LifeNet

From Culture of Life Foundation: Does contraception prevent abortion?

A very useful article by theologian William May. Note especially his discussion of contraceptives as abortifacients and "Plan B", suggesting that this is an unresloved question.

DOES CONTRACEPTION PREVENT ABORTION?

WPRTLPAC - Journal Ad September 1 Deadline approaching!

Just a reminder that the Westchester-Putnam Right to Life PAC October 15 Gala Dinner Journal is in publishing stages. If you have not submitted an ad, a business card, or simply joined as a booster for only $10.00, please do so today!

   
     

Westchester Putnam Right to Life PAC
Gala Dinner
    Journal Subscription

 
To further our mission to protect the Right to Life of all human beings, born and unborn, and to promote civic, political, and social reforms necessary to insure this right, we will hold a Gala Dinner on Friday, October 15, 2010 at 7 p.m. at Antun's Restaurant in Westchester.
 
County Executive Rob Astorino will be our distinguished guest speaker.  Our two Honorees are Elizabeth Costanzo, Executive Director of the Westchester Right to Life Party, and Christopher Slattery, Founder and President of Expectant Mother Care: EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers.
 
Proceeds from our First Annual Journal will greatly assist us in our work; we rely entirely on the generosity of friends like you. An advertisement, a message of support, memorials, business cards, or personal names as a show of support as a "booster" can be included. Our Journal size is 8-1/2" x 11".
 
BE A PART OF THIS VITAL WORK! Just provide your camera-ready ads, artwork, or business cards for the following:
 
  Full middle pages.....$1000.00
  Inside back cover.........500.00
 Full page......................200.00
  Half page......................100.00
  Quarter page..................50.00
  Business cards...............25.00
       Boosters.........................10.00
 
Please circle your requested ad page size, fill out the form below and enclose your materials. As a courtesy, we can do setup, if necessary.  Please make checks payable to Westchester Putnam Right to Life PAC. Mail to:
      
         WPRTLPAC
              P.O. Box 157
         Katonah, N.Y. 10536
 
Deadline for advertisements is Wednesday, September 1, but don't hesitate - ACT NOW to help make this Journal a big success! If you have any questions, please call Joy Dechiario at 914-803-0057.

Thank you for being part of our pro-life community. 

       Name: ________________________________
        Address:  ______________________________
       _______________________________
       _______________________________
    Telephone:_____________________________
    E-mail: ________________________________
        Ad Size/Type:___________________________
    Amount Enclosed $__________
 

Federal Judge blocks federal (taxpayer) funding of embryonic stem cell research

Says the executive order Obama issued allowing such funding contravened a federal law prohibiting taxpayer funding of the destruction of human embryos.

UPDATE:Judge Blocks US Funding Of Embryonic Stem-Cell Research

U.S. Chief District Court Judge Royce Lamberth in Washington ruled that government funding for embryonic stem-cell research was barred by a law that prohibits the use of federal money for research in which an embryo is destroyed.

Lamberth said Congress clearly intended to bar federal funding of research involving embryo destruction, and added, "This Court is bound to apply the law as it is written."

The judge rejected the Obama administration's argument that embryonic stem-cell research itself did not result in the destruction of embryos.

Or, go here, to lifenews.com -  

Judge Forces Obama Admin to Stop Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Life Options of Yonkers Grand Opening, Monday August 30th - you're invited!

Great News!  Life Options Center opened its doors this week and today we saw our first client!  All glory to God!  During this beginning period mentors continue to be trained, thousands of advertising flyers distributed and kinks in the "system" are being straightened out.
 
We invite you to Life Options grand opening ceremony.  Here are the details:
 
When:  Monday, August 30
Time:  10 a.m.
Where:  Kingdom Baptist Church, 68 Palisades Ave. (corner of Palisades Ave.
and Elm St.).
Lite refreshments will be served after the brief ceremony.  Yonkers Mayor
Philip A. Amicone will be one of the speakers and local media will be invited.
 
