The "Little blobs" Score Again!

	Again, science shows what we already know and moves forward our moral position.  You'll enjoy what the wee ones are up to. http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/26/4661368/newborns-recall-words-heard-in-the-womb-research-shows For life, Anne

Prayer Request

Today I am headed to New Jersey.  As you know, their doctor-prescribed suicide bill (which was filed before the MA election last year because the death lobby was so confident of a win here) has passed out of the Assembly (House) Committee and could be voted on any day.  We expect Senate hearings soon followed immediately by a floor vote.  To complicate matters, they are electing virtually every office in November. The same national people who helped us so much - Rita Marker, Esq, Patients Rights Council,  Barbara Lyons, Wisconsin Right to Life, Jennifer Popik, Esq, National Right to Life, Mary Beerworth, Vermont Right to Life, Diane Coleman, Esq, Not Dead Yet, and Tim Rosales, Wayne Johnson Agency, have been helping the people in New Jersey.  With our MA experience, John Kelly of the disability group Second Thoughts, who acted as spokesperson for the Massachusetts Alliance Against Doctor Prescribed Suicide, and I have had the honor of helping also. We have a day-long meeting on Thursday with the New Jersey Alliance against Doctor Prescribed Suicide, a coalition like ours.  A loss in New Jersey at this point would open the flood gates and bring the whole awfulness right back to Massachusetts.  The people in New Jersey have all the pieces.  Please pray that they are able to bring them together to defeat the forces of death.  Thank you! Blessings, Anne

Fr Liias

People who heard him speak at the MCFL Convention (CLICK HERE to see video of Fr. Liias' talk and the rest of the convention), Get Real, will particularly enjoy reading about Fr Liias in today's Boston Globe but I know everyone will enjoy the article.  We are very fortunate to have such an effective spokesman for life!  Anne http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/08/25/episcopal-priest-embraces-catholicism-vatican-establishes-superdioceses-for-anglican-congregations/RR0uyIzbfXhWb4Q1aLiDyN/story.html?s_campaign=email_BG_TodaysHeadline Committed to the cause you share with MCFL?  CLICK HERE to support our life-saving work.

Enjoy the Weekend!

At the Summer Academy, we showed the students a video about the life and pro-life work of Mildred Jefferson, MD.  Of course, thinking about "Dr J" reminded us again that President Ronald Reagan credited her guest appearance on the PBS show The Advocates with making him pro-life.  Janet just sent this compilation of Reagan which is perfect for a summer weekend.  Anne This is priceless...be sure to watch all the way to the end! Janet    http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=wrRTau5jusU

It Is March of Dimes Solicitation Time Again

We have been getting emails wondering if the March of Dimes still supports abortion.  Apparently this is the time people drop off MOD envelopes to their neighbors.  Life Institute lists seven powerful reasons to boycott MOD 1. Their emphasis on pre-natal diagnosis of birth defects, for which abortion is often the "treatment" 2. Their close ties to the eugenics movement 3. Their support of experimentation on live babies in the womb and on tissue from aborted babies 4. Their support of federally funded embryo-destructive stem cell research and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) 5. Their dishonesty in ignoring the connection between prior abortions and premature birth 6. Their grants to Planned Parenthood 7. Their "neutral" stance on abortion, which accepts and encourages abortion by its silence You may read the rest of the article here, http://www.lifeissues.org/marchofdimes/sue_enouen_7-09.htm The article is from 2009 but we have every reason to believe MOD has the same positions. May I remind you that Mass Citizens is a truly life-saving organization.  We really need your help!  http://masscitizensforlife.org/give/ For life, Anne

OCTOBER BABY TONIGHT

You are invited to join us for the Commissioning Ceremonies which complete the Summer Academy and for a free showing of October Baby, which is provided by the MCFL West Roxbury Chapter.                                                       St. Stanislaus Hall                                                          2270 Main St.,                                                    West Warren, MA 01092                                                   6:30 pm tonight, Aug 14th            I hope you can join us to meet the inspiring students and enjoy October Baby, which is amazing! Anne

