Monday, February 25, 2008 Vote on Vitter Amendment Tomorrow Our friends in the Senate tell us that the pro-life Vitter amendment (# 3896) will be considered tomorrow.  The Vitter amendment would prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting abortions under the Indian Health Services bill. Call both your senators today and urge them to vote “Yes” on the pro-life Vitter amendment (# 3896)! Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 9:41:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Artist Hanged Herself After Aborting her Twins” The Telegraph (UK) reports on this tragic case of post-abortion anguish. Abortion | Pro Life posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 9:36:53 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Nebraska Legislature Changes Human Cloning Bill Enough for Pro-Life Support” LifeNews reports.  As does The Christian Post. Human Cloning | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 9:35:52 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Thinking Critically About Abortion Grove City College offers some helpful resources contemplating abortion, the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and the effects of abortion on civilization. On Morality, Abortion, and Empires By Dr. Andrew Harvey The Twisted Relativism of Abortion By Dr. Paul Kengor Abortion | Pro Life posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 9:33:54 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Pro-Abortion Group Continues Campaign Blasting Pro-Life Judicial Pick Honaker” LifeNews reports. Judicial Nominations | Pro Justice | Pro Life posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 9:21:12 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Advance Spotlight: Retired Judges of America AdvanceUSA recently unveiled a new weekly e-newsletter called “The Advance Report.”  In each newsletter AdvanceUSA will highlight a conservative organization or cause.  In the first issue we highlighted Retired Judges of America.  Below is our first Advance Spotlight. If you would like to receive the Advance Report simply follow these links to join AdvanceUSA or sign up for email.  Or you can click on the links in the “Get Involved” box in the left margin of the blog and website. Be sure to fill out our survey when you do so we know which issues about which to send you information (check as many or as few issues as you would like).  Advance Spotlight In our first "Advance Spotlight" we would like to highlight the great work being done by Retired Judges of America, an organization of current or retired judges whose mission is to "to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity through the networking of retired and former judges who are committed to upholding the principles of America's Organic Laws as expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States."  RJA seeks to minister to the spiritual needs of our nation's judges while seeking to protect the Constitution.  One example of RJA's contribution to American public life is the uncovering the truth about the Harlan Bible and what it says about our government's religious heritage and basis.  If you've never heard about the "Harlan Bible" click here. Retired Judges of America holds the promise of Isaiah 1:26 as a goal for ministry. "I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."  Check their website (www.retiredjudges.org) and blog for more information. If you would like to support RJA financially or get involved with their cause check their website for practical ways you can help.  AdvanceUSA encourages our readers to support this worthy cause. Note: The pictured is of Judge Darrell White (retired) who is Chairman of RJA. See also: pro-justice page, judicial nominations, circuit court judges graph Spotlight posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 5:09:55 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Friday, February 22, 2008 Catharina Haynes Receives Judiciary Committee Hearing: President Bush Urges Swift Vote Catharina Haynes was nominated by President Bush on July 17, 2007 to sit on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Besides the grave importance of appointing well-qualified originalist judges to federal benches, there is a particular sense of urgency in Haynes’ case because the Fifth Circuit is shorthanded and in desperate need for another judge.  Yesterday Haynes was finally questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  President Bush has called for a swift up-or-down vote on her nomination and AdvanceUSA heartily agrees.  To read a fact sheet on Catharina Haynes prepared by the White House click here. AdvanceUSA calls on the Senate Judiciary Committee to swiftly vote Haynes out of committee, and calls on the Senate to give her a fair up-or-down vote as the Constitution requires. For more information on judicial nomination click here or visit the pro-justice page. Judicial Nominations | Pro Justice posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 9:00:43 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Hijacking AIDS Relief to Promote Abortion, Why PEPFAR Isn't Broke” LifeNews relays Chuck Colson’s piece on the dangers in the current PEPFAR bill. Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Pro Morality posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 5:35:02 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Pro-Gay Booklet Sent to Every School District in America” Do you think children in the public school system should be exposed to homosexuality and told that escape from that lifestyle is impossible?  CitizenLink reports on this troubling case of pro-homosexual activism. For the truth about overcoming homosexuality through faith in Christ and for helpful resources, consult our good friends at Exodus International.  Exodus is the largest network of ex-gays in the world working to help people overcome their homosexual desires.  