We have to understand what the actual battle is here: it is about our constitutional and our conscience rights. This is not just about whether someone is for or against the pill; it is more about the government forcing people to pay for someone else’s birth control.
As of yesterday all companies would be required to pay for contraception and abortion-causing drugs to be included in their health plans. Some religious organizations would have been given one year to “adapt” to this policy (not Stand True or Priests for Life; we would not even qualify for that one year to adapt).
What the Obama administration actually just did in their “reversal” or “accommodation” they announced today is to say that now it is the insurance company who is required to pay for contraception and abortion-causing drugs and offer them for free to all women. The organizations that are opposed to paying for them will have no choice in the matter; the insurance companies they use will still cover these drugs.
Religious liberty is thrown out the window, conscience is trampled and the rights of the insurance companies are destroyed. Freedom does not seem to be a word that the Obama administration comprehends.
Think about this: the pro-abortion side has always cried for Christians to “keep your rosaries off my ovaries”, yet they want Churches and religious organizations to fund their sex lives. Do you see the irony in this?
Imagine if the President mandated that all companies pay for every employee’s Bible, religious supplies and gas money to get to church. It is ludicrous to think we can force anyone to pay for this, so why is it ok to force companies to fund its employees’ bedroom activities?
Those who call themselves pro-choice should be up in arms; they should be screaming at the top of their lungs about this violation of choice. The problem is that they are NOT pro-choice; they are pro-abortion and they can care less about the choices or beliefs of Christians.
Whether you believe in contraception or not, you must be outraged at what the Obama administration is doing. The rights and liberties of all Christians and religious people are at stake right now and we must stand against this injustice.
“You don’t adapt to injustice; you oppose it.” Fr Frank Pavone
Once again we see the beast that is the abortion industry and its champion, President Obama, trying to strong-arm Christians and pro-lifers. Last week they acted like the mob or a school-yard bully when they tried to destroy the Susan G Komen Foundation over 1/6 of 1/1000 of Planned Parenthood’s budget.
We must be more resolved to stand up, be a voice and shine the light of truth in these dark times. We must stand united together as we usher in a culture of life. We must break the chains of apathy and let our roar be heard.
I, for one, would sooner be handcuffed and taken to jail before I allow any insurance coverage that included abortion-causing drugs to be given to any employee.
Have you heard that the Obama Administration is trying to force every company, organization and employer in America to pay for abortion causing drugs and birth control? This includes Stand True and Priests for Life.
Would this sit well with Liberals? President mandates tax money to pay for communion supplies for churches or President mandates employers pay for all employees Bibles and religious books. – Democrats, Planned Parenthood and most liberal organizations would GO BALLISTIC.
Father Frank Pavone gave me these comments today to share with you.
“The Obama administration’s mandate for employers to pay for coverage of abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives, and sterilization does not just affect Churches, religious groups, and health care institutions; it affects virtually all health care plans and all employers, across the board.
We at Priests for Life are opposing this mandate as employers, not as a religious group. Religious freedom is not a right just of religious groups; it’s a right of every American.
Moreover, the exemption for this mandate is so narrow that we have been informed by legal counsel that we do not even qualify for it.
When the announcement was made last month that the government was neither changing the rule nor expanding the exemption for those who object, but rather merely giving a year’s extension to those who qualify for the exemption, we knew we had to act immediately.
For our corporation, this mandate goes into effect for us this August of 2012, not next year.
Moreover, we don’t need a year, nor do we need a moment, to determine what we are going to do, or to “adapt” to the rule. The rule is unjust. You don’t adapt to injustice; you oppose it.
That’s why we’re launching a federal lawsuit against the Obama Administration to block the enforcement of this mandate on us, and to declare it unconstitutional.”
Father Frank Pavone
Here is our official press release:
International Catholic Organization to File Lawsuit against Obama Administration for Conscience Violation Regarding Forced Coverage of Abortion and Contraception
Staten Island, NY – Priests for Life, a New York based international pro-life organization of Catholic clergy and laity, today announced that it will be filing a lawsuit against the Obama Administration in an effort to seek injunctive relief from impending regulations that would require the organization to pay for employee health insurance that covers abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, and sterilization.
The Obama Administration’s rules – recently brought forth by a decree from the Department of Health and Human Services – are part of the controversial “ObamaCare” health insurance law (the so-called “Affordable Care Act”) that was passed by Congress in 2010 amidst endless ambiguities, confusion, and false assurances by President Obama himself that it would never be used to violate any organization’s or individual’s conscience on moral issues.
Now that the new HHS rules have been formally issued, however, Americans of all faiths are stunned that the Obama Administration is going to require employers to provide health insurance coverage for certain acts that go directly against their consciences or religious beliefs.
The lawsuit will seek injunctive relief from the HHS rules – first on behalf of Priests for Life, and hopefully extending universally since all organizations and companies will be affected by the tyrannical HHS decree. Priests for Life is particularly well placed to pursue this litigation because its primary purposes are to promote and protect life whereas the primary purposes of the contraceptive mandate are to prevent and destroy life.
According to Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, “It’s unthinkable that President Obama would force Americans of any faith to violate their consciences. Yet here he is, arrogantly imposing these regulations that clearly discriminate against Catholics and all Christians, as well as people of any faith who believe in the sanctity of innocent human life. This has clearly become a human rights case – and is no longer just a partisan political football.”
Priests for Life has retained noted civil rights attorney Charles LiMandri of San Diego to represent them in their lawsuit against Obama. LiMandri achieved national distinction by saving the famous “Mt. Soledad Cross” – a historic war memorial that had been erected on public property many decades ago, which local atheists sought to have torn down. He has also fought for the rights of San Diego firefighters who were forced to participate in a vulgar “gay pride” parade against their will or else face termination. He was also the General Counsel for the National Organization for Marriage–California during the successful Proposition 8 Campaign to save traditional marriage.
LiMandri remarks, “This is the first time in history any administration has used brute force to compel someone to violate his conscience or moral convictions. It’s unheard of. It’s also antithetical to the core American principles of religious liberty and freedom from invasions of privacy. We intend to fight the ill-conceived HHS edict and challenge it on constitutional grounds. This case could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. And we’ll be happy to take it there if need be.”
Priests for Life is the largest Catholic pro-life organization in the United States. It is a private association of the faithful and an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit educational corporation. Under the Obama Administration’s new HHS rules, it is treated like any other corporation and therefore must comply with these conscience-violating mandates, decrees, and punitive measures.
Priests for Life applauds the members of Congress who have introduced legislation to address the HHS policy, and will also support the efforts of the Church, and many other groups, to pass such legislation.
Further details of the lawsuit will be forthcoming.
This just in from our friends at CEC for Life – Atlanta OB/GYN Will No Longer Commit Abortions in Birmingham
Father Terry Standing for Life
According to the pro-life group CEC For Life, an Atlanta OB/GYN, Dr. Ivan Diamond, will no longer commit abortions at the New Woman All Women abortion mill in Birmingham, AL.
Diamond was one of two known abortionists at New Woman–a clinic that made news Jan 21st for two botched abortions.
On the morning of February 2nd, after several unsuccessful attempts to contact Northside Women Specialists–Diamond’s employer–CEC For Life traveled to Atlanta with the intention of bringing public awareness to Diamond’s weekend abortion practice in Birmingham.
“We called Northside several times,” reports CEC For Life assistant Sarah Howell. “They didn’t call back, so we sent a letter. When that went unnoticed we knew we’d have to picket.”
But according to CEC For Life Director Fr. Terry Gensemer, the group arrived to discover that their picket would not be needed.
Before beginning their demonstration, Fr. Gensemer and two other members of CEC For Life decided to enter the building and make the OB/GYN office aware of their intent. The group was immediately ushered into a back office by the receptionist and amicably greeted by the Northside Practice Manager.
“We received a letter,” the Practice Manager explained, “and, in light of that letter, we would like you to know that Dr. Diamond will no longer be performing abortions in Alabama.”
“We were stunned at first,” Fr. Gensemer comments. “We assumed they had chosen to ignore our letter. We would really like to thank Northside for choosing life and the integrity of their practice over the atrocious ‘side business’ of Diamond. Hopefully Northside will continue in its mission to provide high-quality care for women and preborn children.”
