Pro-aborts exploit Tiller murder

As expected, KS late-term abortionist George Tiller's alleged shooter, Scott Roeder, is a fringe character with a criminal history dating back to at least 1996 for parole violation after being convicted of carrying bomb components in his car.

Every movement has its fringe element, and of course these people do not represent the movement, as intelligent people know. No one views homosexuals as a group of serial killers just because John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer were, for example.

But pro-aborts are in the unique position of condoning and profiting from the murder of innocent children. So it makes complete sense that they would attempt to accuse their adversaries as what they themselves are guilty of: violence. And so they have, for years.

Already we see pro-aborts attempting to exploit Tiller's unfortunate murder to their advantage. Read this, just up on Feministing:

tiller feministing 2.jpg

This is all an attempt to put pro-lifers on the defensive and somehow shine as advocates of nonviolence.

How ridiculous. Don't fall for it. Continue to simply state pro-lifers condemn all murder, including George Tiller's, as well as the thousands of children he murdered.

George Tiller murdered

UPDATE, 8:45p: Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life released a YouTube statement on George Tiller's death earlier today. While the first part of his statement is obsolete because Tiller's killer has been apprehended, the rest is helpful.

[HT: commenter Mike]
_______________

UPDATE, 8:30p: Gateway Pundit has information on Tiller's murderer, Scott Roeder.

[HT: moderator Carder]
_______________

tillerhands.jpgDr. George Tiller, late-term abortionist, was murdered today just after 10 am in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, KS, where he and his wife were active members.

Through his attorneys, his family has issued a statement.

Professor Robert George of Princeton has also issued a statement on National Review regarding this tragic disregard for human life, with which we voice our agreement...

Continue reading "George Tiller murdered"

Sunday funny

by Lisa Benson of Townhall.com...

cartoon 6-1 lisa benson 5-29 sotomayor hopscotch.jpg

I think Benson has it right. While Sonia Sotomayor's position on abortion is getting the most press, I think ultimately her opposition to gun rights may prompt the greatest pressure for moderate Republicans and Democrats to oppose her by Second Amendment groups like the NRA.

Weekend question

weekend question.jpgThis week I reported that Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi no longer considers himself "pro-choice." He wrote that he started to rethink his position when comparing it to his opposition to the death penalty.

And the Pelican Project blogger wrote, "I for one used to be pro-choice, until the day came when I held my newborn niece. And now especially after having my own kids. After that, I could never imagine why anybody would consider killing such a beautiful and innocent being."

If you are a convert to the pro-life position, what prompted your change of heart?

And if you were once pro-life and are now "pro-choice," same question.

Correcting the record: Abortions went down under President Bush, not up

During last night's "discussion" between pro-life/pro-Obama Prof. Doug Kmiec and pro-life/anti-Obama Prof. Robert George, Kmiec repeated a false statement.

Kmiec said the number of abortions went UP under President George W. Bush. On Fox News Sunday May 17 Fr. Richard McBrien, a pro-Obama Notre Dame theology professor, made the same erroneous claim in a debate with Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life.

President Bush with child.jpgMy friend, Professor (and statistical analyzer) Michael New, wants to correct the record:

The data do not bear this out. In fact the most recent data from both the Centers for Disease Control and the Alan Guttmacher Institute (research arm of Planned Parenthood) indicate that abortions fell during George W. Bush's presidency.

According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute between 2000 and 2005 the number of abortions declined from 1,312,990 to 1,206,200 (a decline of 8.1%, data obtained from all 50 states)....
Continue reading "Correcting the record: Abortions went down under President Bush, not up"

Lunch Break: 3-year-old dances to "Thriller"

by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

Jivin J's Life Links 5-29-09

web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • As if his career hasn't been floundering enough, Reuters claims Al Pacino is now apparently in talks to play the role of Jack Kevorkian in a gushing HBO biopic.

  • According to the BBC, pro-lifers in the UK are still working to get details about late-term abortions performed there.

    They want to know the reasons why some women are aborting children past 24 weeks. Are they true medical reasons or because the children were diagnosed with cleft palate?

  • IOL reports that making abortion legal in South Africa hasn't stopped women from going to individuals who promise "pain-free abortions," give them abortion pills and are nowhere to be found when complications arise.

  • Pro-abort skepticism of Sotomayor a con game?

    Yesterday I wrote, then deleted for this post my conspiracy theory, that pro-aborts were expressing concern about Sonia Sotomayor's Roe v. Wade bonafides for the express purpose of deflating pro-life concerns about same.

    Last night a DC conservative insider confirmed them.

    sotomayor applause.jpg"I wouldn't call it a conspiracy theory," she said. "It's strategy. We employed the same strategy during the Roberts and Alito confirmations, particularly Alito."

    She said Alito was a stealth candidate similar to Sotomayor. "We knew Alito opposed Roe," she said, "just as with so many pro-abort leaders on the inside of the White House now they know without a doubt that Sotomayor supports Roe."...

    Continue reading "Pro-abort skepticism of Sotomayor a con game?"

    Understanding Obama: His liberal use of straw men

    By Helene Cooper, New York Times, May 23:

    ... Now that there is a new team at the White House, guess who is knocking down straw men left and right? To listen to President Obama, a veritable army of naysayers has invaded Washington, urging him to sit on his hands... and do nothing to address any of the economic or national security problems facing the country....

    obama thoughtful.jpg

    "Here's the trick: Take your opponent's argument to a ridiculous extreme, and then attack the extremists," said William Safire, the former presidential speechwriter who writes the "On Language" column for The New York Times Magazine. "That leaves the opponent to sputter defensively, 'But I never said that.' "

    The telltale indicators that a straw man trick is on the way are the introductory words "there are those who say" or "some say."

    "In strawmanese, you never specify who 'those who' are," Mr. Safire said. "They are the hollow scarecrows you set up to knock down."...

    Continue reading "Understanding Obama: His liberal use of straw men"

    CUA debate between George/Kmiec

    UPDATE, 5/29, 5:30a: CSPAN is currently featuring video of yesterday's "discussion" between Profs. Robert George and Doug Kmiec about Obama, Catholics, and the Life issue. The Catholic University of America states the video can be viewed on its site, but the link isn't working for me at the moment.
    _______________

    michael thinking.JPGUPDATE, 5/28, 6p: Professor Michael New (who got me in to this gig!) wants to say a few words about the debate:

    Jill is being very brave by giving me permission to guest post. Here are a few quick thoughts.

    The format could have been better. Essentially it did not allow for much dialogue between George and Kmiec, which was a bit disappointing....

    Continue reading "CUA debate between George/Kmiec "

    Stanek to attend George/Kmiec debate tomorrow tonight

    george kmiec glendon.jpgThanks to Professors Michael New and Robert George, I received clearance last week to attend a debate tomorrow from 5p to 6:30p EST at the National Press Club in DC between George and Catholic Obama apologist Doug Kmiec. I flew in yesterday.

    Entitled, "The Obama Administration and the Sanctity of Human Life: Is There a Common Ground on Life Issues? What is the Right Response by 'Pro-Life" Citizens?", the debate is an outcome of an online debate at US News & World Report.

    The debate will be moderated by Professor Mary Ann Glendon, of Harvard Law School.

    You'll recall Glendon declined Notre Dame's Laetare Medal upon ND's decision to honor Obama, as well.

    The event is being hosted by the Catholic University of America, which will videotape the event and make it available for viewing immediately after the debate.

    EWTN will also tape the debate for a later broadcast.

    I'm told there will be Internet access, so I plan to live-blog from the event. I also plan to Twitter/Facebook the goings on, which will become Plan A through my phone if I can't get online.

    So if you're not following me yet, please do. I'm registered as JillStanek at Twitter and Jill Stanek at Facebook.

    Bi-partisan House committee to investigate DHS "domestic terrorist" report

    by intern Andy M.

    bernie.jpgIn March, JillStanek.com reported that the Department of Homeland Security had included pro-lifers and war veterans on a list of potential domestic terrorists. Within hours the damning report had been withdrawn with someone no doubt receiving a fairly sharp rap over the knuckles behind the scenes.

    However, the recall of the report does not mean the sentiments outlined in it are not those of the DHS. It is merely a case of the department showing its hand prematurely.

    Take a step back when you read the name of the report, "Rightwing extremism: current economic and political climate fueling resurgence in radicalization and recruitment," referred to as "political profiling" by 1 top Republican source....

    Continue reading "Bi-partisan House committee to investigate DHS "domestic terrorist" report"

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-28-09, Part II

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • The LA Times has an article regarding the concerns of abortion rights groups in regards to Obama's Supreme Court nominee,
    Sonia Sotomayor:
    "I simply don't know Judge Sotomayor's view on Roe vs. Wade. I will be very concerned if the question is not asked and answered during the Senate hearings," Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said Wednesday. "So far, no one has been able to give us an assurance of her views."...

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-28-09, Part II"

  • The fight over Sotomayor: both sides of abortion issue engaged

    If I were watching only t.v. news, including Fox, I'd think the fight over Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, was over before it started.

    All I hear are warnings for Republicans to back away for fear of losing the Latino vote. (Where were warnings for Dems to back away when they viciously maligned judicial nominees Clarence Thomas and Miguel Estrada?)

    But then I read the blogs, and the fight is growing huge, not just among conservatives but surprisingly among liberals, as I noted yesterday. Read the latest from Daily Kos (click to enlarge):

    Daily kos sotomayor 3.jpg

    On our side Curt Levey of the Committee for Justice blog left me questioning Sotomayor's infallibility. The piece he wrote yesterday should be read in full. Here's a snip...

    Continue reading "The fight over Sotomayor: both sides of abortion issue engaged"

    Lunch Break: Car for ladies

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-28-09, Part I

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • The University of Washington's paper covers a visit by the Genocide Awareness Project. Some pro-choice students protested the exhibit (one appears to be holding a sign which reads "Pro-Choice is Pro-Life") while others used other means:
    The tone of the protest shifted when one student egged the exhibit, and another scribbled on the signs advertising it in Red Square.
  • The Catholic News Agency provides another example of pro-choice intolerance, this time in Spain, where the headquarters of an organization called E-Cristians was spray painted with abortion slogans....

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-28-09, Part I"

  • Denver Post columnist converts to pro-life, almost

    We may be seeing the house of cards starting to fall. Recent polls indicating a growing nationwide affinity to the pro-life position prompted self-described "atheist and a secular kinda guy" Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi to announce in a column yesterday he's lining up with the new majority:

    After a life of being pro-choice, I began to seriously ponder the question. I oppose the death penalty because there is a slim chance that an innocent person might be executed and I don't believe the state should have the authority to take a citizen's life.?

    harsanyi.jpg

    So don't I owe an nascent human life at least the same deference? Just in case?

    You may not consider a fetus a "human life" in early pregnancy, though it has its own DNA and medical science continues to find ways to keep the fetus viable outside the womb earlier and earlier.

    But it's difficult to understand how those who harp about the importance of "science" in public policy can draw an arbitrary timeline in the pregnancy, defining when human life is worth saving and when it can be terminated.

    The more I thought about it, the creepier the issue got....

    Continue reading "Denver Post columnist converts to pro-life, almost"

    UW Madison responds to WIRTL ad: admits it may force pro-life employees to get hands dirty

    The University of Wisconsin Madison Hospital sent an email to employees last night responding to Wisconsin Right to Life's ad in today's Wisconsin State Journal.

    uw email.jpg

    Christman does not dispute any of the points in WIRTL's ad except that employees will have to help in the event of an abortion emergency. Then Christman inexplicably concedes employees will indeed have to help in the event of an abortion emergency....

