Respect Life Ministry
ST. MARK Pro-Life Committee
The Pro-Life Committee actively promotes a renewed respect for human life by helping to make our parish a center where parishioners will pray for, witness to, and understand the issues and the importance of meeting the needs of those who are most vulnerable. These especially include mothers and their unborn children, the elderly or disabled at risk for euthanasia, and those on death row who proclaim innocence.
Statement by Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Knestout on Governor Northam’s Signature of Abortion Expansion Legislation
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington and Bishop Barry C. Knestout of the Diocese of Richmond issued the following statement on Governor Northam’s signature of legislation that drastically expands abortion coverage in Virginia:
“Governor Northam has crossed yet another tragic threshold by inserting abortion without limits into Virginia’s health benefits exchange. We decry the enactment of this deplorable policy, which is built on the destructive lie that abortion is healthcare. We are saddened when we contemplate the increased number of unborn lives likely to be lost as a result.
“The exchange is a virtual marketplace created under the federal Affordable Care Act, through which an estimated 240,000 Virginians access their health plans. Under state law for the past decade, plans participating in Virginia’s health exchange were prohibited from covering most abortions. This fundamentally pro-life provision undoubtedly saved many lives. Starting July 1 of this year, however, that provision will be eradicated from our law. Consequently, and tragically, health plans in the exchange will be allowed to cover abortions for any reason.
“In many cases, people receive public subsidies to purchase these plans. Beginning July 1, even these taxpayer-funded plans can cover abortions without limitation. This means that taxpayers will be forced to fund plans that cover abortion on demand.
“Without despair, and with maximum determination, we will continue our advocacy for the preeminent priority of protecting unborn children from this threat. So many lives, who have no voice except ours, depend on it.”
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In prayer and in public, your voices are urgently needed to bring Gospel values to bear on vital decisions being made by those who represent you.
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The Virginia Catholic Conference is the public policy agency representing Virginia’s Catholic bishops and their two dioceses.
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Pro-Life Newsletter
Issue 211 April 2021
HALO
The dictionary defines “halo” as a circle of light. But to those of us in pro-life work, HALO has come to mean something in addition to that circle of light. HALO is the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization.
According to its site, the mission of HALO is “to promote, protect, and advocate for the rights of the medically vulnerable through direct patient and family interactions; through community education and awareness programs; and through promotion and development of concrete ‘life-affirming healthcare’ alternatives for those facing the grave consequences of healthcare rationing and unethical practices, especially those at risk of euthanasia and assisted suicide.”
Now more than ever before, we need an organization like this to defend and protect the vulnerable from those who have adopted the idea that, in too many cases, killing is better than caring. Whether you call it euthanasia, assisted suicide, or misdirected palliative care, people are dying from such practices.
HALO trains patient advocates who are literally on the front lines helping families and providing guidance and support. Its 24-hour helpline (1-888-221-4256) offers free and confidential information, support, and referrals for patients, their family members, and caregivers who have concerns about the treatment and care a patient is receiving.
https://all.org/halo-is-a-circle-of-light/
SPLC SMEARS PRO LIFE GROUPS
The Southern Poverty Law Center has been “thoroughly disgraced” after the organization included many pro-life and pro-family groups in its “census of hate groups.”
Since 1990, the SPLC has issued an annual list of hate groups, listing organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis. More recently, however, it has also included pro-life and pro-traditional marriage Christian organizations as “anti-LGBTQ hate groups.” Many of these groups are wellrespected, such as the Ruth Institute, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Family Research Council, and several smaller Christian churches.
In 2019, the SPLC’s reputation as a watchdog of injustice and inequality suffered a major hit when co-founder Morris Dees was forced to resign after serious allegations of racism and misogyny.
However, inclusion on the SPLC’s “hate group list” still has negative consequences. For example, online retail giant Amazon has used the list to disqualify nonprofit organizations from using the “Amazon Smile” program to receive donations.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/splc-denounced-as-thoroughlydisgraced-after-labeling-pro-life-family-organizations-as-hate-groups
Honduras Bans Abortion and Same-Sex Marriage Over Objections of UN Experts
The Honduran Congress amended the Constitution of the Central American nation to ban all abortions despite pressure from the United Nations and abortions groups to block the added protections for the unborn.
The explicit amendment against abortion adopted last week makes it near impossible to make abortion legal under any circumstance. It requires three quarters of the Congress to amend the Constitution again to make abortion legal.
The amendment extended the three quarters requirement to the preexisting ban on same-sex marriage in the Honduran Constitution, which was adopted in 2005.
https://c-fam.org/friday_fax/honduras-bans-abortion-and-same-sexmarriage-over-objections-of-un-experts/
New Orleans Archdiocese Calls for Catholics to Avoid Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
The Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans urged Catholics on Friday against taking a vaccine for
COVID-19 manufactured by Johnson & Johnson because the vaccine is developed from stem cells obtained from abortions.
