NRLC letter to the Senate on budget amendments

RE: Pro-life amendments to budget resolution

Dear Senator:

During consideration of the budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 8), amendments may be offered that will allow you to express your support for three crucial pro-life measures, as described below. The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of state right-to-life organizations, urges you to vote to advance these amendments, and intends to include the roll calls (which will occur during the “vote-a-rama”) in the NRLC scorecard of key pro-life votes of the 113th Congress.

The amendments are:
-- Amendment No. 252 by Senator Lee, expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The District Council of the District of Columbia, using delegated congressional authority, has repealed the entire abortion law, making abortion legal for any reason until the moment of birth in the nation’s capital. There is substantial scientific evidence that an unborn child will experience great pain while being aborted by 20 weeks after fertilization (about the beginning of the sixth month), if not earlier; the referenced legislation would make abortion after that point unlawful in the federal district, unless the mother’s life is endangered. The bill is similar to legislation that has been enacted in eight states since 2010.

-- Amendment No. 292 by Senator Rubio, expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact S. 369, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA). Parental notification or parental consent laws, consistent with existing Supreme Court case law, are in effect in more than half the states. However, these laws are often circumvented -- activity that is actively encouraged by abortion clinics’ out-of-state advertising in non-notification states, highlighting the avoidance of parental notification as a selling point. The CIANA requires an abortionist, before performing an abortion on a minor from a different state, to notify one parent in the home state. However, this federal notification requirement would not apply if any one of the following five conditions exists: (1) the minor is accompanied by a parent; (2) the abortionist is already required to notify a parent under his own state's law, and he complies with that requirement; (3) the minor has already received authorization from a judge in her home state (“judicial bypass”), where the home-state law provides for such judicial authorization; (4) the minor declares that she is the victim of “sexual abuse, neglect, or physical abuse by a parent,” in which case the abortionist will not notify a parent, but will instead notify the appropriate state agency in the home state; or (5) in a case in which the minor’s life is in danger, in which case the notification will occur after the fact.

-- Amendment No. 332 by Senator Vitter, expressing the sense of the Senate that the Congress should enact S. 138, the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA), which would ban the use of abortion for sex selection. PRENDA would make it an offense, punishable by up to five years imprisonment, to knowingly do any one of the following four things: (1) perform an abortion “knowing that such abortion is sought based on the sex or gender of the child”; (2) use “force or threat of force . . . for the purpose of coercing a sex-selection abortion”; (3) solicit or accept funds to perform a sex-selection abortion; or (4) transport a woman into the U.S. or across state lines for this purpose. The bill explicitly provides, “A woman upon whom a sex-selection abortion is performed may not be prosecuted or held civilly liable for any violation of this section, or for a conspiracy to violate this section.” The bill also explicitly provides that healthcare providers do not have any “affirmative duty to inquire as to the motivation for the abortion, absent the healthcare provider having knowledge or information that the abortion is being sought based on the sex or gender of the child.”

NRLC respectfully urges you to vote to set aside any procedural obstacles and to adopt these amendments, and intends to include the roll calls in our scorecard for the 113th Congress.

Sincerely,
   
Douglas Johnson
NRLC Legislative Director    

Susan T. Muskett, J.D.
Senior Legislative Counsel

Source: National Right to Life Committee

March 25, 2013: International Day of the Unborn Child

The International Day of the Unborn Child is to be celebrated by all citizens on Monday, March 25, 2013. It is a day to recall the remarkable journey of life each member of the human family has taken in our commonality as human beings and our uniqueness as individuals.

Initiated by Pope John Paul II to coincide with and to honor the Feast of the Annunciation, the March 25 event has grown into a day of celebration and remembrance for all unborn human beings. It is a time to celebrate human dignity and the amazing world of the developing child yet to be born. It is also a day to remember the millions of unborn children whose lives have been ended by the violence of abortion.

In 1993, El Salvador became the first country to officially celebrate a “Day of the Right to Be Born.” Subsequently other countries have begun official celebrations for the unborn, including Argentina with “Day of the Unborn” in 1998, Chile with “Day of the Conceived and Unborn” in 1999, and also in 1999, Guatemala’s “National Day of the Unborn.” Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic and Paraguay are all nations that now celebrate a day for the unborn child.

Intl Day Unborn Child 3 grafix smWhile many nations celebrate the unalienable worth and value of every unborn child, we must raise our voices against the current U.S. administration’s unrelenting war on the innocent unborn child. Since President Obama’s election in 2008, the U.S. administration’s policy of advocating the destruction of unborn children has come in all forms, from taxpayer funding of abortion and embryo-killing research, to funding efforts abroad to rid other countries of their pro-life constitutions. Never before in the history of the world has an unborn child faced such a great struggle just to be born.

