The Texas Alliance for Life has been doing yoeman's work raising awareness about the cures that adult stem cells have been effecting and the need for more research in Texas. Bills have been introduced in the Texas Legislature that would create an adult stem cell research consortium, making Texas the leader in the nation on this issue.

Below is the second in a series of videos that highlight the miraculous work that these stem cells have done, in this case a Austin business owner and his complete recovery from a heart attack.

More information is available here.

"Many people are not aware that there are two types of stem cells -- adult and embryonic.

Research and treatments using adult stem cells do not harm the donors. Furthermore, adult stem cells have already been used to successfully treat and often cure more than 70 diseases, including heart disease, cancer, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, and many more.

We oppose research using embryonic stem cells because these can only be obtained by destroying human embryos -- innocent human beings at the very earliest stages of life. Some supporters of embryonic stem cell research also advocate for the creation of human embryos for research through cloning. Embryonic stem cell research has demonstrated no cures whatsoever after years of expensive research, draining sparse funding dollars away from the far more promising adult stem cell research.

We urge the Texas Legislature to PUT PATIENTS FIRST by funding adult, not embryonic, stem cell research.

SB 73/HB 2379 will create a Texas Adult Stem Cell Research Consortium that will put patients first by attracting top researchers to the state and helping to commercialize successful adult stem cell treatments. Adult stem cells have already successfully treated more than 70 diseases."

Labels: Texas Legislature

The Texas Legislature is considering a bill that would give a woman the right to see an ultrasound of her baby before an abortion is performed on her.

The bill would mandate that abortionists make the ultrasound available for viewing, describe the medical condition of the fetus, the presence of internal and external organs, and the option to hear the heartbeat. There are no penalties for the abortionist or the woman if she refuses to hear or see any of this. The law would simply require that the abortionist make it available to her. If she turns away, then so be it.

Normally, one would think that those who are in favor of expansion of women's rights and the availability of the most accurate and up to date information would be in favor of this bill. After all, most abortionists already use ultrasound (they have to in order to know how far along the baby is) so there is not an additional burden placed on them, it would simply require them to turn the screen.

Abortion supporters though, don't think of it that way. I found 4 articles written by various supporters of abortion that talk about the ultrasound bill and in their own way, try to put fourth arguments as to why it is wrong.

The first one is a US News & World Report blog posting by Bonnie Erbe from March, 23rd of this year. The very title of her posting reveals problem # 1 with the reporting surrounding this bill: "Antiabortion Fanatics' New Invasive Attack: the Forced Ultrasound"

Really, a forced ultrasound? Actually, the text of the bill is clear that there is no force or compulsion used at all.

Let's see what the text of the bill actually says:

Sec. 171.0121. VIEWING PRINTED MATERIALS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGE. a) A pregnant woman may choose not to view the printed materials provided under Section 171.012(a)(3) after she has been provided the materials. (b) A pregnant woman may avert her eyes from the ultrasound images required to be provided to and reviewed with the pregnant woman under Section 171.012(a)(4). (c) The physician and the pregnant woman are not subject to a penalty under this chapter solely because the pregnant woman chooses not to view the printed materials or the ultrasound images as described by this section.

There is no place in the bill that talks about a woman being forced to view an ultrasound, hear a description of the baby's development or listen to the heartbeat. The bill says the exact opposite.

The rest of her blog post is spent attacking pro-lifers, calling us "fanatics," and the "überright" and she makes no attempt at justifying her position that viewing an ultrasound is the "most invasive type of moralistic lecture imaginable."

Another written piece is from the distinguished editorial board of the Austin-American Statesmen, a local newspaper in Austin. The editorial from March 2nd, 2009 is entitled "Ultrasound bill is an outrageous intrusion by the Texas Legislature: Sen. Patrick's bill to shame women seeking abortions is wrongheaded."

Here's the catch line in the first paragraph: "Now comes an intrusive bill mandating that pregnant women seeking an abortion be force-fed information designed to humiliate them."

Force-fed? Wow! Can someone show me where that is in the bill? I can't find it.

