DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

LifeNews Pro-Life News Report 5/22/12

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

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

Current Headlines

Top Stories
• Obama Admin Signs $20M Contract for Obamacare Public Relations
• Poll: Majority of Americans Oppose Obama HHS Mandate
• Obama Loses 14 Points with Catholic Voters Over HHS Mandate
• Former GOP Party Chair: Planned Parenthood Targets Blacks

More Pro-Life News
• Obama: Best Thing to Happen to the Pro-Life Movement in Years?
• Florida Abortion Practitioner Quits Sooner Than Expected
• Father Kills Himself After Girlfriend Plans Abortion
• ABC News Ignores Catholic Lawsuits Against HHS Mandate
• Oregon Docs Not Evaluating for Depression Before Assisted Suicide
• Rationing: When Government Makes Your Health Care Decisions
• Pro-Life Women's Group Backs Deb Fischer in Nebraska
• Indiana Gov Candidate Gregg Picks Pro-Abortion Running Mate
• Louisiana Senate OKs Bill to Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks
• Chris Matthews Claims Lawsuits Mean Catholic Bishops are Republican
• Planned Parenthood Pressuring Zambia to Drop Pro-Life Laws

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Obama Admin Signs $20M Contract for Obamacare Public Relations
Not only are Americans forced to fund abortions, and potentially rationing, in the Obamacare health care scheme, but new reports reveal they are spending $20 million on an election-year public relations plan to promote it.

The Health and Human Services Department signed a $20 million contract with a public-relations firm to promote Obamacare in a new multimedia ad campaign designed to educate the public about its supposed benefits. The Hill indicates the ad campaign was a mandate included in the final health care law. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/obama-admin-signs-20m-contract-for-obamacare-public-relations/

Poll: Majority of Americans Oppose Obama HHS Mandate
A new poll conducted by Marist College and released by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization, shows a majority of Americans oppose the controversial Obama HHS mandate that forces religious groups to pay for drugs that may cause abortions.

"As America's bishops and Catholic organizations around the country file lawsuits to protect their First Amendment rights from the government's health care mandate, a new survey finds that a significant majority of Americans support the right to opt out of providing drugs, services and procedures for religious reasons," the group said.

According to the Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll, nearly three in four Americans (74 to 26 percent) say that freedom of religion should be protected, even if it conflicts with other laws. Majorities would also protect the First Amendment conscience rights of hospitals, health care workers and insurers. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/poll-majority-of-americans-oppose-obama-hhs-mandate/

Obama Loses 14 Points with Catholic Voters Over HHS Mandate
As more than 40 Catholic groups file suit against the Obama administration over its HHS mandate forcing them to pay for birth control and abortion-causing drugs for employees, new poling data shows President Barack Obama is tanking with Catholic voters.

Ashley McGuire, Senior Fellow with The Catholic Association and the editor-in-chief of AltCatholicah, and Maureen Malloy Ferguson, Senior Policy Adviser with The Catholic Association, point out the huge 14-point loss the pro-abortion president has had with Catholics in recent months: http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/obama-loses-14-points-with-catholic-voters-over-hhs-mandate/

Former GOP Party Chair: Planned Parenthood Targets Blacks
The former chairman of the Republican National Committee said in an interview on Monday that the Planned Parenthood abortion business targets African-Americans. Michael Steele told Laura Ingraham's Monday radio show, when asked about the NAACP, that the prominent pro-abortion organization is no friend of the black community.

Steele also said the relationship between the NAACP and Planned Parenthood should be made better known.

"It is one of those twists of history that I've yet to understand and how when you look at something like the NAACP siding up with an organization like Planned Parenthood that has as part of its history and its charter and its existence — you know, the use of abortion to eliminate and limit the number of African-Americans and other minorities in this country, to me it's just beyond the pale," Steele said. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/former-gop-party-chair-planned-parenthood-targets-blacks/

Obama: Best Thing to Happen to the Pro-Life Movement in Years?
As election talk increases and pro-lifers debate their best strategies, an article this weekend reminds me of an assertion that many may see as controversial but which I think we can reasonably conclude: The election of president Obama was the best thing for the pro-life movement in years.

