LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
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Current Headlines
Top Stories
• Board: Obamacare Should Force Coverage of Birth Control, Abortion Drugs
• Komen Sends Millions to Embryonic Stem Cell Research Centers
• New Video: More Blacks Die From Abortion Than Anything Else
• Pro-Life Archbishop Charles Chaput to Lead Catholics in Philadelphia
More Pro-Life News
• Bachmann Leads GOP 2012 Poll, Romney and Perry Follow
• Pro-Life Groups, Catholic Bishops Blast Obamacare Recommendations
• Planned Parenthood Wrong to Promote Sex Rights for Kids
• NPR, Planned Parenthood Mislead on Abortion Nature of Ella Drug
• Fox Analyst Margaret Hoover Wants GOP to Drop Pro-Life Stance
• Assisted Suicide, Rationing Promoted as Health Care Cost Savings
• Malthus, Ehrlich, Gore And Other Population Control Mystics
• Poll: British Med Students Back Abortion Conscience Rights
• Poland Abortion Ban Would Comply With International Law
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Board: Obamacare Should Force Coverage of Birth Control, Abortion Drugs
A new report issued by the influential Institute of Medicine today recommended to the Obama administration that it force insurance companies to pay for birth control under the Obamacare government-run health care program.
The recommendation could have the Obama administration requiring insurance programs to include birth control such as the morning after pill or the ella drug that causes an abortion days after conception in the section of drugs and services insurance plans must cover under preventative care. The companies will likely pass the added costs on to consumers, requiring them to pay for birth control and, in some instances, drug-induced abortions of unborn children in their earliest days.
The Health and Human Services Department commissioned the report from the Institute, which advises the federal government and shut out pro-life groups in meetings leading up to the recommendations. They asked for the guidance on what the evidence and science says, so that s what we ve given, said Christine Stencel, a spokeswoman for the Institute told the National Journal.
Jeanne Monahan, director of Family Research Council s Center for Human Dignity, which covers pro-life, issues, panned the decision.
The real issue is not about birth control as such but rather about specific contraceptives that can function as abortifacients, in particular, emergency contraceptives. This isn t a matter of opinion or political ideology, she explained. The FDA approved label for Plan B suggests it can prevent implantation of an embryo. Moreover, the most recently approved EC, ella , is chemically similar to RU-486 and it may destroy an embryo after it is already implanted.
Additionally, this is a question of whether the government should mandate every health plan to cover these drugs free of cost. Whatever one s position is on the issues of contraceptives, abortifacients, and such, it does not matter whether proponents of such drugs do not care about the effect on human embryos, Monahan continued. The point is that many Americans do care, and many religious health plans would care, and that they should not be forced to violate their conscience. Non-discrimination laws are in effect for this very reason. The IOM recommendations will potentially require people who are not in favor of these drugs to cover and participate in something they find objectionable. You don t have to agree with such objections, but at the same time people should not be forced to violate their consciences. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/board-obamacare-should-force-coverage-of-birth-control-abortion-drugs/
Komen Sends Millions to Embryonic Stem Cell Research Centers
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has long upset pro-life advocates for denying the abortion-breast cancer link and sending millions to the Planned Parenthood abortion business. New information shows Komen also supporting centers engaging in embryonic stem cell research.
As LifeNews.com reported last year, Komen spokesman John Hammarley confirmed 20 of Komen s 122 affiliates have made donations to Planned Parenthood and, in 2009, those contributions totaled $731,303. The Komen spokesman also confirmed Komen affiliates contributed about $3.3 million to the abortion business from 2004-2009.
Now, Karen Malec of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer has spent time examining Komen s 990 Forms for the IRS for 2010 and she found that Komen has active relationships with at least five research groups or educational facilities that engage in embryonic stem cell research, which requires the destruction of unborn children in their earliest days for stem cells that have yet to help any patients.
Komen is careful in its documents to state that none of the funds directly support embryonic stem cell research, saying in its Group Return for 2010 under a section entitled Grant Statement that While Komen affiliates do not fund research grants directly, a portion of the funds raised by every Komen affiliate (approximately 25%) go to support the research and training grants program at Komen s International Headquarters.
