in this issue:
hot button issues: SAVING THOSE DAMNED CATHOLICS / VALENTINES AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD
abortion: RETAINED FETAL PARTS
activism: BIRTH CONTROL TRUTH
birth control: ORTHO EVRA PATCH
birth control pill: BLOOD CLOTS
canon law 915: HANDING OVER CHRIST
catholic bishops: BISHOP AQUILA / CARDINAL EGAN
euthanasia: CALIFORNIA
morning-after abortion pill: EFFECTIVENESS
stem cell research / ethical: BRAIN REPAIR
stem cell research / questionable: SINGLE-PARENT EMBRYO?
vaccines: GARDASIL AND ACCURATE DEFINITIONS / GARDASIL AND CANCER
viability: MIRACLE BABY
reminders: NATIONAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT DAY / PETITION
reflection for prayer: NEVER GIVE UP
hot button issues
SAVING THOSE DAMNED CATHOLICS: One reader tells author Judie Brown, “I am reading your latest book, ‘Saving Those Dammed Catholics.’ Although I consider myself an informed Catholic, I am learning a great deal from your book.” This new book by American Life League’s president calls on the nation’s bishops to lead the flock back to Christ. For details about ordering your copy of “Saving Those Damned Catholics,” please check online.
VALENTINES AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD: ALL’s STOPP International has exposed some of the shenanigans Planned Parenthood and its affiliates engaged in around Valentine’s Day. Says ALL’s Jim Sedlak, “The events of the past week demonstrate the utter perversity into which Planned Parenthood has sunk. That this organization would get any taxpayer money to spread its filth is an outrage.”
ACTION: If you have not already done so, please sign ALL’s petition to defund Planned Parenthood.
(Reading: “Planned Parenthood shows its true colors,” American Life League news release, 2/21/07)
abortion
RETAINED FETAL PARTS: A report on the lack of detection of retained limbs from an aborted child, killed ten days earlier, indicates the ongoing problem of deception which surrounds the abortion industry.
(Reading: “Retained fetal parts after elective second-trimester dilation and evacuation,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2/1/07, pp. 526-527)
activism
BIRTH CONTROL TRUTH: Two web sites have been created to help people learn the truth about birth control and its deleterious affect on physical and spiritual health: No Room for Contraception and Birth Control Is Harmful.
birth control
ORTHO EVRA PATCH: In a research study comparing the contraceptive patch, Ortho Evra, with ingestion of norgestimate-containing oral contraceptives, the authors conclude: “There was a more than two-fold increase in risk of venous thromboembolism associated with use of the transdermal contraceptive system.”
(Reading: “Venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction and stroke among transdermal contraceptive system users,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2/1/07, pp. 339-346)
birth control pill
BLOOD CLOTS: The Public Citizen Health Research Group has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban all third-generation birth control pills containing desogestrel due to increase risk of venous thrombosis.
(Reading: “Petition to the FDA…” Public Citizen, 2/6/07)
canon law 915
HANDING OVER CHRIST: Diogenes, a commentator on the Catholic World News web site, wrote: “Bishops ought to think carefully before handing over Holy Communion to ‘manifest grave sinners,’ like civil authorities who publicly promote contraception, abortion and same sex marriage. Jesus was surely referring to the ‘chief priests’ when he said to Pilate “he who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin.” (John 18:35; 19:11)
(Reading: “Handed over,” Off the Record, 1/28/07)
catholic bishops
BISHOP AQUILA: In Bishop Samuel Aquila’s recent column he reminded his flock, “Let us stand with our God no matter what the cost…. May we too have hearts like Jesus that are willing to say, ‘Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.”
(Reading: “Our actions and decisions must reflect the dignity of the human person,” Diocese of Fargo, 1/18/07)
CARDINAL EGAN: Joined by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Edward Cardinal Egan is leading a holy war against New York City’s distribution of 26 million free, subway-themed condoms, calling it an immoral “anything goes” policy that degrades society.
ACTION: Thank you notes to Cardinal Egan: 1011 First Ave; New York, NY 10022
(Reading: “‘Condom’nation by outraged church,” New York Post, 2/16/07)
euthanasia
CALIFORNIA: Pro-life activist Joyce George, speaking against the state’s new assisted suicide bill, offered the media one of the reasons why this bill might pass. She said, “It is a lot cheaper to prescribe a lethal drug to a poor person who needs long term care.”
