Proposed legislation would regulate Michigan PCCs

A cluster of bills has been introduced by a pro-choice coalition that "will protect women’s health, reduce unintended pregnancies, help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections and save scarce public health dollars." Chiefly of concern are SB 668/HB 5158, titled "Crisis Pregnancy Center Regulation," which requires CPCs to obtain informed consent from the women they serve and to notify women that they do not provide information on how to obtain an abortion, abortion services, or birth control information. SB 666/HB 5163, "Comprehensive Sex Education," requires that age-appropriate, medically accurate, including abstinence and birth control, and objective sexuality education be taught in public schools. Michigan Women, Michigan Right to Life response

House Measure Proves Healthcare Legislation Will Fund Abortion

Last night, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced an amendment to the Democratic leadership's health care bill, HR 3200, that would specifically include abortion in the health care legislation, solidifying the radical pro-abortion nature of this bill. FRC

Nicaragua abortion ban 'cruel and inhuman disgrace'

Nicaragua's total ban on abortion is a "cruel, inhuman disgrace" that's led to the rise in maternal deaths, human rights organization Amnesty International has said. The Central American country's revised penal code on abortion came into force in July 2008 and criminalizes all forms of abortion regardless of the circumstances, even in cases of rape or incest, a deformed fetus, or when the mother's life is in danger. Nicaragua is among only a few countries in the world where abortion is illegal regardless of any circumstances. Others in Latin America include Chile, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. Malta and the Philippines also have a total ban on abortion. CNN

Higher Use of Detailed Ultrasounds Yields More Abortions

A new study involving researchers at Cornell University finds that a more frequent use of detailed ultrasound on women who have babies with majority physical abnormalities results in more abortions. While ultrasounds have increased a respect for the lives of unborn children and are credited with helping more than 80 percent of women choose abortion alternatives, the study shows they can be used for a destructive purpose as well. LifeNews, Journal of Ultrasound Medicine

Former President Clinton Raises Funds for Pro-Abortion Group

Bill Clinton penned an email fundraising pitch for the big pro-abortion group Emily's List that it sent out today to its members. The email focuses on the 2010 Congressional elections and Clinton asks abortion advocates to give Emily's List money to supports it efforts to keep pro-abortion stalwarts in control of the House. LifeNews

Tim Tebow Says He's Still a Virgin, Saving Himself for Marriage

There have been famous virgins in the entertainment world before . . . but has there ever been someone like Tebow who has publicly announced he's a virgin? I don't think so. . . . We've all suspected it before, but now we have even further evidence: Tim Tebow isn't like you and me. . . . Tim Tebow is superhuman in every way. Tim Tebow Says He's Still a Virgin, Saving Himself for Marriage, LifeSiteNews

Shared via AddThis

Editor: Interesting that purity is viewed as superhuman. Well, we do, ultimately, need the Holy Spirit to accomplish it, so the writer isn't so far off.

An Abortion Battle, Fought to the Death

They blockaded his clinic; campaigned to have him prosecuted; boycotted his suppliers; tailed him with hidden cameras; branded him “Tiller the baby killer”; hit him with lawsuits, legislation and regulatory complaints; and protested relentlessly, even at his church. Some sent flowers pleading for him to quit. Some sent death threats. One bombed his clinic. Another tried to kill him in 1993, firing five shots, wounding both arms. In short, they made George Tiller’s clinic the nation’s most visible abortion battleground, a magnet for activists from all corners of the country. Dr. Tiller would not budge. NY Times

What Americans Need to Know About The Healthcare Takeover

You can read Liberty Counsel's updated and revised overview of HR 3200 and the text of HR 3200 directly from a government website. See for yourself how dangerous this government healthcare takeover would be. Read more about the consequences of this bill in this article "Is There a Co-Pay with Forced Abortion?"

Of course, it is not enough to be alarmed and do nothing! It's time to visit the Senators and Representatives in their local offices in your state. Take copies of the overview with you so they can understand your concerns. Find your Senators and Representatives offices online.

PP promotes another disgusting web site

The home page of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America features a link to a website called “Sex. Really.” Clicking on this feature brings up a disclaimer that says, “You are being redirected to a website not affiliated with Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has not necessarily reviewed and does not endorse the material you are about to view.” The website, www.sexreally.com, is owned by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Once you get to the website, you find that PP has a podcast posted there. This website is filled with immoral propaganda. The titles of the articles, videos, and podcasts are intended to grab attention of anyone who may stumble onto the website. The home page says, “Sex Ed doesn't always cover everything when it comes to learning about relationships and sex. Where do we get the information to fill in the gaps?” STOPP International

PP gains more access to most vulnerable children

Planned Parenthood has found an open door to grab the hearts and minds of some of the most vulnerable children in the nation, those in foster care. Partnering with PP on the “new working group on teen pregnancy and foster care” are the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, and the National Foster Care Coalition. Planned Parenthood

News from Uganda

I wish you all could receive Veronica Nakyewe's newsletters from the Comforter's Center in Kampala, Uganda. Maybe if you emailed her, she'd add you to her list. She writes, "We see a common thread that connects us. That common thread is to be of service to the vital work of our times standing for life in Christ."

She goes on, "In schools where we take abstinence education, teenagers are shocked to learn that even if you are inside the body of your mum, you already have life. They are touched on the values of human life. This is shown by the sad looks on their faces, with sympathy for babies who are aborted. On a particular Thursday, there was this 'great discussion in one class' on abortion. Teenager wondered weather World Vision, Red Cross, UNICEF, and Save the Children are protecting babies from abortion. I told them that children of many nations have been killed and are still killed through abortion however, you being the leaders of today and tomorrow, you can do something to stop the massacre of children through abortion. This prompted another question, we need to write to UNICEF to protect children. I told them UNICEF is aware of what is happening but you can still write to them."

Editor: I hope these young people do write these organizations, and that the organizations listen to the ones they too often try to "help" with condoms and abortion.

