May 2009 Archives

Fr. Pavone, following news that abortionist George Tiller was shot to death today in Wichita, Kansas.

"I am saddened to hear of the killing of George Tiller this morning. At this point, we do not know the motives of this act, or who is behind it, whether an angry post-abortive man or woman, or a misguided activist, or an enemy within the abortion industry, or a political enemy frustrated with the way Tiller has escaped prosecution. We should not jump to conclusions or rush to judgment.

"But whatever the motives, we at Priests for Life continue to insist on a culture in which violence is never seen as the solution to any problem. Every life has to be protected, without regard to their age or views or actions."

George Tiller died from the same philosophy by which he lived. And we in the pro-life movement regret his death as loss even as we regret and mourn the deaths of those tens of thousands of innocent children whom he killed over the last 35 years. We regret his death because we seek the conversion of the soul, the restoration of the person and the recognition of wrongness of ones actions so that reconciliation can occur for that person.

We have seen former abortionists realize the evil they had done and seek the forgiveness of both God and their fellow citizens. Leaders such as Joe Scheidler have reached out for years to those who worked in the abortion industry and have brought them out of the hell they were living. In such remarkable events one finds additional proof of the supremacy of the pro-life perspective over the selfish calloused approach promoted by the abortion proponents.

But let us keep everything in perspective. George Tiller made a living killing babies and harming women. He danced with death every day. Tragically someone with Tiller's mentality thought that he or she could act with the same impunity that Tiller claimed in his actions. And as Fr. Pavone noted, at this point we do not know who acted and for what purpose or motive.

Let this event remind this nation why abortion is ultimately a destructive act for all involved. Let us pray for the end to abortion in our nation and throughout the world.

Cross-posted: Jacubczyk on Life

A.L.L. STATEMENT ON GEORGE TILLER KILLING

Washington, DC (31 May 2009) - The following is a statement from Shaun Kenney, executive director of American Life League, on the killing of abortionist George Tiller.

"Leaders within the pro-life movement often discuss justice in connection with our mission to end the tragedy of abortion. Today, Dr. George Tiller's life ended in an act defying those principles.

With genuine sorrow, we reflect on today's events in prayer. Justice for all human beings includes the lives of those with whom we fundamentally disagree as well as the victims of abortion. We firmly hope the perpetrators of this act are apprehended, that the facts be made known, and that justice according to the law is preserved and dispensed.

Today's actions were tragic, and serve as another reminder that all human life is sacred. Pro-lifers by our nature and commitment to human rights reject violence as a means of resistance. Our thoughts and prayers indeed extend to the Tiller family and the community at Reformation Lutheran Church.

American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to natural death.

The Kansas Coalition for Life Unequivocally Condemns the Shooting of Abortionist George Tiller

Although at the time of this writing, it is not known who killed Abortionist Tiller, we do know for certain that this crime was NOT the work of any true proLife person. A true proLife person respects human life as a gift from God, and leaves all life and death decisions to God Himself.

This killing - if it is in any way connected to a genuine proLife group, has the potential to set back the proLife movement by 20 years or more.

The Kansas Coalition for Life asks all reporters and commentators to make a clear distinction between lawless thugs who act on their own accord, and the good proLife people who obey the law, seeking a change in abortion laws via peaceful means and the legislative process.

It is completely misleading, for the media to imply, in any way that this is the work of the proLife movement. We urge the media to report responsibly and truthfully in this regard.

KCFL would have much preferred that Abortionist Tiller follow the footsteps of Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a former abortionist who is now one of America's most prominent and effective proLife leaders.

In 1993 Shelly Shannon, who had no connection whatsoever to any proLife organization, brought shame on all proLife groups by her stupid action, when she attempted to kill abortionist Tiller as he entered his abortion facility on East Kellogg Drive at Bleckley Street in Wichita.

Tiller's death comes at a time when all recent polling data shows that the peaceful proLife message has the support of a majority of American voters. We hope this terrible news does not hurt the steady progress that the proLife movement has made by peaceful legal means over the years.

Source: KCFL news release

Americans United for Life President and CEO, Dr. Charmaine Yoest, issued the following statement to address the murder of Dr. George Tiller: 


"We condemn this lawless act of violence. The foundational right to life that our work is dedicated to extends to everyone. Whoever is responsible for this reprehensible violence must be brought to justice under the law."

WASHINGTON - The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the nation's largest pro-life group, today condemned the killing of Dr. George Tiller. The following statement may be attributed to NRLC Executive Director, David N. O'Steen, Ph.D.:

National Right to Life extends its sympathies to Dr. Tiller's family over this loss of life.

Further, the National Right to Life Committee unequivocally condemns any such acts of violence regardless of motivation. The pro-life movement works to protect the right to life and increase respect for human life. The unlawful use of violence is directly contrary to that goal.

The National Right to Life Committee has always been involved in peaceful, legal activities to protect human lives threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. We always have and will continue to oppose any form of violence to fight the violence of abortion. NRLC has had a policy of forbidding violence or illegal activity by its staff, directors, officers, affiliated state organizations and chapters. NRLC's sole purpose is to protect innocent human life.

