A new poll released by Gallup has found that 51% of Americans consider themselves “pro-life.” The same poll found only 42% of Americans consider themselves “pro-choice.”
In the last year, the number of people calling themselves “pro-life” has risen 7% while the number of people calling themselves “pro-choice” has dropped 8%.
The poll also found that 60% of Americans believe abortion should either be “illegal in all circumstances” (23%) or “legal only in a few circumstances” (37%).
Men and women were both more likely to be “pro-life” than “pro-choice.” According to the poll, 49% of women and 54% of men consider themselves “prolife” while only 44% of women and 39% of men consider themselves “pro-choice.”
Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Notre Dame Students to Protest Obama's Visit
Prolife students at Notre Dame have received official permission to hold a prayerful and constructive demonstration on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame between 11a.m. and 4 p.m. on the day of Commencement. The students of this coalition would like to extend an invitation to all those interested in joining them on campus on May 17 as they respectfully give witness to Notre Dame's Catholic identity and prolife principles.
More information about President Obama's visit to Notre Dame can be found here.
More information about President Obama's visit to Notre Dame can be found here.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Right to Life of Holland Area finds alternative way to spread the prolife message
For 25 years, Right to Life of Holland Area used a prolife float to share the prolife message during the city of Holland’s annual Tulip Time parades. This year their application for entry was denied but they’ve continued in their efforts to affirm the right to life at Tulip Time with the “Red Rose Campaign.”
The following is a statement from Right to Life of Holland Area:
The following is a statement from Right to Life of Holland Area:
Right to Life of Holland Area is deeply grateful and encouraged by the outcry and support from the community.
As you are aware the original application for our float to be in the Wednesday and Saturday Tulip Time parades was denied. We consequently offered to enter our float under the name of Right to Life of Michigan Education Fund which has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status because it is solely educational. We also suggested that any float that had a long record of participation could be grandfathered in and new entries would be held to the revised guideline.
On April 9, we were notified that the Tulip Time board had “affirmed its recent decision and will be taking no further action.” Regretfully, Right to Life of Holland Area has accepted their decision.
Consequently, the time has come to put controversy behind us and focus on ways to spread life-affirming messages. Right to Life of Holland Area chooses not to promote boycotts of Tulip Time activities. We choose to continue our 25-year history of being a positive part of Tulip Time.
We are pleased to announce that our float will be on display during Tulip Time at 1 Graves Place in Holland, just east of Centennial Park. We are also pleased to announce the “Red Rose Campaign.”
The red rose has long been the symbol of life. We have designed a special T-shirt with a red rose and the words “Life a Precious Gift,” which we encourage our supporters to wear during Tulip Time festivities. More details will be made available soon.
We have also been contacted by many parade participants asking how they can show their support for life. We suggest that they wear an arm band of a one-inch red ribbon on their left arm.
Our hope and prayer is that those who have phoned with words of encouragement, written letters to the editor, signed the online petition, made helpful suggestions, etc., will join us by participating in our “Red Rose Campaign” at the Tulip Time festival.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Providing and Promoting Abortion: What you should know about Planned Parenthood
The updated text of the flier Providing and Promoting Abortion: What you should know about Planned Parenthood has been posted on Right to Life of Michigan's web site. This flier discusses Planned Parenthood's real plan, how they are a "profitable" non-profit and the money they spend on lobbying.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
More than 300,000 abortions performed at Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood’s 2007-2008 Annual Report again shows how America’s leading abortion provider continues to increase its share of the abortion market. The number of abortions performed at Planned Parenthood facilities rose more than 5% to 305,310 abortions in 2007 from the previous record high of 289,750 abortions in 2006. Approximately, 1 in 4 abortions performed in the United States are now performed at Planned Parenthood facilities. The number of abortions performed at Planned Parenthood continue to increase despite the national decrease in the number of abortions in recent years.
While the number of abortions performed at Planned Parenthood grew, the number of prenatal clients decreased to 10,914. Planned Parenthood now commits approximately 28 abortions for every pregnant prenatal client it sees and commits 62 abortions for every adoption referral. Abortion is clearly the number #1 choice for Planned Parenthood.
Increasing their annual total of abortions also didn’t hurt Planned Parenthood’s checkbook. Their annual revenues were again above the $1 billion dollar mark and their profits (revenue over expenses) totaled a staggering $85 million. Planned Parenthood’s net assets totaled more than $1 billion dollars.
While the number of abortions performed at Planned Parenthood grew, the number of prenatal clients decreased to 10,914. Planned Parenthood now commits approximately 28 abortions for every pregnant prenatal client it sees and commits 62 abortions for every adoption referral. Abortion is clearly the number #1 choice for Planned Parenthood.
