abortion
KANSAS: State lawmakers are considering a parental consent law with language that permits a judge to bypass parents if such a decision would be in the best interest of the child. Such a law would affirm that if parents agree to the killing of their grandchild, the abortion would proceed.
The state legislature is also embattled over the current partial birth abortion law which is said to be meaningless due to exceptions.
(Reading: Personal contact with leadership of Right to Life/Kansas)
MARYLAND: Senate Bill 194, entitled Partial-Birth Abortion-Prohibition, contains the following exception: “Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to a partial-birth abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness or injury.”
(Reading: Senate Bill 194, 20-210 C (2); http://mlis.state.md.us/)
NORTH DAKOTA: An amendment to the proposed partial-birth abortion ban defines a “living child” as “any member of the human species, born or unborn, who has a heartbeat or discernible spontaneous movement.” This language permits the killing of all little boys or girls whose heartbeat and/or growth is not detectable. It rejects the scientific fact that a human being’s life begins at conception/fertilization. Efforts are underway to have the deadly definition removed.
(Reading: “Redefining Innocent Human Life,” 3/30/99 e-mail alert from Tim Lindgren, president, North Dakota Life League; “>
birth control and health insurance
FEDERAL: Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Me.) and Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will reintroduce the EPICC (Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage) Act upon their return from Easter recess. The dates of return are April 6 for the house, April 9 for the Senate. The bill would mandate health insurance coverage for abortive chemicals and devices. For more information: http://www.all.org/legislat/pillbill.htm; and Pharmacists for Life: http://www.pfli.org
GEORGIA: The state legislature has passed a bill that will require health insurance companies to pay for birth control chemicals and devices that kill tiny human beings.
(Reading: “Contraceptives bill a victory for families,” The Macon Telegraph, 3/22/99)
NEBRASKA: The Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee of the Nebraska legislature killed a bill that would have required insurance companies to cover abortion-causing drugs and devices.
(Reading: Pharmacists for Life Update; 3/28/99)
WISCONSIN: The “Contraceptive Coverage Equity Bill” has been introduced in the house and senate in Wisconsin. Pro-life Wisconsin is calling for immediate action. Contact: Bridget Fogarty, Public Affairs Director, Pro-Life Wisconsin, “> for a copy of the March 22 memorandum.
chemical abortion
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION: Pharmacists are resisting the pressure to fill prescriptions for deadly chemicals that destroy tiny boys and girls. The organization at the forefront of this struggle to protect moral conscience among pharmacists is Pharmacists for Life: PFLI, P.O. Box 1281, Powell, Ohio 43065-1281; phone 740-881-5520; e-mail: ; web: http://www.pfli.org
(Reading: “Abortion Debate Spreads to Pharmacy Counter,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/29/99)
imposed death
CALIFORNIA I: Dion Aroner, member of the California state assembly, has introduced Assembly Bill 1592, which would protect a patient’s right to request physician-assisted suicide. Aroner writes, “My bill will permit a terminally ill patient to self-administer a prescription that will hasten his or her death, but only after review and approval by two physicians.”
(Reading: “The Real Life Dilemma Assisted-Death Bill Offers Choice With Safeguards,” San Francisco Chronicle, 3/26/99)
CALIFORNIA II: The family of one man who died while respiratory therapist Efren Saldivar was on duty at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center has filed a lawsuit against him. Saldivar admitted to killing dozens of hospital patients, but has recanted. To this date no formal charges have been filed against Saldivar by the police department, though he and four other respiratory therapists were fired by the hospital.
(Reading: “Family Files Lawsuit in Death at Hospital,” New York Times, 3/28/99; “California Hospital Fires 4 More Therapists,” Seattle Times, 4/4/98)
KEVORKIAN:The April 1999 Reader’s Digest presents an article entitled “Who Is Jack Kevorkian, Really?” and provides readers with the opportunity to comment on line. Take a moment to register your thoughts.
peter singer
ACTION UPDATE: Princeton Students Against Infanticide (PSAI) continues to mount a campaign for the removal of Peter Singer, newly appointed professor of bioethics at Princeton. Singer has a history of anti-life, eugenics-based teachings. PSAI asks that you visit the web page ( http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/2900/psai.html); sign the petition you will find there; read the PSAI position statement on the hiring of Singer; attend the April 17,1999 rally at the gates of Princeton University’s Nassau Hall and contact the media concerning the efforts of PSAI. Direct all media queries to Christopher Benek, phone and fax:609-688-1490; e-mail “>.
(Reading: “Peter Singer: How You Can Help!” e-mail alert from Christopher Benek, 3/31/99)
politics
CAL THOMAS SAYS: “The time has come for believers to focus on the next world, not just the next election cycle.”
(Reading: “Not of This World,” Newsweek, 3/29/99, p. 60)
vaccines
HEPATITIS B: Homefirst Family Health Forum has published an issue of their newsletter concerning the dangers of hepatitis B vaccine. The lead article is written by Mayer Eisenstein, M.D., J.D., M.P.H. For details call 847-679-8336 or e-mail them through their web site: http://www.homefirst.com/contactus.html
zinger
KEVORKIAN ETHICAL? A USA Today editorial opines, “As a matter of simple compassion, those people deserve the right to determine their own fate. But that argues for only the slightest legislative interference. It should be possible for doctors to assist in suicides without fear of prosecution, as long as they act in accordance with guidelines of medical and legal ethics that are generally accepted.”
COMMENT: If it is generally accepted that certain human beings are unworthy of life, then acts designed to snuff out that life would be ethical? Sound familiar?
(Reading: “Kevorkian: Misguided Zealot,” USA Today, 3/29/99)
reflect
If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, no slave is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my words, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.
-John 15:18-21
pray
Lord, teach me the way to follow you without apology and without reservation. Amen.