PCC List: May 2009

Brian Johnston, executive director of the California ProLife Council, said abortion clinics exploit a woman at her most vulnerable point. "If she knows she has people who are willing to help her, that greatly impacts her decision," he said. "Our goal is to emphasize that there are resources available, and there are better answers than abortion." Johnston said life advocates have more to offer than "15 minutes on the table. The pro-life movement is made of people who are opening their homes and pocketbooks. They are genuinely involved in these women's lives." CitizenLink, California Pro-Life Council; see also Planned Parenthood launches 'Recession Rx'

Obama's Own Words Indicate Sotomayor is Radically Pro-abortion

Many questions have been swirling since the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court about her views on abortion. "Those questions can be easily answered by looking at Mr. Obama's own words. He is unequivocal in his vows to appoint a radical abortion supporter to the bench," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "Don't be fooled by a few of Sotomayor's decisions that seemed favorable to the pro-life cause. Those decisions were based on rules of law unrelated to the issues of personhood for the pre-born or if Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided." Christian Newswire; more:

Abortion Statistics 101

Citing increases in the abortion rate under Republican presidents has quickly become a favorite talking point for pro-life supporters of Barack Obama and other Democrats. Data from both the Center for Disease Control and the Alan Guttmacher Institute indicate that abortions fell during the first Bush presidency. And the most recent data from both sources indicates that abortions were falling during the administration of George W. Bush. National Review

Does Legalizing Abortion Abroad Protect Women’s Health?

Analysis shows that modern medicine, not abortion, holds the key to reducing maternal mortality in the developing world. CitizenLink, MCCL report

Contraceptive hormone linked to breast cancer, teens at risk

According to Karen Malec, president of The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, young girls who are prescribed estrogen+progestin-based birth control by their school nurses are at an increased risk for breast, cervix, and liver cancer. World Health Organization conducted a study in 2005 and found that type of birth control carcinogenic. OneNewsNow

Abortion Activist Blasts Obama's Call for "Common Ground"

For abortion advocates like Reverend Carlton Veazey, head of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, there can never been common ground on abortion because it should be an unfettered right. Writing in a pro-abortion blog, he said, "My experience of 13 years in the pro-choice movement is that 'common ground' has become another term for compromise on reproductive choice. In other words, achieving common ground will be accomplished by diminishing the ability of women to make decisions about abortion, whatever the personal cost. That's unacceptable. It's unacceptable for even one woman to suffer in order for opponents of abortion to be appeased." LifeNews; see also:

Sotomayor Voted to OK Asylum for Spouses of Chinese Women Forced to Abort

Judge Sotomayor's opinion in an immigration asylum case made it appear she understood the problems of people who face persecution in China's brutal population control regime that uses forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations to punish offenders of its one-child policy. “The termination of a wanted pregnancy under a coercive population control program can only be devastating to any couple, akin, no doubt, to the killing of a child,” she wrote. "The harm is clearly directed at the couple [not just the woman] who dared to continue an unauthorized pregnancy in hopes of enlarging the family unit." LifeNews

Hope House Position

Living Hope Women's Centers/Hope House Maternity Home, located in the beautiful pines of Show Low, Arizona, is seeking a qualified Christian married couple for Hope House Maternity Home house parents. Hope House Parents lovingly mentor up to three unwed mothers and mothers-to-be at a Christ-centered maternity home. Show Low is in the White Mountains of Northeastern Arizona. House parents live in a 2 bedroom/2 bath home next to the maternity home. Compensation includes: salary, home to live in, paid holidays, use of a van, some meals and Doctor's Health Solution medical plan. A Relief House Mother is provided for days off. No dependent children please. For an application or if you have questions, please contact Kimberley Hash, Executive Director, at (928) 537-9032 or by cell phone at (480) 652-1353.

New Approach to Abortion Rights at UN: “Motherhood and Apple Pie”

Abortion rights advocates at the United Nations are pursuing a new approach – one that avoids mention of abortion, promotes a right to maternal health, and seeks to enforce “reproductive rights” norms among UN member States. The reason for the shift seems to be an increased confidence among activists and UN officials that they have secured or are close to securing a new international right to abortion. By creating a new “right” to maternal health over the next several years, advocates can consolidate gains while avoiding scrutiny by opponents. Then, once they are confident the new right is established, they can assert the claim that abortion is part of the new international obligation. C-Fam

UN Committee Says Nicaraguan Pro-Life Laws Violate Torture Convention

The United Nations committee charged with monitoring compliance with the Convention Against Torture has declared that Nicaragua’s full protection of fetal life violates the country's obligations under the Convention. Neither the Convention Against Torture nor any other UN treaty mentions abortion, and it was not contemplated when such treaties were negotiated and ratified that countries were committing themselves to altering domestic legislation on abortion. Amnesty International asserted that Nicaragua's legislation banning all abortions was equivalent to government commissioned “torture” or at least “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” banned by the Convention. C-Fam

Green fundraiser

According to the Consumer Electronics Association the average U.S. household owns 25 consumer electronics devices. With more than 150 million used cell phones stockpiled in U.S. households the EcoPhones Recycling Fundraiser is much easier and more profitable than you may think. In addition, EcoPhones provides FREE customizable marketing materials and free shipping from anywhere in the U.S. including Alaska. Join the more than 32,000 schools, clubs, and churches just like yours that have raised much-needed funds for their organizations. For more information, you may register online at http://www.greenschoolfundraiser.org or call (888) 326-7466.

U.S. student emerges as anti-abortion crusader

Lila Rose claims Planned Parenthood counselors routinely ignore their duty to report statutory rape when dealing with young girls impregnated by older men and often tell them to lie about their age or the identity of their sex partners rather than alert authorities. The 20-year-old history major at University of California, Los Angeles, posts the secretly obtained tapes on the website of her nonprofit group, LiveAction.org, prompting authorities in three states to launch investigations of Planned Parenthood. Reuters; see also Lila Rose and 21st century stealth pro-life activism

Get to Know: Advocates International

Advocates International’s global network has been active since 1991 in promoting religious freedom and human rights, reconciliation and justice, ethics and the integration of faith and practice. Advocates’ network links thousands of law professionals in over 100 nations, including those in 30 former or current communist nations and in over 80 nations where religious freedom and fundamental values are under attack. AI filed a brief with NIH opposing embryonic stem cell research in the US.

California Planned Parenthood Upset with Schwarzenegger for Cutting Taxpayer Funds

Planned Parenthood is upset that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing cutting its taxpayer funding. Because of the state's financial woes, Schwarzenegger's state budget proposes cutting Planned Parenthood's $36 million in family planning funds. LifeNews

Evangelical Documentary Exposes Abortifacient Qualities of the Pill

A documentary called “28 Days on the Pill” has been released that seeks expose the abortifacient properties of the birth control pill. The documentary explains that many forms of birth control pills contain progesterone, which thins the endometrium, the walls of the uterus, which in turn causes it to become inhospitable to a conceived ovum. This inhospitality may cause a newly conceived human being not to implant in the endometrium and cause an abortion.
LifeSiteNews

Baby Faith Dies at 93 Days

Faith Hope Walker passed away peacefully this weekend in the arms of her mother Myah. Faith was born with a condition called anencephaly, in which a portion of the child’s brain fails to fully develop. Myah was pressured by hospital staff to have an abortion. Doctors told her that Faith was alive only because "she was attached" to her mother and that even if she survived to birth, she would be neither able to hear nor see. She refused. “For some reason I had to give the doctors my decision over and over again, which was frustrating. One doctor asked, 'Can I ask why you want to continue this pregnancy?' I guess some people are baffled by unconditional love.” LifeSiteNews, Myah's blog

Adult stem cells "seek and destroy" cancer cells

Genetically engineered stem cells from bone marrow showed promise as a potential new way to deliver a cancer-killing protein to tumors. Studies in cell cultures showed the cells were able to find and kill cells from lung, squamous, breast and cervical cancer. A researcher said, "When we delivered this therapy, 38 percent of the tumors were completely eliminated."

AAPLOG has started a Facebook Page

AAPLOG is the American Association of Pro-Life Ob/Gyns. Dr. Joe DeCook says, "The object [of the page] is for us to present certain facts about abortion, especially complications, and get feedback, that we can then comment on --the ultimate object is to educate the people out there. This is a huge demographic that we aren't getting to, and we're going to give it a try. Just got it going last week, not too much going on yet, hope there will be. Check it out and encourage workers to go there and rec [?] friends to go there." You can read the comments just by visiting, but you have to belong to Facebook and become a "fan" of the site to post comments. AAPLOG Facebook page

“I just can't go through with this!"

In recent days, three babies have been saved from abortion at Choice Medical in Sacramento, CA, including one set of twins, due to the prayerful presence of peaceful sidewalk counselors. California Catholic Daily

Pro-Life Groups Oppose Sotomayor

The initial reaction from pro-life groups on the nomination of appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace retiring pro-abortion Justice David Souter is one of opposition. Although she made the right decision in one abortion case, they say she will likely uphold Roe v. Wade, the 1973 abortion case. LifeNews; see also Pro-Abortion Groups Support Sonia Sotomayor

More reaction to Sotomayor:

Liberated and Unhappy

American women are wealthier, healthier and better educated than they were 30 years ago. They’re more likely to work outside the home, and more likely to earn salaries comparable to men’s when they do. They can leave abusive marriages and sue sexist employers. They enjoy unprecedented control over their own fertility. But all the achievements of the feminist era may have delivered women to greater unhappiness. NY Times

Focus on Accountability

The latest ECFA newsletter is out, with articles on competition between ministries, changes to IRS regulations that could affect non-profits, and what happens when your executive committee is "too good."

It's sad this book is so necessary

Meet the liberated college woman. You may pity her. Unprotected is a hard slap at the sexual free-for-all that prevails on American campuses and throughout American life. The author, revealed since publication as Dr. Miriam Grossman, a psychiatrist at the student health service at UCLA, was hesitant to put her name on this book. The orthodoxy within the academic world is a strict one, and those who transgress often pay with their jobs. Let's hope for her sake, but particularly for her patients' well being, that she is not punished for her heterodox views. JWR

Hispanic Americans do not support abortion

A new survey conducted by a popular Latino social networking web site finds a plurality of Hispanic Americans believe abortions should be illegal. The informal poll confirms others which show a majority of Hispanics do not support abortion, would back limits and want most abortions made illegal. Asked whether they think abortion should be illegal, 47% of the members of the SusOpinions web site said yes, 38 percent disagreed and 15 percent had no opinion. LifeNews, Hispanic Americans for Life

Majority of Americans Believe Abortion Hurts Women

In a new national survey conducted by the Polling Company for the pro-life organization Americans United for Life, 68 percent said they know a woman who had one while 30 percent said they did not. Of those who knew a post-abortive woman, 55 percent described her abortion as a negative experience while just 33 percent described it as a positive one and 12 percent either didn't know or would not answer the question. LifeNews

For analysis of all the recent poll findins, see Pro-Life Shift Not Surprising and Obama Administration Is Out Of Step With New Pro-Life Majority

International abortion news

Sotomayor nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court

Today President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court to fill the seat of retiring Justice David Souter. If confirmed, Sotomayor would become the first Hispanic and third woman to serve on the High Court. Despite 17 years on the bench, Sotomayor has never directly decided whether a law regulating abortion is constitutional.

In Center for Reproductive Law & Policy v. Bush, she wrote an opinion that upheld the Mexico City Policy prohibiting federal funding of overseas abortions. In 2004, she ruled that a group of abortion clinic protesters could proceed with its suit against police officers who arrested them. Steven Waldman, writing on his BeliefNet blog, says, "In the two cases we know of that related partly to abortion, she took the position that pro-life groups would have wanted (albeit for reasons unrelated to Roe v. Wade)."

Mathew D. Staver, Founder and President of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented on the nominee: “While Sotomayor is not the easiest nomination the President was considering in his short list, she is by far not the most risky either. She has had a mixed history on cases. Her personality is not likely one that will persuade other Justices to her point of view. Her nomination does not change the makeup of the United States Supreme Court.” Liberty Counsel

Reflection: How does God spell success?

Every day in crisis pregnancy centers across America, people work tirelessly to rescue innocent, unborn children. CPC workers can easily become discouraged in their ministry. When women walk away undecided or decide to abort, volunteers feel more than sadness. They often feel ineffective and wonder whether their investment of time and effort is making a difference. We need an objective measuring rod to help us grasp the significance of this important task. We can draw hope and encouragement when we consider five ways that God says He measures the success of our job. At the Center

Obama aide: Not our goal to reduce abortions

Ask nearly anyone, “What is Obama’s goal on abortion?” They’ll answer, “Reduce the number of abortions.” But that’s not what his top official in charge of finding “common ground” says. Melody Barnes, the Director of Domestic Policy Council and a former board member of Emily’s List, told Concerned Women for America's Wendy Wright, “It is not our goal to reduce the number of abortions.” The goal, she insisted, is to “reduce the need for abortions.” Human Events; follow-up The Brody File

Billionaire club in bid to curb overpopulation

Some of America’s leading billionaires have met secretly to consider how their wealth could be used to slow the growth of the world’s population and speed up improvements in health and education. The philanthropists who attended a summit convened on the initiative of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, discussed joining forces to overcome political and religious obstacles to change. Described as the Good Club by one insider it included David Rockefeller Jr, Warren Buffett, George Soros, Michael Bloomberg, and the media moguls Ted Turner and Oprah Winfrey. Sunday Times

The Liberty Project

In a recent email, Joanne Leppo of the Pregnancy Resource Center East in Baytown, Texas, wrote about the Liberty Project. She mentioned it was going on across the country. I found one other center that's doing it, Cornerstone Center for Women in Dade City, Florida. Anybody else?

The Liberty Project "is a dynamic way of promoting life even while political winds blow in the opposite direction. During the week of July 4, small groups—whether Sunday school classes, Bible studies or cell groups — will be collecting gifts for their local pregnancy care ministry. . . . The Liberty Project seizes on the captivating truth that we don't need Washington — not one Supreme Court decision or even a law — to end abortion in America. What we need are those of us who believe in life to step forward and say, 'Count me in.'"

Get to Know: National Advocates for Pregnant Women

National Advocates for Pregnant Women seeks to protect the rights and human dignity of all women, particularly pregnant and parenting women and those who are most vulnerable including low income women, women of color, and drug-using women. To that end, NAPW is actively involved in ongoing court challenges to punitive reproductive health and drug policies and provides litigation support in cases across the country. NAPW is not pro-life.

