Whether it's pro-life philosophy, activism or legislation, whether it's about a current topic or a situation pro-lifers face in their own lives and work, this is the place where we'll talk about it! Please forward any comments to me, Judie Brown. Thank you!
GOING FOR THE GOLD Posted: Tuesday October 2, 2007 at 2:32 pm EST by Judie Brown
My good friend John Whitehead of the Rutherford Institute is a brilliant attorney who has come to see the value in pursuing statewide personhood bills in each and every state in America. He pointed out recently that whether by legislation or constitutional amendment, personhood is the only goal worth pursuing if we truly want to end abortion in America.
In this article, Caryl Swift of Georgia Right to Life echoes American Life League's long-held conviction that it is time for Americans to "speak decisively to this most fundamental right."
In Georgia they are doing it; in Michigan they are doing it, in Colorado they are doing it. Oh that each state would do so because by such declarations we will truly unveil the tragic mask of the culture of death in our nation.
If you are now asking yourself why every single national right to life group is not striving for personhood with same vigor as American Life League, I think I can help you figure that out.
You see, if a genuine personhood bill were to become law or an amendment to a Constitution, any birth control method that aborts children, even if only occasionally, would be outlawed as would in vitro fertilization. Either we want to protect ALL innocent persons or we don't.
So take a moment to read the article by Unruh, say a prayer for brilliant attorneys like John Whitehead and Richard Thomas, and then get busy striving for personhood.
Why ban IVF? Since pro-lifers have large families, why ban what encourages having children? Mark | October 8, 2007
Dear Mark
In vitro fertilization is a direct attack on God's design for the procreation of children. It is an activity by which man uses a laboratory to play God with the lives of innocent babies.
Perhaps you were not aware, but the very first IVF child, Louise Brown, was the result of an agreement the doctors made with her parents that if at any time during the pregnancy they detected an imperfection in Louise, they would abort her.
IVF is simply not in the best interest of families or their future children. For more on this matter, I hope you will read our web site.
SIDING WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD Posted: Monday October 1, 2007 at 3:30 pm EST by Judie Brown
The exercise of legislation via judicial fiat has reached new levels today with the decision of the Supreme Court to decline hearing arguments in defense of religious organizations which do not want to provide contraceptives s part of the drug coverage they offer to their employees.
Particularly in the case of Catholic organizations, this is appalling. The Catholic Church teaches that contraception is evil and the practice of it is a sin. Therefore, it seems clear enough that in this particular case the court has chosen to rely on state tactics of intimidation rather than recognizing the free exercise of religious freedom in this country.
It is an abomination that any Catholic entity should be put in the position of ignoring its own teachings in deference to state mandate. It is a matter of historical fact that contraceptive practice marks the first time in medical history where perfectly healthy women are given medication to “protect” them from the natural experience of procreation. Since when is contraception part of health care?
I wholeheartedly agree with attorney Kevin Baine who stated, “A church ought to be able to run its affairs and organize relationships with its employees in a way that’s consistent with moral values and teachings.” Apparently the court finds it unacceptable to concur and prefers to side with the proponents of such laws including Planned Parenthood.
The court’s decision to decline to hear the case involving a New York state law does not bode well for any religious group in America, but most particularly for Catholic organizations. Shame on the U.S. Supreme Court.
As difficult as it might be, these organizations ought to stand by their religious tenets and cancel their prescription coverage.
Perhaps, with the money that they save by doing that, they could provide real medication to people who really need it for their truly medical conditions.
And, if enough of them stood by their prinicples, perhaps the government/court would get the message that religious organizations not only mean what they preach, but they are a necessary part of providing needed services to our society. Donna Lawrence | October 1, 2007
Judie,
Do you have any idea what Catholic Charities or the other religious groups mentioned in the AP article are going to do next? Are they just going to cave in and provide birth control, or fight back? Knowing how weak-willed most of our bishops and the laity are, I'm predicting the latter. Elizabeth | October 1, 2007
And to think that we as a nation elected these anti-Christian bigots. Sad to say as this is, we as a nation will plunge into oblivion unless we see a dramatic change in behavior. We are already giving PC agenda to the bomb terrorists in the Middle East! As I said before, unless we learn the lesson from the fall of Rome, the Islamists, who's birthrate is incredible compared to Christians in Europe, will attempt to invade all of Europe and if we aren't careful us too! The pro-abortionists and the radical Muslims have one thing in common, they are determined to force their way of life on us. This is the future they have to offer America! Materialism, hedonism, atheism and secularism are the false prophets of our time. These 4 things are the so-called 'messiah' of our time. Or should I say the "spirit of the age". Ecumenists all tend to have the same gods or that pagan god called Molloch.
