NBC Rejects Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad Educating Viewers on Obama and Abortion

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 29, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- NBC is coming under fire from pro-life advocates for rejecting a television commercial a pro-life group hoped to run during the Super Bowl. The ad shows a beautiful picture of an unborn child during an ultrasound and asks what would happen if President Barack Obama had been a victim of abortion.

The commercial, a popular one in recent weeks within the pro-life movement, is sponsored by the pro-life Catholic group Fidelis and its CatholicVote web site.

After several days of negotiations, an NBC representative in Chicago told the group late yesterday that NBC and the NFL are not interested in advertisements involving "political advocacy or issues."

Brian Burch, president of the pro-life group, told LifeNews.com he is upset that NBC officials rejected what he calls a uplifting and positive pro-life ad.

"There is nothing objectionable in this positive, life-affirming advertisement. We show a beautiful ultrasound, something NBC's parent company GE has done for years," Burch said.

"We congratulate Barack Obama on becoming the first African-American President. And we simply ask people to imagine the potential of every human life," he told LifeNews.com.

Burch said NBC told Fidelis that they do not allow political or issue advocacy advertisements.

"But that's not what they told PETA," he said about the network's recent decision to reject an ad from the animal rights group. "There's no doubt that PETA is an advocacy group. NBC rejected PETA's ad for another reason altogether."

According to an email posted on the PETA web site, Victoria Morgan, Vice President of Advertising Standards for Universal, said, "The PETA spot submitted to Advertising Standards depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards."

Morgan also talked about edits that need to be made" in order for the PETA spot to run during the Super Bowl.

Burch responded to that rejection further by saying, "NBC claims it doesn't allow advocacy ads, but that's not true. They were willing to air an ad by PETA if they would simply tone down the sexual suggestiveness. Our ad is far less provocative, and hardly controversial by comparison."

"The purpose of our new ad is to spread a message of hope about the potential of every human life, including the life of Barack Obama," Burch told LifeNews.com. "We are now looking at alternative venues to run the ad over the next several weeks."

The ad aired on BET in Chicago on Inauguration Day and it has become an Internet sensation with over 700,000 views in seven days. The CatholicVote ad was in the top 10 "most viewed" category on YouTube on Inauguration Day last week.

The ad says: "This child's future is a broken home. He will be abandoned by his father. His single mother will struggle to raise him. Despite the hardships he will endure...this child...will become...the 1st African-American President."

The television spot, the first of several ads in new campaign launched by CatholicVote.org, concludes with the tag line, "Life: Imagine the Potential."

The CatholicVote.org web site is a project of the Fidelis Center for Law and Policy.

ACTION: Send your complaints about the rejection of the ad to Victoria Morgan, Vice President, Advertising Standards, NBC Universal, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 1825 E. New York, NY 10112. Call (212) 664-4267 or fax (212) 664-6366 or email victoria.morgan@nbc.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an attempt to protect the unborn by resolving the question of when life begins, U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe, (R-Okla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), David Vitter (R-La.), and George Voinovich (R-Ohio), have re-introduced the Life at Conception Act, legislation that declares that life begins at conception and the unborn to be "persons" under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

Sen. Jim Inhofe said, "Our government has both a moral and constitutional obligation to protect the sanctity of human life. With Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress and a new Democratic President, we must fight twice as hard for the sanctity of life and promote our Life at Conception Act."

Sen. Roger Wicker, said: "In Roe v. Wade the Supreme Court refused to define when life begins, thus delegating this determination to the legislative branch. This legislation clearly defines that life begins at the moment of conception, a belief that is commonly held by most Americans and is something science has long proven."

Sen. Jim DeMint said, "We must defend innocent, unborn children and extend to them the same rights of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' enjoyed by every American, as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and protected by our Constitution."

Sen. Mel Martinez said, "This effort is about fostering a culture of life, where every life is considered sacred, every child is celebrated, and life at all stages is given the dignity that it deserves."

Sen. John Thune said, "Unborn children, as distinct, unique human beings, are fully deserving of our society's attention, provision, and care. I believe this amendment would take a strong step toward achieving this goal."

Sen. David Vitter said, "As science continues to advance, the evidence that life begin at conception is becoming more and more irrefutable. This bill is critical to the fight to protect the culture of life, especially as we face an administration and new Congress that seems determined to advance the agenda of a practice that a great number of Americans find abhorrent."

In its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the court acknowledged that "if this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant's case [i.e., "Roe"], of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment."

Washington, DC - A record 300,000 people waved to the camera last week as they marched down Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court at the 36th annual March for Life in Washington DC.

The March for Life will this year be memorialized in a high-definition documentary feature called Thine Eyes: A Witness to the March for Life. The film is slated for release in March, 2009. It is the first serious documentary about the January 22nd event, which marks the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision to override state abortion laws and mourns the more than 50 million unborn Americans who have died as a result.

No Mr. President, you are not protecting reproductive freedom. You are authorizing the destruction of freedom for 1,000,000 little human beings every year....
Killing our children is killing our children not matter how many times you say it is a private family matter. You may say it is a private family matter over and over and over and still they are dead.", Pastor John Piper, HT: Random Responses.

We're in the process of testing a new commenting system called IntenseDebate which we hope will give readers a better opportunity to interact with one another and take advantage of social networking tools (like Twitter). Try it out and let us know how you like it!

Life Prizes gave away $600,000 to 6 Pro-Life people who were selected from 100 nominations. Bryan Kemper was there & talked about the event and what he has been doing for the unborn and how he has been challenging abortion around the world.

Video: CatholicVote

A Baby Saved Today: Jo Scott and other sidewalk counselors were able to talk a seventeen year old girl into keeping her child. The toughest loudest and most vulgar young girls are the girls you least expect to change their minds. This story proves that all you have to do is show up and Jesus can love them through you.

Denver radio host Bob Enyart

Wesley Smith writes an important post concerning organ donation after cardiac death, a protocol driven practice that begins with removing ICU-type life support and ends with Organ procurement:

... the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine calls into question the entire concept of DCD. For example, withdrawing life support often doesn't lead to immediate cardiac arrest, and some patients don't die at all.

Beware: Rather than use this information to more carefully manage organ procurement protocols--and we still need nationally uniform rules--some bioethicists and organ professionals will instead use it it as a club to destroy the dead donor rule itself. As I have noted often, there is a drive underway to open the door to explicit killing for organs.

The first step to ensure tolerance and true bipartisanship is to mount an attack against those who stand in the way of "progress":

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched an online petition for readers to express their outrage at conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh for saying last week that he wanted President Barack Obama to fail.

[snip]

Obama advised Republicans last Friday to stop listening to Limbaugh if they wanted to get along with Democrats and the administration. "You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," Obama said to Republican leaders who met with the president to talk about the stimulus package.

CNS News

Planned Parenthood, ACLU Sue over Rights of Conscience

Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union are suing the government over rules that protect health care providers' freedom of conscience.

The Department of Health and Human Services put the regulations in place last month to reinforce federal laws that protect doctors from being forced to participate in abortion and other anti-life practices.

“We consider right of conscience to be the biggest issue we face," said Dr. David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical Association. "If we lose this one, soon there will be no Christian health care personnel debating the other ethical issues like cloning or physician-assisted suicide.”   

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and Christian Legal Society have intervened in the case.

“Medical professionals should not be forced to perform abortions against their conscience,” said Matt Bowman, legal counsel for ADF.

— Josh Montez 

Across America and in other countries, this month will likely see millions of good people standing, praying and marching for life. On the other side of life and morality, President Obama seeks to do all he can to end life with his pro-abortion, pro-death policies. President Obama will use our tax dollars to fund forced sterilization, forced abortions and human rights abuses.

Click here to continue reading at prolifeunity.com

This used to upset me much more than it does today (LifeSiteNews):

More than 300,000 people assembled in Washington, D.C. for the 36th Annual March for Life. But as far as The New York Times is concerned, it never happened.

1. The agenda of the MSM was exposed long ago and is not surprising.
2. The Times and other MSM are shrinking and becoming less relevant. Bankruptcy looms for many, not because we are in a recession, but because their product is not considered valuable.
   
3. We are building alternatives to the MSM and these are growing. Readers have many choices and those who observe news events are empowered to bypass traditional news outlets and report directly to the public.

You can bet that politicians are taking note of the March and the voice of pro-lifers who continue to make known the injustice of abortion.

I attended the 5th Annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco, January 24, 2009. We are like the civil rights marchers demonstrating the person hood and life of the unborn. We are modern day abolitionists, who like our predecessors, demonstrated and facilitated the freedom of the black slaves in this country. Dred Scott vs Sanford of 1857 and Roe vs Wade of 1973 share two issues in common. They are both about the disposability of life and the money making institution and industry they really are. There is money to be gained in the chattel slave and the fetal slave. The chattel slave were my ancestors and the fetal slave are my progeny. As I understand it, black Americans make up about 14% of the population while 37% of babies aborted are black . The black slavery holocaust in this country has not ended and this American modern style slavery is funded throughout this country, and the world with our American tax dollars.

I do not ask if we are doing all that we can, I am asking are we doing all that we should? Are we nice and comfortable with our organization in a non-profit status? This spiritual fight is multi-faceted, and though I think people are doing a great good, I am not convinced that we are giving our all. We are not bleeding like our babies are bleeding. We are not holding those who make our laws against the unborn woefully accountable. We are letting people snatch the microphone and cameras out of our hands. I have never seen such silence in the mainstream media on these marches around the country.

With as many people who were present, a petition should have been going around to remove the politicians from congress and the senate whose voting record supports the killing of our children for profit and the flushing of our tax dollars to the abortion mills. As I understand it, 4000 babies per day are sacrificed. Are organizations' non-profit status worth those lives so that we can make a bigger impact in the halls of justice, the capital building, and the Whitehouse? Why are we not recalling these people we know are doing our babies harm?

If Christ can allow Himself to be hung on a cross, what is the cost of a tax status to millions of lives? Why are we chained by a 501 (c)(3) status? Would our non-profit organizations collapse or would we shore ourselves up and use our ingenuity? If we did not have this tax exempt status, we would be truly free to fight this war on all fronts with the ferocious strength that it requires, and doing all that we should instead of all that we can.

The mainstream media should not be off the hook. The reason why the civil rights issues were propelled forward was because people could see the horror and injustice. Abortion needs to be in the face of the average citizen. I say, if the mainstream media is "in the tank with Obama" with the killing of our children and we are a "non-issue" that does not merit camera news coverage, then I say not one of us should purchase any product from their sponsors; those who are paying the media not to broadcast our cause. If the killing of our children is about money, then we should be doing economic damage to the war machine of the baby butchers. No, it is not "can" start, but it is we "should" start with those who are holding the microphone. If they want to be silent about us, we should be voting with our dollars and launching massive boycott campaigns which should be taking place on the sponsors of mainstream media news. This should include boycotting paper print subscriptions.

Maybe Barack Obama was prophetic in saying that we need to "get some skin in the game". Maybe he will be a blessing in disguise and divest us from our tax exempt status. Then maybe we will be free to fight without our hands in chains and our minds in shackles.

I ask, what is our faith without risk? Is there change without faith? What is freedom without change? What is growth without freedom? Our babies need our prayers, picketing, and petitions generously slathered with faith, risk, freedom, change, and growth of an abolitionist movement that the world has never seen chattel slavery. Our unborn need more than emancipation proclamations.

In God We Trust

Claude

With Barack Obama now president, many in the pro-life community are extremely upset, and rightfully so. If he follows through with his plans, he will do everything in his power to make sure that it's easier to get abortions during his administration. If he signs the Freedom Of Choice Act, it will overturn all the hard work the pro-life movement has done legislatively over the past few years. It may be hard to fathom, but he wants to give more rights to terrorists who want Americans dead than to totally innocent unborn babies.

That being said, when one analyzes the amount of abortions that have occurred, it doesn't matter who the president is or which party he is from. In the last 14 years, under both Democrat and Republican presidents, the yearly amount of abortions has decreased by approximately 200,000. That's cause for celebration, until you think that there are still 1.2 million babies being killed every year. Also, can that decrease be attributed to anything the president or any political party has done? Some will say that it did, but when you look at the facts, it just doesn't show it. The most notable accomplishment is the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2003, but that prevents relatively few abortions. The president, of course, has the ability to inform the masses about this horrendous act called abortion. Unfortunately, the best that we have seen is George W. Bush on rare occasions using the phrase "culture of life" or some similar term.

I believe abortions have decreased because teens and young adults have realized that it is a baby being killed, and there has to be a better alternative than abortion. Educational organizations such as Stand True, Justice For All, Students For Life, and many Catholic pro-life groups have greatly helped educate the youth about abortion. High school and college-aged students have tremendous communication networks, such as MySpace, Facebook, texting, etc. When the youth is exposed to the truth about the pro-life view, it can spread like wildfire.

The pro-life message is often sugar-coated by using benign pictures and terminology. The youth just want to be told the honest truth. Of course, if they are shown graphic photos or videos, they may be repulsed, but in the long term there's a very good chance they will remember them. The pro-life community is in a battle with universities, the media, and movies where abortion is often seen as a very acceptable practice. The pro-life side is almost always portrayed in a negative fashion, but the truth about abortion needs to be continually exposed. Although this task of changing their hearts and minds may seem insurmountable, it can be successful. No matter who is president, the pro-life fight needs to be focused at a grassroots level with the youth in our culture.

An Exclusive for Right Side News by JBWilliams ©2009 USA

One of many Bush Administration policies being immediately overturned by the new Obama cabal is the existing ban on the use of federal tax dollars to promote and fund abortions here and abroad.

Obama planned to sign an executive order pouring US taxpayer funds into abortion practices all over the world on his first day in office. But as the March for Life [1] on Washington DC was scheduled for January 21st, he decided to delay the signing of this peculiar executive order for a couple of days.

The March for Life has now passed and Obama is scheduled to sign the order today, January 23, 2009. [2]

As my dear friend Marie Jon chronicles in her Right Side News column, Obama - the Master of Infanticide [3], Obama has a long and distinguished history of supporting infanticide without condition or reservations of any kind.

On the issue of a mother's right to kill, no human being on earth is more liberal-minded than Barack Obama, supporting even the most brutal forms of late-term abortion, and even the death of children who somehow survived all attempts to abort and must now be deprived of life outside of the womb - a fully developed, living, breathing human being.

