Local ProLife Information

STATE ACTION ALERT

SB 370-- REPEAL OF PENAL CODES

FOR PROSECUTION

OF ILLEGAL ABORTIONS GOES TO

ASSEMBLY FLOOR


Background: SB 370 was an elderly abuse bill, which was suddenly amended into an abortion bill. It is a very radical proposal, which would repeal Penal Code Sections 274, 275 and 276, which afford the ability to prosecute for illegal abortions-- essentially those performed by non-physicians, or physicians whose licenses are under suspension.

Remember the Santa Ana abortion clinic operator, Alicia Ruiz Hanna, who was convicted of second-degree murder and of performing illegal abortions? She was not a physician, but prosecutors presented evidence that she had performed at least 20 abortions. She was convicted for three. Hanna was caught trying to stuff the body of one of her victims, Angela Sanchez, into the trunk of a car.

Dr. Gordon Goei was caught doing abortions despite a suspended medical license, when one of his victims nearly bled to death from the abortion of her 26 week old unborn baby. He was also charged for performing an illegal abortion under Penal Code Section 274, which SB 370 would repeal.

An L.A. Times article of April 5, 1998 which exposed these and other cases, also noted that "[s]tate officials concede that such abortion clinics are difficult to regulate." "[T]he small number of cases in which charges are brought represent only the most egregious problems and reflect the difficulty in policing the clinics."

The 1967 Therapeutic Abortion Act requires that abortions be done by physicians, but without an appropriate Penal Code, a prosecutor would have to resort to Business & Professions Code Sections 2052 and 2053, which are both unclear on who would qualify under licensing laws, and would provide only a misdemeanor or a "wobbler," which may or may not be prosecuted as a felony.

SB 370 could be on the Assembly floor as soon as Friday or Saturday, but hopefully not before next week.

Action:

Call, Fax or E-Mail your Assembly Member

Glendale District Office
109 E. Harvard Street
Suite #305
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 240-6330

Burbank District Office
301 E. Olive Avenue
Suite #102
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 295-3880

Capitol Office
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
Phone: (916) 319-2043
Email: Scott.Wildman@assembly.ca.gov

Send a message in your own words, the gist of which might be:

Please oppose SB 370. Do not put the young women of this state in jeopardy by sanctioning back-alley abortions.

CPLC, State Affiliate of National Right to Life Committee
California ProLife Council, 2306 J Street Ste 200, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: (916) 442-8315 e-mail: info@californiaprolife.org

ProLife Legislation:
Pain Relief Promotion Act (S.1272) -- The National Committee for a Human
Life Amendment (NCHLA) has published an Action Alert requesting that we
contact Senator Diane Feinstein's office asking her to support the Pain
Relief Promotion Act. Senator Boxer is committed to non-support. The
House has overwhelmingly approved this measure (HR 2260).

Background: In 1998 U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno announced that the
Federally Controlled Substances Act establishes no uniform national
policy against the use of federally regulated drugs for assisted
suicide. As a result, these drugs may be used to assist patients'
suicides in any state that, like Oregon, allows the practice under state
law. This ruling disregards current federal law that prohibits the use
of these drugs to endanger "public health and safety" or for anything
other than a "legitimate medical purpose".

Analysis: The Pain Relief Promotion Act affirms the use of federally
controlled drugs for legitimate pain control, even in cases where such
use may unintentionally hasten death as a side-effect ("principle of
double effect"). It also reaffirms that federal law does not authorize
the deliberate use of federally controlled drugs for assisted suicide or
euthanasia.

This Act is endorsed by various medical groups, including the AMA, the
National Hospice Organization, Hospice Association of America, American
Academy of Pain Management, Catholic Health Association and American
Society of Anesthesiologists.

Action Recommendations: Please contact Senator Feinstein's office
through letters, phone calls, fax or email. Mail: SH-331 Hart Senate
Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-0504
Telephone: (202) 224-3841 Fax: (202) 228-3954 email:
senator@feinstein.senate.gov

Message: Please support the Pain Relief Promotion Act H.R. 2260/S. 1272
 ***Ask for a response.


