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.

Friday, November 30, 2012

LifeNews Pro-Life News Report 11/30/12

LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Friday, November 30, 2012

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

Current Headlines

Top Stories
• Senate Expected to Vote on Pro-Abortion CRPD Treaty Tuesday
• Planned Parenthood Affiliate Quits, Mandated to Perform Abortions
• Chen Guangcheng s Nephew Jailed for Activist s Fleeing to U.S.
• D.C. Group Throwing Christmas Party Celebrating Abortion

More Pro-Life News
• Hobby Lobby Asks Appeals Court: Stop Obama HHS Mandate
• War on Women s Brains: Sandra Fluke Person of the Year?
• U.S. Birth Rate Falls to Lowest Ever, Fewer Babies is Bad News
• Baby Girl With Rare Heart Defect Saved by Surgery
• Activists Defend Planned Parenthood s Black Friday Discount
• Pro-Life Victories Piled Up in 2012 Despite Election Loss
• Every Picture Tells a Story, Especially Those of Unborn Babies
• Abortion is a War on Women: Death, Infertility, Emotional Damage
• How is It That Abortions Are Legal at 35 Weeks of Pregnancy?
• England s Outrage: Dehydrating Disabled Babies in UK Hospitals
• Lancet Editorial Furthers Myth Abortion Prevents Women s Deaths
• Unsung International Pro-Life Hero Richard Wilkins Passes Away

Senate Expected to Vote on Pro-Abortion CRPD Treaty Tuesday
The Senate is expected to vote on the pro-abortion CRPD treaty on Wednesday and pro-life groups are asking pro-life advocates to contact members of the Senate urging them to vote against it.

The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, after members voted 61-36 to move the treaty to the floor for debate.

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/senate-expected-to-vote-on-pro-abortion-crpd-treaty-tuesday/

Planned Parenthood Affiliate Quits, Mandated to Perform Abortions
Planned Parenthood of South Central New York based in the New York cities of Binghamton and Oneonta has quit its affiliation with the national Planned Parenthood abortion business because it mandates that its chapters do abortions.

Preferring to focus on family planning efforts, the chapter is breaking off of Planned Parenthood and renaming itself preferring not to submit itself to a mandate that all chapters have clinics that do abortions that Planned Parenthood wants in place next year. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/planned-parenthood-affiliate-quits-mandated-to-perform-abortions/

Chen Guangcheng s Nephew Jailed for Activist s Fleeing to U.S.
The nephew of Chen Guangcheng has been sentenced to 39 months in prison for supposedly injuring a Chinese government agent who raided his house in the aftermath of Chen s escape to the United States.

Chinese officials have sentenced Chen s nephew to three years in jail and the punishment is seen as retaliation for his uncle s escape. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/chen-guangchengs-nephew-jailed-for-activists-fleeing-to-u-s/

D.C. Group Throwing Christmas Party Celebrating Abortion
It s the holiday season, and the abortion industry is working hard to capitalize on it. They already got Black Friday covered next up? Christmas! You know, for choice!

Because what better way to celebrate the most famous birth in history than by celebrating abortion? It s that time of year again, for the hottest party of the holiday season: the Peace, Joy and Choice Winter Holiday Party! http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/d-c-group-throwing-christmas-party-celebrating-abortion/

Hobby Lobby Asks Appeals Court: Stop Obama HHS Mandate
Following a new ruling by a federal appeals court granting temporary relief from the HHS Mandate to a Missouri business, attorneys for Hobby Lobby asked another appeals court in its case to stop the pro-abortion mandate as well.

Attorneys with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty urged the 10th Circuit to grant identical relief in their appeal on behalf of Hobby Lobby, a Christian-owned-and-operated business that in five weeks faces crippling fines of up to $1.3 million per day if they do not comply with the HHS mandate against their religious beliefs. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/hobby-lobby-asks-appeals-court-stop-obama-hhs-mandate/

War on Women s Brains: Sandra Fluke Person of the Year?
Every year, TIME Magazine, a periodical which continues to insist upon its own relevancy despite the fact that no one under the age of 40 reads it, nominates a list of people to be its Person of the Year. The criteria for having this title bestowed upon you is that you be the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year.

