Life Advocacy Briefing

Enlist Your Friends

READERS OF LIFE ADVOCACY BRIEFING MUST SURELY BY NOW have noticed the astounding pace at which the Obama Regime is attempting to remake America, both in policies and in personnel. Certainly this is the case in the critical issues respecting Life.

Indeed, the dastardly actions and dangerous nominations are coming so swiftly, we fear the potential of pro-life paralysis. This must not occur, not now nor ever.

If you concur with our determination to inform each other, speak up and arm ourselves with the facts – truth, if you will – we make this request to you, our reader. Please enlist your friends to become informed and involved as never before. We offer our weekly bulletin as a tool for their information, their equipping and their motivation.

If you find Life Advocacy Briefing useful to you in pursuit of America’s protection and restoration, please encourage your friends to subscribe. Or suggest they visit our Internet website at www.lifeadvocacy.com, check out our “links” to other pro-life organizations and select one or more of these other groups’ publications with which to inform themselves.

Now more than ever, we need all hands on deck, equipped and engaged in the fight for our lives – and for the lives of those who are too small or infirm to fight for themselves.

Appeals Judge Nominee # 1 – No ‘Moderate’!

CLAIMING THE MAN IS A ‘MODERATE,’ Pres. Barack Obama last week nominated US District Judge David Hamilton to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Chicago.

“As an Indiana trial judge,” warns Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins in his Washington Update, “[Mr. Hamilton] ruled against abortion waiting periods, permitting chaplains to offer Christian prayer at the Indiana state house and stiffer regulations for sex offenders. [Mr.] Hamilton’s resume,” notes Mr. Perkins, “includes a post with ACORN, a clerkship with liberal Judge Richard Cudahy and a stint as the former head of the ACLU’s Hoosier chapter. … His record on the bench,” comments Mr. Perkins, “suggests a hostility to good law on issues of life and faith.”

Those who follow religious liberty issues might well recognize the name Judge David Hamilton as the man who, writes Mr. Perkins, “struck down 188 years of allowing sectarian prayer to open the Indiana legislature, claiming it ‘advanced Christianity.’”

The Capitol switchboard number is 1-202/224-3121. Citizens can contact their US Senators by calling the Capitol and identifying their state of residence or by naming their Senators. Readers are advised not to wait for the Hamilton nomination to emerge from committee; this is the first Obama appeals court nomination and must be opposed the Chicago way – early and often.

F.D.A. Nominee a Bad Apple

PRES. OBAMA’s CHOICE TO HEAD THE FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) is former New York City Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, whom Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins describes as “rabidly pro-abortion.”

Writing in his Washington Update, Mr. Perkins notes that Ms. Hamburg “ran the Big Apple’s ‘abortion counseling’ and ‘family planning’ clinics” while abortion advocate Rudy Giuliani was mayor.

“If confirmed,” writes Mr. Perkins, “her chief deputy would be Joshua Sharfstein, who has said that pro-life laws ‘undermine women’s health.’”

The US Senate has the power to reject Ms. Hamburg for the critical post of FDA Commissioner. Readers may contact Senators via the Capitol switchboard at 1-202/224-3121.

Fighting for Conscience

THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS (U.S.C.C.B.) IS URGING citizens to lobby the Dept. of Health & Human Services to reverse the Obama Regime’s decision to rescind the Bush Administration’s Medical Provider Conscience Regulation.

USCCB head Cardinal Francis George declared, reports Britain’s Society for Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), citing Catholic Culture as source, “‘We have a conscientious objection against war for those who cannot fight, even though it’s good to defend your country. We have a conscientious objection for doctors against being involved in administering the death penalty. Why shouldn’t our government and our legal system permit conscientious objection to a morally bad action, the killing of babies in their mother’s womb?’”

Citizens may comment on the proposed injustice by sending an electronic message to: [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is April 9.

Exercising Conscience

STATE LAWMAKERS IN OKLAHOMA ARE RESPONDING to the Obama Regime’s radical endorsement of human sacrifice, advancing legislation to “make it illegal,” reports Kathleen Gilbert for LifeSiteNews.com, “to conduct research that would harm or kill an unborn child, including embryonic stem cell research.” HB-1326 will next be considered by the Senate after passing the House 82 to 6.