Now as president, Obama will sign an executive order allowing the use of federal tax revenue to fund and promote unrestrained infanticide around the globe. Most telling about Mr. Obama is the fact that a lion's share of these funds will be used to murder the young in his homeland of Africa. [4] And clearly, it is a high priority for him on this, his third day in office.

In Obama's inaugural speech, he said "America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We The People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents."

Obama has never made a truer statement. Sadly, like all of his patriotic sounding statements, he did not mean a single word of it.

America's founding cornerstone document is our Declaration of Independence, upon which all else rests and which unequivocally states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life..."

As has been the case throughout Obama's political career, his words are eloquent, but his deeds are deadly.

Our nation's founders understood - and therefore established for all future generations - that the cornerstone at the foundation of individual freedom is the protected right to innocent life itself, without which, no human being can even dream of freedom.

Although Obama's speechwriters know what buzz-words resonate with average Americans at campaign time, they also know that few Americans have the political savvy or attention span to realize that Obama's entire life is built upon fancy words and deadly deeds.

Even more troubling is Obama's personal commitment to Eugenics. [5] Today's liberals believe that they not only have the technology to improve upon God's human design, but the right to do it as well. They believe that they have the right to alienate the God-given and Founders' affirmed right to life in the name of a progressive greater communal good. [6]

It is on this basis that Mr. Obama will sign an executive order today, on his third day of unbridled political power, authorizing the use of US taxpayer revenue to fund the murder of the innocent unwanted around the globe, in pursuit of his idea of the utopian society.

It is this act that Obama believes, with his entire being, upholds the values recorded in our American founding documents. Yet this act is a direct violent affront to those very principles and values.

Obama claims that "this is the will of the people who sent him to Washington." Is it?

Most polling data on the subject of abortion fail to ask the questions at hand. Are most Americans pro-women's rights? Of course they are, seeing women as entirely equal to men in their fundamental unalienable rights enumerated in our founding documents. This is how the abortion question is most often falsely framed to generate the desired poll result.

Does this mean that most Americans believe in abortion on demand, infanticide or eugenics? Rarely taken detailed polls, in which the proper questions are asked, do not support this claim.

A full 74% of Americans believe in only a very restricted use of abortion, as in the real cases of rape, incest or defense of the mothers life, or in no right to abortion at all. [7]

Only 26% of Americans support the concept of unrestrained abortion on demand - 26% too many, who also have no understanding or respect for the unalienable right to life guaranteed every American human being.

Very few Americans support late-term abortion, post-delivery infanticide or the use of abortion to engineer a more desirable social order through eugenics. And almost NO American wants their tax dollars used to fund such insanity, here or anywhere else in the world.

Still, Obama not only supports all of these perverted forms of murder and mayhem, but he will sign an order today calling for the use of taxpayer dollars to fund and promote these insane ideas all over the world. Dollars largely collected from the 74% of Americans who oppose all of it.

I must ask my fellow Americans - specifically the 66 million American voters who put this guy in complete power - when the fundamental respect for the unalienable right to human life itself is erased from the whole of society, respect for what other unalienable right remains?

CNN should take a poll on how many Americans support Obama's use of their money to fund and promote the murder of millions of innocent unwanted children around the globe... but they will never, ever, take such a poll. Can you imagine the public outcry it would ignite?

Then they should poll the people and ask, - what kind of human being is capable of such things? And how did he become the leader of the free world, only to immediately rob the innocents of the world of their right to life itself?

In the first hours of his newfound power, Obama has used the president's pen to end the trials of and free known terrorists from military captivity, and, at the same time, damn millions of innocent children around the world to death, all in his bizarre mutilation of the concept of "humanity." This, he believes to be a Christian act... a worthy objective for the leader of the free world!

This is the new American president and this is a first 72-hour glimpse of how he intends to uphold, protect and preserve the foundational principles and values of what was once the greatest nation on earth.

If Americans will go along with this, they will go along with anything!

If life itself is not sacred, then nothing on earth is sacred anymore. There is no hope for a society capable of these things. It must be destroyed and I have no doubts that the Creator will exact the appropriate penalty for such an evil people.

Today, I share the sentiments recorded in this quote from Thomas Jefferson...

"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever."

Did you go to the March for Life? Then look for your family or group here.

Did you wish you could attend the March for Life? Then take some time to feel like you were there.

Do you think the pro-life movement is about angry, aging white men? Then you definitely need to see it for yourself - these are your friends and neighbors, co workers and fellow students. Click below for an up-close and personal look at the REAL face of the pro-life movement - through 477 photos of the 300,000 marchers at the 2009 March for Life:

March for Life 2009

The annual March for Life is the most under-reported event in the nation.

This is my fourth year redressing the lack of Dinosaur Media coverage with an online photo journal. If a picture says a thousand words, then people can see the truth about Pro-Lifers here: a dazzlingly diverse movement filled with youth, vitality and joy.

Following 2007 and 2008, when marchers each year numbered 200,000, we wondered what would happen in 2009 - two days following the inauguration of the most proudly pro-abortion president in this sad episode of our nation's history.

This year there were 300,000!

I stood on a column in front of the Department of Labor for 2 1/2 hours shooting over 700 pictures. I have cut them to 477 - preserving such a large number for the sake of documentation and so that marchers can find their groups. They are in the exact order in which they were shot - except for the little surprise at the end, which I took on the Mall during the speakers before the March began.