NHS bosses combat the devastating legacy of casual sex

If nothing else, the chlamydia epidemic has given the NHS the opportunity to blow taxpayers' money in more imaginative ways than normal. In Northamptonshire, those tested for chlamydia have their names put into a monthly draw for one of a number of Nintendo Wii games consoles (at a cost of £160 each). In Camden, North London, there are iPods up for grabs; in Nottinghamshire, it's a £1,000 Fujitsu laptop; while in Northumberland, it is a £2,000 holiday. Fancy a night out at the flicks? In Colchester, self-testing kits are being sent to 26,000 youngsters. Everyone who sends back their results will receive a £10 Odeon cinema voucher. Daily Mail

Hungary detains 4 over illegal stem cell treatment

Hungarian police have detained four people on suspicion of carrying out illegal, untested stem cell treatments using embryos or aborted fetuses at a Hungarian private clinic, police said. The statement, posted on the official police website www.police.hu late on Tuesday, said two Hungarians, one U.S. and one Ukrainian citizen had been detained. Reuters

13 million abortions a year in China

China performs about 13 million abortions every year, mostly for single young women who experts say know little about contraception. The China Daily newspaper said the real number of abortions is believed to be even higher since the 13 million accounts for procedures in hospitals but many more are known to be carried out in unregistered rural clinics. Also, about 10 million abortion pills are sold every year in China. The report said around 62% of the women undergoing abortions were single and aged between 20 and 29 years old. It called the widespread use of abortions “an unfortunate situation” but did not directly say whether abortions were on the rise. No year-to-year statistics were given. Irish Examiner

L'Chaim International Pro-Life Conference in Israel, March 1-7, 2010

Preparing for the Judgment of the Lamb. Join Be’ad Chaim (Pro-Life Israel) on a nation-changing prayer tour to break the curse of death over the Valley of Ben Hinnom, the High Places of the North, and other sites once associated with the sacrifice of children. This unusual four day tour will culminate in a three-day pro-Life conference at the restful Karei Deshe Guest House on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. In addition, this year we hope to dedicate a very special memorial garden for the unborn in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Email for registration information.

Keeping Abortion Out of Health Care

Evangelical writer Jim Wallis has until now remained strong on the idea that nationalized health care should not force Americans to pay for killing unborn children. Now, he seems to be wavering. He says he hopes that abortion will not become a "wedge issue," one that will prevent us from enacting a sweeping takeover of the health care industry. American Spectator

Obama's Science Advisor: Newborn Baby Not Yet a Human Being

President Obama’s top science adviser said in a book he co-authored in 1973 that a newborn child “will ultimately develop into a human being” if he or she is properly fed and socialized. “The fetus, given the opportunity to develop properly before birth, and given the essential early socializing experiences and sufficient nourishing food during the crucial early years after birth, will ultimately develop into a human being,” John P. Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, wrote in Human Ecology: Problems and Solutions. Dakota Voice

Reflection on genuineness

"When I speak I put on a mask. When I act, I am forced to take it off."

--Claude Adrien Helvetius, 18th century French philosopher

What advice would you give young people related to their friendships?

You will never get away with an unwise choice of friends. It will hurt you and haunt you. Don’t let it happen. Your friends will greatly influence your values, attitudes, and behaviors. Eternal Perspectives, page 12

A pure heart before God

What God's Word has to say about sexual purity. Eternal Perspectives, page 9

Summit audio CD orders

Every speaker at the Summit was excellent, providing a wealth of information. The results of your evaluations are in, so we know this for a fact! We'll be preparing CDs of these sessions (provided the recordings turned out):

• Intimacy with the Father – John Lewis ($5.00)
• Intimacy Before Impact – Kurt Dillinger ($5.00)
• A Ministry Transformed by Prayer – Tom Lothamer ($5.00)
• Waiting on God: At the Cross – Dillinger ($5.00)
• Center Readiness (set of 4 CDs; includes supplemental CD and handbook) – Jeaneanne Maxon ($16.00)
• Abstinence Training – Katherine Keeler ($5.00)
• Outreach to University Students – panel ($5.00)
• Grant Writing (set of 2 CDs; includes supplemental CD) – Roxanna Hartline ($8.00)
• Sharing the Gospel without Losing Your Soul – Carolyn Doyle ($5.00)
• Fundraising, a Biblical Perspective – Bob Foust ($5.00)
• The Adoption Option – Colleen Tronson ($5.00
• Training Through Role Playing – Doyle ($5.00)
  Set discount for all 16 sessions -- $60.00

Call 1-800-968-6086 or (616) 257-6800 to order. Email me and I'll send you an order form.

New ad from FRC Action

Family Research Council unveiled a new TV ad which will initially run in five key states including Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Alaska, Louisiana, and Nebraska. The hard hitting ad lays out two key threats should President Obama's plan become reality - rationing and taxpayer funded abortions. Patients, particularly the elderly, will face denial of vital treatments while at the same time be forced to pay for abortions.

Teen Pregnancy May Be Symptom, Not Cause, Of Emotional Distress

It would make sense that teenage mothers have a lot of psychological stress in their lives, but a new study shows that the distress comes before the pregnancy, not because of it. "Psychological distress does not appear to be caused by teen childbearing, nor does it cause teen childbearing, except apparently among girls from poor households," said Stefanie Mollborn, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology at the Institute of Behavioral Science of the University of Colorado at Boulder. The combination of poverty and existing distress was a good predictor of teen pregnancy. Medical News Today

Young People Want Better Information On Sexual Health

The majority of young people don't know where to go for trusted information on sexual health. Three quarters surveyed said they rely on internet search engines and half depend on advice from peers. The paper also highlights how UK young people are more worried about the risk of pregnancy than about sexually transmitted infections. Lack of information and understanding about sexual health means that many who choose to become sexually active may be compromising their health by not using condoms, relying instead on other forms of contraception to protect against pregnancy. Medical News Today

Turkish Women with Abortions Have Statistically Significant 66% Increase in Breast Cancer Risk

Breast cancer has been increased in developing countries, but there are limited data for breast cancer risk factors in these countries. To clarify the risk for breast cancer among the Turkish women, an university hospital based nested case-control study was conducted. These findings suggest that age and induced abortion were found to be significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk among Turkish women in Istanbul. World Journal of Surgical Oncology, Pro-Life Blogs

The Dirty Secret Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research

According to ES cell researchers and funding advocates, the time frame for the first embryonic stem cell research miracles seems to be "a decade away" or "a decade off." Thus it appeared in a 1998 article heralding the creation of the first human ES cell culture in James Thomson's University of Wisconsin lab. Thomson et al "warn that such clinical applications are perhaps as much as a decade away." Check your calendar. Addressing a 2007 convention, Thomson articulated that the time frame had shifted to "decades away," plural. Forbes

The great stem cell research scam

Medical research insiders know that embryonic-stem-cell technol ogy is proving a dead end -- Dr. Bernadine Healy, a former director of the National Institutes of Health and once an ES-cell-research enthusiast, calls it "obsolete." But the Obama administration has opened wide the federal funding floodgates -- the triumph of a big special-interest PR and lobbying campaign. In fact, the research will line the pockets of a relatively few individuals -- at considerable cost for the rest of us, since the funding means billions that won't go to more promising areas. NY Post

20 of 24 Studies Agree: Public-Funding Restrictions Reduce Abortions

The Guttmacher Institute recently released a literature review about the effects of restrictions on Medicaid funding for abortion. Overall, the results indicate that there is a very strong consensus among both public-health researchers and economists that public funding restrictions lower abortion rates. When funds were unavailable, the authors found a consistent increase in the birth rate and a decrease in the abortion rate. These findings provide additional evidence that the rhetoric of President Obama on sanctity of life issues does not match his record. National Review

Irish government defames pro-life counselling centres

"Rogue" pregnancy counselling agencies who seek to manipulate vulnerable women experiencing a crisis pregnancy are “quite appalling,” Minister for Health Mary Harney has said. She was commenting on the announcement of a new campaign from the Crisis Pregnancy Agency highlighting such agencies and giving information to women to avoid them. Irish Times

Hormones linked to premature birth

New research has suggested that pregnant women with low levels of the hormone progesterone may be more likely to have a premature birth. A team from the University College London and King's College London found a combination of tests, including a simple saliva swab, could help identify women at risk of delivering their baby early.Supplements could be used to top up levels of the hormone, which stops the womb from contracting and helps women to carry babies to term. Nursing in Practice

Fetal model named after Spanish minister who said unborn babies not human at 13 weeks

A group of Spanish professionals are using life-sized models of a 13 week-old fetus to respond to statements by the country’s Minister of Equality, Bibiana Aido, who said in an interview that fetuses at that stage of development are alive but are not human beings. The group is offering replicas of the "Aido Baby" through its website www.bebe-aido.com to help raise awareness about the development of the unborn during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Catholic News Agency

Shanghai urges 'two-child policy'

Officials in Shanghai are urging parents to have a second child, the first time in decades the government has pushed for more babies. Couples who were both only children, which includes most of the city's newly-weds, are allowed a second child. The move comes as China's most populous city becomes richer and older, with the number of retired residents soaring. BBC

Role of Gay Men in Spreading AIDS Virus Is Ignored in Africa

While most transmission of the virus in Africa is heterosexual, 19 recent studies of African men who have sex with men show that they have “considerably higher” infection rates than other adult men in their respective countries, said the authors, who were from Oxford University and research institutions in Ghana and Kenya. African male sexual networks overlap with male-female ones, the authors found, since many of the men also report recent sex with women or are married. NY Times

Webcast report, call for action

According to Dr. Joe DeCook, the "Stop The Abortion Mandate" webcast was very informative. To listen to the webcast, go to http://www.stoptheabortionmandate.com/, scroll down near bottom, click on play or download to listen to the webcast. The speakers were in agreement that we must oppose the legislation currently being proposed because it will: Force taxpayers to pay for abortions -- something the majority of Americans oppose; Mandate that virtually every American be forced into a health plan that includes abortion coverage; Require honorable medical providers to violate their consciences and either perform or refer for abortions -- or risk losing their jobs.

Action you can take: contact your elected federal officials. Email or phone call will do. Clearly and simply state why you are calling or writing: "I urge you to oppose any health care bill unless abortion is explicitly excluded from the scope of any federally mandated, federally subsidized, or federally defined health insurance plans. Please tell me how you intend to vote on this crucial issue." To call or email, go to http://www.stoptheabortionmandate.com/call. Click on "US Senators" and "US Representatives." Follow the prompts for an email message, and paste in the message above, or write what you like. But please be heard! It is crucial!

Sexual disease drive 'paying off'

Health chiefs in the North East of England said they believed steps to tackle sexually transmitted infections are having an impact. The Health Protection Agency said more than 16,000 people who went to clinics last year were diagnosed with a new infection. It marked a 1% increase but was smaller than the year before when there was an 8% rise in new cases. There were 5,767 new cases of chlamydia, which was an increase of 5% from the previous year. There were also rises in the diagnoses of gonorrhoea and herpes but cases of syphilis and genital warts reduced slightly. BBC

Write to President Obama on health care reform

With several competing bills in Congress aiming to reform America’s health care system, it is imperative that those who value life from conception to natural death make their voices heard in Washington. Please add your name to the Keep Abortion Out of Health Care petition and then let your friends know about efforts to mandate taxpayer-funded abortions as part of current health care proposals. AUL

Man Accused of Throwing Girl Off Cliff Faces Retrial

The prosecution contends that Cameron Brown murdered his out-of-wedlock daughter to avoid child support, which he had recently been ordered to begin paying, and to retaliate against the girl's mother, who became pregnant soon after they began dating and refused to give up the child. LA News

Nurse forced to participate in abortion speaks out

"It felt like a horror film unfolding," said Catherina Cenzon-DeCarlo, the Brooklyn nurse who says she was forced to aid an abortion against her will. Now Cenzon-DeCarlo is speaking out, describing the terror she felt as she was asked to sacrifice her religious convictions for the sake of her job. Alliance Defense Fund

NY High School To Provide Pregnancy, STD Testing

As Port Chester High School gets ready for the new school year, officials have signed off on a new service that will offer free testing for sexually transmitted diseases and even pregnancy testing to any student who asks. It's simply an extension of the comprehensive health services already provided to students. Students requesting the tests will be able to receive them without needing parental permission. Parents would also not be advised of test results. HDTV

Abortion is not health care

Heritage House '76 has designed new t-shirts, banners and bumperstickers to help you spread the word. Choose from several different designs and items from this special-all on sale at the lowest prices possible!

QUERY: Hotline tips

Peg Percival of Compassion Pregnancy Centers in NE Indiana asked if we had a simple and quick resource on how to handle common hotline or office phone inquiries, such as "How much does an abortion cost?" etc. She's looking for something to post near the phone, or a role-playing training resource. Anything? Anyone? Please post a comment here or email me.

