LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
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Current Headlines
Top Stories
• Planned Parenthood Denied $397K in Tax Funding in Tennessee
• Abortion-Breast Cancer: 53 of 66 Studies in 54 Years Show Link
• Pro-Life Student Advocate Jon Scharfenberger Passes Away
• Mother With Cancer Sacrifices Her Life for Her Unborn Baby
More Pro-Life News
• Planned Parenthood Awards Number Two Senate Democrat
• As A Black Pro-Life Conservative, I m an Uncle Tom for Life
• Senate Amdt Would Prohibit Tax-Funding Telemed Abortions
• Catholics Stand Against Obama for Pro-Life Conscience Rights
• European Union Court Bans Stem Cell Patents if Embryo Destroyed
• Woman Tells Pro-Life Advocates: You Saved My Grandbaby
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month Ignores Pill s Link to Cancer
• Time Magazine Attacks Pro-Life Bills Allowing Ultrasound
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Planned Parenthood Denied $397K in Tax Funding in Tennessee
The Planned Parenthood abortion business has lost its battle to keep a $397,000 taxpayer-funded contract in Memphis, Tennessee after pro-life advocates contacted members of the county commission requesting that the grant be given to someone else.
Shelby County Health Department director Yvonne Madlock had announced in September that , after significant lobbying from pro-life advocates, Christ Community Health Services would receive the $397,000 contract with the county for family planning rather than Planned Parenthood. Then, in a 6-4 party-line vote, the Shelby County Commission decided to postpone its decision and allow Planned Parenthood more time to make its case that it should continue receiving the tax money.
Now, the Shelby County Commission voted 9-4 on Monday to give Christ Community Health Services the family planning contract instead of renewing it with Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region. However, the Memphis Commercial newspaper reports that the abortion business has a pending bid protest with the county government.
ACTION: Contact the Shelby County Commission at http://www.shelbycountytn.gov/index.aspx?nid=71 and thank them for voting to de-fund Planned Parenthood. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/17/planned-parenthood-denied-397k-in-tax-funding-in-tennessee/
Abortion-Breast Cancer: 53 of 66 Studies in 54 Years Show Link
In 1996, the Brind quantitative meta-analysis of the extant induced abortion and breast cancer studies showed that there were 23 studies, 10 of which were statistically significant. Since then, there has been no tabulation to include the studies after 1997. An unpublished review in 2003 showed that there were 40 studies which showed a positive association between induced abortion and breast cancer.
In 2004, the Beral re-analysis was purported to review the literature regarding the induced abortion breast cancer studies. There were many articles in the popular press asserting that this study showed that more accurate prospective studies did not show a link between abortion and breast cancer. A positive association was found with the retrospective studies, but this result was reported to be misleading in the abstract.
However, there were many major flaws in this re-analysis. This study eliminated 14 published studies which had been subjected to peer review confirming the abortion breast cancer link, including a prospective study that showed a 90% increase in breast cancer risk with abortion. This demonstrated blatant selection bias. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/abortion-breast-cancer-53-of-66-studies-in-54-years-show-link/
Pro-Life Student Advocate Jon Scharfenberger Passes Away
Jon Scharfenberger, a staff member for Students for Life of America, passed away Tuesday morning from complications suffered after a tragic automobile accident that also claimed the lives of Kortney Blythe Gordon and her unborn baby Sophy.
Gordon, Scharfenberger and two pro-life students were driving back from the Students for Life of America Georgia conference when their vehicle was struck by another head on in a massive collision. The driver of the other vehicle was reportedly speeding and passing cars on a two-lane road. Gordon and her unborn child, Sophy, were immediately killed upon impact and Scharfenberger was in critical condition following the accident.
The team at SFLA is beyond saddened by the news that Jon Scharfenberger, Pregnant on Campus Coordinator and Campus Support Coordinator for Students for Life of America, passed away this morning due to complications from injuries he sustained from the same car accident that claimed the life of SFLA leader Kortney Blythe Gordon and her pre-born daughter, Sophy, on October 8th, SFLA said in a statement.
Jon had many successes in his short time with us at SFLA, including establishing a pro-life campus group at Florida International University that was successful in saving the life of a pre-born baby, a mere one week after its creation, SFLA said. We continue to offer prayers of support for Jon s family and friends and grieve during this incredibly difficult time for our organization and mission. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/pro-life-student-advocate-jon-scharfenberger-passes-away/
Mother With Cancer Sacrifices Her Life for Her Unborn Baby
Stacie Crimm s life changed dramatically when she learned she was pregnant, as she was filled with joy and excitement about the prospect of becoming a mother. However, Crimm s world was turned upside down when doctors gave her the news that she had been diagnosed with head and neck cancer.
Concerned about the effect chemotherapy would have on her baby, she refused the treatment or the suggestion to have an abortion. Ultimately, her decision had her sacrificing her own life to save her child, in what many see as a selfless and heroic act. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/mother-with-cancer-sacrifices-her-life-for-her-unborn-baby/
Planned Parenthood Awards Number Two Senate Democrat
This morning, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the US Senate Majority Whip, received the International Family Planning Award from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood of Illinois and the United Nations Foundation (UNF).