Before you stone me for defending the most pro-abortion president United States history, consider the complacency that prevailed when we had political leaders who were seemingly more pro-life. It was easier to sit back and just say "abortion is bad. Don't have one." But we went on about our days. Little vision drove us; little reality sunk in. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/obama-best-thing-to-happen-to-the-pro-life-movement-in-years/

Florida Abortion Practitioner Quits Sooner Than Expected
Orlando, Florida-based abortion practitioner Scott Spagnolo-Hye was expected to quit doing abortions next month, but it appears he may have already ended his career as an abortion practitioner at local abortion centers.

As LifeNews reported recently, Spagnolo-Hye revealed in a videotaped conversation that June 2 will be the last day he does abortions in the central Florida city. Jill Stanek uncovered the video showing him speaking to a local pro-life advocate, one of many who have protested at his four abortion centers. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/florida-abortion-practitioner-quits-sooner-than-expected/

Father Kills Himself After Girlfriend Plans Abortion
A father who worked as a personal trainer in England was recently discovered to have killed himself after his girlfriend said she planned to have an abortion of their child. The case reminds of the emotional fallout men face following a partner's decision to have an abortion.

A Southampton Coroner's Court hearing heard that Mark Horsted, known as Eddie, argued with his girlfriend, Victoria Lomas- Piddington about their relationship shortly before he took his own life. Horsted killed himself after discovering his girlfriend was planning to abort their unborn child. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/father-kills-himself-after-girlfriend-plans-abortion/

ABC News Ignores Catholic Lawsuits Against HHS Mandate
ABC on Monday and Tuesday completely ignored 12 major lawsuits filed by Catholic groups over the Obama-imposed birth control mandate. NBC allowed a mere 20 seconds to the topic. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/abc-news-ignores-catholic-lawsuits-against-hhs-mandate/

Looking for a Pro-Life Speaker for 2012?

Looking for a pro-life speaker for your next banquet, conference or convention? LifeNews.com editor Steven Ertelt is a low-cost speaker who can entertain and educate your audience as well as help you with a fundraising pitch if necessary. He can also speak on any pro-life topic. For more information, email news@LifeNews.com.

Oregon Docs Not Evaluating for Depression Before Assisted Suicide
As required by law, the Public Health Department of the Oregon Health Authority has released its annual report for 2011 on physician-assisted suicides under that state's Death with Dignity Act (DWDA. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/oregon-docs-not-evaluating-for-depression-before-assisted-suicide/

Rationing: When Government Makes Your Health Care Decisions
Most people are familiar with the old adage that says "the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." Originally the refrain of a poem honoring motherhood, today this phrase is perhaps more applicable to the omnipresent hand of the modern nanny state. Think of the Obama campaign's cradle-to-grave welfare avatar "Julia" and you get an idea of just how pervasive the idea of government involvement in virtually every aspect of life has become. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/rationing-when-government-makes-your-health-care-decisions/

Pro-Life Women's Group Backs Deb Fischer in Nebraska
The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund is hopping into the Nebraska Senate race and has supported the pro-life candidate who is looking to take the seat currently held by Ben Nelson, who upset pro-life voters with his Obamacare support. The national pro-life political action committee today announced its endorsement of Deb Fischer for U.S. Senate in Nebraska. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/pro-life-womens-group-backs-deb-fischer-in-nebraska/

Indiana Gov Candidate Gregg Picks Pro-Abortion Running Mate
Indiana gubernatorial candidate John Gregg officially announced today that he has selected Vi Simpson of Bloomington to run for lieutenant governor on the Democrat ticket. Simpson is virulently pro-abortion — even opposing a ban on partial-birth abortions. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/indiana-gov-candidate-gregg-picks-pro-abortion-running-mate/

Louisiana Senate OKs Bill to Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks
The Louisiana state Senate today approved legislation that bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the scientific evidence certifying unborn children have the capacity to feel pain after 20 weeks of pregnancy. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/louisiana-senate-oks-bill-to-ban-abortions-after-20-weeks/

Chris Matthews Claims Lawsuits Mean Catholic Bishops are Republican
The University of Notre Dame along with dozens of other Catholic institutions sued the Obama administration Monday to block the mandate requiring employers to provide contraceptives to employees. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/chris-matthews-claims-lawsuits-mean-catholic-bishops-are-republican/

Planned Parenthood Pressuring Zambia to Drop Pro-Life Laws
Last month the Constitution Technical Committee of Zambia released the first Draft Constitution and Planned Parenthood of Zambia (PPAZ) has responded calling for the elimination of language that would protect the life of the unborn. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/planned-parenthood-pressuring-zambia-to-drop-pro-life-laws/

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