Increasing their annual total of abortions also didn’t hurt Planned Parenthood’s checkbook. Their annual revenues were again above the $1 billion dollar mark and their profits (revenue over expenses) totaled a staggering $85 million. Planned Parenthood’s net assets totaled more than $1 billion dollars.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Embryonic stem cell researcher Eva Feldman is still misleading people regarding Michigan’s laws
Laura Berman’s March 26, 2009, column in the Detroit News profiles Eva Feldman, an embryonic stem cell researcher who recently returned to Michigan. Even after the passage of Proposal 2, which legalized unregulated and unrestricted research on living human embryos, advocates of killing human embryos for research like Feldman still can’t honestly describe Michigan’s law which formerly prevented non-therapeutic research on human embryos.
The only experiments Feldman was restricted from doing in Michigan prior to the passage of Proposal 2 were killing human embryos for research and attempting to create cloned human embryos. Since the passage of Proposal 2, she is now allowed to kill human embryos for research. She was in no way prevented from doing experiments on embryonic stem cells.
"It's frustrating when people say that this research hasn't produced a cure when, until now, I haven't been able to do one experiment in my own Michigan laboratory," says Feldman.
The only experiments Feldman was restricted from doing in Michigan prior to the passage of Proposal 2 were killing human embryos for research and attempting to create cloned human embryos. Since the passage of Proposal 2, she is now allowed to kill human embryos for research. She was in no way prevented from doing experiments on embryonic stem cells.
Monday, March 16, 2009
In-utero surgery saves Michigan baby
The front page of the March 15, 2009, edition of the Grand Rapids Press featured a story on tiny yet history-making Mira Larrison. Mira Larrison is an infant whose heart was operated on while she was still in the womb.
When Mira’s parents were told of the various problems with Mira, they were “offered three options: have an abortion, allow the baby to be born and die or undergo in-utero surgery.”
We’re glad they choose life for Mira.
With Mira still in her mother's womb and weighing about 2 1/2 pounds, her heart not much larger than a grape, Armstrong and other doctors at U-M's Mott Children's Hospital operated, opening a hole between the left and right sides of her heart.Mira needs a couple more surgeries to repair her heart but if she makes it through those surgeries doctors believe she will have an “excellent prognosis.”
When Mira went home a few weeks ago, she became a medical pioneer -- the first infant to undergo such a delicate prenatal operation in Michigan and survive long enough to leave the hospital.
When Mira’s parents were told of the various problems with Mira, they were “offered three options: have an abortion, allow the baby to be born and die or undergo in-utero surgery.”
We’re glad they choose life for Mira.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
University of Michigan set to kill 400 human embryos
With the passage of Proposal 2, it is now legal to experiment on and kill human embryos in Michigan. The Detroit Free Press ran an article on March 9, 2009, which describes the University of Michigan’s plans to kill about 400 human embryos to create embryonic stem cell lines.
The press release announcing the new A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies also notes that they are planning on creating induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines.
So if iPS cells have the same properties as embryonic stem cells and don’t require the destruction of human embryos why are University of Michigan researchers so giddy about killing human embryos?
The press release announcing the new A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies also notes that they are planning on creating induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines.
In addition to deriving new embryonic stem cell lines, researchers will use recently developed techniques to convert adult skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, known as iPS cells. These reprogrammed cells display the most scientifically valuable properties of embryonic stem cells, while enabling researchers to bypass embryos altogether.
So if iPS cells have the same properties as embryonic stem cells and don’t require the destruction of human embryos why are University of Michigan researchers so giddy about killing human embryos?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
President Obama's assault on life continues
Expanding the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research
On March 9, President Barack Obama announced and signed an order to overturn President Bush's limits on the funding of embryonic stem cell lines. President Bush had previously limited federal spending on embryonic stem cell research to embryonic stem cell lines created before August of 2001. In his orders, President Obama will give the National Institutes of Health time to develop guidelines to decide which kinds of research they will fund and what restrictions there will be. It is likely that, at bare minimum, the NIH will fund research on embryonic stem cell lines created from human embryos who were originally created for in-vitro fertilization. Some scientists desire that embryonic stem cell lines created from human embryos who were created for research also receive funding.
During his announcement, President Obama took no position on the Dickey Amendment. This amendment has prevented federal funds from going toward research into the creation of human embryos and the killing of human embryos since 1996. Some members of Congress have talked openly about attempting to repeal this amendment by removing it from appropriations bills.
