in this issue:
abortion: RISKS
activism: SUMMER OF MERCY
analysis: MONTANA
birth control: WELFARE RECIPIENTS
birth control and health insurance: LOUSIANA, WASHINGTON
birth control pill: VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM
bush watch: RU 486 (mifepristone) and DHHS
chlamydia: REINFECTION RATES
federal regulations: DHHS SECRETARY TOMMY THOMPSON
morning-after abortion pills: AFRICA
palliative care: ELDER ABUSE INHUMANE
politics: MASSACHUSETTS
population control: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
zinger: GLORIA FELDT ON CRIME
reflection for prayer: EPHREM
abortion
RISKS: Independent researcher Brent Rooney’s well-documented letter, outlining the risks of breast cancer and pre-term births subsequent to surgical abortion, is published in the Western Journal of Medicine, 6/01, pp. 385-386.
activism
SUMMER OF MERCY: Hundreds of pro-life activists are expected in Wichita, Kansas, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the “Summer of Mercy.” For detailed information see Jesus Is the Standard.
analysis
MONTANA: For a different perspective on recent pro-life in-fighting in Montana, we call your attention to an outstanding commentary by Jim Rudd of Washington, D.C., director of the Christian Street Preachers Alliance: “Sacrilege in Montana.”
birth control
WELFARE RECIPIENTS: A May 10 Zogby International poll surveying 1,000 likely voters found that 62% “would support legislating birth control with benefits … and agree with the implication that welfare recipients too often have children they are not financially able to support.”
(Reading: “Majority Would Support Birth Control Mandates for Welfare Recipients,” 5/10/01, Zogby International, for information on how to subscribe and access the poll results, see The Zogby Poll)
birth control and health insurance
LOUISIANA: A bill that would have required private health-insurance policies to pay for birth-control pills was stopped in committee through a joint effort by health insurance providers and pro-life organizations.
(Reading: “Committee Kills Bill on Birth-control Pills.” The [Baton Rouge] Advocate, 6/6/01)
WASHINGTON: A federal district court judge in Seattle has ruled that Bartell Drug Co. must provide health insurance coverage for birth control to its employees. The judge cited Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and alleged that denying the benefit was a form of sex discrimination. The significance of this decision is found, in part, in the following quotation taken from it: “An underlying theme in Bartell’s argument is that a woman’s ability to control her fertility differs from the type of illness and disease normally treated with prescription drugs in such significant respects that it is permissible to treat prescription contraceptives differently than all other prescription medicines. The evidence submitted by plaintiffs shows, however, that the availability of affordable and effective contraceptives is of great importance to the health of women and children because it can help to prevent a litany of physical, emotional, economic and social consequences.
“Unintended pregnancies, the condition which prescription contraceptives are designed to prevent, are shockingly common in the United States and carry enormous costs and health consequences for the mother, the child and society as a whole. Over half of all pregnancies in this country are unintended.”
COMMENT: Pregnancy as disease!
(Reading: “Court Rules Health Plan Must Cover Birth Control,” Reuters Health, 6/13/01; Erickson v. Bartell, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 6/12/01)
birth control pill
VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM: An overview of recent studies shows that the link between the birth control pill and VTE is real, yet the argument remains that studies do contradict each other and more research is needed.
(Reading: “Most Refined Analysis to Date Confirms Link Between Third-generation Pills and Venous Thromboembolism,” Family Planning Perspectives, 5-6/01, pp. 133-134)
bush watch
RU-486 (mifepristone) and DHHS: Secretary Tommy Thompson is reported to have said that his department has no plans to review the approval process for RU-486. He said, “Nobody has written to me asking to review it on any safety concerns.”
COMMENT: In other words, his pro-abortion tendencies force his staff to dispense with unpleasant mail!
(Reading: “On Other Issues,” Washington Post, 6/12/01, p. A-8)
chlamydia
REINFECTION RATES: “Nearly one in five teenage women who have had a chlamydial infection are reinfected within two years, according to an analysis of data from Washington state,” which provided information on 32,698 women aged 10-44.
(Reading: “Among Teenagers Treated for Chlamydia, Two-year Reinfection Rate Nears 20%,” Family Planning Perspectives, 5-6/01, pp. 135-136)
federal regulations
DHHS SECRETARY TOMMY THOMPSON: The revision of federal regulations dealing with correct definitions of terms like embryo, fetus, pregnancy and neonate requires pro-lifers to continue requesting that the correct science be applied in all federal definitions. For background on the problem, see “A Baby Waiting to Be Born Is Not an It,” 6/8/01, and the 5/14/01 edition of Communique. Secretary Tommy Thompson: fax 202-690-7755, or e-mail: “>.
morning-after abortion pills
AFRICA: Family Health International has reported that a consortium of seven unnamed organizations plans to manufacture an inexpensive version of the morning-after pill regimen for poor nations. FHI “dismisses fears that oral contraceptives used in emergency situations can cause abortions because they act before pregnancy begins.” However, the pro-abortion FLI defines pregnancy as beginning many days after it actually does begin (at conception/fertilization).
(Reading: “New Pills that Can Stop Pregnancy After Exposure,” Africa News, 6/12/01; for daily updates on pharmaceuticals that kill, visit the Pharmacists for Life International web site and request PharmFacts e-News)
palliative care
ELDER ABUSE INHUMANE: A sobering account of one daughter’s argument that her father was denied adequate pain medication could be the tip of the iceberg.
(Reading: “Skimping on Elderly’s Pain Drugs ‘Like Torture,‘” San Francisco Chronicle, 5/4/01; “Jury Awards $1.5 Million in Pain Case,” Associated Press, 6/14/01)
politics
MASSACHUSETTS: A Democratic state senator, Brian A. Joyce, received a 100% approval rating from Massachusetts Citizens for Life. However, claiming that he has “been grappling with the fundamental issue of whether government should impose my personal belief on others,” he has decided that he is pro-abortion.
(Reading: “9th Hopeful Changes Stance on Abortion,” Boston Globe, 6/13/01; Please e-mail your promise of prayers to Brian Joyce)
population control
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: An evaluation of media trends versus particular financial support from the U.S. and other countries indicates that “the United States, because it has been the main source of leadership and resources for population assistance and because, unlike many other donor nations, it has well-documented democratic processes and global population concerns” provides the kind of media coverage needed to shape public opinion, public policy and financial support.
(Reading: “The Media, Public Opinion and Population Assistance: Establishing the Link,” Family Planning Perspectives, 5-6/01, pp. 128-132)
zinger
GLORIA FELDT ON CRIME: Commenting on the Donahue and Levitt study that suggests abortion has contributed to a decrease in the crime rate, Planned Parenthood Prez Feldt offers her thoughts on the idea of “Roe v. Wade as a crime stopper” and claims the study “offers evidence that Roe v. Wade is a success.”
COMMENT: Roe v. Wade sanctioned the most heinous crime, Gloria!
(Reading: “That’s One Theory,” Ms. Magazine online)
reflection for prayer
EPHREM: Deacon and doctor, 306-373 AD:
Lord, shed upon our darkened souls the brilliant light of your wisdom so that we may be enlightened and serve you with renewed purity. Sunrise marks the hour for men to begin their toil, but in our souls, Lord, prepare a dwelling for the day that will never end. Grant that we may come to know the risen life and that nothing may distract us from the delights you offer. Through our unremitting zeal for you, Lord, set upon us the sign of your day that is not measured by the sun.