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PA Pro-Life Federation

PA Pro-Life Online News

November 1, 2007

by Newsletter

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

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

For Breaking News updates daily, visit our website at www.paprolife.org.

Pregnant? Need Help? Go to www.realalternatives.org.

Had an Abortion? Need Healing? Visit www.rachelsvineyard.org.

In this issue:

2007 PA Pro-Life Conference to Take Place This Weekend
Make Sure You Go to the Polls and Vote Tuesday, November 6!
Pro-Life Movie "Bella" Has Strong Opening Weekend
Tragic Testimonies
Pro-Life Leader Wins Presidential Honor
Help Us Spread the Pro-Life Word!
Chapter Information from Around the State!

Help us in our life-saving work! Quick, easy online donation now available. Donate by logging onto http://www.paprolife.org/donate/

2007 PA Pro-Life Conference to Take Place This Weekend

It's almost here--the 2007 Pennsylvania Pro-Life Conference! The pro-life event of the year takes place on Saturday November 3rd at the Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Green Tree. It's still possible to register for the conference, which will feature talks by "Baby Samuel" photographer Michael Clancy and adult stem cell transplant expert Dr. James Rossetti, among others. To register, visit www.paprolife.org or call us at 717-541-0034. You won't want to miss this phenomenal pro-life conference!

Make Sure You Go to the Polls and Vote Tuesday, November 6!

By Mary Beliveau, Legislative/PAC Director (beliveau@paprolife.org)

On Tuesday, November 6 (next Tuesday), Pennsylvanians will go to the polls to elect two state Supreme Court Justices, to elect three Judges for the Superior Court, and to vote on retention races for judicial candidates. In addition, there are many local races of importance in each county.

The last day to get absentee ballots was October 30, but if you did apply for an absentee ballot, make sure that the County Board of Elections receives your voted absentee ballot by tomorrow (Friday, November 2).

Remember: Many elections have been won or lost by one vote per precinct. Make sure that you go to the polls election day – Tuesday, November 6th - and make sure that your friends and family do the same. If you don't vote, the other side will. The outcome depends on you.

Pro-Life Movie "Bella" Has Strong Opening Weekend

The life-affirming movie known as "Bella" posted a strong opening box office in its limited release this past weekend. The movie had earnings of $1.3 million in theaters in 31 cities throughout the country. The movie is scheduled to open in Pittsburgh and nearly another dozen cities November 9th. For more information about this ground-breaking movie, visit www.BellaTheMovie.com.

Tragic Testimonies

By Maria Vitale, Education Director (vitale@paprolife.org)

When I first entered the pro-life movement, I have to admit my primary concern was doing my part to end the killing of innocent children. But the longer I have been in the movement, the more I have come to realize the tremendous toll abortion takes on grown women.

I could attempt to clumsily describe the suffering of post-abortive women on my own but, instead, I choose to let their own words speak for them. These comments are part of the tragic testimonies found on the Silent No More Awareness website at http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/ :

"I was hoping that the clinic would give me a variety of information so I could make a good decision. Instead, I got a lot of misinformation on abortion and not much else in the way of options. I was told, 'It's not even a baby, it's just a blob of tissue,' 'Don't worry, everything will be fine,' and 'It's totally legal, you have nothing to worry about.' So I thought it must be okay. I wasn't doing anything wrong, so what did I have to worry about. It was definitely the right decision for me; it would solve the problem and then I could go on with my life.

"Well I am here to tell you that I was misled, everything would not be fine. They didn't tell me about the emotional trauma that I would go through after the abortion. It didn't happen right away, but years later I started wondering why I was suffering from so much sadness, guilt and shame. I couldn't put it all together right away but soon all the pieces started falling together."

***************

"I was 10 weeks pregnant when I went in for my abortion. I found out later my baby had a heartbeat already. I felt like I got cheated. They could have at least shown me a video on what was really growing inside of me and told me about the consequences of abortion. The Planned Parenthood clinic was horrible. There were many girls in there; they were all sad. One was crying and the nurses kept saying, "Oh, it's OK. You will feel better later." But she was wrong, it never gets better.

"I felt guilty that I had murdered my child, until I came to rest in God's fountain of love and mercy. I started to heal, but there is a thick scar that's always going to be there. For me, I know God has forgiven me, but when I look at pictures of my 3 kids I know one of my babies is missing. God is all merciful beyond our comprehension, and I have faith that I will see my li'l one in heaven one day."

******************

"Everyday I live with the reality that the only children I will ever bear I killed.

"There has never been a day that I don't regret the 'choices' I made to have those abortions, or think about those 3 children and who they would have been. Abortion didn't solve my problems it only created more. I want the world to know the harmful, horrible effects of abortion and how it destroys lives, so I WILL BE SILENT NO MORE."

