in this issue:
hot button issues: PLANNED PARENTHOOD / PRO-LIFE MEMORIAL DAY / SPIRITUAL BOUQUET / WRITING CONTEST
abortion: OHIO / SOUTH DAKOTA
activism: PROTEST FDA PROPOSAL / ROSARY FOR LIFE / SOUTH DAKOTA
euthanasia: AUSTRALIA’S DR. DEATH
in vitro fertilization: CULLING HUMAN EMBRYOS / NATURAL LAW
morning-after abortion pill: PHARMACISTS
politics: SANTORUM
stem cell research / ethical: ITALY / KILLING TUMOR CELLS / MONEY
wisdom: POPE JOHN PAUL II
reflection for prayer: CHARITY
hot button issues
PLANNED PARENTHOOD: After a local Planned Parenthood director said the organization’s efforts in South Dakota were not funded with federal dollars, ALL’s Jim Sedlak pointed out to reporters that the Planned Parenthood affiliate’s tax returns contradicted the director’s statement. Tax documents show the organization received $3.2 million from the federal Title X program.
(Reading: “Planned Parenthood funding disputed,” Pierre [S.D.] Capital Journal, 9/13/06)
PRO-LIFE MEMORIAL DAY: For the second year, American Life League is sponsoring Pro-life Memorial Day on October 2. ALL is leading a candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. that night outside the Supreme Court in Washington. Other groups are sponsoring events around the country (see details in next week’s Communique). Please join us as we pause to remember the 47 million innocent lives lost through surgical abortion. Ordering information for the official T-shirt of Pro-life Memorial Day is available online.
SPIRITUAL BOUQUET: Bishop John Yanta of Amarillo, Texas will be turning 75 on October 2. Pro-lifers will honor this great pro-life bishop, who has closed down 17 of the 19 Planned Parenthood clinics in his diocese, by giving him a spiritual bouquet on his birthday. If you would like to honor this wonderful man and great pro-life leader, please let us know what prayers or other spiritual exercises you will do for his intentions. Send an e-mail to ?subject=Bishop_Yanta”>Jim Sedlak. You can also send a card to American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555.
WRITING CONTEST: Homeschoolers for Life, an American Life League Associate group, has announced the organization’s first annual homeschoolers’ pro-life essay contest. Homeschooled students between the ages of seven and 17 are eligible to enter. Essays must be postmarked by October 16. For information and contest rules, see Homeschoolers for Life.
abortion
OHIO: A Cleveland abortion center is being forced to close because of more than a dozen health code violations that prompted state regulators to deny the center’s request for a new license.
(Reading: “Abortion center ordered to close,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/9/06)
SOUTH DAKOTA: The South Dakota State Medical Association has been asked to withdraw comments of criticism that accompanied its “neutral” statement on the state abortion ban law. The association stalled a vote on the request and as a result at least one member of the organization has resigned.
(Reading: “SDSMA attempt to change abortion ban position stalled,” Dakota Voice, 9/8/06)
activism
PROTEST FDA PROPOSAL: The Food and Drug Administration is proposing a rule change that would permit “emergency research” on individuals who would not be giving their consent ahead of time. In the FDA memo, it is noted that an exception may be requested from the requirement to obtain informed consent for each subject or the subject’s legally authorized representative if the research would involve human subjects who have a life-threatening medical condition (for which available treatments are unproven or unsatisfactory) or subjects who because of their medical condition (unconsciousness, for example) cannot give informed consent.
COMMENT: The FDA proposal appears to deny the fact that human dignity must be respected regardless of any particular research goal. Your comments are needed:
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852Electronic comments can be sent online.