Nick | October 2, 2007
Dear Elizabeth
I know it is always easy to look at what people have done in the past and presume they will continue in the same pattern, but my hope is that New York's Catholic Charities will do the bold thing and say that because of this law, they will no longer provide health care coverage for prescription medicine for their employees.
It seems to me that until someone stands up to the courts and says "no," abuses of religious freedom will continue.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 4, 2007
Dear Donna
Amen and alleluia. You are so right!
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 4, 2007
Dear Nick
Indeed the worst of circumstances will prevail unless our nation's citizens, one by one, turns to God and begins to trust Him rather than the sadistic state.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD AT HOLY CROSS Posted: Monday October 1, 2007 at 1:35 pm EST by Judie Brown
Well, this is really not a good way to start a Monday, but the news is what it is, so I have to share it with you.
It seems that the Jesuit run College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts has taken it upon themselves to host a Teen Pregnancy Institute with none other than Planned Parenthood.
Shocking is the only word that seems to fit this scenario, but there is more to this than meets the eye. The first is that during this full day even the college will lso condone the recognition of pro-abortion Governor Deval L. Patrick as a leader who deserves an award.
Some have said that since Holy Cross has a history of doing such things, we should not be surprised; but I do not accept that. As long as Holy Cross is describing itself as Catholic, then we who know what that means are obligated to point out the hypocrisy and take any action we can to persuade those in leadership positions to either repent of such actions or stop calling themselves Catholic.
On the college's we site we are reminded of its Catholic identity, but we do not see it in the actions of those who plan events such as the 2007 Teen Pregnancy Institute.
If you feel, as I do, that enough is enough, then I invite you to share your concerns with:
Bishop Robert J. McManus Diocese of Worcester 49 Elm Street Worcester, MA 01609.
catholics who object to Holy Cross inviting pro-abortionists like Deval Patrick and hosting a "Teen Pregnancy Institute" at the school they shouls simply STOP funding Holy cross and any other Catholic college who condone such actions. Again Judi until the Pope puts his words into action U CAN B Catholic and pro-abortion!
Mike Hassett October 1st Mike Hassett | October 1, 2007
Could you imagine St. Ignatius of Loyola condoning an institute like this? Gary | October 3, 2007
Dear Gary
St. Ignatius of Loyola is my favorite saint, and to answer your question, not on your life.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 4, 2007
Dear Mike
Action always begins with sincere prayer and prudent action. We should all be praying that the Holy Father takes the appropriate action; time I fear is running out.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 4, 2007
The lack of disipline by the "holy father" on pro-abortion Catholics and so called "Catholic" colleges like Holy Cross are the reason why I left Catholicism for Bibical truth. Jesus says in Matthew 4:10 Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. and Holy Cross is doing the opposite when they allow such propaganda to continue in it's institution.
Mike Hassett October 9th Mike Hassett | October 9, 2007
Dear Mike
I am sorry that you chose to leave the Catholic Church. I ceertainly know many, however, who have also done so and I pray for each of them. To be Catholic is to adore Christ and to realize that His Church is made up of sinful human beings who far too frequently do what is wrong, what is in fact an insult to Christ. But in the midst of such error, we are challenged to remain true to Christ, the magisterium of the Church and the fullness of Catholic teaching. So, you see, leaving is simply not an option for me.
I do appreciate your comments, however, and thank you for sharing with us.
CONNECTICUT CATHOLIC CONFERENCE DENIES ABORTION FACTS Posted: Friday September 28, 2007 at 10:42 am EST by Judie Brown
The first time I read the news that the Connecticut Catholic Conference had decided not to oppose the use of the morning after pill for rape victims, I was positive it was a misprint. I was wrong.
When I visited the web site of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, I found the following:
Do Catholic hospitals provide emergency contraception (Plan “B”) to a rape victim as part of its medical protocol?
Yes.
As explained above, Connecticut’s Catholic hospitals provide emergency contraception (Plan B) in those cases in which the women is in the phase of her cycle in which Plan B can have a contraceptive effect by preventing ovulation.
If the woman is already in the ovulation stage of her cycle, then Plan B cannot have a contraceptive effect. In these cases, the only objective of administering Plan B is to impede the implantation of a fertilized ovum, which is abortion that the Catholic hospital cannot perform directly or in cooperation with others.
Those who have read the details of how the morning after pill (emergency contraception) acts know that it not only can but does "impede implantation." We also know that there is no foolproof test to assure that the victim of sexual assault has not already conceived, regardless of what the above statement suggests.
The only ethical position to take in the battle between Catholic hospitals and the culture of death would be to say that there is never a circumstance in which the morning-after abortion pill is acceptable, period!
By bending to the pressures of the culture of death, the Connecticut Catholic Conference has provided America with a perfect example of why compromise never has the desired result. The Church condemns contraception without exception; that is a fact and the Connecticut Catholic Conference is encouraged to rethink its position.
This is outrageous! How can these "learned" men be so illogical???
I guess now would not be a good time to ask them when they'll get around to enforcing Canon 915.
Heaven help us! Fr. William J Kuchinsky | September 28, 2007
Thanks for your immediate response to the insane thinking of Conn. Catholic Bishops, Judie. I wasn't too surprised since these same bishops don't seem to know the authentic church teaching when it comes to capital punishment.
What did surprise me however, was the fact that they consulted the USCCB and it was the USCCB that concurred with their flawed thinking. Just go to this link and read.
For the unborn,
Donna Marek
Donna Marek | September 28, 2007
What a bunch of wierdos. Paul | September 28, 2007
Judie,
"The Church condemns contraception without exception" I have read some catholic blogs that have me confused because they quote that in cases where nuns might be raped, they can use contraception. Have you heard this before?
Thanks Helen | September 28, 2007
Dear Judie,
God bless you for your strong and clear stance on this issue. When a Jewish friend of mine emailed me this news flash on Thursday, I nearly fell off my chair. I called Priests for Life and got contact numbers for the Connecticut dioceses involved. I then followed up with some phone calls and got to speak only with Father Cronin out of Saint Mary's in Milford CT. He was just squaring with the announcement himself and wondering whom the bishops consulted for this decision. Certainly not the Catholic Medical Association.
I am a physician and in a sense a scientist seeking truth. There is one truth about Plan B contraception -- you state it plainly and clearly: it prevents implantation. And that phase of human life is not defined by classical pregnancy testing (beta-HCG testing). The bishops and their lawyers should confer with other states where laws have been crafted to protect the unique identity of the Catholic hospital.
I think we need to blitz the Connecticut bishops -- Father Cronin appeared to welcome it and considered the issue not irreversible.
God grace you with continued courage, fortitude and wisdom,
Kathy Kathryn Skuza MD | September 29, 2007
Dear Judie,
If the connecticut conference does not speak for the connecticut bishops then those bishops should sue them for misrepresenting the Catholic Faith.
paul | October 1, 2007
Dear Donna
There is an immense amount of confusion based on faulty thinking. As you know, the simple response would simply be that the Church has never made an exception for the use of birth control.
Oh well; we must pray for the Bishops and their bureacratic advisors.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 2, 2007
Dear Paul
Pray for the Bishops; name calling is not justified.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 2, 2007
Dear Helen
I have seen the same comments, and they are never rooted in magisterial teaching but in some theologian's opinion.
We must always take care to adhere to what Christ's Vicar says, not an interpretation of it.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 2, 2007
Dear Father Bill
It is always a good time to beg our Bishops to be courageous. Thank you for all you are doing to defend truth and life.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 2, 2007
Dear Paul
As a matter of fact, the Bishops concur.
Sad indeed.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 2, 2007
Dear Kathryn
Thank you for the kinds words but as I always tell people, all gory to God, to Christ the King. We are, gratefully, His servants.
The BLITZ is on, Kathryn and I only wish that the Bishops in Connecticut would seek providential guidance instead of skewed opinions from their advisors.
We must pray for them. Dr, you are a gem!
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 2, 2007
Bishops should unequivocally reflect Church teaching. Decisions like this confuse the faithful and set a bad precedent. Gary | October 3, 2007
PALLIATIVE CARE OR DEATH? Posted: Wednesday September 26, 2007 at 9:10 am EST by Judie Brown
I just received the current issue of Life Is Worth Living and I wish it was on line. But there is a web site and I encourage you to visit it.
Now on to my concerns about palliative care. The founder of Life Is Worth Living tells her subscribers this week that everyone who hears about palliative care must beware because a whole lot of hype is going on and everything from living "pain-free" to living a longer life is being promised.
But in Julie Grimstad's opinion, "the foremost concern is that palliative care will become yet another tool in right-to-die's imposed death toolkit."