Enjoy! And please pass it on -

~~~~~~~~
For previous years, see

March for Life 2008
March for Life 2007
March for Life 2006

Yes, we anticipated this but that doesn't make it any the less outrageous.  President Barack Obama has ordered that taxpayers will fund international organizations that promote abortion overseas:

"For too long," he said, "international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back-and-forth debate that has served only to divide us. I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate."

And so executive fiat was used to end the debate and force American taxpayers to violate their conscience and participate in the international slaughter of the unborn. 

How ironic it is that Obama criticized the "politics" and yet engaged in the same with a divisive and unilateral act used by his democratic predecessors. 

Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), commented,

"One effect of Obama's order will be to divert many millions of dollars away from groups that do not promote abortion, and into the hands of those organizations that are the most aggressive in promoting abortion in developing countries.  President Obama not long ago told the American people that he would support policies to reduce abortions, but today he is effectively guaranteeing more abortions by funding groups that promote abortion as a method of population control."

More at the Quick and the Dead, Slice of Laodicia, LifeSiteNews, LifeNews

New York, Jan 23, 2009 / 03:40 am (CNA).- A new pro-life initiative in New York City is being launched to rally pro-lifers and to persuade other Americans to become pro-life through a door-to-door community organizing campaign.

Organized for Life, the joint creation of the groups Prolife Witness and Pro-Life Unity, plans to distribute pro-life literature and DVDs to every house in targeted neighborhoods. According to its website, the campaign aims to "dispel the myths" publicized by the media and Planned Parenthood while challenging people to think what they mean by "abortion" and "choice."

The campaign will also engage in crisis pregnancy outreach while bringing the "Gospel of Life" door-to-door.

Another of its aims is to identify and establish relationships with pro-lifers, introducing them to community efforts against abortion such as local opposition to Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics. Organized for Life also aspires to create "a strong local pro-life voting bloc among members of all political parties."

"The concept of community organizing is not a practice owned solely by leftists and communists, and it is not just for stirring up discontent among the 'have nots'," the campaign's web site states.

Participants expressed optimism about the effort.

"Many of the people whose homes we visited responded positively," said Ruben Obregon, a co- founder of Organized for Life who went door-to-door last week in Staten Island, New York City.

"This groundbreaking initiative takes the abortion and life issues battle beyond the streets and the clinics and delivers the life message directly to the homes of American families," Obregon added.

Peter Shinn, co-founder of Organized for Life, remarked:

"Life issues need to be delivered in person so America can make educated, informed decisions... I believe one of the best ways this can be accomplished is through face to face contact, which is the backbone of Organized for Life."

The campaign has been endorsed by David Bereit, National Campaign Director of 40 Days for Life, who called it a "long-overdue effort" that fills a "huge gap" in the pro-life movement, according to a press release from the campaign.

"This is a HUGE opportunity that needs to be taken advantage of in the movement!" Bereit said.

Abortion is the slavery issue of our time, author Eric Metaxas told about 400 people at the annual Colorado Right to Life rally Thursday on the steps of the Capitol.

"God is the one who calls you to the battle," Metaxas said to the crowd, an eclectic mix that included families with baby strollers and protesters waving signs and abortion- photo posters.

They came to mourn the 36th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, which legalized abortion, and to be inspired to fight for the idea that the unborn are persons with an inalienable right to life.

Like slavery, the abortion fight may not end quickly, but it will be stopped - ultimately by educating one's opponents, not demonizing them, said Metaxas.

He wrote Amazing Grace, which explores how British abolitionist William Wilberforce - known as a "crazy fanatic" in his time - painstakingly overcame his 18th-century culture's entrenched acceptance of slavery.

Education was what got Shari Hutchings involved, said the 44-year-old mother of four, who took part in a march down the 16th Street Mall after the rally.

"In college we were never educated, we never learned the horror of abortion," Hutchings said. When two of her children were born prematurely, "I learned that babies were being aborted at the same age as my children - these precious babies. Now I have a passion about life," Hutchings said.

The ad has already been viewed hundreds of thousands of time online, and will soon be appearing on major US television networks. - LifeSiteNews

What do you think?

President Barack Obama has indicated that he will use an executive order to force taxpayers to fund abortions overseas ...

Our Founding Fathers began a revolution over taxation without representation. Taxes, folks, on stamps and tea. We've had 50 million Americans murdered in the womb in our lifetimes and so-called Christian churches are closing next Sunday so everyone can watch the Superbowl. God's hand of judgment is on this nation for good reason. -- Slide of Laodecia

More than 3,000 pro-lifers braved the cold and gathered at the Minnesota Capitol to hear Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Sen. Norm Coleman at Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life's annual "March for Life."

Photo from the 2009 March for Life: Yes we can terminate abortion!

Source: Life at the Frontier

Well done Congressman Pence...

President Barack Obama released an official statement concerning abortion and the anniversary of Roe v. Wade:

On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women's health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman's right to choose.

While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services.

On this anniversary, we must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.

While Obama appeals to unity through affordable contraception, we would prefer him to invoke the God-given sanctity of human life and our call to respect and defend the living, including the unborn.

For the remainder of this horrible anniversary, let's consider the 50,000,000 babies who were unjustly murdered and prayerfully seek a change in the beliefs of our President and an end to this holocaust.

HT: FRCBlog

The AP reports "scenes from the March for Life" via YouTube:

I do not celebrate January 22nd. It is a day for grief and mourning. It is a day to renew our call to action to stand for the smallest among us!

I really hadn't.

I thought, I could write about how there are always as many people marching in today's March for Life as there were reported estimated on the national mall in Washington, D.C. for the new President's inauguration, but the press and the powers-that-be won't allow the same aerial photographs or "unofficial crowd estimates" for the March the way they did for the inauguration of the latest pro-abortion President.

The press and/or government, especially now, won't allow the photos to be taken from the air for the March for Life, and will never publish the photos that do exist showing the vastness of the March For Life throngs.

In 2006, I live-blogged how all the "big" news outlets printed their "big stories" on the March for Life, as early as an entire 9 hours before it even started.

Every year, we all report this. The press never listens. They want you to hear and see only what they want you to. And so, that's all you (think you) know.

But in the end, I thought I wouldn't blog even that, again.

I lost it at Mass this morning though.

My parish priest gave a homily about why our diocese asked them all to wear Lenten purple vestments today.

It was to mourn for the lost children, and to pray for them and the moms who made those "choices".

He spoke of our new President's reference to this nation going forward "with God's grace" in his inaugural speech, and yet he will likely sign the Freedom Of Choice Act (FOCA) as he said would be one of his first acts as President.

The priest spoke of how that would take our taxpayer dollars and use them for abortions, whether we like it or not.

How it would go farther than Roe v. Wade and/or Doe v. Bolton ever dreamed of, in making abortion a "national right," equal, ironically, to the "right to life," all while focusing our nation on the right to put to death the most vulnerable among us.

He spoke of how the focus in our nation is now on death, instead of on life.

On treating motherhood as a "hobby", not the sacred, valued role it really is.

On supporting organizations who support abortion, openly or otherwise.

He spoke of how FOCA will force Catholic and other Christian hospitals to perform abortions, give out abortifacient morning after contraception and the like, against our moral consciences.

I lost it.

I cannot help but feel such an overpowering fear for our country, because of what we have chosen now. Of who we (collectively) have chosen.

I wept out of fear for our country for what we have done and what we, through Obama, are about to do.

I wept for my daughter who I've never known.

I wept for me, for my grave mistake.

I wept for all those in this nation who "get it", that life really does begin at conception, regardless of the idiot scientists who try to redefine it otherwise.

I wept for all those in this nation who don't "get it", including our new President.

The priest prayed much more compassionately for our new President than I had planned to at this Mass. I had, all ready to go, a spoken-out-loud petition to say. His prayer made mine moot and also shameful, really, and in my tears all I could say was the first part of what I'd intended to say:

"I pray for the safety of those going to the March for Life today...and for those who wish they could be there..."

I couldn't say any more.

All those who wish they could be there but cannot, include all those women, and men, whose grief and/or remorse about their abortions or involvement or knowledge of abortions of relatives, prevent them from finding comfort or relief or salve from knowing that there are, every year, a million or more people converging on the mall in Washington, D.C. and filling its wide streets, probably the same streets that Obama walked or rode down not two days before.

You'll never see that estimate in the news. And whether it's a million bodies there today or 300,000, you will also never know how many more hundreds of thousands are sitting at home, wondering if they will ever be able to stand up and be counted among those who truly value life, at last.

I wept for our nation. We are so corrupted. We have chosen a man to lead us deeper into the culture of death, a man who calls himself a Christian yet believes that without a national right to government-paid abortions, a girl or woman is being "punished with a baby" if she gets pregnant and doesn't want to be.

We are so unbelievably blind.

I wept for this nation the same way I did after 9/11. Only this time, we are doing the damage to ourselves.

This photo says it all, for me. Thanks, Barbara of MommyLife.net, for this and other photos from the various Marches.

The grace of deliverance and the call to covenantal faithfulness ... George Grant explains.

Live Streaming by Ustream.TV

Questions - will any of the major news networks send a Washington reporter a few blocks down to the March for Life? Despite a crowd of over 200,000, my expectations are low given the history of underreporting this event has received.

8:30-8:35: Introduction - emcee Jill Stanek

8:35-8:50: Peter Shinn/Major Samuel Mosteller, Pro-Life Unity

8:50-9:05: Shaun Kenney, Executive Director, American Life League

9:05-9:20: Danny Glover, Blogger/Journalist

9:20-9:35: Michael New, Ph.D., University of Alabama

9:35-9:50: Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., President, Americans United for Life

9:50-10:00: Break [22 Weeks film preview]

10:00-10:15: Chris Gacek, PhD., J.D. (FRC) /Martha Shuping, M.D.

10:15-10:30: Michael Illions, Conservatives with Attitude!

10:30-10:50: Amanda Carpenter, Townhall.com

10:50-11:10: Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan)

11:10-11:30: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash)

The March for Life in Washington D.C. is today, January 22nd! Go to MarchForLife.org for more information. If you haven't signed up for the Blogs for Life conference yet, click here to go to blogs4life.com and do so!

It's time to end abortion and human killing research in America

Pro-Life Unity

United we stand - Divided they die

From March for Life

On January 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the West Steps of the Capitol. An estimated 20,000 committed pro-life Americans rallied that day on behalf of our pre-born brothers and sisters.

Tomorrow is the date of the 36th March for Life in Washington DC. Last year there were over 200,000 in attendance and this year there will be more.

The event marks a sad anniversary in our nation's history, one that reflects the most despicable elements of this post-modern society. The March reflects the grass-root redemptive efforts of those with the resolve to end the barbaric era of child killing. I hope you have the opportunity to take a stand tomorrow for those without a voice by joining the March for Life.

P.S. Before the March for Life why not drop in on the Blogs4Life Conference?

The annual Pro-Life National Memorial for the Pre-born has been moved to the Congressional Auditorium at the Congressional Visitors Center on the east side of the U.S. Capitol building. Join us as we pray for the victims of abortion.

The event, sponsored by Faith and Action, National Pro-Life Radio and the National Pro-Life Action Center will be held on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM.

Click here to view the video on Youtube and to see more of the videos from the user faithandaction.

Pennsylvania Program Sets Record - 19,747 women provided pregnancy and parenting support services last year.

Harrisburg, PA - January 14, 2009. Real Alternatives, statewide administrator for the award winning Pennsylvania Alternative to Abortion Services Program, reports that in fiscal year 2007 -2008 a record 19,747 women were provided comprehensive counseling, mentoring, and support throughout their nine (9) months of pregnancy and twelve (12) months after the birth of their baby. In fiscal year 2007-2008 the program received its highest funding of $6.5 million per year by the Commonwealth's Department of Public Welfare. The program's administrative cost ratio is less than 8.5%

"We have seen a steady decrease in annual abortions since the start of the program 13 years ago. To date, the citizens of Pennsylvania have placed $59 million of tax payer funds to provide pregnancy and parenting support services to 150,000 women experiencing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. We are striving for the day when no woman in the Commonwealth feels that she must have an abortion - that is what the program is about," said Kevin I. Bagatta, Esquire, Real Alternatives President & CEO.

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, 118 Real Alternatives-funded pregnancy support centers, Catholic Charities, social service agencies, maternity homes, and adoption agencies throughout the Commonwealth provided services to 19,747 women at 83,263 visits. There is a center within an hour of every woman in Pennsylvania.

Since its inception 13 years ago, the Program [www.RealAlternatives.org/movie] has served over 150,000 women at over 645,329 office visits.

Bagatta continued: "this state-funded support program is the only program in the Commonwealth dedicated to lowering abortions after there is a crisis pregnancy. It continues to work because of the approximately 500 counselors and mentors statewide meeting the needs of women in unplanned and crisis pregnancies. By providing a counselor to be with the woman in need from the moment she finds out she is pregnant to 12 months after the birth of the baby, this program empowers her to overcome her obstacles and crisis. She is not alone. She knows someone is with her to help her. An alternative to abortion is not a pamphlet, it is another person....it is one woman seeing another woman in crisis and loving her and supporting her like she is her own daughter. This program represents the best in America."

View a short film about this successful program visit: www.RealAlternatives.org/movie. For more information, call Kevin I. Bagatta, Esq. at
717-541-1112.

Tomorrow pro-lifers will March for Life through our nation's capitol, memorializing the Supreme Court's infamous Jan. 22, 1973 abortion decision. During prior years it has been a joy to hear a brief word of support from the Command-in-Chief and tomorrow President Barack Obama has been publicly invited to the event (click here to read the full letter):

Mr. Obama, we hear about genocide in far-off lands, and America is asked to help stop that evil. Certainly America wants to help stop all genocide evil - foreign and domestic. Since the illicit Roe v. Wade, America suffers genocide of an estimated 50,000,000 preborn boys and girls. And, since the March for Life Rally last year, an estimated 1,300,000 preborn humans have been intentionally killed out-of-sight - without coverage by media or a celebrity. An abortion killing site is within walking distance of the White House. As President of all the people, please join us prolifers as we March for Life for love of God, of our born and preborn Neighbors, including abortionists, and of our Country.

We've been writing about this for some time and it now appears that President Barack Obama will reverse the pro-life policies of prior administrations during his first days of office:

In the hours before Mr. Obama was to take the oath of office, anonymous reports confirmed that the new president intends to immediately open U.S. foreign aid funding to abortion proponents, and begin the process of opening funding to embryonic stem-cell research.

Before the week of his inauguration is over, Obama is expected to issue an executive order repealing the Mexico City Policy, a Reagan-era policy that restricts overseas funding to groups that offer or aggressively promote abortion. Sources have not indicated whether he plans to issue the order on Thursday, which would coincide with the 36th anniversary of legalized abortion in America through the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision.

-- LifeSiteNews

Xerxes I was a pagan Persian king in the 5th Century B.C. After deposing the then-queen, he sent out eunuchs to find a replacement. Enter Esther, a Jewish girl of exceptional beauty chosen as the new queen. A grave problem arose when Haman, a prince under his rule, persuaded Xerxes to root out and kill all Jews. Esther had hidden her Jewish identity. She now had a choice: Remain quiet in the hopes of saving herself or speak up and possibly lose her life as a result. In urging her to save her people, Mordecai (her cousin) uttered these famous words: "Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther risked her life and saved her people.

I believe that every Christian has Esther moments, some more important than others. And at each moment we can remain quiet in the hopes of saving ourselves or we can speak up and possibly lose respect, friends, even our jobs. Fortunately for Christians in America, we will not lose our lives. But some of us may lose our freedom. However, our brothers and sisters in Christ in other parts of the world face Esther moments all the time. And some do risk -- and even lose -- their lives in the process.

I submit that American Christians have an Esther moment right now. We face the prospect of the most pro-abortion presidency in our nation's history. Please don't flip out on me for being such a killjoy on the day of his inauguration; I am just telling it like I see it. On abortion, Barack Obama is more radical than the National Abortion Rights Advocacy League (NARAL). He has also promised that the first thing he would do once in office is to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which will eliminate every single restriction on abortion in every single state. (More here). In spite -- and perhaps because -- of all this, I readily acknowledge that we must pray for our president, as the Bible commands. But I digress.

So that's it, friends. I believe God has prepared us for a time such as this. In the upcoming weeks, I will highlight specific Esther moments. From bioethics to the biological family, we will be tested. I pray God gives us the courage to emulate Esther.

On the day of Barack Obama's inauguration as President of the United States, most American's hope he will succeed in leading this nation in a manner fitting the historic nature of his presidency.  His speech is expected to emphasize a new era of responsibility:

Obama aides said that the speech will last 18 to 20 minutes and that Obama will emphasize that America is entering a new area (sic) of responsibility.

He will say that America has been hurt by a "me first" mentality that has contributed to the current economic crisis, aides say, and call on individuals -- as well as corporations and businesses -- to take responsibility for their actions.

Unfortunately, as the most radical abortion proponent in presidential history, Obama's theme of "personal responsibility" is likely to ring hollow in the ears of those who respect the dignity of human life.  In particular, I expect pro-life bloggers will take great exception to Obama's inconsistent stand for and against life.

[note - Earlier this week LifeNews published a compilation of President-elect Barack Obama's dismal record on abortion (see also my Appendix below) and pro-life organizations are preparing to challenge the new administration's strong advocacy of abortion.]

Despite the election, consider that the witness of Christians and the work of pro-lifers in not dependent upon who is in public office.  As we have always done, we will reach out to those in need, we will proclain the truth at abortion killing centers and we will bring the Gospel to the lost. (source)

The fight against abortion does not start and stop with the president. He can help, and he can hurt. But if this president tries to hurt, he's in for a fight. - Jill Stanek

Appendix - Obama on Abortion

1. Sanctity of Life:  When asked when a baby is entitled to human rights Obama responded that the question was above his pay grade.  Obama would recommend abortion for his daughters if they got pregnant because he wouldn't want them to be "punished with a baby."

2. Ratings:  Obama is rated 0% by the The National Right to Life Committee.  Obama is rated 100% by NARAL.

3. Legislation:  Obama is against "conscience-clauses" for pro-life doctors who refuse to do abortions.  Obama voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.  Obama voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion.

4. Destructive Embryonic Stem Cell Research:  Obama voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.   Obama supports the killing of human embryos to obtain their stem cells.  Obama has signaled that he intends to reverse Bush's controversial limit on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research,

5. Funding Abortion: Obama wants to force taxpayers (and insurance companies) to pay for abortions - supports legislation that would repeal the Hyde Amendment which protects pro-life citizens from having to pay for abortions that are not necessary to save the life of the mother and are not the result of rape or incest.

6. Partial Birth Abortion: Obama voted against banning the brutal practice of partial-birth abortion.

7. Born Alive Infant Protection Act:  Barack Obama voted against and blocked legislation that would have protected infants who were born alive following an unsuccessful abortion (he took a leadership role to kill it). Then he misrepresented his record.  Obama called Gianna Jessen, an abortion survivor, a despicable liar after being presented with the truth about his failure to protect babies born alive.

8. Freedom of Choice Act: Barack Obama co-sponsored and supports the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), a radical legislative attempt to enshrine abortion-on-demand into American law, to sweep aside existing laws that the majority of Americans support and to prevent states from enacting protective measures in the future (more here).  Obama promises as his number one prior to sign FOCA into law.  [note:  Americans United for Life (AUL), a pro-life law and policy organization, has prepared an analysis of the "Freedom of Choice Act".  Sign the fight FOCA peition here.]

9. Supreme Court:  Obama vows to nominate Supreme Court justices that support Roe v Wade.  Obama voted against the highly qualified Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

10. Radical Pro-Abortion:  Obama is the most pro-abortion President and rejects of the God-given intrinsic dignity of human life.  Obama's only Harvard Law Review article took a pro-abortion stance. 

11.  Assault on Life:  Immediately after his election, Barack Obama's assault on human life began with the identification of executive orders that could be reversed to support abortion and embryonic stem cell research.  Barack Obama has confirmed that he will overturn a pro-life policy of President Bush on his first day in office and fund foreign abortions with US tax dollars. [visit the FRC to take action today]

BornAliveTruth.org announced its first post-election project: co-hosting with Operation Rescue the premiere of 22Weeks, a movie telling the true story of a baby aborted alive in an Orlando abortion mill in 2005. Jill Stanek writes:

You are invited to attend a FREE screening of this 30-minute short film in Washington, D.C. on January 21, the evening before the March for Life.

22Weeks will be shown at the Union Station Phoenix Theatre (50 Massachusetts Ave. NE). Groups are welcome (high school age and up recommended). Showtimes: 5p, 6:30p, 8p.

Email 22weekspremiere@gmail.com for reservations. Seating is limited.

After each screening the director of 22Weeks and the mother portrayed in the film will be available for Q&A.

22Weeks tells the true story of a young woman locked in the bathroom of an abortion clinic after her aborted baby was born alive. It's a film about decisions and the echoes they leave behind. The film includes the reenactment of an actual 911 call. 22Weeks confronts the outer reaches of one of the most controversial subjects of our time. It places the viewer on both sides of the spectrum and asks the chilling question, "What would you do?"

Alejandro Monteverde, director of the movie Bella, called 22Weeks "one of the most disturbing stories I've ever come across."

[snip]

Donate $50 or more to BornAliveTruth.org to help us finance the premiere of 22Weeks and receive a newly released dvd of the movie! Donate at our website, BornAliveTruth.org.

22Weeks will also be screened free in 2 other US cities, Orlando and Wichita. Info:

Orlando, FL

January 20, 7p
3370 Snowhill Rd., Chuluota, FL 32766

Wichita, KS

January 22, 6:30p (immediately following a candlelight vigil beginning at 5:30 at Tiller's abortion mill)
Operation Rescue National Headquarters
3013 E. Central Ave., Wichita, KS 67214

Visit the 22Weeks website.

Here's the trailer ...

Group launches pro-life community organizing effort.

Enduring single digit temperatures, two members of Organized for Life kicked off the the group's ground breaking community organizing efforts in Staten Island, NY.

The pair traveled door to door in the south shore section of the island in an effort to spread the gospel of life and to build opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

Despite the frigid temperatures, most of the residents were willing to listen to the organizers, and many signed the petition to stop FOCA.

The group's community organizing aspect takes pro-life outreach to the next level by addressing abortion person to person, door by door and block by block in an effort to organize local and national opposition to abortion. This groundbreaking initiative takes the abortion battle beyond the streets and the clinics and to the homes of American families.

Since community organizing has traditionally been identified with leftist radicals, many pro-lifers and conservatives may have hesitations about becoming involved. "Instead of rejecting this type of activism because it's associated with the far left, we should learn from our opposition and adopt their tactics to further the Gospel of Life" stated Ruben Obregon, one of the doorknockers involved in Saturday's community organizing efforts.

Among the group's goals it hopes to meet by pro-life door-knocking are bringing crisis pregnancy outreach to the home, building local opposition to Planned Parenthood, organizing a strong local pro-life voting block among members of all parties, distributing pro-life literature to every house in a targeted neighborhood, and letting the politicians know that there is a critical mass out here of people who care about unborn babies.

Ruben and Margaret, members of Organized for Life, wait to
speak with a resident of the south shore of Staten Island after
ringing their bell.

At one time in our nation's history the use of the phrase "Freedom of Choice" would never have been associated with the disgusting practice of abortion. Unfortunately, the term "choice" has been hijacked by the pro-abortion movement and consistently associated the "choice" to kill a child in the womb.

Consider the raging controversy over the radical abortion "Freedom of Choice Act" and President-Elect Barack Obama's promise to see it passed. FOCA has certainly tarnished the noble sounding phrase "Freedom of Choice" and put a certain connotation on it that undeniably associated with the legalized murder of the innocent and defenseless.

To the point of this post - Would a large American company use this language in connection with the inauguration without the intention of supporting the selection of a specifically pro-abortion president?

As noted by Barbara last week, Krispy Kreme released one such statement last week:

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies -- just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet "free" can be.

Of course we all love Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (esp. when the are free - thanks!) but we were a little confused by the language the company used in its press release. It doesn't seem unreasonable for the American Life League to ask:

Just an unfortunate choice of words? For the sake of our Wednesday morning doughnut runs, we hope so. The unfortunate reality of a post Roe v. Wade America is that "choice" is synonymous with abortion access and celebration of 'freedom of choice' is a tacit endorsement of abortion rights on demand.

President-elect Barack Obama promises to be the most virulently pro-abortion president in history. Millions more children will be endangered by his radical abortion agenda.

Celebrating his inauguration with "Freedom of Choice" doughnuts - only two days before the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to decriminalize abortion - is not only extremely tacky, it's disrespectful and insensitive and makes a mockery of a national tragedy.

Ironically, it appears a number of pro-abortion blogs have jumped all over ALL's press statement for suggesting the association rather than applauding the doughnut manufacture for supporting their cause.  Update: Thomas Peters comments on the vile remarks directed at ALL:

This come-back is especially odd because "freedom of choice" is a liberal-invented euphemism for "abortion on demand" to begin with! Judie Brown is merely pointing out that "freedom of choice" has taken on a specific connotation tied to abortion rights (and other false "rights") and that we should sedulously avoid incorporating it into our common parlance.

Perhaps it's time for Krispy Kreme to weigh in on the matter and clarify what appears to be an unfortunate statement in support of abortion -or- a ridiculous marketing blunder.   Update-   In fact... .the company has:

The Inauguration Day promotion is not about any social or political issue.

For years there have been many intellectual and articulate discussions concerning the pro-abortion and pro-life views, either in print, live debate, or just everyday interactions.

In an article, Abortion and the Conception of Life, Las Cruces Sun-News, 1-3-09, Michael Hays states the following:

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Pro-Life Blogs Awards:

1. Best Overall Pro-Life Blog - Mommy Life
2. Best News and Reporting - Jivin Jehoshaphat
3. Pro-Life Unity Award - Causa Nostrae Laetitiae
4. Pro-Life Whistleblower Award - Catholic Fire
5. Best Pro-Life Apologetics - Mark's Blog
6. Pro-Life Instigator Award for Activism - American Papist

Pro-Life Blog Awards promotes, encourages, impassions and rewards pro-life bloggers for excellence in spreading the culture of life.

Bloggers are heralding news and information about the pro-life movement when traditional media have ignored the most pressing crisis of our day - the war on LIFE.

Blogging is an often thankless and solitary job and it's time we recognized pro-life bloggers for their contribution to the pro-life movement and potential to transform the landscape of our common cause to protect and defend the sanctity of each human being's life.

The winners for 2009 will be announced at Blogs4Life and American Life League's Training and Activism Week and Personhood Conference January 23, 2009.

Each of the three top winners will receive accommodations for three days and two nights at one of Washington D.C.'s premier new hotels, The Capitol Liasion, located in the thick of the pro-life movement's largest annual demonstration and steps away from Washington D.C.'s national treasures and history.

Keeping in mind that currently "Freedom of Choice" is a three-word euphemism for a national act (FOCA) Obama has promised which would repeal all state laws and regulations of abortions - granting women and even the youngest girls the "right" to have their unborn babies killed in the womb up until the day of birth, you may be concerned by this posting by Danielle Bean. While I am publishing her post in its entirety, you will probably want to go to Faith&Family to read all the comments.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts released the following statement yesterday:

"Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies--just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet 'free' can be."

Ew.

Maybe this is only a case of corporate ignorance and an astonishingly poor choice of words. I sure hope so.

As LifeSiteNews notes:

"Celebrating his inauguration with "Freedom of Choice" doughnuts - only two days before the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to decriminalize abortion - is not only extremely tacky, it's disrespectful and insensitive and makes a mockery of a national tragedy."

Perhaps you'd like to let them know what you think of their promotion.

Perhaps this was just stupidity. Let's hope so. But in that case, there should be an acknowledgment and apology.

Blogs 4 Life Conference



Peter Shinn


The blogs 4 Life conference, will be held at the Family Research Council on the morning of the March for Life in Washington D.C. on January 22nd. Notable Pro-Life leaders, politicians and bloggers will be talking about the significance of blogging for the Pro-Life cause, and how blogging can support action efforts everywhere, helping end legalized abortion forever.



Jill Stanek


Jill Stanek, who was instrumental in the passing of the Born Alive Infants Act, will be the emcee of the event and will lead it off at 8:30 am. She will be followed by Major Samuel Mosteller, Vice President of Pro-Life Unity, Judie Brown, President of American Life League, Danny Glover, Dr. Michael New, Dr. Charmaine Yoest and more.


The Keynote Speaker, Amanda Carpenter, is a National Political Reporter for Townhall.com, the leading online publication for news, opinion, and talk.


The Blogs 4 Life Conference will end just in time for people to make thier way to the March for Life, which will be held on 4th street on the Mall this year.


The event will be broadcast live at the Family Research Council website


Go to blogs4life.com for more information

By Ruben Obregon

In my previous post on the subject, I highlighted the need for pro-life community organizers, and while some people thought it was a great idea, others were confused since it was most recently associated with President Elect Barack Obama.

The concept of community organizing is not a practice owned solely by leftists and communists, and it is not just for stirring up discontent among the "have nots".

Rather, pro-life community organizing involves reaching out to communities with some or all of these goals in mind:

1. Bring the Gospel of Life and crisis pregnancy outreach door to door, family to family, and person to person
2. Distribute pro-life literature and DVDs to every house in a neighborhood
3. Identify and establish relationships with those sympathetic to the unborn
4. Introduce pro-lifers to community efforts to end abortion
5. Organize a strong local pro-life voting block among members of all political parties
6. Dispel the myths put forth by the media and Planned Parenthood
7. Challenge people to think about what they mean by abortion and choice
8. Organize local opposition to Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics

Across the nation, there are many pro-life leaders who fill the role of community organizer, but there are far too few of them. Just imagine if in communities across the nation we had organizers with the caliber of Joe Scheidler, Chris Slattery, Jill Stanek, and Fr. Frank Pavone - the industry would surely be on its deathbed.

But the reality is that we don't have an army of door-knockers who can help organize local efforts day in and day out. Why? Because many of those who yearn to be full-time organizers have familial and financial obligations. If we want them to work full time in spreading the Gospel of Life and organizing local opposition to child killing, we have to make sure they can can pay the rent and feed their families.

The opposition understands this - as the Activist Next Door blog points out, Pro-choice North Carolina uses paid door-knockers to organize local support for abortion rights. Their website points out the success of a similar annual door-knocking campaign in Minnesota:

'Minnesota NARAL canvass, they have gone from 4,000 members to 45,000 members in 3 years and raised over $1.3 million dollars. As you know numbers and dollars equals power. I know we can match Minnesota's success in our state. "

Pro-life doorknocking is the natural evolution of the effort to stop legalized abortion, and it is probably one of the most effective - and relatively untapped - ways of spreading the Gospel of Life around the local community.

If the movement wants to ratchet up the effort to defend life and hasten the end to legalized abortion, then daily pro-life door knocking is a must.

Stay tuned for next week's launch of a pro-life community organizing initiative...

Just want to invite you all to consider joining us at the annual March for Life to be held January 22 in Washington, D.C. This will be my fourth year documenting the March through a photojournal I publish the next day:

March for Life 2008

March for Life 2007

March for Life 2006

Some of you are too young or to new to the pro-life movement to understand how the March began, so here is a history from the March for Life website:

Late in October 1973, grassroots prolife leaders became concerned that January 22, 1974, might come and go without properly memorializing the Supreme Court's infamous abortion decisions and without petitioning Congress for redress. Nellie speaking at the March

No established right-to-life organization was prepared to undertake the planning, financial and operational responsibilities for a high impact prolife March on the U.S. Capitol. But, grassroots prolifers wanted to march! About thirty prolife veterans resolved themselves into a committee and began making plans for the first March for Life.

On January 22, 1974, the first March for Life was held on the West Steps of the Capitol. An estimated 20,000 committed prolife Americans rallied that day on behalf of our preborn brothers and sisters.

In 1974, the March for Life was incorporated as a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization.

Our numbers have gradually risen through the years despite reduced numbers from the snow in 2000 and the terrible 9/11 attacks just months before the March 2002. These growing numbers give testimony to the increasing ranks of prolife Americans and to the importance of the March's work.

I will tell you this: The March for Life is the most under-reported event in Washington, DC. The media consistently ignore the event, even though the last two years it has drawn 200,000 people from all over the United States.

Sadly missing this year, will be a message from the President. President Bush always sent us a message of hope - and for whatever economic mistakes he made, he was consistently pro-life. I am sure we won't be hearing one from our new leader.

If you are going - or even beginning to consider going - please leave a comment. You can find details on the march route at March for Life.

Pill inventor slams. . . .pill
January 8, 2009

Eighty-five-year-old Carl Djerassi, the Austrian chemist who helped invent the contraceptive pill, now says that his co-creation has led to a "demographic catastrophe."

In an article published by the Vatican this week, the head of the world's Catholic doctors broadened the attack on the pill, claiming it had also brought "devastating ecological effects" by releasing into the environment "tonnes of hormones" that had impaired male fertility, The Taiwan Times says.

The assault began with a personal commentary in the Austrian newspaper Der Standard by Carl Djerassi. The Austrian chemist was one of three whose formulation of the synthetic progestogen Norethisterone marked a key step toward the earliest oral contraceptive pill.

Djerassi outlined the "horror scenario" that occurred because of the population imbalance, for which his invention was partly to blame. He said that in most of Europe there was now "no connection at all between sexuality and reproduction." He said: "This divide in Catholic Austria, a country which has on average 1.4 children per family, is now complete."

He described families who had decided against reproduction as "wanting to enjoy their schnitzels while leaving the rest of the world to get on with it."

The fall in the birth rate, he said, was an "epidemic" far worse, but given less attention, than obesity. Young Austrians, he said, were committing national suicide if they failed to procreate. And if it were not possible to reverse the population decline they would have to understand the necessity of an "intelligent immigration policy."

Read entire article here.

God is so gracious with us. No matter the magnitude of the mistakes we make - and , unfortunately, how many we led astray - some of us are given the time to find the truth and proclaim it. We need to pray for this man, who is undoubtedly feeling the weight of his sin.

And pray that his words will be heard.

ABORTION-BREAST CANCER NEWS HEADLINES

"An Open Letter to World Magazine"
By Karen Malec, president, Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer

Re: "Life or death? ABORTION PRESENT: Group that fights breast cancer maintains troubling ties to Planned Parenthood," By Alisa Harris, January 17, 2008. Available at:

Dear editor:

A new article in World Magazine discussed the disturbing financial relationship between the breast cancer group, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and an organization that is the primary cause of the breast cancer epidemic in the U.S. - Planned Parenthood.

The author, Alisa Harris, correctly reported that basic medical textbooks acknowledge that full term pregnancies offer women a considerable reduction in breast cancer risk. Logically, that means that the woman who chooses not to have a baby (i.e. by having an abortion) has a higher breast cancer risk than does the one who has a baby. The loss of the protective effect of a full term pregnancy is the first of three ways that abortion is linked with increased breast cancer risk (known as the "ABC link").

Harris' story, however, included inaccuracies and omitted important facts. Eight medical organizations acknowledge that abortion further raises a woman's risk (independently of the loss of the protective effect of childbearing) by leaving her breasts with more places for cancer to start. [1]

I am troubled that Harris left her readers in doubt about the existence of the independent link. She said Komen's officials dispute the independent link because:

More . . .

Jane St Clair
author of Walk Me to Midnight

You have cancer. Your doctor checks you over and says, "Well, you don't have long to live, and your insurance doesn't want to pay for expensive chemo drugs at $5000 a month."

Your doctor pulls out her prescription pad.

"We can offer you a quick and painless death through barbituates," she says, scribbling the prescription for barbs. "This will cost you less than a hundred bucks."

Don't believe it?

It's already happening.

Randy Stroup, of Dexter, Oregon, was 53 years old when he got prostrate cancer. He had no insurance so he applied for help for his medical treatment from Oregon's state health plan.

Not much of a post this time around. Just thought you might appreciate this video from the Truth Project.

Rev. Sirico, co-founder and President of the Acton Institute, talks of a Roman soldier's shock in witnessing Christians risking their lives to help others infected with The Plague.

What an awesome example from Christian patriarchs in living a culture of life, even at risk to their own lives.

Go to an abortion mill today and pray for the unborn who might not live.


Today is the first Saturday after the first Friday. Go to an abortion mill in your area and pray, stand with a sign, or whatever you want to peacefully do for a couple of hours. Click here if you want to print out flyers, Life Cards or the sign that we use.


No matter what, go to the abortion mill, even if all you do is stand there. Women drive by & see if there is a Pro-Life person standing there. If there is, some continue driving & don't come back.


Many of you said that it is difficult for you to participate in an outside event on Friday, so here is your chance! Go to MonthlyCallForLife.com & click on Calendar to find a picket or location to pray near you. If you want to start your own or are already picketing or praying at a location, email us at events@prolifeunity.com and we will post it on the calendar.


If you are in the Washington D.C. area you can join us in Falls Church, Virginia from 09:00 am to noon at 900 South Washington Street, or go to the many other abortion mills where people are praying. Click here to find other efforts in the D.C. area and around the country. Go to ProLifeUnity.com & click on Calendar for more information. Otherwise click here to go to 40daysforlife.com to participate in the 40 Days for Life project.


Go to ProLifeNews.tv for up to date news on our events & to send information & pictures about your events.


MonthlyCallForLife.com


United we stand - Divided they die - Pass it on