in this issue:
hot button issues: PLANNED PARENTHOOD / ROCK FOR LIFE / SUPREME COURT
abortion: KANSAS / SOUTH DAKOTA
birth control: WISCONSIN
catholic colleges: THE MONOLOGUES
euthanasia: HALEIGH POUTRE
in vitro fertilization: NO GUARANTEES
personhood: PENNSYLVANIA / RIGHT TO LIFE ACT
planned parenthood: ALASKA / MONTANA / TEXAS
reflection for prayer: MARK 4:30-32
hot button issues
PLANNED PARENTHOOD: On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling, American Life League kicked off a major petition effort designed to cut all tax funding directed to Planned Parenthood. “Six states have already blocked Planned Parenthood taxpayer funding,” said ALL’s David Bereit, “and American Life League is working to build on this momentum and achieve similar results in the remaining 44 states.” Planned Parenthood received more than $265 million from federal, state and local government sources in its most recent fiscal year. Petitions may be signed online.
(Reading: “ALL launches full-scale national campaign to cut Planned Parenthood tax funding,” American Life League news release, 1/23/06)
ROCK FOR LIFE: American Life League’s youth outreach has posted photos from its Washington, D.C., training and activism weekend online.
SUPREME COURT: American Life League delivered thousands of petitions supporting Judge Samuel Alito’s nomination as a Supreme Court justice, many of which were signed online at ALL’s Approve Alito web site. Following committee approval, Alito’s nomination is now before the full senate. ALL executive director David Bereit observed, “We are optimistic that Samuel Alito, as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, will help restore a nation that delivers justice for all, born and preborn.”
(Reading: “ALL delivers thousands of petitions urging Alito’s approval,” American Life League news release, 1/24/06)
abortion
KANSAS: A state judge has thrown out attorney general Phill Kline’s attempt to put an end to state-funded abortions. Kline said the Kansas constitution prohibited such payments, but a Shawnee County judge said Kline had no legal claim for filing the suit. Kline says he will not appeal unless the state legislature wants him to pursue the case.
(Reading: “Kline won’t appeal judge’s dismissal of abortion lawsuit,” Lawrence Journal-World, 1/25/06)
SOUTH DAKOTA: State legislators will soon introduce a bill that would make abortion a crime. Rep. Roger Hunt expects a close vote on the bill, but simply says, “Abortion should be banned.”
(Reading: “SD legislature to consider abortion ban,” KELO-TV, 1/22/06)
birth control
WISCONSIN: Pro-Life Wisconsin, an American Life League associate group, supports a legislative proposal that would prevent 15, 16 and 17-year old girls from receiving free, taxpayer-funded birth control without their parents’ consent under the Medicaid Family Planning Demonstration Project. “Providing birth control to 15 year-olds behind parents’ backs and making taxpayers pay for it is irresponsible public policy,” said Matt Sande, Pro-Life Wisconsin’s director of legislative affairs.
(Reading: “Free birth control to minor girls is harmful, undermines parents,” Pro-Life Wisconsin news release, 1/18/06)
catholic colleges
THE MONOLOGUES: The Cardinal Newman Society reports that eight of the 29 Catholic colleges the organization is watching will not allow performances of a “sexually explicit and offensive play” this year. Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., president of Providence College, said the play is “not appropriate for a school with our mission.”
(Reading: “Providence College president bans performance,” Cardinal Newman Society news release, 1/20/06)
euthanasia
HALEIGH POUTRE: An 11-year-old girl who was on the verge of having her life support turned off is showing signs of improvement and has been moved from a hospital to a rehabilitation center. Haleigh Poutre was reportedly beaten into a coma. “There’s so much absolute hope now,” said Denise Monteiro of the Massachusetts social services department. “She’s full of miracles and she’s a fighter.” When she was first hospitalized last fall, doctors said she would never recover.
(Reading: “Comatose Westfield girl moved to rehab facility,” Associated Press, 1/26/06)
in vitro fertilization
NO GUARANTEES: A New York appeals court has thrown out a lawsuit filed by parents whose child, conceived through in vitro fertilization, is autistic. The court ruled that a contract, which stated that NYU Hospital and its doctors would not “assume responsibility for the physical and mental characteristics or hereditary tendencies,” was valid, and the parents have no claim.
(Reading: “Court tosses in vitro suit against New York hospital,” FindLaw, 1/23/06)
personhood
PENNSYLVANIA: A judge will permit a man to be tried on involuntary manslaughter charges. Michael Diehl is accused of causing a head-on collision in which Carol Rafail’s preborn child was killed. Diehl’s attorney asked the judge to throw out the charges because “a fetus is not a person.” The judge denied that request.
(Reading: “Driver held in crash that killed unborn baby,” Associated Press, 1/24/06)
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
ALASKA: Planned Parenthood and a local group are fundraising for a new facility in Juneau that may open this fall. A Planned Parenthood executive said the new location would offer “full services.”
(Reading: “Planned Parenthood has funds to open clinic at least four days a week,” Associated Press, 1/26/06)
MONTANA: Planned Parenthood will stop offering surgical abortions at its Missoula facility on February 1, although it will continue to offer medical abortions. Because there is another abortion facility in Missoula, a Planned Parenthood spokesman said, “We just feel we need to use our resources elsewhere in Montana.” Planned Parenthood expressed an interest in offering abortions in Bozeman, which currently has no abortion facilities.
(Reading: “Missoula Planned Parenthood to halt surgical abortions,” Billings Gazette, 1/23/06)
TEXAS: Because of the loss of $13 million in state funding, there is speculation that Planned Parenthood may have to start closing some of its Texas facilities. A Planned Parenthood affiliate web site posted a statement that reads, in part: “In an irrational and unprecedented move, our extremist leadership has carelessly diverted critical health care funding that is relied upon by thousands of Texas women.”
(Reading: “New Planned Parenthood head faces home state clinic cuts,” CNS News, 1/20/06)
reflection for prayer
MARK 4:30-32: The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.