NRLC will continue to work through educational and legislative activities to ensure the right to life for unborn children, people with disabilities and older people. NRLC will continue to work for peaceful solutions to aid pregnant women and their unborn children. These solutions involve helping women and their children and do not involve violence against anyone.

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation's largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Det. Tom Stolz of the Wichita Policed Department just held a press conference regarding the shooting death of late-term abortionist George Tiller. A 51-year-old man has been taken into custody for what was described as a "targeted attack" on Tiller. The suspect is also alleged to have threatened witnesses who attempted to intervene. The suspect's name was not released and potential affiliations are either unknown or not disclosed. Police said Tiller died of a single gun shot wound.

Update: Although Stolz refused to release the man's name, Johnson County sheriff's spokesman Tom Erickson identified the detained man as Scott Roeder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDLN0PowN1Y&ied=22

From KWCH:

Eyewitness News has confirmed the suspect in the shooting of Dr. George Tiller is in custody in the Kansas City area. Wichita police say the man was arrested near Gardner, KS at around 2:00 Sunday afternoon.

Wichita Police are hosting a news conference on the shooting at 4:00 pm today.

Here's more from the Wichita Eagle:

The suspect in this morning's fatal shooting of George Tiller is in custody, according to emergency dispatchers.

Authorities have yet to release more information about the arrest. Wichita police have scheduled a 4 p.m. news conference to discuss the case.

More information and commentary here.

I appreciate the statement by Phil Kline, the former prosecutor who attempted to bring George Tiller to justice (from Politico):

"I am stunned by this lawless and violent act which must be condemned and should be met with the full force of law. We join in lifting prayer that God's grace and presence rest with Dr. Tiller's family and friends," he said in a statement through a spokesman.

George Tiller, a Wichita doctor who was one of the few doctors in the nation to perform late-term abortions, was shot to death on Sunday as he attended church, city officials in Wichita said. - New York Times

Attorney Dan Monnat says Tiller was shot as he served as an usher during Sunday morning services at Reformation Lutheran Church. Monnat said Tiller's wife, Jeanne, was in the choir at the time of the shooting.

Police said they are looking for white male who was driving a 1990s powder blue Ford Taurus with Kansas license plate 225 BAB. The vehicle is registered to an owner in Merriam, which is in the Kansas City area. (Wichita Eagle)

Update (2pm):  Tiller Shooting Suspect in Custody  -

Eyewitness News has confirmed the suspect in the shooting of Dr. George Tiller is in custody in the Kansas City area. Wichita police say the man was arrested near Gardner, KS at around 2:00 Sunday afternoon.

Wichita Police are hosting a news conference on the shooting at 4:00 pm today.

Update (4pm): Johnson County sheriff's spokesman Tom Erickson identified the detained man as Scott Roeder.

I hope you will join me in denouncing this violent act of lawless vigilantism which stands in direct opposition to the mission and vision of all pro-life organizations. My condolences to the victims of this act and my sincere desire that God's grace would be upon them.

Updates:

La Shawn Barber - Tiller made the case for infanticide by showing graphic photos of unborn babies with abnormalities. He admits on tape to having aborted babies a day before the mother's due date.

Pro-Life Unity: The mainstream media will be calling on the Pro-Life community to get statements on George Tiller's murder. Specifically, what they will be looking for are emotions of glee or satisfaction now that he is dead. They will find neither from most groups and individuals.

Bound4Life: We are deeply grieved and shocked by this morning's news that abortionist George Tiller was murdered in Wichita, KS. Bound4LIFE believes in and encourages the peaceful, legal methods of public assembly for the purpose of prayer. We denounce the violent act committed today against Mr. Tiller and his family. We believe that all human life is unique and precious to God.

Christian Defense Coalition:

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, national pro-life leader, former national spokesperson for Operation Rescue, had just completed leading two weeks of prayer vigils in Wichita during the trial of Dr. Tiller.

Rev. Patrick Mahoney condemns the shooting of Dr. George Tiller.

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life:

"I am saddened to hear of the killing of George Tiller this morning. At this point, we do not know the motives of this act, or who is behind it, whether an angry post- abortive man or woman, or a misguided activist, or an enemy within the abortion industry, or a political enemy frustrated with the way Tiller has escaped prosecution. We should not jump to conclusions or rush to judgment.

"But whatever the motives, we at Priests for Life continue to insist on a culture in which violence is never seen as the solution to any problem. Every life has to be protected, without regard to their age or views or actions."

Sidenote: although no suspect has been apprehended, commenters are already suggesting that those who condemned child killing and infanticide are to blame for Tiller's murder.  Unfortunately, I can imagine any number of ways this singular criminal act could be exploited by pro-abortion politicians to attack freedom speech and silence pro-lifers.

Wichita, KS - It has been learned today that George Tiller was shot and killed while entering his church on Sunday morning, May 31.

Operation Rescue releases the following statement:

We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down. Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Dawn Johnsen has been nominated by President Obama to head the Office of Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice, and as a former NARAL Attorney, she brings some outrageous views about abortion to the table.

She has worked for the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project.

While serving as legal director of NARAL (the National Abortion Rights Action League) from 1988 to 1993, Johnsen argued in a Supreme Court brief that restrictions on abortion violate the Thirteenth Amendment's prohibition against slavery because "the state has conscripted [the pregnant woman's] body for its own ends."
She believes that a pre-born child has no separate existence apart from the mother.

