Joint Parish Respect Life Committee

Respecting the Laws of Our Country & Catholic Faith

3/3/2025

Dear Editor:

It’s always so hard to hear and read Bishop DiMarzio’s opinions on the views of President Trump regarding illegal immigrants.
My father came lawfully to America from Naples with his mother when he was eight year old. First his father had to provide residency with his brother and his wife and proof of work so that he could send for his wife and my father. This took two years and it was hard because my grandmother had to work in the wheat fields with my father at her side. They were very poor. My father loved being an American but unfortunately I never learned Italian because only English was spoken in our house. My father wanted to be American first.
I am very proud to say that I was a Catholic grammar and high school teacher for over 40 years. I’m so happy and proud of President Trump for issuing an executive order promoting parental choice in education. This didn’t happen with President Biden who is Catholic. Catholic schools have enriched America by offering an excellent academic education rooted in our Catholic faith.
As a teacher, wife, mother and grandmother I truly feel that it is very important to follow the laws of our country and of our Catholic faith: such as instilling the obligation of attending Mass on Sundays and holy days; and not taking marijuana because it was illegal and not good.
Being an active pro-life Catholic, I feel that President Trump needs to be respected for what he has done and what he will do for the pro-life movement and religious freedom in our country.
Mary and Joseph followed the laws of the land and left Nazareth while Mary was in the later stage of pregnancy. Joseph was ordered by the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, to be part of the census. They were required to travel to Bethlehem being it was Joseph’s father’s hometown.
Hoping all Catholics pray for President Trump even if they didn’t vote for him.

Respectfully,
Madeleine Santangelo Palumbo
Sea Cliff, NY

[A version of this letter was published in The Tablet, February 22, 2025.]

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March for Life 2025: A Report

2/17/2025

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By Thomas Murawski

For over twenty years now I have been attending the annual March for Life held in Washington, DC in January to commemorate and protest the Supreme Court decision rendered in 1973 for Roe vs Wade, legalizing abortion in the USA. I have missed a couple of the Marches in that time: in 2021 the MFL was cancelled due to the pandemic and one year a blizzard resulted in local buses being cancelled. Over the years I have attended the event with many different groups and buses leaving from Queens and Brooklyn. I have attended with St. Stan’s of Maspeth, St Joseph’s of Astoria, St. Sebastian’s, Holy Family and 2 years with the bus from the Brooklyn Diocesan office.

    As last year, I attended the March with a bus sponsored by Notre Dame Church in New Hyde Park since that trip was well organized. The day began with a 4:30 AM Mass celebrated by Father Stephen Rooney who was also attending the March. At about 5:20 AM the bus was loaded and ready to leave. Unlike last year, where approximately half the seats were empty mainly due a forecast which included snow, this year’s bus was filled. The trip down to Washington DC was going so well that the organizers (Father Rooney and Doctor Maryann) decided that we could schedule a stop at the National Basilica on the campus of Catholic University. It was noted that last minute speakers added to the rally included President Trump, who would speak via video conference, and newly elected Vice President JD Vance who would appear in person for his first public engagement as VP. The March for Life organizers had sent out an alert indicating that due to Vance’s presence that TSA type security measures would be instituted.

    After the visit to the National Basilica the bus arrived in Washington DC with time to spare, or so we thought. The bus was unloaded and the participants met with Bishop John Barres of the Rockville Centre Diocese. We made our way to the rally but, with the extra security due to Vice President Vance’s presence, it took a while to get in. As we entered we heard the speakers. Unfortunately, the group was broken up getting through security. The speakers included Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, Lila Rose of Live Action along with many others. One of the messages being driven home was the desire to “Defund Planned Parenthood” which takes millions of taxpayer dollars each year. As many people have heard, this was Jeanne Mancini’s last year leading the March for Life. She took over from Nellie Gray in 2012 and now she hands the baton to Jennie Bradley Lichter who also spoke at the March.

