March 11, 2011

Illinois Sexually-abused Minor Gitls could find help with passage of HB 2093

An Illinois bill requiring staffers and assistants at any facility providing abortions to act as mandated reporters in reporting suspected sexual abuse on minor girls is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday in the House Agriculture and Conservative Committee. HB 2093 focuses on protecting minor girls who may be victims of statutory rape or sexual abuse.

LifeNews.com reports that the legislation, sponsored by Downstate Rep. David Reis (R-) and co-sponsored by pro-choice State Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago), was opposed by Illinois Choice Action Team, which has since removed its opposition. In an email to supporters, LifeNews.com reports ICAT wrote about their position shift:

“In response to comments, feedback, and our own concerns regarding bill 2093, we at the Illinois Choice Action Team have removed our name from the Reproductive Health and Access Act coalition of opposing organizations for Illinois House bill 2093. We understand the bill context however, when it comes to the issue of reporting child abuse we would rather any case seen be reported and so we are withdrawing our name.”

But others in the coalition such as Planned Parenthood and ACLU remain firmly opposed to requiring abortion clinic staff to report suspected sexual abuse or statutory rape. Such requirements they say, would overload the Department of Child and Family Services' duties.

LifeNews.com reports that the ACLU's executive director thinks HB 2093 is part of a "radical agenda."

Colleen Connell, the executive director of the pro-abortion legal group, said, “The voters of Illinois do not endorse this radical agenda.” She went on to condemn the statutory rape reporting bill saying it would “add unnecessary governmental regulations on reproductive health care providers and women seeking to terminate a pregnancy.”

HB 2093 has a good chance of making it to the Illinois House floor threaded through the Agriculture and Conservation Committee. Of the 15 committee members, 12 or so have prolife voting records, including 5 Democrats and all Republicans.

State Rep. Monique Davis' sponsorship will be helpful in influencing the prominent Black Democratic Caucus on a House floor vote, and with the prolife downstate Democrats as well as the new crop of prolife conservative Republicans, there's reason to believe HB 2093 can pass the House.

The Senate will be another challenge.

March 4, 2011

Ask Congress to Put Pro-Life Policies into Law



 The U.S. House of Representatives is one step closer to voting on a bill that would convert several pro-life policies — also known as riders — into law.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 23-14 today in favor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which was introduced by Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., and has close to 210 co-sponsors.

H.R. 3 would prohibit taxpayer funding for abortion in all federal programs; currently a patchwork of such policies must be approved annually. The bill also would codify conscience protections for health care workers who object to abortion and other actions.

Committee member Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said: "While there are strong views on both sides of this issue, one thing is clear: The federal funding of abortion will lead to more abortions."

Douglas Johnston, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, called H.R. 3 "a clear, comprehensive, uniform policy to prevent federal subsidies for abortion."

"Anyone who advocates 'abortion reduction' — a goal to which even President Obama has given lip service — should embrace the Smith-Lipinski bill," he wrote.

The legislation eventually will reach the Senate. Until then, life advocates are calling on senators to put pro-life provisions into the current spending resolutions.

"One of the easiest ways to save money would be to stop sending it to abortion sellers," said Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst at CitizenLink.

TAKE ACTION
Please urge your representative to support H.R. 3.

The capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

Contact: Jennifer Mesko
Source: CitizenLink

Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Abstinence supporters urged to call reps



Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, is urging supporters of the abstinence message to contact their elected representatives as federal budgets for this year and next are debated in Washington.

The message, she said, can be simple.

"Basically, just say that they support the reestablishment of a stand-alone funding stream for community-based abstinence education. The reason that the stand-alone funding stream is so critical is some might argue that the current structure for funding teen pregnancy prevention would permit abstinence education programs to be funded," Huber told Baptist Press.

"But the political reality is, first of all, there's no priority on abstinence education in that funding stream and, secondly, there is no historical precedent that the administration is going to give any real emphasis to abstinence education unless there is a separate program specifically for the risk avoidance abstinence message."

President Obama and congressional leadership zeroed out funding for abstinence education in the 2010 federal budget, opting instead to create a "teen pregnancy prevention initiative," which promotes the use of condoms and other contraceptives among the nation's teenagers. By not restoring abstinence education to the 2011 federal budget, contraceptive-centered sex education remains the priority for the federal government.

Huber said she is hopeful that a new priority on risk avoidance or abstinence education could be reestablished in the 2012 budget and perhaps still in 2011.

"I actually think that our prospects are pretty positive in that regard. There seems to be, particularly in the House, a general support for the skills and the messages that are part of the abstinence message. I think there's also a recognition that there needs to be an amendment to the current policy on sex education," Huber said.

That can happen in a couple of ways. Rep. Joe Pitts, R.-Pa., chairs the health subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is the authorizing committee for this funding.

Pitts is "historically supportive of abstinence education," Huber said, "and our recent conversations with his office indicate that his support has not abated one bit. We are encouraging and looking forward to him taking leadership in pressing for a reestablishment of priority for abstinence education.

"Obviously, your readers, if they reside in districts where members of the Energy and Commerce Committee serve, then calls right now to those members would be in order," Huber told Baptist Press.

Also, if readers have members of Congress who serve on the House Committee on Appropriations, they should make their opinions known while the 2012 budget is under consideration.

"Since all of this will initiate in the House, that's where we'll start our efforts. That's not to diminish the importance of the Senate, but it needs to start in the House," Huber said. "In terms of the 2011 budget ... there's nothing really that can be done on the House side.

"However, this is going to transfer over to the Senate momentarily and the Senate needs to pick this up. The 2011 budget also has no funds at all for abstinence education, and this is an opportunity for the Senate Appropriations Committee, particularly Sen. [Thad] Cochran's office, who is a Republican leader on that committee, to press to insert a priority on abstinence education. It's not too late for us to see something happen on the Senate side in relation to 2011."

A study released Feb. 14 found that 61 percent of teenagers would like to be virgins when they marry, and 63 percent said they would regain their virginity if possible.

The research, conducted by the youth ministry OneHope late last year, showed that 69 percent of teenagers watch MTV on a weekly basis, but 80 percent cite parents as having a lot/some influence over their thoughts and actions, followed by teachers and friends.

Also, 82 percent of respondents said they believe God intended marriage to last a lifetime, and 64 percent said religion is somewhat or very important to them. Thirty-four percent of the teenagers said they spend less than 15 minutes a week talking with their fathers about things that matter.

Huber said the findings are not unlike what she has seen in previous surveys in that most teenagers who are sexually experienced wish they had waited.

"I think those results are reflected in this survey. The second significant survey result related to teen sex is that most teens support abstinence and value remaining abstinent as a priority," she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regularly conducts a youth risk behavior survey and finds that in terms of behavior, teens are trending in the direction of abstinent behavior and continue to support this as the healthiest choice.

"Obviously, not as many teens as we'd like, but I think it's a promising sign," Huber said.

As she spoke to Baptist Press from Capitol Hill, where she was seeking to renew a priority on abstinence education, Huber emphasized the need for congressional representatives to hear from their constituents.

"It's important that they register their support now, frequently and until a decision is made simply because there are a lot of policy issues being debated and it's easy for this issue to get lost in the mix of debate unless readers continue to bring it in front of their members of Congress," she said.

"Even supportive members of Congress can forget about this if constituents don't continue to remind them of the importance of this for our nation's youth."

The capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

Contact: Erin Roach
Source: Baptist Press

Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Baby Joseph Futile Care Case Has Emotional Non Futile Care Wrinkle



I am going to, perhaps, take a different approach to this dispute than some of my very good friends.  A baby in Canada, known as Baby Joseph, has an incurable neurological disease that will result in his eventual death.  The hospital wants to unilaterally remove him from life support because they claim he is unconscious and will not get better.  The parents object, and claim he does respond.  (To me, it doesn't matter–the ethical issues are the same.)  I think that they are right, the hospital should not be able to unilaterally impose an end to life-sustaining treatment based on subjective quality of life judgments or financial concerns.  That is futile care theory, in which the treatment isn't being removed because it won't work, but because it is working, e.g., maintaining life.  In such cases, it is actually the life that is seen as futile, not the treatment.

But that isn't the part of the story I want to focus on.  If the hospital is allowed to refuse continued life support, the parents have requested that the hospital perform a tracheotomy so they can put the baby on a ventilator and take him home to die.  The doctors are refusing because, they claim, of the burden on family and child.  From the story:

If he is beyond hope, they want him to be able to receive a tracheotomy, where he can be transferred home and die in the care of family instead of in a hospital. Experts say even if the family is granted this request, caring for a child in this condition is an arduous task. Dr. David Casarett, director of research and evaluation at the University of Pennsylvania's Wissahickon Hospice, says patients at home with tracheotomies need monitoring to make sure the airway is clear of secretions, the skin is clean and dry and someone can make sure the incision at the tracheotomy site does not get infected. "A child's care would be much more complex if a home ventilator is required, since the parents would need to manage the ventilator with the help of a nurse and respiratory therapist," he said.

This is a very hard thing, and I see both sides to this aspect of the case.  But the request for a tracheotomy raises different ethical issues than requesting that life support be maintained in hospital–although the one flow directly from the other. In my view, refusing the tracheotomy surgery is not a futile care imposition, since the surgery is not primarily intended to maintain the baby's life, but rather is an elective procedure, to allow the parents to bring him home to die. That is a completely understandable, nay, laudable, desire on their part, but it presents a different wrinkle to the situation than the usual futile care dispute.  And let me emphasize: It wouldn't be an issue if the hospital weren't trying to force the baby off life support.

But the medical team has a point too.  A tracheotomy is surgery. It requires anesthesia and can cause suffering.  Once the ventilator was hooked up, if it wasn't maintained properly, it could cause a very difficult time for the baby.  So the question becomes whether the hospital/doctors, by refusing to perform the requested surgery, are fulfilling their ethical duty to do no harm to their patient.  I am not a medical expert, and so don't know the answer from that perspective.  But it is a legitimate argument and a question for real concern.

