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Communique – Apr. 16, 1999

abortion

CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION ACT: Recently introduced, the Child Custody Protection Act would make it a federal misdemeanor to transport a minor across state lines to evade a state’s parental notification or consent laws. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and James Barcia (D-MI) sponsor the bill.

CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION ACT: Recently introduced, the Child Custody Protection Act would make it a federal misdemeanor to transport a minor across state lines to evade a state’s parental notification or consent laws. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and James Barcia (D-MI) sponsor the bill.

CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION ACT: Recently introduced, the Child Custody Protection Act would make it a federal misdemeanor to transport a minor across state lines to evade a state’s parental notification or consent laws. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and James Barcia (D-MI) sponsor the bill.

COMMENT: If a parent agrees to the killing of his grandchild, does that make the abortion tolerable?

(Reading: H.R.1218, http://thomas.loc.gov)

activism

ABORTION AND BREAST CANCER CONNECTION: Christ’s Bride Ministries (CBM) has reached settlement with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority that had previous banned CBM from placing posters in public transit areas. The posters warn of the connection between abortion and breast cancer. The transportation authority agreed to pay $165,000.00 in legal fees and to allow the posters to be placed.Christ’s Bride Ministries (CBM) has reached settlement with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority that had previous banned CBM from placing posters in public transit areas. The posters warn of the connection between abortion and breast cancer. The transportation authority agreed to pay $165,000.00 in legal fees and to allow the posters to be placed.

(Reading: “Settlement in the case of Christ’s Bride Ministries v. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Allows Anti-Abortion Posters to be displayed in the Transit Area; 3/31/99 press release, http://www.lc.org/nr033099.htm, Liberty Counsel, Contact: Mat Staver, (407) 875-2100)

condoms

FAILURE RATE: A study involving the use of mifepristone (RU-486) as an emergency “contraceptive” method revealed that condom failure accounted for 56% of those seeking treatment for a feared pregnancy.

FAILURE RATE: A study involving the use of mifepristone (RU-486) as an emergency “contraceptive” method revealed that condom failure accounted for 56% of those seeking treatment for a feared pregnancy.

FAILURE RATE: A study involving the use of mifepristone (RU-486) as an emergency “contraceptive” method revealed that condom failure accounted for 56% of those seeking treatment for a feared pregnancy.

(Reading: “Comparison of Three Single Doses of Mifepristone as Emergency Contraception: A Randomised Trial,” The Lancet, 2/27/99, pp. 697-702)

eugenics

CARDINAL BASIL HUME: During a speech at the annual LIFE conference in Great Britain, Cardinal Hume, directing attention toward designer babies, the contraceptive mentality and the breakdown of the family in general, said “We seem to be on the verge of the possibility of parents choosing what they regard as the best children to have. What this could unleash is the spectre of eugenics. It is not the state-sponsored kind that has haunted this century . . . rather what could now emerge is a privatised form of eugenics in which individual parents choose which children to have and which to abort.”

CARDINAL BASIL HUME: During a speech at the annual LIFE conference in Great Britain, Cardinal Hume, directing attention toward designer babies, the contraceptive mentality and the breakdown of the family in general, said “We seem to be on the verge of the possibility of parents choosing what they regard as the best children to have. What this could unleash is the spectre of eugenics. It is not the state-sponsored kind that has haunted this century . . . rather what could now emerge is a privatised form of eugenics in which individual parents choose which children to have and which to abort.”

CARDINAL BASIL HUME: During a speech at the annual LIFE conference in Great Britain, Cardinal Hume, directing attention toward designer babies, the contraceptive mentality and the breakdown of the family in general, said “We seem to be on the verge of the possibility of parents choosing what they regard as the best children to have. What this could unleash is the spectre of eugenics. It is not the state-sponsored kind that has haunted this century . . . rather what could now emerge is a privatised form of eugenics in which individual parents choose which children to have and which to abort.”

