Illinois high schoolers asked to make "death panel" judgements

At St Joseph Ogden High School in St. Joseph Illinois, situational ethics has been updated from the classic life raft scenario to the modern death panel.

 

According to Champion News, a high school social science class was asked to make "death panel" judgments and pick from a list of various individuals who should get dialysis treatment if a hospital's lifesaving machines were limited. Below is the unconfirmed assignment.

 

 

Source: Illinois Review

Members of Congress introduce ‘Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act’

Rep. Chris Smith

 

Editor's note. The following was distributed by the office of Rep. Chris Smith

 

With the exchanges of the "Affordable Care Act" (AKA "Obamacare") activated this month, it has become evident that it is nearly impossible for individuals to try to determine which exchange plans on their state exchange, if any, exclude abortion, said a group of lawmakers at a bipartisan press conference Wednesday.

 

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) unveiled his legislation, H.R. 3279, the "Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act" —cosponsored by 70 other Members of the House—to ensure full disclosure of abortion coverage, requiring prominent and transparent disclosure of abortion coverage for each plan offered on an exchange. This is crucial information for millions of Americans since the many plans that include elective abortion are required by law to impose a monthly mandatory abortion surcharge. Many Americans object to paying a surcharge into a fund to be used solely for the purpose of aborting unborn babies.

 

Smith said the inauguration of the Obamacare exchanges reveals that many health insurance plans throughout the nation will include abortion on demand—even late term abortions. Smith recalled that in October 2009, President Obama said in a speech to a joint session of Congress that, "under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortion… ." A week after the Obamacare rollout, many are now discovering that—contrary to solemn promises made by the President himself—Obamacare violates the Hyde Amendment by funding plans that include abortion.

 

"The new law requires premium payers to be assessed an abortion surcharge every month to pay for abortions," said Rep. Smith. "But many pro-life Americans may unwittingly purchase pro-abortion plans because of a marketing secrecy clause embedded in Obamacare which stipulates that the surcharge be minimally disclosed only at the time of enrollment. In other words, bury it in the fine print. This is a Right to Know bill. Americans have a right to know upfront and with full transparency when they are purchasing a plan that subsidizes the killing of unborn children. Even the most ardent advocate of abortion should embrace full disclosure."

 

Joining Smith and Dan Lipinksi (D-IL), co-chairs of the Pro-Life Caucus, were Reps. Joe Pitts (PA-16) and Diane Black (TN-06), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) and Trent Franks (AZ-08).

 

"Americans buying their insurance through the new healthcare exchanges shouldn't have to spend hours trying to figure out if the money they pay for premiums will be spent to provide abortions. This bill will give the American people the transparency they need to make informed decisions that are in line with their religious and moral beliefs," Rep. Dan Lipinski said. "None of this would be a problem if we pass the 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.' There is a longstanding principle in our country that the federal government does not subsidize abortions. Yet under Obamacare, taxpayer money under the guise of federal subsidies will be paying for insurance that covers elective abortion. This needs to stop."

 

"The President tells Americans that they can go online, find the plan that covers what they need, and make a selection," said Rep. Joe Pitts. "If Obamacare is all about choice, then why is the administration making it so difficult for people to find out about whether a plan pays for abortion? It's time that we got some truth in advertising."

 

"The Obamacare exchange launch has been an unmitigated disaster," said Congressman Diane Black. "One of the most troubling problems is that many consumers are unclear as to what exactly will be covered by the plans they purchase online. Clearly Americans who are pro-life would object to paying for a health care plan that included abortion coverage and then be forced to pay an abortion surcharge into a fund that is meant to be used solely for the purposes of destroying human life. And this is equally problematic for the millions of Americans who simply don't believe the federal government should be subsidizing abortions. The Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act would simply require that all plans on the exchanges disclose whether or not the plan includes abortion coverage. This is not a partisan issue—this is commonsense."

 

I support the legislation that Rep. Chris Smith has put forward, and I adamantly believe that we need to lift the veil of secrecy from Obamacare while ensuring transparent policies," said Rep. Vicky Hartzler. "I commend every member that has signed on to this bill, and I also encourage members of both parties and the Senate to vote for this common-sense legislation. We must eliminate the "secrecy clauses" and "abortion fees" from current taxpayer subsidized insurance plans and fight to restore individual religious liberty and moral conscience to our medical decisions."

 

Contact: Rep. Chris Smith, via National Right to Life

Working Overtime to Usurp Parental Rights

 

The Illinois General Assembly overwhelmingly agreed this spring that it should be illegal for any minor 17 years or younger to use a tanning bed in Illinois, even if their parents approve. Why? Tanning beds can overexpose sensitive skin to harmful ultraviolent rays and increase the likelihood of melanoma—a deadly form of cancer.

 

The state isn't shy about protecting minors from other potentially-harmful activities. Minors under the age of 18 are banned from purchasing tobacco products. They need parental permission to be tattooed or pierced. And in Illinois, no one under the age of 21 can legally purchase alcoholic beverages.

 

But when it comes to sexual health, so-called "reproduction rights" advocates have successfully organized and pressured Illinois lawmakers to uphold children's privacy over parental rights and responsibilities. Indeed, Illinois law allows minors age 12 and above to seek counseling and medical treatment without parental notice or permission, if the 12 year old thinks he or she may have been exposed to a sexually-transmitted disease. And that so-called "treatment" now allows medical personnel to give HPV and Hepatitis B shots, without parents knowing.

 

The same activists vehemently disagree with Illinois' newly-implemented parental notification law. Within days of the Illinois State Supreme Court forcing into effect an 18-year-old state law requiring medical personnel to notify parents of underage girls of their abortion intentions 48 hours prior, pro-abortion forces set into motion a counter offensive to undermine parents and repeal the law.

 

The StopPNA.org campaign, organized by the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health and the ACLU, is urging calls to state lawmakers and is meeting to discuss moving forward legislation that would repeal Illinois' parental notification law.

 

The group argues that parental involvement in their minor daughters' reproductive health care is intrusive and obstructive. Contemplate this anti-parent statement on their website:

 

"Due to the stigma and shame of abortion, along with troubling parental/home/abusive circumstances suffered by at least a third of youth, it is imperative that young people have unfettered access to abortion. We need to ensure that young people access safe procedures performed by medical providers."

