The blog for Massachusetts Citizens for Life: the pro-life movement in the Bay State since 1973.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
New website: Healthcare for Gunner.com
Students for Life of America Executive Director Kristan Hawkins has a young son recently diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, and has released a website detailing the way in which healthcare proposals would affect him. The website, Healthcare for Gunner, approaches the healthcare debate not only from a pro-life perspective, but from a uniquely pro-child one as well.
New website: "Here is the Blood"
Lila Rose, known for her undercover work exposing the racist donations accepted by Planned Parenthood as well as Planned Parenthood's repeated cover-up of rape, as part of her group Live Action has released a website called "Here is the Blood" (warning: graphic images).
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Abortion case potentially coming up before the Supreme Court
from the article:
Two years after the Supreme Court last ruled on abortion restrictions, a new test case is likely on its way to the Court, perhaps reaching there by next Fall. Responding to an order by the Justices to take a new look at a Virginia abortion ban, the Fourth Circuit Court on Wednesday upheld the law. The en banc Court divided, 6-5, in sustaining the law against claims that it would criminalize the most common method of abortions performed in the second trimester.
Two years after the Supreme Court last ruled on abortion restrictions, a new test case is likely on its way to the Court, perhaps reaching there by next Fall. Responding to an order by the Justices to take a new look at a Virginia abortion ban, the Fourth Circuit Court on Wednesday upheld the law. The en banc Court divided, 6-5, in sustaining the law against claims that it would criminalize the most common method of abortions performed in the second trimester.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Keeping Churches and Pastors faithfully pro-life
Charlie Coudert is a longtime pro-life activist who leads a monthly vigil outside the Framingham Union hospital which provides abortions. In Charlie's July letter he included some material of interest to our many Catholic members, that encourages them to have their priests pledge fidelity to church teachings and documents that support and affirm life. You can find that pledge here. These documents are a project of Human Life International, which does great work trying to reduce abortions globally. HLI's head, Fr. Tom Euteneuer also spoke two months ago in Worcester, to the dinner for Visitation House which is the feature story on the front page of the most recent MCFL News.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Reality vs. the media
The media is reporting gleefully that the aftermath of the Tiller murder has put the pro-life movement in supposed "disarray" - yet the opposite is true. It seems the only time the media likes to talk about abortion is when an abortionist is killed, not every other day of the year when 3,600 children are being killed through surgical abortion daily. If the media were to ask any of the 2000 pregnancy centers, or statewide right-to-life chapters lobbying for legislative change, or the many pro-life committees based out of religious communities, they'd hear that nothing has changed, and the goal of protecting the unborn, helping parents and making a better society more receptive to life is still the job of everyone in the movement.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Abortion as a "blessing"?
You have probably heard about the Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge Divinity appointment of Katherine Ragsdale, featured here in the Phoenix. The article goes to great lengths to explain Ragsdale's infamous "abortion is a blessing" statements in Alabama, as well as rationalize why 'common ground' with us pro-lifers is misguided, and that abortion is never a 'tragedy' because, well, a woman chooses it.
The article fails, of course, to put in context that Ragsdale sits on NARAL's board and that board provides the political cover for an multi-billion dollar publicly supported industry involved with the destruction of children for any reason.
It's so telling to read her words and the obvious contradictions within. Ragsdale is obviously a very intelligent woman, and well-spoken, but she says certain things without even considering their implications:
From the article:
How can a scientific or moral truth be so subjective that it depends on one's own personal beliefs? That would make it not a moral principle, but a matter of personal interpretation. There has to be an objective truth: either the fetus is a child or it is not, but to cop out and say that it depends on what you want to believe is akin to saying that a baby chicken is only a real chicken if you want it to be, other people can disagree and perhaps it's not a chicken at all. Her line of logic is purposefully anti-logic, it is the cold, calm rationalization of forcing what you want to be true over the objective truth.
Her bad logic continues later in the article:
What, I wonder, does she mean by "it"? What is "it"? And by saying "babies they want" she's clearly contradicting her earlier statements that "it" is not a baby. She's saying that until "it" is born, the baby is not a baby, but in the same sentence, just a short few words later, she acknowledges that some babies are wanted and the aborted babies are unwanted, but it shows that she recognizes that they are both babies.
I can't fault Ragsdale, she is obviously so wrapped up in pro-abortion politics, organizations, and self-identity politics that it is likely an enormous intellectual mountain to climb to state the obvious: that abortion kills a child. And I hesitate to too easily castigate the media and the Phoenix, for they are likely surrounded by a climate that doesn't engage these ideas and issues in a competitive way-- they all blindly accept Ragsdale, and look to her as the authority figure. They are reporters who don't know, so they seek out whom they trust to know for them, and are getting bad answers.
No, friends, the uncomfortable blame lies with us. The blame lies on our shoulders because these lies continue without our constructive corrections. These appointments go unchallenged because we give up on the world. We hear too often religious people excuse their own personal inaction because they 'see signs of the end times' or because there's "no hope" or because things are "too far gone" and they let these things continue. We focus on the overwhelming problems and get dispirited, whereas, instead, we need to challenge ourselves each and every day to continue taking constructive pro-life action to help save the unborn. When we hear a pro-abortion argument we need to correct it. When we see a pro-choice politician we need to respectfully engage them, when we find the pro-choicers in our own family, we need to dialogue with them, and when we see a woman in need we need to continue speaking to her and bringing her to the many wonderful pregnancy centers around the state.
The blame lies with us, the challenge is upon us, and the future will change because of you.
The article fails, of course, to put in context that Ragsdale sits on NARAL's board and that board provides the political cover for an multi-billion dollar publicly supported industry involved with the destruction of children for any reason.
It's so telling to read her words and the obvious contradictions within. Ragsdale is obviously a very intelligent woman, and well-spoken, but she says certain things without even considering their implications:
From the article:
"I suppose it's possible for an intelligent, faithful person to still believe that there's no moral difference between a zygote and a baby," Ragsdale allows. "But there's no reason for most of us to believe that. And I don't."
How can a scientific or moral truth be so subjective that it depends on one's own personal beliefs? That would make it not a moral principle, but a matter of personal interpretation. There has to be an objective truth: either the fetus is a child or it is not, but to cop out and say that it depends on what you want to believe is akin to saying that a baby chicken is only a real chicken if you want it to be, other people can disagree and perhaps it's not a chicken at all. Her line of logic is purposefully anti-logic, it is the cold, calm rationalization of forcing what you want to be true over the objective truth.
Her bad logic continues later in the article:
"That's the tragedy in most cases," she continues. "That birth control failed, that they might want to have a baby but the economics are such that they can't possibly afford it, that we don't have healthcare, that women can't choose to have the babies they want. There's a tragedy."
What, I wonder, does she mean by "it"? What is "it"? And by saying "babies they want" she's clearly contradicting her earlier statements that "it" is not a baby. She's saying that until "it" is born, the baby is not a baby, but in the same sentence, just a short few words later, she acknowledges that some babies are wanted and the aborted babies are unwanted, but it shows that she recognizes that they are both babies.
I can't fault Ragsdale, she is obviously so wrapped up in pro-abortion politics, organizations, and self-identity politics that it is likely an enormous intellectual mountain to climb to state the obvious: that abortion kills a child. And I hesitate to too easily castigate the media and the Phoenix, for they are likely surrounded by a climate that doesn't engage these ideas and issues in a competitive way-- they all blindly accept Ragsdale, and look to her as the authority figure. They are reporters who don't know, so they seek out whom they trust to know for them, and are getting bad answers.
No, friends, the uncomfortable blame lies with us. The blame lies on our shoulders because these lies continue without our constructive corrections. These appointments go unchallenged because we give up on the world. We hear too often religious people excuse their own personal inaction because they 'see signs of the end times' or because there's "no hope" or because things are "too far gone" and they let these things continue. We focus on the overwhelming problems and get dispirited, whereas, instead, we need to challenge ourselves each and every day to continue taking constructive pro-life action to help save the unborn. When we hear a pro-abortion argument we need to correct it. When we see a pro-choice politician we need to respectfully engage them, when we find the pro-choicers in our own family, we need to dialogue with them, and when we see a woman in need we need to continue speaking to her and bringing her to the many wonderful pregnancy centers around the state.
The blame lies with us, the challenge is upon us, and the future will change because of you.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Sneak peak into our July issue...
The four main stories will be:
1. Legal problems around adoption
2. Teen outreach and related mental health issues
3. Undiagnosed elderly depression
4. An article on the way to pass Laura's Law
If you have any thoughts or contributions, please contact Helen Cross and let us know. Especially if you know individuals who have had experiences with related topics, we would love to hear from you! You can reach Helen Cross at chapters-at-masscitizensforlife-dot-org
1. Legal problems around adoption
2. Teen outreach and related mental health issues
3. Undiagnosed elderly depression
4. An article on the way to pass Laura's Law
If you have any thoughts or contributions, please contact Helen Cross and let us know. Especially if you know individuals who have had experiences with related topics, we would love to hear from you! You can reach Helen Cross at chapters-at-masscitizensforlife-dot-org
"Social Egg Freezing" and overplanning modern motherhood
This story in "Essential Baby" covers women who are freezing their eggs in order to get around the natural decline in their fertility when they lack a father. On one hand, this seems like a convenient way for working women to deal with their ticking biological clock while managing the pressures of the workplace. But on reflection, the relationship to pro-life is that it makes the children a commodity, and we allow ourselves to 'plan' our lives and children become too managed. We forget the wonder of the unexpected, and the virtue in dealing with the unplanned. Prof. Tony Esolen spoke about many of these topics last fall for Mass Citizens. We have social problems that we solve through science, when considering our high level of wealth and success we really ought to be considering changes in our culture and attitudes that foster communities and a climate where an unplanned pregnancy is welcomed. We want a family, career and meaningful relationships/marriages, and these three things are not in competition with one another and can be balanced instead of 'solved' through technology.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The death of George Tiller
George Tiller, infamous doctor known for performing partial-birth and late-term abortions in Wichita, Kansas was shot and killed yesterday in his church. The emotional trauma of abortion, fostered and reinforced by abortionists and the abortion industry, will sadly only be furthered by this act, not alleviated. The violence also denies the powerful opportunity for conversions, such as those by Dr. Bernard Nathanson and Norma McCorvey. The murder of George Tiller inflicts emotional distress like the abortions he routinely provided, and will not save any babies. It's a sad day in many ways, not the least of which is the knowledge that one 67 year old man has died, and thousands more babies are going to die tomorrow. We live amongst a culture of death.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Reason: "Is the Abortion Debate Changing?"
Typically pro-choice libertarian magazine Reason, published by the CATO Institute, published a piece today titled "Is the Abortion Debate Changing?" that seeks to interpret the recent array of poll results that shows Americans shifting more to a pro-life political position.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Map of Chapters and other Pro-life activity
Here is a map in Google of the various pro-life activity around the state. Let us know if you find this useful by emailing feedback to us at chapters-at-masscitizensforlife.org
The Health Risks of Removing Old Laws
Boston's Dig Magazine recently wrote an article featuring MCFL Executive Director Marie Sturgis on the dangers of removing old state laws that protect women's health.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Boston Globe: "Clinic's move is resisted"
Clinic's move is resisted
Neighbors cite abortion protests
By James O'Brien
Globe Correspondent / May 14, 2009
A Brookline medical facility that provides abortions is facing opposition to its proposed relocation across town to Harvard Street, with a number of neighbors saying they are not opposed to the procedure, but rather to the abortion protesters already demonstrating on their sidewalks.
read more
Marie Sturgis, executive director of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, an antiabortion group, said in an interview she did not keep track of whether any of her members were among the protesters, but said of the events, "The point is education, to let those neighbors know what will go on there. You've heard about not liking the messenger. But the message is valid."
Even the demonstrators with a graphic sign "or dressed as the Grim Reaper do have a message," said Sturgis. "What is this new entity, this new clinic going to do? They're going to kill children."
Neighbors cite abortion protests
By James O'Brien
Globe Correspondent / May 14, 2009
A Brookline medical facility that provides abortions is facing opposition to its proposed relocation across town to Harvard Street, with a number of neighbors saying they are not opposed to the procedure, but rather to the abortion protesters already demonstrating on their sidewalks.
read more
Marie Sturgis, executive director of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, an antiabortion group, said in an interview she did not keep track of whether any of her members were among the protesters, but said of the events, "The point is education, to let those neighbors know what will go on there. You've heard about not liking the messenger. But the message is valid."
Even the demonstrators with a graphic sign "or dressed as the Grim Reaper do have a message," said Sturgis. "What is this new entity, this new clinic going to do? They're going to kill children."
Polls show more pro-lifers than pro-aborts
Gallup is admitting what you and I already knew: there are more pro-lifers than pro-abortion people. The grassroots pro-life movement is working, and it's winning.
Online sidewalk counseling resources
Msgr. Reilly from the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, a Catholic group focused on "Sidewalk Counseling" has a variety of resources available online that we recently ran across. Geared to religious and specifically Catholic pro-life activists, these resources are invaluable for approaching women as they enter a clinic. In related news, the lawsuit challenging the Massachusetts buffer zone law has been making progress with much hope for pro-life activists.
40 Days for Life: The Next Step
Lee from Westboro passed along the link for 40 Days for Life's "Next Level" phone conversation transcript. There are many good ideas about organizing and work, especially for religious pro-lifers, on how to take non-violent constructive action outside clinics and to help reduce abortions.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
RedMassGroup: Want To Save The State Money? Stop Using Tax Dollars For Abortions
from RedMassGroup:
"Want To Save The State Money? Stop Using Tax Dollars For Abortions"
by: Garrett
Wed May 06, 2009 at 22:50:45 PM EDT
It is no secret that the Commonwealth spends taxpayer dollars poorly. There is the prevailing wage law, the Quinn Bill, pensions, no show jobs, Cahill's lawsuit, the Cadillac, the Aloisi family, etc. These types of abuses are pretty standard in Massachusetts but spending money on abortions? Are you serious?