In the late 1980's she worked on a lawsuit, United States Catholic Conference v. Abortion Rights Mobilization, that sought to strip the Catholic Church and other religious denominations of their tax exempt status because of their pro-life advocacy.

Sign the petition against Sonia Sotomayor at www.stopsotomayor.com

Washington, DC- Organized for Life has stepped up as the leading force against President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Souter. Organized for Life's PAC, OFL Action, has opened a petition site at www.stopsotomayor.com to oppose the addition of another potentially pro-abortion justice to the Supreme Court.

Sonia Sotomayer has a record of legislating from the bench that stands against the will of the majority of Americans. Fifty-one percent of Americans call themselves pro-life. Eighty-two percent of Americans do not want a justice who would support partial-birth and late term abortion. Sixty-nine percent do not want a justice that opposes parental involvement laws. This open spot on the Court was President
Obama's opportunity to create the common ground he seeks by representing the American people's views on abortion, he missed the mark completely in nominating Sonia Sotomayor who believes she can legislate from Justice Souter's seat.

Peter Shinn, national director of Organized for Life, commented that, "Sonia Sotomayor is out of step with the American people. Quoted in 2005 as believing that policy comes from the bench, she stands counter to the American people's desire to end the tragedy of abortion rather than continue the culture of death imposed on this country by its highest court."

Ruben Obregon, president of Organized for Life, added, "In nominating Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama chose to further his own pro-abortion agenda rather than seek common ground on the abortion issue by choosing a nominee in line with the majority of the country. Instead of faithfully representing the country's views, President Obama has added another reliably liberal member to the Court who will continue to impose the Court's will on the people. Pro-life activists, the
Davids in this epic battle for life, can only stop the Goliath of the White House by banding together and signing the petition at www.stopsotomayor.com."

The petition against Sonia Sotomayor be found at www.stopsotomayor.com and will be sent to President Obama and the members of the United States Senate. Let's go out, let's get organized for life, and let's legally protect our children, one Supreme Court justice at a time.

In honor of all the military men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms, including LIFE, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Thank you and God bless you from all of us at Pro-Life Unity.

If you missed the last teleconference about Organized for Life where we talked about taking the movement to the next level, no worries, it's recorded, so you can hear it now!

Click here to listen to the audio archive of the May 19th OFL teleconference, and then click here to sign up with Organized for Life and let's take the country by storm!

What are we going to do? We're going to deliver the message of life to every door in this country. It's time to stop letting the mainstream media control the life message. Do you agree? Do you also agree it's time to end abortion and human killing research?

If so, and if you want to get involved in a grassroots ground floor opportunity, click here now!

Washington, May 19 - In response to President Obama's commencement address last Sunday at the University of Notre Dame, today Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Congressman Chris Smith(R-NJ),, co-chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus, held a press conference in Washington, D.C. and sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to publicly forgo rescinding the Bush Administration conscience protection regulation.

In the letter Sensenbrenner and Smith write, "You indicated that you wanted to 'honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion.' Given our agreement in regard to a conscience clause, we respectfully request that you put an end to your Administration's review of the Bush Administration rule that enforces existing conscience protection laws and completely forgo the rescinding of this rule. In addition, we urge you to commit to defending conscience protections in future rulemaking that affects both individual and institutional health care providers."

The letter goes on to state that, "We should reduce the number of abortions by continuing the restrictions on abortion funding... We urge you to use all the tools at your disposable to keep conscience protections in place and reduce the number of abortions in the United States."

Congressman Sensenbrenner and Congressman Smith are heartened to share common ground with the President on the issue of conscience and want to work toward a better solution that protects life and the rights of health care employees.

"If this Administration wants to be the Administration of choice, then all people need to have their choices protected," Sensenbrenner said. "The religious and moral views of health care workers should be respected. Workers should have the right to refuse to participate in an abortion procedure without the fear of losing their job or being discriminated against."

"We're simply asking President Obama to ensure that his deeds match his words," said Rep. Chris Smith, co-chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus. "This past weekend President Obama said that he believes we should 'honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion," Smith noted. "To make that happen, Mr. President," Smith added, "simply stop all your efforts, and those of your Administration, to rescind the current conscience regulations that protect the fundamental right to prolife healthcare workers--and Catholic Hospitals--to refuse to participate in procedures that they find morally reprehensible. Protecting conscience is the truly pro-choice position and respects the diversity of opinion in our society as well as the sanctity of life."

In 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule that prohibited recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and health care aides who refuse to take part in medical procedures in which they have religious or moral objections. The rule implemented existing conscience protection laws that ensure medical professionals cannot be denied employment because they do not want to provide abortions. Although federal law has long forbidden discrimination against health care professionals who refuse to perform abortions or provide referrals for them, the regulation required institutions that get federal funding to certify their compliance with laws protecting conscience rights, promoted education within the medical community regarding their rights, and provided an avenue of recourse in the event of discrimination through the Office of Civil Rights within HHS.