 

Up until August 15, Illinois was the only state in the Midwest not requiring parental notification (However, the U.S. Supreme Court required states to provide a judicial bypass to all underage girls). Among the shrinking number of states without parental notification, Montana is now the nearest to the west, and New York the nearest to the east.

 

At this point, 37 state legislatures have recognized that notifying parents before a minor accesses abortion is simply common sense. Who, besides the child, deals more with the consequences of medical treatment gone awry? Who knows more about a 12-year-old child's medical history? And who is more entitled to know if a crime has been committed against their underage daughters?

 

The National Abortion Federation reports that 70 percent of girls 13 years old and younger who have had sex say that sex was forced on them. Sexual acts with children 17 and under are felonies in Illinois, whether the perpetrators are adults or minors.

 

What sexually-assaulted 12-year-old facing pregnancy and considering abortion would fully comprehend the potential legal and physical complications without a trusted family member or concerned adult counseling them? Abortion clinics are not known for being protective of their clients' welfare. On several occasions, citizen journalists have documented Planned Parenthood staff counseling minors how to avoid reporting sexual assaults.

 

In contrast, imagine what would happen if a tanning bed operator offered backroom tans to kids.

 

Abortions on minors are not rare. In 2009, 251 girls under the age of 14 and 2,734 15- to 17- year olds underwent surgical abortions in Illinois. The numbers remained fairly consistent in 2010 and dropped slightly to 2544 underage abortions in 2011. Estimates are that 67,928 documented underage abortions have occurred in Illinois since 1995, when the law was signed but challenged and paused by pro-abortion activists.

 

It remains to be seen whether the law will prevent abortions, but abortion clinic owners are likely to have growing concerns about diminishing profits now that they must contact a parent of an underage girl 48 hours before she is scheduled to have an abortion

 

In the meantime, rest assured parents, whether you approve or not, your kids will not be getting artificial tans in Illinois, because they are outright banned.

 

Contact: Fran Eaton, Illinois Family Institute

Illinois' 5 year olds required to be taught about sex

 

The LaSalle II Magnet School in Wicker Park, like every other public school in Illinois, is beginning to teach kindergartners to recognize the ABCs as well as their private body parts. The new mandated program will be fully implemented by 2016, according to Illinois' new sex education law.

 

Not only will the LaSalle II 5 year olds be taught about their body parts, the systemwide curriculum will include instruction about gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation, DNAinfo.com reports.

 

The program is to be "age-appropriate," and the sex education experts have determined that students in kindergarten through fourth grade will focus on anatomy, reproduction, healthy relationships and personal safety. CPS said that "younger students in this group will focus on the family, feelings and appropriate and inappropriate touching."

 

Students in fourth grade will learn about puberty and the causes and transmission of AIDS infection.

 

Students in grades five through 12 will learn about human reproduction, transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. They'll also learn about contraception and  abstinence.

 

Source: Illinois Review

Life Chain 2013 Locations

 

Below is a listing as of today of the cities and towns where organized events are taking place. To check for the latest updates or for a location closer to you, go to: www.lifechain.net

 

What Is LIFE CHAIN?

 

Annually, on the first Sunday in October, LIFE CHAIN invites the churches in each city and town across North America to stand on a designated local sidewalk and pray for 90 minutes, while holding one of the following approved pro-life sign messages:

 

-ABORTION KILLS CHILDREN

 

-JESUS FORGIVES AND HEALS

 

-ADOPTION: THE LOVING OPTION

 

-LORD, FORGIVE US AND OUR NATION

 

-ABORTION HURTS WOMEN

 

-PRAY TO END ABORTION

 

-LIFE—THE FIRST INALIENABLE RIGHT

 

In 2012, over 1500 cities and towns held Life Chains (in over 1700 locations), and each Chain is posted at LifeChain.net. We are now focusing on National Life Chain Sunday 2013—to be held October 6 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm (or the time specified at LifeChain.net by the local Life Chain Committee) in each time zone across the U.S. and Canada. To include your city in 2011, notify National Life Chain of your interest via email National Life Chain or call (530) 674-5068.

 

For further information goto: http://www.nationallifechain.org/

 

ILLINOIS (For additional information about Life Chains in Illinois, please contact State Director Patty Sprague  618-283-1387)

 

* ALTON AREA - Broadway from Piasa to Henry St Clark Bridge; 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Mary Ann Morris 618-465-3108 

 

* ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - Euclid Ave at Walnut Ave, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; David Bergquist  847-284-6865  

 

* AURORA - E New York St at Oakhurst Dr, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Chuck Jones   630-896-3826 

 

* BELVIDERE - State Street Bridge, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Dennis Sullivan  815-914-1462  

 

* BERWYN - Ogden Ave at Harlem Ave, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.;  Mary Ann Pater  708-484-1204

 

* BLOOMINGTON / NORMAL - College Ave at David Anderson Park at east lot, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Jay Talsma  309-828-9250 

 

* BLOOMINGTON / NORMAL - College Ave at Grandview Dr, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Thomas Shilgalis  309-830-3935 

 

* BRAIDWOOD - Rt 53 at Hwy 113, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Linda Hanahan  815-790-8316  

 

* BROOKFIELD - Ogden Ave at Prairie Ave, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. 

