US Congress honors Dr Jefferson

DR. MILDRED JEFFERSON INSPIRED AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF PRO-LIFE LEADERS Mr. SMITH of New Jersey             Today, I want to recognize and honor the life of Dr. Mildred Jefferson, who passed away on October 15, 2010, at the age of 84.             Dr. Jefferson was a trailblazer of her time. She was the first African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School, the first female surgical intern at Boston City Hospital and the first woman admitted to membership in the Boston Surgical Society.             Dr. Jefferson was born in Pittsburg, Texas, on April 6, 1926, to Millard Jefferson, a minister and Gurthie Jefferson a schoolteacher. She graduated from Texas College in Tyler and earned a master's degree from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts before attending Harvard Medical School. In her lifetime she also was the recipient of 28 honorary degrees.             Her life was historic in many ways, yet she will be remembered not only for the lives she saved as a physician but also for the lives she saved as an advocate for the unborn.             From the earliest years of the right to life movement, she dedicated herself to the cause, always beautifully articulating the humanity of unborn children. Poised and passionate, always focused and extremely devoted, she made history and inspired an entire generation of pro-life leaders myself included. It was always an inspiring experience to listen to Dr. Jefferson speak so eloquently with deep compassion for the lives of children in the womb.             Dr. Jefferson was among the founders of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) and from 1975-1978 she served three terms as President of NRLC. She also served as director of Massachusetts Citizens for Life and a boardmember of American Life League. She was also a founding member of the board and a past president of the Value of Life Committee of Massachusetts and was active in Black Americans for Life.             Among all of her accolades and accomplishments, she should be best known for her own eloquent description of why she stood in solidarity with the unborn fighting day in and day out for their first right, the right to life. In her own words, "I became a physician in order to help save lives. I am at once a physician, a citizen, and a woman, and I am not willing to stand aside and allow the concept of expendable human lives to turn this great land of ours into just another exclusive reservation where only the perfect, the privileged, and the planned have the right to live."             Dr. Jefferson was always graceful. She embodied compassion. Her life is an example to us of the impact of faithful devotion to the sanctity of human life. Dr. Jefferson knew that you cannot speak of human and civil rights, while precluding virtually all protection to the most persecuted minority in the world today:  unborn children.             She reminded us all, "The right-to-life cause is not the concern of only a special few but it should be the cause of all those who care about fairness and justice, love and compassion and liberty with law."             Dr. Jefferson is correct when she said, -the cause for the right to life concerns all of us. Someday, when our goal of ending abortion is finally realized, future generations of Americans will look back on us and wonder how and why such a rich and seemingly enlightened society, so blessed and endowed with the capacity to protect and enhance vulnerable human life, could have instead permitted, and even promoted, death to children and exploitation of women by abortion.             It was an honor to work alongside Dr. Jefferson to fight the injustice of abortion, and I know her legacy and memory will live on in the lives of those who knew her and in the lives of the unborn children she helped save.   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Giving Thanks and Aunt Helen wants YOU!

Two years ago today...  I remember waking up every morning thinking the bad dream would end and it didn't.  We were devastated! Things are still pretty dire, but come January, there will be more pro-life U S Congressmen than ever before, our numbers are up in the State House of Representatives, the numbers of surgical abortions are down, more people than ever self-identify as pro-life, and Obamacare has made people much more aware of the range of life issues.  We do have reason to give thanks.  President Lincoln maintained that thanks for blessings should be accompanied by "humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience." He maintained the "lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged" was the price of not having dealt with the slavery issue.  Let us hope our efforts for the life issues will be sufficient and successful. I feel blessed to be able to work with all you wonderful pro-life people!  Helen Cross, Editor of the MCFL News, is planning a very special January/February edition. There will be a pull-out section honoring Dr Jefferson as well as Helen's usual year-end picture essays.  Helen needs pictures of: 1) your Choose Life license plate and/or any others you happen to snap - she plans a collage, maybe even the whole back page!  2)  local pro-life activities by Chapters and other pro-lifers, and 3) any pictures you think would be good to share in the News. You can email the pictures by pressing "reply" or send them to the office at 29 Main Street, Charlestown, 02129. Thank you for the pictures and the many, many other things you do to save lives.  I am looking forward to seeing you at the Celebration of Dr Jefferson's Life on Friday. A Blessed Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones. Anne   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Open letter to Republican State Committee

