Planned Parenthood does two-step on telemed abortions

Click here to read the backstory. On May 21 IA Public Radio reported:          ... Clinics around the country have been inquiring about the [abortion telemed] system, and already Planned Parenthood of East Central IA will also be signing on, making abortion available for the first time at their clinics in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, which lack full-time physicians on staff.     [PPECI] Dir. of Patient Services Barbara Chadwick says it's the goal of PP to expand abortion services at its clinics nationwide over the next 5 years....     "We have been looking at initiating abortion service as a core service of all PPs, part of the Federation's strategic plan for 2015."     Medical abortions, Chadwick says, will be a key element in that strategy, and signing up for the long distance option will get her organization toward the goal faster.... If you listen to the news story, you'll hear Chadwick herself speaking. Add that to what PP CEO Cecile Richards said in a May 20 interview with the Iowa Independent:     ... I think telemedicine is an incredibly important advance, particularly for women in rural areas.... It's very safe and very effective. It's an incredibly important option for women who decide to terminate a pregnancy. And what former PP director Abby Johnson wrote in a May 30 op ed:     Two years ago, I went to a National Abortion Federation meeting and listened to a nurse from PP of the Heartland brag about the new telemed abortion method. He said it would revolutionize the way medical abortions were conducted, starting in IA and then expanding throughout the nation. The plan seems clear. But not so fast. Apparently Chadwick let the cat out of the bag before PP had properly greased the skids. PP's PR machine wasn't yet prepared for the ensuing uproar, so all it could do at this point was back away. According to THOnline.com on May 28:     A misstatement last week by a PP representative about abortions has set off a firestorm of response from abortion opponents.     Contrary to statements made last week to a public radio reporter, there are no plans to offer the "telemedicine program" (a teleconference-based delivery of drugs to end a pregnancy) in Dubuque, according to PP.     "Chadwick misspoke when she said that telemedicine abortion would be available in the Dubuque and Cedar Rapids health centers," said Jenifer Vick, director of development and communications for PPECI. "She was speaking broadly, that telemedicine is the way medical care is moving in the country."... Well, no, that's not what Chadwick said at all. And apparently Vick backed away too far. She should never have said there were "no plans" to offer telemed abortions, because PP could rightfully be called a liar when plans it knows it has are unveiled. So PP had to follow up Vick's retraction with a half-retraction. According to THOnline.com on June 6:     The group issued a news release that states, "It's not that PPECI wouldn't like to have specific plans to provide abortion care to women in need - it's just that there is not currently a blueprint developed as to how exactly that could take place....     "There are many considerations that would need to take place before implementing this service - for example, approval by the PPECI Board of Directors is one action that would have to take place, and that has not happened," the release states....     "I thought it was inappropriate to have any discussion with media regarding any future possibilities of offering the provision of abortion services unless plans were in place," said... Vick.... "That foundation has not been developed." Riiiight. Keep dancing. Contact: Jill Stanek Source: jillstanek.com Publish Date: June 8, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

NEWS SHORTS FOR WEDNESDAY

British Abortion Ads Generate over 1,000 Complaints in First Two Weeks      Television spots airing in Britain advertising Marie Stopes International (MSI) abortion facilities have garnered over 1,000 complaints from viewers in their first two weeks. The volume of complaints has prompted the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to agree to investigate whether the ads have violated broadcasting rules. Channel 4, the independent broadcaster that agreed to run the ads, has received 611 complaints to date, with the ASA receiving 370 more, the Daily Telegraph reports. Channel 4's statement included a complaint from one viewer: "I just want to say how appalled I am that you have allowed this advert to be shown. Also I can tell you that Channel 4 will not be watched in this house ever again." Click here for the entire article. Baby Jesus 'scan' features in churches' Christmas campaign           A scan of "baby Jesus in       the Virgin Mary's womb" Ruth Gledhill, religion correspondent of The Times, has a good story today headlined "'Scan' of baby Jesus plunges Churches into abortion debate." She writes: "Protestant Churches are joining forces in an advertising campaign that shows a scan of "baby Jesus in the Virgin Mary's womb", complete with halo. "The poster campaign ... reads: 'He's on His way. Christmas starts with Christ.'" Click here for the entire article. US Supreme Court seen open to incremental pro-life legislation           U.S. Supreme Court building Surveying the recent decisions of the US Supreme Court, legal theorist (and newly baptized Catholic) Hadley Arkes concludes that in effect, the Court is saying: "We are prepared to entertain seriously the argument that abortions, under certain conditions, may rightly be restricted and even barred." That message should be a great encouragement to pro-life activists at the state level, he says. Click here for the entire article. University of Wisconsin Is Training People How to Kill Babies AG Recommends Audit of UW Abortion Training      Auditors should look into whether the University of Wisconsin health system may be improperly funding abortion training for medical residents, state Justice Department officials said in a letter released Thursday. Wisconsin law prohibits state agencies from paying doctors or medical facilities for performing abortions. The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority pays medical residents specializing in gynecology to train at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, where they can choose to undertake abortion training. Click here for the entire article. Miss. opts out of health care abortions           Missisissppi Gov. Haley Barbour Mississippi has become the third state to opt out of a provision in the new federal health care law that would require coverage for abortion in "insurance exchanges." "Mississippi continues to be the safest place to be an unborn child in America today," Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, said when he signed the bill May 24. "This bill ensures that taxpayers' money will not fund abortions if the health insurance exchanges are implemented under the federal health care law." Click here for the entire article. 'No to abortion, Yes to marriage,' Peruvian cardinal tells congress attendees           Cardinal Cipriani During the closing Mass of the First Eucharistic and Marian Congress in Lima, Peru on Sunday, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne called on the thousands of participants to defend life and say "yes to life-long marriage between one man and one woman." In his homily, Cardinal Cipriani encouraged the faithful to be "defenders of life."  Click here for the entire article.

Clinton Library Documents Offer Hints About Supreme Court Pick

Clinton Library Documents Offer Hints About Supreme Court Pick             Elena Kagan - nominated to the       U.S. Supreme Court With no judicial experience, family advocates rely on writings and former employers for clues to Kagan's judicial philosophy. Elena Kagan's nomination to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court is still raising more questions than it's answering.  Even 46,000 pages of documents from the Clinton Library, released over the weekend, are offering precious little in the way of information. Republicans, looking for clues to Kagan's judicial philosophy, have turned to memos written throughout her career and to the judicial philosophies of those for whom she worked. Elena Kagan has contributed money to the National Partnership for Women and Families, which has ties to NARAL Pro-Choice America and Emily's List, an organization that helps get pro-abortion Democratic women elected to Congress. Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director of the Judicial Crisis Network, said the little information available is revealing. "A lot of people have been trying to paint her as a moderate," she said. "These documents really show that that's not who Elena Kagan really is." Kagan has also been an outspoken critic of Rust v. Sullivan.  In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court said Department of Health and Human Services regulations, which keep Title X family planning funds from paying for abortion programs, are constitutional. "Rust illustrates the way in which government funding may have both more potent and more disruptive effects than direct government speech," Kagan wrote in an article.  "How better, then, to communicate an anti-abortion message:  through direct speech or through selective subsidization of health care providers?  The latter course…wreaks havoc on the ability of those private parties in the best position to challenge the message to provide a counterweight to government authority." "That raises questions as to whether she'll be able to leave the politics behind, if she's on the Supreme Court," said Severino, "because it's a very different type of role." As counsel for President Clinton, Kagan worked on a memo regarding the partial-birth abortion ban legislation.  Clinton had vetoed the measure and several Democrats had offered amendments to the bill that made it ineffective, including Rep. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, whose amendment included broad exceptions that would have gutted the law. "We recommend that you endorse the Daschle amendment in order to sustain your credibility on HR 1122," she wrote, "and prevent Congress from overriding your veto." Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said there is little doubt where Kagan stands. "You see quite a radical liberal and President Obama knew what he was doing when he nominated her," he said.  "These documents are confirming that she's as far left as everyone suspected." Opponents to the nomination are also looking at those whom Kagan deems "heroes," including Aharon Barak, a retired chief judge of the Supreme Court of Israel, who was made famous by his willingness to legislate from the bench. Barak was awarded the Peter Gruber Foundation Justice Prize at Harvard Law School in 2006. In her introduction of Barak, Kagan called him "my judicial hero.  He is the judge who has best advanced democracy, human rights, the rule of law and justice." But it should be noted that Israel does not have a Constitution, so following Barak's example that a judge "should adapt the law to life's changing needs," does not work in the U.S.  "The question Americans want answered?" Fitton asked, "Is this the type of person we want appointed to the highest court in the land?" Contact: Kim Trobee Source: CitizenLink Publish Date: June 7, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

IL clinic takes another shot at Christian pro-lifers

IL clinic takes another shot at Christian pro-lifers           Northern Illinois Women's Center        abortion Clinic A Rockford pro-life counselor feels that an Illinois abortion clinic has reached a new low in an attempt to offend Christians. The Northern Illinois Women's Center abortion clinic has gained notoriety nationwide for the signs placed in its windows that mock Christianity and Christians. In the past, the workers have displayed rubber chickens hanging from nooses, a nun in a coffin, and other taunting posters with hateful messages. But Kevin Rilott, one of the prayer warriors keeping a vigil on the abortuary's sidewalks, notes that the clinic's new "decoration" reaches another level of hate for pro-life views. "They've become increasingly belligerent and hateful, directed primarily towards Jesus Christ and the Christians who are praying outside," he explains. "About two years ago, the Christian presence at this abortion facility began to increase, and you wouldn't even call it protests; what you'd call it is people in prayer." The effort has reduced abortions, which the prayer warrior believes is a remarkable testimony to the power of prayer. The latest method used by the owner to blast Christians is a picture of Jesus making an obscene gesture with words at the bottom that read: "Even Jesus hates you." Rilott assures that in response, Christians will simply pray harder. But his concern is with the women entering the clinic, who may respond differently. "For her to see a sign that says, 'Even Jesus hates you' is just like this clinic is trying to cut the heart out of these women before they enter the building," he contends. The pro-life advocate adds that a couple of the clinic operators whom his group has gotten to know make it clear that they despise everything about Christianity. Contact: Charlie Butts Source: OneNewsNow Publish Date: June 8, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

Assisted Suicide: CT Judge Dismissed Attempt to Legalize by Redefinition

Assisted Suicide: CT Judge Dismissed Attempt to Legalize by Redefinition      Compassion and Choices backed a lawsuit in Connecticut to legalize assisted suicide by redefining the term to "aid in dying" when committed by doctors at the request of terminally ill patients.  No go.  From the story:     A Superior Court judge has rejected a request from two doctors who sought to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill, mentally competent patients who asked for help to die peacefully. In dismissing the doctors' case, Judge Julia Aurigemma wrote that a state law against assisting suicide applied to physicians helping dying patients end their lives, and that the issues raised in the doctors' lawsuit should be addressed by the legislature, not the courts. "[The statute] is aimed at precisely the situation presented by the plaintiffs — aiding a terminally ill patient, in unbearable pain, to end his or her own life — and precisely the situation in which physicians are most likely to participate," Aurigemma wrote. Duh.  This theory is so disrespectful of democracy it takes one's breath away. But it was still worth doing from the C & C perspective since pro assisted suicide types are never called to account for filing frivolous cases that take up strained judicial resources.  Besides, it generated the usual fawning stories about how assisted suicide is just "compassion."  (I was in one on Anderson Cooper 360 that was so biased it made me buy a mouth guard to keep my teeth from grinding.)  And make no mistake, C & C will try again.  They know that it only takes one activist judge to breach the barricades.  Expect an appeal, if just to keep the stories coming. Stay tuned. Contact: Wesley J. Smith Source: Secondhand Smoke Publish Date: June 8, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

7th Graders to Learn About IUDs, Abortifacients, Condoms

7th Graders to Learn About IUDs, Abortifacients, Condoms           Seventh Graders from North Carolina Schools in North Carolina are preparing to implement the "Healthy Youth Act," which was signed on June 30, 2009 and is set to take effect in the 2010-11 school year. It states that students from 7th to 9th grade should be taught "about the effectiveness and safety of all FDA-approved contraceptive methods in preventing pregnancy." This means that they will be taught about male and female condoms, diaphragms, sponges, cervical caps, spermicides, oral contraceptives, contraceptive rings, the abortifacient "morning after pill," and other methods of birth control, unless their parents explicitly request that they be excluded from these classes. The measure was backed by the ACLU of North Carolina, Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice NC, the North Carolina Association of Educators, and the "gay-rights" group Equality NC. The original version of the bill would have required schools to offer both an abstinence-only curriculum and a comprehensive sex education program, allowing parents to decide which program their child would attend.  It was modified, however, so that students will attend "comprehensive sexual education" unless parents affirmatively opt them out of it. Prior to the Healthy Youth Act, abstinence-only education predominated in North Carolina schools.  School boards were required to hold public hearings before schools could offer "comprehensive" sexual education. The ACLU of North Carolina hailed the law because it eliminated this requirement.  Such hearings, the ACLU stated, would now be "a thing of the past." Nevertheless, the Healthy Youth Act also states that abstinence from sexual activity is to be taught as "the expected standard for all school-age children."  It also instructs schools to teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain means of avoiding pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Finally, it also instructs classes to teach that "a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS." The ACLU and the homosexualist Equality NC decried such aspects of the bill.  Equality NC stated that it was "disappointed [that] the final bill left in inaccurate and discriminatory language from the existing curriculum." But it nevertheless maintained that the law was a "huge step forward." Contact: James Tillman Source: LifeSiteNews.com Publish Date: June 8, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

Disabled Need Help to Live, Not Die: Handicapped UK Baroness

Disabled Need Help to Live, Not Die: Handicapped UK Baroness           Jane Campbell, Baroness Campbell       of Surbiton While pro-assisted suicide campaigners continue to press for relaxation of Britain's law against assisted suicide, one disabled member of the House of Lords is fighting back. Jane Campbell, Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, has urged MPs to sign on to a charter that affirms the value of the lives of disabled people and says they should receive the same protections under the law as all other citizens. Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Campbell said, "In recent years, calls for a change to the law prohibiting assisted suicide have grown louder and more frequent. They capitalise on fear. Fear of pain, fear of loss of dignity, fear of being a burden. And, yes, fear of witnessing those fears being felt by those we know and love. The solution offered to the fear of disability and illness is final: suicide. "We face a bleak situation if calls for assisted suicide to be lawful are renewed whilst vital services are being withdrawn or denied." The charter is the work of the disability rights group Not Dead Yet UK, who launched a campaign last week to counter the efforts of the euthanasia and assisted suicide lobby. The campaign comes at the same time as euthanasia campaigners have vowed to continue to pressure for legalized assisted suicide in the new government. "We cannot allow others to speak for us – especially those who seek to offer us the choice of a premature death: it is not a choice, it is to abandon us," wrote Campbell. She also warned of the slippery slope of legal "assisted dying." Once campaigners have succeeded in legalizing assisted suicide, she said, "they will then seek to broaden the criteria." "Once early death becomes an 'option', it will gain a respectability that will erode the resolve of many people experiencing personal difficulties. Not only will it enter our heads, it will also enter the heads of our families and friends, those who provide us with health and social care support and, ultimately, those holding the purse strings." The charter asks MPs to assert that, like those suffering from suicidal thoughts, disabled people should be encouraged to live. It includes a pledge to support palliative care initiatives and to ensure the disabled and ill receive the health care and social services they require to "live with dignity." Earlier this year, the UK's Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, issued guidance on the application of the assisted suicide law that said violators in England and Wales would not be prosecuted if they acted out of disinterested or "compassionate" motives. The guidance was issued after a decision by the House of Lords Judicial Committee saying that public prosecutors must "clarify" current law. The decision was a victory for assisted suicide campaigner Debbie Purdie, a woman with multiple sclerosis who wants her husband to be allowed to accompany her when she goes to commit suicide at the Dignitas suicide facility in Switzerland. Baroness Campbell, who as Britain's leading voice against assisted suicide for the disabled, is effectively Purdie's opposite number in the debate. Campbell was diagnosed at the age of nine months with spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative condition which has left her confined to a wheelchair and open to regular respiratory crises. She serves as a Commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and is a former chairman of the House of Lords Disability Committee and Commissioner of the Disability Rights Commission. She told the Daily Telegraph last year of a terrifying incident in which she was rushed to a hospital emergency room, where doctors tried to persuade her husband to "allow her to die." Campbell credited the intervention of her husband Roger, who had to show hospital staff photos of his wife receiving an honorary doctorate in law from Bristol university in order to demonstrate her quality of life. She said in the interview, "What was even worse was the isolation I would have felt if I had been alone...If Roger wasn't here, would I have been allowed to die because the doctors believed it was kinder to end my life?" In an impassioned speech in the House of Lords, opposing an attempt by Lord Falconer to relax the law, Campbell said that legal assisted suicide "'is to abandon hope and ignore the majority of disabled and terminally ill." The defeat of Lord Falconer's bill was credited to that speech, but the vote was close at 194 to 141.  Contact: Hilary White Source: LifeSiteNews.com Publish Date: June 8, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

Women Sue Birth Control Pill Manufacturer

Women Sue Birth Control Pill Manufacturer            Bayer Pharmaceutical A group of Canadian women is suing Bayer Pharmaceutical, claiming that the contraceptive pill manufacturer does not adequately inform users of the potential serious health risks associated with the oral contraceptives Yaz and Yasmin. The legal firm of Siskinds LLP is representing the group. It will present evidence that the hormonal birth control pills cause conditions ranging from decreased bone density, to strokes, gallbladder problems leading to surgery, pulmonary embolisms, and numerous other serious health issues. Matthew Baer, legal counsel at Siskinds, told the media that he has evidence about the health risks of the product, which uses drospirenone, a synthetic progestin, that has been linked to over 25,000 reported cases of adverse effects and several deaths. "We're hearing about pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis, stroke and, a more unusual one, people having issues with their gallbladders," he told CTV. The lawsuit alleges that Bayer downplayed the serious side effects of the pills, failed to conduct proper research before releasing them onto the market, and failed adequately to warn patients and doctors about the increased health risk associated with use of Yasmin and Yaz. Over 100 lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. against Bayer by Yasmin and Yaz users. Several medical advisory groups have called for an outright ban on the contraceptives. The Swiss Federation of Service to Patients recently called for a ban on Yaz, Yasmin and other contraceptive pills containing drospirenone, after the drug was linked to the death of a 17-year-old German girl who died in a Swiss hospital. This was the third serious incident reported in Switzerland last year involving such contraceptives. In each case, the women suffered pulmonary embolisms. In May of 2009, a woman ended up severely disabled after a three-month coma, and in September another woman died. This past weekend a coalition of pro-life groups, led by the American Life League (ALL), sponsored "The Pill Kills" day. The annual event, which took place June 5, seeks to provide women with information on the dangers of hormonal birth control that the pill manufacturers suppress. This year's "The Pill Kills" day added an environmental note to the health concerns of contraceptive drugs. Under the title "Protest the Pill Day: The Pill Kills the Environment" organizers presented the often hidden negative effects of hormonal contraceptives on the ecosystem. Katie Walker, Communications Director for ALL, observed that, "In a world obsessed with 'going green,' we hope to use this hypocritical acceptance of birth control – which is a notorious pollutant – to open up a conversation about the pill that you won't hear anywhere else." "Scientists are discovering 'intersex' fish in various areas around the world," said Marie Hahnenberg, The Pill Kills project director. "Studies in the United States, from California to Maryland (including the Potomac River), have revealed that some male fish have been feminized by the vast quantities of synthetic estrogen in the water." "It's about time women were made aware that the birth control they are taking could have negative consequences on their health and on the environment," said Judie Brown, president and cofounder of American Life League. "They deserve the truth – regardless of political pressure to conceal it." Contact: Thaddeus M. Baklinski Source: LifeSiteNews.com Publish Date: June 8, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