 

* CARBONDALE - Main St at Illinois Ave, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Ray Nowaki  618-684-2930 

 

* CHAMPAIGN - Kirby Ave at Hessel Park, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; John & Myrna Buyno   217-352-1007 

 

* CHICAGO - Ashland Ave at Cullerton St, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Liz Gonzalez  312-421-7647  

 

* CHICAGO / BRIGHTON PARK - Archer Ave at California Ave, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Casey Niedos   773-927-0322 

 

* CLINTON COUNTY - communities along new Rte 50, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Esther Koch  618-526-8589 

 

* COLLINSVILLE - Vandalia St (Hwy 159) from Clay St to N Beltline, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Herman Wenos  618-344-4108  or  618-344-8778

 

* CRYSTAL LAKE - Rte 14 at Teckler Blvd, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Nancy Cole  815-455-7265  

 

* DARIEN / WOODRIDGE / DOWNERS GROVE - 75th St west of Lemont Rd, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Betty Girdwain 630-963-0654 

 

* DECATUR - Downtown, 2:30 to 3:30p.m.; signs at Franklin at Wood Sts; Diana Shipley  217-864-5422  or  217-423-8452

 

* DIXON - S Galena Ave at River St, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.; Margaret Brechon  815-288-1156 

 

* EDWARDSVILLE - Buchanan at Vandalia, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.;  Peggy Pace  618-659-9336 

 

* EFFINGHAM AREA - Keller Dr at Fayette Ave (Rt 40), 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Loretta Koester   217-857-3060

 

* ELBURN - Rt 47 at Pierce St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Darlene Biggs  630-365-9166 

 

* ELIZABETH - Main St (Rt 20) in front of Elizabeth Garage, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; Marilyn Gollmer  815-541-0354 

 

* FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS / METRO EAST - Hwy 159 at Hwy 50, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; coordinator to be announced

 

* FARMER CITY - Main St at Hwy 54, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Jerry & Judy Hahn  309-928-2109  

 

* FARMINGTON - Rt 116 at Rt 78, Sun, Oct 27, 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.; Deacon Gary Shultz  309-245-2994 

 

* FREEPORT - Hwy 26 / West Ave at Stephenson St, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.; Connie Gogel   815-275-9831  

 

* GALESBURG / KNOX COUNTY - Public square, 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. with a rally until 3:30 p.m.; Mary Norton  309-343-0621 OR  Lisa Lindstrom 309-342-7214

 

* GLEN ELLYN - Roosevelt Rd at Finley Rd, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Carol Wright   630-469-2165

 

* GRANITE CITY - 3248 Nameoki Rd in front of store, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Kathy Mangi  618-931-7800  

 

* GRAYSLAKE - 1350 State Rt 137 in front of Crossroads Church, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.; Gail Bordley  847-362-7120 

 

* GRAYSLAKE / DOWNTOWN - Rt 120 between Lake St and Rt 83, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Ann-Marie Miller  847-212-9297

 

* GURNEE - Gages Lake Rd at Hunt Club Rd, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Meegan McNulty  847-855-0117

 

* HANOVER PARK - Irving Park Rd at East Ave, 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.; Maureen Deitche  630-935-8158  

 

* HARVARD - Rt 14 at Rt 173, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Richard Kirchner  815-770-0160 

 

* HERRICK - Broadway (RR 1) at Herrick Baptist Church, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.; Pastor Jay Huddleston  618-604-3086  

 

* HIGHLAND - Route 40  at Route 143, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; park at shopping center; Angela Michael 618-654-5800

 

* HINSDALE - York Rd south of Ogden Ave, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Maureen Sager  708-352-5834  

 

* INGLESIDE - Rt 59 at Wilson Rd, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Sandy Kolseth  847-587-2251  

 

* JERSEYVILLE - State Street, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.;signs at St. Francis Church parking lot at 2:00 p.m.; Marilyn Parsell  618-498-2679   

 

* JOLIET - Six Corners at Raynor and Rt 30, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Karen Hatfield  815-744-6339

 

* LA GRANGE - Ogden Ave at LaGrange Rd, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.;  Wayne & Marianne Hamilton  708-579-0118

 

* LAKE VILLA - Milwaukee Ave (Hwy 83) south of Grand Ave (Hwy 132), 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Henry Potrykus  847-388-5570  

 

* LAKEWOOD - Tower Hill-Herrick Rd, Lighthouse Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.; Pastor Brown  217-567-3337 

 

* LANSING - Ridge Rd at Burnham Ave, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.; Cathy Dziubla  219-838-1138 or Dorothy Springer  219-838-1138 

 

* LIBERTYVILLE - Rt 176 (Park Ave) at Rt 21 (Milwaukee Ave), 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; meet at Formation Center at 1:30 p.m.;  Renee Tam  847-680-6652 

 

* LISLE - Ogden Ave at Main St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Carole Gassett  630-960-2916 

 

* MACOMB - Hwy 136 / 67 between Lafayette and Randolph at Chandler Park, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Connie Kreps  309-333-9483  

 

* MANSFIELD - Hwy 150 at McKinley St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.;  Donnette Coley  217-649-9314 

 

* MARENGO - RT 20 at Rt 23, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.;  Kelly Sergent  630-664-7435 

 

* MASCOUTAH - Rt 177 at Rt 4, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Sally Mueller  618-277-0449 

 

* McHENRY - Rt 31 / Richmond Rd at Pearl, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; signs at St Mary Church at 2:00 p.m.;  Karen Verr  815-363-0408  

 

* MENDOTA - Rt 34 at Hwy 251, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.; Andy Wujek  815-528-5678 or Tom Schuhler  815-538-1940  

 

* MILLSTADT - Washington St (Rt 158) between Lafayette St and Kossuth St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.;  Mary Thornton  618-476-3365 

 

* MORRIS - Rt 47 (Division St) at Jefferson St, signs at 118 E Jefferson St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Marilou Warrick  815-942-5575 or Renee Zettek  815-941-9121

 

* Mt. CARMEL - Cherry St at Ninth St, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Pat Stouse  618-262-7643 

 

* Mt. VERNON - Broadway at 24th St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Larry Pearson  618-755-4716  

 

* MUNDELEIN - US Rt 45 (Lake St) at Courtland St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Margaret (Peggy) Feinendegen  847-566-7658 

 

* NAPERVILLE - Ogden Ave at Washington, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.;  JoAnne Mehon  630-357-6876  

 

* NASHVILLE - Rt 127 at Rt 15, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Jennifer Detering  618-920-9829

 

* NEW LENOX - Cedar Rd at Rt 30, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Melinda Grundhofer  815-424-0371

 

* NOKOMIS - Main St, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.; Judith Koerner or Diana Litteral 217-774-4874 

 

* NOKOMIS - State St at Spruce St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Missy Huber  217-827-0723  

 

* NORMAL - 1006 E College Ave at Epiphany Catholic Church, TBA; Epiphany Catholic Church  309-452-3268    

 

* OCONEE - Rt 51 at Southern Baptist Church, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.; Judith Koerner or Diana Litteral 217-774-4874  

 

* ORLAND PARK - 96th Ave (LaGrange Rd) from 143rd to 153rd, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.;  William Beckman  312-422-9300 OR 708-429-2762

 

* PANA - 10 W Second St, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.; Moe Bruns 217-562-2333

 

* PANA - four locations, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.; Judith Koerner or Diana Litteral 217-774-4874

 

Rt 51 two miles south of Pana at Celebration Church and Independence Church

Rt 51 five miles south of Pana at Hopewell Baptist Church

Rt 51 at Rt 16 at Knobbs Baptist Church, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.