H1N1 Flu Virus Could Harm Unborn Children

A neuroscientist at the University of Minnesota medical school has published a paper saying the H1N1 swine flu virus could pose problems for unborn children. Hossein Fatemi says the virus changes the genes that allow brain growth and development in an unborn child and some of the genes the virus affects are tied to the development of mental disorders. “Prenatal viral infection led to altered gene expression in the hippocampus, including autism and schizophrenia candidate genes.” LifeNews

Abortion Boat Won't Sail Again

The Netherlands-based abortion boat that targeted nations in Europe and South America won't sail again thanks to changes in law in Holland. The move follows a decision by the Dutch government to make it so only certain centers in the Netherlands are able to distribute the abortion drug RU 486, also known as mifepristone. "We had planned to campaign this year with a yacht off the coasts of Nicaragua, Chile, Brazil and Argentina," said Rebecca Gomperts, founder of Women on Waves. The Dutch health inspection today also asked the public prosecutor's office to prosecute Women on Waves for distributing the abortion drug off the coast of Spain in 2008. LifeNews

Number of Abortionists Falling in US

The Center for Reproductive Rights released the results of a study it conducted saying the number of abortion businesses and abortion practitioners has decreased by 25 percent since the 1990s. States such as Mississippi and North Dakota have only one abortion facility while Missouri has three. Alabama has seven while Texas has 40 abortion centers across the state. The pro-abortion group says the proliferation of state legislation limiting abortions, with laws such as parental involvement, informed consent and waiting periods, has lowered the number. LifeNews, CRR's report

House Follows Obama's Plan to Replace Abstinence Grant with Contraceptive Funding

The U.S. House of Representatives Friday voted to eliminate $99 million in grant funds that would have bolstered abstinence education in the U.S. The House's decision to cut the funds and to approve a new grant towards contraceptive-promoting sex education had been sought by President Obama in his budget recommendations earlier this year. LifeSiteNews

International week at BFL

We're having an interesting, international week at BFL this week . . . well, last week, too. Last week, at the Summit, we hosted missionaries from Peru, Chad, Kenya, and Liberia. Carolynn Sharp (Liberia, ABWE) made a fantastic presentation of her work with pregnancy care center ministry and the tremendous and seemingly overwhelming needs that exist in that country.

This week, we're hosting a LIFT training here in the office, with missionaries from the Central African Republic and Togo. I also fielded calls from Ecuador and India, and Tom met with a family that supports missionaries in Argentina and are interested in starting a PCC there.

Prayer request from Veronica in Uganda

We kindly request you to pray for a dear friend of The Comforter's Center: Mrs. Joanna Thompson, the Head of Care-Confidential (http://www.careconfidential.com/) in the United Kingdom. We are so shocked that she is very ill. I have never met with Joanna but she is a good link to us, connecting us to different churches and ministries in Uganda and Africa, something that turns up to be useful to us. Joanna is another person who always communicates and encourages me. Few years ago she introduced us to Africa Care for Life and the VivaAfrica (http://www.viva.org/) and today VIVA is a great partner in ministry in Uganda. We recently connected to Kabowa Redeemed Church in Kampala through her efforts. "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair." 2 Corinthians 4:8

Later: News came that Joanna died peacefully on Friday. As one of the founders of the Christian Pregnancy Counselling movement in [the UK], Joanna has been an inspiration to thousands of Christians, not only in this country, but right across the world. She has worked tirelessly in this work for over 25 years. Please pray for Philip, Mark and Becky, and their children Sam and Rachel, and for Charlotte and her daughters Chloe and Hannah.

New Facebook page

Check out the new BFL Facebook page, using the link at right. I'm still new to this, but I was able to post some photos from the recent Summit there. Check them out, and post your own if you can. (I think I enabled that feature.)

The Summit was "best ever," by many accounts. And the most well attended. It seemed like a whirlwind while we were in it, but it was fun to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. I wish you all could have been there!

Abortion Opponents Criticize Health Reform Bills

Abortion is not explicitly mentioned in any of the major health-care bills under consideration in Congress. But abortion opponents charge that the legislation would make abortion more widely available and more common by requiring insurance plans to pay for the procedures and providing government funding to subsidize plans that pay for them. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said this week that decisions on specific benefits such as abortion coverage should be "left to medical experts in the field," referring to a proposed advisory board that would recommend minimum levels of coverage for private insurers. Washington Post

Editor: Isn't that what we've always done, left it to the "medical experts"?

New push in Congress for common ground on abortion

Seeking elusive common ground on abortion, prominent activists and clergy on both sides of the debate are throwing their support behind a bill aimed at preventing unintended pregnancies and supporting pregnant women. At issue is the so-called Ryan-DeLauro bill — first introduced in 2006. Among the bill's many provisions: increased access to contraceptives, expanded Medicaid coverage for family planning, more support for comprehensive sex education, support for pregnant and parenting college students and expanded adoption assistance. Thus far, no major anti-abortion organization or senior Catholic clergyman has endorsed the bill. Associated Press

Obama's Priority: More for Abortion, Less for Ethical Stem Cell Research

The House of Representatives this week is starting debate on a bill that reflects President Barack Obama's budget priorities. Despite his campaign rhetoric, the measure, which conforms to Obama's budget request, contains $10 million more for an abortion business and less for stem cell research. LifeNews

Walter Cronkite's Push for Abortion and Homosexuality, 1965-2003

Famed CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite has been lauded as "the most trusted man in America," but many of Cronkite's more radical, lesser known views, would be repugnant to many of his greatest fans. Part and parcel with Cronkite's campaign against religion in public life was his outspoken vocal support of abortion and same-sex marriage. In 1965, he said, "As long as the abortion laws remain unchanged, abortion will continue to be a critical problem." LifeSiteNews

URGENT: Stop the abortion mandate

Join the URGENT nationwide webcast event on Thursday, July 23, to prevent Washington D.C. bureaucrats and abortion industry lobbyists from forcing YOU to pay for abortions. SPREAD THE WORD to every pro-lifer you know across America so they can also participate in this urgent discussion! http://www.stoptheabortionmandate.com/

If you can't participate in the live webcast, enter your name and e-mail address on the form on the web site because they're recording the entire event. Their system will automatically allocate your spot to someone else, and as soon as your recording is ready (probably shortly after the end of the webcast) they'll notify you by e-mail.

Read more:
Abortion as a right?
Hyde Amendment Not Sufficient to Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Measures
Support for the Democratic healthcare reform plan slipping
How much will health care reform cost?
Rep. Chris Smith's letter to Congress
It's not an option
National Right to Life factsheet
Senate and House to vote in late July on biggest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade!

Christian teachers, it's time for us to fly

There are many justifications and reasons an individual Christian teacher can give for joining a local association. But because of the power of the NEA in Washington, we can't deny the reality that our local associations are in many cases legally compelled to affiliate themselves under the NEA's control. Consequently our money – money we intend to be put towards actually improving the lives of children – goes to fund deliberately anti-Christian activities. OneNewsNow

Center offers STD testing

A new program in Fayetteville is providing free testing for sexually transmitted diseases.
The Loving Choices Pregnancy Centers of Northwest Arkansas facility in Fayetteville has, since 2007, offered pregnancy testing, counseling and services to women - free and confidential - in a beautiful, comfortable home near the Fayetteville High School and University of Arkansas campuses. Since construction of the house two years ago, the center has been restricted in hours by the city of Fayetteville, allowed to open three times a week between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Last week, the city's Planning Commission extended available hours to five days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with some weekend hours.