The New Woman clinic is now down one abortionist, an encouragement to CEC For Life. Over the last two years, the pro-life ministry has focused many of its efforts on closing down this clinic, consulting with Operation Rescue President Troy Newman and coordinating events with ally organizations like Survivors.
Newman is responsible for the closing of dozens of abortion mills across the nation. He says, “In OR’s experience, clinics like New Woman have a narrow hold on staying in business. They have two possible botched abortions for which they are being investigated, a dilapidated building, and one of their abortionists jumping ship.”
Sarah Howell concurs with Newman. “CEC For Life is completely committed to seeing this abortion mill close its doors. Diamond’s leaving is just one more step in that process.”
CEC for Life is a ministry of the Charismatic Episcopal Church.
The past few days have been a roller coaster ride as we have watched the situation with the Susan G Komen foundation unfold.
When we first heard the news that they had defunded Planned Parenthood we were ecstatic; we worked hard at letting them know how proud we were of them. I personally spent a lot of time and effort in creating online petitions, getting the word out and even sent flowers to the President of Susan G Komen thanking her for what they did.
Now today we see headlines appearing suddenly claiming that Susan G Komen has reversed their decision, yet the wording in their release doesn’t quite say that. In fact several pro-abortion sites are publishing articles saying that the decision was not really reversed and that their side should tread carefully.
So what does this all mean?
After a heartfelt discussion today with many pro-life leaders this is a joint statement many are releasing right now.
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Pro-Life Statement
on the Susan G. Komen Foundation
and Planned Parenthood
Today the Susan G. Komen Foundation made an announcement that appears as if they have reversed themselves on funding of Planned Parenthood.
It is unclear at this time if they have in fact reversed themselves.
What we know has happened this week was nothing short of a Mafia shakedown by Planned Parenthood against the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It was little more than a hostage-taking by an abortion bully.
Planned Parenthood basically told the Komen Foundation, “Either give us money or we will destroy you.” They were aided and abetted in this hostage-taking by the mainstream media.
Susan G. Komen withheld Planned Parenthood funding for two laudatory reasons: they do not fund groups under criminal investigation and they do not support groups that do not actually help women in need of breast health care.
Planned Parenthood is under legislative and criminal investigations all over this country. What’s more, Planned Parenthood does not provide mammograms even though they claim they do.
What Planned Parenthood did this week was unleash their multi-million dollar fury and political might against a group wholly unprepared for such a political attack. The Susan G. Komen Foundation is a non-profit charity dedicated to curing breast cancer. Planned Parenthood is a political machine dedicated to attacking anyone and anything that stands in its way.
Planned Parenthood tried this week to utterly destroy the Susan G. Komen Foundaton and they were well on their way to doing just that. They made it abundantly clear they care more for abortion than for protecting women’s lives.
This is not the first time. When the country was debating national health care, Planned Parenthood was quite willing to kill the bill rather than allow even minor abortion restrictions in it. Later, Planned Parenthood pushed President Obama toward a government shutdown rather than allow Planned Parenthood funding restrictions in the federal budget.
Planned Parenthood has shown they care more about abortion and about protecting their funding streams than any other thing, including women’s lives.
At this point, pro-lifers should cease their support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We should wait and see what happens. We know there are five more Komen grants to Planned Parenthood in the pipeline. If any more come up, we will know we have lost and Planned Parenthood has won and we will take appropriate actions at that time.
Pro-lifers should not regret the work we have done over the past days on this issue. We should only regret we could not have done more to make Komen strong and able to fight off the thuggish abortion giant, Planned Parenthood.
We should pray for Nancy Brinker and her colleagues at the Susan G. Komen Foundation, that they have the strength to stop funding Planned Parenthood. We should turn all of our fire on Planned Parenthood and show them for the criminal enterprise they really are.
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So here is my commitment as President of Stand True and Youth Outreach Director of Priests for Life: we will work harder then ever this year to expose Planned Parenthood for the beast it is. We will educate the youth of America and work harder then ever to end the reign of terror that Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry has loosed on this generation.
Mark my words. We will end the abortion holocaust.
At a time when you’d think President Barack Obama would be trying his best to “woo” the crucial Catholic vote for the November election, he comes out with a doozie of a “decree” from the Department of Health and Human Services that will REQUIRE Catholic institutions such as hospitals, charities, and universities to PAY FOR the abortion-causing “birth control” pills (as well as sterilization and contraception devices) that are diametrically opposed to Catholic moral teaching!