Lest you think she is merely being negative, let me quote from information posted by Ione Whitlock on the Life Tree site:
There was the awful revelation that many leaders in palliative care were in favor of the removal of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube - an act of euthanasia. LifeTree has recorded some of their statements at http://www.lifetree.org/resources/antischiavo.html
Now, there is deep concern about trends at the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). The center was founded in 1999 at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City by Drs. Christine Cassel and Diane Meier. It is recognized as the nation’s premier training center for development of palliative care programs in U.S. hospitals. As a result of CAPC’s program, the number of hospital-based palliative care programs has nearly doubled - increasing from 668 in 2000, to 1,240 in 2005. Through CAPC’s Leadership Centers across the United States, over 3,100 health care professionals have been taught CAPC’s methods and ethics.
But the founders of CAPC have long been supporters of physician-assisted suicide. So while their language has changed, the goal remains the same, and that should be a source of concern for anybody who truly wants to fight the ongoing imposition of euthanasia on the old, the frail, the comatose and the critically ill.
I highly recommend that you e-mail Julie Grimstad and ask not only for a copy of her E-Letter 96, but also to become a subscriber.
BRAVO, JOAN! PLANNED PARENTHOOD PORN OUTSTED Posted: Tuesday September 25, 2007 at 3:13 pm EST by Judie Brown
In Lewiston Maine, JoAn Karkos sent shock waves through the country when she stood by her decision to permanently remove copies of the book "It's Perfectly Normal" from the library shelves.
She removed all the books from the library and insists that she will not return them. More power to her.
When we learned of this woman's heroic action we asked Jim Sedlak to tell us how others could do what JoAn did in order to expose the gross injustice Planned Parenthood does to children. Here is what he recommends:
Get your local library's complaint procedure.
Make up a simple petition "we the undersigned want "It's Perfectly Normal" removed from our library.
Circulate petition and get as many signatures as possible. Get to local churches, home schooling groups, and other conservative groups and have their membership sign. There is no age limit on the petition, but people should sign only one.
Have a person load names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses into a computer for future use.
While circulating petition, get the names and contact numbers of the people who make up the library board that will make the ultimate decision.
Have influential people in the community contact these board members asking them to get rid of the book.
Once you have enough signatures, file an official complaint with the library stating you are filing for yourself and xxxxx number of people who signed petition, and asking the book be removed from the library.
A hearing should be scheduled. Once the date has been set, send out an e-mail to everyone who signed the petition giving them the contact information for the library board members and asking them to contact the board and ask for the removal of the book.
Let the press know what is happening.
Go to the meeting with as many people as would like to come and demand the book be removed.
If the library board refuses to remove the book, you are not finished yet.
Get information on where the money to fund the library comes from. If it comes from government (city, county, etc) get to elected officials and ask them to withhold all future payments until library removes book.
Renew your signature gathering.
Continue to put pressure on funding.
Keep filing additional complaints, go to meetings and let your voice be heard until the book is gone.
Why does it bother you so much that there are books that allow sex and our bodies to be something other than taboo? You consider allowing children knowledge about how their own bodies work and how they came into being PORNOGRAPHY? You consider this book a "gross injustice" to children? I am very disturbed by your attitude, especially since the entire "pro life" movement seems to share it. If you really cared about stopping abortion, you wouldn't be acting like this. You would be promoting sex education and making sure kids have knowledge and understand their feelings and bodies. I don't object to encouraging abstinence, but lying to young people and denying them facts is not something I will ever condone.
What I believe is a true injustice to children is denying them this information. It is shameful the way you use "pro life" to cover up your behavior. If you ever decide that you actually want to get rid of abortion and are willing to use rational methods like promoting comprehensive sex ed and birth control, I think we'll have something in common. Until then, I'm going to be doing the job everyone thinks YOU'RE doing, lowering abortion rates.
Darcy | September 25, 2007
Darcy, Your way has been tried and failed miserably, indeed the exact opposite has happened. Your "responsible education" is the root cause of sexual promiscuity in our young. Enough of the nonsense! We, the pro-life anti-porn crowd will no longer tolerate these evils you approve of for our children. We will always be opposed to your ideas of "liberty" (a.k.a license) so just get used to it. Barb | September 28, 2007
Dear Darcy
There seems to be a bit of a disconnect in your thought process. Let me explain something to you.
Abortion is an act that murders a preborn child.
Planned Parenthood style sex education relies on the philosophy that anything goes, including sex outside of marriage, contraception and abortion.
