More Abortion and More Profits at Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood's 2006-2007 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 to 289,750 in 2006 from the previous record high of 264,943 abortions in 2005. Approximately, 1 in 4 abortions performed in the United States are now performed at Planned Parenthood. The number of abortions performed at Planned Parenthood continue to increase despite the national decrease in the number of abortions.

While the number of abortions performed at Planned Parenthood grew, the number of prenatal clients and adoption referrals both decreased to 11,058 and 2,410, respectively. Planned Parenthood now commits 26 abortions for every pregnant prenatal client it sees and commits 120 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 revenue passed the $1 billion dollar for the first time and their profits (revenue over expenses) totaled a staggering $114.9 million (up from $55.8 million in 2005-2006). Planned Parenthood's net assets total $951.8 million dollars.

Planned Parenthood's 2005-2006 Annual Report can be downloaded at their web page here.

LifeBeat for March 29, 2008

Lauren Migliore, president of Students for Life of Michigan, talks about the activities of prolife college groups and why it's important for prolife college students to be active on campus. To listen, click here.

LifeFacts - Toddler with Cerebral Palsy Recovering after Infusion with his own Cord Blood Stem Cells

The joy surrounding the birth of Dallas, after his parents spent three
years trying to conceive, turned to heartbreak when he was diagnosed
with cerebral palsy at 8 months old. Dallas could not breast feed,
crawl, sit up, clap or speak. He just screamed in an effort to
communicate. Dallas participated in a clinical trial at Duke University
using his own umbilical cord blood stored after his birth. The procedure
to infuse Dallas' own stem cells back into his bloodstream took less
than an hour. No less than five days later, he was laughing, clapping,
waving and said, "Mama".

There is no cure for cerebral palsy and it is very expensive to manage
over a person's lifetime. Whereas it costs about $2,000 to salvage cord
blood at birth and $120 a year to store it. The doctors expect Dallas,
now two, to be completely cured by the age of seven. Dallas and his Mom
and Dad were featured on NBC's Today Show on March 12, 2008.

For more information, click here and here.

Critical Reading of the Stem Cell Research Ballot Question Committee's web page

At www.stemcellresearchcures.com, there's a new critical reading of the text on the front page of the Stem Cell Research BQC's web page. The Stem Cell Research BQC hopes to legalize the killing of human embryos for research in Michigan by gathering signatures and putting the question on Michigan's ballot in order to change Michigan's Constitution.

The front of their web page has a number of misleading claims regarding the potential of embryonic stem cell research and why this research isn't already curing people. Take the time to read this critical reading of their web page and visit www.stemcellresearchcures.com so you'll be ready if someone wants you to sign a petition on embryonic stem cell research.

LifeBeat for March 22, 2008

Scott Klusendorf, President of the Life Training Institute, again talks about making a persuasive case for the prolife position. It is often important when discussing abortion to ask people who are pro-choice to back up the criteria they use to discriminate against the unborn with reasons for why they think their criteria are valid. To listen, click here.

Students for Life of Michigan Conference

On March 29, 2008, Students for Life of Michigan will be holding their annual conference. Students for Life of Michigan's annual conference is a time for prolife college students from across the state to come together for a weekend of networking, education and fun. The event will be held at the Ave Maria School of Law, located at 3475 Plymouth Rd. in Ann Arbor. There will be a number of prolife speakers including Congressman Tim Walberg, Rebecca Kiessling and Right to Life of Michigan Legislative Director Ed Rivet. The conference fee of $15 includes three meals and a hotel stay on Friday night. More information about this event can be found online at www.sflmichigan.org.

Michigan Senate passes parental consent revisions

On March 11, the Michigan Senate voted 25-12 to pass prolife legislation which would prevent minors from going to a neighboring circuit court if one circuit court denies their attempts to receive a judicial bypass to get an abortion without parental consent. S.B. 1059 also provides uniform standards for courts to follow as guidelines in determining whether or not to waive parental consent for a minor seeking an abortion. The legislation now moves on to the Michigan House where a similar bill (H.B. 5650) is waiting for a vote. For more information about this legislation, click here.

LifeFacts - Adult Cells Function Identically to Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists at UCLA have successfully reprogrammed human skin cells back to an embryonic-like state, confirming work previously done in Wisconsin and Japan. This research sidesteps ethical roadblocks, since there is no need to destroy human embryos or obtain large quantities of human eggs. "Our reprogrammed human skin cells were virtually indistinguishable from human embryonic stem cells," said Kathrin Plath who headed up the study. The implications could be enormous since by reprogramming the cells, a limitless source of pluripotent, immune-compatible cells would be available for tissue engineering and transplantation. The reprogrammed cells could be coaxed into becoming beta islet cells to treat diabetes, hematopoetic cells to treat leukemia, or motor neuron cells to treat Parkinson's, for example.

For more information, click here.

LifeBeat for March 15, 2008

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. To listen, click here.

LifeBeat for March 8, 2008

Chaunie Brusie talks about her experience as a pregnant student enrolled in college and her efforts to convince her university to provide more resources for pregnant and parenting students. To listen, click here.

LifeFacts - Custom Made Replacement Jaw Grown from Patient's Own Adult Stem Cells

A 65 year old man in Finland had his upper jaw removed due to a benign tumor and could not eat or speak without inserting a removable prosthesis. Scientists successfully created a new jaw bone by using adult stem cells from the patient. First scientists isolated stem cells from the patient's fat tissue and grew them in the lab for two weeks in a “nutritious soup” especially formulated for growth. They attached the stem cells to a scaffold made out of calcium phosphate and placed it inside the patient's abdomen where it grew for nine months. The stem cells differentiated into all the various tissues necessary, including blood vessels. The scientists removed the newly built jawbone from the patient's abdomen and transplanted it into the patient's head with screws and surgically connected the blood vessels. Riitta Suuronen, University of Tampere, Finland reported that the patient recovered quicker than if he had a bone graft taken from his own leg.

For more information, click here.