Sunday, May 10, 2015

Viability depends on care - new study published in NE Journal of Medicine

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Ever since 1973, pro-lifers have maintained that viability depended on our ability to care for a baby, not on the baby's age.  At that point the Supreme Court wanted to place viability at the end of the "second trimester"   Now the New England Journal of Medicine  has published a study which essentially finds that the chance of healthy survival for babies born at 22 weeks depends on the attitude and ability of the hospital.  You need to subscribe to read the study but the NY Times has a good article about it.
 
Just another place where the Supreme Court did not think things through before sentencing tens of millions of babies to death.
 
Of course, viability could apply to people who are disabled, elderly or ill...
 
Keep up the good work!

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Banquet Speaker and Mothers Day

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We are so fortunate to have as our featured speaker Karen Santorum, mother of eight children, including Gabriel and Bella, and wife of Senator Rick Santorum

Their son, Gabriel Michael, who was born prematurely and died two hours after birth on October 11, 1996. Karen wrote Letters to Gabriel which expresses the bond between mother and child with incredible tenderness and love. The book makes a bold and profound statement about the gift of life, family values, the bond between parent and child, the grieving process and the paradox of suffering.

According to George Will, "When the Santorums received a blessing named Gabriel, they suddenly experienced the reality at the heart of a public policy argument about respect for life." 

Four days after Rick and Karen Santorum welcomed their eighth baby into the world in 2008 they were given the devastating news that their little girl, Bella, was going to die. Bella's disorder, Trisomy 18, is a rarer, more lethal cousin of Down syndrome. Only half of babies born with it survive a week; only ten percent see their first birthday. Bella recently celebrated her seventh birthday. 

Bella's Gift is the story of how the entire family came together to love and care for Bella and how God strengthened them during the storms and blessed their family with grace, peace, and joy. 

Searchingly honest, faith filled, and surprisingly joyful, Bella's Gift is a loving, lived-out testimony to the truth that everyone counts, even "the least of these."

Be sure to save the date: October 22, 2015. 

I would like to share this poem, whose author is unknown but whose thoughts are universal.  Blessings to all you Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers and Mothers-in-spirit!  Anne

 

There is no love like a mother's love,
no stronger bond on earth
Like the precious bond that comes from God,
to a mother when she gives birth.

A mother's love is forever strong,
never changing for all time
And when her children need her most,
a mother's love will shine.

God bless these special mothers,
God bless them every one
For all the tears and heartache,
and for the special work they've done.

When her days on earth are over,
a mother's love lives on
Through many generations,
with God's blessings on each one.

Be thankful for our mothers,
for they love with a higher love
From the power God has given, 
and the strength from up above.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Speaker at MCFL Banquet: announcement coming!

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We are so fortunate to have this gifted speaker!
We had been bubbling over with delight for months but felt that Mothers Day was the most appropriate day to let you know. 
You will see why we think so. 
Please watch your email tomorrow!