Week in Review – Results of Judiciary Committee vote on Judge Kavanaugh

There is no question that the overriding topic this week in the pro-life movement was the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the next Supreme Court Justice. It dominated talk among pro-life leaders during the week and culminated with a televised committee hearing that was watched by millions of people on Thursday.

Judging from news reports in the hours since the hearing, neither side was able to get much movement in their support. The hearings and the reactions show just how much these questions about alleged sexual assault are really more about abortion. As Judge Kavanaugh pointed out in his defense, the accuser named several people as witnesses to the alleged attack and all of them, including a woman described as the accuser’s close friend, deny any knowledge of the alleged incident. Ordinarily, that would be enough to end the discussion—but not when the right to abortion is in question. Pro-aborts have an overriding fear of how Kavanaugh may vote in some undefined case involving abortion.

The Judiciary Committee voted today to move the nomination to the full Senate. As part of the discussion, several members of the Committee, including Republican Senator Jeff Flake, stated that they wanted a one-week FBI investigation of the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh before any final vote on the Senate floor. The inference was that Senator Flake might vote against the nominee if such an investigation did not take place. As Judiciary Chairman Senator Grassley said, there is a “gentlemen’s and women’s agreement” that the committee would relay those sentiments to the leadership of the Senate, but that the Committee had no authority to force such an investigation and the next steps would be up to the Senate leadership.

CNN summed up what happened with the following bullets:

• Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination has been approved. It now heads to the floor.
• Senator Jeff Flake voted yes on the grounds that he would get support to request a floor vote delay and a one-week FBI investigation.
• Flake, however, has been given NO commitment by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
• If McConnell moves forward without that investigation, Flake will vote against Kavanaugh.
• Whether this happens or not rests with senators such as Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, who have not announced how they plan to vote.

Following the successful vote to move the nomination to the full Senate, Judie Brown, president of American Life League, said: “Judge Kavanaugh has survived the first hurdle in an all-out attempt to destroy him, his reputation and his family.  As he said, if such tactics continue, there will not be a man of his integrity who will want to go through this in the future. We thank God that at least a majority of senators in the Judiciary Committee agree and we pray that the full Senate see his nomination as very good for the justice system in America.”

There are several procedural votes that will take place in the Senate before the final confirmation vote. Obviously, the need for a one-week FBI investigation will also be addressed. We will keep you informed as things go forward.

ALL in the News – ALL on TV, on Radio, quoted in the news, pertinent commentaries.

Judie Brown’s commentary this week, A Judge, a Preborn Child, and Justice, discusses the fact that all the turmoil in the Kavanaugh nomination process is about one thing—abortion. Her insights are worth a read.

Jim Sedlak will have Mary Flores, director of outreach for the Culture of Life Studies Program, on his Pro-Life Activism from Creation to Death weekly talk radio program on the Radio Maria USA network.  Mary will discuss the exciting developments in the CLSP program. The show will be live on Friday at noon (Eastern Time) and is repeated on Saturdays (10 PM) and Mondays (10 PM).

Video of the Week – Four Things You Need to Know Before Voting on Tuesday

Mid-term elections are around the corner. Here’s a reminder of the four non-negotiables to consider when choosing a candidate to represent you.

Action Item of the Week – In 9 days, Rosary Coast to Coast!

We are at war. A war without borders, where no man is exempt but where most haven’t recognized, let alone been trained, to fight. Casualties often go unseen, but very few are left unwounded. The enemies encamped against us seek to rob us of our dignity—the essential dignity of the human person, being made in the image and likeness of God.

“For the past 50 years, every major institution has been captured by the radical secular left. The media, Hollywood, TV, universities, public schools, theater, the arts, literature—they relentlessly promote the false gods of sexual hedonism and radical individualism. Conservatives have ceded the culture to the enemy. Tens of millions of unborn babies have been slaughtered; illegitimacy rates have soared; divorce has skyrocketed; pornography is rampant; drug use has exploded; sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS have killed millions; birth control is a way of life; sex outside of wedlock has become the norm; countless children have been permanently damaged—their innocence lost forever—because of the proliferation of broken homes; and sodomy and homosexuality are celebrated openly. America has become the new Babylon.”  —Jeffrey Kuhner, Washington Times

The fight has now come full force. What was once done in darkness is now celebrated in the light. Yet, where before we may have been blinded, God’s unfathomable mercy is opening the hearts, the minds and the eyes of people of Faith. Our Lady’s clarion call is upon us.

It is time to fight back.

On Sunday, October 7, Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, people all across the country will be praying for our society.

Americans across the country are invited to pray Rosary Coast to Coast wherever they can gather—in parish churches; in front of state capitals; along the US coasts and borders; as families; or while viewing the live-stream of the National Rosary Rally. Rosary Coast to Coast will take place at 4 pm Eastern, 3 pm Central, 2 pm Mountain, 1 pm Pacific. The reasoning behind these times will be to support all time zones in full participation of events, aside from Sunday Masses. Indeed, the heart of the nation will be immersed in the Hour of Mercy.

The National Rosary Rally will take place, as well, in front of the US Capitol on this day. We will begin with Mass at St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill followed by a Rosary procession to the rally site.  The Rosary Rally will be live-streamed.

For further information and rally locations, go to the Rosary Coast to Coast website.

Pro-life Social Media – Planned Parenthood’s Video Says It’s on the Side of Sexual Assault Survivors.

Planned Parenthood thrives on the sexual habits of young adults. It’s advice of free-wheeling sex without consequences, sadly, does not come without consequences. There are broken hearts, broken families, and lives permanently scarred. The victims of sexual assault pay the worst consequences. Planned Parenthood, however, would have us believe it’s on the side of those victims, according to its latest video.

Planned Parenthood published the video in response to the allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. It takes the toxic position of “guilty.” No Matter What. However, hiding behind its façade of ‘healthcare’ is a systemic pattern of abuse that contradicts its own message presented in the video.

In Planned Parenthood’s case, it means hiding it. In 2018, Live Action exposed extensive cover-up of child abuse within Planned Parenthood’s network.

Planned Parenthood doesn’t push for details. To do so would reveal a pattern of sexual abuse that, by law, in the case of a minor, would require its employees to report the abuse to local law enforcement. Video evidence by Live Action shows a willingness of Planned Parenthood to cover up this abuse.

“Don’t judge”—unless the person in question is a judicial nominee appointed by a Republican president and accused of sexual misconduct. In the past two weeks, Planned Parenthood’s anti-Kavanaugh campaign has been nothing but a judgment of guilt. It’s been marketing the allegations as evidence of guilt.

Planned Parenthood’s campaign of siding with victims is a farce. Americans are the victims of its trail of fraud, abuse, and death. It would serve Americans better to be rid of Planned Parenthood forever.