Lawyers say bad facts make bad law.  In this case, if a judge ordered the hospital/doctors to do the surgery, some would see it as a ruling that permitted patients to demand any treatment they wanted, regardless of the harm it could cause–which would undermine medical professionalism.  But if the judge refused the request, some would misconstrue the ruling to say that it meant doctors have the final say on what treatments are or are not provided–which would open the door to futile care impositions and health care rationing.

As I said, the tracheotomy issue is distinct from continuing the life support in the hospital issue.  So, I don't want to be misinterpreted.  All things being equal, all would want the baby to be allowed to go home.  But things are rarely equal.   That's why this case requires nuanced analysis and discussion that distinguishes the tracheotomy issue from the continuing life-sustaining treatment in hospital issue.  I suspect the parents are on stronger legal ground in the latter than the former.

My pal Alex Schadenberg is trying to raise funds for their legal defense.

Contact: Wesley J. Smith

Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Jane Russell rejected the celebrity world's support for abortion



Jane Russell, the Hollywood film star of the 1940s and 50s, has died aged 89. Best-known for her beauty, her opposition to abortion is also widely noted in today's obituaries. As a 19-year old, she resorted to an illegal abortion, which almost killed her and which left her infertile. She's pictured (right) with Marilyn Monroe (whom it is claimed was also left infertile by abortion). Rather than conclude from the experience that abortion should be legalised, she rejected abortion, saying:

"People should never, ever have an abortion. Don't talk to me about it being a woman's right to choose what she does with her own body. The choice is between life and death."
She started an organisation called WAIF (World Adoption International Fund) to help people adopt unwanted children from overseas, and adopted three children herself.

Her family has asked that, instead of flowers, mourners send donations to her local pro-life crisis pregnancy centre.

Jane Russell is not the only celebrity to have stuck out her neck by making comments in support of unborn children or the dignity of motherhood, for example:

•Charlton Heston, a contemporary of Jane Russell, gave the introduction to Eclipse of Reason (1986), the second of the late Dr Bernard Nathanson's documentaries on the reality of abortion

•Jennifer O'Neill, a Hollywood actress from the 1970s onwards, now speaks out about her abortion experience on behalf of the Silent No More campaign, supported in the UK by SPUC.

•Justin Bieber, the 17 year-old pop star, last month said that he doesn't "believe in abortion" because "It's like killing a baby". He has been attacked for being "too young" to have opinions on abortion!

•Natalie Portman, who won best actress in this week's Oscars, has been attacked for describing her motherhood as "the most important role of my life". She also described pregnancy as "a miracle" giving meaning and importance amidst superficiality.

So let's pray that more people in the entertainment industry will be encouraged to speak out in support of life and family and not discouraged by attacks from the culture of death.
--
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

'Women Speak Out' Bus Tour to Rally Pro-Life Grassroots Support in Illinois for Walsh, Hultgren



'Women Speak Out' Tour Makes Illinois Stop in Support of Reps. Voting to Defund Planned Parenthood
 
On Monday, March 7, the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) "Women Speak Out: Defund Planned Parenthood" 13-district bus tour will stop in Geneva, IL outside the congressional district office of Randy Hultgren (IL-14), to rally support for Hultgren and Joe Walsh (IL-08), two Members of Congress who voted to defund Planned Parenthood.

Led by SBA List "Votes Have Consequences" Project Director Marilyn Musgrave and Live Action President Lila Rose, the tour will include press conferences featuring local pro-life leaders, thanking Members who voted for Rep. Mike Pence's amendment to defund Planned Parenthood in the Continuing Resolution (CR) and targeting those who voted against the measure. A tentative schedule for Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island and New Hampshire is available at www.sba-list.org/DefundTour.

WHO:
Marilyn Musgrave, Former Congresswoman and Project Director, SBA List's "Votes Have Consequences"

Lila Rose, President, Live Action, responsible for undercover videos revealing Planned Parenthood aiding and abetting alleged sex traffickers

Kelly Gorsky, Co-Founder, Waterlead Women's Center
 
Nancy Weber, local pro-life activist, mother of four
 
Denice Garcia, local pro-life activist

WHERE / WHEN:
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM CT, Geneva, IL
Rep. Hultgren's Office - 1797 State Street, Geneva, IL 60134

WHY:
Marilyn Musgrave states, "Planned Parenthood's business model is destructive for women, unborn children and young girls and is offensive to taxpayers. This campaign is a reminder of what the mid-term election was all about -- the power of the pro-life grassroots. Pouring millions of dollars into an organization that has been repeatedly exposed as a frequent and willing ally of those who sex traffic women and underage girls makes no sense, especially at a time when our country is drowning in debt. The message is clear: not with our tax dollars. We will accept nothing less than the total defunding of Planned Parenthood."

Lila Rose states, "Congress can no longer hide behind the lie that Planned Parenthood puts women first, especially not when they've been shown repeatedly willing to aid in the sexual exploitation of young girls. A vote to funnel federal dollars into this corrupt organization is a vote to make taxpayers accomplices in the exploitation of women and at a time when our country is broke. We commend our Representatives who have taken the first step by voting to strip Planned Parenthood of its taxpayer funds, and implore that they hold the line in negotiations with the Senate."

