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Communique – Feb. 11, 2000

action alert

The National Institutes of Health has extended the public comment period for its proposed guidelines for stem cell research–guidelines that would allow researchers to kill living human embryos for research purposes. The NIH will now accept your comments through February 22.

We call your attention to a previously unreported problem. These proposed guidelines make mention ONLY of pluripotent stem cells, which is clearly a diversionary tactic that would allow the NIH to proceed with destroying embryonic babies for the purpose of robbing them of TOTIPOTENT stem cells. Totipotent stem cells are NOT the same as pluripotent (for a full understanding if this, please see “Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Are Official Positions Based on Scientific Fraud?” by Dianne N. Irving, M.A., Ph.D.). When you submit your comments you should alert the NIH to the fact that you are aware of their effort to continue killing these children by promoting false science in the guidelines. Send your comments to:Stem Cell Guidelines
NIH Office of Science Policy
1 Center Drive
Building 1, Room 218
Bethesda, MD 20892
Fax: 301-402-0280
E-mail: “>

For more information on what to say in your comments, or additional background on the nature of destructive embryonic research involving stem cells, see the Coalition of Americans for Research EthicsAmerican Life Leagueand the American Bioethics Advisory Commission have responded to the NIH draft.

In addition, Dr. Joel Brind suggests, “Since February 14 is Valentine’s Day, how about a campaign for pro-lifers to send Valentine’s Day cards to the thousands of children frozen in suspended animation in freezers around the country, care of the NIH?” These are children whose lives would be at risk if the proposed guidelines are adopted. Send your cards to the address above. PLEASE DO IT NOW!

archives

JAMES DOBSON, Ph.D.: In a Focus on the Family newsletter, March 1995, Dr. Dobson said, “I am committed never again to cast a vote for a politician who would kill one innocent baby. . . . Never will I use my influence, however remotely, to support the shedding of their blood.”

health care

DISCRIMINATION: A recent study reveals that of 113,000 heart attack victims, those who suffer from mental illness are much less likely to receive bypass surgery, angioplasty or other such treatments.

(Reading: “Treatment for Mentally Ill Compared,” Associated Press, 1/25/00; “Mental Disorders and Use of Cardiovascular Procedures After Myocardial Infarction,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/26/00, pp. 506-511)

human experimentation

OPRR: U. S. News and World Report briefly reports that Gary Ellis, director of the Office for Protection from Research Risks, could lose his job so that someone “more protective of researchers” is appointed. The office is described as “too zealous” in its efforts to protect the vulnerable from exploitation where human subjects are used in research. Case in point: OPRR ordered the University of Alabama to stop enrolling human volunteers in hundreds of federally-funded studies because of “potential safety concerns among the test subjects.”

COMMENT: What is needed is more concern for the human guinea pigs, not the fat-cat researchers!

(Reading: “Guinea Pig Flap,” U.S. News and World Report, 1/24/00; “Research with Humans Nixed in Ala.,” Associated Press, 1/22/00; for ongoing action items and information on this growing problem visit Vera Sharav’s outstanding web site, Mad Nation.)

imposed death

DIRECT KILLING: Physicians Patrick Pullicino and William Burke write, “‘Terminal extubation’ is a form of euthanasia, and neurologists should recognize it as such. Withdrawal of ventilation directly results in the death of the patient. . . . Physicians must also not allow the absolute ethical imperative to save life to be subjugated to quality-of-life judgments made on the patient’s behalf. Neurologists have many patients who cannot speak for themselves whose quality of life may easily be judged as poor.” In a published response to these comments, Stephan Mayer, M.D. and Sharon Kossoff, M.S. write, “The statement by Pullicino and Burke that ‘neurologists must take a stand against any use of euthanasia’ places them in the distinct minority of legal, ethical and public opinion.”

(Reading: “Withdrawal of Life Support in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit,” Neurology, 12/99, pp. 2215-16)

planned parenthood

MUSIC OUTREACH: Rock for Life points out the danger of Planned Parenthood’s latest invitation to teens, which “allows you and your friends to listen to the music of your favorite bands while learning about responsible reproductive health care.”

(Reading: Music Outreach, Planned Parenthod of Orange and San Bernadino Counties [California])

pope john paul ii

NO COMPROMISE: “The unconditional commitment to every unborn life, to which the Church feels bound from the very beginning, permits no ambiguity or compromise. No compromise is permitted in defending unborn life.” (Letter of Pope John Paul II to German bishops, 6/3/99)

“The world looks to the United States for leadership in cherishing every human life and in providing legal protection for all the members of the human community, but especially those who are weakest and most vulnerable.” (Pope John Paul II’s message to the National Prayer Breakfast, 2/3/00)

population control

HUNGER: John Naughton of Maryland suggests that pro-life activists use letters to the editor to inform readers about the positive steps Americans can take to solve the hunger problem in the world. To learn more visit Catholic Relief Services and The Hunger Site.

(Reading: e-mail to communique from John Naughton, 2/1/00)

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL: The current edition of the Rotarian sets out guidelines for population projects worth supporting, including “favor only voluntary family planning, excluding any compulsory birth control, never provide incentives to limit births and be cognizant of the freedom of choice of individuals.”

(Reading: The Rotarian, 2/00, pp. 34 and 35)

united nations

SEE CHANGE: The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute is attempting to gather 500 organizational names to submit in support of continuing UN status for the Holy See. To sign up an organization or to receive further background contact “>Austin Ruseweb news

ACHIEVING PEACE IN THE ABORTION WAR: A new book by Rachel MacNair, founder of Feminists for Life, can be read online.

BILLBOARD FOR LIFE: See Ohio Right to Life for details on the billboard “A child dies, a woman cries.”

reflection for prayer

Let heaven and earth, with all their attire, be silent in Thy presence, O my dearest beloved [cf. Hab. 11:20] for whatever praise or beauty they have is all the gift of Thy bounty; nor can they equal the beauty of Thy name, of whose wisdom there is no end.

(Imitation of Christ, book IV, p. 398)

The National Institutes of Health has extended the public comment period for its proposed guidelines for stem cell research–guidelines that would allow researchers to kill living human embryos for research purposes. The NIH will now accept your comments through February 22.

We call your attention to a previously unreported problem. These proposed guidelines make mention ONLY of pluripotent stem cells, which is clearly a diversionary tactic that would allow the NIH to proceed with destroying embryonic babies for the purpose of robbing them of TOTIPOTENT stem cells. Totipotent stem cells are NOT the same as pluripotent (for a full understanding if this, please see “Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Are Official Positions Based on Scientific Fraud?” by Dianne N. Irving, M.A., Ph.D.). When you submit your comments you should alert the NIH to the fact that you are aware of their effort to continue killing these children by promoting false science in the guidelines. Send your comments to:

Stem Cell Guidelines
NIH Office of Science Policy
1 Center Drive
Building 1, Room 218
Bethesda, MD 20892
Fax: 301-402-0280
E-mail: “>

For more information on what to say in your comments, or additional background on the nature of destructive embryonic research involving stem cells, see the Coalition of Americans for Research EthicsAmerican Life Leagueand the American Bioethics Advisory Commission have responded to the NIH draft.

In addition, Dr. Joel Brind suggests, “Since February 14 is Valentine’s Day, how about a campaign for pro-lifers to send Valentine’s Day cards to the thousands of children frozen in suspended animation in freezers around the country, care of the NIH?” These are children whose lives would be at risk if the proposed guidelines are adopted. Send your cards to the address above. PLEASE DO IT NOW!

archives

JAMES DOBSON, Ph.D.: In a Focus on the Family newsletter, March 1995, Dr. Dobson said, “I am committed never again to cast a vote for a politician who would kill one innocent baby. . . . Never will I use my influence, however remotely, to support the shedding of their blood.”

health care

DISCRIMINATION: A recent study reveals that of 113,000 heart attack victims, those who suffer from mental illness are much less likely to receive bypass surgery, angioplasty or other such treatments.

