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.)

Protesters Gather in Olympia on Roe V. Wade Anniversary



OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON - Several thousand pro-life protesters gathered on the Capitol steps in Olympia on Tuesday to mark the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in this country. Carrying red roses and signs such as "Abortion is murder" and "Women regret lost motherhood," the group marched to their place in front of the dome. The crowd spilled out on to the grass between the Legislative building and the Temple of Justice, where the state Supreme Court meets, where a dozen abortion-rights advocates stood on the steps with their own signs.
Click here for the full article.


Roeder Case Stirs Global Reactions



Judge Warren Wilbert's words in a Wichita courtroom are bouncing from national blogs to the Harvard Law School to other continents. Every comment by Wilbert in the first-degree murder trial of Scott Roeder this week has been open to second-guessing and living-room litigation. Drawing the most criticism is Wilbert's analysis of the Kansas voluntary manslaughter law that, if allowed, could give the jury an option of convicting Roeder on a charge less than murder in the slaying of abortion provider George Tiller.
Click here for the full article.


Star Parker to Speak at March for Life Rally



It is with great honor, excitement and anticipation that CECForLife will be sponsoring our annual rally in Washington and will be hearing from the dynamic and passionate Star Parker. Star speaks on the issue of Life with authority, knowledge and clarity. Quite frankly, no one does it better. She will encourage and energize Pro-life people to remain in this fight with a heart to win. This event is open to the public so please tell everyone you know to come to this great event on Thursday night January 21 at the Holiday Inn at 550 C STREET SW WASHINGTON, DC. The rally will begin with a service of Holy Communion at 6:30 PM followed by time of Praise. Star will speak at approximately 7:45 PM.
Click here for the full article.


Dozens to Discuss Abortion Experiences
 


Actress Jennifer O'Neill and civil rights activist Dr. Alveda King are among those scheduled to testify about their abortion experiences Friday outside of the U.S. Supreme Court building.
 
There are 45 scheduled speakers for Silent No More.
 
Georgette Forney, co-founder of Silent No More, said the event will coincide with March for Life.
Click here for the full article.


Missouri works to dodge abortion funding



A Missouri lawmaker is taking action to block possible federal abortion mandates that accompany the much-debated healthcare bill.
 
Republican State Senator Scott Rupp has introduced a bill that would protect his state from abortion mandates proposed in healthcare reform. He explains that the method of doing so is in accord with the U.S. Constitution.
Click here for the full article.


Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi Leads Personhood Effort



Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant has lent his support to a state personhood amendment by asking voters to sign a petition to obtain the 90,000 signatures required to have the measure become eligible to be put on the 2010 ballot.

If the referendum were to be successful, Mississippi's constitution would be amended to say that life begins at "the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof."
Click here for the full article.

Test Your Knowledge of Roe v. Wade

Test Your Knowledge of Roe v. Wade


 
Focus on the Family is re-launching the Roe IQ Test.  The quiz checks Americans' knowledge of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand.

Partnering with the Alliance Defense Fund and Concerned Women for America, the goal is educate people, so they can make informed decisions about abortion.

Steven Aden, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, said the 1973 ruling continues to be a hot-button issue in the U.S.

"The current debate over the expansion of federal funding for abortion in the proposed health care reform legislation is just another manifestation of this debate," he said.  "In many ways, Roe is the defining issue of our times, and one that so many people know so little about."

Click here to take the Roe IQ Test.

Virtual March for Life drawing thousands

Virtual March for Life drawing thousands



Washington D.C. - Americans United for Life president Dr. Charmaine Yoest has announced the first ever Virtual March for Life taking place on Jan. 22. The goal of the virtual effort is to give a voice to those who are unable to travel to Washington D.C. for the upcoming event.

"With a health care bill that includes taxpayer funding for abortion hanging in the balance, this is an important, historic opportunity to get the attention of politicians in Washington," said Yoest in a statement Friday.

"In this critical moment, every American must be heard regardless of where you are. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are coming to Washington, D.C. to join the most important March for Life in history, and you can be there through the Virtual March for Life!" she added.

Participating in the march "will only take seconds" explained the AUL president, noting that all one needs to do is go to www.VirtualMarchforLife.com, choose an avatar and be placed next to other Americans marching online in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.

"So much is at stake in this moment," Yoest continued. "How many more lives will be lost if the Congressional majority rolls back existing law that protects life and protects us from having our tax dollars used to fund abortion?"

As of Tuesday morning, there are over 21,000 participants signed up for the Virtual March for Life.

Click here for the video.

Source: CNA
Publish Date: January 19, 2010
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Randy Travis to headline first annual Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Concert

Randy Travis to headline first annual Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Concert



The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation made an exciting announcement today.

County singing star Randy Travis (pictured right) will headline what is being billed the "first annual" Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Concert, to be held at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, IN, April 11.

Joining Travis, one of the Top 10 selling solo country artists of all time, will be country singer Collin Raye, who himself has produced 5 platinum albums and 15 #1 hits, according to a press release form Terri's Foundation.

The release notes, "But perhaps the closest to Collin's heart is his granddaughter, Haley, who is afflicted with a rare degenerative brain disorder. Collin has worked tirelessly to help find a cure for Haley and has helped other families who are faced with similar situations."

Again, the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Concert will be Sunday, April 11. Tickets will be available through LiveNation beginning this Friday, January 22. Tickets are $75.

Proceeds from the concert will go to Terri's Foundation, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization, "established to educate and assist families - enabling them to better protect the rights and lives of their cognitively disabled loved ones," states the release, continuing:

Funds raised through ticket sales and sponsorships for this event will allow Terri's Foundation to honor her legacy in many ways. Most importantly, it will allow the foundation to continue protecting the lives of vulnerable persons who are in jeopardy of having their lives hastened.

Click here to read more.

