Another Pro-Abortion Attack on Research Documenting that Abortion Hurts Women

Among the strongest pillars upholding the continued viability of legalized abortion is the faulty conclusion (as expressed in 2008 by the pro-abortion American Psychological Association) that "There is no credible evidence that a single elective abortion of an unwanted pregnancy in and of itself causes mental health problems for adult women." So as the number of studies mount showing that many women (at least 30%) suffer from serious physical and/or mental health aftereffects from their abortion, you could be sure pro-abortionists would unload a withering barrage of criticism.

The latest round of scholarly putdowns--in this case against an important study published by Coleman et al. in 2008 in the Journal of Psychiatric Research-- was unleashed this week by researchers with obvious connections to the Abortion Establishment. Indeed it would harder to get better anti-life credentials than Julia Steinberg of the University of California, San Francisco, and Lawrence Finer of the Guttmacher Institute

[Is it an accident that their stinging critique comes on the heels of an op-ed written by Dr. Brenda Major published last month in the Washington Post, charging that "Rigorous U.S. scientific studies have not substantiated the claim that abortion, compared with its alternatives, causes an increased incidence of mental health problems"? It certainly is no coincidence that Dr. Major chaired the American Psychological Association's highly biased Task Force which produced the APA's Report on Abortion and Mental Health.]

Writing in Social Science & Medicine, Steinberg and Finer brusquely dismiss the results of the 2008 study. In a statement dripping with condescension and released with their paper, Steinberg wrote, "We were unable to reproduce the most basic tabulations of Coleman and colleagues," adding, "Moreover, their findings were logically inconsistent with other published research." For good measure, Steinberg writes, "This suggests that the results were substantially inflated" (emphasis added).

So what was it that Coleman, Coyle, Shuping, and Rue found? Let's begin with the purpose of their study--"To examine associations between abortion history and a wide range of anxiety (panic disorder, panic attacks, PTSD, Agoraphobia), mood (bipolar disorder, mania, major depression), and substance abuse disorders (alcohol and drug abuse and dependence) using a nationally representative US sample, the national comorbidity survey." [The NCS is "widely recognized as the first nationally representative survey of mental health in the United States."]

The most notable conclusion of "Induced abortion and anxiety, mood, and substance abuse disorders: Isolating the effects of abortion in the national comorbidity survey" was, "The strongest effects based on the attributable risks indicated that abortion is responsible for more than 10% of the population incidence of alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, drug dependence, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and bipolar disorder in the population. Lower percentages were identified for 6 additional diagnoses."

Given the personal nature of Steinberg's and Finer's attack--"Antiabortion activists have relied on questionable science in their efforts to push inclusion of the concept of 'post-abortion syndrome' in both clinical practice and law"-- there is great irony in the concluding paragraph to Coleman et al.'s paper.

"The academic debate [over abortion and mental health] was fueled by socio-political agendas that impeded and at time contaminated scientific efforts," they wrote. "Recent years have however ushered in large scale, methodologically sophisticated studies…"

The Steinberg/Finer paper is 45-pages long, but the core of their critique is simple. There is no significant relationship between abortion history and substance abuse or mood and anxiety disorders once you look at "other factors, such as preexisting mental health disorders and sexual or physical violence before the abortion," as the Washington Post's Rob Stein summarized the argument. "[T]hey found that women who had had multiple abortions were more likely to have those risk factors before the abortion compared with women who had had one or no abortions."

This is the most common pro-abortion response--indeed, in some ways it is the only pro-abortion response: Women who have post-abortion difficulties came to their abortions with emotional baggage.

As Steinberg and Finer wrote, "Women likely to have negative psychological outcomes following an abortion are those least apt to cope with any stressful life event including giving birth to an unwanted pregnancy" (italics in the original). It is not a consequence OF the abortion.

In response to an inquiry, Prof. Coleman wrote back, "Despite their many claims to have conducted a 're-analysis' of our study, Steinberg and Finer have conducted a very different set of analyses. The critical distinction is in how the psychological disorders were defined. Our analyses reflected 12-month prevalence and their analyses reflected only the 30-day prevalence. Our results are quite similar to those reported by pro-choice researcher David Fergusson and many others. There are additional differences between the two sets of analyses, most notably related to the choice of potential confounding variables and the methods used to control them in the analyses."

Coleman continued, "Do these authors have plans to 'replicate' the 2010 study by Mota and colleagues published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry? These authors also used the National Comorbidity Survey Replication data and their results were quite consistent with ours.

"I find it hard to imagine that Steinberg and Finer believe a journal as reputable as the Journal of Psychiatric Research--edited by Alan Schatzberg, M.D., president-elect of the American Psychiatric Association--would publish an article indicating that abortion poses psychological risks to women independent of other stressors without scrutinizing the methodology carefully."

There are a number of other weaknesses.

First, Finer has worked for years for Guttmacher, the intellectual arm of the Abortion Establishment. Steinberg works at the University of California at San Francisco.

It would be difficult to exaggerate how prominent an abortion proponent UCSF has been over the decades. Carol Joffe, a prominent abortion activist who is one of the professors at UCSF's Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health and helped put together the "Abortion Pioneers" booklet [featuring UCSF faculty], outlined the place of UCSF in the abortion movement:

"What UCSF has done, more so than any other medical institution I can think of, has been to integrate abortion into mainstream medical care," she said. "The message that this medical school gives the rest of medicine is that abortion is a normal part of women's reproductive health" (p. 17) [See http://www.nrlc.org/NewsToday/HighPowered.html].

Second, the result of the research of Coleman et al. is not an isolated outlier. It is part of a wave of research--including by self-described "pro-choicers" such as Prof. Fergusson--that has reached the same conclusion: there are serious mental health consequences associated with having an abortion.

For example, writing in the December 2008 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, Prof. Fergusson, John Horwood, and Dr. Joseph Boden from New Zealand's Otago University reported a 30% higher rate of mental health problems among women who had aborted. The conditions most associated with abortion included anxiety disorders and substance use disorders.

The study ("Abortion and mental health disorders: evidence from a 30-year longitudinal study") was of over 500 women born in one city, who were interviewed six times between the ages of 15 and 30.

The trio of researchers estimated that between 1.5% and 5.5% of the overall rate of mental disorders in this group of women could be accounted for by their abortions.