The following letter was sent to Jennifer Nassour, Chairman of the Republican State Committee, on November 15, 2010 Dear Ms. Nassour,   Along with the rest of the state, we at Massachusetts Citizens for Life have been looking at the election results.  There are a couple of important facts to which we would like to draw your attention. Most of the newly elected State Representatives in Massachusetts are pro-life.  We are delighted by this outcome. In addition, the huge Republican sweep across the country was accomplished by pro-life candidates.  The Republican wins in Massachusetts were almost entirely reserved to those candidates who are willing to defend human life. Looking at the data, it seems obvious that the lack of "surge" in Massachusetts is attributable to the fact that the statewide candidates were led by a man who described himself as "To the left of Obama on social issues" and were coached by professional consultants who told them to steer clear of anything that sounded pro-life. That was bad advice. For many election cycles now, Republicans have been winning nationally running with pro-life positions.  The Republican win of note over that time in Massachusetts is Scott Brown.  Senator Brown took pro-life positions on the legislative issues facing the U S Senate.  The factor which propelled him to victory was his promise to be the "41st vote" against pro-abortion, pro-rationing Obamacare.  He was also helped by Martha Coakley's "Shannon O'Brien moment" when Ms. Coakley said that pro-life people should not be allowed to work in emergency rooms. Keep in mind, as of 10/13/2010 the number of registered Republicans in MA has dropped to a new low of 474,798 voters, representing a mere 11.33% of all voters.  If the MA GOP Leadership wants the State Republican Party to remain relevant, they must reconsider their advocacy of candidates who are "left of Obama" and adopt true Republican Principles.  We respectfully suggest that in reviewing your statewide loses, you learn from the local successful legislative races and listen to those newly elected who embraced the value of life.  In setting a course for the future, the leadership of the MA State GOP should embrace, and not abandon, the core principle on which it was founded - the defense of  Life. We would respectfully suggest that leaders of the party in this state meet with successful national Republicans to understand better the role of life issues.  Of course, we would be happy to meet with you locally as well. Sincerely, Anne Fox, President   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

A Tribute to Dr. Jefferson

From The Cape Cod Times:

By CYNTHIA STEAD

October 21, 2010

Mildred Fay Jefferson was born in 1927 in Pittsburg, Texas. The daughter of a public school teacher and a Methodist minister, it was as solid a middle-class background for a girl born in the Jim Crow South.

After attending segregated public schools in east Texas, not known for high academic achievement, she attended Texas College, a Methodist college for black students, graduating summa cum laude. She came to Massachusetts, earning a master's of science degree at Tufts University.

Jefferson entered Harvard Medical School in 1947, and became the first black woman to graduate in 1951, one of many "firsts" for her. She was the first woman to be a surgical intern at Boston City Hospital and the first woman admitted to membership in the Boston Surgical Society.

Dr. Jefferson served as a general surgeon with the former Boston University Medical Center and assistant clinical professor of surgery at Boston University Medical School.

Dr. Jefferson had a strong interest in the law and ethics of medicine, and how they interacted to influence society and government. She was a dedicated supporter of the Right to Life movement, especially as it affected black people. A nationally recognized activist, she helped establish the National Right to Life committee and was its three-time president.

At a speech at Harvard in 2001, she stressed, "I am a right-to-life activist. I am not an anti-abortionist." In the same speech she was very critical of the birth control movement founded by Margaret Sanger and its concern about "dysgenics," which would have declared a poor, black girl like herself unworthy of being born.

Dr. Jefferson's last major public appearance was her nomination of Christy Mihos at the Republican convention. Mihos talked about their meeting.

"She was one gifted lady who was being considered by Ronald Reagan as his pick for surgeon general," he said. "Whenever she called, her first words to me were, 'Is this the Honorable Christy Mihos?' That was her calling card — grace, dignity, knowledge and compassion, a true stateswoman. I have never been so honored and proud as when she put my name into nomination. Her words of fighting for the truth and being true to your principles were utterly a humbling experience for me that day. She believed strongly and passionately that the welfare state had retarded the success of people of color. This woman was the true American story — up from nothing."

