October 11, 2016

How important are the 2016 elections? PPFA knows but do we?

PPFA President Cecile Richards waves as she walks onto the stage at the Democratic National Convention where abortion advocacy was at a fever pitch. [Photo credit: Getty]
PPFA President Cecile Richards waves as she walks
onto the stage at the Democratic National Convention
where abortion advocacy was at a fever pitch.
[Photo credit: Getty]
Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Votes can raise buckets of money, no doubt about it.

But its innumerable supporters in the media act not only as megaphones for whatever line it is PPFA wants advanced, they also attempt to act as a force suppressant. That is, they paint PPFA as if it is an irresistible invading army so powerful pro-lifers ought to just give up.

Reporter Tim Dickinson’s task begins by telling readers that this year’s output will make the previous outlays of the political arms of the largest abortion provider pale in comparison. So big, in fact, so buoyed with volunteers (they tell us they are going to reach three million voters in six states), that it “could tip the balance in as many as half-a-dozen swing states.”

No one ever said PPFA is modest.

But after rolling out the statistics, Dickinson shifts to the real purpose of his article: to paint Donald Trump and Mike Pence as “extremists” on abortion. That’s rich coming from an organization that performs over 300,000 abortions a year, takes in a half-billion from the federal government, and traffics in baby body parts.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

International Day of the Girl Child: End gendercide in China

Baby “Lian,” saved from abortion by WRWF’s “Save a Girl” Campaign
Baby “Lian,” saved from abortion
by WRWF’s “Save a Girl” Campaign
An estimated 200 million women will not be celebrating International Day of the Girl Child today, because they are not alive. They were selectively aborted just because they were girls – victims of “gendercide.” Son preference runs amok in both China and India; both countries suffer from a vast gender imbalance, which in turn is driving human trafficking and sexual slavery.

Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, stated “The message of sex-selective abortion is that girls and women do not deserve to live. The selective elimination of 200 million women demands the passionate outrage of the women’s movement. It should be the number one priority of the international women’s movement.”

Women’s Rights Without Frontiers has launched a “Save a Girl” Campaign in China, which rescued hundreds of baby girls from gendercide. The advocacy group sent out a newsletter today highlighting the story of one such girl, “Lian,” who was almost aborted, but whose life was saved by their “Save a Girl” campaign...

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

Jahi McMath Breathing on Own?

 Jahi McMath
Jahi McMath

Readers may recall Jahi McMath–the teenager declared brain dead in California.

Her family–assisted by the Terri Schiavo Life and Hope Network and the Life Legal Defense Foundation–fought the determination in court.

A settlement led to Jahi being declared dead by California as the family was permitted to take her to New Jersey, where she remains.

Now, a few years later, her body has not deteriorated as usually happens in brain death, and indeed, her family claims she is slowly improving. California courts have ruled that the family may attempt to prove in court that she is not actually dead.

Her family has now released a video in which a breathing measuring machine is seen, with her mother urging Jahi to take breaths without mechanical assistance.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

Can’t Refuse to Kill, Can Refuse to Care

As I have been–and will be–warning with intensifying urgency, moves are afoot to destroy medical conscience clauses under which doctors, nurses, and others can refuse to participate in abortions and assisted suicide.

This force-MDs-to-kill meme was summarized in a recent Reuters story:

Physicians shouldn’t have the legal right to act as conscientious objectors and refuse to provide services like abortion or assisted suicide even when these things conflict with their personal values, some doctors argue.

But what about patients who want life-sustaining treatment, that is, they want to remain in the fight to stay alive?

Some of the same activists who argue that doctors should be forced to be complicit in killing, say that doctors should have the right to refuse wanted treatment that keeps patients alive.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

October 10, 2016

Pence exposes Clinton/Kaine abortion extremism

Many politicians – and others – are afraid to discuss abortion. That’s a big mistake.

Take vice presidential candidate Gov. Mike Pence’s debate performance on Tuesday. He won, and part of the reason was the way he handled abortion.

No clichés, just compassion. No bumper sticker phrases, just facts.

Let me quote Gov. Pence from the debate:

“But what I can’t understand is with Hillary Clinton, and now Senator Kaine at her side, is to support a practice like partial-birth abortion. The very idea that a child that is almost born into the world could still have their life taken from them is just anathema to me.”

Americans think partial-birth abortion is despicable. We passed a law that banned it, but now there are threats to bring it back by Supreme Court decree. And Hillary Clinton wants to make us all pay for abortions with our tax dollars.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

PP 'excited about abortion stories,' deploys $30M Hillary army

No longer content with the messaging that abortion advocates want to keep the lethal procedure “safe, legal and rare,” Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards and Clinton are now pushing the Democratic Party’s movement that is vying to normalize abortion across America by promoting extremist pro-abortion activism.

Part of Richards campaign now is urging women to come out of the closet and proudly share about their abortions – much like the homosexual agenda encourages those who engage in homosexual behavior to speak up for the LGBT community. She is attempting to make both sound as if abortion and LGBT activists are part of a civil rights movement.

Richards is fearful of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump harnessing the power to nominate pro-life SCOTUS judges – as he has promised to do if elected – especially with the lifelong pro-life activist, Mike Pence, at his side as his running mate.

Click here for more from OneNewsNow.

FRC Submits Public Comment with March for Life, Susan B. Anthony List, and Charlotte Lozier Institute Opposing Obama’s New HHS Title X Planned Parenthood Rule

The Obama administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a new proposed regulation blocking states from defunding Planned Parenthood from federal Title X family planning funds.

Family Research Council submitted public comment today with the Susan B. Anthony List, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, and the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, urging HHS to reconsider and rescind this harmful regulation, which would effectively create a backdoor handout for the abortion industry.

You can read those comments in full here in a PDF.

Click here for more from Family Research Council.

October 6, 2016

Archbishop Aquila thoughtfully answers the question, “How should a Catholic vote?”

Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver
Archbishop Samuel Aquila
of Denver
In just 33 days Americans will make a monumental decision: who will be the 44th President of the United States. This will the 13th presidential election in which I have cast my vote and never have the stakes been higher.

Archbishop Samuel Aquila, writing in the Denver Catholic offers counsel as he addresses the question, “How should a Catholic vote?” He is not telling his parishioners whom to vote for, of course, but rather what principles should inform their decision as a Catholic.

Archbishop Aquila explains that he told a group of Catholics at a dinner gathering that he is not keen on either presidential candidate but

Then I said that they need to reflect on the platforms of both parties, with an emphasis on the human life issues. Everyone at the table knew well the teaching of the Church on life and the dignity of life. They knew that Catholics in good conscience cannot support candidates who will advance abortion.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

Pence's clear stand on abortion issue draws accolades from pro-life leaders

Reaction to Gov. Mike Pence's outspoken offense on the Clinton-Kaine effort to increase the number of abortions in American continues to come in. Pence - who is Donald Trump's vice-presidential running mate - made his position clear Monday night during the VP debate when he said:

But what I can’t understand is with Hillary Clinton, and now Senator Kaine at her side, is to support a practice like partial birth abortion. I mean, to hold to the view – and I know Senator Kaine, you hold pro-life views personally – but the very idea that a child that is almost born into the world could still have their life taken from them is just anathema to me. I can’t conscience about a party that supports that.  And I know [Sen. Kaine has] historically opposed taxpayer funding of abortion, but Hillary Clinton wants to repeal the longstanding provision in the law where we said we wouldn't use taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.

More and more young people today are embracing life because we know we’re better for it. Like Mother Teresa said at that famous national prayer breakfast: Bring the children. Let’s welcome the children into our world.

A society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable: the aged, the infirmed, the disabled and the unborn. I believe it with all my heart that I couldn’t be more proud to be standing with a pro-life candidate in Donald Trump.

Click here for more from Illinois Review.

October 5, 2016

FPI follows a Planned Parenthood money trail

Research done by Zach Freeman of the Family Policy Institute of Washington appears to show New York-based Planned Parenthood donating $75,000 to a Planned Parenthood PAC in the state of Washington.

"Which of course is a violation of not only IRS rules," says Freeman (see video below), "but a federal law for a non-profit to give money to a political action committee."

Freeman says he continued to follow the money trail, discovering that Washington's governor and attorney general are among those who have received campaign contributions. The allegedly illegal funds also found their way to the campaigns of 10 state legislators and a candidate for state auditor.



Click here for more from OneNewsNow.

Here's what the VP candidates said about abortion last night

The topic of abortion made an appearance at the vice presidential debate last night, as both candidates discussed the role of faith in their lives, and how it aligns with their political views.

Democratic candidate Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.) insisted he was personally opposed to abortion but would not, as a public official, infringe upon a woman’s choice to have an abortion.

Republican Mike Pence, governor of Indiana emphasized that his faith hinges upon upholding the “sanctity of life.”  “It all for me begins with cherishing the dignity, the worth, the value of every human life,” Pence said on the debate stage. “For me the sanctity of life proceeds out of the belief that ancient principle that where God says before you were formed in the womb I knew you,” he stated.

Click here for more from CNA/EWTN News.

October 4, 2016

Abortion likely to come up in VP debate between pro-life Pence and pro-abortion Kaine

Pro-life Mike Pence versus Pro-abortion Tim Kaine
Pro-life Mike Pence versus Pro-abortion Tim Kaine
With all the fireworks associated with the first Donald Trump/Hillary Clinton debate (and with two more in the offing), perhaps this vice presidential face off will draw less attention than usual.

Or it may do just the opposite–attract many more voters than the usual 20% fewer than the presidential debate, given what a unique campaign this has become, and promises to remain.

In either case, pro-lifers should watch the debate...

“Gov. Pence is devoted to protecting the unborn and their mothers,” said Indiana Right to Life President and CEO, Mike Fichter. “Gov. Pence’s pro-life stance is more than a talking point; Gov. Pence has put his pro-life position into action time and time again. Indiana is a better state for the unborn and their mothers because of the Governor’s pro-life leadership.”

Kaine is your classic “personally opposed” Democrat whose one quibble with abortion on demand–he formerly supported the Hyde Amendment–quickly vanished after Clinton chose him to be her running mate. With Virginia up for grabs, the theory was and is that Kaine could help carry a swing state with 13 electoral votes.

Abortion did not come up in the first presidential debate. It most certainly will Tuesday night.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

Alliance Defending Freedom Files Second Suit Opposing Illinois Abortion Referral Law

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing multiple pregnancy care centers, a pregnancy care center network, and a doctor and her medical practice filed suit last week in federal court against Gov. Bruce Rauner after he recently signed a bill into law that forces them to promote abortion regardless of their ethical or moral views. The lawsuit also names Bryan Schneider, secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

ADF sent a letter to Rauner in May on behalf of numerous pro-life physicians, pregnancy care centers, and pregnancy care center network organizations advising him that the bill, SB 1564, would violate federal law and therefore place federal funding, including Medicaid reimbursements, in jeopardy. ADF also warned legislators about the problems with the bill last year. The lawsuit claims the new law, which is actually an amendment to the existing Illinois Healthcare Right of Conscience Act, violates federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

“No state should attempt to rob women of the freedom to choose a pro-life doctor, but that is the choice that Illinois is eliminating by mandating that pro-life physicians and entities make or arrange abortion referrals. To make matters worse, the state did this by amending a law designed specifically to protect freedom of conscience,” said ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman. “As our lawsuit explains, the law is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution and both federal and state law, which protect citizens from being forced by the government to live and act in a way contrary to their faith and conscience.”

The new law forces pregnancy care centers, medical facilities, and physicians who conscientiously object to involvement in abortions to adopt policies that provide women who ask for abortions with a list of providers “they reasonably believe may offer” them. Both federal and state law prohibit the government from placing burdens on religious conscience without a compelling interest for doing so. Additionally, the Illinois Constitution protects “liberty of conscience,” saying that “no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his religious opinions.” Both the Illinois Constitution and the U.S. Constitution protect free speech, which includes the right not to be compelled by government to speak a message contrary to one’s own conscience.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

UNFPA Facilitates Access to Abortion Pills

A recently released official review of UNFPA–Evaluation of the UNFPA Support to Family Planning 2008-2013–reveals UNFPA’s work to ensure that the drug Misoprostol is in on the essential medicines list in many countries which the evaluation notes “has revolutionized access to safe abortion.”

Misoprostol is the second drug in the RU-486 regimen which causes uterine contractions and the expulsion of the preborn child from the womb. Countries with pro-life laws do not register the first RU-486 drug, Mifepristone, since it has only one use–to bring about the death of the child in the womb.

However, since Misoprostol has other uses, including maternal life-saving use for the prevention and treatment of post partum hemorrhage, countries most often register the drug and include it on the country’s essential medicines list for this purpose. Once the drug is in the country, pro-abortion NGOs then work to inform women on use of the drug for self-induced abortion via abortion hotlines or by direct distribution of the pills, including in countries where abortion is illegal.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

Illinois' Jill Stanek joins Trump's Pro-Life Coalition leadership

Mokena resident Jill Stanek has signed on as an advisor on the life issue to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the campaign announced late last week. According to the published list of 32 of the national movement's most vocal leaders, Stanek alone hails from Illinois.

"I was happy to be asked to be a national pro-life co-chair for Trump. I am literally sickened by the prospect of Hillary Clinton being elected president," Stanek told Illinois Review Monday. "She would be catastrophic to preborn children."

Stanek said there is no question the former First Lady would push wider access and taxpayer funding of abortions - the main reason why pro-lifers need to support Trump.

Click here for more from Illinois Review.

October 3, 2016

Trump adds 32 heavyweights to Pro-Life Coalition

Trump’s latest move appealing to evangelical Christians serves as his fifth gold star to back his campaign pledge to be a champion of life. The newly proclaimed born-again believer’s pro-life arsenal includes:

1. Announcement that Susan B Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser is chairing his Pro-Life Coalition, which was followed up two weeks later by adding 32 pro-life hard-hitters to his campaign’s brain trust on the sanctity of human life.

2. Letter of commitment promising to only nominate pro-life justices to the United States Supreme Court

3. Pledge to sign the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act into law – putting an end to painful and tragic late-term abortions from coast to coast

4. Vow to defund Planned Parenthood while it continues to offer abortions as part of its so-called “women’s reproductive health” program … the defunding plan reallocates the abortion giant’s funding to community health centers nationwide that provide women with comprehensive health care

5. Promise to make permanent law out of the Hyde Amendment – a longstanding bipartisan policy Clinton vowed to rescind, which currently protects the conscience rights of taxpayers by stopping the federal funding of elective abortions

It should be noted that the Democratic Party unleashed its platform this summer declaring its intentions to fully repeal the Hyde Amendment – a party first.

Click here for more from OneNewsNow.

New bill would protect churches with political views from the IRS

Churches concerned about Internal Revenue Service intervention if they engage in political speech should take a look at a proposed federal bill that promises fewer restrictions, the bill’s backers say.

“No tax exemption can be based on a requirement that a church or any other non-profit organization give up a constitutionally protected freedom, including free speech,” Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Erik Stanley said Sept. 29. “With regard to churches, they can decide for themselves what they should or shouldn’t say from the pulpit. Americans don’t need the IRS to be the referee.”

Reps. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Jody Hice (R-Ga.) have introduced the Freedom of Speech Fairness Act, which claims to restore free speech and religious freedom to churches and other nonprofits. It would allow churches to make political statements in the ordinary course of the organization’s regular and customary activities, and if any expenditures on such statements are minimal.

The bill would ensure that a minister may make a comment about a political candidate or issue as part of a sermon. It would also allow a charity that sends out a monthly newsletter to occasionally include comments on political issues or candidates, according to Rep. Scalise’s office.

Click here for more from CNA/EWTN News.

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Pro-Life Group for Exposing Planned Parenthood's Top Medical Waste Hauler

On September 29th, Judge Margaret A. Marcoullier of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois released her decision on Stericycle, Inc. v. Created Equal (and Mark Harrington). Judge Marcoullier dismissed all three charges against Created Equal and Mark Harrington: defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The temporary restraining order was denied.

Read Judge Marcoullier's decision in favor of Created Equal: bit.ly/2dv08n1

Over the past six months, arguments were presented in a lawsuit by Stericycle, Inc. against the pro-life group Created Equal. The Thomas More Society, a national non-profit law firm, represented Created Equal and its Executive Director Mark Harrington, against the temporary restraining order. This order was intended to stifle Created Equal's first amendment protected message that Stericycle is "enabling" abortion giant Planned Parenthood to kill preborn children.

Click here for more from Christian Newswire.

September 29, 2016

The Networks’ total silence on the Hyde Amendment

You might think that with 2016 being the 40th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment; with Hillary Clinton and her party pledging an all-out war against this provision which is attached to the annual appropriations bill that covers many federal health programs (including Medicaid); and with upwards of two million people walking this planet who wouldn’t otherwise, were it not for the Hyde Amendment, that the media, and particular the television networks, might alert the public to what the Democrats want to do and Donald Trump has vowed to oppose.

But you would be wrong.

While politicians and abortion groups are making Hyde a big issue this election year, the networks aren’t. ABC, CBS and NBC have not once reported on the Democratic platform’s new language to repeal the Hyde Amendment during their morning or evening news shows.

In fact, network anchors and correspondents haven’t said the words “Hyde Amendment” in the past five years.

Click here for more from National Right to Life.

Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards Brags: ‘We’re Proud of’ Performing Abortions on Netflix’s ‘Chelsea’

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards
Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards
A recent episode of Netflix’s Chelsea, “I Was a Ticking Time Bomb,” turned into a mini abortion rally and Planned Parenthood commercial.

Extreme left-wing feminist Gloria Steinem was on the show to promote her book My Life on the Road, which she dedicated to her illegal abortionist. The story of Steinem’s illegal abortion in the 1960s made fellow guest Sarah Silverman cry, presumably not for the innocent life that was snuffed out.

Then Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards was on singing the praises of women telling their personal stories of abortion. She wants the “stigma and shame” to be removed from abortion and thanked Chelsea for sharing the story of her abortions. Richards said women must “tell people what is at stake” because abortion is too important of a decision for the government to make. What? Didn’t that ship sail with the decision of Roe v. Wade by a liberal Supreme Court?

Richards brought out the standard rhetoric of the pro-abortion crowd – 1 in 3 women get an abortion during their reproductive years, which is a severely outdated statistic. Surprisingly she didn’t trot out the discredited “only 3% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortion,” and instead highlighted that they provide abortion services, saying, “We’re proud of that as well.”

Click here for more from National Right to Life.