Kavanaugh Tells Senate That Government Can’t Force Christian Groups to Pay for Abortions

By Steven Ertelt
Life News

During questioning today by pro-abortion Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono, Judge Brett Kavanaugh defended his decision in a key case ruling against the Obama HHS mandate that forced Hobby Lobby, Little Sisters of the Poor and other Christian-run businesses and organizations to fund abortion drugs in their employee health care plans.

Priests for Life, a pro-life organization, was one of many that filed suit against the mandate and Kavanaugh ultimately sided with Priests for Life in its case against the HHS abortion mandate.

The appeals court judge indicated the mandate was a substantial burden against the pro-life group’s religious views because it would have fined the pro-life group thousands upon thousands of dollars for failing to pay for abortion drugs.

“When the Government forces someone to take an action contrary to his or her sincere religious belief (here, submitting the form) or else suffer a financial penalty (which here is huge), the Government has substantially burdened the individual’s exercise of religion. So it is in this case,” Kavanaugh wrote.

During her questioning, Sen. Hirono complained that his ruling put Kavanaugh in the position of elevating religions rights ahead of the so-called unlimited right to an abortion.

Doesn’t the ruling assert that “the freedom of religion clause supersedes other rights?” Hirono asked.

“I made it clear in the decision that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has a two-part test,” he said about how the Obama HHS mandate violated federal laws protecting religious liberty.

Kavanaugh added, “I concluded that penalizing someone thousands and thousands of dollars for failing to fill out a form because of their religious beliefs was wrong.”

During previous questioning, Kavanaugh made it clear that the pro-life businesses and groups in question were opposed to being forced to pay for “abortion-inducing drugs.”

Kavanaugh replied to pro-life Senator Ted Cruz: 

“In that case, they said filling out the form would make them complicit in the provision of the abortion-inducing drugs that they were, as a religious matter, objected to.”

Observers of the hearing on Twitter noticed the exchange:

Ed Whelan@EdWhelanEPPC

Hirono: Do you think that freedom of religion supersedes other rights? [Arguing against K dissent in Priests for Life]

Hirono misstates substantial-burden analysis.

5:18 PM - Sep 6, 2018

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• 16 people are talking about this

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Nate Madden@NateMaddenCRTV

Hirono: Because Kavanaugh followed religious liberty precedent on a contraception case (Priests for Life) and ruled that there's no right for an illegal alien to get a taxpayer funded abortion, he just wants to "restrict women's reproductive rights."

5:22 PM - Sep 6, 2018

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American Life League

✔@AmerLifeLeague

Does Sen. Hirono have any serious questions? “Reproductive rights” are not real rights. That’s code for forcing others to pay for a woman's abortion and contraception.

5:20 PM - Sep 6, 2018

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Father Frank Pavone, National Director; Janet Morana, Executive Director, and Alveda King (niece of Martin Luther King, Jr.), full-time director of Civil Rights for the Unborn for Priests for Life, were named plaintiffs in the case. All of them informed LifeNews after his nomination that they support Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.

Life News article continues here

LET'S CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY WITHOUT THE POLITICS THIS YEAR: MOTHERHOOD IS A "DIVINE BOND"

"Of all the women's rights given to us by God, being a mother is the most magnificent. Let us thank God as we 'Celebrate Motherhood.'" - Alveda King

By Dr. Alveda King's Blog Priests for Life
Breaking Christian News

For some, the call to Motherhood is biological; adoption beckons others; and beyond these important roles, God calls some to be "spiritual" moms. It is my prayer that we as human beings will set aside all political platforms this season, and just give thanks to God for the gift of mothers. 

While it's true that every woman isn't a mother, it can be understood that every mother is a woman. Furthermore, everyone who has been born, past, and present; all of us, male and female, were birthed by a mother.

"When Jesus therefore saw his [biological] mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, Jesus said unto his [supernatural birth] mother, 'Woman, behold thy Son!' Then Jesus said to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." John 19:26-27

We can see from this passage that the role of mother opens doors to many possibilities.

This year on Mothers' Day, women who are also mothers will be celebrated around the world. As mothers, we walk different spiritual paths. We are enjoying different seasons of life. What brings us together in celebration is this divine bond called Motherhood. 

