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LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report Saturday, October 3, 2009
| For news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com. |
• House Working on Second Phony Compromise on Abortion in Health Care
• Pro-Life Democrat Challenges Obama to Tell Congress No Abortion Funding
• Pope Tells New Obama Ambassador to Uphold Pro-Life Position on Abortion
• Baptists, Brethrens, Lutherans, Methodists Ask Senate for Abortion Funds
• Poll Finds Just One-Third of Americans Back Pro-Abortion Health Care Bills
• President Obama Could Change Makeup of Key Appeals Courts on Abortion
• Pro-Life Groups Applaud Poll Showing Pro-Life Movement on Abortion
• Pro-Life Groups Raise 100-Foot Tall Banner at White House Against Abortion
• Man Who Shot Pro-Life Advocate James Pouillon Declared Incompetent
• Helping Women After Abortion a Great Way to Prevent Repeat Abortions
• Council of Europe Won't Vote on Pro-Abortion Resolution
• Pro-Life News: Catolic Bishops, Illinois, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Korea
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House Members Working on Second Phony Compromise on Abortion in Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the House of Representatives are working on a second phony compromise that would try to mitigate some of the concerns pro-life lawmakers and groups have about the abortion funding found in HR 3200, the main health care "reform" bill in the House. The current bill contains the Capps Amendment that abortion advocates have been portraying as a compromise that prohibits abortion funding. But pro-life groups and leading pro-life lawmakers such as Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan have exposed the Capps language as a fraud by noting that it allows massive abortion subsidies and mandates. Knowing Stupak has assembled potentially enough pro-life and moderate Democrats to join Republicans in voting down the rules for debate on the bill or the bill itself if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn't allow a debate on his amendment to yank the abortion funding, pro-abortion lawmakers are hoping to pacify him and his coalition. Now, pro-abortion Rep. Henry Waxman, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is trying to work out a compromise with some of the members of Stupak's coalition who are not as strongly pro-life. Full story at LifeNews.com Pro-Life Democrat Challenges Obama to Tell Congress to Stop Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democratic congressman who is leading the fight to stop abortion funding in health care, isn't confident about his prospects for success of getting an amendment to do that. So he is challenging President Barack Obama to make good on his promise of no abortion funding. As LifeNews.com reported, Stupak got a meeting this week with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss his request for an amendment to get the abortion funding out of HR 3200. The meeting didn't appear to go well as a Democratic aide said to expect that the abortion funding will remain in the health care reform bill. Now, Stupak is talking about that meeting and saying the prospects for his amendment appear dim and he wants Obama, with whom he recently spoke on the phone, to back up his September speech claiming there will be no abortion funding. He said Pelosi did not promise him a vote on his amendment, though she did not rule one out. The Michigan lawmaker confirmed that Pelosi wants him to work on a phony compromise called the Waxman amendment that pro-life groups are already opposing. "Unfortunately, I don't see a clear resolution right now," Stupak told U.S. News and World Report. "But I'm going to go back to what the president said: no public funding for abortions. And that's the Hyde Amendment." Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democratic congressman who is leading the fight to stop abortion funding in health care, isn't confident about his prospects for success of getting an amendment to do that. So he is challenging President Barack Obama to make good on his promise of no abortion funding. As LifeNews.com reported, Stupak got a meeting this week with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss his request for an amendment to get the abortion funding out of HR 3200. The meeting didn't appear to go well as a Democratic aide said to expect that the abortion funding will remain in the health care reform bill. Now, Stupak is talking about that meeting and saying the prospects for his amendment appear dim and he wants Obama, with whom he recently spoke on the phone, to back up his September speech claiming there will be no abortion funding. He said Pelosi did not promise him a vote on his amendment, though she did not rule one out. The Michigan lawmaker confirmed that Pelosi wants him to work on a phony compromise called the Waxman amendment that pro-life groups are already opposing. "Unfortunately, I don't see a clear resolution right now," Stupak told U.S. News and World Report. "But I'm going to go back to what the president said: no public funding for abortions. And that's the Hyde Amendment." Full story at LifeNews.comPope Tells New Obama Vatican Ambassador to Uphold Pro-Life Position on Abortion
