Healthcare redo in the works

Healthcare redo in the works



A congressional analyst believes Democrats will even have a difficult time passing a watered-down version of their healthcare bill.
 
Confronted with the reality that they lack the votes necessary to pass their desired version of healthcare reform, Democrats are now deciding how they can scale back the legislation so it can win congressional approval.
 
Dan Holler, deputy director for Senate relations at The Heritage Foundation, gives an idea of what a smaller Democratic healthcare bill might entail.
 
"What they're talking about right now are some insurance market reforms, some things to help small businesses, closing the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage...and bumping up how long children -- I guess you can call them children -- but keeping dependents up to 26-years-old on their parents' coverage," he explains.
 
He also notes that Democrats are forced to scrap major tenets of their original bill.
 
"The individual mandate, the employer mandate, the public option, the OPM-run plan, the national or state exchanges -- a lot of the big picture stuff is being thrown aside because they just can't move it through [because] they found it to be too unpopular," Holler reports.  "But, all of that said, what they're proposing is still going to be very hard to do."
 
The analyst says if Congress jettisons the individual mandate, there will be no insurance industry support for the reforms that were tied to that mandate.  That scenario, he predicts, will render the bill "unworkable."

Limited overhaul
Appearing on CBS's The Early Show today, former Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean says he still thinks Democrats can get a scaled-back health care bill through Congress. But Dean also said he doubts Republicans will work with Democrats on a compromise measure -- even one far more modest and less costly than versions passed by the House and Senate.

The former Vermont governor said he believes Republicans concluded "they can benefit" politically from resisting President Barack Obama's ambitious health overhaul. But he also said the American people want changes in the system, saying "they didn't want something that was written by the insurance industry."

Contact: Jim Brown
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: January 22, 2010
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Eugenics - the evil root of abortio

Eugenics - the evil root of abortion



A documentary and expose' on the abortion business has caught the attention of some members of Congress.
 
The documentary, Maafa 21, traces the history of Planned Parenthood to its founder, Margaret Sanger, who believed in eugenics -- controlling and eliminating certain population groups, especially including minorities such as African-Americans. Mark Crutcher of Life Dynamics produced the film. He says the project has proven itself effective after having been shown and discussed by a number of churches and media outlets.
 
"We're seeing committed people who are on the pro-choice side coming over saying, 'This thing has totally, completely turned me around on the abortion issue. I never knew any of this stuff was going on. I never knew anything about this eugenics and black genocide aspect of abortion,'" explains Crutcher.
 
The documentary has been shown to members of Congress and their staff twice, and it has made an impact as the producer says the film flies in the face of the argument that a woman has a right to do what she wants with her body.
 
"Every day in this battle we hear them say, 'Well, this issue is not really abortion. The issue is do we trust women in privacy and reproductive freedom' -- and all that nonsense. [But] what you quickly see when you study this is that's just marketing hype," Crutcher comments. "The reality is that abortion is about eugenics and black genocide."
 
He adds that an irrefutable argument for that is made in the documentary, Maafa 21.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: January 22, 2010
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Supreme Court Loosens Restrictions on Campaign Ads

Supreme Court Loosens Restrictions on Campaign Ads
 


Ruling allows advocacy organizations to spend money endorsing or opposing candidates in the days preceding an election.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that corporations may use money from general funds for campaign ads.

For the past two decades under federal laws like the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill, right-to-life organizations, pro-marriage groups and even unions and corporations were prohibited from airing political ads mentioning candidates within 60 days of an election.

James Bopp, an attorney with Bopp, Coleson and Bostrom, said the ruling is a First Amendment victory.

"(People) are not going to be discriminated against when they come together in a group to advocate their issues," he said.  "Rather than having to form shadowy groups in order to do this sort of activity, they can just forthrightly do it themselves."

The justices voted 5-4 to overturn some of the restrictions.  In his opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy explained that the laws placed an undue burden on those taking part in the political process.

"The First Amendment does not permit laws that force speakers to retain a campaign finance attorney, conduct demographic marketing research, or seek declaratory rulings," he said, "before discussing the most salient political issues of our day."

The decision does not affect the ban on direct contributions to candidates by corporations and unions.

Tim Goeglein, vice president of external relations for Focus on the Family Action, said the pro-family movement will benefit.

"Organizations like Focus on the Family Action, the family policy councils, all of our allies," he said, "this will give us an incredible voice in the great issues of our time."

Contact: Steve Jordahl
Source: CitizenLink
Publish Date: January 21, 2010
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On 37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Poll Finds Majority of Americans, and Nearly 6 in 10 Young Adults, Say Abortion 'Morally Wrong'

On 37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Poll Finds Majority of Americans, and Nearly 6 in 10 Young Adults, Say Abortion 'Morally Wrong'

New survey shows 56% of all Americans and 58% of those 18-29 years old say abortion 'morally wrong'



On the eve of the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion throughout the United States, a new survey shows a strong majority of Americans believe abortion to be "morally wrong."

"Millennials" (those 18-29) consider abortion to be "morally wrong" even more (58%) than Baby Boomers (those 45-64) (51%). Generation X (those 30-44) are similar to Millennials (60% see abortion as "morally wrong"). More than 6 in 10 of the Greatest Generation (those 65+) feel the same.

The most recent Knights of Columbus -- Marist survey -- conducted in late December and early January -- is the latest in a series of such surveys commissioned by the Knights of Columbus and conducted by Marist Institute for Public Opinion. In October of 2008 and July of 2009, the survey has been tracking an increasing trend toward the pro-life position -- a trend confirmed by Gallup and Pew surveys in mid-2009. K of C -- Marist surveys are available online at www.kofc.org/moralcompass.

"Americans of all ages -- and younger people in even greater numbers than their parents -- see abortion as something morally wrong," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "America has turned a corner and is embracing life -- and in doing so is embracing a future they -- and all of us -- can be proud of."