This year, they have nominated Sandra Fluke, the young woman you are sick to death of hearing about. The Georgetown law student was used as a political prop to great effect by Democrats when they held up a megaphone to her battle cry that Georgetown a Catholic university doesn t provide enough access to birth control pills for female students. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/war-on-womens-brains-sandra-fluke-person-of-the-year/

U.S. Birth Rate Falls to Lowest Ever, Fewer Babies is Bad News
The Pew research center is out with new data showing the birth rate in the United States has fallen to its lowest point ever. Although Pew doesn t say it, the abortion culture Roe v. Wade has produced is already causing problems, according to one pro-life opinion columnist.

Overall, the birth rate in the United States plunged 8 percent from 2007 to 2010. With new figures from the CDC showing the abortion numbers falling 5% from 2008-2009, the birth rate is not falling because more women are having abortions. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/u-s-birth-rate-falls-to-lowest-ever-fewer-babies-is-bad-news/

Baby Girl With Rare Heart Defect Saved by Surgery
A newborn Texan has proven that when given the chance, LIFE can triumph even against astronomical odds. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/baby-girl-with-rare-heart-defect-saved-by-surgery/

Looking for a Pro-Life Speaker for 2013?

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.

Activists Defend Planned Parenthood s Black Friday Discount
One never knows which posts are going to get more attention than others. (I m usually wrong when I guess, actually.). http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/activists-defend-planned-parenthoods-black-friday-discount/

Pro-Life Victories Piled Up in 2012 Despite Election Loss
In a featured op-ed piece in the Washington Times AUL Vice President of Government Affairs Dan McConchie observed that despite the November election results, the outlook for pro-life victories is bright. His analysis should give abortion advocates a lot to be concerned about in the New Year. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/pro-life-victories-piled-up-in-2012-despite-election-loss/

Every Picture Tells a Story, Especially Those of Unborn Babies
There is something existential about sitting around the den during the holidays and watching home videos from when the children were young, dad was thin, and mom was trying to hold it all together amid the craziness. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/every-picture-tells-a-story-especially-those-of-unborn-babies/

Looking for a Pro-Life Speaker for 2013?

Abortion is a War on Women: Death, Infertility, Emotional Damage
When women consider abortion, it s important that they re aware of the hard stuff, too not just the easy things that abortion clinic counselors often tell them. There are always two sides to every story, and it s vital that women hear this other side. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/abortion-is-a-war-on-women-death-infertility-emotional-damage/

How is It That Abortions Are Legal at 35 Weeks of Pregnancy?
If one was to ask the average American if abortions at 35 weeks were legal in the U.S., most would say they were not. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/how-is-it-that-abortions-are-legal-at-35-weeks-of-pregnancy/

England s Outrage: Dehydrating Disabled Babies in UK Hospitals
The Liverpool Care Pathway has become a checklist for killing. This is what happens when a country allows bureaucrats to control healthcare. (Yes, I am issuing an unsubtle warning about Obamacare.). http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/englands-outrage-dehydrating-disabled-babies-in-uk-hospitals/

Lancet Editorial Furthers Myth Abortion Prevents Women s Deaths
The opinions expressed in the prestigious British medical publication The Lancet carry enormous weight, even when the conclusions are at war with the facts. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/lancet-editorial-furthers-myth-abortion-prevents-womens-deaths/

Unsung International Pro-Life Hero Richard Wilkins Passes Away
The story goes that Richard Wilkins was lying in his bed one night back in the 90 s and could not sleep. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/30/unsung-international-pro-life-hero-richard-wilkins-passes-away/

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

Heroic News: “Website offers hope for reversing a medical abortion” plus 2 more

Website offers hope for reversing a medical abortion
U.S. Birth Rate Hits Record Low
Colombia overwhelmingly re-elects pro-life official

Website offers hope for reversing a medical abortion

Posted: 30 Nov 2012 06:26 AM PST

"When Rhonda, her mother, and Gary saw the embryo in her uterus with a beating heart, they began to cry."