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Pope Benedict XVI has a message for the pro-Obama political activist who the president appointed to become his new Vatican ambassador: uphold the pro-life position on abortion. Some pro-life Catholics have been concerned that Miguel Diaz won't faithfully uphold the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church. Benedict has written a letter to Diaz, a former professor of theology at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, and St. John's University in Collegeville, both in Minnesota. The pope said he hoped the relationship between the Holy See and the United States would "continue to be marked by fruitful dialogue and cooperation in the promotion of human dignity, respect for fundamental human rights" and the "cultivation of the values of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'" "I think particularly of the need for a clear discernment with regard to issues touching the protection of human dignity and respect for the inalienable right to life from the moment of conception to natural death," he said. Benedict urged Diaz to promote "the protection of the right to conscientious objection on the part of health care workers, and indeed all citizens." "The Church insists on the unbreakable link between an ethics of life and every other aspect of social ethics," he reminded the Obama supporter. Full story at LifeNews.com
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Pope Benedict XVI has a message for the pro-Obama political activist who the president appointed to become his new Vatican ambassador: uphold the pro-life position on abortion. Some pro-life Catholics have been concerned that Miguel Diaz won't faithfully uphold the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church. Benedict has written a letter to Diaz, a former professor of theology at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, and St. John's University in Collegeville, both in Minnesota. The pope said he hoped the relationship between the Holy See and the United States would "continue to be marked by fruitful dialogue and cooperation in the promotion of human dignity, respect for fundamental human rights" and the "cultivation of the values of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'" "I think particularly of the need for a clear discernment with regard to issues touching the protection of human dignity and respect for the inalienable right to life from the moment of conception to natural death," he said. Benedict urged Diaz to promote "the protection of the right to conscientious objection on the part of health care workers, and indeed all citizens." "The Church insists on the unbreakable link between an ethics of life and every other aspect of social ethics," he reminded the Obama supporter. Full story at LifeNews.comBaptist, Brethren, Lutheran, Methodist Churches Ask Senate for Abortion Funds
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A coalition of mainline Protestant churches have authored a letter to members of Congress asking them to make certain the health care bills they are considering contain taxpayer funding for abortions. The letter comes from a group of churches that have long advocated the pro-abortion position. Under the umbrella of the Religious Institute, the church denominations and more than 1,100 pastors and church staff from the denominations endorsed the letter. The letter calls abortion a "morally justifiable decision" and opposed any amendments to the House and Senate bills, which current contain massive abortion funding, to strike that taxpayer-financing. "Already, federal policy unfairly prevents low-income women and federal employees from receiving subsidized [abortions]," Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious Institute complained. The letter added that she doesn't want more abortion funding bans in place and complained that additional "restrictions" on abortion funding constitute a "serious moral injustice." The denominations endorsing the letter include the American Baptist Churches, Church of the Brethren, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church, and others. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A coalition of mainline Protestant churches have authored a letter to members of Congress asking them to make certain the health care bills they are considering contain taxpayer funding for abortions. The letter comes from a group of churches that have long advocated the pro-abortion position. Under the umbrella of the Religious Institute, the church denominations and more than 1,100 pastors and church staff from the denominations endorsed the letter. The letter calls abortion a "morally justifiable decision" and opposed any amendments to the House and Senate bills, which current contain massive abortion funding, to strike that taxpayer-financing. "Already, federal policy unfairly prevents low-income women and federal employees from receiving subsidized [abortions]," Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious Institute complained. The letter added that she doesn't want more abortion funding bans in place and complained that additional "restrictions" on abortion funding constitute a "serious moral injustice." The denominations endorsing the letter include the American Baptist Churches, Church of the Brethren, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church, and others. Full story at LifeNews.comPoll Finds Just One-Third of Americans Back Pro-Abortion Health Care Bills
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new national poll finds just one-third of Americans back the pro-abortion health care bills in Congress. Meanwhile, the nation's Catholic bishops condemned a Senate committee's vote against an amendment that would have cut off taxpayer-funding of abortions in the Baucus health care bill. The latest FOX News poll shows a decline in the support for the government-run health care bills pending in Congress, each of which fund abortions. Now, just one-third, 33 percent, of Americans favor the bills while a majority of 53 percent of those polled oppose it. This compares to 38 percent favoring and 48 percent opposing the legislation two weeks ago. Americans are split along party lines with 60 percent of Democrats supporting the pro-abortion health care bills and 85 percent of Republicans opposing it. The reason for the storng opposition overall is that independents join Republicans in opposing the bills, by a 57-27 percent margin against them. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new national poll finds just one-third of Americans back the pro-abortion health care bills in Congress. Meanwhile, the nation's Catholic bishops condemned a Senate committee's vote against an amendment that would have cut off taxpayer-funding of abortions in the Baucus health care bill. The latest FOX News poll shows a decline in the support for the government-run health care bills pending in Congress, each of which fund abortions. Now, just one-third, 33 percent, of Americans favor the bills while a majority of 53 percent of those polled oppose it. This compares to 38 percent favoring and 48 percent opposing the legislation two weeks ago. Americans are split along party lines with 60 percent of Democrats supporting the pro-abortion health care bills and 85 percent of Republicans opposing it. The reason for the storng opposition overall is that independents join Republicans in opposing the bills, by a 57-27 percent margin against them. Full story at LifeNews.comPresident Obama Could Change Makeup of Key Appeals Courts on Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama has already made his first mark on the Supreme Court with the nomination of newly-minted pro-abortion Justice Sonia Sotomayor. His next Supreme Court appointment could come soon, but he can change the face of a key appeals court in the meantime. While most of the focus in the courts debate centers on the nation's high court, a president can change the outcome of rulings on abortion and bioethics law with appeals court appointments. The appeals courts are one step removed from the Supreme Court but they are frequently the end of the line for abortion law cases because of the small percentages of cases that make their way before the nine influential judges. Such is the case with the Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles laws for the mid-Atlantic states but also some cases with a national scope given its position adjacent to the nation's capital. Most recently, the 4th Circuit issued a 6-5 decision in June upholding a Virginia ban on partial-birth abortions. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama has already made his first mark on the Supreme Court with the nomination of newly-minted pro-abortion Justice Sonia Sotomayor. His next Supreme Court appointment could come soon, but he can change the face of a key appeals court in the meantime. While most of the focus in the courts debate centers on the nation's high court, a president can change the outcome of rulings on abortion and bioethics law with appeals court appointments. The appeals courts are one step removed from the Supreme Court but they are frequently the end of the line for abortion law cases because of the small percentages of cases that make their way before the nine influential judges. Such is the case with the Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles laws for the mid-Atlantic states but also some cases with a national scope given its position adjacent to the nation's capital. Most recently, the 4th Circuit issued a 6-5 decision in June upholding a Virginia ban on partial-birth abortions. Full story at LifeNews.com| Choicekills.com can change discussion from Defense to Offense |
Pro-Life Groups Applaud New Pew Poll Showing Pro-Life Movement on Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Top pro-life groups are delighted by the results of the new Pew poll showing double-digit movement from the American public towards the pro-life position on abortion. The poll found an eleven percent shift with support for abortion dropping seven percent and opposition rising four percent. "Add today's Pew poll results to the growing pile of evidence that the pro-life position has become the majority position in America," Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com. The head of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life women's group, said the "politically correct language of 'choice' is worn out." "This growing intensity amongst pro-lifers should send a clear message to