    Of course, many people were waiting to hear President Trump speak. At his videotaped speech he announced pardons for the many pro-lifers who have been unjustly punished mainly for violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act as they peacefully prayed outside abortion facilities. These non-violent offenders have often been arrested by agents who drew their weapons as if they are apprehending violent criminals. We all know that this tactic is intended to intimidate pro-lifers. As such we thank President Trump for his actions. However, as he spoke, I couldn’t help but think that while we pro-lifers now have a president and supporter in the White House, that the President has a long way to go. During the campaign it was revealed through her book that First Lady Melania Trump supports the so called “right to choose.”

  The rally speeches ended with JD Vance’s speech. He noted that the participants at the rally were out there in the cold and compared it to Monday’s inauguration which was moved indoors. He talked about how his 3 children brought him and his wife, Usha, indescribable joy and how the government should be helping people and young families bring more children into the world since they are our future. He wants the government to help those who may not be ready for the financial difficulties, especially those facing unplanned pregnancies. He pointed out on how the abortion on demand policy had ruined a generation of Americans (it was probably more than one generation). He also reiterated points noted by President Trump in which the past administration had unfairly punished people for just practicing their right to free speech by praying outside of abortion facilities. Vance also pointed out that President Trump just issued a strong endorsement of the Born Alive Abortion Act which would require those babies that survive botched abortions be given the care that they need.

At the rally I noticed many large contingents as, like last year, Liberty University again stood out with their bright red hats. This year I noticed a Catholic university, the University of Mary in North Dakota, which I had never really noticed before, with a large contingent. There were also large groups from Villanova, Wheaton College and Ohio State (a public university) to name a few.

    At the conclusion of the rally the huge throng exited the rally site and off we went to the Supreme Court which is the traditional ending point of the March. However, as I noted above the presence of Vice President Vance required additional security. With not much guidance the best way to proceed was just to follow the crowd in front of you. As we walked along Constitution Avenue I noticed the thousands of marchers in front of us and behind us. At about the halfway point my son and I turned around and noticed the huge March for Life Banner, which typically leads the March. Apparently, with the last-minute security additions the March organizers did not anticipate any problems organizing the crowd as it exited the rally or were not totally prepared with the revised logistics. While this in no way took away from the atmosphere, it’s just something that happened. My son and I waited for the banner to pass and rejoined the parade. As usual the March ended in front of the Supreme Court where, like last year, counter-demonstrators were almost nonexistent.

  Our bus was scheduled to meet us and leave from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on the Hill. As usual the local Catholic churches offered refreshments and opened their doors to all. A special thanks must be given for their generosity.

    Many people ask me why I continue to attend the MFL since the Supreme Court struck down Roe vs Wade in its June 2022 decision. I emphatically tell them that we are up against a determined group of evil people who have no respect for human life whatsoever; the fact that they would advocate the killing of innocent, defenseless human beings tells the whole story. We must not let our guards down. In fact in New York State and City there is much work to be done. We must change the hearts and minds of those who are in the dark.

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Signs of the Times: March for Life 2025

2/6/2025

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By Michael Shoule

It is somewhat easy to understand why there were some empty seats on the Queens Deanery 5 bus that departed from the American Martyrs parking lot at 6:15AM on Friday the 24th of January headed for the March for Life in Washington DC. Usually, it is pretty cold in DC at the end of January. It is at least a 4-and-a-half hour bus ride each way not including stops which makes for a long day off from work. There can be a lot of standing around between speakers and while waiting for the March to begin. And lastly, you’re going to get your steps in that day and a lot of them at that. Oh yeah and that getting up at the crack of dawn thing. Excuses, excuses. =)

These are likely the same deterrents that prevent every Deanery in each of the five boroughs and beyond from sending a bus, but thankfully Father Marc Swartvagher, the pastor of St. Kevin’s in Flushing, put all of that aside to lead us pilgrims that morning.