The third article comes from a local high school student, Erin Goldman a senior at Greenhill School in Dallas. Embarrassingly, Erins article presents the most logical arguments against the ultrasound bill than the other articles mentioned above, but even hers manages to get the facts wrong.

Here is an example of what I mean. Erin writes: "Abortion is an unbelievably difficult choice for any woman to make, and her decision should remain between her and her doctor. In Texas, it is legal to have an abortion before the third trimester; it is a woman's right to choose. Where's the choice in mandating that women view an ultrasound as a prerequisite to abortion? "

Erin, the choice is written in the text of the bill itself, which you would know if you had taken the time to read it! But it is clear you did not.

My advice for all three of these writers: Before you write a column blasting proposed legislation, make sure you actually read the legislation first. And, if the thinking above and the writing of the articles is the sum of the opposition, then I am more convinced than ever of the need to pass this bill.

And finally, for amusement reading only, take a peek at the testimony of a former NARAL Texas staffer about the ultrasound bill. I could find no coherent argument in her writing, she seemed to be writing only to insult as many people as possible. More amusing and incoherent writing about the Kansas ultrasound bill (just passed last week) can be found here.

Let's cut through the rhetoric and the propaganda and get to the heart of the matter. That's what ultrasounds do, so should we.

Labels: Texas Legislature

Acting in his capacity as the head of the USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat, Cardinal George (Archbishop of Chicago) wrote President Obama a letter asking him to, in effect, go easy on the abortion-promoting initiatives that he has been promising.

Cardinal George(right) pictured with Pope Benedict XVI

Read the full letter and accompanying press release here.

The letter is well written and thoughtful and represents the thinking of the US Bishops. As such it is a good starting point for constantly reminding the new President that there is a large percentage of the population who do not approve of the measures he has been referring to and that his efforts at "bringing people together" would be significantly hampered were he to inflict upon America an abortion regime the likes of which has never been seen before.

Far from bringing people together, this would divide the country in an even more aggravated way than has been seen in the past. A new era is definitely upon us.

It's important that the Catholic Church in general become more involved in fixing our political system. In an age where principle is sacrificed for personal gain and corruption is celebrated and its practitioners promoted, it makes sense to organize people who are honest and morally ethical to challenge the prevailing system in order to advance the common good. Not because we are interested in one party over the other, but because we are interested in humanity, first and foremost.

Two things in particular need to happen here. 1) We need to make sure that the men and women who run for office are morally free from any taint or corruption. They must be honest, and live their lives with integrity and truly have a servant's heart. We must find these people and ask them to serve.

2) We must make sure that those who are in office actually advance the common good via the bills that the various legislatures around the country propose. Pressure must be brought to bear on these politicians to make sure they know that the people in their districts are watching and paying attention to every vote. And they will make their voices heard.

In the past few months, we have been receiving many inquiries from people indiciating their desire to do something about the tragedy of abortion in our land. They have told me that they are unhappy with the current efforts at ending abortion and want to be involved in an effort that makes this goal occur.

They are also overwhelmed by the corruption and scandal that daily lines the headlines of our newspapers and see the need to change it.

You CAN make a difference with CAT

In order to facilitate that growth and to make sure that the Catholic Church in Dallas has a powerful impact on public policy and the legislative process, we have started the Catholic Action Team (CAT), which will mobilize and educate Citizen Volunteers to be in touch with their elected officials, to visit with them and to pay attention to what they are doing. This personal touch, accompanied by the desire to restore integrity to our political system, represents our best chance of advancing the common good in a way that is consistent with what the Church teaches.

(Pro-life Texas State Senator Dan Patrick at Jan. 17's Roe Rally)

Our first CAT team training will take place on Saturday, January 31st at Thomas Aquinas Church in Dallas from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. This training is free and it is for people of all ages. You do not have to be an expert in politics or the political system to attend.

For more information, visit us online at www.prolifedallas.org/CAT. Sign up for the training online as well.

Labels: Catholic Politicians, Politics, Texas Legislature

Our own Allison Morales, the GEMS Coordinator for the CPLC, was in Austin yesterday at a press conference Governor Perry was holding to support a proposed "Choose Life" license plate bill.

