Lifelines is the newsletter of the Rochester Area Right to Life.  Older, complete issues in print are available in the Rochester office. These articles have been selected from the issue in print.

1998 May/June

Assembly Vote on Motion-to-Discharge Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Failed in 73-71 Vote

In 1997, the New York State Senate passed a bill banning partial birth abortions. In 1998, Assemblyman Manning introduced A.8875 to ban partial-birth abortions. The bill was sent to the Assembly Health Committee. It had not been brought up for committee discussion/vote and was expected to be shelved, as most pro-life bills are.

On April 8, 1998, the Assembly was presented with a "motion-to-discharge" the Assembly Health Committee of its responsibility to consider the bill. The Motion to Discharge required 76 votes to succeed. The "motion-to-discharge A. 8875 failed by a mere five votes.

The pro-life side lost, but the closeness of the vote was a victory. In a 1996 Assembly vote on the partial-birth abortion ban, 62 Assembly members voted to keep the procedure legal. In l 1/2 years, support of the ban has come from 9 more Assembly members. Now only five more Assembly members are needed to pass a bill banning partial-birth abortions in New York State.

Check to see how your Assembly member voted on this bill. Then please take the time to call the office or write a short note of your approval or disapproval of the vote.

"It's not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It is an issue of conscience and personal beliefs" Assemblyman Joseph Robach

Federal Partial-birth Abortion Ban Update

A bill to ban partial-birth abortions was passed by the US Senate and House of Representatives. It was then vetoed by President Clinton. A vote to override the veto must pass in both houses.

Presently the Senate vote count shows a need for 3 additional votes to successfully override the veto. Both NY Senators, Alphonse D'Amato and Daniel Moynihan, voted for the ban and support overriding the veto.

Pro-life people are continuing efforts at both the federal and state levels to succeed in halting this abortion practice called "barbaric" by many. Last possible 1998 action is the US Senate vote on overriding the Clinton veto.

20 States Now Ban Partial-birth Abortions

Virginia and West Virginia have passed bills to ban partial-birth abortions. The Govenor's veto has been overridden by the Florida State Legislature; the ban is now legal in Florida. The total number of states banning partial birth abortion has now reached 20. Sadly, in New York state, partial-birth abortions continue to be legal.

March of Dimes Stays on Abortion Path

You may know that all major right-to-life organizations have boycotted the March of Dimes (MOD) for the past 25 years. Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.'s 4/98 publication, newsletter, reported MOD's responses to individuals who had written to ask if the MOD finds fetal research.

MOD responded that it supports research that, "in some instances require analysis of live cells of fetal origin." The Cincinnati newsletter further quoted:

"While some fetal tissue used in research may be available as a result of abortion, there are limitations established by the federal government that safeguard against abuse or incentives for abortion."

RARTL joins RTL of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. in calling the above quote "double-talk."

• Abortion itself is an abuse.

• Women certainly do not need incentives for abortion.

• There are no federal government safeguards that have any impact on this at all.

MOD has directly said they do use "live cells of fetal origin...as a result of abortion."

What a tragedy. The MOD, on one hand, claims to do a great deal of good. But, on the other hand, the MOD continues to support the destruction of pre-born babies.

Connecticut Residents Oppose Assisted Suicide

500 randomly selected Connecticut adults were asked: "Do you support or oppose making physician-assisted suicide legal in Connecticut?"

44% favored such suicide help; 49% were opposed. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points.

The mid-March poll was taken a month before Connecticut resident, Muriel Clement, became the first state resident to die with the help of Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Clement, a 76-year-old retired nurse, had advanced Parkinson's disease. She died in Michigan from intravenous poisoning.

Dr. Bernard Nathanson, obstetrician/gynecologist, ethicist, author and lecturer has predicted a fearsome new world where:

· Headless human beings are created as "farms" for organ transplants,

· Dis-affected human clones band together against naturally born people,

· A genetically enhanced super-race lives forever. Dr. Nathanson was keynote speaker for the Dallas Bishops 5th annual Catholic pro-life dinner in March. He told of current experiments in biotechnology which include:

· Human cells being implanted into the testicles of mice to be used for human in-vitro fertilization,

· Embryos that can be kept alive in artificial "test tube" environments for as long as 19 weeks,

· Creation of headless mice.

Nathanson stated that the "cutting edge of new Biotechnology poses serious problems for those of us who are pro-life... With this technology-this cloning, tinkering with the aging process, we are... redefining human life."

Abortion for Rape?

Should abortion be allowed if a pregnancy is the result of forcible rape?

Should we kill an innocent baby for the crime of his/her father?

We certainly don't punish any criminals by killing their children. Why should it be done in this case? From the Bible: Deuteronomy 24:16:

The fathers shall not be put to death for the children. Neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

The second abortion victim, the mother, often does not want the baby to die. The decision to give birth to the baby is courageous. She needs compassionate and continuing help and encouragement.

On 4/20/98, Joe Scheidler and fellow pro-life plaintiffs were found guilty by a jury which heard the case of National Organization for Women V. Scheidler et al.

NOW and 2 abortion clinics sued Scheidler under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Congress passed RICO as a tool against mobsters. However, the RICO law has been used against participants in legal abortion protests as well as people whose only activity is praying in front of abortion clinics.

The jury found Scheidler, et. al, conspired to close abortion facilities through rescues, pickets and other forms of direct action. $85,926.92 in damages was awarded to two abortion clinics by the jury. Under the RICO law, at the discretion of the judge, the damages can be tripled.

This decision will be appealed. Scheilder, et. al. assert their abortion clinic protest activities have saved lives. They claim the First amendment of the US Constitution gives the right to "free speech" to not only pro-life, but also to all civil rights activists.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of their grievances. First Amendment: US constitution

Pro-abortionists cheered, but warnings were heard. Columnist, Nat Hentoff, an ardent First Amendment defender said: "This is one of the most dangerous decisions that has come down in many years... If there were ever a case of selective use of the law, this is it. Years ago, public protests were done by ERA supporters. Public protest was applauded by many who are now cheering the decision against Scheidler, et al, as a victory for freedom.

G. Robert Blakey, Notre Dame Law School professor, the RICO author, said Scheidler has a good chance on appeal. "'The judge did not carefully instruct the jury and allowed only a one-sided presentation.

Lights for Life

This issue's focus is political action. Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc. has an internal committee: the RARTL Political Action Committee (PAC). It surveys/endorses/works on behalf of pro-life candidates.

The RARTL PAC and the Right to Life Party of New York State are often confused by the public. The RTL Party of New York State is a political party, like the Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Liberal, etc. parties. Parties nominate candidates, provide financial/campaign support and work to help their candidates get elected. A PAC is a committee legally established to screen, endorse and publicize its preferred candidates. PAC endorsed candidates represent the beliefs and positions of the PAC, e.g. a RTL PAC endorsed candidate is pro-life.

A PAC has no line on any ballot. RARTL PAC policy has been to support only pro-life major party, candidates, i.e. Democratic or Republican, as the most viable candidates. In races with no pro-life, major party candidate, RARTL PAC generally endorses no candidate.

Sometimes some pro-life candidates prefer not to seek/accept the RARTL PAC endorsement. In such cases, no political work can then be done for him/her by RARTL PAC. Some races may have two major party, pro-life candidates. In those cases, RARTL PAC endorsement is given to the incumbent with a proven voting record.

PAC has two monetary funds: one for federal and the other for state/local elections. While RARTL PAC funds are independent of the NYS or National RTL Committees, RARTL PAC activities are linked. The larger organizations screen candidates for national and state offices. Local PACs follow up with calls/interviews, as necessary. The RARTL PAC is solely responsible for screening/endorsing/working to elect pro-life Monroe County Legislature candidates. Limited resources prohibit endorsements in other county races or city/town races.

The RARTL PAC is chaired by Susan Heagney. Sue and other PAC volunteers do targeted advertising, mailings and grassroots campaign work for endorsed candidates. Although activity is greatest around election times, throughout the year there is PAC work to be done. Anyone interested in learning more about volunteer PAC opportunities is invited to call Tom at the RARTL office: 716-621-4690 or Sue at 248-5321.

Second Leo Holmsten Human Life Award

The Leo Holmsten Human Life Award Committee, a committee of RARTL Education Fund, with 12 local pro-life organizations will present the award on Tuesday September 15, 1998. The award will be presented to a person who, like Dr. Holmsten

• Has worked over a period of time, to achieve respect for the sanctity of innocent human life, Follows the Judeo-Christian ethic, The 1998 award recipient is well known and highly
• regarded for substantial efforts for both unborn children and their mothers. He is David Hoselton, founder of Crisis Pregnancy Center and Faith Haven, and long-standing witness for the sanctity of innocent, human life.

The award presentation will follow a dinner at the Rochester Marriott Thruway Hotel, Invitations/reservation information will be mailed in mid-July. For now, circle Tuesday September 15 on your calendar.

A Sweet Tale

For more than 10 years, East Rochester people attending St. Jerome Church have been presented with superb displays of baked goods. The purchase prices, as well as donations, have then been given to the Rochester Area Right to Life Committee, Inc. Education Fund.

Kay Dianetti of East Rochester originally had the idea. Kay was

quickly given enthusiastic help and support by Doris Curtin. The two ladies then proposed the idea of the bake sale to St. Jerome Prayer Group members. They and many others supported the plan by their donations for baking supplies, actually baking, and also being excellent customers.

This bake sale has been held annually on the Sunday closest to January 22nd, the date of the US Supreme Court decision to make abortion legal. The donations have been gratefully used to purchase countless education materials.

Many thanks to Kay, Doris, members of St. Jerome Prayer Group and the many others who have made such a major contribution to pro-life work.

MORE GOOD NEWS

Some of the home-baked desserts at the June 3^rd RARTL Annual Meeting will be baked by Kay, Doris and others who have baked for the sale. RARTL Board Members, their families and other volunteers will also be baking. There will be a great variety of grand desserts.