Life is Not a Social Issue

Carol Tobias is president of the National Right to Life Committee, of which Mass Citizens is an affiliate.  I want to share her observations with you.  Anne "National Right to Life, its fifty state affiliates, and more than 3,000 local chapters, are single-issue organizations existing to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. In the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers observed that we are endowed "with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. "The right to life is the first and foremost of all human rights. It affects all other issues and without it, a person never gets the opportunity to exercise any other right. Simply put, without Life all other rights and issues are meaningless. "From time to time, people or organizations come along that encourage the right-to-life movement to take up the mantle of other issues by equating these issues with the paramount right to life. "The success the right-to-life movement has experienced over the past 40 years has depended on maintaining our single-issue focus on life. By focusing on the single issue of life, we have been able to bring together a broad base of people – who may disagree on other important issues in our country, but who are dedicated to ensuring that the protection of our laws are extended to the most vulnerable members of society: the unborn, the elderly, the medically dependent and persons with disabilities. "The right-to-life movement provides a voice to the voiceless. To abandon this single-issue focus would be to abandon those who have no voice. National Right to Life remains committed to its work of protecting innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia, and invites all pro-life people to join us in our work"

Do You Know How Many Abortion “Clinics” There are in Massachusetts? You’ll Be Shocked!

Good friends are hard to come by these days, and you've been a very good friend to Massachusetts Citizens for Life.  It has been awhile since we've heard from you, however, and I want you to know that you are missed. Our success in working to protect life at all stages of development, from conception to natural death, is directly related to the generosity and encouragement we receive from members like you. One of the vitally important things we are working on right now is The Gosnell Project.  We have known about the Gosnell "House of Horrors" in Philadelphia.  Now we learn that unsanitary, unsafe abortion facilities have been closed in Michigan, Maryland, Delaware, and other states.  We know an abortionist is on trial in Florida.  The worst thing we know at the moment is about Douglas Karpen, the Texas abortionist who has been accused by employees of beheading some babies using the Gosnell method and killing others as farmers used to kill chickens, by twisting off their heads! Should we worry about what is going on at abortion facilities in Massachusetts?  We certainly should!  We know that Laura Hope Smith died in a facility in 2007.  We know that ambulances have been called to facilities somewhat frequently.   Your Mass. Citizens for Life is working to make sure there are no Gosnells here in the state.  We have sent many letters to state officials and are slowly building a picture of abortion facilities and providers. So far, in all the documents, the thing that interests me the most is the fact that the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services told the Energy and Commerce Committee of the United Sates House of Representatives that they license "ambulatory surgical facilities" and that the only way they know which ones perform abortions are from their reporting. The Office of HHS states that 17 hospitals in Massachusetts perform abortions and that there are three licensed "clinics" that perform abortions.  THREE   You and I would assume those three are the three Planned Parenthood facilities.  That would mean Four Women in Attleboro and Women's Health Services in Brookline, to name a couple, are not licensed!  Yet, each of these clinics advertises itself as a "licensed clinic!"  You can name others in your area!  How is that for the safety of women?  Mass. Citizens has already requested further information in our quest to bring things out in the open and up to standard.  In other states, when standards have been enforced, facilities have closed. The public knowing about "clinic" conditions has the same educational potential as the partial birth abortion ban, which permanently flipped public opinion our way. This is one example of the work Mass. Citizens is doing to protect life.  It will be difficult but we can pull this off if you help. I ask you please take a moment now to join, http://masscitizensforlife.org/get-involved/join/ or donate,  http://masscitizensforlife.org/give/ We are truly a movement of the people.  Please do whatever you can to continue and expand your life-saving support. Thank you for your life-saving support!                                                                                      Anne

October Baby - Free Showing!

August 14th is the last session of the six-week Summer Academy when we will commission the Student Ambassadors. As part of the program, we'll be showing October Baby.  I recently saw October Baby for the second time.  At the end of the movie, I realized that I had not moved my feet at all during the entire movie!  I am looking forward to seeing it again at the Summer Academy.  Yes, the message is very pro-life but it is not at all a polemic.  It is a beautiful story of family love, communication, and forgiveness starring some well-known actors including John Schneider and Rachel Hendrix. You are welcome to the Commissioning at 6:15 or come just for October Baby at 6:45. St Stanislaus Hall 2270 Main Street West Warren, MA 01092 This is a wonderful summer activity for the family.  Hope you can make it!  Anne

I Want to Share a Miracle With You

So many times we hear of dire pre-natal diagnoses that are wrong.  But what about the ones that are correct?  If we simply aborted all babies with problems we would make no efforts to solve those problems.  You will be so heartened by this story from LifeNews.  The fact that this wonderful mother is a Congresswoman will also warm your Massachusetts heart.  Have a great day!  Anne PS  I am sending the link rather than a copy of the story so that you can see the beautiful picture http://www.lifenews.com/2013/07/29/miracle-baby-congresswomans-daughter-defies-doctors-predictions-she-would-die/

By 2-1 Margin, Americans Favor Restricting Abortions After 20 Weeks - Washington Post, ABC News Poll

The headline says a 2-1 margin but...the article says 56% favor and 27% oppose, but... another 10% want to outlaw abortion entirely or before 20 weeks, so...  That makes support for restrictions 66% to 27%, more like 2 1/2 - 1!  Other parts of the poll have the usual obfuscating language, but the 66% - 27% is clear.  This is very exciting!  The only reason for restrictions at 20 weeks rather than the Supreme Court-defined "viability" is that babies at 20 weeks feel pain - BABIES!  BABIES FEEL!  All those people are acting on their belief that these are babies and, therefore, need to be protected.  Short step to 18 week babies,12 week babies, etc.  Again, the law is a teacher and we must use it to the fullest. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/07/25/majority-of-americans-favor-restricting-abortion-at-20-weeks-according-to-new-post-abc-poll/ There is some very interesting research in Down Syndrome going on in Massachusetts.  David Tolleson of the National Down Syndrome Congress, echoes what Katie Kiley told us at the MCFL Convention, explaining that parents welcome therapies to help their child live a full and active life, they are generally not interested in a "cure" that would take away their child's Down syndrome completely or compromise their identity.   "Parents don't want to change the essence of who their child is," added Tolleson. "But like any parent, if you could ease some of the challenges your child might have in life, you would certainly be interested in doing that." Here is the article:: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/new-scientific-discovery-may-hold-key-to-saving-infants-with-down-syndrome?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NCRegisterDailyBlog+National+Catholic+Register#When:2013-07-25 23:52:01#ixzz2aAcsdBVu View Katie's Convention presentation: http://masscitizensforlife.org/category/videos/ NB:  If you are a voting member of MCFL and plan to attend the Strategy Day on Aug. 3rd, please know that you must pre-register.  We'd love to have you!  Contact Janet Callahan at jcallahan@masscitizensforlife.org or 617-242-4199 ext. 230. Anne PS, Anne H. just sent this along.  It is definitely worth sharing. In a mother's womb were two babies. Twin One asked Twin Two: "Do you believe in life after delivery?" Twin Two replied, "Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery.  Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later." "Nonsense," said Twin One. "There is no life after delivery.  What would that life be?" "I don't know," replied Twin Two "but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths." Twin One said "This is absurd!  Walking is impossible.  And eat with our mouths?  Ridiculous!  The umbilical cord supplies nutrition.  Life after delivery is to be excluded.  The umbilical cord is too short." Twin Two replied, "I think there is something and maybe it's different than it is here." Twin One replied, "No one has ever come back from there. Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere." "Well, I don't know," said Twin Two, "but certainly we will see mother and she will take care of us." "Mother??" said Twin One.  "You believe in mother?  Where is she now?" Twin Two replied, "She is all around us. It is in her that we live. Without her there would not be this world." Twin One said, "I don't see her, so it's only logical that she doesn't exist," to which Twin Two replied, "Sometimes when you're in silence you can hear her; you can perceive her.  I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality...."

901 Heroes and One Super-Hero

Father of priest behind Down syndrome adoption story died while saving Down syndrome son by John Stonestreet   Tue Jul 23 11:20 AM EST July 23, 2013 (Breakpoint) - Fr. Thomas Vander Woude, pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Virginia, has a special place in his heart for children born with Down syndrome. His recent parish campaign to save one such life grabbed headlines. But to understand this story, and why these children are so special to Fr. Vander Woude, you need to know another story. This one blew me away. Earlier this month, Fr. Vander Woude got wind of a young couple in another state whose unborn child had been diagnosed with Down syndrome. The couple made the decision close to ninety percent of parents in their shoes make—to abort their special needs baby. Because the pregnancy was almost six months along, they had just days before the legal cutoff for abortions in their state. But Father Vander Woude had other ideas. He contacted the parents and convinced them to hold off just a little longer, while he and a volunteer sent messages via the church's social network accounts, pleading for a family willing to adopt the baby and save its life. The next morning, the calls and emails began—over 900, in fact—some from as far away as England and The Netherlands, ready to make the life-changing decision to adopt a special needs child. As the torrent subsided, three of the families were placed in contact with the expectant parents and an adoption agency for interviews. You would think this outpouring of love and acceptance for a child nine out of ten American couples consider unworthy of life would impress pro-choicers—especially those who repeat the tired accusation that pro-lifers care only about children in the womb, not after they're born. Well, I'm sad to say pro-abortion activists at the blog Jezebel wasted no time in heaping scorn on Father Vander Woude and the hundreds who responded to his call. One Jezebel blogger accused him of pressuring this woman to carry an unwanted pregnancy by "crowdsourcing an adoptive family."  "[A]nti-abortion folks," she cedes, "care more about fetuses with fairytale narratives than actual babies." Folks, these charges are simply ridiculous, especially now that pregnancy care centers designed to offer help and create options for women and children in crisis outnumber abortion clinics in the United States almost 2-to-1, and with so many families lining up to adopt. But this particular accusation that Father Vander Woude and his Twitter followers care nothing about older children with Down syndrome rings especially hollow. You see, this priest isn't the first person in his own family to snatch a victim of Down syndrome from certain death. His father, Thomas, Sr., died in 2008 after leaping into a septic tank to save his youngest son, Joseph, who had fallen in. According to sources at the time, Thomas, 66, allowed himself to sink beneath the sewage while holding 20-year-old Joseph above his head until rescuers arrived. Joseph has Down syndrome. His father died so that his special needs son would live. It seems Fr. Vander Woude, who officiated his dad's funeral, inherited a pro-life view that is not just intellectually true, but one of action. His father would be proud. The groundswell of families who responded to this plea for adoption are putting feet to their pro-life views, while at the same time showing how wildly out-of-touch with reality abortion apologists have become. This story also reveals how we might hope to return what Pope Benedict called a "culture of death" to a "culture of life." It requires doing and saying. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote to his former seminarians, "Not in the flight of ideas, but only in action is freedom. Make up your mind and come out into the tempest of the living." Fr. Vander Woude and his father have both given some of those with "fairy tale narratives" a chance at a real happy ending Reprinted by LifeSiteNews with permission from Breakpoint.

Summer Academy and Gabriella, Andrew and ...

The baby being born in London is marvelous and special, just like every other baby.  Last week, my friends Pat and Jeff welcomed Andrew, their first grandchild.  The week before, friends Leigh and Bill welcomed their umteenth grandchild, Gabriella, whose mother was one of the best Teens for Life speakers we have ever had.  Nobody could be happier.  The world claims to be pro-abortion but it is the truth that most people do love babies. Last decade's babies are this years teens.  We have a darling crowd at the Summer Academy in West Warren.  So far they have heard about fetal development, the Roe v Wade decision, current MA legislation, and the intentional misuse of language.  This week, Cori Connor Morse will share her post abortion story as she did at Faneuil Hall and Pam Hibbard, Director of Bethlehem House, will tell them about her baby-saving work.  http://masscitizensforlife.org/get-involved/events/sign-up-for-the-mcfl-2013-student-summer-academy-in-warren/   We are so grateful to all the people who help with the Academy! We love them both! Anne

Follow-up

There is so much going on!  Here are some of the current items of pro-life importance.  Anne Some people have asked about status of Buffer Zone at SCOTUS.  They will hear arguments late fall, early winter.  There will be publicity for a day or two and then quiet until decision comes down sometime before end of June, 2014. The Rhode Island legislature voted to have Choose Life license plates.  The fact that we have them helped to convince legislators.  Governor vetoed.  http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2013/07/gov-chafee-vetoes-anti-abortion-choose-life-license-plate-billready.html Aren't you glad politicians could not get in the way of our plates as long as the Choose Life Foundation and the Nordeens did the work?  If you don't have your plate, please go to your local Registry right away! We haven't talked about O-care recently.  Every dire prediction we made is coming through in spades.  There is no joy in being right because people already are suffering and it will get much worse.  The Heritage Foundation has a dozen implementation failures of O-care, http://blog.heritage.org/2013/07/08/morning-bell-obamacares-dirty-dozen-implementation-failures/?roi=echo3-16277241832-13715678-8581bc4227b62d79c499c74f429af70a&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Morning%2BBell O-care death panels seem to be based on the Liverpool Care Pathways.  They are working with such cruelty to patients that they are being phased out, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/liverpool-care-pathway-to-be-phased-out-after-claims-that-patients-were-drugged-and-deprived-of-liquids-8709878.html Great success with state legislatures in 2013, http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/high-levels-of-pro-life-state-legislation-passed-so-far-this-year/ The best news of all, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/9/hundreds-call-to-adopt-down-syndrome-baby-save-it-/ And, duh!  The New York times says abortion is not like other issues, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/sunday-review/why-abortion-is-not-like-other-issues.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

Lila Rose Named One of the Most Influential Women Under 35 in Washington

	This is so exciting!  Lila certainly deserves the honor.  Join us to hear her speak at the MCFL Banquet on Oct 10th at Sheraton Four Points in Norwood.  Lila is amazing!  Anne http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lila-rose-named-one-of-the-most-influential-women-under-35-in-washington

MCFL Banquet: Save the Date

MCFL Banquet: Thursday, October 10, 2013 featuring Lila Rose.  We are so fortunate to have Lila Rose (for the second time) and look forward to hearing what pro-abortion scandal she will be outing. New Location:  Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood.  Four Points is bright and exciting with lovely decor, great food, and the latest in multi media.  Perhaps best of all, the ability to hear shouldn't be a problem like it was last year!    See what it looks like here!

ONE MORE DAY FOR SUMMER ACADEMY REGISTRATION!

Massachusetts Citizens for Life Summer Academy, 2013 Rising 9th – 12th Grade Students – West Warren 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 2013-2014 school year, as both a 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 eight weekly sessions. With the exception of the first and last, sessions will normally consist of a 45 minute expert presentation of content, and a 45 minute interactive workshop, with 30 minutes allotted at the beginning for informal fraternizing over pizza and soft drinks. REGISTER: http://masscitizensforlife.org/get-involved/events/sign-up-for-the-mcfl-2013-student-summer-academy-in-warren/ Dates:              Wednesdays, July 10– Aug 14 Place:              St Stanislaus Hall, 2270 Main St., West Warren, MA                         Time:                6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuition:            Free for pro-life high school students                         WEEK 1:  Wednesday, July 10                   Topic: Prenatal Development and Abortion – how to share this information with your friends                    Linda Thayer, MCFL Vice-President of Education  WEEK 2: Wednesday, July 17                    Topic: Legislative Process and specific legislation in Massachusetts, meet local legislators                     Eva Murphy, MCFL Legislative Director, State Representatives Todd Smola and Peter Durant                     Topic:  How to start and maintain a Pro-Life Youth Group in your school or church                      Matt Hanafin, MCFL Director of Outreach  WEEK 3: Wednesday, July 24                       Topic: Consequences of Abortion – personal testimony.  Pro-life counseling and Pregnancy                                      Resource Centers                      Cori Connor-Morse and local pregnancy counselors  WEEK 4: Wednesday, July 31                      Topic: End of Life Issues and Euthanasia, Cyril Shea, MD                      Topic: Doctor-Prescribed Suicide, Jamie Brunault, Regional Coordinator, MCFL WEEK 5: Wednesday, August 8                           Topic:  Moral questions in the areas of life and reproduction, Katie Elrod, Educator                            Topic:  Ethical Questions at the end of life, Margaret Bradford, Educator   WEEK 6: Wednesday, August 14                                                       Family and guests are invited to attend                            Call to Ambassadorship:  Conferral of Awards and Commissioning as Ambassadors and to                            view the                            Movie:  October Baby

Urgent Request from National Right to Life

As you know, the Texas State Legislature continues to battle to pass a pro-life bill to ban abortion after the unborn child is capable of feeling pain.    After recent events with the Wendy Davis filibuster, we need to make sure that pro-lifers are well represented in this battle.  National Right to Life has sent 5 people from our office to help in Austin.  People from across the nation have traveled to Austin to #stand4life!     The pro-aborts are creating a heavy presence in social media and we need to top that.  Just as the media reports on the number of bodies representing each side, they will use social media traffic to guage the relative strength of each side.    This is where your help is needed, even if you are not in or from Texas.    Tomorrow, at 10 am; 12 noon; 2 pm and 4 pm (all Eastern Daylight Time) we need you to get on Twitter and participate in a Twitter Bomb in support of HB2, the Texas Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.  Please put the following hashtag into all of your tweets  --  #stand4life    If you notice that there are particular trending hashtags relating to this issue, use that in addition to #stand4life.  We are asking each of you to prepare and tweet 10 tweets during each of the time slots above, with all ten being as close to the 'top of the hour' as possible.  This will give us the most standing.   Feel free to "Retweet" what other pro-lifers are saying as well.  You can remodify your tweets so that you don't have to start from scratch each time and there are suggestions below to help you get started.  Similar to doing various media interviews, you have the same message, just packaged slightly different.  You should also retweet NRLC, Texas Right to Life, and other tweets on this topic that you feel make a good point.  Remember a Tweet is limited to 140 characters.    You can use this as an opportunity to not only support Texas Right to Life and unborn children, but for your own educational purposes as well.  This is a very important request and I hope you will not only plan to do it yourself, but also forward to all of your pro-life lists.    If you do not have a Twitter Account, it is very easy and fast to create one.  Go to www.twitter.com  and follow the very simple instructions and you will be all set.    If you have questions or need help, please email or call Jonathan Rogers at  469-417-8905 or 202-626-8809 or email Jonathan@nrlc.org    Suggested topics:   Stand with pro-life Texans  (encourage Texans to take action and add their voice to the mix, announce solidarity with them, etc.)   They feel pain (common-sense nature of the legislation, science behind unborn pain, late-term abortions, D/E procedures, etc.)   Commonsense clinic regulations (prevent another Gosnell, the same as other Ambulatory Surgical Centers, etc.)   Protecting both women and unborn babies   Support the Texas Legislature!  (Thank Governor Perry, Lt. Governor Dewhurst, etc.)   Call out pro-abortion bullies (the "Hail Satan" chanting, foul language, the original mob that derailed the Senate, etc.)   Polling (62% of Texans support prohibiting abortions when the baby is capable of feeling pain, good to push back against the ridiculous majority rhetoric the pro-aborts are trying to claim)   PS ~ You can also assist by going on Facebook and sharing posts by NRLC and Texas Right to Life.

State House Tomorrow: Your Testimony in Person or by Email

Testimony on Laura's Law, Partial Birth Abortion Ban, Sex Selection Abortion Ban, and unborn baby as second victim will be heard TOMORROW, July 9th in Room A-1 at 1:00 pm.  These are our most important bills, ones that should be acceptable to all. Information about the bills is listed below. 1)  Please plan to attend, testify, and leave a copy of your testimony. 2)  If you know you will not be able to attend, please send you testimony (email is best) to the Chairs       asking them to distribute.           House Chair, Gene.O'Flaherty@mahouse.gov      Senate Chair, Katherine.Clark@masenate.gov 3)  If you live in the district of any of the committee members please contact him or her.      Senate Members:  William Brownsberger,  Gale Candaras, Patricia Jehlen, John Keenan, Richard Ross  Further contact info for Senators, https://malegislature.gov/People/Senate      House Members: Christopher Markey, Colleen Garry, Kevin Murphy, Bruce Ayers, Sean Curran, Carlos Henriquez, Claire Cronin, Jeffrey Roy, Daniel Winslow, Sheila Harrington.  Further contact info for Representatives, https://malegislature.gov/People/House Hope to see you tomorrow!  Thanks, Anne The Woman's Right to Know Act–Bill Number: H1565 Primary Sponsor: Rep. Elizabeth A. Poirier "An Act relative to a woman's right to know." The bill would offer women more complete information about abortion and fetal development. A women seeking abortions would also be given a chance to see a sonogram of her child. A 24 hour waiting period would be imposed The Massachusetts Sex-Selected Abortion Ban–Bill Number: H1567 Primary Sponsor: Rep. Elizabeth A. Porier "An Act relative to sex selection in Pregnancy." This bill would ban abortions for the purposes of selecting the sex of a child. The Massachusetts Partial Birth Abortion Ban–Bill Number: H1452 Primary Sponsors: Rep. Kevin J. Kuros and Rep. Elizabeth A. Poirier "An Act banning partial birth abortions." This bill would impose a state ban to compliment the Federal Ban on partial birth abortions. It would allow for more complete enforcement. Massachusetts Second Victim Act–Bill Number: H1404 Primary Sponsor: Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Jr. "An Act relative to fetal homicide." This bill would alter the General Law to ensure that unborn children killed in the commission of a murder are legally treated as a second victim of the crime.

Abandonment

At "Get Real" the MCFL Convention, Mary Girard of Pregnancy Help spoke about helping women who are abortion-minded.  She spoke about the importance of the attitude of the woman's mother.  She spoke about the trust the woman needs to have in someone.  She spoke about abandonment of these women - a major theme.  Her presentation was extremely moving, as were all of the presentations in the morning.  We'll have the videos on the web site shortly. After the Convention, I saw that the words "abortion" and "abandonment" are virtually the same when signed. Now the National Right to Life News has published the following letter by a 20-year-old to a half sibling.  This young writer talks of abandonment in thinking of the baby.  This letter is another "get real" moment, showing what we know - that aborted babies have brothers and sisters who are deeply affected. If you do the math as you read, you will see the 15-year-old girl was impregnated by a 23-year-old predator - just what we have been telling the press when they call about selling Plan B to girls of any age and to legislators when they want to lower the age of consent for abortion -  just abortion, no other procedure. If you have not read this letter, please take a moment.  The hurt abortion has caused is limitless!  Anne http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2013/07/abortion-and-future-children-a-letter-to-my-aborted-half-sibling/#.UdiPZdiP2jM

MCFL Major Bills - Testimony, Tuesday, State House

Testimony on Laura's Law, Partial Birth Abortion Ban, Sex Selection Abortion Ban, and Unborn Baby as Second Victim will be heard next Tuesday, July 9th, in Room A-1 at 1:00 pm.  These are our most important bills, ones that should be acceptable to all. Information about the bills is listed below. 1)  Please plan to attend, testify, and leave a copy of your testimony. 2)  If you know you will not be able to attend, please send you testimony (email is best) to      the Chairs asking them to distribute.           House Chair: Gene.O'Flaherty@mahouse.gov       Senate Chair: Katherine.Clark@masenate.gov 3)  If you live in the district of any of the committee members, try to talk to them over the      weekend. Senate Members:  William Brownsberger,  Gale Candaras, Patricia Jehlen, John Keenan, Richard Ross  Further contact info for Senators, https://malegislature.gov/People/Senate House Members: Christopher Markey, Colleen Garry, Kevin Murphy, Bruce Ayers, Sean Curran, Carlos Henriquez, Claire Cronin, Jeffrey Roy, Daniel Winslow, Sheila Harrington.  Further contact info for Representatives, https://malegislature.gov/People/House Hope to see you on Tuesday!  Thanks, Anne   The Woman's Right to Know Act–Bill Number: H1565 Primary Sponsor: Rep. Elizabeth A. Poirier "An Act relative to a woman's right to know." The bill would offer women more complete information about abortion and fetal development. A women seeking abortions would also be given a chance to see a sonogram of her child. A 24 hour waiting period would be imposed . The Massachusetts Sex-Selected Abortion Ban–Bill Number: H1567 Primary Sponsor: Rep. Elizabeth A. Porier "An Act relative to sex selection in Pregnancy." This bill would ban abortions for the purposes of selecting the sex of a child.   The Massachusetts Partial Birth Abortion Ban–Bill Number: H1452 Primary Sponsors: Rep. Kevin J. Kuros and Rep. Elizabeth A. Poirier "An Act banning partial birth abortions." This bill would impose a state ban to compliment the Federal Ban on partial birth abortions. It would allow for more complete enforcement.   Massachusetts Second Victim Act–Bill Number: H1404 Primary Sponsor: Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Jr. "An Act relative to fetal homicide." This bill would alter the General Law to ensure that unborn children killed in the commission of a murder are legally treated as a second victim of the crime.

Summer Academy for High School Students Starts on July 10th! Register Now!

