Pro-Life Activists to Lie Down on Pennsylvania Ave, in Front of the White House, to Form a Large Number 71

Pro-Life Activists to Lie Down on Pennsylvania Ave, in Front of the White House, to Form a Large Number 71



The 71 represents the percentage of Americans who oppose taxpayer funded abortions in healthcare according to national polls.
 
The activists will be in front of the White House on Saturday, October 31, at 12:00 P.M.
 
This prophetic public witness for life is part of a national campaign called "Abortion is Not Healthcare."
 
For the past several months, the pro-life community has held a series of rallies, prayer vigils, demonstrations and lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C. and across the nation to speak out against taxpayer funded abortions being a part of healthcare reform.
 
A part of "Abortion is Not Healthcare" is a virtual campaign called Iam71.org
 
Last month, activists displayed a huge 140 ft. 71 (shown in the image accompaning this release) on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol.
 
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition and one of the organizers of "Abortion is Not Healthcare" states,
 
"This Saturday we are coming to the front of the White House to call upon President Obama to affirm human rights and ensure that taxpayer funds are not used to pay for or subsidize abortion.  Healthcare should focus on healing, compassion and mercy not the killing of innocent children and the diminishing of women.
 
"As we lay our lives down on the street in front of the White House, we are first reminding the President to listen to the wisdom of the American people who overwhelmingly oppose public monies being used to pay for abortions in healthcare.
 
"We are also being a prophetic witness that as people of faith we are willing to lay down our lives to embrace the heart of Christ and social justice and passionately work to ensure that all human life is honored and protected.
 
"We will not be silent.
"We will not be indifferent.
"We will sacrifice to end abortion."

Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney
Source: Iam71
Publish Date: October 20, 2009
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43 Democrats Will Vote against Health Care Bill Unless Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Language Is Removed, Group Says

43 Democrats Will Vote against Health Care Bill Unless Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Language Is Removed, Group Says


Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., holds a copy of the
House health care bill as he talks about health
care, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, during a news
conference on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

More than 40 House members have agreed to vote against the health care reform bill if language is included that allows taxpayer-funded abortion, a pro-life group said Thursday.
 
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) "has been working very hard to get commitments, and we have been working with him to get commitments from pro-life Democrats that will oppose the rule if he is not allowed to offer his amendment or his language is not included," Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America, told CNSNews.com.
 
"So at last count, we have … commitments from about 43 members who said they would support Stupak and basically bring down the health care bill unless his amendment is offered," Day said.
 
She said Stupak's amendment would "apply to the Hyde language to health care, which is consistent with long-standing public policy for over 30 years that no federal funding was used for abortion."
 
As CNSNews.com reported earlier, President Barack Obama told Stupak that when Obama said in his Sept. 9 speech to a joint session of Congress that "under our plan no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions," the president was referring to Obama's plan, which has never been written, not the House bill.
 
Stupak's stance against taxpayer-funded abortion in the health care bill has prompted NARAL Pro-Choice America to produce a video attacking him, according to LifeNews.com.
 
"I'll be honest -- we all expected a fight from the usual anti-choice agitators on health-care reform," NARAL President Nancy Keenan reportedly told pro-abortion activists. "We expected it from Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), the Family Research Council, and the American Life League."
 
"Stupak is ready to jeopardize the entire health-care reform bill to stand between women and their doctors," Keenan said. "He's willing to undermine health-care reform -- blocking the landmark bill from even coming to a vote -- in order to impose an abortion ban on women in the reformed health system. His proposal would take away coverage from women who already have it," she says, even though the latter claim is not the case.
 
"We've made it through five congressional committees, but if we can't beat Rep. Stupak's sneaky road block on the House floor, it will all be for nothing," Keenan added. "I can't overstate the consequences of what anti-choice Rep. Stupak is trying to pull. We must win this one."

Abortion 'not a conservative issue'
 
NARAL is making abortion a partisan issue even though it isn't, Day said.
 
"That's the thing about the abortion issue. It should not be a partisan issue, and … people always ask me 'how can you be a Democrat, because the Democrat is the party of abortion,' and we have here 43 Democrats who are standing up and saying 'no, we don't want public funding of abortion,'" Day said.
 
She said polls have shown that a majority of Americans oppose public funding of abortion, "so Stupak is really representing the views of the nation on this."
 
"So in a way, I think, 'Great, bring it on NARAL.' This proves that this is not a partisan issue. It's not a conservative issue. It's an issue that I think the Democratic Party should be leading on," she said.
 
"Our long-standing historical mission has been to protect the vulnerable and the weak and the disenfranchised, and we should be leading on this issue. So, I just think what Stupak is doing is very admirable, and I hope more Democrats stand up and support him," Day added.
 
The next issue that Democrats for Life of America plans to tackle after the health care bill is done, is the Pregnant Women Support Act, which Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.) introduced in the House and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced in the Senate.
 
The Pregnant Women Support Act, is a product of DFLA's 95-10 Initiative, a proposal of 15 different policy programs that when fully funded and implemented would have the goal of reducing the number of abortions by 95 percent over the next 10 years.
 
The goal of the Pregnant Women Support Act is to reduce the need for abortion, help women bear healthy children and support new parents.
 
Under the measure, adoption tax credits would be made permanent; parenting education would be provided in maternity group homes; child care would be provided to low-income and student parents; and accurate data collection on abortion would be funded.
 
The act would also ensure that pregnant women are not denied coverage by insurance companies. It would provide new mothers with free in-home visits by registered nurses and establish a toll-free number for resources during pregnancy and post-partum.
 
DFLA is "trying to take the politics out of abortion and really find common ground," Day said. "You see what happens with the health care bill when politics gets involved."
 
"It makes it very heated, and what we did with the Pregnant Women Support Act is we have bipartisan support for the bill with Republican, Democrat, pro-life and pro-choice," she said.
 
"So we really feel like we put together a common ground proposal that will reduce the abortion rate in this country, and it's something that people on all sides of this issue and both sides of the aisle can support," Day said.
 
"So we're hoping after this health care reform bill is done, when we take up abortion, the Pregnant Women Support Act will be the lead bill and we can get past the partisanship and really work to do what's best for pregnant women in this country and their families by supporting them and showing them that abortion is not the only choice," Day added.

Contact: Melanie Hunter-Omar
Source: CNSNews.com
Publish Date: October 30, 2009
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White House Changes Its Rhetoric on Abortion Funding in Health Bill; Pro-Life Democrat Says ‘There Have Been Good Conversations’ About It

White House Changes Its Rhetoric on Abortion Funding in Health Bill; Pro-Life Democrat Says 'There Have Been Good Conversations' About It


White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs (AP Photo)

A day after the White House changed its rhetoric in responding to the question of whether the health care bill under consideration in Congress should include language explicitly prohibiting federal funding of abortion, a pro-life Democrat who has been threatening to derail the bill over that issue said conversations are moving forward on an effort to resolve it.

"There have been good conversations in the past 24 hours," Rep. Bart Stupak (D.-Mich.) told CNSNews.com in a statement on Thursday.

Stupak (D-Mich.) told CNSNews.com last week in a videotaped interview that he had organized a group of about 40 Democrats who will join him in voting to block the health care bill from coming to a vote on the House floor unless Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) agrees to allow a straight up or down vote on an amendment he has sponsored. The amendment—which mirrors the language of the "Hyde Amendment" that has been routinely included in various annual appropriations bills since 1976--would specifically prohibit any federal dollars from paying for any part of any health insurance plan that covers abortion.

Stupak also told CNSNews.com in that interview that he has been telling White House advisers he wants the president to call Pelosi to tell her to put the language of his amendment into the bill. "We have been urging the president to call the speaker and tell her to put the language back in that we want," said Stupak.

On Tuesday, CNSNews.com asked White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs whether the president was going to intervene on the issue with Pelosi.

"I will see if there's any update from legislative affairs on that," said Gibbs. "I know that the president's position on this has been clear, that no federal money should be used to pay for abortions in a health care bill."

Click here for the video.

This appeared to represent a shift in the White House's position on the status of abortion funding in the health care bill.

When previously asked by CNSNews.com about Stupak's amendment and about letters to Congress from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops saying that they would oppose the health care bill if it was not amended to include the type of language Stupak is proposing, Gibbs repeatedly insisted that current law—i.e. the Hyde Amendment—would already prevent government funding of abortions through the health care bill and that therefore specific language providing for this did not need to be added to the bill.

On Tuesday, Gibbs notably did not repeat this assertion—which has been vigorously refuted by both Stupak and the Catholic bishops--but simply stated that the president's position is that no federal money should be used to pay for abortion in the health care bill.

Stupak told CNSNews.com in a statement Thursday that he noticed Gibbs' change of tack and that since Wednesday he has seen "increased willingness to keep the discussion going" in dealing with this and other issues in the health care bill.

"I do note a change, a positive change, in the White House's position on the issue of federal funding for abortion from Mr. Gibbs' comments," said Stupak. "There have been good conversations in the past 24 hours. Those involved have shown an increased willingness to keep the discussion going and try to find acceptable language on affordability and small business credits."

Gibbs also acknowledged on Wednesday that Stupak and the president had had a conversation about the issue. In an interview with CNSNews.com, Stupak said that during that conversation he had read to the president an excerpt from the president's own Sept. 9 speech to a joint session of Congress. In this part of the speech, President Obama said: "One more misunderstanding I want to clear up--under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions."

Stupak said in his interview with CNSNews.com that he had challenged the president on this assertion and that Obama told him that what he meant by it was not that the actual health care bill drafted in the House prohibited abortion funding but that Obama's personal plan for health care reform would do so. Stupak said he countered this by telling the president he did not have a plan.

"I called him," said Stupak. "I called the president--had a discussion with the president. And I read exactly what you just said [Obama's statement from his Sept. 9 speech saying that 'under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions']. And he said: 'What it says is "under my plan"'—meaning the president's plan. And I said: 'With all due respect, sir, you do not have a plan. The only plan we have out is the House plan.' So, I don't know if it is a game of semantics or what."

CNSNews.com asked Gibbs Tuesday about this exchange between Stupak and the president.

"I can go back and see if I can get any more clarity on that conversation," Gibbs said. "I do know they--I mean, obviously, they did talk about this when Congressman Stupak was here."

Gibbs then told CNSNews.com he would ask someone in the White House legislative affairs office about the conversation between Obama and Stupak. At the end of the day Thursday, however, a White House official said he was uncertain if the White House would have anything more to say about it.

Earlier on Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the nearly 2,000-page-long final text of the House health-care bill. The bill envisions creating "exchanges" in each state that would be the only place people receiving federal health insurance subsidies would be allowed to buy insurance. It also includes an amendment by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) that would require that at least one health insurance plan in each of these exchanges cover abortions. Stupak's proposed amendment would nullify Capps' by stating that no federal money could pay for any part of any insurance plan that covers abortion.

"A vote for this bill is a vote to establish a federal government program that will directly fund abortion on demand, with federal funds," Douglas Johnson of National Right to Life said in a statement Thursday. "The White House and top Democratic congressional leaders are trying to smuggle federal government funding of abortion into law, behind smokescreens of misleading, contrived language."

Stupak told CNSNews.com last week that if Pelosi does not allow a vote on his amendment he and about 40 "likeminded" Democrats would join with House Republicans to defeat the special House "rule" that would set the terms for debating and amending the health care bill on the House floor when it is brought up for a final vote. If a majority of the House does not first vote to approve this rule, the health care bill itself cannot be brought to the floor. The vote on the rule is likely to occur next week.

Contact: Fred Lucas
Source: CNSNews.com
Publish Date: October 30, 2009
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Coming Soon: Planned Parenthood's Inalienable Right - Sexual Freedom for Children



International Planned Parenthood Federation's new document "Sexual Rights: An IPPF Declaration," exposed in American Life League's latest ALL Report, could have a significant impact on health care policy under the presidential administration's new plan. In "A Declaration of Debauchery," ALL's Michael Hichborn analyzed the IPPF declaration released in June. Goals of the declaration include a universal right to tax-funded abortion on demand, granting children autonomous rights to sexual pleasure according to their "capacity," and allowing child predators to conceal past criminal sexual history.
Click here for the full article.


Pelosi's Bill Supported by Partial-Birth Abortionist

The abortionist who failed to overturn a ban on partial-birth abortion prominently sported a sign at a press conference in support of Nancy Pelosi's health care bill that she unveiled today. LeRoy Carhart is currently under investigation by the Nebraska Attorney General for unsafe medical practices.



Concerned Women for America's President Wendy Wright spotted LeRoy Carhart at the press conference.

She stated, "Nancy Pelosi's bill has gained the support of the nation's most notorious partial-birth abortionist who is under investigation for alleged unsafe medical practices. Pelosi's bill can now be rightly called an abortionist's dream. Under her bill, government money will pay for abortions, even the kind that Carhart commits -- late-term abortions against viable babies that put women's health at risk."

Carhart faces criminal allegations of allowing non- licensed persons to give injections, start IVs and administer controlled substances. In 2007, his legal challenge to overturn a federal ban against partial- birth abortions failed at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Click here for the full article.


It's Alive! End-of-Life Counseling in Health Bill



The Medicare end-of-life planning provision that 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said was tantamount to 'death panels' for seniors is staying in the latest Democratic health care bill unveiled Thursday.
 
The provision allows Medicare to pay for voluntary counseling to help beneficiaries deal with the complex and painful decisions families face when a loved one is approaching death.
Click here for the full article.


Compromised Care: Psychotropic Drugs Given to Illinois Nursing Home Patients Without Cause



Many Illinois residents get medications they don't need or want. The result? A threat to the lives of our elderly. Frail and vulnerable residents of nursing homes throughout Illinois are being dosed with powerful psychotropic drugs, leading to tremors, dangerous lethargy and a higher risk of harmful falls or even death, a Tribune investigation has found. Thousands of elderly and disabled people have been affected, many of them drugged without their consent or without a legitimate psychiatric diagnosis that would justify treatment, state and federal inspection reports show.
Click here for the full article.


UK Abortion Guidelines for Northern Ireland Ignore Province's Pro-Life Laws



Recently issued physicians' guidelines from the UK's Department of Health ignore the fact that abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland and presume that abortion is a legitimate form of healthcare for women say pro-life campaigners, who are in court today arguing their side of the issue.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) is in the second day of a judicial review, where they are making the case that the "guidance effectively turns the law on its head."

SPUC's Liam Gibson spoke to LSN minutes before going into court in Belfast today. He said that SPUC is making the case that the guidelines have ignored the law in Northern Ireland and will put pressure on doctors and health trusts to "put in place procedures which will facilitate abortion." SPUC and other pro-life campaigners in Ireland say that the guidelines effectively knock down existing legal protections for the unborn and are a threat to the pro-life laws in the Republic of Ireland as well.
Click here for the full article.


West African Health Ministers Call for Legalization of Abortion



Ministers of health from West African countries are calling for the legalization of abortion. A statement from the Health Ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a group of 15 West African countries, said that member states should make abortion "safe" by legalization. They claim that legal prohibitions on abortion have contributed to high maternal mortality rates.

Using the language common to international population control groups like the United Nations Population Fund, the ECOWAS ministers proposed a special summit of heads of state to discuss "maternal, newborn and child health issues."
Click here for the full article.

Stupak Town Hall Video: I Would Ultimately Vote for Abortion-Expanding Health Bill

Stupak Town Hall Video: I Would Ultimately Vote for Abortion-Expanding Health Bill Pro-life source on Capitol Hill has called Stupak's statements in the video a "game-changer" and a "disaster." Click here to view the video. A video released by the Heritage Foundation blog appears to show Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak, whose efforts against the health care bill's abortion expansion had emerged as the pro-life community's primary strategy in the House, admitting that he would ultimately vote for the health bill even with government-funded abortion if it otherwise met his standards. "If everything I want [is] in the final bill, I like everything in the bill except you have public funding for abortion, and we had a chance to run our amendment and we lost. OK, I voted my conscience, stayed true to my principles, stayed true to the beliefs of this district, could I vote for healthcare? Yes I still could," Stupak is shown telling a town hall meeting in Cheboyan, Michigan in a video released today. Click here for the story...

Healthcare reform and abortion - getting the truth

Healthcare reform and abortion - getting the truth The Susan B. Anthony List has posted a video on YouTube to answer questions about healthcare legislation. Click here for the video. Marjorie DannenfelserSpokesperson Marjorie Dannenfelser tells OneNewsNow the video clears the air between what is coming out of Washington and the truth. She contends current proposals do call for the government to fund abortions.   "It does this by funding premiums from private insurance plans that do cover elective abortions. Current law says that no federal funds may go to subsidize private health plans for elective abortion." She concludes that "this bill would change all that."   Supporters of the current reform measures have consistently insisted the bills do not fund abortions, but according to Dannenfelser there is good reason to be suspicious.   "Here's the bottom line," says Dannenfelser. "When they say the bill has no government-funded abortions, but then defeat every amendment that tries to put that in writing in the bill, how can you believe them about anything?"   Surveys show that most Americans are opposed to tax dollars being used for abortion on demand. Contact: Charlie Butts Source: OneNewsNow Publish Date: October 29, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

But It Was Just a Fetus … Wasn’t It?

But It Was Just a Fetus … Wasn't It? Today in Utah, a 21 year-old man was sentenced to five years in prison for, according to the Associated Press, "beating a pregnant (17 year-old) girl to try to cause a miscarriage" after she paid him $150 to do so. The girl was seven months pregnant. Aaron Harrison, the criminal convicted of assaulting her, beat her stomach and, bizarrely, even bit her on the neck to induce a miscarriage. And although Harrison had pled guilty to "second-degree felony attempted murder, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison .. District Judge A. Lynn Payne instead sentenced him under Utah's anti-abortion statute, saying a charge of third-degree 'attempted killing of an unborn child' better fit the facts of the case." "I don't think words can describe the kind of depraved conduct you entered into in trying to take the life of a child," Judge Payne said to Harrison from the bench. The mother of the baby, born healthy in August, is now seeking custody of the child she tried to have killed. Judge Payne's words ring like a bell: "The life of a child." At seven months, the child is almost fully developed; it's eyelids are opening and closing at this stage, with its brain functioning and its heart beating. All that really needs to happen prior birth is weight increase. The potency of medical knowledge has pushed proponents of abortion on demand out of the realms of reason and science. The humanness and personhood of the unborn child are indisputable by any measurable, objective standard. It was President Obama who said, during his one-on-one with Rick Warren last summer, that determining when human life begins is "above my paygrade." Perhaps the President could read Judge Payne's remarks and the facts of this wrenching case and let us know if his current salary is sufficient for him to decide. Contact: Rob Schwarzwalder Source: FRC Blog Publish Date: October 29, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

Landmark graphic abortion display ends at liberal Berkeley

Landmark graphic abortion display ends at liberal Berkeley It was previously reported that the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform had finally succeeded in bringing its Genocide Awareness Project graphic abortion photos display to one of the most liberal college campuses in the US, Berkeley. Berkeley, Genocide Awareness Project, Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, abortion, Obama.jpg From the Daily Californian, today...     Pro-life activists at UC Berkeley concluded a 2-day display of graphic images of aborted fetuses on Upper Sproul Plaza Tuesday, but some said the demonstration challenged the limits of free speech permitted on the plaza....     But while walking through the plaza Tuesday, sophomore Devin Murphy said that the images took what Obama said out of context.     "These pictures are really disgusting and aggressive," Murphy said. "His quotes are not related to abortion."     Sophomore Imali Bandara said the prominence of the more than 10-foot-tall display was unsettling.     "This is just in your face," she said. "It's just imposing these images comparing abortion to the Holocaust and genocide, which I find really offensive." The blindness never fails to astound me. Here's a video news report from the Daily Californian... Click here for the video. Thoughts from CBR's director, Gregg Cunningham:     This was arguably the most historically significant GAP we have conducted in the 11 years we have conducted the project.     Pro-abortion student protesters (organized by a feminist professor who brought her class out to shriek) screamed themselves hoarse the 1st day and had little voice left for the 2nd.     One of the most controversial aspects of our display was our use of... magazine covers which featured Mr. Obama's picture.... with quotes from his most inspiring speeches on justice and compassion and equality. But we also added the abortion photos which proved how disingenuous are his remarks on the subjects of equity and mercy and faith.... Obama, Born Alive Infants Protection Act, abortion, Berkeley, Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, Genocide Awareness Project.jpg     I thought... the emphasis needed to be heavily weighted toward Obama Awareness. Adolph Hitler was responsible for far fewer killings than the number which Mr. Obama will eventually have caused. In the argot of genocide, he is the Hitler of our time. Click here to view all of CBR's Obama abortion signs. Contact: Jill Stanek Source: jillstanek.com Publish Date: October 29, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