The 5th anniversary of Terri's death by starvation and dehydration will be March 31, now known as Terri's Day.

Contact: Jill Stanek
Source: jillstanek.com
Publish Date: January 19, 2010
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Thousands of Pro-Lifers Rally at Massive Planned Parenthood Abortion Facility

Thousands of Pro-Lifers Rally at Massive Planned Parenthood Abortion Facility



Houston, Texas – In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, national spiritual and political leaders joined a sign-waving crowd of what is being reported as "thousands" of pro-lifers in Houston today to rally against what they called a "prenatal racial genocide" perpetrated by Planned Parenthood through abortion.

In April, Planned Parenthood purchased a six-story, 78,000-square-foot former bank building in Houston to turn into the nation's largest abortion mill. The building is situated in an 80% minority community area. The move sparked outrage from pro-lifers, who said that Planned Parenthood began as a eugenics organization designed to reduce minority populations, Roman Catholics, immigrants, and the so-called "unfit" through birth control and abortion. Pro-lifers also pointed out that the abortion rate amongst minority groups is already way higher than the national average, thanks in large part to Planned Parenthood's strategy of situating their facilities in minority neighborhoods.

About 10,000 people, many of them youth, packed Grace Community Church on Sunday for a five-hour prayer and praise meeting Sunday sponsored by TheCall to kick off the rally.

Lou Engle of The Call to Conscience organized the event, which was also attended by Ken Blackwell of Conservative Action Project, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Bishop Harry Jackson of High Impact Leadership Coalition, Tony Perkins of Family Research Council, and many others.

"On this day people of all races stand in unity to honor Martin Luther King Jr. We affirm that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin," said Matt Staver of Liberty Counsel, who also attended the event.

"Unfortunately, the badge of racism is carried on through the prenatal racial genocide perpetrated by Planned Parenthood. Worse yet, the federal government funds Planned Parenthood with several hundred million dollars each year. African American and Hispanic communities have been particularly hit hard by Planned Parenthood's genocide.

"The time has come for all who respect human dignity to stop the killing. God is just. His justice will not sleep forever."

Contact: Kathleen Gilbert
Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Publish Date: January 18, 2010
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Abortion Mandate in Senate Health Care Bill Energizes Pro-Life Activists Ahead of National Rally

Abortion Mandate in Senate Health Care Bill Energizes Pro-Life Activists Ahead of National Rally



Friday marks the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion-on-demand nationwide, and a coalition of more than 70 pro-life organizations says this year's commemorative "March for Life" on that day is more significant than any to date.
 
"January 22 of this year, 2010, takes on even more importance as Congress prepares to vote on a sweeping takeover of health care that would mandate abortion coverage and mandate government funding for abortion," David Bereit, campaign director for 40 Days for Life, one of the groups in the march's coalition, said in a video promoting the event.
 
"If this legislation passes, we will be paying for abortion with taxpayers' dollars," Kristan Hawkins, executive director for the pro-life college campus ministry Students for Life of America, told CNSNews.com.
 
Even though the Democrats' legislation allows states to possibly "opt out" of providing at least one insurance plan that covers abortion, activists say federal dollars will be used to pay for health plans that cover abortion in the states that potentially do not opt out.
 
"Yes, in the Senate version it says states can opt out," Hawkins said. "But it doesn't mean you won't be paying for abortion. Even if you were to opt out, it doesn't mean you won't be paying for abortion in another state."
 
In a Dec. 21 press release, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said, "The new language does include a 'state opt-out' provision if a state passes a law to prohibit insurance coverage of abortion, but it's a sham because it does nothing to prevent one state's tax dollars from paying for elective abortions in other states."
 
Although the Park Police no longer provide official crowd estimates of events on the National Mall, past "March for Life" events have seen thousands and even hundreds of thousands gather to march from the Ellipse near the White House to the steps of the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill.
 
Americans are not the only people who will be represented in the large crowd. Leaders of Human Life International (HLI) from Africa, Europe, and Asia claim pro-abortion policies in the United States have taken a toll around the globe.



"America's March for Life is now the world's March for Life," Joseph Meaney, director of International Coordination for Human Life International (HLI), said in a statement issued about the march. "It has become the world's pro-life protest because of the aggressive promotion of abortion and population control that is now the official policy of the United States, thanks to the administration of President Barack Obama."
 
Dr. Ligaya Acosta, HLI regional coordinator for Asia and Oceania, cited in the statement one of the first executive orders that Obama signed, after taking office a year ago, to reverse the Mexico City Policy put into place by President Ronald Reagan. That policy had prohibited U.S. dollars from being used to promote or provide abortion through federally funded programs around the world.
 
"This is not only the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which has led to the destruction of almost 50 million American children," Acosta said. "This is now the anniversary of President Obama's allowing Americans' taxpayer funds to be used to promote abortion and other assaults on life in my own country of the Philippines, in Africa, in China … all over the world where 40 million babies are killed every year. It is wrong and we are here to tell him and Congress to stop paying to kill our children."
 
"We are tired of the arrogant American government trying to tell us how many children we should have," said Emil Hagamu, HLI's regional coordinator for English-speaking Africa. "President Obama is of Kenyan descent.
 
"How can he do this to his own people?" Hagamu said.
                                             
Raymond DeSouza, HLI's coordinator for Portuguese-speaking nations, said tying abortion to international aid promotes violence as a part of foreign policy.
 
 "When international aid is tied to abortion, it's like holding a nation hostage, telling them that children are bad, which translates into hopelessness for the future," DeSouza said. "This is a terrible violence against the families and children of the developing world."
 
Peter Shinn, who heads the pro-life network Pro-Life Unity, says in the March for Life promotional video that the health care legislation now being proposed in Congress could add millions more to the over 50 million unborn children who have been aborted since 1973.
 
