LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
| For pro-life news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com. |
Current Headlines
Top Stories
• Poll: Perry Leads Republicans, Romney Better Against Obama
• Democrats Object to Probe of Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz
• Pro-Life Groups Cheer Upcoming Probe of Planned Parenthood
• Supreme Court Battle Over Pro-Abortion Obamacare Set for 2012
More Pro-Life News
• Desperate Housewives Felicity Huffman Promotes Abortion
• Indiana Asks Court to Uphold Planned Parenthood De-Funding
• Abortion Industry Puts Profits Over Women Pushing RU 486 Drug
• Abortion Business Landlord Attacks, Harasses Pro-Lifers
• No Ethics in Bioethics When Abortion of Twins Advocated
• Bishop: Catholics Should Get Involved in Pro-Life Activities
• March for Life Berlin: Standing Against Abortion in Germany
• Abortion Practitioner Upset at the Stigma Attached to It
• Ohio Senate OKs Bill to Strengthen Parental Consent on Abortion
• The Dirty Details Behind Genetically Engineering Kids
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Congress to Investigate Planned Parenthood Abortion Business
A Congressional committee has taken the first steps in investigating the Planned Parenthood abortion business over abuses ranging from financial disparities to its compliance with federal regulations on taxpayer funding to concerns that it is covering up cases of sex trafficking.
In a September 15 letter LifeNews.com obtained, Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican who is the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Investigations, writes to Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood.
Pursuant to Rules X and XI of the United States House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Commerce is examining the institutional practices and policies of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates, and its handing of federal funding, Stearns writes. That Committee has questions about the politics in place and actions undertaken by PPFA and its affiliates relating to its use of federal funding and its compliance with federal restrictions on the funding of abortion.
The letter asks Richards to comply with current federal regulations and legal obligations by providing Congress with a wide range of documents within two weeks of the date of the letter.
Please provide all internal audit reports conducted by PPFA and its affiliates from 1998 to 2010. If not clearly indicated in the audit reports, please detail how much PPFA and each affiliate expended and received in Title XIX Medicaid funding, Title X family planning, and any other federal funding, the letter says.
The letter requests any information related to improper billing related to federally-funded programs, proof that federal funds are not being improperly used to pay for abortions by PPFA or its affiliates, audits by state agencies of any Planned Parenthood affiliate, and documentation of how many affiliates currently receive Title X family planning funding. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/congress-to-investigate-planned-parenthood-abortion-business/
Democrats Object to Probe of Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz
Two leading Democrats in Congress are objecting to an investigation a Republican committee chairman has started into the Planned Parenthood abortion business amidst allegations concerning financial improprieties and criminal actions.
As LifeNews.com reported today, Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican who is the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Investigations, wrote to Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, requesting a host of financial documents related to federal funding it receives and information concerning its practices when confronted with teenage girls who are victims of statutory rape who are requesting abortions.
Reps. Henry Waxman of California and Diana DeGette of Colorado, both Democrats, responded to the Stearns letter with their own missive dated today complaining about the broad reach of the investigation and the documents requested, which they call far-reaching.
We question the basis for the investigation and whether Planned Parenthood is being singled out as part of a Republican vendetta, the Democrats claim, saying the request for extensive financial and policy documents is extraordinarily broad and burdensome.
The letter asks Planned Parenthood and all 83 of its affiliates for internal audit reports covering up to a 12-year period, for state audits covering a 20-year-period, for detailed information about any improper billing, and for sensitive information about the services and referral practices of Planned Parenthood affiliates and clinics, the letter reads. We are aware of no predicate that would justify this sweeping and invasive request to Planned Parenthood. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/democrats-object-to-probe-of-planned-parenthood-abortion-biz/
Pro-Life Groups Cheer Upcoming Probe of Planned Parenthood
Leading pro-life groups applauded the news LifeNews first reported today that a congressional subcommittee will investigate the alleged financial impropriety and potential coverup of criminal activities at Planned Parenthood abortion clinics.
