America Raises the Banner of LIFE Worldwide

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Trump administration sent a powerful message to the world yesterday: The principle established in America’s founding document, that all men are created with an unalienable Right to Life, would be a determining factor as the U.S. helps with health programs around the world.

Following through on his January memorandum regarding the Mexico City Policy, the administration has declared with its new Promoting Life in Global Health Assistance that abortion will not be an export of the United States in any way.

The Mexico City Policy was issued by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. It barred the use of U.S. funds from being given to foreign organizations that perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning overseas. That policy was continued by Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, and rescinded by President Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

When President Trump reinstated the pro-life policy on January 23, he took the policy further. He instructed the Secretary of State “to implement a plan to extend the requirements of the reinstated Memorandum to global health assistance furnished by all (emphasis added) departments or agencies.”

The Mexico City Policy originally covered funds distributed for family planning and “reproductive health” purposes. The new policy now covers all global health assistance, pulling in international health programs such as HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, malaria, and global health security. Because of the additional programs covered by the policy, the amount of money covered by the policy has gone from $500-$600 million to almost $9 billion annually.

People in developing countries want help—they want food for their children, they want shelter over their heads, they want to live in a safe environment, they want learning and training so they can take care of, and provide for, their families. When agencies and organizations enter a community, supported by U.S. funds, the people will know that we are not there to kill their children.

The United States is waving a banner worldwide—our health assistance will honor and protect life.

By Carol Tobias, President NRLC

Facebook quickly restores illegal abortion drug page after deleting it in ‘error’

Some 24 hours after it deleted the Facebook page of Women on Web, which sells illegal abortion pills online, Facebook backpedaled, apologized, and reinstated the page.

The social media giant shut down Women on Web May 12, citing its policy against the “promotion or encouragement of drug use,” the Guardian reported.

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Trump administration expands pro-life Mexico City Policy

The Trump administration on Monday announced that it would begin implementing an expanded Mexico City Policy, which pro-life leaders hailed as a key step to curtailing abortion funding.

The expansion means that more forms of foreign funding will be directed to go to organizations that do not perform or support abortions overseas.

Trump instructed the Secretary of State to expand the Mexico City Policy. Now, Secretary Rex Tillerson has released the plan to put this expansion into action. Entitled “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance,” the plan extends the ban on funding of abortion supporters to other forms of foreign aid like global health assistance.

Click here for more from CNA/EWTN News

‘The strength that he has is so inspiring:’ NHL star befriends disabled boy who was almost aborted

Doctors said Christian Ouimet’s parents should abort him because of an adverse prenatal diagnosis. He had developmental disabilities and wasn’t supposed to survive the first trimester of his mother’s pregnancy.

Christian overcame serious obstacles to survive and even play hockey. And while he has been thrilled to be friends with the sports celebrity, Kyle and Julie Turris are clear about the effect that Christian has had on them.

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NFL star takes strong stand against abortion

Chris Maragos, who won a Super Bowl ring with the 2013 Seattle Seahawks and is entering his fourth season on the Eagles, is set to participate, along with his wife, Serah, at a fundraiser for AlphaCare’s “Kick It for Life” fundraiser May 27 in Philadelphia.

A pro-life pregnancy help center that operates a mobile medical unit, AlphaCare began serving women just a wall away from the shuttered abortion clinic of convicted murder Kermit Gosnell this January, with the ultimate goal to purchase and repurpose the clinic itself.

Click here for more from LifeSiteNews

Rauner muddies the waters more on his abortion stance

On a radio show Friday, Governor Bruce Rauner muddied his position on HB 40 all the more.|

Before being elected, Rauner assured abortion advocates in Personal PAC that he supported a woman's right to choose abortion. Then he led a group of social conservative lawmakers to believe he would veto HB 40, which would force state taxpayers to fund abortions for women on Medicaid or working for state government, and would remove language making Illinois a pro-life state if Roe vs Wade were to be overturned.

The bill passed the Illinois Senate Wednesday, but has yet to be sent to the Governor's desk.

Before the bill was voted on in the Illinois House, Rauner's spokeperson Allie Bovis wrote Illinois Review in an email on April 14, "Governor Rauner does not support HB40 and will veto the bill if it reaches his desk."

While talking to WBEZ radio host Tony Sarabia Friday, Rauner confused his stance all the more.

Click here for the interview from the Chicago Tribune.

Click here for the associated Action Alert!

Click here for more from Illinois Review.

Vision 2020 - Week 16 - Rep.Carol Ammons (D) and Rep. Luis Arroyo (D)

CALLING ALL PRAYER WARRIORS Join us in praying for our state legislators Petitioning Heaven Vision 2020 would like to invite you to join us in praying for our state legislators.  We will send out information about a couple different state representatives each week for you to pray over.   Consider sharing this information with your ministry partners, your church family, on your website and/or your Facebook page.   We know that prayer changes things.  And we know that NOTHING is impossible with God. So let's join our hearts and voices together and petition heaven on behalf of the great state of Illinois! Some of our legislators need prayer that God will open their eyes and change their hearts (or move them out of their positions) and some need prayers that they will have the strength, courage and boldness to be able to stand firmly against the opposition as they fight for life and family values.   Representative Carol Ammons (D) 103rd District Assistance@StateRepCarolAmmons.com Pro-Choice Representative Luis Arroyo (D) 3rd District Assistant Majority Leader RepDistrict3@gmail.com Pro-Choice "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:3

Illinois Abortion funding bill (HB40) passes Senate; headed to Governor Rauner

Illinois Democrats are committed to making Illinois taxpayers pay for abortions for any reason for state employees and women and girls on Medicaid.

Wednesday, in a 33 to 22 vote, the Senate passed HB 40 to the governor's desk.

Governor Rauner has declared that he will veto the bill, but HB 40 supporters are urging calls to the governor's office to sign the bill into law. Only Democrats supported the bill when it passed the Illinois House two weeks ago.

State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) was quick to respond to the development.

“This legislation forces every Illinoisan to pay for elective abortions for any reason at any stage of pregnancy - even in the 9th month. This is wrong," McConchie said in a statement.

McConchie said that not only is it wrong to make Illinois taxpayers pay for elective abortion procedures, it’s extremely troubling that Illinois would be expanding state services in a time when Illinois is without a balanced budget, has more than $12 billion in unpaid bills, and vendors are waiting months to receive payment.

Click here for more from IllinoisReview.com

Flawed “study” calls for supporting abortionists instead of protecting women

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) today said that a new “study” issued by the Guttmacher Institute (originally founded as a special research arm of Planned Parenthood) was flawed and misleading and cautioned journalists to avoid accepting Guttmacher’s work at face value.

“There’s really not a lot that is new here,” said Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D., National Right to Life director of education & research. “In this report, Guttmacher simply assembles a lot of its tired old, flawed research to trot out against the latest pro-life legislation that they claim to be ‘ineffective’ but yet has clearly frustrated their friends in the abortion industry. This research, some as much as 35 years old, not only has basic design and sampling problems, but also reaches conclusions that are not entirely consistent with their own data.”

Throughout its report, Guttmacher attacks state laws protecting pain-capable unborn children from abortion, prohibiting the use of webcams as a means to prescribe dangerous chemical abortion pills, and requiring abortionists and abortion clinics to meet basic minimum standards to operate.

Click here for more from NRLC.org

Pro-life provision in AHCA – will it survive the Senate?

The abortion business collects over 40 percent of its revenue from the American taxpayer – i.e., over $553 million a year from federal, state and local governments. The American Health Care Act of 2017 (H.R. 1628), if it passes the Senate, will eliminate more than $400 million. The measure passed narrowly in the House on a 217-213 vote.

Those who oppose the funding cut often cite the other health services Planned Parenthood offers to women that would be affected. But Jim Sedlak (ALL) points out far more local health clinics are providing those services – and they don't terminate the lives of preborn babies. He cites, for example, the Texas Panhandle where Planned Parenthood once operated 19 clinics.

The AHCA, however, definitely faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Phil Kerpen of American Commitment says the Senate was always going to be the harder part, noting two GOP senators who would likely jump ship on the abortion funding provision.  Kerpen, Phil (American Commitment)"The fact that the bill defunds Planned Parenthood means you lose Senator Susan Collins [of Maine] right off the top, and you might also lose Lisa Murkowski [of Alaska] as well," Kerpen tells OneNewsNow. "If you lose those two, you have to get all ... of the other 50 [Republican] senators [for it to have a chance]."

Click here for more from OneNewsNow.com

CBS’s ‘Madam Secretary’ Surprises With Pro-Life, Pro-Motherhood Message

In the world of entertainment, abortion is almost always the automatic answer given as a solution if a single woman faces an unplanned pregnancy after sleeping with a man she barely knows, that man ends up dying and thus can’t help her support the baby, and her parents are “church people” who she fears may judge her.

On the May 7 episode of Madam Secretary, “The Seventh Floor,” however, that exact scenario resulted instead in an encouraging pro-life, pro-motherhood speech by Secretary Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leoni) to newly pregnant Daisy Grant (Patina Miller), after Daisy expressed fears about handling motherhood on her own after the CIA operative she briefly dated was killed.

For once, we get to see women discuss the beauty of pregnancy and new human life, and how a mother’s job is to protect her baby. A baby with the potential to be a comfort to the lives it blesses.

Click here for more from NRLC.org

Vision 2020 - Week 15 - Rep. Brandon W. Phelps (D) and Rep. Randy E. Frese (R)

Petitioning Heaven Vision 2020 and the Illinois Federation for Right to Life would like to invite you to join us in praying for our state legislators.  We will send out information about a couple different state representatives each week for you to pray over.   Consider sharing this information with your ministry partners, your church family, on your website and/or your Facebook page.   We know that prayer changes things.  And we know that NOTHING is impossible with God. So let's join our hearts and voices together and petition heaven on behalf of the great state of Illinois! Some of our legislators need prayer that God will open their eyes and change their hearts (or move them out of their positions) and some need prayers that they will have the strength, courage and boldness to be able to stand firmly against the opposition as they fight for life and family values.   Rep. Brandon W. Phelps (D) 118th District Email: bphelps118@gmail.com Pro-Life Rep. Randy E. Frese (R) 94th District Email: repfrese@adams.net Pro-Life "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

HB 40 - State Abortion Insurance / Public Aid Act - ACTION ALERT

HB 40 - State Abortion Insurance / Public Aid Act

Status:

Assigned to Senate Human Services Committee, hearing is on Tuesday, May 9th

Summary:

This bill has the potential to reverse almost every pro-life effort made in Illinois and will protect abortion if regulated, defunded or outlawed federally.

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. 

-Removes a provision prohibiting the non-contributory portion of a program of health-benefits from including the expenses of obtaining an abortion. (If passed, the State Employee's Insurance would cover the expenses of an abortion.).

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code.

-Removes a provision excluding abortions or induced miscarriages or premature births from the list of services provided under the State's medical assistance program. (If passed, public aid would cover abortions or "induced miscarriages".)

-Removes language providing for the adoption of rules to prohibit a physician from providing medical assistance to anyone eligible for medical assistance benefits if the physician has been found guilty of willfully and wantonly performing an abortion procedure upon a woman who was not pregnant at the time of the procedure. (If passed, a doctor would not be stopped from performing medical services including an abortion even if he/she had been found guilty of performing an unwanted abortion procedure.)

-Removes other provisions concerning abortion restrictions. (If passed, this would remove the requirement for a physician statement the procedure used for an abortion when requesting reimbursement for the abortion, "induced miscarriages" or premature births.  This also removes the need to include the physicians opinion regarding the abortion.)

Amends the Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Act. 

-Removes language prohibiting the Department of Human Services from making grants to nonprofit agencies and organizations that use such grants to refer or counsel for, or perform, abortions. (If passed, the Department of Human Services would be allowed to provide money or grants to organizations or companies that perform abortions.)

Amends the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975. 

-Provides that it is the intention of the General Assembly to reasonably regulate abortion in conformance with the legal standards set forth in the decisions of the United States Supreme Court of January 22, 1973.  (If passed, this would keep abortion legal if the Roe Vs. Wade Decision is reversed)

-Removes language concerning the General Assembly's declaration that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life. (If passed, this means that an unborn child would NOT be considered a human being and so the unborn child does NOT have the right to life.)

Action:

Now is the time to enter a Witness Slip in opposition of HB40.  It only takes a couple minutes and could save numerous lives.

Click here to start your Witness Slip.

For the "Firm/Business Or Agency" field enter Illinois Federation for Right to Life

For the "Title" field enter Supporter

Make sure you select Oppose and Record Of Appearance Only

Click here for more information on this bill.

U.S. House passes American Health Care Act of 2017

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the American Health Care Act of 2017 (H.R. 1628), 217-213. Seven long years after President Obama signed the sweeping abortion-expanding “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (PPACA), the House has taken this critical first step towards protecting life by, among other things, restoring the longstanding principles of the Hyde Amendment with respect to federally funded health coverage, and blocking, for one year, most federal payments to affiliates of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).

In advance of the vote, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of state right-to-life organizations, advised House members that the roll call on passage of the bill will be included in NRLC’s scorecard of key right-to-life votes. The NRLC letter states: “As enacted, the PPACA contains multiple provisions authorizing federal subsidies for abortion, and abortion-expanding regulatory mandates. A 2014 GAO report revealed that over 1,000 federally subsidized plans nationwide were covering elective abortion. The American Health Care Act would repeal the provisions of law that created this system, and prohibit any future federal tax credits from subsidizing the purchase of plans that cover elective abortion, thereby restoring the longstanding principles of the Hyde Amendment with respect to federally funded health coverage.”

NRLC strongly supports the language in the bill that would block, for one year, most federal payments to affiliates of Planned Parenthood. It would close the largest pipeline for federal funding of Planned Parenthood, Medicaid, and apply as well to the CHIP and the Title V and Title XX block grant programs, thus covering roughly 89% of all federal funds to Planned Parenthood. The amounts denied to Planned Parenthood in effect are reallocated to community health centers. Over one-third of all abortions in the U.S. are performed at PPFA-affiliated facilities. For additional up-to-date information on the extent of Planned Parenthood’s involvement in abortion, see here.