    Continue reading "UW Madison responds to WIRTL ad: admits it may force pro-life employees to get hands dirty"

    WI RTL releases final ad in campaign against UW Madison Hospital

    Wisconsin Right to Life is publishing its 3rd and final ad today in the Wisconsin State Journal as part of 3 week ad campaign against the UW Madison Hospital for planning to introduce late-term abortions as part of its patient care. (Be sure to check out WIRTL's excellent 1st and 2nd ads.)

    The new ad is a killer, pardon the pun. It features information gleaned from emails between UW officials. View the pdf here. Click to enlarge:

    WIRTLad3.jpg

    Absolutely fabulous ad.

    Pro-abort suspicious over Obama's Notre Dame "common ground" speech

    by Carder

    Thumbnail image for rev_veazey.jpgNot all pro-choicers are embracing President Obama's call for "common ground." The Rev. Dr. Carlton Veazey, president of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, laments in RH Reality Check whether common ground is merely code for appeasement:

    My experience of 13 years in the pro-choice movement is that "common ground" has become another term for compromise on reproductive choice. In other words, achieving common ground will be accomplished by diminishing the ability of women to make decisions about abortion, whatever the personal cost. That's unacceptable.

    It's unacceptable for even one woman to suffer in order for opponents of abortion to be appeased....

    Continue reading "Pro-abort suspicious over Obama's Notre Dame "common ground" speech"

    (Prolifer)ations 5-27-09

    Thumbnail image for blog buzz.jpgby Kelli

    Spotlighting important information gleaned from other pro-life blogs...

  • Suzanne from Big Blue Wave is featured as a guest columnist at
    No Apologies
    . In her article, she urges pro-life women to make themselves heard and to not allow one type of "feminist" to speak for all women...

    Continue reading "(Prolifer)ations 5-27-09"

  • Bristol Palin's mixed message as this week's People cover story

    bristol_palin.jpgBristol Palin and baby Tripp are featured on the mixed-message cover of this week's People Magazine.

    The photo is of a happy high school grad mom with her beautiful baby, while the caption reads, "Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter talks about her life with baby Tripp. 'If girls realized the consequences of sex, nobody would be having sex,' says Bristol. 'Trust me. Nobody.'"

    There surely must be a better way to convey the combination abstinence/anti-abortion message.

    The captions leading into the cover story are no better....

    Continue reading "Bristol Palin's mixed message as this week's People cover story"

    Lunch Break: Your name, sir?

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Plot thickens re: Sotomayor's abortion stance

    UPDATE, 10:40a: And at least 1 Daily Kos blogger is accusing Obama of "throwing women and pro-choicers" under the bus by his Sotomayor pick:

    daily kos sotomayor slide 1.jpg

    (The statement by Sotomayor came in her favorable ruling of President Bush's reenactment of the Mexico City policy.)

    [HT: commenter Joanne]
    _______________

    UPDATE, 10:20a: The Center for Reproductive Rights, which Sotomayor ruled against in her 2002 Mexico City policy decision, has also issued a "wait and see" statement on Sotomayor, agreeing with NARAL she needs to say plainly whether or not she supports Roe v. Wade (click to enlarge)...

    Continue reading "Plot thickens re: Sotomayor's abortion stance"

    All in the family

    by Carder

    The MacDonald family can tell us a thing or 2 about surviving abortion. The story begins in 1968, when Jenn MacDonald's mother attempted to abort her, but felt too guilty to finish the job. Jenn says...

    Continue reading "All in the family"

    Details on upcoming National Right to Life convention

    rtlconvention.png

    Continue reading "Details on upcoming National Right to Life convention"

    Lunch Break: Sarcastics Anonymous

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Abortion images get attention at Notre Dame

    The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform has put together a YouTube photo montage juxtaposed against voicemail complaints (a couple pretty bad) it received about its campaign to show the truth about abortion via its "abortion plane" and Truth Trucks in the month leading up to Barack Obama's appearance at Notre Dame.

    WARNING: There is some profanity, although the worst is the first. Other than that, viewing the photos while listening to the complaints against showing them is mesmerizing.

    FYI, Kelli has created a Notre Dame archives tab to view all my posts, photos, and video leading up to and throughout Obama's appearance there.

    Breaking news: Obama picks Sotomayor for Supreme Court

    UPDATE, 5/27, 10a: From the Washington Times, today:

    With Judge Sonia Sotomayor already facing questions over her 60% reversal rate, the Supreme Court could dump another problem into her lap next month if, as many legal analysts predict, the court overturns one of her rulings upholding a race-based employment decision.

    3 of the 5 majority opinions written by Judge Sotomayor for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and reviewed by the Supreme Court were reversed, providing a potent line of attack raised by opponents....


    ______________

    sotomayor with pres.jpg

    UPDATE, 5/26, 10:50a: CBN's David Brody itemizes Sotomayor's track record on abortion.

  • Quoting LifeNews.com, "Sotomayor... has not directly issued any rulings on abortion but she has been involved in abortion cases."

  • One of those was Sotomayor's opinion in 2002 against pro-aborts challenging President George W. Bush's signing of the Mexico City policy, although her ruling coincided with a 2nd Circuit's prior decision on a "virtually identical claim," according to the SCOTUS blog.

  • Sotomayor also, according to LifeNews.com, "wrote an opinion overturning, in part, a district court's grant of summary judgment against a group of pro-life protestors. Though not concerning abortion policy directly, the case is viewed as a stand against free speech for pro-life advocates."

    UPDATE, 5/27, 7a: That LifeNews.com statement was misleading. I've read more about the Sotomayor decision about those pro-life protestors, and she ruled in their favor. Read details on her decision at the Christianity Today blog.
    _______________

    UPDATE, 5/26, 10:07a: Obama's angles on Sotomayor...

    Continue reading "Breaking news: Obama picks Sotomayor for Supreme Court"

  • Memorial Day 2009

    Memorial Day.jpgThe history of Memorial Day, according to Wikipedia:

    The official birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, NY. The village was credited with being the place of origin because it observed the day on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter.

    But Wiki includes a touching back story, which looks well documented:

    [T]he first memorial day was observed on May 1, 1865, by liberated slaves at the [old] Washington Race Course (today the location of Hampton Park) in Charleston, SC....
    Continue reading "Memorial Day 2009"

    Sunday funny

    by Glenn McCoy of Townhall.com...

    cartoon 5-24 large glenn mccoy.gif

    Also read "Obama's Roe Problem" in RealClearPolitics.com, May 23.

    [HT for cartoon: proofreader Angela]

    New poll/Old poll

    poll%20graphic%20correct%20size.bmpThanks to intern Bernadette for help in framing this week's new poll question:

    How do you think the Supreme Court should interpret the Constitution? Complete this sentence: "Justices should base rulings on...

    Here are the results of my previous poll. The majority of you thought juries in the O. J. Simpson and George Tiller trials performed equally bad...

    Continue reading "New poll/Old poll"

    Weekend question

    Recent polls have trended pro-life, some to historical highs (click all to enlarge)...

    weekend question slide 1.JPG

    Continue reading "Weekend question"

    Conservatives gear up for Supreme Court fight

    sea legs.jpgRepublicans had difficulty getting sea legs when Supreme Court justice David Souter announced 3 weeks ago he was retiring. But they may - just may - be abandoning the frustrating cordiality not returned to them on SC nominees. Reported the Huffington Post May 18:

    The rationale is gradually being put in place for Republicans to mount a filibuster of Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

    On Sunday, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Jeff Sessions, suggested that the country had moved to a place "in which there is not as much deference"... given to the President's Supreme Court nominees as in the past. Earlier, he refused to "rule out" using a filibuster.

    Former Republican Party Chairman Ed Gillespie wrote in the Washington Post, May 20...

    Continue reading "Conservatives gear up for Supreme Court fight"

    Lunch Break: Beat box girl

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Breaking news: Oklahoma becomes 1st to pass sex-selection abortion ban

    Thumbnail image for breaking.jpgIt's hard to find news in MSM on this groundbreaking legislation today. Maybe it doesn't understand the ramifications. Maybe it does.

    10th paragraph down in Tulsa World today:

    [Gov. Brad] Henry also signed a measure banning abortion based on gender.

    That's it. But I've checked with 2 national pro-life groups this morning, and to their knowledge this is the 1st sex-selection abortion ban to pass in the country....

    Continue reading "Breaking news: Oklahoma becomes 1st to pass sex-selection abortion ban"

    Do Reid poll numbers indicate slam against Dems mid-term?

    reid poll.jpg

    Continue reading "Do Reid poll numbers indicate slam against Dems mid-term?"

    New poll on Supreme Court: Americans think conservative

    Today Americans United for Life released fascinating poll data by Kellyanne Conway's group, the polling inc./WomanTrend. AUL detailed the findings in a letter to senators:

    justice is blind.jpg

    By overwhelming majorities, Democrats, Republicans and Independents agreed that judges should exercise restraint and check their own beliefs and predispositions at the courthouse door.

    They agreed on upholding common sense abortion regulations already in place in the states, including parental consent laws, and objecting to late-term abortions and taxpayer-funded abortions in the US and overseas....

    Continue reading "New poll on Supreme Court: Americans think conservative"

    Obama to appoint Johnsen during recess?

    UPDATE, 5/24, 6:15a: Someone wrote the obvious yesterday: Obama has to make a recess appointment with a Democrat majority?
    _______________

    On May 13 Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he didn't have the votes to confirm Dawn "pregnancy is slavery" Johnsen to head the Dept. of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel. Seems her überliberal ways have gotten in her way.

    dawn johnson 5.jpgNow word is fellow überliberal, Barack Obama, may appoint Johnsen to the position during the upcoming Memorial Day recess, bypassing the Senate. This would allow Johnsen to serve until the end of 111th Congress (January 2011), at which time she would have to be renominated and redo Senate confirmation proceedings. CQ reported today:

    During the 110th Congress... Reid vigilantly scheduled pro forma sessions to prevent President George Bush from making recess appointments of nominees that Democrats found objectionable....
    Continue reading "Obama to appoint Johnsen during recess?"

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-21-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • Michael Stokes Paulsen wants to know how serious President Obama is on finding common ground:
    Mr. President, you say that abortions are never undertaken lightly, and without acute anguish. I wish this were always true; and so do you, apparently. But some abortions - many, actually - are had for many reasons we would find common ground to condemn.

    Will you join me, and others, in supporting a ban on abortion had for reasons of sex-selection of a born child? Sadly, many seek abortion not because they do not want a child, but because they do not want a girl. This is horrible, would you not agree? Mr. President, if you are serious about seeking common ground, would you not agree that our nation should ban the abortion choice when used for such an awful, human-gender-based reason?...

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-21-09"

  • Congressmen tell Obama to put money where mouth was on Notre Dame speech

    Yesterday Congressmen Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) held a press conference and sent a letter to President Obama, asking him to heed the words of his own speech at Notre Dame on the issue of healthcare conscience protections.

    They also called Obama out on his oft-repeated phrase of late, that of wanting to reduce the number of women needing abortions. No, that's not quite right, wrote the congressmen. Pretty savvy letter. Click to enlarge.

    sensenbrenner.png

    New Stanek WND column, "2 points of truth among Obama's 'wild word fraud'"

    WND%20logo.gif

    I was at the Grotto on the Notre Dame campus Sunday afternoon when President Barack Obama received his honorary doctor of laws degree and gave his commencement speech.

    At the same time, Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life officiated an alternative service for those who couldn't bear to see such a prominent enabler of child murder lauded at a Catholic university.

    obama notre dame wnd.jpg

    Whoops, was "prominent enabler of child murder" the sort of "demonizing" Obama preached against in his homily?

    I did indeed think at first it was a homily. While listening to Fr. Pavone with one ear, I listened to Obama with an earpiece in the other ear thanks to a friend who placed her cell phone by her television.

