PA Pro-Life Online News

Member Group : PA Pro-Life Federation

January 15, 2010

Pennsylvania Pro-Life Online News from the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation

A twice-monthly publication of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation/4800 Jonestown Rd., Suite 102/Harrisburg, PA/17109/717-541-0034.

If you have any trouble accessing any of these stories, you can find them on our website at http://www.paprolife.org/resources/e_news.html .

Latest Urgent Update on Health Care Reform!

By Charlene Bashore, Esq., Legislative/Political Action Committee Director
[email protected]

Most of us understand a "compromise" to entail give and take on both sides, but the health care legislation now being finalized in Washington clearly takes away the protections given to preborn children through the Stupak/Pitts amendment which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives on November 7 (by a vote of 240-194.) Despite that vote, the federal government’s longstanding policy of not funding elective abortions, and consistent public opinion polls indicating that the public strongly disapproves of the federal government’s involvement in subsidizing or overseeing a plan which includes elective abortion, the debate continues. It is not too late for you to contact your Congressional representatives and tell them that you want them to settle for nothing less than the Stupak/Pitts amendment. In fact, it is imperative that you do so! Even if you have already contacted them, it is urgent that they only vote for the health care legislation if it contains the Stupak/Pitts language. Anything less is not a compromise, but a giveaway.
You can reach your Congressional Representative through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. For further background information, go to http://www.nrlc.org/AHC/Release011201.html .

In This Issue
Latest Urgent Update on Health Care Reform

Have You Signed PA’s Petition to Keep Federal Abortion Funding Out of Health Care Reform?

Are You Looking for a Ride to the March for Life?

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Have You Signed PA’s Petition to Keep Federal Abortion Funding Out of Health Care Reform?

If you have not already done so, please show your opposition to public funding of abortion! Sign PA’s petition to prevent federal abortion funding in health care reform. Go to http://www.paprolife.org/foca/foca4.htm to add your signature. Please share the link with your pro-life friends and family members. We want to collect as many signatures as we can so that we can send a strong message to Congress that abortion is not health care.

Are You Looking for a Ride to the March for Life?

If you’re looking for a bus trip to the March for Life, please contact us at [email protected] and we’ll let you know if we know of a bus trip in your area. Let’s make the 2010 march the largest march yet, so that we can send a strong message to pro-abortion President Barack Obama and the pro-abortion leaders in Congress that America needs to turn away from its destructive pro-abortion policies!

The Palins’ Pro-Life Cover Story

Former Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, her daughter Bristol, and their babies are on the cover of In Touch Weekly magazine, boldly proclaiming, "We’re Glad We Chose Life." The story chronicles both the joys and the challenges of motherhood. It is a powerful witness to the sanctity of human life and the courage of two women who bucked the culture of death and embraced life, despite its hardships. You can read a summary of the story by visiting this link: http://www.intouchweekly.com/2010/01/in_touch_exclusive_interview_p.php .

Pro-Life Advocates Victims of Violence in 2009

The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission reports that pro-life activists were the targets of both violence and discrimination in the year just past. As reported on LifeNews.com:
"It is arguable that anti-Christian hatred has spilled over into material forms of persecution in 2009," said Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.
"Christians were killed and bullied for their witness, ministers and churches threatened with violence and vandalized," Cass told LifeNews.com. "If these are not bona fide examples of persecution, then I wonder what more it might take?"
Among the most egregious instances of violence was the murder of pro-life advocate James Pouillon, who was shot while holding a sign outside a school.
You can read more about pro-abortion violence in 2009 at http://www.lifenews.com/state4695.html .

Babies Can Produce Economic Stimulus

LifeNews.com is running a fascinating column by Mychal Massie, chairman of the black leadership network Project 21. In the piece, Massie notes that a baby may be the best economic stimulus package:
"Forget TARP and the Keynesian spending schemes promoted by the Obama Administration. A baby necessitates diapers, toys, food, books, clothing and more. Meeting those needs creates jobs in the manufacturing and service sectors. Children also create jobs in the medical and educational sectors.
When they grow up, babies supplement the labor force – promoting the ‘circle of life.’ At a time when our nation relies on an influx of legal and illegal immigrants, it’s illogical to promote population control."
You can read the rest of the column at http://www.lifenews.com/nat5855.html .

Attention Students: Enter Our Essay & Oratory Contests!

Entries are now being accepted for our statewide pro-life essay & oratory contests. The essay contest is open to Pennsylvania students in grades 7-12. Students must write a pro-life essay on abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, or stem cell research. Word limit is 500 for grades 7-9 and 750 for grades 10-12. Each essay must include a cover page with the student’s name, address, phone number, name of school, and grade. Deadline for essays is March 1st. Essay winners will receive cash prizes. Essays can be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation; 4800 Jonestown Rd., Suite 102; Harrisburg, PA; 17109.

The oratory contest is open to Pennsylvania high school juniors and seniors. Students must prepare and deliver a five to seven minute pro-life talk on abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, or stem cell research. Students generally compete in a regional contest first; the top two finishers in each region then go on to compete in the statewide contest April 25th in Harrisburg. The state winner of the oratory contest will have the opportunity to compete in the National Right to Life contest, which will be held in Pittsburgh in June. If you’re interested in competing in the oratory contest, please contact Education Director Maria Vitale at [email protected] or call her at 717-541-0034 so that she can help you register for a regional contest.

Help Stop Washington’s Abortion Agenda!

This is a critical time for preborn babies and their mothers. We can stop Washington’s abortion agenda, but we can’t do it without your support. Please donate now at http://www.paprolife.org/donate/index.html . Your sacrifice can literally save lives!

Princeton Professor to Headline Delaware County Banquet

Dr. Robert George, the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, will be the keynote speaker at the Pennsylvanians for Human Life Education Services banquet. Dr. George is the primary author of the pro-life document known as the Manhattan Declaration. The fundraising event will take place on Sunday, February 28th, with the reception at 4 p.m. and dinner following at 5 p.m. It will be held at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Delaware County. Tickets are $50 each; $450 for a table of ten. For more information, call 610-696-0780 or email [email protected] .

Chapter Information from Around the State

Allegheny County–The North Hills chapter of Allegheny County PHL visited Ross Park Mall on Saturday, January 9th. They displayed ultrasound videos, fetal models, and distributed 12-week fetal models and information about local pregnancy centers. Supportive messages like "God bless you!" and "Thank you for being here!" were heard from passersby. The fetal models intrigued people of all ages. To view photos of the event, visit http://entertainment.webshots.com/slideshow/576307283NlQYRt . Pro-life outreach at malls is growing in Pennsylvania. The Washington County PHL for example, visited Washington Crown Center Mall in 2009, and will again in 2010. For more information about pro-life outreach at malls, or joining a chapter in southwestern PA, e-mail [email protected], or call 724-228-1162.

Allentown–Interdenominational pro-life prayers service will be held January 17th, from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. at the Federal Court House at 5th and Hamilton Streets in Allentown. For more information, call Jerry McAfee at 610-437-0028.

Beaver County–22nd Annual Respect Life Memorial Service, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in the Park, across from the Beaver Courthouse. Participants will then march by candlelight to First Presbyterian Church at 252 College Ave. to hear Dr. James M. Rossetti, DO, an expert in life-saving adult stem cell transplants. For more information, contact the Beaver County chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life at 724-728-3235 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Erie–People for Life will have our 32nd Annual Pro-Life Breakfast on January 16. Our main speaker will be Serrin Foster, the president of Feminists for Life of America, based in Arlington, VA. U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper and Erie Catholic Bishop Donald Trautman will be among our special guests. For more information, call 814-882-1333 or e-mail [email protected] .

Scranton–Respect Life prayer breakfast at 9 a.m., Jan. 30th, featuring "Umbert the Unborn" cartoonist Gary Cangemi, at St. Mary’s Center, 320 Mifflin Ave., Scranton. Registration deadline is Jan. 23rd. For information on registering, go to http://www.prolifescranton.org/Events/Reservations.php .

State College–The Centre County chapter of Citizens Concerned for Human Life will hold an auction and lunch Feb. 13th at the State College Knights of Columbus Hall, 850 Stratford Drive. Auction begins at 10 a.m. To learn more about the chapter, visit www.prolifecentrecounty.org .

Live in Southeast PA? Contact SE Regional Coordinator Heather Wilson to find out more about joining a chapter in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, or Philadelphia County. You can reach Heather by phone at 610-480-8743 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Live in the Southwest? If you’d like to become involved in a chapter, contact Development Director Bryce McMinn, who serves as a liaison with chapters in southwest and midwest Pennsylvania. You can reach Bryce at 74 Oak Spring Road, Suite 101; Washington, PA 15301; Work Phone: 724-228-1162; Cell Phone: 412-835-2812; E-Mail: [email protected].

If you live in another part of the state and you’d like to get involved in a local chapter, contact Executive Director Michael Ciccocioppo at [email protected] or by phone at 717-541-0034.

For a complete list of chapters, visit http://www.paprolife.org/chapters/chapters.html .

Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation | 4800 Jonestown Rd., Suite 102 | Harrisburg | PA | 17109