LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Friday, March 18, 2011
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Current Headlines Top Stories
• Firebomb Thrown at Elderly Woman at Pro-Life Prayer Event
• Pro-Lifers: Obama's Weakening Abortion-Conscience Rule Hurts Doctors
• Federal Appeals Court Fast Tracks Pro-Life Obamacare Lawsuit
• Obama Nomination of Six For Appeals Court Shows Abortion Extremism
More Pro-Life News
• Planned Parenthood President Misleads on Its Own Abortion Stats
• Planned Parenthood of Central Texas Closes Two Centers
• Case Dropped Against Florida Woman in Abortion-Infanticide
• Planned Parenthood is Abortion Violence Masquerading as Compassion
• Prayer at 40 Days for Life Helps Women Seeking Abortions
• Government Shouldn't Provide Tax Incentives for Abortions
• Delaware Bill Responds to Gosnell, Inspects Abortion Centers
• Oklahoma House Votes Against Destruction of Embryonic Humans
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Firebomb Thrown at Elderly Woman at Pro-Life Prayer Event
A homemade incendiary device was thrown at one of the participants of the 40 Days for Life pro-life prayer vigil at an abortion business in Kalispell, Montana on Thursday night.
The woman walked on the public sidewalk near the abortion business when an unidentified person threw the device — akin to a "Molotov cocktail" — in her direction. The woman did not see either the firebomb nor the assailant it exploded on the sidewalk behind her, making a loud popping noise like a big firecracker as it burst into flame. Fortunately, the woman was not hurt in the incident.
After she regained her composure, the victim called Karen Trierweiler, coordinator of the 40 Days prayer vigils in Kalispell at the All Family Health Care abortion center, over to her.
After a lengthy delay, a Kalispell police officer arrived. However, according to officials with the Thomas More Society, a pro-life legal group that is helping the participants, instead of inspecting the bomb debris or calling evidence technicians to the scene, the officer remarked that police could never get prints or other evidence from the bomb's remains and said he would call the city's garbage service to dispose of all the debris.
The officer then said that the 40 Days prayer vigil participants should expect this kind of reaction if they're protesting at the abortion business. Questioning Officer Hoover's assessment of the attack, Trierweiler called the Kalispell desk sergeant to complain, where she was unable to get further assistance.
Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society says his group has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Field Office in Helena, Montana. The organization is for an immediate, intensive investigation of what it calls a "vicious" attack.
"We are appalled by this terrible act of violence, while we're immensely grateful that God's grace spared this valiant pro-lifer any serious injury," he told LifeNews.com this afternoon. "But the reaction of Kalispell police officers after Ms. Trierweiler called them to the scene was equally appalling, indeed outrageous." Full story at LifeNews.com Pro-Lifers: Obama's Weakening Abortion-Conscience Rule Hurts Doctors
Several pro-life groups are sending a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius warning her of the alarming effects on patients that will follow the Obama administration's recent move to strip the medical community of key conscience protections on abortion.
As LifeNews.com reported in February, the Obama administration overturned some of the conscience protections the Bush administration put in place to protect pro-life medical workers who don't want to be involved in certain medical procedures.
In 2008, the Bush administration issued a rule that prohibited recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and health care aides who refuse to take part in medical procedures to which they have religious or moral objections. The rule implemented existing conscience protection laws that ensure medical professionals cannot be denied employment because they do not want to assist in abortions. The administration rescinded part of the protections by removing protections for medical workers who have moral or religious objections to dispensing or giving to women the Plan B drug or other emergency contraception that could act in some cases as an abortion drug.
This week, the Christian Medical Association, Catholic Medical Association, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), and Medical Students for Life are releasing a joint letter to Sebelius and it is calling on medical students and medical professionals to sign onto the letter before it is sent on March 22.