Although the program is faith based, abstinence is not promoted and the program does not take a position in the "great debate of pro-choice versus pro-life," the director said. "There's no judgment here. If a girl doesn't want to talk about abortion, we won't. If she chooses to have an abortion, we don't judge her. We want her to be informed and are factual," she said. NWAnews.com

20,000 March against Abortion in Cameroon

Over 20,000 people gathered in the southern Cameroon city of Douala last Saturday to stage a peaceful protest march against the country's ratification of the Maputo Protocol, which led to the legalization of abortion throughout much of Africa "in cases of rape, incest or when the pregnancy is determined to put the mother's physical or psychological health in danger." LifeSiteNews

What's wrong with the new pro-lifers?

Amid proclamations that common ground has been reached on abortion, a new set of anti-abortion actors has claimed leadership of the movement. They are no longer ultra-fundamentalist Catholics and Evangelicals but anti-war, anti-capital punishment, pro-environment "pro-lifers." Single-issue anti-abortionists thought they diluted the message by claiming abortion and war were equal horrors and other progressives and Democrats thought they were, well, anti-abortionists. But some of them are also opposed to discrimination against women and call themselves feminists. . . . These are good and decent people who, it seems, suffer from the same lack of understanding of women's nature and identity as do old-line anti-abortionists. Frances Kissling, former president of Catholics for a Free Choice

Anti-abortion protests target area churches

An anti-abortion group targeted Salem Heights Church (Oregon) for the second time, displaying graphic images of aborted fetuses Sunday. The 4-foot-by-8-foot posters angered some passersby and neighbors. Leaders at Salem Heights Church tried to dissuade the group from coming and sent out a letter warning neighbors and church members. The letter affirms the church's teachings on the sanctity of life, but also disapproves of the group's tactics. Display organizer and Salem resident Darius Hardwick said he understands the images are difficult to look at, but he hopes they will inspire Christians to get involved in the anti-abortion cause. Statesman-Journal

NEA declines to remain neutral on abortion

The National Education Association, the nation's largest labor union, voted July 5 to reject a proposal officially to remain neutral on the issues of abortion and family planning. Baptist Press

Love your neighbor

Sermon podcast by Peter Smith, secretary of SPUC Evangelicals. In addition to excellent information on fetal development and abortion methods, this message offers interesting biblical insights. King's Church

Erica's Story: Life Made Her Stronger

Erica was frightened when she learned she was pregnant. What would her parents say? What if they wouldn’t help? How could she raise a child? Clearly, abortion was her “best” option . . . until God brought her to a Care Net pregnancy center. Care Net

Embryos in limbo

A 2003 survey of fertility clinics finding that perhaps 400,000 embryos had accumulated in storage in the United States shocked doctors and the public. This number far exceeded the previous estimates of 30,000 to 200,000 frozen embryos. Such a large and growing store of embryos was extremely problematic for any number of reasons. Doctors were alarmed by the prospect of finding themselves responsible for storing embryos indefinitely. Others were troubled by the ghoulishness of keeping embryos frozen for years on end. Some medical researchers viewed the store of frozen embryos as an untapped resource for embryonic stem cell research. The New Atlantis

Abstinence end just one defeat

The legislative expiration of the Title V Abstinence Education program -- created in 1996 to distribute $50 million to states for activities meeting an unprecedented, eight-point definition of abstinence education -- will be just the first domino to fall. The Obama administration has asked that the fiscal 2010 funding of Title V -- plus that of the Community-Based Abstinence Education and Adolescent Family Life programs (about $177 million) -- be redirected to a teen-pregnancy prevention initiative. Congress has yet to craft the new program, and there's a tug of war going on between comprehensive-sex-education advocates and teen-pregnancy-prevention advocates over the mission of the new program. More on that in other columns. But what about abstinence education? Where does the movement go from here? Washington Times

GE Teams With Cloning Company Geron for ESCR

General Electric Company is teaming up with Geron, a biotech firm that engages in human cloning, to form what could be the largest embryonic stem cell research conglomerate. The team wants to use the controversial research to determine whether some medicine are toxic. GE and Geron will use existing embryonic stem cell lines to develop sample human cells that drug companies can use to test the toxicity of new drugs in the development process before animal testing or human trials. "This could replace, to a large extent, animal trials," GE spokeswoman Konstantin Fiedler told Reuters. LifeNews

Planned Parenthood Employee in Alabama Admits 'Bending the Rules'

A Planned Parenthood counselor in Birmingham was caught on hidden camera telling an alleged 14-year-old statutory rape victim that the clinic "does sometimes bend the rules a little bit" rather than report sexual abuse to state authorities. This is the seventh Planned Parenthood clinic implicated in a multi-state child abuse scandal involving the deliberate and unlawful suppression of evidence of statutory rape. LifeSiteNews

Abortion linked to abuse at home, doctors warned

Doctors should be alert to the fact that a “significant number” of women seeking abortions are or have been in abusive relationships, a new study warns. The report, in the Obstetrician and Gynaecologist journal found that 30 per cent of women having a second abortion said they were in an abusive relationship. Women on their third or more abortion were even more likely to have suffered a history of physical or sexual abuse. Christian Institute

Life on ice

Police cruisers typically escort heads of state, but on a November morning in 1995, the VIP heading down California's Highway 405 was an ordinary-looking moving truck. It was, however, carrying some particularly fragile cargo: several metal tanks, each just larger than a beer keg, containing a total of roughly 2,000 frozen human embryos. They were being transported from a scandal-plagued IVF clinic in Laguna Hills, Calif., to their new adoptive home in Newport Beach. Today, many still remain there, unclaimed. The embryos' unusual journey illustrates just how complicated the business of assisted reproduction can get. Newsweek

Smiling unborn child

While we knew that mothers often sing to their unborn children, we weren’t sure that the unborn child could hear them. We are now. A camera and a microphone designed for underwater use were inserted into the uterus of a pregnant woman. The hydrophone picked up two sounds: the “whooshing” of the uterine artery and the unmistakable sound of a woman singing a lullaby. Then something extraordinary happened. Upon hearing the woman’s voice, the unborn child smiled. It was one of those moments that makes you catch your breath. The full humanity of the fetus could not have been clearer if he had turned to the camera and winked. Breakpoint; Music Therapy for Infants

Does Induced Abortion Account for Racial Disparity in Preterm Births

. . . and Violate the Nuremberg Code? Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons

Premature ‘little fighter’ challenges abortion limit

When Jessica Hawkins was born at just 23 weeks she weighed just 1lb 7oz and could fit in the palm of her father’s hand. Medical staff initially feared she had been miscarried, but a scan revealed a heartbeat and she was placed in intensive care. Christian Institute