The tour will make 11 stops, covering 13 districts across Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island and New Hampshire from Monday, March 7 to Thursday, March 10. There, SBA List staff and local pro-life leaders will join forces to rally grassroots support for Reps. Joe Walsh (IL-08), Randy Hultgren (IL-14), Frank Guinta (NH-01), Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25), Mike Kelly (PA-03), Patrick Meehan (PA-07) and Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08). Other stops will target those who voted against defunding Planned Parenthood, including Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), David Cicilline (RI-01), Jason Altmire (PA-04), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and Bill Owens (NY-23).

The tour is a part of a larger $200,000 grassroots campaign including radio and television ads thanking Members for their votes to defund Planned Parenthood. The ad campaign launched on Tuesday, March 1, with a four-day $75,000 television ad airing throughout NY-25 and the Syracuse-area thanking Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25). The same day, the SBA List commenced a series of one-week radio ads in the districts of Reps. Joe Walsh (IL-08), Randy Hultgren (IL-14), Frank Guinta (NH-01), Patrick Meehan (PA-07), Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08) and Allen West (FL-22) thanking them for their votes.

The Susan B. Anthony List spent $11 million during the 2010 midterm election cycle. Overall, the SBA List was involved in 90 races including 62 wins and 28 losses. Successes included: defeating 15 of 20 so-called "pro-life" Democrats who voted for abortion funding in the health care reform bill; increasing the number of pro-life women in the House by 70 percent; filling the void of pro-life women in the U.S. Senate and increasing the number of pro-life women governors from one to four.

--
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

VIDEO: Chicago Pro-life flash mob surprises “Walk for Choice”

Click here for the video.

Short version above, long version below.

A pro-abortion "Walk for Choice" rally was held in downtown Chicago's Daley Plaza on Saturday, February 26. Participants of the "Walk her for Choice" were protesting HR Bill 3 which limits taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood.

As a response to the "Walk for Choice," anonymous teens and young adults organized a "Pro-Life Flash Mob" over the span of a few days. The goal of the event was not to counter-protest, but to give a positive message of joy and life to Chicago.

The youth assembled inconspicuously around the plaza before the rally hiding their giant yellow balloons in black trash bags. When the "Walk for Choice" had assembled, the youth prompted by music coming from a backpack sound system then proceeded to unveil the helium balloons imprinted with the word "LIFE."

These exclusive videos shows the "Pro-Life Flash Mob" taking the "pro-choicers" by surprise with Life, Spirit, and Truth!

As participants of the "Walk for Choice" were asked to wear orange for the event, so the Pro-Life flash mob jovially asks in their sign: "ORANGE YOU GLAD TO SEE US???"

Which side has more joy?


Click here for the video.




--
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL 62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Possibly the best Pro-Life Ad

There have been some good pro-life ads, but a new one by American Life League may just be the best. Entitled "Planned Parenthood's Bunnies," it not only promotes defunding the abortion behemoth, it shows the reality of abortion in an imaginative yet nongraphic way. What do you think?


Click here for the video.

--
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Action Alert - Vote YES for the Pence Amendment

Please contact our two US Senators immediately to tell them to vote YES for the Pence Amendment, which would eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood.

The Pence Amendment, which passed in the House of Representatives, will be voted on by the Senate and of course Planned Parenthood has pulled out all stops and they are spending tens of thousands of dollars and more to defeat the Pence Amendment.

Planned Parenthood, which is the largest provider of abortions in the United States, should not be using our tax dollars to kill babies. Last year PP received $360 million of our tax dollars.

We need our Senators to vote YES for the Pence Amendment. Make the call NOW and encourage others to do it too.

Phone numbers:

Senator Richard Durbin, 202-224-2152

Senator Mark Kirk, 202-224-2854

February 25, 2011

Abortion money on college campuses

The group Students for Life has released a survey indicating the degree to which parents are paying for abortion coverage for youngsters in college.

The idea for the research began when Students for Life discovered that medical insurance for students at the University of North Carolina includes abortion. The group's executive director, Kristan Hawkins, decided to look at insurance coverage at 200 of the country's better known schools.
 
"[We found that] 194 out of the 200 schools offer some sort of school-sponsored healthcare plan," she tells OneNewsNow. "So this is a plan that either the students are being forced to have, or it's offered at a reduced rate for kids who don't have health insurance.
 
She adds that at 86 of those 194 schools (44.3%), the school-sponsored healthcare plans cover elective abortions. Another shocker was learning that 44 percent of those schools automatically charge students for the healthcare plan -- meaning that many pro-life students and parents are financially underwriting abortion.
 
Hawkins also reports the results from an examination of federal grants.
 
"If a student is receiving any federal grant -- federal money that they don't have to pay back; [money] that you and I are paying -- the students can be applying this federal grant to pay for this abortion healthcare," she notes. "That directly violates the Henry Hyde Amendment, which bans taxpayer funding of abortion...and no one's asking these questions."
 