NEWS SHORTS FOR TUESDAY

NEWS SHORTS FOR TUESDAY Charlie Crist Removes Pro-Life Message From Web Site           Florida Governor Charlie Crist Florida lawmakers passed a bill that would require doctors to perform an ultrasound on women who want to kill their babies during the first trimester and to describe what they're seeing. Unless women can prove they were impregnated through rape, incest, or domestic violence... This week, Governor Charlie Crist, running for the U.S. Senate, will decide whether to sign the bill. "Now that he has left the Republican Party in order to win an election and is trying to attract liberal votes, the Crist campaign yesterday removed the 'pro-life/family' issue page of its website," Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos told LifeNews.com. "In doing so, Charlie Crist eliminated any reference to being 'pro-life' in a transparent attempt to hide his position in order to win an election." Click here for the entire article. Orlando Abortionist Arrested for Aggravated Battery           Randall B. Whitney ProlifeFlorida.com has reported that long-time Volusia County abortionist Randall B. Whitney was arrested by Orlando Police inside the Orlando Women's Center after he slapped a woman patient while preparing her for an abortion procedure. This is not the first time Whitney has assaulted patients. He gave up his own clinic in Daytona Beach when he decided he would rather close than face scrutiny by state investigators.           Click here for the video. Click here for the entire article. Planned Parenthood Officials: No 'Blueprint' For Abortion Care           Planned Parenthood in Iowa Organization says that 'many considerations' would have to take place before implementing the service in the Cedar Rapids and Dubuque health centers. Officials at Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa said Friday the organization has no finalized plans to implement abortion services in the Cedar Rapids and Dubuque health centers. The group issued a news release that states, "It's not that Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa wouldn't like to have specific plans to provide abortion care to women in need --it's just that there is not currently a blueprint developed as to how exactly that could take place. Click here for the entire article. FDA Panel To Mull 'Morning-After Pill' Effective 5 Days After Sex             Plan B abortifacient A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will meet June 17 to consider whether the agency should approve a new emergency contraceptive that studies show is more effective than Plan B, the only "morning-after pill" on the U.S. market. HRA Pharma of Paris launched ulipristal acetate in October 2009 and sells it in 21 European countries under the brand name ellaOne. As in Europe, ulipristal would be available only by prescription in the USA. Plan B, the brand name for levonorgestrel, is available without a prescription to women 17 and older, but those under 17 require a prescription. Click here for the entire article. Gates Foundation Pledges $1.5 Billion To Child And Maternal Health           Bill & Melinda Gates What's the next big focus of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation? Maternal health. Melinda Gates announced the Foundation will invest $1.5 billion over the next five years in programs promoting maternal and child health, family planning, and nutrition in developing countries. "We said AIDS is important, we said malaria is important, we're saying now maternal and child deaths are important — and guess what? It's actually possible to fix them," Gates told NPR All Things Considered Host Michele Norris. The move comes at a time when AIDS activists are expressing concern that the U.S. is stretching foreign aid programs without putting a lot more dollars into the pot. Click here for the entire article. 80 British IVF Babies Aborted per Year           In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Figures released under Britain's Freedom of Information Act show that an average of 80 children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other artificial means of artificial procreation, are being aborted each year in England and Wales. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the government body that regulates artificial reproduction practices, has revealed that some of those aborted were conceived by IVF treatments funded by the country's tax-funded medical system, the National Health Service (NHS). Click here for the entire article.

Pro-aborts stumble into sinking sand while seeking "common ground"

Pro-aborts stumble into sinking sand while seeking "common ground"           On Common Ground Project In June 2009 the Ted Turner funded pro-abortion website RH Reality Check launched "On Common Ground," an attempt to bridge the abortion divide. Its impetus, penned by then editor Scott Swenson, speaks of a naive time that seems so long ago and far away, although it was only last year:     In so many ways, the election of President Obama is viewed through a lens of its healing potential....     President Obama is asking Americans to seek common ground on one of the most controversial issues of our time, abortion....     Is it possible that in President Obama's election, Americans have a chance to heal the body politic from the divisiveness the abortion issue has caused for a generation or more?...     We believe RH Reality Check is well positioned to expand this dialog to be more inclusive while holding to our progressive roots and respecting those who believe differently but genuinely seek common ground.... It turned out that for all of Obama's schtick, he actually had a radical pro-abort agenda planned, which pro-lifers anticipated, which has only turned those in the middle off and our way, which pro-lifers didn't necessarily anticipate. Add to that the "groundswell" of pro-life laws being passed on the state level, and the pro-abort call for "common ground" is almost laughable in retrospect. It was all a PR ploy anyway, to appear reasonable while advancing the pro-abort agenda. RH Reality Check invited pro-life and pro-abortion thinkers to explore areas where they thought the 2 sides could work together. But of 15 contributors, only 2 had pro-life credentials - Kristen Day of Democrats for Life and Serrin Foster of Feminists for Life (who each only submitted 1 post over the course of 9 months, here and here). I don't fault well-intentioned people for seeking common ground on a multitude of issues. The problem with abortion and all its tentacles is the divide is ideological, and so, as Obama admitted in his Notre Dame speech, the divide is "irreconcilable." This, it seems to me, makes "common ground" impossible. So, no real surprise, Rh Reality Check aborted the "On Common Ground" project in March, 9 months after its inception, coincidentally. The problem with a pro-abort site attempting to moderate what "common ground" connotates was apparent in moderator Christina Page's farewell:     [W]e heard from many pro-lifers in favor of contraception and willing to break with the right wing anti-abortion, anti-contraception establishment in favor of a sensible approach to prevention....     [M]any pro-lifers in this forum questioned the Republican grip on the pro-life establishment and it's opposition to progressive policies, like universal health insurance.... It' pretty bad when the pro-abort moderator of a "common ground" site can't even recognize her own inflammatory verbiage. And when the only "common ground" concepts allowed are those pro-aborts condone but 90% of pro-lifers oppose - more money to Planned Parenthood to push the failed contraception mentality, for instance, or Obamacare, it's no wonder the attempt failed. But we shall see. Page announced a new site, CommonGroundwork.com, to be co-moderated by a to-be-named pro-lifer, would "go live this Spring, a fitting time for its rebirth." I just checked, and the site is not yet live, although summer doesn't commence for another 2 weeks. It will be interesting, if and when it does, to see who the pro-lifer is. Contact: Jill Stanek Source: jillstanek.com Publish Date: June 7, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