He added: "Advances in technology show clearly -- and ever more clearly -- that an unborn child is completely a human being. That, coupled with the large number of Americans who know one of the many people who has been negatively affected by abortion are certainly two of the reasons that Americans are increasingly uncomfortable with Roe v. Wade's legacy of abortion, and with abortion generally. The majority of Americans now understand that abortion has consequences, and that those consequences are not good."

The question on abortion was part of a larger survey, which will be released in the next several days.

This report presents the findings from a survey of 2,243 Americans -- including an oversample of 1,006 Millennials. Reports for Americans have a margin of error of +/-2% and for Millennials it is +/-3%. Data were collected from December 23, 2009 through January 4, 2010 using an online, probability-based panel from Knowledge Networks, Inc. Additional information is available at www.kofc.org. Data on the polls commissioned by the Knights of Columbus are available at www.kofc.org/moralcompass.

Contact: Andrew Walther, Pat Korten
Source: Knights of Columbus
Publish Date: January 22, 2010
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A Choice for Life

A Choice for Life



Sixteen years ago my best friend made a decision that changed her life. At twenty *Jean was single, popular, and enjoying the college life while working part time at a law office. She had a boyfriend but nothing serious. She was too smart to get tied down so young. Her sights were set on law school.

Everyone loved Jean, and things seemed to be going according to plan until one morning when everything came crashing down.

Jean had discovered that she was pregnant.

Not wanting to be burdened by an unwanted pregnancy Jean wasted no time planning for an abortion. "At that moment I knew my life was going to change, but it wasn't the change I wanted. I so wanted to be free. I didn't feel like I had an option other than abortion," she shared.

It wasn't much later that my friend walked into what she thought was an abortion clinic. She had readied herself for the appointment having disconnected herself from the fetus within her. A pregnancy didn't have to mean a baby.

As Jean entered the Pregnancy Crisis Center a kind woman met her and listened to her story. The woman soon learned that my friend had entered the center by accident. Jean was terrified. The resolve that she had mustered to enter what she thought was an abortion clinic was disintegrating. The counselor asked Jean if she would like to stay anyway. Jean agreed.

Jean relates her encounter and subsequent emotions:

The counselor was patient and answered my questions. She shared information about the development of the baby. I hadn't allowed myself to think of it as a baby. When I came to terms with the reality that there was a person inside of me, I wondered, "How can I destroy a life?" I just knew I couldn't. That is when everything really changed. I didn't know if I should get married, or if the father would even marry me. I was so confused and selfish. I thought terrible things like, "Maybe, if I could just lose this baby. Then I'd be free." And I knew this meant I had to stop drinking. Even though I didn't know what the future held I made the decision to keep my baby.

I asked Jean how she feels about her decision now – sixteen years later. "I have a beautiful, fifteen-year-old daughter. She is wonderful. It is only by God's grace that I walked into the wrong place so many years ago," she smiled. "I didn't find the answers all at once, but I did find hope, and I want others to discover that hope. I had no idea that there were people praying for me a 'wild child!' And I thank God every day."

I thank God as well for Jean's bravery to face the unknown embracing the life that God created, and for her desire to reach out to young women faced with the same challenges she has endured since that life-altering day.

Abortion is one of the most polarizing words in our vocabulary, and today marks the 37th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Many still celebrate this landmark case as a victory for women's rights, but I see no victory for women here. I mourn this day as we count nearly 50 million lives lost to abortion legally in the United States alone. I mourn the women whose arms are empty or lightened due to our ignorance. The fallout from the taking of these lives along with legislation enacted as a result affects so many more.

May we choose to celebrate life and be gentle and loving toward those affected by this tragedy, and may God have mercy on us all.

Contact: JP Murie
Source: Caffeinated Thoughts
Publish Date: January 22, 2010
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Scottish Bill Would Allow Active Euthanasia by Non Doctor

Scottish Bill Would Allow Active Euthanasia by Non Doctor



The new Scotland Parliament bill to legalize assisted suicide–which I noted in an earlier post, permits disabled or dying teenagers access to "end of life assistance"–clearly includes active mercy killing.  From the bill (no link, my emphasis):

1. Lawful to provide assistance under this Act(1) It is not a criminal offence or a delict for a person (a) to provide end of life assistance in accordance with this Act; or (b) to provide assistance, including assistance by participating in any step required by this Act, to enable another person to obtain or provide end of life assistance in accordance with this Act.
(2) In this Act "end of life assistance" means assistance, including the provision or administration of appropriate means, to enable a person to die with dignity and a minimum of distress….

11. Requirements relating to the actual provision of assistance (1) The end of life assistance must, so far as reasonably practicable, be provided in accordance with the agreement between the requesting person and the designated practitioner.

Note that since the method of killing isn't specified or limited, it would seem that any method agreed upon by the suicidal person and the killing actor would be legal, theoretically including being shot in the head, so long as it  "allowed a person to die with dignity," which is in the eye of the dying person, it would seem, and caused "a minimum of distress," which a bullet to the head would provide. Most wouldn't want to be shot, of course, but these days, who knows?

And it is very clear that the actual suicide assister/killer need not be the patient's physician or, for that matter, even a health care practioner:

10 Agreement on provision of assistance (1) Where the second formal request is approved, and before end of life assistance can be provided, the requesting person and the designated practitioner must agree (a) that end of life assistance is to be provided; (b) who is to provide the end of life assistance; (c) on the place where that assistance is to be provided; and (d) on the means by which that assistance is to be provided.

While Secton 11 (6) requires the doctor to be present, he/she clearly need not do the deed.

So, in summary: Under the bill, qualified teenagers can be killed without regard to parental approval, doctors need to OK the euthanasia/assisted suicide but need not perform the act–demonstrating yet again, that euthanasia is not a medical act–and any swift method of killing is okay so long as it is done in private.  Good grief!

Contact: Wesley J. Smith
Source: Secondhand Smoke
Publish Date: January 22, 2010
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NEWS SHORTS FOR FRIDAY

NEWS SHORTS FOR FRIDAY
(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.)