Big Pulpit

The Rev. A. R. Bernard, pastor of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY, is a Republican who opposes abortion and gay lifestyles, believes in creationism and global warming. But he voted twice for Bill Clinton, and last year for Barack Obama. His endorsement was the first that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg unveiled in his bid for a third term. NY Times

Three ethical questions

Is later abortion worse than early abortion? Would the discovery of a nonhuman rational animal change the personhood debate? Does an individual person arise only after the possibility of twinning is excluded? Life Issues

German parents convicted after kids miss sex classes

A Christian couple are appealing against a conviction under German law for withdrawing their eleven-year-old daughter from sex education classes. Willi and Anna Dojan, who have eight children and are active members of the Christian Evangelical Baptist Church, said the content of the classes conflicted with their beliefs about sexuality. They decided to keep their daughter Lilli away from the four days of “sexual education” lessons, and an interactive stage play "My Body Is Mine," choosing to educate her according to their own views on sexuality instead. Christian Institute

STI rates continue to rocket among young

There has been a 58 per cent increase in cases of sexually transmitted infections amongst under-16s in the UK the last five years. This significant rise in cases of STIs among young people comes despite millions of pounds spent on failed Government sexual health policies. Christian Institute

In praise of dullness

Strong people skills correlate loosely or not at all with being a good C.E.O. Traits like being a good listener, a good team builder, an enthusiastic colleague, a great communicator do not seem to be very important when it comes to leading successful companies. What mattered, it turned out, were execution and organizational skills. The traits that correlated most powerfully with success were attention to detail, persistence, efficiency, analytic thoroughness and the ability to work long hours. NY Times

Down Syndrome Yields Key Cancer Clue

Solid tumors are very rare in people with Down syndrome. Why? The answer almost certainly lies among the 231 extra genes they inherit with their extra copy of chromosome 21. People with Down syndrome rarely get diseases linked to the overgrowth of blood vessels. One of the genes on chromosome 21 encodes a protein that blocks a factor needed for blood vessel growth. This protein, DSCR1, is overproduced in people with Down syndrome. Web MD

4 to 1: Conflicting polls

Six in ten Americans continue to approve of how Barack Obama is handling his job as president — and despite the controversy over Obama's appearance at Notre Dame on Sunday, Catholics have a high opinion of him, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll. CNN

A new Rasmussen Reports poll joins surveys from Gallup, Pew and Fox News in confirming that Americans are taking a decidedly more pro-life position on abortion. The Rasmussen survey, released on May 5, asked a different question than the others and found that 58 percent of Americans say abortion is morally wrong most of the time. Just twenty-five percent disagree and the rest had no opinion. Rasmussen Report, LifeNews

Washington Gov. Says State "Blessed" by Pro-Abortion Group

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire is under fire for saying the state was "blessed" to have Washington NARAL there leading the charge for unlimited abortions. Gregoire, a Catholic although solidly pro-abortion spoke of "those, candidly, not yet born who will benefit from [NARAL's] leadership." LifeNews

Abortion Statistics for England and Wales, 2008

the total number of abortions fell 1.6% from 2007
the abortion rate was highest at 36 per 1,000, for women age 19
91% of abortions were funded by the National Health Service
90% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation
medical abortions accounted for 38% of the total
1% were performed on the belief the child would be born handicapped

UK Department of Health

'Common Ground' is Killing Ground

The White House has continued this campaign by inviting organizations on both sides of the abortion debate to meet with White House staff. Obama staffers made it clear the President's goal is not to reduce the number of abortions. It is to reduce "the need for abortion." The idea that there is sometimes a need to kill an innocent unborn child is chilling. Obama is unwilling to say it should be "rare." He believes there are women who "need" abortions, but aren't getting them because they can't afford them. FRC

1 Minute Biology Lesson

David MacDonald, a pro-life musician and activist, says that a simple diagram explaining precisely the basic biology of when life begins has become one of his most useful tools in explaining the pro-life position to students at schools that he visits. So widespread is the ignorance about the biology of conception, he says, that "one comment I hear over and over, is that a sperm is just as human as an embryo." However, "When I gave the students copies of this simple diagram they immediately understood when life begins. From there it was easy to show them what is wrong with abortion," explained MacDonald. LifeSiteNews

Act now to save abstinence education funding

Sign letters on the NAEA web site:

A letter asking President Obama to reinsert funding for abstinence education in his budget request.
A letter asking House Appropriations Chairman Obey to maintain funding for abstinence education in the 2010 budget.
A letter asking Republican Leadership to take the lead on advocating for the continuation of abstinence education in the 2010 budget.

Help send 1,000's of letters to President Obama by students who have profited from abstinence education programs and by parents and teachers who see the benefit. The letters can be short, but must personally illustrate why abstinence education must continue. Send one copy of the letters to NAEA (either email or by mail) and the other copy to the President. Address: President Barack Obama; The White House; 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC

Visit your member of congress over the Memorial Day break. Call the district office and ask for a meeting or attend an event where your Member will be. Use this opportunity to let them know that abstinence education must continue in his/her district. (Let NAEA know if you are able to visit by sending an email to info@abstinenceassociation.org.) Contact your House Member here . Contact your Senator here.

Use info from NAEA to be persuasive.

Docs urge President to keep conscience protections

Since present laws regarding conscience have no enforcement provision, the conscience clause is a needed regulation to protect doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals from discrimination based upon their desire to practice life medicine and decline medical procedures which are violate their conscience or ethical convictions. The President has falsely asserted that merely “educating” on the issue of conscience rights would suffice. CMDA, evidence of the need for conscience protection

The No-Choice President

The idea that a "woman's right to choose" was freely chosen by Americans is fundamentally false. The American people have specifically been refused an opportunity to choose abortion policy. Instead, liberal activists chose to go through the courts. One suspects this is because abortion advocates fear an electoral result that in some fashion mirrors precisely the results Gallup has discovered -- a majority opposed to the tenets of abortion as outlined in the judicial fiat that is Roe v. Wade. . . . If it's OK for the people of Vermont to make gay marriage legal through a vote of their elected legislature -- and it's fair to allow California voters the right to amend their own constitution to ban gay marriage -- why shouldn't it be fair to let the same voters decide the fate of abortion policy in their states? American Spectator

Evangelical Left Ethicist Defends Obama

In October 2004, Evangelical Left ethicist Glenn Stassen of Fuller Seminary gained attention for arguing that abortion rates had increased under President Bush after declines under President Clinton. Stassen sought to justify evangelical support for an abortion-rights candidate, arguing that wider welfare state programs more effectively reduce abortion than legal restrictions. Now armed with more comprehensive data, and energized by President Obama's Notre Dame controversy, Stassen, a strong Obama supporter, is claiming vindication. American Spectator

Abortion attempt leads to charges

Police say the man charged in the attempted abortion did not prevent friends from secretly giving drug to the pregnant teenager. The drug ProstaMate - a liquid farmers use to bring cows into heat or abort a calf - was injected into a soft drink the girl ingested. In the end, it did not cause the young woman to abort her baby. Altoona Mirror

In a Pro-life State of Mind

Without pro-life support from Washington, the states have been more active than ever. FRC

Oklahoma unanimously passed a ban on human cloning in both chambers. There are certain to be enough votes to override a veto if Gov. Brad Henry (D) does so.
Oklahoma's Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust voted to give a total of $5.5 million in grants to adult stem cell research.
Louisiana's state Senate passed a ban on animal-human hybrids Monday morning.
Minnesota's pro-life Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) signed a ban on taxpayer funding of human cloning into law on Saturday.
Texas is already putting funds toward adult stem cell research and considering legislation to ban cloning as well as regulate stem cell research.

Third poll confirms America is more pro-life

A Fox News poll finds 49 percent of voters today describe themselves as "pro-life" and 43 percent as "pro-choice" on the issue of abortion. This is the first time more voters have described themselves as pro-life in the poll since April 2004. Last year, the numbers were essentially the reverse of the current findings -- at that time 41 percent said they were pro-life and 49 percent pro-choice (September 2008). Over the last 12 years of polling on this question, more people identified as pro-choice in all but four polls. Fox News

Get to Know: Pure Freedom

It is the mission of Pure Freedom to equip men and women of all ages to live a vibrant life of purity, to experience healing from past impurity if it exists in their lives, and to experience a vibrant, passionate marriage which portrays the love Christ has for his Bride the church. Sign the Bod Squad petition appealing to the fashion industry for modest, age-appropriate clothes for girls and young women.

Struggling families look to adoption

Renee Siegfort broke the news to her three teenagers on Mother's Day last year: She was pregnant. She really wanted the baby. Her kids did, too. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend of three years did not. So after giving birth Dec. 30, she nursed her daughter for six days. She then did something she would not have imagined nine months earlier: She gave her child to another family. Renee says placing Joie for adoption was the most difficult thing she's ever done, but she has no regrets. USA Today

Editor: You will not believe the negative comments this article is prompting. Some of the attitudes toward adoption are disturbing.