(Reading: “Hume Calls For an End to Society’s Sexual Obsession,” The Sunday Telegraph, 3/21/99, http://www.telegraph.co.uk)

free speech

IRELAND: Pro-abortion forces won a victory when the Irish High Court issued injunctions against pro-life protesters involved with Youth Defense. The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) claimed that Youth Defense “invaded its clinic and headquarters in central Dublin.”Pro-abortion forces won a victory when the Irish High Court issued injunctions against pro-life protesters involved with Youth Defense. The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) claimed that Youth Defense “invaded its clinic and headquarters in central Dublin.”

(Reading: “Irish Injunction Against Antiabortion Protesters,” The Lancet, 3/20/99, p. 993)

gay rights

CALIFORNIA: Pro-Life America’s J. T. Finn alerts activists that the homosexual agenda is in full swing in the California state legislature. For details, contact: http://www.capitolresource.org/L_gay.html.Pro-Life America’s J. T. Finn alerts activists that the homosexual agenda is in full swing in the California state legislature. For details, contact: http://www.capitolresource.org/L_gay.html.

(Reading: “Urgent! Homosexual Agenda in High Gear,” J.T. Finn, 3/28/99)

health care

OASIS [Outcome and Assessment Information Set]: The federal government has put a hold on a 19-page questionnaire to be used by government health care workers in assessing home-bound patients who receive Medicare. There are an estimated four million such patients, and the questionnaire is viewed as possibly violating a patient’s privacy. Such questions as whether or not the patient considered suicide or exhibited “socially inappropriate behavior” are included.[Outcome and Assessment Information Set]: The federal government has put a hold on a 19-page questionnaire to be used by government health care workers in assessing home-bound patients who receive Medicare. There are an estimated four million such patients, and the questionnaire is viewed as possibly violating a patient’s privacy. Such questions as whether or not the patient considered suicide or exhibited “socially inappropriate behavior” are included.

(Reading: Under Fire, U.S. Amends Plan to Collect Health Care Data,” Washington Post, 4/1/99) For a review of the OASIS programs, visit: http://www.hcfa.gov/medicare/hsqb/oasis/hhoview.htm

human embryo

DONATION: Medical ethicists address the questions of medical, ethical and policy issues involved in encouraging couples to donate their “extra embryos” to infertile couples rather than disposing of these tiny human beings. They argued that transferring “extras” from one couple to another is cost effective and can result in otherwise infertile couples giving birth.Medical ethicists address the questions of medical, ethical and policy issues involved in encouraging couples to donate their “extra embryos” to infertile couples rather than disposing of these tiny human beings. They argued that transferring “extras” from one couple to another is cost effective and can result in otherwise infertile couples giving birth.

COMMENT: This report is based on the argument that these tiny children are chattel rather than persons.

(Reading: “Establishment of a Successful Donor Embryo Program: Medical, Ethical, and Policy Issues,” Fertility and Sterility, 4/99, pp. 604-608)

imposed death

DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVIST: Mark Pickup, who suffers from a severe case of muscular dystrophy, commented recently in the Canadian newspaper National Post: “There is a continual, hostile barrage of subtle (and not so subtle) messages being sent to the disabled and incurably ill all across North America. We hear that we cost too much, use too many resources and take up too much space. A stranger once hissed at me in my electric scooter, ‘I’d rather be dead than be like you.’ He was simply stating the prevailing view: People like me are better off dead.”Mark Pickup, who suffers from a severe case of muscular dystrophy, commented recently in the Canadian newspaper National Post: “There is a continual, hostile barrage of subtle (and not so subtle) messages being sent to the disabled and incurably ill all across North America. We hear that we cost too much, use too many resources and take up too much space. A stranger once hissed at me in my electric scooter, ‘I’d rather be dead than be like you.’ He was simply stating the prevailing view: People like me are better off dead.”