(Reading: “California Democrats try again to pass assisted-suicide bill,” KTVU-TV, 2/25/07)
morning-after abortion pill
EFFECTIVENESS: Researchers report in Contraception (75 (2007) 112-118) that the morning-after pill has no effect on postovulation events, which would mean that the pills do not cause abortion. The study was reviewed by pro-life author, pharmacist and lecturer John Wilks. His analysis makes the point that the study has a 20 percent chance of being wrong, did not visually follow the process of ovulation and relied wholly on the comments of women who claimed they were not ovulating. In addition a number of the study’s authors are heavily involved in the abortion industry. To receive a copy of the study and Wilks’ comments, please contact “>American Life League.
stem cell research / ethical
BRAIN REPAIR: New Zealand researchers have discovered a type of brain cell that continuously regenerates in humans, causing some to consider the potential for research into repairing brains in conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
(Reading: “Brain creates ‘new’ nerve cells,” BBC News, 2/1/706)
stem cell research / questionable
SINGLE-PARENT EMBRYO? University of Pennsylvania researchers created embryos using genetic material from only one parent, either a mother or a father.
COMMENT: Nathanael Blake, assistant editor of Celebrate Life, writes: “Attempts to create disabled embryos for use in stem cell research continue as scientists report that, in mouse models, stem cells taken from embryos created by parthenogenesis and androgenesis (methods of creating short-lived embryos using the genetic material from only one person’s egg or sperm) reconstituted the blood systems of radiation-damaged mice. There are many difficulties to be overcome before this can be done in humans, but scientists are trying, so we must insist that the creation of disabled human embryos is wrong.”
(Reading: “One-parent embryos: A step ahead in stem cells,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/19/07)
vaccine
GARDASIL AND ACCURATE DEFINITIONS: Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, defines a cancer vaccine as “not preventive.” The American Cancer Society concurs. So why is the media touting Gardasil as a vaccine against cancer?
(Reading: “Cancer vaccine,” Wikipedia, 10/24/06; “Cancer vaccines,” American Cancer Society, 12/14/06)
GARDASIL AND CANCER: Reports indicate that Gardasil, if taken by a female who already has human papilloma virus, could induce the virus to form cancerous cells. In addition, Jill Stanek, R.N., points out that while the vaccine guards against four of the more than 100 strains of HPV for four years, it will not stop any of the other sexually transmitted diseases, nor does it affect HIV or infertility.
(Reading: “Cancer vaccine safe and effective, despite limited concerns,” Associated Press, 5/17/06; “The link between HPV and lung cancer,” World Net Daily, 2/14/07)
viability
MIRACLE BABY: Four months after her birth at 21 weeks, six days, Amillia Taylor is ready to go home. She weighted less than 10 ounces at birth and was 9� inches long. In response, the American Association of Pediatrics says that babies born at less than 23 weeks of age and 400g in weight are not considered viable. The survival rate for a child born at 23 weeks and weighing one pound is just 30 percent. A spokesman says, “It may be that we need to reconsider our standard for viability in light of Amillia’s case.”
(Reading: “Amillia, the tiny miracle baby, goes home,” Times Online, 2/20/07)
reminders
NATIONAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT DAY: April 24 is the date for ALL’s fifth annual National Pro-life T-shirt Day. The day provides an opportunity for all pro-life people, especially students, to make a public stand on behalf of preborn children. The official shirt of ALL’s National Pro-life T-shirt Day is available online. Additional information is available at www.NationalProLifeTshirtDay.com.
PETITION: An American Life League petition asks Catholic bishops to address the scandal caused by political figures who claim the Catholic faith but support abortion. Church law states that those “who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to communion.” All Catholics are invited to sign the petition that will be delivered to U.S. bishops in June.
reflection for prayer
HEBREWS 12:2-4: Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which was still in the future, he endured the cross, disregarding the shamefulness of it, and from now on has taken his place at the right of God’s throne. Think of the way he stood such opposition from sinners and then you will not give up for want of courage. In the fight against sin, you have not yet had to keep fighting to the point of death.