Category Abortion

Don’t Hide Behind Hyde

Ed

You may have heard supporters of the current so-called health care reform bill say that your tax dollars won’t be used to pay for abortions because of the Hyde amendment. Click here to see a video by the Susan B. Anthony List (www.stophyding.com). Basically, the Hyde amendment only applies to Medicaid, and it does not cover the new options that the so-called health care reform bill will create.

The bottom line is this: if the supporters of the current so-called health care reform bill wanted to assure the American public that tax dollars wouldn’t be used to fund abortions, why didn’t they support one of the three different amendments that were offered which categorically stated that? Or maybe they should add that restriction to the current bill. The truth is, the current bill contains loopholes that will allow YOUR tax dollars to pay for the murder of innocent babies in the womb.

Click here to go to Stop the Abortion Mandate to see how you can make a difference.

Chicago Bubble Zone Law

Ed

On September 29, the Chicago city council passed a new law that severely restricts the ability to conduct sidewalk counseling and peaceful prayer vigils outside of abortion clinics.  You can read about the “bubble zone” law from WGN by clicking here.

Basically, within a 50-foot zone around the entrance of an abortion clinic, you cannot “come within 8 feet of another person to pass out fliers, display signs, vocally protest, educate or counsel without consent.”

But all is not lost. The ordinance can still be vetoed by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.  His office has installed an automated answering system to tally the votes from the public on the ordinance. If you live in the Chicago area (or even if you don’t–I’ve been told they are taking phone calls from everyone), you can call the mayor’s office at 312.744.3300; press “1” to let the system know that you want to comment on the bubble zone law; and press “2” to register your vote against it.

For more information about the bubble zone law go to the Pro-Life Action League website by clicking here.

New Report on Pregnancy Resource Centers

Ed

Check out this new report on pregnancy resource centers called A Passion to Serve (click here to see report). The report was spearheaded by the Family Research Council in cooperation with the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, CareNet, Life International, and Heartbeat International.

It provides a beautiful picture of the many hours that volunteers in the PRCs give to serve women and their children around the country. You can download a PDF version of the report. Better yet, purchase copies of the report to spread the word about the important work that these groups in our communities perform every day.

Why is this so important? Due to the success of campaigns like Live Action, Planned Parenthood clinics (the largest abortion provider in the US) have been denied city and state funding in various parts of the country. Click here to read a recent article about Tennessee denying funding to Planned Parenthood.

Now the pro-abortion groups are trying to use similar strategy to discredit PRCs. Click here to see a sample flier advertising one such contest. Click here to see the Feminist Majority Foundation’s plan to “expose” pregnancy resource centers as “fakes”.

Maybe it’s just me, but…if the issue were truly about “choice” why are the “pro-choice” (abortion) groups up in arms about informing women of all the choices available to them during an unplanned pregnancy?  Let’s help women find real choices by funding caring pregnancy resource centers that help women throughout their pregnancy and, very often, after birth, rather than push them to a single option solution to their crisis – abortion clinics where the only outcome is a dead baby and a wounded woman.

Abortion and Health Care Reform

Ed 2 Comments

The Silent No More Awareness Campaign has a short video (2:50) on YouTube speaking about abortion and so-called health care reform.  Take a look at the video by clicking here and then pass it on ‘right-clicking’ on the link and copying it.

I’ve been spending part of the last two weeks actually reading the legislation contained in H.R. 3200 — America’s Affordable Health Choices Act 2009 and wanted to share some of what I’ve discovered with you, dear reader.

Although the word “abortion” does not appear anywhere in H.R. 3200, it is important to recognize the words that may imply abortion services are to be provided. For example, in Section 1714 – State Eligibility Options for Family Planning Services, the legislation delineates the eligibility requirements for women who are pregnant and women who are not pregnant to receive taxpayer-funded “family planning services.” The proposed legislation states the following:

… provide for making medical assistance available to an individual … such medical assistance shall be limited to family planning services and supplies described in 1905(a)(4)(C) [of Title XIX of the Social Security Act] and, at the State’s option, medical diagnosis and treatment services that are provided in conjunction with a family planning service in a family planning setting.

While, this might seem like an acceptable measure, but in reality, actual services received will depend on what limitations are placed on family planning services and supplies by Section 1905(a)(4)(C) of Title XIX of the Social Security Act. It would appear that the only limitation is that these services are provided

… to individuals of child-bearing age (including minors who can be considered to be sexually active) who are eligible under the State plan and who desire such services and supplies. (See the Social Security website by clicking here for the full text.)

In reality, there is no limit to what kinds of medical assistance, medical diagnosis, or treatment services can be provided at taxpayer expense. Also note that these services can be provided to minors “who can be considered to be sexually active [emphasis added]” and not just to those who actually are sexually active. Nor is there any mention of parental notification or consent before providing “treatment services” to minors.

What could the authors of H.R. 3200 possibly see as treatment services under this legislation? Abortion proponents have long asserted that reproductive rights include access to abortion services. One of the nation’s largest family planning provider, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), lists amongst it women’s health services both the abortion pill (RU-486) and in-clinic abortions.

I have written previously regarding Secretary of State Hillary Clinton receiving the Margaret Sanger Award from the PPFA. In her acceptance speech, she stated that increasing the level and quality of women’s health care worldwide depended on increasing access to family planning options. Secretary Clinton concluded by stating that PPFA has been a leader in ensuring that

… women’s health and women’s reproductive health is included in any deliberation concerning our – finally adopting – a healthcare system that takes care of all of our people. (See full text of the speech by clicking here.)

When the dots are connected, it is a reasonable and certain conclusion that H.R. 3200, if passed into law, will provide for taxpayer-funded abortions for women—and girls—without any limitations.

For more information, go to these websites: National Right to Life’s Stop the Abortion Agenda website; Family Research Council’s document called “Seven Reasons Abortion is in the Health Care Overhaul”; or Stop the Abortion Mandate’s facts webpage.

Follow-up to the “Family Guy”

Ed

Jill Stanek posted more information about the Family Guy episode on abortion.  You can read her entire post by clicking here.