President Obama also said that "human cloning for reproduction" is "dangerous, profoundly wrong and has no place in our society, or any society." What President Obama didn't mention was that he signed on as a co-sponsor to S.B. 1520, the euphemistically entitled "Human Cloning Ban Act of 2005" which would have kept human cloning legal and only banned the implantation of human clones by deceptively defining "human cloning" as "implanting or attempting to implant the product of nuclear transplantation into a uterus or the functional equivalent of a uterus." Products of nuclear transplantation is a scientific term for clones.
To send comments to President Obama, please use the form at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Call the comments line: 202-456-1111
Or, write to:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Junking conscience protections
On March 6, President Obama's administration moved to completely rescind a rule entitled, "Ensuring That Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law." This rule was designed at the end of the Bush administration to protect the consciences of physicians and health care workers.The rule was put in place after prolife health care workers raised concerns about their conscience protections. The ethics committee of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists had issued a paper in which they called on doctors who are opposed to abortion to refer women to abortion providers, claiming that conscience protections shouldn't prevent prolife physicians from referring women to abortion providers.
Federal law has prevented discrimination against health care personnel who refuse to perform or assist in abortions but the Bush administration policy required institutions which receive federal money to certify their compliance with the laws protecting the conscience rights of health care personnel and was intended to prevent federal funds from going to hospitals and other institutions who ignore those rights.
After the publication of the document, the Federal Register will allow 30 days for citizens to comment on the proposal before making a formal decision. Comments may be submitted either electronically or by regular mail.
The proposal to rescind the rule is available online at:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648090229f
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments via email to
proposedrescission@hhs.gov or by visiting the link above and clicking the add comments button.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address only: Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: Rescission Proposal Comments, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201
To learn more about President Obama’s assaults on human life, visit Right to Life of Michigan at www.rtl.org and check out the Prolife Action Center.
On March 9, President Barack Obama announced and signed an order to overturn President Bush's limits on the funding of embryonic stem cell lines. President Bush had previously limited federal spending on embryonic stem cell research to embryonic stem cell lines created before August of 2001. In his orders, President Obama will give the National Institutes of Health time to develop guidelines to decide which kinds of research they will fund and what restrictions there will be. It is likely that, at bare minimum, the NIH will fund research on embryonic stem cell lines created from human embryos who were originally created for in-vitro fertilization. Some scientists desire that embryonic stem cell lines created from human embryos who were created for research also receive funding.
During his announcement, President Obama took no position on the Dickey Amendment. This amendment has prevented federal funds from going toward research into the creation of human embryos and the killing of human embryos since 1996. Some members of Congress have talked openly about attempting to repeal this amendment by removing it from appropriations bills.
President Obama also said that "human cloning for reproduction" is "dangerous, profoundly wrong and has no place in our society, or any society." What President Obama didn't mention was that he signed on as a co-sponsor to S.B. 1520, the euphemistically entitled "Human Cloning Ban Act of 2005" which would have kept human cloning legal and only banned the implantation of human clones by deceptively defining "human cloning" as "implanting or attempting to implant the product of nuclear transplantation into a uterus or the functional equivalent of a uterus." Products of nuclear transplantation is a scientific term for clones.
To send comments to President Obama, please use the form at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Call the comments line: 202-456-1111
Or, write to:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Junking conscience protections
On March 6, President Obama's administration moved to completely rescind a rule entitled, "Ensuring That Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law." This rule was designed at the end of the Bush administration to protect the consciences of physicians and health care workers.The rule was put in place after prolife health care workers raised concerns about their conscience protections. The ethics committee of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists had issued a paper in which they called on doctors who are opposed to abortion to refer women to abortion providers, claiming that conscience protections shouldn't prevent prolife physicians from referring women to abortion providers.
Federal law has prevented discrimination against health care personnel who refuse to perform or assist in abortions but the Bush administration policy required institutions which receive federal money to certify their compliance with the laws protecting the conscience rights of health care personnel and was intended to prevent federal funds from going to hospitals and other institutions who ignore those rights.
After the publication of the document, the Federal Register will allow 30 days for citizens to comment on the proposal before making a formal decision. Comments may be submitted either electronically or by regular mail.
The proposal to rescind the rule is available online at:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648090229f
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments via email to
proposedrescission@hhs.gov or by visiting the link above and clicking the add comments button.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address only: Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: Rescission Proposal Comments, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201
To learn more about President Obama’s assaults on human life, visit Right to Life of Michigan at www.rtl.org and check out the Prolife Action Center.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
No, conscience cannot be your guide
The White House quietly announced on Friday, February 27, that President Barack Obama is starting the process of overturning protections President George W. Bush put in place to make sure medical staff and centers are not forced to do abortions. This again reveals President Obama's strong pro-abortion positions.