There were two other inter-related considerations. To begin with, "none of the other pregnancy outcomes [other than abortion] were consistently related to significantly increased risks of mental health problems."

Moreover, the evidence "clearly poses a challenge to the use of psychiatric reasons to justify abortion," Fergusson told the Daily Mail. "There is nothing in this study that would suggest that the termination of pregnancy was associated with lower risks of mental health problems than birth."

Third, in Prof. Coleman response to Dr. Major's Washington Post op-ed, she pointed out, "Over 30 studies have been published in just the last five years and they add to a body of literature comprised of hundreds of studies published in major medicine and psychology journals throughout the world." She added, "No lies, just scientifically-derived information that individual academics, several major professional organizations, and abortion providers have done their best to hide and distort in recent years."

The conclusion that abortion has a devastating aftermath for women "has been voiced by prominent researchers in Great Britain, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the U.S., and elsewhere," Coleman wrote. Major's "op-ed provides another illustration of the dishonesty permeating the scientific study and dissemination of information pertaining to abortion and mental health"

Contact: Dave Andrusko
Source: National Right to Life
Publish Date: December 14, 2010

--  Illinois Federation for Right to Life 2600 State Street, Suite. E Alton, IL  62002  Phone: 618.466.4122 Fax: 618.466.4134 Web: www.ifrl.org E-mail: mail@ifrl.org

Adult Stem Cell Transplant Helps Cure HIV?

A German HIV and leukemia patient, who recovered from leukemia plus HIV after adult stem cell therapy, made headlines some two years ago. The then-anonymous patient–diagnosed with HIV in 1995–had contracted life-threatening leukemia. In 2006, Berlin doctors applied a standard therapy for leukemia–transplantation of donated bone marrow adult stem cells that reconstitute the patient’s blood and immune system (Joseph E. Murray and E. Donnall Thomas received the 1990 Nobel Prize for their discoveries that led to such transplants.) But the German doctors did even more: Knowing that some people are genetically resistant to HIV, they looked for a matched bone marrow donor with this special feature–cells that lack . And they found the desired donor. The patient went into remission both from leukemia and from the HIV infection. The case made international headlines in 2008.

Now, the anonymity of the “Berlin patient” has been lifted by the German weekly magazine “Stern” (“The Star”). He is an American citizen who lives in Berlin, 44-year-old Timothy Ray Brown. He has survived leukemia and he has defeated HIV, through a selective adult stem cell transplant. The adult stem cell donor was carefully selected by the doctors–the donor cells lacked a molecule called CCR5; the cell-surface receptor that acts as an attachment factor for the HIV virus, making the donor cells resistant to HIV infection.

The doctors are now claiming that there is evidence in this patient for a “cure” for HIV infection using the selective adult stem cell transplant. The published evidence seems sound, but caution should be exercised. This is not a gentle procedure. Moreover, it relies on finding a bone marrow adult stem cell donor with the particular mutation, so that their donated cells lack the CCR5 receptor.

Click here to read the new report (“Evidence for the cure of HIV infection by CCR5{Delta}32/{Delta}32 stem cell transplantation”) is published online in the journal Blood.

Contact: David Prentice
Source: FRC Blog
Publish Date: December 14, 2010

--  Illinois Federation for Right to Life 2600 State Street, Suite. E Alton, IL  62002  Phone: 618.466.4122 Fax: 618.466.4134 Web: www.ifrl.org E-mail: mail@ifrl.org

Alaska Judge Guts Parental-Notification Law

Planned Parenthood won a partial victory today as Alaska’s parental-notification law took effect without key provisions included.

Superior Court Judge John Suddock refused a request from the abortion giant to block the entire law, but ruled that abortionists will not face fines or prison time if they fail to notify parents before a minor gets an abortion. He also ruled that “designees,” instead of physicians, can notify parents.

The law passed in August with 55 percent of the votes.

Jim Minnery, president of the Alaska Family Council, told NBC’s KTUU that Suddock’s ruling has made the law useless because abortionists will not be held accountable.

“What’s the incentive for a physician?” he said. “It’s basically a suggestion.”

Minnery also pointed out that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld similar laws on nine occasions.

Source: CitizenLink
Publish Date: December 14, 2010

--  Illinois Federation for Right to Life 2600 State Street, Suite. E Alton, IL  62002  Phone: 618.466.4122 Fax: 618.466.4134 Web: www.ifrl.org E-mail: mail@ifrl.org

Carhart Deceives MD Board About Late-Term Abortion Involvement

Complaint filed with Maryland Board of Physicians highlighting the truth behind Carhart's "sanitized" medical license application.
 
LeRoy Carhart is perhaps the best known abortionist in the nation, yet when he applied for a license to practice medicine in Maryland in September, Carhart intentionally concealed the true nature of his risky late-term abortion practice from the Maryland Board of Physicians.

"Looking at his Maryland medical license application, there is no mention of abortion anywhere. One is lead to believe that Carhart is an emergency room physician and university professor. There is no indication on that application that he is the most notorious late-term abortionist in the nation," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

Operation Rescue recently received a redacted copy of Carhart's application for Maryland licensure, which was obtained through a Maryland Public Information Act request.

On page two of the application, Carhart lists his current position as Medical Director and Staff Physician of "Bellevue Health/Emergency Clinic, Inc." located at 1002 West Mission Avenue in Bellevue, Nebraska, which is actually the address of his infamous abortion mill, better known as the Abortion and Contraception Clinic of Nebraska.

"Why use a dummy corporation instead of the actual name of his abortion business? It is obvious that Carhart attempted to deceive without technically lying. It shows a devious attitude that poses a danger in the field of medicine," said Newman.

Nowhere on Carhart's application does he mention that he was an employee for over a decade of George Tiller's now-closed Women's Health Care Services, the largest free-standing late-term abortion mill outside of Communist China. That omission, as well as the omission of other abortion clinics that Carhart has worked at in the past 20 years in eight states, helps to conceal the truth about the nature of Carhart's late-term abortion business.

"When the most notorious abortionist in the world tries to cover up what he does for a living, you know he has something to hide," said Newman.

Operation Rescue has submitted to the Maryland Board of Physicians documentation on Gilbert's avoidable death and the numerous botched abortions with which Carhart was involved in Kansas. The complaint is demanding that the Board reconsider Carhart's license.