“‘The idea that we should condone the harvesting of children for “well intentioned” research runs counter to all morality,’” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Reynolds (R-Oklahoma City), quoted by Ms. Gilbert. “‘Human embryos are human beings,’” he said, “‘and the state cannot condone their destruction for research purposes.’”

A companion measure granting more than $1 million to adult stem cell research, which holds no ethical dilemmas and which is proving more efficacious and safe, passed the Oklahoma House 99 to 0.

Dilemma for Sebelius?

BOTH HOUSES OF THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE HAVE PASSED a bill requiring abortionists to offer their customers the opportunity to see the ultrasound image of the targeted baby at least 30 minutes before the scheduled execution, sending the measure to the desk of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), still in office while awaiting confirmation of her appointment to the Obama cabinet as Secretary of Health & Human Services.

The pro-abortion radical vetoed similar legislation last year, but the current measure passed both houses so overwhelmingly that she is unlikely to be able to prevent its enactment by override. A veto of such a reasonable, pro-woman measure during this delicate time in her career, while expected by her pals, would further seal her unsavory reputation as a protector of the abortion industry. If she fails to act within 10 days, the bill will become law without her signature.

His Day in Court

THE LONG-AWAITED TRIAL of George Tiller begins today (Monday) in Wichita, where prosecutors have brought criminal charges against the notorious late-term abortionist. Jury selection was completed last week.

The 19 misdemeanor charges relate to violations of Kansas’s late-term abortion law, which requires a “second opinion” signature from a second physician who is unrelated to the abortionist.  Mr. Tiller is alleged to have relied on co-signings by a second abortionist who was in his employ. His former employee has been granted immunity for testimony in the trial.

Upon conviction, the hired killer “could face a year in the county jail,” according to Miami Herald reporter Roxana Hegeman, “or a fine of $2,500 for each charge.”

Defunding Planned Parenthood

COUNTY LEGISLATORS HAVE SUSPENDED a health education contract held by Planned Parenthood in Orange County, California, and one of the county supervisors is now, reports Tami Abdollah in the Los Angeles Times, considering engaging a pro-life pregnancy care clinic to take over the contract.

Planned Parenthood for Orange & San Bernardino Counties had received the $291,788 grant as part of a $7.5 million agreement with the Orange County Coalition of Community Clinics, funded through tobacco lawsuit settlement proceeds. The proposal seen by supervisors before voting on the Coalition agreement, reports Kathleen Gilbert for LifeSiteNews.com, “did not name the 18 fund recipients, which included PP.” One of the supervisors, reports Ms. Gilbert, “proposed to revisit the contract last month after he became aware that PP was on the list.’”

That revelation came from concerned citizens, inspired by the undercover PP expose videos of UCLA student Lila Rose of Live Action Films. The Orange County citizens took it upon themselves to probe the county’s financial connection to PP and found the indirect link.

The vote to bar further PP participation was unanimous among the five county supervisors, reports LifeSite. Supervisors were open about their opposition to PP’s abortion agenda. “‘I don’t believe the county should be funding abortion,’” said Supervisor Chris Norby, quoted by Ms. Gilbert, “‘and I don’t believe the county really should be involved in funding an organization who performs about 35% of the abortions in the country.’”

Planned Parenthood has threateneda lawsuit, “accus[ing] the board of overstepping its authority,” writes Ms. Gilbert, “by voting based on moral and religious ideology.”

Illinois in Midst of State ‘FOCA’ Battle

ABORTION ADVOCATES IN ILLINOIS HAVE MOVED A STATE-LEVEL ‘FOCA’ – “Freedom of Choice Act” to the floor of the state House for a possible vote.

HB-2354, called the Reproductive Health & Access Act, provides “that the government shall not ‘deny or interfere with an individual’s right’ to abortion and contraception,” writes Kathleen Gilbert for LifeSiteNews.com. Just as the “Freedom of Choice Act” would do at the federal level, “the bill would nullify or prevent all common-sense legal restrictions on abortion, including health and safety regulations for abortion facilities, informed consent and parental notification laws.”

