Urge your U.S. Representative to Act to Protect Pro-Life Conscience Rights!

Do you agree that no American should be forced to participate in providing abortions?

If so, please join the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of state right-to-life organizations, in urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to add their names as co-sponsors of comprehensive new federal legislation to protect the conscience rights of pro-life Americans, including health care providers.

The legislation, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940), is a new and comprehensive approach to protection of the conscience rights of pro-life Americans, which are under assault from the Obama Administration, many state and local government officials, and from pro-abortion activist organizations and their attorneys.

The new bill would amend the Obamacare law so that no American would be forced to sponsor or purchase health insurance that includes abortion or other procedures or drugs that violate their religious or moral convictions.  It would prohibit any level of government — federal, state, or local — from penalizing health care providers (including doctors, nurses, and insurers) for refusing to participate in providing abortions.  Finally, it would give pro-life individuals and institutions the right to go to court when their conscience rights are violated.

National Right to Life maintains a web-based Legislative Action Center, which makes it easy for you to send an appropriate message to your Representative in just a few minutes.  To urge your Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 940, please click here.

Source: National Right to Life

Stem cells from unborn babies used illegally in cosmetic surgery

The Hungarian General Court is hearing a criminal case in Budapest involving the use of aborted babies for cosmetic procedures. According to an attorney familiar with the case, it shows what "the culture of death can be capable of and what people will do for money."

Attorney Roger Kiska with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) tells American Family News the case, heard in Hungary's capital on Wednesday, involves several people – Hungarians and Ukranians – who operate several clinics.

"One of them is an abortion clinic from which they harvest from the aborted unborn children tissue and embryonic stem cells, which they then use in a cosmetic clinic injected directly into the veins of wealthy patients for $25,000 U.S. per injection," he states.

Nine individuals were arrested in July 2009 for using the cells in that manner for commercial gain. Hundreds of patients agreed to the injections at a clinic in Kaposvár that specializes in plastic surgery. Kiska says the procedure is already illegal and not approved by Hungary's medical authorities.

"There's been no testing or research on adults with this kind of research whatsoever. It's not been cleared by anyone," the attorney explains. "More importantly, you have the destruction of unborn children, a complete abuse of human dignity – and so we're hoping that the criminal sanctions are very heavy."

In its friend-of-the-court brief, ADF acknowledges its lack of competency in the area of illegal medical or bio-engineered research and treatments, but argues that "such negligence and willful disregard for patient safety should be considered tantamount to attempted homicide." And the facts of the case, concludes the brief, "so shock the conscience as to warrant the most serious of criminal punishments."

ADF senior legal counsel Daniel Lipsic offered these comments before the hearing: "A baby is precious – not a precious commodity. This horrific and inhuman use of a child's cells and tissues has no place in a civilized society. No one should be allowed to line their wallets with profit gained from creating this kind of black market – one that generates a hideous demand for babies' bodies for use in unapproved, elective cosmetic procedures."

All parties are waiting for a verdict.

Source: American Family News and Instant Analysis

Competency of Planned Parenthood's training program questioned after rash of botched abortions

The Planned Parenthood abortion clinic that has experienced four botched abortion emergencies in less than five weeks and where a pro-life grandmother was attacked earlier this week, is recruiting medical students for abortion training.

"It is appalling to think that abortionists at this Planned Parenthood with the recent rash of medical emergencies would be teaching others to do abortions that they don't seem competent to do themselves," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation.

The Planned Parenthood training program is seeking first through fourth year medical students and residents, who must absorb the cost of program participation themselves. The advertisement for their program, which appears on the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals web site, indicates that the troubled Wilmington abortion clinic trains 15 new abortionists per year.

"Given the recent safety concerns at this Planned Parenthood facility, it is shocking to think of the shoddy training that must be going on there. We don't need more abortionists out there maiming women with substandard practices," said Newman.

Applicants are urged to contact Dr. Eric Schaff, a Planned Parenthood abortionist who has a history of disciplinary action. In August, 2005, Schaff was issued a reprimand and ordered to pay $5,000 for falsifying medical records in New York. Since his discipline there, Schaff has moved on to ply is grisly trade in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Schaff is an outspoken advocate of abortions and feels "empowered" by doing them.

Botched abortions so far this year at the Wilmington Planned Parenthood where Schaff works include:

•February 8: Records of the 911 call reveals that a patient suffered respiratory distress and had to be bagged to keep her from dying. She required emergency transport to a hospital emergency room. (View Video)

•February 16: 911 records indicate that a patient suffered heavy, uncontrolled bleeding requiring emergency transport to a hospital emergency room. (View Video)

•March 8: A patient suffered an incomplete abortion that required hospitalization and emergency surgery five days later. Fetal parts were detected that included a recognizable leg and foot.

•March 13: A patient, covered in blankets and sheets from head to toe, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital while a pro-life sidewalk counselor was attacked for attempting to document the incident. It is unknown if the patient survived.

"This clinic needs to be closed in the interest of public safety, and we are in the process of filing complaints to make sure that happen," said Newman.

Source: Pro-Life Blogs

Rubio: 'Absolute Fact that Science Has Proven Life Begins at Conception'

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told thousands of conservatives gathered for the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday "science has proven that life begins at conception."

"Just because we believe that life – all human life – is worthy of protection at every state of its development does not make you a chauvinist," Rubio said, speaking on opening day of the three-day event featuring workshops and speeches by Rubio and other rising stars in the Republican Party.

The senator defended traditional marriage and chided liberals for believing in climate change and not the scientific facts of conception.

"In fact, the people who are actually closed minded in American politics are the people that love to preach about the certainty of science in regard to our climate, but ignore the absolute fact that science has proven that life begins at conception."

Source: CNSNews.com

Temporary Restraining Order Against Elgin -- Pregnancy Support Services Resume

Swift protection came to TLC Pregnancy Services and the young women of Elgin in their federal case against Elgin's zoning restrictions. TLC claims the zoning laws impair young women's access to the free pregnancy services offered through the mobile ultrasound facility. Today, United States District Court Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan agreed, after hearing arguments from both sides, that TLC is likely to succeed on the merits of its case. The details of the Temporary Restraining Order state that the young women of Elgin are likely to suffer irreparable harm if Elgin's zoning restrictions are applied in a way which denies them access to the free services TLC's mobile ultrasound facility provides.

"The big question is -- why is Elgin wasting tax payer money to restrict the access of young women to free pregnancy services?" said Noel W. Sterett, an attorney with the Mauck & Baker (www.mauckbaker.com) law firm. "We hope today's ruling allows Elgin's officials to rethink their position and do what is best for TLC, Elgin, pregnant women and their unborn babies: get rid of a law which has no purpose and is unconstitutional."

"Young women have been calling and looking for the TLC mobile facility after Elgin restricted us from serving in the community." said TLC's Executive Director Vivian Maly, "At least for now, we have this good news and will be available to support these women close to home."

TLC will now bring its mobile pregnancy service back to its usual positions at the Evangelical Covenant Church of Elgin and JB's Pub & Bar for as long as the court order remains in place. Both of these locations are in close proximity to Elgin's Larkin High School.

"Women deserve access to the help they need for themselves and their unborn children without undue interference from the government," said Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Casey Mattox. "The court was right to stop the city of Elgin from preventing women from obtaining free ultrasounds and health information. TLC's free services help both Elgin and its citizens, so the city's actions have been both counterproductive and unconstitutional."

View the Temporary Restraining Order here and the original Complaint here.

For Elgin City Council press inquiries, contact Cheri Murphy the Assistant to the City Manager for Community Engagement at 847-931-5667 or Murphy_c@cityofelgin.org.  

Source: Mauck & Baker, LLC. 

Proiect Love Benefit Breakfast

Project Love, the charitable division of Illinois Citizens for Life, is holding its annual fundraising breakfast at 11 AM on Sunday, April 14'n, at the Naperville Country Club. The event will include entertainment, a raffle and silent auction. 

The 2013 Project Love Caritas Awards will be given to Birthright of Illinois and to Mr. Reed Callahan for their outstanding pro-life efforts for many decades.

Accepting the award for Birthright will be Dr. and Mrs. Diamond and Dr. and Mrs. Dolehide, the founders of Birthright in Illinois over 40 years ago. 

All are invited to attend, but reservations are necessary. Tickets are $30 per person. Please visit www.icl-life.com to obtain a copy of the invite. For questions or phone reservations, please call Eileen at (630) 963-8039.

Illinois Citizens for Life

5021 Fairview Avenue, Suite B

Downers Grove, Illinois

(630) 963-8039

Illinois Women Denied Free Pregnancy Services -- Federal Lawsuit Filed Today

Today a mobile ultrasound provider filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Elgin over its new zoning restriction which effectively prevents many women from obtaining free reproductive health services.

For nearly two years, TLC Pregnancy Services has provided the women of Elgin, particularly high-school age girls, with free pregnancy information, testing, and ultrasound care through its mobile ultrasound facility.

"Why should young women in Elgin, who may have nowhere else to turn, be deprived of free medical services and support?" said Noel W. Sterett, an attorney with the Mauck & Baker law firm, which represents TLC together with Alliance Defending Freedom. "Pregnancy information and support, which TLC makes accessible free of charge, are critical to young women facing an unplanned pregnancy."