"We intend to press the issue with the medical board and other authorities until women are safe from Carhart's deceptive and exploitive abortion practices," said Newman.

Contact: Troy Newman
Source: Operation Rescue
Publish Date: December 15, 2010

--  Illinois Federation for Right to Life 2600 State Street, Suite. E Alton, IL  62002  Phone: 618.466.4122 Fax: 618.466.4134 Web: www.ifrl.org E-mail: mail@ifrl.org

Adult Stem Cell Advances

Sewing in Healing Adult Stem Cells

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have developed biological sutures that could be used to sew adult stem cells into various parts of the body, including heart muscle. The technique used biopolymer microthreads made of fibrin, a type of protein that forms in clots; the fibrin microthreads can be engineered with various tensile strengths and seeded with adult stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow.

In a paper published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials, the team showed that the adult mesenchymal stem cells would grow on the microthreads and still maintain their ability to differentiate into various cell types.

Studies by senior author Dr. Glenn Gaudette as well as others have shown that mesenchymal stem cells can improve cardiac function, but that it is a challenge to deliver sufficient numbers of the cells to the damaged heart tissue. Students at Johns Hopkins had previously embedded adult stem cells in regular surgical thread. One of Dr. Caugette’s colleagues, Dr. George Pins, developed the special biopolymer microthread technology as a “scaffold” to attach cells for applications in wound healing and cellular therapy.

Dr. Gaudette said:

    “This technology is developing into a potentially powerful system for delivering therapeutic cells right to where they are needed, whether that’s a damaged heart or other tissues.”

Sew there you have it, more potential uses of adult stem cells.

Gone to the Dogs: Adult Stem Cells Help Pets

While real treatments with adult stem cells for people continue to be overlooked as they hype pushes resources towards embryonic stem cells, animals are benefitting from adult stem cells. Previous stories have noted that numerous animals have received adult stem cell treatments.

Now two more dogs from Topeka, Kansas take center stage in the success stories.. Gunner and Sherman had their own adult stem cells injected. The results have been impressive, and their owners say it’s almost like their dogs are aging backwards.

Gunner used to drag his feet when he walked from pain in his joints. His owner says, “Our fourth day after the procedure, he picked his feet up and he was prancing and later on that evening he decided to jump up on the sofa.” Sherman had terrible arthritis that made it painful for him to move. About ten days after his treatment, Sherman was also much improved and moving freely.

Veterinarian Larry Snyder of University Animal Clinic, who treated the dogs, couldn’t be more pleased. Snyder says:

    “We’ve been very impressed with what these dogs are doing. Neither dog seems to be in any pain, they’re moving well. It’s almost like somebody turned back the hands of time.”

It’s about doggone time that people realized the actual success of adult stem cells for people, too.

Quadriplegic Donkey Walks Again with Adult Stem Cells

Eli the donkey provides another example from the animal world of the success of adult stem cells. On May 13, 2010 Eli was attacked by a stablemate twice his size. The trauma led to swelling of his spinal cord, and rapid progression of weakness in his front end and hindquarters. The veterinarians treating Eli also got the opinion of Dr. Mike Kistler of Cortez, Colorado, a senior member of the American Society of Neuroradiology with more than 25 years of experience in human spinal trauma. Dr. Kistler noted that “In a human, a comparable injury would have been sustained by diving into shallow water, and the majority of those injuries would have a poor prognosis, with paralysis.” Kistler’s interpretation of the MRI results was that Eli’s spinal cord had suffered significant bruising and circulation damage, and that the prognosis was poor. Because an equid’s overall health declines when it cannot stand, he felt Eli most likely would not survive his injury or its complications. By May 24, Eli lay paralyzed in all four limbs and could not lift his head; he’d developed pneumonia and was unable to maintain his body temperature, even with supportive care, and was on the verge of death.

But Eli was under the care of Doug Herthel, D.V.M., who is a pioneer in the veterinary use of adult stem cells. He has treated more than 5,000 horses with good results, though the majority have been for tendon and ligament injuries. He opted to treat Eli with adult mesenchymal stem cells. With the little donkey’s life hanging by a thread, there was no time to harvest and process stem cells from Eli’s own bone marrow, so Herthel used donor adult stem cells that had been banked from the bone marrow of a Thoroughbred racehorse. Within 48 hours, Eli improved and began to show some movement. Eli received additional treatments of the adult stem cells.

Herthel says:

“Mesenchymal stem cells can selectively target injured tissue and promote functional recovery. They can be attracted to damaged tissue by chemical signals released from damaged cells.”

On July 31, attendants found Eli standing in his stall. According to Herthel:

    “We couldn’t figure out how he got up. So we went back and looked at the [intensive care unit] video, and we saw him get up on his own. It wasn’t pretty, but he got up, and that’s what counts. After that third treatment, he just got better and better, and his muscle mass came back.”


Click here for the video.

Eli was released to his owner on September 15. Herthel said he expects Eli to enjoy a normal existence, barring unanticipated complications later in his life.

While this is only one case, Herthel says he won’t hesitate to use the adult stem cell procedure again. Maybe if some politicians and scientists weren’t such… donkeys ideologically lusting for embryonic stem cells, people could experience some of the same benefits.

Contact: David Prentice
Source: FRC Blog
Publish Date: December 15, 2010

--  Illinois Federation for Right to Life 2600 State Street, Suite. E Alton, IL  62002  Phone: 618.466.4122 Fax: 618.466.4134 Web: www.ifrl.org E-mail: mail@ifrl.org

VA Attorney General: Judge’s Ruling Confirms Individual Mandate in ObamaCare is Unconstitutional

     

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli praised a Virginia federal judge's ruling on Monday that the mandate requiring people to buy health insurance or pay a penalty as stipulated in the new health care law is unconstitutional.

However, Cuccinelli also said the ruling is just one stage of a "long process" that will "all end at the U.S. Supreme Court."


Click here for the video.

Cuccinelli went on to say that Judge Henry Hudson's ruling, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, indicated a rejection of the federal government's argument that not purchasing health insurance could be considered "economic activity."

"There are two basic findings in the case," Cuccinelli told reporters at the courthouse in Richmond, Va. "One, the individual mandate is unconstititutional because ordering Americans to buy health insurance, as the bill does, is beyond the Congress' power under the Commerce Clause. And two, that the bill is not saved by the taxing power Congress has by applying a penalty to those Americans who do not buy the government-mandated health insurance."