(Reading: Mark Pickup, “Ending the Killing Ground of Euthanasia,” National Post, 3/30/99; http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary.asp?f=990330/2426374.html)

infanticide

BAD BILL: A legal analysis of the flaws in the current partial-birth abortion legislative proposal before Congress written by attorney Nellie J. Gray is available from March for Life at: http://www.marchforlife.org/part-bir.htmA legal analysis of the flaws in the current partial-birth abortion legislative proposal before Congress written by attorney Nellie J. Gray is available from March for Life at: http://www.marchforlife.org/part-bir.htm

pharmacists

LOUISIANA: State representative Tony Perkins has filed a “right to conscience” bill that would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill some prescriptions and not be subject to disciplinary or court action for that refusal. The proposed bill is the result of concerns expressed over the so-called morning after pill, which many know to be abortive.State representative Tony Perkins has filed a “right to conscience” bill that would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill some prescriptions and not be subject to disciplinary or court action for that refusal. The proposed bill is the result of concerns expressed over the so-called morning after pill, which many know to be abortive.

(Reading: “Bill Would Give ‘Right Of Conscience’ to Pharmacists,” The Advocate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 3/31/99; for guidance on conscience clause proposals, visit Pharmacists for Life International, http://www.pfli.org.

physicians

CATHOLIC MEDICAL STUDENTS: The Catholic Medical Association is reaching out to medical students and residents, particularly through their web site (http://www.cathmed.com) and under the guidance of the chairman of the Medical Student Committee, Dennis Doody, M.D. e-mail: “>The Catholic Medical Association is reaching out to medical students and residents, particularly through their web site (http://www.cathmed.com) and under the guidance of the chairman of the Medical Student Committee, Dennis Doody, M.D. e-mail: “>

selective reduction

MULTIPLE BIRTHS: The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has produced a set of ethical guidelines for those dealing with multiple embryo pregnancies. The advice, based on stated medical concerns regarding maternal risks, recommends “prevention of multiple embryo pregnancy during fertility treatments” (meaning that some tiny boys and girls would be destroyed rather than implanted) or “nonselective embryo reduction.” ACOG states, “While most ob-gyns do not perform the procedure, they need to know what is involved and be able to make appropriate referrals.”The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has produced a set of ethical guidelines for those dealing with multiple embryo pregnancies. The advice, based on stated medical concerns regarding maternal risks, recommends “prevention of multiple embryo pregnancy during fertility treatments” (meaning that some tiny boys and girls would be destroyed rather than implanted) or “nonselective embryo reduction.” ACOG states, “While most ob-gyns do not perform the procedure, they need to know what is involved and be able to make appropriate referrals.”

(Reading:”ACOG Releases Ethical Guidelines for Multiple Embryo Pregnancies,” 4/1/99, http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/0499mult.htm)

web news

BIOETHICS AND POPULATION: Professor Michel Schooyans’ seminal analysis of the anti-life population control movement can be found at http://perso.infonie.fr/le.feu/psomag.htm.Professor Michel Schooyans’ seminal analysis of the anti-life population control movement can be found at http://perso.infonie.fr/le.feu/psomag.htm.

FERTILITY DETECTOR: Two sites have come to our attention addressing the matter of determining when a baby is expected: OVU-TEC: http://www.ovu-tec.com. Personal Fertility Technologies: http://pft123.com.Two sites have come to our attention addressing the matter of determining when a baby is expected: OVU-TEC: http://www.ovu-tec.com. Personal Fertility Technologies: http://pft123.com.

MORALLY ACCEPTABLE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES: Details from the Pope Paul VI Institute on line, complete with conference schedules: http://www.popepaulvi.com.Details from the Pope Paul VI Institute on line, complete with conference schedules: http://www.popepaulvi.com.

reflect

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets before you.

 -Matthew 5:10-12

pray

Lord, thank you for loving me. Help me to retain my sense of gratitude even when the world beckons to me with temptations to offend you. Amen.