Time Lapse Video of 2011 March for Life

The video below is a time lapse video of the 2011 March for Life which shows the March and the numerous attendees in just over a minute.

Prolife Teleseminar on Wednesday, February 2

Please mark your calendar for the Right to Life of Michigan Prolife Update Teleseminar. The teleseminar will be Wednesday, February 2, at 1 p.m.

Topics to be discussed include: life-centered federal legislation, exciting Black History Month prolife programs, and Planned Parenthood's abortion agenda.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing will provide an update from the National Right to Life Committee Board Meeting; RLM Director of Minority Outreach Kathy Crombie will give highlights on the Black History Month Speakers Series; and RLM Field Representative Chris Zielinski will supply information on Planned Parenthood's design to expand their abortion business in Auburn Hills.

Don't miss this opportunity to catch up on prolife happenings! This teleseminar is open to all prolife people. Forward this information on to friends and family members. Details below.

Title: Right to Life of Michigan Prolife Update

Time: Wednesday, February 2nd at 1:00pm Eastern

To attend, visit here.

Or, on February 2, at 1 p.m. call:
Phone Number: (616) 712-3139
Pin Code: 662744#

Black History Month Life Speaker Series

Black History Month is the annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and their role in U.S. History. Simply put, Black History Month is a celebration of LIFE!

Right to Life of Michigan is proud to present a Black History Month Life Speaker Series with a presentation to be held each week during the month of February.

More Life Speakers Series Information

Congressman Huizenga speaks at the March for Life

Below is a video of Michigan Congressman Bill Huizenga giving a speech at the 2011 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Pennsylvania's governor wants answers on abortion clinic debacle

Governor Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania has given the state health department a week to come up with answers to how they could have allowed abortionist Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic to stay open and go without inspections for since 1993.

Gov. Tom Corbett said Friday that he gave the Health Department and the secretary of State a one-week deadline to report to him on what happened in the bungled oversight of a squalid abortion clinic that a Philadelphia prosecutor described as a "house of horrors," where babies born alive were killed with scissors.

Corbett told the Tribune-Review that he asked for a "detailed report" about how to prevent such a tragedy.

"You can imagine from my role coming as attorney general that we're going to find out exactly what happened on this side," said Corbett, the former state attorney general and one-time U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh, who was sworn in as governor Tuesday.

FULL STORY

March for Life shows youth of the prolife movement

This year's March for Life continued to show a large number of young prolifers out braving the cold weather to make their voices heard.

The most striking thing about the crowd gathered for the March for Life in Washington today is its youthfulness. The streets are lined with group after group of young adults huddled together and talking animatedly, clustered around a high school teacher or parent chaperone, hoisting banners that advertise the parish, diocese, or academy from which they’ve come.

It's a bustling scene: A trumpeter blares a martial tune, a chant featuring the chorus of popular rapper Eminem’s “Not Afraid” has been altered slightly to reflect a pro-life message, a passing priest is reciting a rosary aloud, intermittent cheers erupt nearby the stage, where orations from rabbis and pro-life politicians like House Majority Leader Eric Cantor have energized the freezing crowd. They hold signs with slogans such as “Defend Life” and “Smile, Your Mom Chose Life." Another informs us that Chuck Norris is pro-life.

FULL STORY

Huge youth prolife rally starts the March for Life on the right note

Before the March for Life officially began today, thousands of prolife youth from across the country packed the Verizon Center to speak out on behalf of life.

The arena was packed with thousands of swaying, praying teenagers, many wearing sweat shirts from the Catholic schools they attend or knit hats that said "We believe" or "March for Life."

On the 38th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion (Roe v. Wade), the clerics and young people were celebrating Mass before participating in the annual anti-abortion march known as the March for Life.....

Organizers say they expect a larger and more enthusiastic crowd than ever this year, fueled by the increasingly sophisticated use by church leaders of the social networking technology that is effective in organizing young people.

FULL STORY

Speaker Boehner welcomes prolifers to the March for Life

In a statement on his web site, John Boehner, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, recently welcomed the hundred of thousands of prolifers participating in the March for Life to Washington, D.C.

"Today marks the 38th anniversary of the Supreme Court's tragic Roe v. Wade decision that tore asunder a right to life our Founding Fathers described so indelibly in our Declaration of Independence. The decision denigrated the respect we must have for life at all stages, especially the innocent unborn.

"The new House majority has listened to the people and pledged to end taxpayer funding of abortion. A ban is the will of the people and ought to be the law of the land. This week, Congressman Chris Smith introduced bipartisan legislation that would codify the Hyde Amendment and similar policies by permanently applying a ban on taxpayer funding of abortion across all federal programs. This is critical, common-sense legislation that deserves the support of the people's representatives and the president.

