LifeSiteNews Daily News for Wednesday March 4, 2009

Goal: $45,000. Donations received: $27,655.

Wednesday March 4, 2009

SHARE THIS PAGE: E-mail Print

Commentary on March 4 LifeSiteNews Reports
Pro-Life Outrage over Sebelius Pick Mounts as Brownback Reaffirms Support
Abortion Worker Arrested, Jailed In Death Of Baby Born Alive During Botched Abortion
Two Prominent Catholic Cardinals Defend Religious Action in Public Life
UK Teacher's Guidelines to "Promote Equality and Value Diversity" will Violate Religious Consciences: Catholic Schools Head
More Research Links Abortion with Preterm Births in Subsequent Pregnancies
Catholic Knights of Malta to Honor Radical Anti-Life, Anti-Family Former DC Mayor Williams
Bishop Vasa: Parents Should Protest Fetal Vaccines From Aborted Babies

Commentary on March 4 LifeSiteNews Reports

Dear Readers,
First, one of the most militantly pro-abortion Catholic U.S. governors is nominated for the highest health position in the United States government and now, one of the leading pro-life senators actually supports her nomination. Is this a bad dream? With Christians like these, who needs other enemies? Senator Brownback needs to hear from many, many Americans.

As for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sibelius, remember the words of Archbishop Chaput in our interview with him - "It seems like there has been a very bad period of catechesis of people in the Church, not only catechesis of the laity, but also catechesis of the clergy, and it's bearing bad fruit in our time."

Sibelius is just one more example of the "bad fruit" from those decades of negligence. Chaput also said, "Not nearly enough" bishops have been speaking up. We must also add, even fewer bishops have been taking greatly needed, courageous actions. Unless many more bishops speak up, and then back up those words with concrete actions, this deadly insanity will only get worse.

Steve Jalsevac
LifeSiteNews.com

Pro-Life Outrage over Sebelius Pick Mounts as Brownback Reaffirms Support

Brownback puts supporting a fellow Kansan ahead of the lives of the unborn

By Kathleen Gilbert

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Frustration in the pro-life community is on the rise after Sen. Sam Brownback reaffirmed his support of pro-abortion Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as the next head of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department.

Brownback, once considered one of the leading pro-life forces in the U.S. Senate, confirmed Tuesday that he would vote for Sebelius, stating: "The President won the election and has nominated a Kansan to the cabinet. Despite our profound policy differences, I will support my fellow Kansan."

The Senator ignited a firestorm among pro-life leaders Saturday when he issued a joint statement with fellow Senator Pat Roberts congratulating Sebelius, whom Planned Parenthood once called a "champion" of their agenda, on the occasion of her nomination by President Obama. (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030303.html)

Obama's move to launch Sebelius to the top health position in the federal government was met with unanimous condemnation from leading social conservatives, who cited the governor's steady and extreme anti-life record. Sebelius is also considered a divisive pick because of her close ties to Kansas' abortion industry, in particular notorious late-term abortionist George Tiller. Both Tiller and Planned Parenthood of Kansas are currently facing criminal charges involving illegal late-term abortions and falsified abortion records. (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030203.html)

"I'm stunned that Sam would endorse her because she's an individual who goes against everything he has said he believes in his career," stated Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, who will run against Brownback for the GOP's gubernatorial nomination next year. "He's doing it out of political expediency to try to move to the left."

David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network commented: "The last thing pro-life groups need is to see Senator Brownback signal his support for her nomination. That is a blow considering Brownback is a major friend to groups like Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, etc. The only way pro-life groups will be able to get traction on this is if pro-life Senators actually speak out against it."

Repeated phone calls to Sen. Brownback's office by LifeSiteNews.com were not returned by press time.

The desertion by the senator has left pro-lifers scrambling to have their opposition heard on the Sebelius nomination. Media reports universally acknowledge that Brownback's support paves the way for Sebelius's acceptance in the Senate.

A report by the Kansas City Star indicated that President Obama himself recognized the import of Brownback's position on Sebelius. Two sources reportedly told The Star that Obama called Brownback last week to gauge his reaction. The president's intention, according to "a top Democrat" cited by the Star, was to ensure that Brownback wouldn't work to derail the nomination.

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins issued an email to supporters lamenting that the nomination of "arguably the most pro-abortion governor in the nation" is being met by Republican leaders "with a collective yawn."

"Here is a woman who aligns herself against 80% of the country in suggesting that the government knows better than parents in children's health decisions, and yet the GOP can't muster the will to fight her nomination," said Perkins.

"If Republicans won't take a stand now, when will they? Once Sebelius is confirmed, she will control the largest government agency in America with more power and resources to advance a radical social agenda that will drive a deeper wedge between parents and their children.

"Grassroots conservatives understand what's at stake here. Why doesn't the Republican leadership?"

Operation Rescue president Troy Newman, who is intimately familiar with Gov. Sebelius and the Kansas abortion corruption scandal, told LifeSiteNews.com that embattled pro-lifers would "move on."

"Our focus is not friendly fire, but to go after those who are truly pro-abortion," said Newman. "Senator Brownback is not truly pro-abortion - he's making a politically calculated move.

"I hope to have him in this fight with us, but since we don't, we'll move forward."

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

ALL's Judie Brown on Sen. Brownback: "I'll never use 'pro-life' to describe him again"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030303.html

Obama Nominates Extreme Pro-Abortion Gov. Sebelius as Health Secretary
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030203.html

Abortion Worker Arrested, Jailed In Death Of Baby Born Alive During Botched Abortion

MIAMI, March 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Unlicensed abortion worker Belkis Gonzalez was arrested today and jailed on two felony counts related to the death of a baby born alive during a botched abortion in Hialeah, Florida, in 2006.

According to the arrest warrant obtained by Operation Rescue, Gonzalez was charged with the unlicensed practice of a health care profession resulting in serious bodily injury, a second degree felony, and with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a third degree felony. She faces a minimum penalty of a fine of $1,000 and a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of one year.

As of this writing, Gonzalez is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami on a $50,000 bond.

"These charges are not exactly what we were hoping for, but we are thankful that Ms. Gonzalez will be finally held accountable for her part in the death of Shanice Osbourne," said Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition. Rev. Mahoney held a press conference in Miami on February 20, asking State Attorney Katherine Rundle for a criminal prosecution.

"For two and a half years we have worked to expose Gonzalez's actions that resulted in the death of Baby Shanice and bring her to justice. Today, we are gratified that Ms. Gonzalez is finally behind bars where she belongs," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "This victory belongs to all who called and wrote asking for justice to be done. There is little doubt this would have been swept under the rug and forgotten if not for the public pressure that was brought to bear."

Gonzalez was working at a Hialeah abortion mill when a 19 year old girl came in to complete an abortion that was started the previous day. Abortionist Pierre Renelique failed to show up for the abortion appointment, and the baby girl was born alive. Gonzalez then cut the baby's umbilical cord, shoved her in a trash bag, then hid her body on the abortion clinic roof.

Renelique's medical license was revoked last month because of his negligence in this case. A civil suit is also pending against Renelique, Gonzalez and others responsible for Shanice Osbourne's death. The abortion clinic where she died is closed.

Two Prominent Catholic Cardinals Defend Religious Action in Public Life

By Hilary White

ROME, March 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Two prominent Catholic cardinals have struck out at the secularist trend of excluding all religious belief from public life. The patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Angelo Scola, and Cardinal Camillo Ruini, a former president of the Italian Bishops Conference and the vicar for the diocese of Rome from 1991 to 2007, have warned Christians not to withdraw from active involvement in public life.

Writing in an editorial published February 20, in Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian bishops' conference, Cardinal Scola wrote, "It seems to me that we often lose sight of the heart of the matter: every faith must always be subjected to a public cultural interpretation." He quoted the late Pope John Paul II, who wrote, "A faith that does not become culture is not fully accepted, not fully thought out, not faithfully lived."

The two cardinals' comments come in response to criticisms that the Church should have remained silent in the case of Eluana Englaro. Eluana, the young disabled woman sometimes described as "Italy's Terri Schiavo," died in early February after her food and hydration were removed with the permission of Italy's courts. During the public debate over Eluana's killing, leftists in Italy's Parliament accused the Church of trying to create a "theocracy" and impose its will in the political arena.

"Faith," Cardinal Scola wrote, "inevitably has to do with the reality of life and death, love and sorrow, labour and recreation and civic action."

He criticised as "reductive" the two prevailing schools of thought on the action of Christianity on Italian civic life. He rejected both "Christianity as a civil religion" - a kind of "ethical cement" holding democracy together - and the idea that it is a purely internal matter for individuals concerned for their own salvation. The latter, he said, would leave no room for Christians to address key bioethical or political issues.

Cardinal Scola wrote the piece in response to criticisms by Enzo Bianchi, an influential lay preacher and founder of an "ecumenical" monastic-style community in Bose, who said that the fact that churchmen actively intervened in defence of Eluana's life was "unworthy of the Christian approach."

"Such an attitude," Cardinal Scola said, "produces a dispersion (diaspora) of Christians in society and ends up hiding the human relevance of faith as such." In this case "a silence is demanded that risks making adherence to Christ and to the Church meaningless in the eyes of others."

The "implications of the mysteries" of Christian religious belief, he said, are "intertwined with the human affairs of all time, showing the beauty and fruitfulness of faith to everyday life." Cardinal Scola used the example of the Church's teaching on the sacredness of life and marriage: "If you believe that man is created in the image and likeness of God, you will have a certain conception of birth and death, the relationship between man and woman, marriage and the family."

The implications lead all believers, including the Pope and bishops, "to talk humbly but strongly with everyone" on public issues. The Church, he said, is not interested in acquiring and imposing political power. "Its real purpose, in imitation of its founder, is to give everyone the consoling hope of eternal life."

In Genoa on February 18, Camillo Cardinal Ruini warned of a new type of materialist secularism, the "conceptual nucleus" of which is "the conviction that man is entirely reducible to the physical universe," and which has as its fundamental task "individual freedom," interpreted strictly in material terms. Against this fundamental task, he said, "any form of discrimination is to be avoided."

"This freedom, according to which in the final analysis everything is relative to the individual, is set up as the supreme ethical and legal criterion: every other position is admissible only as long as it does not challenge, but remains subordinate to this relativistic criterion. In this way, the moral norms of Christianity are systematically censored, at least in their public influence."

But religious belief, and Christianity in particular, propose a transcendent meaning and purpose for human life that require certain restrictions on human activity for its fulfilment, said the cardinal. This has created what he called a "new schism" between Catholicism and materialist "secularists" in which the expression of Christian teaching is being suppressed.

"In this way, there has developed in the West that which Benedict XVI has repeatedly called 'the dictatorship of relativism,' meaning a form of culture that deliberately severs its own historical roots and constitutes a radical contradiction not only of Christianity, but more broadly of the religious and moral traditions of humanity."

UK Teacher's Guidelines to "Promote Equality and Value Diversity" will Violate Religious Consciences: Catholic Schools Head

By Hilary White

LONDON, March 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Christians and other religious groups say they are concerned about the implications of a new "Code of Conduct and Practice" for UK schools telling teachers that they must "promote equality and value diversity."

The draft guidelines from the UK's General Teaching Council (GTC), the professional regulatory body for teachers, say that teachers must "act respectfully towards all children and young people, parents, carers and colleagues, regardless of their socio-economic background, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or beliefs."

But to the requirement to "act respectfully" is added a clause requiring teachers to "proactively challenge discrimination, stereotyping and bullying, no matter who is the victim or the perpetrator; promote equality and value diversity in all their professional relationships and interactions." Christian and other religious groups concerned with education have said that this requirement amounts to an instruction to teachers to act against their religious beliefs and conscience.

Oona Stannard, head of the Catholic Education Service, warned that the guidelines could create a conflict for teachers in religious schools. Stannard wrote to the GTC during the consultation period on the code, calling "understandable" the fear that "the call to 'proactively challenge discrimination' could be used to oppose faith schools per se, and the rights that they have in law, for example, to select leaders who are of the faith.

"This anxiety extends similarly to the direction to 'promote equality'," she added. "It would be unacceptable to expect anyone to be required to promote something contrary to their own faith beliefs and, indeed, it would not be possible for a person of faith to promote another faith - this is a matter of conscience."

The Christian Institute, an interdenominational Christian lobby group that has been opposing government efforts to outlaw criticism of the homosexualist agenda said, "Respect for people as people is not the same as respecting or valuing every religious belief or sexual lifestyle." Colin Hart, director of the Christian Institute, said, "Forcing this on Christian teachers is to force them to go against their conscience."

There are nearly 7,000 publicly funded religious schools in England, of which 2,000 are Catholic. The rest are largely Anglican or belong to other Christian denominations, with 47 belonging to other religions.

Religious groups have been aware for some years of the threat from government efforts to implement the homosexualist lobby's doctrines under the guise of opposing "homophobic bullying." Government guidelines for teachers have also included warnings against "heterosexist" language in classrooms, which is understood to mean they must avoid any implication in classrooms that heterosexual relations are normative for marriage and family life.

Government ministries and professional regulatory bodies frankly admit to receiving their directives from homosexualist and anti-Christian activist organisations like Stonewall, the National Secular Society and the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA), adding force to the allegations that the government is actively promoting a political agenda openly hostile to Christianity and other traditional religious groups.

The government acknowledges that the Sexual Orientation Regulations (SORs) of the Equality Act, that have resulted in the closure of many of Britain's Catholic adoption agencies, are the work of a close collaboration of government with Stonewall activists. Then-Prime Minister Tony Blair was a guest of Stonewall at a banquet celebrating the passage of the Regulations in 2007.

In March 2007, a Commons Select Committee to the Department for Education and Skills (DES) produced a report that singled out Catholic schools for refusing to implement pro-homosexual regulations. Education Secretary Alan Johnson told Stonewall activists the week the report was released 2007 that the government was preparing guidelines for schools to address what was identified in the report as "faith-based" "homophobic bullying."

Christians have pointed out that while real bullying of any kind is not to be tolerated, requiring teachers "proactively" to oppose "homophobia" is indistinguishable from ordering them to promote the homosexual lifestyle as normal and acceptable.

In July 2007, Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a "crackdown" on "homophobia" in Britain's public institutions and, at the same time, the Labour government's Education Minister Kevin Brennan specified that this meant increased pressure on "faith schools" to conform to the new agenda promoting homosexuality as normal. Brennan told PinkNews.co.uk, "The guidance is strong; it has got the full force of the government behind it. We are committed to making sure that every school implements the guidance … We will be monitoring its implementation."

Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

British PM Blair Celebrates Passage of Sexual Orientation Regulations at Homosexual Activist Banquet
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/mar/07032609.html

UK Minister Pledges Government Collaboration with Gay Activists in Stopping "Homophobic Bullying" in Schools
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jul/07070506.html

New U.K. PM Gordon Brown Promises Gays "Crack-Down" on "Homophobia"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jul/07071806.html

Catholic Knights of Malta to Honor Radical Anti-Life, Anti-Family Former DC Mayor Williams

By Kathleen Gilbert

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Former Washington, D.C. mayor Anthony Williams is currently undergoing formation in the order of the Knights of Malta, one of the Catholic Church's oldest and most prestigious organizations, despite his record of supporting unlimited abortion and same-sex "marriage."

Williams was mayor of DC from January 1999 until January 2007. During his 1998 mayoral election campaign, he responded to a Planned Parenthood questionnaire: "I support choice. The private decision about whether or not to terminate a pregnancy is best left to a woman, her physician, and any family and friends that she chooses to look to for support. It is not an area for government intrusion."

When asked, "What is your position on a ban or other restrictions that would limit access to safe and medically necessary methods of abortion?" Williams answered: "We will not go back to the days of women dying from back-alley abortions. I do not support limiting access to safe and medically necessary methods of abortion."

He also indicated he opposed parental notification laws for minors seeking abortion.

In a similar questionnaire from the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, on the topic of homosexual legislation, Williams said he supported same-sex "marriage" legislation and opposed federal legislation upholding the traditional definition of marriage. He also flaunted, "As a candidate, I was one of the first to express my support for same-sex marriage," and stated his support for homosexual adoption.

"If a bill on same sex marriage were to come to me as Mayor to sign, I would sign it," Williams told a Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance questionnaire. He also stated his support for legislation "that will guarantee that no future Mayor can disregard the needs of the GLBT community."

