Family & ProLife News Briefs – November 2022 Newsletter

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by Frank Tinari, Ph.D., Life Education Council Board of Trustees

This Month: Vote and Give Thanksgiving to God

 

Bishops Cite Life as Critical Voter Issue

Protection of human life from conception to natural death is stated by U.S. bishops as the pre-eminent issue of our time. Here is what they wrote: “The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed.” (USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, 28, www.faithfulcitizenship.org)

For us voters, we must set aside party labels when we vote. Instead, vote for candidates who promote respect for the dignity of each person, the core of Catholic social and moral teaching. “A candidate’s position on a single issue that involves an intrinsic evil, such as support for legal abortion or the promotion of racism, may legitimately lead a voter to disqualify a candidate from receiving support.” (FCFC, 42)

As individual citizens, voting with a moral conscience helps to promote the common good. We thank God for the privilege of voting in a democracy.

Thankful for Quality Films

  • The documentary, Mother Teresa: No Greater Love, had such great success in early October that it’s coming back with encore showings in early November.
  • The Chosen, Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2, will be shown only in theaters, Nov.18. A crowd-funded project, the first two seasons have attracted more than 380 million views, depicting a personal side of Jesus and imagined conversations with his Apostles and others. The actresses shown here have all been touched by the dramatization, and many viewers say they have been deeply affected by the show.
  • Blonde (Netflix’s Marilyn Monroe drama) – Debuted on September 28, the film is a fictionalized version of Monroe’s life, based on a book by Joyce Carol Oates. Unlike in the film, Monroe’s three  pregnancies ended either in miscarriage or were ectopic. What is accurate, however, is a CGI depiction of what an unborn child looks like when Marilyn discovers she’s pregnant, including the baby’s beating heart. Visiting her mother, she talks about how her unwed mother bravely chose
    life. The language becomes powerfully pro-life as she points out there would be no Marilyn if her mother had chosen abortion. After becoming pregnant again, she imagines her baby talking to her from the womb, asking her not to hurt him/her. (Dawn Slusher, Planned Parenthood Outraged by Powerful Pro-Life Scenes in Netflix’s Marilyn Monroe Drama, www.LifeNews.com, 10/3/22)

Why Continue a March for Life in DC?

(Jeanne Mancini, President, https://marchforlife.org)
With the wonderful blessing of Roe v. Wade being overturned, a goal we have marched for since 1974, some say there is no longer a need for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. But the fall of Roe means the battle for life must be fought on two fronts now: state and federal. At the March on January 20, 2023, we will present the strategic plan for building a culture of life in this moment in time. We will now march to the steps of
the United States Capitol. And we plan to be in all 50 states soon because we understand the power of unified, joyful masses of pro-life marchers who send a loud and clear message to legislators: Protect life!

We must tirelessly build a culture of life on Capitol Hill, and advocate for the advancement of federal pro-life policies. And we must also march in our state capitols, urging our state legislators to pass life-saving protections for the unborn. Last, we must continue to increase the safety net for moms and babies, especially by supporting pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes that provide love, compassion, and resources to women, children, and families.

Already, pro-abortion politicians in the U.S. House and Senate have voted in favor of the most radical expansion of abortion in American history, a bill deceptively named the Women’s Health Protection Act. If passed, this extreme bill would nullify existing pro-life state laws, prevent the passage of future state laws that protect the unborn, eliminate parental-consent laws, and force taxpayers to pay for abortions nationwide up until birth. Neither can we leave hard-fought victories like the Hyde Amendment vulnerable to attack. This longstanding policy limits government funding for abortion in appropriation bills, protects taxpayers and saves lives.

Pro-life pregnancy centers provide assistance such as education, support services and essential medical care to over 2 million people every year, offering millions of dollars-worth in medical, education and support resources. Maternity homes provide shelter and support for the first several years of the baby’s life. Pregnancy resource centers have saved more than 800,000 lives since 2016 and are favored by the vast majority of Americans. Everything they do is driven by love for the women who walk through their doors and a deep desire to see them realize their dreams without sacrificing their children.

Thanks to the incredible dedication and passion that you, our marchers, have shown throughout the years, we are emboldened to take these next steps in carrying out our mission to promote the beauty and dignity of every
human life by working for an end to abortion.

Aaron Judge Thanks His Adoptive Parents After Hitting Home Run #62

“Some kids grow in their mom’s stomach; I grew in my mom’s heart,” Judge said. “She’s always showed me love and compassion ever since I was a little baby. I’ve never needed to think differently or wonder about
anything.”

In early October, the 30-year-old Yankees slugger, who was adopted as a newborn, broke a six-decades-old record when he hit his 62nd home run. After the game, he told reporters that his family was at the front of his mind as he ran around the bases. A Christian, he has been open about being adopted as a baby and the incredible blessing that his parents, Wayne and Patty Judge, have been throughout his life. “The guidance my mom gave me as a kid growing up, knowing the difference from right and wrong, how to treat people and how to go the extra mile and put in extra work, all that kind of stuff. She’s molded me into the person that I am today. I was about 10 or 11 and we really didn’t look alike, so I started asking questions and they told me I was adopted and answered all my questions, and that was that. I was fine with it. It really didn’t bother me because they’re the only parents I’ve known.”

Judge said he knows that God brought them together  — his parents say their son has been a huge blessing in their lives. (Micaiah Bilger, www.LifeNews.com, 10/5/22)

Dear Frank, your newsletter continues to be among the best I receive. Thank God for your faithfulness. Judie Brown, American Life League

Teen Fights to Stop Transgender Surgery

At a moment in which most politicians and media outlets lack the courage to speak out, 18-yr-old Chloe
Cole, a self-described “former trans kid” who de-transitioned after undergoing years of puberty blockers and an irreversible double mastectomy at the age of 15, is leading the fight. Traveling across the nation, she shares her story to raise the alarm about gender transition procedures on children, a growing trend she calls “child abuse” and “medical experimentation.”