"The cause of life endures today in large part due to the vigilance of all those Americans who, led by Nellie Gray, travel to Washington each year at this time to march and pray for the protection of the unborn. These efforts--aimed at restoring the damage of the Roe decision--must continue. Americans love life as much as we love freedom. These two founding principles are intertwined and form the basis of our national character. Without respect for life, freedom is in jeopardy."

House Speaker Boehner makes abortion funding ban a top priority

On Thursday, Speaker of the House John Boehner made it clear that a ban on taxpayer funding of abortion would be a top priority for the House of Representatives this year.

Calling it a top priority of the Republican agenda, House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday gave a top designation to a bill introduced by New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith that would ban the use of any federal funds from being used for abortions.

The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," given the numerical designation H.R. 3 to emphasize its prominence, would make permanent in existing law any language that bans abortion. It also would provide medical workers with "conscientious protections" that allow them to refuse to participate in abortion procedures against their will.

The legislation will "ensure that the taxpayers -- through huge majorities clearly show do not want their money being used to pay for abortions -- no longer are coerced into using taxpayer funding to subsidize the killing of an unborn child and the warping of his or her mother," Smith said in a press conference with Boehner on Capitol Hill

FULL STORY

U.S. House votes to repeal health care reform law

Congress, in its first major accomplishment, voted to repeal the health care reform law (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). H.R. 2 passed on January 19 with at 245 to 189 vote. The health care law includes multiple provisions that allow tax-funding of abortions through insurance and provisions that could allow government rationing of medical treatments.

The vote represented the will of the American people to reevaluate health care reform. Abortion is not health care. National Right to Life Committee and Right to Life of Michigan supported the passage of H.R. 2.

For more information and to see how Michigan's representatives voted, visit Right to Life of Michigan's Prolife Action Center.

Planned Parenthood looks to expand its abortion empire

For an organization which continually espouses the magnificence of “choice,” Planned Parenthood has given their affiliates no choice with regards to abortion. Planned Parenthood affiliates now have to provide abortions or else.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is requiring all of their affiliates to provide abortions in at least one of their affiliate locations. This is part of their “new patient services initiative.” In the past, affiliates would decide for themselves whether they wanted to provide abortions or just refer women to the nearest abortionist. Planned Parenthood apparently no longer wants its clinics referring possible clients to their competition.

Planned Parenthood is already America’s leading abortion provider. In 2008, their clinics provided 324,008 abortions. That’s approximately one quarter of all abortions in the United States. The number of abortions provided by Planned Parenthood has nearly doubled in the last 11 years while the number of abortions performed nationally has decreased.

Over the same time period, the amount of tax dollars they receive has continued to rise. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, Planned Parenthood received $363.2 million from government grants and contracts. Their total income surpassed $1 billion.

Planned Parenthood is often labeled the “Box-Store of Abortion” by other abortion providers because their size and resources makes it difficult for smaller abortion clinics to compete with them. An abortion clinic in Washington closed its doors in November after 31 years of killing children preparing to be born because Planned Parenthood started providing abortions in the area and there weren’t enough clients for both of them.

At this time, only a few ripples of Planned Parenthood’s new abortion policy have surfaced.

At least one affiliate has decided to disaffiliate themselves from Planned Parenthood after 52 years because they don’t want to provide abortions. Planned Parenthood of South Texas is now Family Planning of Coastal Bend. Their CEO told reporters from the Corpus Christi Caller Times, “We have never provided abortions. Our position is that if that is a need in your community, fine. There are far greater needs in our area than abortion.”

While one affiliate decided to jump ship, another has embraced the new policy. Planned Parenthood of Southwest Oregon recently began offering RU-486 chemical abortions. This led a local Catholic charity to end its partnership with the local United Way because of their relationship with the Planned Parenthood affiliate.

In Michigan, there are currently three Planned Parenthood affiliates. Two of them have provided abortions in the past while one has not. Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan has yet to indicate how they will respond to Planned Parenthood’s “new patient services initiative."

To learn more about Planned Parenthood, visit Right to Life of Michigan’s web site at www.rtl.org.

Philadelphia abortionist charged with 8 murders

Abortionist Kermit Gosnell, along with his wife and a number of his employees have been charged with killing a female patient and 7 children who survived abortions. Gosnell allegedly killed 7 "viable and alive" infants using scissors to sever their spinal cords.

A West Philadelphia abortion doctor has been charged with the death of a female patient and the murder of seven babies whose spinal cords were severed with scissors after they were born alive, says District Attorney Seth Williams.

Dr. Kermit B. Gosnell, 69, is being charged with third degree murder for the death of 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar who allegedly overdosed on anesthetics prescribed by Gosnell.

