hot button issues: STOPP GOES WEEKLY
abortion: “DONATED” BODY PARTS / MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE
culture of death: MURDER IS JUSTIFIED?
hero: AWARD RECIPIENT
human embryonic stem cell research: ARCHBISHOP BURKE
in vitro fertilization: RISKS
morning-after abortion pill: ABORTION
stem cell research: UMBILICAL CORD
wisdom: ST. JOHN FISHER
zinger: ASSURING DEATH
reflection for prayer: FORTITUDE
hot button issues
STOPP GOES WEEKLY: The Wednesday STOPP Report — a new weekly update from American Life League’s STOPP International — is available by way of e-mail. To get on the list just e-mail your ?subject=subscribe”>request with “subscribe” in the subject and/or body.
abortion
“DONATED” BODY PARTS: Researchers in Auckland, New Zealand are conducting eye experiments using “donated human fetal segments” which, according to reports, were provided with the consent of the “donor families.” One report states Planned Parenthood abortion clinics in the United States were the source of the body parts.
(Reading: “NZ experiments on aborted US babies,” New Zealand herald, 10/18/05; “Unborn baby body parts used in research experiment,” Right to Life New Zealand news release, 11/10/05)
MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE: Earlier this year, this pro-abortion organization published an attack on the Catholic Church for what it perceives as the illegitimacy of Catholic hospital policies prohibiting abortion. The writer states, “During my residency I was lucky to get my abortion training electives done just before the Catholic hospital took over.”
(Reading: “The church in the exam room and the classroom: what every medical student should know about Catholic hospital mergers,” Medical Students for Choice Update, 5/05)
culture of death
MURDER IS JUSTIFIED? This is the case when it comes to saving lab animals, according to a report quoting animal rights activist Jerry Vlasak.
(Reading: “Animal extremist tells Senate hearing: Murder is justified to save lab animals,” Foundation for Biomedical Research news release, 10/27/05)
hero
AWARD RECIPIENT: Lawrence F. Roberge, author of “Abortifacient vaccines threaten to make pro-life protests, education ineffective,” has been named as recipient of the 2005 Professor of the Year award for Connecticut.
(Reading: “National honors for top professor in Connecticut,” Council for Advancement and Support of Education news release, 11/17/05)
human embryonic stem cell research
ARCHBISHOP BURKE: Archbishop Raymond Burke instructed priests in his St. Louis archdiocese to preach on Sunday about why human embryonic stem cell research cannot be allowed and to instruct the Catholic faithful not to support it. The direction is in response to a petition about to circulate that would amend the state constitution to protect this immoral research. Archbishop Burke also issued a pastoral letter on the topic.
(Reading: “St. Louis archbishop orders priests to preach on embryo research,” LifeSiteNews, 11/28/05; “Safeguarding human life: the very beginning,” St. Louis Review, 11/11/05)
in vitro fertilization
RISKS: Researchers have found that one woman in seven who receives IVF is hospitalized due to complications.
(Reading: “Repeated in vitro treatments riskier,” United Press International, 11/25/05)
morning-after abortion pill
ABORTION: In response to numerous questions about how it is that pro-lifers claim that the pills abort while pro-abortion supporters claim it does not, Pharmacists for Life International founder Bogomir Kuhar provides this statement of the facts:
- Doses of common OCs vary by brand, although there are many similarities.
- One example of a commonly used OC which is reflective of the mega doses of Plan B (l-norgestrel):
- TriPhasil = 50mcg, 75mcg and 125mcg strengths of l-norgestrel (progestin component)
- 30, 40 and 30 mcg of esthinyl estradiol, respectively (estrogen component)
- Plan B = 750mcg (0.75mg) of l-norgestrel
- 750mcg divided by the range of 50-125mcg l-norgestrel found in TriPhasil shows Plan B is:
- Six (6) to 15 times more potent than the common OC TriPhasil, depending on which strength of the latter Plan B is compared to. It is reasonable to conclude the risk of serious side effects is magnified with this product.
(Reading: 11/17/05 e-mail from Pharmacists for Life International headquarters)
stem cell research
UMBILICAL CORD: Teenager Amanda Bryson who has suffered with multiple sclerosis has been treated with stem cells taken from umbilical cords and she is now walking. Some have issued a cautionary note but Amanda is happy to say she is now walking every day and no longer consigned to a wheelchair.
(Reading: “The therapy works, says MS teenager,” The Herald, 11/17/05)
wisdom
ST. JOHN FISHER: Lord, according to Thy promise that the Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, raise up men fit for such work. The Apostles were but soft and yielding clay till they were baked hard by the fire of the Holy Ghost. So, good Lord, do now in like manner with Thy Church militant. Change and make the soft and slippery earth into hard stones. Set in Thy Church strong and mighty pillars that may suffer and endure great labors — watching, poverty, thirst, hunger, cold and heat — which also shall not fear the threatenings of princes, persecution, neither death, but always persuade and think with themselves to suffer with a good will, slanders, shame, and all kinds of torments, for the glory and laud of Thy holy Name. By this manner, good Lord, the truth of Thy Gospel shall be preached throughout the world. Therefore, merciful Lord, exercise Thy mercy, show it indeed upon Thy Church.
(Reading: “Prayer for holy bishops,” St. John Fisher, as quoted in “What ‘pastoral’ means,” Catholic Exchange, 12/27/03)
zinger
ASSURING DEATH: The following statement in an article reporting that 50 babies a year are alive after abortion needs no comment:
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which regulates methods of abortion, has mounted its own investigation. Its guidelines say that babies aborted after more than 21 weeks and six days of gestation should have their hearts stopped by an injection of potassium chloride before being delivered.
(Reading: “Fifty babies a year are alive after abortion,” The Sunday Times [UK], 11/27/05)
reflection for prayer
FORTITUDE: St. Augustine said fortitude is “the love which dreads no hardship, not even death.”
(Reading: St. Augustine, as quoted in “Summa Theologica,” by St. Thomas Aquinas)