Since votes in 2002, Sen. Brown has put conscience at the top of his list, according to the today's Globe. You will see, from this video and his open letter, that he continues in the U. S. Senate.
There will be nasty columns in the Globe and the Herald. They are going to be trashing him unmercifully for sticking up for us and our rights! Please get on the blogs under the articles and fight back. He deserves our support! Good blogging, Anne
One of our most fundamental rights as a people is the freedom of religion. It was right here in Plymouth, Massachusetts that pilgrims from Europe established a colony because of religious persecution at home.
Now, it is Harvard Professor Elizabeth Warren who has assumed the mantle of oppressor. She and her allies on the left are dictating to Catholics and other people of faith that they must do as they are told when it comes to health care or face the consequences, regardless of their personal religious beliefs.
That's not the America our Founding Fathers envisioned, and it's just one of the unhealthy side effects of Obamacare, which seeks to impose a one-size-fits-all, government-knows-best health care program on the whole country.
Obamacare is bad law and needs to be repealed. Until that day arrives, it's important we fight to protect the public from some of its worst aspects.
I support a conscience exemption in health care for Catholics and other people of faith. That's why I signed on to Senator Roy Blunt's bill to restore the conscience protections in the law that existed prior to the passage of Obamacare.
Professor Warren is opposed to providing a conscience exemption. Her view is that government can mandate religious people and organizations to act in ways that are contrary to their most deeply-held principles. This type of thinking strikes at the very heart of the religious freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.
My last opponent, Martha Coakley, took the same position and said Catholics who work in emergency rooms should find a new line of work. This attitude is highly offensive to all Americans, not just people of faith.
Religious liberty is at the core of our nation's founding, and we in Massachusetts know that better than anyone. It is has helped make us a strong and diverse nation. We must continue to cherish it and fight back against those who would chip away at it.
Yesterday, Wayne Cockfield spoke to legislators and aides about the doctor prescribed suicide ballot question at the MCFL Legislative Breakfast. Groups of nursing students were in the State House, so he spoke to them also. Wayne made an amazing case against the whole concept of doctor prescribed suicide. He got a standing O from the legislators and rapt attention from the students.
Last night he spoke in Worcester to a large group of local pro-lifers. Allison LeDoux arranged for the beautiful, accessible hall. Wayne was able to speak for longer and gave people really useful ideas. He explained that "compassion" means "to suffer with" and stated: "medical abandonment is not compassion"
Today and tomorrow, Wayne has interviews. One of them is live on The Good Catholic Life, radio 1060 from Friday from 4-5pm in the Boston area.
You will want to hear Wayne at Faneuil Hall on Sunday from 2 - 4pm. I know you will enjoy hearing the Treblemakers from the Montrose School also.
March for Life: the police told marchers that the numbers this year were higher than the 400,000 last year. Some articles are reporting one half million marchers. See the March in one minute.
The MCFL Caucus was amazing! At one point I had to ask some people to move out to the foyer because I was concerned about fire laws.
It is wonderful to see the number of young people, but I also saw many who have come every year since the 70's.
I will be sharing with you information from all our wonderful speakers. Prof New closed the caucus with his usual great analysis of state laws. She told us that planned parenthood has announced that 2011 was their worst year ever! Twenty-Four states passed 92 pro-life laws. Prof New's figures along with those reported by Texas at the NRLC Board meeting, indicate that states have defunded PP by more than $120 million.
A local radio station is broadcasting live.
Congressmen are lined up to speak. The drizzle is very heavy as we set off.
Thanks to each of you who responded so generously to our matching gift challenge!
Saving lives in 2012 will be a huge responsibility. When we are able to print materials and do ads about the dangers of Doctor Prescribed Suicide., it will be because of your generosity.
"Pray as if it is all up to God and work as if it is all up to you" a wise neighbor of mine used to say. During the last 40 days, we saw this in action.
40 DAYS FOR LIFE has completed the current prayer campaign. Eva Murphy, Jack Rowe and I prayed in Lynn. We noticed that the number of people praying increased as time went by. At times, pro-life students from Northeastern joined the many, many others praying. Cori Connor-Morse, Lynn; John Fleury, Haverhill; Pauline Morris and Lee Crowley, Worcester; Steve Marcotte and Darlene Howard, Attleboro; and the people in Springfield all did exemplary jobs organizing and supporting the prayer warriors.
