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Dear Friends For Life, The 9/18 LifeIssues.net newsletter is a few days early this week. Pro Life work will take me to Kazakhstan for several weeks and I will return to Japan on the 24th. Recent population news shows that Lesotho is a Dying Kingdom. Surrounded by South Africa, this tiny kingdom has shrunken from a population of 2.5 to below 1.8 million people and continues to decline. It seems that the western anti-life influence has penetrated deeply into the population. The contraceptive rate is now at a record high of 40% and higher than that in urban centers, which is contributing mightily to this. Abortion remains illegal but is being advertised openly in newspapers as "safe, cheap, easy and painless." Further, women can easily cross the border into surrounding South Africa where abortion is available. Lesotho has an 85% Christian density (mostly Catholic). Church attendance is still high, but signs point directly to a lessening of Christian values in this small country. Free sex is replacing age old values of virginity and chastity. Openness to new life is being replaced with contraception and abortion. Sex ed instructions in schools continue to destroy sex morality as important prior to marriage. Years ago abortion was punished as a crime. Now it is seen as a woman's right and freedom. Previously barrenness was a curse, today it is promoted through contraception. Human Life International was invited in and gave an intensive three day course to leaders which included the Archbishop. Let's hope there are brighter days ahead. God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI
(A Thought) "Conservatives have every reason to believe the death penalty system is no different from any politicized, costly, inefficient, bureaucratic, government-run operation . . . But here the end result is the end of someone's life. In other words, it's a government system that kills people. Those of us who oppose abortion believe that it is perhaps the greatest immorality to take an innocent life. While the death penalty is supposed to take the life of the guilty, we know that is not always the case. It should have shocked the consciences of conservatives when various government prosecutors withheld exculpatory, or opposed allowing DNA-tested, evidence in death row cases. To conservatives, that should be deemed as immoral as abortion . . . But even when guilt is certain, there are many downsides to the death penalty system." -Richard A. ViguerieCap.
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For clear thinking about crucial issues, visit LifeIssues.net
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Lifeissues.net Newsletter #542
September 11, 2011
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2. What New UN Population Data Means for Global Power
3. Gay, straight couples more monogamous than in the past
4. Mom defies the odds after devastating accident
5. Sperm Donor Fathers More Than 150 Children, Regulations Needed
6. Donnybrook Over Homosexual Rights Expected in Upcoming General Assembly
7. Guttmacher Report Shows Planned Parenthood a Funding Sinkhole
8. Doctors' euthanasia advice redefines suffering
9. Detecting covert consciousness in the vegetative state
10. Dutch Guidelines Compel Doctors to Refer for Euthanasia
11. Study: father's presence makes children happier, more intelligent
12. BREAKING: Against all odds, conjoined twins born to woman who refused abortion
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(FOCUS ON ASIA): "Coalition aims at rights in North Korea" - A new global organization was launched today to campaign for human rights in North Korea.Concerted approach 'the only way to stand a chance of securing change.
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ITEM #1: Desire, Lust, Chastity, and Love: A Deeper Understanding
This article summarizes Yusuf's thoughtful and thought-provoking essay, focusing on the movement from the hedonistic, self-centered self to the ethical or virtuous self, and ultimately to the self at peace. It shows how chastity is a central virtue enabling this movement, insofar as this virtue helps a person to take command of his desires and emotions and not be under their command.
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ITEM #2: What New UN Population Data Means for Global Power
UN demographers have reversed themselves, projecting that all nations will converge by 2100 at a rate of 2.1 children per woman, just enough to replace their parents, but not more. The probabilistic model that UN statisticians used to make these new predictions is severely flawed and experts have rightly criticized it. But the fallout from the new forecast could be significant nonetheless.
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ITEM #3: Gay, straight couples more monogamous than in the past
Note this quote: "Among gay men, the percentage who cheated on a partner they lived with dropped to 59% from 83%; for lesbians it declined to 8% from 28%." And, of course, this decline is "also a result of greater acceptance of same-sex relationships." Sad propaganda.
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ITEM #4: Mom defies the odds after devastating accident
Comment: I saw this on TV when it aired yesterday and Mrs. Eldredge was alert, articulate and looking wonderful after just 3 months (the accident happened in June). Note this: One doctor recommended stopping life support but "...despite a brain injury Dr. Eldredge (the woman's husband) believed was medically impossible to recover from, his wife began to show signs of life." Once again, just being given the gift of time made all the difference. How many other patients have died or become non-heartbeating organ donors before given a similar chance? -Nancy Valko, RN
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ITEM #5: Sperm Donor Fathers More Than 150 Children, Regulations Needed
The New York Times reports that one sperm donor has fathered more than 150 children. The story has prompted concern from experts and activists who believe that regulation of the fertility industry is long overdue: There is growing concern among parents, donors and medical experts about potential negative consequences of having so many children fathered by the same donors, including the possibility that genes for rare diseases could be spread more widely through the population. Some experts are even calling attention to the increased odds of accidental incest between half sisters and half brothers, who often live close to one another.
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ITEM #6: Donnybrook Over Homosexual Rights Expected in Upcoming General Assembly
Fresh off of what they hailed as a "historic" human rights victory, homosexual activists are expected to aggressively push their agenda in the UN General Assembly set to convene later this month.
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ITEM #7 Guttmacher Report Shows Planned Parenthood a Funding Sinkhole
The Guttmacher Institute announced the publication of an analysis of the rate of unintended pregnancy in the United States from 2001 to 2006. The report unwittingly makes the case for defunding Planned Parenthood.
More Proof Planned Parenthood Doesn't Need Our Tax Dollars
Planned Parenthood CEO Lies about Blocked Texas Ultrasound Bill
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ITEM #8: Doctors' euthanasia advice redefines suffering
Comment: Loneliness will be added to the next strict condition to qualify for euthanasia. This is a perfect example why we must do everything in our power to not allow euthanasia to become law. Early in the 1990's, Dr Karl Gunning, Dutch physician and dear friend once lamented, "We have always predicted that once you start looking at killing as a means to solve problems then you'll find more and more problems where killing can be the solution." (Dr Karl Gunning, March 15, 1926 - June 29, 2007) The passing of years have proved how prophetic Gunning's fear was. -Cheryl
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ITEM #9: Detecting covert consciousness in the vegetative state
Comment: While good, this news is hardly new. Back in early 1990s, the first pioneering work I can remember was done by a doctor in NY that showed 43% misdiagnosis of the "vegetative state." I personally saw so-called "vegetative" patients wake up in the 1970s. All this was ignored during the Cruzan and Schiavo cases. The real question now is how do we help these people regain or improve function rather than how do we get rid of them. -Nancy Valko, RN
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ITEM #10: Dutch Guidelines Compel Doctors to Refer for Euthanasia
Note: Doctors would not dream of sending their patients to an unethical or incompetent doctor. How then can they refer a patient to a euthanasia practicioner who is obviously unethical?
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ITEM #11: Study: father's presence makes children happier, more intelligent
Research at Montreal's Concordia University has shown that fathers who actively engage in raising their children make important contributions to their children's cognitive abilities and behavioral functioning. "This topic is particularly relevant in Québec, a demographically and culturally unique province in which female lone parenthood is relatively common," Pougnet explains in the preface to the report.
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ITEM #12: BREAKING: Against all odds, conjoined twins born to woman who refused abortion
Research at Montreal's Concordia University has shown that fathers who actively engage in raising their children make important contributions to their children's cognitive abilities and behavioral functioning. "This topic is particularly relevant in Québec, a demographically and culturally unique province in which female lone parenthood is relatively common," Pougnet explains in the preface to the report.
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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) ------------------------------ Get a weekly dose of clear thinking: subscribe to our free Lifeissues newsletter! Sign up at www.LifeIssues.net. Pass this free service to your friends and various groups. ------------------------------ 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"] ------------------------------ Websites by Editor: English LifeIssues Site: http://www.lifeissues.net, Japanese LifeIssues Site: http://www.japan-lifeissues.net,
HIV/AIDS Site: http://capcha.org OMI Site: http://www.omijapankorea.net/index.html
