Catholic Democrats who buckled under pressure from Obama and Pelosi, Dahlkemper denies the presence of abortion funding in the health care legislation. In this campaign video, she takes on the criticism from pro-life groups, like the Susan B. Anthony List, saying, I refused to support health care reform until it excluded public funding for abortion and included care for moms and their babies.
Dahlkemper adds that anyone who disagrees with her is lying. Those who are lying, according to her, would include the Catholic bishops who insist abortion funding is included in the legislation.
There s also a radio ad by Sr. Mary Miller who says, If anyone tells you Kathy Dahlkemper is not a woman in favor of life, just know: It is not true. Full story at LifeNews.com
ACLU Wrong to Attempt to Force Catholic Hospitals to Do Some Abortions
by Rick Santorum
Liberal elites are once again using health-care policy to advance one of their agenda items, this time on the abortion front.
The American Civil Liberties Union has launched an effort to force religious hospitals to provide abortions. The organization is asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - which controls nearly $800 billion in President Obama's latest budget - to force hospitals to provide abortions or lose federal funding.
The views of the centers' administrator, Dr. Donald Berwick, are so controversial that Obama had to appoint him while Congress was in recess. Now he is overseeing the writing of countless new health-care regulations, and the ACLU can't let an opportunity like that slip by.
Using a handful of mostly anonymous anecdotes about pregnant women who were denied abortions at religiously affiliated hospitals, the group is demanding that Berwick's agency rewrite the rules of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act to force care providers to perform abortions.
The ACLU's argument stands on flimsy legal ground, according to attorneys at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which has vowed to defend any hospital that comes under attack. First of all, the law in question clearly requires hospitals to safeguard "the health or safety of the woman or the unborn child." So it's no wonder that no court has declared that it requires religious hospitals to violate their conscience. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Hospitals Up for Sale, Pro-Abortion ObamaCare Blamed for Decision
Scranton, PA (LifeNews.com) -- When Congress initially considered a government-run health care system that eventually became the abortion-funding ObamaCare health are plan, the nations Catholic bishops warned a government takeover of health care could result in closing Catholic hospitals.
At least one pro-life group argues that is now taking place in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Late last week, Mercy Health Partners CEO Kevin Cook announced three Catholic hospitals in northeast Pennsylvania are now up for sale. Cook admitted that health care reform is absolutely playing a role" and revealed Obama s new health care law absolutely was a factor in the decision to sell the hospitals.
"Health care reform is absolutely playing a role. Was it the precipitating factor in this decision? No, but was it a factor in our planning over the next five years? Absolutely," Cook said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Council of Europe Defeats Attack on Abortion Conscience Rights for Medical Staff
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The Council of Europe turned back an attempt by abortion advocates to trample on the conscience rights of medical professionals. The Parliamentary Assembly voted on a report which recommended a crackdown on medical personnel who refuse to be involved in abortions and other objectionable anti-life procedures. Ronan Mullen, the Irish senator, and Luca Volonte of Italy, led the assembly in passing amendments which reversed the report from a pro-abortion attack on conscientious objection to a defense of conscientious objection.
Christine McCafferty, the report's British author, and Carina Hagg, its Swedish author, and their fellow pro-abortion assembly-members were eventually forced to vote against their own report.
The report was rejected in the final vote as it failed to secure a two-thirds majority. Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Center Run by Late-Term Abortion Practitioner George Tiller for Sale
Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- The building that formerly house the abortion business run by late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller before his death is now up for sale. Tiller was shot and killed by Scott Roeder, a militia activist not content with stopping Tiller's abortions by legal, peaceful means.
Tiller family attorney Lee Thompson told the Associated Press last week that the Wichita, Kansas-based building has been for sale for some time after Tiller's family decided against keeping the abortion business open.
He said the family would not comment on the building's status but tax records indicate it has a value of $734,100.
David Gittrich of Kansans for Life sent an email about the building to members of Thursday and indicated it is a possibility someone would purchase the facility to make a memorial for unborn children. Full story at LifeNews.com
Appeals Court Hears Pastor's Case Against Oakland Abortion Buffer Zone Law
Oakland, CA (LifeNews.com) -- A federal appeals court held a hearing Friday in the case pro-life African-American pastor Walter Hoye filed against an Oakland law. City officials passed the buffer law because he engages in sidewalk counseling outside abortion centers in the area to help women find alternatives.
In August 2009, federal district court judge Charles Breyer ruled the law constitutional and set the stage for an appeal and a battle at the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court.
In a 25-page memorandum opinion, Breyer held that the ordinance, which applies only outside abortion businesses, was not content- or viewpoint-based on its face. Breyer also ruled that the law is narrowly tailored, even though it prohibits someone giving a brochure on abortion alternatives to a woman entering an abortion center.
On Friday, lawyers for Oakland encountered tough questioning from Ninth Circuit justices Marsha Berzon and Stephen Reinhardt during oral argument on Pastor Walter Hoye s challenge to the constitutionality of the measure. Full story at LifeNews.com
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