    Obama kept fading in and out. I only caught...

    Continue reading "New Stanek WND column, "2 points of truth among Obama's 'wild word fraud'""

    (Prolifer)ations 5-21-09

    Thumbnail image for blog buzz.jpgby intern Bernadette P.

    Spotlighting important information gleaned from other pro-life blogs...

  • American Papist points us to an MSNBC report that Mel Gibson, director of The Passion of the Christ, recently announced he and his wife are filing for divorce citing irreconcilable differences and has conceived a child with another woman, Oksana Grigorieva of Russia. Reports have confirmed that she is several months pregnant.

    According to the report, quoting the National Enquirer, Gibson's 7 other children are hiring lawyers to guard their inheritance:

    "In late April, Mel gathered his children at the family home in Malibu and broke the news that Oksana is pregnant, and he expects them to accept the baby as a new sibling," a family friend told the magazine.

    "They are quite upset. Even though Mel assured them the pregnancy was unplanned, they're furious with him and say they're going to take steps to protect their inheritance, which they feel is in jeopardy."

  • Americans United for Life blogs about a recently released CNN poll showing 72% of Americans, an overwhelming majority, want either a conservative or moderate Supreme Court Justice....

    Continue reading "(Prolifer)ations 5-21-09"

  • Lunch Break: Quadraphonic laughter

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    We've posted this one before but it never fails to bring a smile when rewatching it...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    TX twins have different dads

    s-WASHINGTON-large.jpgABC13 News in Dallas reported yesterday on the surprising and rare case of Mia Washington, a woman who gave birth to twins with different fathers:

    A paternity test showed her 11-month-old twins, Jordan and Justin, were fathered by two different men. Authorities say it's so rare there have been only 10 other known cases worldwide....

    Continue reading "TX twins have different dads"

    Crying baby repeatedly interrupts Obama's speech during abortion segment

    Edwin Mora of CNS News noted an ironic coincidence that took place during President Obama's commencement address at Notre Dame last Sunday:

    The distinct sound of a baby crying broke out in the capacious basketball arena where the Notre Dame commencement exercise was being held on Sunday when President Obama... began talking about abortion....

    The baby's cry was clearly heard in television broadcasts of Obama's speech during that part of the address where the president spoke about abortion, and ended up saying that on this issue "the views of the two camps are irreconcilable."

    Listen, for example, at :31, :57, 1:20, 1:27-1:38, and 2:14 in this video clip...

    Perhaps the baby had objections to Obama's "fair minded words" about abortion.

    Or perhaps the baby was simply frightened.

    Video of nun arrested at Notre Dame

    I reported in a couple spots (here and here) on arrests I witnessed Sunday near the Joyce Center on the Notre Dame campus. These occurred when 15 pro-life activists from Citizens for a Pro-life Society attempted to educate students and parents going to their commencement on the reality of abortion through graphic pictures, i.e., what their speaker and honoree actually supported by being "pro-choice."

    I reported one of those arrested was Sr. Lois Marie Metoraj. Here is an news interview conducted with her before her arrest as well as footage of the arrest...

    Citizens for a Pro-life Society incurred over $6,500 in expenses for its various Notre Dame initiatives. Donations to defray costs would be appreciated. Information on how to donate is on CPS's home page.

    What's (Who's) gotten into Notre Dame?

    by Carder

    Ever wondered how the darling of Catholic higher education arrived at Sunday's disgrace?

    9780809135844.jpgNotre Dame alum Paul Schlicta writes in the American Thinker's blog, providing a quasi-timeline of how things spiraled out of control. The sad part: this has been brewing for a very long time:

    The process started a century ago, when the Catholic Church was attacked by a group of internal heresies that Pope Pius X collectively defined as "modernism". This vague and polymorphous movement, which one might call "Catholicism Lite", was a rationalistic reduction of the Bible to mythology and of Catholic doctrine to tentative opinions that could be changed to suit the mood of the times.

    Pius X attacked modernism within the Church so vigorously that for over half a century, Catholic clergy and schoolteachers had to take an anti-modernist oath. But there was always an underground movement of modernistic liberal theologians, waiting for an opportunity to "bring the Church up to date."

    Failure to cut the Catholic Church down to size with Vatican II and throughout Pope John Paul II's conservative reign forced these dissidents to enter through the back door... Continue reading "What's (Who's) gotten into Notre Dame?"

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-20-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • The LA Times has another article with the thesis that bad economic times are leading to women having more abortions. The article included this story which I'm guessing was supposed to be horrifying:
    She said one woman from Kern County first called ACCESS when she was 11 weeks pregnant. The woman said her insurance wouldn't cover an abortion and she had tried for weeks to enroll in Medi-Cal, the state's healthcare system for the poor.

    "She waited 5 weeks for the Medi-Cal. . . . By that point, she felt it was too late to personally go through with it," Lopez said. "This is a really good example of the barriers that are put in front of women who are trying to make responsible decisions early on."...

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-20-09"

  • The most anti-life PSA ever

    UPDATE, 3:25p: Facebook friends Debbie and Lawrence made a good point. Why doesn't this group show instead a PSA of an abortion? That would have the same intended impact when you think about it. But the reality of abortion is part of a long-standing mass cover-up. "If people saw it, they would know that it's a baby and then might change their minds about being 'pro-choice,'" wrote Lawrence.
    _______________

    Hot Air posted a video last night of a despicable British PSA:

    Long story short: It involves a bloody struggle on the playground and it's graphic enough to have been pulled by YouTube - and then reposted, with this particular clip having already drawn almost 100k views in a day.

    That number is now up to 300k. Watch, and then we'll talk.

    Sponsored by the whacked out Leicester Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Partnership, this ad only frightens teens from delivering babies, not making them. By so doing it only encourages abortion - not carrying her baby to term - in the event a girl does get pregnant.

    As so many of our pro-abort commenters are fond of saying, "Way to keep it classy."

    [HT: moderator Chris]

    Lunch Break: Excessive celebration fail

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind.

    Make sure to watch this one to the end for a real hoot...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    [HT: Michael New]

    Is Obama hoodwinking the Vatican?

    UPDATE, 1p: Could this be the reason for the Vatican's softpedaling on Obama?
    ______________

    Deal Hudson blogged today on InsideCatholic.com that the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, appears to be suffering from Obamadelusions:

    Page274.jpg

    Yesterday OR published an article praising Obama at Notre Dame for seeking "common ground" on abortion.

    It's now clear that the paper needs a new editor. The article did not even mention the 79 US bishops who openly criticized Notre Dame for giving Obama an honor at its recent commencement....

    "The search for common ground seems to be the road chosen by the President of the United States, Barack Obama, to confront the sensitive abortion issue," L'Osservatore Romano says.

    And then this:

    Continue reading "Is Obama hoodwinking the Vatican?"

    KS Planned Parenthood's paltry pep rally

    Last Friday KS state Sen. Tim Huelskamp's amendment to defund Planned Parenthood was sent to the desk of pro-abort Gov. Mark Parkinson (who took Kathleen Sebelius' place) to sign.

    Parkinson has less than a week to make his decision.

    Don't forget PP of of KS and Mid-MO is currently charged with over 100 criminal counts of illegal late-term abortions, tampering with evidence, and other typical PP offenses. Yet the State of KS still funds PP handsomely, to the tune of $300k annually.

    Yesterday pro-abort blogger Kansas Jackass issued a rally call! Count 'em, 4 pro-abort groups were co-sponsoring an event on the steps of the state capitol today to show support for PP! Click to enlarge...

    ks jackass.JPG

    When I heard about this rally, I knew it would be impotent. It's hard to get rah-rah abortion supporters unless they're paid....

    Continue reading "KS Planned Parenthood's paltry pep rally"

    American Idol to debut pro-life ad tonight

    american idol.jpgFrom CatholicVote.org:

    We are pleased to announce that our latest commercial - Imagine Spot 2 - will begin airing tonight on the American Idol finale. We have secured ad space in select markets in 6 states, beginning tonight in Baltimore.

    Our ad will also be running tomorrow night during the 2nd night of the finale in select markets in NC, PA, WI, NV and FL.

    Here's that great ad once again:

    [HT: moderator Carder]

    Internet takes the steam out of Playboy

    Last week, Jonathan Berr wrote in Daily Finance about the decline of Playboy's market:

    But the world has changed. There is a huge supply of free adult content on the internet. Loads of publications including Maxim and Blender are competing for the young male demographic. This leaves Playboy with a very bleak outlook.

    Thumbnail image for 00a600px-Playboy_logo_svg.png

    Playboy reported yet another dismal quarterly earnings. For the quarter ended March 31, the Chicago-based company reported a net loss of $13.7 million.... Revenue declined to $61.6 million from $78.5 million a year before....

    Overall, the stock has tumbled more than 72% over the past 5 years....

    In a cost-cutting move, Playboy recently moved its editorial staff from NY to Chicago. It is now considering raising its per-issue price or cutting back on publication.

    Over the past few decades, Hefner has dodged bullets ranging from government prosecutors to criticism from feminists. The fight against irrelevance may be his toughest battle yet.

    To be fair, recent media financial struggles aren't limited to Playboy, with the internet playing a large role in the changing markets...

    seattle post.jpgOther media outlets recently revealed to be going under include the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Ann Arbor News, PC Magazine (all moving to online-only formats), the Boston Globe, magazines such as Portfolio, Blender, Hallmark, Domino, JPG, Country Home, CosmoGirl!, Cottage Living, and Oprah's O at Home.

    Even the stalwart Christian Science Monitor has taken a beating after a century of publications, changing from a daily to weekly format and utilizing daily email updates for readers.

    WI RTL releases 2nd ad in campaign against UW Madison Hospital

    Wow, what a fantastic ad Wisconsin Right to Life is having published this week in the Wisconsin State Journal as the 2nd in its 3 week ad campaign against the UW Madison Hospital. (See 1st ad here.)

    UWM is having a hard time realizing its dream to begin committing late-term abortions, and ads like this aren't going to help. Click to enlarge...

    madwirtl.png

    Hurricane Ike's baby boom

    MySanAntonio.com reported May 12 on Hurricane Ike's possible "baby boom" effect on the Houston area.

    babies_50.jpg According to Dr. John Irwin, president of Obstetrical and Gynecological Associates and chief of surgery service at The Woman's Hospital of TX:

    There's about a 25% increase in the number of deliveries coming up in mid-June to mid-July.

    8 months ago, Ike left many without power for days, which seems to have resulted in "a real phenomenon," Irwin said. The hospital expects ~100 more deliveries this summer than last.

    The article added...

    Continue reading "Hurricane Ike's baby boom"

    Bristol Palin mocked for abstinence stance

    This cartoon by Signe Wilkinson was posted in the Nashville Tennessean on Mother's Day:

    image002.jpg

    Bristol Palin recently became an ambassador and spokesperson for the Candie's Foundation, as reported in a recent (Prolifer)ations.

    As someone who had a child out of wedlock, Bristol is being mercilessly mocked for speaking out in behalf of abstinence....

    Continue reading "Bristol Palin mocked for abstinence stance"

    Lunch Break: Making a British guard laugh

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-19-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • Yuval Levin has an interesting piece in the National Review pointing out how Obama's rhetoric at Notre Dame should at least slightly encourage pro-lifers. Levin points out how the popular self-interest arguments formerly used by leading pro-choicers have gone by the wayside:
    But his speech should leave pro-lifers optimistic, because it illustrates the transformation of the abortion debate over the past 15 years. Put simply, defenders of the Roe regime seem incapable of making a case for themselves, and when they reach for the vocabulary of American liberal democracy in an effort to make some kind of argument, they end up closer to the case for their opponents....