Exodus focuses primarily on ministering to individuals, but also desires to speak out on important cultural issues.  AdvanceUSA welcomes their expertise on these often sensitive issues. posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 5:31:25 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Hope in Missouri: Deceptive Cloning Amendment Ballot Language Gets Adjusted by Judge There is exciting new hope that Missouri voters will be able read an accurate summary of the proposed constitutional amendment to fully ban human cloning in state when they step into the voting booth in November.  Most Missourians would likely oppose the cloning of human life for the purpose of destroying it for research, but anti-cloning forces must get their message out despite well funded opposition, media bias, and unfriendly state officials (as in this case).  Bioethics expert Wesley J. Smith summarizes the situation:  I admit that I am pleasantly surprised. The pro cloning bias among the political elite and media in Missouri make it almost impossible to get the straight information to the people of MO about this crucial ethical issue. When a new initiative to outlaw all human cloning was filed awhile ago, the Secretary of State wrote a summary that was both inaccurate and breathtakingly biased. Well, lo and behold, a court has righted the wrong. Also, the AP (via the Columbia Missourian) has a lengthy article explaining the situation and its implications.  Click here (PDF file) to read a press release from Missouri Cures Without Cloning. For more background information about the Missouri case and about the science of human cloning check AdvanceUSA’s human cloning page. Human Cloning | Missouri | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 5:28:27 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Towns Take Steps to Keep Out Sexually Oriented Businesses” CitizenLink reports.  This is great news for other communities who want to stay safe and free from sexually oriented businesses. Pornography | Pro Morality posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 5:23:49 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Thursday, February 21, 2008 “Why Pro-Life Presidents Matter” Conservatives are often told that abortion really shouldn’t be an important issue when selecting a president because “all he can do is appoint judges.”  Our friend Joe Carter at Evangelical Outpost clearly explains today why this is not the case.  He shows just how much power a president has to help or hinder the pro-life movement. He lists five specific areas and explains each: Preserving the Pro-Life Riders Filing of amicus briefs in cases before the judiciary Issuance of executive orders Selection of political appointments Using the "bully pulpit" He mentions the presidential veto when discussing pro-life riders.  This important constitutional power of the presidency can hardly be overstated, especially when Congress is controlled by pro-abortion leadership. Excerpt: Christians have an obligation to the most vulnerable members of our society to elect politicians who have both a robust view of human dignity and the temerity to govern accordingly. We betray this duty when we downplay the role the executive branch in advancing the pro-life cause. Judges and legislators matter; but presidents matter too. To read the full post click here. AdvanceUSA is grateful to Joe for citing us as a source when discussing the pro-life riders, and hope others will find our site a helpful resource as well. Abortion | Election 2008 | Pro Life posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 4:10:08 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Vote on PEPFAR Abstinence and Abortion Funding Next Thursday The House Foreign Affairs Committee will vote on PEPFAR anti-AIDS funding reauthorization on Thursday, February 28.  Call your representative today (especially if they serve on this committee) and urge him or her to vote against the PEPFAR legislation unless pro-abortion code words like “family panning” and “reproductive health” are removed and abstinence education and anti-prostitution language is maintained.  LifeNews reports on the abortion funding aspect while the AP reports on President Bush’s statements urging lawmakers to preserve crucial abstinence and faithfulness funding. Click here for more information on PEPFAR or check the AdvanceUSA home page. Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Pro Morality | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:20:42 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Artery Procedure [Using Adult Stem Cells] Raises New Hopes” The Chicago Tribune reports on how adult stem cells could help prevent many amputations.  Excerpts: A new procedure launched at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago in January offers hope to patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), or severely blocked leg arteries.   Doctors transplanted a purified form of the patients' own stem cells into their leg muscles to grow new, small blood vessels and restore circulation in their legs. Two patients underwent the procedure. They are the first subjects in a 20-site national trial. … Losordo said a treatment for CLI could be available by 2012. Adult Stem Cells | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:18:08 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “My Miracle Baby Boy Survived Abortion” News of the World (UK) reports. Graphic source: News of the World Abortion | Pro Life posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:16:28 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Vote on Vitter Amendment Monday or Tuesday AdvanceUSA has learned that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has filed cloture on the Indian Health Services bill, and a vote on the essential pro-life Vitter amendment is expected on Monday or Tuesday (25th or 26th).  