It was at the end of February, when the Obama Administration announced that it began "reviewing" the regulations implementing conscience laws, the first step toward rescinding the rule altogether. At that time, as part of a bipartisan effort, Sensenbrenner and Smith joined in a statement expressing their concern about the President's review of the clause.

I was at the Grotto on the Notre Dame campus Sunday afternoon when President Barack Obama received his honorary doctor of laws degree and gave his commencement speech.

At the same time, Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life officiated an alternative service for those who couldn't bear to see such a prominent enabler of child murder lauded at a Catholic university.

Whoops, was "prominent enabler of child murder" the sort of "demonizing" Obama preached against in his homily?

I did indeed think at first it was a homily. While listening to Fr. Pavone with one ear, I listened to Obama with an earpiece in the other ear thanks to a friend who placed her cell phone by her television.

Obama kept fading in and out. I only caught:

Your generation must decide how to save God's creation. ... We too often seek advantage over others. ... Too many of us view life only through the lens of immediate self-interest. ... The strong too often dominate the weak ... admirable conviction about the sacredness of life ... women who do carry their children to term [emphasis mine] ... co-exist with ... civility ... to give future generations the same chance that you had ... the Golden Rule - the call to treat one another as we wish to be treated. The call to love ... realize the dream of civil rights for all of God's children ... all children of God ... the same love of family, the same fulfillment of a life well lived ...

Wow, I thought, maybe Notre Dame President John Jenkins was right: Exalting Obama had indeed provided an opportunity to dialogue about abortion. They must have had one powerful conversation during the mile-long limo trip from the South Bend airport to the Joyce Center. Obama had been converted!

Continue reading my column yesterday, "2 points of truth among Obama's 'wild word fraud,'" in WorldNetDaily.com.

[Photo attribution: Washington Post]

Tonight's the night!! - 9:00pm EST

Are you ready to take things to the next level?

Register now before space runs out!!

Tonight's conference will focus on pro-life house and church parties and pro-life community organizing - and how Organized for Life is leading the movement in these cutting edge efforts!

Join us tonight and find out how we can use community organizing to fight taxpayer funding of abortion.

Tonight we have two special guest panelists - the President of the largest network of pregnancy resource centers in the northeast, and an experienced community organizer who wants to help Organized for Life "take things to the next level!"

And it's time to take things to the next level - as you may know by now, a new Gallup poll indicates that a slim majority - 51% - of our nation considers themselves to be pro-life. This is encouraging news, but we still have our work cut out for us - now is the time to "take things to the next level" and create a pro-life "super majority." And Organized for Life has the momentum and leadership to help do so!

We are running out of free space for tonight's teleconference, so please sign up to receive dial in information at: http://www.oflusa.com

by Georgia Kijesky

VATICAN CITY - In an article titled, "Obama in Search for Common Ground," L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper said Monday that President Barack Obama was clearly looking for some common ground with his speech at the University of Notre Dame about abortion.

The Vatican newspaper also says that Obama chose the ceremony at Notre Dame to restate his position that FOCA "is not a priority for his administration."

"Obama's speech at the leading Catholic university on Sunday confirmed what he had said at a recent news conference -- that signing the so-called Freedom of Choice Act in the U.S. Congress wasn't his highest legislative priority. The bill would protect a woman's right to have a child or end a pregnancy," L'Osservatore says.

The article did not mention the protest by dozens of U.S. Catholic bishops who denounced Notre Dame for honoring Obama because his abortion rights record clashes with fundamental church teaching. Instead, it simply quoted Obama as inviting all Americans to work together to reduce the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies, and concluded he was searching for common ground on the "delicate question of abortion."

L'Osservatore managed to casually acknowledge, however, that "Strong polemics have marked the weeks following the invitation to President Obama made by (ND) President, Fr. John Jenkins. And also yesterday, as was completely predictable, demonstrations were not missing."

In addition, L'Osservatore Romano gave Obama a positive review after his first 100 days in office, saying in a front-page editorial that even on ethical questions Obama hadn't confirmed the "radical" new direction he had discussed during the campaign.

Clearly, in this article, L'Osservatore paints a picture based solely upon President Obama's flowery rhetoric that completely contradicts his severe pro-abortion actions since taking office 120 days ago.

The article highlights Obama's invitation "to Americans of all faiths and ideological convictions to hold hands in a common effort to reduce abortions."

However, a few pages later, L'Osservatore Romano writes a far more critical article of Obama's stand on embryonic stem cell research, titled, "Campaign in the US against stem cells."

CNAnews reports,
"According to the new guidelines," the Vatican newspaper says, "after President Barack Obama reversed the decision of the Bush administration regarding the ban on (federal funding for) embryonic stem cell research, for the first time taxpayers' money will be used to kill human beings in embryonic state to obtain stem cells."

In the article, L'Osservatore Romano extensively quotes Cardinal Justin Rigali and Archbishop Charles Chaput, one of the most vocal critics of Obama's anti-life policies.

"The Archbishop of Denver -the Vatican newspaper says- insists that 'American public life cannot function if we keep our religious beliefs in the closet ... the US does not need to be a Christian country, but it cannot survive if it is not open to solidarity and faith."

