Wait 'Til You See the Dateline!

MCFL is working to require all abortion facilities in the state to be licensed.  Unfortunately horrible things can go on even in licensed facilities! 
http://www.lifenews.com/2014/08/15/planned-parenthood-abortion-doc-sexually-molested-patients-for-20-years/  

When he was in school, one of our sons had the thrill of interviewing Robin Williams.  Of course everyone is saddened by his suicide, or any suicide.  Why is it that suicide is so awful and needs to be prevented (true) except when a person has a terminal illness or a disability?  Such discrimination!  Wesley Smith addresses this, http://www.lifenews.com/2014/08/15/as-world-mourns-robin-williams-suicide-cult-pushes-homemade-suicide-kits/

Slippery slope is not supposed to be a good argument but it certainly rears it ugly head in both of these stories. 

The last couple of days I have run into three of my friends who have new grandchildren.  They are just head-over-heels.  There are such good people in the world.

Blessings,

Anne

MCFL abortion restrictions make ballot in many districts!

Pro-lifers have succeeded in getting the public policy question, which instructs local State Representatives to vote for a bill requiring abortion facilities in the state to be licensed and inspected, onto the November 2014 ballot in the following districts: 6th, 7th, 8th Bristol (Fall River, Freetown), 12th Hampden (Wilbraham, Springfield), 4th, 5th, 12th Norfolk (Braintree, Weymouth, Norwood), 5th Plymouth (Rockland, Norwell, Hanover), 3rd, 4th, 16th Worcester (Fitchburg, Leominster, City of Worcester). MCFL will also be filing the bill in the legislature in January.  When I dropped off the papers to the Secretary of State, the folks there were very impressed with the geographical spread of our districts - from Springfield to Fitchburg to Weymouth and Fall River , etc.

It is really exciting to think the we were able to get so many districts certified!  Braintree got the most signatures - almost 600 in one weekend.  Some people had disappointing things happen.  I think the worst was Lawrence where more than 100 people who live in the district but are not registered, signed.  The fellow at the Secretary of State's office said those people agreed with us and didn't want to admit they weren't registered.  We knew split cities would be tough.  They were tougher then tough.  The Fall River people did an amazing job getting all their districts qualified.  The Springfield and Worcester people each got one district qualified - real victories for them..

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a leading source of abortion statistics, there are forty abortion facilities in the state. This includes eighteen hospitals and six licensed clinics, leaving sixteen facilities that are not licensed or inspected. Laura Hope Smith died during an abortion at one of these unlicensed, uninspected facilities in 2007.

We are concerned that abortions not take any more victims than they already do. More importantly, having to be inspected will be a disincentive to remaining open for many facilities.

Local members of Mass Citizens will continue working through the November elections to educate people in their districts and bring them to the polls. We expect to win overwhelmingly.

The following are some of the many, many people who did yeoman's work in getting the signatures:

Jim Drummey, Sally Healy, Jean Healey, Pat Stewart, Linda and Jack Kinsey, Rosemary Reynolds, Sandra Krucharski, Mark Carron, Jamie Brunault, Peggy Bradford, Bill Allen, Bill Kelly, Deacon Tim Meagher, Eileen Dunn, Monica Silvey, Mike Cunningham, Frank Ardinger, Dave Constantine, John Martin, Mike Manze, Bill Schneelock, Tom Gaudet, Earl Sholley, Martha Donovan, Anne Hilbert, Merle Webber, Charlene Langenfield, Gail Ashey, Nancy Clark, Dennis Finn, Maryanna Heister, Eileen Krupinski, Julie Krupinski, Carol Johnston, Jackie Langloi, Pauline Morris, Marylou Petty, Julie Koss-Stephany, Chris Toloczko, Cindy Trainque, Susan Arraje, Myra Doran, Teresa Vermette.

Bea Martins says, "Mary Leite is the lady who collected 105  Without her numbers we would not have been able to turn in the number we did"

I cannot begin to express my gratitude to these people for the huge job they accomplished! 
Anne

Jail for Pro-lifers? Still time to fight.

Dear Pro-life Friend,

It's not too late!

