SCOTUS: Walk-off Homer

The Supreme Court saved the Hobby Lobby/Conestoga Wood case for the very last and the ruling was 5-4.  It is scary that basic religious, speech rights should have been such a squeaker.  The court ruled that companies do not have to pay for contraception/abortion coverage.  It is assumed that the Obama administration will step in to pay, so now we'll all be paying!  Anyway, it would have been an historic blow if the case had gone against our side. I think MCFL's amicus brief, citing the history of religious liberty in the colonies, which was the basis for the views of our founding fathers, helped to win this case.  Again, we are very grateful to Dwight Duncan and the law students who helped him write the brief! Now what will we do with ourselves on Monday and Thursday mornings? Anne ​

Special Guests at Walk to Aid Mothers and Children

	We are very fortunate to have some of the plaintiffs in the Buffer Zone win coming on Sunday.  There's still time to register yourself or sponsor a walker.  Click the image below to bring you to the Respect Life Walk website. See you at the Walk! 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

MCFL Press Release re Buffer Zone

For Immediate Release                        Contact Janet Callahan: 617-242-4199 ext. 230
Boston, June 26, 2014
​
Massachusetts Citizens for Life welcomes the Supreme Court unanimous decision, McCullen v. Coakley, which strikes down the Massachusetts so-called Buffer Zone as a violation of the First Amendment.

The court reiterates tradition in this country that the sidewalk is the vehicle for free speech.  There are already laws on the books which prohibit blocking entrances, harassing people, etc.

​The McCullen decision makes it clear that more restrictive laws may be written only if the current laws are not working – something that the state of Massachusetts failed to prove.

"This is a victory for all citizens who value their First Amendment rights and for clinic-bound women who might need someone to talk to," says Anne Fox, President.

Mark Rienzi, the lead counsel said, "Americans have the freedom to talk to whomever they please on public sidewalks. That includes peaceful pro-lifers like Eleanor McCullen, who just wants to offer information and help to women who would like it. The Supreme Court has affirmed a critical freedom that has been an essential part of American life since the nation's founding."


​Massachusetts Citizens for Life is the oldest and largest pro-life organization in the state.  Founded in 1973, it works to restore legal protection to all human life.

Buffer Zone Violates First Amendment: 9-0

SCOTUS reversed the Massachusetts Buffer Zone unanimously!

We don't know yet whether it applies to other states.

Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review Online (NRO) is speaking right now at the National Right to Life Convention.  I have heard that NRO will have in-depth articles on the decision.  Please check in with them: http://www.nationalreview.com/

Congratulations to Eleanor McCullen and her fellow plaintiffs!

Anne

No SCOTUS Ruling But I Just Heard...

	None of the three rulings today are ours.  Wish we could bottle the excitement! Janet just told me we are going to have pails and pails of Richie's Slush at the Walk for everyone, not just the children.  She tells me it is amazing! Hope you have registered and joined a team or sponsored. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday! Anne

New Buffer Zone - House Vote Tomorrow!

At the hearings last week, legislators said how proud they were to be behind a Planned Parenthood bill, almost all the people testifying in favor of the bill said they were on the staff of Planned Parenthood.  Only one person never mentioned that he had served on the Board of Planned Parenthood.  That was Governor Patrick.  Talk about the fix!

As you know, the Senate voted unanimously for the New Buffer Zone (now that it is a real bill, it is S 2283).

We just received word that the House will vote on it tomorrow.  Some of the pro-life legislators are going to try to get it amended - a noble endeavor which, if successful, will make the bill less bad.

If you have not called your representative, please do so with this message, "I am a constituent calling in opposition to S 2283.  The Supreme Court spoke about trying the current laws before passing new ones.  I encourage you to do that and to put off the vote until next session.  If you must vote now, please support the amendments which will be proposed."

To make the calls:
After you are on:  http://masscitizensforlife.org/get-informed/legislation/, if you know the names of your State Rep, click onto "State Representatives" for his/her phone number.  If you do not know the name of your Representative, click onto "Look Up Your Legislator."
​
​Calls or personal visits are the way to go - emails are easily ignored.

I am afraid the rest of the country will copy this New Buffer Zone, so what we do is very important!

Thanks,

Anne

Click on Picture to Donate

Girls of Summer

Some of the girls in the greater Lawrence area had approached us asking to have the Summer Academy in their area.  The Academy is going swimmingly (couldn't resist).  We have a lovely group of young women; two are from New Hampshire and one is an international student from Spain. 

The first week Matt Hanafin spoke about fetal development and abortion in general. His presentation is always rich with material.  Last week Cori Connor-Morse shared with the girls the heartbreak of having had an abortion.  Eileen Guerin came from Pregnancy Care Center in Haverhill.  Eileen is a volunteer counselor who told them what pregnancy resource centers have to offer women.  She also shared her own story of her journey to pro-life.  It was the most powerful pro-life evening I can remember.

Tomorrow night, Helen Cross will discuss Clarke Forsythe's book, Abuse of Discretion.  The girls will know more about Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton than most of us.

Please mark your calendar.  August 13th is the last day of the Academy.  We will be showing October Baby.  It is open to all and we'd love to have you!

In case you haven't seen: develops our governor served on the Board of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts in the '90's!

This link is about a beautiful woman. Please take a minute: http://www.lifenews.com/2014/07/18/mother-pregnant-with-her-10th-child-refuses-cancer-treatment-and-abortion/

Click on Picture to Donate

Press Release endorsing Mark Fisher for Governor

For Immediate Release           Contact Madeline McComish: 617-387-7820 Statement by Madeline McComish, Chairman, MCFL State PAC, June 19, 2014, Boston ​ "Today the MCFL State PAC announces its endorsement of Mark Fisher in his quest for Governor. "MCFL PAC believes that all voters who are concerned with the right to life and with the protection of those on the edges of life should vote for Mark Fisher because he will support vital pro-life public policies. "Mark Fisher is a strong supporter of pro-life measures, including A Woman's Right to Know, a Massachusetts Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, a ban on sex-selection abortions, and the licensing of abortion facilities in the state.  He opposes tax funding of abortion and doctor-prescribed suicide. "This endorsement reflects Mark's commitment to strengthening a culture of life throughout the Commonwealth.  We look forward to working with him to protect the most vulnerable members of the human family. "In the Republican Primary, Mark is opposed by Charlie Baker, who favors tax funding of abortion and opposes A Woman's Right to Know.  All of the Democratic contenders for Governor take positions strongly in favor of abortion."

You Still Have 10 Days

The MCFL Respect Life Walk to Aid Mothers and Children is 10 days away.  You still have time to sign up as a walker, member of a team, or sponsor.  Please check out to see what you would like, http://respectlifewalk.org/.  We have just celebrated Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Just think about the needs of these mothers and their precious children.  Think how much you can help by supporting the beneficiary organizations that care for them! Today is Thursday but neither of our decisions came down from SCOTUS. ​Don't miss the opportunity to be a real helper!  http://respectlifewalk.org/ ​Bless you, Anne

April Showers, May Flowers, June SCOTUS Decisions

The Supreme Court saves opinion-release of the controversial cases until June - the end of their session.  Knowing that, have you wondered why they released the Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton decisions in January?  I just finished Clarke Forsythe's Abuse of Power.  He shows conclusively that the Justices truly thought the abortion cases were not controversial and that everybody agreed with them.

This year there are 25 cases outstanding.  The Cato Institute lists the seven most notable.  Three of those are ours!  McCullen (Buffer Zone), Hobby Lobby (for which we submitted a brief) and Susan B Anthony.  The SBA List said a "pro-life" Congressman had voted for abortion funding because he voted for O-care.  We said the same thing about Congressmen Lynch and Neal.  The difference is that SBA said it in Ohio which criminalizes making a "false statement" about a candidate.

Currently scheduled opinion-release days are June 2 (tomorrow), June 9, 16, 23, and 30. They will probably cut June 30 and add 3-4 more opinion days the weeks of June 9, 16, or 23. Each week's extra days are typically announced on the Monday of the given week. None of these cases is about abortion.  It is abortion, however, which has caused pro-ab legislators and government officials to write foolish legislation and regulations to promulgate abortion at any cost.  These cases are just a few examples of the way abortion has corrupted our legal system.

Experts seem to think McCullen will be close but that we will prevail.  Given the tone in the press so far, it will be fun to watch the deluge. What concerns me is that the Court might send it back to the Massachusetts legislature with instructions on how to make a buffer zone constitutional.  The same experts feel we will prevail in the Hobby Lobby case also because the government has not bothered to make its case well.  The Susan B Anthony case is a farce.  Not only will the pro-life group be exonerated, but the law will be struck down.

At the Respect Life Walk to Aid Mothers and Children (June 29), we are going to have a mighty SCOTUS celebration!  Many of the beneficiaries are pregnancy resource centers which have a direct interest in the defeat of the buffer zone.  Others are involved in the religious freedoms threatened by the HHS mandate, etc.

Interesting times, as they say…

Anne

​

 

 

April Showers, May Flowers, June SCOTUS Decisions

The Supreme Court saves opinion-release of the controversial cases until June - the end of their session.  Knowing that, have you wondered why they released the Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton decisions in January?  I just finished Clarke Forsythe's Abuse of Power.  He shows conclusively that the Justices truly thought the abortion cases were not controversial and that everybody agreed with them.

This year there are 25 cases outstanding.  The Cato Institute lists the seven most notable.  Three of those are ours!  McCullen (Buffer Zone), Hobby Lobby (for which we submitted a brief) and Susan B Anthony.  The SBA List said a "pro-life" Congressman had voted for abortion funding because he voted for O-care.  We said the same thing about Congressmen Lynch and Neal.  The difference is that SBA said it in Ohio which criminalizes making a "false statement" about a candidate.

Currently scheduled opinion-release days are June 2 (tomorrow), June 9, 16, 23, and 30. They will probably cut June 30 and add 3-4 more opinion days the weeks of June 9, 16, or 23. Each week's extra days are typically announced on the Monday of the given week. None of these cases is about abortion.  It is abortion, however, which has caused pro-ab legislators and government officials to write foolish legislation and regulations to promulgate abortion at any cost.  These cases are just a few examples of the way abortion has corrupted our legal system.

Experts seem to think McCullen will be close but that we will prevail.  Given the tone in the press so far, it will be fun to watch the deluge. What concerns me is that the Court might send it back to the Massachusetts legislature with instructions on how to make a buffer zone constitutional.  The same experts feel we will prevail in the Hobby Lobby case also because the government has not bothered to make its case well.  The Susan B Anthony case is a farce.  Not only will the pro-life group be exonerated, but the law will be struck down.

At the Respect Life Walk to Aid Mothers and Children (June 29), we are going to have a mighty SCOTUS celebration!  Many of the beneficiaries are pregnancy resource centers which have a direct interest in the defeat of the buffer zone.  Others are involved in the religious freedoms threatened by the HHS mandate, etc.

Interesting times, as they say…

Anne

​

 

 

Three Bright Spots...

Ryleigh is the Walk baby.  Christine Williams interviewed her mother, Courtney Mayo-Silvani.   You'll love what she has to say about the beauty of life in general and Ryleigh in particular: http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=171368 I think these links will also brighten your day as they did mine.  Anne http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-06-13/the-adoption-turnaround  http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/06/on_being_a_parent.html ​

SCOTUS: 9-0

	The decision that came out today favors the Susan B. Anthony List by a 9-0 vote.  The question was a law in Ohio which would not let them say that a vote for Obamacare was a vote for abortion funding.  The 9-0 decision was expected because Ohio had put such an unreasonable muzzle on citizens. No more decisions will be forthcoming today.  So far so good! Anne

Fathers are so Important!

In this age when the media, etc., tend to denigrate fathers, I was delighted to find this anonymous thought: 

A Father's Love

A father is respected because
He gives his children leadership...
Appreciated because
He gives his children care...
Valued because
He gives his children time...
Loved because
He gives his children the one thing
They treasure most - himself.
​
and a pro-life Father's Day video:  http://www.lifenews.com/2014/06/09/the-most-powerful-pro-life-fathers-day-video-youve-ever-seen/

​Blessings and thanks to all fathers!   

Anne

Fathers are so Important!

In this age when the media, etc., tend to denigrate fathers, I was delighted to find this anonymous thought: 

A Father's Love

A father is respected because
He gives his children leadership...
Appreciated because
He gives his children care...
Valued because
He gives his children time...
Loved because
He gives his children the one thing
They treasure most - himself.
​
and a pro-life Father's Day video:  http://www.lifenews.com/2014/06/09/the-most-powerful-pro-life-fathers-day-video-youve-ever-seen/

​Blessings and thanks to all fathers!   

Anne

​

Summer Academy 2014, Invitation to all Rising High School Students

We are running the Summer Academy again this year.  It is a wonderful, free opportunity for students.  Thomas, who was a student in '12, is an intern with us this summer.  Contact Janet at jcallahan@masscitizensforlife.org or 617-242-4199 ext. 230.  Please encourage your children, grandchildren, neighbors to come. 

Anne
​

 2014 Massachusetts Citizens for Life Summer Academy, 2014

Rising High School Students – Methuen
​

The goal of the sessions is to form and engage high school students as workers in the pro-life movement. More specifically and immediately, we intend these students to become Ambassadors of MCFL in their respective schools, churches, or homeschooling communities during the 2014-2015 school year, as both leaven and liaison in their respective pro-life clubs.
​

• So that we may provide a thorough formation, our preference is for students who can and will commit to attending all, or at least most, of the sessions.
• An award certificate will be conferred during the last session, which will also serve as a "commissioning ceremony" for these MCFL Ambassadors.
• In order to present a thorough overview of the main life issues, the pro-life movement, and the various ways that these students can and should get involved, we will hold six weekly sessions. With the exception of the last, sessions will normally consist of an expert presentation of content, and interactive workshop, with 30 minutes allotted at the beginning for informal fraternizing over pizza and soft drinks.

            
Dates:              St. Monica School, Methuen, Wednesdays, July 9 – Aug 13
​
Time:               6:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. (6:00 – 8:30 p.m. for last session)

Tuition:             Free for pro-life high school students

                                                SUMMER ACADEMY, 2014 

July 9,   Fetal development and how to discuss the issue with your friends, Linda Thayer
              Scientist and Educator

July 16, Post Abortion Problems, Cori Connor Morse, Post-Abortion Survivor
              Help available at Pregnancy Resource Centers,  Anne Magnus, Pregnancy  Care                       
              Center, Haverhill

July 23, Representative Jim Lyons and
               What Roe really did, Helen Cross, Editor of the MCFL Quarterly Magazine

July 30,  End of Life Issues: current scientific, legislative developments, Patricia Stewart, Esq,
               end-of-life expert and Executive Director, MCFL

Aug. 6,    Student Presentations
                Moral and scientific questions in the area of life and reproduction, Dianne Hunt,
                 Humanae Vitae Family Healthcare

Aug. 13,  Commissioning Ceremony and showing of October Baby – open to families and the
               general public

SCOTUS: None of Our Decisions Today

	Next day for decisions will be next Monday.  Of course the chances our cases will come up gets higher each Monday and Thursday. You may remember the letter Planned Parenthood put out saying that the Bible showed God was in favor of abortion.  Here is a good response. Today, please get three Walk sponsors.  Thank you! Anne

I forgot to include the letter challenging Planned Parenthood

	I am sorry, I forgot to include in my SCOTUS email this excellent letter which was written in response to Planned Parenthood's claim that the Bible proves that God is ok with abortion.  Anne  http://www.frcblog.com/2014/06/alliance-defending-freedom-open-letter-planned-parenthood

16 Abortion Facilities Unlicensed in MA!

Mass. Citizens has learned that there are sixteen abortion facilities in Massachusetts that are not licensed!  Laura Hope Smith died at such a place.  It did not even have a working blood pressure cuff let alone other medical necessities!  This is a disgrace!  Mass. Citizens is working to change the law to require these facilities to be licensed and inspected.

​We are collecting signatures in targeted State Representative districts to place a question on the November ballot so that our representatives will take action to regulate abortion facilities in the state.
​
Please read the explanation of what we are planning to do and why.  If you live in one of the targeted districts listed in the link, please be sure to attend the meeting in your district.  If you have missed your meeting, please call Matt, 617-242-4199 ext. 221 to find out how you can still get involved. 

If you don't live in one of these districts but can go in to help collect signatures between now and July 4th, please call Matt also.
​
NB: the names of the representatives who represent the targeted districts are listed simply to help people identify the district because most of us know the name of our rep. but not the name of our district.

Please read this important link: http://masscitizensforlife.org/2014-public-policy-question/

Anne


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SCOTUS: None of Our Decisions Came Down Today

None of our decisions came down today.  At the rate of about three decisions a day, SCOTUS will have to start announcing decisions on Thursdays as well as Mondays.  On the theory that they leave controversial decisions for the end, I don't know why the Susan B. Anthony Fund case hasn't come down yet - it is extremely noncontroversial.
I have been saving some articles I think you will want to read.  Since you have no court decisions to read, I send them along:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/making-babies/361630/ 

http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/motherhood_at_40_how_women_came_to_believe_a_modern_myth  

http://www.operationrescue.org/archives/court-records-indicate-nearly-1000-abortion-patients-likely-hospitalized-annually-in-texas/  MA 23% population, so 230 

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/40044/title/NIH-Accused-of-Interfering-with-Ethics-Probe/

http://www.lifenews.com/2014/06/03/shocking-government-study-put-lives-of-premature-babies-at-risk/ 
  
http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2014/06/abortionist-we-are-the-executioners/#.U436V3ZhsTA 

http://www.nationaljournal.com/health-care/why-abortion-rights-activists-should-fear-the-supreme-court-20140518

​Keep up the good work!  

Anne

Boston Fertility on Ice Event to Showcase Egg Freezing!

Sharp-eyed Dana send this along.  Give us a break! Years from now we and Mother Nature will be proven right but in the meantime, what damage to society and people involved!  Anne

http://www.metro.us/boston/news/local/2014/06/08/fertility-ice-showcase-option-egg-freezing/