Illinois officials and pro-life advocates have been struggling for years to see a federal injunction lifted from the state’s Parental Notice of Abortion Act. This bill would abort that litigation.

Clarke Forsythe,legal counsel for Americans United for Life, who testified at the state committee hearing in Springfield, “told LifeSiteNews.com,” writes Ms. Gilbert, “that HB-2354 … would eliminate all existing regulations on abortion in Illinois – including the physician-only law, the law that limits abortion practice to physicians. ‘It it’s enacted,’” said Mr. Forsythe, quoted by LifeSite, “‘it would authorize any school nurse in any public school to do an abortion without parental knowledge.’”

HB-2354 further “calls for taxpayer funding of abortion and contraception,” writes Ms. Gilbert, “and hamstrings the conscience rights of medical personnel who object to abortion or contraception.” And it shelters medical personnel from criminal or civil actions if committing an abortion “in good faith,” thereby offering abortionists a haven from malpractice liability.

Living to the End

A COALITION OF PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATIONS IS CO-HOSTING the Second International Symposium on Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide May 29-30 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Virginia, near Leesburg, northwest of Washington, DC.

Among the scheduled speakers are Rita Marker of the International Task Force on Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide, Diane Coleman of Not Dead Yet, Wesley J. Smith, senior fellow in Human Rights & Bioethics at the Discovery Institute, and Bobby Schindler of the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation

Information may be obtained by phoning (tollfree) 1-877/439-3348 or visiting the Internet website of the Canadian-based Euthanasia Prevention Coalition at www.epcc.ca.

Another March for Life Speech

This week’s speech is by the chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus and is transcribed by Life Advocacy Briefing from live coverage, Jan. 22, 2009, by EWTN Television

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ): My name is Chris Smith, and this is my wife Marie, from the great state of New Jersey. I’m Pro-Life Caucus chairman, and it’s so great to see all of you here today. Each of you, ladies and gentlemen, are an integral part of the greatest human rights struggle on the face of the earth. The right to life movement – a selfless expression of tangible love, compassion, and commitment to protecting women and children from the pain and violence of abortion and safeguarding all who are weak, frail and unwanted.

Be encouraged. Our cause is right, our faith unshakable, our resolve indomitable. Continue to speak truth to power. Tell the President and lawmakers that abortion’s methods dismember, chemically poison, or starve to death precious children. Remind them that abortion is child abuse. Tell them of the incredibly brave post-abortive women who speak out and remind us that there are at least two victims in every abortion – mother and child.

On Tuesday President Obama spoke eloquently of what he called God-given promises of freedom, equality, and a chance at happiness, which begs the questions, will our new President extend the God-given promise of hope, freedom, justice, respect, compassion, and protection – and a simple chance at happiness – to America’s unborn children? Will the President’s words be matched by deeds that rescue and save the most innocent among us? Sadly, and you know this although most Americans do not, waiting in the wings, barely visible in the shadows, ready to pounce lurks the most extreme pro-abortion agenda in American history. If even a portion of the Obama agenda advances by executive order, reinterpretation of existing law, or enactment of laws forcing taxpayers to fund abortions or provide huge increases to groups like Planned Parenthood that perform approximately 300,000 abortions in their own clinics every year, or if the so-called Freedom of Choice Act were to be passed, millions of children will die and their mothers will be wounded. President Obama will be remembered forever, not just as a smart, savvy, gifted and eloquent man but as the abortion President.

Despite this darkness, be encouraged. Be strong, be brave. For the Scripture tells us “The Lord our God is with us.” Continue to pray, fast and work hard. Joyfully embrace the noble challenge set before us and defend the most vulnerable. For in time we will prevail and overcome the injustice of America’s culture of death. Innocent lives depend on what we do today. So let’s be absolutely clear. Pro-lifers will never quit, be discouraged, or grow weary. What God has given, what God has promised to all – the right to life – no man, including President Barack Obama, can take away. God bless you, and thank you.