U.S. Birth Rate Hits Record Low

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 07:26 PM PST

The U.S. birth rate dropped to its lowest level since the beginning of the Great Depression, led by a drop among immigrants, according to a report data released Thursday by the Pew Research Center.

Colombia overwhelmingly re-elects pro-life official

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 03:02 PM PST

With 80 out 99 possible votes, the Colombian senate re-elected Attorney General Alejandro Ordonez on Nov. 27 to a new four-year term.

ALL Pro-Life Today: Women Have Become Instruments of Sorrow

Friday, November 30, 2012

Women Have Become Instruments of Sorrow

By Judie Brown

Little girls used to dream of the day when they would meet a man, fall in love, get married, and have children of their own. They would live their lives with a man who cherished them, loved them, and honored them. And this was reality for countless women----in the past. Today's reality is far askew of this and it makes this desire seem almost like a fairy tale. What has happened to our society to effect this change? Today's commentary examines the reasons.

[ Click here to read more. ]

HEADLINES

Media misleads on reasons behind abortion decline

National Review Online

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released abortion statistics for calendar year 2009. The news was good for pro-lifers as the CDC statistics indicate the number of abortions decreased by approximately 5 percent between 2008 and 2009. Overall, the abortion rate has been declining fairly steadily since the early 1990s, but has leveled off somewhat during the current decade. Furthermore, some research indicates that the incidence of abortion increases when the economy slows down. As such, this reported decline in the abortion rate was somewhat unexpected. Unsurprisingly, most of the mainstream-media coverage of the abortion decline was quick to credit contraception use. The Associated Press story on the abortion decline cited two professors and a Guttmacher Institute analyst. They each credited contraception use, even though they were unable to provide any actual evidence of increased contraception use in 2009. Perhaps unsurprisingly, no one representing a pro-life group was quoted or cited in the article.

Does abortion reduce welfare costs?

HLI Worldwatch

Supporters of the Culture of Death tend to lack foresight, and do not seem to possess even a rudimentary understanding of human nature. These defects inevitably lead to many cases of the "law of unintended consequences." . . . [One] example of this lack of foresight is the claim that, when the State pays for a poor woman's abortion, it saves a lot of money by avoiding the costs of a delivery and another child added to the welfare system. In fact, this is one of the most persuasive arguments offered by pro-abortionists in support of Medicaid funding of abortion.

An ethics debate over embryos on the cheap

Los Angeles Times

Dr. Ernest Zeringue was looking for a niche in the cutthroat industry of fertility treatments. He seized on price, a huge obstacle for many patients, and in late 2010 began advertising a deal at his Davis, Calif., clinic unheard of anywhere else: Pregnancy for $9,800 or your money back. That's about half the price for in vitro fertilization at many other clinics, which do not include money-back guarantees. Typically, insurance coverage is limited and patients pay again and again until they give birth----or give up. Zeringue sharply cuts costs by creating a single batch of embryos from one egg donor and one sperm donor, then divvying it up among several patients. The clinic, not the customer, controls the embryos, typically making babies for three or four patients while paying just once for the donors and the laboratory work.

Colombia overwhelmingly re-elects pro-life official

Bogotá, Colombia, Nov 29, 2012 / 04:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- With 80 out 99 possible votes, the Colombian senate re-elected Attorney General Alejandro Ordonez on Nov. 27 to a new four-year term.

Ordonez, whose firm pro-life stance has come under fire over the past several months, beat out candidate Maria Mercedes Lopez, who received five votes and Orlando Gallo, who received only two.

“I thank God and thank the Senators for their independence and the officials of the Justice Department,” Ordunez said in reaction to the news.

In his speech to the senate before the vote, he said that he did not have “the slightest regret upon finishing this term.”

“There were good decisions and bad ones,” he added, but he felt “absolutely certain and at peace” about the work he carried out.

Ordunez's re-election came despite heavy opposition led by local attorney Monica Roa and aided by Father Carlos Novoa of the Xaverian Pontifical University. The priest has publicly criticized the Attorney General for his pro-life stance and said he agreed with Roa regarding the debate over abortion.

In Colombia, abortion has been legal in cases of rape, fetal deformation or life of the mother since a Constitutional Court ruling in 2006.

The court ruling came despite overwhelming opposition from Colombians, who declare themselves to be pro-life by an 80 percent margin. In August of last year, a petition calling for constitutional protection of the unborn signed by five million Colombians was sent to the Senate.

Lifeissues Newsletter #604

Dear Friends For Life,

Dublin publishes Declaration: Abortion never needed to save mother's life. Countering Planned Parenthood's constant assertion that abortion is necessary to save the lives of expectant mothers, a declaration has emanated from experts at an international maternal health symposium in Dublin that rebukes that assertion. The "Dublin declaration" on maternal healthcare says:

--As experienced practitioners and researchers in obstetrics and gynecology, we affirm that direct abortion is not medically necessary to save the life of a woman.

--We uphold that there is a fundamental difference between abortion and necessary medical treatments that are carried out to save the life of the mother, even if such treatment results in the loss of life of her unborn child.

--We confirm that the prohibition of abortion does not affect, in any way, the availability of optimal care to pregnant women.

Healthcare professionals with specialties across a broad spectrum were in attendance at the symposium where new research was presented on such subjects as high-risk pregnancies, cancer in pregnancy, fetal anomalies, mental health, and maternal mortality.

American Life League's Judie Brown issued a statement, saying, in part: "While celebrating these results, we must continue to fight for and uphold the dignity of every human being's life. We must always defend and promote the preborn's inherent right to life.""

God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI

(The Difference is LIFE) A Bengali poet wrote that "the song I wanted to sing has never happened because I spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument." Ouch! Each one of us has a song waiting to be sung, one that only we can sing. When it goes unsung, not only have we failed to be the person we were meant to be, but the world is poorer because it has never heard our song.

Lifeissues.net Newsletter #604

December 2, 2012
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(TABLE OF CONTENTS):

1. Pope makes appeal to stop the spread of AIDS, especially among children
2. UCLA researchers link IVF to increased birth defect risk
3. The End of Pro-Life Politics
4. Bitter Pill
5. Amazing 4-D Ultrasound Captures Baby Yawning in the Womb
6. Priest serves 'the least of these' among Philippine poor
7. Information from Your Family Doctor
8. Danish Teen Wakes From the "Dead" Just as Doctors Prepare to Harvest Her Organs
9. Godless Secularism Assaults Life and Liberty
10. The case against same-sex marriage in five minutes
11. Why doesn't the Church just make a list?
12. Why Accurate Human Embryology Is Needed To Evaluate Current Trends In Research Involving Stem Cells, Genetic Engineering, Synthetic Biology and Nanotechnology

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(Human Life): "Doctors Help Baby With Heart Outside Chest After Mom Refuses Abortion" - Doctors in Houston, Texas reconstructed Audrina's chest to make room for her heart after her mom refused to have an abortion. This is a beautiful pro-life story about courage and dedication and great to share with friends and family.

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ITEM #1: Pope makes appeal to stop the spread of AIDS, especially among children

December 1st is World AIDS Day. In light of this date, Benedict XVI called on the international community to take action to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS, especially among children. The Pope highlighted that special attention needs to be given to the poorest areas, where medication is often scarce, especially medication that can prevent pregnant women from transmitting the virus to their unborn children.

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ITEM #2: UCLA researchers link IVF to increased birth defect risk

Researchers studying the incidence of birth defects in California have found that children conceived by in vitro fertilization have a significantly higher rate of genetic disorders compared to children conceived naturally.