Unborn Victims of Violence Act (S. 1673) -- Battle lines are being drawn
in the Senate over a bill designed to punish non-abortion-related
criminal acts that harm a fetus. The bill passed in the House in
September. Titled the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act", it is being
assailed by those who oppose it because it would identify "the fetus as
a separate and distinct victim of crime". The assailant could be
charged with a second offense committed against the unborn child rather
than just the mother. The pro-abortion faction in the Senate is
protesting infringement on the rights granted by the Abortion
Decisions. Justice Department has recommended that the President veto
the bill if it comes to his desk.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Saturday 25 March, 9am to 9pm. California Association of Natural
Family Planning Statewide Conference. Archdiocesan Catholic Center 3424
Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles. Call Office of Family Life (213) 637-7228
for information and reservations.

Saturday 1 April, 3:00pm and 4:30pm. Dr. Scott Hahn, Professor of
Theology, Francican University, Steubenville, OH will deliver two
lectures at Loyola Marymount University. In Hilton Hall 100 at 3:00: A
Father Who Keeps His Promises. At 4:30: The Lamb's Supper: "The Mass as
Heaven on Earth". These free public lectures are sponsored by the LMU
Pro-Life Association and other campus groups.

Saturday 8 April, 9am to 12 noon. San Fernando Regional Meeting, Our
Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall 18400 Kinzie St., Northridge. Guest
speaker, Bob Cielnicky, Priority Life Fax Network will present ideas for
being an effective advocate fot Life issues in the Legislature.


NEWS ITEM

On Wednesday 8 March, ABC Television Newsmagazine, 20/20 ran an alarming
broadcast uncovering a thriving industry that traffics in fetal body
parts in conjunction with abortion clinics. Congressional hearings
opened the following day, 9 March on this technically illegal industry
that has managed to circumvent laws prohibiting the sale of human
tissue. Members of the House led by ranking Democrat Rep. Sherrod Brown
(D-Ohio) demanded that these hearings be closed to the public. The
motion failed.

Web sites to access on Respect Life topics:

http://www.respectlife.la-archdiocese.org
webmaster & E-mail custodian: Rob Leitao

http://www.breakpoint.org
Provides transcription of Chuck Colson's daily "BreakPoint" radio
program.
Note: see BreakPoint Commentary #000308- 03/08/2000 "Infanticide's
Profit Motive "
Parental Warning : May be too disturbing for children.


Incarnation Parishioners Attend the Annual Commitment to Life Conference



Each year, on the weekend nearest the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles sponsors a "Commitment to Life Conference" organized by the Office of Respect Life. This year the theme was "Advancing the Culture of Life in the New Millennium". A "Requiem Mass for the Unborn" with moving original music and a prayer service by composer John Bonaduce was celebrated on the evening of 21 January at St. Charles of Borromeo Church. His Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahoney was the principle celebrant. On Saturday, 22 January, 15 Incarnation parishioners attended the conference held at Alemany High School. Topical workshops highlighted by keynote and closing addresses, delivered by prominent pro-life speakers, were offered in three tracks with five varied sessions per track. Of the 15 sessions offered, 9 were attended by members of our parish. A brief synopsis follows:

Track A


A1 "The Big Lies of the Assisted Suicide Movement" attended by M. Alquaddoomi
Wesley Smith, author of Forced Exit, presented the current status of assisted suicide, its legal, medical, economic, and media support and a chilling analysis of its ultimate goal--legalization of "suicide" by lethal injection (not necessarily at the direct request of the patient).

A2 "The Medical Effects of Contraception"
Pat Poindexter, R.N.

A3 "Generation X: The First Generation of Abortion Survivors" attended by Yolanda O'Brien
Victoria Thorn, Executive Director of the Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation & Healing examined the effects on society and individuals of abortion on demand. A new generation of "abortion survivors" must cope with the promoted concept of "wantedness versus unwantedness". The grim vision of human beings as a disposable commodity has serious and far-reaching social, emotional and spiritual consequences.