Rt 16 at First General Baptist Church

 

* PEORIA - University at Northmoor, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Daniel Smith  309-691-3611;  See Central Illinois Right to Life.

 

* QUAD CITIES - Middle Rd at Happy Joe Dr, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Vicki Tyler  563-332-0475  

 

* QUINCY - Broadway at 48th St, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Jane Haas  217-224-5483 or 217-257-0533

 

* RICHMOND - US Rt 12 at Hwy 173, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.;  Laura Brumm  262-279-3061  

 

* RIVERSIDE - Ogden Ave at Harlem Ave, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Katie Kruse  708-442-7515 

 

* ROCKFORD - Alpine Rd at Highcrest Rd, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; signs at Holy Family Church; Joe & Joni Mata  815-505-6006 

 

* St. CHARLES - Rt 64 (Main St) from Kirk Rd to 3rd Ave, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Revecca Hendershott  847-309-5656  

 

* St. CHARLES - Rt 64 (North Ave) at 5th St, Sun, Oct 14, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Larry & Karen Johnson  630-513-0911  

 

* SALEM - Main St, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Tony Wagner  618-323-6840  

 

* SHELBYVILLE - Rt 16 (E Main St) at the Courthouse. 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.; Judith Koerner or Diana Litteral 217-774-4874 

 

* SPRINGFIELD - S Grand at MacArthur / Wabash Aves AND in front of churches along Sangamon Ave, Stevenson Dr and Taylor Ave, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Kathy Cinotto 217-691-4230  or  Terry Everett  217-528-2547 

 

* STERLING - Locust St at 6th St, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Deacon John Kellen  815-626-3965

 

* SULLIVAN - Rt 121 (Jackson St) at Rt 32 (Hamilton St), 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Ruth Ann Lusk 217-728-8471 

 

* TOWER HILL - Rt 51 at Rt 16 at Knobbs Baptist Church, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.; Pastor Randy Miller  217-567-3290 

 

* VANDALIA - Gallatin St at Kennedy Blvd, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.;  Pastor Peter Kolb  618-283-1133

 

* VOLVO - NW corner of Rt 120 at Rt 12, 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.;  Pietrina Probst  847-550-1325

 

* WAUCONDA - Rt 176 at Mill St half mile east of Rt 12, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Mary Ann Fijalkiewicz  847-526-7101  

 

* WAUKEGAN - Grand Ave at Green Bay Rd, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Pastor Bob Rhyne  847-746-4905 

 

* WAUKEGAN - Washington St at Orchard Ave, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.; Pastor George Jones  847-336-0664  

 

* WEST DUNDEE / NORTHERN KANE COUNTY - Rte 72 at Rte 31, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Debbie Schmalen 847-426-7326 

 

* WESTCHESTER - Mannheim Rd at Wight St, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Patricia Meyers  708-865-0374 

 

* WESTERN SPRINGS - Ogden Ave at Wolf Rd AND Ogden Ave at Grand, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Blanche Heaney 708-246-7437 

 

* WILLOW SPRINGS - Archer Ave at Willow Springs Rd, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Mary Bartik  708-839-8834  

 

* WOOD DALE - 203 E Irving Park Rd, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.;  Mary Stuhr  630-250-7521

Pro-life researcher discloses how ObamaCare funds abortions

 

 

ObamaCare will subsidize abortion, according to an expert who has done the research.

 

The multi-state plans run by the federal government will provide at least two that will be available in every state for purchase by most residents of the country. Chuck Donovan of the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute tells OneNewsNow the plans will be on the federal web site menu. But it's required by law that one of the plans must exclude abortion funding.

 

However, there is an exception.

 

Donovan explains: "The law actually allows the federal government to have plans in the states that underwrite elective abortions. All a person who enrolls needs to do is pay a very small fee that they may not even be aware of that provides that abortion coverage but they won't be able to opt out of it and the majority of the states will have these plans."

 

That's in spite of the fact that polls have consistently shown for decades that the public does not want to use tax dollars for abortion.

 

Donovan tells OneNewsNow that Obamacare opens up two larger pathways for funding abortion.

 

"One is by expanding Medicaid in states that fund abortion with their state dollars and the other is through these abortion multi-state plans," he explains.

 

Those plans will be available in 27 states, "and the federal government can be and probably will be heavily promoting them," says Donovan.

 

Donovan suggests one answer is for people to lobby their elected state officials to bow out of ObamaCare abortion funding.

 

Contact: Charlie Butts, OneNewsNow.com

The Hyde Amendment at 37

Pro-life champion, the late Rep. Henry Hyde

 

The Hyde Amendment sticks in the craw of abortion absolutists as much as any pro-life law ever enacted. And today marks the 37th anniversary of passage of the law (the "Hyde" is the late pro-life champion, Rep. Henry Hyde), a titanic struggle that represented a major success against federal funding of abortion.

 

Prior to its passage in 1976, the federal Medicaid program paid for 300,000 abortions a year. Conservative estimates are that there are well over one million people are alive today because of the Hyde Amendment.

 

On this anniversary, there are many things worth remembering. Here are just five.

 

#1. Pro-abortionists never gave up, and it was not until the Harris v. McRae case, settled in 1980, that the United States Supreme Court agreed the law was constitutional. And even then the Court was split 5-4. National Right to Life filed an important brief in that case.

 

#2. Pro-abortionists have made a concerted effort to pretend that somehow the Hyde Amendment would prevent ObamaCare from allowing federally-subsidized health plans to cover abortions. This was and is completely erroneous.

 

#3. Polls consistently show strong majorities against federal funding of abortion. President Obama opposes the Hyde Amendment. No surprise, in either case.

 

#4. Speaking of never giving up, pro-abortionists still grind their teeth when they speak of the Hyde Amendment. For them the "right" to abortion nevermeant only the legal right to abort. It required that through Medicaid you and I and every other tax payer fund their abortions.

 

#5. Because the Hyde Amendment is just that—an amendment—it is a fight pro-abortionists take up every time the annual appropriations bill of the Department of Health and Human Services comes up.

 

We have a lot to thank the late Rep. Hyde for. At the top is enactment of the Hyde Amendment.

 

By Dave Andrusko, National Right to Life

USCCB: statement for Respect Life Sunday

 

Cardinal Seán O'Malley, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has issued a statement for Respect Life Sunday, which takes place on October 6.

 

Since 1973, "over 55 million unborn children's lives have been taken, leaving many millions of mothers, fathers, and family members wounded and grieving their loss," said Cardinal O'Malley. "Physician-assisted suicide is now legal in three states, allowing doctors to help end patients' lives rather than provide much-needed comfort in times of pain and distress. These laws pave the way for euthanasia by undermining true respect and care for people with serious illness."

 

He added:

 

Only a tender, compassionate love that seeks to serve those most in need, whatever the personal cost, is strong enough to overcome a culture of death and to build a civilization of love. Let us open our hearts and reflect on how God might be calling each of us to witness the sacredness of human life and assist in pro-life efforts. We may be called to help parents welcome their unborn child as a miracle of God's creation, to visit the elderly or aid those who are sick and suffering, to pray and fast for life, to advocate to our elected officials, or to assist educational efforts in our parishes.

 

Source: Catholic World News

House votes to delay Obamacare and fund government

 

Saturday night, Illinois' congressional delegation divided along party lines on a measure to delay Obamacare for one year, repeal the medical-device tax and fund the government. In a 231 to 192 vote, all Illinois Republicans supported the effort and all Illinois Democrats opposed it.

 

But again, the Democrat-led U.S. Senate is expected to reject the House's resolution, leaving the budget at an impasse, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown Tuesday.

 

GOP Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06) said House members are listening to what their constituents are telling them.

 

"Today, the House passed legislation to achieve two key priorities for the American people—fully funding the government and delaying for one year this disastrous healthcare law," Roskam said in a statement. "The President himself has implemented a one year delay in the law's requirement for big businesses to provide insurance and a one year delay in the law's privacy and anti-fraud provisions.  It is only fair we extend this same relief to ordinary Americans."

 

Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14) said he opposed the medical device tax because it is a "job-killer" for his district and would penalize Americans needing medical devices such as pacemakers, insulin syringes and artificial limbs.

 

"Because of its massive cost, the unaffordable care act law is riddled with hidden taxes on the middle class," Hultgren said in a statement. "The 2.3 percent medical device tax was put in place to raise $30 billion for Obamacare on the backs of medical manufacturers and Americans that rely on specialized devices to improve their quality of life."

 

"The tax is so egregious that in March of this year, 79 Senators voted to repeal it, although the vote had no effect in law. Today the House voted again to repeal it. It is up to the Senate to do the right thing and get rid of it for good. Will the Senate take the final step?"

 

House Speaker John Boehner echoed Hultgren's concern about what Senate President Harry Reid would do.

 

"Now that the House has again acted, it's up to the Senate to pass this bill without delay to stop a government shutdown." Boehner said in a statement.

 

The House also passed a measure that would continue military pay if the government shut down on October 1.

 

Source: Illinois Review

No ObamaCare funding bill heads to Senate, please take action

 

 

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a funding bill that specifically defunds ObamaCare.

 

This week, the same bill now heads to the Senate, where opposition to the overwhelming will of the people is strong.

 

Very simply, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution strips all funding from ObamaCare in its entirety for the coming fiscal year. This bill will fund the rest of government with the sole exception of ObamaCare.

 

It is critical for you to make your voice heard today!

 

Call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your senators by name. Strongly urge them to:

 

1. Vote in favor of H.R. 59, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution

 

2. Oppose ALL attempts to add funding for ObamaCare

 

Here are a few talking points that will reinforce your call:

 

ObamaCare:

 

Is so bad that congressional staff have exempted themselves from it

 

Violates freedom of religion and conscience by requiring Christian businesses to pay for abortifacients

 

Will send your tax dollars to health care providers who perform abortions

 

Is the leading job-killer in America, as companies lay off workers because of its mandates and its costs

 

Forces companies to shift workers from full-time to part-time positions

 

Drives up the cost of health care premiums

 

Reduces the availability and affordability of health care

 

Source: American Family Association

Government Asks Supreme Court to Hear Hobby Lobby Case

 

The Obama administration wants the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether Hobby Lobby should be forced to comply with its mandate requiring for-profit businesses and other employers to offer possible abortion-inducing drugs in their employee health plans.

 

In July, a federal court granted the Christian-owned arts-and-crafts chain temporary relief from the mandate. This decision came one day after an appeals court issued an opinion favoring such a reprieve.

 

"The United States government is taking the remarkable position that private individuals lose their religious freedom when they make a living," said Kyle Duncan, general counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who is representing Hobby Lobby.

 

The Obama administration required for-profit businesses to comply with the Health and Human Services mandate by August 2012. Nonprofits — many of which are faith-based — have a "safe harbor" until Jan. 1.

 

Kyle is hopeful the Court will rule favorably.

 

"We're confident that the Supreme Court will reject the government's extreme position and hold that religious liberty is for everyone — including people who run a business."

 

Contact: Bethany Monk, CitizenLInk

New study says abortion is economic issue, costing America $37 trillion

 

What impact has this massive destruction of human life had on our current economic situation? A RealCatholicTV.com study called "The Cost of Abortion" estimates that America's GDP is currently deficit $37 trillion, due to the millions of Americans that are missing from contributing to the nation's economy.

 

The study looked at abortion statistics from between 1973 (when abortions became legal) and 2007 (the latest year abortion figures are available) to find over 48 million "missing" Americans. In addition, statistics say that half of those aborted would have been females that likely would have had at least one child by the time they reached age 25.

