11/1/02
in this issue:
abortion: NEW JERSEY / NONE DARE RISK MURDER abortion
NEW JERSEY: An appellate court opinion clears the way for a trial
that will determine if a first trimester abortion terminates the life of a
living human being. The case is Rosa
Acuna v. Dr. Sheldon Turkish. The lead attorney on the case is Harold
Cassidy, who can be reached at 732-332-9300. An article addressing this
case, "How not to overturn Roe v. Wade," written by Paul Linton, appears
in the Nov. 2002 issue of First Things.
NONE DARE RISK MURDER: Larry V. Crutchfield, Ph.D., writes, "In
a powerful sermon on Romans 24, the great fourth-century preacher and
bishop of Constantinople, John Chrysostom, speaks of 'the harlot' whose
'whoredom' leads to adultery and then 'murder.' He expresses shock at the
thought that in an effort to make herself physically appealing to her
'lovers,' she will resort even to killing her preborn child."
(Reading: "The early
church fathers and abortion")
(Background: "None dare risk murder" is based on a famous line from the
1974 Vatican Declaration on Procured Abortion which reads: "From a moral
point of view this is certain: even if a doubt existed concerning whether
the fruit of conception is already a human person, it is objectively a
grave sin to dare to risk murder. 'The one who will be a man is already
one.'")
bush watch
UNFPA FUNDS DENIED: On July 23, ALL issued a statement claiming
that the Bush administration had taken the $34 million denied to UNFPA and
provided it to a State Department agency that is involved in population
elimination programs. We have subsequently learned that the final decision
regarding the fate of that money is still up in the air, according to
White House Presidential Determination 2002-32, dated Sept. 30. The $34
million is earmarked for USAID Child Survival and Health Program Fund
which does provide for maternal health, child health and anti-life
services, too. Please ask President Bush to see to it that these funds go
to projects devoted specifically to maternal health and prenatal care, not
so-called reproductive health, which includes early-abortion birth control
and other anti-life activities.
(Reading: "Redirection of
$34 million from UNFPA to USAID a 'stab in the back,'" American Life
League news release, 7/23/02; White
House Presidential Determination 2002-32, 9/30/02)
(Contact: President George W.
Bush or call the White House comment line at 202-456-1111)
condoms
INADEQUATE RISK REDUCTION: The Medical Institute for Sexual Health
has published a review of the literature and concludes that condoms do not
provide adequate risk reduction for sexually transmitted diseases. A copy
of the full study is available upon request.
(Reading: "Scientific review
of condom effectiveness research reveals condoms provide inadequate risk
reduction for sexually transmitted diseases," Medical Institute for
Sexual Health news release, 10/16/02)
humor
J.D. McCOUGHEY: "Some say God is dead. However, we have 50,000
social workers to take His place."
(Reading: "Quick Quotes," The Star, 8/02; for copies write Fr. Rawley
Myers, 22 W. Kiowa, Colorado Springs, CO 80903)
morning-after abortion pill
LOUISIANA: The American Center for Law and Justice's threat of a
lawsuit resulted in the Louisiana health department reversing its position
on discrimination against those health care providers who cannot in good
conscience provide chemicals to women that cause the abortion of babies.
(Reading: "Louisiana
Health Dept. reverses itself in 'morning-after' pill case," American
Center for Law and Justice news release, 10/28/02)
STUDENT HEALTH CENTERS: A recently published study indicates
that of 358 university and college health centers responding to a survey,
47.8% of them did not provide access to the morning-after abortion pill.
The reasons given include institutions' religious affiliations, clinic and
administrative staff objections, inability to prescribe or dispense
medications, fear of liability, and no expressed need.
(Reading: "Availability of emergency contraceptive pills at university
and college student health centers," Journal of American College Health,
7/02 pp. 15-22,)
personhood
HUMAN EMBRYO THREATENED: More than 600 people gathered in Belgium
to hear experts (including Dianne N. Irving, M.A., Ph.D., former NIH
research scientist and professor of philosophy at the Catholic University
of America), discuss the fact that human embryos are persons whose lives
are at stake due to current efforts to advance embryonic stem cell
research, human cloning and other draconian practices.
(Reading: "Human
embryo threatened by legal chaos, says forum," Zenit News Service,
10/22/02; Medicine and
Human Dignity conference)
IRVING: "The
early human embryo: 'scientific' myths and scientific facts: implications
for ethics and public policy: A one-act drama," by Dianne N. Irving,
M.A., Ph.D., is online.
politics
NORTH CAROLINA: Republican Carolyn Grant, who is running against
Democrat state senator Brad Miller for a U.S. House seat from North
Carolina, has been endorsed in her campaign by both an abortion-rights
group and the political action committee of a National Right to Life
affiliate. Grant, who says that she supports abortion rights, has received
backing from North Carolina Right to Life PAC as well as the WISH List, a
group that supports female Republican candidates who favor abortion
rights. The North Carolina PAC has published its endorsement of Grant on
the NCRTL Web site. David O'Steen, executive director of the National
Right to Life Committee, said the national committee has not formally
endorsed Grant but is supporting her as the "preferred" or "recommended"
candidate in her campaign against Miller, who also supports abortion
rights.
(Reading: "North
Carolina U.S. House candidate receives backing of both abortion-rights
group, antiabortion organization," Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health
Report, 10/30/02; also see "NC
Right to Life PAC endorsements")
WHO TO SUPPORT: Recall the words of Pope John Paul II, which is
how many pro-lifers measure anyone running for office: "It is always
possible that man, as the result of coercion or other circumstances, can
be hindered from doing certain good actions; but he can never be hindered
from not doing certain actions, especially if he is prepared to die rather
than to do evil."
COMMENT: No politician is ever forced to support a single act of
abortion; no pro-life group is ever forced to endorse a man or woman who
supports acts of murder.
(Reading: The Splendor of Truth, Section 52)
WISCONSIN: Pro Life Wisconsin cites Matthew 18:14, "It is never
the will of the Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be
lost," in focusing attention on electing only those people who are
voluntarily committed to a total pro-life position without exceptions and
without apology.
(Reading: "Pro-Life
Wisconsin Victory Fund announces endorsements"; Pro-Life Wisconsin
Monday Update, 10/28/02)
(Contact: Pro-Life
Wisconsin, 262-796-1111)
violence
MICHIGAN: A sixteen year-old girl faces second-degree murder
charges after she reportedly drowned her newborn baby in a hospital
toilet.
(Reading: "Teen
faces charges for baby's toilet death," WDIV-TV, 10/28/02; to read
about Michigan's Safe Delivery Act, which could have protected this child
if the mother had merely walked away from the baby, see "Model
SOG available for Safe Delivery Act," State of Michigan)
world youth alliance
GET INVOLVED: The World Youth Alliance focuses
on generating youthful involvement in pro-life affairs around the world.
Visit online to learn more.
reflection for prayer
POPE PIUS XII: On the question of whether or not an intrinsically
immoral act like contraception or abortion can ever be moral, Pope Pius
XII said: "no 'indication' or need can convert an act which is
intrinsically immoral into a moral and lawful one."
(Reading: "Address
midwives on the nature of their profession," Pope Pius XII)
RACHEL'S VINEYARD MINISTRIES: In this season of [post-abortion]
retreats, hurting people around the country are seeing bulletin notices,
looking at the Rachel's Vineyard web page or thinking about calling that
memorable toll-free number (877-HOPE-4-ME) they saw on a poster in their
laundromat two years ago. Holy Spirit, please come to them, bless them
with courage and soothe any anxieties about making that first contact.
"The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink?" (John 18:11)
Lord, as these retreatants and team members gather together this
evening to share the cup of bitterness, may they each receive the strength
and inspiration to do whatever it is that You individually call them to
this weekend. If someone needs to grieve so deeply that her body is
wracked with painful, wrenching sobs, lift her up to accept this cup. If
someone needs to tell a part of her story that she finds so shameful that
she fears utter rejection if she reveals it, lift her up to accept this
cup. If a quiet and reserved person is nudged by your Holy Spirit to share
an insight that will be healing to another, lift her up to do this. If
team members need to do the sometimes hard work of trusting each other
more and more, and trusting You more, let this cup not pass from their
lips. May the Holy Spirit with infinite love and mercy lay the hand of
complete renewal on each of them. Amen.
(Reading: Prayer for retreatants, Rachel's Vineyard Ministries)
©2002 American Life League, Inc.
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