"If Planned Parenthood and abortion lobbyists are successful getting their friends in the House, the Senate, and the White House to give them what they want – a massive government funded bailout – it will result in the largest expansion of abortion since Roe versus Wade," Shinn said. "That's why this Jan. 22 it is critical that every pro-life American take a public stand to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves."
 
The coalition Web site, www.stoptheabortionmandate.com, features the video and detailed information about the pro-life march ranging from arranging visits with members of Congress to tips on making signs and traveling by Metro trains.
 
Hawkins, whose organization holds its national conference of more than 1,000 college students in conjunction with the march, said passage of the proposed health care legislation would be devastating to both the movement and the unborn.
 
"Millions of lives will be lost and it will set us back for years to come," Hawkins said of the bill's passage. "But if we defeat it, it will be a shining star and it will really show what can happen when we come together, when we work together."
 
The March for Life begins at noon on the National Mall.

Contact: Penny Starr
Source: CNSNews.com
Publish Date: January 19, 2010
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Tim Tebow Superbowl Ad Set to Run

Tim Tebow Superbowl Ad Set to Run
   


COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO - Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam Tebow, are set to appear in a pro-life Super Bowl ad run by Focus On The Family.

Focus on the Family has said the Tebows will share a personal story centered on the theme "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life."

No details have been released regarding the content of the ad.  Many consider it likely, however, that the ad will be related to Pam Tebow's decision to carry her son to term after she had contracted amoebic dysentery while she was serving as a Christian missionary in the Philippines. Doctors urged her to have an abortion because drugs she took to combat the disease might have affected her baby's development; she ignored their recommendation and gave birth a perfectly healthy child.

Tim Tebow, who was home schooled before becoming a college football star and is well known for marking his eye black with scriptural verses, has also been involved in his family's Christian ministry.  Last year he made headlines when, in response to a reporter asking him if he was "saving himself" for marriage, he said that he was.

Jim Daly, president and CEO of Focus on the Family, said the ad comes in a time when "families need to be inspired."

"Tim and Pam share our respect for life and our passion for helping families thrive," Daly said. "They live what we see every day – that the desire for family closeness is written on the hearts of every generation. Focus on the Family is about nurturing that desire and strengthening families by empowering them with the tools they need to live lives rooted in morals and values."

The funds for the ad came from a handful of people who specifically donated money for the ad; no money from Focus on the Family's general fund was used.

"Now that the ad has been shot, we're excited to tell people it's coming because the Tebows' story is such an important one for our culture to hear," Daly said. "You won't want to miss it."

Contact: James Tillman
Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Publish Date: January 18, 2010
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Personhood USA Announces Coast-to-Coast Personhood for 2010 Roe vs. Wade Memorial

Personhood USA Announces Coast-to-Coast Personhood for 2010 Roe vs. Wade Memorial

WASHINGTON - Personhood USA organizers have announced plans for a nationwide sweep for Personhood to recognize the tragic anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

Beginning in Washington D.C. on Thursday, January 21, Personhood USA cofounder, Keith Mason, will speak about Personhood USA's 40-state effort at American Life League's Activism Conference.

Currently, Personhood USA is activating dozens of team members to distribute 40,000 pieces of literature encouraging the mobilization of thousands of marchers in Washington D.C. These marchers will also be invited to become involved in Personhood efforts in their home states.

Personhood USA leaders including Keith Mason will then participate in Personhood events in Colorado and Mississippi where there are ongoing, vital signature drives for placing Personhood on those states' ballots.

Finally, following a speech at Colorado Right to Life's March for Life, a Personhood USA team will participate in California's Walk for Life. There, Personhood USA will help the recently launched California Human Rights Campaign in its Personhood initiative by distributing 100,000 Personhood petitions and activating volunteers.

"Personhood is a revolution of the pro-life movement," stated Keith Mason. "It challenges what's been done in the past, stimulates the movement's present, and eradicates the need for pro-life efforts in the future. Personhood is the best hope to end abortion in America."

As mentioned in a recent World Net Daily article, Personhood is the unofficial theme of the Roe v. Wade memorial in 2010. The Roe v. Wade memorial events will promote awareness of Personhood rights for preborn babies and educate hundreds of thousands of people.

"Personhood is thriving because it is a no-compromise approach to ending baby murder," explained Cal Zastrow, cofounder of Personhood USA. "When we started 14 months ago, we only had Colorado on board. God has blessed our efforts by raising up thousands of grassroots activists to work on Personhood in over 40 states!"

Contact: Keith Mason
Source: Personhood USA
Publish Date: January 18, 2010
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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.)

Planned Parenthood of Illinois Assesses Abortion Coverage



Abortion service providers like Planned Parenthood of Illinois are concerned about the impact on women if abortion coverage is segregated out as special treatment. "We have been extremely supportive of health-care reform, but we want to make sure it doesn't come at the expense of women," said Beth Kanter, senior vice president of external affairs. About 80 percent of the women who visit Planned Parenthood are covered under their insurance, she said.
Click here for the full article.


Thousands Protest Abortion in Arkansas



LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS - Yesterday thousands of protestors thronged the streets of Little Rock, Arkansas to walk 13 blocks to the state capitol to protest the legalization of abortion and call for its repeal in the 32nd annual March for Life.

Emmett Guillory with Arkansas Right to Life said, "We can talk about healthcare, the economy, troubles in the world, but if we don't get right the life issue, those quality of life issues don't matter, so hopefully they'll come to realize that and become passionate and support the pro-life movement."

Former Governor Mike Huckabee also attended the march.  Click here for the video.
Click here for the full article.


Russian Health Minister: Country Must Reduce Abortions to Boost Population



MOSCOW, Russia – Russia's Health Minister has called for a reduction of abortions in the country as a way of improving its meagre population growth.