"Finally," L'Osservatore's story concludes, "Archbishop Chaput expressed his perplexity regarding the White House opening speech of the U.S. President Barack Obama, the day of his installation, regarding the role of science in society. 'Science' said the Archbishop of Denver, 'has to be at the service of human dignity, but will never be above or outside God's moral judgment. Jews, Protestant, Catholics and other believers have a common treasure to protect: faith in God, and we must defend Him with mutual respect without excuses, alibis or conflicts'."

By quoting Archbishop Chaput's recent conference at the Becket Fund Dinner, L'Osservatore ignites some hope that the Vatican is supportive of the American Bishops' strong criticism to Obama's anti-life policies.

Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI and Obama are expected to meet in July, when the U.S. president is in Italy for a Group of Eight summit.

Jill Stanek was at the Notre Dame Grotto this afternoon watching Fr. Frank Pavone speak to pro-life graduates who refused to attend their commencement honoring radical pro-abortion Barack Obama.

Obama Calls for "Conscience Clause" Rights While His Administration Destroys Existing Conscience Clause Rights - Wesley Smith

Norma McCorvey, the original Roe in Roe v. Wade - who renounced her ties to the pro-abortion movement and became a prolife Christian in 1995, then a Catholic in 1998 - has been arrested at Notre Dame this morning. So was Monica Miller and 19 others (actually, it was at least 39).

The shame of Notre Dame - arresting a pro-life priest while Barack Obama is given an honorary degree.

Protest during President Obama's commencement address:

more to follow ...

President Barack Obama and the Obama administration continue their ongoing campaign for president ( this time for re-election in 2012) by speaking at Notre Dame and attempting to further divide Catholics and others on the subject of abortion. The guise was a commencement speech and the awarding of an honorary doctor of laws degree. The protests and the arrests occurred. The press tried to make the opponents of the speech into a minority and the university took a major public relations mistake and made it worse by arresting 80 year old priests and claiming that it had not violated the USCCB's 2004 prohibition honoring open and notorious pro-abortion politicians.

But what of the speech?

Well, I read the speech. There were the appropriate recognitions and pronouncements to the new graduates about this time period being tougher and that they need to go into more service for their neighbor, etc.

And he tackled the subject of abortion by asking for everyone to respect the other side while acknowledging the incompatibility of the two sides.

But think about some white segregationist asking Martin Luther King, Jr. to be more respectful of Bull Connor after he hosed down Black civil rights activists in the 1960s.

He couched his speech in some biblical sounding phrases and mentioned that we need to follow the Golden Rule, "the call to treat one another as we wish to be treated. The call to love. To serve. To do what we can to make a difference in the lives of those with whom we share the same brief moment on this Earth."

Why can that sentiment not apply to the unborn?

President Obama said this as well."Because when we do that - when we open our hearts and our minds to those who may not think like we do or believe what we do - that's when we discover at least the possibility of common ground."

I ask the president. When has he done this?

He also noted that there was a serious debate in this nation. He said

Understand - I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. No matter how much we may want to fudge it - indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory - the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature.

How complicated is the debate?

The pro-life side argues one should not kill unborn children by abortion.

The pro-choice side argues that it is a woman's "eight" to decide if she wants to kill that unborn child.

The pro-life side argues that law should protect all human beings.

The pro-choice side argues that the law should not prevent the woman from killing her unborn child.

The people and organizations who support Obama support abortion and its continued legality. Where can there be "common ground" with people who are a part of an industry that kills children for money?

He said, "Maybe we won't agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions."

Mr. President, why is an abortion heart wrenching? Is it because a baby dies as a result?

He did say something that I will echo and remind those of us in the pro-life movement.

In this world of competing claims about what is right and what is true, have confidence in the values with which you've been raised and educated. Be unafraid to speak your mind when those values are at stake. Hold firm to your faith and allow it to guide you on your journey. Stand as a lighthouse.

He also said this:

Remember that each of us, endowed with the dignity possessed by all children of God, has the grace to recognize ourselves in one another; to understand that we all seek the same love of family and the same fulfillment of a life well-lived.

These are all very nice words. Sadly that is all they are - words. Because the man who spoke them did not remember what his mother did not him and is not willing to allow his fellow human beings the same opportunity for life that he had.

So the emptiness of his words are a stark reminder of the million dead each year. The emptiness of the rhetoric will not help the woman who is coerced into killing her baby and has no recourse through the courts. The vagueness of his soundbites will not ease the grief of a parent whose minor child was victimized by a child predator and then aborted by the local Planned Parenthood.

President Obama went to Notre Dame. The abortion apologists in the church, in the media, in the universities think they have won. But God is not mocked. Perhaps the prayers of the millions who objected will bring about conversion. But it is sad to think that this otherwise intelligent man does not know, does not care or even worse knows and does not care about the lives of these unborn children. Perhaps he should listen to his own words.

[F]aith ...is the belief in things not seen. It is beyond our capacity as human beings to know with certainty what God has planned for us or what He asks of us, and those of us who believe must trust that His wisdom is greater than our own.

God's wisdom says that "Thou shalt not kill."

Lets find common ground there first and stop all the killing.