It is easy to send a short email message to the White House expressing your disagreement with President Obama's position. Go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/. In addition, letters to the editor of Michigan newspapers are a great way to inform the public, many wrongly believe this president is actually prolife.
Right to Life of Michigan supports the right of health care professionals and organizations who have conscientious objections to reject participation in or cooperation with the delivery and marketing of abortion. Every person should be allowed to use their conscience as a guide. Curiously, President Obama has said repeatedly he hopes those on both sides of the issue will work to reduce the number of abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies and by offering support to women who do get pregnant and want to continue their pregnancies. Forcing medical professionals to be entangled in the business of abortion does not work toward that end.
The Office of Management and Budget announced it will be reviewing a proposal to rescind the conscience regulation. After the conscience regulation is reviewed it will be published in the Federal Register for a 30-day public comment period.
It is easy to send a short email message to the White House expressing your disagreement with President Obama's position. Go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/. In addition, letters to the editor of Michigan newspapers are a great way to inform the public, many wrongly believe this president is actually prolife.
Right to Life of Michigan supports the right of health care professionals and organizations who have conscientious objections to reject participation in or cooperation with the delivery and marketing of abortion. Every person should be allowed to use their conscience as a guide. Curiously, President Obama has said repeatedly he hopes those on both sides of the issue will work to reduce the number of abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies and by offering support to women who do get pregnant and want to continue their pregnancies. Forcing medical professionals to be entangled in the business of abortion does not work toward that end.
The Office of Management and Budget announced it will be reviewing a proposal to rescind the conscience regulation. After the conscience regulation is reviewed it will be published in the Federal Register for a 30-day public comment period.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Halt the Assault on Human Life
Until the next mid-term elections in 2010, pro-abortion forces in Congress will have the opportunity to remove many prolife laws and create new ones assaulting the sanctity of human life. Prolife people need to come together to halt the assault on human life.
Issues to Watch
Stop the Assault on the Hyde Amendment
One of the most important prolife policies is the Hyde Amendment which prohibits the use of federal Medicaid funds for abortions (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest). The Hyde Amendment has been incorporated into the annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services since 1976. President Obama opposes the Hyde Amendment and the Democratic Congressional leadership could seek to block renewal of the amendment in 2009.
Stop the Freedom of Choice Act
The “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) is a proposed federal law that would nullify virtually every state and federal prolife law and policy, including parental notification laws and partial-birth abortion bans. In addition, FOCA prohibits policies at any level of government that would “discriminate” against abortion, meaning abortion would have to be provided and funded in any government health program that provides services to pregnant women (e.g., Medicaid, SCHIP).
Stop Research Using Human Embryos
It is expected that President Obama will use his executive authority to remove President Bush’s restrictions on the use of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research. It is also likely that Congress will consider legislation to remove the Dickey Amendment. The Dickey Amendment prevents the federal funding of research where human embryos are killed and where human embryos are created for the purpose of research.
Stop National Health Care which Includes Rationing, Abortion
Right to Life of Michigan is equally concerned with protecting the elderly and people with disabilities from euthanasia as with protecting the unborn from abortion. Denial of lifesaving medical treatment is a form of involuntary euthanasia. Right to Life of Michigan, therefore, opposes government rationing of health care.
Action Item
Despite a pro-abortion majority in Congress, you can still halt this radical assault on the sanctity of human life by informing your fellow citizens and encouraging them to make their voices heard.
For more information about prolife issues, visit Right to Life of Michigan online at www.rtl.org and check out the Action Center. You will find important information about current prolife issues and educational materials like LifeNotes on prolife topics that you may print and distribute. Together prolife people can halt the assault on human life.
Issues to Watch
Stop the Assault on the Hyde Amendment
One of the most important prolife policies is the Hyde Amendment which prohibits the use of federal Medicaid funds for abortions (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest). The Hyde Amendment has been incorporated into the annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services since 1976. President Obama opposes the Hyde Amendment and the Democratic Congressional leadership could seek to block renewal of the amendment in 2009.
Stop the Freedom of Choice Act
The “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) is a proposed federal law that would nullify virtually every state and federal prolife law and policy, including parental notification laws and partial-birth abortion bans. In addition, FOCA prohibits policies at any level of government that would “discriminate” against abortion, meaning abortion would have to be provided and funded in any government health program that provides services to pregnant women (e.g., Medicaid, SCHIP).
Stop Research Using Human Embryos
It is expected that President Obama will use his executive authority to remove President Bush’s restrictions on the use of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research. It is also likely that Congress will consider legislation to remove the Dickey Amendment. The Dickey Amendment prevents the federal funding of research where human embryos are killed and where human embryos are created for the purpose of research.