Washington—start representing your constituents, because the Life issue is not going to shrink away," she said. As the Pew researchers did, Dannenfelser assigned part of the credit for the pro-life shift on abortion to President Barack Obama. "As President Obama and his allies in Congress continue to push a radical abortion agenda through health care reform, Americans across the board are waking up and realizing: this is not representation," she told LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Groups Raise 100-Foot Tall Banner at White House to Oppose Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Several pro-life groups have banded together to hoist a 100-foot tall banner of the number 71 on the west lawn of the White House. The number is representative of the percentage of people in a recent Zogby poll who said they don't want their tax dollars to pay for abortions. With Congress considering health care reform proposals -- all of which contain abortion funding -- the polling figure is especially poignant. The Christian Defense Coalition and other pro-life groups are raising the banner to remind Congress that Americans don't want abortion funding in the health care bills. In collaboration with other pro-life groups, Operation Rescue is launching the "I AM 71" Project. "We are asking Americans to take a digital photo of them holding a paper with the number 71 and send it to Operation Rescue," the group tells LifeNews.com. "These photos will be posted on the Internet and compiled and sent to members of Congress and President Obama." Full story at LifeNews.com
Man Who Allegedly Shot Pro-Life Advocate James Pouillon Declared Incompetent
Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- The man who allegedly shot and killed pro-life advocate James Pouillon and a local businessman last month has been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial. Local resident Harlan Drake stands accused of shooting Pouillon as he protested abortion outside a high school. District Court Judge Terrance P. Dignan signed an order on Wednesday declaring Drake incompetent to stand trial and remanding the 33-year-old to the State Department of Mental Health for treatment. Despite the decision, Judge Dignan said there is a good possibility that treatment will make it so Drake will attain competence enough to be tried for the September 11 shootings. Robert Ashley, Drake's attorney, told the Owosso Argus-Press newspaper that there were several reasons for the ruling. He said Drake's suicide attempt two days after the shooting was a factor along with a 2004 crash Drake was involved in that resulted in the death of two teenagers which saw them fail to yield to his truck. Drake's family has also said that the man battles depression and other mental health problems. Full story at LifeNews.com
Helping Women After Abortion a Great Way to Prevent Repeat Abortions
by Mary McClusky
Why would a woman have fifteen abortions in sixteen years? In her upcoming book, Impossible Motherhood, set for release on October 6, Irene Vilar attempts to answer that question. Vilar's courageous and frank attempt to chronicle her story is an opportunity to examine the disturbing cycle of repeat abortions, to look beyond the abortion industry's talking points to the tragic reality of abortion, and to draw attention to the healing that is possible by God's grace through the ministry of the Church. Advance excerpts of the book reveal that Vilar's difficult childhood included a suicidal mother, two brothers with heroin addictions, and her own unhealthy teenage relationship and eventual marriage to her 50-year-old college professor who felt that children smothered sexual desire. "My story is an exploration of family trauma, self-inflicted wounds, compulsive patterns, and the moral clarity and moral confusion guiding my choice," she writes. Full story at LifeNews.com
Council of Europe Won't Vote on Pro-Abortion Resolution, Sponsor Lacks Votes
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will not vote on a pro-abortion resolution as it was scheduled to do today. It's sponsor, MP Christine McCafferty, pulled the measure over the lack of vote after pro-life groups raised a strong opposition to it. Peter Costea of the Alliance of Romania's Families informed LifeNews.com of the decision early Friday. "McCafferty has apparently learned that there are insufficient votes to ensure its passage," he said. "We have been additionally informed that the pressure applied on PACE by pro-life and pro-family values organizations has had a positive impact in this regard." The proposed resolution "Fifteen Years Since the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (Document 11992)," was designed to promote "sexual and reproductive rights and services," that includes abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life News: Catolic Bishops, Illinois, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Korea• Catholic Bishops Release Pro-Life Respect Life Sunday Statement on Abortion
• Illinois ACLU Exploiting Loophole, Helping Unqualified Teens Get Secret Abortions
• University of Wisconsin System Newspapers Deny Pro-Life Ads on Abortion
• Pro-Abortion Group NARAL Endorses Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd for Re-Election
• These stories and more here.
