in this issue:
hot button issues: NATIONAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT DAY / GUARDIANS OF TRUTH / SHARPTON
abortion: 50% OFF
bush watch: AIDS PROGRAM
catholic education: TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS
catholic politicians: NAMING NAMES
human dignity: POPE JOHN PAUL II
legislation: VIRGINIA
morning-after abortion pill: NEW YORK / UK WARNING
practitioners: PENDERGRAFT
spin: BUS RIDERS BEWARE / PLANNED PARENTHOOD
stem cell research: NEW JERSEY
reflection for prayer: ST. ELIZABETH SETON
hot button issues
NATIONAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT DAY: American Life League’s Rock for Life youth outreach is encouraging students to wear pro-life T-shirts to school on April 28. The effort is gathering momentum:
- A school official in Pennsylvania brought attention to the campaign when he told a student to remove a pro-life shirt because its message was the equivalent of a swastika being displayed on an article of clothing.
- An Ohio student was threatened with suspension for wearing Rock for Life’s “abortion is homicide” shirt.
- A Delaware high school decided that, despite an assistant principal’s concern, the dress code does allow shirts with pro-life messages.
- Rev. Jerry Falwell has given National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day prominent mention in his newsletter.
(Reading: “National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day,” Rock for Life; “Pro-life shirt equated with swastika,” WorldNetDaily, 1/31/03; “Chardon rescinds punishment for student’s pro-life sweatshirt,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/5/03; “CR principal decides ‘message’ shirts do not always violate dress code,” Dover [Delaware] Post, 2/5/03; “Kicking off National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day,” WorldNetDaily, 2/1/03)
GUARDIANS OF TRUTH: Because of their willingness to stand up to California Gov. Gray Davis, who claims to be Catholic and pro-abortion, American Life League President Judie Brown has presented Guardian of Truth Awards to Bishop William Weigand of the Diocese of Sacramento and Monsignor Edward Kavanagh of St. Patrick Orphanage in Sacramento.
(Reading: “Bishop, priest receive Guardian of Truth Award,” American Life League news release, 1/29/03)
SHARPTON: Rev. Al Sharpton, who pledged his support for legal abortion during a recent NARAL dinner in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to speak Feb. 9 at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago. In a letter to Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, American Life League President Judie Brown asks why a pro-abortion political figure is being allowed a platform in a Catholic church.
(Reading: “Sharpton to preach at St. Sabina,” Chicago Sun-Times, 2/5/03; “Pro-abortion Sharpton to speak at Catholic church,” American Life League news release, 2/7/03)
abortion
50% OFF: Canadian abortionist Henry Morgentaler has dropped the price of abortions at his Winnipeg location. The cost was cut from $530 to $265 (Canadian dollars). Reports indicate a dozen women signed up for abortions the day after the price change was announced.
(Reading: “Number of abortions double,” Winnipeg Sun, 2/4/03, p. 14)
bush watch
AIDS PROGRAM: The Bush administration is acknowledging that the $15 billion African AIDS treatment program announced in the State of the Union address will include distribution of condoms.
COMMENT: First of all, condoms are not guaranteed to stop the spread of AIDS. Secondly, the Bush administration needs to rid itself of inconsistencies. It claims to be pro-abstinence, yet condones this condom program. It claims to be pro-life, but condones abortion in cases of rape and incest or purported threat to the mother’s life.
(Contact: e-mail )
(Reading: “AIDS program will include condoms, generics,” Associated Press, 1/30/03; “Condom effectiveness,” American Life League, 2002)
catholic education
TALE OF TWO SCHOOLS: The privately-run bookstore at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., has cancelled an appearance by Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s non-voting delegate to Congress. Students noted Norton’s pro-abortion stance, saying it was improper for her to be invited to speak on a Catholic campus. However, there were no protests when Norton spoke recently at Georgetown, another Catholic university in Washington.
(Reading: “C.U. bookstore drops Norton appearance,” Washington Post, 2/3/03, p. B7)
catholic politicians
NAMING NAMES: According to the Republican National Coalition for Life, 145 members of Congress claim the Catholic faith. But 15 of 24 senators and 52 of 121 House members vote pro-abortion. The RNC/Life web site features a detailed list.
(Reading: “Catholics in Congress,” Republican National Coalition for Life FaxNotes, 1/31/03)
human dignity
POPE JOHN PAUL II: Human life can never become an object: from conception until natural death, the human being is the subject of inviolable rights, before which freedom must be restricted.
(Reading: “Address on Pro-Life Day in Italy,” Zenit News Service, 2/2/03)
legislation
VIRGINIA: On a 13-4 vote, a state legislative committee has okayed plans for a “Choose Life” license plate. The ACLU is already threatening legal action.
(Reading: “Panel OKs pro-life message on car tags,” Washington Times, 2/2/03)
morning-after abortion pill
NEW YORK: The state legislature is debating a bill that would require hospitals to offer “emergency contraception” to rape victims. The New York Catholic Conference is opposing the bill, since these birth control chemicals can abort.
(Reading: “N.Y. bill spurs abortion debate,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 1/28/03)
UK WARNING: Britain’s chief medical officer has sent doctors an alert, noting the increased risk of ectopic pregnancy among women using so-called emergency contraception. Manufacturer Schering AG was ordered to change the wording on patient information sheets to point out the risks.
(Reading: “Levonelle/Levonelle-2 emergency contraception: New advice,” Chief Medical Officer’s Update, 1/03; “UK government cautions doctors about risks of morning-after pill,” LifeSite News, 1/30/03)
practitioners
PENDERGRAFT: The re-trial of James Scott Pendergraft IV, owner of five Central Florida abortion mills, will be delayed, possibly for as long as six months. Pendergraft was convicted of conspiracy to commit extortion, mail fraud and perjury, and was serving a 46-month prison sentence when his conviction was overturned. Pendergraft once reportedly promised to erect a statue of himself in downtown Ocala.
(Reading: “Abortion doctor’s retrial postponed,” Ocala Star-Banner, 2/1/03)
spin
BUS RIDERS BEWARE: As a joint effort, NARAL and Catholics for a Free Choice have commissioned a poster proclaiming, “America’s women celebrate 30 years of Constitutional freedom.” The reference is to the anniversary of the court rulings that allowed abortion on demand. The posters were to be placed in bus shelters in the Washington, D.C, area.
(Reading: “Catholics for a Free Choice, NARAL Pro-Choice America roll out new bus ads for Roe’s 30th anniversary,” NARAL news release, 1/21/03; ad may be viewed online)
PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Gloria Feldt slammed President Bush for attempting to “abridge women’s fundamental civil rights.” She was referring to his very brief mention of partial-birth infanticide during the State of the Union address.
(Reading: “State of the Union address deliberately deceives the nation,” Planned Parenthood news release, 1/29/03)
stem cell research
NEW JERSEY: A legislative committee has approved a bill that would allow stem cell research. New Jersey’s Catholic bishops object to the proposal, noting that “government must not treat any living human being as research material as a mere means for benefit to others.”
(Reading: “N.J. assembly panel approves stem cell bill,” Associated Press, 2/3/03)
reflection for prayer
ST. ELIZABETH SETON: Do we serve God in hope, looking to his promises, confiding in his love, seeking his kingdom, and leaving the rest to him? Do we rely on his merits, his pains, his sufferings, fulfilling our common duties in union with him ? our contrition united to his contrition, our tears to his tears, looking forward to the time when he will appear, when we shall see him as he is, see him in his glory, and be glorified with him ? rejoicing in hope! ? for hope shall never be confounded?
(Reading: “Discipleship,” Magnificat, 1/03, p. 72)