Category Archives: Pro-Life Action of Oregon

We Endorse Rick Santorum for President

PRO-LIFE ACTION of Oregon Endorses Rick Santorum.  We’re filled with hope and joy — he’s finally become what we prayed for:  a candidate for president.   We’ve followed him since his 2004 speech on the Senate floor in defense of traditional marriage. “Society should be all about creating the best possible chance for children to have a mother and a father. And unless our state endorses that, unless our laws enforce that, then I think it’s fairly obvious that our culture will not.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS BYTES

1.  CatholicVote.org endorses Rick Santorum - press release

2.  Charles Krauthammer “A Worthy Challenger”

3.  C-Span Campaign 2012 website for political junkies

4.  Santorum makes liberals squirm – NPR Spotlight on Santorum

5.  Santorum introduced the ban on partial-birth abortion – Rick TV Ad Sing Sing Sing

http://www.ricksantorum.com/index.php

Santorum’s book.

Does Pro-Life Movement Trust in God or Politics?

Judie Brown wrote in her wonderful Celebrate Life Magazine, Jan-Feb 2010 30-Year Anniversary edition,  about her fears for the pro-life movement:

Just Between You and Me by Judie Brown, President of the American Life League

I know about your activities; how you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were one or the other, but since you are neither hot nor cold, but only lukewarm, I will spit you out of My mouth.—-Revelation 3:15-16

These words from the Book of Revelation ring true in today’s era of "tolerance," false compassion and cultural gridlock.  We are at a juncture in history  that I never thought would occur in my lifetime.  This is not a good feeling!  I fear that the pro-life effort, if not unified and strengthened based on the fundamental principle of human personhood, will fall into the chasm of anonymity.  We are at a crossroads, my friends, and the hour is late.  We have heard all the arguments about the supposed need to be pragmatic and politically realistic, and the claim that we are otherwise incapable of stepping out to challenge the status quo. 

Judie is talking about NRLC.  Remember when ORTL stalled lobbying Oregon in the Fall because "they’re all Democrats"?

And where has all of this stalling gotten us?  The time for lukewarm pabulum is over.  Either we pro-lifers unite in our goal of ending the murderous practices that have become commonplace in our culture, or we step aside and usher in an era of evil never before imagined.

So, what happens next?  Will we dedicate ourselves to God or just continue with the violent status quo?  It’s time to decide. Trust in God or trust in the religion of politics.

Judie is calling on all pro-life organizations to work toward a Personhood Amendment.  She is saying that NRLC and its affiliates, like ORTL, focus on politics.  

Pro-Life Action of Oregon  agrees with her. 

The Innovation Vacuum

In his booklet "Access:  the key to pro-life victory," Mark Crutcher writes about The Innovation Vacuum.

  • "It’s uncomfortable to hear but the reality is that there are people within the pro-life community who no longer see their primary objective as stopping abortion but perpetuating their own organizations.  Their mindset is what creates this innovation vacuum.  The fact that the pro-life establishment isn’t doing anything today that it wasn’t doing 25 years ago is a clear indicator that they just don’t have any new ideas.  But that’s only half the problem.  The other half is that they don’t want anyone else to introduce new ideas either.  Innovation by other pro-life organizations is seen as a challenge to their self-appointed ownership of the movement and I have seen them try to destroy worthwhile pro-life initiatives only because those initiatives did not originate with them."

Readers Respond to Contraception Controversy

j0423098 Our Position on Contraception, posted last week, which includes an Open Letter to Gayle Atteberry, director, Oregon Right To Life, drew a number of responses, pro and con.  Note:  Even though the readers who spoke out against our expose of ORTL’s silence on contraception, they DO AGREE with our position,  i.e., there is a connection between contraceptive usage and abortion rates.

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Thumbs Up

Dear Nina,

I want to congratulate you for taking this stand:  that of showing that there is a profound contradiction between working to stop abortion while keeping silent about contraceptives. A few years ago, one of my teenage children entered ORTL’s essay contest.  She wrote an essay on the topic of the connection between abortion and contraceptives but it was very poorly received.  I backed down of that battle then, thinking that maybe focusing on a single issue (abortion) would be more efficient, but I think differently now. The problem of turning a blind eye to contraceptives is that the connection between abortion and contraceptives is intrinsic, so to ignore the facts in this instance is suicidal for the cause of life. Thank you for standing up for the truth in this crucial matter, and may God and the Blessed Mother guide your steps and work in His service.