The two locations, JB's Pub & Bar, approximately one block from the school, and the Evangelical Covenant Church, adjacent to Elgin Larkin High School, regularly made their parking lots available to support TLC's services to the young women of Elgin. In just two years, TLC reports that nearly 200 women visited the mobile facility to receive free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, prenatal vitamins, and pregnancy health care information.

"We want to support and empower these young women by allowing them to see their babies through ultrasound images and help them make informed decisions regarding their pregnancy," said TLC's Executive Director Vivian Maly.

Last summer, Elgin moved to shut down TLC's mobile facility for the rest of the year at both locations. Records indicate that, in August, Police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda, at the request of city council member Anna Moeller, boarded the mobile facility while parked at JB's and ordered TLC's ultrasound technician, Jane DeFily, to "cease and desist" her activity. The officer informed DeFily that a certain city councilperson had driven by and described the mobile facility as an "eyesore."

Upon further investigation, TLC discovered that the city council had just amended its zoning code in June in a way that classified the mobile facility as a "temporary land use" limited to only four uses per year at each location. When TLC attempted to renew its permit, it was told that no further permits would be issued in 2012. Since Elgin shut TLC mobile services down, it has been receiving calls from young women looking for the mobile facility and not finding it in the city during their time of need.

Details of the matter are available here: mauckbaker.com/Content/11178/347712.pdf 

Some answers to what you could say if you only had one-to-two minutes to talk to the parents of a pregnant teenager

Most often they are in shock, are terribly disappointed, and their first instinct might be to pressure the girl to abort, or, at a minimum, provide her with no encouragement at a very trying time in her life. So….

My favorite response, both because it both common and captured a profound truth, came in today:

"I would tell the grandparents this is 'their' Grandchild, and they have no idea how much love this baby will bring to them and their family. Get past the embarrassment, and feelings of the fact that they wish their daughter would have made a better choice."

That was the advice over and over and over again. This is not the ideal time or the ideal circumstances, we understand that. But even before the shock wears off, the tears wiped away, and the anger subsides, emphasize that  this is THEIR grandchild. He or she is now part of THEIR family.

Another important common suggestion. Advise the grandparents to "Get past the guilt they may have, about [how] maybe they didn't parent good enough"—that they were too loose, or two restrictive, or should have "seen this coming" or should've this or should've that. Maybe they can use reflections on their parenting techniques another day, but today, they've got a daughter and a grandchild and the child's father to nurture.

And a wonderful conclusion to the email which reminds us of a central truth. Instead of wallowing in remorse and/or recriminations, remind the grandparents:

"But instead know that God is in charge, he has a plan for every life. I would tell them to go to the park and watch children play, think about how one could be your grandchild, which is a present of Love given to them from God above.'

Source: National Right to Life Committee

University of Notre Dame Shuts Down the Fund to Protect Human Life

Both The Irish Rover and The Sycamore Trust are reporting that the University of Notre Dame has shut down the four-year-old Notre Dame Fund to Protect Human Life. The decision appears to have been made so that direction of the Fund could be placed under control of a University department rather than an independent committee. The Trust describes the change as a "subversion of the Fund."

"I'm generally appalled with what has happened," said Daniel McInerny, one of the original associate directors for the Fund. "Notre Dame should be congratulating the Fund rather than changing its financial structure."

According to the report, the Fund was established more than four years ago through an agreement between the University and a major donor. Pursuant to the donor's wishes, the Fund was to be directed by an independent committee, made up of members who were long-time University pro-life leaders.

Among the Fund's activities were: The summer Vita Institute and the Evangelium Vita Medal, subsidizing the cost of buses and defraying the cost for faculty members to attend the March for Life, Bread of Life Dinners, and stipends for students attending pro-life conferences.

The Trust reports that the University proposed abolishing the committee and has placed the Fund under the jurisdiction of the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters in the Center for Ethics and Culture. According to the Trust, the donor refused to concede to the changes, so the University administration repudiated its agreement, making it impossible for donors to give to the original fund, and the University set up its own fund.

The University responded by stating that, in accordance with University policy, it's correcting a "mistake," explaining that the Fund was directed by a committee that was incorrectly given autonomy to administer the Fund free from any oversight by a University department.

"[I]nstead of receiving support and encouragement from the university administration…the Fund was targeted by it," said Father Wilson Miscamble in a statement. "The action…does not speak well of its commitment to prolife efforts on campus. It certainly will reinforce the feeling on the part of many of our alumni that Notre Dame's support for the prolife cause is lukewarm."

