LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
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Current Headlines
Top Stories
• Pro-Abortion Groups May Not Challenge Fetal-Pain Abortion Bans
• Pro-Abortion Blog Attacks Sarah Palin s Son: Retarded, Somewhat Alive
• Republicans Tell DC Mayor Gray to Honor Abortion Funding Ban
• Papa Johns, Huggies, Vanguard Drop Ads on Blog Attacking Trig Palin
More Pro-Life News
• Abortion Advocates Blast Pennsylvania Bill Responding to Gosnell
• Police Say Woman Killed Pregnant Mom, Cut Baby From Abdomen
• Democrats Manchin, Nelson Duplicitous on Planned Parenthood
• Oklahoma Gov. Signs Fetal-Pain Abortion Ban, Obamacare Funding Ban
• Indiana Senate OKs Planned Parenthood $ Ban, Fetal Pain Bann
• Massachusetts: Tax-Funded Web Site Promotes Abortion to Teens
• Michigan Abortion Center Fights in Court Today to Remain Open
• Costa Rica Threatened for Protecting Unborn From In-Vitro
• British Government Loses Bid to Withhold Late Abortion Stats
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Pro-Abortion Groups May Not Challenge Fetal-Pain Abortion Bans
Three states have new laws that ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the scientific evidence showing unborn children have the capacity to feel pain at that point, but abortion advocates may not challenge those laws in court.
The pro-life groups bringing the laws have done so not only because they seek to protect women and unborn children from late abortions but because they sense, based on the Supreme Court s decision upholding the ban on partial-birth abortions, that the legal door can be opened further to move the high court further down the road of offering legal protection for unborn children in a greater way.
Although Justice Anthony Kennedy is not willing to go along with the perceived four-vote minority of justices who appear likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, he did support reversing a 2000 decision that had the high court previously strike down a Nebraska partial-birth abortion ban and the National Right to Life Committee believes he is open to moving further in a pro-life direction that continues to chip away at Roe.
Surprisingly, when Nebraska became the first state in the nation to approve a fetal pain-based abortion ban, pro-abortion legal groups like Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Right, both of which are normally quick to fire off lawsuits at other types of pro-life legislation, didn t budge.
Now that Kansas and Idaho have joined Nebraska with new bans, and other states are considering similar legislation this session, the pro-abortion movement still appears reticent to give the pro-life community what it wants a legal challenge.
Mary Spaulding Balch, an attorney who is the state legislation director of the National Right to Life Committee, told Politico today, This is all an explosion, which we think if presented to the court, they would recognize the rights of the fetus. I was surprised it wasn t challenged, and I would like to see that.
This is one that the pro-life movement would like to see before the Supreme Court, she says. I do think that this raises a new issue that has not been presented to the court and comes up with information that was not available in 1973 [when the Court decided on Roe]. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Abortion Blog Attacks Sarah Palin s Son: Retarded, Somewhat Alive
The pro-abortion blog Wonkette is facing criticism from pro-life advocates for running a satirical post attacking Trig Palin, the Down Syndrome son of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
The attack on the son of the pro-life former Alaska governor comes at a time when pro-life advocates are concerned about statistics showing approximately 90 percent of unborn children who are diagnosed with Down Syndrome become victims of abortion.
The Wonkette post makes fun of Palin for posting a birthday message to Trig online. The Wonkette post says:
"What s he dreaming about? Nothing. He s retarded. His mom went to a lot of trouble to leak amniotic fluid over 8 states to make sure that he arrived in this world somewhat alive. Enjoy yourself today, Trig. Have fun! Get drunk (on purpose this time)! We can hardly wait for 15 years from now, when you will finally be able to vote and will be sent off by your mother s junta to fight the Union in the Great Alaska War. It ll be quite a loss. You re the smartest one in that family."