SCPI Study on Aborted Fetal DNA in Vaccines Presented at International Meeting for Autism Research

SCPI Study on Aborted Fetal DNA in Vaccines Presented at International Meeting for Autism Research           The Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute's (SCPI) founder and lead scientist, Dr Theresa Deisher, presented their ongoing study into the possible link between aborted fetal DNA in several childhood immunizations with Autism and Austim Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia, PA May 20-22, 2010. The study which was met with both shock and gratitude for her work, focused on "improper integration of the residual DNA as a possible contributor to autism, particularly in genetically susceptible infants." "It is known from gene therapy studies that injected naked DNA can be transported to the brain (Wang et al. 2001); that improperly integrated therapeutic DNA has caused cancer in young children (Hacein-Bey-Abina et al. 2008); and that shorter DNA fragments have a higher probability of entering the nucleus [of the cells] (Lechardeur et al. 2002)", noted Dr Theresa whose company recently received a $500,000 grant from the Murdock foundation for their research. Dr Deisher, along with Physicist Marissa LaMadrid, PhD are investigating whether improper insertion of DNA into the vaccine recipient cells can cause autism.  Four major areas of the research involve: (1) measuring the amount and length distribution of residual human DNA in vaccines; (2) predicting sites of DNA insertion via homologous recombination (HR) and measure insertion rates; (3) modeling how brain cell function might be affected, either via loss of the ability to make proper connections or via selective growth of cells with improperly integrated DNA at the expense of healthy cells; (4) conducting epidemiology studies comparing autism rates in children injected with vaccines containing human DNA residuals. The results reported thus far were startling, to say the least. "Changepoint analysis of autism disorder demonstrates a temporal correlation with events associated with human DNA residuals in vaccines. The levels of residual DNA are well over FDA-recommended limits", stated Dr Deisher.  "Meruvax-II contains >140ng/vial ssDNA and >30ng/vial dsDNA, with average lengths of 215bp. Havrix contains >270ng/vial ssDNA and >30ng/vial dsDNA. The FDA-recommended amounts are 10ng/dose." While research has been conducted in the past on a possible link between thimerosal and autism, no one has ever looked at the contaminating DNA, something requested for years by Children of God for Life, a pro-life watchdog focused on the use of aborted fetal material in vaccines, medicines and other consumer products. "Until the advent of AVM Biotechnology and their non-profit arm SCPI we had little hope that anyone would invest the time and money to do this study", stated Children of God for Life's founder, Debi Vinnedge. "Dr Deisher's work is a blessing to hundreds of thousands of families, if not millions worldwide.  She is a direct answer to our prayers for a biotech company focused solely on moral research and ethically produced vaccines and therapeutics." For more information see www.cogforlife.org/scpiautismstudypress.htm Source: Children of God for Life Publish Date: June 3, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

Majority of Teens Staying Abstinent

Majority of Teens Staying Abstinent              Young people will listen to the message        that they should wait. Not everyone is having sex in high school, according to a government report.  The 2006-08 National Survey of Family Growth shows that 60 percent of unmarried teens in the U.S. have not had sex, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Mike McManus, president of Marriage Savers, said it proves young people will listen to the message that they should wait. "Those who remain chaste have much lower divorce rates than those who are sexually active," he said.  "The sexually active are about two-thirds more likely to divorce than those who are chaste." Paul Birch, director of the Institute for Research and Evaluation, said the survey numbers are encouraging, especially in a culture where teens are bombarded with the message that sex is the norm. "The truth is that there's really no social, scientific evidence that I'm aware of," he said, "that exclusively demonstrates that having sex is a healthy behavior for youth to be doing at this stage in their life." Contact: Roger Greer Source: CitizenLink Publish Date: June 3, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

In new video, Andrea Bocelli praises mother’s choice not to abort him

In new video, Andrea Bocelli praises mother's choice not to abort him           Italian singer Andrea Bocelli has told the       story of his mother's pregnancy, during which       doctors suggested that she abort him. Italian singer Andrea Bocelli has told the story of his mother's pregnancy, during which doctors suggested that she abort him because he would be born with a disability. In a new video he praises his mother for making "the right choice," saying other mothers should take encouragement from the story. In a YouTube video titled "Andrea Bocelli tells a 'little story' about abortion," the singer sits at a piano and tells his audience a story about a young pregnant wife hospitalized for "a simple attack of appendicitis." "The doctors had to apply some ice on her stomach and when the treatments ended the doctors suggested that she abort the child. They told her it was the best solution because the baby would be born with some disability. "But the young brave wife decided not to abort, and the child was born," he continued. "That woman was my mother, and I was the child. Maybe I'm partisan, but I can say that it was the right choice." He said he hoped the story could encourage many mothers in "difficult situations" but who want to save the life of their baby. Bocelli has congenital glaucoma and lost his vision completely at age 12 after getting hit in the head during a soccer game. The video itself is produced by www.IamWholeLife.com, an initiative of the Human Rights, Education and Relief Organization (HERO). HERO is a partner of the pro-life movie star Eduardo Verastegui.           Click here for the video. Source: CNA/EWTN News Publish Date: June 6, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

Pro-Life Activists Willing to Risk Arrest Challenging Public Prayer and Free Speech Ban in Washington, D.C.

Pro-Life Activists Willing to Risk Arrest Challenging Public Prayer and Free Speech Ban in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. prohibits prayer and free speech on the public sidewalk in our nation's capital.   D.C. police officers have threatened to arrest people praying and counseling on the public sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood.   For many years, the pro-life community has been allowed to pray, counsel and have a peaceful witness on the public property surrounding the Planned Parenthood clinic in Washington, D.C.           People praying outside the Washington D.C.       Planned Parenthood abortion facility.           Clck here for the video.   Several weeks ago Planned Parenthood put up a fence around that public property and police are now threatening to arrest anyone who stands inside that fence. (Photos of the fence)   The Christian Defense Coalition is challenging this unconstitutional crushing of prayer and free speech and has applied for a permit to hold a prayer vigil on the public sidewalk leading up to Planned Parenthood.   That prayer vigil will take place on Tuesday, June 8, at 11:00 A.M. at Planned Parenthood 1108 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C.   Faith leaders will risk arrest before they surrender their First Amendment rights or allow prayer to be banned on the public sidewalk in the heart of our nation's capital.   The Christian Defense Coalition and their supporters are being represented by the American Center for Law and Justice.   Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states,   "It is both disturbing and a disgrace that prayer and free speech have been banned and prohibited here in our nation's capital.   "For many years, peaceful pro-life activists were allowed to pray, counsel and share on the public sidewalk and property in front of Planned Parenthood.           Fence fence around public property in front       of the Washington D.C. Planned Parenthood       abortion facility.   "Now after putting up a fence around that public property, the Washington, D.C. Police Department is threatening to arrest anyone who steps inside that fence to pray and counsel.   "Yet, that sidewalk and property still remain public.   "We have applied for a permit for Tuesday, June 8, to pray on the public sidewalk leading up to Planned Parenthood. Our hope is that the city of Washington, D.C. will honor and respect the First Amendment and allow us to celebrate our free speech rights in the nation's capital.   "However, even if we are threatened with arrest and taken to jail will not be bullied or intimidated into silence or surrender. When free speech and public prayer are banned and prohibited, it is the duty of people of faith to peacefully challenge that injustice and boldly take a stand.   "Dr. Martin Luther King stated, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' If we allow the trampling of the First Amendment here in Washington, D.C., then free speech rights are at risk all across America." Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney Source: Christian Defense Coalition Publish Date: June 7, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

Peter Singer: Is Human Extinction an Acceptable Way to Avoid Suffering?

Peter Singer: Is Human Extinction an Acceptable Way to Avoid Suffering?      At the New York Times blog, Peter Singer favorably discusses a book that I haven't read–Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming Into Existence–that illuminates the profound danger of Singer's utilitarian philosophy and the growing nihilism among the intellectual set.   From Singer's post: Have you ever thought about whether to have a child? If so, what factors entered into your decision? Was it whether having children would be good for you, your partner and others close to the possible child, such as children you may already have, or perhaps your parents? For most people contemplating reproduction, those are the dominant questions. Some may also think about the desirability of adding to the strain that the nearly seven billion people already here are putting on our planet's environment. But very few ask whether coming into existence is a good thing for the child itself. Most of those who consider that question probably do so because they have some reason to fear that the child's life would be especially difficult — for example, if they have a family history of a devastating illness, physical or mental, that cannot yet be detected prenatally. That's pretty simplistic.  People don't sit back and coolly make utilitarian decisions.  We are more vibrant than that, for good and ill, more messy.  Moreover, people who don't want children that will experience difficulties often make that decision because of the problems it will create in their own lives, a value system promoted by the popular culture–hence the ubiquitous practice of eugenic abortion, and in the Netherlands, infanticide–both of which practices are supported enthusiastically by Singer.  Reducing childbearing to crass utilitarian measurements and projections of suffering, thus, leads to justifying killing as an answer thereto, illustrating the oppression unleashed by the avoid suffering at all costs attitudes so prevalent today. Singer takes this mindset to the next logical step, sympathizing with the view that we should become extinct as a way of avoiding suffering: The 19th-century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer held that even the best life possible for humans is one in which we strive for ends that, once achieved, bring only fleeting satisfaction. New desires then lead us on to further futile struggle and the cycle repeats itself. Schopenhauer's pessimism has had few defenders over the past two centuries, but one has recently emerged, in the South African philosopher David Benatar, author of a fine book with an arresting title: "Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence." One of Benatar's arguments trades on something like the asymmetry noted earlier. To bring into existence someone who will suffer is, Benatar argues, to harm that person, but to bring into existence someone who will have a good life is not to benefit him or her. Few of us would think it right to inflict severe suffering on an innocent child, even if that were the only way in which we could bring many other children into the world. Yet everyone will suffer to some extent, and if our species continues to reproduce, we can be sure that some future children will suffer severely. Hence continued reproduction will harm some children severely, and benefit none. Erin Schell Benatar also argues that human lives are, in general, much less good than we think they are. We spend most of our lives with unfulfilled desires, and the occasional satisfactions that are all most of us can achieve are insufficient to outweigh these prolonged negative states. If we think that this is a tolerable state of affairs it is because we are, in Benatar's view, victims of the illusion of pollyannaism. This illusion may have evolved because it helped our ancestors survive, but it is an illusion nonetheless. If we could see our lives objectively, we would see that they are not something we should inflict on anyone. This is nihilism on stilts and it is polluting the West's self confidence and belief in universal human equality like the BP oil well is polluting the Caribbean.  Only the resulting mess isn't measured in polluted beaches and dead birds, but existential despair that destroys human lives. After seeming to embrace the concept of human extinction, Singer takes a step back: I do think it would be wrong to choose the non-sentient universe. In my judgment, for most people, life is worth living. Even if that is not yet the case, I am enough of an optimist to believe that, should humans survive for another century or two, we will learn from our past mistakes and bring about a world in which there is far less suffering than there is now. But justifying that choice forces us to reconsider the deep issues with which I began. Is life worth living? Are the interests of a future child a reason for bringing that child into existence? And is the continuance of our species justifiable in the face of our knowledge that it will certainly bring suffering to innocent future human beings? We have to "justify" continuing the species? Good grief.  Under the influence of anti-human advocates like Peter Singer, we have gone in the West from seeking to "secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity," to seriously questioning whether there should be any posterity at all.  This is not healthy.  But it is the natural consequence of rejecting human exceptionalism. Contact: Wesley Smith Source: Secondhand Smoke Publish Date: June 7, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

