in this issue:
hot button issues: PETITION / T-SHIRT DAY
abortion: FLORIDA / MICHIGAN / ONLINE SURVEYS / VICTORY IN NEW JERSEY
activism: M&Ms
catholic schools: NOTRE DAME
culture of death: DR. JOSPEH FLETCHER
euthanasia: CHICAGO / NEW ORLEANS
heroes: THE TETTO FAMILY
in vitro fertilization: SAY NO!
personhood: RIGHT TO LIFE ACT
planned parenthood: DECEPTION / FIGHTING BACK
sex education: BANNED / CATHOLIC GUIDELINES
stem cell research / unethical: CALIFORNIA / MARYLAND
vaccines: NEWS UPDATES
wisdom: G.E.M. ANSCOMBE
zinger: CAUSING BRAIN DAMAGE TO CHILDREN?
reflection for prayer: HANG IN THERE
hot button issues
PETITION: American Life League is leading a major petition effort designed to cut all tax funding directed to Planned Parenthood. In its most recent fiscal year, Planned Parenthood received more than $265 million from federal, state and local government sources. Petitions may be signed online.
T-SHIRT DAY: American Life League is sponsoring National Pro-life T-shirt Day for the fourth year. On April 25, ALL is asking pro-life students to wear a pro-life message to class. The official shirt of ALL’s National Pro-life T-shirt Day is available online for $5 plus shipping and handling. Deadline for ordering is Monday, April 17. Other details are available online.
abortion
FLORIDA: Florida’s top court agrees the state’s “Women’s Right to Know Act” is constitutional.
(Reading: “Florida Supreme Court upholds women’s right to know act,” LifeSite News, 4/7/06)
MICHIGAN: Michigan Citizens for Life’s petition drive for the Prenatal Child Protection Amendment has created a split among pro-lifers in the state.
(Reading: “Ballot initiative causes rift in anti-abortion agenda,” Livingston Daily Press & Argus, 4/6/06)
ONLINE SURVEYS: Catherine T. Coyle, R.N., has developed several surveys designed to determine the attitudes of men and women as they relate to the aftermath of abortion.
(Reading: “Surveys,” AbortionResearch.net)
VICTORY IN NEW JERSEY: “In a stunning reversal for abortion providers, a New Jersey Appellate Court has issued a unanimous opinion that the factual contention that a first trimester abortion terminates the life of a human being is a question to be decided by a jury.”
(Reading: “Court decision in New Jersey to have strong implications for South Dakota abortion litigation,” Harold J. Cassidy and Associates news release, 4/7/06)
activism
M&Ms: M&M candy is specially packaged from September 1 through November 30. The special “pink” packages are sold so the company can provide a donation to the Susan Komen Cancer Foundation.
ACTION: If you would like to communicate with M&M, advising them that you oppose their effort because of the times between the Susan Komen Cancer Foundation and Planned Parenthood, send those comments online.
(Background: For information on the connection between the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood, see the web site of Pro-Life Waco, an American Life League associate group)
catholic schools
NOTRE DAME: Declaring that Catholic teaching has nothing to fear from engaging the wider culture, Rev. John I. Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, announced that he will not ban future student performances of “The Vagina Monologues.”
(Reading: “Et tu, Jenkins?” Catholic World News, 4/5/06)
culture of death
DR. JOSPEH FLETCHER: “Chimeras [human-animal crossbreeds] or parahumans might legitimately be fashioned to do dangerous or demeaning jobs. As it is now, low-grade work is shoved off on moronic and retarded individuals, the victims of uncontrolled reproduction. Should we not program such workers ‘thoughtfully’ instead of accidentally, be means of hybridization?”
(Reading: “The ethics of chimeras and hybrids,” Life Issues, 8/04)
euthanasia
CHICAGO: The mother of a 34-year-old woman with cerebral palsy is charged with the stabbing-death of her daughter. She then attempted suicide by driving her car off a bridge, but survived. The husband is struggling to understand why his wife did this.