Call both your senators and urge them to support the Vitter Amendment (# 3896) to the Indian Health Services bill! Click here for more information on the imporant Vitter amendment. Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:07:32 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “New [Religious Freedom] Threat to Charitable Choice” One would expect that Catholic organizations should be able to hire only Catholics or that religious ministries (a church soup kitchen for example) should be able to fire or refuse to hire people who violate that religion’s moral teachings on sexuality.  These common sense assumptions could be in danger if “charitable choice” is not protected in the upcoming SAMSHA vote in the Senate. Charitable choice is what allows religious charities to accept federal funding while taking religious/moral beliefs into consideration when hiring employees.  Without these protections religious charities would be forced to compromise their most cherished beliefs in order to continue to minister effectively.  Allowing Catholic charities to only hire Catholics or to refuse to hire someone who is an openly practicing homosexual are examples of charitable choice protection. The Center blog reports on the latest efforts to restrict this important religious liberty in the statutory provisions governing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  Senators should be urged to support charitable choice in SAMHSA. Excerpt from Washington Post story: Under the Civil Rights Act, religious groups are allowed to only hire people of their particular faith. The battle erupts over what should happen when these groups accept federal dollars.   Supporters of charitable choice said before it was in place many faith-based groups were treated poorly by government agencies and shied away from applying for federal money, fearing they would have to change their religious nature. Many of these groups are highly effective in helping the addicted and mentally ill, supporters said, and without charitable choice, many of them won't apply for federal aid, perhaps dropping out. Faith-Based Initiatives | Pro Religious Freedom posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:05:39 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Obama and McCain Win Wisconsin Barack Obama won the Democrat primary races last night in Wisconsin and Hawaii while John McCain won Wisconsin in the Republican race. Wisconsin (full results) Democrat Primary Barack Obama          58% Hillary Clinton           41% Republican Primary John McCain            55% Mike Huckabee         37% Hawaii (full results) Democrat Primary Barack Obama          76% Hillary Clinton           24% To see how the presidential candidates stand on important issues check AdvanceUSA’s 2008 Candidate Comparisons. Election 2008 posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:01:42 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Presidential Primary Elections Today With the heated Democrat race as close as ever between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and with frontrunner John McCain hoping to “seal the deal” with the Republican party, today’s primary elections will be attracting lots of interest.  Democrats will have contests in Wisconsin and Hawaii while Republicans will also vote in Wisconsin and in Washington State.  My Way news reports. AdvanceUSA Blog will post results tomorrow.  Until then USA Today will tabulate results as they come in tonight. Make sure you know where the major presidential candidates stand on important issues with AdvanceUSA’s 2008 Candidate Comparisons. Election 2008 posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:06:03 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Randy Forbes Introduces “America’s Religious History” Bill Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA) has introduced a bill (H. RES. 888) which would make the first week in May “America’s Religious History Week.”  Much of the text of the bill would make a great history lesson in America’s rich religious history.  Read the full text here.  Excerpts: Whereas political scientists have documented that the most frequently-cited source in the political period known as The Founding Era was the Bible;   Whereas the first act of America’s first Congress in 1774 was to ask a minister to open with prayer and to lead Congress in the reading of four chapters of the Bible;   Whereas in 1777, Congress, facing a national shortage of “Bibles for our schools, and families, and for the public worship of God in our churches,” announced that they “desired to have a Bible printed under their care & by their encouragement” and therefore ordered 20,000 copies of the Bible to be imported “into the different ports of the States of the Union”;   Whereas in 1782, Congress pursued a plan to print a Bible that would be “a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools” and therefore approved the production of the first English-language Bible printed in America that contained the congressional endorsement that “the United States in Congress assembled . . . recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States”;   Whereas, in 1864, by law Congress added “In God We Trust” to American coinage; To read these quotes and many more click here.  Or for a version that includes the historical documentation check the PDF version at Rep. Randy Forbes’ website. Pro Religious Freedom | Religion in Public posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:00:14 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Exodus International Sees Dramatic Growth” Congratulations to our friends at Exodus International, who do great work speaking the truth in love about overcoming homosexuality, on their organization’s dramatic growth.  CitizenLink reports. posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 6:36:33 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Monday, February 18, 2008 More Stem Cell News Adult “Stem Cell Treatment Attracts Thousands” ABC News reports (in a very balanced fashion) on the visible results Paul Flynn has achieved from the adult stem cell therapies he received in China.  