Saturday, December 18, 2010

Lifeissues Newsletter #505

Lifeissues.net: clear thinking about crucial issues

(Due to volume of spam received, we're asking you not to reply to this message but instead send all correspondence to jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp. Thank you! Editor")

For clear thinking about crucial issues, visit LifeIssues.net

Dear Friends for Life,

Children's poems reflect on the Nativity. Advent is a time for quiet reflection. A group of children from St Mungo's Primary School in Glasgow have been thinking about many different aspects of the Nativity story - from imagining the night sky and stars over Bethlehem to the tired Kings after their long journey, the Shepherds and the scene in the stable with Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. The children went on to compose this thoughtful collection of poems.

2010 is gradually coming to a conclusion with only two weeks remaining. I thank God for His Grace and continual Guidance over LifeIssues.net which promotes 'clear thinking about crucial issues'. Our many writers and viewers are definitely making a big difference in the world. Thank you for your encouragement and support.

At this time, LifeIssues.net greets our readers with a Meaningful Christmas and a Grace-Filled New Year. We ask the Blessed Mother, that through her Son, she continue to guide you in your endeavours to promote the Culture of Life, for good health throughout the new year 2011, and  to fill your hearts and minds with a generous amount of spiritual joy and warmth. Merry CHRISTmas!

God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI

(A Thought) "For a stalk to grow or a flower to open there must be time that cannot be forced; nine months must go by for the birth of a human child; to write a book or compose music often years must be dedicated to patient research. To find the mystery there must be patience, interior purification, silence, waiting." - Pope John Paul II

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Lifeissues.net Newsletter #505
December 19, 2010

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(TABLE OF CONTENTS):

1. Russian President Implores People Have More Babies
2. Expert details grisly fate of fetal body parts
3. A glimpse inside life at a death mill
4. The verdict on legal lynching
5. A response to Father Rhonheimer on condoms
6. British Pro-Lifers Condemn Teen Pregnancy Report
7. An Advent Meditation
8. Defending the Dignity of those with Dementia
9. Drug firms have to stop paying doctors
10. The Power of Our Words
11. The pope lifts lid on Sinai's tortured refugees
12. 'Doctor, Are You Telling Me the Truth?'


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(Focus on Asia): "Migration and people trafficking in southeast Asia" - By examining the characteristics of migration in southeast Asia, this paper explores the ways in which people trafficking occurs within this process and the implications for Australia's anti-trafficking response nationally and regionally.

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ITEM #1: Russian President Implores People to Have More Babies

"In the next 15 years we will feel the demographic effects of the 1990s when the birth rate was low," Mr Medvedev said. "This is a serious threat. It is a challenge to our whole nation. According to experts, a good way to get over the demographic crisis is to radically increase the number of families with three or more children."

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ITEM #2: The dark side of biotech: expert details grisly fate of fetal body parts

The material in shipped packages are human body parts - eyes, ears, limbs, brain, skin - now an indispensable commodity for many U.S. researchers and scientists, and a lucrative export of America's abortion clinics.

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ITEM #3: Abortion and the occult: a glimpse inside life at a death mill

Seidman herself, a one-time atheist, is now a pro-life activist and shared her intimate knowledge of life inside the abortion clinic where her mother began to work as a nurse in a recent LifeSiteNews.com interview.

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ITEM #4: The verdict on legal lynching

Marlene Martin, national director of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, looks at the arguments made against capital punishment by a former Supreme Court justice. John Paul Stevens, who retired from the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year, has caused a stir with his declaration that he no longer supports the death penalty system he helped to restart more than three decades ago.

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ITEM #5: A response to Father Rhonheimer on condoms

Pope Benedict certainly did not "say" that the Church "does not unconditionally 'prohibit' prophylactic use of condoms," that is, the use of condoms to avoid transmission of disease. Neither those words or anything like them appear in the interview. Moreover, nothing Pope Benedict said in his interview suggests that such would be his position. Rather, he said the use of condoms was neither "a real or moral solution." Again, he was speaking only to the question of what the intention of the agent might indicate about the possibility of moral maturation; he was saying nothing about the morality of the use of condoms by anyone for any purpose. All of us must be very careful not to infer what we think the Holy Father might say about issues he did not address.

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ITEM #6: British Pro-Lifers Condemn Agency's Teen Pregnancy Report

The Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group released a new report saying teen pregnancies will rise unless the government takes new actions to curb them. But, a leading pro-life group saying spending more money promoting contraception and birth control is a failed strategy that won't reduce abortions.

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ITEM #7: An Advent Meditation

Men sometimes ask, Why need they profess religion? Why need they go to church? I answer, they must do so, first of all and especially, because God tells them so to do. But besides this, I observe that we see this plain reason why, that they are one day to change their state of being. They are not to be here for ever. Direct intercourse with God on their part now, prayer and the like, may be necessary to their meeting Him suitably hereafter: and direct intercourse on His part with them, or what we call sacramental communion, may be necessary in some incomprehensible way, even for preparing their very nature to bear the sight of Him.

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ITEM #8: Defending the Dignity of those with Dementia

I once heard a remarkable story from a woman named Cecilia sitting next to me on a long flight. She told me how her mother had suffered from dementia for many years, eventually reaching the point that she could no longer recognize any of her children when they would visit at the nursing home.

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ITEM #9: Drug firms have to stop paying doctors

No longer will worried patients have to rely on reporters to expose doctors on the payroll of the drug industry. Now patients can do it themselves. With a few simple keystrokes, anyone with a computer can search the "Dollars for Docs" database to see how much money their doctor is getting from pharma.

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ITEM #10: The Feathers of Gossip: How our Words can Build Up or Tear Down

We often do not realize the power of our words. Our words can be used to buildup or to tear down. We can have a positive impact on other people's lives when we use our words for good. Consider how much we appreciate it when someone takes time to express words of gratitude, honor, or praise; or how enriched we are when someone takes a genuine interest in our lives. Conversation that focuses on what is good and honorable can edify other people's lives and help strengthen the community.

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ITEM #11: The pope lifts the lid on Sinai's tortured Eritrean refugees

In calling for prayers for the African hostages held by traffickers in Sinai, the pope has highlighted a case of appalling abuse.

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ITEM #12: 'Doctor, Are You Telling Me the Truth?' Exclusive Ethics Survey Results: Introduction

A recent Medscape medical ethics survey of over 10,000 physicians found that when it comes to patient treatment, a significant number of physicians struggle when it comes to topics relating to honest, straight-forward communication, and even pain management. Physicians from a broad range of specialties answered 3 questions pertaining to patient treatment.


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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. Access to all prior Newsletters is located in the Archives on main page.

2. 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

3. 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)

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Contact EDITOR:

Jerry Novotny, OMI

Akebono-cho 1-15-9

Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072

[tel/fax: 088-843-0406]

[email: jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp]

["Due to volume of spam received, we're asking you not to reply to this message but instead send all correspondence to jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp. Thank you! Editor"]

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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

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