Court Upholds Suspension of Florida Late-Term Abortion Practitioner's License

A Florida appeals court has upheld the suspension of the license of late-term abortion practitioner James Pendergraft. In 2007, he was fined $10,000 and has his licensed revoked for one year over an illegal late-term abortion he did in 2005. The Florida Board of Medicine also placed Pendergraft's license on a three year probationary period following the suspension. Pendergraft runs five abortion facilities and his abortion centers in Ocala, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale were shut down for a brief time during an investigation into alleged illegal activities. Pendergraft appealed the decision and, in an opinion filed yesterday, the Florida District Court of Appeals rejected all of Pendergraft's arguments and stated that they "found no reversible error" in the Board's suspension order. LifeNews

How Much is a Woman's Life Worth? In Michigan, Only $10,000

Abortionist Alberto Hodari has been fined $10,000 by the State of Michigan for the 2003 abortion death of Regina Johnson. The consent order, which recently became public, was issued on March 4, 2009, over five years after Ms. Johnson's death. "Now we know what a woman's life is worth in the State of Michigan once she walks into an abortion clinic," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "This paltry fine has reduced Ms. Johnson's life to that of chattel. Animals are bought and sold for more than this." In exchange for the consent agreement, counts of negligence and incompetence against Hodari were dismissed, leaving only the charge that his conduct constituted a "lack of good moral character." Standard Newswire

URGENT ACTION NEEDED NOW TO STRIP PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF TITLE X FUNDING

We have less than one week to strip Planned Parenthood of hundreds of millions of tax dollars! Please call your representative immediately and ask them to act swiftly to make sure the House Rules Committee does not kill an amendment that could save lives. Please call the congressional switchboard NOW at 202-224-3121, or call your representative’s office directly. Tell them that the Pence Amendment to strip Planned Parenthood of Title X funding deserves an up-or-down vote! American Life League, email your rep

Clinic worker ordered to stay clear of young pro-lifer

Ted Williams of Charleston, SC, and his daughter Katherine have conducted peaceful demonstrations at the Charleston Women's Center abortion clinic for seven years. "The escorts there really don't like her to come. They don't want her there," Williams notes. "People who are going there to have abortions see a young kid and it makes them think, makes them change their mind, and they ask us questions and then we give them help and alternatives." According to LifeNews.com, clinic employee Larry Center has targeted the protestors for years and regularly "screams vulgarities" at pro-lifers. On May 2, he attacked Katherine Williams. OneNewsNow

American NGO Pushing "Plan B" Pill in Kenya

A media campaign by the American NGO, Populations Services International, is promoting the use of the abortifacient Plan B emergency contraceptive pill - or so-called "morning-after pill" - to Kenyan youth in Kenyan newspapers, magazines and on radio. LifeSiteNews

Nations Reject Abortion Language at UN Meeting

Last week in Geneva, Switzerland, negotiations went down to the wire as the Economic and Social Council wound down its high-level meeting on health. After a marathon negotiating session that lasted until the wee hours of the morning, delegates adopted the Ministerial Declaration on "implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to global public health," rejecting a push by the United States most European Union countries to include language that some NGO's and developed nations interpret to include abortion. LifeSiteNews

Medicaid Coverage Increases Abortions

Researchers at the Guttmacher Institute earlier this month issued a report that found that about 1/4 of the women who would have aborted their child if the government had provided the funds decided to keep their children. Planned Parenthood's research arm concluded from a survey of 38 studies that women unable to pay for abortions on their own were frequently "forced to carry their pregnancy to term." Stanley Hershaw, a Guttmacher Institute senior fellow and the study's lead author, commented that "Antiabortion advocates are using these restrictions in a misguided attempt to reduce the nation's abortion rate," and that they should instead address the "underlying cause" by promoting the use of contraceptives. LifeSiteNews

AUL's Judiciary Testimony on Sotomayor

Make no mistake if Judge Sotomayor is confirmed, it will be a setback for the pro-life cause. When you couple Judge Sotomayor’s judicial-interventionist philosophy with her support for the radical arguments made by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund in abortion-related cases, her presence on the United States Supreme Court surely would endanger all of the common sense abortion regulations that have been passed in dozens of states. AUL, YouTube

Sotomayor Calls Abortion a "Right" at Final Hearing

Mexican State Passes Pro-Life Constitutional Amendment

The Mexican state of Yucatan became the fourteenth to pass a pro-life amendment to its constitution yesterday, adding to a wave of opposition to Mexico City's policy of permitting and funding abortion on demand. The amendment reads, "The state of Yucatan recognizes, protects, and guarantees the right to life of every human being, expressly affirming that, from the moment of fertilization, he comes under the protection of the law, and is to be treated like a human being that has been born for all corresponding legal effects, until his natural death, with exceptions already foreseen in ordinary laws." LifeSiteNews

Teenagers 'desperate' for a baby

Sixteen-year-old Chantelle lost her virginity at 13. Having been with her boyfriend for a year and a half, she was desperate for a child. "I could see myself as a mum next year pushing a baby around, I get jealous when I see people with babies, I feel like it should be me." Headstrong only child Lydia, was convinced she was independent enough to raise a child, even though she's only 14 and does not have a boyfriend. "I don't know anyone else who wants a baby as much as me… I really, really, really, really, really want a baby. At one point I got the Argos catalogue out and wrote everything down that I'd need if I had a child." BBC News

Sex education opt-out 'should be axed'

Pressure is mounting on the UK government to remove parents legal right to pull sons and daughters out of lessons. The comments from health campaigners follow a Government decision to make sex and relationships education compulsory in all primary and secondary schools from 2011. Under plans, infants aged five to seven will learn about the simple physical changes to their bodies and the differences between boys and girls. Between seven and nine, they will be taught about puberty and relationships, while pupils in the final two years of primary school will learn about human reproduction. Currently, parents have the right to withdraw their children from sex education, although only four out of every 10,000 currently employ the opt-out. Sex education charities are appealing for the Government to ban parents from removing children. Telegraph

Court hears of 'abortion order'

A woman was once told to abort her child by her mother, whom she is accused of killing. BBC News

Editor: Just so we're all clear on this, it's not okay to kill anyone for being pro-abortion.