As the bus crossed into Delaware and pulled into the rest area, I am sure the irony was not lost on the passengers from the dozes of busses whose drivers had the same idea as they disembarked and entered the Biden Welcome Center. Although still early in the morning, there was an energy in that building that was more than just the relief of stretching legs, cups of coffee, and bathroom breaks. Strangers by face, but unified by one cause, people greeted each other with nods and smiles as they passed each other.

Upon arriving Washington DC the bus left us in front of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on 10th Street NW just in time for part of the standing room only Mass. The oldest Catholic parish in the city of Washington, it was established in 1794 and welcomed pro-life visitors from around the country. As Mass ended, I had the good fortune to say hello to Father Fidelis Moscinski who, too, found himself standing in the same corner of the church with the rest of us.

After the Mass we walked a few blocks and waited in line to get through the metal detectors just like we would at a Mets or Rangers game. As we stood on the grassy National Mall we listened to a great line-up of speakers which included Florida Governor Rick DeSantis, Vice President JD Vance, Live Action founder Lila Rose and former abortionist Dr. Catherine Wheeler who is now an ardent pro-life activist. Perhaps the most moving stories though were those told by abortion survivor Josiah Presley and by Beverly Jacobson with her husband and daughter, Verity, by her side. Beverly founded Mama Bear Care when Verity was born with Edwards syndrome and has since defied the “incompatible with life” diagnosis the doctors had given.

As the speakers wrapped up, we joined the huge throng of people who had begun lining up earlier with their banners and signs. I saw the fantastic photographer and even better human being, Jeffrey Bruno, down the sidewalk a bit, but by the time I got there he and his telephoto lens were gone. Jeffrey’s photos from the 2025 March for Life capture the vitality and excitement of that day much better than my words can.

Being a Knight of Columbus, I was somewhat partial to the green and white "Love Life, Choose Life" signs and was very thankful for the Virginia Knights for providing leadership along the parade route. As an aside, we are trying to get more Tri-State area Knights involved in our NYC International Gift of Life Walk on March 25th.

Some of the more impactful messages were on the pink and blue "Defund Planned Parenthood" signs (slated to receive $600-$700 million in funding from the current administration), the "God Will Not Be Mocked" signs from The White Rose Resistance and the big yellow flag with "LIFE WINS" in black letters.

My favorites though were two handmade signs. One had a photo of Donald Trump from his reality TV days and read “Abortion, you’re FIRED.” The other was a simple message of "Let God Plan Parenthood."

As we processed past the US Capitol before finishing at the Supreme Court it was encouraging to see that once again the future of the Pro-Life movement: high school and college students from across the country, were out in full force as was the energizing music of the Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) band.

They and so many others said no to the devil’s deterrents that we allow into our head – too cold, too far, too long to walk, can’t miss a day of work . . . and now, in less than two months, we have the chance to mobilize locally and encourage our family, friends and neighbors to say no to those deterrents again, and to show Kathy Hochul and fellow New Yorkers that there are plenty of us who will advocate for life from conception to natural death regardless of the bills she signs into law.

With two great speakers lined up for our downtown NYC International Gift of Life walk on March 25th: Grand Marshal and Pro-Life speaker Rebecca Kiessling, who was given up for adoption after being conceived by rape, and special guest speaker and EWTN host, Very Reverend Chris Alar, it is going to be a great day. Hope to see you there. LIFE WINS!