Comparing abstinence-only and "comprehensive" sex ed

The Institute for Research and Evaluation has found that in school/classroom-based settings 44% of abstinence programs had improved rates of teen abstinence, while only 36% of comprehensive sex education programs had improved some measure of condom use. No school-based CSE programs were found that increased consistent condom use for more than three months. A Look at the Evidence, IRE

Russian births up, but economic crisis threatens gains

Searches for "abortion" on the Russian Internet portal Yandex have more than doubled since the onset of the financial crisis. According to the United Nations, Russia has the highest rate of abortions in the world, in a hold over from Soviet times when the operation replaced traditional forms of contraception. Last year was the first since the fall of the Soviet Union when the number of births narrowly outstripped the number of abortions in the country. AFP

Not on the fence about life

Carnegie Mellon University's Respect Life Club used a campus landmark, "The Fence," to call attention to the tragedy of abortion. "The Fence" is a concrete structure that is painted over and over again by different groups and organizations, has a legendary history and has appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records. Students painted "The Fence" with the message, "Are you on the fence about abortion?" and other information that would bring the tragedy of abortion to light for the students passing by. Deacon for Life

Notre Dame and Obama's "ambiguity"

With its billions in endowment and its prestigious name, Notre Dame ought to be in the lead [on abortion]. But when asked for examples illuminating the university's unambiguous support for unborn life, [a spokesman] could provide only four: help for pregnant students who want to carry their babies to term, student volunteer work for pregnant women at local shelters, prayer mentions at campus Masses, and lectures such as a seminar on life issues. . . . At Notre Dame today, there is no pro-life organization -- in size, in funding, in prestige -- that compares with the many centers, institutes and so forth dedicated to other important issues. Perhaps this explains why a number of pro-life professors don't want to be quoted by name, lest they face career retaliation. Wall Street Journal, Belief Net

The thousands of pregnancy centers in America today, which offer material and spiritual help to women, did not exist at the time of Roe v. Wade. Will the president raise their visibility and encourage women to seek their help? Will he encourage women who don't want their babies to carry them to term so that others can adopt them? Cal Thomas

His speech was un-Barackesque in one sense - he came down from Olympus, where pay grades are seldom referred to at all, and made it plain that on the issue of human life, he does in fact disagree with those who stand for its sanctity. . . . Obama is a man of many mellifluous words, but he is also a man of many unambiguous actions, and every action he has taken to date has been a forthright dismantling of the culture of life and the wall of separation that has existed between taxpayers and abortion. FRC

[Obama's] primary campaign appealed to hard-core ideologues, while his general-election campaign made a softer pitch, aimed at attracting moderate and nonideological voters. Obama's rhetorical skill is such that he makes this like an act of depth and thoughtfulness. In fact, it is the most pedestrian of campaign tactics. WSJ

[Obama's] duplicity is most pronounced on the issue of abortion. On the one hand, he champions a mother's right to destroy her baby in the womb, presumably believing it is not a human life. But on the other, he says the decision of whether to abort has both moral and spiritual dimensions. JWR

The 'big bucks' of abstinence

Less than 23 cents out of every dollar spent on teen sexual health went for abstinence education. So why the caterwauling over pocket change for abstinence? . . . What's never mentioned, though, is how sexually active youth are part of the market for certain commercial sex- and disease-related products, and abstinent behavior reduces that market share. Pam Mullarkey, founder of [pro-abstinence] Project SOS in Jacksonville, FL, says, "Giving [Planned Parenthood's ilk] money is definitely a conflict of interest since they make money when teens have sex. I would love to see a breakdown of the profits they make for the following: Birth control monthly charge, approx. $30 per girl. STD Testing. STD medication for each of the STDs they contract. Abortion for when the forget their birth control or they don't work. No wonder they have spent so much money trying to destroy abstinence education - it directly costs them big bucks." Washington Times

Girl Scouts exposed

Girl Scouts USA is not the same program most women remember. . . . World Net Daily reviewed the Girl Scouts' new "Journeys" curriculum. In "Amaze: The Twists and Turns of Getting Along," girls from the sixth to the eighth read text featuring a quote from Harriet Woods, former president of the National Women's Political Caucus – a bipartisan group that endorses pro-abortion female candidates who run for public office. . . . On NBC's Today Show in 2004, Kathy Cloninger, CEO of Girls Scouts USA, admitted that it "partners with Planned Parenthood across the country to bring information based sex education programs to girls." WND

Understanding America's Shift on Abortion

People under 30 are more opposed to abortion than those older, perhaps because their first baby pictures were often taken in utero. I also wonder if younger women are now sure enough of their sexual autonomy and their choices generally, that they don't view limits on abortion as attacks on their freedom overall. The calculation of rights subtly shifts, and the fetus, as it develops, asserts its claim on the conscience. Time; this post is in reference to the latest Gallup poll -- see New Signs of Life below.

Transcript: Obama's Notre Dame speech

Transcript of Obama's Notre Dame speech
Your generation must decide how to save God's creation from a changing climate that threatens to destroy it. . . . And part of the problem, of course, lies in the imperfections of man -- our selfishness, our pride, our stubbornness, our acquisitiveness, our insecurities, our egos; all the cruelties large and small that those of us in the Christian tradition understand to be rooted in original sin. We too often seek advantage over others. . . . Too many of us view life only through the lens of immediate self-interest and crass materialism. . . . The strong too often dominate the weak. . . . So let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions, let's reduce unintended pregnancies. Let's make adoption more available. Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term. Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women. LA Times

Editor: How can he speak of God's creation and our selfishness and not see the problem with abortion? And who is it that is providing "care and support for women who do carry their children to term"? I think it's the pro-lifers.

NYC Mayor Testifies in Pregnancy Discrimination Case

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's company, Bloomberg News, in October 2007. The suit says the staunch abortion advocate condoned "systemic, top-down discrimination against female employees."
Eighty women, including three high-level executives, filed the pregnancy discrimination lawsuit against the mayor. In one complaint, Bloomberg allegedly told a leading saleswoman, "Kill it" when he found out she was pregnant. NY Post, LifeNews

Philippines Pressured to Pass First Step to Legal Abortions

The head of the delegation of the European Commission in the Philippines, Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, has vocally intervened in a contentious legislative debate in that nation, pushing legislators to pass a controversial "reproductive health" bill while linking increased foreign aid to passage. LifeNews

New Signs of Life

Just days after a Pew Research poll showed an incredible boost in the percentage of pro-life Americans, folks at the Gallup Company decided to conduct a study of their own. The result? For the first time in the history of asking this question, a majority of adults (51%) in the U.S. said they consider themselves "pro-life." Gallup

How U.N. Conventions on Women's and Children's Rights Undermine Family, Religion, and Sovereignty

U.N. committees charged with offering guidance on the obligations incumbent upon nations that have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) are, instead, advancing a radical agenda harmful to the best interests of societies and states, under the cover of providing review and recommendations. FRC

Abortion news from Europe

The Wrong Marriage Debate

Our current preoccupation with gay marriage has distracted us. The issue of greater importance is the degree to which heterosexual men and women are choosing to become parents while unmarried. . . . [W]hat we really have in this country is a caste system. At the top are the college graduates who nearly always get married before becoming pregnant. At the bottom are poor women of all races and backgrounds who routinely have babies before they marry (if they ever marry). . . . Perhaps they invest marriage with excessively lofty expectations for complete personal happiness and fulfillment? . . . Young women, especially poorly educated ones, have gotten the idea that marriage is all about them — about their romantic hopes. JWR, Washington Post

Donors turn to Giving Circles as economy drops

Charitable donations have been declining, along with the economy. But one type of giving appears to be on the rise: giving circles. Many people are forming these groups where they pool their funds so they can have a greater impact on a charitable cause. Their growth comes at a time when donors say they want more control over how their charitable dollars are spent. NPR, Giving Circles Knowledge Center, Giving Circles directory

Recent study: "Giving circle members are . . . more likely to give to organizations that support women. . . . In addition, the longer someone is in a giving circle, the more likely she or he is to give . . . to organizations that support women."

Engaging Next Generation Donors Next Generation donors - young givers between 18 and 40 years of age - are an important audience for philanthropy. They have a high level of passion and energy, along with the potential to develop an ethic of giving that will last their entire life.

Missouri Senate Bill Causes Pro-Lifers Problems

The Missouri state Senate today approved a bill that would seemingly help women avoid forced abortions, however, the bill is causing headaches for pro-life advocates, who are calling for it to be defeated or changed. Pam Fichter, the president of Missouri Right to Life, explains that the Senate bill "creates a two-tiered system of enforcement based on how frequently an abortion clinic does abortions. Abortion clinics that perform abortions no more than one-day-a-week are exempt from the new informed consent provisions – offering an ultrasound, fetal development information, abortion alternatives, etc. for three years. But such one-day-a-week clinics must comply with the old, 2003 women’s right to know law. Clinics that perform abortions more than one-day-a-week will be exempt from the 2003 law while complying with the new law." LifeNews

Obama Must Rethink His Stance Against Abstinence Funding

Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, calls upon Congress to reject the President’s request to eliminate abstinence education funding from the 2010 budget. NAEA also urges the Administration to retract its overreaching decision to zero out abstinence education funding. LifeNews

Obama Administration Retracts Report Calling Pro-Life Advocates Extremists

The Obama administration has officially pulled a Department of Homeland Security Report that claims pro-life people may engage in violence or extremism. The document, which has already been sent to police and sheriffs offices across the country, sparked national outrage. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano did not say when the report was taken off the Obama administration's web site but she said it was being "replaced or redone in a much more useful and much more precise fashion." LifeNews

Men and abortion, grief and healing

Grieving for an aborted baby is different from the loss of any other loved one. Abortion is not part of any natural process like miscarriage. It is not a mysterious disappearance. It is the deliberate act of taking the life of a defenseless person. Participating in an abortion always produces real guilt before God in the person who is responsible for the decision to take the life of the child. Men have told me that they knew they were guilty of getting the woman pregnant, of pressuring her to get an abortion, or of not coming to the rescue of the child. Unchoice

What every son, brother, husband, father, or friend needs to know

Those who would pressure or force a wife, daughter, or girlfriend into unwanted abortions need to know that:

Risk of death for women is 62% higher after abortion
31% suffer health complications after abortion
65% suffer symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
60% said “part of me died”
Teens are 6 times more likely to commit suicide if they’ve had an abortion in the last 6 months
Clinical depression risk is 65% higher after abortion
Suicide rates are 6 times higher after abortion

Unchoice

Massive German Study Confirms Abortion Significantly Increases Premature Birth Risk

Dr. Manfred Voigt and his German colleagues evaluated over two million pregnancies between 1995 and 2000, making the 2008 study the most massive AVP (Abortion Very Preterm Birth) study in the last 30 years. According to a press release by the Reduce Preterm Risk Coalition, the study found that for a woman with one prior abortion, VPB (under 32-34 weeks' gestation) risk is boosted by 30%, while more than one prior abortion increases relative VPB risk by 90%. LifeSiteNews, Abstract

Even the Scientists Now Criticize the ESCR Hype

Science has a good piece in the current issue exposing the hype that has permeated embryonic stem cell research advocacy and its reporting by media. In "A Stem Cell History Lesson," University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researcher James M. Wilson warns against unrealistic boosting of ESCR, as was done previously with gene therapy. Secondhand Smoke

Notre Dame President Sits on Board of Pro-Abortion Organization

It has come to light that Fr. John Jenkins, the President of Notre Dame University, sits on the board of directors of Millennium Promise. The finding comes as the controversy over President Obama's award and speech at the University reaches a fever pitch. Despite criticism, Jenkins has steadfastly continued to defend the university's honoring of the president. Now we know why. Millennium Promise's mission is to enact eight Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The Millennium Development Goals have been widely promoted by pro-abortion organizations and include the goal of increasing access to abortion globally. LifeSiteNews

Improved data on maternal mortality

C-Fam reports on an important new study by medical doctor Donna Harrison that challenges the figure often used by UN agencies to promote abortion around the world. They say that 500,000 women die each year in pregnancy related causes. Harrison shows how this is based on sometimes deliberately faulty data. C-Fam, PDF

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

In a world increasingly indifferent to Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority. Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to get in the driver’s seat, keeping any conversation moving with thoughtful, artful diplomacy. Koukl shows you how to: Initiate conversations effortlessly; present the truth clearly, cleverly, and persuasively; graciously and effectively expose faulty thinking; skillfully manage the details of dialogue; maintain an engaging, disarming style even under attack. Stand to Reason

Have Tactics delivered to your inbox weekly. Sign up for 14 free lessons!

Reflection on Psalm 46

Psalm 46 is a wonderful psalm about disruptive change. It starts with the promise that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." We might assume that the God who made an orderly creation would at least guarantee solid ground under our feet, but we would be wrong. That is not what is promised. Instead it is that "we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult."(vs 2-3) The point is that the ground under our feet may not remain solid. There is no immunity promised from earthquakes or landslides, no guarantees that creation will not push back if we abuse it. The promise is that even in the midst of disaster we have reason to trust in God. L'Abri

The "L'Abri Statements" give a wonderful, concise description of what it means for human beings to be made in God's image (see page 16).

Changing Patterns of Nonmarital Childbearing in the United States

The proportion of births to unmarried mothers in the United States has risen steeply over the past few decades, consistent with patterns in other countries. In March, CDC reported that about 4 in 10 births in the United States in 2007 were to unmarried mothers. While a great deal of focus has been placed on births to unmarried teens, 6 out of 10 births to women between the ages of 20 and 24 were among unmarried women in 2007. Between 1980 and 2007, the proportion of births to unmarried women in the United States has more than doubled, from 18 percent to 40 percent. National Center for Health Statistics, PDF

LifeNews speculates: "With more women in their 20s having children, and with the 20-29 age range as having the plurality of abortions, that young women are deciding to keep their baby could mean a lower of the abortion rates." Don't miss the related posting below: Culture Unraveling

No taxes for abortion

Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration want to overturn pro-life "riders" that ensure that U.S. taxpayers are not forced to hand-over their hard-earned dollars to pay for and promote abortion on demand. The list of these pro-life laws, which reduce abortion and protect the conscience rights of everyone from health care personnel to taxpayers, is long and includes provisions that have stood for three decades. Even the Hyde amendment is threatened. Twenty-term Congressman David Obey (D-Wis.) is chairman of the key House Appropriations Committee, the committee that plays a key role in deciding the fate of pro-life policy. Over 40,000 people have signed a petition to Chairman Obey today. Please join them.

Celebrate! She chose life!

Now that your young client is a young mother, here are some helpful articles from At the Center magazine's archives to guide you in continuing to support her decision:

The Five Life Roles of a Teenage Mother
The ABCs of Supporting Young Moms

White House on abstinence-only programs

It has been widely reported that The White House has totally axed funding for abstinence-only programs, but a White House official tells The Brody File that there is still a chance that these programs could still receive government funding. CBN News

Sex-ed texting threat to teens

Different from "sexting," "sex texting" is promoted and run by adults. Take the new "Birds and Bees Text Line" in North Carolina. As with similar programs popping up around the nation, it offers "anonymous" sexual advice to teens through the texting feature on their cellular phones. Children can text any sex question and within 24 hours a stranger will send them back an answer. Paid for partly with tax dollars, the owners promise frank and "nonjudgmental" answers - and secrecy from mom and dad. Marketed directly to teens through outlets like MySpace, they seek to teach your children their views about sex and sexuality without your knowledge. Washington Times

New adoption ad to air on American Idol finale

The latest ad from CatholicVote.org focuses on the lives of political and business leaders, sports figures, and others who all could have become victims of abortion, but, instead, were welcomed into loving families via adoption. The ad includes a song and picture of icons such as John Lennon, Nelson Mandela, Nancy Reagan, Steve Jobs, Faith Hill, Jesse Jackson, Willie Nelson, and others. LifeNews

Editor: I could be wrong, but I think some of the people in this ad were not potential victims of abortion, but were adopted as an older child by a step-parent or placed in the guardianship of a relative. I don't have the time to research this, but I would have thought that the producers would have. See comments on the video web site.

