Calling all NY Prolife Teens — Camp Esther Weekend, Aug. 17-19

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Camp Esther is open to any prolife teenager who wants to know more about getting involved and saving lives. If you want to learn how to be an effective prolife leader and meet other pro-life teens from across New York State, Camp Esther is for you.

Sessions blend education, motivation, and advocacy into a camp that is intense, powerful, and a ton of fun.

You’ll hear from many amazing, funny, and motivational speakers throughout the weekend! And… you have even more to look forward to at Camp Esther:

  • Games, movies, & popcorn
  • Activities outside on the beautiful grounds at the Good News Center, in Utica, NY
  • Meeting some of the most awesome prolife teens from across the state!

Click here to learn more.

And, through the generosity of a Rockland resident,  Rockland teens can attend for free. The $100 tuition will be paid for.

So if you’re a prolife teenager, consider Camp Esther – it’s only a weekend, but your experience there could change the rest of your life. Invite a friend who feels the way you do. If you’re an adult who knows of a prolife teenager, please tell them about this opportunity.

For more information, contact Rockland Right to Life. We’ll coordinate transportation. Call 201-732-8277 or email RocklandRTL@optonline.net. We need to know by June 30.

500 Rally for Religious Freedom in NYC

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On Friday, 40 demonstrators from Rockland joined over 500 New Yorkers who assembled at Federal Hall on Wall Street in NYC, to rally for Religious Freedom and protest the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act.

News team for Channel 12 interviews Father Fredy Patino at St. Francis Church in West Nyack, the boarding site for the bus to the rally in NYC.

The ACA contains a mandate that requires all employers — including religious schools and hospitals — to provide health insurance for their employees that covers contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs. There is an exemption, but it’s so narrow that most religious institutions would not qualify.

Currently, 43 Catholic groups — including dioceses, colleges, and healthcare agencies — have filed lawsuits against the mandate because “it entails an element of government coercion against conscience,” according to the  US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Fr. Fredy, from St. Peter’s in Haverstraw, leads the group in prayer during the trip.

“This is such a vital issue,” Rockland’s Eileen Peterson, president of the Rockland County Catholic Coalition, told The Christian Post. “Never in the history of the United States of America have we ever been forced to violate core beliefs in our conscience by any government, so this is huge. If we do not take a stand now, then we will have nothing to stand for.”

Tom Fabry, also of Rockland, said he believes the Supreme Court, which is reviewing the ACA, will rule that it is unconstitutional. Nevertheless, he said, “America better wake up . . . Every year there are approximately 50 million babies killed through abortion worldwide. That’s a billion every 20 years. And that doesn’t count the ones that are killed by the different types of pills.”

At the NYC rally, Rockland prolifer Richard Bruno holds a sign asking for prayers for women wounded by abortion.

The speakers at the New York rally included Alveda King of Priests for Life, Dr. Anne Nolte of the Gianna Healthcare Center for Women, Christopher Bell of Good Counsel Homes, Edward Mechmann of the Archdiocese of New York, and Maria McFadden Maffucci of the Human Life Foundation.

Over 75,000 attended Stand Up for Religious Freedom rallies in 164 cities on Friday.

Read more: Americans Stand Up for Religious Freedom on Bill of Rights Anniversary.

June 8 — Bus Trip to Rally for Religious Freedom in NYC

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LET’S MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD AT THE FEDERAL HALL NATIONAL MEMORIAL
Stand up for Religious Freedom – Stop Obama’s HHS Mandate – Join the second Nationwide Rally

ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST HHS MANDATE

In order to protect our religious liberties from unwarranted and unprecedented government intrusion, the Archdiocese of New York has filed suit in federal court seeking to block the recent Health and Human services mandate that unconstitutionally attempts to define the nature of the Church’s religious ministry and would force religious employers to violate their consciences.
This is about religious freedom, pure and simple. It is about the government attempting to force the Church to violate its conscience. –Timothy Cardinal Dolan
The HHS Mandate includes sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs — or the imposition of crippling fines.

LET’S MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD AND LET US PRAY
On Friday, June 8th, 2012. 9:30AM (Immediately following the 9AM Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church)
DEPARTING FROM: St. Francis of Assisi Church (leaving via deluxe coach buses) 128 Parrot Rd. West Nyack, NY 10994. (Plenty of parking)
LOCATION OF RALLY: 26 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005 — On Friday, June 8th, at Noon (estimated time of arrival at Rally: 12 Noon)
DEPARTING FOR RETURN TO WEST NYACK: 2:15 PM (exact location to be announced. Estimated time of return to St. Francis of Assisi Church 4:15PM)

For bus seat reservations, contact 845-359-5823 – Richard Bruno
$20 Bus donation requested, $10 for students.