The new decree is a direct part of “ObamaCare” – which Obama himself previously reassured us would “respect” the moral conscience of religious institutions, and never require them to do something against their beliefs or religious principles.
However, now that ObamaCare has become law and is being implemented at the “real world” level, it is quickly revealing its true colors.
Chief among those is the Obama Administration’s obsession with abortion (and anything else involving the culture of death).
The abortion-causing birth-control decree recently issued by HHS states that Catholic Church-run schools, hospitals, charities, and universities must pay for any and all morally-repugnant anti-life “contraceptives” et al. demanded by students and employees.
Naturally, the pro-death abortion cartel is behind this all the way.
According to a recent article in “Ms.” Magazine (Jan. 31, 2012), the Feminist Majority Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Council of Jewish Women, and others want to “save birth control from the Catholic bishops.”
These groups – who want “religious freedom” for everyone except Christians – are opposed to the Church’s request to broaden the “religious exemption” in ObamaCare that currently applies only to actual parishes, diocesan offices, and their staff members.
Under the new HHS decree, the Church would be forced to pay 100% (that is, no co-pays or deductibles) for abortion-inducing drugs and sterilization for all students, teachers, nurses, social workers, and other staff (and their families) at religiously-connected or affiliated schools, universities, and hospitals, as well as social service institutions like Catholic Charities.
This, of course, is absolutely unacceptable to the Catholic Church.
It is, first and foremost, a violation of the Church’s religious freedom and rights of conscience.
Secondly, it’s certainly unconstitutional.
And thirdly, it will quite possibly cause the Catholic Church to openly revolt against the Obama Administration- a showdown that would be very costly, time-consuming, and unnecessarily disruptive of all the good work done every day by the Church in the fields of education, health care, and charity.
Do the pro-abortion fanatics care about any of that?
NOT ONE BIT.
They’re out to force abortion down our throats, no matter what the cost.
Furthermore, this is just the first stage in the pro-aborts’ plans to make everyonepay for abortion through ObamaCare.
Witness this statement from a Planned Parenthood web site:
Tell HHS: Protect Women’s Access To Private Insurance
Coverage For Abortion
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is on the verge of issuing new rules that will determine whether millions of women are able to purchase private health insurance that includes abortion care.
Our opponents want to ban insurance coverage for abortion for every woman in America and make it impossible for millions to get affordable care – and they’re sending a flood of messages to HHS. We can’t let them drown us out.[SOURCE: www.ppaction.org]
As you can see, this is an all-out WAR to get the taxpayer to PAY FOR THE CULTURE OF DEATH.
And naturally, the abortion cartel is picking on their #1 Enemy: The Catholic Church.
The pro-abortion forces know that if they can “knock out” the Catholic Church in one fell swoop, there will be NO further opposition to subsidized abortion ever… simply because no one but the Catholic Church has the power to mount an effective resistance to this unholy “act of war” by the Obama Administration.
Already, the Church has officially sprung into action – with bishops from coast to coast openly refusing to go along with the new HHS guidelines (which start to take effect in August of this year).
Furthermore, Catholic colleges are already filing lawsuits against the HHS ruling. If need be, these cases will go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
And the Catholic laity is being summoned to contact their representatives in Washington in order to get legislation passed that will circumvent the tyrannical HHS decree.
Therefore, YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED in order to “weigh in” on this absolutely crucial fight!
We at Priests For Life are currently making this a TOP PRIORITY for the foreseeable future. We won’t back downuntil this Nazi-style HHS ruling is rescinded or reversed!
We encourage you to pray for all the bishops and other Church leaders who are spearheading this fight. (And, thank God, there are many!)
We also ask you to contact your own pastor and urge him to take action locally and speak about this issue from the pulpit. Right now, most Catholics are “in the dark” on the issue – especially when it comes to Church teaching on contraception and openness to life.
This is truly a “teaching moment” that must not be squandered!
Therefore, be sure to inform yourself about the nature of this battle, as well as the fight against the contraceptive/abortion mentality in general.
Below is a link that will be useful in your quest to become a strong soldier in this war – a war in which the Obama Administration drew “first blood.”
Late yesterday afternoon the news broke that the Susan G Komen Foundation had decided to halt all donations to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. As you can imagine, pro-lifers quickly began to celebrate and pro-abortion activists were shocked.
For year, we in the pro-life movement have been calling for not only the United States Government to defund Planned Parenthood, but also for corporations and organizations like Susan G Komen to halt donations. Over the years we have seen victories with corporations like Target and Harley Davidson pulling funding because of public boycotts and pressure from the pro-life movement.
Last night’s announcement is a huge victory for pro-lifers, babies and for women everywhere as many have wanted to support Susan G Komen but could not in good conscience because of their support of Planned Parenthood. Now that the donations have stopped and we are open to supporting Susan G Komen, we must also thank them even louder than we scolded them.
It is easy to be loud and protest things we are angry about, but I believe we need to be even louder in our praise and thanks so they know we are supporting their decision.
We have made it easy for you to thank the Susan G Komen foundation by putting together a simple web site to use and promote -http://thankskomen.com/
Please visit http://thankskomen.com/ and let them know how happy we are with their decision to defund Planned Parenthood and then share this site with everyone you know.
I don’t care what the reason is but Planned Parenthood is losing money and that makes me happy. Planned Parenthood is responsible for 25 percent of surgical abortions in America, no one should be giving this organization money, especially a charity that is supposed to be helping women.
Stand True is Planning a White Rose Pro-life Summer Project in Dayton, OH
Normally, Stand True spends the summer on the road, traveling across the United States and setting up pro-life booths at music festivals along the way. Every year we see more and more local pro-life organizations set up at the festivals, which means we are assured that if we are not there the pro-life message will still go out and we can work on a new vision for the summer.
The White Rose was a coalition of young people in Nazi Germany who dedicated themselves to educate Germans about truth of the Nazi Holocaust. These young people were willing to risk their lives to spread the truth and be a light in the darkness; they raised their voices for life when the penalty for being caught was certain death.
I have always admired the courage of the White Rose and have wanted to see such courage in the youth of America in regards to the Abortion Holocaust. Over the past several years we have seen just such a rise in courage, passion and dedication in America’s youth and they are standing up more then ever against the killing of their generation.
This summer we are launching the White Rose Pro-life Summer Project in Dayton, OH to spread the truth about abortion and be a constant voice for life in front of Dayton’s only remaining abortion clinic. We will be bringing in youth from around the country to spend a portion or all of their summer as part of the White Rose Pro-life Summer.
We will have a peaceful, prayerful presence in front of Martin Haskell’s abortion clinic in Kettering, OH (a subarb of Dayton) every day. We will be bringing our pro-life witness, literature distribution and street ministry to events around the city, including baseball games, conventions and more. We plan on setting up meetings with as many churches in the Dayton, OH area as possible to ask them how we can help make sure they have a pro-life outreach in the Dayton community. The White Rose Pro-life Summer Project will saturate Dayton, OH and the surrounding area with the message of life as we reveal the truth that abortion is the killing of innocent children.
The White Rose Pro-life Summer Project will run from June 1 – July 31, 2012.
If you are interested in spending all or part of your summer as a White Rose Missionary please e-mail us at info@standtrue.com
Host Housing – If you live near or in Dayton, OH and would like to host a White Rose Student for part of the summer you can e-mail us at info@standtrue.com
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March for Life 2012
I think giving an account of the Annual March for Life is my most dreaded yearly report; this means we have started another year of decriminalized child killing in America. This year being the start of the 40th year makes it even more painful than ever as we are reaching the mark of a full generation being under the shadow of the abortion holocaust.
While I may be sad that we have entered another year, I am also encouraged by what I am seeing in the youth pro-life movement. This year we hosted the first annual Official March for Life Youth Rally as part of the March for Life Convention. I was excited to bring together such amazing youth pro-life leaders as Lila Rose, Kristin Hawkins, Jason Jones and so many others in a unified effort to educate, activate and equip young people to stand up and be a voice.
We were initially hoping to see about 800 -1,000 young people show up for the rally and we were ecstatic when it reached standing room only with almost 1,500 people attending the rally. About 30 minutes into the rally, as I was about to introduce Nelly Grey, the founder of the March for Life, approximately 15-20 pro-abortion protestors stood up and interrupted the rally.
