LifeNet

Excellent new educational video on Spitzer abortion bill

From NYFPR (New Yorkers for Parental Rights). Excellent - covers all the points. Just a bit over four minutes long. Please get this to as many people as possible!

Kieran Lalor fundraising hits $100,000; other Lalor stuff coming up

Here is the latest from Lalor, as he pursues running for Congress against pro-abortion John Hall.

... Thanks to your generous support, we passed the $100,000 mark in fundraising. We well out-paced the fundraising efforts of our Republican primary opponent. And, on the March 31st filing date, we had more cash on hand than John Hall did at that point two years ago when he was the challenger.

Iraq Veterans for Congress was featured in the Wall Street Journal and Human Events. Our coalition of now 18 Republican Iraq veterans is continuing to pick up national attention.

On Monday, May 26th I will be the guest speaker at the Town of Wappinger's Memorial Day ceremony. The 2 p.m. ceremony will be held at Schlathaus Park, at the intersection of Myers Corners Rd. and All Angels Rd. I hope you'll be able to join me in honoring America's heroes.

Finally, yard signs are in and we have begun to place them throughout the district. If you're interested in a yard sign, please let us know. You can either stop by the office, or we may be able to deliver one.

With best wishes,
Kieran

More on Cardinal Egan, and Giuliani taking communion

From the NY Times - Hit the link to read the full article. You may have to register with the NYT but it is free and easy to do. For the full context, see our prior posting LifeNet: Cardinal Egan statement on Rudolph Giuliani receiving communion

Cardinal Egan Says Giuliani Shouldn’t Have Received Communion From Pope - New York Times

The cardinal’s statement, Mr. Zwilling said, was prompted by Mr. Novak’s column and by comments from others about elected officials who had received communion. “The cardinal felt it was important to clarify what had been the understanding, and to address it publicly,” he said.

Mr. Zwilling also said he did not know how the 2000 meeting at which the cardinal and the mayor reached their “understanding” came about: “whether they were meeting about something else and that came up,” or whether the cardinal asked to see Mr. Giuliani about the communion issue.

In the statement, Cardinal Egan appeared to take issue with Mr. Novak’s claim about “disobedience” to the pope. After declaring that the Catholic Church “clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God,” the cardinal said, “I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind.”

The statement made no mention of Mr. Giuliani’s multiple marriages.

*********

George Weigel, a conservative scholar and a biographer of Pope John Paul II, said it was “primarily the responsibility of the recipient to know his or her own situation”— meaning, he said, it was up to the individual not to seek communion if he knew that the church did not want him to.

“When one has heard Catholic bishops say for 35 years that the right to life is the premier civil rights issue of our lifetime and takes positions to deny that, or, in the case of Pelosi, Kerry and Chris Dodd, have facilitated that through their legislative actions, then one ought to know that one is objectively in a situation of fractured communion with the church,” he said.

“This is not rocket science, and if some clergy are telling these Catholic politicians that it is all right to take a pass on this, then those clergy are doing something deeply wrong.”

Cardinal Egan statement on Rudolph Giuliani receiving communion

UPDATE: We received an email pointing out that this column by Robert Novak may have been the motivation for Cardinal Egan's press release Disobeying the Pope - HUMAN EVENTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2008

                                                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

                                                            Joseph Zwilling

                                                            212-371-1011 ext. 2997

                                                            516-437-7931

The following is a statement issued by Edward Cardinal Egan: 

“ The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God.  Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind.   Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion.  I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding.”

Governor of Alaska gives birth; son has Down Syndrome - "we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift ..."

As mentioned in March, Sarah Palin the Governor of Alaska is considered a possible choice by Senator McCain for Vice-President. LifeNet: Potential McCain running mate is pregnant.

Palin has just given birth, and her new son has Down Syndrome.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin Gives Birth to Down Baby Despite Abortion Pressure

On Tuesday, Palin confirmed her baby, named Trig Paxson, has Down syndrome.

"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us," Palin said in a statement LifeNews.com obtained.

"We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives," she said.

'We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed," the 44 year-old governor added.

Trig was born on Friday, one month before his due date, and he weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces.

Summary of Pope Benedict's pro-life comments while on his Papal visit

Pope Benedict XVI Closes U.S. Visit With Strong Pro-Life Message on Abortion

... The homily came after sharing his pro-life views with President Bush and a White House crowd and then urging Catholic Colleges not to give a platform to abortion advocates.

