This week Democratic Presidential Candidates pledged support for wide access to abortion while speaking at Planned Parenthood's annual public affairs conference in Washington, DC. The event was sponsored by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. This year's conference gathered staff from across the country to prepare for a critical year of organizing legislative activity. In spite of the record profits reported by Planned Parenthood and the $300 million received in federal funding annually, candidates promise even more.

John Edwards

On behalf of John Edward's, his wife Elizabeth, told the organization her husband's plan is a "true universal health-care plan" that would cover "all reproductive health services, including pregnancy termination," the Chicago Tribune reported. She noted that, if elected president, her husband would ensure that Planned Parenthood be recognized as a national healthcare service provider, that both monthly and emergency contraception be covered by insurance, and that abortion could be federally funded by repealing the Hyde Amendment.

Barack Obama

Addressing the audience, Senator Obama said the 2008 presidential election would answer the question: "What kind of America will our daughters grow up in?" What, one might wonder, does he want to protect our daughters from? An oversexualized culture? Predators on the Internet? Alas, no. Mr. Obama was and worried that if the wrong person got into the White House, our daughters might grow up in a country without . . . partial-birth abortions. (The Dems' Fate: On the Left Wing And a Prayer). Obama also reaffirmed his belief that "age appropriate" sex-education should be taught in kindergarten.

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Vows to Push Pro-Abortion Agenda on her First day in the White House

“For six-and-a-half years, the president has played politics with women’s health,” she said. “When I’m president, I will devote my very first day in office to reversing these ideological, anti-science, anti-prevention policies that this administration has put into place.” read more

Mitt Romney Responds to Obamas comments: Romney-Obama Debate Heats Up
"How much sex education is age appropriate for a 5-year-old?" Romney asked during a Colorado campaign stop, according to ABCNews.com. "In my view, zero is the right amount." Sex Ed for Kindergartners?

AP Poll: GOP Pick Is 'None of the Above'
The latest Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that nearly a quarter of Republicans are unwilling to back top-tier hopefuls Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain or Mitt Romney, and no one candidate has emerged as the clear front-runner among Christian evangelicals. read more

78 Catholic Representatives voted to continue to fund Planned Parenthood

Pro-life lawmakers tried on Thursday to get an amendment to a federal budget spending bill that would have stripped federal funding of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business. According to their own 2005-2006 Annual Report, Planned Parenthood received over a third of their income--$300 million-from government funding. Although the government monies are prohibited by law from being used for abortions, that funding still helps Planned Parenthood in its overall operations. Rep. Mike Pence, an Indiana Republican, put forth the amendment to remove the funds from the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Act which funds the agencies for fiscal year 2008. The House defeated his amendment on a 231-189 vote. 16 Democrats voted AYE and 231 voted NO. 189 Republicans voted for the amendment and 21 opposed.

For additional news, candidate profiles and pending legislation, go to our website, www.OneNationUnderGod.org

Senator Kennedy's Use of the Defense Funding Bill to Pass 'Hate Crimes' Proposal Called 'Reckless'

Family Policy Network (FPN) President Joe Glover accused Senator Kennedy of jeopardizing the welfare of American soldiers in an underhanded attempt to have "sexual orientation" added to the list of federally-protected hate crimes categories. The bill was pulled after Democrats failed to force a troop withdrawal from Iraq. read more

Senator Kennedy has accepted over $57K from gay and lesbian advocacy groups. (opensecrets.org)

 

 

This Weeks Headlines

House Passes Spending Bill That Increases Abstinence Education, Family Planning Program Funding, Bans Funding for Mandated HPV Vaccination

House allocates $15M to National Cord Blood Inventory program

Senate panel OKs $35B increase for kids' health care

Senate Committee Considers Tougher Decency Rules for TV

 

 

From Our Shepherds

Vatican

Vatican spokesman says sexual abuse not just Catholic problem
Sexual abuse of children is not just a Catholic Church problem and other institutions should take steps to acknowledge and deal with such "wickedness" within their own ranks, the chief spokesman for the Vatican said today. CNA

Bishops

We're right to rebuke politicians, says archbishop

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver said the abortion issue was one of basic human dignity.

“These are not sectarian issues,” he said. “We’re not saying Catholic legislators ought to promote belief in the Trinity. Abortion is about killing somebody else. It’s about human beings.

“Do you keep quiet if someone’s going to kill someone else, or do you speak up? And if you don’t speak up or you say people have a right to kill someone
else, can you honestly say you’re in communion with the Church?” (totalcatholic) read more

Bishops Seek To Meet With Both Parties On Iraq War
In response to 14 Catholic House Democrats requesting a meeting with U.S. Bishops, the USCCB agreed to the meeting and also asked to meet with Republican members of the House of Representatives to discuss a “responsible transition” to end the war in Iraq. USCCB

Commentary

What’s So Bad about Planned Parenthood?
Political life should be hard for a conservative who has nice things to say about the group. Kathryn Jean Lopez

Thompson’s Turn: Millions of Americans have changed their minds about abortion over the same years in which Fred Thompson appears to have changed his. He should not hesitate to represent these voters.NRO read more

State News

"America's Finest City" No More

The San Diego City Council declared the month of July 2007 as "Gay Pride" month in the city. The resolution was sponsored by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and two council members. learn more

 

Florida: Families move in to Catholic town created by former owner of Dominos Pizza
The town of Ave Maria, built around the Catholic Ave Maria University, welcomed its first residents in May, and more families are expected to move in throughout the summer and fall. read more
Birth of clean town: Ave Maria USAToday