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Feast of the Holy Innocents

1/4/2025

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By Thomas Murawski

On December 28, 2024, the Church of the Holy Innocents in Manhattan held its annual 8:00 AM Mass followed by a rosary procession from the Church (37th Street and Broadway) to an abortion facility located on Second Avenue and 42nd Street to commemorate the Feast of the Holy Innocents. At the abortion facility a prayer vigil was held before returning to the church.
    For those readers who are not familiar with the Feast of the Holy Innocents: when the Three Wise Men were going to pay homage to the newly born Jesus, King Herod found out and became jealous and enraged. He ultimately ordered those infant males under the age of 2 be slaughtered. As such, they are recognized by many as the first Catholic martyrs.
   The Church of the Holy Innocents started a tradition about 30 years ago to commemorate the feast which falls on December 28 with a Mass followed by the rosary vigil. I personally heard about the feast about 5 years ago. The date of December 28th happens to be the date of my grandmother’s (on my mother’s side) birthday; she would have been 121 years old this year and I figured it would be a good way of remembering her.
    This year the weather forecast called for rain. However, that did not put a damper on the event. The church was filled with participants; there were many lay people as well as nuns and clergy. There was a constant drizzle throughout the procession led by Bishop Peter Byrne of the New York Archdiocese. The procession passed many New York City landmarks including Bryant Park, the main branch of the New York Public Library, the Chrysler Building and the Daily News Building before reaching Second Avenue and 42nd Street.
    The New York City Police Department provided a well-coordinated escort throughout the procession which allowed the participants to walk unimpeded. Unlike the monthly prayer vigil at St Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Downtown Manhattan, which is met by misguided abortion advocates who attempt to drown out the peaceful prayers, the procession seemed to offer a peaceful reminder of the season to the passersby (most appeared to be tourists enjoying the City on this Saturday morning) and there were no issues.
   On the return trip, after the rosary was concluded, the procession broke out singing Christmas carols. You could see and hear many of the tourists singing along as the procession made its way back to the church. At the church the occasion was concluded with the adoration of the Eucharist and was followed by a reception in the church basement. For those readers who have never participated in the event I recommend that you put it on your calendar for 2025.

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Pro-Life Champion: The Untold Story of Monsignor Philip J. Reilly and His Helpers of God's Precious Infants, by Frederick W. Marks

12/23/2024

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Editor's Note: This article is reprinted from a May 18, 2021 Respect Life Blog posting in honor of Msgr. Philip J. Reilly, who died on November 30, 2024. The author, Frank Drollinger, was a faithful member of the Joint Parish Respect Life Committee. He passed away on December 2, 2024.

By Frank Drollinger

Stories, stories, stories. This is a book full of moving and delightful anecdotes as well as sober and moving thought.

If you will enter its world, you will learn new things. Dr. Marks gives here a picture of an extraordinary effort in the current culture of life. Like all good efforts, those in this book can seem to be beggars to those not open to truth, goodness and beauty—not their imitations—which are available free of charge.

The book’s many stories can draw you in. They come with keen insights into our daily life.

You will want to at least take a look at several things in the book that are worth the price paid of the time you spend reading them. I’m thinking first of all—at least for myself—of the help of Saint Anthony in getting Monsignor’s new idea for pro-life activity started (page 75)—an idea that would quite literally spread across the globe. Many of us have Saint Anthony stories. This one ranks right up there.

We are used to the false narratives and examples and conclusions put out by the pro-choice movement and its fellow travelers in media and government. We seldom see, in one place, the great refutations this book presents. We find here an encouragement and intelligence that can affect our own witness both in the movement and in daily life. Indeed, we will find things that we will want to add to our own daily conversations with family, friends and acquaintances.

A good place to see all of this is the chapter, “Marks of a Teacher” (pages 89-93). Marks (the author) tells us that “Cardinal Schönborn had it right when he told Bishop Daily that the Helpers “changed the face of Austria.”” And Marks adds, “Austria owes much of the change to a quality that I shall call “teacherliness,” for lack of a better word. It is one part communications skill, one part mastery of subject matter, and a third part appreciating the good qualities of one’s students. Monsignor qualifies on all counts.”

Monsignor gives us a compelling overview of how abortion took hold in the first place. The book also gives us a look at what Monsignor is trying to do to improve the quality of homilies. In his program, called “We Want To Teach, We Want To Be Taught,” he wants to replace the scripture review approach with a catechetical method.