I looked out at the huge crowd of young pro-lifers and watched their reaction to the protesters and it brought such joy to my heart. Lila Rose took the microphone and started to lead them in prayer and I watched as hundreds of hands raised towards the protesters as the pro-lifers began to pray for them. There was not angry exchange, but an outpouring of love from the pro-life youth, and the protesters simply walked away when security arrived and we continued our rally.
I am so proud of this youth pro-life movement and the momentum we are gaining in the battle. I was on one of the biggest highs of my life as I watched these youth eat up every word from our speakers and cheered as we proclaimed that this will be the generation that will end the abortion holocaust.
I normally write a recap of the March for Life myself but this year I am going to share someone else’s account: the account a 14 year old girl who has taken up the mantle of abortion abolitionist. As well as writing our March for Life recap, Cassandra Mohr shared an original song at the youth rally for which you can see a video of here:
March for Life 2012, Washington DC By Cassandra A. Mohr, age 14
It was amazing to me how many people there were. Just looking at the river of people that seemed to go on and on made me feel so insignificant; but then, I realized that without individuals like me there would be no March. The flow of families, schools, churches, clergymen, and more had started sometime around 1:00 pm. It’s always hard to tell when the actual March starts because of the constant arrivals of different groups, but one thing I did know was that it had started at the front with regretful women who wanted to take a stand and stop the holocaust. My group (Stand True) had been just blocks away handing out flyers when we realized that the March had started – and we ran to get in the crowd! As I helped carry the Stand True banner, I thought that we probably should’ve brought something to hold it up because otherwise, no one would see it; but then I realized that it didn’t matter if anyone saw our individual banner or not. We were here to show that we were against abortion, and to take a stand. Sure, we wanted people to see and support us, but right then all that mattered was our presence. The simple fact that we were there to be part of the movement was enough.
As I walked with the crowd, it seemed like I had found my family. It didn’t matter that our countries differed so dramatically that there were some of us from California and some from Ireland, or that some had voted for Obama in the last election and some had picketed his whole operation; it didn’t even matter that we came from Catholic, Lutheran, Evangelical, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, and atheist beliefs. We were united against abortion – of one mind and one goal, and we would stand up for life together. Everyone was so kind and understanding! It was amazing how just one issue could bring so many people together like that. One thing that was really interesting personally was the policemen that were on duty that day. To me, it was very obvious who supported life, and who supported abortion; the pro-abortion policemen were pretty tight-lipped and overall hostile about the whole thing. The pro-life policemen were simply a part of the family: easy to approach and have a conversation with. Nevertheless, I got back to my hotel well enough with street directions from both groups, and I have to say that they did their jobs well.
When we reached the Supreme Court building, it seemed as though no one knew what to do next. The press of people up in front of the blocked-off building, in the streets, and on the sidewalks became so great that you almost couldn’t take two steps in one direction without having to dodge somebody. I started to hear yelling from one direction; in fact, it sounded a little like chanting. I presumed that it was just a rowdy boys youth group wanting to burn off some energy. However, when the chanting didn’t stop for at least another ten minutes, I became curious and started trying to worm my way through the incessant crowd. Of course, I was too short to see anything until I got to the very front of the gathering (it was at that point I found myself wishing I had worn my 4-inch heels) and I saw what the commotion was about. Of course they weren’t pro-lifers! Why hadn’t I known it before? The very tone of their voices and the hurt and anger behind their eyes showed me the truth. Well, that and a five-foot neon pink sign screaming, “Good women have abortions.” There were only about fifteen of them, and the police were blocking them off! It seemed to me that if things were to get violent, they were not the ones who would need to be protected. I attempted to engage in a debate with a 21-year-old man about whether women should have the choice to end their child’s life or not, but it was almost impossible because neither crowd would stop yelling! We tried to continue having a discussion for at least a half-hour, and finally, as the crowd moved on through the streets we left with each other’s names and promises to try to find the other on Facebook. It was my hope that I would be able to help this young man see the light of truth; however, as of yet I have been unable to find him. I constantly continue to pray for him and for others like him who need healing.
