Today has been an interesting email day. I've received several emails from Christian and citizens' rights organizations reminding me that today is the day that American citizens lost our right to the free practice of our faith.
August 1, 2012 - beginning today businesses that offer health insurance are required to include free birth control, sterilizations and abortifacient drugs in that coverage. As of today, the 'home of the free and the brave' denies her citizens the freedom to say "No" to helping their employees kill their pre-born children through the use of abortifacient drugs and the right to say "No" to paying for non-essential medicines that are contrary to their church's teaching on birth control.
The story of the Newland family in Denver, Colorado, who were granted an injunction saving them from having to choose between their faith and their ability to maintain their family business provides at least a measure of hope. This ruling does not apply to all businesses, but it does set a precedent for future lawsuits. The Newland's attorney Matthew Bowman explained that the principle behind the ruling this way: "Washington bureaucrats cannot use Obamacare to force people of faith to violate their faith in order to earn a living or engage in other activities in society." Mr. Bowman, an attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom, expects more lawsuits and more wins to follow, and that's good news.
Of course, that's our take on it.
Cecile Richards sees things differently. I got an email from her today, too. Not surprising, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America president is celebrating because she interprets the HHS mandate as giving freedom, not taking it. According to Ms. Richards, this loss of our constitutionally protected freedom to follow our faith without fear of government intervention and massive fines that will cripple business owners and force them out of business is a win for women because
". . . more women have the power to plan their families (as if the birth control pill is the only way a women could manage to plan her family)
. . . there will be fewer unintended pregnancies (because none of us have ever known someone who conceived a child or who was conceived while his/her mother was taking contraceptives)
. . . there will be reduced need for abortion (even though abortion rates have increased with increased access to birth control, not decreased)"
(comments in italics mine)
Ms. Richards is concerned though. She knows about the Newland family's injunction too and tells her followers that "the fight isn't over".
She's right about that. We're not done fighting.
I have to give her credit though. Ms. Richards and her marketing crew at Planned Parenthood are good at taking opportunities like this and turning them into money makers. Her email, which went to I have no idea how many thousands of people across the U.S., is basically a call to donate. She asks her followers to "make a gift in honor of the women who gained that freedom today. Give the cost of a pack of pills - that's about $35." I shudder to think how much money the abortion-giant will raise from that one email blast.
Yes, Ms. Richards is right. The fight to protect our freedom of religion is not over.
Over the past several months Greater Columbus Right to Life has been privileged to lead two rallies in defense of those freedoms and help raise awareness and educate the public on this issue, and we will continue to fight to protect all of our rights. We will also continue to fight to defund Planned Parenthood in the State of Ohio.
I am going to take a page from Ms. Richards' play book, though, and ask you to stand with Greater Columbus Right to Life in this fight. We don't get millions of dollars of government funding. In fact, we don't get one single penny of government funding! One hundred percent of our funding comes from people like you who believe, as we do, that life begins at conception and should be protected from that moment through the moment of natural death.
August 1, 2012 - beginning today businesses that offer health insurance are required to include free birth control, sterilizations and abortifacient drugs in that coverage. As of today, the 'home of the free and the brave' denies her citizens the freedom to say "No" to helping their employees kill their pre-born children through the use of abortifacient drugs and the right to say "No" to paying for non-essential medicines that are contrary to their church's teaching on birth control.
The story of the Newland family in Denver, Colorado, who were granted an injunction saving them from having to choose between their faith and their ability to maintain their family business provides at least a measure of hope. This ruling does not apply to all businesses, but it does set a precedent for future lawsuits. The Newland's attorney Matthew Bowman explained that the principle behind the ruling this way: "Washington bureaucrats cannot use Obamacare to force people of faith to violate their faith in order to earn a living or engage in other activities in society." Mr. Bowman, an attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom, expects more lawsuits and more wins to follow, and that's good news.
Of course, that's our take on it.
Cecile Richards sees things differently. I got an email from her today, too. Not surprising, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America president is celebrating because she interprets the HHS mandate as giving freedom, not taking it. According to Ms. Richards, this loss of our constitutionally protected freedom to follow our faith without fear of government intervention and massive fines that will cripple business owners and force them out of business is a win for women because
". . . more women have the power to plan their families (as if the birth control pill is the only way a women could manage to plan her family)
. . . there will be fewer unintended pregnancies (because none of us have ever known someone who conceived a child or who was conceived while his/her mother was taking contraceptives)
. . . there will be reduced need for abortion (even though abortion rates have increased with increased access to birth control, not decreased)"
(comments in italics mine)
Ms. Richards is concerned though. She knows about the Newland family's injunction too and tells her followers that "the fight isn't over".
She's right about that. We're not done fighting.
I have to give her credit though. Ms. Richards and her marketing crew at Planned Parenthood are good at taking opportunities like this and turning them into money makers. Her email, which went to I have no idea how many thousands of people across the U.S., is basically a call to donate. She asks her followers to "make a gift in honor of the women who gained that freedom today. Give the cost of a pack of pills - that's about $35." I shudder to think how much money the abortion-giant will raise from that one email blast.
Yes, Ms. Richards is right. The fight to protect our freedom of religion is not over.
Over the past several months Greater Columbus Right to Life has been privileged to lead two rallies in defense of those freedoms and help raise awareness and educate the public on this issue, and we will continue to fight to protect all of our rights. We will also continue to fight to defund Planned Parenthood in the State of Ohio.
I am going to take a page from Ms. Richards' play book, though, and ask you to stand with Greater Columbus Right to Life in this fight. We don't get millions of dollars of government funding. In fact, we don't get one single penny of government funding! One hundred percent of our funding comes from people like you who believe, as we do, that life begins at conception and should be protected from that moment through the moment of natural death.
Will you join us for a lovely dinner at the Villa Milano on August 19? Our Spiritus Banquet is our annual fund raising dinner and your presence there would be a great blessing to us! We'll have lasagna, salad, bread rolls, steamed vegetables, and my favorite - the Villa Milano's delicious layer cake with raspberry filling. You'll get to hear the incredible testimony of a woman who survived a saline-infusion abortion and how God has called her to use her voice speak for those whose voices - and very lives - were stripped from them in abortion. You will be so blessed by Melissa Ohden's joy and love for life and family. Dinner registration is just $25 and 100% of proceeds for the evening will fund our educational foundation - the fund through which at least 80% of our work is accomplished.
Register today - and invite a friend to join you as well.
God bless you, and thank you for standing with us for Life.
Register today - and invite a friend to join you as well.
God bless you, and thank you for standing with us for Life.
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