Therefore, since we do want to see an end to abortion, we do not want to see children exposed to sex instruction which is precisely what Planned Parenthood markets. And I think you do understand that.
The book, "It's Perfectly Normal" is a manual of how to, and is anything but solid, ethical educational material.
Clear we disagree. For as you know, the practice of birth control leads to even more abortion and most birth control methods also abort.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | September 28, 2007
Darcy is one of these pro-abortion people who think that books like "It's Perfectly Normal" condoned by Planned Parenthood is a better tool than having the PARENTS being the ones to teach their kids about sex education and abstience Judi. I too say bravo to JoAnn Karkos for removing this book from her library shelves! If a pro-life book showing pictures of unborn babies devolping from conception up until birth was on a library shelve would Darcy object?
Mike Hassett September 29th Mike Hassett | September 29, 2007
Dear Mike
THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU!
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 2, 2007
Barb
I hope Darcy is reading the BLOG comments.
God be with you.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 2, 2007
I think there is a wrong way and a right way to teach our children about sex. And sadly teaching our children that its perfectly normal to go with whatever feels good to you isn't the way to go about it! This is how many of our kids get infected with diseases and unwanted pregnancies. I am 21 years old and my parents never told me about sex other then that God wants us to wait until we are married. My school taught me about sex but they supported an abstinence approach... I don't even think birthcontrol was mentioned. Kids are not as stupid as adults want to make them sound like and sex is not as glorious as they portray in the media and as PP wants the world to believe it is. elisabeth | October 3, 2007
Dear Elisabeth
Thank you so much for sharing your insights.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | October 4, 2007
It's so slick how our children are being pulled into believing the opposite of what God intended for male and female sexuality. It's because we're all waiting for someone else to make things right. It's kind of like the old "put a frog in water and turn up the temperature...he doesn't even notice the heat, nor jump out, but ends up boiling to death" - it all happens so gradually. After looking at the pages from this book, I am sickened to think of any of our children, or anyone's child, being exposed to such vulgarity when God's original plan for human sexuality is so far removed from what those pages contain. Think, Darcy, about the beauty of a pro-creative, husband and wife, intimate relationship where each person holds nothing back (that means no contraception, no abortion), but a total self-giving of one to another. Now, if that were explained to the children in lieu of this "manual", would it receive an objection? Do you think our children could possible have a chance at seeing the beauty of sexuality? Susie | October 5, 2007
Dear Susie
Thank you so very much for your profound message of love for the dignity of the human person.
WHO WILL ANSWER FOR THIS? Posted: Tuesday September 25, 2007 at 2:12 pm EST by Judie Brown
Every once in a while I receive a post on my EWTN Forum that breaks my heart. Recently a mother wrote such a message:
My daughter was on birth control pills and only occasionally smoked (less than a pack a week). We lost her three years ago at the age of nineteen. The doctors said that the combination of pills and cigarettes is what caused a blood clot in her leg that broke off and went to her heart. The thing with her was that she wasn't even sexually active. She was on it due to irregular periods. Blood clots kill more women than breast cancer.
Every time I read one of these messages I have to ask myself how accountable others will be for their consistent denial of truth. Doctors know how dangerous the birth control pill is; they simply view their female patients as human guinea pigs.
I know that God will deal with all those who have deceived women; but I grieve for the innocent lives lost simply and only because deceit has become the currency of obstetric medical practice in far too many cases.
I have a cousin who is on the pill because of irregular periods. I tell her all the time to get off of them because they aren't safe, but she won't believe me. She claims to be pro-life, but she refuses to believe that the pill can cause an early abortion.
Danielle | September 25, 2007
Dear Danielle
Pray for your counsin and keep the lines of communication open. One day perhaps she will see the truth.
Judie Brown Judie Brown | September 28, 2007
Judie,
what can be done to stop birth control pills from having such terrible side affects? pete | October 2, 2007
Dear Pete
First of all, the birth control pill's approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 1960 marked the first time in history that a medication was approved for use by perfectly health females. That was the beginning of the terrible side effects we are seeing today.
The best way to prevent the pill from continuing to reap havoc in the bodies of women and on the bodies of preborn babies is to outlaw them.
Pro-Life Story: Not aborted in Washington Posted By Anonymous on Jul, 10 2006 This story is about time spent in my mothers womb. I am the fourth of five children and I was supposed to have been aborted. Why? The doctors told my parents that I would be a ... Read