Gardasil Researcher Admits Vaccine May Be More Dangerous than the Disease

Gardasil Researcher Admits Vaccine May Be More Dangerous than the Disease Pictured is Jessica Vega after receiving the Gardasil vaccination.  "Her legs are paralyzed, her arms are affected. She is very weak in her arms," said Tondra Vees a family friend. "She has to use a walker. Even with that, she can't get to the bathroom. She can't stand up at all."    A researcher with Merck Pharmaceutical who helped develop the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, has revealed that the controversial drugs will do little to reduce cervical cancer rates and may cause more illness than the disease they are intended to prevent. Dr. Diane Harper, director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group at the University of Missouri, and lead researcher in the development of the two vaccines, made these remarks during an address at the 4th International Public Conference on Vaccination in Reston, Virginia on Oct. 2-4. Dr. Harper has on several occasions warned that the vaccines were being "over-marketed" and the research on their potential side effects not properly carried out. Dr. Harper told CBS News on August 19, 2009 that "young girls and their parents should receive more complete warnings before receiving the vaccine" and that a girl is more likely to die from an adverse reaction to Gardasil than from cervical cancer. A report by Steven W. Mosher and Joan Robinson of the Population Research Institute (PRI), who attended Dr. Harper's presentation at the Conference on Vaccination, states that although her talk was intended to promote the vaccine, it left many of the health professionals wondering if the drug should be given at all, considering its "poor promise of efficacy as a vaccine married to a high risk of life-threatening side effects." Gardasil, Dr. Harper explained, is promoted by Merck, the pharmaceutical manufacturer, as a "safe and effective" prevention measure against cervical cancer. The theory behind the vaccine is that, as HPV may cause cervical cancer, conferring a greater immunity of some strains of HPV might reduce the incidence of this form of cancer. In pursuit of this goal, tens of millions of American girls have been vaccinated to date. However, "I came away from the talk with the perception that the risk of adverse side effects is so much greater than the risk of cervical cancer, I couldn't help but question why we need the vaccine at all," said Joan Robinson, Assistant Editor at the Population Research Institute. Robinson added that she "did not wish to give the impression that Dr. Harper presented, even inadvertently, a consistently negative view of her own vaccine. She did tout certain 'real benefits,' chief among them that 'the vaccine will reduce the number of follow-up tests after abnormal PAP smears,' and thereby reduce the 'relationship tension,' 'stress and anxiety' of abnormal or false HPV positive results. Dr. Harper also explained, however, that 70% of HPV infections resolve themselves without treatment in one year. After two years, this rate climbs to 90%. Of the remaining 10% of HPV infections, only half coincide with the development of cervical cancer. "Indeed," Robinson continued, Dr. Harper "surprised her audience by stating that the incidence of cervical cancer in the U.S. is so low that 'if we get the vaccine and continue PAP screening, we will not lower the rate of cervical cancer in the US.'" At this point Dr. Harper said that "with the use of Gardasil, there will be no decrease in cervical cancer until at least 70% of the population is vaccinated, and in that case, the decrease will be very minimal. The highest amount of minimal decrease will appear in 60 years." In the US, the cervical cancer rate is 8 per 100,000 women, and is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. The current death rate from cervical cancer is between 1.6 to 3.7 deaths per 100,000 cases of the disease and is steadily declining due to traditional PAP tests and treatment. The PRI report points out that the most recent records from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) indicate 15,037 girls have officially reported adverse side effects from Gardasil in the US, and that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) acknowledges that there have been 44 reported deaths linked to the vaccine. Of even greater concern is the probability that numbers of deaths and adverse effects are underestimated. Dr. Harper's comments in an ABC News report concur with the National Vaccine Information Center's claim that "though nearly 70 percent of all Gardasil reaction reports were filed by Merck, a whopping 89 percent of the reports Merck did file were so incomplete there was not enough information for health officials to do a proper follow-up and review." The PRI report notes that "on average, less than 10 percent - perhaps even less than 1 percent - of serious vaccine adverse events are ever reported, according to the American Journal of Public Health." PRI's Steven Mosher concluded the report on Dr. Harper's revelations by offering some thoughts on the intense promotion of Gardasil by not only the manufacturer of the vaccine, but by state and country government agencies. "I think that they see Gardasil as what one might call a "wedge" drug. For them, the success of this public vaccination campaign has less to do with stopping cervical cancer, than it does with opening the door to other vaccination campaigns for other sexually transmitted diseases, and perhaps even including pregnancy itself. "For if they can overcome the objections of parents and religious organizations to vaccinating pre-pubescent - and not sexually active - girls against one form of STD, then it will make it easier for them to embark on similar programs in the future. "After all, the proponents of sexual liberation are determined not to let mere disease - or even death - stand in the way of their pleasures. They believe that there must be technological solutions to the diseases that have arisen from their relentless promotion of promiscuity. After all, the alternative is too horrible to contemplate:  They might have to learn to control their appetites. And they might have to teach abstinence." Contact: Thaddeus M. Baklinski Source: LifeSiteNews.com Publish Date: October 28, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

Loyola University Researchers: Contraceptives Nearly Double Chance of Stroke

Loyola University Researchers: Contraceptives Nearly Double Chance of Stroke CHICAGO, IL -- A new study by Loyola University Health System neurologists indicates that oral contraceptives increase the risk of stroke about 1.9 times. The study involved the analysis of numerous previous studies conducted on the issue. Nevertheless, despite this finding the Loyola University's press release stated that the "benefits [of contraception] still outweigh risks for most users." The research covers ischemic strokes, which are caused by the loss of blood supply to the brain.  Overall, there are about 4.4 ischemic strokes for every 100,000 women of childbearing age. According to the study, published in MedLink Neurology, the use of birth control nearly doubles this risk, increasing it to roughly 8.5 strokes per 100,000 women. According to the Guttmacher Institute, in 2002 roughly 11 million women in the US used oral contraceptives.  Assuming that Loyola University's definition and Guttmacher's definition of contraceptive use are the same, this would mean that oral contraceptives may have contributed to over four hundred strokes in the US in 2002.  About 100 million women use such contraception worldwide, which, under similar assumptions, would mean that contraception may contribute to over three thousand strokes each year. Additionally, women who smoke, have high blood pressure, or have a history of migraine headaches increase their risk of stroke yet more significantly by taking contraceptives.  Dr. Jose Biller, one of the authors of the study, said that "if a woman has other stroke risk factors, she should be discouraged from using oral contraceptives." It is not completely understood how oral contraceptives cause strokes, but the authors of the study said that two possible mechanisms are the increased risk of blood clots and of hypertension associated with oral contraceptives. Nevertheless, Dr. Biller also said that "for a healthy young woman without any other stroke risk factors, the benefits of birth control pills probably outweigh the risks." Such a statement from a Loyola researcher, however, may come as surprising, given the university's Catholic identity. The Catholic Church has uniformly taught that the use of artificial birth control is morally inadmissible, and that, far from having any benefit, contraception contributes to familial breakdown, the objectification of women and other widespread social problems. Contact: James Tillman Source: LifeSiteNews.com Publish Date: October 28, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

40 Days for Life Reaches Milestone: 2,000 Babies Saved from Abortion

40 Days for Life Reaches Milestone: 2,000 Babies Saved from Abortion "Through the grace and mercy of God -- and the faithful prayers of more than 200,000 volunteers standing vigil outside abortion facilities -- an incredible miracle has taken place," said David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life. "Starting with the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College Station, Texas in 2004, and continuing through the international 40 Days for Life effort that is under way this fall, we now have confirmed reports of at least 2,000 babies whose lives have been saved from the tragedy of abortion," Bereit said. "Who knows what wonders each of these children will bring to the world!" Two thousand children would be enough to fill at least 80 classrooms. Two thousand children would be enough to make up 180 teams of little soccer players -- "and just as importantly," said Bereit, "this could represent 180 teams of soccer moms -- women who will enjoy watching their children run and jump and shout -- blessings they would have never known if they had fallen for the lies that are so often disguised by the rhetoric of 'choice.'" Frequently, it is simply the sight of people peacefully standing in prayer that will convince a woman to turn away from abortion. "When people ask me what to say when they're at the vigil," said Bereit, "I often say -- just pray and don't worry about it. We have countless stories of women rejecting abortion and leaving the clinics even when not a single word was spoken." It is often the prayer of children that has this effect. "Just last week, I heard about two little girls who were singing 'Jesus Loves Me' at a 40 Days for Life vigil," he said. "They sang as a woman went in for an abortion appointment -- then watched as she left the clinic in tears, read the number of a pregnancy resource hotline, and called for real assistance." 40 Days for Life (www.40daysforlife.com) is the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history. The fall 40 Days for Life campaign, which began September 23, will conclude on November 1. The initiative, in 212 cities across 45 American states, five Canadian provinces, and Denmark, consists of 40 days of intense prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, peaceful vigils outside abortion facilities, and grassroots community organizing. Since 2004, some local 678 campaigns have been conducted in 282 communities, covering all 50 American states, the District of Columbia and American Samoa, as well as Canada, Australia, Northern Ireland and Denmark. Contact: Amber Dolle Source: 40 Days for Life Publish Date: October 29 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

NEWS SHORTS FOR WEDNESDAY

NEWS SHORTS FOR WEDNESDAY (Referral to Web sites not produced by The Illinois Federation for Right to LIfe is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.) Three Pro-life Advocates Arrested at Unveiling of the House Democratic Caucus's Health Care Bill for Shouting, 'We Won't Pay for Murder with Our Tax Money!' Nancy Pelosi's event was interrupted with shouts "Nancy Pelosi you will burn in hell for this!"  No warning was given before arrests.   3 pro-life advocates were arrested this morning at the unveiling of the House Democratic Caucus's health care bill.  They shouted "Nancy Pelosi you will burn in hell for this!" and "We won't pay for murder!"  No warning was given before the arrests. Click here for the full article. Obamacare to put Planned Parenthood in charge? Provision for 'pregnancy resource centers' appears to benefit abortion industry leader The largest grassroots Catholic pro-life group in the nation is warning of a perfect storm of circumstances that could set up Planned Parenthood as a quasi-governmental entity with the power to establish as law its declaration of a universal right to tax-paid abortions and autonomous rights to sexual "pleasure" for children. Click here for the full article. No Men or Women Needed: Scientists Create Sperm And Eggs From Stem Cells Click image to enlarge. Human eggs and sperm have been grown in the laboratory in research which could change the face of parenthood. It paves the way for a cure for infertility and could help those left sterile by cancer treatment to have children who are biologically their own. But it raises a number of moral and ethical concerns. These include the possibility of children being born through entirely artificial means, and men and women being sidelined from the process of making babies. Opponents argue that it is wrong to meddle with the building blocks of life and warn that the advances taking place to tackle infertility risk distorting and damaging relations between family members. The U.S. government-funded research also offers the prospect of a 'miracle pill' which staves off the menopause, allowing women to wait longer to have a child. Click here for the full article. City Proposal Targets Pregnancy Clinics That Lack Abortion Services Advocates on both sides [sic] of the abortion debate filled Baltimore City Council chambers for a contentious hearing on legislation that would require pregnancy counseling clinics that do not provide abortion services to post signs indicating that policy. The legislation would affect four centers, two of which are funded by the Roman Catholic Church. The centers provide adoption information and counseling, but do not perform abortions or issue contraceptives. City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake introduced the bill at the behest of Planned Parenthood, a pro-choice organization that hopes the Baltimore legislation will serve as a model for a national effort. Click here for the full article. Notre Dame Protester (Mother of Three) Ready To Choose Family Over Fighting In Court A Denver mother who is one of the 88 pro-life protestors arrested for trespassing on the University of Notre Dame's campus during President Obama's appearance last May, has decided that if charges are not dropped soon, she will have to plead guilty. Laura Rohling, a mother of three young children, told CNA on Monday that the burden on her family and the financial cost of traveling from Denver to South Bend, Ind. are key factors she is considering as the legal proceedings continue. The saga involving the 88 pro-life protestors began at Notre Dame on May 8, 2009 when the Catholic university decided to confer an honorary degree on the pro-abortion President Barack Obama and allow him to deliver the commencement address. Click here for the full article. Stem-Cell Challenge Turned Away by Judge   A judge dismissed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the Obama administration's regulations for expanded embryonic stem-cell research funding.   Several groups, including Nightlight Christian Adoptions, researchers, potential embryo adoptive parents and the Christian Medical Association, filed the suit.   Ron Stoddart, executive director of Nightlight, said the judge ruled none of them had standing to bring the lawsuit. Click here for the full article.

