September 2011 Archives

I just received an e-mail from a friend (Rick) regarding the situation with Bishop Zurek and Father Pavone:

Unfortunately, to many this has become an issue of obedience instead of an issue of ending abortion. His obedience to his Bishop is clear - he returned to Amarillo as requested, and despite the Bishop's public statement to the contrary, had already provided Bishop Zureck with the requested audit. Yet look at the Bishop's reasoning for recalling Fr. Frank and for labeling his actions as being defiant:

"Since he has consistently refused to subject the PFL to a transparent and complete auditing of all expenditures, I have reasons to be alarmed at the potential financial scandal that might arise if it were the result of my failure to correct Father Pavone's incorrigible defiance to my legitimate authority as his Bishop." Bishop Patrick Zureck, in a letter to his brother bishops.

Fr. Frank was not defiant - the Bishop was provided with an independent financial audit, which he had denied receiving and as such used as a basis for labeling Fr. Pavone as being defiant. Why the Bishop made such an accusation in light of the evidence is unknown.

Unfortunately the issue of "disobedience" put forward by the Bishop has been the focus by Catholic bloggers and well meaning defenders of the Church - to be clear, there is no controversy concerning obedience.

Demand repeated accountings. Receive those accountings but do not acknowledge receiving them. Say No when asked if you have more questions. Wait a while. Lower the full weight of your office, accusing the one you want to discipline or expel of non-compliance, adding words publicly that could discredit the targeted individual.

It seems that Bishop Zurek needed some political coverage for calling Father Pavone back to the diocese.

What's puzzling is that he didn't need to do this - he's within his rights to tell him to come home. And he didn't need to give Father Pavone and Priests for Life black eyes in the process.

Sure, the diocese of Amarillo has released a statement "clarifiying" that there has been no wrong doing, and that Father Pavone is in good standing as a priest in Amarillo. But the damage to Pavone and Priests for Life has already been done.

I ran this article by my friend before posting it here, and regarding the damage done to the reputations, he commented back "Maybe that was the plan to begin with - you never know, but something isn't right here.." And I agree.. Something isn't right here..

What do you think?

MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Sept. 28, 2011/Christian Newswire --

The Supreme Court of Mexico ruled on Wednesday to uphold the state constitutional personhood amendment of Baja California. A similar decision in the San Luis Potosi case is expected.

The Court's most recent appointee, Justice Jorge Mario Pardo Rebolledo, sided with three members of the Court to reject an Action for Unconstitutionality submitted against the measures. Pardo Rebolledo was appointed last February and had yet to rule in an abortion case. His vote ensures that the Court will not reach the supermajority necessary to overturn the amendment.

"Pardo Rebolledo, as well as Justices Salvador Aguirre, Margarita Luna, and Guillermo Ortiz have our gratitude," said Personhood USA Legal Analyst Gualberto Garcia Jones, J.D. "Thousands of Mexican girls and boys will, one day, be able to thank them personally for defending their very right to exist."

In total, eighteen states have passed measures enshrining into law full personhood protections for preborn children. The amendments were passed in reaction to the legalization of abortion in Mexico City in 2009. The state measures received the support of 88% of the members of state legislatures including members of every major political party such as PAN, PRI, and PRD.

On September 19th, 50 nonprofit organizations took out a full-page ad in the largest newspaper in Mexico, El Universal, expressing their concern and opposition to any actions which would overturn the personhood amendments. On September 22nd, three dozen state and federal legislators took out a similar ad in El Universal urging the Mexican Supreme Court to respect the democratic process. Personhood USA joined the organizations, legislators, and millions of Mexican citizens in support of the amendments.

The executive branch of Mexico also weighed in on the developments this week. President Felipe Calderon submitted to the Senate a withdrawal of reservation to the first paragraph of Article 4 of the American Convention on Human Rights. Mexico entered into the treaty in 1981, but interpreted the provision the same year so that it would not oblige the country to protect life from conception.