Concludes the Sycamore Trust in its report:

The short of it is that the University has renounced a promise and issued a death sentence to a fund that has done great things for the pro-life cause. The assigned reason is the retroactive invocation of a policy that had been bypassed four years earlier in an agreement executed for the university by its experienced Vice President – a purely theoretical alleged "mistake" with no adverse consequences whatever.

Source: National Right to Life Committee

Way to Supreme Court Opened by Lower Court Decision on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

A federal district court decision against the Idaho Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act issued March 6, 2013, opens the way to an ultimate consideration by the United States Supreme Court whether mounting medical evidence that unborn children are capable of feeling pain supports a compelling state interest allowing protection of such children from abortion.

"Unborn children jerk away from painful stimuli, their stress hormones increase, and they require anesthesia before any fetal surgery," said Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., director of state legislation for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)

Idaho is one of eight states that have enacted legislation to protect unborn children capable of feeling pain from abortion, but the only one whose law has to date been challenged in federal court.

"We have always recognized that it will take a decision by the Supreme Court to allow expanded protection of unborn children capable of feeling pain, and there are strong indications that five of the sitting Justices would look with sympathy on a law providing such protection," Balch said. "The next step will be an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, followed, after its decision, by a request to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case."

A major legislative priority of the National Right to Life Committee, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act first made headlines in 2010 when the Nebraska legislature became the first to enact the bill into law. The legislation breaks new ground in the fight to protect mothers and their unborn children by acknowledging the large body of scientific evidence showing that unborn children are capable of feeling excruciating pain by at least 20 weeks after fertilization and recognizing that states have compelling interest to protect these pain-capable unborn children. Further documentation and links to the scientific studies can be found at: www.doctorsonfetalpain.com.

Source: National Right to Life Committee

Rockford Police to Take Classes on Citizens' Constitutional Rights

Thomas More Society Scores "Wins" by Settlement of Pro-Life Free Speech Case



After more than five years of federal litigation, members of the Rockford Pro-Life Initiative have settled their federal lawsuit against the City of Rockford over the city's alleged harassment of pro-life individuals and other alleged federal civil rights violations. The agreement, reached between attorneys from the Thomas More Society and the city, will result in positive reforms and revisions of city ordinances, payment of attorney's fees, and compensation for losses suffered by the removal of pro-life advertising by members of the Pro-Life Initiative.

"We owe a solemn duty to our country as well as our clients to assure that state or municipal laws in direct conflict with the U.S. Constitution are revised to protect the fundamental rights of citizens to engage in a robust exercise of their First Amendment rights," explained Tom Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society, "After over five years of litigation, we are gratified that the city of Rockford has agreed to respect these rights as a key part of our final settlement of this federal lawsuit. This settlement agreement now guarantees that Winnebago County's pro-life advocates will be able to speak out, loud and clear, in support of the truly American principle, as proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence, that the life of every human being is sacred, and endowed with an inalienable worth and dignity, from beginning to end -- that is, as biological science and DNA now prove, from conception until natural death, no matter whether 'wanted' or 'unwanted,' flawed or flawless, humble or exalted."

Brejcha and co-counsel Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society, along with attorney Jason R. Craddock, reached a resolution of the federal lawsuit in a long series of meetings with Rockford officials, going back over several years, even after the city's lone abortion provider, Wayne Webster, was forced to shutter his highly controversial abortion operation. Webster achieved national notoriety for conducting his abortion business in an old abandoned school building, featuring hanging rubber chickens, nun dolls pierced by sewing needles, and other exotic and gruesome displays in his windows. Webster himself was once photographed while dressed in a red devil costume, yelling insults at pro-life demonstrators and even threatening to spray them with raw sewage from a truck parked on his property. Two years ago, an Elgin, Illinois pregnancy resource center began to send a bus with an ultrasound machine, staffed by nurses, to park nearby and offer free ultrasounds to abortion-bound moms. Webster tried to retaliate by parking old vehicles from his car collection to block all available parking spaces and getting the city to ticket the bus for parking violations. But all those contentious times now seem part of a bygone era, as early last year Webster's business was shut down by state authorities after failing repeated health & safety inspections.

According to the settlement agreement, the city of Rockford, Illinois, has agreed that its governing ordinances should not violate the fundamental rights of Rockford citizens to freedom of expression and assembly. The city will be revising a specific number of its ordinances and laws and implementing a training program for the Rockford Police Department in order to properly educate law enforcement about citizens' First Amendment rights. The settlement agreement's stated goals include the prevention of any wrongful arrest of citizens, including pro-life advocates, for participation in constitutionally-protected activities.

"In the past the city of Rockford had refused on numerous occasions to protect pro-life demonstrators against threats as well as actual assaults by lawless persons hostile to the pro-life view," said Kevin Rilott, one of the primary plaintiffs in the federal suit. "We brought our lawsuit against the Rockford to compel our own city's law enforcement officials to protect pro-lifers as well as other citizens from against such public and private harms."

