"Any Catholic who is going to understand our faith and live by the faith seriously must be pro-life…. It's at the very core of our understanding of living a moral life because all life comes from God. It's a message that we have a responsibility to continue to get out."
(Joliet Bishop Peter Sartain, National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, January 2010)
Friday, February 5, 2010
Federal Healthcare: Strategy Change
The push for a quick federal healthcare bill seemed to slow after Republican Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts, which meant that the Senate lost its majority of 60 votes which could have stopped a filibuster, or unlimited debate. But even before events in Massachusetts, the federal healthcare bill was already increasingly unpopular among American citizens, much hinging on fact that Senate version of the bill is the basis for final, and includes federally funded abortion.
However, Barack Obama said in his state of the union address last week: "Here's what I ask Congress, though: Don't walk away from reform…. Let's get it done."
According to current reports, Democrat leadership is now planning a two-step process to 1) split part off some of the legislation into pieces that may be more acceptable to legislators, then 2) turn to massive healthcare bill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says these smaller bills will not be a replacement for the comprehensive bill but is a way to move some of it through more quickly.
National Right to Life Committee legislative director Doug Johnson cautions that citizens must not be lulled into complacency, because things could change at any moment, and Pelosi could suddenly bring the full bill to a vote on the House floor if she thought she had the votes to pass it.
Johnson says, "Many powerful interest groups, including major labor unions are continuing to demand action."
As is Planned Parenthood, which is calling for for efforts to continue and the bill to include abortion coverage.
Johnson and other pro-life legislative watchdogs say it is especially important for citizens to continue to contact the House Democratic Representatives who voted for pro-life Stupak-Pitts amendment preventing federal funding of abortion, and encourage them to oppose pro-abortion Senate version when it is introduced for a vote.
However, Barack Obama said in his state of the union address last week: "Here's what I ask Congress, though: Don't walk away from reform…. Let's get it done."
According to current reports, Democrat leadership is now planning a two-step process to 1) split part off some of the legislation into pieces that may be more acceptable to legislators, then 2) turn to massive healthcare bill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says these smaller bills will not be a replacement for the comprehensive bill but is a way to move some of it through more quickly.
National Right to Life Committee legislative director Doug Johnson cautions that citizens must not be lulled into complacency, because things could change at any moment, and Pelosi could suddenly bring the full bill to a vote on the House floor if she thought she had the votes to pass it.
Johnson says, "Many powerful interest groups, including major labor unions are continuing to demand action."
As is Planned Parenthood, which is calling for for efforts to continue and the bill to include abortion coverage.
Johnson and other pro-life legislative watchdogs say it is especially important for citizens to continue to contact the House Democratic Representatives who voted for pro-life Stupak-Pitts amendment preventing federal funding of abortion, and encourage them to oppose pro-abortion Senate version when it is introduced for a vote.
Abortion Mega-Center
Some good news is that Operation Rescue reports that it has researched every open abortion clinic in the country and in 1991, it was estimated that there were nearly 2,200 abortion clinics in the country, today there are just 713. One caveat, is that the 713 does not include abortion-providing hospitals or doctors not technically labeled "abortionists."
Bad news is that while Planned Parenthood is closing some facilities, abortion "super centers" are opening in some areas. Most recently is a huge Planned Parenthood abortion facility under construction in a renovated bank building in Houston, Texas, said to be the second largest in the world after that in China.
The building is six stories, 78,000 square feet, and includes an entire surgical floor dedicated solely to late term abortions. In keeping with Planned Parenthood's history of targeting minorities for abortion, this facility located in the midst of four minority neighborhoods with 80-85% Hispanic and Black populations.
Thousands of pro-lifers, including prominent pro-life leaders nationwide, have and continue to protest its opening, anticipated for April this year.
Bad news is that while Planned Parenthood is closing some facilities, abortion "super centers" are opening in some areas. Most recently is a huge Planned Parenthood abortion facility under construction in a renovated bank building in Houston, Texas, said to be the second largest in the world after that in China.
The building is six stories, 78,000 square feet, and includes an entire surgical floor dedicated solely to late term abortions. In keeping with Planned Parenthood's history of targeting minorities for abortion, this facility located in the midst of four minority neighborhoods with 80-85% Hispanic and Black populations.
Thousands of pro-lifers, including prominent pro-life leaders nationwide, have and continue to protest its opening, anticipated for April this year.
Attacking Pregnancy Help Centers
Pro-life pregnancy help centers, which provide free pregnancy tests, counseling and material help to pregnant women – many considering abortion – are coming under increasing attack. The National Abortion Rights Action League has proposed legislation in Virginia and Washington State in attempts to regulate pregnancy help centers' services and hamper their good influence.
The good news is that two bills targeting pregnancy care centers in Virginia failed to pass the Virginia legislature last week. One bill tried to stop donations to PCCs through citizens' purchase of Choose Life license plates. The second bill attempted to require centers to follow inapplicable department of health regulations, and post signs saying that they are not health care facilities and do not do abortions nor provide contraception, implying such centers are not legitimate.
A similar legislative attack is now proposed in Washington State which would also increase pregnancy help centers' administrative regulations, require them to conform to standards the likes of Planned Parenthood and NARAL define, and also force them to post signs that they do not provide abortions or family planning services.
Paula Cullen, director Life Services of Spokane who is testifying against this legislation, clarified that there is a difference between pregnancy help centers and pregnancy medical centers and each comply with state law and medical accuracy standards. Cullen said these bills are part of a national pro-abortion campaign seeking to steer women in unplanned pregnancies to abortion providers instead of pregnancy help centers.
Note: News just in is that Montgomery County Council on Maryland has voted to require pregnancy help centers to post signs that they do not have medical professionals on staff and for women to consult a licensed health care provider, devaluing the counseling and support these centers provide.
The good news is that two bills targeting pregnancy care centers in Virginia failed to pass the Virginia legislature last week. One bill tried to stop donations to PCCs through citizens' purchase of Choose Life license plates. The second bill attempted to require centers to follow inapplicable department of health regulations, and post signs saying that they are not health care facilities and do not do abortions nor provide contraception, implying such centers are not legitimate.
A similar legislative attack is now proposed in Washington State which would also increase pregnancy help centers' administrative regulations, require them to conform to standards the likes of Planned Parenthood and NARAL define, and also force them to post signs that they do not provide abortions or family planning services.
Paula Cullen, director Life Services of Spokane who is testifying against this legislation, clarified that there is a difference between pregnancy help centers and pregnancy medical centers and each comply with state law and medical accuracy standards. Cullen said these bills are part of a national pro-abortion campaign seeking to steer women in unplanned pregnancies to abortion providers instead of pregnancy help centers.
Note: News just in is that Montgomery County Council on Maryland has voted to require pregnancy help centers to post signs that they do not have medical professionals on staff and for women to consult a licensed health care provider, devaluing the counseling and support these centers provide.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tim Tebow Turmoil
Link from my husband - see the Creative Minority Report's insightful commentary on the brouhaha over Focus on the Family's life-affirming ad planned for the Super Bowl and featuring Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother.
By the way, Focus on the Family produces excellent media. I anticipate this commercial being a national blessing.
By the way, Focus on the Family produces excellent media. I anticipate this commercial being a national blessing.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Pro-Life Meditation for the Week
"With indomitable trust in God, we today recommit and reiterate our resolve to pray, fast and work to protect and enfranchise all, regardless of age, race, sex, disability, wantedness or condition of dependency."
(Congressman Chris Smith, head of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, March for Life, January 22, 2010)
(Congressman Chris Smith, head of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, March for Life, January 22, 2010)
U.S. Pro-Abortion Foreign Policies Criticized
Human Life International sponsored a conference in Washington, DC before the March for Life. Speakers included leaders from Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceana.
Joseph Meaney, HLI director of International Coordination, said that the reason for this international focus during this American event is due to "…the aggressive promotion of abortion and population control that is now official policy of the United States…."
For example, recall that Barack Obama, the day after last year's March for Life (January 23, 2009) by Executive Order rescinded the Mexico City policy to now permit taxpayer money to be given to groups that provide and promote abortion overseas. The conference's international participants were outspoken in their opposition to U.S. pro-abortion foreign policies.
HLI's coordinator for Portuguese-speaking nations, Raymond DeSouza said that such aggressive pro-abortion policies hurt the U.S. image abroad, and spread the propaganda that "children are bad," which implies "hopelessness for the future."
Emil Hagamu, HLI regional coordinator for English-speaking Africa, said, "We are tired of the arrogant American government trying to tell us how many children we should have," and reminding listeners that Barack Obama is of Kenyan descent, "How can he do this to his own people?"
Joseph Meaney, HLI director of International Coordination, said that the reason for this international focus during this American event is due to "…the aggressive promotion of abortion and population control that is now official policy of the United States…."
For example, recall that Barack Obama, the day after last year's March for Life (January 23, 2009) by Executive Order rescinded the Mexico City policy to now permit taxpayer money to be given to groups that provide and promote abortion overseas. The conference's international participants were outspoken in their opposition to U.S. pro-abortion foreign policies.
HLI's coordinator for Portuguese-speaking nations, Raymond DeSouza said that such aggressive pro-abortion policies hurt the U.S. image abroad, and spread the propaganda that "children are bad," which implies "hopelessness for the future."