Please come share our joy in what the Lord is accomplishing in our midst!
 
Tony Felicissimo

90 Years of Women's Voting Rights celebrated at 2010 Women's Equality Day Reformed!

Thanks to all who helped make this year's 9th annual Westchester Women's Equality Day Reformed ceremony such a success! Held once again at the County Board of Legislators' Michaelian Building in White Plains, the day's events, its speakers and honored guests were preceded by a pre-ceremony invitation to visit the 9th floor offices of County Executive Rob Astorino, an original sponsor of the reformed event.

 

The County Executive presented Honoree Dr. Catherine T. Hickey of Yonkers with a County Proclamation honoring her remarkable career and multi-award winning leadership in the field of education.

Dr. Hickey is so proud of her six daughters and seventeen grandchildren. In attendance were two daughters, Clare Hickey and Joanne McMahon - granddaughter Delia Wirchansky holds Proclamation.

If you could not participate in person, here is a partial transcript.

(Co-chairperson Judith Anderson:)

Our Westchester Women’s Equality Day Reformed Committee welcomes you and thanks you for taking time to be with us to celebrate this amazing 90th anniversary of woman’s suffrage. It was on August 26, 1920 that the faith, foresight and fortitude of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lurectia Mott and others were rewarded with full citizenship and participation through the granting of voting rights to women with the Ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution! Each ceremony for the last eight years has been uniquely gratifying for this Committee, and we hope for you as well. This, our 9^th year, is no exception. Our theme is “Calling Youth to Excellence in Education and Life”. Our honoree epitomizes that vision – longtime educator

and champion for youth, Dr. Catherine Hickey. Our wonderful keynote speaker is pediatrician Antoinette Cosentino, M.D. Her views and forthright approach to the day’s topic will give us all much to think and pray about during these challenging times.

We would first like to introduce those whose annual sponsorship allows us this space under equal access and free speech.   This year we are thrilled to have three sponsors who will say a few words to us  – our first is the Hon. Gordon A. Burrows of the County Board’s District 15. We also welcome the Hon. John G. Testa, District 1, and our most recently elected member of the County Board of Legislators, the Hon. Sheila Marcotte of District 10. Thank you, all.

John Testa, Gordon Burrows, Sheila Marcotte

This time last year our earliest WEDR sponsor at the Board, Rob Astorino, was a candidate for Westchester County Executive.  We congratulate Rob on his election victory, and we ask you all to keep him in our prayers during these difficult County budget cuts. We also thank him for meeting with us to wish us well prior to today's ceremony where he presented Dr. Hickey with a County Proclamation. Thank you, again, Rob.

Another important point. Regina Riely usually holds down the feminists-for-life fort with us on this day. She is in Wisconsin, but sends her regards to all. We miss her especially since it was through her work and subsequent successful lawsuit that we have been able to present these programs every year since at these, our citizens’ County offices.

With us today as co-MC is a familiar face, author Susan Konig. Susan, busy Mom of 4 children, author and columnist, was our memorable keynote speaker five years ago at Women’s Equality Day Reformed. Last year she ran for a County Board seat for District 9, losing to her opponent by only 12 votes! Thank you, Susan, and thanks to you all for joining us today – you are vital to the cause for life.

Now we will officially begin with our Invocation by Sister Mary McCaffrey of the John F. Kennedy High School in Somers.  

 

Susan Konig will  now lead us in the Pledge and National Anthem. Please stand.

 

(Co-chairperson Susan Konig continues:)

Most of you know that in 2006 Carol Crossed, President of the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum and one of our first keynote speakers, purchased the original Anthony house in Adams, Massachusetts. The Museum that includes a pro-life exhibit and is now open. There are fliers in the front of the room, or you can find the museum online at www.susanbanthonybirthplace.org  Carol, a previous WEDR speaker, has agreed to be our guest speaker next year – our 10^th anniversary! There is also the possibility of an online article on the 90th anniversary that I am working on for National Review with Carol.

(Judy continues)

The previous recipients of our Mott-Stanton-Anthony award are listed in your

program this year, along with a commemorative bookmark for you! A special welcome

to Theresa Bonopartis and Mrs. Dorothea Muccigrosso who join us today in person.

Mildred Fay Jefferson, M.D. - surgeon, political activist & educator;

Lisa Marrero, M.D. - physician, Elinor Martin Residence counselor;

Dorothea Muccigrosso - educator, multi-cultural motivator;

The Domincan Sisters of Hawthorne at Rosary Hill Home – palliative end-of-life

caregivers to all in need;

Christine Mortell-Plazas – courageous prolife witness and women’s interracial business collaborator;

Gabrielle Long Wright  - midwife and Natural Family Planning instructor;

Rev. Geneva Patterson – pastor, worker and friend in service to incarcerated women

and the community;

Theresa Bonopartis – professional woman and advocate for post-abortive women

and men;

 

Today’s honoree, of course, is inspirational educator and mentor to youth,

Dr. Catherine Hickey

It was during the American Revolution that the notion of “republican motherhood”

came to the fore, that is, the essential role of mothers in instilling in their children

values conducive to a healthy Republic. As the saying goes, “Everything old is

new again,” for this sense of values necessary for a “healthy” society is challenging

us as a Republic today in ways we could not have imagined.

Fast-forward history. Most of you know that Mott, Stanton and Anthony were

involved with the abolitionist and temperance movements of their day. It was that

activism that led them into the fight for a woman’s right to vote that had begun earlier

in England. These early feminists in America courageously challenged the laws that

excluded them. The words of many of the suffragettes sought to elevate women, and

protect the vulnerable child in the womb. Despite what you hear – or rather don’t

hear - pro-life feminism is a most authentic part of our American history!

90 years and 37 years after Roe, we are asking women and men to see their roles

in society reflected in the lives of children as their primary protectors, and hopefully

inspirational role models. Women saw the problem of exclusion so clearly when

their voices were stifled as half-citizens. Today women have the vote, but the

problem now is excluding the unborn as not fully human.  Will women and men share life-affirming values? Will the next generation find grounding in a morality that

elevates human dignity that is ours from the Creator God in our Constitution?

As the first guardians of life women have always possessed a power and

responsibility that goes beyond self. It is a daunting challenge, without doubt,

but one that our feminist fore-mothers saw not as an impediment to personal

fulfillment, but as the ultimate expression of it. So should we all.

(Susan introduces keynote speaker, Antoinette Cosentino, M.D.)

Our guest speaker is a pediatrician graduated from Mt. Sinai School of

Medicine in 1992; she was in private practice in Teaneck, NJ before going into

private practice in Croton in 2002-2009. She is currently at home with her three

children Katherine 10, Anna 5, and Peter 15 months, and her husband Michael

Schwenck, who is a lawyer. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics and a Fellow of the

American Academy of Pediatrics, and we are privileged to have Dr. Antoinette

Cosentino address us today on "Calling Youth to Excellence in Education and Life". 

 

Antoinette gave a wonderful  talk with Q&A. Watch for video postings on LifeNet.

Watch for additional video postings, including the presentation by Mrs. Dorothea Muccigrosso to Dr. Hickey and her remarks, along with the day's commentary by Susan and Judy.

Our artist in residence, Brigid Faranda reads and presents the 2010 Mott-Stanton-Anthony award to Dr. Hickey; Judy presented roses on behalf of the HVCL.

Brigid, Susan Konig, Dr. Hickey, Judy

(Judy's closing remarks)

Today we are challenged as never before in our roles in society. Our very identity

as women and men is being questioned in an attempt to offer a gender-neutral

approach to parenting. This is not the equality that our feminist foremothers

envisioned. The expanding number of single-parent families has drawn women into

greater poverty and circumstances of violence. Men and women, both, have become

sandwiched in between the escalating violence to women and the child through

abortion on one end, and male-identity problems on the other side that include

violent acts by men against women who choose to give birth to their child, as well as increasing gang-related violence by young males seeking acceptance, while in need

of strong male role models in their lives.

Ten years from now, at our 100th anniversary of woman's suffrage, will women and men be looking at abortion as legal or as a shared blunder in society?

(Sending by Susan)

Thank you, Dr. Hickey and Dr. Cosentino.

As has been said, I have attended Women’s Equality Day Reformed as a guest

speaker, as a journalist and as a pro-lifer. The thought that women would not be

heard in the home or in the public square 90 years ago is hard for us to fathom.

The thought that pro-life women, mothers, families will not be heard now is even

more unfathomable.

Women who get up and speak out, like Dr. Cosentino and Dr. Hickey, are central

to our way of life.  They will not be bystanders when children are in danger. It’s

easier to hope that someone else will say something or do something. These women

take the tougher road. But it is a road that we all must walk in our own way. So I

urge you to give witness and support in the public square. Reflect on what it means

to be a woman, and share yourselves with others with a feminine dignity that is your

unique gift of self to the world, and thank you for continuing this remarkable American tradition of pro-life feminism, Women’s Equality Day Reformed.

Thank you all for all you do for life and to promote life-affirming choices for women.

Thank you for being part of this day honoring Westchester women.

Additional pictures of some of the day's 40 participants.

Dr. Hickey is flanked by her daughter Clare and granddaughter Delia

Dr. Hickey and Sr. Mary McCaffrey, who gave the invocation

Donna Grau-Dixon and Susan Konig

Joy Dechario and Richard Brand flank Judy Anderson

 

Yvonne Rivera, Ronnie McNally, Pat Vasta from Holy Name of Mary, Croton-on-Hudson

Ed Riely with Judge Matthew J. Byrne, running for New York State Supreme Court

Dorothea Muccigrosso with Marie Brand

Good fellowship & networking throughout the day! Thanks for your support!

 

  

12 Noon, Friday, August 13 "Calling Youth to Excellence in Education and Life" 2010 Theme for Women's Equality Day Reformed celebrating the 90th Anniversary of women's suffrage!

The Women's Equality Day Reformed Committee invites you to join them this year on Friday, August 13 at 12 Noon, sharp, at the Westchester County Board of Legislators offices at 148 Martine Avenue at Court Street, White Plains, 8th floor large conference room, to celebrate a monumental occasion. It was 90 years ago on August 26, 1920 that the 19th Amendment to our Constitution was ratified and women began to fully participate as citizens with voting privileges.

The Mott-Stanton-Anthony Award will be presented to Yonkers' own Catherine T. Hickey, Ph.D., life-long educator and recently-retired Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York. Dr. Hickey is also the mother of six daughters, and so an even more perfect choice on this day honoring women!

Two thousand ten marks the 37th year that women in Westchester have been recognized for personal and professional contributions to the County. It is also the 9th year that a new group of women are being honored. These are the Westchester women who for 27 years were ineligible for consideration for Westchester "Woman of the Year" simply because they voted their conscience on the abortion issue. Annual protests by many women at the biased County ceremony, and the eventual $10,000 court judgment to Regina Riely on the grounds of "free speech and equal access", opened the doors of our taxpayer's County office building for this ongoing annual ceremony to rectify this injustice.

WEDR has three sponsors this year: long-time sponsor, the Hon. Gordon A. Burrows; Hon. John G. Testa; and the newly-elected Hon. Sheila Marcotte. Former Legislator County Executive Rob Astorino was our earlierst sponsor. We enjoy the opportunity to work with these County Legislators as we continue to honor Westchester's women, and present topics and speakers of vital interest to all, whatever voting persuasion.

