Friday, September 20, 2013

Lifeissues Newsletter #646


Lifeissues.net: clear thinking about crucial issues

Dear Friends for Life,
Chile: House Approves Day for Unborn Child
The Chilean House of Representatives voted  to establish March 25th as the Day of the Unborn Child and of Adoption. Sponsored by Senator Jaime Orpis, the legislation provides for a national day of celebration and recognition of the unborn child as it seeks to protect life from the moment of conception. Representative Jorge Sabag of the Christian Democratic Party said the legislation "is nothing more than the consequence of article 19 of the Constitution of the Republic, which guarantees the right to life for all persons and that the law shall protect the life of the unborn." The bill was approved by a vote of 59-27.

British MP: Abortion Act Discriminates Against Disabled


A British Member of Parliament has drawn attention to the discrimination against the disabled in the UK's Abortion Act. MP Fiona Bruce, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, highlighted the discrimination that has led to "an anomalous denial of the equality of disabled people". Under the Abortion Act, there is no limit on abortions done for reasons of disability whereas those for "social terminations" are prohibited after 24 weeks. In an article for Catholic Universe, MP Bruce highlights a recent Parliamentary Inquiry into the practice of abortion on the grounds of disability which found clear evidence of discrimination towards unborn babies diagnosed with a disability. The Inquiry issued recommendations to amend the Abortion Act to ensure all unborn children are treated equally, regardless of ability.


God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI



(The Difference is LIFE) "On any Sunday, people will come to church angry, or desolate, or bewildered. Maybe they'll hear a kind word from someone to ease their pain. Maybe they'll receive a smile at the kiss of peace. Perhaps it's enough that they are able to be with the community, with their community. To not feel alone.That's the nature of a parish. The bond of sharing our faith together transcends differences in income, political outlook, sexual orientation and cultural background. It transcends death. We are linked together with all the people who have ever joined to worship and pray. And with all the people who, over the past two millennia, have sought to live the message of Jesus. And with all people in history who have opted for love instead of fear". - Patrick T. Reardon is the author of Love Never Fails: Spiritual Reflections for Dads of All Ages.


*---*(Due to volume of spam received, do not reply to this message but instead send all emails to jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp. Thank you!)
**************************************** Lifeissues.net Newsletter #646
September 22, 2013
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(TABLE OF CONTENTS):

1. A Firm Foundation (marriage)
2. Don't Encourage Youth to Identify as 'Gay,' Says Courage Leader
3. Fundamental Differences: NFP vs. Contraception
4. Why the term "fertilized eggs" should never be used by real people
5. Miracle Of Prayer -- Australia Rejects Homosexual Marriage
6. Elder Abuse in the UK: Hundreds of thousands of elderly people were abused last year
7. Former abortionist calls abortion "murder," says "our society can't go on this way"
8. Baby with Trisomy 13 lives 135 days and reaches 500,000 Facebook fans
9. No, abortion isn't an acceptable way to send babies to Heaven
10. Abortion: A woman's right to control her body?
11. Pro-choicers, your position raises some big questions
12. The Mission to Witness The Ideal of Family


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(Life): "UN: One million Syrian children are now refugees"The three-year civil war in Syria reached a grim milestone. According to the United Nations agency for refugees, there are now one million Syrian children who have been displaced in the on-going conflict. This news comes as the UN investigates claims that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against rebels.

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ITEM #1: A Firm Foundation

The strength of the foundation that marriage provides in the life of a child depends on its being a "comprehensive union" (as Robert George, Ryan Anderson and Sherif Girgis have described). In marriage a husband and wife unite physically. Their union is not limited but total and it is not fleeting but permanent.

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ITEM #2:
Don't Encourage Youth to Identify as 'Gay,' Says Courage Leader

My first concern is the boys who self-identify as "gay" or "homosexual." And the question is: why are they doing that? The Church is reluctant to label people in this way, particularly for adolescents. The teenage years are a period of discovery and adventure in a certain sense and a time of coming to know oneself. And that has to be guided properly so that self-entanglement doesn't take place. Many different things are happening at this age and it seems, at best, premature in that stage of development for someone to take a label for himself that is not reflective of his entire being.
Human rights groups support Russia's anti-gay propaganda law
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ITEM #3: Fundamental Differences: NFP vs. Contraception

Many people have trouble distinguishing between natural family planning (NFP) and contraception. Catholic moral teaching has always been clear on the subject, but this clarity eludes many Catholics. Since both involve not having children, they seem as if they were exactly the same act for many people. This is also true of many health care providers.

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ITEM #4: Why the term "fertilized eggs" should never be used by real people

The last thing that the term "fertilized eggs" makes the average person think of is their mother, sister, son, or grandfather. And yet, what's being referred to as a "fertilized egg" is equally human, unique, and deserving of rights as those other "real people" in our lives.
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ITEM #5: Miracle Of Prayer -- Australia Rejects Homosexual Marriage

Besides opposing marriage-deformation, Abbott has proposed what has been called the world's most-generous paid maternity leave. When asked by an interviewer a few years ago what advice he'd give his three daughters on sex before marriage, Abbott replied: "It is the greatest gift you can give someone, the ultimate gift of giving and don't give it up to someone lightly."
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ITEM #6: Elder Abuse in the UK: Hundreds of thousands of elderly people were abused last year
As many as 370,000 older people have been abused in their own homes by a carer, relative or friend in the last year, according to figures, exposing what has been described as a "hidden national scandal".

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ITEM #7 Former abortionist calls abortion "murder," says "our society can't go on this way"
Dr. Clark is now at peace with his time as an abortionist and says, "I know God has forgiven me." He contacted Oregon Right to Life to tell his story in order to reveal how brutal and violent abortion is. He wanted to make his story public in an attempt to prevent abortions and encourage pro-lifers.
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ITEM #8: Baby with Trisomy 13 lives 135 days and reaches 500,000 Facebook fans

When Kara McHenry found out she was pregnant, there's no way she could have known the impact that her child would have on the world. When the doctors told her and her husband Shane that their baby had Trisomy 13, and was therefore "incompatible with life" there's no way they could have known the inspiration he would ignite.
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ITEM #9: No, abortion isn't an acceptable way to send babies to Heaven

On Monday, Jill Stanek highlighted a video by Melissa Bové, who blogs under the handle Chemist Blogger. Ms. Bové finds it hard to "understand why Christians feel abortion is so tragic for the unborn," because if we believe in the existence of Heaven, then why is it a bad thing to send babies straight to an eternity of peaceful, painless bliss with their Creator?

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ITEM #10: Abortion: A woman's right to control her body?

Women's rights clearly include their right to health and to make fully informed decisions regarding their bodies. Does a woman's right to decide what she will and will not do with her body extend to actions affecting the fetus who may reside in her body? Does a woman's right to control her own reproduction include a right to induced abortion?
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ITEM #11: Pro-choicers, your position raises some big questions
Please choose whether you support legal abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, under all circumstances, even for unborn who could survive outside the womb…or if you support some abortion, and believe that other abortion should be illegal. Please choose now.
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ITEM #12: The Mission to Witness The Ideal of Family
We, married couples, should transmit the ideal of family to the world. We have to feel that mission consciousness, because that fire which burns in our homes - if we transmit it well - is a fire which can transform the world. Our families are the basis for the renewal: renewal of the Church, society, and the world.


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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)

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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]

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