During the sermon at Yankee Stadium in New York, the pope proclaimed the "inalienable dignity and rights" of "the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb."

He called on pro-life advocates to stand up for "those without a voice" and to "enrich American society and culture with the beauty and truth of" the pro-life message.

The pontiff also praised the work of the Catholic Church and bishops in the United States, saying, "the Catholic community in this nation has been outstanding in its prophetic witness in the defense of life."

Pope Benedict also called on Catholics to reject the notion that pro-life views shouldn't be a part of politics.

He said being a pro-life Catholic "means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life."

The pope also said that, for Christians, there is a truth in understanding the value of human life and that they have an obligation to share that truth with the nation and the world.

"They are the truths which alone can guarantee respect for the inalienable dignity and rights of each man, woman and child in our world - including the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb," he said.

He said he hopes pro-life people will "never [lose] sight of that great hope which gives meaning and value to all the other hopes which inspire our lives

Pope Benedict's homily at Yankee Stadium specifically mentioned defense of the unborn

Hit the link for the full text of the Holy Father's very fine homily.

Pope’s Homily at Yankee Stadium - New York Times

Including the last five minutes, in which the Pope spoke and read in Spanish, the homily lasted for 25 minutes. The english section was interrupted only twice with applause. Here are the last three paragraphs, of the English section.

Yesterday, not far from here, I was moved by the joy, the hope and the generous love of Christ which I saw on the faces of the many young people assembled in Dunwoodie. They are the Church’s future, and they deserve all the prayer and support that you can give them. And so I wish to close by adding a special word of encouragement to them. My dear young friends, like the seven men, “filled with the Spirit and wisdom” whom the Apostles charged with care for the young Church, may you step forward and take up the responsibility which your faith in Christ sets before you! May you find the courage to proclaim Christ, “the same, yesterday, and today and for ever” and the unchanging truths which have their foundation in him (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10; Heb 13:8). These are the truths that set us free! They are the truths which alone can guarantee respect for the inalienable dignity and rights of each man, woman and child in our world - including the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother’s womb. (Applause) In a world where, as Pope John Paul II, speaking in this very place, reminded us, Lazarus continues to stand at our door (Homily at Yankee Stadium, October 2, 1979, No. 7), let your faith and love bear rich fruit in outreach to the poor, the needy and those without a voice. Young men and women of America, I urge you: open your hearts to the Lord’s call to follow him in the priesthood and the religious life. Can there be any greater mark of love than this: to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who was willing to lay down his life for his friends (cf. Jn 15:13)? (Applause)

In today’s Gospel, the Lord promises his disciples that they will perform works even greater than his (cf. Jn 14:12). Dear friends, only God in his providence knows what works his grace has yet to bring forth in your lives and in the life of the Church in the United States. Yet Christ’s promise fills us with sure hope. Let us now join our prayers to his, as living stones in that spiritual temple which is his one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Let us lift our eyes to him, for even now he is preparing for us a place in his Father’s house. And empowered by his Holy Spirit, let us work with renewed zeal for the spread of his Kingdom.

“Happy are you who believe!” (cf. 1 Pet 2:7). Let us turn to Jesus! He alone is the way that leads to eternal happiness, the truth who satisfies the deepest longings of every heart, and the life who brings ever new joy and hope, to us and to our world. Amen. (Applause)

Pro-life groups attacking pro-life candidates

Here's an example. Unfortunately this is common. Candidate with 100% pro-life voting record, but not "pro-life enough" for one group.

Colorado Pro-Life Senate Candidate Defends Against Abortion Attacks

During his tenure in Congress representing a Denver-area Congressional district, Schaffer compiled a sterling pro-life voting record.

He voted repeatedly to stop taxpayer funding of abortion, supported parental notification laws, voted to ban partial-birth abortions and voted to ban both forms of human cloning.

But officials with Colorado Right to Life, which upset pro-life advocates last year with attacks on Focus on the Family, National Right to Life and other pro-life groups, claims Schaffer isn't sufficiently pro-life.

CRTL spokesman Steve Curtis claimed Schaffer looked the other way at forced abortions in the Northern Mariana islands, an American territory.

Schaffer, who investigated the forced abortion claims in a visit to the islands, told the Denver Post Curtis is off base.

>>>>>>

Other pro-life advocates in Colorado are worried CRTL's attacks will hurt Schaffer's candidacy and could pave the way for the leading Democrat, pro-abortion Rep. Mo Udall, to capture a seat previously held by a pro-life senator.

New Yorkers for Parental Rights Billboard near Stewart-Cousins office

Here is the billboard NYFPR put up near State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins office. She introduced the Spitzer Abortion Bill in the State Senate and is the chief sponsor.

Bush: Privilege to Welcome the Pope

President Addresses 2,000 Catholics at Prayer Breakfast

By Carrie Gress

WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- It was a privilege to welcome Benedict XVI to the United States, President George Bush told the crowd at the 5th Annual Catholic Prayer Breakfast.

The president said this today to the sold-out crowd of 2,000. This year's theme was "A Celebration of Benedict XVI in America," since the event coincided with the U.S. papal visit.

When asked about the timing of the event, Austin Ruse, vice president of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, told ZENIT, "It is actually a miracle. We picked our date a year ago."

Bush, after greeting the many dignitaries present, including Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, spoke about the Holy Father's visit to Washington and the White House.

"This has been a joyous week," he said. "It's been a joyous time for Catholics -- and it wasn't such a bad week for Methodists, either. The excitement was just palpable. The streets were lined with people that were so thrilled that the Holy Father was here. And it was such a privilege to welcome this good man to the United States."

"For those of you on the South Lawn -- who saw the South Lawn ceremony live," the president continued, "it was just such a special moment. And it was a special moment to be able to visit with the Holy Father in the Oval Office. He is a humble servant of God. He is a brilliant professor. He is a warm and generous soul. He is courageous in the defense of fundamental truths."

"His Holiness believes that freedom is the Almighty's gift to every man, woman and child on earth. He understands that every person has value, or to use his words, 'each of us is willed, each of us is loved, [and] each of us is necessary,'" Bush continued, receiving a standing ovation for underlining the value of every human life.

The event's keynote speaker was Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City, Missouri. Other speakers included theologian Michael Novak and EWTN host Marcus Grodi.

Logan Gage, a policy analyst at the Discovery Institute, attended the breakfast even though he is Presbyterian. He told ZENIT, "It is fun to celebrate this with my good Catholic friends. I love the Pope and I think President Bush said it well when he talked about Pope Benedict's commitment to a few core truths. I think many of us who are not Catholic really appreciate that and his commitment to those truths."

Joseph Cella, the founder and president of the annual Catholic prayer breakfast, said the success of the Washington event has inspired other states and cities to hold their own prayer breakfasts, including two in California and one in Chicago. Others are in the works, he said: "We are talking with six foreign countries to hold Catholic prayer breakfasts, including Indonesia, Singapore, India, Hong Kong and a few others."

As for Europe, Cella says they have Poland and Italy in mind for the future. "The Holy Spirit is upon it and we pray it continues to grow."

The Holy Father's address to the Bishops in Washington

Here is a link to the transcript of Benedict's address to the U.S. Bishops in the crypt of the shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. After the address, the Pope answered three questions put to him by three different Bishops. We excerpt one of them below the link:

Focus - Dettaglio articolo | Chiesa

Q: Holy Father, how do you assess of the challenge of increasing secularism in public life and relativism in intellectual life? How do you suggest confronting these challenges, for a more effective evangelization?

A. ... Of course, what is essential is a correct understanding of the just autonomy of the secular order, an autonomy which cannot be divorced from God the Creator and his saving plan (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 36). Perhaps America’s brand of secularism poses a particular problem: it allows for professing belief in God, and respects the public role of religion and the Churches, but at the same time it can subtly reduce religious belief to a lowest common denominator. Faith becomes a passive acceptance that certain things "out there" are true, but without practical relevance for everyday life. The result is a growing separation of faith from life: living "as if God did not exist". This is aggravated by an individualistic and eclectic approach to faith and religion: far from a Catholic approach to "thinking with the Church", each person believes he or she has a right to pick and choose, maintaining external social bonds but without an integral, interior conversion to the law of Christ. Consequently, rather than being transformed and renewed in mind, Christians are easily tempted to conform themselves to the spirit of this age (cf. Rom 12:3). We have seen this emerge in an acute way in the scandal given by Catholics who promote an alleged right to abortion.

On a deeper level, secularism challenges the Church to reaffirm and to pursue more actively her mission in and to the world. As the Council made clear, the lay faithful have a particular responsibility in this regard. What is needed, I am convinced, is a greater sense of the intrinsic relationship between the Gospel and the natural law on the one hand, and, on the other, the pursuit of authentic human good, as embodied in civil law and in personal moral decisions. In a society that rightly values personal liberty, the Church needs to promote at every level of her teaching – in catechesis, preaching, seminary and university instruction – an apologetics aimed at affirming the truth of Christian revelation, the harmony of faith and reason, and a sound understanding of freedom, seen in positive terms as a liberation both from the limitations of sin and for an authentic and fulfilling life. In a word, the Gospel has to be preached and taught as an integral way of life, offering an attractive and true answer, intellectually and practically, to real human problems. The "dictatorship of relativism", in the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine human freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity to the truth.

Much more, of course, could be said on this subject: let me conclude, though, by saying that I believe that the Church in America, at this point in her history, is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality and presenting it, in an engaging and imaginative way, to a society which markets any number of recipes for human fulfillment. I think in particular of our need to speak to the hearts of young people, who, despite their constant exposure to messages contrary to the Gospel, continue to thirst for authenticity, goodness and truth. Much remains to be done, particularly on the level of preaching and catechesis in parishes and schools, if the new evangelization is to bear fruit for the renewal of ecclesial life in America. 

Pro-life Sen. Casey rationalization for supporting Obama: "You need to try to elect someone who you think can deal with a whole set of broad-based challenges,"

Casey says Obama is not pro-abortion, despite Obama's support for partial birth abortion.

The standard rationalization. Amazing the extent to which politicians will sell their souls.

Catholic Pro-Life Sen. Bob Casey Defends Backing Pro-Abortion Barack Obama

Casey is not only willing to overlook those votes that counter his pro-life views, but has gone as far as taping a television commercial backing his Illinois colleague.

"Some might characterize it that way, but I don't think it is" a pro-abortion vote or position, he told CNS News of his Obama endorsement. "I have a long (pro-life) record, and it's a lot harder for me. It's much easier to be a Republican and have that position."

"We have a definitive and certain disagreement on abortion," Casey told the conservative news web site. "I'm pro-life. (Obama) is pro-choice. I have supported legislation to outlaw partial-birth abortion. He doesn't agree with that."

CNS News asked Casey how supporting a pro-abortion presidential candidate squares with his Catholic faith and Casey responded that he backs Obama because of other political issues.

American Life League (ALL) ad welcoming the Pope and ID'ing pro-abortion Catholic politicians

We are not sure where this ad is running.

And we can't figure out why Robert Casey (D-PA) is included.

go here -

http://www.all.org/db_file/1066.pdf

New Yorkers for Parental Rights have posted a youtube commercial exposing Spitzer abortion bill

It is 30 seconds long.

Center for Life Annual Breakfast attended by over 160; honors two exemplary women

Contrary to what is sometimes portrayed by the media, women make up the bulk of active prolifers. Nowhere was this more in evidence than at the Northern Westchester and Putnam Center for Life Educational Trust annual breakfast at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Kisco on April 5. It was almost an all-woman show with the two awardees, Patricia Sterzen and Judith Anderson, and the keynote speaker, Theresa Bonopartis of Lumina, the post-abortion counseling arm of Good Counsel Homes.

That said, master of ceremonies Alan Mehldau did manage to get in a few words.

And it was an excellent, excellent morning with Pat receiving the Joseph Frankenberry award, and Judy the Maureen Terilli award, "Chorus of Voices".  Both Pat and Judy spoke well, as in turn they thanked the people they have worked with over the years who have helped share the prolife message in their Churches and communities.

Beside the pictures and commentary below, there is an excellent slide show put together by Joe Giardina here: Picasa Web Albums - Joe - Northern West...

Plenty of enthusiastic reactions from the room's crowd all morning.

Liz Costanza, Mary Gormley, Fran Pollick, and Tom Byrne tuck into breakfast ...

Prolife NY State Assemblyman Greg Ball briefly shared Albany news at the beginning of the event. He had to dash off to see another group at 10 AM.

Kieran Lalor, our candidate aiming to run for Congress against pro-abortion rookie Congressman John Hall, attended with his wife MaryJo and beautiful daughters, Katherine and Riley.

Judy Anderson, with her husband Bob. The lovely lady beheaded in the background is Julia Winterroth; we have her full picture below.

Pat Sterzen receiving the Joseph Frankenberry "Starfish" award from Alan

Probably at least half the attendees have heard Theresa Bonopartis speak. However whether you had heard her talk in the past or not, it is always and it was a powerful, awesome presentation. A true grace for everyone present.

Pat, Linda Levirne, Theresa, Alan, and Judy. Linda, along with Alan, is the maestro who every year organizes the award breakfast.

People from down-county Yonkers were well represented. We saw Chris Slattery and pictured below left is Kathy Brusstar with Laura Winterroth.

Tom Faranda gets lucky and has his picture taken with Laura and her parents, Harry and Julia (this time including her head). The Winterroth family have been up-front activists for at least three decades.

There was a nice turnout of young students. Most of the boys pictured are from the Montfort Academy in Katonah.

Regina Montana and JoAnn Fannon from Judy Anderson's parish, Holy Name of Mary

Thanks to all for another great year! The powerful witness and convictions of the prolife movement was in evidence everywhere at this event. If you missed it, plan not to next year!

Donations to The Northern Westchester and Putnam Center for Life educational fund can be made payable and mailed to: Center for Life, P.O. Box 111, Katonah, NY 10536-0111.

Rally against RHAPP in Yonkers

The cold temperatures and unrelenting winds could not chill the spirits of the over 250 people who gathered for the prayer rally on Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m. at Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) offices.

Multi-faith and multi-culture groups gathered to draw attention to the egregious bill that former Gov. Spitzer had been pushing. It's called RHAPP - Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act - and Andrea Stewart-Cousins introduced it in the Senate recently.

The new Governor, David Patterson, is Spitzer's man and he is on board, speaking to the pro-abortion lobby on the day Spitzer first spoke of his "problem". On the day of the rally in Yonkers, word came that Andrea Stewart-Cousins has recommended that it come out of Committee to the floor of the Senate for a vote. There are several versions of the bill that are being considered. No version is a good version since the bill is so dangerously harmful to women in its attempt to raise abortion in New York to a "fundamental right", in effect protecting it from regulation and restriction, removing it from the criminal code, and creating an environment that would force Catholic hospitals and other institutions that conscientiously object to abortion, to perform them. This bill will make women less safe, abortion less rare, put minors at great risk, and make New York State the biggest taxpayer-funded piggy bank for abortion coffers. This coming at the same time that the "not-for-profit" Planned Parenthood 2006-7 statistics report a $1.018 billion (that billion with a "B") income. Their profit line shows $114.8 million (Yes, yes they are a "non-profit", so technically it's called surplus. But it is their profit.)

Stewart-Cousins office is in the Hudson Valley Bank building on East Grassy Sprain Rd.

Advocates of Life and New Yorkers for Parental Rights sponsored the event that welcomed an inspiring list of speakers and attendees including: Rabbi Yehuda Levin, founder of Jews for Morality; Reverend Clenard Childress of Black Genocide; Judith Anderson representing New Yorkers for Parental Rights; Carol Crossed of Democrats for Life of New York; Leslie Diaz of New Yorkers for Parental Rights and wife of Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) who has been leading the charge in the NYS Senate against this bill; Suzanne Toppings, President of Women's Health Collaborative; Hector Ferrar, New Creations Drama; Fordham University Respect for Life; Reverend Valentin Rivera, President, Westchester County Hispanic Clergy Organization; Fr. Michael Morrow, St. Eugene's Roman Catholic Church in Yonkers; Bishop Hector Bonano, Executive Coordinator, CONLICO; ; and the Rev. Samaris Gross, New York Hispanic Clergy Organization.

Here are four of the speakers, starting with Rabbi Yehuda Levin who had a few colorful comments about NY politicians, while quoting scripture about the prohibition on licentious behavior and abortion/babykilling.

Carol Crossed of Democrats for Life of New York made the point that "47% of Democrats can't be wrong" in their opposition to abortion. The Rev. Clenard Childress of Black Genocide looks on.

And Judith Anderson, representing New Yorkers for Parental Rights, hit all the points on why RHAPP usurps the rights of parents -

 

Fr. Michael Morrow of St. Eugene's Roman Catholic Church in Yonkers

It was excellent to see a fine turnout by Fordham University students

After opening prayers and comments the group lined Tuckahoe Road before reconvening for several more speakers.

Richard Bruno from Rockland County ...

Uber rescuer, now Sister Maria Regina of the Sisters of Life ...

It was a great multi-faith, multi-cultural prayer witness and show of support for Advocates of Life and New Yorkers for Parental Rights. NYFPR president Jessica Shanahan (daughter of Carol Crossed) could not join us, but reminds us of their website NYFPR.org and abortionbill.org for the latest on RHAPP. The Women's Health Collaborative's website womenshealthcollatorative.org is also a great resource with links that all women will find helpful.