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-19-09"

  • Preborn baby remembrance charm

    Bethany has told her Happy to Be Called Mommy blog readers about a new piece of jewelry that may be of interest to special mothers:

    I found a charm online for memorializing an unborn child today.... [I]t might be just the thing someone is looking for to memorialize their baby lost through miscarriage. It's so precious and sweet.

    The charm can be purchased here.

    bab.jpg

    I think this would be a touching memory charm for post-abortive mothers to wear, too.

    Road trip overdrive

    Jill and Carla2.JPGI got home last night from a rather grueling 11-day road trip. I spent a lot of time plane-hopping to get to less populated places.

    I spoke at 3 fundraising banquets in MI, NC, and WI, squeezed in a stop in DC to see Daena, attend a meeting, and support pro-life stalwart Congressman Chris Smith at a fundraiser, and ended with 2-1/2 days covering the Notre Dame/Obama spectacle in South Bend.

    I had wonderful times but am glad to be home! I missed Rich, my boys (well, they're 26- and 32-year-old "boys"), and my grandsons, all of whom I hope to see over the Memorial Day weekend.

    One highlight of the trip was seeing moderator and friend Carla! She and a friend travelled some distance to attend a WI Right to Life fundraiser in Eau Claire.

    I so appreciate Kelli and the Mod Squad for keeping this operation running smoothly while I was so often in- and out-of-pocket!

    Notre Dame's other commencement honoree

    The Voices Carry blog has made a rather profound comparison:

    It occurred to me to juxtapose these two pictures from earlier today at Notre Shame University.

    Obama and Priest.jpg

    While the millstone of Notre Dame is placed around President Obortion's neck and 12k at Notre Dame stand giving a thunderous ovation, all heaven stood to honor an 80-year-old priest as he received heaven's high honor for peacefully taking a stand for life and the plight of the unborn...

    That little jail tag around the neck of this bound man of God is a high honor in the kingdom of God. If you are wondering about my phrase - "the millstone of Notre Dame" - I'd remind you that Jesus spoke of placing something around the neck of those who keep children from LIFE.

    [HT: Scott M.]

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-18-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • Yahoo News has a Politico piece on the Obama/Notre Dame controversy which does a good job of allowing pro-lifers to respond to Obama's speech:
    One of the protesters at Notre Dame, [our own] Jill Stanek, an anti-abortion blogger who did not support Obama, said the president's speech sounded eerily familiar.

    "It was just a regurgitation of things he's said for a long time," Stanek said. "He's so good at expressing your point of view, so people are lulled into thinking he agrees with them, and he doesn't. It's just so typical Barack Obama."...

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-18-09"

  • Little Soles

    LittleSoles1.jpgThe Little Soles display, an artistic project by founders Rosemary O'Connor and Ron Van Tassel of Kankakee, IL, was inspired by a similar display the artists saw at a retreat.

    Each of the almost 4k baby shoes (current count 3,339), sizes 0-3, represents 1 child's life ended by abortion daily in the US. The display is circulated throughout the Midwest....

    Continue reading "Little Soles"

    Lunch Break: Snowball dances to "another one bites the dust"

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    [hat tip: Jacqueline]

    Jennifer Granholm, Sebelius II?

    Americans United for Life has published what it considers the short list of Barack Obama's prospective Supreme Court nominees to replace retiring David Souter.

    Not on its short list but on its "other potential nominees" list is MI Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

    granholm obama.jpgThe Associated Press just reported:

    ... Granholm... will be at the White House on Tuesday.

    An administration official says the Democratic governor is coming... for an event unrelated to the Supreme Court. It is not clear whether Granholm will be meeting with Obama about the upcoming vacancy on the court....

    Continue reading "Jennifer Granholm, Sebelius II?"

    Notre Dame update 5/18, 7:45a: Photo reflections

    Click all photos to enlarge.

    IMO, this was my best, most clarifying shot of the day...

    024nd.JPG

    These good people just showed up at the protest staging area to give away thousands of t-shirts...

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update 5/18, 7:45a: Photo reflections"

    Notre Dame update 5/17, 9:50p EST: At the Grotto

    Leslie Hanks and I trekked to the alternative service held today at Notre Dame's Grotto for graduating seniors not willing to sit through a commencement honoring a supporter of child murder.

    The service was led by Priest for Life's Fr. Frank Pavone...

    073nd.JPG

    Leslie and I wandered to the back to get shots of the audience. We guesstimate there were 1-2k people. (Another 1k watched the service on a large screen at the South Quad.) 1st shot is the left side, 2nd shot the right....

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update 5/17, 9:50p EST: At the Grotto"

    Notre Dame update 5/17, 8:30p: The 2 mile pro-life protest at Notre Dame

    Today thousands of pro-lifers converged on South Bend, IN, to protest Notre Dame's selection of radically pro-abortion Barack Obama as its commencement speaker and honoree.

    The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform graciously let me ride in 1 of its Truth Trucks to capture the following video. It tracks the impressive 2 mile continuous protest route from I80 to the campus's main entrance. There was no other route for out-of-towners to take.

    This was quite something.

    Notre Dame update 5/17, 7:35p EST: Obama's speech

    081nd.jpgI was at the Notre Dame Grotto this afternoon watching Fr. Frank Pavone speak to pro-life graduates who refused to attend their commencement honoring radical pro-abortion Barack Obama when I got a call from friend Fran that Obama had begun his speech on the other side of campus.

    So I listened to Fr. Pavone with one ear and to Barack Obama with my other ear via earpiece as friend Fran placed her phone by her t.v. Needless to say I felt a tad schizophrenic listening to contrary voices in my head....

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update 5/17, 7:35p EST: Obama's speech"

    Notre Dame update 5/17, 2:15p EST

    The big update from my end is Monica Miller and 6 pro-lifers got arrested in the parking lot of the Joyce Center where Obama is speaking.

    065nd.jpg

    We were this close to grads and families entering the Center...

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update 5/17, 2:15p EST"

    Notre Dame update 5/17, 10:48a EST

    The 8 buses from Chicago and MI have arrived...

    018nd.jpg

    This is one staging area. Eric Scheidler of Pro-Life Action League is holding the bullhorn...

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update 5/17, 10:48a EST"

    Notre Dame update, 5/17, 9:40a EST

    Am at house across the street from Notre Dame a grad rented to pro-lifers for today.

    Just learned there will be live feed from teapartylive.tv.

    Already spotted abortion plane.

    003nd.JPG

    We pretended we were lost and drove in the parking lot next to Joyce Hall, where Obama will speak....

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update, 5/17, 9:40a EST"

    Notre Dame update 5/17, 7:40a EST

    norma on right.jpg

    Turns out Norma McCorvey, the Roe in Roe v. Wade who is now pro-life, wanted to get arrested with Fr. Weslin yesterday and was insulted when police pushed her aside to grab the frail old guy. (Above photo shows Norma to Fr.'s right just before the arrest.) Norma attended the rally last night. This would be the quote of the day were it not Sunday. From Fox News, yesterday...

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update 5/17, 7:40a EST"

    Notre Dame update 5/16, 10p EST

    After finishing my last post, Leslie and I drove to the main entrance of Notre Dame and saw news crews starting to assemble in the neighborhood directly outside the campus...

    205.JPG

    This was 6p, and there were a couple dozen pro-life protesters still hanging around the entrance of ND. They came with a busload from St. Louis (of which I was previously unaware)...

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update 5/16, 10p EST"

    Notre Dame update 5/16, 4:30p EST

    Got into town a couple hours ago and went straight to Best Buy to purchase a little pocket video camera I read about on the plane that lets one post directly to YouTube. Also got a much needed phone upgrade so I can now post from anywhere on my computer through my Blackberry's Internet access.

    On my drive here I spotted and took photos of one of the billboards purchased by Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society. It's at mile marker 57 on I80 for those coming to Notre Dame from the west.

    PLAL CPS billboard.JPG

    Monica Miller of CPS is already here and scoping out the ND campus. We're bunking together at the same hotel tonight. Leslie Hanks from CO Right to Life flew in today as well, and she's also at the campus. That's my next stop....

    Continue reading "Notre Dame update 5/16, 4:30p EST"

    Video of elderly priest Fr. Norman Weslin's arrest at Notre Dame

    This is heartbreaking...

    [HT: reader Mary Q.]

    Weekend pro-life events at Notre Dame

    notre dame dome.jpgSaturday, 5/16...

    8a - 1p+: StopObamaNotreDame.com (Alan Keyes/Randall Terry) - Face the Truth protest outside Notre Dame front gate

    11a - 2p: Center for Bio-Ethical Reform's "abortion plane" will fly truth banner around Notre Dame campus

    12p: StopObamaNotreDame.com (Alan Keyes/Randall Terry) - "Pro-life witness on campus with arrests"

    9:30p: NDResponse.com (Notre Dame student group) - All night Adoration begins at Alumni Hall (on-campus) Chapel

    Sunday, 5/17...

    Continue reading "Weekend pro-life events at Notre Dame"

    Randall Terry on Hannity last night

    Randall Terry was on Sean Hannity's show last night discussing the Notre Dame debacle. He appeared in the place of Alan Keyes, who was still in jail when the show was taped. Hannity also announced his show Sunday night will spotlight Obama's appearance there that day.

    I spoke last night at The Center for Women's annual banquet in Brevard, NC, and am flying to Chicago this morning and then driving to South Bend to begin blogging from the Notre Dame area this afternoon. Will also be mini-blogging on Twitter and Facebook, so I hope you're signed up to follow me!

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-15-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • The New York Times has an article on Obama and abortion which discusses his attempts to straddle the issue (at least with his rhetoric) and his upcoming appearance at Notre Dame. The end of the article has this interesting quote from Doug Kmiec:
    Douglas W. Kmiec, a constitutional scholar and former Notre Dame professor who was an outspoken critic of abortion when he worked for Presidents Ronald Reagan and the elder George Bush, said he had been advising the White House to use the speech at the university on Sunday to tackle the controversy head on, with the president making the case that "we already have agreement, we both respect life, we both view abortion as a moral tragedy."
    Does Obama really view abortion as a moral tragedy? If so, why does he want our tax dollars to pay for these moral tragedies?...

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-15-09"

  • Indiana pro-life protesters to picket Obama's fundraiser after Notre Dame appearance

    Notre Dame isn't the only Indiana function Barack Obama will attend this Sunday.

    westin protest slide 1.JPGObama is also scheduled to headline a Democrat fundraiser at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis at 4p EST for 4 Democrat reps. Tickets range from $250 to $5k.

    And Intercessors for Life picketers will be there as well, to remind Obama and his followers - free of charge - exactly what the man supports: abortion in all its glory.

    Email Rudy Guerrero for details on meeting place. Time to meet will be 3-3:30p EST....

    Continue reading "Indiana pro-life protesters to picket Obama's fundraiser after Notre Dame appearance"

    Pro-lifers, including elderly priest, arrested at Notre Dame

    UPDATE, 2:35p: Am adding stills from archived video of the arrest...

    keyes arrested 3.jpg

    Note all the media...

    keyes arrested 4.jpg

    If you go to the video link above (video #4), begin watching at about 12:00. The arrest of this dear elderly priest (photos on page 2), while perhaps following the letter of the law, was despicable. Think of the circumstances. This almost made me cry....

    Continue reading "Pro-lifers, including elderly priest, arrested at Notre Dame"

    Defeating political ridicule

    PH2008033100939.jpg

    [Barack Obama explaining Saul Alinsky's power analysis, Tony'sTruth.com]

    Pro-lifers here are well aware many if not most pro-aborts who comment at this site do so in the form of ridicule. So it would be well for all to read Kyle-Ann Shiver's excellent primer in the American Thinker today, "Defeating political ridicule."...

