Life Advocacy Briefing

Keeping Watch

CONGRESS IS BACK IN SESSION and plans to meet into October. Let us pray.

The Biden Abortion Obsession

THE BIDEN REGIME ANNOUNCED Sept. 2, reports LifeSiteNews, “it will expand abortion-on-demand and pro-abortion counseling through the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA), making abortion available for hundreds of thousands of veterans and their beneficiaries, effective immediately, in violation,” notes LSN, “of federal and state laws.

“The new rule includes a broad, undefined ‘health’ exception,” reports LSN, “that imposes abortion-on-demand at the VA even in states where abortion is illegal. …

“Republican members of the US House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs last year reminded the Administration,” reports LSN, “that federal law and regulations prohibit the VA from offering abortion or counseling for abortion. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough also failed to respond to a letter from US Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) last month showing the illegality of the proposed rule.”

In an ominous signal, the Biden Regime “recently scrubbed” from the VA website a statement which appeared from March 2021 through August 2022. That statement, reports LSN, citing Texas Right to Life as source, “agreed that federal law does not permit them to commit abortions. ‘Under current regulation, VA doesn’t provide abortion or abortion counseling,’ its website stated.”

In a statement from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, quoted by LSN, SBA president Marjorie Dannenfelser said, “‘Shame on Secy. McDonough for caving to Biden and the radical abortion lobby’s demands to violate state and federal law regarding abortion. Abortion is not health care – in fact it carries serious physical and mental health risks – and expanding abortion on demand into the VA is illegal, period.’”

The Biden Abortion Obsession, II

PRES. JOE BIDEN (D) HAS APPOINTED AN ABORTION RADICAL to the International Court of Justice. Columbia University Law School Prof. Sarah Cleveland – his UN appointee – was rejected by the US Senate for a post as top legal advisor to the US State Department. The new appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation but must be approved by a majority of the member states both of the UN Security Council and of the UN General Assembly.

According to Stefano Gennarini, JD, reporting for the Center for Family & Human Rights (C-Fam), her rejection by the Senate for the State Dept. post was “over her abortion extremism and her misunderstanding of international law. … In her previous role as a member of the UN Human Rights Committee from 2015 to 2018, Cleveland directly pressured countries to repeal protections for the unborn in their national laws. She was also a leading proponent,” notes Dr. Gennarini, “of declaring access to abortion a part of the ‘right to life’ in a comprehensive legal commentary … . This notion has never been accepted by UN member states.

“Cleveland aggressively attacked members of the committee who did not think the UN body should declare unrestricted access to abortion as an international right during the debates about” the commentary.

While unsuccessfully seeking confirmation by the US Senate for appointment as State Dept. chief legal officer, Ms. Cleveland, reports Dr. Gennarini, “would not commit to consistently interpret and enforce US pro-life restrictions on funding abortion, including the Helms Amendment. She evaded questions about abortion,” warns the UN observer, “and implied that the US government’s restrictions on funding abortion abroad are at odds with the interpretations of international human rights that she herself authored and supported as a member of United Nations bodies.”

The Biden Abortion Obsession, III

FURTHER BIDEN REGIME ABORTION ADVOCACY AT THE U.N. resulted Sept. 2 in the passage by the UN General Assembly, reports Center for Family & Human Rights CEO Austin Ruse, of “a resolution on sexual violence that called for safe abortion in the context of human rights. This kind of thing has never happened before,” he notes, “and it only happened because of the deceptions and lying of the European Union, Japan and the United States.”

(The Center, abbreviated C-Fam, is the leading American organization lobbying in UN forums for the right to life and respect for the family in the international context.)

“Consider this,” writes Mr. Ruse in a communication to newsletter subscribers. “The primary negotiator for the Biden Administration told a group of homosexual/trans activists watching the debate that the new resolution would be a part of what’s known as customary international law. His assertion to them,” notes Mr. Ruse, “was that abortion would become the law of the world because of this resolution.”

But, “a few minutes later he addressed the member states of the UN,” Mr. Ruse continues, “and assured them that nothing would change in international law because of the resolution. Now, who was he lying to?” asks Mr. Ruse. “He was lying to someone.

“I’ll tell you who he was lying to. He was lying to the UN General Assembly, and he was lying to the world,” writes Mr. Ruse. “Because it is the intention of the sexual left, including the Biden Administration, to use this resolution as a hammer in international law.” God help us.

Biden HHS Loses in Appellate Court

THE 5^th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED in late August, reports Bradford Betz for Fox News, that “the federal government cannot force Christian medical organizations to perform abortions or gender transition surgeries under the Affordable Care Act.”

The ruling was unanimous and upheld a previous ruling by a district judge which, notes Mr. Betz, “shield[ed]” the Christian Medical & Dental Assns., Specialty Physicians of Illinois and the Franciscan Alliance Inc., a Catholic hospital system. “Each said performing an abortion or gender reassignment surgery would violate their religious freedoms,” writes Mr. Betz.