There is a line item in the House Budget dedicating $5.2 million in tax dollars to "comprehensive family planning services," in other words abortions. Do the legislators on Beacon Hill really think it is appropriate to fund abortions with taxpayer dollars during a fiscal crisis, or even at all?
Is funding abortions a top priority for the Commonwealth?
...read more
"Want To Save The State Money? Stop Using Tax Dollars For Abortions"
by: Garrett
Wed May 06, 2009 at 22:50:45 PM EDT
It is no secret that the Commonwealth spends taxpayer dollars poorly. There is the prevailing wage law, the Quinn Bill, pensions, no show jobs, Cahill's lawsuit, the Cadillac, the Aloisi family, etc. These types of abuses are pretty standard in Massachusetts but spending money on abortions? Are you serious?
There is a line item in the House Budget dedicating $5.2 million in tax dollars to "comprehensive family planning services," in other words abortions. Do the legislators on Beacon Hill really think it is appropriate to fund abortions with taxpayer dollars during a fiscal crisis, or even at all?
Is funding abortions a top priority for the Commonwealth?
...read more
Check out the speech on healthcare reform at the 2009 MCFL Convention
Burke Balch spoke about the right ways and wrong ways to reform the U.S. healthcare system. There are pro-life reforms that would save lives, and pro-abortions reforms that will lead to escalating costs, rationing and increased abortions.
You can also see Mike Barnett's discussion about recruitment, that was part of our breakout sessions, by clicking here.
You can also see Mike Barnett's discussion about recruitment, that was part of our breakout sessions, by clicking here.
American Spectator: "High Priestess" of Abortion moves to Boston
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/05/08/high-priestess-of-abortion
By Mark Tooley on 5.8.09 @ 6:07AM
The Rev. Katherine Ragsdale will soon become the first female president of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Openly lesbian, the outgoing chief of a liberal think tank that monitored the Religious Right, and best known for her abortion rights advocacy through the Washington-based Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), Ragsdale maybe the perfect icon for untrammeled liberal Episcopalianism.
But a rather vigorous two-year-old abortion sermon by Ragsdale, assertive even by her standards, has overshadowed her recent appointment. "Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done!" she repeatedly exclaimed at a rally in defense of an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2007. Those "blessing" situations, according to Ragsdale, are when a woman is pregnant due to "violence," when the fetus has "anomalies," when the woman hasn't education or a "sustainable job," and even when a woman has a "loving, supportive, respectful relationship" with "every option open to her" but knows the child will compromise "one's education, life's work, or ability to put to use God's gifts." So basically, abortion, including even partial-birth abortion as Ragsdale admits, is a "blessing" just about any time it is desired.
full article
By Mark Tooley on 5.8.09 @ 6:07AM
The Rev. Katherine Ragsdale will soon become the first female president of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Openly lesbian, the outgoing chief of a liberal think tank that monitored the Religious Right, and best known for her abortion rights advocacy through the Washington-based Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), Ragsdale maybe the perfect icon for untrammeled liberal Episcopalianism.
But a rather vigorous two-year-old abortion sermon by Ragsdale, assertive even by her standards, has overshadowed her recent appointment. "Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done!" she repeatedly exclaimed at a rally in defense of an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2007. Those "blessing" situations, according to Ragsdale, are when a woman is pregnant due to "violence," when the fetus has "anomalies," when the woman hasn't education or a "sustainable job," and even when a woman has a "loving, supportive, respectful relationship" with "every option open to her" but knows the child will compromise "one's education, life's work, or ability to put to use God's gifts." So basically, abortion, including even partial-birth abortion as Ragsdale admits, is a "blessing" just about any time it is desired.
full article
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The New Republic: Obama's Supreme Court Frontrunner is inadequate
pro-abortion Barack Obama has a powerful opportunity to replace retiring pro-abortion David Souter. Souter was nominated ostensibly as a pro-life nominee who was really a 'stealth' liberal who then used his appointment to further the culture of death. Some were never fooled, however, and local author and occasional WTKK host Dan Flynn notes that Howard Phillips testified accurately at the time that Souter was pro-abortion in New Hampshire and was lying to the confirmation committee. His current speculative field, however, leaves much to be desired. Even pro-abortion publications like the New Republic are weighing in on how inadequate his current field is looking.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Obama, Campus Life and Pregnant Women
One Notre Dame graduate relates her experiences with unplanned pregnancy and the kind of support offered by the pro-choice father of her daughter.
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