Obama's Legal Counsel Pick Lacks Votes

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says President Barack Obama's selection to head the Office of Legal Counsel, Dawn Johnsen, does not have enough votes to be confirmed. If so, Johnsen could be the first pro-abortion nominee pro-life advocates may be able to stop. Johnsen, who has been condemned for comparing pregnancy to slavery, has also come under fire for comparing pregnant women to "fetal containers," labeling pregnant women "losers in the contraceptive lottery," and comparing pro-lifers to the Klu Klux Klan. LifeNews

Abstinence Works

Studies show that in addition to preventing pregnancy and disease, teens who practice abstinence are better off emotionally and are much more likely to experience marital fidelity and satisfaction. The same cannot be said of the comprehensive sex education. In a review of 119 studies, comprehensive sex education has produced no compelling evidence of sustaining a meaningful effect on protective behaviors in a school-based setting, even after three decades of implementation and evaluation. Abstinence Works

In spite of the evidence, the Obama administration wants to cut funding for abstinence-only programs. Obama Calls for Condom Funding to Replace Abstinence Education

Facts on Induced Abortion Worldwide

The number of induced abortions declined worldwide between 1995 and 2003, from nearly 46 million to approximately 42 million. About one in five pregnancies worldwide end in abortion. For every 1,000 women of childbearing age (15–44) worldwide, 29 were estimated to have had an induced abortion in 2003, compared with 35 in 1995. The decline in abortion incidence was greater in developed countries (from 39 to 26 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44) than in developing countries, where more than half are unsafe and illegal (from 34 to 29). Most abortions occur in developing countries — 35 million annually, compared with seven million in developed countries — a disparity that largely reflects the relative population distribution. Guttmacher Institute

Conceiving Pregnancy

This newly released paper from Family Research Council addresses a claim made by pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: namely, that the medical-scientific community has reached a consensus that a "pregnancy" begins when an embryo becomes implanted in the uterine wall-approximately seven days after fertilization. This bears directly on the ability of these medical practitioners and pharmacists to exercise their right of conscience not to cooperate with procedures they deem to have abortifacient characteristics. FRC, PDF

Culture unraveling

The latest figures on out-of-wedlock births should be setting off alarm bells in every corner of the country. After a number of years at the wholly unacceptable level of one of every three births out-of-wedlock, the numbers in the last three years have lunged to 40 percent. This is a crisis more dire than the economy, more dangerous than foreign enemies. America cannot remain a superpower abroad with a crumbling family structure at home. World magazine

Reflection on Christianity and culture

In her latest missive from Papua New Guinea, Lori Smith comments: "Anyone saying our national folks are 'happy as they are . . . leave them alone in their culture,' has not seen what these dear folks truly live with on a day to day basis." She writes from the standpoint of her medical clinic, where she sees the results of a godless culture -- tribal warfare, substance abuse, domestic violence, self-mutilation, suspicion, and abject fear. In some ways, it's not so different from what you're seeing in your centers.

She goes on, "People face many battles here with the often destructive and senseless parts of their cultural background. Even those [who are] saved face a huge host of wrong thinking to overcome as they renew their minds with Scripture. They need the Lord to remove the blinders of sin and its horrible effects on their lives and culture. Then they truly can be happy and have . . . the peace that passes all understanding regardless of the circumstances of our lives." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Keep up on the latest news with the Smiths Aaron Adoption Hotline!

Ted Turner: China a Good Example

Billionaire broadcast magnate Ted Turner lauded the Asian nation for its population control program and said it was a good example even though it is rife with forced abortions and sterilizations. During an interview with the Diane Rehm Show gave China as a model for how to handle growing populations. “We do have the example of China, and they've done it without . . . draconian steps." LifeNews, Diane Rehm Show

Sweden rules 'gender-based' abortion legal

Swedish health authorities have ruled that gender-based abortion is not illegal according to current law and can not therefore be stopped. The Local reported in February that a woman from Eskilstuna in southern Sweden had twice had abortions after finding out the gender of the child. The Local

Legal Matters

Shielding against board liability when investments lose their value. Association News

NAACP confronted with pro-life perspective

More than 50 pro-life advocates showed up at the national NAACP convention last week bearing signs and pictures urging participants to adopt the pro-life perspective on abortion. The NAACP has repeatedly overlooked the pro-life views of many of its members to adopt an official pro-abortion position. Levon Yuille, a pastor and leader of the National Black Pro-life Congress, sponsored a protest involving dozens of pro-life African-Americans along with activist pastor Walter Hoye. LifeNews

Over half of UK pregnant teens opt for abortion

The number of pregnant teenage girls in the UK choosing to have an abortion has tipped over the halfway mark, new figures are expected to show. Of around 40,000 pregnancies among girls aged 18 or younger, more than 20,000 ended in abortion. Abortion campaigners have welcomed the news as a “positive sign.” Christian Institute

She's a mother, just not a parent

At 22, Amy is redefining motherhood -- or at least what she'd always assumed it would be. She gave Deanna up for adoption, but she didn't give her away. Their relationship is close and evolving. But Amy is not Deanna's parent. News Observer

Baby's heart repaired in womb

Océane McKenzie had a severe narrowing of the left ventricle of the heart. If not fixed, the left side of the heart would not function. A team of doctors expanded her aortic valve using a balloon catheter inserted through the mother's abdomen 31 weeks into the pregnancy. Without the in utero procedure, Océane would have needed three surgeries after birth, and faced a shortened lifespan and long-term complications. The procedure allowed Océane to remain safely in utero for another month until she was born on April 15. CBC News

Choosing not to abort babies with disabilities

Nancy Mayer-Whittington remembers it as though it were yesterday; the joy of learning she was pregnant followed by the news that her daughter's first day of life would be her last. She was the first woman her doctor knew who had decided to keep her pregnancy. All his other patients in similar situations had aborted. "I was so happy I did what I did," she says of her decision to bring Angela to term. Washington Times

Plight, Flight and Abortion in Ireland

According to the British Department of Health, between December 1980 and January 2005 more than 123,000 [Irish] women travelled to the UK for abortions. For these women, the reasons for pursuing abortion were likely complex and multiple, however the reason for travelling to the UK was, and is, straightforward – according to Irish law, it is simply illegal to have an abortion. University Observer

Sleep Disorders and Disturbances after Abortion

Sleep disorders are linked with mood disorders and other psychiatric illnesses. Many women attribute sleep difficulties to abortion, but this self-diagnosis has not been tested using record-based evidence. Examination of records for 56,824 women with no known history of sleep disorders or sleep disturbances revealed that women were more likely to be treated for sleep disorders or disturbances following an induced abortion compared to a birth. The difference was most pronounced in the first 180 days after pregnancy resolution and was not significant after the third year. Sleep

Organizations supporting embryonic stem cell research

Michigan Right to Life has compiled a helpful list of organizations that have expressed support for human embryonic stem cell research. Information comes from three sources: policy statements, membership in coalitions that lobby for the research and signatures on letters expressing public support for the research. Some organizations listed also contribute funding for embryonic stem cell research. Stem Cell Research Cures

Sadly, the list includes popular and well-known organizations such as: American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Easter Seals, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, RESOLVE (the National Infertility Association), Susan G. Komen Foundation, and many, many more.