(Reading: “Draft guidance for institutional review boards,” Food and Drug Administration, 8/21/06; “Guidance for institutional review boards,” Food and Drug Administration, 7/06; “Mengele lives,” World Net Daily, 9/8/06)
ROSARY FOR LIFE: Renew your faith through the power of prayer on October 7 by joining pro-life Catholics across the nation in praying a special Rosary for Life.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Check out Catholic Advocate Network, the outstanding web site focused on teaching the truth about the South Dakota abortion ban.
euthanasia
AUSTRALIA’S DR. DEATH: At an international conference of right-to-die organizations in Toronto, Dr. Philip Nitschke presented a “do-it-yourself” suicide pill.
(Reading: “Suicide pill presented at right-to-die meeting,” Canadian Press, 9/9/06)
in vitro fertilization
CULLING HUMAN EMBRYOS: Couples chose “perfect” embryos after going through an elective in vitro fertilization procedure that provides numerous embryos, each of whom are genetically tested before implantation. This report once again raises the specter of made-to-order children – and certain death for each of those who do not pass the test.
(Reading: “Couples cull embryos to halt heritage of cancer,” New York Times, 9/3/06)
NATURAL LAW: Professor Stephen Grabill challenges the thinking regarding overproduction of human embryos during in vitro fertilization procedures, and argues, “Routine overproduction of embryos and high mortality rates suggest that IVF-ET degrades and instrumentalizes the very life it seeks to create. The fundamental purpose of every embryo is to realize its life: to fulfill its divine purpose of achieving life as a rational, social, creative, spiritual and morally free and responsible person.”
(Reading: “Evangelicals and the brave new world: why the natural law can no longer be ignored,” Acton Institute, 9/6/06)
morning-after abortion pill
PHARMACISTS: In Washington, Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) has refused to provide legal protection for pharmacists who have moral objections to selling Plan B over the counter.
(Reading: “FDA Ruling puts pharmacists in crossfire,” Kansas City InfoZine, 9/6/06)
politics
SANTORUM: “As a matter of public policy the senator does not oppose birth control.” Santorum has voted in favor of Title X spending year after year, thus funding the work of Planned Parenthood.
(Reading: “Pennsylvania senate campaign tests Democrats’ abortion track,” New York Times, 4/23/06)
stem cell research / ethical
ITALY: Two teams of researchers are reporting success with initial studies using adult stem cells. Researchers in Florence are seeking treatments for acute renal disease. Scientists in Turin report advances in the use of adult stem cells to treat liver disease.
(Reading: “Italians in stem-cell advances,” ANSA, 9/6/06)
KILLING TUMOR CELLS: Cedars-Sinai researchers have developed a tool to track and kill malignant brain tumor cells using neural stem cells found in bone marrow.
(Reading: “Glioma: marrow-derived stem cells deliver cytokine interleukin-23 to kill tumor cells,” Cedars-Sinai Medical Center news release, 2006)
MONEY: A critical analysis of the status of the stem cell debate makes this point: “Fraudulent claims and questionable ethics are being challenged and exposed. However, throughout these debates scandals and hype have distracted the public from considering a key point — the medical goals of society and financial goals of science must eventually conflict.”
(Reading: “Stem cell politics: Divide and conquer,” Seoul Times, 9/8/06)
wisdom
POPE JOHN PAUL II: “Those who allow themselves to be influenced by this climate easily fall into a sad vicious circle: when the sense of God is lost, there is also a tendency to lose the sense of man, of his dignity and his life; in turn, the systematic violation of the moral law, especially in the serious matter of respect for human life and its dignity, produces a kind of progressive darkening of the capacity to discern God’s living and saving presence.”
(Reading: “Evangelium Vitae,” Section 21, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 3/25/95)
reflection for prayer
CHARITY: There will be many people, even some amongst Christ’s followers, that don’t understand our reasons or motivations. Like Christ, we must explain ourselves with humility and patience. We must try to open their horizons in an attitude of mutual respect and charity. When questioned, we must fight a natural tendency to go on the defensive, reacting as if we were being persecuted or victimized. Nor is it helpful to question their motives for inquiry. Rather we must always hope that they are motivated by a sincere desire for the good and openness to the truth.
(Reading: “Fool for Christ,” Regnum Christi, 9/9/06)