Roeder Jury Selected; Trial to Begin Today on The Anniversary of Roe V. Wade



Opening statements in Scott Roeder's first-degree murder trial are scheduled to begin Friday following six days of jury selection. Most of the juror questioning occurred behind closed doors, with a final session open to some reporters today, and a jury panel of 14 was seated Thursday afternoon. Roeder, 51, of Kansas City, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller, one of a handful of doctors in the country who performed late-term abortions.
Click here for the full article.


Terri Schiavo's Brother Says the Press Is Still Lying About His Sister



It's been nearly five years since his sister, Terri Schindler Schiavo, was starved and dehydrated to death, and Bobby Schindler says the mainstream press is still "telling lies" about her.
 
"It's still being misreported by the mainstream media," Schindler told CNSNews.com Thursday. "There's things that are being said that were simply not true."

"They refer to Terri as being brain dead," Schindler said of news accounts. "I see that all the time, and it simply is not true. They say that she was on artificial life support, without explaining to people what artificial life support means. There's this perception out there that Terri was on a machine – that people like Terri need machines to keep them alive. And it simply is not true."
Click here for the full article.


Contraceptives delivery by 11-year-olds is 'dangerous prescription,' critics warn



A Planned Parenthood partner in Ecuador is using youth as young as 11 to deliver the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera as part of a "peer-to-peer" model. Critics said it was a "dangerous" program that undermined parental authority, corrupted youth and would be illegal in the United States.

Veena Siddharth, the vice president for international programs for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and Dee Redwine, PPFA Latin America regional director, wrote about the program in a Dec. 15 article in Global Health Magazine. Planned Parenthood operates the program through a partnership with the Ecuadoran group, Centro Medico de Orientacion y Planificacion Familiar (CEMOPLAF).
Click here for the full article.


Care Net on Roe Anniversary: Pregnancy Centers Flourish Yet Endure Numerous State Attacks

On the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, Care Net President Melinda Delahoyde said the pro-life pregnancy center movement is flourishing and contributing to the growing culture of life across the nation. Yet, because of the movement's effectiveness, abortion advocacy groups are mounting an increasing number of attacks in state and local governments across the country, she said. "The compassionate outreach of pregnancy centers is infectious and our movement is growing," Delahoyde said. "Yet these numerous attacks on pregnancy centers call for a new level of support and partnership to defend their critical work."
Click here for the full article.


Low-Dose Birth Control Pills Decrease Bone Density in Young Women



A new study showing a link between long-term use of oral contraceptives and a decrease in bone density in women under the age of 30 has found that the modern low-dose forms of estrogen pills have the greatest risk of harming a woman's bone density.

The study, published in the January issue of Contraception Journal, measured bone mineral density (BMD) of the hip, spine, and whole body to analyze how both the duration of taking the contraceptive pill and the estrogen dose affected bone density in young women.
Click here for the full article.


Why is National Cancer Institute Covering up Link?: Abortion Breast Cancer Coalition Letter to Congress



The US National Cancer Institute (NIC) has again denied the link between abortion and breast cancer to a Globe and Mail reporter, despite one of their leading researchers being named as co-author on a study that admitted up to a 40 per cent increased risk of breast cancer associated with induced abortion.

In 2003, Louise Brinton, NCI's chief of the Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology branch, was an organizer of the NCI workshop in 2003 that told women it is "well established" that "abortion is not associated with increased breast cancer risk." Then, in 2009, Brinton was co-author of study, published in April last year by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, in which she admitted that abortion raises breast cancer risk.
Click here for the full article.

Researcher: Abortion is $38.5 Trillion Drag on the Economy

Researcher: Abortion is $38.5 Trillion Drag on the Economy

  

In its latest estimate on the economic impact of abortion, the Movement for a Better America is reporting that the abortion toll is projected to climb to a new high of 52,333,000 as of January 22, 2010, the 37th anniversary of Roe V. Wade.

The group also estimated that the economic impact has risen to $38.5 trillion in lost U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since 1970.

"This year alone, the impact involved another $2.45 trillion, or roughly equal to half the GDP of Germany and France combined," said the Movement in a press release.

MBA President Dennis Howard, who has been researching the economic impact of abortion since 1992, said, "The number of lives lost to surgical abortion has reached 17% of the total U.S. population of 307,000,000.  So it's not surprising that this year's increase is equal to 17% of U.S. GDP."

The estimates are based on average GDP per year since 1970 after abortion became legal in our largest states and the cumulative number of abortions.

The estimates do not include babies lost to abortifacients and contraception because of the lack of public data. Said Howard: "However, the economic impact of these is similar to abortion. My guess is they would double the impact based on abortion alone."

Howard has been warning since the mid-1990's that the US faced a major financial crisis based on ongoing demographic trends.  In 1997, he wrote: "I see little hope that we can avoid an eventual crash on Wall Street that will make the 1930's looking like cashing in your cards after a bad game of Monopoly."

He even gave percentages as to when a crash would occur. He wrote then: "I'd give it a 50% chance of happening by the year 2000, an 80% chance by the year 2010, and a 100% chance of happening by 2020."

Howard cited the collapse of the former Soviet Union as an example of the impact of demographics on economies. "The main reason for their collapse was internal – 300 abortions for every 100 live births for decades ... Right now, there are not enough younger women to reverse their population decline. They could lose another 40 million people by 2050."

"Meanwhile," he said, "the Muslim world is going in the other direction – with rates of natural increase 5 to 6 times higher than ours. They will own the second half of this Century unless we reverse course."

Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Publish Date: January 20, 2010
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Governors Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee Join Virtual March for Life

Governors Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee Join Virtual March for Life



Hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to attend tomorrow's National March for Life, which takes place annually on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Americans United for Life Action, in an effort to bolster the real March for Life, launched the first-ever Virtual March for Life www.virtualmarchforlife.com earlier this week. This innovative online campaign allows people to create an avatar of themselves and "march" online. The Virtual March for Life currently boasts 45,000 Americans and is growing by the minute. As part of this effort, the Virtual March for Life is featuring prominent leaders who are lending their support to the cause.