The Order of Malta, a nearly 1,000-year-old Catholic order of high prestige, states on its website that "The Order of Malta remains true to its inspiring principles ... defense of the Faith and assistance to the poor and the suffering," and that "Members of the Order seek to glorify God through their work with the poor and the sick and their witness of the Catholic faith."

The site also acknowledges that applicants are required to be "in good standing with the Church."

A representative of the U.S. branch of the Knights of Malta confirmed to LifeSiteNews.com that Williams "has submitted an application and he's going forward with the formation process," after which the application is sent on to Rome for final approval.

The representative refused to comment on Williams' background.

To contact the U.S. Knights of Malta:
1730 M. Street, NW, Suite 403
Washington, DC 20036
202-331-2494 - Phone
202-331-1149 - Fax

Contact form on website:
http://www.orderofmalta-federal.org/main.asp?page=937

The Knights may also be contacted at headquarters in Rome:
Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Magistral Palace
Via Condotti, 68 - 00187 Rome - Italy
Tel. +39.06.67581.1
Fax +39.06.6797.202
email:

Bishop Vasa: Parents Should Protest Fetal Vaccines From Aborted Babies

By Kathleen Gilbert

BEND, Oregon, March 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Robert Vasa of the Diocese of Baker has warned that Catholic parents, when using vaccines cultivated from aborted fetal tissue, have a duty to voice their disagreement with a production method that exploits aborted children.

In his column in the Catholic Sentinel today, Vasa acknowledged that the Catholic Church considers use of such vaccines morally permissible. However, he said, "We also need to be aware that products of illicit scientific research, particularly that which involves the death of innocent children, are not entirely morally neutral." As such, consumers have a duty to take steps to end the gravely immoral production technique.

"Parents may use these vaccines derived from cell lines of illicit origin but they should inquire about the availability of a more ethical alternative and they must make their objections known to the physician, to the healthcare system and to the FDA," said Vasa.

Vaccines that do not exploit aborted fetal tissue are available to Americans for most of the diseases prevented by aborted fetal cell vaccines. When parents have no choice but to use the tainted vaccines, Vasa notes that "Dignitas Personae," the Vatican's recent instruction on bioethics, states that "Everyone has the duty to make known their disagreement and to ask that their healthcare system make other types of vaccines available."

"Evil may never be done in order that good might come from it," he continued. "Yet, evil is done, and not just any evil but the evil of deliberate murder in abortion, with the precise intention of producing a medical good. We strongly reject the evil but, either directly or at least indirectly, we reward and even encourage the evil-doers by our wholesale acceptance of the good they have produced."

If everyone protested the exploitation of aborted fetuses in vaccine production, Vasa said, one of two outcomes would occur: "The pharmaceutical companies would stop making the vaccine or they would begin to look seriously for alternatives that are not tied to abortion.

"Without our protest, however, these companies have no incentive to change their ways. They will continue to do evil that good may come from it; we will continue to receive the good they produce, and we will thus give moral and financial support to their heinous practices."

In June 2005 the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life stated that doctors and families have a "grave responsibility" to use alternatives and to put pressure on the industry to use morally acceptable methods of vaccine production.

In May 2006, the Catholic Medical Association formally stated that "When alternative vaccines are available, they must be used in place of those produced by immoral means." The Christian Medical and Dental Association has also repeatedly called for an end to the use of aborted fetal cell lines.

The bishop said he was "personally troubled" by the abortion connection despite its remoteness.

After listing the practical advantages of the strains that contained traces of the aborted child's DNA, Vasa added: "This all sounds so cold and even gruesome to me. It is very easy for me to see why some have protested the use of these vaccines so strenuously."

To read Bishop Vasa's full column for the Catholic Sentinel, go to: http://sentinel.org/node/9823

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Vatican Condemns Vaccines Made with Tissue Obtained by Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jul/05071801.html

Vatican Official Clarifies Stand On Vaccines From Fetal Tissue
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jul/05072604.html

SHARE THIS PAGE: E-mail Print

Latest Headlines

Most Read this Week

MORE NEWS: LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports

Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.

Feature Spotlight

Subscribe to News

Quicklinks

Get Involved

Get Informed

Get Help