Behold the Lord, Jesus Christ, who tries so hard to get our attention
In this issue:
- Planned Parenthood, life and personhood
- South Dakota update
- Planned Parenthood sees South Dakota as critical
- Diocese of Sioux Falls asks for nationwide prayer campaign
- Pro-life efforts in South Dakota
- American Life League continues its South Dakota efforts
South Dakota update
Today we will bring you an update on the latest happenings in South Dakota. Planned Parenthood is fighting hard to overturn the Women’s Health and Human Life Protection law passed in the state. The law outlaws all abortions after implantation. Pro-lifers are determined to defend the law and are seeking your help.
The law has been placed on the November ballot and is known as “Referred Law 6.”
Planned Parenthood sees South Dakota as crucial
Planned Parenthood has made it clear that it views South Dakota as critical. Planned Parenthood operates the only abortion facility in South Dakota and continually rants that it will keep it open. In addition, in the recent Vogue magazine article, Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards said that when she travels to various affiliates, they “always, always ask about South Dakota.” In a picture accompanying that same article, Cecile Richards is shown at her desk and a folder behind her is clearly labeled “South Dakota.”
Planned Parenthood of South Dakota has announced that on August 3, it will kick off its Campaign to Defeat Referred Law 6. PP will hold house parties in Aberdeen, Brookings, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Vermillion.
It is clear that the fight to preserve the law will be a fight against Planned Parenthood and its millions of dollars.
Diocese of Sioux Falls asks for nationwide prayer campaign
The Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota has begun an organized prayer campaign to affirm the Women’s Health and Human Life Protection Act (HB 1215 – Referred Law 6) by a “yes” vote on the ballot on November 7.
In conversations yesterday with diocesan representatives, they asked us to spread the word about this campaign and to encourage people all across the United States to join together in praying for this intention.
As part of this effort, the diocese has created a Prayer Card - Prayer to Affirm HB 1215 - Referred Law 6; a Prayer Guide - that includes a Prayer Service for the specific intent of a successful "Yes" vote on HB 1215 - Referred Law 6; and a Prayer Calendar for you to sign any time that you pray to affirm HB 1215.
As the prayer guide states:
The Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls is offering this prayer guide as a way for Catholics in South Dakota and elsewhere to unite in prayer for human life and its protection from all attacks, and to specifically pray for the campaign to affirm the Women’s Health and Human Life Protection Act (HB 1215 – Referred Law 6) by a “yes” vote on the ballot on November 7, 2006.
We cannot neglect the reality of spiritual warfare in our daily lives, or its impact upon the efforts to build a culture of life. Prayer and the Sacraments are our most powerful weapons in this battle for life. Therefore, we highly encourage the faithful of our Diocese to use this Prayer Guide and the prayers included in it, to attend Mass, and to go to Confession, in order to help gain the graces needed to combat the culture of death.
Please pray and distribute this guide widely.
But this is not just for the people of the Sioux Falls diocese. By printing out and following the prayer guide, people all across the country, and around the world, can become part of the stopping of abortion in South Dakota and, eventually, everywhere.
Pro-life efforts in South Dakota
In addition to the prayer campaign by the diocese, citizens from across South Dakota, from different faiths, and all walks of life (including farmers, pastors, doctors, teachers, lawyers, counselors and many others) have formed a citizen led group called Vote Yes For Life that is leading the campaign to educate South Dakotans on the importance of this bill, and to counter the pro-abortion forces in the state.
Part of their educational campaign is a powerful DVD with testimonies from South Dakota women. Please visit their web site at www.VoteYesForLife.com.
If you want to get involved in the action that is going on in South Dakota, go to the action center on the Vote Yes For Life web site. There you can make donations to help fund the effort and you can find specific actions that are needed to help in the fight to save the babies.
American Life League continues our South Dakota efforts
American Life League continues to support the pro-lifers in South Dakota with t-shirts, literature, newspaper advertisements and manpower. Our youth group recently spent 10 days in South Dakota distributing literature and providing other assistance. We have plans to go back before the end of the month and expect to have many people in South Dakota between now and November.
Our Rock for Life effort attends many Christian festivals during the summer and, at each festival this year, we have been collecting cards from young people expressing encouragement and support for what South Dakota is doing. We recently gave several hundred of these cards to the leaders in South Dakota. They were elated to hear of the support of young people across the country.