Of all the women's rights given to us by God, being a mother is the most magnificent. Parenting has been said to be the great equalizer connecting us beyond race, religion, social status and income level. What joins us together now and forever is that we are all in the same human tribe: Born of One Blood. (Acts 17:26)

"Adam named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all human beings." Genesis 3:20 (GNT)

"Children are a gift from God." Psalm 127:3

"Her children rise up and call her blessed." Proverbs 31:28

Of course, everyone living is special in God's eyes; yet on this special day we honor our mothers; past, present and future.

The awesome power within the bodies and hearts of women to bring children into this world and nurture them by birth or adoption is miraculously within humanity to acknowledge and celebrate. The career of Motherhood has a never-ending salary valued at: "Priceless." Of all the women's rights given to us by God, being a mother is the most magnificent. Let us thank God as we "Celebrate Motherhood."

Website: Breaking Christian News

Voices for Life is an e-publication dedicated to informing and educating the public on pro-life and pro-family issues. To read our Mission Statement, use this link.  Follow us on Facebook, Google, and Pinterest.  Help us spread the pro-life message by sharing our articles on your favorite social networks.

Pregnant, need help or know someone who does?  

National Hotline: Call 1-800-712-HELP or Text 'HELPLINE' to 313131.
In Southeast Penna:  Call the Community Women's Center at  215-826-8090

If you or someone you know is suffering after abortion, confidential non-judgmental help is available.  Call Project Rachel's national toll-free number 888-456-HOPE (4673) or visit hopeafterabortion.org.  

Abortion Facility Advises Incest Victim to Call Medicaid — Not Police

By Nancy Flanders
Live Action News

In a new undercover call released on May 22 by Priests for Life and Abortion Free New Mexico, a minor can be heard telling a staff member of a late term abortion clinic that she is 26 weeks pregnant by a family member. The incest victim tells the staff member that she is just 16 years old and asks if she can get an abortion without her family finding out about the abortion or the incest.

“I’m wondering if I can get an abortion even though I’m under 18 and what my parents have to know about it,” the caller says. “I mean I’ve known I’ve been pregnant for a while but it was an older family member that did this to me and I really don’t want them to know that.”

The clinic staff member tells the caller about the laws in New Mexico and informs her that she can have an abortion without her parents’ knowledge if she is under 18 years of age and 26 weeks pregnant. Then the staffer tells the caller that an abortion will cost $7,500. The girl says she doesn’t have insurance — but if she were on her parents’ insurance and trying to hide the pregnancy and abuse, she wouldn’t have been able to use it anyway without her parents’ knowledge. 

The abortion facility staffer tells her the clinic can loan her 20 percent of the cost and advises her to call Medicaid to ask for emergency pregnancy Medicaid, which may cover the entire cost of the abortion. It appears the clinic is more concerned with making money than getting actual help for this girl, who could quite possibly be sent straight from the abortion back to her abuser.

“This latest undercover call continues to rip the veil off the abortion industry and show our nation what even most ‘pro-choice’ people oppose: late term abortion of healthy babies, paid for by taxpayers, and conducted by an industry which provides cover for sexual predators,” said Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life.

Live Action News continues

Fr. Stephen Imbarrato: Protecting Life “Supersedes All Other Issues”

“Really, how dare anyone say–I don’t care, laity, priest, bishop–that all issues are equal?” 

By Calvin Freiburger
Live Action News

In a passionate homily shown worldwide on EWTN, Father Stephen Imbarrato of Priests for Life declared that “the issue of thousands of babies dying in our country every single day” is the “one issue that we need to get right” and that if we do, “all the other issues will start falling into place.”

“Over a hundred twenty thousand babies die from abortion each day worldwide,” he added. “This is such a river of blood, such an affront against God, the author of life, that there can really be no issue more important or demanding greater or immediate attention.”

Imbarrato rebuked those who attempt to downplay abortion as no more important than any other political or cultural issue. “As important as all the non-negotiables are, and they are non-negotiables, we now have seen others try to make the list include all issues. Otherwise known as this ‘consistent life ethic,’ the ‘seamless garment,’ so to speak,” he said. But while “we need to be mindful of the poor, and many other social issues,” the fact remains that “abortion is the pre-eminent and defining issue of our day and supersedes all other issues.”

“Really, how dare anyone say–I don’t care, laity, priest, bishop–that all issues are equal?” he challenged. “That we adhere to some consistent life ethic as a reason to regulate murder at the beginning and end of life is just another issue facing our society?”