The abortion doctor also faces murder charges for the deaths of seven babies who were killed with scissors after being born "viable and alive" during the sixth, seventh and eighth month of pregnancy, according to a press release from the District Attorney's office Wednesday.

FULL STORY

It's All About Life, 3,300 gone everday

The Grand Traverse Insider recently published a guest column by Grand Traverse Right to Life executive director Carol Tondreau on abortion and the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

There are approximately 3,300 high school students in the Traverse City area. Can you imagine if ALL of them were gone in one day? No more sporting events. No more bleachers filled with cheering fans. No more theatrical presentations. No more concerts. No more laughing in hallways. No more planning for college and future dreams. No more ? No more ?

Thirty-three hundred lives taken before their time has come to really make an impact on our world. Hopes and dreams of the future vanished for each and every student in our community.

Now take that number ? 3,300 ? and realize that EVERY day that many babies face the fate of abortion in the United States. Many may say that it is a ?choice? and that making this comparison is unfair. But it is reality and every day 3,300 precious lives are destroyed before they have the opportunity to make their dreams come true; snuffed out before they can make a difference in the world.

FULL COLUMN

We're proud of our "F"

NARAL Pro-Choice America has again released their annual "Who Decides" report which grades the country and individual states on how easy it is to get an abortion and Michigan was once again given an "F." Michigan received a failing grade because of the long list of lifesaving prolife legislation our legislature has passed over the years including parental consent, informed consent and a ban on tax-funded abortions.

Learn more about some of Michigan's prolife legislation and about pending prolife legislation by clicking on the link below.

Prolife Law Directory

Pending Prolife Legislation

Michigan animal clinic using pets' own stem cell to treat animal arthritis

The Woodside Animal Clinic in Royal Oak is performing in-house adult stem cell treatments on pets with arthritis.

Dr. John Simon said Woodside is the first clinic in Michigan to perform the in-house adult stem cell therapy, which involves harvesting and injecting an animal's stem cells the same day. There are veterinarians in the state who provide a similar service but send the cells to an outside lab for harvesting.

"I've been practicing for 40 years, and I've never seen any breakthrough of this size before," Simon said of in-house cell harvesting. "What it will be allowing veterinarians to do is rehabilitate damage to the joints, joints that have been degenerative because of age and because of trauma. It allows older animals to actually live longer because they'll be able to get up and move around."

Reuben's therapy began with light anesthesia, followed by a small incision in his back, where Simon took a tablespoon of fat.

Simon then put the fat through a laser, which allowed him to harvest the stem cells he injected into Reuben's joints. The dog also received the cells intravenously to help heal other areas that are inflamed. There's no risk of rejection because the cells come from the dog, Simon said. The therapy costs about $2,000.

Reuben's hips are expected to improve in two or three weeks, and the joints will take about two months to heal, Simon said.

FULL STORY

38 years. 52 million lives and counting

January 22, 2011, marks 38 years since the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton U.S. Supreme Court decisions were handed down. These rulings legalized abortion in the United States through all nine months of pregnancy. In 38 years, more than 52 million children preparing to be born have tragically lost their lives to abortion in our nation.

Abortion, sadly, relies on a lack of hope for the future. A woman's decision to abort her child can only seem plausible when giving birth seems impossible.

Right to Life of Michigan refuses to accept abortion as a solution. Local prolife groups from across Michigan are planning special services and events to bring attention to the violence of abortion. This month, Sanctity of Human Life Sunday will also be observed in many churches.

Learn about events in your community. Please keep checking back, more events will be added.

The Guttmacher Institute, an organization which tracks abortion data, reported this month that the long-time abortion decline has stalled. After 15 years of seeing abortions decrease in the United States, the 2008 abortion rate is unchanged from 2005. With more than 1 million abortions performed in the US each year, the loss of human lives cannot be comprehended. While abortion may be legal in the eyes of the law, it is violent. Every abortion cruelly ends the life of an innocent human being.

The work of Right to Life of Michigan is needed more than ever. Help us be a voice for the voiceless.

Your financial support is greatly appreciated.

Congressman Mike Pence introduces bill to stop abortion providers from getting family planning funds

On January 7, Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) introduced H.R. 217, a bill to prohibit family planning funds from going to organizations that provide abortions.

"The largest abortion provider in America should not also be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X......

The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act would deny any family planning funds under Title X from going to Planned Parenthood or other organizations that perform abortion. It would ensure that abortion providers are not subsidized with federal tax dollars."

Below is a video of Congressman Pence discussing his bill.

