The new Maryland Right to Life web site is now live!
We made the decision to move the site to a different server that provides features that we did not have previously, including the ability to make donations online and the ability to update the web site ourselves.
We are still in the process of moving information from the old site to the new. This will take several weeks, but I didn't want to delay getting the new site up. We do have some new information on the site, including the registration materials for the 2009 Oratorical and Essay Contests.
The giving page may seem a little strange — the software is designed for businesses that are selling their wares online, so I was forced to create a "catalog" of giving options. It's typical for online stores to have photos of each item — I had fun putting in photos of some truly adorable children. (Yes, I am related to some of them — can you guess which ones?) You don't get to buy the baby, but I'm hoping their cherubic faces will inspire some generous donations.
Check out the new site at www.mdrtl.org.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
What Is FOCA
"The Freedom of Choice Act. It sounds so innocuous. In reality, it's one of the most deadly pieces of legislation ever devised.
“The heart of the bill,” says National Right to Life Legislative Director Douglas Johnson, “is a ban that would nullify all of the major types of pro-life laws that the Supreme Court has said are permissible under Roe v. Wade, including the ban on partial-birth abortions and bans on government funding of abortion.”
Let's look at some of the wording of FOCA, as it was introduced last year in the Senate:
Just think — parental notice, informed consent, abortion reporting, regulation of abortion clinics, conscience protection laws for health care providers and institutions, the ban on partial-birth abortions, and restrictions on federal funding of abortion — would fall by the wayside. Every victory we have worked for would be undone.
And the exploitation of helpless babies and their vulnerable mothers would increase exponentially.
“The heart of the bill,” says National Right to Life Legislative Director Douglas Johnson, “is a ban that would nullify all of the major types of pro-life laws that the Supreme Court has said are permissible under Roe v. Wade, including the ban on partial-birth abortions and bans on government funding of abortion.”
Let's look at some of the wording of FOCA, as it was introduced last year in the Senate:
“A government may not (1) deny or interfere with a woman’s right to choose – (A) to bear a child; (B) to terminate a pregnancy prior to viability; or (C) to terminate a pregnancy after viability where termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman; or (2) discriminate against the exercise of the rights set forth in paragraph (1) in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.Essentially, states would not be able to regulate or restrict abortion in any way. Any laws already on the books that limit abortion would immediately be null and void.
This act applies to every Federal, State, and local statute, ordinance, regulation, administrative order, decision, penalty, practice, or other action enacted, adopted, or implemented before or after the date of enactment of this act.” Text of H.R. 1964 and S. 1173, introduced on April 19, 2007.
Just think — parental notice, informed consent, abortion reporting, regulation of abortion clinics, conscience protection laws for health care providers and institutions, the ban on partial-birth abortions, and restrictions on federal funding of abortion — would fall by the wayside. Every victory we have worked for would be undone.
And the exploitation of helpless babies and their vulnerable mothers would increase exponentially.
Time to Get Fired Up
I would like to give you a detailed analysis of exactly what happened on election day, but the truth is I can't. I'm much to busy to take the time to figure out why we lost so badly.
The simple answer is that these things always go in cycles. One party is in power for a while, people blame all the problems we face on the current party in power, and then the other party takes over. It's happened before. It will happen again.
What doesn't change is us — the pro-life remnant. We are faithful because to us, this is not politics. It's a matter of life or death. We are in this battle for the long haul. And we know it's more than just a political battle — it's really a spiritual one too. So we will remain faithful, trusting the eventual outcome to a higher power than ourselves.
Fr. Frank Pavone has published a list of reasons why we are winning. He cites the increasing evidence of science, the conversions, poll data, declining numbers of abortions, etc. to show that the pro-life movement really is making gains, despite what the media indicates.
Every one of those reasons is still valid. We are gaining because we work as if lives depend on it, regardless of who is in the White House or how many votes we have in Congress or the State House.
It's time to get fired up as never before. As soon as Barack Obama is sworn in, we will be fighting to stop F.O.C.A. from being passed. We can do it! We've done it before and we'll do it again.
I'm counting on your support. Please stay tuned.
The simple answer is that these things always go in cycles. One party is in power for a while, people blame all the problems we face on the current party in power, and then the other party takes over. It's happened before. It will happen again.
What doesn't change is us — the pro-life remnant. We are faithful because to us, this is not politics. It's a matter of life or death. We are in this battle for the long haul. And we know it's more than just a political battle — it's really a spiritual one too. So we will remain faithful, trusting the eventual outcome to a higher power than ourselves.
Fr. Frank Pavone has published a list of reasons why we are winning. He cites the increasing evidence of science, the conversions, poll data, declining numbers of abortions, etc. to show that the pro-life movement really is making gains, despite what the media indicates.
Every one of those reasons is still valid. We are gaining because we work as if lives depend on it, regardless of who is in the White House or how many votes we have in Congress or the State House.
It's time to get fired up as never before. As soon as Barack Obama is sworn in, we will be fighting to stop F.O.C.A. from being passed. We can do it! We've done it before and we'll do it again.
I'm counting on your support. Please stay tuned.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
MDRTL Joins the Cyber Community
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but it ain't so. This "old dog" began writing on a manual Remington typewriter (remember those?) and has seen all kinds of technology come and go, and I'm still learning.
As President of Maryland Right to Life, my primary concern is to communicate with you, our members, to keep you informed of what MDRTL is doing to advance the cause of human life in Maryland. I have to admit, the blogosphere is new territory for me—but where pro-life Marylanders are, there I shall follow.
I hope to use this blog to update you on what Maryland Right to Life is doing and keep you informed on what you can do to help. In the days to come, I'll comment on a variety of topics related to life issues. Please send me your comments, questions, and ideas!
As President of Maryland Right to Life, my primary concern is to communicate with you, our members, to keep you informed of what MDRTL is doing to advance the cause of human life in Maryland. I have to admit, the blogosphere is new territory for me—but where pro-life Marylanders are, there I shall follow.
I hope to use this blog to update you on what Maryland Right to Life is doing and keep you informed on what you can do to help. In the days to come, I'll comment on a variety of topics related to life issues. Please send me your comments, questions, and ideas!
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