Dear JYs This newsletter received by me is really really long. But I am posted it on behalf of those who are into Pro-life or interested in Pro-life concerning Abortion. First of all the newsletter comes at a moment where on Wed., Jan. 22, marks the 30th anniverary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand in America.
I found the article really useful in certain aspects of information. urs in faith Jason Mumbai, India ----------------------------------------------------- * DR. DOBSON'S JANUARY NEWSLETTER (ON ABORTION) IS BELOW. ------------------------------------------------------ * BUT PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ A SAD "TESTIMONY" WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY FROM A LADY - AFTER SENDING A MESSAGE REGARDING THE ISSUE SHE DESCRIBES... "Please allow me to tell you my story. I'd love to get it into the hands of those on the forefront. I was 13 years old and pregnant. I went to the counseling room to discuss my options ...abortion being at the top of the list - of the counselor, as she looked at my young age. I pushed to hear about adoption through Christians. After I was given the rundown on all, I chose abortion. I went in as scheduled. As I waited for my turn to get it done in a little room, spaced out on pain meds., I changed my mind. My turn was up, so I told the doctor I changed my mind, that I didn't want to go through with it. I wanted to give it up for adoption. I was told I had no choice, that I had to go through with it because of meds. He insisted that I get up on the table sternly. I was 13 he was an adult ...my parents were never informed. I also believe that I was over 3 months pregnant. (I'm not certain, but pretty sure.) I was so young and unknowledgeable. SO MUCH FOR CHOICE!" - Dawn Lowery, now 34. (edited slightly, for clarity) ------------------------------------------------------ *** DR. DOBSON'S JANUARY NEWSLETTER - ON ABORTION From: http://www.family.org/docstudy/newsletters/a0024012.html [The numbers in the text are references to footnotes, which can be accessed by clicking the link above.] ------------------------------------------------------ [DR. JAMES DOBSON / FOCUS ON THE FAMILY] January 2003 Dear Friends: A New Year has begun, and with it comes a national anniversary marked by shame. Thirty years ago, on January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down two rulings that would change our country forever. The Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton decisions ushered in the age of legalized abortion, which would result in the deaths of more than 42 million preborn babies.1 Fully 28% of the younger generation - which might be called the "Roe vs. Wade Generation" - have been killed.2 In response, Focus on the Family and other pro-life organizations have designated January as Sanctity of Human Life month. That observance takes on a particularly somber tone in 2003 as we reflect on three full decades of abortion in the United States. How does one express in a simple letter the full significance of this sad era? The act of abortion has undermined our respect for life at every stage of existence, from the cradle to the grave, and has opened the door to cloning, infanticide, euthanasia and child abuse. Promoters of abortion continue to couch the issue primarily in political terms, rather than acknowledging the profound moral and ethical questions involved. Far too many pastors and laymen also hide behind that subterfuge. They tell us that a woman's right to choose is the only consideration. Yet in reality, research reveals that an alarming number of women are coerced to have abortions by their husbands, boyfriends, parents and most notably, by abortion clinic "counselors."3 That should come as no surprise in light of revelations from former abortion clinic workers who have told us that the industry is driven entirely by a profit motive. Carol Everett, who owned and operated several Dallas area abortion centers in the late 70s and early 80s before joining the pro-life cause, has said that money - and not "women's rights" - is the governing force behind the abortion movement. In an interview on the "Physicians for Life" Web site, Mrs. Everett said, "I was getting a commission of $25 for every abortion I 'sold.' In 1983, the year I got out [of the abortion industry], I would have pocketed approximately $250,000." Projections for the following year suggested that she would net $1 million.4 Regardless of facts such as these, pro-abortion groups have suggested that unlimited access to abortion saves the lives of women who would otherwise be endangered by illegal, "back alley" abortion procedures. Many pro-abortion activists claim that between 5,000 and 10,000 women died each year as a result of back-alley abortions in the "dark ages" before the procedure became legal.5 This is a lie told for 30 years by abortion supporters. In 1972, one year before the killing of babies was legalized, only 39 women died from illegal abortions.6 Even Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a founder of the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) who has since