NASA Astronauts Launch New Pro-Life Ad

CatholicVote.org has announced the launch of another ad in the "Life: Imagine the Potential Series," this time with the help of famed NASA astronauts. Dr. Joseph Kerwin, the first American doctor in outer space, joined other former NASA greats - including retired astronaut Dr. Bill Thornton and Mr. Gene Kranz, the Flight Director at Mission Control during the Apollo program, including the famous Apollo 13 mission - on Monday at a press conference in Houston to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11's historic landing on the moon and to launch the new ad. LifeSiteNews

An Orgasm a Day Good for Health, National Health Service Tells U.K. Teens

Entitled "Pleasure," a new booklet intended for distribution in public schools has been approved by the government's Family Planning Association. The pamphlet, which has been distributed to teachers, parents and youth social workers in the Yorkshire industrial city of Sheffield, says that teens can reduce their risk of heart attack with more sex. The pamphlet is intended for teens over the age of 14, the primary target group of government attempts to reduce the pregnancy rate. It says that some experts focus too much on "safe sex" and fail to emphasize sexual enjoyment. LifeSiteNews

Memory Forms at 30 Weeks in the Womb

Fetuses that are only 30 weeks old may already possess short-term memory, Dutch researchers report. The authors recruited 93 pregnant Dutch women, and then measured fetal responses to repeated "vibroacoustic" stimulation. "The stimuli were applied to the maternal abdomen above the fetal legs for a period of one second every 30 seconds. We counted the number of stimuli after which the fetus does not respond anymore." When the fetus makes the change to no longer responding, it is "habituated;" it recognizes the stimulus as "safe." Dr. Richard O. Jones, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and medical director of obstetrics at Scott & White, said, "I almost wish I could do an ultrasound looking at the baby while they were making these loud noises. I would not be at all surprised to see the baby putting its hands over its ears." Forbes

White House says surgeon general pick is pro-choice

President Barack Obama's nominee for surgeon general is a Catholic best known for founding an Alabama clinic that treats the poor, but her lesser-known support for abortion rights puts her at odds with her church and some of the groups that have praised her work. McClatchy

Congress set to fund failed UK-style sex ed program

With an impending vote by the House Appropriations Committee this Friday, policymakers would be well advised to note the alarming report in the current issue of the British Medical Journal. The article shows the failure of a so-called comprehensive sex education approach. A&M Partnership

Abortion Has Greater Impact on Parenting than Other Forms of Pregnancy Loss

A new review of studies examining various types of prenatal loss and the effects on subsequent parenting has concluded that abortion may be "particularly damaging to the parenting process." The article, published in Current Women's Health Reviews, looks at already published studies on miscarriage, induced abortion and adoption. The author, Priscilla Coleman of Bowling Green State University, focuses on psychological reactions to these various types of loss and discusses how they might affect a mother's relationship with children born after the pregnancy loss. LifeSiteNews

Gun Pulled on Pro-Life Sidewalk Counselor

Offering brochures on pro-life alternatives to abortion may appear a safe enough act, but for one Arizona sidewalk counselor, the message of "no thanks" instead came through a drawn handgun allegedly held by a man determined that his girlfriend would get an abortion. LifeSiteNews

PETA Upset President Obama Would Hurt a Fly

On June 16 during an interview on CNBC President Obama swatted and killed a fly. The matter was treated with good humor by most, however, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals felt differently and publicly chastised the President for his apparent cruelty to the insect. LifeNews

Action Needed on "Health Care Reform" Bills That Mandate Abortion Funding and Nullify State Abortion Laws!

Pro-abortion groups are lobbying aggressively to prevent changes to pending "health care reform bills" that, in their current form, would result in sweeping pro-abortion mandates and federal funding of abortion on demand. National Right to Life

Dealing with abortion in health care reform

The Real Ministry of PCCs

What is it that makes pregnancy care center ministry so vital and indispensible? We introduce people to Someone who can take a seemingly impossible situation or disaster and turn it around into a blessing. We introduce them to Someone who will never leave them or forsake them, and who loves them unconditionally. His name is Jesus! That is the main mission of PCCs — to bring people to Jesus so that lives might be saved and changed. ATC

Decision-Making During Change

When a board is confronted with changes to the ministry, how do they go about it? What information do they need to help them make an appropriate decision? ATC

Why You Need a Video on Your Website

Google recently announced a major shift in the way they will look at a website for ranking on their search engine. Other engines are expected to follow suit. It is important for you to realize that if you want to be seen on Google's search engine in 2009, you need to scrap all the old ways of rank building and search engine optimization ideas and follow the basics of what your site is expected to be from the visitor's viewpoint. ATC

Summertime at the college-town center

Our local college town headcount increases and decreases by nearly 10,000 citizens each August and May respectively. Should we just siesta for a while and think about it tomorrow? Not quite, darling. Don't run for the tanning oil yet; you have work to do! Let's look at three areas of concern. ATC

Marketing 101: It's a Sign!

With the recession rocking along, you've probably noticed that some of the billboards in your area are blank. There's never been a better time to 'bargain' for advertising rates! A billboard used properly can be an effective advertising tool for a pregnancy help center. Here's what you should consider if you're thinking of utilizing billboards. ATC magazine

Abortion Parties?

For some, abortion is just another reason to throw a party. In a recent article published on AlterNet, 'My First Abortion Party,' writer Byard Duncan relates his experience of attending a party thrown by his friend 'Maggie' so as to raise funds to pay for her abortion. Duncan described how someone had hung a red bed sheet below a light fixture to resemble a giant womb. Every so often, a dancer's head or arm or dreadlock would brush against one of its smooth folds, creating a rippling effect. A self-described "ardent pro-choicer," Duncan said he felt uncomfortable with the whole affair. LifeSiteNews

How many more teen pregnancies before the Left admits its sex education has been a disaster?

That is a question I never thought I would find myself asking. I write as a mother of a teenage daughter and a left-of-centre commentator with an unshakeable belief in the power of education to transform lives. I am - and continue to be - a defender of the rights of women and girls, including their right to an abortion, when needed. Daily Mail

The Demographic Impact of Legally Induced Abortion after 40 Years in Great Britain

In the latest edition of India's Journal of Social Sciences, a London actuary has been calculating the impact 40 years of legal abortion has had on Britain's population. None of it is good, and some of it raises questions about the effects of abortion which British medical researchers may be afraid to answer.