Even though Students for Life has addressed the questions with letters to federal officials, no answers have yet been offered.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Planned Parenthood expected to fight back

The House has voiced its opinion about Planned Parenthood and said federal funding of the abortion-provider should stop.

In debate on a Continuing Resolution to provide funding for the federal government, the House yesterday approved the Pence Amendment, de-funding Planned Parenthood for 2011. Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee responds.
 
"The landmark vote really demonstrates that most House members now recognize Planned Parenthood is a hyper-political, under-regulated, and out-of-control mega-marketer of abortion," states Johnson.
 
Now the Senate will have to take up the spending bill with the House-approved Planned Parenthood de-funding amendment. Johnson likes that idea. "Each senator is going to have to go on record as to whether to push the snout of this bloated abortion marketer, Planned Parenthood, out of the U.S. Treasury," he says.
 
The pro-life leader promises that the debate in the Senate will likely be a battle royal.
 
"The Planned Parenthood Federation has enormous financial resources. It's a billion-dollar-plus corporation [and] they get one-third of their money from government sources," he explains. "They are going to fight back vehemently on this and try to bring all of their political assets to bear on the Senate."
 
But Johnson adds that voters can bring enormous pressure to bear by contacting their senators and asking them to approve elimination of government Planned Parenthood funding.
 
Friday's vote came in the aftermath of undercover videos showing clinic staff in three states telling a man and woman, posing as a pimp and prostitute, how to obtain services, including abortions, for underage prostitutes.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network Joins Fight to Save Baby Joseph

Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, to meet the Maraachli family in London, Ontario

An infinitely precious innocent life hangs in the balance, as a family is pitted against the medical establishment in a battle for the life of their little boy. The Terri Schiavo Life and Hope Network is entering the battle and stands with the family of Baby Joseph Maraachli. Bobby Schindler meets with the family of baby Joseph who is pleading with the hospital to bring the sick child home during his last days. The hospital is fighting to remove Joseph's life sustaining treatment.

"It is unacceptable for Canadian Health Allocation Officials and/or the Canadian Government to make decisions for Joseph that will end his life and deny the wishes of his loving parents," says Suzanne Vitadamo, spokesperson for the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network (and Terri's sister). "Every patient, regardless of age, has a right to proper and dignified health care. It is frightening to once again see government usurp the God given rights of parents to love and care for their child at home, especially when the child is dying."

Vitadamo went on to say "this is alarming. No hospital has the right to end the life of a child. It's the parent's right to bring Joseph home and care for him if they choose. How do parents lose their choice in such a tender matter?"

Terri's Network urges everyone to keep baby Joseph and his entire family in their prayers.

The Network was established due to the increasing need to help families of vulnerable patients facing crisis situations like this. If anyone knows of a medical facility that would accept baby Joseph on a transfer please contact Terri's Network at 1-855-300-HOPE (4673).

Contact: Brimstone Services
Source: Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network
 
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

HHS Decision to Overturn Protections for Pro-Life Docs Could Hurt Pregnancy Centers

Care Net President Melinda Delahoyde responded to news that the Obama Administration has overturned regulations that were designed to undergird the long-standing conscience protection laws for healthcare professionals. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services both rescinded and amended sections of the regulations previously approved by the Bush Administration. "The net result is that much of the original purpose and intent behind the regulations has been gutted, leaving a document that does not clearly ensure the protection of conscience rights for all healthcare workers in every instance," said Delahoyde.

"Our nation's physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers have the right to practice medicine without violating their conscience. Removing these protections may ultimately have the impact of removing these individuals of integrity from the field of medicine entirely," Delahoyde said. "That's not an action that we as Americans are willing to accept."

Delahoyde said that her network of 1,130 pregnancy center affiliates could feel the damaging blow of this action. "Pregnancy centers empower women facing unplanned pregnancy to choose abortion alternatives," Delahoyde said. "To accomplish this, we offer critical, free medical services, such as limited obstetrical ultrasounds and STD testing. Because of our commitment to providing alternatives to abortion, we rely on the availability of pro-life medical professionals -- nurses, physicians, sonographers and others. If the rights of these individuals are violated, then they will simply leave the field of practice or not enter it altogether. With more than 580 pregnancy centers in the Care Net network that offer medical services, we're simply not willing to take that risk."

Care Net's National Medical Consultant Sandy Christiansen, MD was interviewed by CNN to share her story of discrimination during her residency. Dr. Christiansen now serves as the medical director of Care Net Pregnancy Center of Frederick, MD. Read Dr. Christiansen's comments before the President's Council on Bioethics regarding the need for conscience protections.

Contact: Kristin Hansen
Source: Care Net

Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

House OKs bill with pro-life provisions

Pro-life leaders cheered passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of spending legislation that bans federal money for abortion providers and promoters, including Planned Parenthood.

The House voted 235-189 early Feb. 19 on a continuing resolution to extend funding for federal agencies until the end of the fiscal year. Congress failed to pass a budget last year, adopting instead a resolution that continued funding for the federal government through March 4. The newly approved resolution would provide funds for the government to operate through Sept. 30.