joined the pro-life ranks, admitted that frightening statistics such as these were completely fabricated.7 The truth is that abortion is far deadlier to women than childbirth; it is linked to a 30 to 50 percent increase in breast cancer; it is related to high rates of abuse, suicide and death; and it causes many women to suffer for the rest of their lives with the physical and emotional scars of Post Abortion Syndrome.8 And, most importantly, it is an affront to the great heart of the Creator. Couching the abortion debate as merely a "women's issue" also ignores the personhood of preborn children. Science has now given us decisive evidence that points to the worth and humanity of babies in the womb. An unborn child is genetically unique at fertilization;9 its heart begins to beat at 18 to 21 days after fertilization; by the sixth week the adrenal gland and thyroid are functioning;10 eight weeks after conception all body systems are present;11 and the baby's fingerprints are beginning to form by the twelfth week.12 Medical advances in the past 30 years have given doctors the ability to observe the development of a baby from its earliest stages. Anyone who has seen photos of an embryonic child will testify to the emotional impact of such images. Indeed, science can play a significant role in exposing the lie that life in the womb is somehow less than human. The General Electric Corporation recently aired a powerful advertisement showcasing its new 4D-ultrasound system. The commercial depicts a married mother and father in their doctor's office, (she was wearing a wedding ring) viewing a 4D-ultrasound image of their unborn child. The popular song, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" can be heard in the background. The parents are visibly moved in seeing this incredibly lifelike depiction of their growing baby, and the commercial ends with a shot of the couple holding their newborn child, which looks remarkably similar to the ultrasound image they had seen. I have no idea whether the producers of this commercial were endeavoring to send a pro-life message, but they made a profound statement nonetheless. Take a good look at these two photos of the unborn baby shown in the GE television commercial: (See http://www.family.org/docstudy/newsletters/a0024012.html) Powerful images such as these can give parents a heart-tugging glimpse of their baby as it develops in the womb. 4D ultrasound devices can create a moving, real-time image of wonderful realism and clarity, especially when compared to the grainy quality of traditional black-and-white 2D-ultrasound technology. Note the fully formed fingers, eyelids and other features on this beautiful child. It is not a mass of foreign tissue . . . clearly, it is a baby. Imagine the horrifying reality that the precious child depicted in the GE photo could have been killed legally, without anesthetic, for any reason or no reason, even after he or she had reached full term and had been partially delivered. How can we deny that partial-birth abortion, and all forms of abortion, are murder? After 30 years and 42 million victims, pro-abortion advocates continue their assault on the unborn. As you probably know, Planned Parenthood has a long and disturbing history of promoting abortion in this country. One of its most egregious recent acts involved paying students at an Ohio high school $100 apiece to be "outreach workers," with an additional $5 for each patient they recruit for the local Planned Parenthood clinic.13 Imagine that! They paid $5 for the life of a baby! Consider an "artwork and poster contest" hosted by Planned Parenthood's "SaveRoe.com" Web site. Participants in the poster contest were encouraged to submit "an original piece of artwork or poster that celebrates 30 years of choice and illustrates the concept that 'Behind Every Choice Is a Story.'" But there was a requirement for those wishing to participate: "Children under age 18 must have a parent or legal guardian's permission to submit their designs and for us to publish it along with their name."14 The irony is that this stipulation came from an organization that has campaigned relentlessly against parental consent laws and in favor of a young girl's right to terminate her pregnancy without her parents' knowledge! Wall Street Journal columnist James Taranto rightly asked in an editorial, "How come if a kid is old enough to have an abortion, she's not old enough to make a poster celebrating choice?"15 Despite the often discouraging effort to protect preborn babies, there is reason for hope as we observe the 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Most notably, it appears that the tide of public sentiment on abortion is slowly turning in favor of a pro-life perspective. An online version of the Time magazine included a survey question asking, "When do you think life begins?" The choices were 1) At conception; 2) At birth; or 3) Don't know. Out of more than 67,000 respondents, a full 65% indicated that they believed life begins at conception! Only 6.2% felt that life begins at birth, while 24.1% fell into the "don't know" category.16 Several recent victories