The HHS Mandate: A Pro-Life Perspective

It took me a while to figure out how to write about the recent HHS mandate solely from a pro-life perspective.

The controversial mandate generally brings up discussion about religious liberty, especially in regards to the Catholic Church and its teachings on contraception. While I believe religious freedom is very important, this is not a topic I can write about in this blog as it is a pro-life blog and not a religious blog.

So should the pro-lifer be directly offended by the HHS mandate, regardless of her religion or lack thereof? Yes. And the reason, in one word, is: abortifacients.

The HHS mandate would allow for employees to demand coverage for contraceptive pills that could result in the death of a human embryo. This is offensive, regardless as to whether the employer is Catholic or not. As pro-lifers, we are confident in our belief that human life begins at the moment of conception. We consider any intentional harm done to the human organism after this point to be immoral, an act of violence against a human person.

This mandate is not only offensive to anyone with respect for religious freedom, it is offensive to the dignity of humanity itself.

I encourage everyone to sign the petition in protest to this mandate. For the petition and more information, visit: www.stophhs.com.

SFL Blog Hijacked!

Alright, who changed the blog design to that ugly "dynamic view"? Fess up! (It can only be one of about eight people.)




P.S. Did I mention that it was ugly?


P.P.S. Dear Culprit, I apologize if my aesthetic preferences differ from yours...

Komen and the Daily: Too many lies to count!

It's time for a lesson in Lying 101

Introducing...Planned Parenthood's 3 Steps to Getting YOU to Believe an Outrageous Lie:

1. Keep it short.
2. Keep it simple.
3. Keep repeating it.

For example:

Only 3 percent of our services are abortions.
Only 3 percent.
3 percent
3 percent!
THREE PERCENT!!!!
Got that? Only 3 percent are abortions.

There. You believe us now? Good.

Case in point, today's Michigan Daily Op-ed. Here's our emphasis and [comments].

Last week, amid public outcry [and rejoicing!], the breast cancer foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure reversed its decision to cut funding for Planned Parenthood. The foundation’s initial decision to pull funding elicited much opposition and reignited the political debate over abortion. While it’s good that Komen ultimately reversed its decision, this was only one in a series of attacks on Planned Parenthood [the more the merrier!]. Conservative groups need to stop making Planned Parenthood the face of abortion [um...maybe that's because it is] and attacking its programs, many of which provide essential health-related services to women.

Komen announced its plans to cut funding for Planned Parenthood on Jan. 31, citing a policy that forbids donations to groups under investigation. The decision elicited public opposition and was criticized for being politically motivated. In the aftermath of the announcement, Planned Parenthood received an outpouring of support via social media outlets and it raised more than $3 million. [For what it's worth, Komen's donations just happened to increase by 100 percent following the announcement. Not too shabby...] Caving to public pressure, Komen reversed its decision on Feb. 3 and apologized to Planned Parenthood. [Not exactly.]

Planned Parenthood is unfairly targeted by anti-abortion groups. Only 3 percent of its health services are abortion-related. [Lying 101! I don't know about you, but repeating that number a zillion times has sure made me start to believe it. Not. In all seriousness, here's how we responded last time that misleading statistic appeared in its pages. When in doubt, follow the money!] Beyond that, Planned Parenthood provides cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and family planning guidance. These are all services that empower women and advance women’s health. Anti-abortion groups regularly manipulate the facts to make Planned Parenthood the scapegoat of the abortion battle. [OK, Daily, then tell me just who is the biggest abortion provider in the nation! Oh wait...]

Komen prides itself on being a voice for women’s health. It’s disappointing that an organization that shares goals with Planned Parenthood would resort to cutting funds for political reasons. [Excuse me, but abortion has been found to increase the risk of breast cancer. The Pill, which PP considers "family planning," is a first class carcinogen. Dear Komen--how can you effectively fight breast cancer by donating to an organization which causes it!] There’s too much baseless political rhetoric surrounding Planned Parenthood. Organizations [including the Daily] need to check the facts before making such drastic decisions. [and editorials]

Family planning, sexual protection and STD screening are instrumental in health education and awareness. Planned Parenthood provides a secure and comfortable environment for women to use these services, and it's especially useful for low-income women, who couldn’t otherwise afford care.

Health care for young women should continue to be easily accessible, and Planned Parenthood ensures that it is. Abortion opponents need to stop attacking Planned Parenthood for procedures it rarely performs. [You call 300,000 abortions a year "rare"?!? ¿Qué estás fumando?] Planned Parenthood isn’t an abortion organization — it’s an organization that seeks to empower and educate women about their health. Conservative anti-abortion groups need to understand that the variety of ["]services["] offered by Planned Parenthood are instrumental in women’s health care.

Be sure to stay tuned to the Daily over the next few days for SFL's official response...

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Issues

Hi everyone, this is simply an update about what has occurred concerning the Komen Foundation recently. Komen is the largest breast cancer charity in America. It has been donating to Planned Parenthood because Planned Parenthood caries out breast exams and claims to do mammograms. Mostly, Planned Parenthood refers mammograms rather than doing them. Komen made an announcement recently that it would not renew grants to all Planned Parenthood facilities except for three in low income areas. These three would be have their funding cut as well once Komen could find replacements to carry out breast scans and treatments in these areas. A main cause of this was that a Congressional investigation was occurring on Planned Parenthood's possible misuse of funds. Komen was planning to eliminate the middle man of Plant Parenthood. Last year Komen gave Planned Parenthood $629,159. This is about 1/20th of 1% of Planned Parenthood's funding. When the announcement was made, Planned Parenthood had an outrage. Much of the liberal media tried to pressure Komen into reversing its decision. Also, Planned Parenthood tried to encourage many businesses and donors that sponsor Komen into cutting their funding for Komen. I believe the reasoning is not that Planned Parenthood needed this money, but because it makes Planned Parenthood look good when they are involved in trying to help breast cancer patients and because Planned Parenthood was worried that if Komen left, who would jump ship next? Because of this huge pressure, Komen apologized for its decision. However, the last I heard, Komen has not said it would renew future grants to Planned Parenthood, but that it would continue with its current grants. I believe Komen was planning on continuing with its current grants anyway. Since then, the vice president of Komen, Karen Handel, resigned with Komen. She is strongly pro-life, and ran for governor of Georgia on a pro-life position.

That's more like it!



200 hits in the last two days! Keep it coming...



Dynamic equivalence and the Daily

You may recall my mental preparation on the way to protest Obama for the off-chance that we'd be interviewed. It went something like this:

"Well, first of all, for us this has nothing to do about being Republican or Democrat. [look up and smile at reporter] It's about a right that transcends every political party--the right to life. The president we have speaking right now is without question the most pro-abortion president in our history."

Well, here's how the Michigan Daily article turned out:

The protesters outside of Obama’s speech included those who were anti-abortion, anti-fracking, anti-Israel and Tea Party members. LSA sophomore Joe Lipa, events chair of Students for Life, an anti-abortion advocacy group, said he was frustrated that the issue of abortion has become less of a prominent issue of national debate.

“We’re seeing unprecedented attacks both on the unborn and also on religious freedoms,” Lipa said.

Note to self: Next time a Daily reporter askes "Can I interview you?" first ask "Is your recorder ON?"

In all seriousness, though, that quote is probably exactly what I said...just minus the all-important context. I suppose it could have turned out worse.

But still...Dynamic equivalence, anyone?

Dude, you can't have an opinion. Now go make me a sammich.

“YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT WOMYN. I HAD SIX SISTERS. THAT’S WHY I’M HERE. I CARE ABOUT WOMYN.” Another Saturday morning. Another altercation with the “escort” outside of Planned Parenthood. Another ironic observation of my (Claire's) apparent apathy towards womanhood. 

Sexism...it isn't pretty.

This subject of chauvinism, both male and female, is one that’s often bandied across the protest line. Either you’re a chauvinist for being pro-life and female, for being pro-choice and male, for being pro-choice and a feminist, and/or being pro-life and being a man. (Good thing everyone grew out of defamation in 2nd grade). While the name-calling makes me laff (and confuses the hell out of me), it also points to one of the most frightening problems within this movement. “You people are chauvinists” they shout, yet fight for the destruction of the greatest distinction between masculinity and femininity. “We care about rights” the pro-choicers claim, and yet strip half the population of theirs. “You have no right to vocalize your opinion” men are told. “You can’t get pregnant. It’s not your issue.”

Since when did we have to be something to have an opinion? I’m not a heroine addict, but I know from logic, science, and life-experiences that the abuse of heroine is bad. I’m not Packers fan (Deo gratias), but I know from logic, science, and life-experiences that being one would be wrong. So, this argument that men are stripped from their opinions just because they can’t be pregnant is kind of...well, chauvinistic. And stupid.

I would be crying too if I was on that team...

Talking with one of my great friends, tonight, I discovered that seemingly apathetic guys have strong opinions about this issue. (No, I’m not judgmental at all.) While claiming that it was weird for guys to have a strong opinion on the abortion debate - a product of the gender muzzle -  this same gentleman turned around and defended his own pro-life views to his pro-choice, female housemate. Now this guy is about as mellow as you can get - he’s has anaphylactic fits at the word “politics” - yet he felt the frustration that comes with censorship. “The kid is technically and biologically half mine...” he said in response to her oh-so-original argument. Can you get any more eloquent or succinct? I think not. (Virgil is probably disappointed in the lack of iambic pentameter. My friend goes to OSU, though, so it can’t be helped. Sigh.) 

 Omg, it's so beautiful...

While the logic of the issue is kind of necessary, the simple human experience is even more so (um, sorry Aristotle?) While it’s true that at least 14% of women would have reconsidered abortion if they had support from a partner, the importance of equal gender vocalization is not one that should be restricted to relationships. Men, speak up in your classroom, at the dinner table, in the middle of the movie. (Just kidding, don’t do that. Unless it’s a Nicholas Sparks movie. Then feel free.) Not only are you exercising your rights (GO AMURICA), but you may also be giving hope to an abortion-minded, desperate mother. If she gets pregnant in the future, my friend’s housemate may turn to my friend because he’s the only one she’s sure that will support her in her distress. Don’t let anyone tell you your declaration of Truth is invalid because your anatomy is different. Just like I laugh at the “escort” for telling me that I don’t care about my gender because I am a pro-life woman, laugh at the people who tell you that the validity of your opinion depends on anything other than the quality of your argument.