The 5^th Circuit judges, Mr. Betz reports, “wrote that the providers faced harm because the US Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) had ‘repeatedly refused to disavow enforcement’ against them. …

“Joe Davis of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented the Christian groups,” writes Mr. Betz, “called the ruling ‘a major victory for conscience rights and compassionate medical care in America.’”

Abortion Reaches Michigan Ballot in November

MICHIGAN VOTERS ON NOV. 8 WILL FACE a state constitutional amendment proposition to legalize abortion and block the legislature even from regulating it, the state supreme court ruled late Thursday. The radical proposition was submitted to the state via petitions which were being circulated at the time the Dobbs ruling was handed down giving states authority to outlaw the practice. Though rife errors had prompted a deadlock in the authoritative state canvassing board, causing the proposition to fall short, the abortion cartel was successful in its appeal to the majority-Democrat state high court.

Abortion will suddenly take center stage in election contests throughout the state, where Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) faces a pro-life opponent in Republican nominee Tudor Dixon. Control of the legislature and elections for attorney general and secretary of state are also in play, and one of the far-left Supreme Court justices faces a challenge for re-election.

Stubbornness on Display

SINCE INDIANA’s POST-DOBBS LAW banning most abortions is scheduled to take effect Sept. 15, the state’s abortion cartel has filed suit to block its implementation, claiming, writes National Right to Life News editor Dave Andrusko, citing the Associated Press (AP) as source, “the ban ‘will infringe on Hoosiers’ right to privacy, violate Indiana’s guarantee of equal privileges and immunities and includes unconstitutionally vague language.’ …

“Indiana Right to Life CEO Mike Fichter responded,” writes Mr. Andrusko, “‘Not only is there no right to an abortion in the Indiana constitution, it actually states life is one of our inalienable rights. We are confident the state will prevail and pray the new law is not blocked from going into effect on Sept. 15, knowing that any delay will mean the indiscriminate killing of unborn children will continue at abortion clinics across Indiana.’”

The new law, unfortunately, does include exceptions for abortions committed against babies conceived in the commission of a sex crime. Other exceptions, according to the NRL News story, are “risks to the mother’s life or fatal fetal anomalies.” In the exceptional cases, the law restricts abortion to hospital or “outpatient centers owned by hospitals,” notes Mr. Andrusko. 

The ACLU has filed the lawsuit in Monroe County, claiming its siting is “because an abortion clinic is located there.” But Mr. Andrusko quotes AP writers Tom Davies and Arleigh Rogers, “‘It will be heard by a judge in southern Indiana’s Monroe County, which includes the liberal-leaning city of Bloomington and Indiana University’s main campus. All nine of the county’s nine judges are Democrats,’” note the AP writers, quoted by Mr. Andrusko, “‘while all other counties with abortion clinics have judges who’ve either been elected as Republicans or appointed by Republican governors.’”

Life Wins Again in Indiana

INDIANA ATTY. GEN. TODD ROKITA, a former GOP Member of Congress, “has won the dismissal of a lawsuit,” reports National Right to Life News (NRL News), “challenging an Indiana law requiring physicians, hospitals and abortion clinics to report 25 listed abortion complications to the Indiana Dept. of Health. …

“‘The legislature had a legitimate concern that researchers have insufficient data available to study the safety of abortion,’ Atty. Gen. Rokita said,” quoted by NRL News. “‘This law advances the causes of compassion, common sense, medical science and public health.’”

Planned Parenthood first challenged the law in 2018, winning in the district court but losing at the appellate level. “Most recently,” notes NRL News, “Planned Parenthood renewed the challenge at the district court level, based on a different legal argument. …

“‘I am grateful to our team for their persistence over many years in defending good laws protecting the sanctity of life and the health of women,’ Atty. Gen. Rokita said,” in the NRL News report.

“The dismissal of this lawsuit,” notes NRL News, “represents Atty. Gen. Rokita’s fifth legal victory on behalf of Indiana’s pro-life laws since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade” on June 24.

Abortion Outlawed in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA’s NEW LAW PROTECTING UNBORN BABIES HAS TAKEN EFFECT, reports Cassy Fiano-Chesser for Live Action. The law, she notes, “only allows abortion in cases of medical emergency.” An abortionist who violates the law, she reports, “faces up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.” As is true of pro-life laws across the country, “there are no penalties for a woman who undergoes an abortion,” she writes.

“‘I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and that’s what we’re doing today,’” said Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), while signing the bill in April. “‘As governor,’” he said, reports Mrs. Chesser, “‘I represent all four million Oklahomans, and they overwhelmingly support protect life in the state of Oklahoma. We want Oklahoma to be the most pro-life state in the country. We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma.’

“Planned Parenthood quickly retaliated with an ad focused on ousting Stitt,” who has since then defeated a primary challenger for nomination to a second term. “They also promised,” writes Mrs. Chesser, “to file lawsuits attempting to block [the new law], though at this point [Aug. 28], it does not appear to have done so. Meanwhile,” she notes, “with Roe v. Wade overturned, abortion businesses are already reportedly deserted in Oklahoma.”

The Live Action report goes on to quote State Sen. Nathan Dahm, author of the bill, who declared, “‘Today [Aug. 26], after almost two years of work, S.B. 612 is in effect. … I am proud that our state did not wait for the Supreme Court but led the way and passed this law to successfully eliminate abortion in Oklahoma before Roe v. Wade was overturned.’”

The White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, notes Mrs. Chesser, weighed in with Biden Regime reaction: “‘Today marks the latest attack against the fundamental rights of Americans as new abortion bans go into effect in Idaho, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. These extreme bans will criminalize abortion, in some cases without exceptions for rape and incest. [!] These near-total abortion bans are part of a growing effort by Republican legislators to roll back the freedom Americans have relied on for nearly half a century. Today’s radical steps take away women’s reproductive rights and put personal healthcare decisions in the hands of politicians instead of women and their doctors, threatening women’s health and lives.’” Two questions: What about killing progeny constitutes anything to do with reproduction? And how is the intentional killing of another human being “health care?”

Misplaced ‘Compassion?’

Sept. 6, 2022, The Washington Stand commentary by Joy Stockbauer, policy analyst for Family Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity

             The rape-and-incest exception to pro-life protections is a hotly debated topic. When discussing an evil affront to human dignity such as rape and incest, which has unfortunately touched the lives of so many victims, it is essential to proceed with compassion, respect and sensitivity.

             Though cases of rape and incest are unquestionably tragedies, failing to protect the innocent babies conceived in these difficult circumstances is punishing the innocent for the crimes of the guilty.

             Unfortunately, in several pro-life states that have legally protected their unborn citizens from abortion, children conceived by rape and incest are not receiving the same protection.

             After Kristi Hofferber was placed for a closed adoption at birth, it was not until 13 years later that her parents would learn through a local newspaper that her birth mother was prosecuting her own father for sexual abuse that she had suffered for over 20 years. “Can you imagine their surprise to learn that my biological mother was prosecuting not just for my conception but the conception of five other siblings due to the abuse over a 20-plus-year period? I was the only survivor, as he had forced her to miscarry one and forced her to abort four others,” Kristi explained to me.

             Kristi grew up knowing nothing about the circumstances of her birth until, as an adult, she reached out to her adoptive parents for assistance in tracking down her biological mother. “They shared everything that they had learned, and I am grateful that they did. From here it took me a week to decide if I should pursue a search for my biological mom,” Kristi recalled. “I wanted to reach out to her, to share how thankful that I was to be alive, and how sorry I was that she endured so much from someone who she should be able to trust with anything.”

             After initially connecting with her biological mother, Kristi said that when they finally met, “there was an instant bond.” She described, “Most importantly, she was not disturbed by my presence despite who my biological father was. She actually stated that, rather, she found peace with our reunion.”

             The blessing of reconnecting with her biological family continued when, nine years after reuniting with her mother, Kristi and her husband were approached by a biological relative who was facing an unexpected pregnancy and felt that she could not raise the child. Kristi and her husband, who were both adopted and had already adopted a child previously, were immediately willing to adopt her biological relative’s baby.

             “Without hesitation, I said absolutely!” Kristi remembered. “God is so good. You see, my husband and I found out shortly before we were married that we would never be able to have children of our own. Initially this was tough news to hear, but we knew that adoption was an option that we would both consider. All four of us are adopted. It is what makes our family unique.”

             Kristi is now a social worker who helps to educate women and provides hope and help to mothers who are facing unplanned pregnancies – no matter how the child is conceived. “We cannot let our compassion stop with the mother,” Kristi asserted. “Yes, she has been through something extremely traumatic, but what does putting her through an abortion do in this situation? It does not take away the incident(s) that happened. Statistically, it brings on further trauma.”

             Kristi went on to add, “Laws are passed with these exceptions as if to offer compassion for the mother, but we cannot stop there when an innocent life is involved as well. And I question the ‘compassion’ of someone offering a woman the option to take the life of her own child.” [Emphasis added by Life Advocacy]

             When considering pro-life protections for the unborn that create exceptions in cases of rape and incest, Kristi said, “Leaving this window for exceptions allows the criminal to get away with the crime […] he can force or coerce her to have an abortion which destroys the evidence. I share this from my own birth mother’s experiences. She endured over 20 years of abuse because he got away with the crime.” She asked, “Why are we protecting the criminals and not getting the woman and child the help that they need to overcome the situation?”

             Kristi encouraged mothers facing the same situation that her mother did “to know that they themselves have immense value, they have support no matter what they are facing, and they have an opportunity to be this child’s hero.”