He continued, "We are one stage farther, nonetheless this is still going to be a long process and I would presume, I think it's a reasonable presumption, that this will all end at the U.S. Supreme Court. And while we look forward to getting there, we are much happier to go with a win in round one."

"The federal government asked the [District] court to call economic activity or something affecting economic activity the decision by individual Americans not to buy health insurance, the decision not to buy health insurance," Cuccinelli told reporters.

The Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution says, "The Congress shall have power … to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes."

By requiring individuals to purchase health insurance or face a penalty, as the health care law pushed by the Obama administration mandates, Cuccinelli said the government is attempting to "convert" the decision to "do nothing into economic activity."

"They [the federal government] wanted to convert the decision to do nothing into economic activity or into something that affects economic activity, and this judge and this court rejected that leap of logic and language," said Cuccinelli.

President Obama signs the Democrats' health care bill into law in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"The dictionary at times looked like a major impediment to the federal government's case here and, in this respect it was again, and the judge was explicit about rejecting this rationale," he said.

Later in the press conference, Cuccinelli quoted the following portion of the judge's ruling:  "Despite the laudable intentions of Congress in enacting a comprehensive and transformative health care regime, the legislative process must still operate within constitutional bounds -- salutatory goals and creative drafting have never been sufficient to offset an absence of enumerated powers."

Cuccinelli said this shows that the goals of the legislation were not pursued within the powers of the Constitution so the courts must strike it down.

"This is a formal way to say that the goals here were noble in this bill but even noble goals may only be pursued within the powers of the Constitution, and that did not happen with this piece of legislation and so the courts must strike it down," he said.

Contact: Nicholas Ballasy
Source: CNSNews.com
Publish Date: December 13, 2010

Good News: Midwest States See Pro-Life Progress

     

Indiana lawmakers are working on measures to ban late-term abortions and defund Planned Parenthood. In Iowa, lawmakers in the House — which returned to Republican control last month — also are drafting legislation to further protect preborn babies. And in Ohio, Planned Parenthood is headed to trial after it reportedly failed to notify a girl's parents before performing an abortion.

"These developments should be an encouragement for pro-lifers who have long been fighting to uphold the worth and value of women and preborn children," said Dawn McBane, bioethics analyst for CitizenLink.

"The majority of Americans now see themselves as pro-life."

Lawmakers in Indiana and Iowa are working to mirror Nebraska's new pro-life law, which protects babies after 20 weeks unless the mom's life is in danger. Nebraska's law has prompted notorious abortionist LeRoy Carhart to make plans to leave the state and set up clinics in Indiana and Iowa.

Indiana and Iowa prohibit late-term abortions, but allow abortionists to proceed if it's determined that a woman's "health" is in danger.

"Our concern is that if LeRoy Carhart or any other doctor finds a hospital to partner with, there's nothing in Indiana law that will prevent him from doing as many late-term abortions as he wants to," Mike Fichter, president of Indiana Right to Life, told The Indianapolis Star.

"There's a very real potential that Indianapolis will become a hub for late-term abortions unless the Legislature acts quickly on this."

Pro-life lawmakers in Indiana also are seeking to pull funding from Planned Parenthood, which, according to the state's executive director, receives about $2 million from the federal government every year.

Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio will go before a jury in February after a Hamilton County judge ruled that a Cincinnati abortion clinic breached a state statute by failing to brief a teenager on the risks of abortion 24 hours before an abortion.

In 2004, the then-13-year-old girl was impregnated by John Haller, her 22-year-old soccer coach, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Planned Parenthood failed to report the case as child abuse. Haller later served three years in prison for sexual battery.

Brian Hurley, the attorney representing the teen, said the clinic also failed to obtain consent from one of her parents before the abortion — which state law requires.

"We believe as a result of Planned Parenthood's action," he said, "she's been significantly harmed psychologically and emotionally."

Contact: Jennifer Mesko
Source: CitizenLink
Publish Date: December 13, 2010

Ethics Investigation Launched Into Iowa Attorney General's Conduct in Telemed Abortion Scandal

     
     Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller 

Operation Rescue has received confirmation that a formal ethics investigation has been launched by the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board into conduct by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller concerning the request for a criminal investigation of telemed webcam abortions conducted by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland.
 
"It is clear to us that Tim Miller placed the interests of his friends and political allies at Planned Parenthood above the laws of the State of Iowa and the health and safety of women," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, who filed the ethics complaint against Miller.
 
Miller will now be required to provide an answer to the Iowa Supreme Court Disciplinary Board for the allegations against him.
 
Troy Newman filed the complaint on November 29, 2010, alleging three causes of action:

   1. Conflict of interest, due to Miller's close professional and personal associations with PPH staff members.
       
   2. Hindering or impeding efforts to obtain independent criminal investigations
       
   3. Corruption, for putting his political associates and personal friends ahead of his vow to enforce the laws of the State of Iowa.

Operation Rescue conducted an investigation earlier this year of the so-called telemed abortions and discovered information that gave Newman reason to believe that PPH's telemed abortion pill scheme not only violates standards of care, but also violates the law.

Operation Rescue filed a formal complaint with the Iowa Board of Medicine in April, 2010, asking for an investigation. That investigation is on-going.

Since clinics in several Iowa counties were involved, a complaint demanding a criminal investigation of PPH's remote-controlled abortion pill scheme was filed on June 24, 2010, with the Iowa Attorney General's office, which has jurisdiction in all Iowa counties. Almost immediately, Attorney General Tom Miller began making excuses for why he could not proceed with an investigation, telling reporters that the county attorneys had jurisdiction.

Realizing that Miller would not act, Operation Rescue sent complaints to county attorneys in ten Iowa Counties known to have telemed abortion facilities. Responses were received indicating that Miller had previously alerted the county attorneys and indicated to them that investigations should be left to the Iowa Board of Medicine. This virtually shut down any hope of gaining an investigation that Miller's office could not control.

"It is unethical for the laws of Iowa to be disregarded due to political cronyism, especially when it places the health and safety of citizens in jeopardy, as is the case with Planned Parenthood's telemed abortion pill scheme," said Newman. "It was my duty to file this complaint, and pray that it will halt the subversion of justice by politics and corruption."