Mihos talked about their discussion of her role at the convention. "We met at her favorite spot in Cambridge and I just listened for two hours without saying much at all. We first met many years ago when she ran for U.S. Senate and many follow-up meetings at various events. At about the two-hour mark at lunch she looked at me with that ever-present twinkle in her eye and said she'd be 'honored to place your name in nomination.' She always smiled and was so damn positive and optimistic, even with all she had been through."

I heard that nomination speech. I asked Mihos' people for a copy, and one responded, "I spoke to her numerous times prior to the convention, picked her up from the hotel and personally escorted her to the green room and then the stage apron. She had her speech clutched in her hand and nobody had a copy of it. That's why I panicked when they moved her to the other side of the stage. No one really knew (except in general terms) what she would be saying."

Jefferson was not very respectfully treated by the arrogant young men with their Secret Service earpieces at the convention. Some rudeness was because some were too young to know who she was, but most of it was due to her supporting the "wrong" candidate. As she stood in the doorway to the stage being introduced, they decided she should enter from the OTHER side, making the 84-year-old woman walk down the staircase, to the other side of the enormous DCU Center in Worcester and up another staircase to their preferred podium.

Despite the noticeable gap in the program taking that walk, and arriving out of breath, it didn't matter when she spoke. Her soaring speech about the purpose of government was the acknowledged highlight of the convention, and she did her candidate proud.

A distinguished woman of color who shattered so many ceilings usually receives widespread media attention upon passing, as she did on Oct. 17, but just as Dr. Jefferson supported the wrong candidate, her conservative beliefs were the wrong philosophy. But they were her own, and she stood proudly behind them.

Cynthia Stead of Dennis serves as the Cape and Islands' Republican state committeewoman. E-mail her

at cestead@gmail.com.

Dr. Mildred Jefferson Memorial Service - Carthage, TX

From The Panola Watchman:

A memorial service will be held for Dr. Mildred Jefferson, 84, of Cambridge, Mass., formerly of Carthage, at Walnut Grove Baptist Church on County Road 302 on Friday, November 5, 2010 at 11 a.m. Dr. Jefferson passed away Friday, October 15, 2010 at her home in Cambridge, Mass.

Powerful pro-life start to Advent!

In an unprecedented request, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has asked bishops and their dioceses throughout the world to join him on the First Sunday of Advent to invoke the Lord's protection over every human being, especially those whose lives are most vulnerable and under attack in our world today.  Even though Massachusetts Citizens for Life is non-sectarian, I think you will join me in welcoming this prayer initiative.  Bless you all, Anne Boston Archdiocese: Saturday, Nov. 27 at 4:00 pm, Cathedral of the Holy Cross (lower church), Vespers, Rosary, and Benediction, Sean Cardinal O'Malley Springfield Diocese: Saturday, Nov 27, at 5:00 pm, St Michael's Cathedral, Vigil Mass, Bishop Timothy McDonnell Fall River Diocese: Saturday, Nov 27 at 7:00 pm, St Juliet Billiart Church, South Dartmouth, a vigil and holy hour, Bishop George Coleman Worcester Diocese: Sunday, Nov. 28 at 7:00 pm, Cathedral of St Paul, Vigil for All Unborn Human Life, Bishop Robert McManus "The human being is not a disposable object,  but every single individual represents God's presence in the world." ~ Pope Benedict XVI   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Dr Jefferson Service: directions and parking

These are directions to Harvard Memorial Church and to St Paul's Church where the reception will be.  At the service, we will have directions to walk from Memorial Church to DiGiovanni Hall at St Paul's Church.  Hope to see you on the 26th at 2:00!  Anne Parking in Harvard Yard is limited to those with limited walking mobility and for delivery vehicles (20 minute limit for drop-offs). The Johnston Gate entrance is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Widener Library Gate (along Massachusetts Avenue) should be used for Sunday mornings and non-business hours, as it is staffed 24 hours. To Enter Harvard Yard: Bear right; you will see the walls of Harvard Yard and a gate (the Johnston Gate) on your right. Enter the gate and stop at the guardhouse to check in with the Harvard Police. The officer will direct you to the church and parking. To Park at the Broadway Garage: Bear right and continue past the main gate of Harvard University. Again bear right and go under the overpass. Bear left after the overpass and continue straight onto Cambridge Street. (The Cambridge Fire Department will be on your right.) Take the third right onto Felton Street and park in the Broadway Garage, a University parking facility on the right. Parking on the street.  November 26th is a holiday for Harvard, so there should be street parking.  There will be more spots near St Paul's.  Look for a two hour meter.  That will get you through the service.   Harvard Memorial Church   St Paul's Church  29 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138-6097     From Boston/Route 93: Take Storrow Drive West. Bear right for the exit for Harvard Square and at the end of the exit ramp turn right onto a short bridge (the Larz Anderson Bridge). Continue straight off the bridge onto JFK Street. Go straight up JFK Street to the second set of lights, at which point you will be in Harvard Square. From the Massachusetts Turnpike: Take Exit 18 for Cambridge/Allston; bear to the right (for Cambridge). After the toll booths, do not cross over the bridge into Cambridge; instead, take a left onto Storrow Drive West. Bear right for the exit for Harvard Square and at the end of the exit ramp turn right onto a short bridge (the Larz Anderson Bridge). Continue straight off the bridge onto JFK Street. Go straight up JFK Street to the second set of lights, at which point you will be in Harvard Square.   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Wonderful article on Dr Jefferson!