It is important in 2013 to recall how much we have learned about the intricate world of the unborn child and humanity itself. Current developments include intrauterine surgery, ultrasound, neo-natal intensive care, fetal heart monitoring and much more. We also know now that the unborn child has the ability to feel pain.

Source: NRL News

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.

Mind-Boggling Abortion Statistics from China

The Financial Times has been doing excellent reporting related to Chinese demographics problems.  Of particular interest is China’s aging population which has been brought about in large measure to its zero-growth population policies that have been in place since the 1970s.  The most important aspect of these policies is the “one-child policy” which mandates forced abortions and sterilizations.

In a front-page article in the FT’s weekend edition Simon Rabinovitch, a reporter in the paper’s Beijing bureau, presented population data obtained from the Chinese health ministry:

    China’s one-child policy has been the subject of a heated debate about its economic consequences as the population ages. Forced abortions and sterilizations have also been criticized by human rights campaigners such as Chen Guangcheng, the blind legal activist who sought refuge at the US embassy in Beijing last year.

    China first introduced measures to limit the size of the population in 1971, encouraging couples to have fewer children. The one-child rule, with exceptions for ethnic minorities and some rural families, was implemented at the end of the decade.

    Since 1971, doctors have performed 336 MILLION abortions and 196 MILLION sterilizations, the data reveal. They have also inserted 403 MILLION intrauterine devices, a normal birth control procedure in the west but one that local officials often force on women in China.

The magnitude of these figures is staggering.  By comparison, at present there are 315 million people living in the United States.  Rabinovitch does not really tell where the data came from within the Chinese government, but these are pretty specific numbers that make sense.  In short, we are talking about a maximum of 336 million Chinese who would be under the age of 42 – the peak working years.

Source: FRC Blog

Court rules that HHS mandate trumps state conscience-protection law

A federal district court judge has ruled that a Missouri conscience-protection measure is invalid because it conflicts with the HHS mandate.

Missouri’s legislature, overriding the governor’s veto, had passed a law allowing employers not to provide insurance covering contraceptives if “the use or provision of such contraceptives is contrary to the [employer’s] moral, ethical or religious beliefs or tenets.” The law also allowed individual employees to opt out of insurance that covers contraceptives.

The Missouri statute, however, required insurers to “allow enrollees in a health benefit plan that excludes coverage for contraceptives . . . to purchase a health benefit plan that includes coverage for contraceptives" if the enrollees requested it.

Judge Audrey Fleissig, an Obama appointee, said she took “no position on the merits of the conflicting laws,” but merely ruled that the federal health-insurance law and its accompanying mandate took precedence over the state law.

Source: Catholic World News

Trisomy Angel: The boy with a ‘divine purpose’ who taught his family the meaning of love

 


Editors Note: This first appeared at lifesitenews.com and is reprinted with permission. As was noted in the story, March 18 was Trisomy 18 Awareness Day.

Sheryl and Scott Crosier suffered four miscarriages before learning that Scott had an inverted X chromosome, a condition which causes girls to be miscarried. Two miscarriages later, in September 2010, the couple was thrilled to discover that they were pregnant again, and this time with a boy. They would now be able to offer their two other sons, Samuel, 7, and Shawn, 5, another playmate.

"Obviously we were overjoyed, but we were scared at the thought of losing another child," said Sheryl in an interview with LifeSiteNews.com.

But after an ultrasound revealed a cleft lip and clenched fists, markers that not all was well with the unborn baby boy, doctors began pushing the parents to undergo amniocentesis. The pro-life parents refused the test, knowing that they would be fine with whatever child God was to give them.

"We wanted our child, special needs and all," Sheryl said. The parents also refused the test because of the risk of miscarriage caused by the invasive procedure.

The doctors were concerned that the Crosiers' son may have Trisomy 18, a condition affecting about one in every 6,000 newborns, in which the baby has three copies of chromosome 18 in every cell of the body, rather than the normal two. The extra bit of genetic material causes serious physical and mental problems for the developing baby. Half of infants with this condition do not survive beyond the first week of life.

But even without confirmation from the test, doctors nevertheless peddled abortion to the parents as a way of dealing with the unborn boy's apparent health issues. In fact, from the moment of the ultrasound onward, the parents were shocked and dismayed to discover how their team of medical professionals largely turned its back on their unborn son because of his perceived medical condition.

Discrimination in the name of health

On September 6, 2010, doctors told Sheryl that she must be induced early because of her unstable blood pressure and because the baby was experiencing growth restrictions. Looking over her medical records later however, Sheryl learned the true reason for her early induction. On her chart doctors had written: "Induction for fetal anomalies."