The Wonkette story prompted a massive conservative backlash on Twitter and calls for major advertisers to pull their advertising. Full story at LieNews.com
Papa Johns, Huggies, Vanguard Drop Ads on Blog Attacking Trig Palin
Three large companies have dropped their advertisements on the liberal, pro-abortion Wonkette blog after it ran a post earlier today bashing pro-life former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Conservative political activists are up in arms because the post, which Wonkette has defended, calls Palin s son trig, who has Down syndrome, retarded, somewhat alive, and includes crass claims that Palin conceived her son as a victim of incest.
Below are images of messages each company placed on Twitter responded to people who shared their concerns with the corporations in an impromptu conservative boycott of Wonkette s advertisers that erupted on Twtter Wednesday afternoon.
Papa Johns pizza confirmed it would not advertise with Wonkette. Huggies diapers confirmed the same thing. And Vanguard financial also confirmed it would take steps to stop advertising with the liberal blog. Full story at LifeNews.com
Republicans Tell DC Mayor Gray to Honor Abortion Funding Ban
With Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray s protest and arrest for supporting forcing taxpayers to fund abortions of DC residents, a group of House Republicans have drafted a letter telling Gray he needs to honor the new abortion funding ban.
In the new long-term Continuing resolution Congress passed, the previous ban on taxpayer funding of abortions in the District of Columbia that President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats removed last year has been put back in place. However, Republicans in Congress are concerned local DC officials won t abide by the reinstated policy.
In the letter, Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, and Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican, call on Gray to ensure DC officials immediately and faithfully implement the new law to ensure no further taxpayer funds are expended for elective abortion.
Exercising their oversight role, the pro-life advocates ask Gray s office to provide Congress with detailed information about abortion funding in the District during the period in which the D.C. Hyde amendment was not in place and to do so by May 6. Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Advocates Blast Pennsylvania Bill Responding to Gosnell
The abortion industry and its allies in Pennsylvania have launched a campaign against a modest bill aimed at stricter regulation of abortion facilities in the Commonwealth. The measure is a response to the atrocities discovered at Kermit Gosnell s West Philadelphia abortion center. Gosnell and members of his unlicensed staff are charged with the murders of seven newborn babies and one female patient.
The ACLU-PA and Planned Parenthood are teaming up to oppose HB 574, which would require abortion facilities to follow the same safety standards that govern ambulatory surgical facilities. The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga).
The ACLU has mounted a video campaign through the social networking site Facebook to oppose the legislation. The organization, which supports legal abortion, says that the bill would cost abortion operations hundreds of thousands of dollars in building renovations and staffing increases and would result in the closing of abortion centers.
In an interview with the website PoliticsPA, Rep. Baker responded, Why do they feel that they should not have to undergo the same patient health safety standards as other facilities, this just defies logic.
Meanwhile, Charlene Bashore, legislative director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, an affiliate of National Right to Life, told PoliticsPA, HB 574 is a direct and timely response to the recommendations of the Grand Jury report which investigated the Gosnell tragedy.
Bashore also told PoliticsPA, It is difficult to understand why there is now such vitriolic opposition to HB 574. Since I have no reason to doubt the truthfulness of the statements made in the Grand Jury report, I can only surmise that they are now advocating for entities other than those which were described as the legitimate abortion providers. Full story at LifeNews.com
Police Say Woman Killed Pregnant Mom, Cut Baby From Abdomen
Police say Kathy Michelle Coy told a 21-year-old pregnant friend in Kentucky that they were shopping for baby supplies. Instead, Coy took Jamie Stice to a wooded area, subdued her with a stun gun, and cut out her baby from her abdomen.
Detective Chad Winn shared the details of the grim story with a local court during a preliminary hearing where Coy faces charges of murder and kidnapping a minor. Winn told the court that, after attacking Stice with the gun, Coy slit Stice s throat and wrists and cut open her stomach to be able to gain access to her baby.
She advised that she stunned her, her throat was slit, her wrists were slit, she was disemboweled, Winn said, according to an AP report. The baby was obviously cut out of her.
Stice s family was unable to remain in the courtroom and they left in tears as the details of the grisly murder were presented. Winn, according to AP, said Coy eventually showed officials the wooded area where she left Stice s body. Coy was eventually arrested after showing up at a Bowling Green hospital with the newborn but presenting no signs sowing she had given birth recently.
Warren County District Judge Sam Potter has sent the case to a grand jury but Coy s public defender, Jim Gibson, said he opposed allowing the hearing because he claims Coy s mental state is not sufficient to allow her to stand trial. Full story at LifeNews.com
Democrats Manchin, Nelson Duplicitous on Planned Parenthood
Two Democratic senators who claim to be pro-life but voted against a pro-life measure that would have de-funded the Planned Parenthood abortion business are facing more criticism from pro-life groups.Manchin and Nelson joined every one of their fellow Democrats in the Senate last week in voting down a House-approved resolution that would have yanked taxpayer funding for the abortion business in the long-term budget Congress approved for the remainder of the year.
Today, the Susan B. Anthony List criticized Sens. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, and Ben Nelson, for voting to send taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood and then introducing a bill, the Title X Transparency and Verification Act, to ensure that the money isn t spent on abortions.
The organization says the two are tying to have it both ways by forcing taxpayers to fund the abortion business and then trying to make it appear they are ensuring money won t pay for abortions which is already the case under the Hyde Amendment.
The actions taken by Senators Manchin and Nelson show exactly what s wrong with Washington, said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. They voted to immediately send tens of millions in taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood and then sought to implement safeguards to ensure that the money isn t being spent on abortion. Shouldn t it be the other way around? Full story at LifeNews.com
Oklahoma Gov. Signs Fetal-Pain Abortion Ban, Obamacare Funding Ban
Oklahoma became the fourth state to enact legislation that protects from abortion unborn children who are capable of feeling pain and it becomes the latest of several to stop funding abortions under the Obamacare law. At a bill-signing ceremony today, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed into law two pro-life bills: HB 1888, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and SB 547, the Abortion-Is-Not-Health-Care bill. Full story at LifeNews.com
Indiana Senate OKs Planned Parenthood $ Ban, Fetal Pain Ban
The Indiana state Senate gave final approval to a bill that would cut off state taxpayer funding to the Planned Parenthood abortion business and ban abortions after 20 weeks based on the scientific evidence showing unborn babies feel pain. The vote for the bill came a week after Democrats in the U.S. Senate voted down a House Republican measure yanking federal funding. The Indiana bill would cut off Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood, denying the abortion business $3 million annually in taxpayer funds. Full story at LifeNews.com
Massachusetts: Tax-Funded Web Site Promotes Abortion to Teens
The statewide pro-life group in Massachusetts is upset to discover that a teenage sex education web site funded with state taxpayer funds promotes the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Linda Thayer, a former Boston teacher and vice president for educational affairs of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, talked with the Boston Herald today about Mariatalks.com, which tells teenagers that abortion is much easier than it sounds, more common than you might think and safe and effective, though some people may experience temporary discomfort. Full story at LifeNews.com
Michigan Abortion Center Fights in Court Today to Remain Open
An attorney for a Michigan abortion business will appear in court today to fight efforts by the state Attorney General who is seeking to close the center over improper licensing. Last month, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a lawsuit along with the Michigan Department of Community Health concerning the Lathrup Village-based WomanCare of Southfield that state officials say has been operating without a valid license since last summer. Full story at LifeNews.com
Costa Rica Threatened for Protecting Unborn From In-Vitro
Costa Rica must legalize in vitro fertilization according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, or face penalties for alleged violations of human rights protected by international law. Full story at LifeNews.com
British Government Loses Bid to Withhold Late Abortion Stats
The British government has lost its initial bid at the High Court to cover up the frequent reports the national health department typically puts out about abortions, including abortions done late in pregnancy. Full story at LifeNews.com
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