Friday, February 24, 2012

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report 2/24/12

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Friday, February 24, 2012

For pro-life news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com.

Current Headlines

Top Stories
• Texas Defunds Planned Parenthood Despite Obama Admin Attacks
• 40 Days for Life Already Saves 24 Babies From Abortion

• I m Committed to Abstinence, Virgin is Not a Dirty Word

• Planned Parenthood Fraud Totals $100 Million in Tax Dollars

More Pro-Life News
• Muslims Should Take Pro-Life View Opposing Abortion
• Mother: There s Nothing Down About Down Syndrome!
• If Ultrasound is Rape, Arrest Planned Parenthood Staffers
• Nine Pro-Life Books on Abortion Issues You Should Read
• Washington Bill Forcing Abortion Coverage Heads to Senate
• Abortion After My Rape Just Added to My Pain, Guilt
• McDonnell: Cuccinnelli Brought Up Ultrasound Legal Issues
• Alaska Legislature OKs Bill for Choose Life License Plates

---> Tell Obama: Stop This Pro-Abortion Mandate - Sign the Petition and pass it on!


Texas Defunds Planned Parenthood Despite Obama Admin Attacks
The state of Texas is defying attacks form the Obama administration in the form of threats to revoke federal funding if the state cuts of its funding for the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and state lawmakers have directed the Texas Health and Human Services commissioner to sign a rule yesterday that officially bans Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses from participating in the Texas Women s Health Program.

In December, the Obama Administration refused to renew funding for Texas Women s Health Program (WHP) because of new state rules that disqualify abortion business affiliates from participation in the program. The WHP encompasses Medicaid family planning services for low income women. The program started through authorizing legislation in 2005 and was renewed in the recent 82nd Legislative Session with new pro-life rules. www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/texas-defunds-planned-parenthood-despite-obama-admin-attacks/

40 Days for Life Already Saves 24 Babies From Abortion
The 40 Days for Life kickoff off events this week have helped generate a spirit of Christian unity and media coverage, too!

Here are two great examples, including one from a first-time campaign in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/40-days-for-life-already-saves-24-babies-from-abortion/

Looking for a Pro-Life Speaker?
Looking for a pro-life speaker for your next banquet, conference or convention? LifeNews.com editor and CEO Steven Ertelt is available to speak to your pro-life group or crisis pregnancy center to present a message about how the pro-life community is winning the abortion battle. Mr. Ertelt can help you fill a spot for a keynote speaker or workshop presenter for your event and help you stay below budget at the same time. For more information, email news@LifeNews.com

I m Committed to Abstinence, Virgin is Not a Dirty Word
In case you hadn t noticed, this is going to be an intensely personal blog post.

I ll just kick it off with the juicy stuff so you don t have to wait around: I haven t had sexual intercourse in almost four years. Now, this is not to say I haven t done anything I wouldn t do if Jesus were in the room. I am not perfect. But for the past three and a half years, in the ball park of my love life, there have been no home runs.

I admit I am not a virgin. I am also not sexually repressed. I am not, like the virgin adult character on Glee, a frigid obsessive-compulsive with serious psychological problems. I am also not, as far as I know, completely repulsive, although if there s one thing I ve learned from observing the world around me, it s that if you are female, it doesn t matter what you look like; somebody thinks you are juuuust fine, and that somebody probably has an ad on Craigslist right now. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/im-committed-to-abstinence-virgin-is-not-a-dirty-word/

Planned Parenthood Fraud Totals $100 Million in Tax Dollars
Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has described 2011 as the most difficult year in [Planned Parenthood s] history. Well, welcome to 2012.

The Alliance Defense Fund, in conjunction with the Susan B. Anthony List, released its summary report on publicly available federal and state audits that identify waste, abuse, and potential fraud by Planned Parenthood and state family planning programs and reveal systemic misuse of nearly $100 million taxpayer dollars. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/planned-parenthood-fraud-totals-100-million-in-tax-dollars/

Muslims Should Take Pro-Life View Opposing Abortion
Life s fragility should remind us of the greatness of God, and the goodness of God s creation should inspire us to respect life. Adapted from remarks made in the Princeton University Chapel for Respect Life Sunday.