Bobby Schindler Wants to “Kill” the PVS Diagnosis

Bobby Schindler Wants to "Kill" the PVS Diagnosis Nobody knows the pain of the culture of death more profoundly that the Schindler family.  First, Terri Schiavo–Bobby's sister–was dehydrated to death because of her profound cognitive incapacity. Her cruel death, the family believes, badly undermined dad Robert Schindler's health.  He died earlier this year. The family, through the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, has used their horror and pain productively as "celebrity victims" (Ralph Nader's evocative term for people who become famous after suffering an egregious wrong), to advocate on behalf of human exceptionalism by standing firm against the quality of life ethic and on behalf of the equal moral worth of people like Terri. Toward that end, Bobby has a column out today that gives examples of the unreliability of the persistent vegetative state diagnosis.  He also vividly reminds us of the consequences to the most vulnerable of writing them out of the human condition.  From his commentary:     To be clear: there is no indignity more final and brutal than forcing a living person to die the death of dehydration and starvation. Try to imagine the torture my sister endured in the last two weeks of her life. Being unable to defend herself, very likely aware of precisely what was happening and having absolutely no ability to escape it. For nearly two weeks, Terri was denied food and fluids. Not so much as an ice chip was given to her. It was pitiful, it was barbaric and it was clear that she was made to suffer. When my sister expired, she was a shell of her former self.     It is because of the suffering my sister and others endured that I believe the PVS diagnosis must be either reevaluated or completely abolished. With so many medical and neurological professionals admitting that there are inaccuracies and with the diagnosis being a death sentence, it is time to rethink disability and the way we regard it and our fellow human beings. Bobby concludes:     In the United States alone, more than 50,000 people live with profound neurological or cognitive disabilities. They live, quite literally, at the pleasure and by the mercy of others. There is the very real possibility that a large number of those individuals have been misdiagnosed yet, they are living in the crosshairs. Wouldn't reasonableness and a simple sense of humanity dictate that we stop forcing people to die miserable deaths, based on a diagnosis with such a tremendous margin of error? If some people had their way, most or all of those 50,000 people would be dehydrated to death after (or perhaps, one day, lethally injected, which Jack Kevorkian advocates) a brief waiting period from injury.  That would be a profound moral wrong.  Bobby's continuing call to conscience is a great service to his sister's memory. Contact: Wesley J. Smith Source: Secondhand Smoke Publish Date: October 27, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

Assisted suicide reaches new level

Assisted suicide reaches new level Assisted suicide, legal in Oregon and Washington state, has resulted in an unexpected twist. Hospitals can opt out and refuse to permit doctor-assisted suicides on their premises, but staff members who do not support that can act outside of their jobs. Rita Marker of the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide explains further.   "Take for example a social worker who works at that hospital, but she can, and in fact, recently it was a situation where a social worker from a hospital which has opted out [of assisted suicide] was conducting a training session for hostage and crisis negotiators from the law enforcement agencies, and she was explaining if someone is suicidal, there are certain things to look for," says Marker. "And then as part of her presentation, she mentioned if a person is suicidal here are the options."   According to Marker, one of those options was assisted suicide with assistance provided by Compassions and Choices, the old Hemlock Society. As she explains, patients would simply need to call a number, and a volunteer will instruct them how. In other words, crisis negotiators could be trying to talk people out of killing themselves, while at the same time offering instructions on how to assist people in killing themselves. And while that is "certainly repugnant," states Marker, it is not illegal. Contact: Charlie Butts Source: OneNewsNow Publish Date: October 27, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

Aborted Fetal Material Used in Anti-Wrinkle Creams

Aborted Fetal Material Used in Anti-Wrinkle Creams Children of God for Life announced today that Neocutis, a bio-pharmaceutical company focused on dermatology and skin care is using aborted fetal cell lines to produce several of their anti-aging skin creams. "It is absolutely deplorable that Neocutis would resort to exploiting the remains of a deliberately slaughtered baby for nothing other than pure vanity and financial gain," stated Executive Director Debi Vinnedge. "There is simply no moral justification for this." For years Children of God for Life has been a watchdog on pharmaceutical companies using aborted fetal cell lines in medical products and they have received thousands of inquiries from the public on the use of aborted fetal material in cosmetics. Until now, this was the first time they have encountered any company bold enough to put the information right on their own website and product literature.  A quick investigation into the science behind the products revealed the shameless data. Neocutis' key ingredient known as "Processed Skin Proteins" was developed at the University of Luasanne from the skin tissue of a 14-week gestation electively-aborted male baby donated by the University Hospital in Switzerland.  Subsequently, a working cell bank was established, containing several billion cultured skin cells to produce the human growth factor needed to restore aging skin. The list of products using the cell line include: Bio-Gel, Journee, Bio-Serum, Prevedem, Bio Restorative Skin Cream and Lumiere.  But Vinnedge is calling for a full boycott of all Neocutis products, regardless of their source. "There is absolutely no reason to use aborted babies for such selfish motives," Vinnedge said. "It is anti-life, anti-woman and counter-productive as Neocutis is about to find out!" Children of God for Life is calling on rival cosmetic companies to take advantage of some free advertising by their company. "We know there are companies using moral sources for collagen and skin proteins. We intend to publicly promote these other cosmetic companies competing with Neocutis that are willing to step forward and contact us." Meanwhile Vinnedge advises women who are using Neocutis products to throw them in the garbage and to contact the company to express their concerns. In addition she advised, "Contact some of these competing companies and ask them to verify their products are morally produced.  If they are willing to commit to it in writing, they will get our endorsement." Contact Neocutis: Neocutis Inc. 3053 Fillmore Street # 140 San Francisco CA 94123 Phone: 1-866-636-2884 Further Information is published at the following links: infoscience.epfl.ch/record/129015/files/ExpGer-Lee(2009).pdf www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17269452 www.neocutis.com/categories.php?catid=11 www.neocutis.com/article.php?sid=15 Source: Children of God for Life Publish Date: October 27, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

Abortion Funding Vote This Week -- Disguised as U. S. "Health Care"

Abortion Funding Vote This Week -- Disguised as U. S. "Health Care" NOTE: The U.S. House will vote this week on whether to set up a federal abortion-funding program in the so-called "public plan".  If you don't want your tax dollars used to fund abortion, call your congressman and ask him to vote "no" on "the Rule" for H.R. 3200. An upcoming procedural vote in the House of Representatives will determine whether U.S. taxpayers are forced to directly pay for elective abortions. The procedural resolution, generally called "the rule," is one that the House must approve before it can take up the massive health care bill (H.R. 3200). The "rule" will specify what amendments to the bill, if any, may be considered on the House floor. On October 23, the Associated Press accurately reported that the House Democratic leadership, led by Nancy Pelosi, currently does not intend to allow the House to vote on an amendment sponsored by Congressmen Bart Stupak (D-Mi.) and Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.), which would, as the AP reported, "include the Hyde amendment restrictions in the health overhaul bill." The AP reported: "Such an amendment would be almost certain to prevail … So Democratic leaders won't let Stupak offer it. Instead, it appears they may have to take the risk of letting Stupak try to block action on the underlying bill, which he intends to do by assembling 'no' votes on a procedural measure [the "rule"] that needs to pass before debate can begin." As approved by Democratic-controlled House committees, H.R. 3200 contains at least two major components that implicate abortion policy. It creates a new program of premium subsidies for health insurance. The AP story discusses pro-life objections to allowing those subsidies to go to private plans that cover elective abortions. The other major abortion-related controversy generated by the bill is the proposed "public plan." Steven Mosher, President of PRI, points out: "The bill explicitly authorizes the "public plan" to pay for elective abortions. Democratic leaders, including President Obama, have claimed that no federal funds would be used to pay for abortions, but this is not true. The public plan will be a federal agency program that can spend only federal funds. Under this public plan, the federal government would pay abortion providers for performing elective abortions." "The public plan problem and the premium-subsidy problem are two ways that the current bill publicly funds abortion," Mosher said. "Seventy percent of Americans oppose both government funding of abortion and abortion coverage." The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) has confirmed that all of the monies spent by the public plan would be federal funds, refuting the claim by Democratic leaders and President Obama that no "federal funds" would be used to pay for abortions. "Congressional Democratic leaders claim that the public plan, a federal program, would pay for abortions with 'private' funds. This is nonsense," Mosher said. "Americans who conscientiously object to having their tax dollars used to pay for abortions will be forced to pay for them." "Remember that during his campaign for the presidency, Obama promised Planned Parenthood that he would include abortion in his health care reform legislation and in its public plan," Mosher said. "He is keeping that promise to the abortion providers, while misleading and deceiving the American people about his true aims." Contact: Steve Mosher, Colin Mason Source: PRI Publish Date: October 27, 2009 Link to this article.   Send this article to a friend.

NEWS SHORTS FOR TUESDAY

NEWS SHORTS FOR TUESDAY (Referral to Web sites not produced by The Illinois Federation for Right to LIfe is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.) A United States 'One-Child' Policy? Should the U.S. join China with a one-child policy? Maybe not through forced abortion, but how about with carbon credits? That's the, um, "interesting" idea from New York Times environmental reporter Andrew Revkin. Reports Cybercast News Service: At the event, Revkin said: "Well, some of the people have recently proposed: Well, should there be carbon credits for a family planning program in Africa let's say? Should that be monetized as a part of something that, you know, if you, if you can measurably somehow divert fertility rate, say toward an accelerating decline in a place with a high fertility rate, shouldn't there be a carbon value to that? Click here for the full article. Three UK Babies Murdered Every Day Due to Down's Syndrome An increasing number of pregnant women are being told their babies have the condition because of a growing number of women putting off having children until their 30s and 40s and improvements in screening, doctors say. And around nine in ten women who are told they are going to have a baby with the problem opt for a termination. The research shows that around 1,100 babies in England and Wales are aborted every year because of Down's syndrome, an increase from 300 in 1989/90. Click here for the full article. Head Of Kansas Medical Licensing Board Resigns; Had Led Charges Against Abortion Provider Tiller The executive director of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which licenses and regulates Kansas doctors, resigned effective Oct. 19, according to board officials, the AP/Kansas City Star reports. Jack Confer, who took the position in June 2008, had received praise from abortion-rights opponents, who previously accused the board of protecting abortion providers from punishment for alleged misconduct. The board denied those charges. The antiabortion-rights group Kansans for Life said it was "distraught" over Confer's resignation. Click here for the full article. Colombian official calls on court to overturn decision requiring schools to teach abortion is a 'right' Colombia's Attorney General, Alejandro Ordonez Maldonado, announced that he would be asking the country's Constitutional Court to overturn a ruling that would force schools to teach students that abortion is a right.   Ordonez remarked that he would challenge the ruling ordering the Ministries of Social Protection and of Education to promote massive campaigns related to sexual and reproductive rights, especially in regard to abortion. Click here for the full article. Pro-life Congressman has 40 Democratic votes to kill health-care bill with abortion funding Congressman Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat who has rallied pro-life forces during the debate on health-care reform, now says that he has 40 Democratic colleagues who will vote against the reform package if it does not include a clear amendment to bar abortion subsidies. Click here for the full article. Seeking Women Who Have Had Abortions In Ohio Operation Rescue is asking women who have had abortions in Ohio in the past year to contact them. "We are conducting a research project and are encouraging women who are ready to share their stories about their abortion experiences in Ohio to contact us as soon as possible," said Operation Rescue Senior Policy Advisor Cheryl Sullenger. "Of course, all communications with us will be held in strictest confidence." We are especially looking for women who had abortions at Women's Med Center on Stroop Rd. in Kettering (near Dayton), or at Cincinnati Women's Services on Jefferson Ave. in Cincinnati over the past 12 months. If you had an abortion in Ohio in the past year, we would love to speak with you. Your communications will remain confidential and your identity will be protected. Contact Operation Rescue at 316-683-6790, ext. 112, or e-mail us at cheryl@operationrescue.org. Click here for the full article.