"The healthcare bill as currently written will unravel long-standing federal policy by allowing public funds to be used for abortion. Because of the magnitude of this threat, this year's national March for Life will be the most important in history. We created the Virtual March for Life to encourage people to be here tomorrow and to give voice to countless Americans who can't be in Washington but wish they could. We are encouraging everyone to click and be heard," said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life Action.

This list now includes:

• Governor Sarah Palin

• Governor Mike Huckabee

• Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family

• Tony Perkins, Family Research Council

• Sen. Jim DeMint

• Rep. John Boehner

• Rep. Mike Pence

• Rep. Eric Cantor

• Rep. Tom Price

• Marco Rubio, U.S. Senate candidate in Florida

• Erick Erickson, RedState.com

To view updates of more leaders joining the march, click here.

AUL Action's President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest is available to discuss the Virtual March for Life's mobilization of pro-life activists across the nation this week and the abortion provisions in the health care bill.

• Visit Virtual March for Life's website.

• Check out AUL Action's video about the Virtual March for Life.

• Follow the Virtual March for Life on Twitter. Marchers can live-tweet using the hashtag #March4Life.

• Go to Virtual March for Life's Facebook fan page.

Contact: Heather Smith
Source: Virtual March for Life
Publish Date: January 21, 2010
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Non Terminal

Non Terminal



A very telling bill has been tabled in the Scottish Parliament to legalize assisted suicide. Notably, it is not restricted to the terminally ill–but allows people who can't live independently to receive poison pills. Also, the age limit is only 16.  From the End of Life Assistance Bill (no link):

Eligibility requirements(1) A person may make a formal request for end of life assistance under this Act only if the person
(a) is 16 years of age or over at the time of making the first formal request;
(b) has been registered with a medical practice in Scotland for a continuous period of at least 18 months immediately prior to making that request; and
(c) satisfies the requirements of subsection (2).

(2) The requirements of this subsection are that the requesting person
(a) has been diagnosed as terminally ill and finds life intolerable; or
(b) is permanently physically incapacitated to such an extent as not to be able to live independently and finds life intolerable.

Imagine the potential for abuse, coercion, and abandonment.

Anyone who says the assisted suicide agenda is merely a "limited safety valve" when nothing else can be done to alleviate suffering is really not paying attention.

Contact: Wesley J. Smith
Source: Secondhand Smoke
Publish Date: January 21, 2010
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License Revoked, but Abortion Clinic Continues Operations

License Revoked, but Abortion Clinic Continues Operations



The Gentilly Medical Clinic for Women in New Orleans, Louisiana, is still taking appointments for abortions and seeing abortion patients even though it has had its operating license revoked by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals this week, reports Operation Rescue.

The clinic was charged with violating laws requiring that abortion clinics have a licensed nurse on staff, and that they have proper state and federal licensing for controlled substances.

Abortionist Ifeanyi Charles Anthony Okpalobi (pronounced ok-PAH-luh-bee), a Nigerian national, was warned repeatedly that his clinic was not in compliance with the law. He has 30 days in which to appeal the decision during which time he can remain open for business under Louisiana law. The appellate process could take up to six months.

Operation Rescue investigators have confirmed today that the Gentilly Medical Clinic for Women is open and taking patients.

"It is appalling to think that Okpalobi could continue to endanger women even though his clinic license has been revoked," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "Okpalobi was told several times to comply with the law has he did not do it. When abortionists take the attitude, which Okpalobi appears to have taken, that he is above the law, that creates a dangerous situation for women who are not aware that his abortion mill does not meet legal standards put in place for their protection."

"When one has a driver's license revoked, that is it. The person cannot drive in the interest of public safety. We should take the safety of women as seriously. We demand that the State of Louisiana act to immediately close the Gentilly Medical Clinic for Women in order to protect women from this scofflaw abortionist," said Newman.

"We urge anyone with additional information about Okpalobi's abortion clinic abuses to come forward and participate in the Abortion Whistleblowers program. They may earn a reward of $10,000 for information leading his the arrest and conviction," said Newman.

Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Publish Date: January 20, 2010
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Babies Go to Congress

Babies Go to Congress



Heartbeat International, an association of more than 1100 pregnancy help centers, is providing an opportunity for women served by these centers to bring their babies to Capitol Hill. These moms, accompanied by their babies, will meet with Members of Congress on January 21, 2010 to express their gratitude for the life-saving work of pregnancy help centers.

Our elected representatives need to know that pregnancy resource centers exist in most of their districts. These help centers are serving communities by uniting thousands of compassionate individuals with a passion for life, who also fund the community-based centers and serve as volunteers, to provide the emotional and practical help women facing unexpected pregnancies need. This network, including doctors, lawyers, nurses, social workers, educators and other professionals, provides the vital information women need to make an informed decision, the facts that abortion providers often leave out. As Peggy Hartshorn, President of Heartbeat International, stated, "Alternatives to abortion must be available so no woman ever feels forced to abort her baby."

Moms and babies saved by pregnancy help centers want to send the clear message that pregnancy resource centers (PRC) are good for America. You can find out more about the untold story and impact of the PRC movement, and the tremendous good being done in our midst, at www.apassiontoserve.org. A combined services report, A Passion to Serve, A Vision for Life, records the development and vital work of the three major pregnancy resource network groups—Heartbeat, CareNet and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA). If you are interested in locating a pregnancy resource center, you can access http://www.optionline.org.

Contact: Sherry Crater
Source: FRCBlog
Publish Date: January 20, 2010
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Planned Parenthood Uses Teens to Distribute Injectable Birth Control in Rural Ecuador

Planned Parenthood Uses Teens to Distribute Injectable Birth Control in Rural Ecuador



Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) has launched a program in rural Ecuador that uses people ages 11 to 19 to deliver the hormone injection Depo-Provera, a birth control method that prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries.
 
In a Dec. 15 article in Global Health Magazine about the program, Veena Siddharth, vice president for international programs for PPFA, and Dee Redwine, PPFA Latin America regional director, wrote about the "peer-to-peer" model that Planned Parenthood operates through a partnership with the Ecuadoran group, Centro Medico de Orientacion y Planificacion Familiar, or CEMOPLAF.
 
"What if I told you that Juan, a community health care worker in rural Ecuador, is providing injectable contraceptives outside the clinic setting to indigenous community members?" the article begins. "What if I told you that Juan is actually a 15-year-old and the clients he's reaching are also youth?"
 
The article goes on the say that Juan is one of about 30 young people, ages 11 to 19, who receive training, including "introduction to injections in general, training in Depo Provera in particular" and bio-safety procedures. The teens also hand out other contraceptives, including birth control pills and condoms.
 
The article states that the program reaches the most hard to reach indigenous people because "for the first-time user, it's less invasive than other long-acting methods."
 
"Add to that confidentiality (no pill pack laying around), the accessibility (outside clinic walls), and the convenience (a promoter comes to you every 12 weeks.)," the article states.
 
It is unclear from Planned Parenthood's latest report if any of the $349.6 million it receives from the federal government – which is prevented by law to fund abortion but can be used for other family planning expenses – is part of the $6.9 million the organization reports using for its "International Family Planning Programs" for the fiscal year 2007-2008.
 
Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute, a non-profit group that advocates against population control through abortion and other means, called the program "dangerous."
 
"We know Ecuador has a left-wing government," Mosher told CNSNews.com, "but to allow this kind of program to go forward, I mean, just think of the emotional and the medical consequences of allowing teenagers – you can't even get teenagers to make up their bed – and you are going to allow them to go out and inject their peers with a powerful, steroid-based drug without a medical examination, without awareness of any counter indication of taking the drug?
 
"This is a dangerous prescription for young people in Ecuador," Mosher said.
 
Calls to Pfizer, the American pharmaceutical company that manufacturers Depo-Provera, were not returned, but its Web site contains many warnings about the drug, including one for physicians who prescribe the drug.
 
"Women who use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection may lose significant bone mineral density," the warning states. "Bone loss is greater with increasing duration of use and may not be completely reversible.
 
"It is unknown if use of Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection during adolescence or early adulthood, a critical period of bone accretion, will reduce peak bone mass and increase the risk of osteoporotic facture in later life," the warning continues.
 
CNSNews.com tried repeatedly by phone and by e-mail to ask Planned Parenthood questions about the program in Ecuador, including 1) how the program is funded; 2) who trains the teens to provide injections; 3) how the women who are given the contraceptive are selected; 4) if parental notice is required in Ecuador; and 5) whether teens treated outside the clinic receive medical supervision.
 
Planned Parenthood did not respond to CNSNews.com's requests.
 
Jim Sedlak, vice president of the American Life League, a pro-life advocacy group, said there is a reason why Planned Parenthood operates such programs outside of the United States.
 
"It's absolutely outrageous and, of course, this would be totally illegal here in the United States," Sedlak told CNSNews.com, adding that the medical aspect is not the only reason the program is objectionable.
 
"It is an assault on parental authority," Sedlak said. "Certainly, Planned Parenthood has used these peer-to-peer programs frequently all over the United States, but they've carried it to a horrible extreme in Ecuador where they have 15-year-old kids going out and giving birth control shots to other 13-, 14-, 15-year-old kids."
 
Mosher said that contraceptive injections do not protect young people from sexually transmitted diseases and can actually encourage them to become sexually active.
 
"It encourages risky sexual behavior, absolutely," Mosher said.
 
The article by the Planned Parenthood staff said the organization plans to expand the program in Ecuador over the next two years.

Contact: Penny Starr
Source: CNSNews.com
Publish Date: January 21, 2010
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NEWS SHORTS FOR THURSDAY

NEWS SHORTS FOR THURSDAY
(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.)

Supreme Court rolls back campaign spending limits



The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that corporations may spend as freely as they like to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on business efforts to influence federal campaigns.
 
By a 5-4 vote, the court overturned a 20-year-old ruling that said companies can be prohibited from using money from their general treasuries to produce and run their own campaign ads. The decision, which almost certainly will also allow labor unions to participate more freely in campaigns, threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states.
 
It leaves in place a prohibition on direct contributions to candidates from corporations and unions.
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House lacks votes to OK Senate health bill



Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she lacks the votes to push the Senate's sweeping health overhaul bill through the House, a potentially devastating blow to President Barack Obama's signature issue.
 
The California Democrat made the comment to reporters Thursday after House Democrats held a closed-door meeting at which participants vented frustration with the massive version of the legislation.

Pelosi said, "In its present form without any changes, I don't think it's possible to pass the Senate bill in the House....I don't see the votes for it at this time." (Watch related video report)
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Obamacare: Rationing Against Prematurely Born Babies



It's funny: The more some Obamacare supporters deny that it would lead to health care rationing, the more it is advocated among the bioethics set and in the Medical Intelligentsia. Now, there is an explicit call to deny very early premature babies life-sustaining treatment because of the cost.  From a letter to the editor published originally in the Journal of Medical Ethics:

Rationing and providing only comfort care should be considered not just at the end of life for adults, Freeman maintains, but also in instances of extremely premature births. He cites studies showing that intensive care for infants born at 22-23 weeks resulted in more than 1,700 extra days in intensive care, with less than 20 percent surviving. Of those 20 percent, less than 3 percent survived without profound impairment that required expensive interventions.

That might fly in some places, but not in America.
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Filling Gaps in Bones with Adult Stem Cells



A new study shows that adult stem cells encased in a spongy matrix can be used to fill in large gaps in bones, providing a potential alternative to bone grafts. Georgia Tech researchers tested the method in rats with large bone gaps, to simulate massive injuries. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal adult stem cells or amniotic fluid stem cells were tested. Eight weeks after the treatment, new bone bridged the gaps in four of nine defects treated with scaffolds seeded with adult stem cells, one of nine defects in the amniotic stem cell group, and none of the defects in rats treated with the scaffold alone.
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Adult Stem Cells Save Legs



A number of different reports have shown that adult stem cells can save limbs that might otherwise have been amputated. The most recent results, published in Bone Marrow Transplantation, reported salvage of legs in seven out of nine patients treated with their own peripheral blood adult stem cells. The paper also gives a nice summary of some of the previous clinical trials in this area.