The bill would raise awareness of adoption and provide funding to those organizations that help in the process.

From the Governor's press release:

"I am here today to endorse an effort that will allow Texans to support the humane choice of adoption,” Gov. Perry said. “The majority of Texans believe in the sanctity of life, and this license plate will give them a means to tell the world in a subtle but meaningful way, while providing support to pregnant women making the decision to choose adoption.”

The governor was joined today by Rep. Larry Phillips who will sponsor the bill in the Texas House of Representatives and Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life.

“The Choose Life license plate will help to create a win-win situation for all those involved—the birth mother, the adoptive parents, the baby, and the pro-life organizations that assist them,” said Pojman. “It’s time Texas joined the 19 other states that already have a Choose Life license plate to promote adoption.”

GEMS (Gabriel Education Ministry & Support) is an outreach of Project Gabriel of the CPLC and that "offers mothers instructional modules in character-building and life skills, and encourage them to set personal and professional goals, while completing course work toward graduation." GEMS accomplishes this by" . . offering mothers opportunities to learn more about themselves, about their Christian faith, about being better parents, and about gaining the knowledge and skills to help them take their place in the larger world of work, education and service."

Click here for more information about GEMS and Project Gabriel.

Click here for more information about the Choose Life License Plates.

** Picture: Kelly Shackleford (Free Market Foundation), Governor Rick Perry, Allison Morales.

Labels: Texas Legislature

Out of the more than 6,000 bills that have been filed in the Texas Legislature this session, we can expect only a few hundred to be passed and out of that few hundred, only a handful of them will be pro-life bills.

During the last session (2005) we passed exactly one pro-life bill for Parental Consent, and that at the very last minute against tremendous opposition.

For whatever reason, the Texas Legislature only meets every other year on the odd numbered years for 140 days and, although there may be benefits to a rarely-in-session legislature, from our end it never really seems to work out.

With all of that in mind, below are three pro-life bills that have been introduced in the Texas Legislature and have a reasonably good chance of passing, IF, we the citizens of this great state actually take into account our obligation to be politically active and do something about it, like call our State Senators and Representatives and ask them to support these bills.

(HB 225) Funding Ban on Embryonic Stem Cell Research - This is an absolute no-brainer bill. It would cut off funding to unethical and unproductive experimentation on embryonic stem cells.
There are no clinical benefits to embryonic stem cell research. The FDA has approved no uses in humans since it has proven to be clinically problematic in animal studies. There are better ways for us to be spending this money.

(HB 175 / SB 186) The Trigger Ban - This is a great law and 4 other states have already done it. This would effectively ban all abortions in the state of Texas (with the exception of the imminent death of the mother) if the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade or otherwise decides that the states have the right to regulate abortion.

If passed, although it would not have an immediate effect, it would tell the world that Texas is a pro-life state and that we are opposed to the legal reasoning imposed on us by the Roe decision and that the people do not want it.

(HB 21) Relating to Informed Consent to an Abortion - This bill would close the loophole in the current Women's Right to Know Act that allows abortionists to not give the women entering an abortion mill information that the State of Texas has deemed they should have.

The crux of the bill is that women who enter an abortion mill should be getting this booklet, which contains great information about abortion procedures, the risks of abortion, fetal development and other information. We know that when women have this kind of information (information that the other side fights tooth and nail to not give them) and can make a fully informed choice, the numbers show they decide to not have the abortion.

Abortionists have found loopholes around giving women this book by having them either listen to a pre-recorded message about it or encouraging them to not take it because it is "not well written" or "contains bad information." When was the last time you went to a doctor for a medical procedure and had to listen to a pre-recorded message about the procedure?

This bill would simply mandate that the book be physically handed to the women as she enters the abortion mill. Very simple and yet, pro-abortionists are bitterly opposed to it.

Visit the Texas Legislature Online or our web site for detailed information and the status of each bill. You can also find out who your state Representative is and how to get ahold of them.

Labels: Texas Legislature