As you know from the message I sent on Tuesday Governor Deval Patrick and his cronies have passed a New Buffer Zone Law which they want to use to silence sidewalk counselors and other pro-lifers.  Governor Patrick, a former member of Planned Parenthood's board, will do anything to protect the profits of abortion clinics—even trample on our constitutionally protected rights.

He doesn't want pro-lifers to offer our message of hope, help, and love to women in crisis.

Even though the Supreme Court overturned the last Buffer Zone law 9-0, radical pro-abortion activists have passed one that's even worse.

Under the new law, pro-lifers who "impede" people trying to enter an abortion clinic can get 5 years in jail and up to $50,000 in fines.  Worse yet, it is abortion clinic workers who will get to determine if pro-lifers are violating the law.

We need to fight back!

In my last message on this subject I asked you for a gift of $10, $20, or $30 to help fund our efforts to fight the New Buffer Zone in the public square, in the legislature, and in the courts.  Your help is vital and there is still time to give. 

Please, if you have not yet given CLICK HERE to contribute and stand up for the rights of the unborn and pro-lifers. 

I know I can count on you. 

Thank you for all you do for Life.

Anne

Beautiful Tribute to Our Dear Ray Flynn

Flynn Resolution PR.pdf

NEW BUFFER ZONE: Jail for pro-lifers?

ATTENTION:  This is an important update on MCFL's efforts to fight the New Buffer Zone.  Please read this email to the end.

Dear Pro-Life Friend,

By now I'm sure you've heard the news.

The Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone is back and pro-lifers are again under threat.

Deval Patrick and his cronies want to put your pro-life friends in jail.

Massachusetts' Governor, Attorney General, and Planned Parenthood have conspired against the constitutionally protected rights of the citizens of the Commonwealth.  They hastily passed a New Buffer Zone law that would allow them to put pro-life sidewalk counselors in jail for up to 5 years for trying to educate women in crisis.

We can't let them get away with it.  I need you to stand with me for the rights of sidewalk counselors and other pro-lifers (CLICK HERE).  We need the resources to fight in the public square, in the legislature, and in the courts.

A gift of $10, $20, or $30 from you would make a big difference in this struggle.  Please help.

As you know, The Supreme Court overturned by a 9-0 vote the old Buffer Zone, which forced sidewalk counselors and people who wanted to pray and give witness to stand at least 35 feet away, even on public property.

After years of pointing to the controversial Roe v. Wade ruling as the basis of their policy, anti-life activists are refusing to accept a unanimous decision as settled law. As soon as the ruling came down, Deval Patrick and Martha Coakley promised to find a way to circumvent the ruling and get their free-speech restrictions back in force.

Now they've passed a law which will allow them to throw pro-lifers in jail for 5 years and fine them $50,000 for simply trying to exercise their rights to free speech and assembly. 

It's up to us to stop them.  Together we can do it but you are needed!  CLICK HERE to support our efforts.

Under the new law, sidewalk counselors, people praying in front of abortion clinics, or even those simply standing a silent witness so that the victims of abortion are not forgotten are potentially subject to arrest and draconian criminal and civil penalties if they are deemed to be "impeding" access to an abortion clinic.

These are good, compassionate, peaceful people who are there to help women. These are our friends, neighbors, and fellow churchgoers—perhaps you are one of them yourself. I am. Governor Patrick is threatening them, you, all of us, with prison if we don't shut up.

Under the new law, police may move any group accused of impeding clinic access to at least 25 feet away from the entrance, thus preventing them from offering hope, help, and love.  Anyone who violates this New Buffer Zone, can be arrested, fined, and/or jailed.  For a second offense the penalties become huge and draconian.

Worse yet, determining who is "impeding" access, and what constitutes a new "violation" is largely left up to the abortion clinic's staff.

That's right, the people who perform and live off abortions will be the ones deciding if the people standing up for unborn children and their mothers are breaking the law!

Governor Patrick wants to put a weapon in the hands of abortion clinics.  He wants to bully pro-lifers into keeping silent. A former board member of Planned Parenthood, he knows that these actions will lead to more abortions.

Make no mistake, this law poses a real threat to pro-lifers and to the babies and women they are trying to help.

I need you to decide now to support MCFL's efforts to take back our right to stand up for the unborn and their mothers.  CLICK HERE to fund our effort.  Your gift of $10, $20, $30, or whatever you can afford will go a long way toward helping

Pro-abortion activists know that the work of pro-lifers reduces the number of abortions and hurts the profits of Planned Parenthood and other abortion mills.  Governor Patrick, the former board member of Planned Parenthood, will do anything to prevent that.

We need to keep standing up for the rights of the unborn.  If we are to do that, we must also stand up for the constitutionally protected rights this New Buffer Zone law is trying to take from us.

Your immediate gift of $10, $20, $30 or whatever you can afford is needed to fund our efforts to fight this terrible law in the courts, in the legislature, and in the public mind (CLICK HERE).

I know I can count on you to stand up for the unborn and for the rights of pro-lifers.

Please, act quickly; we need funds soon to continue our efforts.  (CLICK HERE to donate)  Working together, we can win this important fight.

Thank you for all you do for Life.

 

Yours truly,

Anne

How Is Haleigh Doing?

Here is good news with some pertinent points by Wesley Smith at National Review Online!

Also, please note that we can stop holding our breath.  Remember, last Jan 14, the awful sex-ed bill, which would have codified Maria Talks and taught children how to get abortions behind their parents' backs, was on the House floor at the State House waiting to be voted on?  Your phone calls pushed it back to committee (something I had never heard of before).  Your calls kept it there.  The session has ended with no further action.  You rock! 

Anne


August 3, 2014 5:26 PM
Haleigh's New Life After State Wanted Her Dead
By Wesley J. Smith

It's been awhile since I have written of Haleigh Poutre. Some may recall that she was an abused child beaten into a sustained unconsciousness by her step father.

Adding near-killing to her injury, within days of being diagnosed, doctors decided she would never get better and the state sought court permission to make sure she died "with dignity" by having her respirator and feeding tube removed.

Happily, just before the deed was to be done, she awakened. From my 2006 NRO article, "Danger Zone:"

Within a week or so of the beating, her doctors had written her off. They apparently told Haleigh's court-appointed guardian, Harry Spence, that she was "virtually brain dead." Even though he had never visited her, Spence quickly went to court seeking permission to remove her respirator and feeding tube.

The court agreed, a decision affirmed recently by the supreme court of Massachusetts. And so, no doubt with the best of intentions, a little girl who had already suffered so much was stripped by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of even the chance to fight to stay alive. If she didn't stop breathing when the respirator was removed, which doctors expected, she would slowly dehydrate to death.

Then came the unexpected: Before "pulling the plug" on Haleigh, Spence finally decided to visit her. He was stunned. Rather than finding a little girl with "not a chance" of recovery, as doctors had described Haleigh's condition to him (as reported by the Boston Globe), Haleigh was conscious. She was able to give Spence a yellow block when asked to by a social worker and respond to other simple requests.

Not only did Haleigh awaken, but she learned to eat on her own and began rehab and school.  Now, she has a real, loving family. From the Boston Globe story:
The minister winds up his welcome to some 400 people, and soon lyrics flash karaoke-like on a large screen. A spirited Christian pop song, "Blessed be Your Name," fills the Westfield Evangelical Free Church. In the back row, a young woman, sitting in a wheelchair next to her adoptive parents, lights up.

Though she can't read all the words, she sways to the music and claps her hands, the nails painted pink with white polka dots. She loves cheerful tunes and a crowd, and on this Sunday, she has both. Keith and Becky Arnett could have predicted that Haleigh, 20, would brighten at this part of the service. She entered their lives as a 14-year-old foster child, then known as Haleigh Poutre, who had been at the center of a passionate end-of-life court battle. Her singular story of abuse, compounded by government lapses, drew national media attention. It remains one of the darkest chapters in the state's child-protection system.

The case caused MA to reform its laws. But have the bioethical values that led to this almost killing changed? From what I observe, no. Indeed, they have gotten even worse.

Think about this. Think about it hard: The "quality of life ethic" pushed vociferously in mainstream bioethics–and almost implemented by state bureaucrats–came very close to killing Haleigh by dehydration. It would have happened had it not taken the procedure months to get MA Supreme Court permission.

And now think about this: If euthanasia had been legal, she could have been lethally injected with not enough time to recover. And don't think that will never happen if society swallows the hemlock. Child euthanasia and medicalized killing of children already happens in the Netherlands and Belgium.

It is a very dangerous thing to create a invidious categories of people denigrated by medical technocrats as having lives not worth living–or paying for.

So, the next time a bioethicist argues that we must dehydrate a child or other cognitively disabled person to death in "their best interests," remember Haleigh Poutre. Sometimes doctors are wrong. Sometimes "miracles" do, indeed, happen. If we are to err, it should be on giving life a chance.

You'll Want to Know

Please read the tragic story about this beautiful young pro-life family.  Near the end it tells you how you can help. 

I apologize - I don't know how to get rid of the Daily Mail tabloid stuff but I wanted to get the story right to you. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2712722/Pregnant-mother-four-unborn-child-die-shes-stung-bees.html

Bless you,

Anne

NEW BUFFER ZONE: 35 HEROES

The New Buffer Zone, with its potential to be worse than the one that went down 9 - 0, will be signed into law this week.  The Senate passed it unanimously.  The House had a role call.  The stalwarts, who stood up for a woman's right to receive hope, help, and love, deserve our thanks.

1.  Please check the list to see if your representative is a Hero.  If so:
2.  Call to say "thank you!"
3.  Remind a few neighbors to call.

NB: Only representatives are on the list.
~For roll calls, all the Democrats are listed in alphabetical order then all the Republicans, so I have listed them that way.
~All the phone numbers are 617-722 followed by the individual number.  Given my poor typing skills, I have listed only the last four numbers next to the Representative's name.
~You may notice that some of the Reps have the same phone number.  They share offices and numbers.  Just ask for your person.
~The asterisk (*) means the person spoke and/or offered amendments on our behalf.  It is good to mention that in your message.

The most important thing we can do is to thank legislators who vote with us!

Thank you!

Anne

Brian Ashe, 2090
Bruce Ayers, 2230
Stephen DiNatale, 2676
Paul Donato, 2040
Colleen Garry, 2380
Wayne Matewsky, 2090
Jim Miceli, 2460
Thomas Petrolati, 2255
Angelo Puppolo, 2430
John Rogers, 2092
Dennis Rosa, 2396
Walter Timilty, 2230
Matthew Beaton, 2488
Nicholas Boldyga, 2810
Leah Cole, 2430
* Vinnie deMacedo 2100
* Geoff Diehl, 2810
* Shawn Dooley, 2810
Peter Durant, 2060
Ryan Fattman, 2460
Kimberly Ferguson, 2263
*Paul Frost, 2489
* Sheila Harrington, 2305
Brad Hill, 2100
Randy Hunt, 2396
Brad Jones, 2100
Kevin Kuros, 2460
* Marc Lombardo, 2460
* Jim Lyons, 2014
Shaunna O'Connell, 2305
* Keiko Orrall, 2090
George Peterson, 2100
Betty Poirier, 2100
Todd Smola, 2240
David Vieira, 2230

Arizona Botched Execution Caused by Doctor-Prescribed Suicide Drug!

When I heard about the execution in Arizona that took two hours of suffering, I knew they used the same drugs that the pro-death lobby is pushing for Doctor-Prescribed Suicide but I couldn't believe that was true.  You probably had the same reaction.  Well, sure enough, it is - the drugs over which the press and courts are having conniptions are the same as the "death with dignity" drugs!  Wesley Smith confirms this in a brief, very useful article, http://www.nationalreview.com/human-exceptionalism/383690/another-cruel-and-unusual-death-dignity-wesley-j-smith

I plan to use this information the next time DPS comes up (or any time I can bring it up)

Anne

Press Release: Arizona "Botched" Execution Uses Same Drugs as Doctor-Prescribed Suicide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Arizona "Botched" Execution Uses Same Drugs as Doctor-Prescribed Suicide

Charlestown, MA - July 25, 2014   

Contact Anne Fox, 781-449-1774

The recent "botched" execution in Arizona used the same drugs as those recommended for doctor-prescribed suicide. We now know that they do not cause "death with dignity" but what appeared to be an agonizing, prolonged death of almost two hours.

In 2012, Massachusetts voters defeated efforts to legalize doctor-prescribed suicide. Advocates filed a bill in the 2013/2014 legislative session and will bring it up again in 2015.

"We urge the legislature and the general public to remember this 'cruel and unusual punishment' when considering doctor-prescribed suicide again and not inflict it on the most vulnerable of Massachusetts' citizens." stated Anne Fox, President, Massachusetts Citizens for Life, the state's oldest and largest pro-life organization.

###

Press Release: Senate President Misspeaks on Abortion Facilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Senate President Misspeaks on Abortion Facilities 

Charlestown, MA - July 25, 2014

Contact: Anne Fox, 781-449-1774

Senate President Therese Murray falsely claimed in a WATD-FM interview yesterday that "…abortion services…they're few and far between"  at the facilities covered by the new Buffer Zone replacement law, according to the State House News Service.  Murray was discussing the New Buffer Zone Bill when she made the statement that these facilities "...are not abortion areas."

The facts contradict her claims.  In 2012, Planned Parenthood facilities alone performed 11,870 abortions in Massachusetts.  Their clinic in Boston, which has been the focus of most of the testimony and discussion concerning the bill, performed 6,899 of those.  The Boston clinic does abortions three days a week.  That is more than 44 abortions each of those days - one abortion every ten minutes.  Forty-four abortions a day in one facility is hardly "few and far between."

Planned Parenthood in Worcester, Springfield, and Women's Health Services in Brookline each perform about 16 abortions per day every abortion day.  Approximately 5,228 other abortions performed in Massachusetts in 2012 were done in hospitals or other free-standing clinics impacted by the Buffer Zone, such as Four Women in Attleboro, which performed 2,018.

According to Anne Fox, President of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, "President Murray has every right to advocate for a bill.  As an elected official, particularly as the leader of the Senate, she has an obligation to stick to the facts.  Massachusetts Citizens for Life calls on Senator Murray to issue a correction admitting that the new bill is designed to protect abortion clinics and only abortion clinics."

 Massachusetts Citizens for Life is the oldest and largest pro-life organization in the state.  An affiliate of National Right to Life, MCFL has been working to restore protection to life at all stages for more than forty-one years.

###

New Buffer Zone: House Vote

The House voted 116 - 35 in favor of the New Buffer Zone.  House members, led by Jim Lyons, worked valiantly to amend/delay the bill but the juggernaut was in.  Kudos to Jim, Keiko Orrall, Vinnie DeMacedo, Geoff Diehl, Paul Frost, Shawn Dooley, Sheila Harrington, and Marc Lombardo. I'll let you know as soon as we have the roll call. Let's see how fast the other places that have/had Buffer Zones follow Massachusetts over the Constitutional cliff.  Anne

Boston Magazine, Decent Coverage of Buffer Zone and MCFL Billboard!

	I think you will find this article worth reading.  Anne http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2014/07/15/buffer-zones-legislation-filed-billboards/ -

New Buffer Zone Law - What Happened Yesterday

Yesterday: the hearings at the State House on the proposed new Buffer Zone, the Judiciary committee reported it out favorably, and the Senate passed it!

For the first four hours we heard:
Places that do abortions are "health centers."
"Reproductive rights" are a primary constitutional right.
All pro-lifers are violent and threatening.
The lovely counselors who spoke are aberrations.

Planned Parenthood employs a huge number of people in the state who all drone on about their abuse by pro-lifers.  No legislator picked up on the pro-lifers' demands for pictures or videos of the alleged incidents.

When the pro-lifers had a chance to speak:
Eleanor McCullen - and all the counselors who were there - did an outstanding job, explaining that it would be counter-productive for her to behave badly.  Other impressive counselors were on Bill Cotter's panel.  Rod Murphy, Nancy Clark, and Lee Crowley all from Worcester, Jean Healey, and Eric Anthony all spoke eloquently about counseling.  Faith Tendo also came from Worcester to tell about her experience being helped by Problem Pregnancy.  Maureen Vacca and Rita Russo testified.

Phil Moran, the local lawyer for the McCullen win, compared the new zone to the penalty box where the counselors would always be.  State Representatives Jim Lyons and Marc Lombardo spoke.  Jim pointed out that these same people say "The Supreme court has spoken" about Roe v Wade.  Now they have no use for the Court.  Marc stated that this proposed law is so outrageous that it will definitely be appealed and cited the costs in time and money that will be associated with the appeal - the McCullen case has already cost many millions.

Pat Stewart, MCFL Executive Director, gave impressive testimony citing 20 actual laws that already cover blockading, harassing, etc.

Committee Members Keiko Orrall and Sheila Harrington asked excellent questions.  They and Colleen Garry were the only committee members who voted against sending the proposed legislation to the Senate.

As fast as they can get it through the House and signed, Massachusetts will have a law which is worse than the old Buffer Zone.  It effectively creates a 25-foot zone and the penalties are scary - $50,000 and three years in jail.  The legislature is in the process of disrespecting the Supreme Court and penalizing law-abiding citizens.  I do think all the other places that have suspended their Buffer Zones will pass laws like this one.  At least Massachusetts will have company in its foolishness.

Thank goodness I got to go to our Summer Academy afterwards (more in another email).  The wonderful speakers and students restored me.

Anne


Click on the picture to donate.

 

New Buffer Zone hearing TOMORROW!

Late afternoon yesterday, Planned Parenthood's new Buffer Zone bill, (SD) 2106, was filed.  The Judiciary Committee will take testimony tomorrow, Wednesday, at 10 am in Gardner Auditorium.  We expect testimony will not go much past three.  Obviously, they will vote to report it out as soon as the testimony is over. We need to prepare to testify.  This bill is worse than the one just overturned.  Our lawyers say that, in order to appeal successfully, we need a lot of testimony on the record.  That is where we come in. We need to say the law is not needed, that Massachusetts has not arrested anyone outside a clinic in at least 20 years.  Most of all we need to say that this new law is so scary we would be afraid to go near a clinic to try to help a woman.  You can read the law at  http://masscitizensforlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/New-Buffer-Zone-Bill.pdf                If I "detain" a woman to give her literature, I could face big fines and jail.  Who decides if I am detaining?  It looks as though the people in PP could decide.  The state looked dumb when it passed the unconstitutional Buffer Zone.  It will look totally deranged when it passes this new one. Please plan on 10 am in Gardner Auditorium. For once it will be okay to arrive a bit late. Individuals have three minutes to speak and members of panels (3 or 4 people) have two minutes each. I will let you know any new developments.  If you are not able to testify in person, please prepare something written to email to the House Committee Chair before 9 am in the morning, Christopher.Markey@mahouse.gov As always, mighty thanks! Anne

NO NEW BUFFER ZONES: CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS

Don't you feel like saying, "What about 9-0 don't you understand?"

As you know, the AG, the Governor, and Planned Parenthood (or the other way round) plan to pass new laws.  The fact that the Supreme Court said there are already laws on the books, that Massachusetts was forced to admit at SCOTUS testimony that they have not had to enforce these laws; that new laws will probably end up at the Court again wasting much time and taxpayer money, doesn't seem to matter because these people are demagoging.

Each of us must call our State Senator and our State Representative ASAP!  The message is:
The Supreme Court ruled against the Buffer Zone 9-0
There are already laws on the books to keep driveway, sidewalks, and entrances clear.
If a person defies the laws, an injunction can already be brought against him or her.
There is no need for any new laws. 
Please do not spend your time and our taxes on unnecessary laws that will most likely just end up before the Supreme Court again

To make the calls:
After you are on:  http://masscitizensforlife.org/get-informed/legislation/
If you know the names of your State Senator and State Rep, click onto State Senate and State Representatives for their phone numbers

It you do not know the names of your legislators click onto Look Up Your Legislator and Contact Information.
We have bowled them over with calls before.  We can do it again! 

Anne

NB: When you call, be sure to give your name and the fact that you are a constituent!
Calls or personal visits are the way to go - emails can be ignored


Click on the picture to donate.

Press Release: MCFL Billboard Campaign to Defeat New Buffer Zones

For Immediate Release      Contact Anne Fox, 617-242-4199
Boston, July 14, 2014








Statement by Anne Fox, President, Massachusetts Citizens for Life:

"These MCFL Billboards on the corner of Cambridge and Bowdoin Streets, in the middle of many government buildings, which are viewed by 60,000 people every day, remind the legislators and their constituents that the Supreme Court ruled unanimously (9 - 0) that the Massachusetts Buffer Zone was unconstitutional. 

"There are already laws against blocking driveways or entrances; there are laws against harassment, and injunctions are available against persons who violate existing laws.  Massachusetts does not need any new laws.  During testimony before the Court in January, Jennifer Miller, Assistant Mass. Attorney General, admitted that the state has not enforced any of these laws for more than a decade.

​"Massachusetts Citizens for Life urges the legislature to let law enforcement apply existing laws before writing any new ones.  Let's not waste the time of the legislators and the tax money of the citizens to end up before the Supreme Court again."

The Best Gift My Grandson Ever Gave Me

	Ray Flynn just sent out this article - in the Huffington Post, no less.  It is a wonderful read.  We are so fortunate to have Ray on our team! Anne http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ray-flynn/handicapped-grandchild-_b_5567517.html?utm_hp_ref=fifty&ir=Fifty Click on Billboard picture to donate

MCFL Billboards Just Went Up Near the State House!

Corner of Cambridge and Bowdoin Sts.

We are so excited!

I won't be sending out the press release until Monday but I couldn't wait to tell you!

Through a series of wonderful people, especially a generous donor, we have these billboards for the rest of July.  They are 900 square feet each. They have been up for minutes and we have already had a call complaining!

The legislature plans to vote on new buffer zone-type legislation before they adjourn on July 31st.  All of them and everyone else going up the other side of Beacon Hill, as well as those driving by (60,000 a day), will see them.

The billboards are at the bottom of Beacon Hill at the corner of Cambridge and Bowdoin Sts.  The building on the top left in the first picture is the John W. McCormack Bldg. at One Ashburton Place and it is adjacent to the eastern side of the Massachusetts State House.

So, our letter went last Monday to every legislator and was picked up by the media in Boston and nationwide.

The billboards are up now.

Next Monday, we will begin the phone campaign.  I'll be calling and emailing you about that.

SCOTUS said there are laws in place, which Massachusetts admits to not having used, to take care of potential harassment, blocking entrances and sidewalks.  We do not want the state to pass new laws which are not needed and which will be challenged and overturned again.  They would be such a waste of our tax dollars and the legislators' time!

It is going to be a lovely weekend for a drive down Cambridge Street!  Let me know what you think.

Anne

Save the Date!

Save the Date

Massachusetts Citizens For Life will be Hosting its Annual Fundraising Banquet

Thursday, October 23, 2014

6:00 pm Reception      7:00 pm Dinner
​

Tiffany Ballroom at the Four Points by Sheraton, Norwood
​

 Registration starts August 20^th

Contact Matt at 617-242-4199 ext. 221

Consider hosting a table for your group.

Ryan Bomberger

Keynote Speaker

To see Ryan's expertise in action, be sure to check out this interview on MSNBC following the March for Life in Washington.      

Ryan has a rather unique perspective of the innate nature of purpose. His biological mother was raped yet courageously chose to continue the pregnancy, giving him life. He was adopted as a baby and grew up in a loving, multi-racial Christian family of 15. With siblings of varying ethnicities, he grew up with a great appreciation for diversity. Ten of the thirteen children were adopted in this remarkable family. His life defies the myth of the "unwanted" child as he was adopted, loved and has flourished.

Today, he is an Emmy® Award-winning Creative Professional who founded The Radiance Foundation (TRF), a life-affirming 501(c)(3) organization, along with his wife, Bethany.

