in this issue:
abortion: CRIME REPORT / MALPRACTICE
activism: CATHOLICS FOR A FREE CHOICE / NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
bill gates: GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE
birth control: BUFFERGEL
birth control pill: VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM
bush watch: ARCHIVE / RNC LEADERSHIP / UNFPA FUNDING
politics: NEW JERSEY I / NEW JERSEY II
web news: POWERFUL VIDEO
reflection for prayer: THOMAS A KEMPIS
abortion
CRIME REPORT: California Right to Life has published an expose of the abortion industry — a summary of “pro-abortion violence in the United States, the report lists a total of 2,297 incidents.” The illegal activities exposed are not to be overlooked. A review, “Incompetence and callous disregard,” can be read online. The report, submitted to the governor, state lawmakers and state attorney general, can be obtained by writing California Right to Life Inc., 1610 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, or by calling Camille Giglio at 925-944-5351.
MALPRACTICE: As the public learns about Dr. Mohammad Imran, a Delaware abortionist who claims to have done “tens of thousands of abortion,” and the death of one of his patients, Gracealynn T. Harris, it becomes clear that there are more deaths from so-called legal abortion than anyone in the media is willing to admit. Of interest is the fact that in 1997, when Harris died, her death was ruled an “accident” (see Communique, 10/31/97). For a rundown of malpractice cases that have been reported, see Abortion Malpractice.
(Reading: “Seasoned U.S. abortionist causes mother’s death during legal abortion,” LifeSite News, 1/10/02)
activism
CATHOLICS FOR A FREE CHOICE: A statement by American Life League can be found online along with information on the advertising campaign American Life League is launching to expose the hypocrisy of CFFC. In addition, please note the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops statement on CFFC. A new book, “Catholics for a Free Choice Exposed,” by Brian Clowes, Ph.D. of Human Life International ($9.95) outlines CFFC’s sordid history.
NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: For details on how to get involved in the observance focused on respect for the dignity of the human person, scheduled to occur in both public and private schools on April 12, contact John Beasley, Ph.D., president of Freedom to Learn.
bill gates
GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given the Alan Guttmacher Institute a $7.5 million grant to focus on the prevention of AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. The funds also support a five-year worldwide investigation to “improve programs and policies for youth.”
COMMENT: Gates just cannot get past funding pro-abortion, pro-promiscuity advocacy groups.
(Reading: “The Bill and Melinda gates Foundation awards $7.5 million to the Alan Guttmacher Institute to combat the spread of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa,” AGI news release, 1/4/02)
birth control
BUFFERGEL: Billed as a “sperm and germ fighting contraceptive,” BufferGel is “designed to protect against sexually transmitted infections” and will be the first of its kind to being clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health.”
(Reading: “Sperm- and germ-fighting contraceptive enters trials,” UniSci, 1/7/02)
birth control pill
VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM: Researchers analyze 12 different studies and confirm again that third-generation versions of the birth control pill are “more dangerous, from a blood clotting perspective, than levonorgestrel (LNG), it antecedent,” reports John Wilks, B. Pharm, MPS, who analyzed the study for Communique.
(Reading: “Risk of venous thromboembolism from oral contraceptives containing gestodene and desogestrel versus levonorgestrel: a meta-analysis and formal sensitivity analysis,” Contraception, 64 (2001), pp. 125-133, paid subscribers only; memo to Judie Brown from John Wilks, author of “A Consumers Guide to the Pill and Other Drugs,” available from American Life League for $18 — book is previewed online)
bush watch
ARCHIVE: In August of last year, the Kaiser Network reported something that should be recalled on the eve of the 29th anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court decisions: “Addressing a separate issue in a ‘closed-door’ luncheon, [HHS Secretary Tommy] Thompson ‘assured’ governors that the Bush administration is ‘not trying to eliminate family planning services’ from Medicaid, noting that HHS approved waivers for family planning programs in New York and Missouri last week.”
COMMENT: As long as Thompson refuses to address the horrific FDA approval process that ushered in the morning after pill regimen and RU-486, any lip service to the pro-life movement on January 22 is only that. Thompson does not operate in a vacuum; President Bush selected him.
(Reading: “Family Planning,” Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/6/01)
RNC LEADERSHIP: According to Colleen Parro of the Republication National Coalition for Life, the Republican National Committee is “on the threshold of a decision that could only be interpreted by pro-life Americans as insulting and contemptuous.” The Washington Times reported that Lewis Eisenberg is in line to be the new RNC finance chairman. Parro says Eisenberg is a “liberal pro-abortion activist,” one of several key players “committed to removing the pro-life plank from the Republican national platform.”
(Reading: “Special Alert,” Republican National Coalition for Life FaxNotes, 1/17/02; “Right grumbles about RNC finance post choice,” Washington Times, 1/16/02)
UNFPA FUNDING: Withholding funds from UNFPA would be a good thing for President Bush to do. But it is but a start. He should work toward stopping all funding for any population elimination program, sex education program or family planning program. And most importantly, he should cease his support for the pro-choice position that some babies can be killed because of the circumstances of their conception, such as rape and incest, or because they alleged to be threats to their mothers. To encourage the president and assure him of your prayers, e-mail .
(Reading: “White House defers U.N. recommendation,” Associated Press, 1/16/02)
politics
NEW JERSEY: Pro-abortion governor-elect James McGreevey was praised at a prayer service on January 15. Among those who spoke were Msgr. Robert Sheeran, president of Seton Hall University, and Sister Susan McGrath of Catholic Charities of Perth Amboy. A copy of the program is available upon request.
(Reading: The Program, 1/15/02; 1/16/02 letter to Diocese of Metuchen expressing concern regarding the event and the guest of honor.)
NEW JERSEY II: A notice from New Jersey Right to Life points out that “Seton Hall’s web page of events does not even include as much as a prayer service or mention of January 22 as a significant day warranting prayer or reflection in memo of the victims of abortion but instead features the town meeting on January 22 with Governor McGreevey.”
COMMENT: It occurs to us that letters of concern should be going to the Archdiocese of Newark. Please address your comments to His Excellency, Bishop John J. Myers.
(Reading: Seton Hall University; New Jersey Right to Life)
web news
POWERFUL VIDEO: Please visit the Human Life Matters web site to learn about Mark Pickup and the amazing video, “To be or not to be: the human family (A disabled man’s plea).” This is a program that touches the very core of what it means to be pro-life.
reflection for prayer
THOMAS A KEMPIS: Oh, how wise was that holy soul that said, My mind is strongly settled and grounded upon Christ. (Ephesians 3:17) If it were so with me the fear of man would not so easily give me trouble, nor flying words move me. Who can foresee all things, or who is able to provide against all future evils? If things foreseen do nevertheless often hurt us, how can things unlooked for fail of wounding us grievously? But why did I not provide better for myself, miserable wretch that I am! Why also have I so easily believed others! But we are men, and but frail men, though by many we are reputed and called angels. Whom shall I believe, O Lord, but Thee? Thou art the truth Who deceivest not and canst not be deceived. (John 14:6) And on the other side, every man is a liar (Psalm 115:11) — infirm, unstable, and subject to fail, especially in words; so that we ought not readily to believe even that which in appearance seems to sound well.
(Reading: Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 45, Section 3)