Sanctity of Life

Michael Foust writes at Baptist Press: "A federal judge's ruling has thrust the issue of embryonic stem cell research back into the news. Following are five questions and answers about the decision. -- Did the judge's ruling block all stem cell research? Among the pro-life groups involved in the case are the Alliance Defense Fund, Advocates International and the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher . . . -- What are the differences between the three types of stem cells? . . . -- How does the Obama administration interpret the Dickey-Wicker Amendment? . . . -- Has stem cell research led to any cures? . . . "

Wall Street Journal: "The Justice Department filed an emergency motion Tuesday asking a U.S. judge to temporarily stay his ruling last week that blocked the federal government from funding research involving human embryonic stem cells . . . Steven Aden, senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund and a lawyer for the challengers, said the government was rehashing arguments that were unsuccessful earlier in the case. 'The law is clear: The government can't fund this illegal and wasteful research,' Aden said."

"The Justice Department today asked a federal judge in Washington to stay his ruling this month that blocks the government from funding research that involves human embryonic stem cells."

ChristianNewsWire: "Troubled abortionist Steven Chase Brigham has been issued a cease and desist order by the Maryland State Board of Physicians ordering him to stop the illegal practice of medicine, including abortions, at five locations throughout Maryland because he does not and never has been licensed in that state."

E. Christian Brugger, Ph.D. writing at The Culture of Life Foundation: "The ideas of the young international movement known as 'transhumanism' are beginning to characterize the thinking of an increasing number of clinicians and bioethicists. I thought therefore that our readers might profit from a brief introduction to them . . . Technology is now making possible interventions that in addition to a therapeutic aim are intended to augment healthy human capacities."

Earned Media: "Personhood Colorado and Colorado Right to Life, co-sponsors of Colorado's Personhood Amendment 62, have discovered that their only opposition, 'Protect Families Protect Choices', is backed by none other than abortion profiteer Planned Parenthood . . . 'Our opposition is relying on scare tactics to frighten voters,' explained Leslie Hanks, co-sponsor of Amendment 62. 'For example, NARAL's claims about miscarriages and ectopic pregnancy are patently false.'"

LifeSiteNews: "A study of women who had abortions has found that women undergoing later abortions face increased psychological risks, are more likely to be ambivalent about having an abortion and are more likely to need counseling and support. The study, 'Late-Term Elective Abortion and Susceptibility to Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms,' was published in the August issue of the Journal of Pregnancy." Late-Term Elective Abortion and Susceptibility to Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Priscilla K. Coleman, Catherine T. Coyle, and Vincent M. Rue

LifeSiteNews: "Members in both chambers of U.S. Congress are angling to alter federal law in order to undermine a district court judge's temporary injunction that effectively puts a stop to the onset of taxpayer-funded embryonic stem-cell research."

LifeNews: "The Obama administration is expected to officially appeal later this week a federal judge's decision to halt President Barack Obama's executive order forcing Americans to fund embryonic stem cell research through their tax dollars . . . 'The American people should not be forced to pay for experiments -- prohibited by federal law -- that destroy human life,' ADF Attorney Steve Aden] said. 'The court is simply enforcing an existing law passed by Congress that prevents Americans from paying another penny for needless research on human embryos.'"

American Medical News: "When ella is available later this year, physicians will have to decide if prescribing the drug is right for them and their patients."

ChristianNewsWire: "An open records request for public documents has been denied by the Iowa Medical Board, which tipped off Planned Parenthood of the Heartland that the request for public records had been made. Planned Parenthood then filed a suit against a medical watchdog group to block the release of the documents."

Christian Newswire: "Well over 15,000 students and parents have politely requested that Alverno College, a Catholic college founded by the School Sisters of St. Francis, delete several web site links that channel students to abortion advocacy groups. However, despite the large number of complaints the links remain up and running . . . "

ADF attorney Steve Aden appeared on the Zeb Bell Show to discuss this: Federal court halts Obama administration’s embryonic stem cell policy | MP3 17:22 mins

LifeNews: "The Iowa-based Planned Parenthood affiliate that has the nation's first abortion practitioner overseeing the new telemed abortion concept has filed a lawsuit to block a pro-life group's request for papers on the abortion practitioner's medical license. The pro-life group Operation Rescue is also concerned that the Iowa Board of Medicine tipped off Planned Parenthood officials to its request for the documents."

Las Vegas Sun (AP): "[T]he ruling drew praise from the Alliance Defense Fund, a group of Christian attorneys who helped with the lawsuit filed by two researchers against the administration rules.The American people should not be forced to pay for experiments _ prohibited by federal law _ that destroy human life,' said [Steven H. Aden], the group's senior legal counsel. 'The court is simply enforcing an existing law passed by Congress that prevents Americans from paying another penny for needless research on human embryos.'"

The Bulletin (Philadelphia): "[T]he Pennsylvania Supreme Court has determined that state law requires life-preserving treatment for people who are not near death and have not refused treatment . . . 'A person’s value isn’t based on his or her physical or mental abilities,' said ADF Legal Counsel [Matt Bowman]. 'No one should be allowed to decide that a person’s life is not worth saving just because he or she has a disability or medical condition.'" ADF News Release

Care 2 / Protect Women's Rights: "Urban Outfitters, a clothing store mostly targeted at college students and 20-and-30-somethings, decided to start selling Proper Attire condoms on its website . . . Rita Diller, National Director of STOP Planned Parenthood, a project of the American Life League, emailed her supporters, an email that was soon circulating among, according to RH Reality Check's Eleanor Bader, 'dozens of local anti-choice and church groups and . . . major national organizations including the Alliance Defense Fund, Women of Grace, and catholicnewsline.com.' The next day, Proper Attire condoms were pulled from Urban Outfitters' online catalogue."

The Tennessean: "A Tennessee-based Christian group believes it is saving lives by bringing the research to a grinding halt . . . Tennessee has become a key player in the arguments unfolding in court that could decide the fate of research involving human embryos. Even Tennessee's two U.S. senators are divided on the issue . . . Seeing that more embryos could be destroyed and the government would spend more money on the research, the Christian Medical and Dental Association immediately filed the federal lawsuit along with the Alliance Defense Fund, a coalition of attorneys who defend religious freedoms, marriage and family."

OneNewsNow: "Pennsylvania's Supreme Court has ruled against family members who wanted to end the life of a man with mental disabilities . . . Randall Wenger of the Independence Law Center and an allied attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) tells OneNewsNow the court stood with 53-year-old David Hockenberry, who has had acute mental disabilities since birth."