Our keynote speaker is pediatrician Antoinette Cosentino, M.D. who will focus on the day's theme that calls youth to excellence in "education and life", as we gather to honor our feminist foremothers in their own words. Almost a century ago Alice Paul called abortion "the ultimate exploitation of women". Today Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List is quoted, "The modern feminist mantra calling for a taxpayer-funded abortion in every home flies in the face of Susan B. Anthony's legacy of equal rights for all, born and unborn."

Celebrate with us and remember to bring ID for the building security check. Seek long-term (3 hour) parking across the street to avoid having to leave the 1-hour ceremony.

Patricia Neal, actress and pro-life advocate, RIP

A woman who had much tragedy in her life, and who deeply regretted her abortion.

Monsignor Lisante said this of Patricia Neal who was receiving a pro-life award in 2003:

I met Patricia Neal over 20 years ago, and we have become good friends ever since. One time when she was on my television show, I said to her, "Pat, in so many ways you are a female Job." She had, as you know, several strokes which put her in a coma for a month. She had a daughter who died of the measles at the age of seven. She had a son who was hit when he was an infant by a car in New York City, and he remains alive but brain-damaged and will be forever. Another daughter who suffered from drug and alcohol addiction; a husband who was great to her once she had the strokes, but he ultimately left her for a younger woman.

And I said, "In your life, Pat, if there was one thing you could change, what would it be?" And Patricia Neal said, "Father, none of the things you just mentioned." But she said, "Forty years ago I became involved with the actor Gary Cooper, and by him I became pregnant. As he was a married man and I was young in Hollywood and not wanting to ruin my career, we chose to have the baby aborted." She said, "Father, alone in the night for over 40 years, I have cried for my child. And if there is one thing I wish I had the courage to do over in my life, I wish I had the courage to have that baby."

Patricia Neal has put herself on the line in saying to many, many women who have experienced abortion or thought about abortion, "Don't make my mistake. Let your baby live." What's particularly painful, but poignant in this story is that some years later, Patricia became good friends with Maria Cooper, the only child of Gary Cooper and his wife. And Maria Cooper said, "You know, I know you had the affair with my father and I have long ago forgiven that. But one thing I find it hard to accept is that as an only child, I so wish that you'd had my brother or my sister. Because in so many ways, I wish so much that you had chosen life."

First Theology of the Body Congress: a massive success

Held in Philadelphia, July 28-30.

Philadelphia Cardinal calls the Theology of the Body ‘the curriculum for the Culture of Life’

Cardinal Justin Rigali delivered a powerful call to action to attendees of the first National Theology of the Body Congress. He urged, “This Congress must not end. The contribution of the speakers and participants, the fruits of the seminars, discussions, and artistic performances must advance still further. This Congress must become a campaign of human and catechetical formation.”
He called for the mining and proclamation of the rich content presented at the Congress “so that the next generation can continue to access and comprehend it.”
The National Theology of the Body Congress organized and hosted by the Theology of the Body Institute drew attendees from 10 countries and 39 U.S. states. They represented 111 dioceses. Two bishops, more than 50 priests, six deacons and dozens of other religious were among the more-than 450 attendees. Because the Congress sold out very quickly the Theology of the Body Institute offered live streaming during the Congress that attracted online attendees from 17 U.S. states, and 10 countries on five continents.
Cardinal Rigali, who also serves as the Episcopal Chairman of the Theology of the Body Institute, remarked on the great work of this inaugural event, which he noted as occurring exactly three decades after John Paul II introduced the theology of the body. “Today, this First National Congress on the Theology of the Body shows us that the catechesis given thirty years ago is now the curriculum of the Culture of Life,” Cardinal Rigali said in his homily during the Mass this morning. The Cardinal went on further to say that the “teaching of John Paul II on the theology of the body must be further introduced into Pre-Cana programs, RCIA instruction, Natural Family Planning training, parish adult education programs, campus ministry programs, youth groups, homilies, and religious education among children and adolescents.”
The Congress included keynote addresses, workshops and panel discussions featuring some of the most popular theology of the body lecturers and catechists in the world.