 

Using the number of first and second generation aborted Americans would project to a total of 54,853,850 missing persons, who would have interpreted to $37,642,025,464,469.90 in 2013 U.S. dollars. Because of abortion, America has 52 million fewer taxpayers that would have provided a strong economic foundation for the nation, the study report says. And since the stats are seven years old, the real fiscal impact is significantly more since abortion numbers have not dramatically decreased since 2007.

 

"Because of abortion we have lost millions of successful entrepreneurs, inventors, business owners, physicians, lawyers, teachers, venture capitalists , investors, artists, and, of course, mothers and fathers who would have birthed children whose descendants would have become productive citizens contributing to a robust economy."

 

Source: Illinois Review

Supreme Court review of HHS mandate likely

 

The Obama administration's controversial abortion/contraception mandate has moved a step closer to Supreme Court scrutiny.

 

Both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Conestoga Wood Specialties, a business owned by pro-life Christians, asked the high court Sept. 19 to review separate lower court decisions regarding a rule issued to implement the 2010 health care reform law. The regulation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires employers to pay for coverage of workers' contraceptives, including medications that can cause abortions.

 

The mandate, as well as the administration's failure to provide adequate conscience protections for pro-life institutions and businesses, has resulted in 71 federal lawsuits.

 

DOJ filed a petition urging the justices to review an appeals court ruling that favored the arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby, which is owned by evangelical Christians who object to the mandate. On the same day, Conestoga Wood Specialties, a Pennsylvania company owned by a Mennonite family that opposes the rule, petitioned the high court to accept a case it lost in another federal appeals court.

 

If the Supreme Court grants review in either or both cases, it is likely to hear oral arguments early in 2014 and render a decision on the abortion/contraception mandate before it ends its term in late June or early July.

 

Drugs covered by the mandate include Plan B and other "morning-after" pills that possess a post-fertilization mechanism that can cause an abortion by preventing implantation of tiny embryos. The rule also covers "ella," which -- in a fashion similar to the abortion drug RU 486 -- can even act after implantation to end the life of the child.

 

In both cases, the business owners are pro-life and object to providing funds for drugs that can cause abortions. They contend the mandate violates their religious freedom rights. The owners in both cases argue religious liberty protections extend to corporations established for profit.

 

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver agreed in June with Hobby Lobby that the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) applies to businesses established for profit, but the Third Circuit Court in Philadelphia rejected in July Conestoga's RFRA argument, saying "for-profit, secular organizations cannot engage in religious exercise." On Sept. 17, the Sixth Circuit Court in Cincinnati also spurned the religious freedom arguments of another firm, Autocam.

 

Supreme Court review is more likely, given the division among the appeals court circuits.

 

The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has filed friend-of-the-court briefs defending the businesses' religious freedom in both cases. The Christian Legal Society wrote both briefs.

 

A lawyer for Hobby Lobby charged the Obama administration with "taking the remarkable position that private individuals lose their religious freedom when they make a living."

 

"We're confident that the Supreme Court will reject the government's extreme position and hold that religious liberty is for everyone -- including people who run a business," said Kyle Duncan, general counsel with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents Hobby Lobby.

 

Members of the Green family, which owns Hobby Lobby, challenged the abortion/contraception mandate based on their belief life begins at conception. The suit involves both Hobby Lobby, which has more than 550 stores in the United States, and Mardel, a sister Christian bookstore chain. Protected for now by a preliminary injunction, the Greens have said they will not comply with the mandate, even as their refusal could cost them $1.3 million a day in penalties.

 

The Hahns, who own Conestoga Wood Specialties and also believe life begins at conception, have been living under the mandate since its group health plan was renewed in January.

 

"The question is whether the government can pick and choose what faith is, who the faithful are, and when and where they can exercise that faith," said Matt Bowman, senior legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents Conestoga.

 

The ERLC and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lead a coalition of diverse religious organizations that have urged the Obama administration to protect freedom of conscience under the mandate.

 

HHS issued a final rule on the mandate June 28, but its foes found it inadequate. The rule did not provide a religious liberty accommodation to for-profit companies such as Hobby Lobby and Conestoga, and religious freedom advocates said it failed to remedy the conscience problems for objecting non-profit organizations, such as evangelical and Roman Catholic universities.

 

The 10th Circuit case is Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius, while the Third Circuit case is Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Sebelius. Kathleen Sebelius is the HHS secretary.

 

Compiled by Tom Strode, Baptist Press

Pro-lifer: When abortion clinics hide statutory rape, where are the police?

 

The abortion industry is continuing to protect pedophiles, and there is no evidence that will change.

 

Case in point is a complaint filed with the Medical Licensing Board against an Indiana abortionist who, based on documentation, performed an abortion on a 13-year-old girl and did not report it to authorities.

 

Mark Crutcher of Life Dynamics tells OneNewsNow that a pregnant teen is "evidence of sexual abuse" and is supposed to be reported to authorities.

 

"I've said it before and I'll say it again: the American abortion industry is running a pedophile protection racket and they've been doing it for years," says Crutcher. "And they're often getting federal tax dollars to run this thing."

 

That's a reference to the more than half-billion federal tax dollars alone going to Planned Parenthood, which has been a major player.

 

Crutcher contends the answer is "for the law enforcement community to do its job," which is to "start going after" people who fail to follow Indiana's mandatory reporting laws.

 

"And until they do these, little girls are sitting targets," Crutcher claims. "They're sitting ducks for these men who rape little girls…"

 

In 2002, Life Dynamics conducted an undercover phone investigation of over 800 abortion clinics and was appalled to learn that the majority were willing to cover up for pedophiles and do underage abortions.

 

Contact: Charlie Butts, OneNewsNow.com

New Poll shows majority of the public dislikes ObamaCare, even more feel uninformed

 

As the United States House and Senate jockey over funding ObamaCare and the "health insurance exchanges" it created are about to launch, a Washington Post/ABC News poll released today speaks volumes about how the public sees the "Affordable Care Act" three years later.