In a September 15 letter LifeNews.com obtained, Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican who is the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Investigations, writes to Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood. The letter requests any information related to improper billing related to federally-funded programs, proof that federal funds are not being improperly used to pay for abortions by PPFA or its affiliates, audits by state agencies of any Planned Parenthood affiliate, and documentation of how many affiliates currently receive Title X family planning funding.
Live Action is the pro-life organization most responsible for bringing to light the problems of covering up alleged cases of sexual abuse and Lila Rose s videos capturing Planned Parenthood employees aiding and abetting sex traffickers and covering up child rape and abuse were the catalysts in Congress calling for this investigation, she told LifeNews in response.
We applaud Congress s first concrete steps to investigate Planned Parenthood, the biggest abortion business in the nation, Rose said. Last February, the Live Action team released undercover videos showing seven Planned Parenthood clinics aiding and abetting the sex trafficking of children. In the wake of the videos, the House of Representatives voted to defund the abortion giant of the over $360 million they receive in federal funds. This step by Rep. Stearns (R-FL) to further investigate Planned Parenthood s abusive and lawless activities is essential to protecting victims of abuse, our young girls, and our unborn brothers and sisters. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/pro-life-groups-cheer-upcoming-probe-of-planned-parenthood/
Supreme Court Battle Over Pro-Abortion Obamacare Set for 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court appears to be the location for the final battle next summer over the legality of Obamacare, the government-run health care scheme that pro-life groups opposed because it allows abortion funding and prompts rationing concerns.
Late Monday, the Obama administration said it would not ask the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to take up the case on appeal from a judge in Florida, who ruled Obamacare unconstitutional in the case involving Florida and dozens of other states that have signed on to the lawsuit. Last month, a three-judge panel issued a 2-1 ruling agreeing with the federal judge and saying Congress went too far constitutionally in passing Obamacare.
The Supreme Court, according to a Washington Post report, would likely receive the case sometime next summer during the intensity of the presidential election, which will likely focus in part on the much-maligned Obamacare law that a majority of Americans continue to oppose. The high court will have to wade through competing appeals court decisions with the 11th Circuit overturning the law, the 6th Circuit upholding it, and the 4th Circuit turning down a case challenging it.
Had the Obama administration asked for the full appeals court to consider the case, that would have pushed back any decision on it until 2013, likely. The decision indicates the Obama administration believes it will win at the Supreme Court and that Obamacare is a winning issue for Obama s re-election campaign. The decision also likely prevented more attention on another legal loss, as just five of the judges on the 11th Circuit were appointed by Democrats and one has already ruled in favor of overturning Obamacare. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/supreme-court-battle-over-pro-abortion-obamacare-set-for-2012/
 Announcing: National Association of Pro-life Nurses announces its 2011-2012 scholarship for student nurses. Scholarship application deadline is Feb. 15, 2012. Application can be found online at http://www.nursesforlife.org |
Desperate Housewives Felicity Huffman Promotes Abortion
Felicity Huffman, the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning star of ABC s Desperate Housewives, is the latest Hollywood heavyweight to promote abortion. In a blog post, the pro-abortion group NARAL thanked Huffman for touting the group in a local Los Angeles television interview.
But Huffman went far beyond that. She was the co-chair of the September 15 NARAL Power of Chocie luncheon where the chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama was the keynote speaker. NARAL said Huffman is one of the entertainment community s greatest champions of a woman s right to choose.
Last February, she joined us in Washington, D.C. as the mistress of ceremonies for NARAL Pro-Choice America s Roe v. Wade 38th anniversary luncheon, the group said. Felicity Huffman is helping us get the word out about our Power of Choice event. Just today, she appeared on KTLA Channel 5 Los Angeles morning news to speak out for a woman s right to make personal, private medical decisions, and to promote the Power of Choice Summit and Reception.
We re thankful for Felicity s outspoken support, and excited to have her join us in L.A. tomorrow, NARAL added. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/desperate-housewives-felicity-huffman-promotes-abortion/
Indiana Asks Court to Uphold Planned Parenthood De-Funding
Indiana officials filed a legal brief on Monday with a federal appeals court asking that it reverse a judge s decision this summer overturning its new comprehensive pro-life law that limits abortions and de-funds Planned Parenthood.