The settlement dictates a comprehensive policy reform on Rockford's part, mandates law enforcement education and training regarding citizen rights, requires payment by the city for the plaintiffs' legal fees as well as modest compensation for damages incurred when a pro-life bus bench advertisement was defaced and obliterated and future advertisements barred. Also, a spurious city complaint against Rilott for alleged "jaywalking" outside Webster's abortion now-shuttered abortion premises was dismissed.

A copy of the settlement is available here.

Source: Thomas More Society

Chicago Will Require Kindergarteners to Take Sex Ed

A new policy that was created in part with the consultation of Planned Parenthood of Illinois will require Chicago Public School students from kindergarteners and up to receive sexual health education instruction beginning in 2015.

According to the Chicago Public Schools website, the new policy passed last week requires "minimum instructional minutes" for students, and instructional material is tailored around age-appropriateness and "medically accurate information."

"It is important that we provide students of all ages with accurate and appropriate information so they can make healthy choices in regards to their social interactions, behaviors, and relationships," said Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett in a statement.

"By implementing a new sexual health education policy, we will be helping them to build a foundation of knowledge that can guide them not just in the pre-adolescent and adolescent years, but throughout their lives," she continued.

According to the Chicago Public Schools website, the new policy was developed by the Chicago Public School Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW). The Chicago Public Schools website said that since June 2012, OSHW has been in consultation with various stakeholder groups for feedback and recommendations in developing the policy.

"Among the participants were Mikva Challenge, Chicago Department of Public Health, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health and CPS high school students," the website said.

CPS said that the policy, which replaces the district's 2008 Family Life and Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Policy, "will set more modern standards" for instruction for their students at all grade levels. Younger students will receive family life instruction that was also in the 2008 policy.

"For K-4 students, instruction will center on anatomy and physiology, reproduction, healthy relationships and personal safety," the website said.

"For example, younger students in this group will focus on the family, feelings and appropriate and inappropriate touching while students in fourth grade will learn about puberty, including the physical, social and emotional changes that accompany it, and the causes and transmission of HIV infection," it added.

"For older children in grades 5-12, instruction will include information appropriate for each grade level on human reproduction, transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), healthy decision-making, sexual orientation and bullying, and contraception, including abstinence," the website read.

At least two teachers from each school will be designated as sexual health education teachers.

CPS said that the policy "conforms to the Mayor's Healthy Chicago public health agenda" and aligns with and supports priorities in President Obama's HIV/AIDs strategy."

Source: CNSNews.com

New House bill targets abortion mandate

A House bill with 50 co-sponsors was introduced Tuesday (March 5) that would exempt organizations and businesses from the Obama administration's abortion/contraceptive mandate.

Sponsored by Republican Reps. Diane Black (Tenn.), Jeff Fortenberry (Neb.) and John Fleming (La.), the bill would provide a full exemption to any organization or business whose religious beliefs are violated by the mandate, which requires organizations and businesses to carry employee insurance covering abortion-causing drugs and contraceptives. The abortion-causing drugs come under brand names such as Plan B and ella.

The bill, Black said after introducing it, would protect First Amendment rights.

"Non-compliance to the administration's mandate is forcing many Americans to choose between respecting their religious convictions or following the law," Black said. "If they refuse to comply, many will be forced out of business, leaving thousands of Americans without jobs or health care coverage."

At least 218 votes are needed to pass a bill in the 435-member House. But even if it passes there, it faces an uphill climb in the Democrat-controlled Senate and a likely veto by President Obama. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said "we would have some Democratic senators who would support the bill if it got on the floor" of the Senate. He mentioned Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.) as a likely yes vote.

Land supports the bill.

"This is a question of conscience, not contraception. It's a question of religious freedom, not reproductive freedom," Land said during a press conference at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville March 5. "... Freedom of religion leaves citizens of faith free to bring their religious convictions to bear in every arena of life."

The bill -- the Health Care Conscience Rights Act -- also would provide conscience protection to individuals and health care entities that refuse to provide, pay for or refer patients to abortion doctors.

The mandate was announced by the Department of Health and Human Services in August 2011 as part of the new health care law. Although the Supreme Court upheld the health care law last June, the justices' ruling did not deal with the religious liberty issues surrounding the mandate.

A total of 48 lawsuits have been filed against the mandate, and so far, opponents of the mandate are winning. Of the 17 court rulings involving businesses, opponents have won 12 times and lost five. The latest victory by opponents of the mandate came Feb. 28 when a federal court granted a temporary injunction to a Missouri-based plumbing products manufacturer, protecting the business from the mandate. The judge, Ortrie Smith, was nominated by President Clinton. Smith's jurisdiction resides within the Eighth Circuit, where the court of appeals previously had issued an injunction against the mandate.