Abortion advocates praised Durbin, the number two Democrat in Senate, for relentlessly supporting abortion-on-demand. Carole Brite, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, referred to Durbin as an unparalleled champion for the pro-abortion movement.
Durbin, who is formerly pro-life but gradually moved towards voting for abortion and abortion funding as he ascended the Democratic leadership ladder, addressed the attendees of the award ceremony, remarking: International family planning is fundamental to improving the health and livelihood of women and their families around the globe.
He continued to say, These programs also increase stability and spur development in some of the world s poorest communities, helping us also achieve important development and security goals.
Contrary to Durbin s claims, ending the life of an unborn child does not increase stability nor spur development in some of the world s poorest communities. Societies greatest assets are its citizens. United Nations documents even recognize the rights of the unborn child. In the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, the UN asserted, The child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/17/planned-parenthood-awards-number-two-senate-democrat/
As A Black Pro-Life Conservative, I m an Uncle Tom for Life
History has a way of illuminating basic truths. To a certain degree, we can look at documented events and understand how we ve arrived at our present. This is why history, for many political pundits, must be controlled and revised. There s a potency in that, often, easily discoverable truth, that unmasks liberals and exposes a past they so desperately want to hide. What better way to keep people in captivity than to convince them to stay on the plantation?
There is a well-understood behavioral protocol in the black community where groupthink assures you inclusion. If one dares to veer off the ideological plantation, retribution is harsh. The masters, both black and white, won t allow the superficial cohesion to come undone. Despite all of the evidence that decades of liberal social policies have wreaked havoc on families in every inner-city in America, the inevitable demonization for those who challenge the status quo is enough to silence most dissenters. I ve never been good at being quiet.
Socially, the majority of black Americans are conservative on major issues, especially abortion. Yet these core beliefs are not reflected in the political actions of the black community. What explains this dissonance? Fear of defying the established, yet immensely flawed, precepts of liberalism keep too many from escaping to the north. Pundits, like media agitators Lawrence O Donnell, Roland Martin, Tavis Smiley, Janeane Garofolo, and Keith Olbermann, make sure the fugitives are kept in check. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/as-a-black-pro-life-conservative-im-an-uncle-tom-for-life/
Pennsylvania: Pro-Life Tim Burns Challenging Sen. Bob Casey
Pro-life businessman Tim Burns (R) has officially announced that he will challenge Democratic Senator Bob Casey, Jr. in 2012. Burns has run for the US House twice before.He lost to Mark Critz (D) in the May 2010 special election to fill the seat of the late Congressman John Murtha (D) and then again in the general election in 2010.
Traditionally, losses in such high-profile races would limit a candidate s future ambitions. (One need not look further than Senator Santorum s 2006 defeat and the subsequent damper the loss left on his presidential hopes.) However, Burns told PoliticsPA he views the losses as an asset;
I ran in a district that had barely 29% Republicans, virtually no Independents and I ran against what was supposed to be John Murtha s protégé and still managed to raise $2 million, Burns argued. I over performed for registration substantially. If I did that then at the state level, I think I could win in a landslide. I think you have to put that last campaign in perspective.
Burns founded a pharmaceutical company in 1992, which has grown to employ over 400 workers. In a campaign likely to center on fiscal issues, Burns resume will make him a leading contender for the Republican nomination. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/17/pennsylvania-pro-life-tim-burns-challenging-sen-bob-casey/
Senate Amdt Would Prohibit Tax-Funding Telemed Abortions
Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, is offering an amendment to legislation in the U.S. Senate that could receive a vote as early as today or tomorrow to ensure taxpayer funds are not used to pay for the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug under a telemedicine grant section. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/senate-amdt-would-prohibit-tax-funding-telemed-abortions/
Catholics Stand Against Obama for Pro-Life Conscience Rights
Last week a remarkable thing happened. Twenty leaders of national Catholic organizations signed a joint statement to protest the mandate for contraception and sterilization coverage issued this summer by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and to call for legislative reform to protect conscience rights. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/catholics-stand-against-obama-for-pro-life-conscience-rights/
European Union Court Bans Stem Cell Patents if Embryo Destroyed
Europe s highest human rights court says scientists can t patent stem cells if they are obtained by destroying human embryos days old unborn children. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/european-union-court-bans-stem-cell-patents-if-embryo-destroyed/
Woman Tells Pro-Life Advocates: You Saved My Grandbaby
As this 40 Days for Life campaign continues, one thing is clear prayer outside the abortion center touches consciences. Sometimes, the reaction is anger. Sometimes, it s tears. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/woman-tells-pro-life-advocates-you-saved-my-grandbaby/
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Ignores Pill s Link to Cancer
The fact that campaigns promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month have largely ignored the connection between contraception and breast cancer is prompting one doctor to challenge other medical professionals to speak up about the pill s risk to women. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/17/breast-cancer-awareness-month-ignores-pills-link-to-cancer/
Time Magazine Attacks Pro-Life Bills Allowing Ultrasound
An effort by pro-life activists to require women seeking abortions to first listen to their unborn baby s heartbeat is a brazen campaign by anti-abortion groups according to Time magazine. In an October 17 article at the magazine s website, Adam Cohen described the heartbeat bills as pro-life groups new weapon of choice, a frontal assault on Roe v. Wade. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/18/time-magazine-attacks-pro-life-bills-allowing-ultrasound/
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