House Subcommittee Further Strips Funding for Abstinence Education

Led by pro-abortion Rep. David Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat, a House appropriations subcommittee stripped even more funding from the federal budget. LifeNews

Men's Online Advice Column Tells Men How To Coerce Girlfriends To Abort

The sexually suggestive AskMen.com website, which describes a coercive plan of action for men on how to talk their pregnant girlfriends into aborting their unborn child, has prompted outrage from pro-life groups and commentators. The backlash over the column appears to have been so forceful that the site has now pulled the offending piece. LifeSiteNews

IRS Demands that Pro-Life Group Swear it Will Not Oppose Planned Parenthood

Pro-life lawyers say a non-profit coalition of pro-life groups in Iowa has steadily kept within the guidelines for non-profit religious, educational and charitable groups. However, several months after the group applied for tax-exempt status, an IRS agent contacted Coalition for Life Iowa president Sue Martinek to inquire as to whether the group engages in any "picketing" or protesting at Planned Parenthood, and questioned the group's prayer activity outside Planned Parenthood facilities. LifeSiteNews

Sotomayor Confirms Commitment to Roe, but not Partial-Birth Abortion Ban

Judge Sonia Sotomayor assured members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that she would allow Roe v. Wade to stand as precedent, but did not consider the absolute ban on partial-birth abortion to constitute precedent of equal weight. She frequently referred to her commitment to the doctrine of stare decisis. Sotomayor defended Roe v. Wade and the court's other pro-abortion decisions on the basis of a constitutional "right to privacy." Norma McCorvey, the "Roe" of Roe v. Wade who is now a leading pro-life activist, was arrested at Monday's hearing for shouting out a condemnation of Sotomayor's pro-abortion position. LifeSiteNews

Republican Senators Press Sotomayor on Abortion Views
Queries on Abortion and Guns Fail to Break Judge’s Stride

Human Rights Court Case Could be Europe's Roe v. Wade

Not only is the Republic of Ireland's ability to have legal protections for the unborn now at stake in the high profile case currently before the European Court of Human Rights, but potentially the entire continent's. "This case could be the Roe v. Wade of Europe, so its importance should not be underestimated," said Roger Kiska of the Alliance Defense Fund, the public-interest legal alliance that is acting to protect the existing law. LifeSiteNews

Silent FOCA: Vast Abortion Expansion Coming to Light in Healthcare Package

Pro-life groups and lawmakers are continuing to raise the alarm over the healthcare reform package President Obama is aggressively pushing through both the House and the Senate. The groups are urging Americans to oppose the healthcare overhaul, as pro-abortion lawmakers are insisting that abortion must be included in the basic healthcare package that all public and private insurers will eventually be required to cover. LifeSiteNews

Ginsburg makes controversial (racist?) comments on Roe

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is under criticism for seemingly saying in a new interview she thought the initial purpose of Roe v. Wade was to rid the country of those "that we don't want to have too many of." Baptist Press, NY Times

Latest Plan A newsletter online

Bethany Christian Services

Questions Loom Over Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings

The confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor continuing today (starting at 9:40 a.m.) with each member of the Senate Judiciary Committee having 30 minutes for questions. Liberty Counsel is continuing their interactive blog directly from the Senate building. You can follow the hearings by joining their blog at www.LC.org. You can also make comments during the hearing.

Vandals hit pregnancy support center with graffiti

Graffiti vandals have targeted a local support center for pregnant women. The phrases "kill us now," "give us your eggs," "freedom," and a swastika cover the glass windows at the front of the Lane Pregnancy Support Center in Eugene. The vandalism occurred late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. According to a news release, Lane Pregnancy Support Center is a non-profit, privately funded pro-life community outreach. KMTR

Report on 'medical abortions' somewhat misleading

A new report on the abortion-drug regimen known as RU-486 may leave a false impression of safety. Chris Gacek of the Family Research Council was asked if it is really safer. "What it's safer about is it's not causing these massive septic infections," he explains. Such infections have claimed a number of lives. But another problem, Gacek notes, still persists -- excessive bleeding -- because that is just a fundamental part of the regimen. One News Now

Planned Parenthood heralds “safety” of abortion pill

Planned Parenthood researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine that a revised method of conducting drug-induced abortions has allegedly reduced the risk of serious complications by 93 percent. Previously Planned Parenthood diverged from the FDA’s recommended guidelines for RU-486 by administering an oral dose of mifepristone followed by a vaginal dose of misoprostol. But the 2005 deaths of four American women and one Canadian woman from bacterial infections spurred Planned Parenthood to conform to FDA standards and instead have women dissolve the misoprostol pill in their mouths, followed by a precautionary course of antibiotics. World Magazine

A loss for abortion opponents

Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee voted yesterday to permanently reverse a policy in effect under recent Republican administrations that banned giving U.S. taxpayer money to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information. The 17-11 vote would give the current policy - which President Obama set by executive order days after taking office - the force of law. That means the next Republican president could not restore the ban with the stroke of a pen as has been recent practice. Philadelphia Inquirer

Designer babies: are we heading for a Gattaca society?

Karyomapping might be able to reveal which parts of the genome an embryo has inherited from its parents and grandparents, but without understanding what these do there is little to be done with them. While we can select against monogenic, Mendelian diseases, we aren't close to grasping all the genetic factors behind diabetes or heart disease, let alone intelligence or well-formed cheekbones. Times Online

The IVF embryo test that can detect 15,000 genetic diseases

A 'genetic' 'MoT' that can spot almost all inherited diseases in an IVF-created embryo could be available within a year. The £2,500 test can detect around 15,000 genetic conditions, including cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease and some types of cancer, autism and mental retardation. It also counts the number of chromosomes in the embryos, potentially increasing the chances of pregnancy and cutting the odds of miscarriage. Daily Mail

Register now for abstinence training in Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Quest on Tuesday, July 28 and Aspire on Wednesday, July 29 - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Breakfast provided, lunch on your own at nearby restaurants. Includes copy of each curriculum. *Please let us know in the "comments" field if you plan on attending both days. Quest is a character-based, field-tested, positive presentation of the benefits of abstinence until marriage specifically geared toward middle school students in public or private schools. Quest is the most recent in a series of curricula by Scott Phelps including Aspire, GamePlan, and Navigator which fulfill the requirements for federally funded abstinence education programs, and Excel for Christian schools & churches.

MASH legislative summit

Attention MASH members, the Michigan Association for Sexual Health will host a legislative summit on Thursday, July 16 at Bethany Christian Services in order to updatemembers on 15 "reproductive health" bills recently introduced in the Michigan legislature. This package of bills is likely to have a negative effect on the sexual health of young people across the state. Among other things, the bills will impose onerous burdens on pregnancycare centers, mandate comprehensive sex education in Michigan schools and deny healthcare workers a conscience clause for the "emergency contraceptive" prescription. The strategy session will begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m. Light snacks will be provided. If you are a member of MASH, we strongly encourage you to join us for this important strategy meeting. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Sara Keeler at (616) 574-7959. Become a member of MASH.

Banquet success teleseminar

Things are moving fast right now as we gear up for Tuesday night's free banquet training teleseminar from 40 Days for Life. More than half the available phone lines have already been claimed . . . so, if you want to learn exactly how to boost the income of your upcoming fundraising banquet by 35.4% or more -- and if you haven't yet signed-up for the call -- register now before all the lines fill up!