"Mexico has recognized human rights enshrined in international treaties such as the American Convention of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, among them the right to life, which is protected by our legislation, both federal and local," read Calderon's statement. "Mexico endorses a commitment to the right to life as protected by Mexican law."

First lady Margarita Zavala wrote an editorial this week endorsing the personhood measures. "I am a woman and a lawyer who has fought for the rights of women, and I am convinced that the rights of women do not override other rights and therefore need not be the cause of invalidating the state reforms," she said.

"Today, the rule of law was victorious in Mexico. Unlike the United States, Mexican states are free from judicial tyranny and the people retain the right of self-determination," continued Garcia Jones. "The Mexican people recognize that every human being is a person, and that all persons are inherently possessed of the right to life. We commit to work towards the day when this truth is realized for all children in Mexico, the United States, and around the globe."

SACRAMENTO, CA, Sept. 28, 2011/Christian Newswire --

The California Civil Rights Foundation submits language to Attorney General for the California Human Rights Amendment.

Today, Walter B. Hoye II, Founder and President of the California Civil Rights Foundation, requested Title and Summary from the Office of the Attorney General for the California Human Rights Amendment.

The California Civil Rights Foundation is set to begin its campaign to recognize the rights of every human being in the State of California. "The California Human Rights Amendment recognizes the inherent human rights, dignity and worth of all human beings from the beginning of their biological development as human organisms -- regardless of the means by which they were procreated, method of reproduction, age, race, sex, gender, physical well-being, function, or condition of physical or mental dependency and/or disability," stated Hoye.

Lila Rose, President of Live Action Films, Jason Jones, President of the Human Rights Education and Relief Organization, Samuel Rodriguez, Jr., President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and Bishop Ron Allen, President of the International Faith Base Coalition join Mr. Hoye as Co-Sponsors of the California Human Rights Amendment.

Hoye says: "Human personhood is the final chapter of the Civil Rights movement. It proposes commonsense values for otherwise convoluted jurisprudence. From the pre-born child, to the senior citizen facing end of life decisions, to the disabled veteran, we believe all human beings should be protected by love and by law. This is the end game. Personhood is what the Pro-Life movement looks like victorious."

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2011/Christian Newswire --

Women's Rights Without Frontiers has released a groundbreaking new report setting forth thirteen new, documented cases of coercion: forced abortion (including one woman at 8 months and another carrying twins at 8 ½ months), forced sterilization, forced contraception, the use of quotas, Family Planning Police, Family Planning jail cells, the demolition of homes, and the use of "implication" (detention, torture and fining of relatives of "violators"). Several of these cases are documented with extensive photographs as well.

Women's Rights Without Frontiers released this report at the Congressional Hearing on the One Child Policy, held September 22, 2011, before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights.

Report is posted here

Commenting on the report, [Reggie] Littlejohn stated, "We have chosen to release the names of the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity, so that they can be held accountable before the world."

In addition to violence against women, the report and testimony also document violence against men.

Case Six of the report describes the practice of "Implication," which means that if anyone breaks the family planning policy, their entire extended family is held responsible. Both men and women can be detained, fined and tortured.

Case Seven gives the account of a couple with a second child in Henan Province. Family planning police smashed the father in the head with a bottle. He is now permanently disabled.

In Case Twelve, in Jiangsu Province, Family Planning Officials beat a farmer to death because his son was suspected of having an extra child.

In her testimony, Littlejohn also raised the case of blind activist, Chen Guangcheng, who was arrested in 2006 for helping to expose the Chinese government's use of forced sterilization and abortions to enforce its "One Child Policy." He has since been jailed, tortured and denied medical treatment. He is now languishing under house arrest, in poor health and cut off from the world. A short video on Chen and a petition to free him are posted here.

Littlejohn concluded, "In China, a woman's body is not her own. It belongs to the state. For the Chinese Communist Party to act as 'womb police' and crush the life inside her is a heinous crime against humanity."

To view a short video, "Stop Forced Abortion - China's War on Women," click here.

To sign a petition against forced abortion, click here.