Stop National Health Care which Includes Rationing, Abortion
Right to Life of Michigan is equally concerned with protecting the elderly and people with disabilities from euthanasia as with protecting the unborn from abortion. Denial of lifesaving medical treatment is a form of involuntary euthanasia. Right to Life of Michigan, therefore, opposes government rationing of health care.
Action Item
Despite a pro-abortion majority in Congress, you can still halt this radical assault on the sanctity of human life by informing your fellow citizens and encouraging them to make their voices heard.
For more information about prolife issues, visit Right to Life of Michigan online at www.rtl.org and check out the Action Center. You will find important information about current prolife issues and educational materials like LifeNotes on prolife topics that you may print and distribute. Together prolife people can halt the assault on human life.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Michigan Abortion Clinic Given Probation
An abortion clinic operated by Alberto Hodari, an abortionist based in Michigan, has been given 6 months probation after medical records were found in the abortion clinic’s dumpster. The clinic pleaded no contest to a charge of improperly disposing of medical records.
Alberto Hodari and his abortion clinics have a long history of endangering women with substandard care including the deaths of at least two women, Tamia Russell and Chivon Williams.
Below is a YouTube video by the Catholic News Agency which shows some of what was found in Hodari's abortion clinic dumpster and provides more information on Hodari. Some of the material includes images of the remains of aborted children.
Alberto Hodari and his abortion clinics have a long history of endangering women with substandard care including the deaths of at least two women, Tamia Russell and Chivon Williams.
Below is a YouTube video by the Catholic News Agency which shows some of what was found in Hodari's abortion clinic dumpster and provides more information on Hodari. Some of the material includes images of the remains of aborted children.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Tax $$ Given to International Abortion Providers
Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow had an opportunity to keep our tax dollars from going to organizations who perform or promote abortions in foreign countries, but both chose instead to fund abortion providers in the name of "population assistance."
On January 28, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) offered an amendment that would have restored restrictions, known as the Mexico City Policy, on taxpayer funding for groups providing or promoting abortions overseas. Because of the votes of Sen. Levin, Sen. Stabenow and other like-minded U.S. senators the amendment failed.
Roll Call Vote
More on Mexico City Policy
On January 28, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) offered an amendment that would have restored restrictions, known as the Mexico City Policy, on taxpayer funding for groups providing or promoting abortions overseas. Because of the votes of Sen. Levin, Sen. Stabenow and other like-minded U.S. senators the amendment failed.
Roll Call Vote
More on Mexico City Policy
Monday, January 26, 2009
Authentic Hope . . . for All
The following editorial, written by Right to Life of Michigan Public Information Director Pamela Sherstad, was sent to media outlets for the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton.
Two events, two days apart, could have significant ramifications for the lives of millions. The two impending turning points: 1) the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on January 20 and 2) the 36th memorial of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton on January 22. Both events have the potential of impacting how hope is viewed in the United States.
Hope is on the minds and hearts of many. Many in the great state of Michigan are clinging to the hope that change in the White House will help Michigan. The anticipation of a better economy and the hope of stability is a wish of most.
During his run for president, President-Elect Barack Obama made a number of promises. He promised to change the tone in Washington and to cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans. One promise which most may have missed was what Obama promised to Planned Parenthood, America’s #1 abortion provider, during his campaign. In July of 2007, he said, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is legislation which is designed to eliminate virtually all federal and state limitations on abortion. Besides getting rid of common-sense laws like parental consent, bans on partial-birth abortion and informed consent, FOCA would also force taxpayers to fund abortion if it was passed by Congress and signed by the president. In Michigan, these laws (along with the elimination of tax-funded abortions) have helped reduce the number of annual abortions by nearly 50 percent. Michigan doesn’t need more abortions; we have learned from women who have had abortions with the courage to voice their vulnerabilities that abortion is not worthy of a woman.
Those who believe there should be fewer abortions should do more than just hope that FOCA doesn’t become law. Thirty-six years have passed since two tragic decisions, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, by the U.S. Supreme Court enshrined abortion as a “right.” These decisions have led to the deaths of more than 50 million unborn children in the last 36 years. Our society will never know the enormous toll this immense loss of life has taken on our nation and on our families.
More than three decades of abortion on demand have allowed our government and society to fail in their duty to provide life-affirming alternatives to mothers in crisis. We have failed by not providing hope. Women do not desire abortion; yet every year more than a million women put themselves through this procedure because no other options seemed viable. Abortion can only seem plausible when giving birth seems impossible. Abortion relies on a lack of hope for the future.