Included in the House-passed overall bill that cut about $61 billion from last year's spending level were the following pro-life measures:

-- Prohibition of all funds under the resolution for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates, a network that constitutes the country's No. 1 abortion provider.

-- Reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, which would bar federal money for organizations that perform or promote abortions overseas.

-- Restoration of a ban on funds for the United Nations Population Fund, which has been found to support China's coercive population control program.

-- Reinstitution of a prohibition on the use of federal and congressionally approved local funds for elective abortions in the District of Columbia.

The House adopted the ban on federal funds for Planned Parenthood as an amendment Feb. 18. The roll-call vote was 240-185. The other pro-life provisions were part of the original resolution offered by the new Republican leadership.

"Elections have consequences," Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land said of the House's pro-life actions. "The American people elected 87 new Republican congressmen, which is 20 percent of the House membership. They are largely responsible for this being the most pro-life Congress during my 22-year tenure at the [Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission].

"This legislation is a direct result of the American people, who are becoming more pro-life with every passing year, electing representatives who are more pro-life. That's the way representative government is supposed to work," said Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins commended the spending cuts in the bill, adding in a written statement it "also fights back against the culture of death that has grown even larger under [President Obama]. House Republican [leaders] and all those who voted positively today deserve our sincere thanks."

Planned Parenthood and its abortion-rights allies decried the House's pro-life votes.

PPFA President Cecile Richards called the amendment defunding her organization "an extreme and dangerous piece of legislation."

"It now falls to Senators from both parties to join together to reject this extreme approach, restore common sense and guarantee that Planned Parenthood and the millions of Americans who count on us for health care are protected," Richards said in a written release.

The pro-life provisions in the spending bills are likely to find strong opposition in the Democrat-controlled Senate. If senators pass a continuing resolution that differs from that of the House, which is expected, a conference committee of members of both chambers will negotiate to present a final bill to their colleagues.

The defunding of Planned Parenthood was the most noteworthy of the pro-life victories in the spending debate and vote. It was apparently the first time ever a chamber of Congress has voted to defund the organization, which recorded more than 324,000 abortions at its clinics in 2008, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

PPFA and its affiliates received $363.2 million in government grants and contracts during the 2008-09 fiscal year. Some of that total came from state and local governments.

The continuing resolution also included a provision eliminating funds for both Title X, the federal government's family planning program, and implementation of last year's health care reform law. PPFA is the leading recipient of Title X funds. Although Title X funds do not go directly for abortions, pro-life advocates contend federal money frees up other contributions to Planned Parenthood for the promotion and performance of abortions.

House approval of the amendment to defund PPFA followed nearly three weeks of damaging publicity for the organization. Hidden-camera videos secretly recorded at six of the organization's clinics and released Feb. 1-8 showed employees demonstrating an apparent willingness to aid sex traffickers whose prostitutes are in their early teens.

Live Action -- a youth-driven pro-life organization -- released video footage from secret investigations at clinics in New Jersey, New York and Virginia that showed Planned Parenthood staff signaling cooperation with a self-described pimp in providing birth control, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and/or abortions for his alleged under-age sex workers. An undercover audio from a Planned Parenthood clinic in Washington, D.C., released Feb. 10 revealed a similar response from a staff member.

PPFA had recently issued new rules requiring at least one clinic per affiliate to perform abortions.

The roll call on the defunding amendment sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence, R.-Ind., was largely along party lines. Ten Democrats joined 230 Republicans in supporting the proposal, while 7 GOP members voted with 178 Democrats in opposition.

The Democrats who voted for Pence's amendment were Reps. Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Jerry Costello of Illinois, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Dan Lipinski of Illinois, Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, Nick Rahall of West Virginia, Silvestre Reyes of Texas, Mike Ross of Arkansas and Heath Shuler of North Carolina

The Republicans who opposed the amendment were Reps. Charles Bass of New Hampshire, Judy Biggert of Illinois, Mary Bono Mack of California, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Robert Dold of Illinois, Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey and Richard Hanna of New York.

The roll call on the overall spending bill was even closer to a party-line vote. All 235 votes in favor were from Republicans, while three GOP members joined 186 Democrats in opposition.

Contact: Tom Strode
Source: Baptist Press
 
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Obama administration rolls back medical workers' conscience protections

President Obama's Secretary for Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, issued new regulations on Feb. 17, canceling out numerous conscience protections for health care workers who have moral or religious objections to certain procedures.

The new rules claim to leave in place the protections for health care providers who oppose abortion and sterilization. However, they remove many other protections for caregivers, including those who are morally opposed to providing services such as in vitro fertilization, contraception – including chemical contraceptives that can cause an abortion – and facilitating sexual practices they consider wrong.

In her report describing the changes, Sebelius criticizes the Bush-era regulations, which clarified the rights of many conscientious objectors to opt of procedures, as "unclear and potentially overly broad in scope."