Several states have followed Indiana s lead in passing bills or administratively yanking all or part of the taxpayer funding the abortion business receives through the states from the federal government via the Title X family planning program. But, Judge Tanya Walton Pratt issued a temporary injunction forcing the state to fund Planned Parenthood while its lawsuit against the law moves ahead in court.
The legal brief, according to an AP report, says the abortion business could receive the taxpayer funds as long as it forms a new organization to legally separate the family planning portions of its business with the abortion portion. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago will hear oral arguments in the case on October 20.
The law was in effect for 30 days prior to the ruling from Pratt and Planned Parenthood of Indiana was forced to close temporarily and lay off staff as a result. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/indiana-asks-court-to-uphold-planned-parenthood-de-funding/
Abortion Industry Puts Profits Over Women Pushing RU 486 Drug
Earlier this week, a pro-life group out of London highlighted a study confirming that abortion drugs are more painful and less preferred by women than standard surgical abortions. That study, originally pubished in late 2010, is particularly important now as the issues of health care, the defunding of abortion providers, and the limiting of telemed abortions are debated across the United States.
Specifically, researchers found the following:
Women preferred surgical abortion to medical abortion (i.e., abortion caused by drugs)
Women who had medical abortions experienced more pain on the day of the procedure (43 percent, compared to 23 percent)
Women who had medical abortions experienced more bleeding (37 percent, compared to just 4 percent)
Almost half of the women in the medical abortion group indicated that they would not choose medical abortion again, but none of women in the surgical group who were available for follow-up indicated that they would opt for a different procedure
Almost half of the women in the medical abortion group stated that the procedure was worse than they expected, while none of the women in the surgical group indicated that that the surgical procedure was worse than expected.
http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/abortion-industry-puts-profits-over-women-pushing-ru-486-drug/
Abortion Business Landlord Attacks, Harasses Pro-Lifers
Todd Stave, the landlord of the abortion business in Maryland where late-term abortion practitioner LeRoy Carhart works is coming under fire for attacking and harassing pro-life advocates. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/abortion-business-landlord-attacks-harasses-pro-lifers/
No Ethics in Bioethics When Abortion of Twins Advocated
As my late good friend Richard John Neuhaus once wrote, for the most part, bioethicists are in the business of issuing permission slips for whatever the technicians want to do. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/no-ethics-in-bioethics-when-abortion-of-twins-advocated/
Bishop: Catholics Should Get Involved in Pro-Life Activities
October has traditionally been Respect Life month in the Catholic Church and with national campaigns like Life Chain and 40 Days for Life taking place, there are plenty of pro-life activities for Catholics to join. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/bishop-catholics-should-get-involved-in-pro-life-activities/
March for Life Berlin: Standing Against Abortion in Germany
On Saturday September 17, I woke up in an old Eastern Block apartment building in East Berlin, Germany. Even though the Berlin Wall has been down for years and Germany has been united for years, I was very aware of the history of where I was waking up. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/march-for-life-berlin-standing-against-abortion-in-germany/
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Abortion Practitioner Upset at the Stigma Attached to It
Jill Stanek carries the following quote from the rabidly proabort website, RH Reality Check, on her blog. Below is the quote and my response left at Jill s. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/abortion-practitioner-upset-at-the-stigma-attached-to-it/
Ohio Senate OKs Bill to Strengthen Parental Consent on Abortion
The Ohio state Senate has approved a bill meant to strengthen the parental consent law in place that prohibits teens from getting an abortion without their parents consent is moving along in the legislative process. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/ohio-senate-oks-bill-to-strengthen-parental-consent-on-abortion/
The Dirty Details Behind Genetically Engineering Kids
What always fascinates me about the transhumanist, is that they are so blinded by their love of technology and their desire to change humanity that they always skip over the dirty details. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/09/27/the-dirty-details-behind-genetically-engineering-kids/
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