Planned Parenthood/Democrats/Obama vs Parental Involvement and McCain



http://www.yeson4.net/-"The problem In California, a girl under age 18 can’t get a tan at a tanning salon, a cavity filled, or an aspirin dispensed by the school nurse without a parent knowing. But a doctor can perform a surgical or chemical abortion on a young girl without informing a parent. The answer Proposition 4 will require a doctor to notify at least one adult family member before performing an abortion on an under-18-year-old girl."

“California’s deceptive Proposition 4: It says it’s about parental notification, but it’s really about attacking legalized abortion”-"Francesca Ratner has this commentary on the LA Times. She begins: Its back! Proposition 4 on the November California ballot — “Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy” — is a repeat of Proposition 73 in 2005 and Proposition 85 in 2006, both of which were defeated. Passage would make it part of the state Constitution."-Do we always have to here this excuse? If they are so concerned that Roe vs Wade is going to be overturned (which I believe will eventually) that Obama voted against saving babies who survived an abortion (see www.BornAliveTruth.org) at the advice of Planned Parenthood and if Parental Involvement is an attack on Roe vs Wade then maybe Roe vs Wade needs to be overturned!!!!

A Parental-Involvement Opportunity-"There’s solid evidence that well-designed laws can protect mothers and their unborn children...Political candidates who support legal abortion have been changing their rhetoric in recent years. Indeed, during the current election cycle, a number of pro-choice candidates, including Barack Obama, have expressed an interest in lowering the incidence of abortion. Such statements present a unique opportunity for the pro-life movement. Indeed, pro-lifers should insist that these candidates support pro-life parental-involvement laws. Such laws enjoy broad support and unlike other laws limiting abortion, they can be easily justified as a parental-rights issue. Furthermore, my recent study for the Family Research Council provides evidence that well designed parental-involvement laws have been surprisingly effective at reducing abortion rates among minors. Indeed, there are a number of academic and policy studies which demonstrate the effectiveness of pro-life parental-involvement laws. Four studies in peer-reviewed academic journals use time-series, cross-sectional data to simultaneously analyze all the enacted pro-life parental-involvement laws over an extended period of time. These studies find that these pieces of legislation reduce the in-state minor abortion rate by anywhere from 13 to 19 percent. Case studies of parental-involvement laws that have been enacted in Massachusetts, Indiana, Missouri, and Minnesota arrive at similar conclusions about the effects of parental-involvement laws. However, the best case study of a pro-life parental-involvement law appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2006. This study analyzed the Texas parental-notification law that took effect in 2000. The authors found that the law resulted in statistically significant declines in the abortion rate in Texas among 15-year-olds, 16-year-olds, and 17-year-olds....The results indicate that parental-involvement laws reduce the minor abortion rate by 13 percent — a finding that is consistent with other research on the subject. However, state laws that require parental consent instead of parental notification are even more effective, reducing the abortion rate by an average of 19 percent. This finding held true for all age groups that were analyzed — 17-year-olds, 16-year-olds, and 15-year-olds....The regression model indicates that these laws reduce the minor abortion rate by 31 percent. Now only three states — Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Dakota — have enacted parental-involvement laws that require the involvement of two parents. However, the substantial abortion declines that have occurred in each of these states suggest that they are models that other states should follow....However, it is entirely possible that some of these in-state abortion reductions could be offset by minors who obtain abortions in neighboring states where the laws are more permissive. Federal legislation has been introduced that would considerably strengthen these state-level parental-involvement laws. The Child Custody Protection Act that has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) that has been introduced in the U.S. House would make it a felony for anyone other than a parent to take a child across state lines for the purpose of obtaining an abortion."

Democrats

Dem Blocks Cross-State Child Abortion Act Hearing-"Republicans held an “unofficial” hearing on a bill that would make it a crime for minors to be transported across state lines for an abortion without parental consent after the committee chairman blocked a hearing on the measure. At the forum last Thursday on the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said, “I have no doubt that eventually we are going to get a vote on this legislation. It will win.”...Franks said he was “gravely disappointed” that Nadler did not respond to his requests for a hearing on the legislation, which would prohibit transporting minors across state lines to circumvent parental notification laws in the minor’s home state. The legislation makes it a federal offense, punishable by a fine or prison term of up to one year, if a physician performs an abortion on an out-of-state minor in violation of parental notification requirements. It provides an exception for an abortion necessary to save the life of a minor...The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act was reintroduced in February 2007 by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), who was the chief sponsor of the legislation in 2005, when the House passed it in a vote of 270-157. The bill enjoyed bipartisan support, with 216 Republicans and 54 Democrats voting for it....President Bush expressed support for the bill when it passed the House in 2005, but the legislation failed to reach his desk. Ros-Lehtinen said she is hopeful the bill will again be successful in the House this year."

Obama vs McCain

Why the Democratic Abortion Strategy is Worse-"America Magazine’s Election Blog on Why the Democratic Abortion Strategy is Worse: For one thing, the Democratic Party platform continues to support the expansion of taxpayer-financed abortions. This is not idle talk. Democrats are serious about it. On President Clinton’s first day in office, he issued an executive order overturning the Mexico City policy, which probihited U.S. dollars being spent on organizations that perform abortions or provide abortion counseling; the policy was not rescinded until 2001 when President Bush took office. In addition, President Clinton signed into law the expansion of funding of abortion through Medicaid. Obama has pledged to do the same things."

