LifeLines is the newsletter of the Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc., Education Fund.  Older, complete issues in print are available in the Rochester, NY, office. These articles have been selected from the issue in print.  An index for this issue and previous issues  for the last couple of years is available.

Information and news you can use to protect and defend lives threatened by abortion and euthanasia

Volume 30            Issue 4             January 2002

Cloning for reproduction is opposed by "roughly 9 in 10 Americans." 12/6/01 Gallup poll. A 2/01 Time/CNN poll reported 1/10 felt cloning justifiable: "to allow parents to have twin children at a later date; to allow parents who lost a child to create a clone of the lost child; to allow gay couples to have children using their own genes." "Americans are least supportive of cloning if it were to be done to create genetically superior human beings."

The Gallup poll also showed "Americans favoring human cloning that involves killing unborn children to obtain embryonic stem cells – just as long as it does not create new human beings." The Gallup poll report cited a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showing 54% of Americans support "cloning that is not designed to specifically result in the birth of a human being, but is designed to aid medical research that might find treatment for diseases." 41% opposed cloning.

Apparently many American have bought into the "hope" of cures while ignoring the costs some could have.

Alternatives for Embryo Destruction

"Therapeutic cloning" remains complex. What diseases/injuries can be treated with stem cells? What are the sources of stem cells most effective is treating diseases/injuries? The research has just begun.

There is growing proof that adult stem cells, including cells from umbilical cords destroyed after births, are successfully used in treatments. Stem cells from these sources do not require the death of one human being for the treatment of another. According to the research of Paul Sanberg, Ph.D., D.Sc., Director of the USF Center for Aging and Brain Repair, "Umbilical cords discarded after birth may offer a vast new source of repair material for fixing brains damaged by strokes and other ills, free of the ethical concerns surrounding the use of fetal tissue…" Sanberg said, "4 million babies are born in the U.S. annually and 99% of their umbilical cord blood is tossed away." Saving the 4-6 ounces of umbilical cord blood must be done quickly after birth. Many parents are doing it now for possible future use. Associated Press, 2/20/01

Diagnosed with sickle cell, a painful, genetic blood disease, at 6 months of age, Keone Penn was first treated with transfusions that gradually became ineffective. He was later treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood. Now, several years after stem cell injections, his body has no trace of sickle cells. CBS News, 11/28/01

Cord blood transfusions using stem cells from placentas and umbilical cords are being successfully used in Japan to treat leukemia. Stem cell treatment is being regarded as preferable to traditional bone marrow transplants for leukemia. Japan Economic Newswire, 11/5/01

The placenta connects the unborn child’s umbilical cord to the mother’s uterine wall for transfer of nutrition. The Anthrogenesis Corp., Hanover, New Jersey, announced its ability to "remove all the blood from placentas… keep it on life support…for up to a few days. They then can extract stem cells from the tissue in quantities roughly 10 times what could be taken from an umbilical cord…"

Anthrogenesis claims to have coaxed "these stem cells to multiply and develop into nerve, blood, skin and muscle cells." Bone and cartilage are now being tried and a treatment for Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) is a definite goal. Associated Press, 4/12/01

Stem cells taken from umbilical cords are one of many "adult" stem cells. They are showing as being more effective than embryonic stem cells in repairing stroke damage to brain cells. A report of a study at the Institute of Psychiatry in London said "that transplanted adult stem cells made their way to whichever area of the damaged brain needed repair." Adult stem cell movement to the damaged brain area is different than fetal stem cell behavior, i.e. remain in one place when transplanted. Cybercast News Service, 4/9/01

Another alternative to ESC may be stem cells taken from fat. University of California and University of Pittsburgh scientists obtained ordinary fat from liposuctions. The stem cells were isolated and "coaxed into maturing into specific types of tissue." There are risks in using stem cells from a person’s own body. Thus a person’s own fat supplying fat for stem cell extraction and personal use for disease treatments or injury repair will not happen immediately. At least 5 more years of research is foreseen. Associated Pres CMA, 4/10/-01

Clearly there are alternatives to embryonic stem cells usage in treating illnesses and diseases. In fact ESC are not showing as being as effective as stem cells from other sources, i.e. "adults"

Creation of embryos for use in experimentation or for sacrificial use for treatment of another human being is contrary to ethics as defined by most religions and people.

VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR PRO-LIFE PEOPLE

Wednesday, February 20

Afternoon & Evening Presentations

• Update on abortion issue across the U.S.
• Pro-life and pro-abortion trends
• Focus on what pro-life people can do for local, state and national impact

Covenant Presbyterian Church; 3201 Dewey Avenue;
North of Stone Road on west side of Dewey; Plenty of parking in the back.

1:00 - 1:30 PM What rows your pro-life boat? Analysis of pro-life motivations and responses

(personal goals) so you can see how you will work best.

1:30 - 2:30 PM What’s happening on the national scene that affects what we will want to plan? What are the hot topics? What are the trends?

2:30 - 4:30 PM Topics based on participant needs, potentially including:

• Violence, whether by pro-abortion people or those who call themselves pro-life: how can we help unmask it and rein it in?
• The diversity of pro-life groups in the pro-life movement
• The gathering force directed against pro-life legislators
• Other?

7:30 - 9:00 PM "Success Stories"

We always hear about pro-life setbacks and failures. Come tonight and hear the GOOD NEWS! Ernie says this presentation changes every time he gives it.

Registrations, mailed to RARTL; Suite 3; 675 Ling Road; Rochester, NY 14612, requested by Friday, 2/15;  They are appreciated so we can have sufficient snacks, seats and program material for everyone.

Name ______________________________________________ Phone number __________

Address _______________________________________________________________________

I (and _____ additional people) will attend. Please list names of additional people on back of this form.

( ) the afternoon session ( ) the evening session ( ) the afternoon and evening sessions,

Registrations called in to Pat at 716-621-4690 by Friday, 2/15, also acceptable.

Click here to get to a printable version of this form if you’d like to send it snail-mail.

Fetal tissue transplant failure

First published in March 2001, in the New England Journal of Medicine, was the report that fetal cells from aborted, unborn children failed in successfully treating patients with Parkinson’s. The cells, implanted in the diseased patients’ brains, showed no benefits and had some disastrous side effects.

Also, "in about 15% of the patients, the cells apparently grew too well, churning out so much of a chemical that controls movement that the patients writhed and jerked uncontrollably." Researcher, Dr. Paul Greene said the patients’ movements were "absolutely devastating. They chew constantly, their fingers go up and down, and distend." Greene said. Moreover, he added, "The patients writhe and twist, jerk their heads, fling their arms about." Times, 3/6/01

Most adults contract neurological diseases at or after age 60. Misplacement of the grafts, i.e. insertion in incorrect locations, is being investigated as the cause of the failure of this procedure to effectively treat patients older than 60.

Long Island physician Dr. David Eidelberg was interviewed for a New Scientist, 11/13/01 article. He focused on fetal cell placement triggering excessive dopamine production that caused behavioral problems. He did not address the bottom line: the NIH sponsored fetal transplants did not work.

Paul Ranalli, M.D., wrote that there was no difference in the patient reports about "improvement" whether they did or did not receive fetal cells in holes drilled into the skull. He wrote the following in the National Right to Life News, 12/01:

"It may well be that the entire concept of fetal tissue brain transplantation is simply bad science.… The lasting ‘legacy’ of proponents of fetal tissue transplants may be as purveyors of not only dubious ethical research, but also false hope."

Associated Press, MSNBC, 3/7/01, said some people under 60 seemed to have been helped by the transplant. "The benefits were limited" with disagreement about their significance. Also, 15% of transplant recipients who improved during the first year after surgery subsequently developed disabling muscle movements…"

Drs. Gerald Fischbach and Guy McKhann: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, told the AP there are ethical and practical concerns about therapeutic use of fetal cells. "…unlikely, for both practical and biological reasons, that transplantation of fragments of embryonic tissue will be the therapy of the future."