"Americans should be free to honor God and live according to their consciences whether they are at home, church, or work," said Alliance Defending Freedom-allied attorney Jonathan R. Whitehead, who defended in court the Missouri company, Sioux Chief Manufacturing. "The court was right to stop enforcement of this unconstitutional mandate against Sioux Chief and its owners. They, like all other family-run businesses, have the God-given freedom to live and lead their company according to the values of their faith. American entrepreneurs cannot be forced to surrender their First Amendment freedoms when they go to work."

Source: Baptist Press

ERA back before Illinois Judiciary

Wauconda resident Danielle Rowe headed the
baking project with assistance from her 13 year
 old niece Kayla and Kayla's mother Dana Rowe
 (Kayla is pictured). Volunteers distributed the
loaves at the Capitol.

For over 40 years, Illinois has been at the center of an effort to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling 20 years ago that the effort was dead, State Rep Lou Lang (D-Chicago) has consistently re-introduced the amendment session after session. Once again, Lang has introduced HJRCA 7, this year with the help of State Reps Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) and Naomi Jakobsson (D-Champaign).

As in the 1970s, the women's conservative organization Eagle Forum is leading an effort once again to stop the constitutional amendment from passing in Illinois. The group's legislative liason, Sharee Langenstein of Jackson County, is speaking with members of the House Judiciary Committee before Lang's  HJRCA-7 is scheduled for hearing Wednesday, March 6th at 8:00 AM.

"When I was a kid in the 70's, some women thought we needed a Constitutional Amendment to guarantee equal rights for women," Langenstein said. "However, my hero Phyllis Schlafly proved to the world that the ERA would decrease women's rights, not increase them."

Against all odds, Schlafly and other women fought the ERA, Langenstein said. One of their ways of getting the attention of Illinois legislators was to bring them loaves of home-baked bread.

This week, Eagle Forum had several volunteers revived the tradition and made 118 loaves of home-baked bread to House members with a message "Preserve the Heart and Hearth of the Home. Vote NO on ERA" attached. 

For more information on the ERA, please visit: http://www.eagleforum.org/era/

Source: Illinois Review

Pro-abortion analysis of pro-life “rhetoric” boomerangs

Turnabout is fair play, I always say. Many is the time I've dissembled pro-abortion rhetoric, piece by piece, so let's see how successful Tara Culp-Ressler is in her piece, "Your Glossary to Decoding the GOP's Anti-Abortion Rhetoric."

She tackles six subject areas but we only have time to take a look at a representative sample of her attempt to go "underneath all the euphemisms intended to disguise Republican affronts to women's health."

So, "fetal pain laws" (a reference to the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act). To Culp-Ressler, nobody can give any credence to the many, many studies that demonstrate the unborn IS capable of experiencing pain by the 20th week. It's all "junk science." Well, go to http://www.doctorsonfetalpain.com/ and  then tell me it's all "euphemisms."

In this section she also misrepresents the legal status of a couple of the laws passed (as of today) in eight states and [deliberately?] misunderstands how banning abortions at this point is not "moving the goalposts," but recognizing that we now know things we didn't [couldn't] know 40 years ago.

By the way, so who's "anti-science"? Those who insist that our understanding of the unborn must forever be frozen in 1973 or those who recognize that the unborn child—nearly invisible four decades ago—is an astonishingly complex human being from the very beginning?

Two others: "webcam abortions" and "crisis pregnancy centers." Like all abortion advocates, Culp-Ressler tries to piggyback webcam abortions onto legitimate uses of telemedicine. At least she is honest enough to mention the real objective of webcam abortions (which unites together abortifacients and video conferencing in an unholy union): expand abortion access to rural areas. Not a word about how painful chemical (RU-486) abortions are, or how many women have died using these two powerful drugs, or how (because the abortionist is not onsite) he is not there when there is a complication.

Crisis pregnancy centers are the thorn in the side of the Abortion Industry, a direct (albeit hugely underfunded) alternative to the death peddlers. One way to tell how much of an irritant they are is to count the number of slurs, personal attacks, distortions, and sheer orneriness in her description. CPCs do NOTHING right, push misleading information, dole out propaganda, indulge in manipulation, "prey on vulnerable women"—and that's the best that Culp-Ressler can say about CPCs (also known more commonly as Pregnancy Care Centers  and  Women Helping Centers). It's not remotely true, but that's not the point; the point is to blanket them in criticisms.