    Continue reading "Defeating political ridicule"

    Lunch Break: Best game ever

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    (Prolifer)ations 5-15-09

    Thumbnail image for blog buzz.jpgby intern Bernadette P.

    Spotlighting important information gleaned from other pro-life blogs...

  • Parenting Freedom points out a new survey, showing 2 out of 3 adults believe being a mother is the most important role a woman can ever fill.

    72% of women believe it is the most important role as opposed to 60% of men believing the same.

  • Covenant News draws attention to a King5.com story regarding a WA woman who is suing army doctors over a botched abortion....

    Continue reading "(Prolifer)ations 5-15-09"

  • Breaking News: Gallup poll shows more Americans pro-life than "pro-choice" for first time

    Click to enlarge:

    gallup poll more.jpg

    Continue reading "Breaking News: Gallup poll shows more Americans pro-life than "pro-choice" for first time "

    Pro-life pressure is stopping late-term abortions at UW Madison Hospital

    I wrote several times in February about the University of Wisconsin Madison Hospital's plans to commit late-term abortions because the city's late-term abortionist was vamoosing.

    These plans were hatched privately, but when made public all hell broke loose. Today Wisconsin Right to Life launched the 1st of 3 ads in the Wisconsin State Journal aimed at what it now knows are UW Madison's soft spots. Click to enlarge:

    WIRTL ad.jpg

    WIRTL knows UW Madison's pressure points thanks to internal emails gotten with difficulty by Matt Bowman of the Legal Defense Fund via the Freedom of Information Act. In a nutshell, the hospital system is afraid with good reason of losing staff, doctors and patients ($$)....

    Continue reading "Pro-life pressure is stopping late-term abortions at UW Madison Hospital "

    Given 6 months to live 10 years ago: The Brian (and Gerri) Monaghan story

    by intern Andy M.

    monaghan.JPG Brian and Gerri Monaghan "went to battle" over 10 years ago, when in 1998, Brian received a call from his doctor.

    "Come and see me, but don't drive," the doctor told him - and the alarm bells went off, for Brian as he knew something must be seriously wrong. He was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, which had already metastasized to his brain. The doctor told Brian he had 6 months to live....

    Continue reading "Given 6 months to live 10 years ago: The Brian (and Gerri) Monaghan story"

    Tacky Judy Blume Planned Parenthood pitch makes LAT

    judy blume 5.jpgControversial children's book author Judy Blume took such a hit in the pro-life community (read here and here) for making a Mother's Day fundraising pitch for Planned Parenthood - double couthless - the Los Angeles Times has even taken notice. Wrote columnist Meghan Daum today:

    But in seeing this saga unfold in my inbox, I was struck by a troubling question. Even though Blume may not be associated with abortion in and of itself (none of her protagonists ever got one), is there something about her persona that signals a lack of dispassion about its ramifications? Is she reminding people of a time when, in the relief of Roe being decided, there was a cultural perception that abortion was a simple procedure that needn't come with attendant emotional baggage?...
    Continue reading "Tacky Judy Blume Planned Parenthood pitch makes LAT"

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-14-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • Why I am not surprised? The Catholic News Agency reports Hillary Clinton may have been exaggerating her tale of visiting Brazilian hospitals and claiming that half the women she saw there were "fighting for their lives against botched abortions":
    The National Catholic Register contacted Department of State spokeswoman Laura Tischler to see if there was any record of Clinton's trip to Brazilian hospitals. Tischler said, "I am unable to confirm where or when the trip she referred to in her testimony was -- where specifically in Brazil she was visiting or when the trip occurred."

  • CNN has an article on the short list of Obama's possible Supreme Court nominees....

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-14-09"

  • A new baby for Bambino!

    Yesterday, one of our mods, Bobby Bambino, and his wife, welcomed their 2nd daughter, Aniela Margaret!

    100_0062.jpg

    Aniela was a healthy 9 lbs and 21" long.

    Details of the birth from Bobby...

    Continue reading "A new baby for Bambino!"

    Bethany's mission: Memorial sketches

    debrababy.jpgby Bethany Kerr

    [JLS note: When I met Bethany and James a couple weeks ago and got a chance to know them better, I learned Bethany was deeply involved in a very special ministry. I asked her to tell you about it....]

    Those who know me here know I draw portraits for a hobby.

    But sometimes, it's more than just a hobby....

    Continue reading "Bethany's mission: Memorial sketches"

    Lunch Break: Allow me to re-introduce the Christ

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Procession of Healing update

    procession1.jpg

    I wrote on May 8 of the next day's 2nd annual Procession of Healing, expanded this year to 6 cities in 4 states with plans to grow the procession into a nationwide annual event.

    Organizer, Pastor Aaron Jones, sent us an update of all procession statuses of which he was aware and photos (all from the Knoxville, TN, procession)....

    Continue reading "Procession of Healing update"

    Obama's connections on Notre Dame Board of Trustees

    church_money.250w.tn.jpgThe love of money is indeed still the root of all evil, even at Catholic institutions.

    On May 10 Pewsitter revealed many members of Notre Dame's Board of Trustees have ties to President Obama and/or his agenda. Pewsitter portrayed ND's president, Fr. John Jenkins, as somewhat helpless against them:

    But Fr. Jenkins, like all university presidents, must consider the will of the school's governing board.

    The ND Board of Trustees is a powerful organization, comprised of top international business owners, chairs of rich endowments, academic leaders, judges, attorneys, faculty, and prominent clergy. These individuals are typically very wealthy, well-connected and highly accomplished; many with broad interests outside the university.

    Many ND Board members have deep connections to Obama, some nefarious. Here's a sampling from Pewsitter...

    Continue reading "Obama's connections on Notre Dame Board of Trustees"

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-13-09, Part II

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • The Local reports that Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare has ruled that doctors can't deny a woman the ability to know the gender of her child when the only reason she wants to know the gender is to have a sex-selection abortion if the child is a girl:
    [A] woman, who already had two daughters, requested an amniocentesis in order to allay concerns about possible chromosome abnormalities. At the same time, she also asked to know the foetus's gender....

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-13-09, Part II"

  • Did baby mammoth die in Noah's flood?

    baby mammoth 2.jpg

    I wrote 2 years ago about a remarkably preserved baby mammoth discovered in Siberia. Here's an update from OpposingViews.com, May 4:

    At first Lyuba's well-preserved body suggests a mystery: scientists have determined that she was in good health and well fed when she died - so how did she end up frozen in time? Lyuba's stomach contains important clues, as The Telegraph's Richard Gray explains...
    Continue reading "Did baby mammoth die in Noah's flood?"

    Lunch Break: Antelope vs. tree

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Looks like no rubber stamp of Obama's Supreme Court pick

    Yesterday Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced he didn't have the votes to confirm Dawn "pregnancy is slavery" Johnsen head the Dept. of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel. Seems her liberal ways have lost her not only GOP votes but more crucially, votes from his own side. According to Roll Call:

    dawn johnsen 2.jpg

    "Right now we're finding out when to do that," Reid said.... "We need a couple Republican votes until we can get to 60."...

    But Reid indicated... at least a few Democrats would also oppose Johnsen, making the task of reaching 60 votes to avert a Republican filibuster even more difficult.

    Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) "is very concerned" about Johnsen's nomination... pointing to her tenure as the legal director of NARAL Pro-Choice America as a point of concern....

    Continue reading "Looks like no rubber stamp of Obama's Supreme Court pick"

    Rare identical triplets born

    identical triplets 2.jpgIn this day of abundant In vitro fertilization, it is rare to hear of naturally conceived triplets, let alone this. From BBC News, May 12:

    A 28-year-old mother from Norfolk has more than doubled the size of her family with the birth of triplet boys.

    Ken and Emma Spooner's new babies are particularly special because they are identical. The chance of this occurring naturally is one in 150,000.

    The brothers joined their sister Molly, 8, and brother Jacob, 5....

    Identical triplets are born when 1 fertilised egg splits to create 3 separate embryos....

    Continue reading "Rare identical triplets born"

    New Stanek WND column, "Pro-life Obamanation?"

    WND%20logo.gif

    The terms "pro-life" and "Obamanation" would seem incompatible.

    But there may be an emerging phenomenon. While President Obama continues to enjoy popular support, his anti-life agenda is enjoying less popularity the more he tries to advance it.

    The first sign was public reaction to Obama's overturning of the Mexico City policy, which reinstated taxpayer funding to international abortion groups. This garnered Obama a 65% disapproval rating, according to Gallup, making it the least popular of his first 7 decisions as president.

    Then in late February, Obama....

    Continue reading "New Stanek WND column, "Pro-life Obamanation?""

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-13-09, Part I

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • Ross Douthat's latest op-ed in the New York Times discusses Obama's differing strategies on abortion and same-sex marriage:
    Among their many aspirations for his presidency, Barack Obama's admirers nurse a persistent hope that he might be able to end the culture wars. And by end, they generally mean win. The real hope is a final victory for cultural liberalism, and social conservatism's permanent eclipse.

    These hopes are overstated, but not necessarily irrational. Four months in, the Obama administration does seem to have a plausible strategy for turning the "social issues" to liberalism's advantage. The outline is simple: engage on abortion, and punt on gay rights....

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-13-09, Part I"

  • Buses added for Notre Dame protests

    UPDATE, 5/13, 10:10a:I've just received word from Steven Brody, exec. dir. of Dubuque Co. Right to Life, that the Iowa bus is full, too.
    _______________

    UPDATE, 5/12, 3:31p: Just spoke with Eric Scheidler of Pro-Life Action League. The South Side bus is full, and it is too late to add more. The Aurora bus has 1 seat left. A bus has been added only for the North Side departure.

    Eric has also been receiving calls expressing concern about getting arrested in light of recent altercations at Notre Dame. (Read about them here and here.)

    Eric wants picketers assured this will be a peaceful, law-abiding protest on public property with no expectation of arrest. PLAL has been issued proper permits from the City of South Bend.
    _______________

    nd lightning.jpgResponse for pro-life buses travelling from both the Chicago and Detroit areas to protest Notre Dame's commencement honoree President Barack Obama this Sunday has been greater than expected, and buses are being added.

  • Citizens for a Pro-Life Society reports its 1st bus from near Detroit is full, and it will charter a 2nd bus if 20 more people register. Please call Judy Parran at 517-546-3092. Click here for time travel details....

    Continue reading "Buses added for Notre Dame protests"

  • Lunch Break: Woman calls 911 over hamburger

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Obama's achilles' heel

    alankeyes-barackobama.jpgby Carder

    Edward T. Oakes, S.J. asks in a First Things journal entry the burning spiritual question about our President:

    Can Barack Obama be converted on abortion? The short answer to that question is: probably not.
    Oakes mentions the April 29 press conference in which a reporter asked President Obama about his unfulfilled promise of passing FOCA as his first act as president. The president managed to give a mini-lecture, but not without displaying a bit of discomfort....

    Continue reading "Obama's achilles' heel"

    Still Tuesday mourning

    image003.jpgI've written before about the loss of pro-life friend Leslie Hanks' beloved granddaughter Tuesday, who died January 30 of cancer when she was a little over 2. Tuesday left twin sister Piper behind.

    The 2 are pictured together, right, after Tuesday was well into her chemo therapy. Tuesday is pictured on page 2 at the beginning of treatment.

    I know Mother's Day is hard for mothers and grandmothers who have suffered losses. This was Leslie's first without Tuesday.

    And even little children feel losses like this, sometimes shown in unexpected, tender ways.

    Late last week Piper, now 2-1/2, was in the car with her mother and the James Taylor song Fire and Rain came on the radio. The song was only halfway over when they reached their destination, but Piper asked mom to let the song finish. When asked why, Piper simply said, "Tuesday."...

    Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
    Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
    I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
    I just can't remember who to send it to...
    Continue reading "Still Tuesday mourning"

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-11-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • The Washington Times has a long article on parents who choose life after receiving dire prenatal diagnoses during pregnancy:
    ... [M]ost women with problem pregnancies quickly become discouraged and overwhelmed. "People hear these callous, insensitive remarks, things like 'Why do you want to carry a baby like this?' or 'Are you religious or something?'" she says.

    "The genetics counselors uniformly will hand out support information that assumes you'll terminate."...

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-11-09"

  • The elephant in the elephant's room

    limbaughpoint.jpgby Carder

    Rush Limbaugh has zeroed in on the issue, which, according to him, will make or break the GOP: abortion.

    An attendee of the April 28 Milken Institute's political forum told Rush the prevailing sentiment from liberal, wealthy Republicans was:

    ...this party has no prayer until it gets rid of the pro-life issue. It has no prayer. It isn't going to win a thing. It's not going to get our money."
    Limbaugh's response...

    Continue reading "The elephant in the elephant's room"

    Media Matters: Obama's infanticide support? "Fevered dreams" of Stanek/Limbaugh

    obama.jpg

    Barack Obama's venture one step beyond unencumbered and taxpayer-funded abortion support to radically support infanticide of abortion survivors was the straw that broke the camel's back for many pro-lifers....

    Continue reading "Media Matters: Obama's infanticide support? "Fevered dreams" of Stanek/Limbaugh"

    Lunch Break: Master of the Internet in 1997

    by Bethany Kerr, a parody to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Pro-life protest at NAACP convention

    Hoyes & Okoh NAACPOver 50 people demonstrated at the NAACP's Freedom Fund Dinner on May 3 during its annual convention in Detroit, MI. (Click to enlarge all photos.)

    Yuille & Hoye NAACP National Black Pro-life Congress sponsored the event, with special guest Pastor Walter Hoye, just freed from jail for holding a sign, "God loves you and your baby," in front of an Oakland, CA abortion mill.

    The groups Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and Rock for Life also participated. See YouTube video of speeches.

    Setting up at Cobo Hall - NAACPMany of the thousands of convention attendees were exposed to the truth that the African-American community is being decimated by abortion. The NAACP not only ignores the fact that millions of black babies have been disproportionately targeted for abortion, it supports candidates who encourage abortion.

    No Detroit media news outlet covered the protest.

    [HT and photos: Denise Gabryel; pictured top right: Pastor and Mrs. Walter Hoye and Fr. Philemon Okoh; pictured left: Pastors Yuille and Hoye]

    Mainstream media runs realistic abortion ad Notre Dame newspaper wouldn't

    censorship.jpgCitizens for a Pro-Life Society has taken out an ad that ran in the Washington Times May 9 and are running in the South Bend Tribune May 10-17.

    Notre Dame's student newspaper The Observer refused at the 11th hour to run the add, entitled, "Do it for Jacob," showing the severed hand and foot of an aborted baby....

    Continue reading "Mainstream media runs realistic abortion ad Notre Dame newspaper wouldn't"

    Breaking news: Fr. Pavone urges student boycott of Notre Dame commencement; will offer alternative

    UPDATE, 8:45p: Fr. Pavone has made a YouTube video explaining his plan for Sunday:

    _______________

    Thumbnail image for breaking.jpgFr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has announced he will hold an alternative ceremony at the same time as the Notre Dame commencement, 2p, at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on campus.

    Seniors not attending their commencement honoring radical pro-abortion President Barack Obama invited Fr. Pavone to offer this option, called the Class of 2009 Vigil for Life.

    Fr. Pavone's statement (bold and italics his)...

    Continue reading "Breaking news: Fr. Pavone urges student boycott of Notre Dame commencement; will offer alternative"

    Happy Mother's Day!

    A picture I've always loved from moderator Bethany's Happy to be called Mommy blog...

    bethany.jpg

    Breaking news: Pro-life ad to air during American Idol finale

    Thumbnail image for breaking.jpgThere was great news at yesterday's National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. According to NCRegister.com:

    EWTN's Raymond Arroyo announced that this new pro-life video ad has been accepted for broadcast on the closing episode of American Idol.

    Produced by CatholicVote.org as part of its series of "Imagine the Potential" ads, the new ad promotes adoption by highlighting famous people who were themselves adopted.

    The ad is fabulous! You'll watch it more than once...

    Continued NCRegister.com...

    Continue reading "Breaking news: Pro-life ad to air during American Idol finale"

    Weekend question

    UPDATE, 5/10, 6:30a: While I disagree with Terry/Keyes' tactics, they have already borne short-term fruit, forcing Notre Dame to pay for extra police coverage during President Abortion's visit next weekend. From the Associated Press, last night:

    The University of Notre Dame has agreed to pay some of the costs that local police will face for helping provide security during next weekend's visit by President Barack Obama.

    keyes arrested.jpg

    Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown said the school will pay the South Bend and St. Joseph Co. departments for services beyond those required by the Secret Service.

    Anti-abortion activists are planning protests when Obama visits next Sunday to speak at the commencement ceremony.

    On Friday, former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes and 21 others were arrested when they marched on the university to protest the commencement speech.

    About 75 protesters gathered Friday outside the school's front gate to pray and to listen to Keyes speak before about 30 of them walked onto campus.

    Police say the 22 arrested were handcuffed and taken to the St. Joseph County Jail on trespassing charges.

    This is so ironic: a Catholic university arresting peaceful pro-life protesters while paying for extra security to honor the most pro-abortion president in history.

    Donations by pro-life ND alum comprise some part of this Obama-enabling.

    [Photo attribution: WorldNetDaily]
    _______________

    weekend question.jpgThis is the last time I'm going to mention Alan Keyes or Randall Terry as they relate to the Notre Dame scandal unless they do something really outrageous.

    Both have done great good for the pro-life movement in the past. Keyes is an amazing orator for the sanctity of life. Terry was one of the founders of pro-life activism....

    Continue reading "Weekend question"

    (Prolifer)ations 5-08-09

    Thumbnail image for blog buzz.jpgby intern Bernadette P.

    Spotlighting important information gleaned from other pro-life blogs...

  • ParentingFreedom has a post regarding Bristol Palin's Good Morning America interview on May 6, the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy....

    Continue reading "(Prolifer)ations 5-08-09"

  • Alan Keyes to get arrested at Notre Dame today, 11:30a

    Apparently my complaint against Randall Terry just egged him on. A news release just out:

    Dr. Alan Keyes and 20 pro-lifers will walk on to Notre Dame's campus at 11:30a [EST], Friday, May 08, with baby strollers carrying baby dolls covered in "stage blood" to protest the invitation of Notre Dame to President Obama to deliver the commencement address at this year's graduation.

    alan keyes 2.jpg

    On May 7, Dr. Keyes was unexpectedly approached at a press conference on public property by 2 plain clothes Notre Dame policemen and told if he walks on Notre Dame's campus for any reason, he will be arrested.

    Dr. Keyes was shocked. He stated: "I have not even stepped foot on the campus, and they give me this warning? They told me: 'We are just doing our job.' I told them I am just coming to witness for the truth."...

    Continue reading "Alan Keyes to get arrested at Notre Dame today, 11:30a"

    Procession of Healing TOMORROW

    pohmn-web-home-01_03_090413.gifI reported on last year's Procession of Healing in Knoxville, TN.

    This is simply a funeral procession to mourn the aborted dead. Organizers are trying to expand this into a nationwide event held on the same day. This year the event will be tomorrow, May 9 and is expected to double in size. 6 other cities in addition to Knoxville will hold processions: Franklin, NC; Johnson City, TN; Madisonville, TN; Miami, and Minneapolis.

    The procession's purpose is:

    ... to remember the babies lost to abortion... [and] an invitation for mothers and fathers to come and grieve over a decision they now regret. The Procession of Healing is a remnant of people who believe everyone has a right to live and everyone can be forgiven....

    Continue reading "Procession of Healing TOMORROW"

    Announcing SBA List's 1st pro-life video contest

    The Susan B. Anthony List has launched its 1st pro-life video contest, entitled Lia's Challenge, named for 12-year-old Lia Mills who wrote and recorded a now well-known pro-life speech last year.

    This contest will encourage the next generation of pro-life leaders to use their minds, hearts, and talents to advance the culture of life. Videos will be posted on YouTube.

    Two entrants will win, each receiving a $1000 scholarship! C'mon, finals are over. Start knocking off next year's tuition!

    Deadline to enter is May 22. Download a promotional flyer here.


    Jivin J's Life Links 5-07-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • The Wall Street Journal has an article on the meetings and discussions between abortion proponents and opponents selected by President Obama who are trying to craft proposals to "prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the demand for abortion."

    It seems noteworthy that the leading pro-choice voices like NARAL's Nancy Keenan and NOW's Kim Gandy are participants while no one from National Right to Life is participating.

  • The US Conference of Catholic Bishops is starting a campaign to oppose Obama's stem cell guidelines. They have a variety of useful resources available....

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-07-09"

  • Buses to board in Iowa for Notre Dame protest

    logo_dcrtl_med.jpgA third group will join Pro-Life Action League's buses (departing from Chicago/Aurora) and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society's buses (departing from Detroit) at Notre Dame in South Bend, IN.

    Dubuque Co. RTL is now also hosting buses to protest Obama at Notre Dame, leaving from Dubuque, IA, at 7a CST on May 17, returning at 10p the same day....

    Continue reading "Buses to board in Iowa for Notre Dame protest"

    Lunch Break: "Your Word" by Yor Bro Ken

    by Bethany Kerr

    Commenter Yor Bro Ken emailed me the other day sharing a beautiful song he had written. Ken wrote:

    yor bro ken.JPG

    I am not a song writer, but the LORD gave me this song. I got the chord progression first. Then over the span of a few days I got the chorus. Still later as I was reading the bible I came across this passage:

    1Thes 2:13
    And we will never stop thanking God that when we preached his message to you, you didn't think of the words we spoke as being just our own. You accepted what we said as the very word of God which, of course, it was. And this word continues to work in you who believe. (NLT)...

    Continue reading "Lunch Break: "Your Word" by Yor Bro Ken"

    LA Times misleads on Planned Parenthood funding cut

    Here were the April 29 headlines...

    LAT misleading slide 1b.JPG

    LAT misleading slide 2.JPG

    And here were a few of the actual facts, according to Mercury News, April 28...

    Continue reading "LA Times misleads on Planned Parenthood funding cut"

    Who's not a terrorist?

    Washington Times, May 5:

    The same Homeland Security Department office that categorized veterans as potential terrorists issued an earlier report that defined dozens of "extremists" ranging from black power activists to abortion foes. The report was nixed within hours and recalled from state and local law enforcement officials.

    Whites and blacks, Christians and Jews, Cubans and Mexicans, along with tax-hating Americans were among several political leanings listed in the "Domestic Extremism Lexicon" that came out of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis in late March.

    dhs anti-abortion.jpg

    Now I consider most pro-life activists to be "extremists." If Obama is an abortion extremist, which he is, then I at the other end of the spectrum am a pro-life extremist....

    Continue reading "Who's not a terrorist?"

    Slightly edited anti-Obama billboards near Notre Dame are up

    I reported April 20 that Pro-Life Action League had purchased 2 billboards on IN Tollroad I80/90 within 20 miles of Notre Dame to the east and west, protesting Obama's appearance at its May 17 commencement. This is what the billboard was to look like:

    ndbillboard.jpg

    The billboards were to go up April 27. But there came a problem. The sign company refused to call Obama "pro-abortion."

    It's certainly odd what people get stuck on. Obama supports abortion. He is pro-abortion. What's wrong with that? But the ambiguous and obviously sanitized "pro-choice" has become so much a part of our vernacular that a proper description of one's position on abortion is no longer allowed. 1984. Where's everyone's abortion pride?

