A new billboard near Albany

Comments of Cardinal Dolan (on Talk-1300 radio show)

May 14, 2013 — “I’d like to think that maybe this [the Gosnell murder conviction] will unmake some of the horror that is obvious in this unfettered abortion on-demand culture that we’ve got.”

“We’ve gone beyond safe, legal and rare. We’ve got now that abortion is dangerous, it’s rampant, it’s being paid for by the tax dollars of people who are opposed to it.

“I am at a bit of consternation as to why at a time when there seems to be a sobering up at the horrors of unfettered access to abortion why in New York we’re talking about even expanding it further.”

Dolan: ‘Consternation’ Over Abortion Push

Statement of NY State Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos:

May 13, 2013 — Today’s guilty verdict in the Kermit Gosnell trial in Pennsylvania highlights the potential danger in passing the so-called Reproductive Health Act (RHA), sponsored by Senate Democrat Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, that would greatly expand late-term abortion in New York, and open the door to similar horrors.”

“Rather than pass an unnecessary and extreme measure that would allow non-doctors to perform abortions right up to the day of a baby’s birth, I believe we should be doing everything possible to protect the health, safety and economic well-being of every New York woman.”

Although Gov. Cuomo still hasn’t released the language of his women’s rights agenda, NARAL Pro-Choice New York has come out with a radio ad targeting Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos.

Skelos, from Nassau County has staunchly opposed any effort to expand abortion in New York and has said several times that he will do all he can to prevent the extreme “abortion rights” bill from reaching the floor of the state Senate. For this, of course, he is being attacked by NARAL Pro-Choice for being against women’s rights.

You can hear the ad here.  If you haven’t written to Skelos thanking him for what he’s done so far and urging him to stay strong, you can do so here. Those who are standing up for life in Albany need to hear from us!

Read NARAL Ad Singles Out Skelos.

A delegation from Rockland Right to Life — Almeda Silva from Sparkill (left), Judy Murray from New City (right) along with Liz O’Brien from Upper Nyack — lobbied with legislative aides of Sen. Carlucci and Assm. Zebrowski about Gov. Cuomo’s proposed abortion expansion legislation during Lobby for Life Day.

Albany, April 29  At Lobby for Life Day, a delegation from the Rockland Right to Life Committee met with staff members of two of our legislators representing Rockland in Albany: Assm. Ken Zebrowski (D-96 AD) and Sen. David Carlucci (D-38 SD).

The topic of discussion was the abortion component of Gov. Cuomo’s “Women’s Equality Agenda.”

While neither the form or the specific language of  Cuomo’s abortion bill has yet been released, the governor leaves little doubt as to his goal of expanding abortion in NY (just watch this 24 second video from his State of the State speech last February).

Aides of Sen. Carlucci and Assm. Zebrowski listened to our concerns but  declined to express any opinion about a yet-to-be-written bill.

However, according to Nick Reisman of Capitol Tonight, “Cuomo’s push to enhance abortion rights is running into the wall of the Senate Republican conference, whose leader Dean Skelos in multiple interviews this week insisted he will not allow a floor vote on the yet-to-be written bill.

“The measure, regardless of how it is written, will likely need GOP votes, considering that Democratic Sens. Tim Kennedy and Ruben Diaz are opposed to abortion.”

That said, we are hardly out of the woods yet, and this legislation still has the potential to be our worst nightmare come true. If this legislation does make it to the floor of the state Senate, it will probably be in June.

We have to keep up the pressure from all sides. The prolife legislators, in the Senate and especially in the Assembly, need  to know that we’re behind them. Those who are pro-abortion need to know where we stand — and how many of us there are. 

What can you do? Do some Lobbying for Life yourself from home this week:

1.  Thank Dean Skelos for his strong public statements against the bill. Some 3,000 did within two days!  You can contact him here.

2.  If you haven’t yet, tell your representatives where you stand on “Reproductive Health Act/abortion expanding” legislation and ask them where they stand. If you’ve already told them, tell them again:

Senator David Carlucci (38 SD)
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/david-carlucci/contact
District office  — 845-624-0424
Albany office  — 518-455-2991

Senator William Larkin (39 SD)
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/william-j-larkin-jr/contact
District office — 845 – 567-1270
Albany office — 518 – 455-2770

Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (96 AD)
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Kenneth-Zebrowski/contact/
District office — 845-634-9791
Albany office — 518-455-5735

Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe (97 AD)
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Ellen-Jaffee/contact/
District office — 845-624-4601
Albany office — 518-455-5118

Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt (98 AD)
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Annie-Rabbitt/contact/
District office — 845-544-7551
Albany office — 518-455-5991

Assemblyman James Skoufis (99 AD)
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/James-Skoufis/contact/
District office — 845 – 469 – 6929
Albany office — 518-455-5441

ALBANY, April 30  The halls of the New York State House were filled with prolifers, who traveled from all parts of the state Tuesday for the annual Lobby for Life Day, organized by the New York State Right to Life Committee.

Over 500 lobbyists came to meet with their state senators and assembly representatives and make clear our opposition to the abortion component of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s still unrevealed “Women’s Equality Agenda.”

Dubbed “The Reproductive Health Act” or the “abortion-expansion bill,” this legislation promises to guarantee that abortion is protected and available throughout nine months of pregnancy.

The turnout was so large that extra chairs had to be brought to “The Well” for the opening meeting  and, even then, the audience spilled onto the stairs at the far side of the atrium.

The speakers included Mary Spalding Balch, National Right to Life General Legal Counsel; Brendan Flynn, a coma survivor, whom doctors had recommended be left alone to die; and Assm. Annie Rabbitt (R-98 AD, which includes part of Ramapo in Rockland), a strong prolife advocate and sponsor of The Women’s Right to Know Act (A.3252).

Other prolife legislators who addressed the crowd included: Sens. Hugh Farley, Greg Ball, the sponsor for Lobby for Life Day, Kathy Marchione, and Assms. Steven McLaughlin and David Di Pietro.

Recently  more groups from Rockland signed on to the New Yorkers for Life Statement of Principles.

If your group would like to join the ever-growing coalition of organizations (see the whole list here) representing New Yorkers who oppose Gov. Cuomo’s efforts to expand abortion even further in our state, please click here for more information.

Most recently joined:
Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Joan of Arc Court #604 (Stony Point, NY)
The Rachel Ministry (Stony Point, NY)

Knights of Columbus Triune Council (Pearl River, NY)
40 Days for Life (Spring Valley, NY)
Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Anne #866 (Piermont, NY)
Help Rescue our Children (Monsey, NY)
Men’s Club of St. John’s Church (Piermont, NY)
Respect Life Group (Rockland Cty,  NY)
St. Augustine Youth Group (New City, NY)
St. Margaret’s Pro-Life Cenacle (Pearl River, NY)
St. Margaret’s Altar and Rosary Society (Pearl River, NY)
Rockland Right to Life Committee
Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship (New City)
Good Counsel Homes (Spring Valley)
Rockland Catholic Coalition
Living Waters Fellowship (Suffern)
Sacred Heart Church Respect Life Group (Suffern)
St. Francis of Assisi Church (West Nyack)
Blessings of Health  (Stony Point)