Massachusetts Citizens for Life Summer Academy, 2013 Rising 9th – 12th Grade Students – West Warren 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 2013-2014 school year, as both a 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 eight weekly sessions. With the exception of the first and last, sessions will normally consist of a 45 minute expert presentation of content, and a 45 minute interactive workshop, with 30 minutes allotted at the beginning for informal fraternizing over pizza and soft drinks. REGISTER:  http://masscitizensforlife.org/get-involved/events/sign-up-for-the-mcfl-2013-student-summer-academy-in-warren/ Dates:              Wednesdays, July 10– Aug 14   Place:              St Stanislaus Hall, 2270 Main St., West Warren, MA                         Time:                6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuition:            Free for pro-life high school students                         WEEK 1:  Wednesday, July 10                   Topic: Prenatal Development and Abortion – how to share this information with your friends                    Linda Thayer, MCFL Vice-President of Education  WEEK 2: Wednesday, July 17                    Topic: Legislative Process and specific legislation in Massachusetts, meet local legislators                     Eva Murphy, MCFL Legislative Director, State Representatives Todd Smola and Peter Durant                     Topic:  How to start and maintain a Pro-Life Youth Group in your school or church                      Matt Hanafin, MCFL Director of Outreach  WEEK 3: Wednesday, July 24                       Topic: Consequences of Abortion – personal testimony.  Pro-life counseling and Pregnancy                                      Resource Centers                      Cori Connor-Morse and local pregnancy counselors  WEEK 4: Wednesday, July 31                      Topic: End of Life Issues and Euthanasia, Cyril Shea, MD                      Topic: Doctor-Prescribed Suicide, Jamie Brunault, Regional Coordinator, MCFL WEEK 5: Wednesday, August 8                           Topic:  Moral questions in the areas of life and reproduction, Katie Elrod, Educator                            Topic:  Ethical Questions at the end of life, Margaret Bradford, Educator   WEEK 6: Wednesday, August 14                                                       Family and guests are invited to attend                            Call to Ambassadorship:  Conferral of Awards and Commissioning as Ambassadors and to                            view the                            Movie:  October Baby

Pictures From "Get Real", MCFL Convention

Our Convention last Saturday was amazing.  All the speakers were local.  The attendees were so proud to be in the pro-life movement with them.  We'll be sending out more and posting videos on the website. Thanks to Ed Boylan for his usual amazing pictures.  He had to leave a little early to attend his twin grandchildren's first birthday. http://masscitizensforlife.org/2013-convention-pictures/fe.com

NRL Convention and Texas updates from Matt Hanafin

Howdy Y'all! I'm down here at the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas, Texas, and it couldn't be a more exciting time to be down here. I flew down on Tuesday to represent Massachusetts Citizens For Life at the National Right to Life Board meeting, and the timing was perfect for a political junkie like myself. For those who don't follow pro-life politics on the national level, let me tell you a bit of what has been going on down here. On Tuesday, a special session was called by Governor Rick Perry for the Texas state legislators to pass an omnibus pro-life bill that would drastically reduce the number of abortion clinics by regulating them like any other medical facility. The bill would also ban abortions at 20 weeks – when science has proven the unborn baby can feel pain – ergo, reducing the number of abortions. What transpired at the Texas State House looked like a documentary straight out of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Read the rest of Matt's Message Here...

MCFL Convention Saturday - Last Chance!

The State House News Service and The Kuhner Report have both publicized the Convention, so there is a great deal of interest.  As of now, we still have a few spots left - one of them is for you!  It is too late for online registration so please call the office to register, 617-242-4199. Looking forward to seeing you! Anne Convention 2013 Program 8:30 – 8:50:  Coffee and Registration 8:50 – 9:00:  Welcome, Anne Fox, President, MCFL 9:00 – 10:00:  Rev Jurgen Liias,  "Why We are Pro-Life" (Introduced by Madeline McComish) 10:00 – 10:30:  Katie Kiley, "Why We are Pro-Life" (Introduced by John Lohan) 10:30 – 11:30:  Mary Girard, "Pregnancy Help: From where we've come, where we are, where we go now." (Introduced by Marianne Luthin) 11:30 – 12:00:  Anne Marie Warner, "Sisters for Life and Why I'll Be Entering Their Postulancy" (Introduced by Marianne Luthin) 12:00 – 12:30:  Pick up lunch, Presentation of the Flatley Trophy 12:30 – 1:30:  John Kelly," Doctor Prescribed Suicide – The Death Lobby is Working Harder Than Ever" (Introduced by Prof. Scott Fitzgibbon, Esq.) 1:30 – 2:15:  Philip D Moran, Esq., "Latest on MA Buffer Zone Appeal to Supreme Court" (Introduced by Prof. Scott Fitzgibbon, Esq.) 2:15 – 3:15:  Prof. Jaqueline Nolan Haley, Esq., "Abortion: Ireland and New York State" (Introduced by Prof. Scott Fitzgibbon, Esq.) 3:15 – 4:00:  John Triolo,  "MCFL: After 40 Years, The Here and Now" Anne Fox, Introduction of THE GOSNELL PROJECT 4:00:  Annual Meeting of the Members, Elections, David Franks, Chairman of the Board