Contact: Troy Newman
Source: Operation Rescue
Publish Date: December 14, 2010

Pro Life Legislation to Proliferate in New Legislative Environment

     

In all of the stories about the flip of the House of Representatives, few paid enough attention to the massive changes in state governance.  But the pro life movement did, noting that its allies have gained much political power.  And that will result in a lot of new anti abortion legislating.  From the Politico:

    Massive gains in statehouses and a promising new rhetorical strategy have anti-abortion advocates predicting a banner year — and abortion rights supporters bracing for the challenge. The number of anti-abortion governors rose from 21 to 29 in the past election, according to a NARAL Pro-Choice America analysis, previewed exclusively to POLITICO and set to be released early next month. The number of states with fully anti-abortion governments — where the governor and the legislature find themselves on the same side of the issue — increased from 10 to 15.

What kind of laws might be passed?

    Anti-abortion advocates are planning an aggressive strategy at both the state and the federal level. At a National Right to Life Committee state strategy conference last week — hastily convened after activists realized the extent of their legislative gains — the anti-abortion lobby announced it would focus on three model laws that have already seen some success on the ground…

    Alongside the fetal pain legislation, advocates see two other paths forward: pushing laws that would require an ultrasound to be shown to the patient prior to an abortion, similar to an Oklahoma law, as well as bills that would bar insurance coverage of abortion in the health insurance exchanges that come online in 2014.

I find it remarkable that in an increasingly relativistic and post modern culture, pro life beliefs continue to flourish and grow.  Why might that be?  There is no denying the scientific truth that abortion kills a developing human being.  And that still matters.

Contact: Wesley J. Smith
Source: Secondhand Smoke
Publish Date: December 14, 2010

Breaking victory! UW Madison scraps plans for late-term abortions

     

Wisconsin pro-lifers can claim victory after engaging in nearly a 2-year battle against the University of Wisconsin for its plan to begin commiting 2nd trimester abortions at its Madison Surgery Center.

While in May UW denied a WI attorney general's report stating it was halting its attempt, yesterday UW finally decided to abandon the public relations nightmare, blaming pro-lifers. According to The Badger Herald last night:

    UW Hospital and Clinics halted efforts… citing the safety and privacy of patients as the main reason, officials announced Monday.

    An abortion clinic at the Madison Surgery Center… was approved in February 2009 by several patent boards…. The clinic would have been able to perform late-term abortions.

    UW Health spokesperson Lisa Brunette said there was never a plan to offer late-term abortions at MSC, but rather "second trimester procedures," which she said are not late-term abortions.

    The main reason UW Health is no longer working to offer these services at MSC is to make sure all patients entering the clinic, regardless of what they are at MSC for, are not harmed by activists, Brunette said.

    "We want to make sure anyone going into that building is safe from harm and has their privacy respected," Brunette said.

    She added UW Health is not currently looking for another location that would be safer for patients and does not have plans to look in the future.

Pro-lifers should now keep an eye on the local Planned Parenthood, from whence this ruckus started. It was only because its late-term abortionist, Dennis Christensen, quit following a contract dispute that the plan was hatched to move them to UW.

Contact: Jill Stanek
Source: JillStanek.com
Publish Date: December 14, 2010

Abortuary bypasses protocol, prepares for trial

    

An Ohio judge has issued a partial ruling in a case involving an underage girl who was brought to Planned Parenthood for an abortion.

A county judge has ruled that the abortion organization failed to follow informed consent protocol in a case concerning a girl impregnated by a 22-year-old soccer coach as a result of a rape incident.

"A court in Ohio ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot jeopardize the safety and health of young girls by putting their desire to perform an abortion over the interest of those girls," reports Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) attorney Matt Bowman. The abortion chain is required by state law to "check and make sure that this girl isn't a subject of rape and isn't being brought in by her rapist boyfriend."

But Planned Parenthood failed to meet with the girl for a review 24 hours prior to the procedure, though it is required by state law. Bowman explains that the soccer coach "brought her to the abortion facility of Planned Parenthood, and they did the abortion on her, [in spite of] an Ohio law [that] exists to prevent that abortion from happening...."

Moreover, the victim's family claims they were not notified about the procedure in advance, and their lawyer contends that also violates state law. But the recent ruling means the case will go to trial, which is set for February 7.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: December 14, 2010

Personal PAC's Terry Csogrove Boasts Quinn Win

While everyone's got an opinion on how Bill Brady lost a 13 point lead to Pat Quinn, Terry Cosgrove, executive director of Illinois abortion industry's political action committee proudly claims his share of the credit.  Cosgrove boasts Personal PAC's winning strategy to Windy City Times: The organization did so by sending out direct-mail pieces; buying its first television ad (called "Jennie") in the organization's 21-year history (costing $200,000); placing robocalls using a voice recording of the television ad; and distributing leaflets at Metra stations throughout Chicagoland to educate voters about Brady's conservative views. Cosgrove says his work promoting abortion also lends itself to assisting the gay rights movement: Being openly gay hasn't affected his work although elected officials call him to get information and advice on LGBT issues statewide, Cosgrove said. He sees the work he does with reproductive rights going hand in hand with LGBT equality since they are both civil-rights issues. Since his organization is bipartisan he stressed the importance of getting support from both sides so significant pieces of legislation can get passed. And being the only state in the Midwest with absolutely no abortion restrictions isn't enough for Personal PAC.  They're not sitting back and enjoying their political and electoral victories.  They're pushing for even more pro-abortion policies in the days ahead: As for the future, Cosgrove said he is looking forward to the re-drawing of the political map in Illinois so they can elect more pro-choice candidates and pass the Reproductive Health and Access Act in the state assembly. He also would like to get comprehensive sex education taught in the public schools so young adults will know the ways to act responsibly. The House Republican pro-abortion caucus lost two members this fall -- Suzie Bassi and Beth Coulson.  Staunch GOP abortion supporters who've received financial support from Personal PAC that remain are Mark Beaubien (who's wife is on Personal PAC's board of directors), Sid Mathias, Rosemary Mulligan, Tom Cross and Skip Saviano.  The question for Illinois social conservatives is, where's their powerful prolife political action committee  that can challenge Cosgrove's Personal PAC, who's donated millions over the years to Illinois lawmakers?  To date, there isn't one prolife group to compare to Personal PAC's.  That's a shameful travesty.  Source: Illinois Review Publish Date: December 13, 2010