The turning points of the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on January 20 and the 36th memorial of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton on January 22 give individuals the opportunity to consider real hope for our communities, state and country. Authentic hope can only be recognized when all human life, born and unborn, is accepted.
Two events, two days apart, could have significant ramifications for the lives of millions. The two impending turning points: 1) the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on January 20 and 2) the 36th memorial of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton on January 22. Both events have the potential of impacting how hope is viewed in the United States.
Hope is on the minds and hearts of many. Many in the great state of Michigan are clinging to the hope that change in the White House will help Michigan. The anticipation of a better economy and the hope of stability is a wish of most.
During his run for president, President-Elect Barack Obama made a number of promises. He promised to change the tone in Washington and to cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans. One promise which most may have missed was what Obama promised to Planned Parenthood, America’s #1 abortion provider, during his campaign. In July of 2007, he said, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is legislation which is designed to eliminate virtually all federal and state limitations on abortion. Besides getting rid of common-sense laws like parental consent, bans on partial-birth abortion and informed consent, FOCA would also force taxpayers to fund abortion if it was passed by Congress and signed by the president. In Michigan, these laws (along with the elimination of tax-funded abortions) have helped reduce the number of annual abortions by nearly 50 percent. Michigan doesn’t need more abortions; we have learned from women who have had abortions with the courage to voice their vulnerabilities that abortion is not worthy of a woman.
Those who believe there should be fewer abortions should do more than just hope that FOCA doesn’t become law. Thirty-six years have passed since two tragic decisions, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, by the U.S. Supreme Court enshrined abortion as a “right.” These decisions have led to the deaths of more than 50 million unborn children in the last 36 years. Our society will never know the enormous toll this immense loss of life has taken on our nation and on our families.
More than three decades of abortion on demand have allowed our government and society to fail in their duty to provide life-affirming alternatives to mothers in crisis. We have failed by not providing hope. Women do not desire abortion; yet every year more than a million women put themselves through this procedure because no other options seemed viable. Abortion can only seem plausible when giving birth seems impossible. Abortion relies on a lack of hope for the future.
The turning points of the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on January 20 and the 36th memorial of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton on January 22 give individuals the opportunity to consider real hope for our communities, state and country. Authentic hope can only be recognized when all human life, born and unborn, is accepted.
President Obama reverses Mexico City Policy
Sometimes change is very predictable and such is the case for President Barack Obama nullifying the Mexico City Policy one day after the memorial of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. Yesterday's 36th memorial of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the two U.S. Supreme Court decisions which legalized abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, has already resulted in more than 50 million unborn children losing their lives. Now, President Obama has reversed the Mexico City Policy which will pay for abortions overseas.
The Mexico City Policy was instituted by President Reagan in 1984 and also adopted by the subsequent Republican presidents. This policy denied U.S. population-control funding to organizations that "perform or actively promote abortion" in foreign countries. The effect of President Obama's action will be to re-direct a substantial amount of U.S. "population assistance" funds away from overseas groups that avoid involvement in abortion and into the hands of groups that are committed to the expansion of abortion.
The Mexico City Policy never lowered the amount of federal funding given to overseas family planning; it merely ensured that organizations who provided and promoted abortions internationally didn't receive any of that funding.
Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "Before President Barack Omaba took the oath of office he stated his support for promoting programs to 'reduce abortions.' Giving our tax dollars to organizations which provide and promote abortions in other countries will not reduce abortions. What I know to be true is that abortion is a business; a business which preys on mothers in their darkest hours."
Right to Life of Michigan will peacefully and respectfully continue supporting mothers facing an unplanned pregnancy by promoting true choices which include the resources to parent or the heroic option of adoption. Abortion is not worthy of a woman on any continent. Nothing good can come from the United States paying for the abortions of women in other counties.
Listing said, "This change is not for the better. This change does not bring hope to women. This change will only result in unborn children being denied the inherent right to life and leave mothers stricken with the devastating aftermath of abortion."
The Mexico City Policy was instituted by President Reagan in 1984 and also adopted by the subsequent Republican presidents. This policy denied U.S. population-control funding to organizations that "perform or actively promote abortion" in foreign countries. The effect of President Obama's action will be to re-direct a substantial amount of U.S. "population assistance" funds away from overseas groups that avoid involvement in abortion and into the hands of groups that are committed to the expansion of abortion.
The Mexico City Policy never lowered the amount of federal funding given to overseas family planning; it merely ensured that organizations who provided and promoted abortions internationally didn't receive any of that funding.
Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "Before President Barack Omaba took the oath of office he stated his support for promoting programs to 'reduce abortions.' Giving our tax dollars to organizations which provide and promote abortions in other countries will not reduce abortions. What I know to be true is that abortion is a business; a business which preys on mothers in their darkest hours."