On Sex-Ed Ad, McCain Is Right-"Byron York, writing at National Review: Obama’s explanation for his vote has been accepted by nearly all commentators. And perhaps that is indeed why he voted for Senate Bill 99, although we don’t know for sure. But we do know that the bill itself was much more than that. The fact is, the bill’s intention was to mandate that issues like contraception and the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases be included in sex-education classes for children before the sixth grade, and as early as kindergarten. Obama’s defenders may howl, but the bill is what it is. McCain’s Video
Senate Bill 99

Texas

Good News: Texas Leads Nation in Abstinence Education-"Texas spent $17 million in federal funding last year for abstinence-education programs — more than any other state. In fact, 22 states have rejected federal funding for the key programs.
Public schools in Texas that choose to offer sex education must focus on abstinence, according to state standards.
Family advocates want parents, not schools, to talk to their teens about contraception.
“Can you imagine being a parent and having your child come home and tell you all the ways they learned in school that you can (have sex)?" Republican Rep. Rob Eissler told The Austin American-Statesman. "I think it would be an implicit encouragement instead of an explicit discouragement."
Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said abstinence programs teach and equip students on diverse topics, including: relationship skills, STIs, HIV, refusal skills, body-image issues, emotional bonding, differences between men and women, condom effectiveness, teen pregnancy and the benefits of marriage.
FOR MORE INFORMATIONLearn more about abstinence education."

Religious Freedoms

India

Christians in the Line of Fire in India-"The Washington Post reports today that Christians in the Orissa region of India have been relentlessly attacked in recent weeks by Hindu extremists who, as the Post reports, "wielding swords, hammers and long sticks rampaged through their village, chanting 'India is for Hindus! Convert or leave!'" These extremists have destroyed nearly 4,000 homes of Christian families, and at least 115 churches, resulting in the displacement of nearly 20,000 people who are now afraid to return. Many are hiding in the forests. The Hindu fundamentalists claim that Christianity is a "foreign religion," a claim that is both untrue and irrelevant. The Christian presence in India is nearly as old as the church itself. But ancient or not, freedom of religion is protected under Indian law. It is time that the Indian national government stepped up to defend its own citizens from violence. And it is also time for our State Department to insist that they do so. Washington Post: Christians Face Hindus' Wrath"
Buddhist Monks Destroy Church in Sri Lanka, Attack Pastor-"A group of Buddhist monks and a mob of locals destroyed a church in Sri Lanka and attacked the pastor earlier this month, adding to the already escalating anti-Christian violence in the south Asia country.
Related:
Sri Lankan Pastor, Sons Missing Amid 'Shocking' Abduction Trend
Persecution on the Rise in War-Ravaged Sri Lanka
Calvary Church in Thalahena, Malabe, northeast of the capital Colombo, was destroyed after a rumor spread that Christians had attacked a local Buddhist temple. A mob of some 500 villagers had descended on Calvary church and surrounded it as Sunday service was about to take place on July 6, persecution watchdog group Release International recently reported.
The 100 church members in attendance were told to leave by the pastor and police, who were called in earlier by the pastor when he noticed that the church’s cross was damaged.
"Fearing violence, the pastor and the police sent away the congregation. Soon after the mob – including the monks – entered the church and completely destroyed everything within, leaving only the walls standing,” said the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), a partner of Release International."

Norway

Norway Trial Court Finds Missionaries Guilty for Spreading Gospel-"Two Christian missionaries, arrested by Norwegian police in May for spreading the gospel during an Oslo parade celebrating the birthday of the country's constitution, have been found guilty by a Norway trial court.
US evangelist Larry Keefer from Tampa, Florida, and Norwegian evangelist, Petar Keseljevic were attending the May 17 national event in Oslo, celebrating the 1814 ratification of Norway's constitution, when police arrested the Christian missionaries as they were conversing with several members of the crowd beyond the parade lines. (see http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08052208.html)
LifeSiteNews has learned from the International Human Rights Group (IHRG) that the trial court in Oslo found both missionaries guilty for failing to obey the police. IHRG President Joel Thornton is awaiting the English translation of the ruling from the court, but spoke to LifeSiteNews about the verdict.
"The court issued a written opinion, which I am waiting on in English from the court, that the police law has to be obeyed because the police were trying to keep the peace," said Thornton. "The Norwegians have a police law that is absolute, meaning that there is no discretion when you are participating in a legitimate activity and the police ask you to leave. You must obey the police at any cost and the courts will not be moved by your right to freedom of expression or religion."
Thornton explained that the decision against Keefer and Keseljevic as it stands has serious ramifications for the rights of Christians in Europe.
"If this decision is upheld it will, in effect, mean that Articles 9, freedom of religion, and Article 10, freedom of expression, of the European Convention on Human Rights are only valid if the police in Norway approve of your speech," Thornton continued. "Otherwise they can arrest you at any time and stop your speech."
Both men face serious fines, but no jail time."