The pro-choice movement is a compound of falsehoods, and it introduces these into its arguments, always substituting a different lie for the one that is being exposed. The ground keeps shifting. A good teacher—Monsignor Reilly—can keep the matter on track.

The book is, I think, a conscience-forming event. If you are an active pro-life person, I think this will encourage and improve what you do. And even if you have been a regular with Monsignor at vigils, I think you will find it a new benefit to have so much of Monsignor’s history in one place and in a continuous, memorable presentation. Whether you are a bishop or a beggar, I believe you will find yourself somewhere in the story.

This is a book we can go back to:

We can get a look at some of the history of New York that we may never have heard.
We learn who make the best shock troops in the movement.
The number of “turnarounds” at an abortion clinic is directly proportional to the number of persons in the praying group.
The three things that a woman will never learn from an abortionist.
Monsignor Reilly, who at one time was principal of Cathedral High School, became an unwelcome person there, because of the strong pro-life message he continually advanced.
How Monsignor was able to invigorate the pro-life movement after Operation Rescue began to run down.
Bishop Daily’s help in separating, as greatly more important, the pro-life movement from other issues, such as was being done by some of the clergy.
How Monsignor was able to successfully prevent the New York City Council in its attempts to deprive The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants of its First Amendment Rights.

As you read, you begin to see that because of the approach Monsignor takes, the stories frequently lead to what J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, called eucatastrophe—“the sudden happy turn in a story which pierces you with a joy that brings tears…”

For myself, this is something that can occur at a vigil in the presence of evil at an abortion clinic— the silent and powerful way goodness can seep into your soul—and into the souls of your fellow pray-ers and counselors. I think that if you would experience the wellsprings of hope, you may find them at Calvary, which is what Monsignor calls the abortion clinic.

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The Second "Gentleman"?

8/26/2024

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By Kevin Moore

Recently I noticed a news item concerning the “Second Gentleman”, Douglas Emhoff, the husband of current Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris. The item mentioned that Ms. Harris is Mr. Emhoff’s second wife. The British newspaper, The Daily Mail, reported that there was a bit more to the story than two people falling out of love.

Mr. Emhoff was first married to one Kerstin Mackin Emhoff, a Hollywood movie producer. The couple married in 1992 and had two children together. Everything was fine until Mr. Emhoff had an affair with one of his children’s schoolteachers. The affair led to the conception of Mr. Emhoff’s third child, although neither party wanted this child. So, as so often happens, the schoolteacher aborted her child, with Mr. Emhoff’s consent. This turn of events became known to the first Mrs. Emhoff, and she initiated divorce proceedings. The Emhoffs were divorced in 2008 after 16 years of marriage. After some years Mr. Emhoff met and later wed Ms. Harris.

If a British newspaper had not unearthed this story, it would likely never been known. No American news publication published this story until after it was acknowledged by Mr. Emhoff. I am quite sure that the American news media wanted this story buried. Why bring up sad stories from the past that are hardly relevant to today’s pressing issues?

I wonder if this is the way a “gentleman” should act. Having an affair with your child’s teacher is bad enough, but then to destroy the child that the affair produced is callous to the extreme. A true gentleman would had admitted his mistake to his wife and begged for forgiveness. He would have supported his illegitimate child and his mother and sought to help them in any way he could.

Unfortunately in today’s world Mr. Emhoff’s actions are the norm and very few think there is anything wrong with them. It was just “one of those things” that happen in life. There is zero consideration for the unborn child. It is no wonder that Ms. Harris is an extremely vocal supporter of abortion on demand and became the first Vice President to visit an abortion facility.

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Helpers Witness a Miracle on Queens Boulevard

8/2/2024

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By Madeleine Santangelo-Palumbo

Early Saturday morning a Hispanic couple was sent by Jamaica Hospital to the abortion facility, All Women's Health Pavilion, located on Queens Boulevard. The pregnant mother was given a test that failed to show a fetal heartbeat. Members of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, which was founded by Msgr. Philip J. Reilly, were able to talk to the couple with the help of Fr. Robert Czok, who speaks Spanish.

