Monday, March 16, 2009
More on ESCR
Josh Brahm of Right to Life of Central California has written a great piece about 9 points the media "conveniently" omits when talking about stem cell research.
President Obama's Frivolous Embryonic Stem Cell Decision
In an expected move, President Obama reversed President Bush's embryonic stem cell restrictions. What does that mean exactly? Supporters of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) will talk about Bush's "bans" on ESCR and how he was an opponent of "science" and that the medical and scientific community lost ground during the Bush years because of his decisions. President Obama even politicized Christopher Reeve recently, saying that had the practice been allowed for the last 7 years, he might still be alive.
This is all a bunch of pretense to get people to think ESCR will save the world. On the contrary. Bush did not ban ESCR. He simply banned the use of federal taxes to fund it. So it's necessary to point out that the practice of ESCR has not in fact been banned for the last 7 years - it just rightly hasn't been supported by our tax dollars. Therefore, if ESCR was really the savior that Obama and his allies want you to believe it is, don't you think a private corporation would have stepped up and funded the practice somewhere during that period of time? Of course they would have - they would have been lauded for its successes! However, no private company did such a thing. Therefore, we have to wonder just how effective ESCR really is.
Here is the short answer: it's not. There have been zero advances made via ESCR as opposed to several other morally-acceptable methods of stem cell research like human skin cell and umbilical cord. Scientists have even been able to alter certain adult stem cells to make them behave like embryonic stem cells so why wouldn't we want to pursue that route?
Many scientists even claim that ESCR is a dying science. It boggles the mind that President Obama and others are still aggressively pursuing this method. It's clearly still more of a political move aimed to garner votes for Democrats as opposed to a real solution for some of our other medical problems. Pray that supporters of this tragic method of research that kills human embryos have a change of heart and that real progress is made through other forms of stem cell research.
This is all a bunch of pretense to get people to think ESCR will save the world. On the contrary. Bush did not ban ESCR. He simply banned the use of federal taxes to fund it. So it's necessary to point out that the practice of ESCR has not in fact been banned for the last 7 years - it just rightly hasn't been supported by our tax dollars. Therefore, if ESCR was really the savior that Obama and his allies want you to believe it is, don't you think a private corporation would have stepped up and funded the practice somewhere during that period of time? Of course they would have - they would have been lauded for its successes! However, no private company did such a thing. Therefore, we have to wonder just how effective ESCR really is.
Here is the short answer: it's not. There have been zero advances made via ESCR as opposed to several other morally-acceptable methods of stem cell research like human skin cell and umbilical cord. Scientists have even been able to alter certain adult stem cells to make them behave like embryonic stem cells so why wouldn't we want to pursue that route?
Many scientists even claim that ESCR is a dying science. It boggles the mind that President Obama and others are still aggressively pursuing this method. It's clearly still more of a political move aimed to garner votes for Democrats as opposed to a real solution for some of our other medical problems. Pray that supporters of this tragic method of research that kills human embryos have a change of heart and that real progress is made through other forms of stem cell research.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Pray for President Obama
Dear friends let us pray for President Obama that he may have a change of heart with regard to his actions and positions on life related issues.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
White Paper - When Does Human Life Begin?
By Maureen L. Condic
Resolving the question of when human life begins is critical for advancing a reasoned public policy debate over abortion and human embryo research. This article considers the current scientific evidence in human embryology and addresses two central questions concerning the beginning of life: 1) in the course of sperm-egg interaction, when is a new cell formed that is distinct from either sperm or egg? and 2) is this new cell a new human organism—i.e., a new human being? Based on universally accepted scientific criteria, a new cell, the human zygote, comes into existence at the moment of sperm-egg fusion, an event that occurs in less than a second. Upon formation, the zygote immediately initiates a complex sequence of events that establish the molecular conditions required for continued embryonic development. The behavior of the zygote is radically unlike that of either sperm or egg separately and is characteristic of a human organism. Thus, the scientific evidence supports the conclusion that a zygote is a human organism and that the life of a new human being commences at a scientifically well defined “moment of conception.” This conclusion is objective, consistent with the factual evidence, and independent of any specific ethical, moral, political, or religious view of human life or of human embryos.
Download the full White Paper (526k pdf)
Resolving the question of when human life begins is critical for advancing a reasoned public policy debate over abortion and human embryo research. This article considers the current scientific evidence in human embryology and addresses two central questions concerning the beginning of life: 1) in the course of sperm-egg interaction, when is a new cell formed that is distinct from either sperm or egg? and 2) is this new cell a new human organism—i.e., a new human being? Based on universally accepted scientific criteria, a new cell, the human zygote, comes into existence at the moment of sperm-egg fusion, an event that occurs in less than a second. Upon formation, the zygote immediately initiates a complex sequence of events that establish the molecular conditions required for continued embryonic development. The behavior of the zygote is radically unlike that of either sperm or egg separately and is characteristic of a human organism. Thus, the scientific evidence supports the conclusion that a zygote is a human organism and that the life of a new human being commences at a scientifically well defined “moment of conception.” This conclusion is objective, consistent with the factual evidence, and independent of any specific ethical, moral, political, or religious view of human life or of human embryos.
Download the full White Paper (526k pdf)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
"Change" We Can Believe In
President Obama is certainly making good on his campaign promise of Change. Unfortunately, that's what we pro-lifers were afraid of. The problem is, the change he promised was one of non-partisanship and building bridges..."reaching across the aisle." He has, in fact, gone the other direction. He is moving farther and farther away from the aisle by the day. On his third day in office he reversed the Mexico City Policy, an executive order signed by President Bush that banned federal tax dollars from funding international abortions. It is reported that Obama will soon lift the federal ban on funding for embryonic stem cell research. Perhaps most horrifically, he is currently working on reversing President Bush's conscience clause that protects healthcare personnel from participating in and performing abortions if they are morally objected to the procedure.
Every one of Obama's cabinet nominees are extremely anti-life. His justice department nominees include David Ogden, who in the past represented the likes of Playboy to allow their "literature" into the Library of Congress; Thomas Perrelli, who represented the husband of Terry Schiavo; and Dawn Johnsen, who years ago compared "forced childbirth" to slavery and was the legal director for NARAL. Former Emily's List board member Melody Barnes was nominated as his director of the Domestic Policy Council. Another Emily's List alum and director, Ellen Moran, was appointed White House Communications Director.
Most recently, Obama appointed Kansas governor and pro-choice "Catholic" Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health & Human Services (after pro-abortion Tom Daschle had to drop out due to tax evasion), a position that will have a tremendous influence on his healthcare policies. This most likely means that insurance companies will be forced to cover abortions under their plans. Sebelius has a frightening relationship with late-term abortionist, George Tiller, who has previously been charged with violating state abortion laws. He escaped charges mostly thanks to the influence of Sebelius, to whom Tiller has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sebelius has several times struck down laws that would strengthen limits on late-term abortions. In addition, she held a private, secret event for the abortionist at the governor's mansion. She also has many ties to pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood and many others.
Sebelius was asked to stop receiving Holy Communion until she repents by Kansas City Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, a request she has thus far ignored.
Is this the kind of change we wanted or expected? I know it's what we feared. And probably even more so. Obama needs to be called out for moving so far to the left and in direct opposition to his campaign promises of working with both sides of the aisle to find common ground. He has not made a single move to find common ground with pro-lifers. He's not even in favor of common-sense restrictions like waiting periods, parental consent, and ultrasounds. Removing the conscience clause for physicians and healthcare workers is about as far left a move as imaginable.