During the labor, the parents accidentally learned through a nurse that if their son had been positively diagnosed with Trisomy 18, doctors would not have monitored the baby's heart rate for signs of stress during the labor, nor would the doctors have permitted a C-section to save the baby's life. The parents were thankful that they had not undergone the test when a C-section was required to save the little boy.

Simon was born September 7, 2010, weighing four pounds, three ounces. "We heard his first cry as he entered our world," said Sheryl. "He was small. He had a bilateral cleft lip. But to us, he was absolutely perfect."

A blood test three days after his birth confirmed that Simon had full Trisomy 18. From that moment onwards, doctors let the parents know that Simon was "incompatible with life" and began to ignore his needs.

Not only did it seem to the parents that doctors expected the boy to die quickly, but it seemed that they actually wanted to expedite his demise. Sheryl was pumping breast milk, but doctors would not allow it to be given to Simon. Instead, they gave him little drops of sucrose to calm him. But a nurse went to bat for the parents, getting doctors to allow the boy to be fed through an NG-Tube.

Looking at medical records later, Sheryl was shocked to read the doctors' words approving the insertion of the nasal feeding tube: "For comfort feeds only." The parents also discovered later in Simon's records a "Do Not Resuscitate" order by doctors that they had never signed or consented to.

The doctors had at first given Simon medication to help blood flow between two of the major arteries connected to his heart. But after confirming the Trisomy 18 diagnosis, they simply took Simon off the medication. One heart doctor expressed his amazement to the parents that Simon did not succumb to his bad heart condition once he was taken off the medication. Time and time again, the parents heard doctors say to them that this or that treatment was not for Simon. The doctors' constant refrain of "incompatible with life" branded itself on the hearts of the disconsolate parents.

"It is as if they were not treating him as a human being," Sheryl said. "When you hear those words 'incompatible with life' it's so dehumanizing. After his diagnosis, never were aggressive treatment options ever considered, all because of one extra chromosome on number 18."

Every step of the way the parents contended with the medical system for the life of their son. While some hearts were changed in the process, many of the healthcare professionals dealing with Simon remained calloused towards the little boy and his needs.

"While going through this, we kept our faith and our hope and we just kept on fighting for our little boy. We wanted the doctors to look at our precious son as if he didn't have that label. We wanted them to treat Simon with their God given talent as a physician and leave the rest in God's hand," Sheryl said.

Sheryl remembers that it was during this time that Simon was teaching his own parents the meaning of the words 'parent' and 'love'. "My son taught me about compassion, about unconditional love. He taught me to trust in the Lord."

Simon's big brothers adored the newest member of the family. As time went on, they loved how Simon's cleft lip made his smile bigger and more endearing. The family spent as much time as they could holding him close in the kangaroo style, singing to him, and reading to him. They loved him for who he was, problems and all. And they knew that Simon returned their love, in his own unique way.

The parents fought valiantly for the life of their son in the hospital for three months. Then, on December 3, 2010, Simon passed away.

Sheryl recounted that at the moment of Simon's passing, she told him that it was "ok for him to go to Jesus."

The family was devastated by the loss of their son. The discrimination that they had experienced from the medical professionals who were not able to see the beautiful, cherished, and precious boy beyond his syndrome weighed heavily on the parents' hearts. The family never wavered in their conviction that Simon had been truly sent from God and that he had a "divine purpose" on earth, just like every other person. They knew that part of his purpose was to effect change in their own hearts. They now saw that their own hearts had changed for the better because of Simon having entered their lives.

They say they now understood the meaning of the words of Jesus in the Bible (Matt 25:40): "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." They learned that 'quality of life' is not the determining factor for a life worth living. Most importantly, they realized that because of Simon, they had learned the meaning of unconditional love.

"'Quality of life' is measure by love, and a family's love does not count chromosomes," said Sheryl. "This kind of love is an indescribable love that only God can give."

The Crosier's experience of learning the meaning of love from Simon is not unique. A group of pediatricians who recently surveyed 332 couples with Trisomy 13 and 18 children found that despite their severe disabilities, 97 percent of them described their child as a "happy child" and reported that these children "enriched their lives," irrespective of the length of their lives.

The Crosiers believe that every family would be blessed to have a Trisomy baby, who could teach them to learn to value people for who they are, not for what they can do. Sheryl will tell anyone who will listen: "God didn't bless us with a syndrome, he blessed us with a son."

John Paul II once wrote: "Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it." Sheryl said that it is the giving and receiving of this kind of love that truly measures 'quality of life' for any baby with a poor diagnosis. She said if such babies have love, then it doesn't matter what is wrong with them, for they have what is most important in life.