A4 "Will an Eye for An Eye Make the Whole World Blind?" attended by Peg Algiers, Jim and Connie Dyrness, Zenny Katigbak, Barbara Langill, Manny Reodica, Carmen & Rudy Roldan, Lenore and Amador Solis
A very impacting presentation on the issues concerning prison ministry and victims of violent crime by Bishop Gabino Zavala and a panel composed of former death row residents and/or family members. A reexamination of the justice system and its approach to preserving the dignity of the incarcerated, support of the victims of crime and the elimination of the death penalty was compassionately and convincingly presented .

A5 " STD's: The Legacy of 'Free Love' " attended by Carol Cardinale
Germaine Wensley, R.N. presented an eye opening session on STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and their medical consequences and a reflection on the reality of the non-existence of "safe sex".

Track B


B1 "The Metamorphosis of Medical Ethics" attended by Carol Cardinale, M. Alquaddoomi
Dr. William Toffler , an associate of Physicians for Compassionate Care, offered a scholarly and shocking expose of the state of today's medical ethics. Physicians, driven by economic considerations and educated in an academic moral vacuum, have no ethical system of checks and balances. Patients are manipulated, ill-informed, and exploited by those who are not sworn to provide adequate/ethical care (no oath of ethics is required of practicing physicians).

B2 "The Difference between Contraception and Natural Family Planning"
Professor Janet Smith

B3 "Abortion: Soul Wound of the World"
Victoria Thorn

B4 "Pro-Life Federal Legislation: Strategy and Mobilization for 2000"
Jennifer Cole

B5 "The Faces of Violence: Masks of Responsibility" attended by Peg Algiers, Jim and Connie Dyrness, Yolanda O'Brien, Lenore and Amador Solis
A team discussion of violence in our society and its causes and solutions. Dennis Westbrook of CERJ introduced a negotiating technique for mediation developed in South Africa as a means for successful peaceful intervention.

Track C


C1 ""The Answer to Assisted Suicide: Hospice and Pain Management" attended by Peg Algiers, Jim and Connie Dyrness
A thorough and well-organized presentation of hospice and pain management choices for maintaining the dignity of life of the patient and offering support for family members. Info: Medi-Cal does pay for hospice care.

C2 "The Family Under Siege: Population Control" attended by M. Alquaddoomi
Fascinating and enlightening presentation of data on population, decline rather than explosion. Prof. Smith outlined the agenda of the anti-life groups, their goals and their effect on society at large.

C3 "The Teaching of Values in the Home"
Sr. Paula Vandergaer S.S.S., L.C.S.W.

C4 "Sex Education: What Parents and Children Need to Know" attended by Yolanda O'Brien
Dr. Richard Wetzel, author of Sexual Wisdom, discussed the misconceptions and falsehoods that promote promiscuity and anti-life mentality in our society.

C5 "In the Lion's Den: The California Legislature" attended by Carol Cardinale
This session presented a look at life issues before the California Legislature and advice on how to approach your elected officials in support of our pro-life stance.


Overall, the speakers and resources were excellent and exciting. An array of resource materials including Catholic Caravans and a book table sponsored by B. Dalton Books as well as exhibits presented by various organizations were available during the entire conference.
The keynote speaker, Pat Nolan, gave a rousing wake-up talk on protecting the vulnerable in our society. The closing speaker, Molly Kelly, provided a moving, emotional and humorous approach to personal commitment. She demonstrated how the moral, ethical and social issues of the pro-life movement revolve around the concept of chastity and its affirmation of human value and God's love.
Attendees agreed that it was well worth the time spent and the information and resources that they accessed would be valuable to their ministries and organizations.

A list of resources represented at the conference follows.
Questions? Call Maria Alquaddoomi (626) 795-0321


List of Respect Life Resources
US Catholic Bishops' ProLife Site