In response to Obama's anti-life record several lawmakers are drafting legislation to combat further trampling on the right to life. Responding to a move by pro-abortion Democratic leaders in the House, a pro-life senator has introduced an amendment to stop UNFPA funding. Sen Roger Wicker has introduced an amendment to the Senate omnibus spending bill that would reverse the language the House put in its bill. Also, Senator David Vitter is making good on his promise to continue his fight to prevent taxpayers from having their money sent from the federal government to the nation's biggest abortion business. When the Senate considers its spending bill this week, he will propose cutting Planned Parenthood funding. In a huge move, Republican senators have unanimously signed their names to a letter telling President Barack Obama that he needs to fill some of the many open slots in lower federal courts with President Bush's nominees for those positions or face filibusters of his own picks.
These senators need your support! Your voice needs to be heard! Contact your congressmen today and urge support for the above legislation and your opposition to Obama's extreme anti-life record!
Every one of Obama's cabinet nominees are extremely anti-life. His justice department nominees include David Ogden, who in the past represented the likes of Playboy to allow their "literature" into the Library of Congress; Thomas Perrelli, who represented the husband of Terry Schiavo; and Dawn Johnsen, who years ago compared "forced childbirth" to slavery and was the legal director for NARAL. Former Emily's List board member Melody Barnes was nominated as his director of the Domestic Policy Council. Another Emily's List alum and director, Ellen Moran, was appointed White House Communications Director.
Most recently, Obama appointed Kansas governor and pro-choice "Catholic" Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health & Human Services (after pro-abortion Tom Daschle had to drop out due to tax evasion), a position that will have a tremendous influence on his healthcare policies. This most likely means that insurance companies will be forced to cover abortions under their plans. Sebelius has a frightening relationship with late-term abortionist, George Tiller, who has previously been charged with violating state abortion laws. He escaped charges mostly thanks to the influence of Sebelius, to whom Tiller has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sebelius has several times struck down laws that would strengthen limits on late-term abortions. In addition, she held a private, secret event for the abortionist at the governor's mansion. She also has many ties to pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood and many others.
Sebelius was asked to stop receiving Holy Communion until she repents by Kansas City Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, a request she has thus far ignored.
Is this the kind of change we wanted or expected? I know it's what we feared. And probably even more so. Obama needs to be called out for moving so far to the left and in direct opposition to his campaign promises of working with both sides of the aisle to find common ground. He has not made a single move to find common ground with pro-lifers. He's not even in favor of common-sense restrictions like waiting periods, parental consent, and ultrasounds. Removing the conscience clause for physicians and healthcare workers is about as far left a move as imaginable.
In response to Obama's anti-life record several lawmakers are drafting legislation to combat further trampling on the right to life. Responding to a move by pro-abortion Democratic leaders in the House, a pro-life senator has introduced an amendment to stop UNFPA funding. Sen Roger Wicker has introduced an amendment to the Senate omnibus spending bill that would reverse the language the House put in its bill. Also, Senator David Vitter is making good on his promise to continue his fight to prevent taxpayers from having their money sent from the federal government to the nation's biggest abortion business. When the Senate considers its spending bill this week, he will propose cutting Planned Parenthood funding. In a huge move, Republican senators have unanimously signed their names to a letter telling President Barack Obama that he needs to fill some of the many open slots in lower federal courts with President Bush's nominees for those positions or face filibusters of his own picks.
These senators need your support! Your voice needs to be heard! Contact your congressmen today and urge support for the above legislation and your opposition to Obama's extreme anti-life record!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sign the Fight FOCA Petition
President Obama made a promise to Planned Parenthood they expect him to keep.
The first thing I’d do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing I’d do.
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide.
The first thing I’d do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing I’d do.
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide.
- FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial birth abortion, and on all other protections.
- FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
- FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.
Barack Obama believes this legislation will "end the culture wars." To him, "ending the culture wars" means eradicating every state and federal law on abortion — laws that the majority of Americans support.
The time to Fight FOCA is now. With Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in charge of Congress, we can expect a fight over FOCA to begin soon.
Please add your name to the Fight FOCA petition and let your friends know about President Obama’s promise to expand abortion throughout the country. Link to petition.
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