Author Archives: rocklandrtl

NY Legislative Session Ends With No Anti-Life Bills

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Thankfully, the New York State Senate and Assembly adjourned on Wednesday, June 21, without taking up three anti-life measures. The bills had all been referred to various committees and progressed no further, with no committee votes or floor votes being taken.

A.3693 (S.159) — Additional funding to Planned Parenthood

A.6959A (S. 17A) — Allowing payment to surrogate mothers

A.02383 (S.03151) — Allowing assisted suicide (medical doctors to prescribe drugs to help patients end their lives)

While we’re relieved that none of these bills were passed into law during this session, it’s quite likely they will all be reintroduced next year. There’s even a possibility that the legislature may reconvene over the summer and might take up any of these.  So please stay vigilant, informed, and let your state legislators know what you think about these issues.

Bill Proposes Payment for Surrogacy in NY

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Surrogacy is when a woman agrees to carry a pregnancy she did not conceive. The egg is fertilized outside the body and then implanted into the “surrogate mother” who carries the baby to term and then gives the child to the person or couple who commissioned the pregnancy. This bill would allow payment to the surrogate mother, thus introducing the possibility of “making parenthood a commercial enterprise” as well as exploiting a poorer woman who would carry the baby because she needs the money.  memo on Surrogacy bill-S17A, A6959A copy

House of Representatives Passes ‘American Health Care Act’ as First Step to Repeal Obamacare

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A bill to repeal major portions of Obamacare passed the House of Representative Thursday by a vote of 217-212. Not one single Democrat voted for it. The bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration and will probably face major revisions there.

The bill, The American Health Care Act, contained a provision that would eliminate $390 million of federal spending to Planned Parenthood and redirect those funds to community health centers that offer a wider array of healthcare services — but not abortion.

Also, the American Health Care Act would reinforce the principles of the Hyde Amendment, which has historically prevented tax payer dollars from being used to pay for abortions, thus reversing Obamacare’s “multiple provisions authorizing federal subsidies for abortion, and abortion-expanding regulatory mandates,” according to the National Right to Life Committee.

Rockland’s representative in the House, Nita Lowey, voted against for this bill.

 

 

 

Two Victories: Freedom NOT to Fund PP and Confirmation of Gorsuch to Supreme Court

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Yesterday, Pres. Donald Trump signed a bill (H.J. Res. 43) that reversed a “last-minute” law from the departing Obama administration which prevented states from denying funds to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers under Title X.

Gorsuch

Assoc. Justice of Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch

With this new legislation, states  will be able to direct taxpayer dollars to comprehensive healthcare clinics that better serve women  and do not do abortions.

All three of the legislators who represent Rockland in Congress voted against this bill: Rep. Nita Lowey, and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

This was the second prolife victory this week, the first being the swearing in of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court on Monday.

Celebrating Life — Irish Style!

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FullSizeR copyMembers of the Rockland prolife community marched under the “Respect Life” banner last Sunday, in the Ancient Order of Hibernian’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Pearl River. It was a sunny, perfect March-like day, and the spectators  supported the group with applause along the entire parade route. Over 20 marchers were in the “Respect Life” contingent this year. See slide show below.

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March with ‘Respect Life’

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Irish babyHAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!  The annual Rockland AOH St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place in Peal River, on Sunday, March 19. Everyone is invited to march with the Respect Life group.

We are in the 1st Battalion this year, just in front of St. Gregory Barbarigo School. The parade steps off at 1:30 pm, so please come to the Pfizer parking lot on Middletown Rd. by 1 pm. Ask one of the parade officials where the Respect Life group will be lining up.

Hope to see you there!

40 Days for Life — Week 1

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Freezing for Life! Cold, raw winds chilled the volunteers on the first week of the Spring 2017 40 Days for Life campaign. But hearts and spirits were warm.

We are now at Day 8 of the 40 days of peaceful, prayerful witness for life at the Spring Valley “prayer site,” public property along Perlman Drive, outside the Pascack Plaza Mall where the Planned Parenthood office is.

And this is Year 9 of the 40 Days campaign!  Nine years — “like a novena,” as Richard Bruno, county prolife leader,  said last night at the monthly first-Monday prolife mass at St. Francis’ of Assisi Church in West Nyack.

Will this be the year when Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in America,  finally closes its doors in Rockland? Please pray for all those who are suffering because of the abortion industry. Pray for the employees and volunteers at the Spring Valley Planned Parenthood. Please pray for all the women and men who have come to PP, and who will come, that God will guide them to choose life.

If you would like to join the local 40 Days for Life group in peaceful, nonconfrontational prayer to end abortion, please email RachelMinister1@aol.com or call 845-492-6709.  Many people are needed to provide a 24/7 presence of prayer for 40 Days.

40 Days for Life Begins Across America

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2-flagsThe spring 40 Days for Life campaign began on March 1 in 340 different locations across the U.S. and in cities in 29 foreign countries.

The 40 Days for Life is an international program of public prayer and fasting to end abortion. It’s held twice a year, during Lent and during the autumn. Since it began in 1998, 12,668 lives have been saved from abortion during 40 Days vigils,  143 abortion workers have quit, and 83 abortion clinics have closed their doors.

In Rockland County, the 40 Days for Life takes place on Perlman Drive in Spring Valley, on public property outside the Pascack Plaza mall where the Planned Parenthood Office is. Every day from now until April 9, you’ll find volunteers praying there from 9 am to 6 pm. Overnight, prayer continues at the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel of St. Gregory Barbarigo Church in Garnerville.

If you would like to join this group in peaceful, nonconfrontational prayer to end abortion, please email RachelMinister1@aol.com or call 845-492-6709.  Many people are needed to provide a 24/7 presence of prayer for 40 Days. It’s an important thing to do for Lent — praying for children lost to abortion, praying for mothers considering abortion, and praying for a change of heart for all those involved in the abortion industry. And, of course, we pray for each other, that we may respond with courage, compassion, wisdom, and generosity to all those caught up in the evil of abortion.

House Votes to Allow States to Redirect Planned Parenthood Funds to County Health Depts., Community Health Centers

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hj-res-43-passes-twitterreThe House of Representatives today voted 230-188 to nullify an Obama resolution designed to  prevent states from redirecting Title X funds away from unsuitable organizations like Planned Parenthood.

Rep. Nita Lowey (CD 17), who represents Rockland, voted against this prolife resolution.

See House Passes Measure to Nullify Last-Minute Gift from Obama to Planned Parenthood.