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Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by Newsletter
Pennsylvania Pro-Life Online News from the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
July 15, 2008
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.
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In this issue:
Abortion Giant Planned Parenthood Endorses Obama
Obama Criticized for Stand on Live-Birth Abortions
Obama's Abortion Stance Remains Radical
Pro-Life McCain's Message to National Right to Life Convention
See the Differences Between McCain and Obama on Abortion
Members of Congress Conduct Expose of Planned Parenthood
Fr. Pavone Comes to PA to Celebrate Lives of Babies Saved from Abortion
Dancing With the Baby Stars
Justice Loves Babies
Pictures from the National Right to Life Convention
Reserve Your Seat Now for the Celebrate Life Banquet!
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.
Abortion Giant Planned Parenthood Endorses Obama
Abortion giant Planned Parenthood's political action arm has endorsed pro-abortion Barack Obama for President. The endorsement shows just how extreme Obama is on the issue of abortion. You can view Planned Parenthood chief Cecile Richards' endorsement video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dttZYuIP1ww .
Obama Criticized for Stand on Live-Birth Abortions
Pro-abortion Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is under fire for his stand on live-birth abortions in which a child is delivered, then left to die. Obama failed to oppose the practice during his tenure in the Illinois legislature. CNN has this report on the controversy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY .
Obama's Abortion Stance Remains Radical
By Charlene Bashore, Esq., Legislative/Political Action Committee Director
(bashore@paprolife.org)
In some recent interviews, Barack Obama has made overtures which might, at first blush, indicate he is re-making, or at least re-thinking his radically pro-abortion policies. For example, during an interview with CBS News (7/9), Obama stated, "I have repeatedly said that I think it's entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother." This is counter to the position of NARAL Pro-Choice America, a leading pro-abortion group which heartily endorsed Obama in May AND even contrary to the position of the candidate himself! In fact, just last year when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the partial-birth abortion ban in Gonzales v. Carhart, which outlaws only certain forms of late-term abortions, Obama vehemently disagreed with the decision, stating that it "dramatically departs from previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant woman." In addition, Obama's official campaign website leaves no doubt about his pro-abortion stand . "He has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President." Despite his carefully- crafted and often well-timed rhetoric which might make this "candidate of change" sound as if he is changing his views on the sanctity of life, his voting record, legislative priorities as a state and U.S. Senator and policy statements leave no doubt about it. Barack Obama is still the most pro-abortion candidate for President of the United States ever. As Eleanor Smeal, president of the pro-abortion Feminist Majority Foundation, confidently surmised, "his statements lend some confusion where there shouldn't be any."
Pro-Life McCain's Message to National Right to Life Convention
Here is the text of pro-life Republican Presidential candidate John McCain's videotaped message to the National Right to Life Convention:
"Thank you for inviting me to address the 2008 National Right to Life Convention, I'm sorry I'm not able to be there in person to address you. More than two-hundred years ago our nation's founders declared, that we are endowed by our creator, with certain and unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It was no accident, that they cited life as the first, and most basic right. For without recognition of the right to life, we are not guaranteed any other rights. Sometimes all wisdom asks of us, is that we recognize common-sense. But sometimes wisdom, as to all other virtues requires courage.
"Wisdom suggests that we should be willing to give an unborn child the same chance that our parents gave us. But it takes courage in this political climate, to insist on the protection of unborn children, who can't vote, have no voice, and can't reward you with support and donations. Wisdom suggests that when federal judges impose their social views on the citizens of every state, the result is going to distort our politics in harmful ways. But it takes courage to insist, that the courts have to return to their proper role. more...
See the Difference Between McCain and Obama on Abortion
See for yourself the difference between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on abortion. Go to www.paprolife.org and click on the icon with the pictures of McCain and Obama. There, you'll find a flyer comparing McCain and Obama on the life issues. Be sure to share the piece with your pro-life friends and family members.
Members of Congress Conduct Expose of Planned Parenthood
Members of the Congressional pro-life caucus took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives recently to object to taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, the world's largest abortion operation. Congressional representatives discussed Planned Parenthood's cover-up of sexual abuse, its willingness to accept donations to abort African-American children, and its billion-dollar bottom line. You can see the video--including footage of Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Pitts--at http://www.youtube.com/user/prolifeinformation .
Fr. Pavone Comes to Bethlehem, PA to Celebrate Lives of Babies Saved from Abortion
The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life (www.priestsforlife.org), came to Bethlehem Saturday, July 12th to celebrate the lives of two infants saved from near abortions at the Allentown Women's Center. Hundreds attended the Mass at Notre Church to support the babies and their families as the two were baptized.
Both moms had gone to the Allentown abortion center with the intentions of having abortions. Both had been approached by pro-life sidewalk counselors. After speaking to the counselors, one mom changed her mind about the abortion and left the facility without going in. The other listened, accepted pro-life literature and entered with the intention of going through with the abortion. While she was sitting in the waiting area, she reviewed the pro-life literature and changed her mind. She got up and walked out.
