in this issue:
hot button issues: CONNECTICUT / CONTRACEPTION / INDIANA
abortion: GEORGIA
activism: ALVEDA KING
euthanasia: OREGON
personhood: KILLING ROE V. WADE
planned parenthood: MICHIGAN
vaccine: MERCK
violence: MISSOURI
reminders: LIFE CHAIN / SAVING THOSE DAMNED CATHOLICS / ULTRASOUND VIDEO
reflection for prayer: MATTHEW 18:1-3
hot button issues
CONNECTICUT: The Connecticut Catholic Conference will permit Catholic hospitals to provide the Plan B morning-after pill to victims of sexual assault. This drug can kill a developing human embryo prior to implantation in the mother’s womb. According to ALL’s Judie Brown, “absolute obedience to the moral law requires the CCC to stand its ground and defend the principle that an embryonic human person can never be threatened, even if the likelihood is minute.”
Reading: “The devil wins in Connecticut,” American Life League, 10/2/07
CONTRACEPTION: By declining to hear a case that pitted the New York against Catholic Charities in that state, the U.S. Supreme Court is permitting a lower court ruling to stand. That decision requires organizations that cover prescriptions in their employees’ health insurance packages to cover contraceptives as well. ALL’s Judie Brown notes, “the court has chosen to rely on the state’s tactics of intimidation rather than recognize the free exercise of religious freedom in this country.”
Reading: “Supreme Court wrong on contraception ruling,” American Life League, 10/1/07 / “High Court won’t hear birth control case,” Associated Press, 10/1/07
INDIANA: ALL’s Jim Sedlak is among pro-life leaders commenting on Planned Parenthood of Indiana holding a gala dinner to celebrate its 75th anniversary. “The 75th anniversary celebration in Indianapolis was a celebration of killing for money,” he said.
Reading: “ALL, Indiana speak out on Planned Parenthood,” American Life League, 10/2/07
abortion
GEORGIA: State lawmaker Melvin Everson has raised questions about Grady Hospital’s involvement in funding an abortion clinic. It has been reported that 2,800 abortions were performed at the hospital over a three-year-period.
Reading: “Lawmaker concerned about Grady abortions,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/2/07
activism
ALVEDA KING: The once pro-abortion niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King protested in from of Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa after a scheduled speech at the school was cancelled. King told the media she would speak at the high school in the future if invited.
Reading: “King reacts to canceled speaking event,” KCCI-TV, 9/26/07
euthanasia
OREGON: A study by University of Utah bioethicist Margaret Battin analyzed a decade of data from Oregon and 20 years of data in the Netherlands. Her conclusion is that doctor-assisted suicide does not result in more deaths. Battin is a member of the advisory board of the Death with Dignity National center in Portland, Oregon.
Reading: “U of U researcher defends assisted suicide,” Associated Press, 10/2/07
Background: “Better for old people to kill themselves than be a nuisance, lawmaker says,” CNS News, 12/14/04 / “Next up in the Netherlands: Euthanasia for babies,” CNS News, 10/5/05
personhood
KILLING ROE V. WADE: In a recent column, Bob Unruh quotes the leadership of Georgia Right to Life: “It is time that the citizens of Georgia be able to speak decisively to this most fundamental right.” Countering this view is National Right to Life which insists in warning, “To set up a challenge to Roe v. Wade–and then lose–is not without cost.”
COMMENT: In other words, let the babies continue to die because the timing might be wrong!
Reading: “‘Personhood’ silver bullet to kill Roe v. Wade?” World Net Daily, 9/29/07
planned parenthood
MICHIGAN: The state Department of Community health has a new formula for distributing funds which will result in a $700,000 reduction in funding for Planned Parenthood in western Michigan.
Reading: “$700,000 cut hits hard at Planned Parenthood,” Grand Rapids Press, 10/2/07
vaccine
MERCK: The failure of Merck’s newest HIV vaccine, which was in the clinical trial stage, is good news for pro-lifers since the vaccine in question used aborted fetal cell line PER C6 — taken from the retinal tissue of an 18 week gestational baby.
Reading: “Merck’s promising HIV drug fails,” Reuters, 9/21/07
violence
MISSOURI: A 32-year-old man who shot his 21-year-old pregnant girlfriend, resulting in the death of her preborn child, has been charged with first degree murder. In addition he is charged with first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action.
Reading: “Pregnant woman shot; man charged,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/27/07
reminders
LIFE CHAIN: Check online for a Life Chain in your area. The annual event is scheduled this Sunday, October 7.
SAVING THOSE DAMNED CATHOLICS: Of Judie Brown’s latest book, one reader writes, “I am reading Saving Those Dammed Catholics. Although I consider myself an informed Catholic, I am learning a great deal from your book.”
TO ORDER: “Saving Those Damned Catholics” is available from ALL in hardcover or paperback. Call 866-LET-LIVE or purchase online.
ULTRASOUND VIDEO: “Baby Steps: Live from the womb, 16 stages of pre-birth development,” features dramatic 4-D ultrasound images of preborn babies from 8 to 34 weeks. This amazing new video from American Life League is impressing many in the pregnancy center movement, who say is certain to save lives.
TO ORDER: The “Baby Steps” DVD is available from ALL for $9.95 plus shipping and handling. Call 866-LET-LIVE toll-free, or purchase online.
reflection for prayer
MATTHEW 18:1-3: At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “