LifeNet

We Mark August 26 - the 86th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage - with the text of talks at this year's Women's Equality Day Reformed Ceremony

Here are this year's Women's Equality Day Reformed talks:

Joy Dechiario, Co-chairperson WEDR, 8-18-06:

    Good Afternoon and welcome to you all on

   behalf of this year’s Women’s Equality Day

   Reformed Committee. We thank the

   Honorable Gordon A. Burrows whose

   sponsorship has allowed us this space

   under equal access and free speech.

    August 26 will be the 86^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment

    that gave women the right to vote. It was 1920 when women

    finally had their voices heard at the ballot box, and we are

    happy to celebrate this day with all women! The suffragettes

    Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott would,

    however, be very troubled if they were alive today.  For those

    who spoke so forcefully for equality in the voting booth, also spoke

    forcefully against taking the life of the unborn. We are a

    Committee “Reformed” to help right this distortion of feminist

    history. It is very appropriate that our theme this year is

“Courage” because I am sure that each of us sitting

here can think of a woman who has shown extraordinary

courage in everyday life. Heroes and role models are everywhere

and include our previous honorees and recipients of the Mott,

Stanton, Anthony award. They were Mildred Fay Jefferson, M.D.,

Lisa Marrero, M.D., Dorothea Muccigrosso, and the Domincan

Sisters of Hawthorne at Rosary Hill Home.

Today our honoree is another wonderful role model. She is co-founder

of the Interracial Women’s Leadership Roundtable in Purchase, NY,

Christine Mortell Plazas, whose example of professional and volunteer

service reflects a unique kind of courage.

We will also give special recognition to women in the armed forces,

and commend our Gold Star and Blue Star Mothers and Wives.

Our scheduled guest speaker, LTC Jacqueline L. Russell, Commander of the 101^st Signal Battalion in Yonkers regretfully is unable to join us due to a death in her family that required her presence in Vermont. But we have with us Staff Sgt. Catherine Ramos who honors us with her presence on very short notice, and who will be speaking to us. We are also happy to have accompanying Sgt. Ramos, Master Sgt. Donald Tucciariello.

And so we are happy that all of you are here to join us. We hope that you will leave with renewed faith in the country we love, and be inspired to make your voices heard with courage and determination.

REGINA RIELY, Co-chairperson WEDR, and Feminist for Life of NY:

I would like to begin with a story…

A woman whose husband is in the artillery goes to war with him as

laundress and cook for the enlisted men. During battle she brings

water along the line to cool the hands and faces of the crews. She

sees her husband killed. As if in one inspired motion, this heroine

then takes up the primer and fires the cannon for the remainder

of the battle. During the same war a 16-year-old girl hears critical

information from an enemy soldier whose tongue is loosened by

too much ale. The teen rides a horse 20 miles through woods and

across swamp to warn American troops of this critical intelligence.

These events occurred within a 100-miles radius of here 230 years

ago. Molly Pitcher and Sybil Luddington were those American

colonial heroines. Today we give special honor to women of

courage.

In the 19^th century, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and

Susan B. Anthony, by their courage, perseverance and enlightened

publications, paved the way for women’s political voice in the U.S.

that came with the right to vote in 1920.

In more recent times, and in our audience, we have a member of

the Nurse Cadet Corps, part of the military established by FDR

during WWII. Please stand Goldie Solomon. We want to talk with

you more about your experiences when ceremony concludes.

Now, another face from that same era for you to picture: How

about that skinny guy welding at the Tarrytown Eastern Aircraft

plant in denim overalls? You glace up as he lifts up his welder’s

mask and see a blonde gal wearing lipstick behind that face shield.

The homefront actively recruited women in WWII. Rosie Bonavita

of Peekskill and Jennie Fiorito of Ossining (cousins) were at this

very factory. They set a record, completing the trailing edge wing

assembly drilling more than 900 holes and driving over 3,345

rivets during one shift in less than six hours. This feat was

immortalized by the icon Rosie the Riveter, painted first by

J. Howard Miller and then by Norman Rockwell.

Courage through service has many faces.

Perhaps the women who show the most courage and moral

strength are the mothers who watch their soldier-children go off

to defend our freedoms, like the right to vote. These young men

and women’s heroism is a reflection of the virtue and courage

exemplified by their mothers. Gold Star Mothers are those who

lost sons and daughters in battle. Gold Star Wives who lost

husbands in WWII like Natalie Maddalena, here with us today.

Blue Star Mothers have had children serve in battle. Please stand

Mildred Pinn whose son served in Vietnam.

But another war has been here for 33 years, 45 million have

died and the walking wounded include 30 million women. One

woman stood before a public assembly and with the courage of

Mott, Stanton and Anthony, declared her pro-life convictions

before an audience opposed. It was a victory won in an ongoing

battle. A woman’s courage today is truly tested if she promotes

human life in all its stages.

Finally, the military that protects us at home and abroad have

become more visible after 911. The National Guard has taken on

a new significance and our guest speaker, Staff Sgt. Catherine

Ramos will tell you about their efforts.

Staff Sgt. Catherine Ramos, New York Army National Guard, Headquarters, 101st Signal Battalion, Yonkers:

*******The definition of courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty*****

Good Afternoon, My name is Catherine Ramos; I am a Staff Sergeant in the New York Army National Guard.  I enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in August of 2002, prior to that I was on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 29 January 1996 until 28 January 2001., I was then in the Marine Corps Inactive Ready Reserve until 09 August 2002 when I enlisted in the New York Army National Guard.  LTC Jacqueline Russel was supposed to be here today but due to a personal situation is unable to attend, she is truly sorry for not being able to come.

My brother Jim went into the United States Marine Corps after high school for 4 years.  My Mother begged him not to go because Desert Storm was going on but he went anyway.  He came home on leave 3 years later with his girlfriend Kim, who was also a Marine.  My sister and I were both home and spent some time talking to her about how she could be a Marine.  She told us stories of what she went through and how proud she was of who she was and also that they were paying for her college and that she had gotten the chance to live in Japan for a year.  My sister loved the whole idea and went to see a recruiter.

  I was going to Bergen Community College at the time and working to pay tuition so the idea of free college was very appealing, I decided that I would go with my sister.  We signed up for the Buddy System, where we would be able to go to Boot Camp and technical school together. Neither of us had ever shot a weapon, been in a real fist fight or even new what a gas chamber was, the only thing we had going for us was that we were both athletic and would have each other.

We left on January 29, 1996 for 13 weeks of all female Boot Camp, our Recruiter informed to get a good look at the guys at the airport because we would not be seeing any more for 13 weeks.  There was 98 Females in our platoon when we started and 56 of us Graduated on April 26, 1996.  Going to Marine Corps Boot Camp with your sister who could be your identical twin was not a good idea.  We were constantly picked on for being unable to do it on our own and needing our sister to make it through.  Both of us made it through Boot Camp and continued on to Air Traffic Control Communication School for 46 weeks together.  After school I went on to Hawaii for 4 years and my sister to Japan for a year and California for her last 3 years. 

Marine Corps Boot Camp was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life.  The courage it took to get on the plane to go to Parris Island, into the unknown, I’m still not sure how I did it.   

My contract ended on 28 January 2001, and I got out and went to complete my last 2 years in the Marine Corps Inactive Ready Reserve.  I now had a 20 month old son and he had become my priority.  I worked for a manufacturing company and then got a job in an elementary school and was taking college courses online but something was missing.  I ran into a family friend at a July 4^th picnic in 2002 and he told me about the National Guard, where I could be in the military just one weekend a month a two weeks a year; I signed up 09 August 2002.  I then got really lucky and applied for a job in Yonkers Armory and I got it.  I have been on active duty since 26 September 2002 and I really enjoy it.

            As a member of the US Military force in the year 2006, I can see how far women have come.  Over 100 years ago women were allowed into the Military only as nurses; in today’s military women can be almost anything.  The military requires you to be available to go leave at short notice leaving your family and friends behind.  I have gone to countries in Eastern Europe where the women in these countries are still treated as less than a man.  It makes me very proud to be in American and in our military which defends the freedoms that we have today.

Judith Anderson, Co-chairperson WEDR 8-18-06 and Feminist for Life of NY:

(standing ovation for Sgt. Ramos) Thank you, Sgt. Ramos, for your wonderful presentation.

And now... when we asked Christine if she would like to be introduced to our audience by a special friend or associate, she said, "Of course! Dorothy Orr." We, too, can think of no one better to share the day's honor with her than her co-founder of the Interracial Women's Leadership Roundtable and recipient of the original Committee's 1997 Westchester Woman of the Year award - Dorothy J. Orr.

Christine Mortell Plazas, 2006 Honoree and Feminist for Life of NY, Acceptance Speech:

COURAGE just introduced me! My friend and mentor Dorothy J. Orr has inspired more than three generations of women to be brave with word and action to reach for racial understanding and harmony by energizing women around her. As a female forerunner in American corporations, in American politics, in academics and in the Westchester community her optimism and bravery leads her to create racial harmony. She inspires and enables women to join her in the pursuit of equality. She “walks the walk” and says, “Let’s Talk” which lead me to her. The minute I met her 17 years ago creative sparks flew and we founded along with some great women---The Interracial Women’s Leadership Roundtable.”

I am so honored to be awarded this Mott-Stanton-Anthony Award and I gratefully thank the committee for choosing me---thank you Regina, Judy and Joy. I would also like to recognize my parents, who taught me the value of life and to treat every person I encounter with respect. I thank my daughters for continuously teaching me the values that I have taught them-forming a circle.

On the anniversary of American Women’s right to vote I am humbled by the courage of the 10,000 American woman across the county who fought and won the right to vote for women---they also fought for abolition of slavery and right to life.  In 1890 the National American Women Suffrage Association was created.

Do you think they all agreed on the same issues? Even though they were gathered to fight for the right for such a basic noble cause --- the right to vote? NO. Each of the 10,000 had a seperate opinion. They had a convention and decided "We can only pull together to work for the ballot by letting alone our whims and prejudices on other subjects. We must work for the best intersts of womanhood."

My personal belief is in the right to life for each human being upon conception to natural death. I treasure my freedom in this county to be able to express my belief. I should not need courage to speak my heart. I think the best way to understand my own belief is to talk to other women, even women of opposing beliefs.  We are so blessed in this county to have the freedom to disagree. Society and politics today are so caught-up with vicious criticism of each other instead of our freedom to talk.

I know that my mission in my life is to get women together to share their voices with each other. That’s why I co-founded the IWLR with Dorothy Orr.  I respect the fact that we are required to listen and talk to each other for the greater good of our community. 

This country is politically divided in half and bitterness prevails on both sides. We as women must use our ability to create positive dialogue and our wisdom to be role models of hope for understanding not necessarily agreement.  In many parts of the world women are risking their lives for basic freedoms and we as American women have the obligation to be their role models of compassion for each other to show them that equality is not a dream but a right.

In that spirit of fighting for the “Best interests of womanhood”, courage to listen and respect various voices spoken from each woman in her heart to vote with conscience, I accept this great honor today.

Brigid Faranda, Co-chairperson WEDR and Feminist for Life of NY, Presentation of Award to Christine Mortell Plazas:

Christine, your award today reads: "Women's Equality Day Reformed presents the Mott-Stanton-Anthony Award to Christine Mortell Plazas. In Recognition of twenty-five years of professional and volunteer service to the community, highlighted by her dedicated advancement of cooperation and racial understanding in Westchester County as co-founder of the Interracial Women's Leadership Roundtable; In Recognition of her certain courage in defense of the values and ideals of Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony, champions of the inherent dignity of human life and equal rights for women. Presented on this eighteenth day of August In the year two thousand and six, A.D.

Judith Anderson, Sending:

Thank you all for being here with us today. I am amazed as I listened to all our speakers at how singular of mind, heart and spirit we all are - we did not know each other's talks before today - the Spirit is truly with us.

It has been wonderful to celebrate the goodness of the women here today. The good that we are and the good that we do takes courage and reminds us that there is hope for a world too often at odds with itself.

But make no mistake, Courage is tempered in adversity.

We have seen our feminist foremothers prove that with their long fight for the vote. This should humble us as we watch young democracies struggle to find shape and identity, both unique and universal, old and new, reflecting the best of themselves and the ideals of the democratic freedoms they aspire to make their own. Make no mistake, it will take Courage.

We thank our veterans present, our military guests, our Nurse Cadet Corps representatives, and most especially our Gold Star and Blue Star mothers and wives. No one seeks that kind of Courage, but these women have accepted sacrifice with dignity and a sense of purpose beyond their personal loss. There are not enough thanks for such as these.

We thank our honoree, Christine Mortell Plazas, for her strength of character and for the courage of her convictions in celebrating the dignity of all people. She and Dorothy are examples of women who exemplify the good that can come when minds are set on the good. As women we must look to each other and see not enemies, but women of good will who seek to address critical issues at hand. We must work hard to find the best solutions and in order to do this we must listen to each other’s voices, but speak the truth at all cost, especially to those in power. Make no mistake, Courage is costly.

Thank you for joining us today. Work with us in the months ahead and be here next year!