I want to share with you this lovely article.  http://spectator.org/archives/2010/11/11/let-us-now-praise-famous-women There were fine articles following Dr. Jefferson's death in The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and numerous papers across the country.  I think this article is the beginning of a new wave of tributes from people and institutions that knew her.  If you want to see the darling picture, go to American Spectator home page after you read the article.  Anne   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Let Us Now Praise Famous Women

From The American Spectator

By G. Tracy Mehan, III on 11.11.10 @ 6:07AM

The noise of the electoral season is no excuse for failing to remark on the passing of a great woman and, more importantly, celebrate her life. Let me make amends.

As reported by Dennis Hevesi in the New York Times' Obituaries for October 19, "Dr. Mildred Jefferson, a prominent, outspoken opponent of abortion and the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School died Friday in Cambridge, Mass. She was 84."

Dr. Jefferson, a surgeon, was appalled by the 1973 decision, Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion on demand for all nine months of pregnancy, up to the moment of birth. This decision, along with its evil twin, Doe v. Bolton, struck down all state restrictions on the practice, effectively allowing abortions in almost any circumstances including mere convenience.

Jefferson testified before Congress that these decisions "gave my profession almost unlimited license to kill."

"With the obstetrician and mother becoming the worst enemy of the child and the pediatrician becoming the assassin for the family, the state must be enabled to protect the life of the child, born and unborn," said the good doctor.

Dr. Jefferson, a native of Texas, was a founder and president (for several terms) of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), a federation of 50 state organizations and more than 3,000 chapters. She also served as director of Massachusetts Citizens for Life [] and was active in Black Americans for Life.

She also found time to practice surgery at Boston University Medical Center and serve as a professor of surgery at the university's medical school.

By all accounts, including this writer's own observation, Dr. Jefferson was a charismatic leader. "She was probably the greatest orator of our movement," asserts Darla St. Martin, co-executive director of the NRLC. "In fact, take away the probably."

"I am at once a physician, a citizen and a woman, and I am not willing to stand aside and allow this concept of expendable human life to turn this great land of ours into just another exclusive reservation where only the perfect, the privileged and the planned have the right to live," said Dr. Jefferson in a 2003 profile in the American Feminist.

Reading Dr. Jefferson's obituary caused me to recall the many great women I had the privilege of working with in my early days, right out of law school, as the right-to-life movement emerged in my hometown of St. Louis. My wife, mother and aunts were among them. I had the same experience years later in Michigan.

They were usually strong personalities, be they introverted or extroverted, motivated more by a visceral love for children than any formal intellectual appreciation, say, of the realist philosophy of the Declaration of Independence and the inalienable right to life. That came later. They saw an injustice, an affront to the civilized order, and resolved to confront it head-on.

Many put their shoulders to the hard work of counseling and the support of alternative "birthright" services. My aunt Jane Mehan, a former nurse and mother of four, was president of the St. Louis chapter; and my mother spent many hours each week helping young women who were dealing with an untimely pregnancy. The support they gave unwed mothers was material, psychologicial and medical. Most important, they gave them hope.

Others became politically active, many for the first time, which seemed to come naturally to the Irish-Americans among them. These women were willing to put their solid Democratic credentials at risk for the good of the cause. I remember Mary Fran Horgan, a Latin instructor and savvy political mind active with the Pro-Life Committee of the Archdiocese, and Ann O'Donnell, a former nurse and strikingly beautiful woman who was national vice-president for NRLC and a scourge to venal politicians of either party.