(Reading: “Disabled daughter was priority for accused mom, husband says,” Chicago Sun-Times, 4/6/06)
NEW ORLEANS: Investigations continue into the deaths of at least 140 patients at area hospitals after Hurricane Katrina and the floods that followed. The deaths occurred at five nursing homes and three hospitals. Thus far 73 people have been subpoenaed.
(Reading: “Foti’s probe into deaths continuing,” Times-Picayune, 3/16/06)
heroes
THE TETTO FAMILY: For an inspiring story of faith and perseverance, please visit the Tetto Family web site.
in vitro fertilization
SAY NO! Life Support Oregon has issued a news release citing the flawed reasoning behind in vitro fertilization.
(Reading: “In vitro fertilization is not pro-life,” Life Support Oregon, 3/31/06)
personhood
RIGHT TO LIFE ACT: This bill (HR 552) states, “The terms ‘human person’ and ‘human being’ include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including, but not limited to, the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.” See Right to Life Act for details.
COMMENT: Is your member of Congress a co-sponsor? If not, ask!
planned parenthood
DECEPTION: Planned Parenthood Federation of America persists in telling the public that mifepristone (RU-486) is “safe, effective” and acceptable. The problem is that the drug is never safe for the preborn, or for his mother.
COMMENT: Acceptable? To whom?
(Reading: “Mifepristone,” Planned Parenthood, 2006)
FIGHTING BACK: A weekly report on Planned Parenthood’s activities and pro-life responses is available from American Life League’s STOPP International. To receive the newsletter, send an e-mail message to “>STOPP with “subscribe” in the subject line.
sex education
BANNED! Rhode Island schools are forbidden to use abstinence education programs.
(Reading: “Abstinence education banned,” Concerned Women for America, 4/5/06)
CATHOLIC GUIDELINES: In response to the “safe environment” programs currently existing in some Catholic grade schools, a quote from a Vatican document bears repeating: “It can be said that a child is in the stage described in John Paul II’s words as ‘the years of innocence’ (Familiaris Consortio, 37). From about five years of age until puberty-the beginning of which can be set at the first signs of changes in the boy or girl’s body (the visible effect of an increased production of sexual hormones). This period of tranquility and serenity must never be disturbed by unnecessary information about sex. During those years, before any physical sexual development is evident, it is normal for the child’s interests to turn to other aspects of life. The rudimentary instinctive sexuality of very small children has disappeared. Boys and girls of this age are not particularly interested in sexual problems, and they prefer to associate with children of their own sex.”
(Reading: “The truth and meaning of human sexuality,” Pontifical Council for the Family, 11/21/95)
stem cell research / unethical
CALIFORNIA: The state has arranged for a “stop gap infusion” of funds by accepting $14 million from philanthropic foundations backed by some of California’s wealthiest business owners.
(Reading: “$14 million for research on stem cells,” New York Times, 4/5/06)
MARYLAND: Gov. Robert Ehrlich has signed a bill which provides $15 million for research using human embryonic stem cells.
(Reading: “Ehrlich signs stem cell, air quality legislation,” Washington Post, 4/6/06)
vaccines
NEWS UPDATES: To receive regular updates on news items affecting childhood vaccines, please contact “>Children of God for Life.
wisdom
G.E.M. ANSCOMBE: “Each nation that has ‘liberal’ abortion laws has rapidly become, if it was not already, a nation of murderers.”
(Reading: “Sweet reason,” First Things, 1/06)
zinger
CAUSING BRAIN DAMAGE TO CHIDLREN? According to several research studies, “day care damages babies’ brain chemistry and affects their social and emotional development.”
COMMENT: When children are commodified awful things happen to the born and the preborn.
(Reading: “Study finds day care damages babies’ brain chemistry,” LifeSIte News, 3/29/06)
reflection for prayer
HANG IN THERE: If you wish to receive what God has promised, you must have the patience to do his will. Stand firm and you will be saved. See Hebrews 10:35 and Luke 21:19.