WEDR 2006 – 8/18/06

Stories of Guests Unable to Attend

Portia Clark WWII – You’re in the Navy Now

At 18, filled with innocence and patriotic ideals, an enthusiastic girl left her home in Pennsylvania to enlist in the Navy. Her basic training was carried out at the then Hunter College in the Bronx. Calisthenics and marching drills in the middle of an icy February could not dampen her fervor or that of her companions. They ranged from 16-25 years of age. Portia finished basic with flying colors, even if her arm had felt sore from all the immunization shots.

Her first orders were to Stillwater Oklahoma for secretarial training. Her billet for the remainder of the war was Washington, D.C. She was assigned to a Navy Commander in the Joint Electronic Information Agency. She handled highly classified material shared among the various branches of the U.S. military. The Agency was a joint Army/Navy venture for documenting, testing, and improving the early stages of radar. Portia was in the process of being selected for Officer Candidate School when the war ended. She had served from 1943-1946 and was honorably discharged as Yeoman second class.

Under the G.I. Bill, Portia went to the Kodiak School of Photography, the University of Rochester, and the University of Chicago. She had a keen interest in philosophy, especially Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. English literature including Shakespeare was the other group of courses she enjoyed reading.

Now this youthful 86-year-old honors Croton-on-Hudson, NY as one of its esteemed residents. She would have been delighted to be here but was unable to do so.

Dorothy Chardri of a Rosie the Riveter Team

During WWII a mother of a three-year-old signed on for a nine-month stint in the GM plant used to assemble airplanes. Daily, Dorothy left her daughter at a Yonkers nursery where she lived and carpooled to the factory.

She was the quality control part of a two-woman riveting team. Dorothy carried heavy metal bucking bars of different shapes. The noise of a hundred riveting guns going off simultaneously was deafening. The cavernous building echoed and intensified the sound.

She had to hold the weighty bucking bar, pressing it hard against the sheet metal as the girl with the riveting gun shot the rivets in. The bolts had to melt and flatten smoothly on the outer edge of the bars. If the bolts were not perpendicular or not flat, Dorothy told the “gunner” to redo it. During her time at the plant she had two partners. The first one had some one in the service and was “gung-ho” to get as many rivets in as possible. “She would get so annoyed when I told her to take out a weak rivet and do it again. I could not have a faulty wing assembly on my conscience. Men’s lives are dependent on these planes holding together.”

Dorothy’s fine workmanship was recognized when she and her second “gunner” did blind bucking. After a rivet was done, she would feel inside where the wing came to a point to confirm that it was flush. Her second teammate was laid back. Doing rivets over didn’t bother her. She was a Black lady who worked so well with Dorothy that they became efficient and proficient partners. Only the best teams did blind bucking.

86 years young, Dorothy Chardri now resides in Peekskill. Due to medical reasons she was not able to attend today’s events.

Dorothy J. Orr, Introduction of Christine Mortell Plazas:

Today we the women-all women of Westchester gather to honor Christine Plazas, The

Woman of the Year 2006! A very special “lady” who “cares” and whose leadership

reflects a delicate balance, appreciation and respect for political, for racial, for religious

and for gender differences while retaining her personal beliefs and values!!

When I think of “Christine Plazas” and her leadership in this country, I think of Rodney

King’s now famous exclamation during the riots of Los Angeles: “Can’t we all get

along?”

And so in a year when the entire world but particularly women are alarmed-yes, even

frightened with the cultural, ethnic and philosophical differences and hostility, which

now results in destruction of families, children and those support systems women hold

dear.

Today is a pause, yes a relief from the media pictures of destruction, a time to honor

Christine Plazas whose caring spirit and special skill in bringing women of all classes,

cultures and philosophies together to better understand and appreciate each other.

Christine was a Founder of the Interracial Women’s Leadership Roundtable, an

organization whose goal is to bring together women leaders from women’s organizations:

Junior Leagues, League of Women Voters, The Links, Jewish Committee, Jack and Jill,

Hispanic Coalition, Chinese Association of America, the young, the baby boomers, the

aging…

Need I remind you!! This was a challenge!! The African American women who still were

reluctant and suspicious of the Junior League who had banned them from membership

some time in history. The Caucasian women who were unaware of class differences. The

Asian women who harbored pain from adjectives regarding their slanted eyes.

It was Christine Plazas and her leadership, sensitivity, caring and the strategy of that

monthly “Can We Talk” sessions that there emerged a “bonding”- a new “understanding”

of the differences and similarities of all women leaders.

Christine is a special mother whose dedication to values and the teaching of what’s right

to her two daughters is reflected in a beautiful essay written to the roundtable in which

her eldest daughter expressed appreciation of all humanity and a commitment to

“Continue doing the same when she grew-up.”

Christine, like many women of the 21^st century, is a devoted wife, who understands what

it means for husbands to be involved in a competitive world of business. Their home is a

happy gathering place whose friends from all nationalities and religions gather. A United

Nations to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with her Priest and to enjoy her culinary expertise

learned from her degree from Michigan State University-no less.

Now you know why I CHOSE to accept the invitation to present you, The Women of

Westchester, the Woman of the Year 2006, Christine Plazas.

Please stand and join me in honoring our Christine, a special woman leader, whom we all

love…Christine Plazas!

New technigue for extracting embryonic stem cells mis-represented in the media

Unfortunately, but perhaps not surprisingly, it turns out that the technique very recently publicized is not all it's cracked up to be.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advocates' Lies Get Pass in Mainstream Media

Here is an excerpt, but go to the link and read the whole article:

"NEW STEM CELL METHOD avoids destroying embryos," the New York Times headline blared. "Stem cell breakthrough may end political logjam," chimed in the Los Angeles Times. "Embryos spared in stem cell creation," affirmed USA Today.

Reporting the same supposed scientific achievement by Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), the Washington Post quoted the company's bioethics adviser Ronald Green: "You can honestly say this cell line is from an embryo that was in no way harmed or destroyed."

Unfortunately, you can't "honestly" say that. The above headlines--like Green's statement and innumerable similar press accounts around the world--are just plain wrong. While ACT did indeed issue a press release heralding its embryonic stem cell experiment as having "successfully generated human embryonic stem cells using an approach that does not harm embryos," the actual report of the research led by ACT chief scientist Robert Lanza, published in Nature, tells a very different story. In fact, Lanza destroyed all 16 of the embryos he used, just as in conventional embryonic stem cell research.

And that's not the only facet of Lanza's work that the press got wrong. The ACT team did do something new: It worked with very early embryos, of 8 to 10 cells each, rather than the 100- to 200-cell blastocysts usually used in such research. From each of these early embryos, the scientists removed not one cell--as several press accounts reported--but 4 to 7 cells. This misreporting is important because it creates a materially false impression.

Courage is key; Women's Equality Day Reformed on August 18, 2006 at Westchester County Legislative Offices in White Plains

The only downer at last Friday's celebration of Women's Equality Day Reformed was the failure (again) of area media persons to cover the event. What used to receive a big media splash (back when pro-life women were banned from being recognized or when the County Board of Legislators was taken to court) is no longer of any interest to the Journal News, Channel 12, etc. This despite numerous press releases and other contacts with the media, including two radio interviews given by Ms. Joy Dechiario, a co-chairperson for the event. Too bad. It was a great day honoring great women and good news is always worthy of coverage.

This year on August 26 marks the 86th Anniversary of women's suffrage; it was 1920 when women achieved victory and the right to vote. The 5th annual reformed event celebrated with all women and especially with this year's Honoree, Christine Mortell Plazas, pictured here.

The highlight of the day was Dorothy J. Orr's introduction of the guest of honor, returning this gesture of friendship and support. It was Christine who introduced Dorothy when Dorothy was recognized as the 1997 Westchester Woman of the Year by the former Committee.  These two remarkable women are co-founders of the Interracial Women's Leadership Roundtable in Purchase, NY. Christine Mortell Plazas, business professional and 25-year volunteer in Westchester County, received the Mott, Stanton, Anthony Award for her courageous work towards interracial cooperation and understanding, and for her outspoken defense of the pro-life ideals held by the early feminists, a fact that is often ignored or distorted today. Both women's talks were uniquely inspiring. Christine's acceptance speech was filled with both humility and strength as she thanked Dorothy for her years of mentoring friendship, and WEDR for its recognition that day. It was an experience encouraging to all women who seek to work together to promote human dignity and life affirming solutions to a variety of issues on the local and national scene.

Joy Dechiario's opening remarks set the tone - it would be a day honoring women of courage from the past (the suffragettes) and present, including Christine Mortell Plazas and our women veterans. Regina Riely spoke of Sybil Luddington and Molly Pitcher, early colonial heroines, and segued into the day's recognition of Gold Star Wives like Natalie Maddalena, and Blue Star Mothers like Mildred Pinn,  women in the Nurse Cadet Corps like Goldie Solomon, R.N., and shared memories of WWII icon "Rosie the Riveter" and her local muses, Rosie Bonavita of Peekskill and Jennie Fiorito of Ossining, whose riveting feat at the Tarrytown Eastern Aircraft plant was immortalized by J. Howard Miller's iconic image and then by Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post cover. DeeAnn Sarcone, a great niece, Dorothy Chardri of a Rosie the Riveter Team, and Portia Clark a Navy veteran, were unable to attend the day's events and sent their regrets. Watch this site - their stories will be posted soon.

Scheduled guest speaker Lt. Colonel Jacqueline L. Russell of the New York Army National Guard, 101st Signal Battalion in Yonkers suffered a death in the family, so Staff Sgt. Catherine Ramos spoke in her stead.

The Sargeant gave an impressive presentation of her personal journey from a four-year stint (along with her sister) with the Marine Corps to her service with the National Guard. Her good humor was on display as she told of a recent talk with her young son about women getting the right to vote, only to be called in soon after by the Colonel to speak on this anniversary occasion! She spoke of the role of women in the military with pride and with admiration for their efforts, their hard-won successes, and the unique gifts they bring to the service of our country. Master Sgt. Donald Tucciarello of this National Guard unit was also present to share the day.

Judith Anderson of the WEDR Committee closed the day with challenging words for women and men: recognize and emulate courage, seek and speak the truth, listen to each other and work for the betterment of society and the dignity of human beings, at all stages of life.

The Committee thanks the Honorable Gordon A. Burrows of the Westchester County Board of Legislators for his presence that day and for sponsoring the event under freedom of access and freedom of speech, as well as for offering to sponsor it again next year. The Committee also thanks the Rev. Michael Morrow from the Church of St. Eugene in Yonkers for his opening Invocation and the Rev. Stephen Mosha, A.J. of Tanzania from St. Augustine R.C. Church in Ossining for his closing Benediction.

Judith Anderson presents a rose to Natalie Maddalena, one of the Gold Star wives who attended WEDR. This feisty lady raised three young children after the death of her husband during WW II, and her love, pride and patriotism in her words these many years later touched everyone.

Co-chairperson Regina Riely offers introductory  comments while County Legislator Gordon A. Burrows looks on.

An admiring glance from a participant, as Goldie Solomon, R.N., ARCN (far left) of the WW II Nurse Cadet Corps is honored for her service.

Mildred Pinn, below, a Blue Star mother whose son served in Vietnam, receives her rose.

Co-chairpersons Joy Dechiario and Judith Anderson flank participant and long-time WEDR supporter, Andrea Barbuto.

Crisis pregnancy centers trying to provide services to inner city women

This from Lifenews.com  Crisis Pregnancy Centers Eye Inner Cities to Help Black Women Avoid Abortio

Abortion businesses have long targeted the minority and poor communities of larger cities and Care Net estimates that there are five abortion centers for every pregnancy center in some major inner city areas.

Dr. Lillie A. Epps is a licensed, ordained minister and the Director of Urban Center Development at Care Net. She told the Associated Press over the weekend about the difficulties in reaching out to urban communities.

"This crusade has been very difficult -- having to educate community leaders as to what's really going on without being offensive, without having a political agenda," Epps said.

Care Net began the initiative with a pilot program at the Capitol Hill Crisis Pregnancy Center in a rough minority neighborhood called Anacostia in Washington, D.C. The group partnered with the 21 year-old pregnancy center and a teen outreach center called The House.

Though most of the volunteers at the pregnancy center are white, 89 percent of its clients are black and director Janet Durig told AP that race doesn't matter when a pregnant teenager needs help.

"When she breaks down and cries, do you think she cares if I'm white?" Durig asked.

A terribly sad commentary on euthansia and suicide in Great Britain

This off LifeSiteNews.com

Off course, if you have no real core beliefs, why not?

BBC Feminist's Sordid Suicide Pact Made Public

BBC Feminist's Sordid Suicide Pact Made Public

By Hilary White

LONDON, August 15, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – This week, a popular BBC radio announcer told the public that she had entered into a “suicide pact” with friends should she be incapacitated by illness.

Jenni Murray, the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, a feminist and euthanasia advocate, said that she does not want to be “trapped” into caring for her mother who is ill with Parkinson’s disease.

Murray, a member of the Order of the British Empire and a patron of the Family Planning Association, is airing her views tonight on a BBC television program called “Don’t Get Me Started.” Publicity material for the show says that Murray “plans to end her own life when she becomes a burden to those around her.” She discusses methods, including smothering with a pillow or injecting with drugs, with two friends,

The network said: "Jenni is angry that, having fought so hard to become liberated and independent, women are now being trapped into caring for dependent parents."

Murray complains that the law against assisted suicide is supported by a “religious minority” who hold to an outdated moral view that human life is inherently valuable and that children have a legitimate obligation to care for elderly parents.

The program highlights the growth, especially in Britain, of the idea of an “obligation to die.” Most leading thinkers in the bioethics field endorse euthanasia and assisted suicide and often argue that elderly and ill patients have the obligation to end their lives to relieve pressure on families and the health care system.

In 2004, Baroness Mary Warnock, Britain’s leader in bioethics, said unequivocally that the ill and elderly had an obligation to die as soon as possible so as not to burden relatives and the medical system. Baroness Warnock, called Britain's “Philosopher Queen”, said in an interview, “In other contexts sacrificing oneself for one's family would be considered good. I don't see what is so horrible about the motive of not wanting to be an increasing nuisance.”

She said, “I am not ashamed to say some lives are more worth living than others.”

UK's "Philosopher Queen," Warnock Says Elderly and Ill have Obligation to Suicide
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/dec/04121406.html

"Plan B" contraceptives and breast cancer

Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer Update
Dear Friends:

Young women and teenaged girls are Barr Laboratories' guinea pigs.  Your action is needed now to stop this pharmaceutical company from exploiting our adolescent children and young women by making Plan B (the "morning-after pill") over-the-counter (OTC).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to Barr Laboratories on Monday asking them for a proposal to distribute the drug OTC.

Planned Parenthood is enthusiastic about OTC sales because the British experience shows that, by making the drug widely available, abortion sales increased (and so did sexually transmitted diseases, especially among adolescents). 

Planned Parenthood is not in the business of selling Plan B, so it can sell fewer abortions. When Plan B "fails" to prevent either conception or implantation, young women will seek surgical abortions.  Money is what drives this business.

The Breast Cancer Prevention Institute has warned that Plan B contains a very large dose of progestin, a synthetic progesterone. (Progesterone is a female hormone.)  If Plan B is used regularly, it may increase breast cancer risk.

Similarly, several websites encourage young women to take several doses of (estrogen plus progestin) oral contraceptives if they do not have access to Plan B. The World Health Organization classified these oral contraceptives as "Group 1" carcinogens in July, 2005.

The Breast Cancer Prevention Institute warns that estrogen and progesterone are "powerful steroids" that may raise breast cancer risk whether they are taken in the combined form or used alone.

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED NOW!

1. Call the White House comment line at 1-202-456-1111 or send e-mail to: [email protected], to let the president and his staff know that you do not want Plan B made available for over-the-counter sales.

2. Send the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer a tax-deductible donation today.  Tax-deductible, credit card donations can be made at http://www.AbortionBreastCancer.com. Donations can be mailed to: the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, P.O. Box 957133, Hoffman Estates, IL 60195. The IRS recognizes the coalition as a 501(c)3 organization.

Sincerely,
Karen Malec
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer

#####   

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer is an international women's organization founded to protect the health and save the lives of women by educating and providing information on abortion as a risk factor for breast cancer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
http://www.AbortionBreastCancer.com

Breast Cancer Prevention Institute
http://www.BCPInstitute.org

Polycarp Research Institute
http://www.polycarp.org

This newsletter can be viewed online at: http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/news/060809/index.htm
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
P.O. Box 957133
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195-3051

Toll Free: 877.803.0102
Local Calls: 847.421.4000
Email: [email protected]
Web Page: http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com

Board members farewell Ginny Dachenhausen

On July 30th the board members of the North Westchester and Putnam Center for Life had a small farewell brunch for long-serving board member Ginny Dachenhausen.

Ginny has "enlisted" with the Capuchins as a lay missioner in Africa. After training in Washington DC, Ginny will be leaving for Africa early in 2007.

Here are the board members, from left to right: Pam Mehldau, Marie Litrenta, Joe Carr, Ginny, Alan Mehldau, and Tom Faranda.

Prolife feminist buys Susan B. Anthony House

That's the house belonging to one of the original feminist suffragettes. The woman on the one dollar coin. And like the original feminists, anti-abortion.

It was purchased by Carol Crossed, the original director of the Seamless Garment Network (now known as Consistent Life) and involved with numerous prolife organizations. 

It's a bit of a coup for Feminists for Life of America. See here open book: Feminists for Life makes a move.. and here  Feminists for Life of America - Pro Woman Pro Life

While Feminists for Life of America will not own the house, the pro-life feminist organization will manage and care for the birthplace. FFL’s national office will remain in the Washington, D.C., area. A panel of experts will be assembled to determine the best use for the dwelling. Others who care about Susan B. Anthony will be provided a means to contribute ideas.

Feminists for Life continues the tradition of Susan B. Anthony and other early American suffragists who fought for women and children—born and unborn.

“Susan B. Anthony challenged us to address the root causes that drive women to abortion—the same problems that face women who parent today,” said FFL President Serrin M. Foster. FFL is dedicated to systematically eliminating the reasons that drive women to abortion—lack of practical resources and support—by challenging the status quo. “Women deserve better than abortion,” she added.

Feminists for Life uniquely works with people on both sides of a contentious debate to redirect energy toward woman-centered solutions. FFL focuses primarily on college campuses to address the unmet needs of pregnant and parenting students, including housing, child care, maternity coverage and telecommuting options. FFL’s College Outreach Program inspired federal legislation currently being considered, the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnancy and Parenting Act. Stanton, together with Anthony, led the first women’s movement.

FFL has also worked alongside other women’s organizations for the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, for enhanced child support enforcement and against the child exclusion provisions in welfare reform. FFL also championed Laci and Connor’s Law, as well as health care coverage for poor and pregnant women through the State Child Health Insurance Program.

“We are thrilled and grateful that Carol Crossed stepped forward to buy Susan B. Anthony’s birthplace,” said Foster. Feminists for Life recognized Crossed in 2003 year as a “Remarkable Pro-Life Woman.” Crossed lives in Rochester, New York, the home of Susan B Anthony during her later years of activism.

Chuck Colson on "The Church and the Culture Wars"

This was emailed to us by John Finn in California. Chuck Colson, one of the "Watergate Seven", is now well-known for his Evangelical mission Prison Fellowship.

Speak out or give in?
The Church and the culture wars
By Chuck Colson
Friday, August 4, 2006

There they go again. The liberal media, it seems, likes nothing better than to play up what they see (or create) as divisions in the evangelical ranks. This Sunday’s New York Times featured a front-page story about Gregory Boyd, an evangelical pastor in Minnesota who is highly critical of the religious right and refuses to talk about abortion or other cultural war issues from his pulpit.

The article paints him in heroic terms, willing to stand against the tide. It quotes other Christian leaders who support him, but none of those who might give the other point of view. It seems if you want to get into the New York Times these days, all you’ve got to do is bash conservative evangelicals.

The New York Times quotes Pastor Boyd attacking “the ‘hypocrisy and pettiness’ of Christians who focus on ‘sexual issues’ like homosexuality, abortion, or Janet Jackson’s breast-revealing performance at the Super Bowl” two years ago. “These are buttons,” he said, “you push if you want to get Christians to act.”

Sadly, a lot of evangelicals believe this kind of propaganda. And since we are acquiring this negative image, we ought to abandon moral issues and adopt Boyd’s position. Particularly some younger evangelicals are suggesting that we stay away from divisive issues like abortion and homosexuality altogether and just go back and be like the first-century Church -- stay out of politics, tend to our spiritual knitting.

I wonder what early Church they are talking about. Take just the issue of abortion. The early Church was outspokenly pro-life right from the beginning just as the Jews had been. In the second chapter of the Didache, one of the first discipleship books for young Christians written in the first century, was this stern injunction: “Thou shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born.” Justin Martyr wrote about this in his first apology. And in the second century, Athenagoras wrote a plea to Emperor Marcus Aurelius: “We say that women that use drugs to bring abortion commit murder and will have to give an account to God for the abortion.” And you can be sure that that was not a hot-button issue then.

Note that the early Church was not afraid to call abortion murder. Tony Snow, the president’s press secretary, got roughed up badly last week for doing just that.

Now, Boyd is a good scholar. I was impressed with a book he wrote some years ago when he was on the Bethel Seminary faculty -- although I took sharp issue with his embrace of open theology. But I think he ought to go back and refresh himself on the early history of his own church.

And as for his argument that we like these hot-button issues to gain support, let the record show that Christians did not bring these issues into public life. All the culture war issues today stem back to Roe v. Wade when the Supreme Court, by the stroke of a pen, invalidated all of the state laws in America that had been worked out through deliberate democratic debate.

Life issues, you see, go to the very heart of the Gospel, which is why the first-century Church cared so passionately. And we can do no less today. The Church does not just have the right to speak about it; it has the duty to do so.

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