George Donovan, parliamentarian par excellence, who did yeoman work at MCFL Annual meetings, has died. God rest his soul.
You may have read that Dan Avila has resigned from his new position at the USCCB because of some complaints about an article he wrote for The Pilot. I must say that Dan was an unbelievably valuable asset to MCFL's right-to-life efforts and to all pro-life efforts in Massachusetts from the time he came to work as the lobbyist at MCFL in the early 80s. Given our experience with his clear-thinking and amazing analytical ability, I strongly suspect that any disputed points will eventually be resolved in ways that vindicate his thinking. In the meantime, let us pray for a new employment opportunity for him where he can thrive.
Just send a picture of your car with the new plate or some paperwork and receive a $40.00 family membership for free. Deadline: Oct 31, 2011
There has been a small kurfluffle about Herman Cain's position on life. National Right to Life issued this statement. I notice that, as most commentators are checking the facts, they are coming to National's position:
National Right to Life: Herman Cain is Fully Pro-Life
by Steven Ertelt | LifeNews.com | 10/21/11 5:22 PM
The National Right to Life Committee is today vouching for Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain's bona fides, saying the businessman who is considered by many to be the current GOP frontrunner is pro-life.
NRLC's comments come after a 48-hour period during which Cain has confused pro-life voters where he stands - by first using seemingly pro-abortion language saying government should have no involvement before finally clarifying he is pro-life and saying he wants abortions illegal.
"Herman Cain's pro-life," David O'Steen, executive director of the National Right to Life Committee, told National Review. "He addressed our convention last June. We are quite confident in his pro-life position. When he ran in the primary for senate some years back ... he ran as a pro-life candidate then in Georgia. We've known of him for a number of years, and he's always taken a pro-life position."
At that event, Cain, the former businessman and candidate, said the "Founding fathers got it right" including the right to life from conception.
"Don't infringe on the rights of somebody else and that includes the unborn," Cain said of what the Constitution requires.
Cain spent most of his time talking about the moral crisis and lack of God in the cultural conversations in America, saying, "We've got a moral crisis in this nation. One of the reasons we have this moral crisis today is because too many people are trying to take God out of our culture, little by little."
"Those that believe taking the life of the unborn is a choice has gotten away from the Godly principles," he said. "The way we're going to protect the unborn in this nation is to work on the right problem, get God back in our culture."
Hope to see you on the road sporting your "Choose Life" plate! Anne
Mr Chesterton was a delight. He had heard that we have the Doctor Prescribed Death ballot question coming. He shared these insights with us.
Not only is suicide a sin, it is the sin. It is the ultimate and absolute evil, the refusal to take an interest in existence; the refusal to take the oath of loyalty to life. The man who kills a man, kills a man. The man who kills himself, kills all men; as far as he is concerned he wipes out the world. His act is worse (symbolically considered) than any rape or dynamite outrage. For it destroys all buildings: it insults all women. The thief is satisfied with diamonds; but the suicide is not: that is his crime. He cannot be bribed, even by the blazing stones of the Celestial City. The thief compliments the things he steals, if not the owner of them. But the suicide insults everything on earth by not stealing it. He defiles every flower by refusing to live for its sake. There is not a tiny creature in the cosmos at whom his death is not a sneer. When a man hangs himself on a tree, the leaves might fall off in anger and the birds fly away in fury: for each has received a personal affront. Of course there may be pathetic emotional excuses for the act. There often are for rape, and there almost always are for dynamite. But if it comes to clear ideas and the intelligent meaning of things, then there is much more rational and philosophic truth in the burial at the cross-roads and the stake driven through the body, than in Mr. Archer's suicidal automatic machines. There is a meaning in burying the suicide apart. The man's crime is different from other crimes -- for it makes even crimes impossible.
John Triolo is working on the video so everyone can see Mr. Chesterton's presentation.
G. K. Chesterton is preparing to meet you on Saturday at the Banquet. We expect he will have some cogent comments on Physician Assisted Suicide / Doctor Prescribed Death.
Banquet Chair, Bea Martins says she can fit you in if you register immediately. http://www.masscitizensforlife... or call 617-242-4199.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE contact Anne Fox, 781-449-1774
Massachusetts Citizens For Life (MCFL) announced the hiring of Edwin J. Shanahan as its Executive Director. He will report to MCFL President.
Anne Fox.
Ed comes to MCFL with over 30 years of government, association, and consulting experience. Most recently he was Principal/Lobbyist for Ed Shanahan Associates in Boston. MA. Prior to that he was CEO of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Rental Housing Association. Ed was also Deputy Director, Office of Budget and Management, for the City of Boston. He is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a BA in Political Science. Ed and his family reside in Peabody, MA.
"We are delighted to have Ed join us in this key management role," stated Anne. "He brings the leadership skills, political understanding, and pro-life beliefs that we need to deal with many issues facing the citizens of Massachusetts."
Massachusetts Citizens For Life (MCFL) is the state's oldest, largest and most prominent pro-life advocacy organization.
When there are large numbers of families, young people with their friends, old faithful pro-lifers, amazing musicians, and inspiring speakers all gathered together to help the groups who help women and children, there is a highly successful Walk to Aid Mothers and Children. Yesterday was one of the best!
I want to thank the committee, Helen Cross, Nicholi McLaughlin, Connie and Cathleen Murphy, Elinor Rafferty, June Newman, Steve Fielding, and Ed Long and all his South Boston helpers.
Led by the master, Master of Ceremonies, Edward F. King, the speakers were wonderful! Sincerest thanks to Cardinal Sean, Marianne Luthin, David Franks, and Sean Harrington. And, of course, Charlie, the Walk Baby came. He is the hit of the show where ever he goes.
Lift Ministries is an extremely talented group of young musicians. It was such a pleasure to be welcomed by their joyful music as I came across the Common. The singing of the students from Immaculate Heart of Mary, Still River, was delightful.
We were very fortunate to have Jane Cogliano arrange for public service announcements last week on 96.9 WTKK.
Most of all, hugest thanks to every one of you who walked or sponsored a walker. After all, support for the helping organizations is the goal.
Yes, you say, but I want to see the pictures. So do I and I'll send them along as soon as they are ready.
Again, thanks to everybody who made it a great day for life! Anne
MAIM, Massachusetts Against Individual Mandate, the official committee to work for the passage of the Initiative Petition to repeal RomneyCare, has filed with the state. The committee is gathering the signatures necessary for the petition to be placed on the 2012 ballot. http://repeal-romneycare.com/
Bridget Fay will serve as Treasurer and spokesperson for MAIM. Bridget is a young lawyer who serves on the Board of Directors of Massachusetts Citizens for Life and is active in other causes.
If you want to volunteer to help in any way, especially in gathering signatures, or to mail a donation to help defeat RomneyCare, please contact:
Massachusetts Against the Individual Mandate P O Box 81188 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-0002
When I send you emails, John Triolo at the MCFL office manages the list. I need you to know that John has volunteered to manage MAIM's list also.
Let's wish Bridget and MAIM the best in this necessary effort! Anne
This special offer is for those of you who are not currently members of Mass. Citizens.
Get your Choose Life license plate during September or October and send us a picture of your plate or a copy of your registration.
We will credit you with an MCFL Family Membership ($40.00 value). This will enable you to receive the MCFL News, to belong to a local Chapter, to attend the Annual Convention at a Members' Discount, and to vote at the Annual Meeting in June 2011. Most important, you will personally be helping to restore the Culture of Life!
It is so exciting to see Choose Life Plates on the highway! I just saw number 322 on Rte 128 in Needham. I am looking forward to seeing you on the road and having you as part of our MCFL family! Anne
Statement by Massachusetts Citizens for Life on the "Death with Dignity" petition. Contact Anne Fox, 781-449-1774
Boston, Sept 7, 2011: "Massachusetts Citizens for Life today expressed grave concern that the so-called 'Death with Dignity' initiative petition has been certified by the Attorney General. The petition would make it legal to expect that a doctor would prescribe a lethal drug to anyone who asks if, in the opinion of the doctor, the person will not live past six months.
This is Physician Assisted Suicide or Doctor Prescribed Suicide.
Doctor Prescribed Suicide is already legal in Oregon where Barbara Wagner and other cancer patients received a chilling letter from the Oregon Health Plan. The state controlled health care program would not support the treatment their doctors recommended that might extend their lives, but would pay for 'life-ending medication'.
The definition of medication is something that will cure, heal, or at least alleviate symptoms. Trying to sell the idea of a lethal drug overdose as 'medicine' threatens to undermine society's commitment to care for those we cannot cure.
A law like Oregon's is not about dignity or compassion - not for patients like Barbara Wagner, at any rate. It is about government dismissing the inherent worth of some people.
Doctor Prescribed Suicide is poor public policy with negative consequences. MCFL will work to educate the public on better ways to care for people."
Massachusetts has been targeted! We must prepare! This will be a huge job! We are working on setting up a committee to fight this horrendous petition.
Each of us individually needs must talk to as many people as possible. When you do, you will find that people are not well-informed. They do not realize that doctors can control pain, that most people who consider suicide are depressed and need help for that, and they do not realize the extent of elder abuse. Please talk to people. That will help you become more persuasive. These web sites will help you to answer the questions you are hearing.:
We were checking MCFL News archives and found this article by Dr. Stanton who was among the first to recognize the dangers in euthanasia and assisted suicide. http://massprolife.com/euthana...
Please bookmark these websites and consult them regularly. We can do this! Anne
Massachusetts
Background
In Massachusetts, more people die annually from suicide than from motor vehicle accidents. [CDC National Vital Statistics Reports, Apr. 24, 2008] In 2007, the state's suicide rate (8.0 per 100,000 people) was almost three times higher than the homicide rate (2.9 per 100,000 people).
According to Elder Abuse Daily, more than 1 in 10 Massachusetts elders are victims of abuse.
Current law regarding assisted suicide
Assisted suicide, including doctor-prescribed suicide, is a common law crime in Massachusetts.
On August 2, 2011, supporters of doctor-prescribed suicide filed a petition seeking to put a measure called the Massachusetts "Death With Dignity Act" on the 2012 ballot. The proposal is virtually identical to their previous legislative attempts and mirrors the Oregon and Washington laws by the same name. The process for the measure actually reaching the voters requires several steps:
The legal language on the petition must be approved by Attorney General Martha Coakley.
The signatures of at least 68,911 registered voters must be obtained by mid-November.
If the signature drive is successful, lawmakers have until May 2012 to either back the proposal, offer an alternative proposal, or permit the measure to go onto the November 2012 ballot.
If the measure gets the go ahead to be placed on the November 2012 ballot, an addition 11,485 signatures must be collected.
Articles
"Drive begins to put assisted suicide law on the ballot next year" (Boston Globe - August 4, 2011)
Backer of assisted suicide for certain terminally ill patients filed paperwork yesterday with Attorney General Martha Coakley to begin the process of bringing their plan, dubbed the Death with Dignity Act to the 2012 ballot.
"Backers of assisted suicide want 2012 ballot question in Mass." (Milford Daily News - August 4, 2011)
A ballot question that would pave the way for assisted suicide for some terminally ill patients in Massachusetts could land in front of voters next year. Rep. Louis Kafka, D-Stoughton, who filed a bill earlier this year that resembles the assisted suicide ballot proposal, said the ballot initiative could draw more attention to the issue.
For the past couple of years, "Death With Dignity", "Compassion in Dying" and the rest of the DEATH LOBBY have been announcing that they would sponsor an Initiative Petition in New England. Massachusetts and Vermont are the only states where that can be done. The people in Vermont held them off this winter, with a little help from us.
Well, the sword of Damocles has fallen! Last week they filed the petition below.
Polls show that, until they are educated, people fall hook line and sinker for the death rhetoric. When you read their petition you will see it is like a siren song.
There will be so much for us to do to protect vulnerable people.
The first need: if you are a nurse or if you have survived a fatal diagnosis, please contact me right away by pressing "reply" or calling the office: 617-242-4199. Bless you! Anne
I want to share with you the reasons MCFL decided to initiate efforts to repeal Romneycare the answers to questions that have come up. The actual wording of the petition is at the end. I hope you are interested and will be able to take the time to read through it. Anne
WHY HAS MCFL DECIDED TO LAUNCH THIS INITIATIVE PETITION DRIVE?
Our biggest budget item in 2009 and 2010 was fighting O-care before and after passage.
We still want to fight it. At first glance, it seems re-electing Sen. Brown is the only thing we can do. With the same philosophy of keeping the pot boiling that caused us to run so many ads, we realized there is something else we can do to keep the pot boiling - something that will also benefit us once O-care is repealed.
The purpose of the petition is to:
1) draw attention to the fact that MA, the prototype for O-care, is not happy with R-care.
2) make health care an issue in both state and federal 2012 elections, when the petition will be on the ballot.
3) get the repeal R-care process started. Once O-care is repealed, Massachusetts will still have our current care.
PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE WHOLE LAW REPEALED. WHY HAVE YOU GONE WITH REPEALING JUST THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE?
Currently health care is much more imbedded in state law than federal. We can not just repeal the whole law the way the US House did, so we are repealing the individual mandate, which we feel will be the start of bringing down the whole law.
WHAT IS THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE?
Right now everyone in the state is required to buy health insurance or to pay a penalty.
Statement by Anne Fox, President of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, about the Initiative Petition to repeal the individual mandate in the universal health care law in Massachusetts.
Today, as a group of extremely concerned citizens, from a variety of walks of life, we
will file the necessary paperwork with the Attorney General's office to give the voters of
Massachusetts the chance to repeal the most onerous portion of the state's universal health care
law. -- the individual mandate.
Further, we hope to have a conversation with the voters of Massachusetts about the real impact
of the universal healthcare law and what it portends for the future of our citizens.
We know from talking to people across the state that there is a large coalition of voters
representing a wide variety of viewpoints who oppose the individual mandate. Today we are
launching a massive campaign to gather the signatures necessary to place this question on the
ballot. We will also be launching a website: www.repeal-romneycare.com in the very near
future to keep the public informed about our progress and to give groups the resources they need
to help with this very important effort.
We want quality, affordable, and ethical health care for all. We are deeply concerned with
information which has been published in the past two years which shows that the state health
plan is running out of money and assumes that rationing is the solution. We in Massachusetts
already have the highest premiums and the longest waits for doctors in the country and things
are getting worse.
We at Massachusetts Citizens for Life have worked very hard over the past two years to prevent
and then defeat Obamacare. Once Obamacare is overturned, the rest of the country will be fine
but we in Massachusetts will still have to live under its prototype. Repealing the individual
mandate is a start toward better health care in Massachusetts.
"All who love freedom have their part to play in the cultivation of that fruit and to bring liberty to its right end: the truth about human dignity and human destiny. It is a worthy call." posted by Rev. Robert Sirico on the Acton Institute Power Blog
For 197 years, we Americans took "life" was taken for granted while we were grateful to service people and others for protecting our "liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Then the unthinkable happened and it was life itself that was threatened - from within. Now we pro-lifers are the people who are protecting the basic right in this country - we are the military. When we passed the resolution below at the National Right to Life Board meeting, I was so moved that I wanted the proper occasion to share it with you. Independence Day is perfect.
"RESOLUTION HONORING GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEERS
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court's tragic 1973 Roe v Wade decision has resulted in the deaths of more than 53 million unborn children and has opened the door to further attacks on defenseless human beings in the form of infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia; and
WHEREAS, the successful effort to return legal protection to vulnerable persons is more visible and effective than ever, thanks to the grass-roots pro-lifers who refuse to remain silent in the face of injustice and cruelty; and
WHEREAS, countless unborn babies and medically dependent people are alive because of the selfless work of millions of grassroots volunteers; and
WHEREAS, the strength of the pro-life movement always has been and remains the result of continuous, steadfast effort of unsung grassroots volunteers;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Right to Life Committee Board of Directors, sitting in Jacksonville, Florida on June 22, 2011, recognizes with deep appreciation the invaluable work of these dedicated pro-life volunteers and extends to these grassroots champions its heart-felt gratitude for the talents and resources they have extended on behalf of innocent, vulnerable human life."
Last week we buried Marie Lueders. The Needham Chapter of MCFL started in her living room days after the abortion decisions. She was the typical pro-lifer who remained steadfast to the end. God rest her soul.
Here's to all of you who deserve infinite credit for your love and perseverance.
God bless you all! Anne
PS. Yes, as a matter of fact, G.K. Chesterton does have something to say about this. On a visit to the States, he spoke of our flag, "by whose stars we are illumined, and by whose stripes we are healed." What a stirring interpretation of America and its mission! Our date with him is Oct 15th!
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