Human Concerns - Pro-Life

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For information about any pro- life issue, call Lana at  708 429-0760.

Your Help is Needed

Dear Friends,

Pro-life hero Dr. Wilke and the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA) both sent out action alerts on three bills, asking people to call their two U.S. Senators.
I have included portions of their emails in this action alert. Two of the bills are good, and one is very bad. Very soon these three bills will be voted on in the U.S. Senate. An agreement has been reached unanimously by the Senate members to consider each one of the three legislative proposals. No amendments will be allowed. Each will take 60 senate votes to pass. Assuming passage in both Houses, each will go to the President. Again, two of these bills are excellent. One is a disaster. The two good ones will be debated and voted on first.

Current Action Alerts

U.S. Senate Stem Cell Debate: Oppose H.R. 810, Support S. 2754 and S. 3504

On June 29, the U.S. Senate approved a unanimous consent agreement to consider three bills related to stem cell research: S. 3504, Fetus Farming Prohibition Act - Please call your two U.S. Senators, and ask them to vote "yes" on this bill. S. 2754, Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act - Please call your two U.S. Senators, and ask them to vote "yes" on this bill. H.R. 810, Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This measure was passed by the House last year. - Please call your two U.S.
Senators, and ask them to vote "No" on this bill.

It is anticipated the Senate will debate these bills and vote on them in July. The following is some background information on the three bills under consideration.

Senate Bill 3504, The Fetus Farming Prohibition Act. This would make it a federal offense for a researcher to use tissue from a human embryo, fetus or baby who has been gestated in a woman's womb or an animal's womb for the purpose of providing tissue for research. This has been proposed by Senator R. Santorum (R-PA), is an excellent bill and we strongly recommend its passage.

Senate Bill 2754, The Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act. This would require the National Institutes of Health to support research to try to find methods of creating pluripotent stem cells without creating or killing living human embryos. These are cells that hopefully can be turned into any sort of body tissue.

House of Representatives Bill HR810, Stem Cell Research Enhancement ACT. This bill would require federal funding of research using stem cells obtained by killing human embryos. These are the well known embryonic stem cells. These are obtained by cutting open a five-day-old living human embryo and extracting these cells from the inside of his or her tiny body. This procedure kills this five-day-old human. The pro-life movement and most traditional religious bodies have strongly opposed this. Another major reason for opposing it is that to date there has not been a single human treatment using embryonic stem cells, whereas there are upwards of 70 major human problems that have been aided or cured by using adult stem cells or umbilical cord stem cells. These more successful cells can be obtained ethically as they come from the body of the person, are cultured, and returned to the body of that same person. In this process no one is killed. If HR810 is sent to the president he has promised to veto it.

Your Senators need to hear from the pro-life community immediately. Click here to obtain your Senators' contact information.

Take nothing for granted, for there is tremendous pressure on them by biotech industries and by the abortion industry. Two good bills (S.3504 and S.2754), one bad one (HR810), lets get on it. +++

Project Rachel Adds New Bible-Based Support Group for Women.
The Archdiocese of Chicago Respect Life Office announces the birth of a new post-abortive outreach ministry, A TIME TO HEAL, for women who have suffered from abortion. At this time, we are seeking volunteers to serve as Group Leaders, Co-Group Leaders, and Hostesses.
Designed by post-abortive women for post-abortive women, A TIME TO HEAL unlocks the door of hope. In a safe, supportive, confidential environment, women discover God's call to release their pain and open their hearts to His will. Realizing they are no longer alone, God's healing is allowed to work in God's time. This program is NOT intended to be a substitute for therapy. Referrals are used when issues arise beyond the scope of our mission. A TIME TO HEAL is a 12-week Bible Study Program that offers spiritual tools to deal with the torment of abortion and to fortify women to avoid future abortion scenarios. Please promote this new activity in your parish by letting your committee know, informing the Pastor and his staff, and if possible placing information in the bulletin. The Pastor might know some people that would be perfect with leading or co-leading a support group. Also, he might want to be the
local host for one of these. ARE YOU BEING CALLED TO THIS WORK? A TIME TO HEAL is beginning its training for the volunteer positions of Group Leader, Co-Group Leader, and Hostess. All it takes is a commitment of 12 weeks and a willing heart.Ø If you are a compassionate and supportive woman, sensitive to the pain of post-abortive issues, please feel free to contact Margie Manczko Breen of the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago. All Catholic women are welcome.Ø Attendance at all four training dates is mandatory for all lay-facilitators who wish to participate in A Time to Heal small groups. All sessions are from 6:00 pm to 9:30pm. Scheduled dates for training are:

Friday, July 21,
2006 Friday, August 4, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006

Bible Study Groups will start the first week of October and will continue every quarter. Come and be a part of this NEW ministry. Through friendship and support, we will help our sisters find healing and freedom!+++College Pro-Life Retreat...Still Time to Register!Students for Life of Illinois is hosting their first annual college pro life student leadership retreat July 21-22, 2006 in Rockford, IL. If you are a college student and want to be active in the Pro Life movement, please contact John Paul Deddens at sflillinois@gmail.com ASAP! Joe Scheidler of Pro Life Action League and a representative from the Leadership Institute will be on hand to train you to be an excellent campus activist!
Email John-Paul today to Register! Thank you for all that you do to build a Culture of Life in the Archdiocese of Chicago and beyond! In Christ's love, Mary-Louise Kurey, Director Margie Manczko Breen, Program Manager Allison Horton, Administrative Assistant Alicia Torres, Intern

Respect Life Office
Archdiocese of Chicago
312.751.5355
312.787.1554 fax

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."
Jeremiah 1:5