Vote on Health Care Scheduled

The new Congress has taken up legislation that would fully repeal the health care reform law (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). The health care law included multiple provisions that allow tax-funding of abortions through insurance and provisions that could allow government rationing of medical treatments. H.R. 2 is expected to be up for a vote as soon as Wednesday, January 12.

Please contact your U.S. House Representative and urge him/her to support the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Simple message for members of Congress: The health care law is riddled with provisions that violate right-to-life principles. Vote "Yes" on H.R. 2 to safeguard the right to life of the most vulnerable members of the human family.

* Congressional Contact Information

* More Information on Upcoming Vote

* Sign online petition to remove abortion from health care

Prolife goal meet with your help

Because of the many generous people who made donations, the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund online matching gift goal was met. On December 31, we reached $38,143 to meet the $35,000 matching grant challenge.

Your support has made it possible for Right to Life of Michigan to continue reaching out to those seeking abortion with compassion and help. Thanks to you our work of restoring respect and protection to babies preparing to be born will persist.

New home in Saginaw opening for pregnant women who need support

The Saginaw News is featuring an article on the work of Ann Fowler, who is opening a maternity home in Saginaw to help women who need support.

Fowler is the executive director and founder of H.I.S. Restoration Ministries Maternity Home, purchased in October 2009. She and many volunteers are working on the four-unit apartment complex in Saginaw that will serve as a temporary home for up to six expectant mothers....

The other three units will house two women in each and their babies, for a term of about six months, not to exceed nine months, Fowler said. The residence is not a permanent one, rather the goal is to offer a familial place to await the birth for possible adoption, or to help the women get a stable start with their babies.

“We’ll help them find housing and employment,” Fowler said. “We’ll also work with Christian adoption agencies and offer all these services to the community.”

FULL STORY

Column discusses the loss of prolife Democrats

In the American Spectator, Paul Kengor has a column entitled, "Death of the Pro-life Democrat" in which he discusses the results of the 2010 election and how prolife Democrats have become harder to find in national politics. Thankfully, there are still many prolife Democrats who serve in Lansing.

In short, the Democratic Party has descended, yet further, down the death path, with preciously few pro-lifers in the House or the Senate. We're approaching the point where you may be able to count them on two hands, potentially even one hand. We're also approaching a point where a serious pro-life Democrat voter will find it increasingly difficult to find a pro-life Democrat politician to vote for.

Alas, I say this with regret. I'm a pro-life Republican, but as one who studies history, I know that the parties, and what they stand for, change over time. I'm far more concerned with the lives of unborn babies than political lives of Republicans. I don't support "pro-choice" Republicans; in fact, I've actively worked for their defeat. I'm an American deeply saddened by the Death Culture thrust upon this great nation through the evil of Roe v. Wade in January 1973......

It's a sad development for the culture and the country. It further polarizes the abortion issue, and more starkly along party lines than ever before. For pro-life Republicans in Congress, it's a loss, as they will need pro-life Democrats as precious allies.

FULL STORY

Free prolife video for buses going to the March for Life

Students for Life and 40 Days for Life recently announced that they've created a prolife video created for viewing by buses headed to the March for Life. The DVD is entitled "Pro-life Road Trip" and will be sent for free to any March for Life bus coordinator who wants one.

Bus Captains and group coordinators can request the free DVD by e-mail info@studentsforlife.org.
........
The FREE DVD includes:

- An introduction and welcome giving students an overview of what to expect at the March for Life, SFLA National Conference, and National Pro-Life Youth Rally by Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director of Students for Life of America and David Bereit, National Campaign Director of 40 Days for Life.

- An inspirational speech by David Bereit on "How One Person Can Move Mountains"

- A speech by Kristan Hawkins on how just one person can create change in their community: "Will You Say Yes?"

- A talk given by Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life, discussing the importance of outreach at abortion facilities: "Going to Where it Happens."

- "Making the Case for Life: Pro-Life Apologetics" by Stephanie Gray of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform

FULL STORY

U.S. House schedules vote to repeal Obamacare

The U.S. House of Representatives has scheduled a vote on January 12 to repeal the health care reform law which didn't include provisions to prevent tax-dollars from being use to pay for abortions. At this point, the bill is unlikely to pass the U.S. Senate.

According to Cantor's office, the immediate chronology began Monday when the "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act" was posted on the website of the House Rules Committee, which will be followed by a meeting Thursday of the House Rules Committee. On Friday the rule for the debate will be considered on the House floor, followed by the actual repeal vote January 12. A separate resolution will initiate the "replace" portion of the promise.

With 242 Republican votes, repeal in the House is assured. That, of course, is only phase One--Democrats still control the Senate and an Obama veto would provide the backstop for supporters-- but it is an important substantive and symbolic first step.

FULL STORY