"The topic of reducing abortions is definitely on today's agenda," stated Health Minister Tatyana Golikova on Monday.  "This won't solve the birthrate problem 100 percent, but around 20 to 30 percent."

In 2006, then-President Vladimir Putin identified the country's low birth rate as its greatest problem, though he did not draw the connection with the country's abortion rate, which is among the highest in the world.  In 2005, in fact, there were more abortions than births in the country.  On Monday, Golikova noted that in 2008 there were 1.714 million births and 1.234 million abortions.
Click here for the full article.


Paris March for Life draws 25,000 participants



Paris, France - An estimated 25,000 pro-life advocates took part in the sixth Paris March for Life on Sunday to mark the 35th anniversary of the legalization of abortion in France and to protest its "blatant injustice" towards the unborn and the "unspeakable sufferings" it causes women.

The March for Life, called "Marche pour la Vie" in French, brought together 15 French pro-life groups for the non-sectarian and non-partisan event. Organizers said a majority of participants were families or under 25 years old.
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Oregon Catholic college philosophy professor affiliated with Planned Parenthood, NARAL



A professor who teaches the introduction to philosophy course at a Catholic university in Oregon lists the National Abortion Rights Action League and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America among his "non-academic organizational affiliations," according to his CV, which is posted on the university's web site. Dr. Jeffrey Gauthier has taught at the University of Portland since 1992.
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Overseas pro-life leaders condemn 'aggressive' pro-abortion U.S. policy



Washington D.C. - A delegation of international pro-life leaders will attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Friday to show support for American pro-lifers and to voice their opposition to the U.S. government's "aggressive" pro-abortion foreign policies.

The leaders, from Africa, Europe, South America, Asia and Oceania, will speak at Human Life International's (HLI) Jan. 22 "The Fight for Life Around the World" conference at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. before joining hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates in the annual March for Life.
Click here for the full article.

Week puts focus on pro-life effort

Week puts focus on pro-life effort



Today kicks off Sanctity of Human Life Week, and pro-life groups are encouraging people to take a stand for the cause.

Dr. Richard Land, president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention, tells OneNewsNow that happenings in Washington are a solid reminder that America must stand firm for life.
 
"I think in the wake of the bills that have been passed in the Senate and the House -- [legislation] known as ObamaCare -- it's important that we remind people about the culture of death, because the culture of death is written all the way through those two bills," he says. That is related to federal funding of abortions and end-of-life issues.
 
Richard LandLand adds that Washington appears to be turning a deaf ear to voters as "54% of Americans oppose the current proposed legislation on healthcare and only 36% support it, and yet they seem intent on trying to ram it through." The ERLC president further notes, "I just hope that Americans will remember this when it comes to the first Tuesday in November this year."
 
The Southern Baptist spokesman is hopeful that people will communicate with their elected representatives because the people certainly have an influence and the responsibility to exercise it, including encouraging other people to do so.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: January 18, 2010
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International Pro-Life Leaders Come to US Capitol to Protest U.S. Anti-Life Policies

International Pro-Life Leaders Come to US Capitol to Protest U.S. Anti-Life Policies

      

FRONT ROYAL, Virginia - International Pro-Life leaders from Africa, Europe, South America, Asia and Oceania have come to the United State’s capitol to stand with Americans and protest the expansion of anti-life policies under the Obama administration.

The international leaders, who are associated with Human Life International (HLI), will speak at a conference on January 22 at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. before joining the hundreds of thousands of other pro-lifers in the March for Life.

“America’s March for Life is now the world’s March for Life,” said Joseph Meaney, Director of International Coordination for HLI. “It has become the world’s pro-life protest because of the aggressive promotion of abortion and population control that is now official policy of the United States, thanks to the administration of President Barack Obama.”

“This is not only the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which has led to the destruction of almost 50 million American children,” said Dr. Ligaya Acosta, HLI Regional Coordinator for Asia and Oceania. “This is now the anniversary of President Obama’s allowing Americans’ taxpayer funds to be used to promote abortion and other assaults on life in my own country of the Philippines, in Africa, in China … all over the world where 40 million babies are killed every year. It is wrong and we are here to tell him and Congress to stop paying to kill our children!”

Dr. Acosta was referring to President Obama’s January 23rd, 2009 reversal of the Mexico City Policy, which had, under the Reagan and both Bush administrations, restricted the use of federal funds to support any organization that promoted or performed abortion abroad. In December, this reversal allowed Congress to pass an omnibus spending bill, signed by President Obama, which included almost $700 million for abortion-promoting organizations internationally.

“We are tired of the arrogant American government trying to tell us how many children we should have,” said Emil Hagamu, HLI’s regional coordinator for English-speaking Africa. “President Obama is of Kenyan descent. How can he do this to his own people?”

“These aggressive policies are undeniably hurting America’s stature with the people of the world, even if they help America appeal to the cruel international elites who want to run everything,” said Raymond DeSouza, HLI’s coordinator for Portuguese-speaking nations. “When international aid is tied to abortion, it’s like holding a nation hostage, telling them that children are bad, which translates into hopelessness for the future. This is a terrible violence against the families and children of the developing world.”

Click here for information on HLI’s “The Fight for Life Around the World” mini-conference.

Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Publish Date: January 18, 2010
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Baby Blue Laces Campaign Raises Funds For Pro-Life Organizations

Baby Blue Laces Campaign Raises Funds For Pro-Life Organizations

   

Baby Blue Laces for Life is a new pro-life awareness campaign with the two-fold focus of encouraging pro-lifers to show where they stand on life issues, and to raise money for pro-life non-profit organizations and crisis pregnancy centers in financial need.

The founder of Baby Blue Laces for Life, David Pico, told LifeSiteNews.com that the campaign has quickly gained interest, exposure, and support from pro-life communities nationwide.

"By wearing shoelaces in a baby blue color with the words "Laces for Life" printed on them, pro-lifers have a soft, but highly visibly, and non-intrusive way to stand up for life," Mr. Pico explained. "Without saying a word, you can show the people with whom you come in contact each day that life is precious and worth standing up for."

"In addition to raising awareness through the laces," Mr. Pico added, "this puts the organization in a position to be able to raise proceeds as well."

"Going into 2010, Baby Blue Laces for Life looks to help fill in the gaps where donations have fallen due to economic downturn for pro-life non-profit organizations, and most importantly raise awareness for pro-life issues."

Baby Blue Laces for Life may be ordered from the organization's website here.

For more information contact:

David Pico, Director, Baby Blue Laces for Life
P.O. Box 25475
Colorado Springs, CO 80936 USA
Email: info@babybluelaces.org

Contact: Thaddeus M. Baklinski
Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Publish Date: January 18, 2010
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California Money Shifted to Adult Stem-Cell Research

California Money Shifted to Adult Stem-Cell Research
 


The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is taking money allocated for embryonic stem-cell research and putting it toward ethical adult stem-cell research.
 
The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative passed in 2004. However, after five years and $3 billion, embryonic stem-cell research still offers no cures or therapies.
 
David Prentice, senior fellow for life sciences with the Family Research Council, said life was needlessly destroyed in the process.
 
"The reality is: real therapies and treatments come from adult stem cells," he said.
 
The institute gave nearly $230 million to 14 teams in October 2009 for adult stem-cell research, according to Investors.com.
 
One group, from UCLA and Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, is using the money to attempt to cure patients with sickle-cell disease by using their own blood-forming cells.
 
Contact: Roger Greer
Source: CitizenLink
Publish Date: January 15, 2010
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The abortion tragedy, in perspective

The abortion tragedy, in perspective



ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana - Fifty million is a huge number. So significant is the number that its very presence makes a huge impact.

If you had $50 million in your bank account you would be financially free. If you live 50 million minutes you will celebrate 105 birthdays.

In similar fashion, the absence of 50 million of anything can have staggering impact. On Jan. 22, 1973 the United States Supreme Court ruled that abortion on demand was legal in the U.S. Since that day, approximately 50 million unborn children have had their lives snuffed out.

The impact of abortion in America over the past 37 years means that 50 million people were never known. This fact is incredibly significant.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor .29 percent of the total American population are medical doctors and .78 percent are nurses. Apply these percentages to the number of babies aborted in the U.S over the past 37 years and there is quite an impact.

If the percentages held true for the babies born between 1973 and 1983 (had these children been born they would now be between the ages of 27 and 37) 40,000 would now be practicing physicians -- if they hadn't been aborted.

Because nurses begin their careers earlier than doctors, if we take the children that would have been born between 1973 and 1988 (these children would now be between the ages of 22 and 37) 158,000 would have chosen nursing as a career.

Currently America is facing a serious shortage of both doctors and nurses. Some contend the situation may soon reach crisis levels. The shortage of health care workers the United States is now facing can be blamed, in part, on the fact that scores of potential doctors and nurses have been aborted since 1973.

The same statistics previously mentioned could be applied to every profession. Abortion has robbed our nation of scores of potential productive members of society.

America is currently facing critical economic issues. Cities, states and the federal government are looking at significant budget deficits. On the state and local level the reason can be traced to a decline in sales and income taxes. Federally, the issue is more complex, and a main reason is few tax dollars are being collected.

While there is no doubt that the fiscal policy of deficit spending has contributed mightily to America's economic woes, just imagine millions of more consumers and taxpayers contributing to the U.S. economy.

Of course some of the 50 million would have likely turned to crime and others would have died due to a variety of causes. However, the numbers would not be significant enough to mute the impact that could have been made had abortion not been legalized.

Some would argue that abortions would have continued even if the practice had not been legalized. Yes, illegal abortions would have continued. However, they would not have occurred at the rate of 1.2 to 1.4 million a year, which is has been the past 15 or so years. I would argue the number would have been a tiny fraction of that number.

Can you imagine the outcry from the environmental community if 50 million spotted owls had been mercilessly slaughtered over the past 37 years? How about if 50 million polar bears had been brutally destroyed? The clamor from environmental activists and their liberal friends would be deafening.

While birds and bears contribute to our world, their worth does not even compare to the infinite worth of a human being.

Fifty million is a huge number anywhere it is applied. When the number is 50 million babies that have been aborted in the past 37 years the number is not only incredibly significant, it is also tragic.

Contact: Kelly Boggs
Source: BP
Publish Date: January 15, 2010
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'Sarah's Choice' film

'Sarah's Choice' film 



NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Christian recording artist Rebecca St. James debuts as a lead actress in "Sarah's Choice," a pro-life film about a rising business executive who discovers she is expecting a baby outside of marriage.

The film, available on DVD from PureFlix Entertainment, follows Sarah as she faces pressure from coworkers who advocate aborting the baby and as she receives advice from her family to keep the child. All along, she's not sure whether she wants to marry the baby's father.

St. James said the script caught her attention because the pro-life message has become increasingly important to her over the years of speaking about sexual purity, a platform spurred by her signature pro-abstinence song "Wait For Me."

"I've spoken and sung at a lot of different crisis pregnancy center fundraisers, so I've known the need, but God really ignited my heart for the pro-life message this past year," St. James said.

She compared Sarah's Choice to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" because the main character receives three visions of what life would be like if she chose not to abort her baby. In one vision, her daughter is six weeks old; in another, 6 years old; and in the third, she is an adult with a baby of her own.

"I think the message aligns with Christian values. That's probably the first thing that comes to mind," St. James said. "I've been singing now for about 16 years, and there's an audience that I really want to honor with the projects that I take on. So I make sure that it's something that is God-honoring. That's really key for me."

One of the reasons Americans are so interested in reality television, St. James said, is that they want to watch something that seems authentic. Though she hasn't been in the same situation as Sarah, St. James said she chose to accept the script for the movie because she could relate to the pain, fear and pressure Sarah faced.

"She really does want to do the right thing. She's got different voices that are speaking into her life. She's got some people in her life saying, 'Have an abortion.' She's got her mom, who's saying, 'Don't have an abortion.' Her sister, 'Don't do it.' She's got this boyfriend who she's not sure whether he's going to flake out on her or stand by her," St. James said.

Now that the movie is available nationwide, St. James hopes believers who watch it will reach out to people in their lives who might be facing a similar decision. From what they learn in the movie, they might be able to more effectively encourage their friends to choose life, she said.

"I know many that are going to watch this that have had an abortion in their past, and there's a very strong theme of redemption and forgiveness in the film," St. James said. "One of the characters has had an abortion, and she's struggling with grieving that loss. There's one scene in the film where an abortion recovery group is writing love letters to their unborn children in heaven and naming their child and then tying that love letter to a helium balloon and letting it go as a part of their grief therapy from their abortion.

"So my friend in the film, this character that has had an abortion, she ends up doing that at the very end of the film, and it's very, very moving," she said. "So I know the people that have already seen the movie at the different screenings that we've had, we have really seen that people that have had abortions are being ministered to through it and are moved. So I think it's going to be a real catalyst for healing for those that can relate directly to that character in the film."

St. James said the film even is appropriate for older children and teenagers who are at an age where they need to learn about choices and purity.

"It's going to promote questions that I think are very healthy for Christian parents to be talking to their kids about," she said. "The culture really speaks so many lies to kids through so much of media, through so many movies and TV and through things that are spoken about at school with kids today.

"It's unbelievable to me the things that I hear that young kids are hearing about at school. So I think if parents can get in early about God's way and the beauty of His way and His protection for us and the plan that He has in the Bible, that's wonderful," she said. "I think it promotes healthy questions that are good for dialogue within the family."

Months before she even knew about the audition for Sarah's Choice, St. James found herself at a crisis pregnancy center in Los Angeles with some friends. As she got involved in ministry there, she realized a need for movies and music that could support the pro-life message.

"I saw that there's very, very little that supports the pro-life message and what these people are doing at these crisis pregnancy centers to support these young girls in having their children," St. James said. "So I decided there's such a need here, and I really felt in my heart that God was going to lead me into talking about this message."

St. James encourages people not only to watch the movie but to show it in ministry settings, because it's a "powerful, moving, heartwarming film."

"It's very human. I think you will relate to the character in her pain, in the honesty of her heart in wanting to do the right thing but feeling like she's under a lot of pressure," St. James said.

Contact: Erin Roach
Source: BP
Publish Date: January 15, 2010
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UK Mother Loses Baby After Being Given 'Abortion' Drug to Induce Labour



A leading teaching hospital is giving pregnant women an unlicensed abortion drug, Misoprostol, to induce labour despite being sued over the death of a baby. The death of Sofia Figus three days after she was born was caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain during a difficult birth. Her mother Anne Willicombe, 39, a university lecturer, was 12 days overdue when she was prescribed Misoprostol – a drug widely used in abortion clinics – to bring on contractions. Mrs Willicombe and her husband Roberto Figus are now suing the Homerton Hospital in east London for failing to monitor the baby in the womb and follow correct safety procedures which should have been put in place as a result of being given the drug. A midwife was sacked over the death.
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Pro-Life Marches In Two States: Maine, NH



CONCORD, New Hampshire - The anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion prompted weekend demonstrations in northern New England capitals. In Concord, New Hampshire Right to Life organized a demonstration that drew about 300 people to the State House on Saturday. The group included politicians, clergy, activists and families. In Maine, abortion opponents formed a human chain around the Capitol building in Augusta on Saturday to mourn the 37th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision.
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Pro-Life Protests Live on Outside Madison Surgery Center



Since news leaked one year ago that UW Hospital, its doctor group and Meriter Hospital were proposing to add abortion procedures to the surgery center, which they jointly own, opponents have kept up a near-daily presence at the site and begun measures intended to hurt the hospitals financially. Now a year later, with no abortion services yet offered, local anti-abortion activists say the issue has reinvigorated their movement, and they are taking at least partial credit for the delay.
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Pro-Lifers Take to Streets of Dallas



Opponents of abortion packed the pews and took to the streets in downtown Dallas on Saturday, marking the anniversary of the January 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. Among those turning out was Jeslene Cruz of Dallas, who brought her two sweater-clad dogs along. "I'm very pro-life," Cruz said. "I want to change the law, and I want to change our culture." Last year's crowd was estimated at 5,000, and Farrell issued a challenge then that the number be doubled this year.
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Pro-Life Rally Draws Thousands to Downtown Portland



>From opposite sides of Southwest Sixth Avenue on Sunday afternoon came opposing views of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in 1973. Under a persistent winter drizzle, about 3,000 people gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square to call for an end to abortion while approximately 125 abortion rights advocates stood across the street, chanting and shouting. For abortion foes, the rally actually began at 11 a.m. when they gathered at the site of the new headquarters for Planned Parenthood Columbia-Willamette, under construction at Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Beech Street. From there, they walked about three miles to Pioneer Courthouse Square.
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Bill Would Ban Insurance Coverage Of Abortion



ST. LOUIS - Anticipating possible federal changes in health care, state Sen. Scott Rupp, R-2nd District, of Wentzville on Tuesday filed a bill that would expand the state's health-insurance coverage ban on abortion. The bill, if passed, would prohibit any plans and policies offered through any health insurance exchange in Missouri from covering abortion. "We're not sure what kind of health care plan will come from the federal government, but this bill will make sure the citizens of Missouri will not subsidize abortions in policies offered through the health insurance exchanges currently being discussed in the pending federal health care bills," Rupp said in a prepared statement.
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Anti-Lifers Rip Latest Study - by their own people - on Abortion/Breast Cancer Link

Anti-Lifers Rip Latest Study - by their own people - on Abortion/Breast Cancer Link

As expected, pro-aborts did not take well to my WorldNetDaily.com column this week, "Top scientist finally admits abortion-breast cancer link."