The return shows donations from Komen totaling $3.75 million to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, $4.5 million to the University of Kansas Medical Center, $1 million to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, $1 million to the Society for Women s Health Research, and $600,000 to Yale University. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/komen-sends-millions-to-embryonic-stem-cell-research-centers/
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New Video: More Blacks Die From Abortion Than Anything Else
A national coalition of pro-life African-American groups and leaders is back with a new video touching on the racial overtones of abortion and following up to their first video addressing abortion in the context of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The National Black Prolife Coalition is behind the new professionally-produced video and members of the coalition include Ryan Bomberger of the Radiance Foundation and Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The video features a black, red and brown color scheme, pulsating music and captivating images.
In state after state, and city after city, black lives are in danger, the high-quality video says in a text overlay. Tragically, deaths outnumber life in the black community. Out of 653,011 annual deaths, the most common cause is not HIV (6,398), respiratory disease (7,830), homicide (8,870), diabetes (12,343), accidents (13,559), kidney disease (17,232), cancer (63,441) or heart disease (63,441). The number one killer of black Americans is Planned Parenthood and the abortuaries that target us.
Abortion (363,705) is then compared to all other cases combined (289,306) in terms of what takes the lives of more African-Americans each year and the video ends with the tag, Stop Planned Parenthood, bring an end to genocide.
We ve been betrayed by black leaders, the video concludes along with naming pro-abortion black elected officials like DC Mayor Vincent Gray, Jesse Jackson, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Barbara Lee, Al Sharpton and others, who ve sacrificed 15 million babies for political or personal gain. The numbers don t lie. Restore life. Restore hope. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/new-video-more-blacks-die-from-abortion-than-anything-else/
Pro-Life Archbishop Charles Chaput to Lead Catholics in Philadelphia
Denver, Colorado s loss is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania s gain as pro-life stalwart and enthusiast Archbishop Charles Chaput has been selected by Pope Benedict XVI to replace Cardinal Justin Rigali as the head of one of the biggest Catholic areas of the nation.
The elevation of Chaput to the role allows the key pro-life advocate to exert ore influence in the Catholic hierarchy a the Catholic Church continues to lead the way on pro-life issues and confront pro-abortion groups and elected officials claiming the banner of the Church.
I know other bishops would have been smarter than I am, or more talented, or more connected to Philadelphia s past, he said in a press conference this morning making the announcement. But I do promise that no bishop will love the people and priests of this local Church more than I will. No bishop will give more of himself than I will.
During the 2008 election, Chaput called pro-abortion President Barack Obama the most committed abortion-rights presidential candidate since the Roe v. Wade abortion decision in 1973? and he has written a book, Render Undo Caesar, laying out the case for how Catholics should tread the issue of abortion in public life.
In an interview with the National Catholic Reporter, Chaput laid out how he found out about the news: I found out by a call from the Nuncio [Archbishop Pietro Sambi] on Tuesday, July 5, about 11:45 in the morning here in Denver. I was getting ready to go to a staff luncheon when he called and informed me that the Holy Father had asked that I serve the church as the Archbishop of Philadelphia. After talking with him for a while, and discussing what it meant, I said yes. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/pro-life-archbishop-charles-chaput-to-lead-catholics-in-philadelphia/
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Bachmann Leads GOP 2012 Poll, Romney and Perry Follow
Continuing her momentum following her entry into the Republican presidential race, pro-life Rep. Michele Bachmann now leads a national poll of GOP voters after posting leads in polls in the first battleground state of Iowa.
The new survey, conducted by the Public Policy Polling firm, shows Bachmann has taken a lead over her Republican competitors by a small 1 percent margin that is within the margin of error for the poll. Some 21 percent of Republicans put the Minnesota congresswoman as their first choice compared with 20 percent for Mitt Romney, 12% for Rick Perry, 11% for Herman Cain, 9% for Ron Paul, 7% for Newt Gingrich, 5% for Tim Pawlenty, and 3% for Jon Huntsman.
Bachmann s rise has been fueled by her appeal to voters on the more conservative side of the political spectrum as she leads 26-15 percent over Romney with voters who classify themselves as very conservative. Still, Bachmann also leads with centrist Republicans (23-17) and with those defining themselves as only somewhat right of center (24-17).