Father Pavone came to celebrate the lives of these children and to give witness to the heroic work of those who unselfishly give of themselves—both the sidewalk counselors and the faithful who regularly go to the Allentown death center to pray--and to be a peaceful pro-life presence. Members of the local chapter of the "Helpers of God's Precious Infants" have been doing this since 1997.
Folks from the local area and some from a distance participated at the church and then went to pray at the same Allentown facility that almost took the lives of these little ones. Michael Ciccocioppo, executive director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation (www.paprolife.org), and his wife, Peggy, were there from the state headquarters in Harrisburg. Jerry Sekerak, who represents the Mideast Region of Pennsylvania on the Federation's board of directors, joined in. And Sal Rizzo, president of the Federation's local chapter, the Bethlehem/Easton Pennsylvanians for Human Life (http://www.bethlehemeastonprolife.org ), took part in these events.
"We thank Fr. Pavone for bringing the national spotlight to the dedicated service of Pennsylvanians who are standing up for life and saving lives prayerfully and peacefully everyday," commented Mr. Ciccocioppo. "There are so many jobs to be done in the pro-life movement. May we each answer the call to serve in ways that use our passions and our talents as effectively as possible," he concluded.
Dancing With the Baby Stars
By Maria Vitale, Education Director (vitale@paprolife.org)
You may not think of yourself as the next Kristi Yamaguchi, but long before you could walk, you could dance. Not on the floor, mind you, but in the womb.
If you want proof of an unborn baby's dancing ability, check out http://www.yourdevelopingbaby.com/sampleChapters/7.htm. There, under the headline "Baby aerobics," you'll see a baby 15 weeks after conception, doing a unique form of hip hop.
The incredible video comes courtesy of two Harvard radiology professors, Peter Doubilet and Carol Benson, a married couple who have written an eye-catching book called "Your Developing Baby." The work includes some 250 images which underscore the humanity of the unborn child.
I think it can be argued that where there is dancing, there is life. Therefore, an abortion disrupts the dance of life, destroying the dancer's body and rendering him or her lifeless.
When the debate over abortion is reduced to a woman's quest for control of her body, the invisible dancer is forgotten. If abortion is considered tantamount to a tooth extraction, the "pro-choice" argument can seem convincing to the uninformed.
But the rhetoric does not jive with the reality, especially when you can see clips of a child jive-dancing in her mother's belly. The rule of self-determination should apply to the human who makes her home in the womb, as well as the human who supplies the womb. If a pregnant woman has a right to bodily integrity, which she does, so does the little woman inside of her.
An ultrasound image can leave us speechless, so breathtaking is it in its intensity. How, then, can we possibly justify leaving the subject of the image gasping for life?
Paging through "Your Developing Baby" can yield an "Aha!" moment, just as when Juno comes to the understanding that the child within her has fingernails. When the "it" becomes a "he" or a "she," the pro-life argument wins.
There may be no mirror ball trophies for the best unborn dancer of them all, but these little athletes deserve celebrity status. They should be treated with the utmost kindness and respect, as should their mothers. And no doctor should be permitted to bring their dances to an end.
Justice Loves Babies
If you're a parent looking for a good pro-life book to read with your children, you might consider the new work Justice Loves Babies. The moving story of a young African-American boy worried about his mother's pregnancy is written by twins Darlene and Danielle Wibeto. The authors' pastor thinks the book could inspire a children's prayer movement to end abortion. You can see an interview with the authors at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFjiCn7pd_A&NR=1 .
Pictures from the National Right to Life Convention
In case you missed the National Right to Life convention in Arlington, Virginia, you can view pictures from the event on our website at http://www.paprolife.org/Pictures%20from%20NRLC.htm .
Reserve Your Seat Now for the Celebrate Life Banquet!
Don't let the summer pass by before making your autumn pro-life plans! Reserve your seat today for the Celebrate Life Banquet October 16th in Harrisburg. You won't want to miss photographer Michael Clancy's thrilling story of snapping the unforgettable picture of an unborn baby, Baby Samuel, reaching out from his mother's womb. You can conveniently register online at www.paprolife.org/events/state.html. Why not ask your pastor to sponsor a table for the event? It's a wonderful way for your congregation to demonstrate a commitment to protecting innocent human life!
Chapter Information from Around the State
Bradford County--Save the Date
Mark your calendars now and plan to attend a special presentation, "Straight Talk on Stem Cell Research." This educational event will be held on Thursday, September 25th, 2008. Michael Ciccocioppo, executive director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, will be the featured speaker. Information on the place, time, and registration process will be announced later.
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.
More Chapter Info:
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:
Events
Register for Our 2008 Celebrate Life Banquet!
4800 Jonestown Rd., Suite 102; Harrisburg, PA; 17109| www.paprolife.org | Copyright © 2008 Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