Sebelius acknowledged in the final report that "a substantial number of comments in opposition to rescinding the 2008 Final Rule maintained that Roman Catholic hospitals would have to close, that rescission of the rule would limit access to pro-life counseling, and that providers would either leave the health care industry or choose not to enter it."

In her Feb. 17 report, Sebelius sought to respond to Catholic health workers' concerns by noting that "under this partial rescission of the 2008 Final Rule, Roman Catholic hospitals will still have the same statutory protections afforded to them as have been for decades."

However, it was precisely in order to solidify those decades-old "statutory protections" in significant ways, that the 2008 rule was made in the first place.

"The Department supports the longstanding federal health care provider conscience laws," the secretary continued, "and with this Final Rule provides a clear process to enforce those laws."

The purpose of the 2008 rule, however, was not simply to reiterate the content of existing laws, but to clarify how they should be applied, and to provide explicitly for their enforcement.

For this reason, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops had praised the previous rule as a "much-needed implementation of long-standing laws" – saying it clarified many "undefined terms" that allowed state and local governments to  "attack conscience rights as though they do not exist."

With those "much-needed" rules and clarifications gone, Catholic hospitals and health care workers may find themselves facing difficult situations without explicit protections.

Sebelius pointed out that her department would still be willing to receive and consider their complaints. 

The portion of the 2008 rule that enables the Office for Civil Rights to investigate complaints from conscientious medical objectors is "being retained," she said.

"Under this Final Rule," she offered, "health care providers who believe their rights were violated will now be able to file a complaint with the Department's Office for Civil Rights in order to seek enforcement of those rights."

Dr. J. Scott Ries, a board-certified family physician and a vice president of ministry at the 16,000-member Christian Medical Association, said the rule change touched on areas of "critical concern for pro-life patients, healthcare professionals and institutions."

"The administration has made changes in a vital civil rights regulation without evidence or justification," Dr. Ries said. He criticized the regulatory action as a move that "diminishes the civil rights that protect conscientious physicians and other healthcare professionals against discrimination."

Contact: Benjamin Mann
Source: CNA/EWTN News
 
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Drafted Guidelines on Abortion Cover Up Abortion-Breast Cancer Link, Say Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, Researchers

Putting their wallets ahead of their patients' health much like tobacco executives, abortionists at the United Kingdom's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have prepared preliminary, new guidelines on The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion that say, "Women should be informed that induced abortion is not associated with an increase in breast cancer." [1]

"Do they read standard medical texts at the RCOG?" asked Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer. "Increased childbearing, starting at a younger age, and increased duration of breastfeeding sharply reduce breast cancer risk. The woman choosing abortion has a greater risk than the one choosing to give birth.

"The RCOG's guidelines cite a review that says, 'Failure to provide this information is a direct threat to maternal autonomy, diminishing a woman's ability to give informed consent.' [2] The loss of the protective effect is only one of three breast cancer risks associated with induced abortion," said Mrs. Malec.

The guidelines acknowledge a "small increase in risk of subsequent preterm birth, which increases with the number of abortions." [3] Brent Rooney, a researcher in this field, called the RCOG's use of the word, "small," "the language of cover-up."

"Two Americans and three Australians have successfully sued their doctors for failing to warn about the risks of breast cancer and emotional harm," said Mrs. Malec. "It would serve them right at the RCOG to be sued for malpractice."

The closing date for healthcare officials to submit their consultations on the guidelines to the RCOG is February 26, 2011.

International experts on the abortion-breast cancer link have submitted their consultations. They include Professor Joel Brind (Deputy Chair for Biology and Environmental Sciences at Baruch College, City University of New York) and Patrick Carroll (a statistician and actuary from Pension and Population Research Institute in London). Read their submissions and a discussion of the RCOG's preliminary guidelines in the following commentary.

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer is an international women's organization founded to protect the health and save the lives of women by educating and providing information on abortion as a risk factor for breast cancer.

References available online at:
www.abortionbreastcancer.com/press_releases/110222/index.htm

Contact: Karen Malec
Source: Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer

Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

February 18, 2011

U.S. adopting new mindset on adoption

Bethany Christian Services is celebrating a record year for placing adoptive children with new families, but it recognizes that more work needs to be done.

      Bethany Christian Services

The adoption agency saw a 13-percent increase from 2009 to 2010 as it placed more than 1,900 children with families. That growth is expected to be the result of a number of factors, including the growing acceptance of adopting older children and an increase in international adoptions following the earthquake in Haiti.

"These children are all different types of adoption together," explains ministry spokesman Marc Andreas. "They include some children internationally, they include some children born...here in the United States, and they also include some children adopted out of foster care here in the United States."

But he points out that one of the most heartening figures is the increase in the number of older children who are being adopted, which she says helps ease a "global epidemic."

"A lot of people don't realize [there are] 163 million orphans worldwide, and the most troubling statistic in there is that 95 percent of those children are ages five and older. So, many of those children are the ones who aren't quite as easily interested in, from an adoptive family standpoint," the agency spokesman laments. "So it's our job at Bethany to help promote the needs of those waiting children here in the U.S. and around the world."