In a world preoccupied with material wealth and convenience, the gift of life is often minimized and sometimes forgotten altogether. Modernity encourages us to view unwanted life as a burden that will hold us back. For Muslims, however, just as for many in other faith traditions, life must be acknowledged, always and everywhere, as a true blessing. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/muslims-should-take-pro-life-view-opposing-abortion/

Mother: There s Nothing Down About Down Syndrome!
While I was pregnant I would sit on my bed and look at Riley s name printed on the wall. I felt that something was a little off. Nothing was wrong, but something wasn t right. How neat it was that I knew she was special before I even met her

Jennifer peaks her head into the living room where her three daughters are playing house. Sarah and Jaimee giggle as they push their little six month old sister, Riley, around in a carriage that is supposed to be for their baby dolls. Riley simply smiles at all the attention. Mom, come look at Riley! they suddenly exclaim, she is smiling! From the doorway, Jennifer can t help but smile herself at the scene. In her eyes it is nothing less than picture perfect. Her children are right where they should be with her.

But, if some people had it their way Riley wouldn t be here. Why? She has Down- Syndrome; Trisomy 21 to be exact. Which somehow labels her as less deserving of life by many in today s society. What a loss for them. They have no idea of the joy that comes from having a child with special needs , but Jennifer does. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/mother-theres-nothing-down-about-down-syndrome/

If Ultrasound is Rape, Arrest Planned Parenthood Staffers
Having an ultrasound is now considered rape, according to the latest talking points from the largest abortion chain in the nation, Planned Parenthood, over the controversy about the Virginia ultrasound bill.

If this sounds illogical and absurd, that s because it is.

In a 2003 study of Planned Parenthood and other independently owned abortion facilities, 99 percent of these clinics admitted that they either always or sometimes perform an ultrasound in association with a surgical abortion. Further, it was stated that vaginal ultrasounds were always performed before the early surgical abortion at 83 percent of these sites, 16 percent under certain conditions, and only 1 percent never did them.

Additionally, the study revealed that after an abortion was performed, vaginal ultrasounds were also always performed at 26 percent of these sites, under certain conditions at 66 percent of these sites, and never at 8 percent. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/if-ultrasound-is-rape-arrest-planned-parenthood-staffers/

Nine Pro-Life Books on Abortion Issues You Should Read
I used to have quite the collection of pro-life books. I ve been into this issue since I was a very young teenager. Now, I ve thinned down my collection and have a few definite favorites. For anyone out there who d like to increase their knowledge or expand their thinking on the issue, here are my reviews and recommendations. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/nine-pro-life-books-on-abortion-issues-you-should-read/

Looking for a Pro-Life Speaker?
Looking for a pro-life speaker for your next banquet, conference or convention? LifeNews.com editor and CEO Steven Ertelt is available to speak to your pro-life group or crisis pregnancy center to present a message about how the pro-life community is winning the abortion battle. Mr. Ertelt can help you fill a spot for a keynote speaker or workshop presenter for your event and help you stay below budget at the same time. For more information, email news@LifeNews.com


Washington Bill Forcing Abortion Coverage Heads to Senate
The bill the Washington state House approved that would require that any insurance policy sold to state residents for maternity coverage also require policyholders to pay for coverage of abortions is headed to a state Senate vote. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/washington-bill-forcing-abortion-coverage-heads-to-senate/

Abortion After My Rape Just Added to My Pain, Guilt
My story is not an easy one to tell. However, I think it s important to try, because I know what it s like to feel alone. I don t know who needs to hear this, but I believe in the deepest part of my heart that what I ve experienced has not been in vain. If talking about what has happened in my life can help one less person to feel like she is struggling by herself, then I will try. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/abortion-after-my-rape-just-added-to-my-pain-guilt/

McDonnell: Cuccinnelli Brought Up Ultrasound Legal Issues
In his first remarks since calling for changes, that have been made and accepted by the legislature, to the pro-life pre-abortion ultrasound bill in Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell says he requested the changes because of legal concerns. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/mcdonnell-cuccinnelli-brought-up-ultrasound-legal-issues/

Alaska Legislature OKs Bill for Choose Life License Plates
Legislation allowing Alaskans to purchase specialty plates with either pro-life or pro-abortion messages was passed by the Alaska Legislature on Feb. 24 and now awaits Governor Sean Parnell s signature to become law. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/24/alaska-legislature-oks-bill-for-choose-life-license-plates/

 

Encourage Friends to Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com