Cross-posted:  Jacubczyk on Life

As the National Institutes of Health and lawmakers discuss the future of federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, now is the time to make your opinion heard. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging everyone to contact the NIH and their representatives in Congress and let them know you oppose the funding of stem cell research that requires the destruction of human embryos. From the USCCB website:

Following President Obama's March 9 executive order, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has proposed guidelines for federally funded embryonic stem cell research. The guidelines would - for the first time - use taxpayer funds to encourage the killing of embryonic human beings for their stem cells.

This marks a new chapter in divorcing biomedical research from its necessary ethical foundation, respect for human life at all stages.

Embryonic stem cell research treats innocent human beings as mere sources of body parts, as commodities for our use.

Even if, like the embryos targeted by the NIH policy, an embryo may be at risk of being abandoned by his or her parents in a fertility clinic, that does not give researchers or the government a right to kill that human being - much less a right to make the rest of us subsidize that destructive agenda.

Some in Congress and the Administration want an even broader policy. They want to obtain stem cells by destroying human embryos specially generated for research through in vitro fertilization (IVF) or cloning procedures - a "create to kill" policy.

Neither of these policies is ethical or promotes responsible science. They both violate the fundamental right to life.

Patients suffering from devastating illnesses deserve our compassion and our committed response - but not at the cost of innocent life. The Church supports ethical stem cell research and treatments that do no harm and respect the inherent dignity of persons - cutting-edge medical advances that are already benefiting patients with dozens of conditions in clinical trials.

It is time to focus on cures and treatments we can all live with.

Please go to this website and contact your representative and tell them you do not want your hard earned money to fund the creation and/or destruction of fellow members of your species for research.

Organized for Life continues its "Taking Things to the Next Level" campaign with Pro-Life Party Week.

Flag Day marks the next event of Organized for Life's "Taking Things to the Next Level" campaign. Flag Day (June 14) will kick off Pro-Life Party Week, a cutting-edge strategy to co-opt liberal tactics and bring an end to taxpayer funded abortions. The United States government, with our taxes, funds abortion, forcing every born citizen to participate in the abortion industry.

Activists will bring people into their homes to participate in a landmark effort to stop taking our hard-earned dollars to pay for the destruction of life. By rescinding the Mexico City policy, the Obama administration requires taxpayers to fund abortions abroad. His administration is also pressuring Congress to fund abortion in Washington, DC and considering repealing the Hyde Amendment, which strictly limits federal funding of abortion.

"It's time to say that our flag, the symbol of our nation, will finally stand for LIFE, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. It's time to stop our tax dollars from being used to fund the culture of death. It's time to stand up for life at every door and every home." remarked Peter Shinn, national director of Organized for Life.

Ruben Obregon, president of OFL, added, "Activists looking to recruit others in the fight for life will find house parties to be an effective recruiting and educational tool. We often wonder how to get more people involved, and these parties are how. The 'Taking Things to the Next Level' campaign is the key."

Church parties are the second prong of the "Taking Things to Next Level" campaign. As we bring the movement home, we need to take it to our second homes and bring all people of faith into the life-saving effort.

OFL's "Taking Things to the Next Level" campaign will host a can't miss teleconference on May 19 to show activists how to bring the pro-life movement home. Organized for Life will unveil cutting-edge house and church party guides sure to wake up the pro-life movement from Washington, DC to middle America. Sign up for the teleconference at http://tinyurl.com/oflconf

Are you ready to take things to the next level? Space is limited! Sign-up today while there is space available to learn how to bring LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to your community like never before. Stand up for America's ideals, from Main Street to the White House!

# # #

For more information on pro-life community organizing visit www.oflusa.com

The terms "pro-life" and "Obamanation" would seem incompatible.

But there may be an emerging phenomenon. While President Obama continues to enjoy popular support, his anti-life agenda is enjoying less popularity the more he tries to advance it.

The first sign was public reaction to Obama's overturning of the Mexico City policy, which reinstated taxpayer funding to international abortion groups. This garnered Obama a 65% disapproval rating, according to Gallup, making it the least popular of his first 7 decisions as president.

Then in late February, Obama....

Obama pressed on with his anti-life agenda, signing an executive order in March authorizing taxpayer funding of human embryo experimentation.... A March Pew poll showed support had "fallen below the 50% level for the first time since 2004 and constituted a slight decline in support since 2007," wrote the New York Times.

In April Politico.com reported a surge in pro-life activism....

Then an April 30 Pew poll showed the biggest drop in abortion support in 15 years.... This was consistent with a CNN poll conducted April 23-26....

Obama may be winning abortion battles, but a casualty is loss of public support in the abortion war.

Translation: Obama is making abortion unpopular.

If this keeps up, an interesting oxymoron may be....

Read my complete column today, "Pro-life Obamanation?" at WorldNetDaily.com.

Read LEARN leader Rev. Clenard Childress's similar view, "Barack Obama - The best thing to happen to end black genocide." [HT: Leslie Hanks]

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

WorldNetDaily Exclusive

Notre Dame to be given 'Collaborator' status?
Abortion opponents say rescind Obama invitation or else

Posted: May 12, 2009
10:38 pm Eastern

WorldNetDaily

A pro-life group is warning that the University of Notre Dame may be given its "Collaborators" designation, a mark it reserves for those it considers the worst offenders in the war over abortion, because of its invitation to President Obama to speak at its commencement.