Live Action News continues

Voices for Life is an e-publication dedicated to informing and educating the public on pro-life and pro-family issues. To read our Mission Statement, use this link.  Follow us on Facebook, Google, Pinterest  and The Tea Party Community.  Help us spread the pro-life message by sharing our articles on your favorite social networks.

Pregnant, need help or know someone who does? Help is available. Call 1-800-712-HELP.

If you've had an abortion and are looking for support, please know there are many organizations where you can find help. Call 1-800-5WE-CARE. 

Fr. Stephen Imbarrato: Protecting Life “Supersedes All Other Issues”

“Abortion is the pre-eminent and defining issue of our day and supersedes all other issues.”

By Calvin Freiburger
Live Action News

In a passionate homily shown worldwide on EWTN, Father Stephen Imbarrato of Priests for Life declared that “the issue of thousands of babies dying in our country every single day” is the “one issue that we need to get right” and that if we do, “all the other issues will start falling into place.”

“Over a hundred twenty thousand babies die from abortion each day worldwide,” he added. “This is such a river of blood, such an affront against God, the author of life, that there can really be no issue more important or demanding greater or immediate attention.”

Imbarrato rebuked those who attempt to downplay abortion as no more important than any other political or cultural issue. “As important as all the non-negotiables are, and they are non-negotiables, we now have seen others try to make the list include all issues. Otherwise known as this ‘consistent life ethic,’ the ‘seamless garment,’ so to speak,” he said. But while “we need to be mindful of the poor, and many other social issues,” the fact remains that “abortion is the pre-eminent and defining issue of our day and supersedes all other issues.”

“Really, how dare anyone say–I don’t care, laity, priest, bishop–that all issues are equal?” he challenged. “That we adhere to some consistent life ethic as a reason to regulate murder at the beginning and end of life is just another issue facing our society?”

Live Action News article continues

Voices for Life is an e-publication dedicated to informing and educating the public on pro-life and pro-family issues. To read our Mission Statement, use this link.  Follow us on Facebook, Google, Pinterest  and The Tea Party Community.  Help us spread the pro-life message by sharing our articles on your favorite social networks.

Pregnant, need help or know someone who does? Help is available. Call 1-800-712-HELP.

If you've had an abortion and are looking for support, please know there are many organizations where you can find help. Call 1-800-5WE-CARE. 

Catholic Priest: “Unless We End the Killing of Children in Abortion Our Nation’s Problems Will Get Worse”

By Steven Ertelt
Life News

A leading pro-life Catholic priest says the top issue for American voters ought to be abortion and that unless abortion in America ends the nation’s problems will only get worse. Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life is also concerned about the attempt by a fake Catholic group called Catholics for Choice that is trying to deceive voters.

LifeNews has previously covered the so-called Catholics for Choice ad seeking to make abortion a positive thing for Catholics.

“Have you seen the ad? It’s a product of the deceptive, pro-abortion group called “Catholics” for Choice. I put the word “Catholics” in quotation marks because this group is anything but Catholic,” says Father Frank Pavone.

 “And the sole purpose of the pro-abortion group’s ad is to confuse and mislead Catholic voters, while at the same time give political “cover” to those Catholics who refuse to recognize that ending legalized abortion-on-demand is the fundamental issue facing voters this election. Period.”

“I say that because of the simple truth that, until and unless we end the killing of defenseless children in the womb, our nation’s problems – whether it be with the economy, or immigration, or violence in our cities, or with ISIS and radical Islamic terrorists – will continue and get worse,” Pavone added.

Fr. Pavone continued:

"As I suspect you know, “Catholics” for Choice (or CFC) is a pro-abortion group that is based in Washington, D.C. The bishops have said that it has no affiliation with the Catholic Church whatsoever."

"It uses the name “Catholic” in its title for the sole purpose of contradicting the Church’s unequivocal opposition to abortion no matter what the circumstances of the pregnancy."

"For the group to state that taxpayer-funded abortion is a Catholic social good is nothing but a politically motivated attempt to sow confusion. It is a devious campaign to mislead Catholics, not only about what the Church teaches, but about what abortion is."

"How could any properly formed Catholic think that it’s perfectly okay and in line with Church teaching for an abortionist to decapitate living babies in the womb? Or rip their tiny arms and legs off during a brutal abortion procedure?"

