LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT!!!

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT!!!

The hearing for the Freedom of Choice Act bill has been scheduled.

Now is the time to educate the members of the Human Services Committee, on the dangers of the Freedom Of Choice Act (FOCA) and urge them to vote "NO" on HB 2354. If Illinois should pass this bill, abortion would be enshrined as a right in Illinois. We would not be able to have any of the following protections:

1. Partial-birth abortion would be legal

2. There would be no conscience clause for health care workers in Illinois.

3. There would be no informed consent/waiting period.

4. There would be no parental involvement.

5. Taxpayers would pay for abortions.

6. Presently Illinois has a physician only for abortion law. That would be nullified, opening the doors for non-physician abortions.

The time to Fight FOCA is now.

The FOCA bill is now in the Human Services Committee scheduled to be heard March 4 at 8:00 am.  Now is the time to contact the members of the Human Services Committee and urge them to vote "NO" on HB 2354, the Freedom of Choice Act!

Members of the Human Services Committee are...

Chairperson: Naomi D. Jakobsson (D)
E-mail: naomi@naomijakobsson.com
206 N. Randolph
Suite 120
Champaign, IL  61820
Phone: (217) 373-5000

Vice-Chairperson: Constance A. Howard (D)
E-mail: staterep-constance-a-howard@comcast.net
8729 S. State Street
Chicago, IL  60619
Phone: (773) 783-8800

Republican Spokesperson: Patricia R. Bellock (R)
E-mail: rep@pbellock.com
1 S. Cass Ave.
Westmont Centre, Suite 205
Westmont, IL  60559
Phone: (630) 852-8633

Member: Sandy Cole (R)
E-mail: Click here (Web Form)
137 South Center
Suite 2
Grayslake, IL  60030
Phone: (847) 543-0062

Member: Annazette Collins (D)
E-mail: collinsar@ilga.gov
259 North Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL  60624
Phone: (773) 533-0010

Member: Mary E. Flowers (D)
E-mail: flowersme@ilga.gov
2525 W. 79th Street
Chicago, IL  60652
Phone: (773) 471-5200

Member: Timothy L. Schmitz (R)
E-mail: info@timschmitz.org
127 Hamilton Street
Suite D
Geneva, IL  60134
Phone: (630) 845-9590

Click here for more information.

Students for Life Illinois has started a petition against FOCA in Illinois to be Presented to Legislators on March 4th.

Petition Against FOCA in Illinois

House Bill 2354, also known as the Reproductive Justice and Access Act (RJAA) has been dubbed the Illinois version of FOCA.  The bill is set to be heard on March 4th.  In response, Students for Life of Illinois has initiated a petition to lawmakers in Springfield to show them that Illinois does not support what HB 2354 proposes.  The petition will be presented to legislators in Springfield on March 4th.

"Planned Parenthood is leading a Lobby Day on March 10th in support of HB 2354.  We must have a strong showing both in Springfield and for those who cannot make it to Springfield.  That is why we initiated this petition.  We want every pro-life voice to be heard," said John-Paul Deddens, director of Students for Life of Illinois. "We will get to Springfield first, but it is imperative that we arrive with as much support as possible."

Click here to view and sign the petition. Hard copies can be requested to circulate in your local community this weekend.

Legislative Action Alert - (HB 2354 F.O.C.A. Bill)

lllinois Federation for Right to Life
Legislative Action Alert
Friday, February 27, 2009

The Freedom of Choice Act (HB 2354)

The hearing for the Freedom of Choice Act bill has been scheduled.

Now is the time to educate the members of the Human Services Committee, on the dangers of the Freedom Of Choice Act (FOCA) and urge them to vote "NO" on HB 2354.

If Illinois should pass this bill, abortion would be enshrined as a right in Illinois. We would not be able to have any of the following protections:

1. Partial-birth abortion would be legal

2. There would be no conscience clause for health care workers in Illinois.

3. There would be no informed consent/waiting period.

4. There would be no parental involvement.

5. Taxpayers would pay for abortions.

6. Presently Illinois has a physician only for abortion law. That would be nullified, opening the doors for non-physician abortions.

The time to Fight FOCA is now.

The FOCA bill is now in the Human Services Committee scheduled to be heard March 4 at 8:00 am.  Now is the time to call the members of the Human Services Committee and urge them to vote "NO" on HB 2354, the Freedom of Choice Act!

Members of the Human Services Committee are...

Chairperson: Naomi D. Jakobsson (D)
206 N. Randolph
Suite 120
Champaign, IL  61820
Phone: (217) 373-5000

Vice-Chairperson: Constance A. Howard (D)
8729 S. State Street
Chicago, IL  60619
Phone: (773) 783-8800

Republican Spokesperson: Patricia R. Bellock (R)
1 S. Cass Ave.
Westmont Centre, Suite 205
Westmont, IL  60559
Phone: (630) 852-8633

Member: Sandy Cole (R)
137 South Center
Suite 2
Grayslake, IL  60030
Phone: (847) 543-0062

Member: Annazette Collins (D)
259 North Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL  60624
Phone: (773) 533-0010

Member: Mary E. Flowers (D)
2525 W. 79th Street
Chicago, IL  60652
Phone: (773) 471-5200

Member:    Timothy L. Schmitz (R)
127 Hamilton Street
Suite D
Geneva, IL  60134
Phone: (630) 845-9590

Have You Watched The View Today?

While watching the View today, discussion centered around the octo-mom and re-productive technologies leading to an expansion of what the woman's choice now means. The "New Choice" is being suggested to include "selective reduction" of a baby, post ebmbryo implantion. Discussion continued where one participant shared that she is presently the mother of two frozen children, which she called "her boys".  She's keeping her children, frozen embryos in an embryo bank. So, the question is, how do we respond to this "New Choice"?  

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New Bill To Legalize Assisted Suicide

Democratic State Representative, Charles Weed, a New Hampshire lawmaker is proposing a bill that would make New Hampshire the 4th state to allow assisted suicide. The bill would let terminally adults obtain lethal prescriptions from their doctors through an application process. Representative Weed, told the House Judiciary Committee last week, that he hoped he would have the ability to get a lethal drug from his doctor to use to kill himself when he was ready to die. 

This is a fine example of the euthanasia movement's agenda, total autonomy. The right to kill oneself when one wants to. The problem is that Representative Weed is asking the Medical Community to participate by prescription. 

Only Oregon officially allows assisted suicide, but Washington voters approved a ballot measure, which becomes law in March, legalizing assisted suicide. To add to the case, a Montana court has added to the problem by allowing assisted suicide there, overturning a state ban on the practice. The Montana Supreme Court will hear an appeal on the case, shortly. However they're in the 9th Circuit, which has allowed Oregon and Washington to maintain their laws.    

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Fertility Clinics Out of Control

David Gushee, a professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University stated: "In January, a California woman named Nadya Suleman, gave birth to octuplets through in vitro fertilization." These 8 babies joined their  6 other siblings who she had also conceived through the in vitro procedure. This is an extreme example of a growing trend. The reproductive technology industry is booming, with over 130,000 procedures and 50,000 births a year, up from around 65,000 procedures and just below 20,000 births, a little over 10 years ago.

Almost 90 % of in vitro procedures involve transferring more than one embryo. This, in many instances, has given rise to the increase in multiple births. And multiple births have given rise to an increased cost in health care for these babies, and health consequences due to low birth and various disabilities. Many times the embryo is discarded and not implanted in the woman's which results in the death of an unborn baby. Or the multiple embryos, not implanted, are frozen, leaving them prisoners in a frozen concentration camp.  

The reproductive-technology industry is almost entirely un-regulated. Most of the regulations are framed as guidelines, and not enforced by the law. 

This entire industry is responsible for children being viewed as a commodity.  They are mere product choices cereal boxes on a store shelf.  Or, if the embryo is frozen, it becomes a mere product choice of a frozen confection. This reduces humanity to consumerism at it's worst.     

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Legislative Action Alert - FOCA (HB 2354)

Illinois Federation for Right to Life
Legislative Action Alert
Friday, February 20, 2009

ACTION ALERT

STATE FOCA BILL INTRODUCED

 

The Illinois FOCA bill was introduced as HB 2354

Now is the time to educate your representative, on the dangers of the Freedom Of Choice Act (FOCA) and urge them to vote "NO" on HB 2354. If Illinois should pass this bill, abortion would be enshrined as a right in Illinois. We would not be able to have any of the following protections:

1. Partial-birth abortion would be legal
2. There would be no conscience clause for health care workers in Illinois.
3. There would be no informed consent/waiting period.
4. There would be no parental involvement.
5. Taxpayers would pay for abortions.
6. Presently Illinois has a physician only for abortion law. That would be nullified, opening the doors for non-physician abortions.

