Battle in Congress (SBA)

I know you may still be recovering from the deep disappointment of the passage of pro-abortion healthcare reform. The pro-life Democrats’ decision to accept President Obama’s meaningless Executive Order was heartbreaking and the SBA List has vowed to see true pro-life leaders elected in those districts at the midterm elections. While we have refocused much of our energy on changing the balance this November, we absolutely cannot forget the fight that continues in Congress.

Laws save lives! Only a legislative solution can undo the damage the healthcare bill has created. Congressman Joe Pitts, co-author of the pro-life Stupak-Pitts amendment, has proposed such a solution. Congressman Pitts’ Protect Life Act (H.R. 5111), would prohibit, clearly and concretely, taxpayer funding of abortion in the healthcare bill and address problems with conscience protections. Please contact your Member of Congress and ask them to join Rep. Pitts and co-sponsor the Protect Life Act (H.R. 5111)!

Some may continue to tell you that Rep. Pitts’ Protect Life Act is unnecessary because there is no taxpayer funding of abortion in the healthcare bill. This is simply not true and the Executive Order signed by President Obama does nothing to stop your tax dollars and mine from going to fund abortion. Here’s why:

--The Executive Order does not have the full force of law and will not hold up in court. As stated by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops: “The statutory mandate construed by the courts would override any executive order or regulation.” A law passed by Congress will always trump an Executive Order and as it stands, the healthcare law allows for federal funding of abortion.

--The Executive Order does not change the accounting gimmick in the healthcare bill through which federal subsidies will be used to pay for plans that cover abortion.

--The healthcare care bill directly appropriates nearly $11 billion in taxpayer funds for co-ops and high risk insurance pool programs—which are unregulated by the Executive Order and allow for taxpayer funded abortion.

-The Executive Order does not address the fact that the Department of Health & Human Services could consider abortion a preventative service, therefore mandating that every individual and group health plan be required to cover it.


Only legislation enacted by Congress has the power to save innocent lives, which is why the Protect Life Act is essential. carol, you and I must continue to be vigilant and make our voices heard on Capitol Hill. Please contact your Member of Congress and ask them to support Rep. Pitts and sponsor the Protect Life Act (H.R. 5111)! An entire generation of unborn boys and girls are depending on us.

For Life,



Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
www.sba-list.org

This week in Christ's life… (6)

This week, Jesus is 6 weeks old.  His cerebellum is forming, as is his mouth palate.  His hand and feet plates have formed and his primitive ears are present.  There is pigment in his retina.  His baby teeth are forming under his gums.  Precious heart of Jesus, teach us to love all people, especially the newly developing baby.

This week in Christ's life… (5)

This week, Jesus is 5 weeks old and his mother, Mary, has entered her second lunar month of pregnancy.  His brain has differentiated into the three main parts and the division between the cerebral hemispheres is well defined.  The tube protecting his spinal cord has closed.  His nasal passages are prominent and his permanent set of kidneys have formed.  Precious heart of Jesus, teach us to love all people, especially the newly developing baby.

Mary, Mother of the Preborn

O Father in Heaven. Thou art the Creator of life. Protect all expectant mothers and the babies they carry in their wombs. We pray that those who suffer from the evils of abortion will be open to Thine Infinite mercy and love. We ask for the conversion of all who fail to respect the gift of human life. Heavenly Father, guide our actions to help restore in the hearts of all people the sanctity of human life. Amen. 


Mary, Mother of the Preborn, have mercy of the unborn and grant them your protection.
Mary, Mother of the Preborn, have mercy of the unborn and grant them your protection.
Mary, Mother of the Preborn, have mercy of the unborn and grant them your protection.
Amen.

April Meeting Canceled

There will be NO Respect Life meeting tonight.

Pro-Life Victory!

A pro-life victory!

On Friday afternoon, the pro-life movement scored a major win when Dawn Johnsen, President Obama’s radically pro-abortion nominee for the Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel, withdrew her name from consideration.

Susan B. Anthony List activists have been fighting Johnsen’s nomination for over a year now—and with good reason. Not only has Johnsen called pregnancy “slavery,” this pro-abortion radical served as the legal counsel for National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League and also worked on the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project.


Johnsen once said that women are “the inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery,” and “no more ‘consent’ to pregnancy than pedestrians ‘consent’ to being struck by drunk drivers.”


It was the sustained opposition of  Susan B. Anthony List activists that kept up the intense pressure. Over 26,000 letters expressing outrage over Johnsen’s nomination have been pouring into Senate offices from across the country since we began.  Special thanks to Indiana Right to Life for taking the lead to generate pressure from back home on Indiana Senators.

Johnsen admitted Friday that it was the “strong opposition” that led her to withdraw her nomination. Today, ABC News reported that the reason for Johnsen’s withdrawal was that the White House "didn't have the stomach for the debate."


Thank you so much for your dedication to protecting Life. Without your perseverance, we would never have succeeded in this effort to stop Dawn Johnsen. I hope that this good news sustains you as we gear up for another Supreme Court nomination and the mid-term elections.

For Life,
Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
www.sba-list.org

Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast? (SBA)

Have you heard our exciting news?

Governor Sarah Palin will be the keynote speaker at our Celebration of Life Breakfast coming up in May! We are honored that Governor Palin is taking time out of her busy schedule to benefit the pro-life work of the Susan B. Anthony List.

I am proud of our longstanding relationship with Governor Palin. She is a woman much like Susan B. Anthony herself—a trailblazer who sees the value, necessity and joy inherent in every human life. Since emerging on the national scene, Governor Palin has been a consistent and passionate spokesperson for women and unborn children.

Our Celebration of Life Breakfast is being held at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC on Friday, May 14, 2010 at 9:30 AM. After long fought efforts to keep abortion funding out of healthcare, this event will serve as an opportunity for the SBA List to rebuild our war chest heading into election season.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.sba-list.org/breakfast. Because of the Reagan Building’s policies, all tickets must be bought and paid for in advance. Time is short, so please RSVP now and invite all your friends and family.


I hope to see you there.
Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
www.sba-list.org

Ending on a Low Note (SBA)

A lot has happened today in the world of politics that will surely affect the pro-life community, and I want to give you an update.
Congressman Bart Stupak today announced his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives.   It is unfortunate that, after years of pro-life leadership, Rep. Stupak caved during the final hours of the healthcare debate and voted to fund abortions with taxpayer dollars.  In the days leading up to the healthcare vote our polling in the first district of Michigan showed that seventy-eight percent of his constituents said they opposed taxpayer funding of abortion.  Votes have consequences and he understands now what the polling revealed:  a vote for that bill was a vote against the will of his constituents.  Yet he chose to do it and is suffering the consequences.  Rep. Stupak’s retirement now opens up the opportunity for the pro-life majority in his district to elect someone who will stand firm for Life and uphold the principles the voters elected them to uphold.


In other retirement news, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his departure when the Supreme Court recesses in early summer.  This paves the way for a second Obama appointment to the Supreme Court. Obama’s nominee will surely be an ardent pro-abortion supporter and will continue to uphold Roe v. Wade.  It is necessary to reach out to Members of the Senate and urge them to vote against the confirmation of any nominee with a pro-abortion past.


These two retirements cause us to look to the future and focus on the fact that votes have consequences.  It is essential to elect a solidly pro-life candidate into Bart Stupak’s now open seat.  We also need to let our voices be heard and encourage President Obama to nominate a Justice that will uphold the right to "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," as well as encourage Senators to vote against the confirmation of any nominee whose record shows they will not hold up these principles.


We’ve made sure that Representative Stupak knows that votes have consequences; let’s make sure that the President and Members of the Senate hear this same message loud and clear.

For Life,



Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
www.sba-list.org

This week in Christ's life… (4)

This week, Jesus is 4 weeks old.  His facial features are forming and his jaw has appeared.  His tiny arm and leg buds have formed , as has his aorta.  His liver begins working and eye depressions are visible in his head.  Precious heart of Jesus, teach us to love all people, especially the newly developing baby.

April RLC Meeting

Parish Center Board Room

Tuesday, April 13th @ 7:30pm

RSVP to smgrespectlife (at) gmail (dot) com

Tell Stupak That Votes Have Consequences (SBA)

I hope you and your family had a blessed Easter and are enjoying the beautiful spring weather!

I am feeling rejuvenated in the battle to defend the unborn and I hope that you are as well.

For the past year, you and I joined hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans in working to protect innocent human life in the healthcare bill. Our consciences were betrayed when key pro-life Democrats caved and voted for the largest expansion of abortion on-demand since Roe v. Wade.

Each Democrat that voted for the pro-abortion bill made a career-defining vote in deciding that Americans should finance the largest expansion of abortion on-demand and it is up to us to make sure that this vote has a consequence.

Before the vote, we were prepared to defend and support pro-life Democrats in primary and general elections, including Bart Stupak.  It is with immense disappointment that we must now go back to their districts to tell voters that their vote ushered in the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe.

Thanks to a worthless executive order preceded with untruths by President Obama and his pro-abortion allies, many Americans do not understand that the healthcare bill uses our tax dollars to fund abortion.

We need to get the word out immediately to ensure that each Representative that voted for the pro-abortion healthcare bill understands that Votes Have Consequences -- which they will find out fast when their constituents learn the truth and demand answers.

Rep. Bart Stupak and his allies betrayed the conscience of Americans by putting Party above Principle -- Listen to the Radio Ad we are running in his Congressional district and others.

Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
www.sba-list.org

Happy Easter from SBA

The way of the cross has been unusually tough in these last few weeks, hasn't it? In our efforts to save and restore the lives of children and their mothers, we surely have groaned under the weight of the cross together. But looking back from the vantage point of the victory of Easter, just think of what we have to celebrate. The ranks and visibility and power of our movement have grown so dramatically, we are an army that cannot be ignored. Since last summer, when we started fighting abortion in healthcare, you exercised that power--rooted in love--that increased our contacts to congress by 600 percent! Our SBA List family has tripled in membership.
We have a blessed system of government rooted in liberty that allows us to use our power to correct the injustice of abortion through elections and legislation. We are poised for a springtime of pro-life victories built upon the pain of defeat.

Every single child--loved by God and sent here for a unique job only He can know--needs us. Every single mother facing isolation, confusion, fear or need is relying upon us.


They CAN rely on us. We are stronger, more focused, more effective.


And, most importantly, our strength and strategy is rooted in the most powerful force on heaven and earth--love.


Let the love of this day overtake you and those around you. You yourself are a reason for celebration.

Peace and Blessings,
Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
www.sba-list.org

This week in Christ's life… (3)

This week, Jesus is 3 weeks old.  His primitive brain and spinal cord have formed and the tissue from which all his cells and organs will form is present.  His tiny heart is forming and, at 22 days old, begins to beat.  Precious heart of Jesus, teach us to love all people, especially the newly developing baby.