In addition, the American Health Care Act retains employer-paid health insurance as a fully untaxed benefit. The American Health Care Act postpones the “Cadillac tax” which is designed to create a tax disincentive to suppress private, nongovernmental health care spending beyond a governmentally imposed limit. It is critical that Americans have access to quality life-saving healthcare to preserve their lives, care that will not be rationed more each year.

Click here for more from NRLC.org

Trump to sign order protecting opponents abortion on National Day of Prayer

President Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday protecting the religious liberty of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious institutions from being forced to participate in the provision of contraceptives and life-ending drugs and devices.

The draft of the order mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services "take appropriate actions" to ensure that Americans aren't forced to fund abortion when they purchase health insurance. Everyone must have "the ability to purchase health insurance that does not provide coverage for abortion and does not subsidize plans that do provide such coverage," it says.

Click here for more from LifeSiteNews.com

Democrats lash out at Trump for ‘jeopardizing’ abortion

Nearly 150 Democratic members of Congress sent President Trump a letter Monday lamenting that many leftist fears about "attacks on women's health" have "become a reality" during the first 100 days of his administration.

The letter was spearheaded by the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, but it only uses the word "abortion" once. Instead, the politicians relied on euphamisms like "choice," "reproductive healthcare," and "family planning."

Click here for more from LifeSiteNews.com

Trump appoints pro-life lawyer to lead ‘family planning’ programs

Teresa Manning, a law professor with a pro-life background who has questioned the effectiveness of contraception, was named deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Population Affairs of the Health and Human Services Department (HHS). Politico reported first on the appointment and it was confirmed Monday by The Hill.

In her role with the Population Affairs Office, Manning will help oversee distribution of Title X funds. The $286 million federal program subsidizes access to “family planning and related preventive health services” for low-income and uninsured individuals. She will also be involved in implementing HHS policies concerning contraception.

Click here for more from LifeSiteNews.com

Republicans compromise: Congress’ budget won’t defund Planned Parenthood

Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed on an omnibus budget deal that funds Planned Parenthood through September and will likely vote on it this week. By reaching a deal, they prevented a temporary government shutdown.

"It’s beyond frustrating that Congress is poised to pass a government funding bill that continues to fund Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion vendor and the subject of over a dozen criminal referrals from committees in both the House and Senate," said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America. "The Republican Party is the only party with an anti-abortion platform and whose candidates ran specifically on the promise to defund Planned Parenthood, yet, here we are, watching them pass a bill that funds Planned Parenthood even though they control the House, Senate, and White House."

Click here for more from LifeSiteNews.com

St. Paul of the Cross Seminar Series - “Where Work Meets Faith.”

You are invited to the St. Paul of the Cross Seminar Series- “Where Work Meets Faith.”

Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm.
SPC Holy Family Chapel (lower church at 320 S. Washington, Park Ridge, IL  60631)

You are invited to the St. Paul of the Cross Seminar Series-“Where Work Meets Faith.”  The Seminar Series is about using the gifts that God gave you to build up community. Each series will feature presenters who will tell real life stories and how their faith played an important role. Hearing many different stories in our Seminar Series may increase connections among us that will bring us all closer together increasing our sense of community. Each presenter will answer questions from the audience at the end of their presentation.

About our Presenters:

Tom Collins, Former Director of Clinical Engineering at Loyola University Health System, will share a story of faith transformation.  Hear how Tom was used by God at death’s door as a Eucharistic Minister of Care. Get a glimpse into how and why Tom turned from a promising career to full time for God.  Hear Tom’s tips for faith transformation.

Maureen Boland, a Technology Integration Specialist at Wright College, will share a story of helping a Professor at work.  Hear her deep trust in God.  Hear tips for any person with or without physical constraints.  Be inspired to look on the bright side.

Dawn Behnke, President of Illinois Federation for Right to Life, will share how she became an Illinois State lobbyist. Dawn lives in Springfield. Hear a real life story from her of lobbying in faith. Dawn will also share 3 practical pro life tips for laity to make a difference to legislators.

The event’s social benefit is getting to know each other better.  The more we know about each other, the more opportunity we have for being connected. Go to www.Loquate.TV to hear these “Inspiring and Practical” talks.  Better yet, come in person.  If you have any questions, please contact Mary Ann or Jeff Liautaud 773-621-0863. We look forward to seeing you.

Trump appoints pro-life activist Dr. Charmaine Yoest to top Health and Human Services spot

President Trump appointed well-known pro-life activist Dr. Charmaine Yoest (former CEO of Americans United for Life) to be Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The man Yoest is replacing is now a Vice President at Planned Parenthood, America's largest abortion provider.

HHS oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has enormous influence on American healthcare policy.

Click here for more from LifeSiteNews.com