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Top pro-life groups are delighted by the results of the new Pew poll showing double-digit movement from the American public towards the pro-life position on abortion. The poll found an eleven percent shift with support for abortion dropping seven percent and opposition rising four percent. "Add today's Pew poll results to the growing pile of evidence that the pro-life position has become the majority position in America," Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com. The head of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life women's group, said the "politically correct language of 'choice' is worn out." "This growing intensity amongst pro-lifers should send a clear message to Washington—start representing your constituents, because the Life issue is not going to shrink away," she said. As the Pew researchers did, Dannenfelser assigned part of the credit for the pro-life shift on abortion to President Barack Obama. "As President Obama and his allies in Congress continue to push a radical abortion agenda through health care reform, Americans across the board are waking up and realizing: this is not representation," she told LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.comPro-Life Groups Raise 100-Foot Tall Banner at White House to Oppose Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Several pro-life groups have banded together to hoist a 100-foot tall banner of the number 71 on the west lawn of the White House. The number is representative of the percentage of people in a recent Zogby poll who said they don't want their tax dollars to pay for abortions. With Congress considering health care reform proposals -- all of which contain abortion funding -- the polling figure is especially poignant. The Christian Defense Coalition and other pro-life groups are raising the banner to remind Congress that Americans don't want abortion funding in the health care bills. In collaboration with other pro-life groups, Operation Rescue is launching the "I AM 71" Project. "We are asking Americans to take a digital photo of them holding a paper with the number 71 and send it to Operation Rescue," the group tells LifeNews.com. "These photos will be posted on the Internet and compiled and sent to members of Congress and President Obama." Full story at LifeNews.comMan Who Allegedly Shot Pro-Life Advocate James Pouillon Declared Incompetent
Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- The man who allegedly shot and killed pro-life advocate James Pouillon and a local businessman last month has been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial. Local resident Harlan Drake stands accused of shooting Pouillon as he protested abortion outside a high school. District Court Judge Terrance P. Dignan signed an order on Wednesday declaring Drake incompetent to stand trial and remanding the 33-year-old to the State Department of Mental Health for treatment. Despite the decision, Judge Dignan said there is a good possibility that treatment will make it so Drake will attain competence enough to be tried for the September 11 shootings. Robert Ashley, Drake's attorney, told the Owosso Argus-Press newspaper that there were several reasons for the ruling. He said Drake's suicide attempt two days after the shooting was a factor along with a 2004 crash Drake was involved in that resulted in the death of two teenagers which saw them fail to yield to his truck. Drake's family has also said that the man battles depression and other mental health problems. Full story at LifeNews.comHelping Women After Abortion a Great Way to Prevent Repeat Abortions
by Mary McClusky
Why would a woman have fifteen abortions in sixteen years? In her upcoming book, Impossible Motherhood, set for release on October 6, Irene Vilar attempts to answer that question. Vilar's courageous and frank attempt to chronicle her story is an opportunity to examine the disturbing cycle of repeat abortions, to look beyond the abortion industry's talking points to the tragic reality of abortion, and to draw attention to the healing that is possible by God's grace through the ministry of the Church. Advance excerpts of the book reveal that Vilar's difficult childhood included a suicidal mother, two brothers with heroin addictions, and her own unhealthy teenage relationship and eventual marriage to her 50-year-old college professor who felt that children smothered sexual desire. "My story is an exploration of family trauma, self-inflicted wounds, compulsive patterns, and the moral clarity and moral confusion guiding my choice," she writes. Full story at LifeNews.comCouncil of Europe Won't Vote on Pro-Abortion Resolution, Sponsor Lacks Votes
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will not vote on a pro-abortion resolution as it was scheduled to do today. It's sponsor, MP Christine McCafferty, pulled the measure over the lack of vote after pro-life groups raised a strong opposition to it. Peter Costea of the Alliance of Romania's Families informed LifeNews.com of the decision early Friday. "McCafferty has apparently learned that there are insufficient votes to ensure its passage," he said. "We have been additionally informed that the pressure applied on PACE by pro-life and pro-family values organizations has had a positive impact in this regard." The proposed resolution "Fifteen Years Since the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (Document 11992)," was designed to promote "sexual and reproductive rights and services," that includes abortion. Full story at LifeNews.comPro-Life News: Catolic Bishops, Illinois, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Korea• Catholic Bishops Release Pro-Life Respect Life Sunday Statement on Abortion
• Illinois ACLU Exploiting Loophole, Helping Unqualified Teens Get Secret Abortions
• University of Wisconsin System Newspapers Deny Pro-Life Ads on Abortion
• Pro-Abortion Group NARAL Endorses Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd for Re-Election
• These stories and more here.
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