The archdiocese must instruct Catholics that the latest vaccine from Janssen/Johnson & Johnson is morally compromised as it uses the abortion-derived cell line in development and production of the vaccine as well as the testing,” the statement read.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/541129-neworleans-archdiocese-calls-for-catholics-to-avoid
College Student Suspended for Saying: ‘A Man Is a Man, a Woman Is a Woman’
State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo sent an email to education student Owen Stevens informing him that he was suspended from mandatory teaching programs for posting Instagram videos expressing conservative ideology.
The university claims that Stevens violated the school’s inclusivity doctrine, called the Dignity for All Students Act, which requires teachers to foster “a diverse campus community marked by mutual respect for the unique talents and contributions of each individual.”
https://neonnettle.com/news/14359-college-student-suspended-forsaying-a-man-is-a-man-a-woman-is-a-woman
PROJECT MUSTARD SEED
The letter recipient for this month is:
BBJ RENTALS
Operations: special events (BBJ Linen, accessories, rentals: table linen, overlays, chair covers).
Please write to:
Mr. Greg Sullivan
Chief Executive Officer
BBJ Rentals Inc.
6125 W. Howard St.
Niles, IL 60714
www.bbjlinencom
BBJ Rentals has been on The Boycott List since 2007. After 48 years since Roe v. Wade, we must never give up on the pre-born. Now, more than ever, we need to let our voices be heard. Let’s keep sending those letters!
Tell him to stop funding Planned Parenthood
ORWELLIAN
A hospital in England is advising nurses to no longer use the terms “breastfeeding” and “breast milk” but use “human milk” and “chest milk” instead. The Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust is also renaming its maternity ward the “perinatal services” department. The hospital said the changes were made to support “trans and non-binary birthing people.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/england-maternityhuman-milk-inclusive
Supreme Court rules that Alabama can’t deny death row inmate a chaplain
The Supreme Court ruled that Alabama can’t refuse a death row inmate’s request to have a chaplain present during his execution. “Prisoners should be allowed to make peace with their Maker in their final moments. We are glad the Supreme Court has ensured that can happen in this case,” said Diana Verm, senior counsel for Becket Law. “If Willie Smith has to leave this world, he shouldn’t have to leave it all alone.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/supreme-court-rulesthat-alabama-cant-deny-death-row-inmate-a-chaplain-30370
HOLLYWOOD PROPAGANDA
Nickelodeon’s hit 1990s children’s show “Blues Clues” released a new song to announce a reboot of the show. But the “ABC Song with Blue” is promoting LGBT messaging to young children. At ‘P,’ the song notes, ‘P is full of Pride.’ To underline its point, the ‘P’ is in rainbow colors, the same as the colors of the LGBTQ pride flag.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/p-is-full-of-pride-nickelodeonsblues-clues-pushes-lgbtq-message
TOYOTA PRO LIFE SUPER BOWL AD
Toyota aired a commercial during this year’s Super Bowl that should inspire every pro-life warrior in this country. They told the story of champion Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long.
“Mrs. Long? We’ve found a baby girl for your adoption, but there’s some things you need to know. She’s in Siberia and she was born with a rare condition. Her legs will need to be amputated.
I know this is difficult to hear. Her life… it won’t be easy. Mrs. Long?”
Mrs. Long replied: “It might not be easy, but it will be amazing. I can’t wait to meet her.”
In less than a minute, Toyota demonstrated the sanctity of life to 96.4 million Americans. If you haven’t seen the ad yet, you can watch it here: https://support.thomasmoresociety.org/super-bowl-ad/?utm_campaign=1999189&utm_content=2744284&utm_mediu
m=email
Planned Parenthood’s Latest Cash Cow is Jeopardizing Your Children’s Health
Planned Parenthood continues its lust for profit, expanding into a new and lucrative field: providing cross-sex hormones for those seeking to “change” their sex – even teens. In short order, Planned Parenthood has become the second largest purveyor of these hormones, adding this new business to their massive abortion enterprise.
These kids will be dependent for the rest of their lives on these artificial hormones, which provides substantial income to the abortion giant. These drugs can cause serious and irreversible damage to the teenagers who take them – including making them infertile for the rest of their lives. These kids need our love, help and support. Instead, Planned Parenthood is exploiting them for profit.
PA Family Institute 2/12/21
TN Bill Would Allow Fathers to Petition Court to Stop Abortion
Two Tennessee lawmakers have proposed a bill that would permit a biological father to petition a court to halt a woman who is pregnant with his unborn child from getting an abortion.
The bill states that once the injunction is issued, the court must hold a hearing with both parties within 14 days. If a woman violates the injunction and obtains an abortion, “the court may hold the respondent in civil or criminal contempt and punish the respondent in accordance with the law.”
Another stipulation of the bill is that the person who tries to stop the abortion does not need to provide DNA evidence to prove that he is the biological father. The proposal is trying to bring both parents together on abortion decisions, stressing that the father is just as much of a parent as the mother.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/pregnancy-abortion-fathermother/2021/02/16/id/1010189/