Ryan and his organization have been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, CNN, MSNBC, the Associated Press, Washington Times, FOX News ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, and, seemingly, the entire blogosphere for exposing the disproportionate impact of abortion in black communities. He has taken on the NAACP for its pro-abortion actions which lead to an unprecedented number of black, unborn babies being aborted.

Ryan has spoken to hundreds of thousands of pro-life activists using his award-winning, multimedia presentations that are sure to impress. We are excited to have Ryan as our keynote speaker at this year's fundraising banquet. For a chance to meet Ryan in a private VIP reception, please consider being an MCFL Investor for this year's event.

Press Release: MCFL Letter to Legislators Opposing New Buffer Zone-Type Laws

 

For Immediate Release   Contact Patricia Stewart, Esq. 617-242-4199

Charlestown, July 8, 2014

 

Massachusetts Citizens for Life has sent the following letter to every member of the Massachusetts Legislature urging them to respect the First Amendment rights of people outside abortion facilities.

Dear Representative, Senator:

Seven years ago, at the urging of the Attorney General, the Legislature passed the so-called Buffer Zone Act, and the Governor signed it into law despite warnings that it violated the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and would not withstand a challenge to its constitutionality.

Last week, the United States Supreme Court in a unanimous 9-0 decision vindicated critics of the act (which included the ACLU) and ruled that the law violated the First Amendment and, therefore, was unconstitutional. McCullen, et al v. Coakley Attorney General of Massachusetts, et al, 573 U.S. ___ (2014).

Now in a rush to judgment, the same Attorney General and Governor are asking you to support new legislation that in all likelihood will lead to more litigation due to infringement on the right of citizens to use the public sidewalk for the two primary methods of communicating their message to persons entering abortion clinics: close personal conversation and distribution of literature. As the Court noted, those forms of expression have historically been closely associated with the transmission of ideas. It stated, "[c]onsistent with the traditionally open character of public streets and sidewalks, we have held that the government's ability to restrict speech in such locations is 'very limited.'" McCullen, at ___. Pointing to its decision in Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western N.Y., 519 U.S. 357, 377 (1997), it reminded us that "[l]eafletting [sic] and commenting on matters of public concern are classic forms of speech that lie at the heart of the First Amendment." The Court then cautioned, "[w]hen the government makes it more difficult to engage in these modes of communication, it imposes an especially significant First Amendment burden." McCullen, at ___.

As you consider voting on the Attorney General's new proposal, please think carefully as to whether or not the latest version will pass constitutional muster. Remember, she convinced you before that her bill would do so, and she was dead wrong.

Thank you for any consideration you may give these matters.

Very truly yours,


Anne C. Fox                             Patricia D. Stewart                             Eva Murphy
President                                   Executive Director                             Legislative Director


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You have until midnight!

	This is the last day to make a contribution for your Walk beneficiary.  I hope the pregnancy resource centers will have more women needing their help as a result of the Buffer Zone ruling.  They really need your support at this important time! If you have not already given, please go immediately to http://respectlifewalk.org/ Thank you for making such a difference in the world! Anne ​

Good News From NRLC Convention and NJ

On Tuesday (24th), pro-lifers across the country won all five U.S. Senate and Congressional primaries, one special election and one runoff!  Also, National Right to Life (NRLC) is making calls to members.  They say it sounds like 2010 - very encouraging! Yesterday the New Jersey Assembly (House) was supposed to vote on DPSuicide.  The proponents did not have the votes, so it appears to be off the table for now. Anne

New York Times Outdoes Themselves

New York Times accepts a full-page ad today using a picture of Margaret Sanger to viciously attack the Roman Catholic bishops over a Supreme Court case involving a family of Evangelical Christians.  Disgusting birthday present for our country! 

Anne

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Walk to Aid Mothers and Children - Participate Through This Weekend!

At the Walk, we celebrated "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"; we celebrated the Buffer Zone decision.  Most of all we celebrated our greatest resource: our children.  We have kept the Walk website through this weekend, July 7th, so that you may sponsor the beneficiary group of your choice.  If you were not able to attend the Walk and have not yet participated, please take a moment now. Just think, with the Buffer Zone gone, there may be more women going to the Pregnancy Resource Centers so the Centers will need your help more than ever! Thank you, Anne