The implication is that real "women's health clinics"—abortion clinics—are just the opposition. Like THEY offer ALL alternatives? (How many do adoption referrals?) And talk about preying on the vulnerable. Read anyone who formerly worked in an abortion clinic and you'll see the  top priority almost always was volume: more abortions, more often=more money.

Finally, her charge that CPCs peddle "false medical information" is really a blanket denial that  there can ever be ANY negative consequences to an abortion. No emotional aftermath, no greater propensity for premature deliveries in subsequent pregnancies, no greater risk for  higher rates of anxiety, depression, alcohol use/misuse, marijuana use, and suicidal behavior, compared to those who have not had an abortion.

So, how did Culp-Ressler do in getting "underneath all the euphemisms intended to disguise Republican affronts to women's health"? Couldn't give her a passing grade.

But she does get an [unwanted] "A" for revealing just how shallow are pro-abortion criticisms.

Source: National Right to Life

Forced Plug Pulling Coming?

Oh, oh. NYU Bioethicist Art Caplan seems to suggest–in the context of a story about former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon–that we should not maintain people like Terri Schiavo and others, who are either in a persistent vegetative or minimally conscious state–this even though new research suggests that at least some are more aware than thought previously. From the PRI story:

    What these new technologies can reveal about brain activity is important, Caplan said, but it's important not to overstate their importance, because people end up in a comatose state for different reasons. "Even though people see certain things going on in someone in a permanent vegetative state, there are some reflexes there. They are digesting their food, they're not dead, there's some brain activity, we have to realize the quality of life can be awful," he said. In Sharon's case, Caplan said, he's in a state that's starting to be called "minimally conscious."

    "But in all these situations, let's keep in mind, people of goodwill, loving family members, partners, friends, they could still say 'I don't care if his brain is active, he would not want to be bed-bound, in a minimally conscious state. That's not a situation I want to prolong with technology,'" he said. But the sort of care that's needed for these people can be incredibly costly. It can also take up valuable spots in hospitals and intensive care units. Caplan says family members should consider alternative means of caring for their relatives, if they find them in such a state. "We shouldn't have 5,000 to 10, 000 people in intensive care in the United States alone, when we can barely provide basic care for our children," he said.

The term "intensive care" in the last sentence is inaccurate in many–perhaps most–cases, since the vast majority of such patients are not hooked up to "machines" in the ICUs of hospitals–at least in the long term–but already receive skilled nursing or in-home care rather than remaining in hospital. Moreover, quite a few don't even need respirators, just food and water, warmth–and hey, how about a little love–like Terri Schiavo's family wanted to give her.

But to Caplan's last point: If we "shouldn't" have these patients draining our finances, what should be done to prevent it, particularly since we don't permanently maintain most of these patients in ICUs now? Sounds like implied death panel talk to me!

Source: National Review

DePaul Punishes Pro-Life Student for Releasing Names of Vandals

The head of a conservative student organization at DePaul University has been sanctioned by the university and could be expelled after he released the names of vandals who destroyed a pro-life flag display.

Kristopher Del Campo, the chairman of the Young Americans for Freedom chapter, was found guilty by the university on two counts – "Disorderly, Violent, Intimidating or Dangerous Behavior to Self or Others" and "Judicial Process Compliance."

The charges were a result of posting a copy of the university's incident report on the YAF's website. Click here to read the posting.

DePaul University did not return calls seeking comment.

Last January Del Campo and other pro-life students received permission from the university to erect a pro-life display featuring 500 flags. Vandals later destroyed the display – stuffing a number of the flags into trash cans.

The university's public safety department launched an investigation and eventually identified 13 students who confessed to the crime. Those names were then released by the university to Del Campo.

On Feb. 5 the national Young Americans for Freedom organization posted the names of the vandals on their website. The posting generated negative comments directed at the vandals – and the university held Del Campo responsible.

Three days later, Del Campo was informed that he had violated DePaul's Code of Student Responsibility. He was formally charged ten days later.

"Instead of supporting a student whose free speech rights were violated, DePaul University bullied Kristopher Del Campo for daring to expose the 13 vandals," said Young America's Foundation President Ron Robinson. "They put him through a Soviet-style show trial."

Free speech and conservative groups said they are shocked that the university is punishing the victim of a crime.

"Simply publishing the names of the students who confessed to vandalizing YAF's display does not place them at 'substantial risk of physical harm," wrote Pete Bonilla, of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education in a letter to the university's president.

"The 13 DePaul students named in the public safety report admitted not only to vandalizing YAF's display but also planning to do so," he wrote. "Students who purposefully vandalize the works of other students should not expect to be shielded from the public consequences of their actions."



According to an email obtained by Fox News, the dean of students warned Del Campo that he could ultimately be removed from the university.