in the public policy arena have also given us reason for hope. One of them occurred, miraculously, in the defeat of the bankruptcy bill considered in Congress last November. While the bill itself was appropriate and needed, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer (NY), a long time promoter of abortion in all its ugliness, added an amendment that was unconscionable. His provision would have singled out abortion protestors as being the only individuals who could never escape court-ordered fines or damages. The financial obligation would follow them through bankruptcy and perhaps for the rest of their lives. No other constituency was targeted - not People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), nor radical environmental groups, nor anti-war protestors, nor homosexual activists. Senator Schumer focused his personal hostility only on the mothers, dads and pastors who have stood on sidewalks and begged people to stop the killing. It was one of the most shameful acts of discrimination in legislative history, and yet many Republicans in the Senate, in their desire to please the banking and business community, joined with Democrats in passing the amended bill.17 When hearing that Republicans were about to stab pro-lifers in the back, I called Congressman Tom Delay (R-TX), the number three ranking Republican in the House, and begged him not to support the Schumer amended bill in the Conference Committee. At first, he was sympathetic. Then, after working out what he called "a compromise" that in reality did not protect pro-life protestors at all, Delay, Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Representatives James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-WI) and Dick Armey (R-TX), began pressuring all Republicans in the House to pass the bill. Though Congressman Delay denies this, I have talked to many representatives who say they were put under enormous pressure to vote "the party line." Even those who are solidly pro-life felt obligated to violate their consciences and appease the business community at the expense of humble defenders of unborn life. What a strange situation this was, as these leaders who have done so much for the pro-life cause in the past now chose "politics over principle." Most of them knew it was wrong, but money is a powerful motivator in Washington. The credit card and consumer lending industries have donated more than $45 million to Republicans, and as a payback, they demanded passage of the bankruptcy bill with the Schumer amendment intact.18 That was enough for the Republican leadership who began abandoning their own values. Even President Bush agreed to sign the bill!19 Then the word began to get out that a betrayal was in the works. The bill was being voted on just nine days after the pro-life community had turned out in force to give Republicans victories in the House and Senate. Ken Connor, president of the Family Research Council (FRC) said, "Instead of rewarding the pro-life Americans for giving their votes overwhelmingly to Republican candidates on Election Day, the GOP leadership is jabbing a thumb in their eye . . . at the behest of the business wing of the party."20 Thanks in part to a radio program we aired at the last minute, as well as appeals made by FRC, the Christian Coalition, Concerned Women for America and other conservative organizations, a massive phone response was mounted. Angry calls flooded into congressional offices by the thousands, and Republicans began to see the light. Ultimately, enough of them teamed with the Democrats to defeat the bill - over the impassioned objection of the Republican leadership. The final vote was 243 to 172.21 Later that night, the Schumer provision was stripped out of the bill and passed in the House.22 Finally, the legislation died in the Senate as the term ended.23 Unfortunately, this disappointment in the Republican leadership was not an isolated instance. A few days later, Tom Delay et al, threw their enthusiastic support behind Deborah Pryce (R-OH), to replace Representative J.C. Watts as Chairman of the Republican Conference. That is the 4th highest position in the House of Representatives. Sadly, Pryce is pro-abortion, and is one of the more liberal Republicans in the House. She voted in favor of extending special rights to homosexuals (having endorsed domestic partnerships in Washington, D.C.24 ), voted against the ban on human cloning25 and voted against an amendment that would have allowed private school choice via vouchers for certain students. 