We were able to give the couple helpful information and arranged a quick meeting with them and the Sisters of Life. A few days later we all were informed that the baby's heartbeat was heard and the baby was healthy. I was able to give the couple information for them to go to The Bridge to Life in College Point to get supplies for their 3-year-old.

God bless all the active pro-lifers who pray and witness each week outside abortion facilities. They aren't afraid to try to protect the unborn babies and their parents. It is very hard.

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The Democratic Party is the Party of Abortion

7/14/2024

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By Patricia Tabone

    The Democratic Party IS the Party of Abortion. The party platform enthusiastically and consistently supports abortion. They really want unlimited abortion. A summary of the Democratic Party’s position on abortion can be found on the NRLC website, The Democratic Party and Its Support for Unlimited Abortion.

    Total contributions for the year 2021-2022 from Planned Parenthood PAC to federal candidates was $676,765; 100% was donated to Democrats and 0% to Republicans. See: Planned Parenthood PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates.

    Planned Parenthood is the organization that performs the most abortions throughout the world. Planned Parenthood does more than abort, it provides transgender surgeries and hides them under “Other Procedures.” The organization is proud to contribute huge amounts of money to pro-choice politicians who vote accordingly.

    Is anyone at Planned Parenthood ashamed of making money from the sorrows of poor women? Many suffer with sorrow and guilt for the rest of their lives. I know of one woman who got off the operating table in an abortion clinic when she realized she was going to allow a “doctor” to kill her own unborn baby.

    The founder of Planned Parenthood, the eugenicist, Margaret Sanger, was a proponent of forced eugenics, segregation, abortion, birth control, and sexual immorality. See some of Sanger’s quotes below.

“The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population. and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.”
“Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race.”
“Eugenics is . . . the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of racial, political, and social problems.”
“Eugenic sterilization is an urgent need . . . . We must prevent multiplication of this . . . bad stock.”
“The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.”

From: 21 Quotes by Margaret Sanger.

    Planned Parenthood Federation is designated a 501(c)(3) organization. Category: Health - General and Rehabilitative / Family Planning Centers. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

    Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Federation, received a salary of $583,798 in 2023 She lives in New York City, is married to Robert Johnson, the president of the institute for New Economic Thinking, and they have two daughters.

    Please do your own research. Ask someone who does not believe in the sanctity of human life, you will find that the person is enrolled as a Democrat. That person will give you many reasons why they “could never vote for a Republican.” Remember . . . the Democrats supported slavery, too.

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The Candidates for President of the United States

7/14/2024

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Editor's note: This article was submitted before the tragic events of July 13, with the shooting of former President Donald Trump.

By Patricia Tabone

It is no wonder the recent presidential debate got off to a flying start on the issue of abortion because the election of the next president of the U.S. is about abortion, the killing of the innocent unborn. Everyone who votes should check the facts about the two candidates on this most important subject. It is a matter of life or death.

President Biden’s record leaves no doubt that he is a man who believes in unlimited abortion.

Biden pledged to sign the “Women’s Health Protection Act,” a bill that would legalize unlimited abortion until birth in federal law. It would eliminate virtually all existing protections for unborn children and their mothers on the federal and state levels including parental involvement laws.
Biden said, “I’ll sign a law codifying Roe . . . ,” October 18, 2022.
Biden supports the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, and has called for the elimination of the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funds from being used to pay for abortions in many federal programs.
Biden chose Kamala Harris to be his VP. “I will always fight for a woman’s right to make a decision about her own body . . . ,” Kamala Harris, October 7, 2020. Harris visited an abortion clinic, an extraordinary visit meant to signal the importance the Biden campaign is placing on reproductive rights in the 2024 presidential race (reported on March 14, 2024).
President Biden, during the debate, tried to minimize the effects of Roe v. Wade. How do you minimize the death of 65 million unborn babies?