In "The truth about breast cancer and abortion," RH Reality Check's managing editor Amie Newman relied heavily on one of the researchers publishing the study - to dispute the results of her own study:



According to one of the researchers and authors of the report, Kathi Malone (pictured above), "There are no new findings related to induced abortion in this paper because the results of these women were published previously."...

Dr. Brinton's co-researcher and co-author, Kathi Malone, is clear about what this and all peer-reviewed studies show thus far on the link between abortion and breast cancer: "The weight of scientific evidence to date strongly indicates that abortion doesn't increase the risk of breast cancer."...

As an aside, Louise Brinton's name is key in all this because she's the National Cancer Institute researcher who chaired the infamous 2003 panel of experts that concluded there was no abortion/breast cancer link.

Both are indeed listed as authors the study about which Newman is disputing, and importantly, Brinton identified herself with the NCI...



Newman wrote about Brinton...

But what is not true is that Dr. Louise Brinton has "changed" her position on the link between abortion and breast cancer, at least publicly, because there is no new information on this link.

So the first obvious question is, are Malone and Brinton calling the study bearing their name erroneous? (Read study pdf here. http://www.jillstanek.com/Abortion%20Breast%20Cancer%20Epid%20Bio%20Prev%202009.pdf) Are they denying these words from their own study, from the bottom of page 1160 and top of page 1161?



...and this, bottom of page 1162 and top of page 1163, from her own study?



Note this statement not only confirms that breast cancer is linked to abortion in the current study, it agrees with previous studies that came to the same conclusion.

Newman reiterated over and over that this study concluded nothing new as far as the ABC link was concerned, even quoting Malone, as I mentioned above, which leads me to wonder if Malone even read her own study. Newman wrote, for instance (italic emphasis hers)...

The only problem with reporting on this as if anything were new is that, well, nothing is new.

This paper simply took older information....

In fact, the only reason abortion was included at all was because it was a factor in the old studies....

Again, the study results released last year, on which Dr. Brinton was a researcher, do not include any new information on the overall risk of breast cancer among women who have had abortions....

[T]here is no new information....

Extremist, religious anti-choice web sites are using old data from an old study as proof of a cause and effect relationship even while the NCI and one of the study's own authors clearly state that over the course of years of research, including those old studies, overall evidence indicates no connection between the 2....

Newman is simply wrong.

Triple-negative breast cancer was only first described in published papers in 2007. It is an extremely aggressive form of breast cancer with a poor prognosis. It strikes women under 45, often African-American.

For this study researchers tested 897 saved cancerous breast tissue from 1,286 previously studied cases for triple-negative breast cancer. (See also the "Results" blurb above.) One reason? To assess "reproductive history" as it may relate...



The results concluded abortion raises the risk of triple-negative breast cancer by a ratio of 1.4, or 40%, the same as other breast cancers. This makes sense, given the etiology of breast cancer due to abortion...



A huge new finding of this study was that oral contraceptives are highly suspect as causers of triple-negative breast cancer. Newman noted in her close that this study "lay[s] the groundwork for... a possible connection between oral contraceptives and triple negative breast cancer."

This is absolutely true.

So a few questions.

Why did Newman so readily accept this study's conclusions on the contraceptive-breast cancer link but not the abortion-breast cancer link?

And where in the world has the National Cancer Institute been in the 9 months since this bombshell study was published on the contraceptive/cancer link? Is it again being held hostage by feminist ideologues?

Newman blamed "[e]xtremist, religious anti-choice web sites" as fanning the flames by broadcasting this study.

But Newman's problem isn't with us. Her problem is with the NCI, Brinton, Malone, and liberal feminists.

Contact: Jill Stanek
Source: jillstanek.com
Publish Date: January 15, 2010
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American Idol: 9th Child of 12, Daughter of Award Winning Pro-Life Blogger Advances to Next Round

American Idol: 9th Child of 12, Daughter of Award Winning Pro-Life Blogger Advances to Next Round



BOSTON, Massachusetts – Maddy Curtis, the 16-year-old daughter of an award-winning pro-life blogger, impressed American Idol judges on the show this week, who unanimously advanced her to the next round.

The opening segment featured a powerful testimony on her family of 12 children, and her brothers with Down syndrome - one biological and three adopted.

About her disabled brothers, Maddy said that, “I think some people are a little sceptical of down syndrome Those four boys bring out the best in every person they meet. They see the world in colors, and we need to see the world that way.”

The 16-year-old sang a beautiful rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'.

Click here for the video of Maddy Curtis on American Idol.

Contact: Patrick B. Craine
Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Publish Date: January 15, 2009
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Study links depression, abortion

Study links depression, abortion

 

Another study in a line of scientific reports links depression and anxiety with abortion.
 
The study was done by New Zealand pro-abortion professor David Ferguson, who, according to Anglicans for Life president Georgette Forney, looks at the data and decides that it speaks for itself.
 
"When you look at the medical history of over 500 women, they realized that abortion leads to significant distress and that some of that distress will manifest itself in mental health problems or physical problems," Forney says.
 
However, the current healthcare reform measure approved by the Senate includes government-funded abortion, which could ultimately lead to more abortions. The pro-life leader sees irony in that.
 
"For a country that is seeking to prevent mental and physical health issues, and we're watching people who are overweight now and preventing diabetes and heart problems, here we are on the other side of it -- [and] because it's the issue of abortion, we can't touch it and it's okay that we're going to create additional health problems for women," the Anglicans for Life president contends.
 
The Silent No More Awareness campaign is trying to educate women about the health problems that accompany abortion and provide referrals for assistance. Forney adds that is because the pro-abortion groups refuse to recognize the harm and to help people deal with it.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: January 15, 2010
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A March to Strike Abortion from Health Care

A March to Strike Abortion from Health Care



The annual March for Life event will focus on the Democrats' health care proposal, which includes federal funding of abortion.

More than 100,000 people are expected to gather in Washington, D.C., for the 37th annual March for Life rally on Jan. 22.
 
One primary message: no abortion funding in health care.
 
The pro-life march will follow Constitution Avenue, up Capitol Hill to the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress.
 
Kristan Hawkins, executive director of Students for Life, said this is a critical time in our nation's history, with Congress on the brink of passing a health care reform bill that would fund the destruction of human life.

"We are asking pro-life groups to unite around one clear simple message, 'No abortion in health care,'" she said. "We're asking all pro-lifers to make the sacrifice and come to Washington, D.C., next Friday, for the annual pro-life march."

She expects the media to pay special attention.

"Because abortion has been a key issue," she said." It's the single issue that's holding up the passage of health care reform in the Democratic-controlled Congress."

Contact: Nima Reza
Source: CitizenLink
Publish Date: January 14, 2010
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Restoring Function after Stroke with Adult Stem Cells

Restoring Function after Stroke with Adult Stem Cells



A new study indicates that function can be restored long after stroke damage by stimulating adult stem cells in the brain. Scientists at UC-Irvine found that a natural growth factor called Transforming Growth Factor-alpha (TGFα) stimulates adult stem cells in the affected brain to divide, migrate through the brain, and repair the damage. Using a rat model for stroke, they injected the TGFα protein directly into the brain as much as 4 weeks after the stroke damage, and found 99% recovery. Darius Gleason, a graduate student who worked on the study, said:

“It’s becoming more and more clear that the brain is like any other organ: It has a lot of potential to regenerate. We are just emulating nature by giving a little nudge to what the brain is trying to do itself.”

In a new study just published, the group has shown that even nasal administration of TGFα can give significant recovery (70%). This non-invasive route could have great therapeutic application. Previously, German researchers showed nasal administration of adult stem cells was an effective delivery method. This new study shows that using only the stimulatory protein can also be very effective at stimulating the existing adult stem cells already present in the brain.

A clinical trial is currently under way in Houston that injects the stroke patient’s bone marrow adult stem cells into the circulatory system; the cells seem to migrate to the injured brain and stimulate repair. Early results from this trial are very promising for stroke treatment.

Contact: David Prentice
Source: FRCBlog
Publish Date: January 15, 2010
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EWTN promises ‘most complete coverage’ of March for Life events
 


Irondale, Alabama - The Eternal Word Television Network says it will offer the “most complete coverage available” for the 2010 March for Life in Washington, D.C. and for the Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco. Coverage includes Masses, marches, rallies, interviews, panel discussions and speeches from pro-life speakers around the country.

Many of the events will also be broadcast on the internet.  More to come.
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Anti-Lifers Fear 'A Fair Trial' for Scott Roeder may Spur Abortion violence



WICHITA, Kansas - A judge's decision to allow a confessed killer to argue that he believes the slaying of one of the nation's few [sic] late-term abortion providers was a justified act aimed at saving unborn children has upended what most expected to be an open-and-shut first-degree murder case. Prosecutors have challenged the ruling that allows Scott Roeder to tell a jury that the fatal shooting of Wichita doctor George Tiller was voluntary manslaughter. Some abortion opponents were pleasantly stunned and eager to watch Roeder plead his case. Tiller's colleagues and abortion advocates were outraged and feared the court's actions give more than tacit approval to further acts of violence.
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Teenager Dies from Embolism Caused by Contraceptive



The Swiss Federation of Service to Patients (Patientenstellen der Schweiz) has called for a ban on one type of contraceptive pill after it was linked to the death of a 17-year-old German girl in a Swiss hospital last month. The girl, who died at the University Hospital of Basel, was taking a pill that includes drospirenone, a synthetic progestin compound used in newer brands such as Yaz, Yasmin and Yasminelle. This was the third grave incident reported in Switzerland this year involving such contraceptives. In each case, the woman suffered a pulmonary embolism.
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Hillary Seeks 'Murder by Abortion' as 'Basic Right'



In Washington last week, United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States would engage in a massive funding push over the next five years to promote “reproductive health care and family planning” as a “basic right” around the word. Clinton has previously stated for the record that this includes abortion. The plan includes potentially siphoning off funds currently directed towards fighting HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis and malaria. Commemorating the fifteenth anniversary of the controversial International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Clinton said there were only five years left to achieve ICPD’s goal that “all governments will make access to reproductive healthcare and family planning services a basic right.”
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Abortion becomes issue in Massachusetts race for U.S. Senate



Boston, Massachusetts - Abortion has become a live issue in the Jan. 19 special U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts. While both candidates generally support permissive abortion law, controversy has centered upon pro-life conscience protections, partial-birth abortion and the place of abortion in the health care bill.

State Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican, is running against Democrat Martha Coakley, the state Attorney General.

According to Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Brown opposes taxpayer funding for abortion and the so-called Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). Unlike Brown, Coakley opposes a ban on partial birth abortion, parental consent requirements for minors seeking abortions, and favors taxpayer funding for abortion.

While Brown supports specifically exempting abortion from health care, Coakley opposes it.
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Illinois Federation for Right to Life

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Phone: 618-466-4122

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