26 How can we explain this choice for leadership by Representative Hastert and Delay? Who knows! They could have chosen conservative, thoroughly pro-life Representatives Jim Ryun (R-KS), or J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who sought election. We have to ask if the Republican leadership is really dedicated to the unborn child. Despite a sterling record in the past, these recent decisions cast down doubt on their commitment to moral values. Pryce is clearly on her way "up the ladder" in the House of Representatives. The possibility that she could one day bring her liberal views to a position of greater leadership in the House does not bode well for those of us who are concerned about the plight of the unborn and other moral issues. The bottom line: These developments illustrate that we in the pro-life community must be eternally vigilant - that the election of a particular party cannot secure what is right when powerful and lucrative influences are coming to bear on the Congress. We can hold our own in that arena if we will stay informed and be willing to let our voices be heard when moral issues hang in the balance. Most importantly, we must be ready to invest all our energies and influence when the next Supreme Court nominee is named. Believe me, the abortion industry and its supporters are armed to the teeth with money and influence, and they are ready for war. If we are casual during that time of decision, babies will continue to die for decades to come. I beg you to be ready. There will be little warning when the next Justice steps down, and the president's nominee will be before us suddenly. I believe that Mr. Bush's decision at that point will determine the legacy of his presidency. It will not be the War on Terrorism, as important as that is, or the economy or international relations. As the tragedy of slavery was for Abraham Lincoln, the sanctity of human life will be the defining issue for George W. Bush. His role in it will be determined by his influence on not only the Supreme Court but the entire federal judiciary. The president's appointments to the circuit courts to this point have been commendable, but they have been blocked by Tom Daschle and the Senate Democrats. After two years in office, only 53% of Bush's nominees have been confirmed. The percentage for Clinton after two years was 86%, with 96% for Bush Sr., 95% for Reagan and 100% for Carter.27 That illustrates what the president and conservatives in the Senate are up against, which is a prelude to the Supreme Court battle. Now, more than ever, we must let our elected leaders know how deeply and passionately we care about these issues. We must demonstrate an increased involvement in grassroots activism, as well as a willingness to support organizations that have committed themselves to defending the sanctity of human life. The church must take a greater role in addressing abortion as the moral issue that it is, thereby fulfilling the biblical mandate to stand up for the poor and defenseless. C. Everett Koop once observed that "Japan has records of more than fifty million legal abortions since World War II. That country is less than one percent Christian. Here in America we will destroy a larger number than that in the same amount of time, and we are a nation with deep Christian roots."28 The church has come a long way in tackling the abortion issue in the years since those words were written, but we still have a long way to go. Ultimately, however, we will not win this battle to protect innocent life without the direct intervention of the Lord. Let's be in prayer consistently, asking Him to do a miracle in this great nation. It took a bloody Civil War to end the curse of slavery. Our prayer must be that the cause of the unborn, the deformed and the elderly will be settled by people of conscience who know in their hearts what is right and are determined to see it accomplished. May God hear and answer that prayer. I am reminded of a story that has been told by the Reverend Billy Graham. The Cold War was ending, the Berlin Wall had just come down and Rev. Graham had been granted permission to hold his first ever crusade in East Berlin. To his surprise, the residents of the formerly communist side of the city clamored to hear the gospel with a passion and urgency unlike any he had seen. Meanwhile, those on the Western side, who had enjoyed the fruits of freedom and capitalism for years, met the news of Graham's crusade with a collective yawn. East Berliners descended upon the crusade venue in droves, while West Berliners were busy pursuing more wealth and putting up billboards to prepare for the reintegration of the city. This anecdote serves as a reminder that the truth often spreads more rapidly under oppressive circumstances than it does when the going is easy. When it comes to defending the sanctity of human life, that means that we can have the assurance that our message will get through even if our government and culture continue to embrace the many lies that surround the issue of abortion. The truth will never change, even if some choose not to believe it. A child growing in the womb is a human being, of inestimable worth in God's sight. Abortion is murder. These are not matters of opinion. My prayer is that, in the next 30 years, those of us who have been given the truth will be able, with God's grace, to change the hearts and minds of those who haven't yet grasped it, and to others who just don't want to understand. As Jesus Himself said, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32, NIV). Oh, that we might see that come to pass in our lifetime! God's blessings to each one of you. James C. Dobson, Ph.D. President P.S. I have been critical of the senior Republican leadership in this letter, and for good reason. But let me balance the scale by taking a shot at Democrats who are typically antagonistic to family values. Provided below are a few quotes from a newly published book by Al and Tipper Gore, Joined at the Heart. It is filled with scary statements that leave little doubt about where our ex-vice president stands on moral issues. This is what they wrote: 1. "For the first time in history, the definition of family relies less on structure and more on subjective experience." 29 [Guess what that means!] 2. "To put it another way - the way we like to think about it - family is quite simply the people about whom you care the most in the world, regardless of their legal or biological relationship to you. A family is a group of two or more individuals who are joined at the heart." 30 [This statement opens the door to polygamy or perhaps even numerous homosexuals. The Gores are saying that groups of individuals who claim to love each other at the moment can be considered a family. That squishy definition would kill the institution of marriage in short order.] 3. "In the hope of improving their chances of choosing the right lifelong partner, many couples in today's America decide to live together before (or instead of) marrying." 31 [This statement was made without commentary or expression of moral concern.] 4. "Noah and Marcus Logan [two children who were adopted by homosexual men] are lucky: they are being raised by not one, but two caring, committed fathers . . . families are almost always better off with two loving parents in the home . . . " 32 [For a candidate so committed to women's rights, I find it ironic that the Gores totally ignore the role of a mother in a child's life - at least when it promotes the homosexual agenda.] 5. "We also need to be more accepting of the different kinds of families that Americans are choosing for themselves. We should reserve our intolerance for genuine threats to the family . . . " 33 [The implications for homosexual marriage are evident throughout these commentaries.] 6. "We urgently need universal preschool . . . " 34 [Yes, so that an entirely different value system can replace the Judeo-Christian understanding in the minds of vulnerable kids.] 7. "We have long believed that the first and most important step our country can take to help families is to change our way of thinking about families." 35 It is disturbing to realize that former Vice President Al Gore came within 537 Florida votes of being the President of the United States, and the most powerful man in the world.36 The welfare of the family literally hung in the balance during the 2000 national election. Speaking personally and not on behalf of Focus on the Family, I thank God that He spared us this tragedy for now! Endnotes: [For complete listing of endnotes, please visit http://www.family.org/docstudy/newsletters/a0024012.html] --------------------------------------------------------- This letter may be reproduced without change and in its entirety for noncommercial and nonpolitical purposes without prior permission from Focus on the Family. Copyright ) 2003 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. ------------------------------------------------------ *** ALL PARTIES MENTIONED ABOVE CONDEMN ANY AND ALL ABORTION-RELATED VIOLENCE. *** THE APPEARANCE OF THIS LETTER IN OUR NEWSLETTER IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF PASSING ON MATERIAL POSTED ON A PUBLIC WEBSITE, AS PER THEIR "PERMISSION STATEMENT" ABOVE. NONE OF THE PARTIES MENTIONED ABOVE HAVE ANY ASSOCIATION WITH GOSPEL.COM OR THIS MINISTRY, NOR DO THEY ENDORSE GOSPEL.COM OR THIS MINISTRY. *** ANOTHER SIMILARLY POWERFUL LETTER BY DR. JAMES DOBSON IS POSTED ONLINE @ http://www.family.org/docstudy/newsletters/a0020513.html *** Learn more about Dr. Dobson and his ministry's fight to protect the unborn - and to help families in practically every way imaginable - at www.Family.org. - "TEENS PROTEST FOR LIFE IN D.C." http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/A0024219.html - ABORTION (ALSO) HURTS WOMEN - "REFOCUSING OUR IMAGE" http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/commentary/a0024186.html *** Learn more about taking a bold stand for Christ and helping to save the lives of "soon-to-be-murdered babies" IN YOUR COMMUNITY (through peaceful means). Visit Operation Save America's website: http://www.operationsaveamerica.org/streets/streets/index.html Visit www.ProLifeOnline.com for more links, information, articles, and online videos that will inspire and equip you to "fight the good fight" against the Abortion Holocaust in America. *** 30 YEARS. OVER 40 MILLION MURDERED BABIES - and counting... ======================================================== Smooth seas don't make skillful sailors =============================================================================== This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. For more info on the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet/join In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ===============================================================================