The Biden administration has persecuted pro-lifers, including pro-life charities, that support pregnant mothers in need. Indeed, they have been firebombed, attacked and terrorized.
President Trump, himself, has been attacked by the Biden Administration. No other past president of the United States was put on trial, pursued, and accused and bullied. This is to prevent his reelection.
Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, was incarcerated for six months for blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic.
A group of nine pro-lifers were arrested and eight were incarcerated; and a woman of 75 years of age who has a serious medical condition was put under house arrest. The nine participated in a rescue on October 22, 2020, at the Washington Surgi-Center where abortionist Cesare Santangelo kills pre-born children through the 9th month of gestation. Those who did not accept any kind of offer were kept in prison until May of 2023 awaiting trial. What happened to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing a speedy trial? Like Fr. Moscinski, they blocked the entrance to an abortion mill, but why were they not just charged with FACE as Fr. Moscinski was? They face an 11 year prison sentence and a hefty fine! This was unprecedented. More on this in a future article.
Why has Biden or his attorney general not investigated the FBI for entering the homes of law-abiding people in the middle of the night? What was to be gained by arresting them in front of their children? These people were not criminals.

We do not hear much about these extraordinary persecutions in the United States of America! The few I mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg.

President Trump’s record leaves no doubt that he is a man who wants to limit abortion.

Trump is blamed by progressives and pro-aborts for his part in nominating the Supreme Court justices who have helped make legal abortion illegal through the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. Most pro-lifers applaud his pro-life actions because the lives of innocent unborn children continue to be saved. Some put the number at 89,000 lives saved this far. A Forbes article mentions 32,000, “About 32,000 More Babies Being Born Annually In U.S. Since Roe V. Wade Overturned, New Analysis Suggests” (November 22, 2023).
Trump commended the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson which overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992).
At least 65 million innocent unborn babies’ lives were violently ended. In truth all living people have suffered because the atmosphere in the U.S. has changed. This country’s founders were God-fearing men. Abortion may be legal in some countries, but it can never be morally unobjectionable. According to Dobbs v. Jackson, the Constitution of the United States does not confer a right to abortion, and the states have the power to regulate any aspect of abortion not protected by federal statutory law as they did before Roe. Many pro-lifers want a federal ban to make abortion illegal in the U.S., but we know we succeed one step at a time.
Trump is given credit by some and hated by others because, while he was the president, he nominated Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh who concurred with Justice Samuel A. Alito, the author of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, who was nominated by President George W. Bush. Remember him? Bush was also hated by those who call themselves pro-choice.
Trump also nominated Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Justice Amy Coney Barrett who voted with the majority in the Dobbs decision that supports life. The three justices who were nominated by Democrats wrote the dissent supporting abortion.
Trump has been attacked because he wants some exceptions. He said that a woman who has been a victim of incest or rape should be able to have an abortion as well as a woman who is in danger of losing her life. This is vastly different from Biden’s support for unlimited abortion.
Trump ran as a pro-lifer in 2016 when it was reported that most Americans identified as pro-choice. Candidate Trump now says he will leave the issue to the states, perhaps to avoid Biden’s rallying voters around abortion rights.
Trump has been accused of not being pro-life when he was younger. How I wish that more people would change their stance. Remember, too, that in the days of old Trump was not in a position to affect the law of the land.
The status quo after the Dobbs decision is better than the status quo before it, to say nothing of the lives that have already been saved!

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Debate Post-Mortem on Abortion

7/2/2024

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By Gerald Yeung

A considerable amount of time was spent on the topic of abortion (aka feticide) by Presidents Biden and Trump during the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024.  From the moment the sparks started flying, many commenters have “fact checked” what was said and alleged regarding abortion.  In this brief article, I will add my personal take and evaluate whether and to what extent abortion policy differs between the two candidates.