Read the rest of Fr. Pavone's comments  

A Call of Conscience

A Brief History of Priests for Life: Part One

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

My team and I have often discussed the fact that one day we need to write a history of the marvelous ways that God's Providence has allowed Priests for Life as a ministry to come into existence, grow and diversify, and to be protected in the midst of many battles both with church and state, not to mention the pro-aborts. And, of course, a big part of that history would be the marvelous people whom our team has met and continues to meet on our constant travels, and who have, at various times, worked with us on our staff.

But before such time as a formal history is written, I thought I would devote a few columns to looking at some of the key elements in the development of this ministry. By understanding our history, whether as individual organizations or as the pro-life movement generally, we better understand where we are today and where we are going.

People often ask me if I am in the "founder" of Priests for Life. I do not use that title, because it was a group of priests in San Francisco who originally got it off the ground in 1991. But I found out about that after I had thought of doing the same, and that idea came to me because of something Cardinal John O'Connor did in that same year. He was Archbishop of New York, and ordained me to the priesthood. He was a fervent pro-life advocate and the key leader at that time among the hierarchy as a voice for the unborn and for the priority of the abortion issue. He announced that he was forming the "Sisters of Life," a religious community dedicated to fostering the sanctity of life. I thought it was marvelous, and I immediately thought, "There should be something like this for priests." I saw for myself the fruits in my own parish of preaching clearly, compassionately, and frequently on abortion.

So I joined Priests for Life. That was 1992.

By the next year, I experienced a profound call of conscience. In a letter I wrote to the Director of Priest Personnel for the New York Archdiocese on June 30, 1993, I stated the following:

 "Because of the nature and extent of the abortion/ euthanasia problem, I feel at this time that I cannot proceed with my life "business as usual," but rather must address these issues with all the strength and resources at my disposal. In other words, I am being drawn not by a mere preference or interest, but by a strong demand of conscience."

And so it began. Cardinal O'Connor granted me permission to devote all my time and energy to fighting abortion. Moreover, between the time I requested the meeting with him to ask permission, and the time I had the meeting, I was asked by the founders of Priests for Life if I would become its new President! My desire now had an opportunity for fulfillment, and I became the first full-time director of Priests for Life on September 1, 1993.

PRO-LIFE YOUTH SURPRISE PLANNED PARENTHOOD SUPPORTERS IN OHIO WITH THE TRUTH

From Priests for Life

Every year, young people who want to spend their summer making a difference make their way to the Troy, Ohio, headquarters of Stand True Pro-Life Outreach, the Youth Outreach of Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries. Youth Director Bryan Kemper spends a good portion of the summer on the road with these college-age people, traveling to youth festivals and pro-life events. In between road trips, the youth get a chance to practice some sidewalk activism in Troy and in nearby Dayton. 

Already this year, they’ve caused quite a stir on the sidewalks.

Bryan posted this blog on his website, StandTrue.com:

The Stand True Mission Team arrived at the Packard Museum in Dayton about an hour before a Planned Parenthood fundraiser was scheduled to begin. We set out immediately to chalk all the sidewalks leading to the museum with pro-life and Gospel messages.  Within minutes someone from the museum came out to tell us we could not chalk near the driveways or big doors. I informed her she was wrong and invited her to call the Dayton Police.

Two Dayton Police officers showed up shortly after and talked to me for a few minutes and then went in to inform the museum that we were well within our rights.

Two employees from the museum came out and approached me to ask about what we were doing. They were both heartbroken that the event had been booked by the agency for the museum and told us how much they were on our side. It was obvious how devastated they were with the decision to host a Planned Parenthood event there.

One of the museum employees, an older gentleman, asked if I had any pro-life literature. I told him Planned Parenthood would take it away from him and he said “They will NOT stop me from passing this out inside the museum.” I loaded him up with some literature and graphic drop cards, and he went inside.

As the night progressed we set up right at the entrance to the event and showed every single person who paid $75 a ticket what their money went to and pleaded with them to stop supporting child killing. We did not get to do much pleading as fewer than 25 people went into the fully catered event. I am sure Planned Parenthood lost money that night.

Also this summer, the Troy City Council passed a law that was in effect for only four days. The law made it illegal to do sidewalk chalking on the grounds of the annual Strawberry Festival and it was passed just to stop Bryan and his team. That alone tells you how effective they are in getting out their message.

Court Of Appeals Puts Priests For Life Lawsuit On “Fast Track”!