    PLAL and the company went back and forth and finally agreed on "pro-abortion choice." Joe Scheidler of PLAL told me he's not even sure what that means (lol) but is happy "pro-abortion" got first billing - with the a-word underlined. So here's the final sign, which went up May 4. Sorry it's blurry, but I had to enlarge a small photo:

    notre dame pro-abortion choice.jpg

    Don't forget Pro-Life Action League could use donations to help pay for these billboards. Thanks in advance.

    Lila calls Memphis Planned Parenthood's bluff

    Last week Barry Chase, CEO of Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region, sent state legislators an email complaining, "We have asked, unsuccessfully, for an unedited copy of the video" Lila Rose shot in his abortion mill showing a worker offering to help cover up underage rape.

    Thumbnail image for live action.gifIn fact, neither Lila nor Live Action Films received such a request. They released an edited version of the video April 20.

    Well yesterday Lila called Barry's bluff, emailing him links to the 3-part unedited video series and alerting him...

    Continue reading "Lila calls Memphis Planned Parenthood's bluff"

    Backlash against children's book author's support of Planned Parenthood

    Yesterday, I reported controversial children's author Judy Blume is this year's celebrity Planned Parenthood's Mother's Day pitch(fork) woman.

    Well, today PP CEO Cecile Richards issued a surprising pity plea for Judy (click to enlarge):

    pp judy blume III.jpg

    I find this development very interesting. It could just be a cynical ploy by PP to get more money, which you'll note Cecile did do.

    judy blume photo.jpgBut I think the situation must be serious for Cecile to admit pro-lifers are getting to Judy.

    By so doing, Cecile draws even more attention to the fact a children's author is inexplicably recruiting support for the United States' largest abortion provider.

    Cecile is also admitting PP has a growing stigma attached to it, which may give other celebrity PP supporters pause.

    Verrry interesting.

    Lunch Break: Diamond Dave's Ninja School

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Attend suicide workshop

    suicide machine.jpgAs if people had trouble thinking of new ways to kill themselves, Australian physician Philip Nitschke, his country's "Dr. Death," is hosting a "do-it-yourself" suicide workshop "in a seaside retirement town" in the UK, according to the Daily Mail.

    Nitschke will then take his suicide show on the road to 3 other European cities.

    Nitschke will demonstrate his suicide kit - on who? - "which includes a helium-filled 'exit bag' which is placed over the head, drugs from Mexico, morphine and DIY Peaceful Pills," according to the Daily Mail.

    Nitschke, founder of Exit International, a right-to-die organization, blames "centuries of religious claptrap" for the opposition he has faced:

    There needs to be a reshaping of people's education and beliefs around such a subject. It seems we demand humans to live with indignity, pain and anguish whereas we are kinder to our pets when their suffering becomes too much. It simply is not logical or mature....
    Continue reading "Attend suicide workshop"

    Notre Dame's just desserts

    just desserts.jpg

    The title of this piece on great dessert finds in the South Bend area, published in Notre Dame's student newspaper, The Observer, couldn't be more ironic. And the intro is a hoot:

    mile high pie.jpg

    Before this article on food and desserts in South Bend, I need to acknowledge that now (Tuesday night) is perhaps the worst time in my 5 years at Notre Dame to try to write an appetizing article. A case of swine flu was just confirmed at Notre Dame, and I can't help but hear the buzzing from the low-flying plane with the abortion banner - with picture.

    That being said, there's never been a better time to get off campus for a meal!...

    [HT: Gregg Cunningham; photo of Mile High Pie courtesy of MarthaStewart.com]

    New Stanek WND column, "Turbulence surrounds Notre Dame 'abortion plane'"

    WND%20logo.gif

    This is finals week for students at the University of Notre Dame.

    But a new kind of buzz may be getting in the way of scoring good grades, and it's not illegal (yet, anyway).

    For the past 10 days the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform has been conducting an air and land campaign in, around and over the Notre Dame campus to educate students and faculty exactly what its intended May 17 commencement honoree, President Barack Obama, supports by being "pro-choice."

    On the roads are CBR's "Reproductive 'Choice' Trucks," 6-paneled moving billboards with large signs such as these plastered on them:

    obama sign 1 for wnd.jpg

    obama sign 2 for wnd.jpg

    And in the air at least 3 hours a day (6 during finals week) has been an airplane trailing a large photo banner behind it, also showing in vivid detail what Obama means when he says he's pro-choice.

    It is the plane that has caused the most commotion.

    Fumed liberal blogger Wonkette in a post entitled, "The stench of death: Abortion haters go nuts, really nuts, at Notre Dame"...

    Continue reading today's column, "Turbulence surrounds Notre Dame 'abortion plane,'" at WorldNetDaily.com.

    Obama rejects National Day of Prayer observance

    national day of prayer.jpgPresident George W. Bush observed the National Day of Prayer all 8 years of his presidency with a public event at the White House, inviting Dr. James Dobson and wife Shirley, chairwoman, among others.

    Prior to that, observances were sketchy. According to US News and World Report, President Bill Clinton did not host an event, while President George H. W. Bush did once in 1989 as did President Ronald Reagan in 1982.

    So, I guess on one hand I'm not surprised President Obama has decided to take a pass this year (tomorrow, May 7), since Dr. Dobson wholeheartedly opposed Obama for president, particularly hammering him on the abortion and infanticide issues. Dobson had abortion survivor Gianna Jessen and me on his radio show to discuss Obama's support of post-birth abortions, and Focus on the Family Action spent $500k running BornAliveTruth.org's Gianna ad in a few states.

    But I find Obama's decision another tempt of fate, although would his depraved heart's prayers be heard anyway, I wonder.

    I'll be interested in the Proclamation that Obama issues. Daughter Daena wrote last year's, which I find ironic. She told me tonight it is being sued, as is Shirley Dobson, which I didn't know.

    2009 Planned Parenthood Mother's Day fundraiser

    Last year Planned Parenthood used the mother-daughter pro-abortion team of Blythe Danner and Gwyneth Paltrow as its Mother's Day
    pitch(fork) women.

    This year it's children's book author Judy Blume. Not that Judy was considered harmless and child friendly before now, despite her target audience. Wikipedia reports, "She is recognized as one of the most banned children's authors in the United States.... Forever was the second most challenged book of 2005, according to the American Library Association."

    We now know Judy means to target her audience yet another way, by supporting the US's largest abortion provider.

    Sometimes I think PP does these things just to aggravate us. "There is no organization that I know of that supports motherhood and all that it means more than Planned Parenthood"? This is so ridiculous I have to laugh. Click to enlarge...

    pp mothers day judy blume.jpg

    When Biden wept for joy; his history with David Souter

    Dr. Paul Kengor wrote a disturbing column yesterday for The Center for Vision and Values. Makes me sick, actually. What disgusting, pathetic people.

    Here are excerpts:

    souter sober.jpg

    Is he pro-life or pro-choice? That was the giant unknown hanging in the balance one day in 1990 as President George H. W. Bush nominated a mystery man named David Souter for a Supreme Court seat....

    America got its answer in 1992 in Casey v. Planned Parenthood.... Souter was the decisive swing vote in the narrow 5-4 majority, enshrining Roe v. Wade as law of the land.

    Among those most euphoric over Souter's vote were 2 liberal Senators from opposing parties... Joe Biden (D-DE) and... Warren Rudman (R-NH)....

    Continue reading "When Biden wept for joy; his history with David Souter"

    Buses to board in Michigan for Notre Dame protest

    On May 1 I reported Pro-Life Action League was taking reservations for 3 buses to depart for South Bend from Chicago's north and south sides and Aurora early May 17 to protest Barack Obama's appearance at Notre Dame.

    Now Citizens for a Pro-Life Society has announced it is taking reservations for buses to trek to Notre Dame from the Detroit area for same.

    CITIZENS.gif

    Details as to place(s) and time of departure have yet to be ironed out. But buses will leave early May 17 and return by 8p.

    Email prolifesociety@execpc.com or call Judy Parran at 517-546-3092 to sign up.

    Fees:
    Single adult: $27
    High school/college: $20
    Family of 3: $60
    Family of 4: $80
    Family of 5: $100
    Clergy/religious/seminarians: $15

    CPLS says it hopes to provide a free catered meal to busees.

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-05-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • Mary Cannon reminds us of Jack Kemp's pro-life convictions in a piece in the Weekly Standard.

  • The Chicago Tribune writes an update on Scott Boie, the AK USAF officer who put an abortifacient into his wife's food.

    Boie has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in jail after being found guilty of attempting to force his wife to miscarry after putting misoprostol (one of the drugs used in RU-486 abortions) into her food. He was found not guilty of killing his unborn child. It appears the jury couldn't be sure his actions caused the death of the child after his defense attorneys noted his wife's history of smoking and troubled pregnancies in the past....

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-05-09"

  • Virginity - valuable or overrated?

    puritymyth.jpgby intern Heather B.

    Recently, MSNBC's Today Show hosted a forum between guests Jessica Valenti, author of
    The Purity Myth and founder of the leftist blog Feministing.com, and Lakita Garth, author of The Naked Truth, former CEO of her own company in CA, and virgin bride at age 36.

    The 2 enthusiasts were invited to "discuss how women view sexuality and whether virginity pledges are a good idea for young women."

    Valenti and Garth agree on the obvious: young women neither wish nor deserve to be identified solely on the basis of their sexuality. The routes by which they arrive at this vague yet mutual conclusion, however, bear stark contrasts....

    Continue reading "Virginity - valuable or overrated?"

    Lunch Break: Evolution of dance

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Over 119 MILLION YouTube views, we're sure you've seen it but it's always so fun to watch...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Laos won't execute pregnant prisoner

    Well, here's an interesting one, from Laos, where abortion except to save the life of the mother is illegal. According to CNN:

    orobator.jpg

    A British woman facing possible execution in Laos will escape the death sentence because she is pregnant....

    The country's criminal law prohibits courts from sentencing pregnant women to death.... The woman's trial... is likely to happen next week.

    Samantha Orobator, 20, was facing death by firing squad for drug trafficking.... She was arrested August 5....

    Orobator was alleged to have been carrying just over half a kilogram (about 1lb) of heroin.... Those found guilty of carrying that amount normally face the death penalty....

    Continue reading "Laos won't execute pregnant prisoner"

    Talking smart about Obama's Supreme Court pick

    aul logo.jpgCharmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, sent a letter to Senate Democrat Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy yesterday that was pretty brilliant....

    Continue reading "Talking smart about Obama's Supreme Court pick"

    New Zealand's abortion law under question: anti-life lobby panics

    by intern Andy M. (who hails from New Zealand)

    A monumental case is brewing in New Zealand, the biggest development since abortion was legalized in 1977.

    headernzrtl.jpg

    Justice Forrest Miller, High Court judge in the June 2008 case of Right to Life NZ v. The Abortion Supervisory Committee, made a statement which put panic into the complacent members of the anti-life lobby in NZ, while pro-life groups rallied at the official recognition of what they had been saying for so long...

    Continue reading "New Zealand's abortion law under question: anti-life lobby panics"

    Win Notre Dame "abortion plane" contest

    a case for life.jpg

    The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform is planning to trail up to a 30-character letter banner behind its "abortion plane" photo board and is soliciting suggestions for the message.

    Anyone submitting an idea CBR uses will receive a copy of Scott Klusendorf's excellent new book, A case for life.

    Psychological warfare: Students complain about "abortion plane"

    I've been writing quite a bit about the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Midwest's "abortion plane," as Wonkette called it. I requested donations for this important pro-life work over the weekend. (Thanks to all who donated. Please give now if you haven't.)

