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Dear Friends For Life,
Coerced abortion is one of many forms of domestic violence against women, and domestic violence also makes women more likely to seek abortions. Domestic violence can result from abortions as well, in the stressful aftermath. Feticide is itself a form of domestic violence - the strong committing lethal violence against the weak.
Coerced euthanasia is also itself a form of domestic abuse against the elderly. The very presence of euthanasia as a "voluntary" option can be pressure against the vulnerable, especially those already subjected to abuse.
Today roughly 1.3 billion people - about one-fifth of humanity - live on what would be equivalent to a little over $1 in the United States.
As an illustration, consider the Indian district of Udaipur, where about half the population lived at this poverty level in 2004: most households living in such poverty owned a bed but more than 90 percent lacked a chair or table; none had indoor running water. The infant mortality rate was 10 percent - a striking fact for pro-lifers.
Such figures are discouraging, but we should also remember that more than half of humanity lived at roughly this level of poverty only about 30 years ago. If we have made genuine progress in the past in reducing poverty, why can we not do so in the future?
God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI
(The Difference is LIFE) "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" - UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
*---*(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!)
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Lifeissues.net Newsletter #600
November 4, 2012
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(TABLE OF CONTENTS):
1. Three million girls killed in India: report
2. USAID Unleashes Norplant-Like Implant for Poor Women
3. Repeat Abortions: What the Research Says
4. There is no such thing as personally pro-life
5. Understanding Repeat Abortions
6. "So Much of Me Died" (One Woman's Story)
7. Is abortion a divisive issue in your church?
8. Trafficking in Persons: India yet to meet minimum standards
9. What's in a Name?: NFP vs. Fertility Awareness
10. Tragic note from 15-yr-old post-abortive mom
11. What Catholic Women Think About Faith, Conscience, and Contraception
12. The Romance Revolution: Effects on Children and Couples
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(Abortion): "Video: The three deadliest words: 'It's a girl'" - The most moving story belongs to an Indian woman who appears to chuckle while speaking of burying eight of her daughters whom she killed herself.
(Abortion): "Video: ESPN airs the story of a dad who wanted to abort his Down syndrome daughter" - Watch the story for yourself. It's just under fifteen minutes long, and it will be some of the best fifteen minutes of your life.
(Abortion): "Video: Abortion never saves a woman's life" - This short video from Ireland makes an important point - abortion is never necessary to save the life of a mother. Protect mothers and babies - and let's have ZERO tolerance on misinforming women.
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ITEM #1: Three million girls killed in India: report
Three million girl children have been killed in the last decade in India, according to government figures. The information was revealed in the latest report of the ministry of statistics and program implementation. Earlier, studies have said 500,000 girls a year or 2,000 a day go missing in in the country due to female feticide.
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ITEM #2: USAID Unleashes Norplant-Like Implant for Poor Women
The US Agency for International Development announced on World Contraception Day a partnership with international donors to distribute Jadelle, a second-generation of Norplant, to poor women in developing countries. The contraceptive is not distributed for use in more affluent countries.
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ITEM #3: Repeat Abortions: What the Research Says
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, approximately 45 percent of abortions are repeat abortions. Two new studies released last month have found increased risks for women who undergo multiple abortions.
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ITEM #4: There is no such thing as personally pro-life
I know that many well-meaning people believe that it is possible to be personally pro-life. I have to disagree. I'm talking about the people who say, "I wouldn't personally have an abortion, but it's not my place to tell others what to do." Or something like that. Let's run through some of the ideas and thoughts behind a "personally pro-life" viewpoint.
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ITEM #5: Understanding Repeat Abortions
Approximately half of all women who have an abortion have had one or more previous abortions. Women with a history of more than one abortion are likely to suffer more severe physical and psychological problems after abortion. Studies of women having repeat abortions show that they are more likely to live in less stable social situations, have nearly twice as many psychological problems, and have twice as much reliance on social support services. They are also more likely to go through a divorce, to be involved in substance abuse, and to rely on public welfare.
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ITEM #6: "So Much of Me Died" (One Woman's Story)
I remember the events surrounding my abortions clearly. There are some things that are so utterly terrible, so devastating, they never fade from the mind or heart. I idolized my boyfriend, whom I met when I was 17. I was 23 when I first became pregnant by him. We had been together on and off for several years. Despite his treatment of me, which at times could be very cruel, and his vicious temper, I truly loved him. I just had to try harder, or be better, or take more care to avoid upsetting him. I dreaded his temper and would put up with just about anything to avoid a scene.
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ITEM #7 Is abortion a divisive issue in your church?
Abortion needn't be a divisive issue in your church. New evidence reveals that most (not all) abortions are unwanted or coerced. Some are forced. Many among us are still at risk or already hurt. Share new evidence with your church leaders. Ask your pastor to preach about this issue. Open doors to help, unity, hope and restoration.
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ITEM #8: Trafficking in Persons: India yet to meet minimum standards
The TIP report, which annually tracks governmental anti-human trafficking efforts across the world, has noted that 90 per cent of trafficking in India is internal, and that those from India's most disadvantaged social strata, including the lowest castes, are most vulnerable.
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ITEM #9: In Myanmar, only sickest HIV patients get drugs
Today, Myanmar ranks among the world's hardest places to get HIV care, and health experts warn it will take years to prop up a broken health system hobbled by decades of neglect. Of the estimated 240,000 people living with HIV, half are going without treatment. And some 18,000 people die from the disease every year, according to UNAIDS.
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ITEM #10: Tragic note from 15-yr-old post-abortive mom
Many of the comments Bethany receives on her post to this day are thankful. Sometimes moms just need to talk. And every now and then one of the notes is so sad, like this one that was posted on October 13.
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ITEM #11: What Catholic Women Think About Faith, Conscience, and Contraception
Our research suggests that the local Church, in many quarters, is either not presenting Church teaching on contraception at all or not presenting it persuasively enough. The weekly Mass homily, for example, seems to represent a lost opportunity when it comes to conscience formation on the contraception issue. While 72% of Catholic women say the weekly Mass homily is their primary source for learning about the faith, just 15% of those who rely on homilies to learn about their faith say they fully accept the Church's teaching on contraception.
****************************************ITEM #12: The Romance Revolution: Effects on Children and Couples
If falling in love is as easy as Hollywood makes it look, falling out of love and moving on is nearly that easy. While treating marriage as permanent had kept the couple accountable to the parties who are the reason for marriage (that is, children who need a committed mother and father), now the partners were accountable only to themselves. The romance revolution, by jump-starting the divorce revolution, left a wake of damaging impacts on children: broken relationships; reduced educational attainment and earning capacity; disillusionment with religion; and increased risk of crime, drug abuse, and suicide.
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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]
["Due to volume of spam received, we're asking you not to reply to this message but instead send all correspondence to jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp. Thank you! Editor"]
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Websites by Editor:
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Japanese LifeIssues Site: http://www.japan-lifeissues.net,
HIV/AIDS Site: http://capcha.org
OMI Japan/Korea Site: http://omijapankorea.net/