But though Bethany Christian Services sees reason to celebrate, they know that adoption is not the only solution to caring for the orphans of the world. So the ministry is actively partnering with church leaders and encouraging them to support foster care, adoption and orphan care within their ministries. Andreas expects 2011 to be another good year because the North American church continues to open up to the global orphan crisis and how believers are called to help meet their needs.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

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Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Adult stem cell healing powers abound

     Adult Stem Cells

Adult stem cells continue to make scientific advancements as they have now proved successful in treating burns.

Skin grafts can typically take weeks to work and always pose the threat of complications like infection or rejection of a donor's skin. Dr. David Prentice, senior fellow for life sciences at the Family Research Council (FRC), tells OneNewsNow the latest breakthrough comes from research at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Pittsburgh.

"[They] can take a patient's own adult stem cells, and they literally spray on skin-forming stem cells, kind of like you were spray painting," Dr. Prentice explains. "They've shown that they can use it to regenerate skin and protect after burns."

David Prentice (FRC)And in one case involving severe burns, complete healing took place within four days. Another group in Utah is using a similar technique to spray on skin for diabetic ulcers and non-healing wounds that have taken more than a year to heal.

"[They'll] heal up within just a few days. This is just amazing stuff," the life sciences senior fellow contends. "And again, what they've done is they're taking your own adult stem cells from skin or from bone marrow [and] just spraying them on so that you have a healing coating over these wounds."

Prentice adds that nothing dies with the use of adult stem cells, which currently treat more than 70 illnesses and medical conditions. Meanwhile, research on human embryos, which involves killing tiny human beings, has produced zero results.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

--
Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Dream Team: Ex-Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson joins Lila Rose and Live Action

     Abby Johnson joins Lila Rose and Live Action

It's pro-life's assemblage of the Chicago Bulls of the 90s, a match made in pro-life heaven against Planned Parenthood.

Live Action today announced former PP abortion clinic director Abby Johnson, author of the bestseller, unPlanned, has joined its team as Chief Research Strategist. As a former PP Employee of the Year, Abby will make a wonderful expert adviser. From the press statement:

"Abby Johnson has seen the abuses inside Planned Parenthood with her own eyes and confirms the danger its clinics pose to women and young girls," stated Live Action President Lila Rose. "She is a courageous trailblazer despite Planned Parenthood's desperate attempts to attack her and silence the truth. We are thrilled and very thankful to have Abby join our team and are confident that her first-hand experience, conviction and guidance will provide invaluable counsel to Live Action as we advance our common goal of protecting women and children from the abuses of PP."…

"I can tell you from experience that PP often turns a blind eye to sexual abuse and trafficking – what you see in Live Action's videos is not a rare occurrence. But ignorance is no defense, especially when it has turned their clinics into a safe haven for those who sexually exploit women and girls. This is not a training problem so much as it is an ideology problem.  I am humbled and eager to begin this partnership with Live Action so that together we can expose the serious harm Planned Parenthood poses to the most vulnerable among us."

Contact: Jill Stanek
Source: JillStanek.com

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Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

Euthanasia Update

     Euthanasia
Although abortion is a primary focus, we should be aware that the same people and organizations who promote abortion, are also working just as hard to legalize euthanasia.

In Quebec Canada: Quebec will hold hearings on "assisted suicide" during "Suicide Prevention Week". RU kidding?

In Belgium: Another study has been published, which shows the practice of euthanasia for organ donation. People are being pressured to die, in order to provide healthy organs.

In France: The euthanasia debate is ongoing, however, the Senate defeated a bill to legalize euthanasia last week. This will not be the end of the debate.

In Oregon: Death With Dignity released it's 2010 report. Remember assisted suicide is legal in Oregon. So, it is not surprising that the number of assisted suicides have increased. There were 59 reported deaths from the 96 lethal prescriptions, that were written, with an additional deaths from lethal prescriptions from previous years (96 prescriptions & 59 deaths don't add up). Oregon stats continue to indicate that elder abuse is likely. Those who died by assisted suicide indicated that 61 (93.8%) of the people, felt a loss of autonomy, 61 (93.8%) felt a decreasing ability to participate in activities, while 51 (78.5%) of the people felt they had lost dignity.

In Montana: Montana's Court had allowed legalized euthanasia, but Senator Greg Hinkle has introduced Senate Bill 116, that would reverse the court decision and prohibit assisted suicide. The debate continues. The outcome is uncertain.

In Vermont: There is a proposed bill to legalize assisted suicide. The Governor will sign the bill.

In Hawaii: A bill has been introduced to legalize assisted suicide. It is Senate Bill 803. The Hawaii State Senate Health Committee has voted to hold the bill to legalize assisted suicide. It will return.

In Idaho: A bill has been introduced on assisted suicide.

As you can see, the euthanasia proponents are as committed to this issue, as they are to abortion. Abortion is here. Euthanasia though still new, needs to be understood by all pro-lifers, just as they understand abortion.

Source: Lake County Right to Life

Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Suite E
Alton, IL  62002

Phone: 618-466-4122
Fax: 618-466-4134

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