UPDATE: Late in the day, a new NBC/Wall St. Journal poll had Romney leading and Bachmann second. Romney remains the national leader with 30 percent of GOP primary voters saying they support him compared to 16 percent for Bachmann. In that poll, perry is at 11 percent, Paul 9 percent and Gingrich 8 percent. Cain gets 5 percent, Santorum 3 percent, and Pawlenty and Huntsman come in with 2 percent apiece. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/bachmann-leads-gop-2012-poll-romney-and-perry-follow/
Pro-Life Groups, Catholic Bishops Blast Obamacare Recommendations
Leading pro-life groups and the nation s Catholic bishops are speaking out against today s recommendations from the Institute of Medicine that the Obama administration make insurance companies include birth control and drugs that can cause abortions in preventative care.
Officials with Americans United for Life and the Family Research Council have condemned the IOM recommendations, which could force insurance enrollees to pay for birth control for other members of the health care program and could also have them paying higher premiums to pay for drugs can can cause abortions, like ella.
In a statement LifeNews.com received, Jeanne Monahan, Director of FRC s Center for Human Dignity, responded to the decision, saying, FRC is expressing strong opposition to the Institute of Medicine s recommendation to the Department of Health and Human Services that health care plans be mandated to cover no cost-sharing contraceptives, including those that can destroy human embryos such as Plan B and Ella.
There are no conscience protections for health care plans that object to such coverage, or for health care providers in insurance plan networks who object to prescribing such drugs, Monahan said.
Several drugs have been approved by the FDA to be legally categorized as emergency contraceptives, despite functioning in ways that can destroy a preborn baby before or after implanting in the mother s womb. A federal mandate to all insurance plans to include drugs such as ella essentially would mandate coverage for abortion. Inclusion of contraceptives also undermines conscience protections that President Obama promised would be maintained, Monahan explained. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/pro-life-groups-catholic-bishops-blast-obamacare-recommendations/
Planned Parenthood Wrong to Promote Sex Rights for Kids
Last week, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) released their new publication just time for next week s United Nation s 2011 International Year of the Youth High Level Meeting in New York.
The publication, entitled Exclaim! Young People s Guide to Sexual Rights: an IPPF Declaration, is a shocking look into how this billion dollar industry views our children. It attempts to actually defend IPPF s claim that young people are sexual beings with the right to explore, experience and express their sexuality in healthy, positive, pleasurable and safe ways.
One can look no further than the Table of Contents, which states Young People s Sexual Rights are Human Rights and a 10-point list on how this young generation s right to have sex is endowed to all people, to see the agenda IPPF is promoting. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/planned-parenthood-wrong-to-promote-sex-rights-for-kids/
NPR, Planned Parenthood Mislead on Abortion Nature of Ella Drug
NPR s Birth Control Without Copays Could Become Mandatory gravely misleads its audience on the extent of pro-life Americans concerns about the health care reform law s preventive care mandate including all FDA approved contraceptives. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/npr-planned-parenthood-mislead-on-abortion-nature-of-ella-drug/
Fox Analyst Margaret Hoover Wants GOP to Drop Pro-Life Stance
Fox News analyst Margaret Hoover appeared on the O Reilly Factor and encouraged the Republican Party to drop its long-standing pro-life views for fear of losing potential connections with the next generation of voters. However, Hoover ignores polling data showing millenials hold the strongest pro-life views. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/fox-analyst-margaret-hoover-wants-gop-to-drop-pro-life-stance/
Assisted Suicide, Rationing Promoted as Health Care Cost Savings
I told you so. I have said for almost as many years as I have engaged in anti assisted suicide advocacy that eventually killing (ending life) would come to be seen as a splendid way to save money in health care. I used to have HMOs in mind in making that argument. But now, it seems that single payer systems may be the greater danger. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/assisted-suicide-rationing-promoted-as-health-care-cost-savings/
Malthus, Ehrlich, Gore And Other Population Control Mystics
Something that happened to me a few years ago may throw light on the popular mindset regarding what s called overpopulation. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/malthus-ehrlich-gore-and-other-population-control-mystics/
Poll: British Med Students Back Abortion Conscience Rights
A new poll of British medical students finds them strongly supporting the conscience rights of physicians and medical professionals who don t want to be involved in doing or referring for abortions. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/poll-british-med-students-back-abortion-conscience-rights/
Poland Abortion Ban Would Comply With International Law
In Poland, a nation-wide grassroots effort has lead to the proposal of bold, new legislation aimed at removing all exceptions to the country s abortion laws thus protecting children from the moment of conception. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/poland-abortion-ban-would-comply-with-international-law/
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