Critical limb ischemia, the severe loss of oxygen to extremities, is an end-stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD). often results in amputation of the affected limb, and can be life-threatening.
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35,000 Pro Lifers in San Francisco This Saturday



A woman who walked away from her job as a clinic director at Planned Parenthood clinic and a UCLA student who leads a group intent on exposing abuses in the abortion industry will speak at the 6th Annual Walk for Life West Coast Saturday, January 23rd in San Francisco.

More than 35,000 people from colleges, high schools and churches from as far away as Denver and Texas will rally at 11 AM, Saturday, January 23rd, and walk 2 miles across San Francisco, through Fisherman's Wharf ending at Marina Green in sight of the Golden Gate Bridge.
here for the full article.

Heed the People, Mr. President

Heed the People, Mr. President

An unknown Republican–who explicitly ran against Obamacare–has won in Massachusetts! This is a hard blow for Obamacare, and an opportunity. The people want reform. I do. But they don't want Hillarycare, squared. They don't want centralized control with its prospects for rationing. They don't want the debt. They loathe the back room deals.

REPUBLICAN VICTORY DEALS MAJOR BLOW TO OBAMA HEALTH CARE BILL

BOSTON, Massachusetts -- Republicans have won a stunning upset in Massachusetts' Senate election, dealing a potentially fatal blow to US President Barack Obama's health care reforms. Republican Scott Brown pulled off the surprise victory on Tuesday, capturing the late Democrat icon Edward Kennedy's seat in a stern rebuke of Obama exactly a year after he swept into office. With more than 80 percent of the vote in, Brown had an invincible lead of five percent over his Democratic rival Martha Coakley, CNN and MSNBC reported. Coakley originally expected a cakewalk in a historically left-leaning state, but Brown's populist challenge to Democrat rule in Washington turned the race into an unstoppable insurgency. Click here for more...

In other news....

As you may have heard, Haiti has had another earthquake, this time registering as a 6.0.  This one took place near the capital.  Many organizations are helping with this devistation, and so is planned parenthood - but is it really help?

Capitalizing on the compassion of developed nations towards Haiti following the disastrous 7.0 scale earthquake last Tuesday, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has launched a fundraising appeal in order to further their aims in the devastated pro-life nation.

Within a day of the disaster, IPPF had sent out an appeal letter, seeking "urgent" support for their Haitian affiliate PROFAMIL.

IPPF, the world's largest abortion provider, claims that funds are needed in order to restore "basic medical services" at the PROFAMIL clinics.  According to their letter, PROFAMIL has operated since 1984, providing "low-cost, quality sexual and reproductive healthcare."

"Planned Parenthood, true to form, is using the disaster and the suffering in Haiti to raise money to perpetuate itself in its ongoing attack on decency, morality, and the right to be born," commented Rita Diller, national director of Stop Planned Parenthood (STOPP).

"While millions of people are suffering unbelievably and are without the most basic necessities, Planned Parenthood wants to grab the donations that should be going to provide medical care, food, clothing, and housing, and funnel it to its local affiliate that pushes condoms on children as young as 10 years old," she continued.  "Planned Parenthood has no shame.  What would you expect of an organization that killed over 305,000 innocent pre-born children last year alone?"

Pro-lifers, however, do have the option of contributing to a legitimate health care agency that needs funds to bring obstetrical support to Haiti.  Dr. Robert Walley, president of MaterCare International, a pro-life organization dedicated to providing maternal care in the developing world, informed LifeSiteNews that they are initiating a long-term project to help rebuild maternity care in the country.

"Pregnancy does not stop because of a disaster of this kind," observed Dr. Walley, pointing out that pregnant women are enduring the same hardships as the rest.  For women who are about to deliver, he said, "the situation is particularly bleak," given that six of the hospital's in Port-au-Prince have been lost.  "In all likelihood, as their homes have been destroyed, they simply deliver in misery where they lie, in the open without any dignity or privacy," he said.

"It almost seems that with these type of tragic circumstances somehow the world believes that life simply stops, so emergency obstetrical care for life threatening complications is not an immediate priority," he said.  "The result is an enormous increase in the number of maternal deaths."

MaterCare will be sending a team to Haiti this week to conduct a needs assessment.  They will then assemble a volunteer emergency team of obstetricians, general surgeons, pediatricians, anaesthetists, and nurses.

"We offer life and hope," said Dr. Walley.  "The pro-abortion side are already seeking funds for their death and despair and the Haitians have had enough of that."

Donations to MaterCare International can be made via their secure donations page, or by contacting them by e-mail at info@matercare.org, or phone at 1-709-579-6472.

Source: LifeSiteNews.com

Brown Victory a WIN for Women

Brown Victory a WIN for Women

Dannenfelser: "Scott Brown promised to keep abortion out of health care on the campaign trail, and the Susan B. Anthony List looks forward to working with him to accomplish that goal."



In response to today's victory by Republican candidate Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special election to fill the Senate seat of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser offered the following statement:

"On the heels of last fall's victories by Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie, Scott Brown's victory is just the beginning of the consequences Congressional incumbents will face this November.  Anyone who votes to advance health care legislation that funds abortion on-demand should consider themselves on notice.

"The election of Scott Brown is no accident. This election is about more than parties or candidates.  The election is just one more sign of the overreach of the President and Congress.  The American people have spoken tonight.

"Further, Martha Coakley's defeat is not a setback for women in politics, it is a victory.  Scott Brown's success is a win for the majority of American women who demand authentic representation that reflects commonsense pro-life views, like abortion funding restrictions and conscience protections.