Right to Life of Michigan will peacefully and respectfully continue supporting mothers facing an unplanned pregnancy by promoting true choices which include the resources to parent or the heroic option of adoption. Abortion is not worthy of a woman on any continent. Nothing good can come from the United States paying for the abortions of women in other counties.
Listing said, "This change is not for the better. This change does not bring hope to women. This change will only result in unborn children being denied the inherent right to life and leave mothers stricken with the devastating aftermath of abortion."
Monday, January 19, 2009
We’re proud of our F
The state of Michigan has again been given a failing grade from NARAL (the National Abortion Rights Action League). Annually, NARAL releases a report which analyzes state legislation and grades each of the 50 states based on how their laws restrict or don’t restrict abortion. States with few or no prolife laws receive high grades while states with a large number prolife laws usually receive failing grades. Right to Life of Michigan is proud to be given another “F” from NARAL because of our numerous lifesaving laws. These laws (including a ban on tax-funded abortions, regulations on abortion providers, as well as parental and informed consent laws) have helped decrease the number of abortions performed in Michigan by 49.7% since 1987.
Friday, January 16, 2009
First Days in Office with President Barack Obama
During his first day in office, the President of the United States can revoke a variety of policies which his predecessor enacted. The most-commonly known policy which has been enacted by prolife presidents and revoked by pro-abortion presidents is the Mexico City Policy. In addition, some have speculated that the human embryonic stem cell funding policy put in place by President George W. Bush will also be revoked. Below is background information on both policies.
What is the Mexico City Policy?
The Mexico City Policy is an official policy of the U.S. government which prevents organizations who receive federal tax dollars from performing or promoting abortions in other countries. The policy doesn’t lower the amount of federal funding given to overseas family planning, it merely ensures that organizations who provide and promote abortion internationally don’t receive any of that funding.
What’s the history of the Mexico City Policy?
The Mexico City Policy was originally put in place by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. When elected in 1988, President George H.W. Bush kept the policy in place. President Bill Clinton quickly revoked the policy the first full day after his inauguration and organizations which performed abortions overseas were eligible for federal funding from 1993 until the Mexico City Policy was reinstated by President George W. Bush on January 22, 2001.
What’s Barack Obama’s position on the Mexico City Policy?
Pro-abortion groups expect Barack Obama to revoke the Mexico City Policy during his first few days in office and allow tax dollars to go to organizations which provide and promote abortion internationally. In a November 9, 2008, Washington Post article, Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, is quoted as saying, "We have been communicating with his transition staff" almost daily. Richards also said, "We expect to see a real change."
On November 10, 2008, Bloomberg published a story in which Susan Wood, co-chairman of Obama's advisory committee for women's health, says Obama is planning to “reverse U.S. family-planning and AIDS-prevention strategies that have long linked global funding to anti-abortion” policies.
Embryonic Stem Cell Funding
Another policy which Barack Obama may overturn during his first days in office is George W. Bush’s current embryonic stem cell funding policy. In August of 2001, President Bush decided that federal tax dollars could be used to support research on human embryonic stem cells as long as the embryonic stem cells were removed from human embryos (a process which kills the embryos) before August 2001. This policy has received much criticism over the years from proponents of embryonic stem cell research. There have also been various legislative attempts to overturn his policies which have been vetoed by President Bush.
It is expected that Barack Obama will announce a new policy soon after he becomes president. It is likely the new policy will allow funding on all human embryonic stem cell lines which were derived from human embryos originally created by in-vitro fertilization for couples with fertility problems. The Dickey Amendment still currently prevents federal tax dollars from going towards research in which human embryos are directly killed.
Time with tell what the future holds for commonsense policies which protect human life and keep our tax dollars from paying for abortion or the destruction of the most innocent human beings, human embryos. Right to Life of Michigan will be following these issues closely.
What is the Mexico City Policy?
The Mexico City Policy is an official policy of the U.S. government which prevents organizations who receive federal tax dollars from performing or promoting abortions in other countries. The policy doesn’t lower the amount of federal funding given to overseas family planning, it merely ensures that organizations who provide and promote abortion internationally don’t receive any of that funding.
What’s the history of the Mexico City Policy?
The Mexico City Policy was originally put in place by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. When elected in 1988, President George H.W. Bush kept the policy in place. President Bill Clinton quickly revoked the policy the first full day after his inauguration and organizations which performed abortions overseas were eligible for federal funding from 1993 until the Mexico City Policy was reinstated by President George W. Bush on January 22, 2001.
What’s Barack Obama’s position on the Mexico City Policy?