U.S. Senate to act in 2002 on human cloning

Pro-abortion Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) leads the Senate in seeking federal funds for embryonic stem cell research requiring killing human embryos. The Senate Appropriations subcommittee funds health programs. Senator Tom Daschle (D-IA) chairs the subcommittee; Specter is on it as ranking Republican. In October Specter and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) won approval of a new provision to weaken the Dickey Amendment.

The Dickey Amendment is a rider to the annual Health and Human Services (HHS) appropriations bill, originally enacted in 1996. It prohibits federal funding of "research in which" human embryos are harmed.

Responding to the Specter-Harkin move, on 10-30 the White House issued a written threat that "the President’s senior advisors would recommend he veto the bill" i.e. veto the entire HHS appropriations bill, unless the language weakening the Dickey Amendment was dropped.

Earlier in the week, pro-life Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) said he would offer several embryo-related amendments, including one to ban all human cloning. Specter responded by threatening to offer "second-degree amendments to nullify the Brownback amendments."

Negotiations led to an 11/1/01 deal in which:

1. The Specter provision to authorize federal funding of embryo-killing stem cell research was dropped from the HHS bill;
2. Brownback dropped his amendments to the HHS bill;
3. The Senate will vote on both Brownback legislation on human cloning and Specter legislation on embryonic killing "stem cell research" in February or March 2002.

The deal is positive in two ways. 1) The White House and Senator Brownback’s strong responses forced Specter and Harkin to temporarily cease attempts to authorize federal funding of embryo-killing stem cell research. 2) Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) assured Senator Brownback the Senate will be allowed to vote on legislation to ban human cloning without the burden of putting it in the HHS appropriations bill.

The House of Representatives, July 31^st, passed the Weldon-Stupak bill (H.R. 2505) banning human cloning. Pro-abortion as both our New York Senators, Schumer and Clinton are, we, their constituents, have the obligation, to tell them what type of representation we want in their forthcoming votes.

Both must be told to oppose any bill providing federal funding of stem cell research requiring killing human embryos. NRLC@nrlc.org; 11-20-01

*Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton; Senate Dirksen Bldg; B-40 Suite 6; Washington, DC 20510
*Senator Charles Schumer; 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg; Washington, DC 20510

1/1,000 babies are born with a "neural tube defect," the best known being spina bifida. It occurs when the cell-folding process used to form the baby’s brain and spinal column is completed improperly. The cause of this is unknown. Gene mutations and factors impacting on the child’s in utero environment are suspected.

A joint team from Imperial College and the Institute of Child Health in London reported progress in identifiying genes causing spina bifida. If this is reliable, there are significant implications. First, screenings would likely be done to identify healthy embryos and develop treatments for women at risk of having a child with spina bifida.

This research, first done with mice, is now testing patients with various neural tube defects to find telltale genetic mutations. This research does not help persons already born with spina bifida. The research goals are improved genetic counseling for women who think they may be carrying the gene. Longer range is the goal of prevention of neural tube defects by developing parental treatments.

Now women at risk of having a child born with neural tube defects are given a recommendation to take folic acid as a supplement in the months surrounding conception. The above research, broadcast on BBC News on 10-20-01 reflects research published in Molecular Genetics.

One in a thousand babies is born with Down’s syndrome. Its cause is known to be an extra chromosome in the baby’s cells. Older women are more likely to have a baby with Down’s syndrome although age alone is not an accurate predictor. Prenatal diagnosis is done by identification of three copies of chromosome 21, known as trisomy 21. 75% accurate detection of the disorder is based on mother’s age, blood tests and nuchal translucency, i.e. measurements of fluid build up at the back of the neck.

Recently, checking for the presence of a bone in the nose is seen as more accurately testing unborn babies for Down’s syndrome. The nose test, combined with maternal age and nuchal translucency results, improves the diagnostic accuracy by 10 points to 85%. It also reduces the false-positive rate from 5% to 1%.