(Click here for photos of the Rockland participation in the April rally in NYC)

LIFEWORKS — May 2012

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Click here for the latest issue of New York State Right to Life’s newsletter, LifeWorks. You’ll find articles about:

  • Election 2012 — You can make the difference in critical NY races outside Rockland
  • Calling all NY prolife teens! — Camp Esther
  • Adult stem cell treatments move ahead, embryonic stem cells fall farther behind
  • And more

Bill to Ban Sex-Selection Abortions Defeated

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From Life News:  Democrats in the House of Representatives prevented passage of a bill that would ban sex-selection abortions. The legislation needed a two-thirds vote and Democrats voted overwhelmingly against the legislation after President Barack Obama and Planned Parenthood came out in opposition. More.

All three congresspersons representing parts of Rockland County voted against the banning of sex-selection abortions: Eliot Engel (D), Nita Lowey (D), and Nan Hayworth (R).

House To Vote on Bill Banning Sex-Selection Abortions

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On Thursday, the House of Representatives will consider the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA), a bill to ban abortions based on the gender of the unborn child.  A two-thirds majority vote is required for passage.

Today, the debate today was opened by pro-life Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) who had introduced the bill. In his remarks to the House of Representatives, he said that sex-selection abortion was a war against both unborn baby girls and women, who have been coerced to abort their daughters.

Franks said that studies have shown that in many cultures that prize male offspring, the number of births of baby boys compared with girls is skewed in favor of boys far beyond the ratio that would occur naturally for third births and beyond. He said the only plausible explanation for this is abortion of baby girls — and that this is happening particularly but not exclusively among certain Asian immigrant groups in the U.S.

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) was the main speaker opposing PRENDA. He said the law was just a ploy to “chip away” at a woman’s right to get medical care.

Franks noted that studies have shown that 86% of Americans support PRENDA legislation, backing up his position that “As Americans, all of us know in our hearts that aborting a little baby because  . . . she is a little girl instead of a little boy is fundamentally wrong, and represents a betrayal of the precious truth that all human beings are created equal.”

He reminded everyone that in 2007, the U.S. spearheaded a United Nations resolution against abortion based on the gender of the fetus.

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom all have laws banning sex selection abortions.

Please ask your representative to vote FOR this bill:

Eliot Engel  (17 CD)   Nita Lowey  (18 CD)  Nan Hayworth (19 CD)

New York State RTL Salutes Astorino, Clinic Access Bill Opponents

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“The NYSRTL Committee is delighted that County Executive Rob Astorino has courageously done his job not just as the county executive but as an American showing respect for the Constitution. People have not fought and died for a First Amendment that  protects only universally wanted speech.

 The idea that public property outside of an abortion facility should be a free-speech-free zone because some people don’t like that it impacts the very lucrative abortion industry is an idea that does not belong in a truly free country. The pro-abortion movement knows that when presented with the truth, most women choose life and that is bad for business.  Bravo Rob Astorino!  Great job Alan [Mehldau, Chair of Westchester-Putnam Right to Life] and the Westchester Right to Life team!”  

— Lori Kehoe, Chairperson, NYS Right to Life

Pro-abortion lobby goes BERSERK after Astorino’s veto of anti-free speech clinic bill — from LifeNet

Focus on the Family coverage in CitizenLink

Catholics Bring Lawsuits Against HHS Mandate

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This morning, 12 lawsuits were filed across the nation by 43 Catholic dioceses and institutions against the federal government, challenging the contraception and abortion mandates as violations of religious freedom.

The Archdiocese of New York (and its health care agency, ArchCare) and the Diocese of Rockville Centre (Brooklyn) were among the dioceses to file suit. Other suits were filed by the Archdioceses of Washington, Dallas, and St. Louis, the Dioceses of Erie, Pittsburgh, Fort Worth, Jackson, Biloxi and Joliet, numerous Catholic Charities agencies, and Notre Dame University, Catholic University of America, and Franciscan University.

“We have tried negotiation with the Administration and legislation with the Congress, — and will keep at it — and there’s still no fix. Time is running out, and our precious ministries and fundamental rights hang in the balance, so we have to resort to the courts now.” — Timothy Cardinal Dolan

Clinic Access Bill Vetoed

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Westchester County Executive Robert A. Astorino has vetoed the Clinic Access Bill, calling it legally flawed and unnecessary. Click here for the full story.

While this legislation targeted prolife free speech in Westchester, I’m sure Mr. Astorino would like to know that we in Rockland were keeping a careful eye on the situation and  are very grateful for his decision to veto. Abortion, unfortunately, knows no geographic boundaries.

Please send  a quick email to thank him at CE@westchestergov.com.