Pro-abortion groups expect Barack Obama to revoke the Mexico City Policy during his first few days in office and allow tax dollars to go to organizations which provide and promote abortion internationally. In a November 9, 2008, Washington Post article, Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, is quoted as saying, "We have been communicating with his transition staff" almost daily. Richards also said, "We expect to see a real change."
On November 10, 2008, Bloomberg published a story in which Susan Wood, co-chairman of Obama's advisory committee for women's health, says Obama is planning to “reverse U.S. family-planning and AIDS-prevention strategies that have long linked global funding to anti-abortion” policies.
Embryonic Stem Cell Funding
Another policy which Barack Obama may overturn during his first days in office is George W. Bush’s current embryonic stem cell funding policy. In August of 2001, President Bush decided that federal tax dollars could be used to support research on human embryonic stem cells as long as the embryonic stem cells were removed from human embryos (a process which kills the embryos) before August 2001. This policy has received much criticism over the years from proponents of embryonic stem cell research. There have also been various legislative attempts to overturn his policies which have been vetoed by President Bush.
It is expected that Barack Obama will announce a new policy soon after he becomes president. It is likely the new policy will allow funding on all human embryonic stem cell lines which were derived from human embryos originally created by in-vitro fertilization for couples with fertility problems. The Dickey Amendment still currently prevents federal tax dollars from going towards research in which human embryos are directly killed.
Time with tell what the future holds for commonsense policies which protect human life and keep our tax dollars from paying for abortion or the destruction of the most innocent human beings, human embryos. Right to Life of Michigan will be following these issues closely.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
LifeBeat for January 17, 2009
Scott Klusendorf, president of the Life Training Institute, talks about making a persuasive case for the prolife position. Though the unborn are smaller, less developed, in a different environment, and have a different degree of dependency than most born people, none of those differences make the unborn less valuable than born human beings.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
LifeBeat for January 10, 2009
Pamela Sherstad, director of public information for Right to Life of Michigan, talks about Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and the resources Right to Life of Michigan is providing for churches.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
LifeBeat for January 3, 2009
Barbara Listing, president of Right to Life of Michigan, discusses what prolifers in Michigan should be aware of in 2009. Prolife organizations will be working to ensure the Freedom of Choice Act isn’t passed. If passed, this legislation would nullify virtually all federal and state limitations on abortion and force taxpayers to pay for abortions.
Monday, December 29, 2008
LifeBeat for December 27, 2008
Barbara Listing, president of Right to Life of Michigan, looks back at what has happened with prolife issues in Michigan over the last year and discusses Right to Life of Michigan's prolife work.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
LifeBeat for December 20, 2008
Amanda Fulford, Students for Life Coordinator for Grand Rapids Right to Life, discusses the March for Life and the various bus trips heading to Washington, D.C. from Michigan for this event. To listen, click here.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Abortion advocates give President-Elect Obama their wish list
Change.gov, the web site of President-elect Barack Obama has recently posted a document entitled “Advancing Reproductive Rights and Health in a New Administration.” The document was produced by abortion advocates (including Planned Parenthood and NARAL) who call on Obama to “advance and implement the(ir) agenda.”
That agenda includes, among other things, providing tax-funded abortions, removing a prolife clause which protects prolife health care providers from discrimination, putting forward a health care plan whose “benefits must include access” to “abortion care,” allowing tax dollars to fund organizations who provide and promote abortion overseas, selecting only pro-choice judges and calling on Congress to pass the Freedom of Choice Act (legislation which would dismantle numerous state and federal prolife laws). They want all that within the first 100 days.
You can read this document online and write comments encouraging President-elect Barack Obama to avoid these policies.
That agenda includes, among other things, providing tax-funded abortions, removing a prolife clause which protects prolife health care providers from discrimination, putting forward a health care plan whose “benefits must include access” to “abortion care,” allowing tax dollars to fund organizations who provide and promote abortion overseas, selecting only pro-choice judges and calling on Congress to pass the Freedom of Choice Act (legislation which would dismantle numerous state and federal prolife laws). They want all that within the first 100 days.
You can read this document online and write comments encouraging President-elect Barack Obama to avoid these policies.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
LifeBeat for December 13, 2008
Wesley Smith discusses how assisted suicide and euthanasia are advancing in other countries. In Switzerland, there is something called “suicide tourism” where individuals from other countries travel to Switzerland to commit suicide. To listen, click here.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Focusing on FOCA
We’ve recently posted a LifeNotes fact sheet on the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) in the Hot Topics section of our web site which explains what FOCA is and what it would do, its history, Barack Obama and FOCA, and provides other helpful web sites dealing with FOCA.
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