"Martha Coakley's extreme embrace of abortion may have endeared her to EMILY's List and the abortion lobby, but it did little to win votes today.  Abortion is never good for women, and it should never be a legitimate aspect of any 'health care' debate.

"Over the past week, the Susan B. Anthony List has mobilized women across the country to communicate the reality that abortion is not health care. We traveled across the Midwest, meeting countless women who countered the feminist mantra that our nation 'needs' abortion in health care reform.

"The message is clear, abortion is not health care. Americans should not be forced to fund it, and medical providers of faith should not be forced to participate in it. The people of Massachusetts deserve a Senator who affirms Constitutional rights for all, not one who puts a radical ideology above the right of conscience. Scott Brown promised to keep abortion out of health care on the campaign trail, and the Susan B. Anthony List looks forward to working with him to accomplish that goal."

To see a candidate comparison from Massachusetts Citizens for Life that outlines Scott Brown and Martha Coakley's positions on Life, go to www.masscitizensforlife.org/comparison.html.

Contact: Joy Yearout
Source: Susan B. Anthony List
Publish Date: January 18, 2010
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Planned Parenthood is ‘lying’ about MLK, Alveda King charges

Planned Parenthood is 'lying' about MLK, Alveda King charges



Dr. Alveda King, pro-life advocate and niece of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has attacked Planned Parenthood, saying its comments about the civil rights leader amount to "lying." She charged that the organization misrepresents Rev. King's reception of the Margaret Sanger Award. "I hate to sound combative, but they do this every year," she told CNA in a Tuesday phone interview.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) released a statement saying the civil rights leader had received the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's Margaret Sanger Award in 1966.

The award is given to recognize "individuals' excellence and leadership in furthering reproductive health and rights" and is named for the founder of Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood said that Dr. King fought for racial justice, fair wages for workers and "quality health care for all" in its Jan. 18 statement. The organization said that Planned Parenthood works "in the tradition of Dr. King's call for equity in health care" by erasing "disparities" in the health care system that disproportionately affect "people of color."

The organization, the nation's largest abortion provider, claimed that more than 90 percent of the health care provided at its health centers is preventive and includes breast exams, Pap tests and contraception.

PPFA then quoted what it described as the comments Dr. King wrote "in accepting the Sanger Award."

'We had confidence that when we awakened the nation to the immorality and evil of inequality, there would be an upsurge of conscience followed by remedial action.'

Speaking to CNA on Tuesday, Alveda King commented: "Dr. King did not attend that ceremony, he did not write that speech."

Rather, she explained, his wife Coretta Scott King delivered the speech.

Alveda King questioned the authorship of the text at several points because of language she found implausible.

"There's one page in there that says something about 'the plight of the male ego.' No male will say that," she explained to CNA.

King connected the falsehoods she saw about the Margaret Sanger Award with the "lies" she said are told by abortion advocates.

"They lie, they lied to me. They told me that my baby was a blob of tissue, that its removal would not hurt any more than removing a tooth. But it did hurt much more, and it was much more devastating."

"Abortion isn't health care, it is a death warrant for babies," she stated.

King referred CNA to her pamphlet "An analysis of the PPH MLK Brochure," available in the African-American Outreach section of the Priests for Life website. She also referred to her comments on her blog at PriestsForLife.org.

There in a Tuesday entry she asked rhetorically whether a man who "warned against the evils of infanticide in his Letter From A Birmingham Jail," whose father was "staunchly pro-life," and who saw injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, could support "abortion and killer chemicals called 'safe' birth control."

"They lied to my uncle, Dr. King. How can the dream survive if we murder our children?" she asked.

Contact: CNA STAFF
Source: CNA
Publish Date: January 20, 2010
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40 Days for Life Campaigns to Oppose Abortion in 156 Cities

40 Days for Life Campaigns to Oppose Abortion in 156 Cities



"While many see a time of darkness this week as the United States marks the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that imposed abortion on America, and as the U.S. Congress deliberates legislation that could lead to dramatic increases in taxpayer funding for abortion, I see a time of great hope," said David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life.

"I am hopeful for many reasons, but especially because pro-life advocates in some 156 cities from coast to coast -- plus four Canadian provinces and three Australian states -- are willing to step out in faith and host 40 Days for Life campaigns," he said. The coordinated international campaign begins February 17 and runs through March 28. "The fact is that even as proponents try to encourage more abortions -- and as they try to encourage government funding of abortions -- more women are realizing the truth about abortion and rejecting it as an option, and more people are simply saying 'Enough!' and taking a stand against these efforts to promote a culture of death."

40 Days for Life consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, 40 days of constant, peaceful vigil outside abortion centers and Planned Parenthood offices and 40 days of active pro-life community outreach. The list of participating communities is posted online at: www.40daysforlife.com/location.cfm. 

The 40 Days for Life movement continues to grow. Thus far, five coordinated national 40 Days for Life campaigns have been conducted, twice each year, beginning in the fall of 2007. More than 300,000 people in some 280 cities have already taken part. Five abortion centers have closed following 40 Days for Life prayer vigils. Some 27 abortion industry employees have quit their jobs, including Abby Johnson, who left her position as director of a Planned Parenthood abortion center in Texas last October.

"And most incredibly," Bereit said, "we are aware of 2,168 children -- and their mothers -- who were spared from the tragedy of abortion. And those are just the ones we know about."

The campaign dates of February 17 through March 28 coincide with the Christian season of Lent. "The Lenten season presents a call to sacrifice," said Bereit, "and that is central to 40 Days for Life. Standing in prayer outside an abortion facility is indeed a sacrifice -- particularly in northern locations where cold temperatures and snowy conditions are often part of the weather landscape in February. But people know their efforts have a profound impact, and so they overlook the inconvenience and their personal discomfort to stand in peaceful witness."

Bereit and 40 Days for Life are key participants in the Stop the Abortion Mandate coalition that is rallying support around the United States for keeping taxpayer-funded abortion out of any Congressional healthcare measures. "Through the efforts of 40 Days for Life volunteers," he said, "local campaigns will help to publicly reinforce the message -- in 156 communities over the next couple of months -- that abortion is not health care."

