Debating Where Life Begins
Yes, at fertilization, gametes cease to be and a new organism takes their place.
Fertilization in humans and other mammals produces a new member of the species in the embryonic stage of its natural development. That is to say, the entity produced by the union of spermatozoon and oocyte is a complete, though developmentally immature, organism. Unlike the gametes — the sperm and egg cells independent of each other — it is no mere part of another organism, nor is it merely something that can be used to produce a complete organism. At fertilization, the ovum and the sperm cease to be and something new comes to be — an organism (the embryo) whose genetic constitution and epigenetic state orient and dispose it to develop in the direction of maturity as a member of the species.
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Christian Students Sue High School over Discrimination against Pro-Life Messages
Late yesterday, Liberty Counsel (LC) filed a complaint in federal court in New Mexico to stop what they called the “censorship” of a group of students at Roswell High School and Goddard High School called “Relentless in Roswell.”
One day, students handed out small rubber models of preborn babies before class. The models showed the babies at 12 weeks gestation and were each labeled with Biblical references and pro-life messages.
School officials seized hundreds of the baby models, including from some students who were not distributing them, and reportedly told the students, “It’s time to shut this down. Some people are getting offended.”
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New York pro-aborts bicker over bill authorizing late-term abortions
10% of all U.S. abortions are committed in the State of New York. (Guttmacher's latest figures have the US at 1.21 million abortions annually, and the NY Dept. of Health's latest figures have it at 118.381 abortions annually.)
But that's not enough. Even though pro-aborts consistently downplay the number of late-term abortions, NY pro-aborts want the gateway opened for more.
Although the US Supreme Court in 1973 basically ordained abortion on demand throughout all 9 months of pregnancy by writing a health exception through which a Mack truck could drive, preexisting NY State law only allows abortion after 24 weeks to save a pregnant mother's life. Plus, abortions after 24 weeks must be attended by a 2nd physician to care for the potentially viable child.
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New England Journal of Medicine: Blindness Reversed in Dozens of Patients By Adult—Not Embryonic—Stem Cell Therapy
Stem Cells Reverse Blindness Caused by Burns
Dozens of people who were blinded or otherwise suffered severe eye damage when they were splashed with caustic chemicals had their sight restored with transplants of their own stem cells--a stunning success for the burgeoning cell-therapy field, Italian researchers reported Wednesday.
The treatment worked completely in 82 of 107 eyes and partially in 14 others, with benefits lasting up to a decade so far. One man whose eyes were severely damaged more than 60 years ago now has near-normal vision.
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Democrat Women Want Federal Tax Dollars To Help Kill New Jersey Babies
A group of Democrat women lawmakers in New Jersey are pressing to restore $7.5 million in funding for family planning after failed tries this week by legislative leaders to get Republican Gov. Chris Christie to agree to it. The funding was not included Christie's $29.4 billion budget as he looked for ways to close an $11 billion deficit. The lawmakers said Wednesday the move marked "height of fiscal irresponsibility" because the state could receive $9 in federal aid for every $1 spent in Medicaid funding. Twenty-seven other states receive the funding. The Department of Human Services has withdrawn the state's application to extend Medicaid coverage for family planning. The federal government reimburses states for the services at the rate of 90 percent.
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Jindal signs abortion regulation bill
Louisiana's health secretary now has more discretion to shut down an abortion clinic for safety or health concerns. Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the bill into law Wednesday that gives the head of the Department of Health and Hospitals the ability to quickly suspend a license if he decides there is an immediate health or safety threat at one of a handful of clinics in the state that provide abortions. Clinics can appeal the license suspension. Parks Rep. Fred Mills, sponsor of the new law, has said the change puts the health secretary's authority over outpatient abortion clinics in line with the authority he has over other kinds of health care facilities, like substance abuse and adult day care facilities.
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Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Ste E
Alton, IL 62002
Phone: 618.466.4122
Web: www.ifrl.org
E-mail: mail@ifrl.org