Barbara Listing, head of Right to Life of Michigan, a political force in her own right, was scrupulous in supporting anyone, regardless of party affiliation, who stood up for the unborn.

More recently, Marjorie Dannensfelser, a former staffer to West Virginia's Democratic Congressman Alan Mollohan, started the Susan B. Anthony List, a political action committee with the aim of electing pro-life women of either party to Congress.

They were and are wealthy matrons and working-class women; lawyers and, like Dr. Jefferson, doctors; teachers and homemakers; mothers and daughters and grandmothers; caregivers and politicos. What they had in common was a determined commitment to restoring respect for human life in its most defenseless form.

So let us now praise famous women who understood that to love is to truly live.

G. Tracy Mehan, III served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the administrations of both Presidents Bush. He is a consultant in Arlington, Virginia, and an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law.

Dr. Jefferson

While I was at the beautiful Mass for Dr. Jefferson in Newton, I overheard someone talk about hearing her message when they called her--"I am not within hearing distance...."  It reminded me of her voice and how much we'll miss hearing it.  Then it occurred to me that now she will ALWAYS "be within hearing distance" as we pray to her for help in this battle for unborn babies' lives.

 

Linda Kinsey

MCFL-Fitchburg/Leominster Chapter

Dr. Jefferson

Dr J's service - notice for your church Bulletin

Dr Jefferson touched so many people.  It would be a shame if someone were to miss her service because of not knowing about it.  Would you please get this notice into your bulletin for Nov 12 - 13 and Nov 20 -21?  Thanks mightily!  Anne   Celebrate the life of Dr Mildred Jefferson, Friday, November 26, 2-4 pm, Harvard Memorial Church, Harvard Yard, Cambridge, followed by reception at DiGiovanni Hall, St Paul Parish, sponsored by Massachusetts Citizens for Life. Please help us honor the late Dr Jefferson.  Information: masscitizensforlife,org or 617- 242 - 4199.   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Reflection on the Death of Dr. Mildred F. Jefferson

MCFL President, Anne Fox, thought of Dr. Jefferson when she recently read the following words of St. Thomas More (16th Century):

When death comes, and we stand before God, 
no king can command Him, no authority can restrain Him, 
no riches can hire Him to wait past his appointed time 
even one moment of an hour. 
Therefore let us speak what we are bound to speak
and do the deeds we are called to do. 
No empty time is allowed to any of us.
                              
                           

MCFL Statement for TX Funeral of Dr. Mildred Jefferson

We at Massachusetts Citizens for Life were privileged to work with Dr Mildred Jefferson for thirty-eight years.  We have always considered ourselves her second family.  We extend to you, her first family, our sincerest condolences.  All of us, and the country as a whole, have lost a brilliant leader and spokesperson for the sanctity of all human life.

We have an online blog featuring messages about "Dr J" posted by her friends and admirers. Fr. Martin Hyatt, her old friend and fellow member of the Board of Massachusetts Citizens for Life sums up the comments:

"A Woman of Honor, A Woman of Dignity, A Woman of Hope,

A Woman of Integrity, A Woman of Goodness, A Woman of Life,

A Woman of Vision, Moses of the Pro-Life Movement"

The death of this great woman reminds us again of the words of her dear friend and colleague, Congressman Henry Hyde:

"When the time comes, as it surely will, when we face that awesome moment, the final judgment, I've often thought, as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there alone standing before God -- and a terror will rip your soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think there'll be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next world -- and they will plead for everyone who has been in this movement. They will say to God, 'Spare him, because he loved us!'"

Valuing Life, Radiating Love, Shining Light

Valuing Life, Radiating Love, Shining Light

Mildred Fay Jefferson, M.D.

1927 2010

Advocate, Spokesperson, & Defender of Countless Unborn Babies

 

Single-minded                                                                 Charming

Pure of heart                                                                   Concern for Others

Courageous                                                                      Animated

Strong                                                                               Encouraging

Virtuous                                                                           Lights Up A Room

Genuine                                                                            Inspiring

Giving                                                                               Motivating

Intelligent                                                                        Insightful

Loving Daughter                                                              Faithful Friend

Radiant Smile                                                                  Sparkling Eyes

Articulate                                                                         Sincere      

Welcoming                                                                       Stylish

Faithful and Faith-filled                                                  Ethical

Sacrificing                                                                         Fun-Loving

Wise                                                                                 Passionate

Capable                                                                            Creative

Prayerful                                                                          Friendly     

Loyal                                                                                 Hard Working

Loving                                                                               Honest

Inner Strength                                                                 Approachable

Holy                                                                                  Guileless

Determined                                                                     Persevering

Joyful and joy-filled                                                         Patriotic

Graceful                                                                            Honorable

Good Things Come In Small Packages                           A Spark of the Holy Spirit

Compassionate                                                                Radical yet Real

Warm                                                                               Idealistic

Disciplined                                                                       Peaceful

Witty                                                                                Wonderful Gift From God

 

A Woman of Honor, A Woman of Dignity, A Woman of Hope,

A Woman of Integrity, A Woman of Goodness, A Woman of Life,

A Woman of Vision, Moses of the Pro-Life Movement

Numbers at the State House. Republicans lost only in MA.

When I wrote about the election yesterday, the results were not in from Norwood and Walpole.  John Rogers, with an 18 year, 100% pro-life record won there. His challenger is also pro-life.  A basic PAC principle is to back pro-life incumbents - they deserve it and have to know they can count on us. Some national columnists and a few of you have said that our votes for Tim Cahill denied the election to Charlie Baker.  That assumes every Cahill vote would have gone to Baker.  Actually, the polls showed the Cahill vote would have split pretty evenly if he had not been in the race. The bigger point, however, is that the entire state-wide Republican ticket and the nine Congressional challengers lost while Republicans across the nation made huge gains.  The difference is that those Republicans are pro-life and for repealing Obamacare.  Baker stated that he was "to the left of Obama on social issues" and then campaigned that way.  It was not Tim Cahill who took down Charlie Baker, it was Charlie Baker who took down the entire Republican ticket. Our Congressional candidates did better than any challengers in recent years because they were pro-life and promised to repeal Obamacare.  Some who had real chances to win, like Jeff Perry, Bill Hudak, and Sean Bielat, were also dragged down by the lack of turn-out and negative tone of  the Baker leadership. The Fed PAC endorsed six candidates and recommended two.  All but one were Republicans - obviously, given our congressional delegation.  The MCFL State PAC, however, supported Democrats and Republicans pretty evenly.  We are lucky enough to have pro-life people and politicians in both parties in this state. We lost one State Representative, James Fagan, but all of the other incumbents endorsed by the State PAC were re-elected as were many new pro-lifers including Michael Rush in the Senate and Paul Adams, Richard Bastien, Matthew Beaton, John Binienda, Nicholas Collins, Edward Coppinger, Angelo D'Emilia, Peter Durant, Ryan Fattman, Kimberly Ferguson, Sheila Harrington, Randy Hunt, Kevin Kuros, Steven Levy, Marc Lombardo, Jim Lyons, and Daniel Webster in the House.  These are the people the State PAC supported.  Other pro-lifers were also elected. Local pro-lifers worked closely with many of these people.  You may have noticed the email the night before the election saying that Matt Beaton's opponent had been endorsed by NARAL.  The local people had called with that information on Monday. We are very grateful to these people for running!  We are very excited about working with the pro-life incumbents who were re-elected and with these new Senators and Representatives - at the local level and at the State House.  Thank you all for your hard work in these campaigns!  Anne   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Bountiful thanks and a Memorial Mass for Miscarried Children this Saturday

Our MCFL dinner, featuring Wanda Franz, President of the National Right to Life Committee was held last Saturday.  It was a huge success!  Wanda presented the latest on Obamacare is a very enlightening presentation.  The company and food were delightful!  I want to thank Bea Martins and her committee: Andrea St Germain, Paulette Martinville, June Newman, John Curry, and Connie and Cathleen Murphy for their fine effort. Fr.  Martin Hyatt celebrated a Memorial Mass for Dr Jefferson today.  It was beautiful!  He cited the MCFL blog, where he found all your postings, to list so many of her virtues.  Joanie Kingsley and her friends served a fabulous lunch, which completed a wonderful tribute. Too many times, when a couple suffers a miscarriage, people expect them to shoulder on and hope to "have better luck next time"...  There will be a Memorial Mass for Miscarried Children this coming Saturday, St Augustine Church, Andover, at 9:00am.  Please share the word with anyone you think should know about it.  Thanks to Kathy Greenler for letting us know about the Mass.  http://www.masscitizensforlife.org/events.html Thanks to you all who participated in the Dinner and the Mass for Dr Jefferson.  It is wonderful to be with you! Anne   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