Remembering Simon

Sheryl and Scott, who are now 44 and 47, have made it their mission to raise awareness about how Trisomy babies are largely discriminated against by medical professionals. "They just look at our kids as if they have no value," she said. "Our hope is that they will learn to look at them as children of God, as children created by the hand of God, as children that have meaning and purpose."

Sheryl wrote a book about her experience titled "I'm not a Syndrome: My name is Simon." She has become fearless in telling her son's story at medical conferences, nursing schools, faith-based communities, and on radio shows. She hopes that Simon's story will empower parents to become strong advocates for their children when medical professionals are more than willing to neglect and abandon them over health issues.

"Any time I can be a voice for our kids I will," she said. "Our kids are not disposable, they are not defects."

Bishop Emeritus Robert Hermann of St. Louis endorsed Sheryl's book saying that it "celebrates both the pain and joy of love."

"These parents have received the light of wisdom to realize that they are experiencing the kingdom of heaven within them when they take care of this child. Simon is a blessing to all he encounters. I am blessed to know him," he wrote.

Sheryl and Scott say that they will be forever grateful for Simon teaching them that all life has dignity and value, that no one is disposable, and that no one is a defect.

"The Lord created each and every one of us, and knitted us in our mother's womb for a purpose, no matter how short that life is," said Sheryl.

If you or someone you know need a support group for caring for a baby diagnosed with Trisomy 18 or 13, please visit Support Organization for Trisomy (SOFT).

Source NRLC NEWS

Fox News: “How to plan for an unplanned pregnancy”

On March 10, Julie Revelant wrote an article that appeared in the Fox News health section: "How to plan for an unplanned pregnancy." Ms. Revelant's writings often center around health, women's issues, and being a parent. Her advice for women who find themselves pregnant – perhaps in spite of their own plans – is both timely and excellent. Kudos to Fox for printing it. These are the kind of articles women need more of.

Right away, Ms. Revelant starts off by bluntly reassuring women:

First of all, don't freak out. Stop staring at the blue plus sign and wipe the shocked look off your face. Whether you're a first time mom or you're adding more to your brood, you'll get through this.

And it's true. Women throughout all of time have gotten through unplanned pregnancies where both they and their children come out – literally for the child – on the other side. Life is new and different and sometimes more difficult, but life with a new child is beautiful. Whether or not a child is "planned" has no effect on the beauty or worth of her life.

Julie Revelant goes on to quickly detail some important medical recommendations that any pregnant woman would do well to heed. Her tone is reassuring and upbeat. Yes, you can do this. In fact, you're probably already doing a good job. Folic acid and scheduling a doctor's appointment are the two medical aspects the article focuses on.

One very important step Ms. Revelant takes in her article is to acknowledge the real feelings of women. Women all feel, but each of us feels differently. And that's ok. Feelings, no matter what they are – wrong, right, or neither – must be dealt with:

You might be elated, but it's normal to also feel shocked, scared, anxious—even angry.  'Make sure that you feel your emotions,' said Diane Lang, a psychotherapist, author and positive living expert. Take some time to deal with your feelings and accept your new reality – and don't share your news with anyone else

Ms. Revelant's final three pieces of advice are practical – something women in unplanned situations can grab onto and act upon. She shares powerful tidbits that once again make this seemingly insurmountable circumstance actually seem doable. Women before you have done this. Women after you will do it again. And today, you can do it, too.

The article recommends that women "take action," "be positive," and "take it in stride." To explain, Ms. Revelant highlights the importance of building a support community, choosing to be pro-active, seeing a new child as a gift, and adopting a non-stressful attitude. Without a doubt, these choices take work and determination, but a tiny new life is more than worth it. As Diane Lang states:

Instead of thinking of it as an unplanned pregnancy or an accident, think of it as a gift. … Be open to what's coming, because it is the unexpected – but the unexpected a lot of times brings a lot of greatness with it.

There are plenty of available true stories in today's information age that detail the experiences of mothers who gave life to their "unplanned" children. The "Embrace Grace" blog is one example. Taylor shares how her child turned her life around for the better and how she became a stronger woman because of an unplanned pregnancy. Hailey writes a poem about turning anxious questions and worries surrounding an unplanned pregnancy into hope. Amber shares how her unexpected son taught her to focus on her future and that she doesn't have to handle everything alone. Jamie, who tells her own difficult story, is now a leader who helps other women with their unplanned pregnancies. Kathy writes down advice, learned from her own journey years earlier.

After reading theirs – and many other stories – it's clear that there is a reason and a purpose for every child.

Source: National Right to Life News

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