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Pro-Life Leader Wins Presidential Honor

Former Congressman Henry Hyde is scheduled to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Monday. Hyde is receiving the honor for his efforts to oppose abortion. The Hyde Amendment which bears his name was designed to stop federal funding of abortion. Hyde consistently advanced pro-life legislation during his work in Congress. The Bush Administration stated, "During his career in the House of Representatives, he was a powerful defender of life and a leading advocate for a strong national defense and for freedom around the world." For more on this story, visit http://www.lifenews.com/nat3414.html.

Help Us Spread the Pro-Life Word!

If you've been enjoying what you've been reading in the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Online News, please forward it to your friends and encourage them to sign up to receive our informative e-mail newsletter twice a month. It's more important than ever that those pro-lifers have up-to-date facts on the life issues, and the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Online News is a wonderful way to stay abreast of the latest pro-life information, both in the state and nationwide. Anyone interested in subscribing should send an e-mail to lifelines@paprolife.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.

Chapter Information from Around the State

McKean County Right to Life is Making a Difference

Keith and Kelly Dart of McKean County Right to Life report that their chapter is making a difference in the culture of their county. The chapter recently joined forces with pro-lifers from Olean, New York for Life Chain. The event attracted a record crowd of 120 people. The Darts noted, "We had a beautiful day to make a stand for LIFE!" The chapter also recently held a pro-life rally featuring Karen Cross, Political Director of National Right to Life. Cross shared her personal testimony with the audience and gave an update on pro-life legislation that has been passed or is in the works. For more information about how to get involved in a local chapter of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, contact Executive Director Michael Ciccocioppo at ciccocioppo@paprolife.org.

Live in Southeast PA? Contact SE Regional Coordinator Gail Kilby to find out more about joining a chapter in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, or Philadelphia County. You can reach Gail by e-mail at kilby@paprolife.org or you can call her at 215-884-5805.

Live in the Southwest? If you'd like to become involved in a chapter, contact Southwest Regional Coordinator Bryce McMinn, who recently set up a regional office in Washington County. Here's his contact information: Bryce C. McMinn, Southwest Regional Coordinator; Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation; 74 Oak Spring Road, Suite 101; Washington, PA 15301; Work Phone: 724-228-1162; Cell Phone: 412-835-2812; E-Mail: mcminn@paprolife.org.

Active Chapters:

(County names are followed by chapter names)

Adams--Adams County PHL
Allegheny--Allegheny County PHL North Hills, Allegheny County PHL South Hills
Beaver--Beaver County PHL
Bedford--CCHL Bedford County
Berks--Berks County PHL
Blair--CCHL Blair County
Bucks--Bucks County Right to Life
Butler--Butler County PHL
Cambria--CCHL Cambria/Somerset
Cameron--Elk/Cameron Right to Life
Centre--CCHL Centre County
Clearfield--CCHL Dubois
Columbia--Montour-Columbia PHL
Crawford--Crawford County Citizens for Life
Cumberland--Cumberland County PHL
Dauphin--Greater Harrisburg PHL
Elk--Elk/Cameron Right to Life
Erie--People for Life
Fayette--Greater Fayette County Respect-Life Comm.
Franklin--Franklin County PHL
Greene--Greene County PHL
Huntingdon--Huntingdon County Pro-Life
Jefferson--CCHL DuBois
Juniata--CCHL Mifflin/Juniata
Lackawanna--Carbondale PHL (northern Lackawanna)
Lackawanna--Scranton PHL (southern Lackawanna)
Lebanon--Lebanon County PHL
Lehigh--Allentown PHL & Bethlehem/Easton PHL
Luzerne--Wyoming Valley PHL (northern Luzerne)
Luzerne--Hazleton PHL (southern Luzerne)
Lycoming--Susquehanna Valley PHL
McKean--McKean County Right to Life
Mercer--Pro-Life of Mercer
Mifflin--CCHL Mifflin/Juniata
Monroe--Pocono PHL
Montour--Montour/Columbia PHL
Northampton--Bethlehem/Easton PHL
Northumberland--Northumberland PHL
Philadelphia--Philadelphia Right to Life
Pike--Wayne/Pike PHL
Potter--New Chapter Organizing now
Somerset--CCHL Cambria/Somerset
Susquehanna--Susquehanna County PHL
Tioga--Endless Mountains PHL
Venango--Venango County PHL
Wayne--Wayne/Pike PHL
York--York County PHL

Footnote: PHL – Pennsylvanians for Human Life
CCHL – Citizens Concerned for Human Life

If you would like more information on the chapter in your county, or if your county is not listed and you'd like to start a local chapter, please contact our office for information at 717-541-0034 or via email at ciccocioppo@paprolife.org.

The PA Pro-Life Online News is a publication of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation; 4800 Jonestown Rd., Suite 102; Harrisburg, PA; 17109. It is never sent unsolicited. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to lifelines@paprolife.org.

IN THIS ISSUE: