file: /pub/resources/text/ProLife.News: pln-0418.txt ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life Communications - Volume 4, No. 18 November, 1994 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This newsletter is intended to provide articles and news information to those interested in Pro-Life issues. All submissions should be sent to the editor, Steve . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Study Shows: Abortion Ups the Risk of Breast Cancer Epidemiologist Janet R. Daling, leading a seven year study on the effects of abortion and breast cancer at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, released her group's controversial findings: Women aged 45 or younger who have undergone an abortion are 50 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than other women that age. The study found no evidence of a similar risk for abortions that occurred spontaneously. The study is based on an analysis of interviews with 845 breast cancer patients and 961 healthy women of the same age group. Among its other findings, the study showed that the increased risk did not vary by the number of induced abortions or by the history of a completed pregnancy. To some, these results come as no surprise: the reproductive history of women has long been recognized as a possible factor in the risk of breast cancer, because the breasts undergo significant changes during pregnancy and during nursing. Other studies, for instance, have shown that women who bear children at an early age have a slightly lower risk of breast cancer later in life than do women who have never had a child. A significant finding, buried in the charts in Dailing's study, is the evidence that the risk of breast cancer more than doubles for women who had induced abortions before the age of 18 or after the age of 30. The risk was increased by 90 percent if the abortion came between the ninth and 12th weeks of gestation. A summary of the study appeared in the November edition of the _Journal of the National Cancer Institute_. An editorial in the same journal agreed that Dailing's study was carefully designed and conducted, but made the point that additional research is needed before a proven link between abortion and breast cancer can be drawn, citing earlier studies that failed to find a link between induced abortions and breast cancer. In the news media, reactions were even stronger. Some reporters highlighted every possible flaw in the study, prompting (pro-abortion) Daling to defend her team's work. She pointed out that the investigation followed 1,800 women over a seven-year period, making it one of the largest studies ever to examine the relationship between abortion and cancer. "I'm absolutely appalled that politics is entering i nto the science of this study," the researcher complains. "No one is getting any of the correct information out to the public." Christine Gorman, a writer for _Time_, Inc. was quick to recognize the dangers inherent to the political pressure that are being applied to Dailing's study, and other similar studies: "Perhaps the greatest threat in the clash between science and politics is that researchers might allow potential controversy to deter them from investigating sensitive subjects. No one knows just what chain of events causes breast cancer, and it would be unfortunate if the fallout from the abortion wars stops some scientists from following up on important clues." [If any are interested in information on the link between breast cancer and abortion, get the information files "BeforeYouChoose" and "DeadlyEffect". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Around the Globe *Dublin, Ireland* Abortion Information Bill An Abortion Information Bill is expected to be published next month. This should introduce a right to provide non-directive counselling on abortion but exclude referral to abortion clinics. Since the November 1992 referendum on abortion, the Government has been committed to producing legislation which would define how abortion information could be made available to those who feel they require it. The Bill in question is almost ready and its details were leaked to the _Irish Times_. As a result the anti-abortion lobby is concerned that abortion referrals are not being made illegal. Various members of the Irish Parliament are said to be suspicious of the legislation and are demanding a preview before it is published. *Beijing, China* Eugenics Law Passes In late October, China's legislature Thursday ratified a controversial eugenics law restricting marriages among people suffering from mental problems or contagious diseases. The official Xinhua News Agency did not release the full text of the law, however it did mention China's 10+ million disabled people whose births could have been prevented if such a law had been in effect. One quote they did include stated that fetuses found to be carrying hereditary diseases and to be seriously abnormal should be aborted. Women whose pregnancies are a serious threat to their own healths will be advised, but not forced to halt their pregnancies. However, China already has come under severe international criticism for forcing abortions and sterilizations on unwilling women despite regulations saying the procedures should be performed only with a women's consent. This consent is often reached via threats, especially to the woman's family and livelihood. These forced and coerced abortions, enforcing China's one-child-per-couple regulations have led to large numbers of sex-selection abortions and has caused a serious imbalance in the gender ratio as mothers abort their female fetuses in hopes of later having a boy. The new eugenics law bans sex identification before birth except when needed for medical purposes. *Johannesburg, South Africa* Government Cancels Vote on Abortion South Africa will not be allowing abortions -- at least temporarily. For years, the African National Congress led by President Nelson Mandela has pushed for legalization of abortion and the nation's Parliament was set to vote on the matter in October. Prayer meetings, a massive "No To Abortion" postcard mailing (over 30,000 of them were sent to the Minister of Health), Life Chains and large distributions of pro-life publications evidently swayed the government, however, and the vote was canceled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) American Shorts *Pensacola, Florida* Paul Hill was convicted of murdering Dr. John B. Britton and James H. Barrett, and wounding Barrett's wife, June Barrett. He was sentenced to life in prison, and may face the death penalty. *Vancouver, British Columbia* A doctor who performs abortions was shot and wounded at his breakfast table Tuesday by a sniper who fired through a sliding glass door. Several shots were fired, and it is unknown whether the shooting was motivated by the doctor's performing abortions. The doctor's home is in a well-to-do, tree-lined neighborhood in the city's west end. Neighbors told police that people had picketed against him because he performed abortions. *New York, New York* Randall Terry is now serving a five-month sentence for "aiding and abetting" Harley Belew when he showed an aborted baby boy to Bill Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in July of 1992. Belew was found not guilty, yet Terry was convicted of contempt of court for helping with planning the event. As American justice is usually strange with respect to abortion, soon after Belew they showed Clinton this baby, a group of homosexuals paraded a dead homosexual (who died from A.I.D.S.) up and down the streets of Manhattan without being arrested. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) U.S. Election Results The U.S. Electorate voted resoundingly against the Clinton policies at all levels of government. Republicans, many of whom are pro-life, now control the U.S. Senate, breaking the pro-abortion (Democratic) hold on the reins of government. This involve many big wins for pro-life politicians across the nation. "Pro-family, pro-life candidates scored victory after victory in virtually every region of the nation," the Christian Coalition said in a statement, adding that 44 (34, depending on who's counting) new members of the U.S. House oppose abortion and five new members of the U.S.Senate. Summing up, *not a single _pro-life_ incumbent Member of Congress, or governor, _of either party_ was defeated by a pro-abortion challenger.* But, about 30 hard-core, incumbent pro-abortion Members of Congress were defeated by pro-life challengers. Of the 11 newly elected senators, only Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) has a pro-abortion position - and she replaces retiring pro-abortion Sen. George Mitchell (D). Two incumbent senators who supported the "Freedom of Choice Act," Sasser (D-TN) and Wofford (D-PA), were replaced by senators opposing the Clinton pro-abortion agenda. Similarly, FOCA-supporting House members sought open Senate seats in Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee (a second seat), but were defeated by right-to life candidates. Also, voters in Arizona, Minnesota, Mississippi and Wyoming elected new pro-life senators, three of them beating pro-abortion opponents. It is noteworthy that pro-life House Democratic candidates did relatively well. Examples: Democrats made on of their few pickups in Penn.'s 18th district, where pro-life Democrat Mike Doyle defeated pro-abortion Republican John McCarty for an open seat. In Michigan's 1st district, Democratic pro-life Rep. Bart Stupak was challenged by a pro-abortion Republican Gil Ziegelr, who supported inclusion of abortion in a national health care bill plan; Stupak won. Pro-life Democrat Harold Volkmer defeated a Republican challenger who made strenuous attempts to tie him to Pres. Clinton. The charge did not stick, in part because Volkmer had been a leader among the group of House pro-life Democrats who played a key role in blocking major elements of Clinton's pro-abortion agenda. While 1992 was the year of the pro-abortion woman, that "trend" did not carry through to this year. Eight pro-abortion Democratic Congresswomen were defeated. Two of these, Karen Shepherd (UT) and Jolene Unsoeld (WA) were defeated by pro-life women, Enid Waldholtz and Linda Smith respectively. In all, six pro-life Republican freshman women were elected, compared to five pro-abortion Democratic freshman women. This landslide to the right applied to Governor' seats and state houses across the nation. For example, the North Carolina State House now has 67 Republicans, 53 Democrats, for the first time since 1898. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) General Motors Suspends Worker over Pro-Life Button General Motors suspended John M. Stasa, a tool and die maker at Powertrain Division (Toledo), on Saturday, April 16, for wearing a button picturing the severed head of a 24-week-old baby killed by abortion, in full color, with the caption, "FREEDOM OF CHOICE???" On April 22, the U.S.- EEOC found sufficient grounds to allow a charge against General Motors to be filed and to initiate an investigation. Stasa has now filed a $50.5 million civil rights lawsuit against GM. Although Stasa, a 17-year employee of GM, has been wearing the button for five years, the button suddenly became an issue on Monday, April 11. When Stasa came to work, resource facilitator Bill Wallington requested that he remove the button. With that, another resource facilitator, Richard Sobech, shouted, "I am offended by your button, and I am going to make an issue of it." Later that week, on April 16, superintendent John Tate, resource director Wallington, and staff assistant Bob Griffith suspended Stasa at 11 a.m., and told him not to return until the following Monday. Stasa was suspended on the charge that he had refused to remove the button (shop rule n. 15: failure to obey a direct order). When Stasa sought protection from the union, Ed McNulty, chairman of Local 14 UAW, told Stasa that both Local 14 President Oscar Bunch and the International Union in Detroit had been called, and the the button Stasa was wearing was "not a protected button". The pay stubs following GM's action suspending Stasa not only reflected the time lost, but also the standard deduction for monthly union dues. A survey of employees' reactions to the disciplinary action against Stasa indicated widespread, enormous support for his First Amendment rights of free speech and religion. It was also evident that they were shocked that not only would GM discriminate against Stasa, but that the union would allow GM to get away with it. When asked for his reaction to all this, Stasa said, "I feel naked, not wearing that button. To think that this nation of so-called Christians puts up with the slaughter of over 36 million innocent babies, paid for by our own tax dollars and our corporate health insurance, is appalling. The union endorses political candidates who vote for and legislate in favor of abortion, such as Senators Metzenbaum, Glenn, and Kennedy and Congressmen Kaptur and Dingell, along with president Clinton. They also support Clinton's 'health care' plan, and GM representatives tell me to remove my button because they find it 'offensive'? What about the baby's feelings while being ripped apart? What about the mother, who is being lied to and used for money? What about my wife's and my children's feelings as their generations are being wiped out?" John Stasa filed a lawsuit in U.S. district court in Toledo on Tuesday, Sept. 27. For more information, contact Stasa's attorneys: John France, 419-255-7706, or James Moriarty, 419-243-3111. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) Announcements *Former Tiller Employee to Speak - 1 December 1994 Germantown, MD* Luhra Tivis, a former employee of George Tiller (of Wichita late-term abortion infamy), and now-prolifer, will be speaking at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, in Gaithersburg, MD. The talk will take place on Thursday, Dec 1 at 7:30 pm. If you are in the area at all, please consider attending, and do spread the word. For directions or more details, please send email to me at <72733.3433@compuserve.com>. This talk is being sponsored by Youth for Life in Germantown MD, and hosted by the St. John Nuemann Pro-Life Committee. - Janet Baker ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) Editorial Opinion: On Clinic Violence Well, most people don't ask for _my_ opinion, but several people asked what I personally think of Paul Hill and clinic violence. Here goes: I honestly don't think that we should be out shooting abortionists. Given that, I question the argument that `killing abortionists is always morally unjustified,' (I think this point is open to debate, with strong evidence to support both sides). Given this reservation, I still strongly disagree that members of the pro-life movement should ever use violence. It is not where we should be going, and even if there is may be doubt about moral justification, there are eternal consequences to killing an abortionist that should never be overlooked. The point is, that no matter how we look at it, the people doing the killing of pre-borns, just like those doing the killing of the elderly are only a part of the moral disease that infects our society. The moral disease is the view that human life is ours to take, that it warrants no particular concern or right, and that it can be freely disposed of under some set of rules (or no set of rules...) Killing these abortionists may prevent some of the wretched symptoms of the disease, but I have difficulty seeing how it can prevent its spread; some would argue that shooting abortionists only helps to spread the disease. The wretched symptoms of the disease are the wanton destruction of millions (in this country) and tens of millions (around the globe) of pre-born children, as well as the millions of mothers who are emotionally, physically and spiritually disfigured in the process, as well as those promoting and providing the abortions. The point is that we need to cure the disease: we need to convert people from one life-ethic to another. I'm not convinced that killing abortionists will do this. Going to prison for rescues, that might help. It certainly is more effective. Picketing, setting up pregnancy care and maternal services, getting pro-life people into public office, onto the school boards, into the classrooms, raising pro-life children to sit in the editors and reporters chairs - all of these things help. Perhaps we will be spared what it took to cure us Americans of the moral evil of chattel slavery: A violent and particularly bloody civil war, followed by a systematic destruction of States' Rights under the Constitution, 100 years of bigotry, and the social upheaval of an entire race - the effects of which still linger in our midst. But perhaps not. If we value _all human life_, we will refrain from taking it even in the service of a just cause. But that doesn't mean that our little brothers and sisters are not worth dying for. - your editor, Steve Frezza ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) Reader Questions Does anyone know anything about ACL members getting together in D.C. for the March this year? please let us know. We are sending a bus of about fifty students this year. - Mark Pecot, Marquette Students for Life ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) Reader Responses Long Distance for Life: [v4n15] Boycotts of AT&T do have an impact. Recently I got a "why not change" call from them and the AT&T rep began to babble almost irrationally when I told him I'd never support a corporation that, as a matter of policy, supported sexual promiscuity of any sort (in their case, company-approved homosexual organizations). From his reaction I'd say they ARE getting the message and getting it quite strongly. And I wouldn't worry that some of your money may go to bad guys for bulk long distance. It's far less money and, as they grow, the smaller carriers often buy their own lines. - Mike Perry, Seattle -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Fetal Considerations in GM Crash Tests? [v4n17] As for GM's tests with pregnant dummies, I wouldn't put much stock in the idea that there's any pro-life move in the upper reaches of GM. The executives of big corporations are almost exclusively rich and male and, in the absense of a seriously religious faith, being r&m is one of the best predictators of support for abortion. Today, most big US corporations are run by their lawyers, and GM is afraid of some gosh-awful lawsuit. That's the reason for the tests. It is more interesting to speculate about the wonderful prolife and prochild ads that Volvo routinely runs. Maybe it's their ad agency, but I suspect that Sweden, with a birth rate far below replacement (about 1.4 children per couple), has a longing for all the children it isn't having. Also, Sweden -heavily, heavily white and middle-class- has none of the hidden agendas that drive support for abortion in this country and create the zeal to provide poor women with tax-paid abortions but not school vouchers. - Mike Perry, Seattle ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Editor's Note Due to severe time constraints on the editorial staff, the two November issues were combined, and only a single issue is planned for December. If would like to help produce _Life Communications_, please contact the editor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote of the Month: "The abortionist kills the babies, Paul Hill kills the abortionist, now the state may kill Paul Hill. When is all the killing going to stop?" - Jeff White, Operation Rescue _USA Today_ - November 3, 1994 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Credits: | | 1 - From many sources, including the _New York Times_ (10/27/94, p. A24), AP| | and other sources. Many thanks to readers Richard Chonak and Eric Ewanco| | 2 - Irish news from _THE IRISH EMIGRANT_, No.s 404 and 405. To subscribe, | | send mail to . PRC news thanks to readers | | Eric Ewanco and Larry Larmore. South African news courtesy of Tim Ruchti| | and _The Christian Interpreter_ P.O. Box 25318 Milwaukee, WI 53225 | | 4 - Election News, from National Right to Life press releases and other | | sources. Thanks to Jonathan Bloedow and Bruce Hall. | | 5 - Courtesty of _The Prolife-Infonet Mailing List_ For information contact | | the moderator at . From an article that | | appeared in the Oct. 20, 1994 issue of the _Wanderer_ | |QOM- Many thanks to reader Jeff Paladina. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Anyone desiring information on specific prolife groups, literature, or help with problems is encouraged to contact the editor. For those on the web, there is a preliminary WWW page at