NEWS SHORTS FOR MONDAY

NEWS SHORTS FOR MONDAY Planned Parenthood accelerates push for 'sexual rights' of adolescents           International Planned       Parenthood Federation The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is boosting its efforts to influence young people, the group's annual financial report shows. IPPF-- which enjoyed $140 million in revenues in 2009, mostly from government grants-- is pushing for international recognition of the "sexual rights" of adolescents. Click here for the entire article. Help Us Defeat the Culture of Death: Come to the Baby Conference           The Baby Conference       July 8-10 in San Antonio Just a few of the topics covered and messages to be brought at The Baby Conference: The Blessing of Children--Large Family Logistics--What the Bible Says About Biblical Discipline in the Home-Everything You Need to Know About Adoption--The First Three Years--Reversal Surgery--The Wonders of Embryology--Naming Your Children--Children as Pets-Toys, Tools and Children--The Role of Grandparents in the Life of Children--The Hopeful Theology of Miscarriage--How the Local Church Builds a Culture of Life--The Myth of Overpopulation--Caring for Disabled Children--Surviving the First Fifty Years of the Pill--Top Legal issues Facing Parents--The Demographic Bomb--What the Bible Says About Birth Control--The Future of Health Care for Christian Families--Surrogacy--Designer Babies--Artificial Wombs--Brain Death--Care for the Elderly--Birthing Options. Click here for the entire article. Research Links Genetically Modified Food To Long Term Sterility           Genetically Modified Food       may cause long term sterility A new study done by Russian scientists suggests that Genetically Modified Food may cause long term sterility, that is, sterility in second and third generations. The scientists used hamsters for this research and divided them into groups. One group of hamsters was fed a normal diet without any soy products, a second group was fed non-GMO (genetically modified organism) soy, the third ate GM soy and the fourth group was fed an even higher amount of GM soy than the third. Each group produced about seven to eight litters of baby hamsters each without any problems. But when the researchers selected new breeding pairs from the offspring, the second generation had a slower growth rate and reached their sexual maturity later than normal. They also had a mortality rate, five times higher than the hamsters who didn't eat soy. Click here for the entire article. New UN Report Confirms Canada's Refusal to Fund Third World Abortion           Third World Abortion Tools A new report from the World Health Organization and UNICEF has underscored the wisdom behind Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to exclude abortion from Canada's maternal and child health initiative.  Declaring that 2 million maternal, newborn, and stillbirth deaths result each year from a lack of skilled birth attendants, the Countdown to 2015 Decade Report (2000-2010) reveals the importance of the simple solutions that Harper outlined when he first announced the initiative in January. The report, released Thursday, tracked the progress over the last decade of the 68 countries where more than 95% of all maternal and child deaths take place.   Click here for the entire article. Poll: 60 Percent of Americans Favor Repeal of Health Care Bill           President Obama signs       the Democrats' health       care bill into law. Nearly two out of three Americans polled are in favor of repealing the health-care bill that Congress passed in March according to a recent Rasmussen Report.   Down three points from last week, this is the second straight week the polling company has found support at or above 60 percent for a repeal of the bill that will reform the national health care system. Click here for the entire article. Antidepressants during pregnancy cause alarming 68 percent increased risk of miscarriage           Antidepressants during        pregnancy can cause        miscarriage Back in 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that exposure to the antidepressant paroxetine (sold as Paxil, Paxil CR, and Pexeva) in the first trimester of pregnancy might increase the risk for birth defects, especially heart problems. Did this halt the widespread prescribing of paroxetine and other antidepressants for pregnant women? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Click here for the entire article.

Defense Bill Includes Abortion Funding for Military Bases

Defense Bill Includes Abortion Funding for Military Bases               Senator. Roland Burris, (D-IL) Democrats have offered an amendment to the Department of Defense spending bill would allow abortions on U.S. bases. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., proposed the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in a closed committee mark-up.  It would allow taxpayer funded abortions on both domestic and overseas military bases.  Elective abortions have not been allowed on military bases since the Clinton administration.  Speaking from the floor Thursday, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told his colleagues that the Burris amendment would change that.  "Abortion-at-will will be the requirement for our military installations," he said, "and the medical facilities on those installations.  And I guarantee you (the amendment) will be challenged on the floor of the House and Senate, with separate amendments.  Members will be given a chance to vote on this separate issue." Contact: Roger Greer Source: CitizenLink Publish Date: June 1, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

"Walk 4 Life" for Southside Pregnancy Center

"Walk 4 Life" for Southside Pregnancy Center      Southside Pregnancy Center will host its 26th annual "Walk 4 Life" fundraising event on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Chicago Christian High School's Track & Field in Palos Heights, Ill (12001 S. Oak Park Ave.). Event day begins with registration/check-in at 9:15am, followed by a brief opening program at 10:00am and ending with a one-mile walk around the track.  The Walk is scheduled to conclude by 11:30am. Those who prefer to "Rock 4 Life" can do so in one of the available rocking chairs on site. The Walk 4 Life is a day to CELEBRATE LIFE; an event the whole family can enjoy. "This is a great opportunity for the community to come together and make a difference in the lives of others.  By raising awareness and funds, Southside Pregnancy Center will continue to offer FREE limited medical services and crisis pregnancy intervention to those in need,"  said Kathy Bozyk, executive director for Southside Pregnancy Center.  Walkers are encouraged to visit www.SouthsidePregnancy.org to PRE-REGISTER and access their FREE, user-friendly "Walk 4 Life" promotional webpage.  Walkers can customize their webpage and link to other social networking groups such as Facebook© and Twitter to help them achieve their personal fundraising goals quickly and effortlessly.  All ONLINE pre-registrants (by 5pm Friday, June 18th) will receive a FREE water bottle at the event registration/check-in table on event day. Others may pre-register by calling 708.346.9070 or by faxing their completed form to 708.346.9077.  Additional pledge forms can be mailed upon request or can be downloaded at www.SouthsidePregancy.org.  Last minute Walkers are welcome to participate and can register on event day. For more information about the "Walk 4 Life", visit www.SouthsidePregnancy.org or call the events office at 708.346.9070. Source: Illinois Review Publish Date: June 1, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

Pro-life Patience Wears Thin as Illinois Parental Notice Law Languishes in Legal Limbo