In a letter today to university officials, Leslie Hanks, chief of the Collaborators Project, wrote:
Because Notre Dame has extended the extraordinary honor of speaking at one of America's foremost Catholic colleges to one with such cavalier disregard for the sanctity of life, social tension is increasing exponentially in your community.

Collaborators Project was founded to do precisely that. Our motto is, "No Child Killing with Tranquility."
(Story continues below)

If only America recognized we don't have to try out the liberal policies of sex and death to get results. Other countries are already experimenting with drugs - Amsterdam, Sex education, abortion and birth control - Europe and Socialism - Europe.

England is going through a major experiment with their teenagers right now. From Mail Online:

"The teenage pregnancy strategy, which has cost taxpayers more than £300million, was meant to halve the number of conceptions among girls under 18 in England between 1998 and 2010."

So England spent $452 million dollars to cut the teenage pregnancy rate? What were their methods?

"Ministers have tried to slash teenage pregnancies by freely handing out contraceptives and expanding sex education."

Wow, that sounds like a good plan. Oh yeah, we're doing that here in America, I forgot. There's some benevolent group called Planned Parenthood already doing that. Did I say benevolent? I meant to say profiteering group who is soaking Americans for over $350 million tax dollars every year for sex education, they make another $350 million by killing babies through prenatal murder, euphemistically called "abortion", and another $350 million dollars are donated to them by America hating groups and people, some guy named George comes to mind.

Whoops, sorry, my wife tells me I'm a lot like a squirrel, flitting to one branch after another. Where was I? Oh yeah, the great British experiment on sex and death.

"But the fall in pregnancy rates has not met Government targets, and in 2007 the rate actually rose."

Really? You mean if you encourage sex, hand out condoms and birth control like candy, more teenage girls will have sex resulting in higher pregnancy rates? What a surprise!!! The people doing this study must have college degrees. Ahm jest a dum 'ol hick & cudn't figure that 1 out if I tried.

So America, why do you think we will have different results? We've been doing the same thing, yet teenage pregnancies are the highest in the industrialized world. How can that be? We've been handing out condoms, birth control and abortion since I was a kid. When will this "experiment" end in America?

I wonder if reading the box would make a difference? Let's see, I think I'll check Planned Parenthood's web site for information on the effectiveness of condoms and birth control....dum de dum. Well what do you know, Planned Parenthood has their own brand of condoms, what a surprise. And in 2005 those condoms got the lowest rating by Consumer Reports.

I'm shocked!

Really, I'm totally amazed that their condoms perform so poorly, after all, when they fail, it looks bad on them and then our underage daughters are directed by the schools to go have an abortion. What? You say Planned Parenthood makes $350 million dollars a year on abortions? That's amazing!

What a scam. I'm going to try that one in a different way. I'm going to sell schools an ink pen that leaks. Then, when the students' clothes get covered in ink, they can come to my dry cleaner stores which I will have next to every high school. Smart thinking huh?

Yep, those Planned Parenthood folks sure are smart cookies. Oh wait, what's this? From Planned Parenthood South Central new York:

"Abstinence

How it works: Choosing not to have any sex play with a partner.

Effectiveness: 100% (if used correctly)"

If used correctly? How do you use abstinence incorrectly? I feel my knuckles starting to drag. I must be one of those "right-wing nut-jobs" who doesn't believe in eevolootion you read so much about.

Let's look at some of their other stats:

Male condom 85 - 98%, Female condom 79 - 95%

Diaphragm: 84 - 94%; Cap: 71 - 86%, Shield: 85%

Spermicide: 71 - 82%

Hmm, let me contemplate this one now. by "effectiveness" they are of course referring to a statement that might read something like "resulting in a pregnancy". After all, if the condom wasn't "effective", it doesn't just mean that the girl says "aww shucks, it didn't work". It means a baby in the belly.

So, think about those stats, and imagine them in a different way. Let's say I give you a gun.

Oh no!!! He said "gun"! Call the PC police!

Now imagine I give you a bullet to put in that gun, and then I say, "spin the chamber, put it up to your head and pull the trigger". You would say "yeah right fruitcake, don't think so! Yet we're okay with Planned Parenthood giving our children "birth control" which is guaranteed to fail 3 out of 10 times" No, let me rephrase that, "guaranteed to result in the pregnancy of our daughters 3 out of 10 times?"

Remember, these are the same people who say:

"Abstinence

How it works: Choosing not to have any sex play with a partner.

Effectiveness: 100% (if used correctly)"

Now that's like saying if I give you a gun but don't give you any bullets, you will still manage to blow your head off.

Back to the article on England. They say:

"Teenage pregnancy rates are now higher than they were in 1995. Pregnancies among girls under 16 - below the age of consent - are also at the highest level since 1998."

It took them 14 years to realize the huge mistake they have made. Countless young girls used for what I would call their 'great sex experiment', or as critics of the program over there call it the "Teenage Abortion Strategy".

What's going to be their strategy now?

"They have called for a redoubling of efforts to persuade young girls to use contraception."

They are saying to the parents of England "you people shut up about abstinence already, we're going to experiment on your daughters for another 14 years. We'll let you know how it turns out."