    Received this email from Gregg Cunningham, head of CBR:

    nd church photo.jpg

    This is very much a psychological warfare tactic. The students are now complaining in large numbers that they can hear the plane inside their classrooms and it bothers them.

    Planes fly over Notre Dame all the time and they have never before bothered these students. What is happening now is that when any plane flies over, it is suddenly audible at a new level. They fear that it is not just some plane, but THE plane.

    Now instead of picturing a generic plane, they picture "that f***ing" plane, as so many messages call it. Now the sound of the engine forces them to see an aborted baby in their minds eye and it deeply stresses them. This is the first pro-life project from which they could not totally shield themselves. It reaches them wherever they try to hide....

    Continue reading "Psychological warfare: Students complain about "abortion plane""

    White House poop

    I'm surprised Obama didn't order this baby killed.

    About the following photo, Reuters added this caption:

    A military usher suggests to a guest a better location than the crosshall of the White House to change a baby's diaper before an event in the East Room in Washington May 1.

    changing diaper in wh.jpg

    As someone who has visited the WH a few times, I'm amazed at this woman's lack of class. One gets almost a sense of reverence when inside. What was she thinking?

    There are no replicas of anything in the WH. The woman is sitting on a settée that once belonged to James Monroe, directly underneath the stairway going to the President's private quarters. Her baby was certainly in harm's way. I shudder to think what would have happened had President Abortion or First Lady Partial Birth Abortion seen this.

    [HT: Daena]

    (Prolifer)ations 5-04-08

    Thumbnail image for blog buzz.jpgby Kelli

    Spotlighting good information gleaned from other pro-life blogs...

  • Mark Crutcher discusses how pro-aborts are again suggesting pro-lifers should concentrate on "helping people who are 'already here,'" ignoring the fact that if the unborn weren't "already here" there would be nothing in the woman's uterus to abort.

    Crutcher points out that when organizations focus on sparing the lives of other human beings, i.e., falsely convicted prisoners, no one tells them to "butt out unless they are doing something about all of the world's other social ills." He writes...

    Continue reading "(Prolifer)ations 5-04-08"

  • Joy Behar, Ann Coulter on waterboarding vs abortion

    Oh, this is rich. The View's liberal co-host Joy Behar subbed for CNN's Larry King on May 1, interviewing Ann Coulter. The entire interview was a major hoot, but this exchange was the best:

    Transcript:

    Behar: OK. All right. I want to know if you want to be waterboarded, because Sean Hannity has volunteered to be waterboarded, but I don't see him sticking his head under the faucet yet.

    Coulter: Well, for one thing, about half of the male hosts on Fox News have been waterboarded on TV. I've seen worse on Fear Factor. And, no, I don't want to be waterboarded. Do you want to be...

    Behar: Are you sure?

    Coulter: Do you want to be aborted, because I think you support abortion? In fact, could we abort the terrorists instead of waterboarding them?

    Behar: Oh, that was quite a jump. But you know what; Ann's taking your calls tonight.

    Coulter: No, it's not.

    [HT: Newsbusters via moderator Jasper]

    Notre Dame pro-life student group announces commencement weekend plans; to include boycott

    First, NDResponse.com posted a powerful, well-done video May 2 NDResponse is the Notre Dame pro-life student group organized to protest its university's invitation of radically pro-abort President Barack Obama to speak at its commencement and receive an honorary degree May 17...

    Next, NDResponse announced this morning that its student coalition "finally" received word Saturday night it had been given the approvals necessary for on-campus plans to counter President Abortion's presence.

    Following is the rough schedule from NDResponse. Don't forget ND is on Eastern Standard Time...

    Continue reading "Notre Dame pro-life student group announces commencement weekend plans; to include boycott"

    Lunch Break: Creation vs. evolution

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Jill's spring travels

    I travelled a lot during April and took Rich with me a couple times (CA and OR) to expand speaking engagements into mini-vacations.

    A highlight had to be meeting moderator and friend Bethany when I spoke last week at the Heartland Crisis Pregnancy Center in Elizabethtown, KY. She and husband James drove over four hours one way to see me, which was so nice...

    jill and bethany.jpg

    I usually speak at banquets ranging in attendance from 200 to 1k people. This was one of the larger ones, 800. Bethany captured a photo of the room...

    Continue reading "Jill's spring travels"

    Sunday funny

    No political cartoons on our issue this week, but there was a particularly funny incident involving White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' interpretation of VP Joe Biden's panicked advice on The Today Show to avoid "confined spaces" in light of the potential Swine Flu pandemic, ticking off examples of airplanes, cars, classrooms, and subway trains.

    by Mike Luckovich of the Atlantic Journal Constitution...

    cartoon 5-3 mike luckovich 5-2 my comics - robert gibbs interpretatio of joe biden.gif

    Now here is what Biden said, followed by Gibbs' interpretation, which got a calling out from the reporter asking about it and a guffaw from the press core...

    Continue reading "Sunday funny"

    Weekend question

    weekend question.jpgPresident Abortion's anti-life activism has caused an unexpected backlash.

    The 1st sign was the public's reaction to Obama's overturn of the Mexico City policy so as to provide taxpayer $$ to international abortion groups. This got him a 65% disapproval rating according to Gallup.

    Then Politico.com reported a spike in pro-life recruitment and mobilization.

    This week a Pew Poll showed the biggest drop in abortion support in 15 years - mostly from abortion-leaning Independents.

    obama sebelius confirmation 2.jpgObama may be winning battles like the Sebelius confirmation, but at this point he's losing the public opinion war.

    Translation: Obama is making abortion unpopular.

    The public fights Obama is instigating about abortion through his staff-picks and policy decisions are having an impact....

    Continue reading "Weekend question"

    Miscarriage from a Christian perspective

    Thumbnail image for miscarriagebook1.jpgby Bethany Kerr

    Jill received an email recently from a woman who has written a book to encourage and support mothers grieving after miscarriage. If you have gone through a loss, this may be for you.

    From the email...

    Continue reading "Miscarriage from a Christian perspective"

    Jivin J's Life Links 5-01-09

    web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • Reuters has a story on research which follows whether women who are childhood cancer survivors have higher rates of abortion than siblings who didn't have childhood cancer:
    Women who survive childhood cancer are no more or less likely to opt for an abortion during pregnancy than unaffected women, new research from Denmark suggests.

    These findings run counter to those in a recent report from the US in which induced abortions were significantly more common among female cancer survivors than among their female siblings without a cancer history, according to the researchers.

  • A member of the USAF stationed in AK is facing jail time after allegedly putting the abortion drug Misoprostol into his wife's food and causing her to miscarry. KTUU reports...

    Continue reading "Jivin J's Life Links 5-01-09"

  • All systems go: Pro-Life Action League gets permits to protest at Notre Dame

    abortion signs plal.jpgPro-Life Action League has just issued an email alert it has received permits to protest in South Bend. Although they weren't really needed according to the Constitution, they'll save hassles. I previously posted the planned protest route.

    Buses will leave from 3 locations May 17:

  • NORTH SIDE CHICAGO: Departs League Chicago Office, 6160 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, 7a CST
  • SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO: Departs St. Thomas More Church, 2825 W 81st St, Chicago, 7a CST

  • WESTERN SUBURBS: Departs from Aurora Central High School, 1255 N Edgelawn Dr, Aurora, 6:30a CST...
  • Continue reading "All systems go: Pro-Life Action League gets permits to protest at Notre Dame"

    Randall Terry arrested at Notre Dame

    UPDATE, 3:40p: Just received a link to this very disrespectful April 14 letter to the editor by Terry against Bishop D'Arcy. Am adding that to my list of grievances against him.
    _______________

    Ah, gee. I frankly wish Randall Terry would go away. Most of the pro-life community has shunned him for lots of reasons. My biggie is he's lowdown suing Troy Newman for Operation Rescue's name, such a pathetic waste of energy and money.

    Recently I added to my list Terry's disrespect of and subsequent disavowal by Archbishop Raymond Burke.

    randall terry 2.jpgSo Terry has a penchant for getting arrested... thinks it's the way to go... so 1990s. There are noble reasons to get arrested (Pastor Hoye), and then there is Terry's reason: attention. He gives pro-lifers a bad name when he pulls stunts like this.

    From WSBT.com, this afternoon:

    Anti-abortion activist Randall Terry bonded out of the St. Joseph County Jail Friday afternoon after being arrrested earlier in the day for trespassing on the University of Notre Dame campus....
    Continue reading "Randall Terry arrested at Notre Dame"

    Libs go nuts, really nuts, about "abortion plane" flyovers at Notre Dame

    The title of liberal blogger Wonkette's piece yesterday was, "The stench of death: Abortion haters go nuts, really nuts, at Notre Dame," with an accompanying photo, shown below, although I must say there are so many better (like here and here).

    wonkette photo.jpg

    Here's the post. Love "abortion plane." FYI "K-Lo" is Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review...

    Continue reading "Libs go nuts, really nuts, about "abortion plane" flyovers at Notre Dame"

    Names being floated to replace Souter; Specter may be fly in replacement ointment

    anita hill.jpgUPDATE, 1:40p: Vanity Fair is suggesting Obama pick Anita Hill to replace Souter. Funny, I think.

    [HT: Matt Lewis]
    _______________

    These have been gathered from Chattah Box, the Chicago Tribune, Fox News, the New York Times. The list includes men, although most think the new pick will be a woman. I've filled in bios where I've learned them:

  • Ruben Castillo, US District Court judge for the Northern District of IL...
  • Continue reading "Names being floated to replace Souter; Specter may be fly in replacement ointment"

    Lunch Break: Kid beats mascot in dance contest

    by Bethany Kerr, to give us a break from the daily grind...

    Email Bethany with your Lunch Break suggestions!

    Breaking news: KS Planned Parenthood caught on tape THIS WEEK helping cover up adult rape of minor

    Thumbnail image for breaking.jpgA press conference was just held by KS state Sen. Tim Huelskamp (below top right) and state Rep. Lance Kinzer (below bottom right) releasing an audiotape made this week exposing Planned Parenthood of KS and Mid-MO's Overland Park abortion mill as participants in underage rape cover-up.

    Can't believe they were so stupid after all the negative press and law enforcement interest in Lila Rose's videos exposing PPs nationwide of similar intent to help adult sexual predators hide the sexual abuse of young girls.

    Details from the press release...

    Continue reading "Breaking news: KS Planned Parenthood caught on tape THIS WEEK helping cover up adult rape of minor"

    CBR: Abortion no longer trivialized in South Bend

    nd photo jesus.jpg
    The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Midwest reported in a press release today it is completing Phase I of its Obama Awareness Campaign in, around, and over the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, IN:

    [O]ne thing is for sure, abortion is being made real to UND students, faculty, alumni, and trustees.... After several days of exposing the population of South Bend and UND to CBR's billboard trucks, we sent in for reinforcements to enhance our outreach in the form of a tow banner airplane. The message that abortion is an act of violence is being delivered to Notre Dame. But we have just begun!...
    Continue reading "CBR: Abortion no longer trivialized in South Bend"

    Supreme Court Justice David Souter to retire

    david souter cnn.jpgUPDATE, 9:30a: Souter's abortion history on the SC, according to Americans United for Life press release:

    ... Senior Counsel Clarke Forsythe stated, "Justice David Souter is one of the most pro-abortion members of the US Supreme Court. During his tenure, Justice Souter voted to uphold abortion on demand and to strike down common sense abortion regulations that the vast majority of Americans support. He voted in 2000 and again in 2007 to strike down prohibitions on the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion. As many votes on abortion have been 5-4 decisions, his presence on the Court has extended the tragedy of abortion by restricting the right of states to make their own decisions on abortion law."

    And from CNNPolitics.com...

    Continue reading "Supreme Court Justice David Souter to retire"