in this issue:
hot button issues: SPIN ZONE / STOPP
abortion: GLOBAL PLAN / ROE LOSES / SHOCKING ALLEGATION
birth control: BBC
catholic bishops: GETTELFINGER
catholic journalism: CNS
china: DAMAGE CONTROL
dark side: CFFC / NARAL
planned parenthood: CALIFORNIA / FLORIDA / TEXAS
postscript: MARK YOUR CALENDAR / PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT
reflection for prayer: PSALM 113:2-4
hot button issues
SPIN ZONE: Various media outlets are erroneously using a memo from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to goad Catholics into voting for pro-abortion candidates. The cardinal never said this was permissible. American Life League is calling on the media to get it right.
(Reading: “Vatican official did not okay votes for pro-abortion political candidates; media reports to that effect are wrong,” American Life League news release, 9/13/04)
STOPP: Jim Sedlak of American Life League’s STOPP International testified before a state textbook hearing in Texas. Planned Parenthood wants to get more information about birth control into health textbooks. But Sedlak objected, noting, “We have to give our children a clear message they are not expected to have sexual activity until marriage.”
(Reading: “Groups wage fight over sex ed in textbooks,” Associated Press, 9/9/04)
abortion
GLOBAL PLAN: The International Planned Parenthood Federation has unveiled its 10-year strategic plan. Among IPPF’s goals are “a universal recognition of a woman’s right to choose and have access to safe abortion” and “provision of abortion-related services as an integral part of sexual and reproductive health services.”
(Reading: “IPPF’s strategic framework 2005-2015,” International Planned Parenthood Federation, 2004)
ROE LOSES: A federal appeals court has rejected Norma McCorvey’s attempt to have the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling vacated. Judge Edith Jones said the question was moot since abortion laws in effect in Texas at the time of the case are no longer in place. She did note, however, “In sum, if courts were to delve into the facts underlying Roe’s balancing scheme with present-day knowledge, they might conclude that the woman’s ‘choice’ is far more risky and less beneficial, and the child’s sentience far more advanced, than the Roe court knew? One may fervently hope that the court will someday acknowledge such developments and re-evaluate Roe “
(Reading: “5th Circuit denies abortion appeal,” Baton Rouge Advocate, 9/15/04)
SHOCKING ALLEGATION: Jill Stanek writes that two Catholic hospital systems are involved in the practice of “live birth abortions,” where labor is induced and the child is left to die. It is said that most of these abortions involve handicapped babies.
(Reading: “Catholic hospitals commit — and U.S. bishops condone — live birth abortions,” World Net Daily, 9/15/04)
birth control
BBC: The British Broadcasting Corporation is taking note of a trend American media is not reporting — the efforts of U.S. pro-life groups to spread the word that the birth control pill is abortifacient. An article quotes Milwaukee physician Cynthia Jones-Nosacek, who says the pill is capable of causing a “chemical abortion.” A Planned Parenthood spokesman said pro-lifers have “set their sights on birth control because there’s nothing else really they can do to further restrict abortion.”
(Reading: “Pill propelled into abortion debate,” BBC News, 9/13/04)
catholic bishops
GETTELFINGER: Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger of Evansville, Ind., told a civic group he would deny Holy Communion to pro-abortion Catholic political figures. He also called on Catholics in the political arena to follow their faith: “At the risk of losing your jobs, I insist that you be driven by personal integrity… Be true at the risk of defeat.”
(Reading: “Bishop warns defiant politicians,” Evansville Courier and Press, 9/15/04)
catholic journalism
CNS: Catholic News Service, an arm of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that distributes material to diocesan newspapers across the country, has published an article examining the positions of both major party presidential candidates on the death penalty. The article does not outline the totality of the Catholic Church’s teaching on capital punishment, nor does it contrast that teaching with the Church’s unbending stand on abortion.
(Reading: “Campaign ’04: Kerry, Bush at near-opposite extremes on death penalty,” Catholic News Service, 9/3/04)
china
DAMAGE CONTROL: An NBC News report looks at the demographic upheaval caused by China’s one-child policy and the cultural desire for male children. Untold millions of girls have been aborted over the past 20 years, leaving the male/female ratio wildly out of balance. NBC reports the government is starting new programs that will pay parents for having girls.
COMMENT: One can only wonder if the “solution” will encourage Chinese families to abort boys.
(Reading: “China grapples with its legacy of ‘missing girls,'” NBC News, 9/14/04)
dark side
CFFC: The anti-Catholic group Catholics for a Free Choice shows its true colors in two recent news releases. In the first, the organization’s Frances Kissling voices support for the California stem cell initiative: “While the Catholic bishops are against embryonic stem cell research, asserting the personhood of embryos, the majority of Catholics does not believe or stand with the bishops on this issue.” A second release blasts a Congressional measure that would reinforce hospitals’ ability to refuse to participate in abortion: “Catholics are deeply concerned about quality health care and Catholics support access to reproductive health care services, including abortion.”
COMMENT: There is no documentation for either claim regarding the “majority” of Catholics, nor any justification for disagreeing with Catholic doctrine.
(Reading: “Catholics for a Free Choice supports Proposition 71,” CFFC news release, 9/7/04; “House of Representatives undermines women’s health,” CFFC news release, 9/8/04)
NARAL: The outfit that now calls itself NARAL Pro-Choice America is chiding the Bush administration for pushing a program that is “unsafe, unproven.” The program is abstinence.
(Reading: “Bush allies in Congress give unprecedented boost to unsafe, unproven abstinence-only programs,” NARAL Pro-Choice America news release, 9/9/04)
planned parenthood
CALIFORNIA: Over the objections of two housing commissioners, Planned Parenthood will be allowed to remain at public housing projects in the Stockton area. Planned Parenthood of Mar Monte distributes contraceptives and offers pregnancy tests at the two projects, and informs pregnant clients of their “options,” including abortion.
(Reading: “Housing Authority votes to let Planned Parenthood stay,” Stockton Record, 9/3/04)
FLORIDA: The Miami Herald gave a local Planned Parenthood official space on the editorial page to tell the “truth” about the organization. Among the statements in Mary Capobianco’s article: “Of all the myths I’ve heard about Planned Parenthood, the most insidious is that we are an abortion clinic.”
(Reading: “Planned Parenthood’s real mission,” Miami Herald, 9/12/04)
TEXAS: Leaders of Lufkin for Life are convinced they can get Planned Parenthood out of their city through “God’s grace, peaceful protest, a constant prayer presence, outreach and education.” A local Planned Parenthood spokesman told the Lufkin Daily News, “If anti-choice hardliners were serious about the reducing the need for abortion services, about reducing the number of unintended pregnancies each year in the U.S., and about reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, they would support proven family planning programs that work.”
COMMENT: That would be abstinence, correct?
(Reading: “Lufkin for Life targeting Planned Parenthood,” Lufkin Daily News, 9/8/04)
postscript
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: American Life League is commemorating 25 years of fighting for the babies. ALL’s board of directors and advisory board are planning a dinner with the theme, “American Life League’s silver anniversary tribute to Judie Brown – her work and times.” The event will take place on Saturday, April 16, 2005 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Va. (next to Reagan National Airport). More details will be forthcoming. If you have any questions, please e-mail: .
PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT: American Life League’s online store features a new shirt with the message, “Vote 100% pro-life.” To order, visit ProLifeGear.com.
reflection for prayer
PSALM 113:2-4: Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the Lord be praised. High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens God’s glory.