The nut job Ann Furedi, of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service stated:

"The fact that teenagers felt able to end their pregnancy in abortion is actually a positive sign."

She probably said that with a straight face, with other nut jobs applauding. I apologize to all the nuts out there. I really do like peanuts, so it's an insult to compare them to psychotic people like these pro-aborts.

It gets better...well, worse:

"A Department of Health spokesman said: 'One of the key aims of this Government, as set out in the Sexual Health and Teenage Pregnancy Strategies, is to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and consequently abortions, through better access to contraception."

What was that about Abstinence again?

Oh yeah:

How it works: Choosing not to have any sex play with a partner.

Effectiveness: 100% (if used correctly)"

I wonder if they have a manual for that?

Peter

Pro-Life Unity

United we stand ~ Divided they die

Pass it on

.....
What are pro-life house and church parties?

.... We'd like to tell you...

   ... but you'll have to wait until Tuesday for details ...

   ... about a teleconference on 5/19

       ... Are you ready to take things to the next level?

...Organized for Life...

Taking things to the Next Level!

You don't want to miss these parties....

Organized for Life hosted their first pro-life teleconference to introduce new pro-life strategy as part of its "taking it to the next level" campaign.

May 7, 2009 - On April 28, Organized for Life hosted its first pro-life teleconference to introduce its innovative strategy of taking pro-life community organizing to the next level. The group is developing a national effort to reach people in their homes to personally deliver the message of life to end abortion and human killing research. Organized for Life will mobilize people who have never participated in pro-life action, as well as veterans' in the movement, through new strategies including knocking on doors and hosting house and church parties.

During the call, Organized for Life Pesident, Ruben Obregon, described to listeners the need for a national effort of community organizers in the pro-life movement and Peter Shinn, National Director of Organized for Life, shared strategies for listeners to become activists in their own communities.

Peter Shinn, National Director of Organized for Life, said, "This teleconference gave average pro-life listeners, those who are interested in making a difference but unsure of how to do so, an understanding of what we are up against in the day-to-day battle for the innocent, and then provided them with some concrete methods on how they will make a difference as a part of the Organized for Life strategy."

The call also featured prominent pro-life leaders David Bereit, Naional Drector of 40 Days for Life, Jenny Hodges, National Director of Pro-Life Unity, and Jim Sedlak, Vice-President of American Life League and Executive Director of STOPP. All three leaders share their excitement that Organized for Life will step in and fill a clear void in the pro-life movement to directly compete with the army of the pro-abortion opposition. They also explained how Organized for Life directly strengthens their efforts as pro-life leaders and that it would do so for all facets of movement.

As part of it's "taking it to the next level" campaign, Organized for Life will sponsor "Pro-Life House Party Week" and "Pro-Life Church Party Week" from June 14-21 throughout the country to encourage people to gather in their homes and churches to oppose tax-payer funding of abortions.

Organized for Life will host another conference call to promote these parties and other events on Tuesday, May 19th, at 9:00pm EST. Registration for the teleconference is available at http://oflusa.com/index.php/site/C3/

David Bereit ended the teleconference by saying, "Let's go out, let's get organized for life, and let's go change our world, one heart, one mind and one life at a time." Visit www.oflusa.com/signup to get involved and save lives. You can make a difference, one door and one party at a time.

###

Contact: Peter Shinn, National Director, Organized for Life
pshinn@oflusa.com
Tel: 703-953-2134

This is finals week for students at the University of Notre Dame.

But a new kind of buzz may be getting in the way of scoring good grades, and it's not illegal (yet, anyway).

For the past 10 days the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform has been conducting an air and land campaign in, around and over the Notre Dame campus to educate students and faculty exactly what its intended May 17 commencement honoree, President Barack Obama, supports by being "pro-choice."

On the roads are CBR's "Reproductive 'Choice' Trucks," 6-paneled moving billboards with large signs such as these plastered on them:

And in the air at least 3 hours a day (6 during finals week) has been an airplane trailing a large photo banner behind it, also showing in vivid detail what Obama means when he says he's pro-choice.

It is the plane that has caused the most commotion.

Fumed liberal blogger Wonkette in a post entitled, "The stench of death: Abortion haters go nuts, really nuts, at Notre Dame"...

Continue reading today's column, "Turbulence surrounds Notre Dame 'abortion plane,'" at WorldNetDaily.com.

Why do we pray at the abortion mills? Because that is where the killing is happening. Mother's kill their children 4,000 times a day while "decent" Americans rally behind TEA parties rather than life.

I want to thank those of you who speak for the unborn and ask a simple question to those of you who don't.

Why not?

Join us today for the The Monthly Call for Life at MonthlyCallForLife.com. 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, 16th Street Planned Parenthood or go to the many other abortion mills where people are praying.

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

If you missed Organized for Life's exciting teleconference this past Tuesday, have no fear, you can listen to it here!

David Bereit was the emcee of this event where leaders from the Pro-Life movement discussed how Pro-Life community organizing can help shape the future of the movement.

Speakers included Ruben Obregon, President of OFL, Peter Shinn, National Director of OFL, Jenny Hodges of Pro-Life Unity and Jim Sedlak, Director of STOPP and VP of American Life League.