We have supported ORTL for some time but after reading what you wrote regarding their total silence on contraceptives, I am going to write to them about this and if they do not “ease” their policy, I will tell them I will have to refrain from supporting them at this time. I do not expect them to take up two causes here (namely to fight against abortion and contraceptives).  I can see how that may be trying to take too much at once. However, while not fighting against contraceptives per se, they can at least not be opposed to it and permit booths and essays on the topic; for there is an intrinsic connection between the two.—-Amelia Volz

Note to readers:  American Life League has ALWAYS

taken on both contraceptives and abortion.

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Dear Nina,

Just a quick note to thank you for sending this material.  I was confused about the positions of NRTL and ORTL on contraception.  I took a couple of days to read through your email and all of the links. Thank you for putting all of that together.  It was very well done. Thank you for clarifying things. It’s a shame, really, that there is division in the ranks of the right to life army. It needs prayer and educating action such as yours.

Thank you, also, for speaking for the unborn in your communications and decisions regarding the ProLife Action of Oregon’s position on contraception/abortion. I agree with you and support your position completely. I remember you and ProLife Action of Oregon daily in the Rosary.—-Name Withheld

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Nina,

If opposition to contraception is merely a “Catholic issue,” that would come as a surprise to the Hindu Mahatma Gandhi, the Jewish-born atheist Sigmund Freud, and the growing number of evangelical Protestants who have thrown their contraceptives in the toilet and followed the Bible’s teaching on life and its transmission.  If contraception is merely a Catholic issue, then so is abortion.  Incorrect.  The perennial teaching against contraception has to do with the demands of the natural law, which is binding on humanity, not just humans who happen to be Catholic.  Which is why Paul VI did not address Humanae Vitae to bishops only, nor even to Catholics only, but to “all men of good will.”—-Patrick Coffin, radio hoPatrick Coffin webst of Catholic Answers Live; and author of new book, Sex Au Naturel:  What It Is and Why It Is Good For Your Marriage.

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Thumbs Down

Those who wish to bring a stop to abortions have two choices:  work together or spend time working against each other.

I have no question whatsoever concerning the interlinking of artificial birth control and abortions.  And I may disagree with the unwillingness of Right to Life to address the issue, but I am not going to spend time trying to change their mind, nor am I going to stop supporting their work.

Entering into a pissing contest with them over the issue is non-productive.  If they don’t want you to have a booth there, then for God’s sake and the sake of the unborn, find a way to support them and move on.

I do not disagree with your position on artificial birth control.  But demanding moral purity of position is not going to get our (you, me, NRLC, the LDS Church, Muslims, and anyone and everyone else engaged in trying to limit and stop abortions) goals accomplished.

The internecine warfare didn’t start yesterday; you are not the first to enter into this fray.  And I seriously doubt you are going to win your argument.  Getting warfare going between the various groups who wish to bring a halt to killing our children is a subtle or not so subtle distraction from our common goal and looks like, smells like, and has every appearance of the work of Satan.

Spend your time productively.  Do something positive for Right to Life and move on.

I do not have a problem with you differing with Gayle on the approach to take about abortion, nor for that matter do I disagree with your approach to that issue.

What I am writing you about is the wisdom, or lack thereof, of taking your dispute with her public in the way that you have.  There was an interesting article in Our Sunday Visitor some time ago on this issue specifically – the internecine warfare that has been going on between different groups fighting abortion.  I suspect if you contacted the Visitor they could provide you with the article.  I would encourage you to do so.

Taking your dispute with Gayle public did no good for Right to Life; it did not and will not change their position; but it certainly can work to cause some of her support to fall off.  They do good work and they oppose abortion; they do not do it with the moral stance you and I both agree is important and is the truth; but that does not make them enemies.  Christ ate with sinners; we might do wisely to understand that if both Right to Life and you work for an end to abortion, both are working for a moral good, and to understand that we are required to work for the moral good, not to try to enforce moral purity in a way that can damage the work of others who also seek, albeit not perfectly, for the same moral good.