22% VOTED PRO-LIFE vs 8% WHO VOTED PRO-ABORTION

LifeNews reports on post-election polling.  I remember when our advantage was 2:1.  This is almost 3:1.  We are making a difference!  Anne A new post-election poll shows the issue of abortion helped pro-life candidates and played a role in the Republican shellacking of pro-abortion Democrats.  A survey conducted by the Polling Company firm found pro-life candidates enjoyed a definite advantage in yesterday's elections. Thirty percent of all voters said that abortion "affected" their vote with 22% of all voters backing pro-life candidates and eight percent saying they supported pro-abortion candidates - giving pro-life candidates a net pro-life advantage of 14 percent among all voters. Examined another way, of the Americans who voted based on the issue of abortion, 73 percent picked pro-life candidates while just 27 percent supported abortion advocates.  The post-election polling also found 27 percent of voters said abortion funding in the health care law affected their vote and they voted for candidates who opposed the health care law while just 4 percent said abortion funding in the health care law affected their vote and they voted for candidates who favored the law.  "This advantage is not new," says Karen Cross, the political director for the National Right to Life Committee. "In 1980, National Right to Life Political Action Committee was organized, and in the 30 years that followed, in election after election, among those voters who base their vote on abortion, National Right to Life has consistently seen a definite advantage for pro-life candidates over pro-abortion candidates." NRLC executive director David O'Steen agreed, saying "Post-election polling has shown that pro-life issues played a major role in what happened at the polls yesterday and provided a margin sufficient to guarantee victory in many close races." The Polling Company survey also found a majority continues to favor allowing abortion only in very rare circumstances. Some 53 percent took a pro-life position against all abortions or allowing abortion at most in cases to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest that compared with just 41% who would allow abortion regardless of the reason. And 25% of those who gave a pro-abortion response would allow abortion only in the first three months while the current policy under Roe vs. Wade allows abortion essentially throughout pregnancy for any reason. O'Steen also noted that "National Right to Life has also repeatedly pointed out that the Obama Health Care Law, if allowed to go into effect, will mean massive rationing of health care including the rationing of life saving treatment. The public agrees and clearly showed last night that they oppose rationing. "Forty-four percent of voters said rationing in the health care law affected their vote and they voted for candidates who opposed the health care law while only 10% said rationing in the health care bill affected their vote and they voted for candidates who favored the Obama Health Care Law," he said.  Overall 54% said they oppose the health care law (44% strongly) while only 39% favor it (26% strongly), the post-election poll showed.  Despite being vastly outspent by pro-abortion groups, candidates supported by National Right to Life PAC fared well with 235 of the 285 federal candidates NRLC supported winning their elections, or about 82 percent. In the most competitive 122 races in which the group targeted, 84 (or 74%) won, and some are still undecided. "What a difference a year makes," Cross said. "Less than a year ago, naysayers were writing political obituaries for pro-life candidates.  The situation admittedly looked bleak.  Five pro-life senators decided to retire.  Many wanted us to believe that, after the 2008 election, pro-life Americans were fewer or less motivated. "They were wrong on both counts," she added. "The political landscape changed drastically in the last few months. Pro-life voters don't just vote their pocketbooks, they also vote their values.  They vote their hearts.  They vote for the most vulnerable among us.  They are selfless and passionate and yesterday, they soundly voted against Obama's abortion agenda."   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Pro-Life wins at the State House and NATIONALLY!