Abortion and men

A recently published study is one of the first to examine the impact of abortion on men's relationships. The authors suggested that men's problems with jealousy and drug use after an abortion may also be related to differences in coping with bereavement. Studies of other forms of pregnancy loss have found that men's grief tends to be less easily resolved, possibly due to the fact that they often receive little support, thereby leading men to feel less secure and to “self-medicate” by turning to drugs. The inclusion of men in the data collection was one of the study's strengths, but more long-term studies are needed to compare problems in relationships both before and after abortion. Elliot Institute

Judy Blume's latest writing: In support of Planned Parenthood

Every day is painful if you regret your abortion, but Mother's Day can be too painful. And so this year, here is Planned Parenthood and Judy Blume, exploiting the Hallmark holiday for political advocacy. For fundraising! And accusing others of lacking compassion. JWR

Abortion Pill Fails 23 Percent of the Time

A new study shows the abortion drug fails anywhere from 16-23 percent of the time. When the mifepristone abortion drug fails, a follow-up surgical abortion is necessary because an incomplete abortion can result in major medical problems, including death. LifeNews, Medscape

Exceptional banquet speaker available

Raena Shedd, Executive Director of the Pregnancy Resource Center in Carrollton, GA, raved about Bob Foust, the executive director of Choose Life Alabama, who spoke at their Banquet for Life, October 2007. "This was our very first banquet and we had no way of knowing how many guests or what to expect in the way of income for the evening. Although I have known Bob for years, I had not heard Bob as a speaker. He was wonderful beyond words. I have been to many banquets, and this was one of the best banquets I have attended. Bob was captivating, funny, humble and informative. By the end of the evening, after we had laughed and cried, he gave the plea for money. There was not a dry eye in the house. The banquet brought in over $100,000.00. Bob is fantastic. I would highly recommend Bob to anyone who may be considering having him speak. We will definately be using Bob again. Bob's background as a pastor and his time spent with pro-life makes him an exceptionally effective banquet speaker." If you'd like to book Bob for your banquet, contact him by email or phone (205) 335-1194.

Children Who View Adult-targeted TV May Become Sexually Active Earlier In Life

Early onset of sexual activity among teens may relate to the amount of adult content children were exposed to during their childhood, according to a new study released by Children's Hospital Boston. Based on a longitudinal study tracking children from age six to eighteen, researchers found that the younger children are exposed to content intended for adults in television and movies, the earlier they become sexually active during adolescence. Science Daily

IPPF’s UN Petition Drive Demands Broad “Sexual Rights” for Youth

The International Planned Parenthood Federation recently launched a new petition campaign that aims to pressure governments to “promote, protect and fulfill their promise to provide better access to sexual and reproductive health services” for all young people “regardless of age.” The petition promotes the message “Count Me In: Sexual Rights For All.” C-FAM, LifeSiteNews

Stampin', Stitchin' n Scrapin' for Alpha Family Center of Greenville

Executive Director Laura Thompson says last weekend's fundraising retreat centering around popular crafts had to be postponed until the fall, due to too many other conflicting events. But it sounds like a great idea. How it works: The center reserves a local church for the day, and charged $25 per person, with all proceeds going to the center. They also invite a Stampin' Up representative to show her wares and help with projects; she donates her commission to the center as well. Each participant gets half of an 8-foot table, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus door prizes. Alpha Family Center

Vatican blames the Pill for environmental pollution

An article in L'Osservatore Romano claims there is substantial evidence available to show that the environment is being flooded with synthetic female hormones because of widespread use of oral contraceptives and the morning-after pill, resulting in a 'devastating' increase in male infertility with increasing numbers of couples struggling to conceive. Experts in Italy have dismissed the claims and say the hormones such as estrogen, which are contained in the contraceptive Pill, "are present everywhere... in plastic, in disinfectants and in meat that we eat." Researchers say once metabolised the hormones contained in oral contraceptives no longer have any of the characteristic effects of female hormones. News Medical

Consuming Secondhand Steroids: The Contraceptive Pollution of Nature, by Joel Brind

Plan B: Boon to molesters

A pharmacist in Dallas writes: "I have more men who appear to be in their forties purchasing Plan B than any other group. In one pharmacy I worked at, the man admitted that he was purchasing it for his underage stepdaughter, whom he had just had sex with. . . . Another, age 21, was a repeat purchaser, and always with a different young girl.The laws surrounding Plan B, known as the morning-after pill, in my experience, have been the greatest boon to molesters ever." Dallas Morning News

White House Begins Effort to Bridge the Divide on Abortion

The White House has begun bringing together a diverse group of abortion-rights supporters and opponents to help craft policies both sides can embrace: preventing unwanted pregnancies and reducing demand for abortion. President Barack Obama appears to be trying to make good on his pledge to defuse tensions around polarizing issues. The effort could also be in his political interests. Wall Street Journal

Discussion groups again featured at the Summit

In addition to benefitting from a wealth of workshops, come to the PCC Leadership Summit prepared to participate in Thursday afternoon's discussion groups:

Using blogs/facebook/websites for effective center ministry – bring your laptop and get hands-on help from some of our associates who do a good job using technology to reach their supporters and clients.
Best Practices Q&A session – an opportunity for you to ask specific questions of Jeanneane Maxon, who will be leading four workshops on this important topic.
Board issues – Tom Lothamer will be available to train board members and help directors work through board-related issues
Good Book discussion – title TBA. Have you read any good books lately that would strengthen a fellow center workforce? Please come ready to share.
Creative fundraising – join Bob Foust to think outside the box. Consider the community you live in, share ideas you suspect may be crazy, and prepare yourself to try something new!
Other topics for suggestion? Send your ideas to Sue Ellen and we’ll see what happens…

Going Half-Way: Mid-level donors remain the backbone of giving

Mid-level donors essentially provide the largest share of net dollars to most organizations. They are also great prospects for cultivation, upgrading for planned giving and entire continuum of giving. A mid-level donor might not be any more or less committed to the organization than a low-dollar donor. The only difference might be the capacity to give more. Organizations should treat the mid-level givers as the valuable donors they are, even if those donors aren't giving as robustly as they have in the past. The NonProfit Times

White House intends to repeal ban on tax-funded abortions in DC

The National Right to Life Committee warns that President Obama is pursuing a step-by-step strategy to expand access to abortion. "Today's White House budget submission explicitly urges the House and Senate . . . to repeal a law (sometimes called the Dornan Amendment) that has prevented tax-funded abortion in the District of Columbia for many years." National Right to Life This comes alongside Obama administration assertions yesterday that $63 million budgeted for family planning programs overseas would not fund abortions. Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew said the Obama budget increases the money that will be spent promoting birth control and contraception and sought to reassure pro-life advocates that the funds will not be used to pay for abortions. LifeNews

ACOG supports abstinence-plus

With births to adolescents in the US on the rise for the second year in a row, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reaffirms its position that every teen should be provided with comprehensive, scientifically accurate sex education and that access to contraception services should be available to all teens. Medical News Today

Abortion Politics Threatens U.S. Economy

The economic consequences of Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in 1973, and the first test tube baby born in 1978, are cannibalizing our economy. Both have numerous and catastrophic health consequences, which result in skyrocketing health care costs and inflation. Cynthia Dudek

Pollster Says Obama's Weakness is Abortion

President Barack Obama continues to enjoy a strong approval rating but one leading pollster says he could be weak on issues such as abortion. While the public generally approves of Obama's performance, Gallup pollster Frank Newport says Obama's pro-abortion record is costing him support. LifeNews, Gallup poll

Videographer gives unedited tapes to Planned Parenthood

Lila Rose, the UCLA student who exposed how Planned Parenthood centers in three states have covered up potential cases of sexual abuse, has given the abortion business access to the full videos showing its staff urging her to hide allegations of statutory rape. LifeNews

Bristol Palin promotes abstinence-plus

In New York City to promote National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Day with a major media splash, Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol said abstinence is the best choice for teenagers despite her own decisions. LifeNews

Palin agreed to be a national spokeswoman for "I Vow Not Now," a program of the Candies Foundation. This is not an abstinence-only group. One clue is its questionable promotional methods. Another is its list of past honorees: Hillary Clinton, Jane Fonda, and Kim Catrall -- not known for their support of abstinence, and well-known as supporters of Planned Parenthood. Another tell-tale sign is its association with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, whose supporters and advisors read like a who's who of groups that undermine the abstinence message at every turn - the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Hewlett Packard Foundation, Planned Parenthood, the Guttmacher Institute, the Kaiser Foundation, the Turner Foundation - and companies that sell contraceptives, such as Wyeth and Pfizer. You have to look deep into its web sites for confirmation of their abstinence-plus message but it is there.