I admire your fire; I just disagreed with your first post.  I am not mad – or for that matter, angry.  I do think there is more than one way to achieve an objective.

He is risen!  May He guide both you and I to do His will.   Even if we might disagree as to how to go about it.  ;) —-Tim Moore

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Our Position on Contraception

Updated 9:03 a.m., 04/14/10

Why was Pro-Life Action of Oregon’s “Contraception” Material Banned from Oregon Right To Life’s Conference?

Our position, and that of Judie Brown, president, American Life League, on the connection between the use of abortion pills and the rate of abortion has been rejected by Gayle Atteberry, director, Oregon Right To Life.  But that position is also the party line of National Right To Life.

Atteberry banned our educational material on the contraception-abortion connection from the upcoming ORTL conference.  Rather than compromise our beliefs we won’t be participating in the conference.

Silence on birth control’s role in abortion rates will continue to mislead and misinform pro-lifers.  More babies will die.

BACKGROUND

Pro-Life Action of Oregon requested a table at the upcoming ORTL 2010 pro-life conference.  Atteberry asked to review our educational material (from American Life League) due to ORTL “policies” about ALL.

She banned them all.

Which material did she censor?  Anything about contraception!

  • Contraception and Abortion:  The Deadly Connection
  • Emergency Contraception
  • Birth Control Pills:  How They Work
  • Flawed Condoms

Each of these are available for viewing at the American Life League store.

Atteberry characterized these as “minutia.”

“As I see it, Judie Brown is focused on the minutia and ORTL does not agree with that.”

Updated 5:32 PDT 04-15-10 –
“Minutia?”!!!  According to the Guttmacher Institute, 54% of women who abort their babies were using The Pill or condoms during the month they became pregnant.  Of those, 76% were using The Pill — “inconsistently.”
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Open Letter to Gayle Atteberry, Oregon Right To Life
April 13, 2010 – Portland, Ore

Gayle, in light of your censoring American Life League (ALL) material which makes the connection between contraception and abortion — material I wanted to bring to the April Oregon Right To Life conference — Pro-Life Action of Oregon will not be participating.

Our Position On Contraception

We are  very grateful that you took the time to inform us of Oregon Right To Life’s policies which illustrate the philosophical and theological differences between National Right To Life / ORTL and Judie Brown/A.L.L.  You expressed being uncomfortable with Brown’s criticisms of NRLC.  Your characterization of her criticisms is as follows:

A.L.L. puts a great emphasis in opposing birth control. While it is true that some birth control methods are abortifacients, not all are. Judy Brown adamantly opposes the birth control pill. While sometimes the bc [birth control] pill acts as an abortifacient, it does not always work that way, and many pro-life doctors say there is no proof that it does.

It is obvious that your assessment of Judie’s opposition to The Pill is restricted to its abortifacient action.

We are  aware of its abortifacient action.  Yet, we are struck by your silence on its rate of failure which leads to “unplanned” pregnancies.

As a serious pro-life activist, we are  in total 100% agreement with Judie Brown.  The Pill increases abortion.

Continue reading →

The Pro-Abortion Clergy of Planned Parenthood

EXCLUSIVE!

Planned Parenthood’s Clergy-Activist to Speak at Opening of Abortion Mill

By Nina Rhea, Director, Pro-Life Action of Oregon

January 12, 2010

Portland, Ore. – On Sunday Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette’s (PPCW) grand opening program for their mega-abortion mill will feature a speech by their own full-time pro-abortion chaplain and activist Rev. Vincent Lachina.  Lachina is an active member of Planned Parenthood of America’s (PPFA) Clergy Advisory Board.

The grand opening is scheduled in the middle of Black History Month on February 14.

PPCW’s new abortion mill is centrally located in Portland’s predominantly Black neighborhood on a busy street named after Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pro-Life Action of Oregon has learned that Planned Parenthood of Washington State hired Rev. Lachina full time in 2004. Born into an Italian Catholic family, and now a Baptist, Rev. Lachina is Planned Parenthood’s Washington State Chaplain with duties in Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho. He wears a Roman collar.