Excerpt: Using stem cells harvested from umbilical cord blood (UCB), Hu said his company has treated over 2,000 patients since 2005. They claim an 85 percent rate of improvement in a variety of conditions, from spinal cord injuries to autism. …   "Little things like that. I can jump now, which I couldn't jump earlier. I can jump now, little frog hops, which requires all the contraction and releasing and coordination of all of your leg muscles all at once. So, just little things like that. Squatting, I can squat a little better now without falling over."   His wife, Teresa, has also taken note. "I've noticed a lot of improvement in his walk, his speech, his overall sense of well being," she said. Unfortunately, many of the results in China have not been submitted for official scientific review, but personal testimonials like Paul’s definitely merit careful consideration. Paul Flynn with his son Michael in China Graphic source: ABC News “Ethical Method of Creating Embryonic-Like Stem Cells Overcomes More Hurdles” Scientists report that the embryonic-like induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which can be obtained ethically from ordinary skin cells, can be used for treatment without causing tumors.  One of the chief faults with using normal embryonic stem cells (besides the fact that they require the destruction or endangerment of human embryos) is that they often form tumors.  Once again, ethical stem cell research shows the greater promise of actually achieving treatments and cures.  LifeNews also reports.   “Racehorse Wins after Pioneering [Adult] Stem Cell Treatment” Horse lovers, pro-lifers, and medical junkies will be fascinated to learn that adult stem cell treatments are even producing real results in the animal kingdom.  Excerpt: Pioneering stem cell treatment has enabled British steeplechaser Knowhere to come back from severe injuries to win Cheltenham's Gold Cup Trial last week. Graphic source: horsetalk.co.nz   “UCLA Adult Stem Cell Speech” Michael Webster shares his success story from having used adult stem cell treatments.   “Stem Cell Storage Turns to Menstrual Source” The Chicago Tribune reports.  Excerpt: Some call it a curse, some an inconvenience, and some even think of it as a feminine privilege, joining them with the cycles of nature.   Now a Florida firm wants women to think of their monthly period as a precious chance to gather stem cells that could later prove a lifesaver to them or their families. Adult Stem Cells | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 9:09:36 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Minnesota Legislature Pursues Tax-Supported Human Cloning CitizenLink and LifeNews report. Human Cloning | Stem Cells posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 8:59:22 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Once More William Neaves Misleads” Noted bioethics expert Wesley J. Smith comments on the latest round of pro-human cloning misinformation in Missouri. Human Cloning | Missouri | Stem Cells posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 8:56:39 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “United Nations Committee Pushes Countries to Promote Abortion in CEDAW Meeting” LifeNews reports.  This is even more evidence of why the United States should never sign the CEDAW treaty. Abortion | Pro Life posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 8:55:20 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Indiana Marriage Amendment Dies in State House The Indy Star reports on this sad news for marriage defenders in Indiana.  Hoosiers can especially thank State Rep. Patrick Bauer and State Rep. Scott Pelath for denying them the opportunity to vote on a marriage amendment in 2008. Marriage | Pro Family posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 8:53:47 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “Abortion Remark Angers Students” How would you respond to the following statement? "In my opinion, the moral thing for older mothers to do is to have amniocentesis, as soon during pregnancy as is safe for the fetus, test whether placental cells have a third chromosome #21, and abort the fetus if it does. The brain is the last organ to become functional." LifeNews and the News Observer have the full story. Abortion | Pro Life posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 8:51:31 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Friday, February 15, 2008 Adult Stem Cell Updates Studies in Australia show that adult stem cells are accomplishing incredible results in repairing fractured bones. The Temple Telegram has a great biographical piece on Dr. Darwin Prockop who “has been researching adult stem cells for 18 years and yet maintains a sense of wonder about his work.”  Dr. Prockop is doing great work, and it is refreshing to hear his expert and honest assessment of the enormous potential of ethical adult stem cell research and of the difficulties and problems associated with embryonic stem cell research.  This piece is an exciting read for those interested in the amazing medicinal potential of ethical forms of stem cell research.  Excerpt: There have been no reports of any patient trials using embryonic stem cells, he said.   “There have been some major technological problems,” Prockop said. “One thing is they form tumors in animals that look like the beginnings of cancer and nobody quite knows how to get around this problem.” Dr. Prockop at work Graphic source: Temple Telegraph For more information on adult stem cell successes click here.  Or check the stem cell page. Adult Stem Cells | Pro Life | Stem Cells posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 3:45:54 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Obstruction of Judges and FISA