DALLAS, Sept. 26, 2011 /Christian Newswire --

What would you do if...? Thus begins the question being asked by author and film producer Ray Comfort in his new documentary, 180. Titled to reflect the complete turnaround in the mindsets of all to whom the question is posed, the award-winning film shows eight pro-choice people (mostly college students) changing their stance to pro-life just moments after the question is asked in its entirety. It is Comfort's hope that the documentary, released TODAY, September 26, will go viral.

While skeptics of 180 say they can't believe anyone would change his or her mind so quickly, Comfort accepts and even understands their disbelief, stating that he could hardly believe it himself when he first viewed the footage in the editing room. Initially, 180 was not the film he meant to produce. At the time, Comfort was taping interviews for a DVD to go along with a book on Hitler and the holocaust. In the course of the interviews, one question led to another, and the discussion led to abortion. Comfort explains, "It began with two male university students completely changing their minds about abortion when we asked them this one question. We realized it wouldn't be convincing to have only males speaking on the subject, so we took to the streets, asking that one particular question, and found that 6women changed their minds from pro-abortion to pro-life in a matter of seconds. It was amazing!"

Comfort quickly recognized the film's potential to open the doors of discussion. "I have held up pro-life signs. I have printed pro-life literature and spoken against abortion in pulpits and in my books, but I have felt that all my efforts were almost futile -- that is, up until now. In 180 we have a nation changer."

Comfort adds, "Most of us know that we should be doing something to stop this horror, but the thought of protesting is a little unnerving, especially with the demonization of those who do so. But here is something each of us can easily do -- we can give this DVD out. We can pass them out on the streets, leave copies on park benches or on seats in malls or give it to the checkout lady at the supermarket. This isn't hard to do, and it will save lives -- perhaps millions of lives."

The documentary is available for online viewing at www.180movie.com, on YouTube, or view below:

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 22, 2011/Christian Newswire --

Two California abortionists, Jesse James Joplin and Feliciano Rios, have fallen under discipline from the California Medical Board this month.

Documents show that Jesse James Joplin, an abortionist with Planned Parenthood Mar Monte for 27 years, had his licensed revoked after repeatedly violating probations imposed by the board. Joplin's discipline arises from years of alcoholism. His reported attempts at recovery have been unsuccessful, nevertheless, Planned Parenthood continued to keep him employed doing surgical abortions even though his alcohol abuse was evident. Joplin's license was permanently revoked on September 13, 2011. (Read the order.)

The medical license of Feliciano Rios, of Chula Vista, California, was suspended for 60 days in an order issued by the Board that went into effect on September 20, 2011. (Read the order.)

Rios' discipline is the result of criminal felony convictions for grand theft, Medi-Cal fraud, and perjury. Rios was placed on probation after those convictions and restricted from owning firearms. After records showed that Rios failed to transfer ownership of his weapons, police searched his abortion clinic and found three handguns, two of which were semi-automatic, locked in a filing cabinet fully loaded with ammunition. Possession of the firearms constituted a violation of his criminal probation.

In addition to the suspension, Rios is ordered to take an ethics course and not engage in the solo practice of medicine. Another physician will be appointed to monitor Rios once his suspension is served.

"It's hard to believe that, after all his crimes, Rios would not merit harsher punishment," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. Operation Rescue worked for years to expose Rios. "There's no doubt that this man will re-offend. It's unfortunate that the Board did not take stronger measures to protect the public.

"But for now, one very dangerous abortionist is permanently out of the business while another won't be killing children for at least 60 days. That is great news for women and their pre-born babies. More than ever Boards are beginning to take action against offending abortionists. The days of governmental agencies protecting them at any cost are coming to an end in this nation. This is one more message to abortionists everywhere that they are not above the law."

Operation Rescue is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of abortionists who are breaking the law. For more about the Abortion Whistleblowers Program, please click here.