According to a 2006 story on Rev. Lachina in the Seattle PI , one of his duties is to relieve employees, some of whom are Christians, of their guilt, telling them that “God will not judge” them.

His other duty is to build up a network of pro-abortion clergy for political lobbying against pregnancy resource centers, parental notification, and pharmacies.  Since 1999, PPFA has published a newsletter by their clergy titled ‘Clergy Voices.’

Pro-Life Action of Oregon has also learned of a document given to Planned Parenthood clients considering abortion titled ‘Pastoral Letter About Your Abortion Decision.’ The letter is signed by 13 clergy from Christian and Jewish faiths. It warns clients that the “religious right” refuses to accept abortion as a choice for a woman. But “we support you in whatever course you choose. Planned Parenthood keeps a list of clergy who will be supportive of you and the decision you have made.”

News of Planned Parenthood’s ordained minister is disturbing to African-American religious leaders including Rev. Isham Harris, pastor of the Upper Room Home Church located in Northeast Portland. Rev. Harris led a pro-life march through the Black neighborhood one year ago.

“This clergyman is not in harmony with the Holy Spirit because Christ came so that we may have life,” says Rev. Harris. “Psalm 137 tells us that children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward. I question whether this reverend is being led by the Holy Spirit.”

Rev. Harris is distressed that Planned Parenthood chose Black History Month to open its abortion mill. “They have a total disregard for Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., for the plight of African-Americans. I feel the same about the Portland Development Commission. I totally abhor this.”

The city’s urban planning arm, the Portland Development Commission, approved the sale of city property to Planned Parenthood.

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers of Immaculate Heart Church sounded the alarm about Black Genocide at the Portland Right To Life rally in January 2010. “Every week more Blacks die in American abortion clinics that were killed in the entire Vietnam war,” he told the crowd. The Culture of Death “would like us to ignore the fact that African-America women comprise 12% of the population, but have 37% of the abortions. Abortion kills as many African-American people every four days as the Ku Klux Klan killed in 150 years.”

Nina Rhea, Director of Pro-Life Action of Oregon responds:

Is Rev. Lachina not even aware that his pro-abortion activities make him an anti-Christian activist?  Rev. Lachina has urged other pro-abortion clergy to sign a statement in favor of legislation which will hamstring Christian-operated pregnancy resource centers in the state of Washington. The Clergy Statement is full of vicious attacks and outright lies against Christian-operated Pregnancy Resource Centers.

The legislation is reported about here:   ‘New Washington Bill Could Have Chilling Effects on Pregnancy Centers.’)

Rev. Lachina has publicly opposed pharmacies that refuse to dispense oral birth control drugs based on conscientious objection.

In light of this situation, the Christian principles of faith, hope, and charity are exploited to meet the needs of Planned Parenthood, not humanity. Lachina and his ilk have faith in contraception and abortion to solve problems of young people; he is lying to himself that hope comes in a package of birth control pills or an abortion mill; and he must believe that abortion is an act of charity for a young confused, scared mother!

In PPCW’s February 8, 2010 Press Release, Planned Parenthood uses their familiar lexicon of terms which hide the harm they inflict on young pregnant mothers.  They call what they do “health care,” “reproductive health care,” “sexual health care,” and “abortion care.”
We reject all these claims that Planned Parenthood cares for anybody, especially pregnant girls and women.

We call upon this imposter, Rev. Vincent Lachina, to distance himself from the abortion industry and face up to what abortion really is:  the intentional killing of a growing human being.

A pro-life protest at Planned Parenthood on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. is scheduled from 12:30 to 6:00 p.m. on February 14. The protest is sponsored by Precious Children of Portland.

Update 9/8/11.  Rev. Vincent Lachina exposed.  ‘Intellectually dishonest.’  Life Site News.

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Pro-Life Action of Oregon is an independent, Christian-centered, nonviolent, and pro-active education project whose leadership is located in Portland, Oregon.  We are dedicated to one simple concept — that all human beings are to be protected and defended from the moment of creation until natural death.  We are committed to the sacredness of human life.  We are a member of the American Life League Associate Program.  We network with pro-life leaders in Oregon and around the country.