Congratulations to these people who were supported by the MCFL State PAC.  Congratulations to them and to the PAC for its hard work!  I also want to thank the people who worked all summer on keeping the MCFL Questionnaire information current: Janet Callahan, John Triolo, Linda Thayer, and Helen Cross. Senate: Jack Hart (D, Robert Hedlund ( R ), Thomas Kennedy (D), Michael Knapik ( R ), Richard Moore (D), Richard Ross ( R ), Michael Rush (D) House:  Paul Adams ( R ), Brian Ashe (D), Bruce Ayers (D), Jay Barrows, Richard Bastien ( R ), Matthew Beaton ( R ), John Binienda (D), Nicholas Collins (D), Edward Coppinger (D), Vinny De Macedo, Angelo D'Emilia ( R ), Paul Donato (D), Geoff Diehl ( R ), Stephen DiNatale (D), Peter Durant ( R ), Christopher Fallon (D) Ryan Fattman ( R Kimberly Ferguson ( R ), John Fresolo (D), Paul Frost ( R ), Colleen Geary (D), Thomas Golden (D), Sheila Harrington ( R ), Donald Humason ( R ), Randy Hunt ( R ), Michael Kane (D), Kevin Kuros ( R ), Steven Levy ( R ), Marc Lombardo (R)Jim Lyons ( R ), James Miceli (D) Eugene O'Flaherty (D) George Patterson ( R ), Betty Poirier ( R ), Angelo Puppolo (D), Angelo Scaccia (D), Todd Smola ( R ), Walter Timilty (D), Timothy Toomey (D), Daniel Webster ( R ) Governor's Council: Charles Cipollini ( R ), Marilyn Devaney (D), Mary Ellen Manning (D) National Right to Life has all the amazing national results:  http://stoptheabortionagenda.com/2010-election-results/ You will be thrilled when you see how well we did nationally! Thank you all for your hard work! Anne   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

MCFL PAC predicts Perry win in 10th CD!

Mass. Citizens for Life Political Action Committee 529 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 For immediate release:                                         For more information:  November 1, 2010                                                 Jack Rowe 978-531-8565                                               Massachusetts Citizens for Life Political Action Committee predicts Jeff Perry will win tomorrow's 10th Congressional District race. The MCFL PAC has been working since the spring to elect Perry because of his pro-life record and his commitment to repealing Obamacare. The group completed 56,000 phone calls to pro-life people in the district, distributed 20,000 cards urging votes for Perry, and aired radio ads before the primary and the general elections. PAC Chair, John Rowe states, "We feel sure our huge outreach to pro-lifers in the 10th Congressional District will bring them to the polls.  Currently, more than 50% of people self identify as pro-life. "The right to life election differential is 2:1.  Of those people who vote on the abortion issue, twice as many vote pro-life.  This has been consistent across the country for years.  Perry will benefit from this differential. "We deplore the scurrilous campaigning by and for Perry's opponent.  We are confident that it will backfire, adding to Perry's win"   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

NARAL: info for you on ballot questions 1 and 3 and the CD races.

Our friend, Professor Patrick Flood just sent along this food for thought. "Today just for fun I checked the state NARAL (www.prochoicemass.org) website to see what they might have put up lately, and I think you will find this interesting and of possible use.  NARAL is officially urging voters to vote NO on Questions 1 and 3 because passage 'could have a devastating impact on access to reproductive health services in the Commonwealth.'"   Apparently NARAL wants plenty of tax money to pay for abortions.   And Tom Connelly has pointed out that NARAL reports they have not spent any money in the Massachusetts Congressional races, http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C90004185 Yet, Joan Cronin just called to say they have endorsed Kevin Byrne against pro-life Matthew Beaton (11th Worcester) for State Rep. John Triolo reports they have endorsed Congressman Tierney agaist pro-life Bill Hudak for Congress in the 6th District. These endorsements won't show up in their expenditures until after the election.   Thanks to Jaon, John, Tom, and Pat and to you all.  I know you are out there working hard in these closing hours! Anne   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.

Governor's Council - your vote will determine who are the judges in the state.

We looked for candidates who are "Strict Constructionist", that is they do not approve of judges making law.  We found:  First District: Oliver Cipollini, Jr. (D),  Charles Oliver Cipollini (R) (no misprint here) Second District: Richard Mitchell (U) Third District: Marilyn Devaney (D) Fifth District: Mary-Ellen Manning (D) Sixth District: Paul Caruccio ( R ) Eighth District:  Michael Franco ( R )  These districts are huge, as are the implications of the election.  We need these people to appoint judges who will follow the Massachusetts Constitution. If you are not sure of the number of your district, why not print out this email and take it with you.  Anne   DONATIONS - WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THEM!  THANK YOU! For more information about the Pro-Life cause in Massachusetts or to get involved please visit our   website at masscitizensforlife.org.