"It is unfortunate that this incident is part of your educational career," wrote Dean of Students Art Munin. "Any further infractions of the Code of Student Responsibility during your probationary period may result in additional disciplinary action including removal from the university."

Del Campo, a 23-year-old psychology major, is about to graduate. He agreed to speak to Fox News knowing that he could face expulsion.

"I lost my dignity as a person," he told Fox News. "They told me I couldn't say anything and I had to keep all of this confidential."

Del Campo said he is speaking out because he doesn't want other conservatives to suffer through the ordeal he's been subjected to.

"The dean told me not to fight," he said. "He told me it wasn't worth it – that I just have 13 weeks left at the university. But I'm going to fight this. This is wrong. This university has a problem with free speech rights and this time they met a challenger who is not backing down."

Kate Edwards, of YAF, said they are demanding that DePaul University drop all charges against Del Campo.

"His free speech rights were completely violated," she told Fox News. "They intimidated him. They threatened him. They placed a gag order on him."

Edwards said the university even forbade Del Campo from contacting YAF and was not allowed to have any counsel during his tribunal.

"He couldn't get a lawyer – he was completely intimidated," Edwards said.

Source: OneNewsNow

What Every Parent Should Know About Girl Scouts “World Thinking Day”

On February 22nd the Girl Scouts of America celebrated "World Thinking Day."

On "World Thinking Day," they earn badges for thinking about hunger or talking to a Peace Corps volunteer. They also "give thanks for" their membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), the creator of World Thinking Day. And to really show their thanks, they collect money to send it to WAGGGS. Parents, hold on to your pocketbooks!

A noted player on the international stage, WAGGGS is an ardent advocate for controversial social policies including abortion and sex rights for children. Girl Scouts USA is its single largest organizational funder. In fact, every American girl who joins a Girl Scout troop at her neighborhood church is made a de facto member of this radical group.

If you have not read about the plans, programs, and priorities of WAGGGS, you must do so today. I promise, it will give you something to think about.

Read about WAGGGS here:

http://www.100questionsforthegirlscouts.org/100/wagggs.cfm

http://www.girlscoutswhynot.com/WAGGGS.html

http://www.honestgirlscouts.com/files/HGS2011NatlConvFlyer.pdf

Source: FRCBlog

Terri Schiavo-Type Patients May Feel Pain

"Persistent vegetative state" is the only medical diagnosis I know of that contains a pejorative. No human being is a carrot. And the more we learn about these persistently unconscious patients, the more we  seem to be discovering that they may not be "gone" after all. Now, a study shows that they may experience pain. From the New Scientist story:

    IT IS a nightmare situation. A person diagnosed as being in a vegetative state has an operation without anesthetic because they cannot feel pain. Except, maybe they can. Alexandra Markl at the Schön clinic in Bad Aibling, Germany, and colleagues studied people with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) – also known as vegetative state – and identified activity in brain areas involved in the emotional aspects of pain.

Yikes. Some changes in care may be needed:

    Nonetheless, Kotchoubey is confident that the way people with UWS are cared for will change, even if their diagnoses remain the same. "I know that many doctors working with such patients have been instructed to treat their patients as if they can understand them and perceive at least something in the environment, perhaps pain, pleasure, or emotion," he says.

    But not all people are treated this way. Prior to the study, one of the people in Markl's study was given no anesthesia before a tracheotomy, which involves an incision in the neck to allow breathing without using the nose or mouth. As people with UWS are clinically considered unable to understand pain, doctors do not have to give an anesthetic.

Dehydrating to death over 14 days would also hurt. Terri Schiavo died that way without benefit of anesthesia, indeed, not even allowed ice chips on her lips.  Her cruel case aside, don't expect the practice to stop. They will just be anesthetized while their bodies drain of fluids (some already are) or lethally injected.

Source: National Review

Illinois Congressmen refuse to call for Planned Parenthood investigation

Last week, 72 members of Congress signed onto a letter initiated by Congresswoman Diane Black of Tennessee calling for the federal Government Accountability Office to investigate the amount of tax dollars Planned Parenthood and its affiliates are receiving annually from American taxpayers. No members of the Illinois delegation signed onto Black's February 21 request.

Illinois hosts 18 Planned Parenthood clinics, one of which is being sued for alleged negligent care of 24 year old Tonya Reaves. Reaves died last year at the Chicago Planned Parenthood clinic after her uterus was perforated during a late term abortion. The Planned Parenthood website says they offer birth control counseling and in two locations they now offer permanent sterilization for women and men.

Black's letter asks that the GAO check into the funds going to Planned Parenthood and its numerous affiliates because low and middle income women are going to these clinics for health services, and federal tax dollars are subsidizing Planned Parenthood services. A portion of Black's letter reads:



Source: Illinois Review