Dominique Monlezun, the National Coordinator for Medical Students for Life, told LifeNews.com that "95% of physicians in a recent national poll agreed that they 'would rather stop practicing medicine altogether than be forced to violate their conscience.'" Full story at LifeNews.com
Obama Nomination of Six For Appeals Court Shows Abortion Extremism
by Brad Mattes
Demonstrating allegiance to the pro-abortion agenda, Stephen Six successfully captured the attention of President Obama and recently received a judicial nomination to the Federal Appeals Court. That's bad news for America and here's why: Mr. Six is notorious for using political powers to protect the abortion industry. As Kansas Attorney General, he personally thwarted the investigation and prosecution of crimes committed by Planned Parenthood.
The state's abortion centers knowingly took advantage of more than 160 minors, covering for rapists and turning a profit off of pain. In addition, Planned Parenthood blatantly conducted at least 39 illegal late-term abortions. A shocking trail of evidence resulted in the nation's first and only criminal case filed against the abortion giant. But the case — deemed legitimate by every judge who has reviewed it — is stuck. And Stephen Six is responsible.
Handpicked to fill a vacancy by the wildly pro-abortion Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Stephen Six got right to work. Among his accomplishments: botching a strong criminal case against notorious late-term abortionist George Tiller, blocking the release of documents and evidence in the Planned Parenthood case, and pushing for a gag order to silence vital testimony.
Phill Kline, the former Kansas Attorney General who filed the case against Planned Parenthood, is now a colleague here at Life Issues Institute. I encourage you to read Phill's summary of the troubling turn of events. Full story at LifeNews.com
Federal Appeals Court Fast Tracks Pro-Life Obamacare Lawsuit
A federal appeals court has fast-tracked one of the many legal challenges to the Obamacare law that pro-life groups opposed because of abortion-funding and rationing concerns.
American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), filed its own federal lawsuit challenging ObamaCare that contends that the Commerce Clause "authorizes Congress to regulate economic activity, not economic decisions." The pro-life legal group told LifeNews.com late Thursday that it is encouraged that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted its motion to expedite its appeal of its legal challenge to the federal health care "reform" law.
"The appeals court clearly understands that this issue is of vital concern and deserves to be expedited," said Jay Sekulow, the ACLJ chief counsel. "By putting our appeal on the fast-track, the court is sending a strong signal that time is of the essence in determining the constitutionality of this law. We're very encouraged that our appeal will move forward quickly ultimately headed for the Supreme Court. And, we're confident our position will prevail."
The ACLJ filed a motion with the appeals court earlier this month urging an expedited appeal. On Thursday, the appeals court granted the ACLJ's request and set a schedule with the first round of briefs to be filed in May with oral arguments before a three-judge panel to be scheduled in September.
The ACLJ is appealing a decision by a federal district court in February that dismissed its lawsuit. In its lawsuit, the ACLJ argues that Congress does not have the power under the Constitution to require Americans to purchase health insurance and that the mandate also violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Full story at LifeNews.com
Planned Parenthood President Misleads on Its Own Abortion Stats
The president of the national Planned Parenthood abortion business misled readers of a Texas publication in a new interview where Cecile Richards purposefully underestimated the size of the abortion business.
In an interview with the Texas Tribune, Richards spent several minutes promoting family planning and other health services — so much so that the reporter pressed her to talk about abortion.
"What you haven't talked about yet is the abortion services Planned Parenthood provides. What do those numbers look like?" the reporter asked.
Richards admitted, "In 2009, Planned Parenthood provided 22,560 abortions in Texas. If you want that stat in context, in 2007, Planned Parenthood provided 24.6 percent of the 80,886 [abortions in Texas that year]."
Then, shifted to a national scope, Richards inaccurately represented Planned Parenthood's own figures. Full story at LifeNews.com
Planned Parenthood of Central Texas Closes Two Centers
Planned Parenthood of Central Texas is closing two of its centers that make abortion referrals to its main location. The affiliate of the national abortion business did not give any reasons for closing the locations in Groesbeck and Marlin, Texas.
Officials with the group Pro-Life Waco noticed the recent information PPCT put on its web site, saying, "Planned Parenthood Health Centers in Marlin & Groesbeck are temporarily closed until further notice."
The web site of the abortion business encourages people to make appointments at its main location in Waco and, while no reason is given, the abortion business said earlier this year it is concerned about losing its taxpayer funding given efforts in Congress to yank the tens of millions the national abortion business receives from the federal government.
"It's scary, it's threatening, and it's dangerous." Felicia Goodman, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Central Texas, told KWTX in February, saying federal funding makes up a "vast majority" of its funding.
"It could be anything from everything to half our budget," Goodman said about the potential for losing taxpayer funding and KWTX indicated the abortion business was "busy creating contingency plans."
The closings are good news for pro-life advocates and Pro-Life Waco responded: "Within the last four years PP Central Texas opened these clinics with great publicity and fanfare. These facilities did not commit abortion. They did provide birth control, promoted promiscuity, and counseled for abortion." Full story at LifeNews.com
Case Dropped Against Florida Woman in Abortion-Infanticide
The case against Florida abortion center owner Belkis Gonzalez who was arrested on two felony counts related to the death of a baby in a bizarre abortion case, has been dropped because witnesses have changed their story. In the abortion incident, a young woman named Sycloria Williams went to the GYN Diagnostic Center abortion facility in Hialeah, outside Miami, for an abortion. She had laminaria inserted and went back the next day for the abortion but, instead, gave birth to a baby named Shanice.
Abortion practitioner Pierre Renelique did not show up for a scheduled abortion, causing Shanice to be born alive. When that happened, Gonzalez allegedly stuffed the baby's body in a biohazard bag and tossed the bag on the roof when local officials stopped by to investigate after they received a tip. The baby's body had decomposed by the time authorities found it a week later.
Gonzalez was charged with the unlicensed practice of a health care profession resulting in serious bodily injury, a second degree felony, and with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a third degree felony. If convicted of the charges, Gonzalez faced a minimum of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine and she could have received a maximum of 15 years in prison on the unlicensed medicine charge and five years for tampering with evidence.
But, now, none of the charges are going forward. Full story at LifeNews.com
Planned Parenthood is Abortion Violence Masquerading as Compassion
by Tom Grenchik
priest friend of mine has been known to say, "abortion is nothing more than violence masquerading as compassion." Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, tries hard to keep public focus on their "compassionate" services to women and not on the grisly reality that they put to death over 300,000 defenseless children, year in and year out. As much as abortion advocates struggle to hide that violence from the public view, nothing can hide the ongoing revelations of botched abortions and wanton injuries and deaths of mothers undergoing abortions coming from many abortion clinics around the country. Full story at LifeNews.com Prayer at 40 Days for Life Helps Women Seeking Abortions
Abortion thrives on despair. The despair of women often leads them to believe that abortion is their only solution. The despair of clinic workers helps convince them they are doing a good thing and trying to help women. Even the despair of the Christian may lead to the hopelessness of believing that abortion will never end. Well, in 247 cities right now, your prayer presence is crushing despair and bringing hope! The constant theme of all the stories that I hear from local 40 Days for Life teams is that we should never, never, NEVER give up! Even if the situation appears hopeless, God is always listening. Full story at LifeNews.com
Government Shouldn't Provide Tax Incentives for Abortions
With April right around the corner, many of us have taxes, tax credits, deductions, and other tax-related matters on our mind. This week, so did the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. The Subcommittee held a hearing on Wednesday to address the tax implications of Section 2 of H.R. 3 – the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Full story at LifeNews.com
Delaware Bill Responds to Gosnell, Inspects Abortion Centers
Responding to the problems associated with embattled abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell, who did abortions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in Delaware, the Delaware legislature has approved a new bill calling for abortion center inspections. Gosnell is the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania abortion business owner who ran one of the most filthy and unregulated abortion centers ever exposed and his shoddy practices resulted in the deaths of and injury to women from botched abortions. He also engaged in a brutal practice of live-birth abortions that saw him purposely prematurely birth babies and, afterwards, he would "snip" their spinal cords with medical scissors. Full story at LifeNews.com
Oklahoma House Votes Against Destruction of Embryonic Humans
The Oklahoma House has passed a bill that would prohibit human embryo destruction for experiments, by a vote of 86 votes in favor and 8 votes opposed. Contrary to what some news reports claim, the bill (HB 1442) sponsored by Rep. George Faught does not directly address embryonic stem cell research. Full story at LifeNews.com
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