For even more pictures hit the link -   

Alveda King, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's niece, on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of his assassination

This is from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, dated 4/4/08.

djournal.com

"My name," she began, quietly, "is Alveda King."

With her first words she evoked the memory of her uncle, slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"My uncle said that we are the beloved community. He loved his family, his children, so very much." She told of watching her uncle playfully set his small children on top of the refrigerator then let them jump, squealing gleefully, into his arms.

She was there, on Tuesday night, as part of the week-long, 40th anniversary commemoration of his death, on April 4, 1968.

Like her uncle, King focused her message upon the plight of the powerless. "There are people dying in this country, everyday," she said. "They are unborn children." The room slowly grew quiet.

"The fight against abortion is a new frontier in the civil rights movement," she said.

>>>>>>

King's detractors claim that her conservative message is at odds with that of her uncle. In 1966, he received the Planned Parenthood of America Margaret Sanger Award.

Wednesday morning, at the offices of the American Family Association in Tupelo, King responded to that criticism.

"My uncle said that the Negro cannot prevail if he's willing to sacrifice the future of his children for immediate comfort and convenience."

Later, she added, "Seventy-eight percent of Planned Parenthood offices are in black neighborhoods. Blacks make up 12 percent of the U.S. population but have 37 percent of the abortions. If Martin could have foreseen 50 million babies murdered and thrown in the garbage since 1973 ... he would have given that award back."

Information and directions to the Rally against the Spitzer Abortion Bill, 4 PM tomorrow, Thursday, April 3rd

The Rally is at State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins office, 4 PM at 35 East Grassy Sprain Rd, in Yonkers. She introduced the bill in the State Senate.

Here is a link to a map to her office, which is easy to get to - it is off Tuckahoe Rd, just east of the Sprain Brook Parkway/Tuckahoe Rd. exit. East Grassy Sprain Rd. runs parallel to the Sprain Brook Parkway.

Map of 35 E Grassy Sprain Rd Yonkers, NY by MapQuest

Here is an up-to-date informational flyer, including the latest participants - it is a broad coalition that is multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-racial!

http://www.abortionbill.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=23LTXnGhaa0%3d&tabid=36&mid=388

Barack Obama - the word callous comes to mind...

Barack Obama Would Back Daughters' Abortion, "Don't Punish Them With a Baby"

Obama's comments came in the context of off-the-cuff remarks addressing the issue of AIDS. (see them here)

The candidate indicated he favored teaching both abstinence education as well as sexual education and he appeared to be hard-pressed to come up with something else to say when he brought up his daughters.

"When it comes specifically to HIV/AIDS, the most important prevention is education, which should include -- which should include abstinence education and teaching the children -- teaching children, you know, that sex is not something casual," he said.

"But it should also include -- it should also include other, you know, information about contraception because, look, I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old," he added.

"I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby," Obama said.

David Brody, a correspondent for CBN News, noted the comments and said he was surprised by Obama's candor.

"I understand Obama was talking off the cuff and these were not prepared remarks. I also know that when you're on the campaign trail 20 hours a day you will say something you wish you hadn't," Brody wrote on his blog.

"But still. 'Punished with a baby?' That just doesn't sound right," he added.

"Why use the word punished? I would think that word would be alarming to people and possibly offensive to those who have had babies out of wedlock," he wrote.

Brody said Obama brought up abortion again later on in the speech and referred to his daughters as "miracles."

"This is a very difficult issue, and I understand sort of the passions on both sides of the issue. I have two precious daughters - they are miracles," Obama said.

Brody contacted the Obama campaign for a response and heard back from Bill Burton, his national spokesman.

Burton largely ignored the "punishment" remark and merely said Obama favored reducing teen pregnancies and abortions and restated Obama's comments about his daughters.

"What Senator Obama said and what he believes is clear -- children are 'miracles,' but we have a problem when so many children are having children," Burton said.

"As Senator Obama said on Saturday -- and on many other occasions -- parents have a responsibility to teach their children about values and morals to help make sure they are not treating sex casually," Burton told CBN News.

Obama's remarks are likely to add another reason to the list pro-life advocates are developing as to why he won't get their vote this November.

They appear to align him squarely with abortion advocates who view laws protecting unborn children as "punishing" pregnant women by forcing them to give birth to the baby instead of taking the child's life through abortion.