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ITEM #3: The End of Pro-Life Politics

This is not the time to waste immense resources and energies on political efforts which our larger Western culture cannot possibly sustain. It is rather a time to grow in Faith, evangelize those around us, and form vibrant local cultures which draw our neighbors into the light of Christ.

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ITEM #4: Bitter Pill

Economists and other social scientists have written extensively about the impact that contraception has had on modern sexual relationships. Almost without exception, the academic establishment makes the claim that contraceptive technology is a social good. By contrast, the Catholic Church (and until recent decades the Christian establishment generally) asserts that the practice of contraception is, in fact, directly contrary to the health of individual families and to society as a whole.

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ITEM #5: Amazing 4-D Ultrasound Captures Baby Yawning in the Womb

A British doctor has capture an amazing 4-D ultrasound photo of a baby yawning in the womb. Fetal development pictures like this help people understand exactly what is taking place in an abortion -- the destruction of human life.

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ITEM #6: Priest serves 'the least of these' among Philippine poor

His mission is simple: to nourish the faith of these people and to help them realize their rights as urban poor settlers. In December last year, the priest gathered the people for Simbang Gabi, the nine-day dawn Mass that culminates on Christmas Day. He also held collections for families and, in between, gave seminars on human rights.

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ITEM #7 Information from Your Family Doctor

What is natural family planning? Natural family planning (NFP) is a way for couples to tell which days of the month the woman is most likely to get pregnant. They can then choose to have sex on those days if they want to have a child.

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ITEM #8: Danish Teen Wakes From the "Dead" Just as Doctors Prepare to Harvest Her Organs

A teenage girl who had been stuck in a coma after a catastrophic car crash miraculously woke up just as doctors were about to declare her brain dead and harvest her organs.

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ITEM #9: Godless Secularism Assaults Life and Liberty

For some time now, both life and liberty have been under assault by an overarching, Godless secularism, replete with power and money, but sadly lacking in wisdom.

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ITEM #10: The case against same-sex marriage in five minutes

When it comes to the behaviour of its citizens a government has only three options: it can promote, permit or prohibit their behaviour.

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ITEM #11: Why doesn't the Church just make a list?

"When Catholics talk about NFP, someone always asks rather plaintively why the Church doesn't just clear up all the confusion about what does and does not constitute a legitimate reason to avoid a pregnancy. Why not just make a list: on the right, good reasons for postponing a pregnancy; on the left, bad reasons? Obviously we should still pray and try to discern God's will for us - but why does it have to be so vague? Why doesn't the Church just give us a break and spell it out already? Most of those who want more clarity are genuine seekers after God's will, looking for more guidance as they discern the best path for their marriage. Others are looking for a definitive document to prove that their neighbors are abusing NFP, using it with a "contraceptive mentality."

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ITEM #12: Why Accurate Human Embryology Is Needed To Evaluate Current Trends In Research Involving Stem Cells, Genetic Engineering, Synthetic Biology and Nanotechnology

Summary: When does a new living human being begin to exist? This is an important scientific question these days, as much research -- including stem cell research, cloning, genetic engineering, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, etc. -- is performed using the early human embryo, and should be the starting point for any ethical analyses. But the answer to that scientific question depends on whether the human being was sexually or asexually reproduced.

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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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Get a weekly dose of clear thinking: subscribe to our free Lifeissues newsletter! Sign up at www.LifeIssues.net. Pass this free service to your friends and various groups.

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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:

English LifeIssues Site: http://www.lifeissues.net,

Japanese LifeIssues Site: http://www.japan-lifeissues.net,

HIV/AIDS Site: http://capcha.org

OMI Japan/Korea Site: http://omijapankorea.net/

Thursday, November 29, 2012

LifeSiteNews - Thursday Nov 29 2012

Thursday, November 29, 2012

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Catholic Congresswoman introduces resolution condemning sexual reparative therapy

John Jalsevac

Thu Nov 29 18:50 EST

Homosexuality

Jackie Speier’s resolution comes at the same time as a legal challenge is ongoing against a California law that bans the therapy for minors.