Amniocentesis has been the favored diagnostic test to identify Down’s syndrome when suspicions exist. It is done by extracting amniotic fluid for testing by inserting a needle into the woman’s abdomen that creates a 1 – 3% risk of miscarriage.

Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc. Education Fund
United Way ID Number is 1087

AMA votes to withhold information from women

In early December the American Medical Association voted against a proposal to inform women that birth control pills may cause abortion of a fertilized egg. "If [pro-life women] are using a method that can operate after … as well as before fertilization, and they don't know it, they are basically being deceived by lack of information into violating their own consciences," according to Walter Weber, senior litigation counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice.

Heather Cirmo, Family Research Center, 12/07/01 wrote more detail. "The prescribing information for Ortho Tri-Cyclen, an…oral contraceptive, enumerated 3 pathways by which the pill works: suppressing ovulation, preventing fertilization and precluding the implantation of an already fertilized egg. The third one constitutes an abortion. The third activity is conspicuously excluded from package or other information made available to patients."

Weber criticized the AMA for voting against the proposal. He opined that some AMA members opposed the measure because of their pro-abortion positions with others skeptical or uninformed. "The strongest argument against [the proposal] is to say that the evidence is unclear to what extent, if at all, certain methods of birth control can operate as abortifacients, a substance or device used to induce abortion," Weber said. "That's legitimate medical research, scientific debate," he continued. "The question comes down to whether we want to let women know about it, so they can decide whether it's important or not."

Weber recalled the AMA’s policy of supporting informed consent and giving patients information about drug and medical procedure risks. "For them to reject this is really for them to say that we're going to make an exception for abortifacients, we think patients have the right to know about procedures… but not when it comes to abortions, at least in the early stages of pregnancy,'" .

It is believed in medical circles that common birth control devices/pills, e.g. estrogen/ progestin birth control pills, Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), Depo-Provera – Norplant can cause abortion of fertilized eggs. Many believe these methods may not only work by preventing contraception but, sometimes, by preventing the implantation of an egg that's been fertilized, effectively killing it.

Dr. John C. Nelson, AMA Executive Committee member, said the proposal was defeated because American Society of Reproductive Medicine people testified that there is insufficient scientific evidence to suggest, "that birth control substances can induce abortions." Christine Hall CNSNews.com Staff Writer December 07, 2001

The Netherlands: 1st to legalize mercy killing

On 1/1/02 doctors can legally give a terminally ill person a lethal injection. There are "strict" conditions including committees judging patients’ requests for the injection. A second medical opinion is required and the patient’s suffering is judged "unbearable."

Coming soon in the Netherlands is a decision about a suicide pill being prescribed for the use of elderly people when they "feel the time is right." BBC News; 1/1/02

Assisted suicide approved by Belgian Senate

By a vote of 44 – 23, with 2 abstentions, the Belgian Senate approved a bill allowing terminally ill patients to seek a doctor's help in ending their lives. The October 25^th vote showed Liberals, Socialists and Greens, the Senate majority, supporting the bill. Primary opposition came from Christian Democrats and right-wing political parties.

Socialist Senator Philippe Mahoux was quoted by the as saying: "For patients there is a possibility at last for them not to lose dignity before death.'' Opposition to the bill was continuous during the 18 months of its discussion at the Senate committee level. When it reached the full Belgian Senate, debate continued there for 3 days. Associated Press 10/25/01

The bill next goes to the Belgian House of Representatives that is expected to offer no significant opposition. If passed in that house, assisted suicide would then be legal in Belgium. It had already been made legal in the Netherlands as well as the state of Oregon in the United States.

Assisted suicide is being marketed across the world as providing a "dignified death." It is building on the already heavily used, pro-death strategy of emphasizing "choice."

The South Korea’s medical doctors’ group issued new ethical guidelines allowing "doctors to end terminal patients’ lives under certain circumstances," e.g. to "hasten" the death of a patient with an "incurable condition." Euthanasia and assisted suicide are banned in Korea so these new guidelines provoked strong reactions, e.g. "It amounts to murder." Korean doctors were advised to accept requests to suspend treatment from families of patients with no chances of being revived. Lee Yoon-sung, KMA Executive Director claimed that this is not the same as euthanasia.

This is the first KMA manual for its members. "We anticipate the guidelines could invite debate again, as they include such sensitive issues as euthanasia and abortion…"a KMA spokesman said. Korean Herald, 11/15/01

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Announcements & updates

Monroe County Election results The Rochester Area Right to Life Committee’s Political Action Committee (PAC) endorsed candidates in 16/29 races. We are pleased to report victories for 14/16 of our endorsed candidates: Peter McCann, Tracy Logel, Mark Assini, Mark Cassetti, Frederick Amato, Douglas Dobson, Sean Hanna, George Wiedemer, Pieter Smeenk, Karla Boyce, Raymond Santirocco, A. Michael Hanna, William Reilich, Dennis Pelletier. Congratulations to our endorsed candidates and to pro-life voters who recognized the importance of electing pro-life representatives to the Monroe County Legislature. We apologize for an endorsement sheet error, i.e. Mark Cassetti’s name was spelled with only one "s" and his Conservative Party candidacy was mistakenly omitted.

National Right to Life Moved Proposed doubling of rent made relocation of the NRLC’s Washington offices a "no brainer." NRLC Educational Trust’s purchase of a building near the previous space was costly, but yielded immediate savings. The legislation and lobbying activities now rent their space from the NRLC Education Trust instead of paying rent to an indifferent landlord. NRLC’s new address is 512 10th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004. Telephone/fax numbers 1-202-626-8800; fax: 1-202-737-9189 unchanged.

Rochester native receives national award

The Caring Institute identifies, honors, and reinforces the activities of 10 adults, and 5 young adults annually with National Caring Awards. This year the Institute honored Kathy DiFiore of Ramsey, N.J. for twenty years of sheltering unwed mothers and saving babies from abortion. Kathy is a native of Rochester, New York.

In 1981 she opened her home as a shelter for pregnant women seeking an abortion alternative. In 1984 New Jersey fined her $10,000 for running an unlicensed boarding home. Fearing she might have to close her doors, she called Mother Teresa. Later, the fine was dropped.

To date Several Sources Foundation has helped over 15,000 mothers and their babies. They operate a 24 hour 1-800-NO-ABORT hotline for pregnant women and many informative websites, e.g. www.thechoicegame.com. is a game about consequences of promiscuity, drinking, abortion or leading a chaste lifestyle before making such decisions in real life. Several Sources Foundation; November 14, 2001

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:-() "We will not know unless we begin" Howard Zinn

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Suggested Prayers

Please become a prayer partner by spending 5-10 minutes daily in prayer about life issues to provide a 24-hour prayer shield over our area. Please join in the following suggested weekly prayer themes that

January 20: Voices are raised on behalf of the unborn to legislators who can restore their protection under the law;
January 27: We each use all we’ve been given to provide the ill and aged in our families with the love and support they need;
February 3: Time is used to learn and pray about the meaning of human cloning to the human embryos used as stem cell sources;
February 10: Medical professionals remember the words in the Hippocratic Oath: "Do no harm;"
February 17: Pregnant women in difficult circumstances find the support and love they need to carry the child to term;
February 24: Our government uses our tax dollars to support rather than end the lives of unborn children.

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Needed & Wanted:

Someone interested in helping synthesize articles to put on the website. Must be able to put information together and write clearly, correctly and dispassionately. Leave a message for Anne at the office 621-4690.

Very small (dorm-size), new or used, refrigerator for the RARTL office. In winter we use snow/low out-door temperatures for cooling; in summer nothing’s cooled. No complaints about this winter’s temperatures but a donated refrigerator would be most welcome Audiocassette tape machine – new or used Please call Pat, 621-4690, to donate either item.

 

COMMEMORATION OF THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

JANUARY 22, 1973 DECISION MAKING ABORTION LEGAL

When the U.S. Supreme Court first made its decision to legalize abortion, i.e. Roe v Wade, the surprise was enormous. Most pro-life people mistakenly believed it would be quickly changed either by court or federal government action. The U.S. Supreme Court has subsequently ruled on the issue several times in the intervening 29 years. But abortion remains the law of the land. As a result, at least 43,000,000 children have died before birth.

To end this holocaust there are numerous needs: prayer, education, medical and other services for women with challenging pregnancies, advocacy for the unborn and a change in the law. The U.S. Supreme Court actually made the law legalizing abortion and could change it. That is seen as possible, but not in the near future. The other option is that the law could be changed by Congressional action supported by the President. Thus, if Congress passed a law making abortion illegal and the President signed it, the killing would end

We currently have a pro-life President who has already demonstrated his pro-life commitment. In Congress there will be battles. With the effort of Congressional pro-life leaders and input to Congressional members from their constituents, there is reason for more optimism than has been felt in years.

The 29^th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision is January 22, 2001. Pro-life people from across the country meet in Washington on the anniversary to march and visit Congressional offices. Although downplayed by the media, the number of pro-life people participating in the March and related activities has always been very large and noticed, especially by the legislators.

Getting to Washington & the March for Life

Of course you can drive, fly or take a train. A bus ride with other pro-life people is a secure and relaxing option.

A bus is being sponsored by the St. Thomas the Apostle Pro-life Group. It will leave on Monday, January 21^st at 10 PM and arrive at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception early morning. Many busses from across the country will come to this location. A Mass will be celebrated there at 8 AM for anyone wishing to attend. The march and visits to Capitol offices will occur until about 4 PM. when busses will leave Washington; Rochester arrival at approximately midnight. $40 per adult and $20 for youth. Make reservations by calling Mary Jo at 342-3216; reservations will be taken on first come-first served basis. There will be a prayer service prior to departure. Its location and time are not yet confirmed; not all details have been finalized with participants as this is written. For that information/ reservations, call Mary Jo.

Another bus will leave from St. Jude Church, 4100 Lyell Road on Monday, January 21^st. A Prayer Service there will begin at 7:00 PM with departure following. Destination, activities schedule and return match those shown above. Cost is $45 per person. For information or to make reservations call Linda at Evergreen Tours, 544-4694; reservations will be taken on first come-first served basis.

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In Memoriam Mary Lou Armstrong Mother of RARTL President, Anne LeBlanc Florence Beato Richard D. Boutros Lincoln Christoff Marilyn Doyle Harold McMillan Rev. William L. McNamara III Former President/CEO: Crisis Pregnancy Services of Rochester	In Prayer Raymond Buonemani Mary DuBose Sister of RARTL Executive Director: Patricia Amato George Green Nancy (Zicari) Infantino Betsy Larson Mr. & Mrs. Louis Mugavero
In Honor Rev. Paul Wohlrab                   Laurie O’Hara In Celebration Casey Amato Deb & Steve Amato

Want to do a RARTL MEMORIAL/HONOR TRIBUTE? You are most welcome to remember a deceased loved one by making a memorial contribution to the Rochester Area Right to Life Committee Education Fund. Your tax-deductible contribution can also commemorate birthdays, new arrivals, or other special occasions.

A card in your name will be sent to the family/person you designate. The contribution amount is confidential.

Would you like a subscription to this newsletter?

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Life-Lines Official Publication: Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc. Education Fund A non-profit organization 675 Ling Road, Suite 3 -  Rochester, New York 14612 -       (716) 621-4690 Fax: (716) 621-6966 e-mail: alleblanc@compuserve.com       www.righttoliferoch.org Please feel free to copy/distribute and include mention of LIFE-LINES and its sources in copied materials.

RARTL Office Hours 8 AM to 4 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Always good to call before coming:

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