Pro-lifers lay out legislative strategies

NRLC Spokesperson Mary Spaulding Balch The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) is gearing up for an eventful year among its state chapters.   A significant number of states were represented at the NRLC's recent annual meeting, where state chapters met to develop effective pro-life strategies. Spokesperson Mary Spaulding Balch tells OneNewsNow representatives focused on several key areas of legislation. She says several states are interested in Nebraska's Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which effectively bans late-term abortions. According to Balch, other states may pursue legislation that would require abortionists to display a sonogram of a patient's baby, whether the expectant mother requests it or not. "We also have some states, such as Iowa, that are gearing up to address what Planned Parenthood has been trying to do [to] do chemical abortions over television screens-- [essentially] webcam abortions," the NRLC spokesperson reports. With that method, which has come to be known as "telemed" abortions, the mother answers a few questions through an online computer conversation with an abortionist. The doctor then pushes a button to distribute RU-486 to the patient, who takes the medication at home and ultimately kills her baby without a doctor present. But Balch explains that the results of the recent elections have given the pro-life movement fresh energy, and she expects that momentum to continue as long as the public remains engaged in the process. "That's actually the key to the victory," she contends. Now that the midterm elections are over, the NRLC spokesman told the conference it is time for people to work even harder to transform that victory into passable pro-life legislation. Contact: Charlie Butts Source: OneNewsNow Publish Date: December 13, 2010

New governor opens door for euthanasia

Democrat Peter Shumlin won the race for governor in Vermont Pro-life groups are getting set for a major battle for life in Vermont.   In November, Democrat Peter Shumlin won the race for governor in Vermont. One of his campaign promises was to promote legislation legalizing assisted suicide. Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition tells OneNewsNow that Shumlin has already started steering the state in that direction.   "He's planning to do so this [legislative] year, in 2011, and he's making a big push," Schadenberg laments.   Major, national assisted-suicide organizations are raising funds for a concentrated push for assisted suicide in Vermont, explains the Coalition spokesman.   "They raised money for the Shumlin campaign; significant dollars were donated to him over this campaign," says Schadenberg. "I think that Vermont has got to be very concerned about what's going on here and open their eyes because they're having something forced down their throats by an outside body -- and they've got a governor [who will] allow it to happen."   Pro-life groups in the state are ready to fight a vigorous battle against it, although financial resources are slim compared to out-of-state assisted suicide money flowing into Vermont. Contact: Charlie Butts Source: OneNewsNow Publish Date: December 11, 2010

Obamacare: Study Finds 40% of Doctors May Quit

Obamacare's ambitions to control the entire health care system through a medical mega-bureaucracy endangers the health care system.  In addition to the toxic potential for rationing, the attempt to undermine private insurance–both for profit and not for profit–by preventing underwriting and forcing companies to take all comers (toward forcing a single payer system, in my opinion), the financially devastating unfunded Medicaid mandates to the states, the cutting of Medicare, etc., etc., there is more to worry about; the potential that doctors will just throw up their hands and take a hike rather than surrender their professionalism to bureaucrats. We saw an earlier study indicating that may just happen, which I reported here.  And now a survey of 2400 doctors for the Physician's Foundation, reaches a similar chilling conclusion.  From the report: The research, conducted by Merritt Hawkins, a national physician search and consulting firm, on behalf of the Foundation, comes on the two-year anniversary of the Foundation's first national physician survey that found growing dissatisfaction among doctors as they struggle with less time for patient care and increased time dealing with non-clinical paperwork, difficulty receiving reimbursement and burdensome government regulations. The new research reinforces those findings and shows that the new health care reform could intensify existing problems for doctors and worsen the shortage of primary care doctors, making it more difficult for patients to access quality care. Here are some specifics: • The majority of physicians (60%) said health reform will compel them to close or significantly restrict their practices to certain categories of patients. Of these, 93% said they will be forced to close or significantly restrict their practices to Medicaid patients, while 87% said they would be forced to close or significantly restrict their practices to Medicare patients. • 40% of physicians said they would drop out of patient care in the next one to three years, either by retiring, seeking a non-clinical job within healthcare, or by seeking a non-healthcare related job. • The majority of physicians (59%) said health reform will cause them to spend less time with patients. • While over half of physicians said health reform will cause patient volumes in their practices to increase, 69% said they no longer have the time or resources to see additional patients in their practices while still maintaining quality of care. • 67% of physicians said their initial reaction to passage of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was either "somewhat negative" or "very negative" and a great majority (86%) believes the viewpoint of physicians was not adequately represented to policy makers during the run-up to passage of the law. This is daunting and needs to be looked at very carefully in the new Congress. Some may argue that it won't really happen, that it is all bluff and bluster.  I don't think we should be so sanguine.  We are already seeing stories of doctors not taking Medicaid and Medicare because of delayed payments, of physicians overworked and underpaid in HMOs, etc.  It strikes me that the bigger the government's thumb on the health care system, the more doctors–particularly those nearing the end of their careers–will say, "It's just not worth it." Click here to view the actual report. Contact: Wesley J. Smith Source: Secondhand Smoke Publish Date: December 11, 2010

Planned Parenthood Offers New Line of Designer Condoms

Planned Parenthood Offers New Line of Designer Condoms             Designer Condom bag Planned Parenthood Federation of America has decorated its Web site with its traditional "Choice on Earth" parody of the "Peace on Earth" message, just in time for the Christmas season. But in addition to gift certificates for Planned Parenthood services, a new line of designer condoms is also on sale, with proceeds benefiting the nation's largest abortion provider. A new design by Keith Haring joins those by Alexander Wang, Charlotte Ronson, Jeremy Scott and others who are designing packaging for condoms under the "Proper Attire: Required for Entry" trademark, accompanied by fig leaf artwork. The fashion celebrities have contributed covers for three-packs of condoms, which are for sale on Planned Parenthood's Web site for $5.99. The campaign features a designer handbag to imply the fashionable condoms will be a perfect fit. Media reviews scroll above the handbag on the Web site such as "Condom Couture, Straight Out of Velvet Rope Culture," "Protect Yourself in Style," "These are Condoms for the Fashion Forward," and The 'It' Condom -- Fashionable Love Gloves." The latest addition of the "condom collection" features the image of Haring's "Untitled," from 1985. The description of the packaging says, "A small splash of color that can brighten the drabbest of outfits. Limited edition packaging incorporating Keith Haring's classic image of dancing figures and barking dogs. "Premium lubricated latex color condoms, designed for more fun and to maximize pleasure," the packaging says. Haring "Untitled, 1988" is also in the collection. "Ethereal, weightless, almost like wearing nothing at all," the description says. On the "About Us" portion of the campaign, Planned Parenthood describes the condom sales this way: "Old stereotypes about who should buy condoms are so last season! PROPER ATTIRE® condoms are the "must-have" accessory and were designed with stylish women in mind. The fashionably chic PROPER ATTIRE design helps ensure that now you can feel completely comfortable buying condoms and carrying them with you. "Not only are you protecting your health by buying PROPER ATTIRE condoms, you are also supporting a great cause. Proceeds from the sale of PROPER ATTIRE condoms will benefit Planned Parenthood Federation of America." Planned Parenthood is also selling other merchandise to raise money for the campaign, including T-shirts, on its and other Web sites and at some retail stores. Planned Parenthood's holiday-themed home page also seeks end-of-year donations. Planned Parenthood has not made public its annual report since Fiscal Year 2007-2008 where it is noted that the organization got $349.6 million in federal funding. Contact: Penny Starr Source: CNSNews.com Publish Date: December 13, 2010

Merger Makes Iowa Planned Parenthood "Web-Cam Abortion" Affiliate Bigger – Again

Merger Makes Iowa Planned Parenthood "Web-Cam Abortion" Affiliate Bigger – Again             Planned Parenthood "Web-Cam Abortion" dispenser It has happened again. Another powerfully- aggressive Planned Parenthood affiliate is gobbling up a weaker, smaller affiliate. This time, the location is Iowa, and the bigger affiliate in the merger happens to be the one that has been in the news lately for its remote "Web-cam abortion" program. (For those who haven't followed this unfortunate development, the abortionist is not present with the woman. He communicates by means of a video conferencing system, electronically opening a drawer from which the woman takes out the two drugs that make up the "RU-486" chemical abortion regime: misoprostol and mifepristone.) According to the (Cedar Rapids) Gazette, the merger is scheduled to take place sometime in 2011. It involves Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (PPH), the bigger affiliate centered in Des Moines, and Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa (PPECI), which has clinics in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque. This represents the second merger in the last couple of years for PPH. The newly merged affiliate will have 25 clinics, covering Nebraska and much of Iowa. A smaller Planned Parenthood affiliate continues to operate in southeast Iowa, but there are no plans to merge that with the others at the present time. While the heads of both affiliates said that the merger wasn't for financial reasons, it's hard to miss that the Heartland affiliate, which has garnered fame and one would expect considerable income from its push for tele-chemical abortions, is the one acquiring the smaller affiliate, which was not performing abortions but only referring for abortions. Lesson? The affiliate performing abortions grows bigger, while the one not doing abortions folds. Planned Parenthood often claims that abortion represents only a small proportion of their services (they say about 3% nationally). But PPFA never goes on to say how much income they draw from this extremely lucrative part of their business. At the prices charged for basic first-trimester suction abortions, the 300,000 plus annual abortions performed nationally at Planned Parenthood's clinics would account for about a third of the organization's "health center" income (see factsheets at www.nrlc.org for more details). PP Heartland grows and grows. It first merged with Planned Parenthood of Nebraska and Council Bluffs in August 2009 (see Today's New & Views, 7/22/10) and has just opened a new clinic in Omaha. That clinic will be offering abortions (Omaha World Herald, 12/9/10). As recently as May of 2010, a spokesperson for PP East Central Iowa was asserting to a reporter for Dubuque's Telegraph Herald that "PPECI has never been abortion providers in our 30-year history and PPECI has no plans at this time to provide abortion services (5/28/10). The story is different now. In an interview that appeared in the Gazette, Jill June, the CEO of PP of the Heartland, along with Vanessa Solesbee, the chair of PPECI, tap-danced around the question. They would only say that "abortions and offering RU486 by telemedicine are among services being evaluated." Jill June, will stay on to head the new organization. Joe Lock, the CEO of PPECI, has resigned. Solesbee told the Gazette's Cindy Hadish that other staff positions will be evaluated, adding, "I can't guarantee that all staff will retain their jobs, as is true with any merger." Contact: Randall K. O'Bannon, Ph.D. Source: National Right to Life Publish Date: December 10, 2010

Defense Bill Includes Authorization for Abortions by Military Personnel

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Update: Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked the legislation, which would have lifted the military's 17-year-old ban on openly homosexual troops as well as the ban on military personnel performing abortions.) Note: We are told by people who know that the votes are very close for passage and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk is leaning toward voting for it.  Please call his Chicago number at 312-886-3506 and leave your message "urging Senator Kirk to vote NO on Don't Ask Don't Tell and NO for military medical facilities to be used for abortions."  Please do it now.   I called this number and got through, numbers in Washington were not successful. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) brought a Defense Department funding bill to the Senate floor on Thursday with the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal included in it, but a lesser known part of the bill would have made another significant change to military policy. An amendment attached to the bill by former Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) during the committee process would end the decades-long ban on military personnel performing abortions in military-run hospitals and facilities. The current law, found in Title 10 Sec 1093 of U.S. Code, only allows abortions to be performed by military personnel in DOD facilities in the event of rape or incest, or to protect the life of the mother. Burris' amendment would overturn that principle, which has been a permanent part of the law since 1985. Burris, who was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill President Obama's Senate seat, lost re-election last month and has been replaced by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), who has already been seated due to the rules of his special election. But Burris was able to add his amendment back in May during the so-called "mark-up" period in which the Senate Armed Services Committee votes and adds a series of changes to the proposed National Defense Authorization Act before reporting it to the full Senate floor. The committee voted 15-12, mostly along party lines, to approve the amendment, with Democrats like Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) supporting it and Republicans like Sens. John McCain and James Inhofe in opposition. Only Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) crossed the aisle to attempt to block it. The GOP is balking at taking a vote on funding the DOD that also includes this controversial measure and the repeal of the Clinton-era "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Inhofe's spokesman sent CNSNews.com a statement in which the senator says, "Like Hate Crimes language in last year's bill, it is inexcusable for liberals to try to include items like…legalizing abortion in military hospitals in the Defense Authorization Bill. This is just another attempt by the liberal majority in Congress to advance its far left agenda…by forcing their radical social policies on our nation's military."  Inhofe also expressed his frustration with Reid's repeated attempts to bring the bill up for a vote without spending much time debating and amending it. "Finally, every year the NDAA is fully debated with hundreds of amendments considered. During this time, members of the United States Senate have been able to discuss and debate the impact of each amendment before voting. This year should not be different." However, spokesman Jared Young said it was not certain that 41 of the 42 Republicans would vote to deny Reid "cloture," in which he needs 60 votes to end debate and move to a vote on whether to pass the bill. Forty-one 'No' votes would be enough to block ending debate, but two GOP members have already expressed willingness to vote with Reid – Sens. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). Collins, however, has some requirements for Reid, who already delayed a cloture vote Wednesday in order to negotiate with her. She is asking the top Democrat, who sets debate parameters, for more time to discuss the bill, which Young explained to CNSNews.com is "usually considered over about a two week time frame." Collins is reportedly willing to settle for as few as four days, but wants the GOP to be allowed to offer around 10 amendments. "There are many people in my caucus who disagree with my position," Collins said. "They deserve an opportunity to offer amendments to strike that provision, to modify it, and also to address other important controversial issues in the bill." One of those issues, the abortion authorization language, could get a vote to be dumped if another Republican offers an amendment that would do so. It's not yet clear whether Reid will agree to Collins' terms, and a call to his office was not returned by press time. Contact: Christopher Neefus Source: CNSNews.com Publish Date: December 10, 2010

Court case and congressional inaction put embryonic stem cell research in limbo

President Barack Obama In August federal district judge Royce Lamberth ruled that the funding violated the 1995 Dickey-Wicker Amendment. In Dec. 6 court arguments, a lawyer for two scientists who filed the lawsuit said federal grants for the research encourage the private sector to create more of the cells. "There is now an incentive for the future destruction of human embryos," said the scientists' lawyer Thomas Hunger, according to the Wall Street Journal. Justice Department lawyer Beth Brinkmann, arguing on behalf of the Obama administration, said that Congress intended to distinguish between promoting the study of embryonic stem cells and paying to create them. The Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibits taxpayer funding from being used to destroy embryos. President Obama's present policy holds that the research can be funded so long as the embryos were destroyed using private money. A congressional bill sponsored by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) could allow funding for the research. She told The Hill that her bill is "still not off the table" during the lame-duck session of Congress, but that  it's an issue of timing. The House leadership sees no point in passing the legislation if it will not also advance in the Senate. Co-sponsor Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) said the legislation is less likely to pass each day and he is "not exactly holding my breath." DeGette said that "real results" of the research are now becoming visible, citing two human-subject studies approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the past two months. She also was optimistic about her legislation's future, saying a recent Harris Interactive poll found 72 percent of Americans favor using embryonic stem cells left over from in vitro fertilization procedures for medical research. However, pro-life leaders were critical of these efforts. Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, commented that Judge Lamberth has "exactly the correct view" of the law. "We've always said the Dickey Amendment … forbids funding any research that relies upon destroying human embryos," he told CNA on Dec. 9. While both the Clinton and Obama administrations have read the law "very narrowly," the bishops' conference and the amendment's sponsors have said its restrictions are broader. Asked whether Judge Lamberth's decision would mean a return to a Bush-era stem cell funding policy, Doerflinger said it would create "a vacuum" and result in no policy for funding research involving stem cells from destroyed embryos. "We don't know what the final decision will look like. It may be that the decision allows a window for reinstating the Bush policy. "But right now there's no Bush policy to refer to. It was canceled out," he added, saying President Obama would have to consider what is possible within the law or would have to support an effort to change the law. Doerflinger said that proponents of embryonic stem cell research have not passed legislation allowing the research funding because there is "uncertainty" about whether such legislation is necessary since the court decision is unresolved. "This court case is going to wend its way through the system for some time to come. So they don't know whether they even need to go through that battle." He added that the "lame duck" congressional session will end soon and other "must-pass" bills have top priority. "So they're tending to edge out any action on embryonic stem cells." Anna Franzonello, staff counsel for Americans United for Life, told CNA on Dec. 9 that her organization is "hopeful" that Judge Lamberth's decision will be upheld. She similarly credited the legislative failure to a political climate in which economic issues are more prominent. She also referred to a Rasmussen poll which reported that 57 percent of likely voters opposed using their tax dollars for the research. "It's not a secret that embryonic stem cell research has not been successful, but adult stem cell research has," she continued. "People are concerned about money going to things that are effective and not failed policies." Opposing the research is "sound ethics" but also "sound policy from a fiscal standpoint as well." She acknowledged the possibility that the failure of embryonic stem cell research is resonating with members of Congress and the Obama administration. "Even people who used to support embryonic stem cell research have come out and said it is not necessary, and actually obsolete," Franzonello continued. She named former National Institutes of Health director Bernardine Healy as one person who has reconsidered the need for the research. Doerflinger noted that there will be increased pro-life voting margins in both the House and the Senate in the next Congress. There will be "a decent chance" of stopping House legislation that would fund the research. "Our hope is that if the courts do the right thing and read this legislation the way it was intended, we can then stop any new legislation from coming in and changing the law to reinstate the funding of destructive research." He added that the ethical issues involved in the research are hard for many people to appreciate because the embryos are at an early stage of development and their creation in a laboratory has a "depersonalizing" effect. "But the fact is that each of us was once an embryo just that small," he said. "The educational challenge is to help people to get past their aesthetic feelings and to a real appreciation of the truth about the beginning of human life." Contact: Kevin J. Jones Source: CNA Publish Date: December 10, 2010

Rep. Hall: ‘Yes,' Jesus Had Right To Life From Moment of Conception

Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Tex.) At the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Tex.) said he believed that Jesus Christ had the right to life from the moment of conception. CNSNews.com asked Rep. Hall, "Do you believe that Jesus Christ had the right to life at the moment of conception?"       Hall  said, "I believe in the right to life," and then added that, "yes," he believed that Jesus had the right to life at the moment of conception. On Tuesday, the lighting ceremony for the Capitol Christmas Tree took place on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. At that event, both Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) said they believed that Jesus received the right to life at the moment of conception. Click here for the video. Contact: Chris Johnson Source: CNSNews.com Publish Date: December 10, 2010