NRLC Applauds 4th Circuit Ruling

For immediate release:
Thursday, June 25, 2009

NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE APPLAUDS 4TH CIRCUIT RULING

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) applauded the 6-5 ruling by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the Commonwealth of Virginia’s ban on partial-birth infanticide. The ruling overturns the previous decision of a three-judge panel of the Court and allows the Commonwealth’s statute protecting women and their pre-born children to stand.

In a compelling concurring opinion, Judge Wilkinson recalled the often-ignored interest of the state in protecting human life, writing: “A partially born child is among the weakest, most helpless beings in our midst and on that account exerts a special claim on our protection.”

Today’s decision follows the strong precedent established by the Supreme Court’s decision in Gonzales v. Carhart (2007) upholding the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Notably, President Barack Obama, who has cited a respect for judicial precedent as criteria for his judicial nominees, voiced his strong disagreement with the Gonzales decision while serving as U.S. senator from Illinois, couching his support for partial-birth abortion as a matter of women’s health.

In contrast, Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., NRLC director of State Legislation asserts that “To maintain that puncturing the skull and removing the brain of a child who is in the process of being born is necessary for the health of the mother is a fallacy. We are relieved by the Court’s decision to allow the Commonwealth of Virginia to protect mothers and their children from the egregious procedure of partial-birth abortion.”

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation’s largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide

From the NRLC 2009 Press Office…

Greetings from Charlotte, North Carolina! Communications Assistant Jessica Rodgers here, in the press room monitoring media comings and goings with fellow assistant Megan McCrum, Director Derrick Jones, and our great intern Tatiana Elowson.

Today kicked off to a great start in the morning with a gathering of the leaders of NRLC and our SC and NC affiliates for a press breakfast. Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, opened the convention with a GREAT speech on stem cells and the amazing scientific discoveries surrounding the often misunderstood treatments. Like all pro-lifers, Fr. Tad supports ethical adult stem cell research. Latest numbers show that more than 70 treatments for diseases have been derived  from adult stem cells, while embryonic stem cells have yet to have a single human trial (for more information, visit http://www.stemcellresearch.org/facts/treatments.htm) .

After a break for lunch (during which it was great to catch up with old friends!), the sessions started up with everyone heading off to their respective workshops.

Here in the press office we’ve been checking in camera crews and arranging interviews with Olivia Gans—NRLC Spokesman and Director of American Victims of Abortion and NRLC President Dr. Wanda Franz. There’s been a steady stream of old and new friends coming in to say hi, and the back of the press room has been occupied by members of National Teens for Life Advisory Board, as they prepare for upcoming workshops.

Students from the ’07 and ’08 NRLC Academy classes have come in to volunteer and attend sessions, and it’s been encouraging to see so many young faces again this year attending the National Teens for Life Convention.

I took a break from the press office to go around and take pictures for a while, and was so excited to see all of the workshops so well attended. Lights had gone out in one of the workshop rooms but even sitting in the dark couldn’t dissuade pro-lifers from listening attentively to the speakers.

The first day of the Convention is always a long one, but the energy here is great. Attendee’s are excited to hear Kate Adamson speak tonight, and are getting geared up for the prayer breakfast in the morning.

Day one is off to an excellent start- – we’ll keep you updated!

 Check out more of the action on the convention department’s blog:  www.stoptheabortionagenda.com/convention, complete with this video, which we’re totally re-posting:

More to come!

Opening Press Release: Pro-Lifers Return to Charlotte to Stop Abortion Agenda

For immediate release: 
Thursday, June 18, 2009

PRO-LIFERS GATHER TO STOP THE ABORTION AGENDA
National Right to Life Convention Returns to Charlotte

 CHARLOTTE, NC – Today, North Carolina Right to Life and South Carolina Citizens for Life welcome pro-lifers from coast-to-coast to Charlotte for the 37^th annual National Right to Life Convention. Located at the Blake Hotel, the convention kicks off with a general session featuring Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, director of education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center.  South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster will also welcome attendees at the opening session.

 “We are thrilled to return to the Carolinas for the pro-life educational event of the year,” said Wanda Franz, Ph.D., president of National Right to Life.  “With an aggressive abortion agenda and attacks on life coming from pro-abortion leadership at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, this year’s convention gives every member of the pro-life community the opportunity to network and learn from some of the leading experts in the pro-life movement.”

 Author Kate Adamson will address this evening’s general session.  In her book, Paralyzed but not Powerless, she tells her unique story of overcoming Locked in Syndrome (total paralysis from brain injury due to a brainstem stroke.)   

 Friday afternoon, renowned bioethicist and prolific author Wesley J. Smith will address the issue of assisted suicide.  In 2004, National Journal named Mr. Smith one of the nation’s top expert thinkers in bioengineering.

 In total, the convention will feature more than 70 workshops and five general sessions.  Notre Dame alumnus Fr. James Raphael, SSJ, will address the impact of Notre Dame’s decision to honor President Barack Obama – despite his pro-abortion views and actions – on the African American and pro-life communities at NRLC’s annual prayer breakfast Friday morning.  Pro-life champion Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey will finish off the convention at Saturday night’s closing banquet.

 Most impacted by Roe v. Wade’s destructive legacy of abortion-on-demand are teens and college students who have faced its consequences first-hand.  Running concurrent to NRLC 2009 is the 24^th annual National Teens for Life (NTL) Convention featuring sessions aimed at training pro-life teen leaders from across the country.

 “The goal of the convention is that everyone – young and old – leaves energized and equipped with the tools and information they need to fight back against the abortion agenda and change hearts and minds in their home communities,” Dr. Franz added.

 The National Right to Life Committee is the nation’s largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. 

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Health Care Reform Webinar

From NRLC’s Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics, a new webinar on health care reform entitled “How America Can Afford Health Care Reform Without Rationing.”  The webinar runs just over an hour.  You can download a copy of the Powerpoint Slides here:  HCWebinarSlides

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