Issue No.190 July , 2019

Dianne Machesney, Editor 412-366-7869 A Monthly Publication of the

St. Teresa of Avila Pro-Life Committee

Georgia Gov Brian Kemp Signs Bill Banning Abortions When Baby’s Heartbeat Begins

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law Tuesday May 7th to ban abortions after an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable. Kemp, a pro-life Republican, signed the pro-life measure despite a threat by actress Alyssa Milano and other Hollywood elites to boycott the state if he does. “The Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act … recognizes something that many have know for years. It recognizes that science tells us that children in the womb are living, distinct human beings that are worthy of full legal protection,” Kemp said during the signing ceremony. https://www.lifenews.com/2019/05/07/georgia-gov-brian-kemp-signs-bill-banning-abortions-when-babys-heartbeat-begins/

Abortion Advocates Set Pro-Life Display on Fire, Blaze “Was Intentionally Set” to

Destroy Banner

An abortion activist at Western Washington University intentionally set on fire a banner advertising an upcoming speaking event featuring Kristan Hawkins, the director of Students for Life of America. The pro-life display was clearly intentionally set on fire and pictures show the

charred remains of the banner advertising the upcoming pro-life event. Campus pro-life groups have always faced the threat of having their flyers taken down or vandalized but attempted arson takes the vandalism to a more illegal and life-threatening level. Pro-Life student clubs were victims of over 50 vandalism incidents so far this school year. See the list here: https://www.lifenews.com/2019/05/07/abortion-advocates-set-pro-life-display-on-fire-blaze-was-intentionally-set-to-destroy-banner/

Chaput: Rep. Brian Sims’ harassment of pro-lifers 'unbecoming of an elected

official' Charles Chaput of Philadelphia called for broad participation in a pro-life rally this week, scheduled in response to a Penslyvania state representative’s livestreamed harassment of a woman praying outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic. “These videos, which Representative Sims took himself, have rightly sparked broad outrage ... His actions were unbecoming of an elected official,” Archbishop Chaput said in a statement released May 8. “I’m calling on all people of good will to channel their indignation into right action and prayerful witness,” he said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chaput-rep-brian-sims-harassment-of-pro-lifers-unbecoming-of-an-elected-official-90451

ABORTION IS NOT HEALTH CARE Rep. Andy Biggs, R-AZ, introduced a bill which would prevent the IRS from accepting abortion costs toward tax-deductible medical expenses. “It’s time for us to be honest with ourselves – health care is primarily a restorative function, one that helps our bodies heal from a disease or ailment. Under no circumstances should health care include the intentional taking of a life,” said Biggs. https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/05/15/exclusive-rep-andy-biggs-drops-bill-to-end-tax-deduction-for-abortions/

Texas Committee Passes Bill to Overturn Rule Allowing Hospitals to Euthanize Patients After 10-Day Notification

A Texas legislative committee has passed pro-life legislation that would overturn the rule the state currently has that essentially allows hospitals to euthanize patients after a 10-day notification. In Texas, patient autonomy is essentially a one-way street. Here, if a doctor disagrees with the patient’s decision to maintain life—and the patient or family refuses to permit the life-extending treatment to be withdrawn—the doctor can take the controversy to the hospital bioethics committee for a quasi-judicial hearing and binding ultimate ruling. If the committee agrees with the doctor, the patient or family has only 10-days within which to find an alternative source of treatment and arrange a transfer. If they can’t, the life-extending treatment can be terminated over the patient or surrogate’s objection—meaning the patient will be forced into a death at a time when life could have been maintained. To fully comprehend the unjust nature of Texas law in this regard, realize that these “futile care” or “inappropriate care” decisions do not terminate treatment because it won’t work, but because it does. It is keeping the patient alive when the doctor/bioethics committee thinks the patient should die. https://www.lifenews.com/2019/04/30/texas-committee-passes-bill-to-overturn-rule-allowing-hospitals-to-euthanize-patients-after-10-day-notification/

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PROJECT MUSTARD SEED The letter recipient for this month is:

BANK OF AMERICA. Operations: financial (Merrill Lynch, U.S. Trust, banking, credit cards,

insurance, investing/planning: loans, personal/business banking). Please write to: Mr. Brian T. Moynihan Chairman & CEO Bank of America Corp. 100 N. Tyron St. Charlotte, NC 28255 www.bankofamerica.com Bank of America was on The Boycott List for many years and had been removed in 2016. However, recently it was brought to our attention that they have not been entirely truthful in their commitment to no longer fund PP. Among other things, it has been discovered that Bank of America was a “Bronze Sponsor” of a Planned Parenthood of New York City gala event that took place on May 1, 2018 to honor former PP president Cecile Richards. Let us remind Bank of America that we are very concerned about any donations that they would give to the number one abortion provider in America.

Tell him to stop funding Planned Parenthood

Lowest-ever fertility rates have complicated causes, no easy

solutions, experts say Fertility rates in the United States have fallen to an all-time low, according to provisional figures released by the Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics. According to an early statistical release from the NCHS in May, the total fertility rate, or average number of

children born per woman, stands at 1.7, the lowest ever and well below the demographic replacement bar of 2.1. There's a direct correlation between secularism and the country's lowest-ever fertility rate. “If your worldview is primarily formed around personal fulfillment and self-actualization, where is the incentive to have a family? You might have one child for the experience, but not two or three or four,” said author Jonathan Last. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/lowest-ever-fertility-rates-have-complicated-causes-no-easy-solutions-experts-say-71777

‘THE WAR ON CHICK-FIL-A Texas lawmakers passed a 'save Chick-Fil-A' bill ensuring that local governments could not discriminate against businesses based on the

owner's political or religious viewpoints. The bill, expected to be signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, comes in response to a decision by the San Antonio City Council to prohibit Chick-Fil-A from opening a restaurant in the city's airport. The bill states, “Notwithstanding any other law, a governmental entity may not take any adverse action against any person based wholly or partly on the person’s membership in, affiliation with, or contribution, donation, or other support provided to a religious organization.” https://www.dailywire.com/news/47515/texas-house-passes-save-chick-fil-bill-lgbtq-hank-berrien

The Equality Act Could Mandate Abortion Funding

The House-passed Equality Act defines “sex” to include “pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.” Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ, said the term “related medical condition” means “abortion.” Smith cited the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which stated in the case Doe v. C.A.R.S.: “We now hold that the term 'related medical conditions' include an abortion. https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/equality-act-could-mandate-abortion-funding/ 5/21/19

BISHOPS APPLAUD STATES

Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' pro-life committee, applauded states for passing laws to protect unborn children. “The trend of states passing pro-life legislation is a very encouraging move toward ensuring that our society cherishes unborn children and their most basic right to life. The pro-life movement has always had two critical goals: increasing support for mothers and children and eliminating the tragedy of abortion,” said Naumann. http://www.usccb.org/news/2019/19-095.cfm