 

Overall the results show opposition to ObamaCare and a deep conviction neither the federal government nor the states are prepared. The headline to the ABC News story explaining the results is "Obamacare Arrives 3 Years Later, Little Understood and Not Well-Liked." What do the results tell us?

 

First, by a ten point margin (52% to 42%), the public opposes ObamaCare. "The 52% level of opposition to the law is the highest level since April 2012 in this polling series," writes Ed Morrissey. (ABC News's Damla Ergun adds, "In 16 ABC-Post polls since August 2009, it has never received majority support.") Among independents, there is slightly greater opposition—54% to 42%.

 

Second, women are very unhappy. While 46% of  men support the law,  only 38% of women support ObamaCare. Significantly while Obama's job performance continues to receive near unanimous support (7 out of 8) from African-Americans, not even half-48%–support what is often called Obama's "signature domestic accomplishment."

 

"Fifty-five percent, further, disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling implementation of the law, with 'strong' disapprovers outnumbering strong approvers by a 23-point margin," Ergun writes.

 

Asked what effect ObamaCare has had thus far, almost twice as many (36%)  say the law it's worsened the health care system overall as say it has improved the health care system (19%). The remaining 39% saw no effect as yet.

 

And the worse number of all is when respondents were asked if felt they have adequate information on the law. Barely a third (35%) said yes, while 62% said no.

 

Contact: Dave Andrusko, National Right to Life

40 Days for Life 2013

 

On Wednesday, September 25, it all begins again. On that day, 40 Days for Life vigils will begin in 306 cities from coast to coast in North America — and in eight other countries around the world. This figure does not include the non Planned Parenthood facilities that have closed across the US!

 

The following are the 40 Day locations for Illinois. Please make every effort to sign up for a time slot! If for some reason you are unable to attend personally, due to location or health, plan on spending some extra time in Prayer to end abortion during these 40 Days!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AURORA

 

Planned Parenthood

3051 East New York Street

Aurora, Illinois

 

Please do not park in the parking lot belonging to Planned Parenthood. Your vehicle may be towed. Park in public spaces.

 

Contact us

 

Karen Moore

karen40days@gmail.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

CHAMPAIGN

Planned Parenthood

302 East Stoughton

Champaign, Illinois

 

Contact us

 

Laura Gallant

40days@prolifeillinois.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

CHICAGO

Albany Medical Surgical Center / Family Planning Associates

5086 North Elston Avenue

Chicago, Illinois

 

Contact us

 

Victor Vallejo

Respect Life Office

Archdiocese of Chicago

312-534-5355

vvallejo@archchicago.org

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

DOWNERS GROVE

 

Access Health Clinic

1700 75th Street

Downers Grove, Illinois

 

Contact us

 

40DaysDG@gmail.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GLEN ELLYN

 

Aanchor Health Center

1186 Roosevelt Road

Glen Ellyn, Illinois

 

Contact us

 

Ava Voissem

glenellynfortydaysforlife@gmail.com

 

Campaign events

 

Kickoff Rally

Wednesday, September 25, 7:30 pm

Outside Aanchor Health Center

1186 Roosevelt Road

Glen Ellyn, Illinois

 

Confirmed speakers will be Bishop Joseph Siegel of the Diocese of Joliet; Nancy Kreuzer, Chicagoland coordinator of Silent No More Awareness; Matt Woodley of the Church of the Ressurrection in Wheaton; and other local prolife and religious leaders.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

OTTAWA

Jordan Block Park

119 West Main Street

Ottawa, Illinois

 

Main Street between La Salle Street (Route 23 southbound) and Columbus Street (Route 23 northbound), across from the downtown courthouse. This is 1/2 block south of the Planned Parenthood office.

 

Contact us

 

Amy Kimura-Bayley

amykimurarn@gmail.com

 

Campaign events

 

Kickoff Rally

Tuesday, September 24, 4-7 PM

Midpoint Rally

Saturday, October 19, 5-7 PM

Victory Rally

Sunday, November 3, 6-7 PM

All events are at Jordan Block Park.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

PEORIA

National Health Care

7405 North University Street

Peoria, Ilinois

 

Between the Women's Care Center and the Early Learning Center.

 

Contact us

 

Karen Guth

309-453-7493

peoria40daysforlife@gmail.com

 

Campaign events

 

Midpoint Rally

Sunday, October 13, 5 pm

Parking lot of the Women's Care Center

7319 North University Street

Peoria, Illinois

 

Rain location: St. Vincent de Paul - old gym

6001 North University Street

Peoria, Ilinois

Closing Rally

Sunday, November 3, 5 pm

Outside National Health Care

7405 North University Street

Peoria, Ilinois

 

Parking in the Women's Care Center lot.

Mandated waiting period for a tattoo ... but not for abortion?

 

While the practice of abortion is wide open and available on a walk-in basis in Washington, DC, the District's government is considering a waiting period to decorate one's body.

 

While tattoo artists are complaining that a proposed ordinance will damage their "walk-in" business, a spokeswoman for the DC Health Department says a 24-hour waiting period for tattoos or body piercings is necessary so people are in the "right frame of mind" and don't regret their decision afterwards. The suggested waiting period is found among 65 pages of proposed regulations for tattoo parlors handed down recently by that department.

 

Brad Mattes of Life Issues Institute sees a bit of hypocrisy in the proposed ordinance for the nation's capital.

 

"One of the main things is they don't want people staggering into these places drunk or high on drugs or whatever and regretting their decision," he explains. "But then I thought, Well, why not have a 24-hour waiting period for abortion? – because the ramifications of that decision are so much more severe than a tattoo or a piercing."

 

As the pro-life spokesman points out, a woman or young girl in the capital city can get an abortion at any time during the pregnancy and for any reason. "And the tragic statistics of the District show that 41 percent of all pregnancies there end in abortion, which is twice the national average," he laments.

 

Tattoo parlors object to the waiting period because they fear it will hurt business. As Mattes notes, that's what happens to abortion facilities as well.

 

"When we say women need a 24-hour waiting period, they say, Well, this is going to be a hardship on women – and that's not the case at all," he tells OneNewsNow. "They're just not going to make as much money if she changes her mind in the meantime."

 

Mattes says the DC Council should be more interested in protecting the unborn and their mothers than in preventing people from making impulse decisions to get tattoos and piercings.