The Abortion Pill

Early on, Trump revealed his position on chemical abortions, an announcement that he had teased for weeks prior to the debate.  He said that "the Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill,” that he agreed with the decision and would not block abortion medication.  This statement was disappointing but not surprising, given Trump’s recent role in restoring first trimester abortion in Arizona and his past criticism of the Heartbeat Protection Act in Florida.  Abortion medication is approved for use by the FDA through ten weeks of gestation, and now accounts for the majority of abortions in the US.

Returning Abortion to the States

Trump took credit for the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, saying that “everybody, without exception,” wanted to return the issue to the states. If that were true, why has there been so much contention over Roe v. Wade in the first instance?  Yes it is true that even the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has offered a scathing critique of Roe.  However, Trump's assertion that everyone wanted its demise is seriously disconnected from reality, and Biden called him out on it.

It is debatable whether the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade actually did return the issue of abortion to the states.  Wrote Justice Samuel Alito in the majority opinion, “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” This does not preclude representatives elected to the fed-eral government.

After all, a fundamental human right, like freedom from slavery, should be respected in all states, not just some.  As Biden put it, "The idea that states are able to do this is a little like saying, we’re going to turn civil rights back to the states, let each state have a different rule.”  But to be fair, there are potentially serious impediments to enacting abortion legislation at the federal level.  Any future federal abortion law would certainly face substantial scrutiny under the Tenth Amendment, which delegates certain enumerated powers to the federal government and leaves the rest to the states.

There are some who point to pre-emption of state law by the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life without due process of law, nor denied equal protection under the law.  However, it is far from clear whether the Supreme Court will recognize the personhood of the unborn, and thus application of the Fourteenth Amendment, any time soon.  Indeed, shortly after Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case out of Rhode Island that was designed to evoke a ruling on the issue of personhood.

Nevertheless, subsequent commentary from some of the Justices during oral arguments on abortion-related cases suggests that they may be positioning themselves to eventually take up personhood.  Further, recent rulings from State Supreme Courts like Alabama’s may provide anti-abortion advocates the ammunition to force the issue at the US Supreme Court.

With all the above being said, Trump appears to have washed his hands of advocating for life protections at the federal level in a potential second term by returning to the issue to the states.

Exceptions

Trump reiterated his support of the “exceptions" - rape, incest, and life of the mother.  From a pro-life perspective, this is deeply problematic.  As a matter of principle, there are no exceptions to the unborn child’s right to life. The innocent child conceived in rape or incest is not the one who should be punished.  Abortion is never medically necessary to save the life of the mother.  Preterm deliveries and treatment of medical conditions like ectopic pregnancies, while they may result in the loss of the child, are not abortions.

A human life, no matter how short, should be cherished as a gift.  As a practical matter, a pro-life law that has exceptions is better than no law at all.  However, Trump embraces the exceptions up front, and that is morally unacceptable.

Late-Term Abortion

Despite Biden’s efforts to deny it, Trump rightly pointed out that the Democrats support late-term abortion.  Biden and the Democrats support Roe v. Wade, whose broad health exception, confirmed in Doe v. Bolton, allowed abortion up until the moment of birth for virtually any reason.

Trump also mentioned Virginia Governor Northam’s dismissal of concerns about babies born alive after attempted abortions.  Indeed, Democrats have consistently opposed the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, despite ample evidence of babies born alive being killed or left to die.

Conclusion

Biden supports abortion, for virtually any reason, up until the moment of birth.  His Party’s obsession with abortion on demand prevents him from supporting even basic protections for infants who survive failed abortion attempts.

Trump would allow some restrictions on abortion, but they would only save a small percentage of babies from being killed before birth.

Both candidates fully support the morally problematic IVF procedure, which was not mentioned at all during the debate.

Despite rhetoric on both sides that signals stark policy differences on abortion, the truth is that there is not much practical daylight between Trump and Biden on this fundamental issue.

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Gerald Yeung is the former chairman of Westchester-Putnam Right to Life Political Action Committee. Reprinted with permission.

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