Some pro-life news stories you should read

A couple related stories via CNA:

First, a few lines of this… Proposed abortion reduction bill a Planned Parenthood ‘stimulus package,’ bishops’ pro-life official says

.- An official with the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-life Activities has attacked a federal bill promising to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce abortions, characterizing it as a "Planned Parenthood Economic Stimulus Package." She said increased abstinence among youth, not contraceptive access, should be encouraged.

The bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), is titled "Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act." Its sponsors have described it as a "common ground" initiative that would appeal to people on all sides of the abortion debate.

Susan Wills, Assistant Director for Education and Outreach in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, said the bill is "dressed up" with some funding for after-school programs and "very poorly crafted" efforts to support pregnant students.

However, she quoted Rep. Ryan’s May 19 remarks on MSNBC’s "Hardball," in which the congressman said the bill is "about access to birth control."

"We have to have birth control and contraception offered to these poor women who don’t have access to contraception, period, dot," he continued, saying there is no other way America can reduce abortions.

To this, Wills responded:

"About what you’d expect in a bill whose co-sponsors enjoy a 100% pro-choice rating from NARAL."

Read the rest at CNA.  There are some good numbers and remarks.

Also,  U.S. House votes down Pence Amendment intended to defund Planned Parenthood

Washington D.C., Jul 24, 2009 / 02:55 pm (CNA).- The U.S. House of Representatives has voted 247-183 against an amendment that would stop federal taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood through the Title X Family Planning programs.

The amendment was sponsored by Indiana Republican Rep. Mike Pence.  [So, Rep. Pence tried to shut down the tax money gravy train to Planned Parenthood (an industry founded by a racist to kill black children).]

"The largest abortion provider [industry] in America should not also be the largest recipient of federal funds under Title X," Rep. Pence said while introducing the amendment. His proposal would have modified H.R. 3293, the appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

The amendment was supported by a majority of Republicans and opposed by a majority of Democrats. [What a surprise.  I wonder how the Catholic Dems voted?] According to the web site of the Clerk of the House, 20 of the 258 Democrats who voted on the Pence Amendment voted in its favor, while nine of the 172 voting Republicans opposed it. 

Other pro-life amendments had been proposed but the House Rules Committee did not allow them to be considered in a full vote, LifeNews.com reports.

Prior to the vote, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) spoke in favor of the amendment.

"No child is safe in a Planned Parenthood clinic. That goes equally for the preborn child yearning to be born or the 15 year old pregnant girl being told she’s entitled to a secret abortion – an abortion procured with neither her parents’ knowledge nor consent."

Rep. Smith charged that Planned Parenthood has caused "a staggering loss of children’s lives." He said the organization "aggressively lobbies and litigates against every modest restriction" proven to "significantly reduce" abortions and has even opposed bans on partial-birth abortions.  [An excellent point.  This is precisely what we must keep in mind when we read the rhetoric about "reduce" that comes from the White House.  We must question whether or not they really mean what they say.]

"Planned Parenthood lobbies and litigates against prohibitions on taxpayer funding of abortion even though Planned Parenthood’s own research shows that funding bans reduce abortion by 20 to 35 percent," Rep. Smith said. "It’s time to understand the irreversible harm Planned Parenthood is doing to the children of America – born and unborn."

According to LifeNews.com, Planned Parenthood received more than $350 million in taxpayer money from federal, state, and local governments in fiscal year 2007-2008.

$350 million…. tax money

For more, look at this on Lifesite.   Moreover, Lifesite has a PDF of the roll call on the vote about this amendment.  You can see how your reps voted.  Perhaps someone could tease out the Catholics.

In the meantime, back to the issue of whether the words and the actions of the Obama Administration actually match up.

From CNA:

 

Obama misled Pope on his abortion agenda, congressman charges

Washington D.C., Jul 20, 2009 / 01:40 pm (CNA).- In remarks on the House floor last week, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) argued that President Obama purposely misled Pope Benedict XVI when he said that he “wants to reduce abortion” at their July 10 meeting.  [No Chris!  Say it ain’t so!]

Smith recalled the president’s statement to the Pope and pointed out that Obama has repeated it several times to different audiences.  And yet, Smith charged, Obama’s actions have not aligned with his words.  “He says one thing and does precisely the opposite.”  [For example, at the site of C-Fam read about how Pres. Obama is throwing his administration’s weight around through UN agencies to expand abortion rights.]

Now, the New Jersey Congressman said, Obama is offering a plan for health care reform that is a thinly veiled attempt to increase access to abortion on demand.  The plan would increase funding for abortions and allow abortion services to be considered part of “basic health care” required by all insurance plans, including private plans.  [Does that sound like a reduction strategy to you?]

Smith pointed to information from the Guttmacher Institute, which has stated that “when taxpayer funding is not available, between 20 and 35 percent of Medicaid abortions that would have been procured simply don’t occur.

These children go on to be born, he explained, referencing the millions of children throughout the country who are able to live their own lives and pursue their own hopes and dreams “because taxpayer subsidies didn’t effectuate their demise.”

“The ugly truth is that if his so-called health care reform care bill, if enacted, will lead to millions of additional deaths to children and millions of mothers will be wounded,” Smith said.

Rep. Smith concluded his remarks by encouraging his fellow congressmen to vote against the health care bill and insisting that “[t]here will be children who will die if this legislation becomes law simply because the subsidies are there to effectuate their deaths.”

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