(Reading: “Treatment for Mentally Ill Compared,” Associated Press, 1/25/00; “Mental Disorders and Use of Cardiovascular Procedures After Myocardial Infarction,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/26/00, pp. 506-511)

human experimentation

OPRR: U. S. News and World Report briefly reports that Gary Ellis, director of the Office for Protection from Research Risks, could lose his job so that someone “more protective of researchers” is appointed. The office is described as “too zealous” in its efforts to protect the vulnerable from exploitation where human subjects are used in research. Case in point: OPRR ordered the University of Alabama to stop enrolling human volunteers in hundreds of federally-funded studies because of “potential safety concerns among the test subjects.”

COMMENT: What is needed is more concern for the human guinea pigs, not the fat-cat researchers!

(Reading: “Guinea Pig Flap,” U.S. News and World Report, 1/24/00; “Research with Humans Nixed in Ala.,” Associated Press, 1/22/00; for ongoing action items and information on this growing problem visit Vera Sharav’s outstanding web site, Mad Nation.)

imposed death

DIRECT KILLING: Physicians Patrick Pullicino and William Burke write, “‘Terminal extubation’ is a form of euthanasia, and neurologists should recognize it as such. Withdrawal of ventilation directly results in the death of the patient. . . . Physicians must also not allow the absolute ethical imperative to save life to be subjugated to quality-of-life judgments made on the patient’s behalf. Neurologists have many patients who cannot speak for themselves whose quality of life may easily be judged as poor.” In a published response to these comments, Stephan Mayer, M.D. and Sharon Kossoff, M.S. write, “The statement by Pullicino and Burke that ‘neurologists must take a stand against any use of euthanasia’ places them in the distinct minority of legal, ethical and public opinion.”

(Reading: “Withdrawal of Life Support in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit,” Neurology, 12/99, pp. 2215-16)

planned parenthood

MUSIC OUTREACH: Rock for Life points out the danger of Planned Parenthood’s latest invitation to teens, which “allows you and your friends to listen to the music of your favorite bands while learning about responsible reproductive health care.”

(Reading: Music Outreach, Planned Parenthod of Orange and San Bernadino Counties [California])

pope john paul ii

NO COMPROMISE: “The unconditional commitment to every unborn life, to which the Church feels bound from the very beginning, permits no ambiguity or compromise. No compromise is permitted in defending unborn life.” (Letter of Pope John Paul II to German bishops, 6/3/99)

“The world looks to the United States for leadership in cherishing every human life and in providing legal protection for all the members of the human community, but especially those who are weakest and most vulnerable.” (Pope John Paul II’s message to the National Prayer Breakfast, 2/3/00)

population control

HUNGER: John Naughton of Maryland suggests that pro-life activists use letters to the editor to inform readers about the positive steps Americans can take to solve the hunger problem in the world. To learn more visit Catholic Relief Services and The Hunger Site.

(Reading: e-mail to communique from John Naughton, 2/1/00)

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL: The current edition of the Rotarian sets out guidelines for population projects worth supporting, including “favor only voluntary family planning, excluding any compulsory birth control, never provide incentives to limit births and be cognizant of the freedom of choice of individuals.”

(Reading: The Rotarian, 2/00, pp. 34 and 35)

united nations

SEE CHANGE: The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute is attempting to gather 500 organizational names to submit in support of continuing UN status for the Holy See. To sign up an organization or to receive further background contact “>Austin Ruseweb news

ACHIEVING PEACE IN THE ABORTION WAR: A new book by Rachel MacNair, founder of Feminists for Life, can be read online.

BILLBOARD FOR LIFE: See Ohio Right to Life for details on the billboard “A child dies, a woman cries.”

reflection for prayer

Let heaven and earth, with all their attire, be silent in Thy presence, O my dearest beloved [cf. Hab. 11:20] for whatever praise or beauty they have is all the gift of Thy bounty; nor can they equal the beauty of Thy name, of whose wisdom there is no end.

(Imitation of Christ, book IV, p. 398)