Contact: Amber Dolle
Source: 40 Days for Life
Publish Date: January 20, 2010
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Futile Care Theory: Parents Fight in Court for Life of Baby Isaiah

Futile Care Theory: Parents Fight in Court for Life of Baby Isaiah



There is a futile care case in court in Canada involving an infant named Isiah, whose parents want to continue life support, versus the hosptial that seeks to unilaterally remove treatment. From the story:

When Isaiah was born in Oct. 2009, he suffered severe oxygen deprivation. Doctors say they've done everything they can. But the parents believe their son is showing signs of improvement. The boy was born in the Rocky Mountain House Hospital after a difficult 40-hour delivery. On Oct. 24th, 2009 the boy was airlifted to hospital and admitted for treatment. The boy was then placed on a ventilator in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. A letter sent to the parents by Alberta Health Services on Jan. 13th stated that the boy's doctors believed all medical procedures had been exhausted. They informed the parents that the boy will never recover from a severe lack of oxygen at birth. "The diagnosis is unchanged; your son suffered severe anoxic brain injury at birth and has irreversible brain damage. There is no hope of recovery for Isaiah," the letter stated.

What does "no hope of recovery" mean? Does it mean the baby will die, even with life support?  But he has been alive for 90 days and hasn't succumbed yet.  Or instead, does it mean he will be permanently disabled? If so, that should not be reason to cut off wanted care.  Indeed, doing so is discrimination.

According to the family, the medical team has been wrong about how Isaiah would fare:

Isaiah's mother Rebecka May stated in court documents that her son has continued to grow since his birth. May said medical staff informed the family that "Isaiah would not grow." But the woman noted that Isaiah has "continued to grow since his birth and now weighs ten pounds eleven ounces." May also mentioned in documents that her son's pupils dilate, his eyes open daily, and he moves his hands, arms and feet with "increasing frequency."

Doctors are not perfect, and prognoses are sometimes wrong, particularly when it comes to children. Remember Haleigh Poutre, who doctors said would never recover–but who was saved when she showed signs of awareness before the "plug could be pulled" and is now receiving special schooling, much improved.

This case is in court, where it belongs rather than being decided behind closed doors by an ethics committee. The parents want to give it another 90 days, but the hospital has "offered" 30–haggling as if this were a lawsuit over the value of a damaged car.  At least the judge is clearly taking this matter very seriously and has decided to get another medical opinion.  But it seems to me, that when parents want their baby to be able to continue to fight for life, when he seems to be showing apparently unexpected signs of improvement, a tremendous burden of proof should be required for hospital administrators to veto the parents' decision.

Alex Schadenberg, of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, has been following the case closely.  For more details, check out his blog.

Contact: Wesley J. Smith
Source: Secondhand Smoke
Publish Date: January 19, 2010
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Youth prepare to promote pro-life movement

Youth prepare to promote pro-life movement



Rock for Life, a youth division of the American Life League, is taking an active role in pro-life activities in Washington as the annual March for Life draws near.
 
The youth division will be educating students on pro-life issues, and spokesman Jeff McClain says they will also be training youth to take a more active role.
 
"We're going to have a prayer and outreach time outside of Planned Parenthood," he explains. "We're also going to be taking part in the annual march, and we're also going to be doing another prayer and outreach time at the Planned Parenthood on Saturday."
 
Rock for Life will be joining other pro-life groups including "people like Silent No More and some other organizations," reports McClain. "So we're going to be out in front of the Supreme Court; we're going to be out in front of the Capitol, the White House, and Planned Parenthood," he adds.
 
During education sessions, young people will be taught how they can promote the pro-life movement and the Personhood Amendment movement in their own communities. McClain hopes to engage youth in a fashion in which they will be catapulted into leadership roles in the future pro-life movement.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: January 20, 2010
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Former Fox News Anchor’s Mother Considered Abortion after Being Raped

Former Fox News Anchor's Mother Considered Abortion after Being Raped

   

This past Saturday, former Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Kelly Wright talked with Mike Huckabee on his Fox News show about his mother's decision to give birth to him despite having conceived him in rape.  Kelly made the appearance to promote his new book, "America's Hope in Troubled Times."

In his new book, Wright describes how his mother was raped when she was 16 years old, and how he was the result of that rape.

Calling the way he came into the world "very unique" Wright explained that in the summer of 1954 his mother had become close friends with the young wife of a pastor. One day, Wright's mother went to her friend's house to go shopping. However, her friend had already left, and when Wright's mother entered the home of the pastor, he assaulted her.

Wright explained that there was nothing his mother could have done against the pastor because, "It would be her word against a reputable member of the community."

"To make a long story short, she went ahead and continued to think that everything was okay, but then discovered she was pregnant."

When Wright's mother found out she was pregnant, she was offered an abortion as a means out. However, in 1954 abortions were still illegal, and Wright acknowledged that she would have been putting herself at great risk by undergoing one.

However, the primary reason Wright's mother choose not to have him killed was her desire for children. Wright quotes his mother as having said, "This is God telling me that this may be the only biological child I have."  As it turns out, Wright's mother was right, and Kelly would be her only biological child; Kelly's sister was adopted.

Kelly Wright, in addition to being a correspondent for Fox News, is also now a pastor. He says, "It just shows how God was looking out for me and I had a purpose to live for."

Mike Huckabee, a pastor himself, commented after Wright told his story, "For all of us who know you, that thought but by the grace of God and your mother having made another choice, you and I wouldn't be having this conversation."

"It's the greatest affirmation for why it's important to value every life as having worth and value. And you just have vividly demonstrated that to us."

Kelly Wright has worked in journalism since entering the army in 1977. He has covered such stories as the Iraq war, the 2004 presidential elections, and the death of Terri Schiavo. In a profile for Fox News, Wright said the person who had the most influence in his life was his mother, June Lorraine Overton.

Contact: Matt Anderson
Source: LifeSiteNews.com
Publish Date: January 19, 2010
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.