The crowd continued on without me after that. I had wanted to go on, but it was starting to get late and I knew my parents would be worried about me soon (and I also knew that it would be difficult to get out of the crowd). I have no idea when it finally ended, but I know that it had to have been hours later as there were people returning to the hotel all day. Reflections on the day? Well, I’ll let my encounter with an elderly woman crossing the street suffice: neither of us could understand how the authorities could simply ignore us. The March had started out miniscule and grown to something gigantic – with hundreds of thousands of people flying in every single year just to try and end abortion. She had been coming for many years, and I only two, but we both understood the significance of this year: this was the start of the 40th year. It was not just the end of the 39th, but the start of a new generation. One full generation of people has been contaminated with the effects of abortion. One full generation. How is it that we have allowed abortion to touch our children for 40 years? Yes, children. They are indeed children; and we must not let the next generation of children have abortion as a part of their daily lives. At the end of the day, it became absolutely clear to me: we must not let abortion continue. We must act, and we will. One day, our voices will shout so loud that they cannot help but acknowledge us. My only prayer is this: that “one day” comes soon.
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My Journey Home to The Catholic Church
While Stand True remains an ecumenical organization for everyone and will always work with everyone, many people have asked why I converted to the Catholic Church. Here is my testimony on a TV show called “The Journey Home” on EWTN that aired this week –
Stand True operates through the generosity of you, our supporters. Please consider committing to being a monthly partner with Stand True: pledge to donate $10, $25, $50, $100 or any other amount to Stand True each month to partner with us. If you want to pledge monthly support you can e-mail info@standtrue.com to let us know your pledge..
For Christ I stand, Bryan Kemper President of Stand True & Director of Youth Outreach for Priests for Life Stand True * PO Box 890 * Troy, OH 45373 Tel 540.538.2581 bryankemper@standtrue.com
Women & Teens Medical Center, a Miami-area abortion mill, is openly advertising illegal diet products in the Miami New Times, Secular Pro-Life has learned.In a December 6, 2011 advisory, entitled “HCG Diet Products are Illegal,” The Food and Drug Administration had this to say about Human Chorionic Gonadtropin (HCG) products that supposedly help people lose weight:
HCG is a hormone that is produced by the human placenta during pregnancy.
Products that claim to contain HCG are typically marketed in connection with a very low calorie diet, usually one that limits calories to 500 per day. Many of these popular HCG products claim to “reset your metabolism,” change “abnormal eating patterns,” and shave 20-30 pounds in 30-40 days.
“These products are marketed with incredible claims and people think that if they’re losing weight, HCG must be working,” says Elizabeth Miller, acting director of FDA’s Division of Non-Prescription Drugs and Health Fraud. “But the data simply does not support this; any loss is from severe calorie restriction. Not from the HCG.”
HCG is approved by FDA as a prescription drug for the treatment of female infertility, and other medical conditions. It is not approved for weight loss. In fact, the prescription drug label notes there “is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or ‘normal’ distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.”
Despite the medical consensus that HCG does not help people lose weight, Women & Teens Medical Center is openly offering this pseudo-scientific weight loss treatment in the current (January 26) edition of the Miami New Times.
Women & Teens Medical Center also advertises the “termination pill,” by which they presumably mean the dangerous early-term abortion pill RU-486. According to their website, they also perform abortions surgically.Wherever the HCG originates, Women & Teens Medical Center is openly breaking the law by selling HCG as a weight loss aid and claiming that it is “the most effective.” This is just one of a long string of cases that show abortion centers putting profit over women’s health.Secular Pro-Life urges you to complain directly to the Food and Drug Administration. E-mail consumer@fda.gov or call 1-888-723-3366. It’s time to show Women & Teens Medical Center that they are not above the law!