FOCA states every woman has "a fundamental right" to have an abortion, and no Illinois government may deny or "interfere with" this right. Moreover, no government agency may "discriminate against the exercise of this right when regulating or providing "benefits, facilities, services, or information" to the public. In other words abortion may not be treated differently from live birth -- if a public program supports motherhood it must equally support abortion. FOCA endangers a wide range of laws enacted by the people and their elected Representatives over 35 years.  

The time to Fight FOCA is now.

It is imperative that you contact your House representative and Senator and tell them that you are opposed to this radical bill.

Our representatives are meeting this week in Springfield to develop committees. As you know, every bill introduced needs a sponsor and a bill number. It is then assigned to a particular committee. This committee hears the bill and will vote to either kill the bill in committee, or pass it out of committee, to the floor of the House or Senate for a vote.

Now is the time to educate your senator and representative on FOCA....

Click here to contact your representative

If You're Brain Dead R U Dead or Only Just Dead Enough?

Rome is hosting a conference on "brain death". The conference seeks to clarify the position of the Catholic Church on the removal of vital organs from patients. In Novembers of 2008, the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life caused a volcanic eruption, when it declined to address the ethical problems of "brain death criteria". Letters and emails went unanswered and the conference went ahead, with no mention of the controversy surrounding organ donation. 

Pope Benedict XVI, in his address to the conference warned, organ transplantation can be a source of abuses of human dignity. "The main criteria must be respect for the life of the donor, so that the removal of organs is allowed only in the presence of his actual death." 

As usual, immediately following the publication of the Pope's address, the Vatican responded by posting articles defending the use of "brain death criteria" for organ transplantation. L' Osservatore Romano published an article by Lucetta Scaraffia, a professor of contemporary history at the Rome University La Sapienza, outlining the dangers of "brain death criteria".  

This sets the stage for this week's conference. What do you suspect will happen?

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Do you know what's in the Stimulus bill?

We know what many of our elected representatives do not know, even though they signed the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, so that you and I can pay it. We know that there are five pages of exceptions to the prohibition on the sale of electronic health records or protected health information. We also know that the Stimulus package allocated $19 billion to establish centrally linked health data infrastructure to contain the health information of each American by 2014. And we know a new office is being set up to coordinate these records, called "National Coordinator for Health Care Information Technology."  
       
 President Barack Obama, when promoting the Stimulus Bill, said: "We'll computerize our health care system, at least, to save billions of dollars and countless lives as we reduce medical error." White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, Spending more on health information technology creates jobs, saves money, provides less burocracy and will save cost for small businessmen. Mr Gibbs stated: "If you go to the bank on the way home, and take out your ATM card, and take $25.00 out of your account to use this weekend, the transaction costs the bank, in many cases, half a penny. A medical transaction of your records from your doctor in Bethesda to an emergency room in Washington cost $10.00. The president believes, that by implementing health care technology, we can save billions of dollars in health care costs, we see skyrocketing every year."

Do we smell a rat in this plan? Or perhaps rationing of care? Or perhaps a denial of care? Do we see governmental protocols mandate in hospitals?

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Activists Scuttle Planned Parenthood's "Community Forum"

Fox Valley Activists Scuttle Planned Parenthood's "Community Forum"

Posted by Matt Yonke on Thursday, February 12th, 2009

It was cold, windy and exceptionally dark on Wednesday, February 11, when over 40 pro-lifers from Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood (FVFAPP) protested Planned Parenthood's so-called "Community Forum" on Reproductive Justice at the Eola Community Center in Aurora, IL.

Planned Parenthood has been holding these Forums all over Illinois in support of Illinois House Bill 5615, the Reproductive Justice and Access Act (RJAA).

FOCA for Illinois

The RJAA is essentially the "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA) on the state level. It would remove what few restrictions the state currently has on abortion, end abstinence education in schools and all but eliminate doctors' and pharmacists' rights to refuse abortion or contraception on the basis of conscience.

The RJAA was defeated in the legislature last year after FVFAPP and other Illinois pro-life groups led a massive campaign of calls and letters to Illinois public officials. Now, Planned Parenthood is trying to push the legislature to bring it back.

Planned Parenthood's Strange "Community Forum"

Planned Parenthood doesn't hold community meetings for the purpose of informing the community and fostering dialogue. If they wanted to do that, the meeting would have been open to the public.