Emil Hagamu, HLI regional coordinator for English-speaking Africa, said, "We are tired of the arrogant American government trying to tell us how many children we should have," and reminding listeners that Barack Obama is of Kenyan descent, "How can he do this to his own people?"
Abortion Estimates Reach New High
Though heartbreaking, the number of surgical abortions performed since 1973 must be periodically revisited to remember the toll this has on our nation. Dennis Howard, president of Movement for a Better America, been researching the economic impact of abortion since 1992.
In Howard;s latest estimates, the U.S toll for surgical abortions reached a new high of 52,333,000 as of this January 22, 2010, the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion on demand. He says that this number is 17% of the total U.S. population of 307,000,000.
Howard predicts this demographic trend cannot help but impact the U.S. economy and will result in a Wall Street crash, with a 50% chance of this crash occurring by the year 200, 80% by 2010, and 100% by 2020.
Howard's current count of total surgical abortions is supported in new National Right to Life Committee analysis of research from the Guttmacher Institute instead of from the Center of Disease Control. The NRLC used data from the Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood's former research arm, because this Institute receives numbers directly from abortionists, while the CDC relies on figures from state health departments, which have different methods of data collection, some even relying on voluntary reporting from abortionists.
Like Dennis Howard, NRLC's director of research and education, Randy O'Bannon, mourns this terrible loss of over 52 million human beings and said that "…we are a much poorer nation for it."
But, O'Bannon also noted that pro-life legislation, education, and outreach has and can save many.
In Howard;s latest estimates, the U.S toll for surgical abortions reached a new high of 52,333,000 as of this January 22, 2010, the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion on demand. He says that this number is 17% of the total U.S. population of 307,000,000.
Howard predicts this demographic trend cannot help but impact the U.S. economy and will result in a Wall Street crash, with a 50% chance of this crash occurring by the year 200, 80% by 2010, and 100% by 2020.
Howard's current count of total surgical abortions is supported in new National Right to Life Committee analysis of research from the Guttmacher Institute instead of from the Center of Disease Control. The NRLC used data from the Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood's former research arm, because this Institute receives numbers directly from abortionists, while the CDC relies on figures from state health departments, which have different methods of data collection, some even relying on voluntary reporting from abortionists.
Like Dennis Howard, NRLC's director of research and education, Randy O'Bannon, mourns this terrible loss of over 52 million human beings and said that "…we are a much poorer nation for it."
But, O'Bannon also noted that pro-life legislation, education, and outreach has and can save many.
Youth Get It Rght
It is very apparent at the March for Life that students have become a huge presence - articulate, energized, and engaged. Two new surveys support this rise in pro-life convictions among younger generations.
A recent nationwide Girl Scouts Survey on the Beliefs and Moral Values of America's Children, through the Girl Scout Research Institute, surveyed 3,263 girls and boys 3rd-12th grades on issues such as ethics, diversity, civic involvement, peer pressure. This survey revealed that girls are less likely than boys to recommend abortion to their friends.
More importantly, the Girl Scout survey found that overall less than 10% of all surveyed said they would ever suggest an abortion.
The Knights of Columbus and the Marists sponsored another survey through the Marist Institute for Public Opinion between December 2009 and this January. This survey found that 58% "Millennials" (18-29 year olds) said abortion morally wrong, with 60% "Generation X" (30-44 year olds) saying the same.
The lowest number opposing abortion was 51% "Baby Boomers" (45-64 year olds), with Greatest Generation (over 65 years) same 60% percentage as Generation X.
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson concluded, "America has turned a corner and is embracing life-and in doing so is embracing a future they-and all of us-can be proud of."
A recent nationwide Girl Scouts Survey on the Beliefs and Moral Values of America's Children, through the Girl Scout Research Institute, surveyed 3,263 girls and boys 3rd-12th grades on issues such as ethics, diversity, civic involvement, peer pressure. This survey revealed that girls are less likely than boys to recommend abortion to their friends.
More importantly, the Girl Scout survey found that overall less than 10% of all surveyed said they would ever suggest an abortion.
The Knights of Columbus and the Marists sponsored another survey through the Marist Institute for Public Opinion between December 2009 and this January. This survey found that 58% "Millennials" (18-29 year olds) said abortion morally wrong, with 60% "Generation X" (30-44 year olds) saying the same.
The lowest number opposing abortion was 51% "Baby Boomers" (45-64 year olds), with Greatest Generation (over 65 years) same 60% percentage as Generation X.
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson concluded, "America has turned a corner and is embracing life-and in doing so is embracing a future they-and all of us-can be proud of."
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Pro-Life Meditation for the Week
"People say, 'What is the sense of our small effort?' They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time."
(Dorothy Day, co-founder Catholic Worker Movement, 1897-1980)
(Dorothy Day, co-founder Catholic Worker Movement, 1897-1980)
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