UN

U.N. crackdown on Christians to get review?-"WorldNetDaily reports: A United Nations plan that would make Christians criminals under international law will be getting a review by the White House, according to spokeswoman Dana Perino. WND reported just days ago on a proposed “Combating Defamation of Religions” program supported by the 57 members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference"

Michigan

ADF: Censoring Bible verses in private advertisements is unconstitutional-"In 2005, Andrew and Glenda Grosjean attempted to re-post advertisements touting their legal advocacy services as contractors with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. The agency censored the ads because they included Scripture references, even though they had been allowed in the past.
Before the ads could be posted again, UIA employees removed the references without the Grosjeans’ consent (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3596). The agency was concerned that the Grosjeans’ religious speech violated the so-called “separation of church and state.”
A fact sheet is available on the lawsuit, Grosjean v. Bommarito, at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/GrosjeanFactSheet.pdf."

Maryland

Pro-Life Catholics Arrested at Cathedral in Baltimore Handing Out Literature Questioning the Ethics of Voting for Obama-"Joseph Landry (27) and Brian Sherwood (35) were arrested at the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore, MD (409 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201) for passing out pro-life literature after Mass. They were peaceful and respectful.

Mr. Landry is currently in Jail with a $10,000 bond. Mr. Sherwood was released late Sunday night on his own recognizance.

Mr. Landry States:

"I am shocked that we – as devout Catholics – are being arrested at a Catholic church for handing out Catholic literature.

"If the bishops don't have to courage to tell their flock that it is immoral to vote for a child-killer like Obama, then the faithful will." Joseph Landry

View the flyer here that they were distributing:
www.ahumbleplea.com/Docs/StopObama.pdf

Mr. Landry and Mrs. Andrea Terry were also arrested in January at St. Jude's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, FL for handing out pro-life literature.
www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=26597

Randall Terry States: "It is an outrage that Joseph is sitting in jail with a $10,000 bond. We are asking faithful Catholics across the nation to call Archbishop O'Brien and his staff at 410-547-5437 and 410-547-5379 to demand that the charges against these men be dropped, and that Mr. Landry be released from jail immediately.

"There will be many more faithful Catholics handing out pro-life literature at Cathedrals across the nation that upholds the teaching of 'The Gospel of Life.' Will we see more Bishops arresting the faithful for upholding church teaching?"

See statement to Bishops, asking them to NOT arrest pro-lifers; released on September 3, 2008, from St. Paul MN. www.christiannewswire.com/news/317067728.html"

Florida

Fla. Christian barred from sharing faith files suit-"On Sept. 8, 2007, Mikhail informed a Lake Worth police officer of his intention to speak on a public sidewalk in the city. The officer stated that he had no objection. Mikhail stood on the edge of the sidewalk and did not block pedestrian or vehicular traffic, where he expressed a religious message for approximately 30 minutes. The officer then told Mikhail that he did not want to hear him preaching, and that if he continued, he would be taken to jail. Mikhail walked away out of fear of arrest. Mikhail then called the Lake Worth Police Department. A sergeant told him that he supported the actions of the officer and said that he needed a permit in order to share his message on the sidewalk. “The government can’t require Christians to obtain permission before they exercise their First Amendment rights,” Kellum explained. A copy of the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Mikhail v. City of Lake Worth is available at http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/MikhailComplaint.pdf."

Illinois

Psychologist lost city contract because of affiliation with pro-family organization-"Michael Campion had provided psychological services for the city of Springfield for 15 years. In August 2004, a newspaper article unfairly criticized Campion, saying he might be “biased” in the evaluation of his tests merely because of he is a member of the board of Illinois Family Institute.
In May 2005, the city of Springfield terminated Campion’s contract despite lack of evidence of bias because one alderman deemed his position on the board of IFI to be “out of touch with the mainstream.” The same article led to additional hardship for Campion. The city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, also terminated Campion’s contract when they learned of Campion’s affiliation with IFI. A fact sheet is available on the lawsuit at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/CampionFactSheet.pdf."

Back-to-School Students Called to Use Clothing to Express Religious Freedom-"The Christian Post reports: Students returning back to school should not be afraid to express their Christian faith through their apparel, says the founder of a popular T-shirt brand. Vic Kennett, president of Kerusso, is encouraging students to exercise their religious freedom by praying, discussing Christianity with others and by proudly displaying their faith on T-shirts. Christian legal groups, like the Alliance Defense Fund, have in recent years defended students who were sent home for wearing T-shirts that bore religious messages."

The Value of Faith Based Organizations

Winds of Adversity-"In response to Gustav, PRC, with your help, has distributed nearly 90 truckloads of food, water and other essential supplies valued at over $3.5 million. There were over 20,736 volunteer hours and nearly 300,000 hot meals served. PRC Compassion has now remobilized and is helping with the devastation of Ike. If you would like to help those families impacted by Ike in Texas and Louisiana please consider supporting one of the following ministries which I've seen on the ground working:PRC Compassion, Samaratin's Purse, or the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. PRC Compassion
Samaratin's Purse Southern Baptist North American Mission Board"