Abortion clinic celebrates 50,000 abortions

Pro-Life Wisconsin’s Rock County affiliate regularly prays outside the Northern Illinois Women’s Center, an abortion mill in Rockford, Illinois. Last week, a sign was seen in the window boasting about the 50,000 abortions that have been perpetrated there. Pro-Life Wisconsin

Abstinence Education Backers Present Evidence of Success to Congress

In Congressional hearings on April 29, leading abstinence education experts presented evidence showing these programs use an evidence-based approach that works for young people. The hearings featured new evidence-based analysis called Abstinence Works, which identifies 40 national studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of abstinence education among students. Two students spokes about the positive effects of abstinence education that extend to all areas of their lives. LifeNews, Abstinence Works, Healthy Respect

Obama Dictionary Calls Pro-Life Advocates Violent, Racist

The latest report to cause national outrage is a document known as the "Domestic Extremism Lexicon," and features definitions of "antiabortion extremism" on pages two and nine. A Washington Times report indicates the terrorism dictionary was recalled within hours after the Obama administration released it and was recalled as soon as Homeland Security management discovered it had been released without authorization. LifeNews, Washington Times, the document

'Bad Mother' admits to late-term abortion

In her memoir, Bad Mother, novelist Ayelet Waldman wrote about having a late-term abortion after a poor prenatal diagnosis, and speaks about an earlier first-trimester abortion in an interview with "Fresh Air's" Terry Gross. She honestly portrays the late-term D&E method, admits the pictures we use of unborn fetuses and their aborted remains are accurate, speaks of her disabled son with love and regret, and yet remains pro-choice. "I can't support a woman's right to choose unless I am willing to look at the darkest side of it," she says. NPR

Delegation: A spiritual exercise

When Jethro came to visit Moses, he soon realized his son-in-law was going to wear himself out. From morning until night he would solve people's problems. Sound familiar? At least Moses sat down! But Jethro offered a prescription for endurance and peace, found in Exodus 18:13-26, which Moses accepted:

Stand before God for the people -- in other words, pray! (verse 19)
Show them how to do the task -- teach! (v. 20)
Select good people -- delegate! (v. 21)
Anything they can't solve, step in -- supervise! (v. 22)

Delegation doesn't mean walking away and never looking back. It does mean letting others share the weight of ministry after you have carefully equipped and chosen them.

UAE fines mother over baby death

A court in Dubai has found a woman who lost her unborn child in a traffic accident guilty of manslaughter in what is said to be an unprecedented ruling. The judge based the ruling on Islamic law. The court said the rights of unborn babies needed to be protected. Prosecutors had argued that the verdict should act as a deterrent. Dubai's traffic court ordered the bereaved mother to pay $5,450 in blood money and fined her for "unintentional homicide." The head of traffic prosecution said women in the third trimester of pregnancy should avoid driving altogether to protect their own and their fetus' lives. BBC

Editor: Please, let's not praise this as a pro-life ruling. This is undoubtedly more about male property rights than human rights.

City blocks plans to turn church building into PCC

A dissolved church's plan to donate its building to the Alpha Women's Center of Grand Rapids has been blocked by Wyoming, Michigan, city officials. Wyoming's Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-2 Monday against letting the PCC move into Newhall Baptist Church, which held its final service Sunday. The main objection was allowing a non-residential use in the neighborhood. Carolyn Koole, executive director, said Alpha is having trouble meeting the $3,000 monthly rent at its current location. The center's board meets Tuesday to consider its options. Grand Rapids Press

340,000 Support Doctors' Freedom of Conscience

Through the efforts of nearly a dozen pro-family groups, more than 340,000 Americans have sent comments to the Health and Human Services Department in support of health care professionals' right of conscience. Citizenlink, LifeSiteNews

The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women

According to the product description, "The United States is obsessed with virginity — from the media to schools to government agencies." In The Purity Myth Jessica Valenti argues that America is "obsessed" with chastity, and that it damages young women. According to her, powerful messaging on both extremes — from abstinence curriculum to “Girls Gone Wild” — place a young woman’s worth entirely on her sexuality. "The Purity Myth presents a revolutionary argument that girls and women are overly valued for their sexuality, as well as solutions for a future without a damaging emphasis on virginity." Amazon

Editor: Just for the record, abstinence programs focus equally on young men and women. Furthermore, they place a high value on individuals by not equating them with animals, and they help prevent what does real and lasting damage.

Couples save first kiss for wedding day

In a culture where casual sex is the norm, some Tennesseans have taken the purity pledge to a whole new level, through a practice that some teens refer to as the "Virgin Lips Movement." Religious leaders say these examples of super-abstinence deserve admiration, not derision. Especially in a time when the only social taboo seems to be violating the "third-date rule." The Tennessean

Pro-life reaction to Justice Souter's retirement

Americans United for Life Senior Counsel Clarke D. Forsythe stated, “Justice David Souter is one of the most pro-abortion members of the United States Supreme Court. During his tenure, Justice Souter voted to uphold abortion on demand and to strike down common sense abortion regulations that the vast majority of Americans support." Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President & CEO of AUL commented, “The irony is that even many abortion rights supporters agree that Roe v. Wade was poorly decided. One person often cited as a potential Obama pick, legal scholar Cass Sunstein, has argued that Roe ‘badly overreached’ and that the decision rests on shaky constitutional foundations.” AUL; Abortion issue looms over Supreme Court choice

Remembering Jack Kemp

Jack Kemp, a longtime pro-life advocate and vice-presidential hopeful passed away over the weekend. In Washington, Kemp maintain a consistent pro-life record and became a hero for both pro-life and economic conservatives and a large segment of the pro-life movement hoped he would become the Republican presidential standard-bearer. Kemp's name remains on the Kemp-Kasten amendment, an anti-coercion population control provision that prohibits funding of any groups that engage in or support forced abortion programs. LifeNews

He was a Democrat before he was a Republican

This is not the first party switch for Sen. Arlen Specter, who was a Democrat until 1965, when party bosses in Philadelphia denied him the opportunity to run for district attorney. He switched to the GOP and won. Mr. Specter has been a slightly left-leaning centrist in his 29 years in the Senate (his lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union is 44.5 per cent), but, like Pennsylvania, has been moving left in recent years (his 2008 ACU rating was 28 percent). JWR

Airman Faces Court Martial in Wife's Forced Abortion

Airman 1st Class Scott Boie, stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, is accused of causing his wife to miscarry. Boie used his computer to research abortion drugs and found out about Misoprostol, a stomach ulcer drug that causes miscarriage in pregnant women. He crushed the pills into his wife's food, which caused a miscarriage a week later. Caylinn testified that she thought the miscarriage occurred naturally. Boie could be facing life in prison without parole if convicted. The case involves the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. LifeNews; Breaking News: Airman Scott Boie was sentenced to 9 years, 6 months behind bars on Saturday after he was found guilty of attempting to kill his unborn child. KTUU

Forced abortions shake up China wombs-for-rent industry

With China's rising affluence, increasing numbers of infertile couples have been seeking surrogate mothers to bear them babies.In recent years, officials have largely turned a blind eye to this underground womb-for-rent industry that defies the country's strict childbirth laws. Now, there are signs the authorities are starting to crack down by forcing some surrogate mothers to abort their fetuses. Reuters

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