Here is the Schedule for Stand True and the Priests for Life Youth Outreach Team at the March for Life
Saturday Jan 21
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM Prayer at Planned Parenthood – 1108 16th Street Northwest, Washington DC
12:00 PM 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Stand True booth opens at Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill 400 NJ Ave NW
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM – Stand True hosts Official March for Life Youth Rally at Hyatt Regency
Schedule for March for Life Youth Rally
7:00 – Opening Prayer: Father Denis Wilde PFL and Rev Pat Mahoney
7:05 – Intro from Bryan Kemper and Jimmy Nolan
7:10 – March for Life Funder Nelly Grey
7:15 – Music from Karina Mia
7:30 – First Showcase Panel – Jason Jones: Whole Life, Martha Nolan: Crossroads, Matt Lockett: Bound for Life
7:45 – Music From Cassandra Mohr
7:50 – Second Showcase Panel – Lila Rose: Live Action, Bryan Kemper: Stand True, Kristan Hawkins: SFLA
8:10 – Sidewalk Counseling Presentation – Elizabeth McClung: Austin Coalition for Life
8:30 – Keynote – Bryan Kemper – Stand True and Priests for Life
9:00 – Third Showcase Panel – Kristina Garza: Survivors, Alan Melanson CEC for Life, Joe Langfeld: Human Life Alliance
9:20 – Special Presentation from Silent No More: Julie Holcomb: Steven Tyler’s Ex Girlfriend – Silent No More, Matt and Kelly Clinger (introduced by Janet Morana)
9:40 – Closing Prayer and Remarks by Bryan Kemper, Rev Pat Mahoney and Father Denis Wilde PFL
9:45 – Networking and booth time.
Sunday January 22
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Stand True booth at Students for Life Conference of America
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Stand True booth at March for Life Convention at Hyatt Regency
Monday Jan 23
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Stand True booth at March for Life convention at Hyatt Regenc
11:00 – 1:00 PM Meet for March for Life and distribute materials – We will be meeting at the corner of 4th and Madison on the National Mall.
Update: President Obama’s FALSE accommodation on the birth control mandate – it is actually worse.
To start off I have to show you something that should always alarm us: Planned Parenthood likes his so-called “accommodation” - http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/10/planned-parenthood-pro-abortion-groups-back-revised-mandate/
We have to understand what the actual battle is here: it is about our constitutional and our conscience rights. This is not just about whether someone is for or against the pill; it is more about the government forcing people to pay for someone else’s birth control.
As of yesterday all companies would be required to pay for contraception and abortion-causing drugs to be included in their health plans. Some religious organizations would have been given one year to “adapt” to this policy (not Stand True or Priests for Life; we would not even qualify for that one year to adapt).
What the Obama administration actually just did in their “reversal” or “accommodation” they announced today is to say that now it is the insurance company who is required to pay for contraception and abortion-causing drugs and offer them for free to all women. The organizations that are opposed to paying for them will have no choice in the matter; the insurance companies they use will still cover these drugs.
Religious liberty is thrown out the window, conscience is trampled and the rights of the insurance companies are destroyed. Freedom does not seem to be a word that the Obama administration comprehends.
Think about this: the pro-abortion side has always cried for Christians to “keep your rosaries off my ovaries”, yet they want Churches and religious organizations to fund their sex lives. Do you see the irony in this?
Imagine if the President mandated that all companies pay for every employee’s Bible, religious supplies and gas money to get to church. It is ludicrous to think we can force anyone to pay for this, so why is it ok to force companies to fund its employees’ bedroom activities?
Those who call themselves pro-choice should be up in arms; they should be screaming at the top of their lungs about this violation of choice. The problem is that they are NOT pro-choice; they are pro-abortion and they can care less about the choices or beliefs of Christians.
Whether you believe in contraception or not, you must be outraged at what the Obama administration is doing. The rights and liberties of all Christians and religious people are at stake right now and we must stand against this injustice.
“You don’t adapt to injustice; you oppose it.” Fr Frank Pavone
Once again we see the beast that is the abortion industry and its champion, President Obama, trying to strong-arm Christians and pro-lifers. Last week they acted like the mob or a school-yard bully when they tried to destroy the Susan G Komen Foundation over 1/6 of 1/1000 of Planned Parenthood’s budget.
We must be more resolved to stand up, be a voice and shine the light of truth in these dark times. We must stand united together as we usher in a culture of life. We must break the chains of apathy and let our roar be heard.
I, for one, would sooner be handcuffed and taken to jail before I allow any insurance coverage that included abortion-causing drugs to be given to any employee.
Alveda Kings Comments: http://www.priestsforlife.org/africanamerican/blog/index.php/the-obama-administrations-accommodation-better-or-worse
Also read this article by the Christian Medical Association on the matter: http://tinyurl.com/6wvy3jg
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