Cole was just 11 yrs. old when she was first exposed to gender ideology through online platforms. It didn’t take long before medical professionals fast-tracked her into medically transitioning from a girl to a boy, a trend she says has exploded among children. Cole was put on puberty blockers and testosterone at age 13. She continues to experience joint pain from weakened bone density, a known side effect of puberty blockers, as well as certain allergies and ongoing urinary tract infections. But this pales in comparison to the double mastectomy she underwent at age 15. “I wasn’t really thinking. I was a kid, just trying to fit in, not thinking
about the possibility of becoming a parent.”
(excerpt from Edie Heipel, Meet Chloe Cole, www.CatholicNewsAgency.com, 9/24/22)

Some “Experts”: Marriage is an outdated institution, a relic of a patriarchal past

A 2019 article in the Atlantic sought to inform readers of “What you gain when you lose a spouse,” while the
New York Times explored an America “Beyond Marriage.” A recent story in Bloomberg assured us that “women who stay single and don’t have kids are getting richer” than their peers who are married with children.

There’s just one problem with such anti-nuptial and anti-natalist reporting: It’s completely false. In fact, the Bloomberg story uses data only from single Americans, meaning there is no basis for comparison with married women. Married mothers ages 18-55 have a mean household income of $133,000, compared to $79,000 for childless, single woman 18-55, according to data from the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey.

Thirty-three percent of married mothers ages 18-55 say they are “completely satisfied” with their lives, compared to 15 percent of childless women 18-55, according to the American Family Survey. Single, childless women are about 60% more likely to report feelings of loneliness compared to married mothers. Living for ourselves & our jobs is a dead end for most of us, whether we are a man or a woman, something that’s pretty obvious to most people.

Meanwhile, giving of ourselves to others, especially to our spouse, kids, and community, is the path most
conducive to a meaningful and generally happy life. And because marriage allows couples to pool income and assets, it also leads to a heck of lot more prosperity for the average Joe and Jane.

The happiest women in America today are those least likely to be following the profoundly self-centered and anti-family catechism of our ruling class. To be a happy and prosperous woman, be open to the gifts of marriage and children and look for opportunities to embrace family life as a key part of a rich and meaningful life. (Brad Wilcox and Alysse ElHage, Newsweek, 10/4/22)

OB-GYN Dr. William Lile Speaks Out

“It’s now possible to operate on babies while they are still in the womb. The umbilical cord of a baby can be transfused with donated blood as early as 18 weeks gestation to treat severe anemia in babies. Babies are patients and deserve legal protection like the rest of us.” Nicknamed the Pro-Life Doc, he says: “All patients, including preborn babies, have rights. It’s time to stand up and fight for the rights of the Pre-Born.” (https://www.prolifedoc.org)

This free monthly newsletter is used by dozens of churches as a bulletin insert, and since 2013 has had over 30,000 readers. To receive each month’s issue in your inbox, email Frank Tinari, Ph.D. at tinarifr@shu.edu

WATCH: Joe Biden Insults Reporter, Confirms He Supports No Limits on Abortion

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(LifeNews) – During a brief exchange with journalists today outside the White House, Joe Biden insulted a reporter and confirmed he supports no limits on abortions.

Just days after a rally in which he pledged to sign a bill legalize abortions up to birth nationwide, reporters asked him whether he would support any limits on abortion. Biden insulted the reporter by assuming he had never read or had no understanding of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision that allow abortions on demand and told him to “get educated.”

Reporter: “Should there be any restrictions on abortion at all?”

Biden: “Yes. There should be.”

Reporter: “What should they be?”

Biden: “It’s Roe v. Wade. Read it, man. You’ll get educated.”

 

The Roe decision overturned abortion bans and allowed abortions up to birth nationwide — prohibiting states form banning abortions until after viability. This essentially means Biden supports abortion on demand up to birth without any limits because that’s what Roe allowed and what occurred in many blue states.

Meanwhile, Biden now wants the federal government to follow what private pro-abortion groups are doing — setting up funds to pay for abortions and abortion travel expenses for women who need to go to other states to have abortions because their home state protects unborn babies. He wants to supports the establishment of a federal fund to cover all abortion costs with tax dollars.

These new remarks come after Biden’s rally earlier this week where he said his number one domestic priority is signing a bill for abortions up to birth.

Biden urged Americans to elect more Democrats to Congress in November so that lawmakers can force states to legalize taxpayer-funded abortion on demand.

Speaking Tuesday to the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., the president said a bill to “codify Roe v. Wade” is his top priority, and Congress needs more Democrats to pass it, Fox News reports. The bill actually would go beyond Roe by forcing states to legalize the killing of unborn babies in abortions for basically any reason up to birth.

“In these midterm elections, it is so critical to elect more Democratic Senators to the United States Senate and more Democrats to keep control of the House of Representatives,” Biden said. “If we do that, here’s the promise I make to you and the American people: The first bill I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v. Wade.”

Nicknamed the Abortion Without Limits Up to Birth Act, the legislation would force states to legalize the killing of unborn babies in abortions for basically any reason through all nine months of pregnancy.

The bill, which Democrats named the Women’s Health Protection Act, also would end bans on sex-selection abortions and taxpayer-funded abortions as well as parental consent for minors. It also would jeopardize legal protections for doctors and nurses who refuse to abort unborn babies.

The U.S. House passed the bill earlier this year under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, but it narrowly failed in the Senate, which is split evenly down party lines.

Election experts predict Democrats will lose control of the U.S. House and possibly the Senate, too, in November. Americans are upset with Biden and Democrat lawmakers about their actions on the economy, crime, education and more, so Democrats are banking on the abortion issue to win votes in November.

“Vote! You’ve got to get out the vote,” Biden said Tuesday. “We can do this if we vote.”

The president attacked Republicans as “extreme” for wanting to protect unborn babies with a bill to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and promised to veto any pro-life legislation that reaches his desk.

“If Republicans get their way with a national ban, it won’t matter where you live in America,” Biden said, NBC News reports. “So let me be very clear: if such a bill were to pass in the next several years, I’ll veto it.”

Responding to the speech, Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote, said Biden’s abortion advocacy is appalling, especially as many families struggle with the rising cost of food, fuel and utilities.

“While Americans struggle with record inflation, the president of the United States has nothing to offer but a pledge to expand the right to violently destroy innocent unborn children – up until birth and for any reason,” Burch said. “We need Church leaders to step up and make clear that no Catholic can support candidates or policies that would make America one of the most extreme abortion nations in the world.”

Although Biden professes to be a devout Catholic, his actions have made him the most pro-abortion president in U.S. history. Last year, his administration began allowing abortion drugs to be sold through the mail without a doctor’s visit. Biden also wants to get rid of the Hyde Amendment and force taxpayers to pay for elective abortions, and force VA hospitals and emergency rooms to abort unborn babies.

Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, warned that babies and women will suffer if Biden achieves his goals.

“Instead of supporting life-affirming programs and policies that help women and their unborn children, the Biden administration has poured its focus into promoting unlimited abortion, even late in pregnancy,” she said in response to his speech Tuesday.

At the same time, she said Biden and Democrat leaders have been vilifying the life-saving work that pro-life advocates do daily to help save unborn babies and support families in need.

Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, predicted that Biden’s attempt to swing voters won’t work.

“Ninety percent of Americans reject Biden’s view that abortion should be legal up until birth for any reason – paid for by taxpayers,” she said Tuesday. “Our country is facing significant challenges and looking for positive solutions, not more violence and death. It is time for Americans to hold pro-abortion politicians accountable.”

Polls consistently show that Americans – including many Democrat voters – support legal protections for unborn babies. Polls show strong public opposition to taxpayer funding for abortions and late-term abortions, and support for laws that protect unborn babies from abortion after the first trimester or once their heart begins to beat. Americans overwhelmingly support parental consent for minors, too.

A 2022 Marist poll found that just 36 percent of Americans believe abortions should be legal without any restrictions. Additionally, 73 percent oppose using tax dollars to fund abortions.

Similarly, a 2021 Associated Press poll found that 65 percent believe second-trimester abortions should be illegal and 80 percent believe they should be illegal in the third trimester.

Pontifical Academy for Life Defends Pro-Abortion WEF Appointee, says Pope Francis Nominated Her

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‘All Academics are chosen from among scientists and experts of absolute importance, as Pope Francis reiterated in the Letter ‘Humana Communitas’ of 2019 to the Pontifical Academy for Life. The nominations of the Ordinary Academics are made by the Pope.’

 

(LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis himself chose a pro-abortion economist for the Pontifical Academy for Life. 

In response to the outcry over the recent, highly controversial, appointment of  World Economic Forum-linked Mariana Mazzucato as an “Ordinary Academic,” the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAL) sent a statement to chosen journalists covering the Vatican to defend it. 

According to Catholic News Agency (CNA), the PAL statement confirmed that the pontiff himself had nominated the new members of the PAL: 

All Academics are chosen from among scientists and experts of absolute importance, as Pope Francis reiterated in the Letter ‘Humana Communitas’ of 2019 to the Pontifical Academy for Life. The nominations of the Ordinary Academics are made by the Pope. 

The statement also declared that people with “skills in various disciplines and from different contexts,” would contribute to a “fruitful interdisciplinary, intercultural and interreligious dialogue.” 

“This is why among the academics there are also non-Catholic people: two rabbis, a Shinto academician, Muslims, an Anglican theologian. The Pontifical Academy for Life is a study and research body. So the debate and dialogue take place between people of different backgrounds,” the statement said. 

Furthermore, the statement also communicated that the nominees, including Mazzucato, went through a selection process and no red flags were raised: 

… [B]efore being nominated, the names proposed or reported go through a procedure that foresees the consultation of the Apostolic Nuncio and the Episcopal Conference of the countries where the Academics live and work. It also happened in this case and there were no problems.

The press release also noted that the documents published by the PAL “are sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [CDF] before being published.” 

Mazzucato is a self-described “atheist” and professor of economics at University College London (UCL). She is a speaker at the WEF – the globalist group behind the socialist, anti-Christian Great Reset agenda – and also enthusiastically pro-abortion, in direct contradiction to the unchangeable teaching of the Catholic Church.  

In June, following the United States Supreme Court’s overturning of the landmark 1973 pro-abortion Roe v. Wade decision, Mazzucato tweeted “So good!” in response to a pro-abortion commentator making anti-Christian statements disparaging the Bible while condemning the court’s pro-life ruling. 

According to an article in the National Catholic Reporter, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia told media that Mazzucato’s tweets may have been “pro-choice” but not “pro-abortion.” Paglia, the president of PAL, allegedly said regarding Mazzucato that “our vetting showed that in her scientific work she has never taken a position against life. You cannot judge the deepest convictions of a person by four tweets.” 

Paglia also reportedly claimed that while the Catholic Church is opposed to abortion, it recognizes that in some situations people of goodwill can support laws and public policy designed to reduce recourse to abortion while allowing the procedure in some cases. However, it is very clear in PAL founder St. John Paul II’s Evangelium Vitae that this is not an approval of the legalised killing.

It reads:

… A particular problem of conscience can arise in cases where a legislative vote would be decisive for the passage of a more restrictive law, aimed at limiting the number of authorized abortions, in place of a more permissive law already passed or ready to be voted on. Such cases are not infrequent. It is a fact that while in some parts of the world there continue to be campaigns to introduce laws favouring abortion, often supported by powerful international organizations, in other nations-particularly those which have already experienced the bitter fruits of such permissive legislation-there are growing signs of a rethinking in this matter. In a case like the one just mentioned, when it is not possible to overturn or completely abrogate a pro-abortion law, an elected official, whose absolute personal opposition to procured abortion was well known, could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality. This does not in fact represent an illicit cooperation with an unjust law, but rather a legitimate and proper attempt to limit its evil aspects. (Evangelium Vitae, 73)

Support for abortion is clearly contrary to valuing life and the dignity of the human person as the Church Magisterium interprets it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that ”human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” (CCC 2270) 

LifeSiteNews contacted the Pontifical Academy for Life to confirm if Paglia’s statements about Mazzucato’s pro-abortion stance are accurate but has not yet received a response.

Mazzucato’s appointment contradicts the PAL’s own statutes. Even though the statutes say that members can be of any religion, new Academicians need to “commit themselves to promoting and defending the principles regarding the value of life and the dignity of the human person, interpreted in a way consonant with the Church’s Magisterium.” 

More Than 1 Million People March in Mexico for Life, Women and Peace

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Participants called for laws that would aid pregnant women facing difficult situations and policies to promote ‘peace and unity for all, especially within the family.’

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(LifeSiteNews) — A nationwide march in defense of women and life was hosted October 9 across Mexico that included more than 1 million participants.

The organization leading the event, In Favor of Women and Life, promoted marches throughout the country to send “a message of hope in the face of the culture of discarding and death.”

“We must all unite and find the strength to trust others again, show solidarity again and always appreciate and defend life, with special sensitivity to women and the children they carry in their wombs,” the website states in a promotion of the march. “It is necessary to act in favor of women and life.”

Although many marches were held in different parts of the country, roughly 200,000 participants attended the march in Mexico City, according to Catholic News Agency (CNA). The march concluded at the Angel of Independence, a statue standing in the busy city to symbolize national independence. The event included a manifesto reading that outlined four courses of action to take to support women and the unborn.

Participants called for laws that would aid pregnant women facing difficult situations and policies to promote “peace and unity for all, especially within the family.” CNA also reported that the need for “mutual trust” was emphasized “so that we can live together in peace and harmony, without violence.” Another demand was for the protection of the unborn and children regardless of “the degree of development” or any “health conditions.”

The overarching goal of the In Favor of Women and Life, which is supported by more than a thousand groups in Mexico, is to “bring together the largest possible number of people in a national march in Mexico City to express our commitment to the dignity of the person, of women and the defense of life.”

Three specific goals are outlined on the group’s website, the first being an effort to “unite many people and groups that are active” and who are “in favor of human dignity, women and life, respecting the identity and action of each of them.”

Second, the group strives for continued promotion of pro-life and pro-woman efforts while “address[ing] the causes that lead us to think about abortion.” The third and final targeted goal is to “make society aware of the roots and complexity involved in the issue of abortion, through a broad, serious and deep reflection from all sectors.”

Mexico, which once had legislation making abortion illegal in all circumstances, has lessened its restrictions considerably over the past few years. In 2019, abortion was legal in cases of rape. However, a 2021 ruling declared that abortion on demand was no longer illegal. Since then, individual states have had the capacity to determine what limitations, if any, are put into place surrounding the practice of killing the unborn.

Tulsi Gabbard officially leaves Democratic Party, blasts ‘cowardly wokeness’ of leaders

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(LifeSiteNews) — Former U.S. Representative for Hawaii and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard announced Tuesday she is leaving the Democrat Party with a blistering attack on her former home, which has elicited excitement among her fans, skepticism among her detractors, and speculation as to her future political ambitions.

“I can no longer remain in today’s Democratic Party that is under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers who are driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue and stoking anti-white racism, who actively work to undermine our God-given freedoms enshrined in our Constitution, are hostile to people of faith and spirituality, who demonize the police but protect criminals at the expense of law-abiding Americans, who believe in open borders, weaponize the national security state to go after political opponents, and above all, are dragging us ever closer to nuclear war,” Gabbard declared in a social media post launching her new web show:

A vocal critic of her party, Gabbard has earned the affection of some conservatives for her independence from Democrat orthodoxy, including on issues such as third-trimester abortions, women’s sports, social media censorship, and transitioning minors.

She is not a centrist, however; she voted in lockstep with the abortion and LGBT lobbies for most of her House tenure, advocated codifying abortion “rights” in federal law prior to the third trimester, favors decriminalizing prostitution, and endorsed socialist Bernie Sanders, arguably the furthest-left option on all the domestic policy issues her statement mentions, for president in 2016.

As indicted by her Tuesday statement’s references to “warmongers” and the ‘national security state,” a key part of Gabbard’s right-of-center appeal stems from her common ground with isolationist and anti-interventionist sentiments that have long dominated the libertarian movement and for years have grown in popularity among more populist factions of conservatism.

Many embraced Gabbard’s declaration unconditionally:

Others counseled wariness, however:

Gabbard’s name has been floated as a potential future presidential candidate or running mate for former President Donald Trump, with some speculating that leaving the Democrat Party would be a necessary precursor to such a move.

Whatever the case, Fox News primetime host Tucker Carlson revealed he will be interviewing Gabbard Tuesday evening.

This is Precisely How an Abortion is Performed

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This is Precisely How an Abortion is Performed

[by Abby Johnson]

I realize this will not a pleasant thing to read, but I feel it is necessary if we are to fight this battle with facts.

I find that most people on both sides of this debate don’t actually know how abortion procedures are performed. Showing someone a picture is one thing, but actually describing, in detail, what takes place to the woman and her baby during these hours seems to really have an impact on even those who claim to support abortion.

Since the ban on partial-birth abortion, abortionists have come up with a different method and, believe it or not, it is a more dangerous method. There are currently fewer than ten physicians in the country that will perform a late abortion procedure. Out of that small handful, most stop performing abortions at 32 weeks. There is one, Dr. Warren Hern in Boulder, Colorado, who performs them all the way up until birth.

The following description is of an abortion generally performed after 19 weeks’ gestation. I have worked first-hand with several of these late abortion providers and know many women who have undergone this procedure.

Let me start by saying that this is not an open door to condemn these women who have chosen a late abortion. We need to pray for them to find true healing so that they can move past the regret that they feel after making this decision. It should also not be an opportunity to condemn the physicians who perform this procedure or the other abortion clinic workers who may participate. Just as I have personally experienced, all people are capable of conversion.

We need to pray for their conversion and pray that they will reach out to pro-lifers who will help them make that transition. For more information about how you can reach out to abortion workers, please visit our website at www.abortionworker.com. They will not reach out to us for help if we stand in judgment of them.

When a woman comes in for a late-term abortion, her cervix is dilated through the administration of one of two medications called Misoprostol (Cytotec) and Pitocin and/or Laminaria/Lamicel insertion. Laminaria are made of sterilized seaweed and look like tiny tampons. Lamicel is similar, but made of a synthetic material. The Misoprotol is taken orally prior to surgery and may take several hours to work. Misoprostol is a medication administered to relax the cervical muscle so that the surgeon can dilate it easily. Pitocin is also used sometimes to help with this process and is administered through an intravenous injection.

If Laminaria or Lamicel is necessary to complete dilation, they must be inserted into the patient’s cervix by the physician prior to the abortion procedure. The Laminaria/Lamicel act like sponges by absorbing the moisture in the patient’s vagina and expanding to open the cervix.

Laminaria/Lamicel and Misoprostol will be administered on day one. Also, on day one, the physician will also administer a medication called Digoxin. This medication will be injected into the amniotic fluid. The fetus will then drink in the Digoxin and will overdose in the womb. It can take up to 48 hours for death to occur. During this time, the mother may feel her child struggling as he dies in her womb.

When the woman leaves the abortion facility on day one, she is sent home with a “delivery kit” just in case she goes into labor at the hotel. It includes towels, scissors to cut the umbilical cord and a biohazard waste bag that she could put her baby and placenta in. It doesn’t happen very often, but there is always a chance that she could deliver the baby early. In this case, she is instructed not to go to the emergency room. She is told to call the abortion clinic’s on call nurse who will come to the hotel and assist her during the delivery.

On day two or three (depending on how quickly the baby dies), the physician will perform the surgical abortion after dilation of the cervix is complete — this may take several hours or overnight. The doctor will remove the Laminaria (if applicable), insert a speculum into the vagina, and remove the unborn child using vacuum aspiration (suction), forceps, and curettes.

The woman is usually given sedation so that she is unconscious during the abortion itself. The nurses and technicians will physically push on her abdomen to help the physician pull the pieces of the baby out. The surgical procedure takes approximately 10–25 minutes. After surgery, the mother is taken into the recovery room, where nurses will monitor her for approximately 45 minutes. She is sent home with several medications: anti-nausea meds, narcotics for pain relief, at least two different antibiotics, a medication that will contract the uterus to stop bleeding, and anything else the physician deems necessary.

The woman is not required to follow up with the physician. She is asked to follow up with a different physician in her area. If she has complications, the abortion facility will in almost all cases refer her to the emergency room.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, approximately 13,000 babies die this torturous death. Most abortion supporters will argue that these babies have terminal illnesses anyway, so this is a better option; however, growing numbers of former abortion clinic workers are coming forward and stating that the majority of these babies aborted were perfectly healthy with no illnesses.

I personally have medical records from several women who now regret their decision to have a late abortion. The “medical” reason stated for their abortions was the same: “patient is not prepared for a child.” Last I checked, being unprepared for the birth of a child is not a medical condition. This is unfortunately what happens when bills are passed that include a “health of the mother exception.” The “health” of the mother is entirely subjective and can be determined by the abortion staff.

All abortion is heinous. As hard as it is to listen to these details, we as pro-lifers know that all babies have equal humanity, no matter their age. We must fight to save them all.

Helping Women (May, Mother’s Day & the Focus of ProLife) (May 2021 Newsletter)

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by Frank Tinari, Ph.D., Life Education Council Board of Trustees

Mary & Mother’s Day

When we call Mary our own mother it doesn’t belittle or replace our relationship with our biological mother, just as it doesn’t take away from our relationship with Jesus. By devoting ourselves to Mary’s motherly care we are more disposed to see the beauty of every mom’s love. We see just how much moms do & care for us. We see how much joy and peace they bring to our lives. So too does a devotion to Mary help us see how compassionate Jesus is. For Mary’s glory is only a reflection of her son.

And to all mothers reading this, thank you for reflecting the very love of God and Mary! Saint
John Paul II said: “Mary is the sure path to our meeting with Christ. Devotion to the Mother of the Lord, when it is genuine, is always to a life guided by the spirit and values of the Gospel.”

Media Use by Kids

Despite all the evidence showing how media saturation is connected to sleep disorders, aggressive behavior and obesity, the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) says children are growing up in a world surrounded by media that are portable and instantly accessible. Parents and pediatricians may find it hard to keep up with the vast amount of content and new features constantly being introduced. Children and adolescents need guidance to make good choices in their media consumption.

The AAP says media use should be discouraged for children under 18 months old, except for video chatting (e.g., Skype or FaceTime). Parents of children 18-24 months who want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programming and watch it together. For children 2-5 years, media use should be limited to one hour a day to ensure they have enough time to engage in other activities.

For older kids, parents should be wary about providing smart phones too early. And it may not be helpful to have a TV and/or a computer in a child’s bedroom. Studies reveal that media usage by children 8 to 17 is very heavy. Most kids have cell phones and nearly all send text messages. Yet many parents don’t talk to their children about the dangers and long-term repercussions of activities such as sharing photos & pornography. In short, parents need to pay close attention to what the outside world is feeding their kids.

Blood Clots: Covid Vaccine vs. the Pill

The J&J covid vaccine was temporarily halted due to women getting blood clots. According to the CDC, there were 8 blood clot incidents from over 6.8 million vaccine doses. Though worrisome, the incidence of about one in a million is rare. Now for the shocker: according to the National Blood Clot Alliance, for women who take hormonal contraceptives, i.e., The Pill, the equivalent of over 3,000 blood clot events occur for every million.

An Ob-Gyn doctor reports that medical school training is heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical industry that promotes the Pill, and never even mentions NaPro Technology, the main alternative
to chemical contraception. Instead of covering up a woman’s reproductive patterns and possible ob-gyn problems, Natural Procreative Technology allows doctors and patients to understand each woman’s particular fertility, monitor health conditions and develop corrective solutions. “Birth control pills are a band-aid, never solve any health issue, are not 100% effective and pose potential health risks,” says Dr. Monique Ruberu. “We are much too cavalier about women’s well-being in this country. Natural family technology deals directly & naturally with the root of a woman’s health problems.” Visit https://femmhealth.org

“It’s such a beautiful thing to work with your spouse on such an intimate level in planning your family. It actually strengthens one’s marriage. And it is in line with the life-affirming teachings of the Church that strongly counsels against artificial contraception.” [Dr. Monique Ruberu, EWTN Pro-Life
Weekly, 4/22/21]

Book review: Fighting for Life

[interview of Lila Rose by Patti Maguire Armstrong]
As a teen, I read and saw for the first time what abortion does to a baby. In the first trimester, in the humanity of that baby, I saw this beautiful little child, with arms & legs. You could see faces. I saw what a first-trimester abortion does to destroy that developing child. My heart was really touched by that & grieved.

Then I remembered the death toll at that time – 3,000 abortions daily in America – that I had learned about, and I thought, “This is it. This is the cause of the day, the greatest human-rights cause, and I can’t just pretend like it’s not happening. I have to get involved.”

We’ve experienced social media censorship such as having abortionists serve as fact-checkers on our content and being completely banned on Pinterest. Despite the resistance that we have faced over the last 10 years, we’ve built the largest following for the global pro-life movement: over 5 million people strong. What is more powerful than the obstacles is the passion and determination of many pro-life Americans who want to stand up for what’s right.

The mainstream culture sees having sex before marriage as a virtue or something very normalized, but getting pregnant after having sex is seen as a terrible thing. That is so unfair and misleading for young people — instead of saying sex is beautiful and good in a lifelong, sacred relationship — a marriage — and it’s good to bring life into the world.

Our culture calls evil good and often good evil. It’s totally upside down. This confusion costs us dearly; it’s the reason we have a death toll of nearly a million abortions a year. If you don’t know the truth, if you believe the lies, you are going to make the wrong choices, and those bring serious hurt to yourself and others. So we must expose the evil, speak the truth, rehumanize the child, remind people of their dignity, of morality and God and who God is. [National Catholic Register,
www.ncregister.com, 4/21/21]

How you act depends on what you believe about God, the universe, the meaning and value of life, what a human being actually is. Mothers and fathers who trust in God no matter the circumstances, who live out the Golden Rule even at great cost, and who sacrifice time, money, and comfort to give of themselves in service to the Kingdom of God, are living a grand philosophy without perhaps ever even knowing the meaning of words like “metaphysics” and “ethics.”
[Philip Martin, www.crisismagazine.com, 4/22/21]

Helping Women Who’ve Had Abortions

Rachel’s Vineyard weekends are a beautiful opportunity for those struggling with the emotional or spiritual pain of abortion. For those considering the need to reconcile their abortion, the retreat is a wonderful gift to yourself to experience the sadness, grief & shame in the company of other women and men feeling very much the same. You will turn pain into hope with the help of nurturing counselors, and are given time to reflect & become open to the healing process. “Through participating in Rachel’s Vineyard, I was finally able to forgive myself. I know that God has given me a peaceful mind, cleansed my heart and has washed away my guilt.” For more information, log onto Rachel’s Vineyard at https://www.rachelsvineyard.org.

Helping Teens is Pro-Life

The majority of pre-teens and teenagers attend public schools where “health” class ignores Christian values and promotes a secular lifestyle. So parents who want their kids to make truly healthy choices need to use other resources. For example, Tan Books provides a comprehensive program called LoveEd: Raising Kids That Are Strong, Smart & Pure (https://tanbooks.com). Organizations like LifeNet provide in-person programs such as Authentic Love & Sexual Integrity; Helping Teens Make Healthy Choices; and Teen Purity (www.lifeneteducation.org).

The chastity/abstinence presentation for teens and young adults covers the risks of sex outside marriage including pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, & emotional and spiritual consequences. For parents, the Helping Teens program helps reduce children’s risk-taking behavior (sex, drugs, alcohol, etc.) and explains why teens need their parents to talk to them often about the meaning of the gift of sex and the importance of saving themselves for marriage.

Another comprehensive source is the Chastity Project (https://chastity.com) that addresses dating, birth control, pornography, STDs, how far is too far, emotional virtue, and other topics of interest to teens. Their team also travels the country giving life presentations, so parents should check their website for current schedules.

The Future of Marriage

(book review excerpt)

In Poland, Justyna believes strongly in Christian marriage, is engaged to be married but is living with her boyfriend for the past two years to save money for a big wedding. She resents her priest’s warning that this is sinful and unwise. Justyna is conflicted. Young Christians all over the world are wrestling with similar challenges, and we get to meet many of them in sociologist Mark Regnerus’s newest book, The Future of Christian Marriage.

Young Christians, like their less religious peers, are marrying later & less frequently, with less disapproval of fornication & cohabitation. Their families are smaller; they largely reject traditional gender roles. They see beauty and wisdom in Christian teachings, but they share the outlook of less devout contemporaries. They ask: How can they avoid a sexual landscape that prioritizes pleasure over long-term fulfillment? What to expect from a potential spouse? How much should a person be willing to sacrifice for marriage? How to establish a secure social & financial foundation for family life? Culture and tradition used to provide more guidance. As marriage-supportive customs erode, the up-front costs & sacrifices increase, while the visible benefits become more elusive. [See Rachel Lu’s full book review at www.nationalreview.com]

This free monthly newsletter is used by dozens of churches as a bulletin insert, and has had over 30,000 readers. To receive a copy in your inbox, email Frank Tinari, Ph.D. at tinarifr@shu.edu

Covid Vaccines, Easter and Life (Apr. 2021 Newsletter)

Monthly Newsletter Uncategorized No Comments

by Frank Tinari, Ph.D., Life Education Council Board of Trustees

COVID-19 Ethics are Complicated

Amidst continuing controversy and differences of opinion, Bishop Thomas Daly (Spokane, WA) summarized three guiding principles of decades-long Church teaching on vaccines:

  1. We may morally receive the currently available Covid-19 vaccines
  2. We’re not morally obliged to take a Covid vaccine
  3. We should advocate for more ethical research & pharmaceutical development

The first principle takes into account that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was produced with tainted aborted fetal cell lines, and that Catholics are encouraged to get a different vaccine. The second principle reflects the concerns that some have about the new vaccines and that one’s conscience must be used in a morally responsible way. The third principle urges all Catholics to communicate their ethical concerns to vaccine producers. For example, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone (San Francisco) plans to launch a letter-writing campaign to urge pharmaceutical giants to produce ethical vaccines. [COVID-19 Vaccine Ethics, National Catholic Register, 3/28/21]

Are Catholics “Hung Up” on Abortion?

[by Timothy Cardinal Dolan]

Actually, we’re obsessed with the dignity of the human person, the sacredness of all human life including the helpless life of the baby in the womb, the death row prisoner, the immigrant, the fragile elderly, the poor & sick. Concern over an abortion culture is not a uniquely Catholic issue but one of human rights. We didn’t learn that abortion was horrible from religion class but in biology and, regarding inalienable rights, in American history.

How can we sustain a culture that recoils at violence, exclusion, suicide, racism, injustice and callousness toward those in need, if we applaud, allow, pay for, and promote the destruction of the most helpless, the baby in the womb? As Pope Francis observes: “We defend and promote all legitimate human rights. But what use are they if the right of the baby to be born is violated?”

Yes, we’re still ‘hung up’ about human life and pray that a respect for the sacredness of all life & the dignity of the human person will be revived, and that the sanctuary of the womb will be off-limits to violent invasion.[1/13/21, www.cny.org]

The use of human embryos or fetuses as an object of experimentation constitutes a crime against their dignity as human beings who have a right to the same respect owed to a child once born, just as to every person. Pope St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (65).

Easter Is Life

“Christianity … is peace; it is joy; it is love; it is life that is always renewed, like the secret pulsing of nature at the beginning of spring. The source of this joy is in the Risen Christ, who frees men from the slavery of sin, and invites them to be with him a new creature, waiting for blessed eternity.” (St. John XXIII, 1959)

Easter is the “Feast of feasts” because it is the single greatest feast of the entire liturgical year and “fills the year with its brilliance.” (Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 1168) The 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost are celebrated in joyful exultation as one great Easter season.

Catechumens receive three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation) as they enter the Church during the Easter vigil, but all the faithful have the opportunity to strengthen their own sacramental life by renewing their baptismal promises during the Easter liturgy.

“In Western history it was the arrival of Christianity that brought the notion of the sacredness of each person into the world. In pre-Christian Rome, if for any reason a newborn baby was rejected by his or her father (this happened much more often with female babies), out the baby went to the forest for a quick end …. The whole crazy notion that each human life has inherent value – that human lives matter – was what inspired early Christians to set up orphanages, hospitals, and other institutions for the needy, the impaired, and the others who had always been treated with contempt by society.” [George McKenna, On Physical and Moral Plagues,
Human Life Review, Winter 2021]

Recommended New Movie

Starting April 2, the movie Roe v. Wade is available for streaming on both Amazon Prime and Apple TV. The film tells the untold conspiracy that led to one of the most famous and controversial court cases in history. Catholic League President Bill Donohue, an associate producer of the
movie, said: “As assaults on the right to life continue to mount across the country, it is important to understand how we got here.” In May, the film will be made available on DVD.

Big Tech Censors Religion

So far this year, religious groups and figures have been silenced by tech companies at a rate of about one a week. In February, the YouTube channel of LifeSiteNews, a popular religious news website, was permanently banned by Google which delisted all of its videos. The tech giant flagged LSN for a video of an American Catholic bishop criticizing vaccines developed with fetal cells. LSN’s editor said “our best guess is that the channel was taken down for our frank and factual discussion of the controversy around abortion-tainted medicines and vaccines.”

In December, Twitter blocked a post from the Daily Citizen, run by Focus on the Family, an evangelical Christian non-profit. It suspended its account for a tweet that respectfully challenged the underlying premise of transgenderism. Twitter made a similar move against Catholic World Report, though it later recanted. Ryan T. Anderson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center saw Amazon ban his book criticizing transgenderism, When Harry Became Sally.

Facebook banned Paul Kangor’s anticommunist tract, The Devil and Karl Marx, and Carrie Gress’s book on rescuing the culture from toxic femininity. Facebook also banned ads for Kimberly Cook’s
book, Motherhood Redeemed, that challenges feminism in the modern world.

Religious groups and individuals likely will face mounting threats from tech companies. Their views on marriage, sexuality, life and other moral issues are unpopular with tech elites. Some religious groups have fought back and have been reinstated. Religious groups should refuse to silence themselves or otherwise back down. Censorship is a symptom of a national collapse in civic culture. Curing the deeper disease will take all the courage and conviction we can muster. [Josh Holdenried, VP & Exec. Director, Napa Legal Institute, Wall Street Journal, 3/29/21]

Teen Brains Affected by Drugs &Alcohol

According to Jessica Lahey, author of The Addiction Inoculation, adolescence is the second of two incredible periods of growth and maturation of the brain. From birth to age two and then puberty to the early to mid-20s. [Ed. Note: past issues of this newsletter have highlighted research regarding the benefits of moms staying home with their newborns for the first two years of life.] The environment has for better or worse a really big impact on the brain.

So teen use of stimulants really needs to be delayed. You not only protect their brain, you also lower a kid’s risk that they will develop a lifetime substance-use disorder. Ninety percent of those people report they started using drugs and alcohol before they were 18. Parents who are strict and say “Just say no” end up with healthier kids.

Risk factors that make it more likely that a teen will abuse alcohol or drugs include genetics (50% to 60% of the risk) plus: childhood violence in the home, death of a parent, separation and divorce. These affect a teen’s overall mental and physical health, including academic failure.

Parents are urged to model healthy behaviors themselves. If your 8th-grader says that everybody is drinking, tell them the truth: only 24% of young kids are doing so. But don’t wait for middle school. Have conversations about drugs and alcohol with your young children and repeat as they get older. [Andrea Petersen, Wall Street Journal, 3/23/21]

For Married Couples Facing Difficulties

The Retrouvaille Program is for married couples facing difficult challenges in their relationship. The marriage program helps couples restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship. It is a Christian marriage program, Catholic in origin, where couples of all faiths or no faith background are encouraged to attend. Its major focus is to improve communication & help couples reconnect. Presenters are couples sharing their personal stories of marital struggles and the tools they used to rediscover their love. More information is available at its website. [www.helpourmarriage.org]

Treatment of Impaired People

How do we view physically and cognitively challenged individuals? Hitler adopted a forced-sterilization program in the 1930s that morphed into euthanasia. More than 200,000 people deemed mentally & physically unfit to live were systematically murdered. To defend their actions, some Nazis at the Nuremberg trials quoted Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ statement justifying sterilization, “three generations of imbeciles are enough,” & the American government’s own sterilization programs. So, today, whom do we think is not fit to live? Our religious beliefs should be put forth to answer: everyone has human dignity that should be respected until natural death.

Life is Precious

In 1994 my aunt had unsuccessful brain surgery and became terminally ill. My parents appreciated the compassionate hospice care provided to her by a local hospital. After several months, my aunt slipped into a coma. Our parish assistant pastor told us that because she had an irreversible condition, that she could be allowed to die. [Tim Donovan, letter to Our Sunday Visitor, 3/21/21]

This free monthly newsletter is used by dozens of churches as a bulletin insert, and has had over 30,000 readers. To receive a copy in your inbox, email Frank Tinari, Ph.D. at tinarifr@shu.edu

Silence is Consent (Mar. 2021 Newsletter)

Monthly Newsletter Uncategorized No Comments

by Frank Tinari, Ph.D., Life Education Council Board of Trustees

Phooey on the Hype

American voters seem to be able to see through the hype and euphemisms used by pro-abortion advocates and many in the news media. “Despite being vastly outspent by pro-abortion organizations such as Planned Parenthood and Emily’s List, pro-life candidates in November won by significant margins. There were 58 races in which a candidate supported by National Right to Life was running against a candidate supported by the pro-abortion PAC Emily’s List. Forty-one (or 71%) of the NRLC-supported candidates won.” [NRLC, The State of Abortion in the U.S., Jan. 2021]

Speaking Out Against The So-Called
‘Equality Act’

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops recently said the proposed Equality Act “would discriminate against people of faith.” The Catholic League and many other civil rights and religious organizations have also sounded the alarm. The Act’s two goals are: amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the definition of sex; override the existing Religious Freedom Restoration Act by allowing gay rights to trump religious rights.

The expansion of rights to transgender women, really biological males who identify as female, has come at the expense of rights for biological females. Boys and men would be allowed to compete in sports with girls and women, thus unfairly altering women’s athletics. Females would also lose their privacy rights. These biological males could use the locker rooms, restrooms and shower facilities that have always been reserved for females.

This bill would grant men the right to sue if they were denied equal access to women’s private spaces such as showers, bathrooms, and nursing rooms. These men could also have access to women’s prisons and shelters. Mothers would have no say in their child’s healthcare decisions if that child asks for hormone treatments or sex-reassignment surgery. Even a woman choosing a female doctor because of religious or personal preference would be considered discriminatory. None of this has anything to do with why the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. [William Donohue, Catholic League, 2/22/21; and Eagle Forum Engage, 2/22/21]

If the Equality Act were passed, Catholic foster care programs would be shut down. They would either have to agree to allow two men to adopt children—a clear violation of Church teachings—or lose federal funding. Currently, Catholic hospitals can legally refuse to perform abortions. Under the Equality Act, they would either lose federal funding or be forced to get into the abortion business. That is because refusing abortion services would be declared “pregnancy” discrimination.

The “abortion as health care” campaign advanced by the Equality Act effectively defines the unborn child out of existence. It treats the child as merely a “physical condition” of the mother that health professionals are called on to address through corrective treatment. It also defines Americans who object to such taking of innocent human life as bigots who must be forced to comply. The Act does not promote equality: it further demeans vulnerable human beings who already have few rights, and denies the right of pro-life Americans, who make up about half the U.S. population, to live by their fundamental convictions. In no way should its enactment be the goal of a “presidency for all Americans.” [Richard Doerflinger, Charlotte Lozier Institute, Feb. 2021]

Ed. note: Contact your elected representatives if the bill is still under consideration when you read this.

“Disability should never be a ground or justification to end someone’s life directly or indirectly.” United Nations human rights experts’ joint statement, 1/25/21

Lent and Life

During Lent we try to walk with Jesus in prayer, charity to others, and self-denial, just as He did. Thomas a Kempis wrote: “Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross. He finds many companions of His table, but few of His fasting, Many are astonished at His miracles, few follow after the shame of His Cross.”

We know that there is no way we can outdo God’s generosity; the least we can do during this Lenten season is to give to the One who gave everything for us. There is so much suffering and injustice in the world. Let’s try to make a difference where we live.

One way of doing your share in Lent is to participate a few hours a week in the 40 Days for Life project. This international campaign with 567 locations offers us the opportunity to sacrifice some of our time in reparation for the sin of abortion, by praying outside an abortion mill in our own area. Go to www.40DaysforLife.com and click on “Find a Vigil” which takes you to the locations and contact information near you.

Ed. Note: Your editor & his wife devote two hours weekly to our local vigil where we pray the rosary & hold Love Life signs in front of a Planned Parenthood facility. It’s not much, but it is something. We encourage readers to do your share.

“Silence is Consent”

Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s new book, The Black Church, argues that religious appeals gave slaves “the moral authority to turn the mirror of religion back on their masters and to indict the nation for its original sin of allowing their enslavement….”

Pro-lifers believe that our contemporary concern for human rights can serve the same purpose in indicting our nation’s support of abortion and a culture of death.

Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry told Gates: “The teachings of Jesus are just as clear that Christian folk and Christian leaders cannot abide or countenance anybody’s supremacy over anybody else, white or anything, and cannot remain silent. Silence is consent.” We would hope that the Bishop would speak out against abortion’s legal supremacy over unborn black and white babies.

Just as the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision was rightly condemned in the 19th century for not recognizing a class of human beings, black people, so we condemn the Roe v Wade decision of the 20th century for not recognizing a class of human beings, unborn developing people. We continue to speak out and pray for changed hearts in our country.

Costco Chickens? How About Humans?

Recently, Nicholas Kristof wrote in the New York Times (The Ugly Secrets Behind the Costco Chicken, 2/7/21) about the terrible treatment of chickens that Costco buys for their delicious rotisserie chickens. “Future generations will look back at our mistreatment of livestock and poultry with pain and bafflement. They will wonder how we in the early 21st century could have been so oblivious to the cruelties….”

Has Kristof ever said how future generations will look at us and our horrific treatment of preborn developing human beings who have been killed? He says he agrees with Jeremy Bentham’s 1789 statement on the treatment of animals: “The question is not, Can they reason?, nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?” Mr. Kristof, many preborn babies feel pain during an abortion. Are you sympathetic to them, too? If so, we want to hear about it from you.

Policy Debate on Family Support

Should parents be provided direct financial support for raising children? Or should parents be given child-care vouchers so they can go out and work? Or should Congress expand the Child Tax Credit? How will all of these benefits be funded? The debate was started recently by the introduction of Senator Mitt Romney’s family plan that would include monthly payments to families of up to $350 per child. Your editor encourages a close watch on these developments, and looks forward to Christian commentary on the matter.

“Catholic View for Women” Program

Though Covid delayed taping, co-hosts of this EWTN program recently kicked off the show’s 13th season. Viewers have gotten used to the show tackling hot-button issues and this new season is no exception. The hosts will address the dangers to women of the resurgent Equal Rights Amendment, gender dysphoria and the transgender craze, the physical and spiritual benefits of fasting, so-called same-sex marriage, how social media harms teens, domestic violence, and the dangers of in vitro fertilization. The shows should begin airing in late spring 2021.

“Not only is the number of Christians rapidly declining in this country, the number of ‘religiously unaffiliated’ is on the rise. This abandonment of Christ has led to a free-fall from objective truth to the point where we can no longer agree even that humans are either biologically male or female. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly dangerous simply to write those words, lest we be accused of hate speech.” [Editorial, Our Sunday Visitor, 2/14/21]

Your Taxpayer Funds for Abortion

The new administration in Washington DC recently canceled the “Protect Life Rule” that banned taxpayer funds from being used to promote or provide abortion in family planning programs. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, responded: “By rescinding this rule, the administration will be forcing abortion into a pre-pregnancy program specifically designed to exclude abortion, a move which is immoral, impractical and may also be unlawful.” Days earlier, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, president of the USCCB, wrote that while he looked forward to working with our new president, “he has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity.” [Our Sunday Visitor, 2/7 & 2/14/21]

This free monthly newsletter is used by dozens of
churches as a bulletin insert, and has had over
30,000 readers. To receive a copy in your inbox,
email Frank Tinari, Ph.D. at tinarifr@shu.edu