The Pro-Life Action News Hotline is issued by Joe Scheidler three times a week, usually on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Occassional Hotlines are by other League staff. To hear the Hotline call 773-777-2525.
Monday 22 November - Tuesday 23 November
by Joe Scheidler
Just before the Thanksgiving vacation negotiators in the House and Senate inserted anti-abortion language into the $388 billion spending bill. The new language bars federal, state and local agencies from withholding tax dollars from health care providers who refuse to be involved in abortion in any way.
Such protection is currently given to doctors, and the provision in the spending bill expands it to all health care providers. It is causing quite a stir among pro-abortionists, especially since the move may signal new confidence among social conservatives.
Remembering the Assassination
It is forty-one years ago, Nov. 22, that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, one of those days all of us then living remember well. I had a Philco radio in my office at Mundelein College, and teachers and students gathered around it to hear the latest reports.
At first the announcement was just that the President had been shot, but soon came confirmation of his death. All parties, dances and even most sporting events were cancelled, as everyone turned to their TV's and watched over and over the coverage of the crowd, Jackie's blood spattered pink jacket, then live scenes that we've all seen in replays a thousand times since.
There was a thick mood of grief and disbelief, and in some ways it was the end of a the casual spirit of optimism that characterized America. And there were more assassinations to come. It seems that the sad music we heard that weekend has never quite stopped.
"Catholic" To Head NARAL
The National Abortion Rights Action League, now called NARAL Pro-Choice America, has a new president who claims to be a Catholic and who boasts that she stood up to a public effort to have her excommunicated.
Nancy Keenan of Montana says she's deeply committed to abortion and sex education. She served three terms in the Montana State House in various capacities, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Imagine the harm she did there.
Record Number of Catholics in Congress
There are now 153 Catholics in the U. S. Congress, 86 Democrats and 67 Republicans That's an all-time high. If only they were all real Catholics we'd have a powerhouse!
Novak on Specter
Robert Novak sees considerable merit in the many letters and phone calls that went out over the past two weeks urging Senators not to choose pro-abortion Republican Senator Arlen Specter as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Novak believes this outpouring of concern will help hold Specter's feet to the fire when it comes to Pro-life nominees to federal benches, if he gets the job.
Novak says that at last Thursday's meeting Specter persuaded everybody there that he really meant it when he said he would vigorously support all of President Bush's judicial appointments and nominees. Novak concludes, "[E]verybody will be watching carefully next year to see whether Specter was frightened sufficiently."
Did The Passion Influence Voters?
Francis Maier in Our Sunday Visitor has an interesting slant on the recent election with "moral values" getting so much attention by the press. Maier thinks Mel Gibson's " The Passion of the Christ" may have played a significant role with all the controversy surrounding it and attacks by the media and others against the film.
He thinks this got Christians in a fighting mood and brought many of them out to vote for "moral values" candidates and pro-moral amendments. Interesting concept.
How Ill Is Rehnquist?
"How serious is Chief Justice William Rehnquist's thyroid cancer?" Hope Yen asks in a recent column. Yen says one of three upcoming events may answer the question: rhe hearings in the Supreme Court Nov. 29, the annual Court Christmas party Dec. 17, or President Bush's inauguration January 20.
Rehnquist is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments and has not been in Court since mid-October. The Chief Justice swears in the President. Meanwhile, say a prayer for Justice Rehnquist who was one of only two justices to rule against the abortion decisions back in 1973.
[Hotline Archive] [Back to Top]The Pro-Life Action News Hotline is issued by Joe Scheidler three times a week, usually on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Occassional Hotlines are by other League staff. To hear the Hotline call 773-777-2525.