A friend of mine recently made this observation: "Compassion and judging are simply two different ways of seeing." How true that statement is! Our perception of any situation or any interaction depends solely on our choice to either empathize or criticize. Sadly, we, as Christians especially, tend to be so quick to pronounce judgment and so slow to extend mercy. This ought not to be so! Have we forgotten of how much we ourselves have been forgiven? Have we forgotten the mercy extended to us at the cross? Have we forgotten His love that covers over a multitude of sins?

During a recent counseling session, a client revealed to me that she was raised in a very conservative Baptist church. Being there for a pregnancy test, she had obviously made a "mistake" and was very concerned that she might be pregnant. As we continued with the intake questions, I asked her how she perceived her family's and her church's support would be should she actually be pregnant. She looked at me in disbelief, eyes wide, shaking her head, and said...

(Continue reading this blog here.)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2011/Christian Newswire --

Today, on behalf of the adult stem researchers it represents, the Jubilee Campaign's Law of Life Project and their co-counsel at the Alliance Defense Fund and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, filed their Notice of Appeal asking the United States Court of Appeals to reinstate their case dismissed by United States District Court for the District of Columbia in its July 27 decision based upon the district court's interpretation of the Court of Appeal's April 29 ruling vacating the district court's August 23, 2010 preliminary injunction of the National Institute of Health's regulations that Obama administration promulgated to permit the federal funding of "research in which" human embryos are "knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death."

While again affirming the standing of adult stem cell researchers to challenge these regulations, the federal district court dismissed the case saying that it had no choice under the "mandate rule" but to follow the Court of Appeal's April 29 ruling that Congress' ban on human embryonic research was written in a sufficiently "ambiguous" fashion to ban the use of federal funds that risked the "injury or death" of human embryos, but not the use of federal funds to do research on the embryonic stem cells that were derived from such injury or destruction. In the words of U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth explaining his July 27 decision:

While it may be true that by following the Court of Appeals' conclusion as to the ambiguity of 'research', the Court has become a grudging partner in a bout of 'linguistic jujitsu', Sherley, 2011 WL 1599685, at 22 (Henderson, J. dissenting), such is life for an antepenultimate court.

September 18, 2011/Amarillo, TX/Operation Rescue --

Operation Rescue is urging pro-life supporters to sign an online petition to Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo asking him to allow Fr. Frank Pavone, head of Priests for Life, to return to his full-time duties with the pro-life ministry.

The petition can be signed by CLICKING HERE or through the petition box in the right-hand column at OperationRescue.org.

Fr. Pavone was recalled by Bishop Zurek to Amarillo and is barred from traveling outside the Diocese. However it must be noted that he is under no discipline whatsoever, and remains a priest in good standing. He has been serving communion and fulfilling other priestly duties in the Amarillo Diocese and continues to do work for Priests for Life from Texas.

Bishop Zurek released a statement that gave the impression that there were financial mismanagement accusations against Fr. Pavone related to Priests for Life, however, Msgr. Harold Waldrow issued a clarification last week indicating that Fr. Pavone is a priest in good standing and is not being accused of wrongdoing in the finances of Priests for Life. [Read. Msgr. Waldrow's Letter.]

"We stand behind Fr. Frank Pavone one-hundred percent. We join in calling on Bishop Zurek to free Fr. Pavone from Amarillo and allow him to immediately return unfettered to the work at Priests for Life. We urge everyone to sign the petition to Bishop Zurek and pry this matter will be resolved as soon as possible for the sake of the babies dying in our nation from abortion," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

For more information about how you can help support Fr. Frank Pavone please visit FreeFrFrank.com.

WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 14, 2011/Christian Newswire --

Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life is one of the most respected and effective leaders in the Pro-Life movement today. We were saddened and confused by the order of Bishop Patrick Zurek to suddenly confine Fr. Frank's priestly duties to Amarillo, Texas. It makes no good sense to remove him from the mission field while children continue to die at the hands of unscrupulous abortionists.

"I can think of nothing the abortion cartel would want more than to have Fr. Frank sidelined at this critical time when the pro-life movement is gaining ground and poised to finally end abortion," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

"The attack on the good name of Priests for Life and Fr. Frank Pavone in particular is shocking to say the least. Priests for Life's books are a matter of public record. I would expect this kind of slanderous attack from someone at Planned Parenthood or NARAL, but not from a bishop in the Church. This is a very sad day for the innocent unborn.

"We have labored alongside Fr. Frank throughout the years and know him to be a humble yet determined and faithful man of the highest integrity. It is hard to understand why Bishop Zurek would make such outrageous public accusations against him, casting a shadow where none should be. I can't help but think of the Scriptures that say we should do to others what we would want done to us. Certainly Bishop Zurek would not want his reputation besmirched with unfounded accusations as he has done to Fr. Frank. Perhaps he should have considered that before acting out with such a heavy hand."

Bishop Zurek accused Fr. Pavone of the financial mishandling of Priests for Life assets, but those close to the issue tell Operation Rescue that PFL has great financial accountability and has repeatedly provided the Bishop with their financial reports. Each time, he has failed to acknowledge them.

"We pray for the Priests for Life organization that they will not allow this unfounded attack to deter them from their critical life-saving work, and we pray for Bishop Zurek that he will soon work out whatever seems to be troubling him and restore Fr. Frank to his full duties at Priests for Life."

Please call Bishop Zurek and ask him to reconsider his decision at 806-383-2243.

I'm only four weeks into my pregnancy with our second child (yay! We are thrilled!), but I feel like I've already gained as much perspective through it as I did through my entire pregnancy with Olivia (which was a lot, and life-changing). Two of my most significant insights have been in regards to seemingly different individuals impacted by pregnancy (and on the flip side, abortion): a mother and a sibling.

1. Suicide is a medical procedure that needs to be supervised by a doctor.

Suicide is by definition something you do yourself. If you involve someone else, that person becomes an accessory to murder, even if that person is a doctor.

2. Terminally ill people suffer from excruciating pain, which is why they want to end their lives.

Pain relief for the terminally ill is better than ever. Nurses and doctors use a looser set of rules for morphine and other highly-controlled substances than they do for ordinary care, because terminally ill people do not live long enough to become drug addicts. It is possible to choose to be completely sedated and to shun all visitors while you are dying. Oncologist Dr. Desiree Pardi chose this way when she was dying.[i]

In one study of Oregon patients who wanted assisted suicide, no one wanted to have an assisted suicide because they were in immediate pain[ii]. Their main reasons were depression, becoming a burden, and not having family or friends to help them. The issue of isolation and despair is an issue of compassion that society needs to address. Encouraging people to commit suicide is not a compassionate answer.

3. Physician-assisted suicide is a legal "right".

You don't need a doctor to commit suicide, and in that way, it is nothing like abortion rights, gay rights, or civil rights. You already have the power to commit suicide. No one can stop you. No one is going to prosecute you if you succeed.

4. Physician-assisted suicide is a more dignified way of death than dying naturally.

This is a judgment and not a scientific fact.

Final Exit sells a suicide kit that looks like a plastic dry cleaning bag you put over your head.[iii]

How dignified is that?...

Read entire article here.

Sept. 11, 2011/Youth Defence --

New research issued by The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto has detailed the "catastrophic outcomes" that occur when ectopic pregnancies are misdiagnosed and then "treated" with chemical abortions - something the authors say amounts to a "serious public health issue."

Citing previous studies, the new study revealed that a shocking 40% of initial diagnoses of ectopic pregnancy are erroneous, although remains unclear how many of these are ultimately mistreated as ectopic.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the developing baby lodges in the mother's fallopian tube instead of her uterus. Ectopic pregnancies can be dangerous, as the growing baby may rupture the blood vessels of the fallopian tube, which can cause severe blood loss and even death to the mother.

The new study, "Outcome Following High-Dose Methotrexate in Pregnancies Misdiagnosed as Ectopic," which is to be published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, tracked a number of mothers with normal, desired pregnancies, who were erroneously given high doses of Methotrexate in their first trimester to end a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy.

The study stated that all of the misdiagnosed pregnancies ended with "catastrophic outcomes," including the births of "severely malformed" newborns, miscarriages, and physician-advised deaths of the normally implanted babies through surgical abortions on account of the adverse effects of Methotrexate on the pre-born baby....

Read article in full here.

September 9, 2011/WASHINGTON/NRLC --

Today, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life groups and more than 3,000 local chapters, responded to a study on unborn pain published yesterday in the journal Current Biology. The following may be attributed to Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., NRLC director of state legislation:

This study focuses on the maturation of the cerebral cortex's capacity to differentiate touch from pain. It does not, however, address the substantial medical evidence (documented at www.doctorsonfetalpain.com/fetal-pain-the-evidence) that in the brain it is the thalamus, rather than the cerebral cortex, that is principally responsible for pain perception.

While the cerebral cortex may affect reaction to and modulation of perceived pain, children born missing most of the cerebral cortex, those with hydranancephaly, nevertheless experience pain - and in adults, stimulation or ablation of the cerebral cortex does not alter pain perception, while stimulation or ablation of the thalamus does.

One noteworthy finding in the study, however, is that it found no difference in perception or neural reaction to pain based on whether the infant was awake or asleep. This calls into question one of the central claims of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology's Working Group, that unborn children are in a sleep-like state that, the Group argued, prevented them from feeling pain.

September 09, 2011/WASHINGTON, D.C. --

Family Research Council Action (FRC Action) has confirmed that GOP presidential candidate Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) will speak at the Values Voter Summit this October 7-9 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Gov. Perry joins other Republican presidential candidates, including U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), at the largest annual gathering of pro-family activists in the nation's capital.

The annual event, which is expected to draw 2,000 grassroots activists from across the country, will have a speaker line-up that includes House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Steve King (R-IA), Dr. Bill Bennett, Mark Levin, Lt. Gen. William Boykin (U.S. Army-Ret.), Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, Erick Erickson, Ed Morrissey, Heritage Foundation fellow Edwin Meese III, Lila Rose and Phyllis Schlafly.

The 2011 Values Voter Summit is cosponsored by AFA Action, American Values, The Heritage Foundation, Liberty University, and Liberty Counsel. A presidential straw poll, exhibit hall, book signings, breakout sessions and much more will be packed into this three-day conference. On Saturday evening Family Research Council will award Heritage Foundation fellow Edwin Meese, III with its 2011 Vision and Leadership Award.

For a full list of speakers and schedule, please visit www.valuesvotersummit.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (09-07-11)/Americans United for Life --

Americans United for Life President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest called a landmark study on the mental health effects of abortion "more evidence that American women must be given all the facts about abortion's impact when they consider the procedure. Informed consent laws are desperately needed in every state to protect women from the very real, very negative results of abortion."

Heading into the Labor Day holiday weekend, the British Journal of Psychiatry (BJP), a journal published by Britain's Royal College of Psychiatrists released Coleman's study entitled "Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995-2009," that critically reviewed the results of 22 previous studies on abortion and mental health published between 1995-2009. These 22 studies included data on 877,181 women from six countries, 163,831 of whom had experienced an abortion.

The results revealed moderate to high increased risk of mental health problems after abortion. Women with a history of abortion had an 81% higher risk of subsequent mental health problems. More specifically, the study found that women with a history of abortion had an increased risk of anxiety (34% higher), depression (37% higher), alcohol (110% higher), marijuana use (220% higher), and suicidal behavior (155% higher).

The new study is the work of Priscilla K. Coleman, a research psychologist and Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Bowling Green State University, and the author of numerous other peer-reviewed medical studies on the mental health impact of abortion.

"The results are troubling, and the findings support the testimony of many women about the terrible toll that abortion takes on the lives of the women who are given too little information about the procedure," said Dr. Yoest. "This study also challenges the August 2008 Report of the American Psychological Association, which dismissed studies finding mental health problems after abortion. Women are paying too great a price to follow that flawed assessment."

Informed consent is key. Dr. Coleman told the (London) Daily Telegraph, "There are in fact some real risks associated with abortion that should be shared with women as they are counseled prior to an abortion."

To read the study, click here.

Citation:
Priscilla, K. Coleman, , Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995-2009, vol. 199 British Journal of Psychiatry p. 180 (2011)

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 6, 2011/Christian Newswire --

Students for Life of America has introduced its newest project, the Pregnant on Campus Initiative, as a response to the stunning statistic that over 46% of abortions in America are performed on college-aged women. When faced with an unintended or crisis pregnancy, many students feel forced to choose between continuing their education or raising their child. Too often, college campuses do not provide the necessary resources or environment that support pregnant and parenting students.

The Pregnant on Campus Initiative aims to address this issue by helping campus pro-life groups to create effective and lasting change on their campus. We encourage and challenge pro-life groups to address this issue on their campus by engaging in service activities geared to providing necessary resources to pregnant and parenting students.

Whether the project involves creating a campus support group or installing diaper decks in bathrooms, establishing an Assistance Fund for pregnant and parenting students, or securing affordable housing on campus, our goal is to increase the amount of pregnancy-friendly resources on college campuses in order to eliminate the pressure to discontinue school from pregnant and parenting students.

For more information, visit www.pregnantoncampus.com.

CHICAGO, Sept. 6, 2011/Christian Newswire --

According to a new study released by the Guttmacher Institute, increased funding for Planned Parenthood has had no impact on the rate of unintended pregnancies across the nation, as Eric Scheidler, Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League, stated in his latest commentary. Even more startling is the unintended pregnancy rate among poor women, which the Guttmacher report says has "increased dramatically."

This data, released in August, reveals that despite a steady increase in government funding, topping $305 million by 2006, the nation's largest abortion provider has made zero impact on one of the very problems they have used to justify these huge taxpayer-financed subsidies. In an August 24, 2011 Planned Parenthood press release in response to the study, the group's president, Cecile Richards, skirted the issue, declaring, "There is no question that birth control prevents unintended pregnancy."

Planned Parenthood provides over 330,000 abortions every year and brings in over a billion dollars annually, but is still fighting to protect its government subsidies -- amounting to hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars sent to its clinics every year.

"Since 2001, the United States has not made progress in reducing unintended pregnancy. Rates increased for nearly all groups and remain high overall," concluded Guttmacher researchers, Lawrence B. Finer and Mia R. Zolna, who authored the study.

This conclusion is particularly revealing, in light of the fact that the Guttmacher Institute was originally a division of Planned Parenthood, and still operates in supportive concert with the abortion provider.

"It's crystal clear that Planned Parenthood utterly failed to reduce unintended pregnancy, despite their massive taxpayer subsidy," observed Scheidler. He noted that the very group Planned Parenthood claims depends on them the most -- poor women -- experienced the most dramatic increase.

In a time of skyrocketing government deficits, he is quick to point out that continued funding of Planned Parenthood, which is not producing the very results for which it is being funded, means taxpayers are pouring money into a "sinkhole." "As this new Guttmacher analysis unwittingly demonstrates," explained Scheidler, "the time to defund this feckless organization is long overdue."

Read Eric Scheidler's commentary here.

WASHINGTON, D.C./September 01, 2011/Family Research Council --

In a meta-analysis published today in the British Journal of Psychiatry, 81 percent of females who had an abortion were found to be at an increased risk for mental health problems, including depression, alcohol abuse and suicidal behaviors. The study, "Abortion and Mental health: Quantitative Synthesis and Analysis of Research Published 1995-2009" by Priscilla Coleman, Ph.D., took into account 22 studies and over 877,000 participants over the 14-year period.

Jeanne Monahan, Director of the Family Research Council's Center for Human Dignity, made the following comments about the extensive report:

Dr. Coleman's research reveals the indisputable truth that abortion is bad for women's mental health. The fact that Coleman's study found 81 percent of women who have had an abortion to be at increased risk for significant mental health problems is proof of this. The study also reveals that as many as ten percent of all mental health problems are directly attributable to abortion.

With this information, doctors now have a valid and unbiased synthesis of the current research available on the relationship between abortion and women's mental health. Because it is a meta-analysis the research is much more thorough and reliable than any other single study or review to date.

Women need to know this information; they have the right to informed consent before choosing abortion. Abortion not only takes the life of a baby but it often causes much emotional harm to the mother.

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 31, 2011/Christian Newswire --

Utah abortionist Nicola Riley has admitted that she lied to the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) about a criminal conviction and incarceration in order to gain licensure in that state.

As part of a settlement agreement with DOPL Riley admitted her deception and must now pay a fine of $10,000 to be paid over 18 months. She also has three months to write and submit an essay to DOPL describing how her unprofessional conduct has affected her patients and her profession.

"While we are happy that the DOPL acted to discipline Riley for lying, we are disappointed in the relatively light punishment considering the seriousness of the offense," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "This sounds more like a school detention assignment than discipline for lying to obtain a medical license. Other states have taken her deception much more seriously."

Riley is best known for her involvement with the notorious Steven Chase Brigham in a botched late-term abortion at a secret abortion clinic in Elkton, Maryland, last year. Riley's Maryland license has been suspended.

Operation Rescue conducted further research on Riley and discovered she had a criminal conviction during her service in the U.S. Army. Operation Rescue received a copy of her criminal record through an open records request and discovered that she had grossly misrepresented her involvement in a credit card/identity theft ring on her medical license applications in the states of Maryland, Wyoming, and Utah.

On those applications she stated that she served one year at Ft. Leavenworth Military Prison for not quickly reporting the credit card fraud that was being perpetrated by her subordinates. In truth, Riley was herself deeply involved in fraudulently obtaining credit cards by using personal information stolen during her military duties. She then made large purchases using the fraudulent credit cards. Riley actually served 30 months in prison for her crimes.

Operation Rescue forwarded the documents to medical oversight boards in all three states where Riley held licenses. Maryland has filed formal charges against Riley for lying on her medical license application. Wyoming forced Riley to surrender her license there or face revocation hearings. Utah has barred Riley from doing abortions but so far has allowed her to keep her license pending the outcome of the Maryland disciplinary action.

"Riley's entire medical career is based on a lie. Riley broke a sacred trust that makes her completely unfit for the practice of medicine. A doctor that cannot be trusted to tell the truth cannot be trusted at all," said Newman.

WASHINGTON/August 21, 2011/National Right to Life Committee --

An Idaho law protecting unborn children who are capable of feeling pain from abortion has been challenged in the U.S. District Court for Idaho. A hearing on a request for a temporary restraining order is scheduled in federal district court for September 8. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act was passed by the Idaho state legislature by overwhelming majorities earlier this spring. In passing the law, the legislature determined that there is substantial medical evidence concluding that unborn children are capable of experiencing pain and that the state has a compelling state interest in protecting these pain-capable children.

"Unborn children recoil from painful stimuli, their stress hormones increase when they are subjected to any painful stimuli, and they require anesthesia for fetal surgery," said Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., director of state legislation for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC). "We are confident that the Supreme Court will ultimately agree and will recognize the right of the state to protect these children from the excruciatingly painful death of abortion."

A significant number of scientific studies support the state's conclusion that unborn babies are capable of feeling pain by twenty weeks (20) weeks after fertilization. On average, 18,000 abortions are performed every year in the United States on these pain-capable children, including at some Planned Parenthood clinics. An online library of research and further information is available at www.doctorsonfetalpain.com.

The complaint in the case claims that the law fails to contain a constitutionally acceptable exception allowing for an abortion if necessary to preserve the health of the mother.

That contention is rebutted by Dr. Sean Patrick Kenney, M.D., a board certified obstetrician/gynecologist, and assistant clinical professor at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska.

"The language of the law makes fully adequate provision for those rare cases, probably occurring no more than 1-2 times per 5,000 births, when medical complications require premature delivery or abortion of an unborn child after the stage at which the child is capable of feeling pain," noted Dr. Kenney.