While our case moves forward in the D.C. Circuit, we’ve also invoked Rule 11 and filed a PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI with the Supreme Court because our lawsuit has “imperative public importance” due to the fact that the HHS mandate forces Priests for Life and other non-profit organizations, businesses and individual citizens to participate in the moral evil of abortion.

We’re taking these extraordinary actions because our lawsuit is one of the best ways to protect and safeguard both religious freedom in America and our right to speak out against abortion!

It is absolutely critical that we preserve our rights as Americans to practice our faith without fear of government coercion and, just as importantly, to speak out against the grave evil of abortion.

If we do not end the injustice of abortion, it will surely destroy our nation.

That’s why our lawsuit is so terribly important. Without legal protection from the courts, it will be all the more difficult for the People of Life and the nation’s pro-life movement to carry on our fight against legalized abortion-on-demand in America.


Please use this link to make a tax deductible donation to Priests for Life to help with this lawsuit.


About Priests for Life
 
Priests for Life has come to signify two distinct but related movements within the wider pro-life movement.

On one level, as described below, Priests for Life refers to a very specific effort to galvanize the clergy to preach, teach, and mobilize their people more effectively in the effort to end abortion and euthanasia.

On another level, Priests for Life represents a family of ministries that reach and enrich every aspect of the pro-life movement, for clergy and laity alike, in a wide variety of activities. This has come to pass precisely because priests are not ordained for themselves, but for the people. So in activating clergy, we are activating all the segments of the Church, the pro-life movement, and the wider society in the defense of life. 

We refer to this wider family of ministries as Gospel of Life Ministries, to indicate that what unites them all is the Gospel of Life, the good news that life is victorious over death!

Use this link for more information on Priests for Life: http://www.priestsforlife.org 

We Won't Kill Anybody: Overcoming the Civil Rights Disconnect

 

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

Our nation again approaches the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, and I will again be with Dr. King's family on that day.

Many people understand the connection between the civil rights movement and the pro-life movement thanks to the work of Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. Her father, Rev. A.D. Williams King, was Martin's brother. She began working with me fulltime at Priests for Life as our Director of African-American Outreach in 2004.

She and I have been together with her family at many events both happy and sad, including the annual observances of the national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, and the 50th anniversary celebration of the "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. On these occasions, we have been privileged to enjoy some of the most soaring oratory of our day, and some of the most articulate speeches about civil rights, justice, equality and freedom that one can ever hear. Time and time again, I have been energized and inspired by these speeches, and moved to recommit myself to the pursuit of justice and equality for every human being.

But therein also comes the pain and a glaring disconnect. The deepest human emotion and commitment to justice is evoked as speaker after speaker decries violence in the streets, senseless shootings, vast numbers of young people in prison, social inequities and economic injustices, and the horrors of war -- to mention a few. But what is never mentioned is the violence of abortion, and the need to secure justice and equality for the child in the womb. Alveda and I have both felt the disconnect so intensely at these gatherings that, amidst the loud applause, we sometimes say out loud, "And the children too! Don't forget the children in the womb!" We were indeed gratified when, on a single occasion (the MLK Holiday observance at Ebenezer in January of 2013), the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, in his keynote address, mentioned the need to protect all life, including the womb.

That is the kind of consistency that then gives credibility to the cry for justice and equality in all the other contexts that are mentioned.

At that recent 50th anniversary celebration, we heard the assertions,  "There are still too many lives taken by violence… I dream of a world that does not hold anyone back...We can't move ahead while some people are falling behind…We must protect the most fundamental rights we have…" No reference was made to the right to life of the youngest children.

And hence the pro-life movement declares today, "There are indeed too many lives taken by the violence of abortion… We dream of the world that does not hold the unborn back…We can't move ahead while children in the womb are falling behind…We must protect the most fundamental right we have, the right to life."

On Christmas of 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. preached the following words: "The next thing we must be concerned about if we are to have peace on earth and good will toward men is the nonviolent affirmation of the sacredness of all human life. Every man is somebody because he is a child of God…Man is more than …whirling electrons or a wisp of smoke …. Man is a child of God, made in His image, and therefore must be respected as such….And when we truly believe in the sacredness of human personality, we won't exploit people, we won't trample over people with the iron feet of oppression, we won't kill anybody."

Indeed, we won't kill anybody, including the children in the womb.