Pro-life Patience Wears Thin as Illinois Parental Notice Law Languishes in Legal Limbo      Illinois' parental notice law has languished unenforced for nearly 15 years since its initial passage. Now that the constitutionality of the law has been repeatedly vindicated in the courts, pro-life attorneys are demanding the law be enforced. The embattled Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 requires that one parent or legal guardian must be notified 48 hours in advance when a minor aged 17 or younger seeks an abortion. Attorneys from the Thomas More Society filed an appeal with the First District Appellate Court on Friday in an effort to implement the law, which has been challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, saying there is no longer a legal basis to delay its enforcement. "The Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act has held up numerous times against attacks by the ACLU and other opponents, and we believe there is no legal reason to prevent implementation of this long-overdue and much-needed law in Illinois," said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel. "It is time to enforce this law and put an end to secret abortions in Illinois." Judge Daniel Riley of the Cook County Circuit Court dismissed the ACLU lawsuit this past March, ruling the Act constitutionally valid. While he viewed the 1970 Illinois State Constitution as including a right to abortion, he said the Act should stand since the Illinois right to abortion is not broader than the federal right, thereby allowing for certain restrictions.   However, Riley issued an indefinite stay on his order for the duration of the ACLU's legal appeal, which was filed on Thursday. Thomas More Society legal counsel Peter Breen told LifeSiteNews.com that they are challenging the stay, as the appeal process could take years and further delay the implementation of the  repeatedly vindicated law. "It's been absurd the delay on this law," said Breen, noting that the Act was approved in 1995. The Thomas More Society has intervened in the case on behalf of county prosecutors Stu Umholtz, Republican State Attorney of Tazwell County, and Ed Deters, Democrat State Attorney of Effingham County. The State Attorneys are demanding the law be enforced, so they can defend the interests of parents in their counties whose minor daughters are procuring secret abortions. Breen added that the Thomas More Society is acting to ensure that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan defends the parental notice act properly. Breen explained that otherwise Madigan has little incentive to defend the pro-life law, as Planned Parenthood was the fourth largest contributor in her election campaign. The pro-life legal advocates plan to file a docketing statement with the district court within a week, and will then prepare briefs arguing for the immediate implementation of the law. The appeals process, Breen said, may go as far as the state Supreme Court, which would likely rule in favor of the law. Five years previously, the Supreme Court created a court by-pass procedure designed to make the law constitutional in Illinois. But Breen cautioned that the outcome will depend on the strategy of the ACLU, which has shown a willingness to delay a law as long as possible before dropping an appeal they may very well lose. In November 2009, the ACLU intervened in court to strike down the parental notice law on the very day it was finally supposed to go into full effect. However, the Illinois Medical Disciplinary Board and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation decided to enforce the pro-life law without further delay. The law had been in legal limbo for nearly 15 years while various constitutional issues were hashed out. Since the passage of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act in 1995, over 50,000 Illinois girls below the age of majority have obtained abortions, more than 4,000 of whom were 14 years old or younger, without any requirement to notify their parents beforehand. Contact: Peter J. Smith Source: LifeSiteNews.com Publish Date: June 1, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.

“Assisted Suicide: Why Now?”

"Assisted Suicide: Why Now?"      Legatus Magazine asked me to write a piece on the recent successes in assisted suicide advocacy.  I said yes, I wrote, and it is now out. I begin with a brief recitation of the history of modern assisted suicide advocacy, starting with the failed attempt to place a legalization initiative on the 1988 California ballot, through legalization by the Montana Supreme Court in 2009.  Then, it is on to the primary subject of "why now."  From my column: A question amidst all of this Sturm und Drang naturally arises: Why now? After all, 100 years ago when people did die in agony from such illnesses as a burst appendix, there was little talk of legalizing euthanasia. But now, when pain and other forms of suffering are readily alleviated and the hospice movement has created truly compassionate methods to care for the dying, suddenly we hear the battle cry "death with dignity" as "the ultimate civil liberty." In fighting assisted suicide since 1993, I have often pondered the "why now" question. I've found two answers: First, the perceived overriding purpose of society has shifted to the benefit of assisted suicide advocacy, and second, our public policies are driven and defined by a media increasingly addicted to slinging emotional narratives rather than reporting about rational discourse and engaging in principled analysis. Add in a popular culture enamored with social outlaws, and the potential exists for a perfect euthanasia storm. I discuss Yuval Levin's important insight, discussed here before: Social commentator Yuval Levin, a protégé of ethicist Leon Kass, described the new societal zeitgeist in his recent book Imagining the Future: Science and American Democracy. While not about assisted suicide per se, Levin hit the nail on the head when he described society as no longer being concerned primarily with helping citizens to lead "the virtuous life." Rather, he wrote, "relief and preservation from disease and pain, from misery and necessity" have "become the defining ends of human action, and therefore of human societies." In other words, preventing suffering and virtually all difficulty is now paramount. In such a cultural milieu, eliminating suffering easily mutates into eliminating the sufferer. The prevent-suffering-at-all-costs agenda is harnessed by assisted suicide advocates through publicizing heart-rending stories of seriously ill or disabled patients who want to die. Illustrating how potent this emotional narrative has become, even the ghoulish Jack Kevorkian is being remade into a big softy concerned solely with relieving suffering. I get into the real Jack Kevorkian, again, also discussed here previously.  And I end on a hopeful note, touched with a dose of realism: Still, there is good news in spite of the darkening sky: Principle and virtue are not dead. To the consternation of assisted suicide advocates, the sanctity-of-life principle has not yet completely lost its vitality. The vast majority of doctors in Oregon do not assist patient suicides; most of such deaths are facilitated by the advocacy group Compassion and Choices. In Washington, physicians and health corporations — such as the Providence Hospitals — have pushed back against the new law by stating publicly that they will not participate. And despite millions of dollars spent promoting the agenda (financed by the likes of George Soros), assisted suicide has not broken into the mainstream of American law and medical practice. But they will keep trying. Successful resistance does not require giving up vital principles. Opponents, however, will have to tailor their message of true compassion and care in ways that resonate within the current cultural milieu. Just saying that killing is wrong is no longer enough. The case against assisted suicide is compelling, but since it often lacks emotional immediacy, it is sometimes hard to make in a tabloid media addicted to provocative images and soundbite analysis.  But slowly, we are succeeding. For example, according to the most recent Gallup Poll on the issue, 46% of those polled think think assisted suicide is morally wrong, tied with 46% who don't.  That's a steep decline from the 53-41 pro assisted suicide view polled in 2004. Contact: Wesley J. Smith Source: Secondhand Smoke Publish Date: June 1, 2010 Link to this article. Send this article to a friend.