Instead, to attend the meeting, they required people to sign up beforehand on their website and bring a photo ID.

Once word got out FVFAPP was planning a protest of the meeting, Planned Parenthood claimed their registration system had had a glitch and everyone would need to re-register. At the same time, they claimed that they were booked to capacity and could accept no new registrations.

Local pro-life student Greg Guest had signed up for the meeting prior to the glitch, brought his photo ID, and was told his name was not on the list and he would not be allowed in.

Witnesses said every person entering the meeting was known by name to the Planned Parenthood representatives guarding the door, and though they claimed to be booked to capacity, fewer than twenty people attended the "Community Forum" and there were many empty seats.

Pro-Lifers Outnumber Planned Parenthood 3 to 1

Outside, over 40 pro-lifers picketed in the spot assigned to them by the Fox Valley Park Distric police department, which was conveniently situated directly outside the room where Planned Parenthood was holding their closed-door meeting. The two parking lot lights adjacent to our spot were conspicuously not lit and the moonless night made for a very dark spot to protest.

Despite the cold and the darkness, the mood was positive as pro-lifers carried signs reading "Planned Parenthood Lies to You", "Stop Abortion Now" and "Planned Parenthood Kills Babies."

As many picketed, others handed out literature about the RJAA, detailing its many pernicious aspects. Almost 300 pieces were handed out to people entering and leaving the community center.

Planned Parenthood hoped their forum would buy them credibility as a positive community organization and would paint a pretty face on their deadly operation. FVFAPP's protest exposed them and their legislation for what it is.

"When we announced this protest, Planned Parenthood abandoned the idea of having a community meeting. They know how committed the pro-lifers of the Fox Valley really are," Eric Scheidler said.

Stalwart activism like this has made it clear to Planned Parenthood, city governments and law enforcement that the League is serious and in it for the long haul in Aurora.

Thanks to all those faithful activists who braved the weather and sacrificed an evening to make this event a success.

Contact: Matt Yonke
Source: Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood
Source URL: http://familiesagainstplannedparenthood.org
Publish Date: February 12, 2009
Link to this article:
http://www.ifrl.org/ifrl/news/090213_1.htm

12-year-old's Profound Speech on Abortion

"Y.O.P.P"—a 12-year-old's Profound Speech on Abortion

"…we can't take someone's rights away to avoid our own choices."

Those familiar with the children's book written by Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who, will remember the one word shouted by the smallest who in Whoville; the word that made all the difference, and broke through to the ears of the unbelievers. That word was "YOPP!"

Bound4Life, the grassroots prayer mobilization movement suggests that "YOPP" stands for "Young Ones Praying and Prophesying." With that in mind, they have posted a video of a "young one" speaking some remarkable words of truth; simple and direct. (Photo: Bound4Life.com)

Lia, a 12-year-old seventh grader recently gave a very profound speech in her school, on the topic of abortion. According to Bound4Life, her teachers "strongly encouraged" her to choose a different subject, but Lia is obviously passionate about life. She courageously stayed with her topic, and her speech is fearless, and informative.

Click here to watch Lia's speech.

Lia's mother wrote in an email about where her daughter's passion originated, and what happened in school after she chose to speak on abortion…

"It was really a family thing. I saw Lou [Engle] speak at a conference several years ago. I came back to my family with the "Life Bands," and we all wore them, made our covenant, and prayed the prayer for abortion to end… We were invited to participate in a "Life Tape Siege." Once my kids heard of this invitation, they all agreed: "We have to do that!" Since then, Lia's passion for seeing abortion end has continued. Being impacted by Lou's words regarding Horton [Hears a Who], she was excited to watch the movie when it was released (and the rest of the family were too!).

"As part of her class requirements, she needed to prepare a speech; however, the classroom presentations were also meant to enable the teacher to select the best speeches to go on to a more serious competition. As I mentioned, several teachers discouraged her from picking the topic of abortion; she was told it was "too big", "too mature" and "too controversial." She was also told that if she went ahead with that topic, she would not be allowed to continue on in the speech competition. Initially, I tried helping her find other topics to speak on, but, in the end, she was adamant. She just felt she wanted to continue with the topic of abortion. So she forfeited her chance to compete in order to speak on something she was passionate about."

Contact: Aimee Herd
Source: Bound4life.com
Source URL: http://bound4life.com
Publish Date: February 10, 2009
Link to this article:
http://www.ifrl.org/ifrl/news/090213_2.htm