 

Contact: Charlie Butts, OneNewsNow

Pro-Life Efforts Provide Care and Protection for Women and Children

 

Recently, the Christian Science Monitor published an op-ed by Elizabeth Jahr, in which she asserts "pro-life groups funnel tremendous resources into a legal war against abortion in the US without providing adequate practical support for women to maintain pregnancies. Yet not being able to afford a child is one of the main reasons women have abortions."

In fact, the legal victories Ms. Jahr criticizes have saved many lives, and pro-life events, like March for Life, serve to establish new and continuing support for Pregnancy Resource Centers and other organizations that care for women and children.

Dr. Michael New, assistant professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Jeanneane Maxon, vice president for external affairs and corporate counsel at Americans United for Life, both presented well-reasoned responses to the misguided assertion that resources spent on legal battles and pro-life rallies are a disservice to the unborn.

New, using a resource published by the Family Research Council, pointed out that Jahr:

… seems oblivious to the fact that pro-lifers fund a vast network of pregnancy resource centers that provide medical, emotional, and financial support to thousands of women facing unplanned pregnancies every year. A 2010 study by the Family Research Council identified nearly 2,000 US pregnancy care centers that annually assist more than 2.3 million women with pregnancy support, abstinence counseling, and public health access. A conservative estimate of community cost savings for these services, which are predominantly privately funded, during 2010 is more than $100 million annually." The number of pregnancy resources centers continues to grow exponentially while the number of abortion facilities reaches historic lows, many closing due to safety concerns.

New also makes a strong point correlating stricter abortion regulation and protection of the unborn, noting "[t]hese incremental laws serve both a protective and an educational purpose. For instance, the debate over banning partial-birth abortion clearly demonstrated the extremely permissive nature of abortion policy in theUnited States. Perhaps pro-life efforts to protect the unborn are more extensive than Jahr realizes."

Jeanneane Maxon responded eloquently by highlighting her experience working with Pregnancy Resource Centers. She recounted that at the time Jahr's op-ed was published Maxon was attending a CareNet conference, an organization that supports over 1,000 pregnancy resource centers around the country.

I was surrounded by more than a thousand staff members and volunteers who have given countless hours of time, and countless dollars, to compassionately care for women facing an abortion decision. From age seven, I've witnessed and shared in the loving responsibility of providing whatever assistance a pregnant mother might need, as my own mother worked tirelessly as an executive director of a pregnancy care center. Pro-life Americans understand this kind of daily dedication -- responding with money, time and treasure to nurture the potential of every unborn life with tangible resources.

I, too, have been involved with Pregnancy Resource Centers since I was a child and as an adult, became a trained counselor. There are no more selfless, caring, and loving people than the men and women I served with at Pregnancy Resource Centers. We worked not only to promote life, but we also provided a shoulder to cry on, transportation, clothing, diapers, and countless other resources to women throughout pregnancy and well beyond.

Women in crisis pregnancies and their unborn children are also protected by the very laws groups like the Family Research Council and Americans United for Life advocate. Maxon notes that legislation pushing for stronger clinic regulations and more informed consent for women serves to create effective and much-needed protections.

Maxon also noted that events such as the March for Life are a necessary component in effectively aiding women and children in crisis: "(A)t the March for Life thousands upon thousands of people from all walks of life -- charities, churches, synagogues, non-profits, individuals, and business leaders -- join together to reconfirm their belief in something larger than themselves. Family celebrations are a perfect way to recommit to the reality of life and all it demands. Sometimes the best way to show your love for people is a party or a memorial, a celebration of the hope that draws us together."

Far from being a disservice to women or the unborn, pro-life legal efforts and pro-life events serve to create stronger protections for women and unborn children and also serve to educate the public -- generating more supporters, funds, and loving care.

Contact: Anna Higgins, FRC Blog

Seminar at UN to push for pro-life, pro-family development efforts

 

A U.S. religious liberty group and a Mexican development organization held a seminar at the United Nations to advocate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in a way that respects human life and the family.

 

"At this crucial time in history when the sanctity of life and the human family are assaulted at every turn, there is an urgent need to address delegates of the United Nation and make them aware of the importance of protecting the dignity and freedom of every human being," Alan Sears, the president, CEO and general counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, said Sept. 18.

 

"Every innocent life deserves to be protected," he added.

 

The Sept. 19 event, in the Conference Building at the United Nations, aimed to present solid research and development paths to U.N. delegates, dignitaries and other decision makers.

 

The seminar, titled "Life and Family: A Real Approach to Millennium Development Goals," was webcast live at webtv.un.org. The Alliance Defending Freedom and Incluyendo Mexico are co-sponsoring the event.

 

The seminar focuses on the four international development goals concerning education, poverty, maternal health and infant mortality.

 

Dr. Elard Koch, director of the Chile-based MELISA Institute, presented research showing that countries with abortion prohibitions like Chile and Ireland have witnessed dramatic improvements in maternal health and significant decreases in infant mortality.

 

Sociology professor Mark Regnerus of the University of Texas at Austin presented case studies on the link between strong family bonds and a solid education in poverty reduction.

 

The event sponsors say that development goals can be reached while strengthening the early personal formation of children and protecting the lives of the innocent unborn.

 

Sears strongly criticized efforts at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that seek to decriminalize abortion worldwide.

 

"This is a blatant attack on the sanctity of life," said Sears, who will speak at the seminar.

 

Rosa Leal de Pérez, First Lady of Guatemala, also addressed the gathering.

 

After the seminar, a reception at the Millennium Hotel at One United Nations Plaza honored Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina.

 

The Alliance Defending Freedom has a special website on the Millennium Development Goals and the Thursday seminar at www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/MDGs.

 

Source: CNA

DEFUND OBAMACARE - call your Senator today!

 

 

 

Democratic Leader Harry Reid needs 60 votes to fund Obamacare, but there are only 54 Democrats in the Senate! If Republicans hold strong, they can stop it. This is the last opportunity we're going to have to stop Obamacare - CALL & EMAIL YOUR SENATORS and demand they REPEAL Obamacare! USE THIS LINK:
 
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm