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P.E.I. Right to Life Newsletter April 2006
Index:

Vol. 6, No. 1
April 2006
P.O. BOX 1988, CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I.,
C1A 7N7

Editorial

Change is Happening!

Recently the rhetoric on life issues has been heating up. In Canada the political statements during the last election on "Right to Choose" again showed we still have an issue about which Canadians are very concerned. The fact is, when politicians erroneously state that "Right to Choose" is a right they are confusing it with the law in the United States. Persons in favour of abortion only assume this right, which has no justification in Canadian Law or Legislation.

Change is happening in the United States faster than in Canada. After legislative discussions were held in a number of States and passed in Congress, Partial Birth Abortion was proclaimed illegal by President George Bush, in the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of November 2003. Now the U.S. Supreme Court, as of February 2006, agreed to review the Ban of 2003 for a final resolution.

There are States also moving toward banning all types of abortion. In South Dakota legislators have already passed such a law - the nation's most sweeping abortion ban in a decade. This bill, which has to be signed by the Governor before it becomes law, is called "Women's Health and Life Protection Act". This Act will make abortion a crime but will not allow prosecution for a doctor who performs an abortion when a woman's life is in danger.

Pro-Life activists hoped other states would follow suit. "Our main hope," says Rob Regier of the South Dakota Family Policy Council, "is that this bill would inspire a legislative revolution." That wish seemed to be coming true when recently the Mississippi's House of Representatives approved a similar ban (unlike South Dakota's, it includes exceptions for rape and incest).

These new findings are considered contributing factors in the abortion debate:
1) Ultra sound readings of the baby in the womb.
2) DNA testing showing the unborn child has a separate and distinct personality from the mother.
3) Increased number of studies showing post abortion harm to the mother.

Will these new findings result in a decrease in abortion? There are signs of hope on the horizon. One of the important and most determining of factors in the South Dakota debate was the realization that the DNA (genetic makeup) of the fetus in the womb makes it a real person with its own identity.


Limitations on Abortion

"ONLY IN CANADA"

The Supreme Court in the United States in their decisions on "Roe Versus Wade" and "Doe versus Bolton" said that women had the right to abortion. This right was found in their Constitution under the umbrella of privacy of marriage and procreation.

Roe versus Wade originally stated that doctors were to consider all factors relevant to the well being of the patient. The ruling is now interpreted in the United States and Canada as well, as a freedom of choice for women regardless of health reasons. In this ruling abortion was legalized throughout their country for all nine months of pregnancy. This legalization was a legal, and not a legislative decision. With almost no exceptions every other nation in the world has legalized abortion through the legislative process. Such legalization has allowed for a discussion on the issue before the final decision was made.

Most European Countries limit abortions beyond 12 weeks, Sweden being the exception at 18 weeks. According to an article in LifeCanada News May/June 2005: "One of Britain's leading providers of abortions, Marie Stopes International, announced in April that it wants to lower the 24 week gestational limit for abortion on demand to 20 weeks because of the potential viability of the fetus." As a result of concerns like these, there are restrictions on when abortion can happen when legislated.

In Canada the January 28,1988 decision of the Supreme Court struck down the law on abortion. Now unlike the United States, Canada does not have a law concerning abortion. Now unlike practically all the other nations of the world, Canada does not have any legislation concerning abortion. Therefore it is not legal nor is it illegal. With no backing in law or legislation the demand to have an abortion is now considered a constitutional right.

As a result of lack of governance the unborn child has no rights to life. Its life can be in danger up until the time of birth and can be taken on a whim at any time during the pregnancy. Between 1988 and 2002, 1,517,323 abortions have been performed in Canada, showing an increase from 20% of pregnancies in 1988 to 35% of pregnancies in 2002.

Presently the choice in Canada demands that the aborting of a child for any reason be a medical necessity - considered a right as a medical procedure, paid for by Government of Canada under Medicare funding in the Health Act (See N.B. versus Mortgantaler in article # 11). Trends that could apply in Canada



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Trends

The Guttmacher Institute is a pro-choice group in the United States but its data is widely accepted as accurate and used by both pro-choice and pro-life groups. This data was published in May 2005 on data obtained for the years 2001 and 2002.

ALTHOUGH THE RATIO DECREASED BY 11% BETWEEN 1994 and 2000 from 24 to 21 abortions per 1000 women aged 15-44 the rates increased among the economically poor and disadvantaged.

Stats of those having abortion
56% - 20's
67% - never married
61% - have one or more children
88% - live in a metro area
57% - economically disadvantaged
78% - religious affiliation
(43% protestant, 27% Catholic, 8% other)
www.guttmacher.org.

As noted in the statistics by Guttmacher the women most vulnerable to abortion are those living in metro areas (88%) and the poor and disadvantaged. These are figures that really stand out both in terms of numbers and in increasing frequency.

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President's Message

Another year has passed by and I have completed the first year of my mandate as president. The Association was very busy again this past year in the promotion of life issues in varying ways. One of our goals was to let a lot of people know what is going on in our office and to what extent we try to solicit support for life issues from our leaders of both church and state. With the latest election behind us, we wish that this new government turn back to the values of family life and to the values printed out in the Bible.

In November of 2005, my wife and I had the privilege of attending the annual meeting of the Life Conference in Montreal. At this meeting were a number of good speakers. They gave us all encouragement and strength to be involved and carry on in our cause for the rights of the unborn and the terminally ill. When the original site for the conference was not available, on very short notice the organizers found an alternative site and the meeting went off in a highly organized manner.

Due to the required relocation of the conference and because of the ongoing threats of disruption, their message was much more meaningful. This inconvenience, and because of the reasons for it, left conference members with a new and energized feeling of fellowship with a desire to have a successful meeting. The demonstrators who disturbed the meeting brought us together more than ever before. There was so much unity and understanding by all who were there.

We realized now is the time to speak out for our beliefs. I hope we will do this to in our own province. That is why I am asking you to support us to stand up for our God and His Kingdom and serve Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord in this Association too. May that be our goal for 2006.

Respectfully submitted,

Hemke Vanderzwaag

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At the Office

by Aukje Annema

April is here and that means getting out the newsletter and having our Celebrate Life Week. It has been very busy at the office. First of all I would to like to thank our steady volunteers for their tremendous efforts. With memberships arriving it was very busy at the end of last year. The volunteers worked very hard then and continue to contribute on a regular basis. Thank you so much. Also thanks to the board members who put in a lot of hours at the office and to you, our members, for your membership fees and donations.

This past year we received memorial donations from almost every funeral home on the Island. Memorial donations made to the Association in memory of deceased family members has been significant and very helpful in fulfilling our mission.

We hope in the future to supply many doctors' offices and clinics with pamphlets on life issues. Sunday schools and Confirmation classes have been supplied with and are using our educational materials. We recently obtained copies of an updated video, "Preview of a Birth". At the Annual General Meeting information packages will be available for people to distribute to doctors' offices they visit.

Anybody who needs any educational material relating to life issues, abstinence, etc. please feel free to contact our office. We have numerous pamphlets in stock and can provide any other resources requested on reasonably short notice, free of charge for educational purposes.

Some samples of pamphlets that are available at the office; "The Morning After Pill, What you should Know", "Making an informed decision about your Pregnancy" (great for teens who are dealing with an unplanned pregnancy), and "Before it's too Late" (information and stories of women who had an abortion). Also available now are "Choose Life" ribbon stickers that can be stuck on books or any flat surface. The ribbons are purple and pink in colour and about 2 inches high.

Our Christmas Card Fundraiser was a great success. Volunteers spent many hours in the personalized packaging of an assortment of cards and the selling of them. Again thanks to the volunteers who helped out with this fundraiser. We hope this endeavour will grow into a big fundraiser for us, with the continued support and help of our members.



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Education Report

Packages are being made up for doctors' offices pertaining to life issues. Such booklets as "Before it's too Late" and "Making an informed decision about your Pregnancy" hopefully will allow for some second thought, resisting the temptation to make a quick decision. Understanding the consequences of abortion is imperative to living with that decision down the road. Packages are also available for youth. Any youth teacher requiring this information can get in touch with our office. Three churches are now using the package in their Sunday school classes.

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Notes upcoming Events

The "Life Chain" sponsored by the by our Association last October was very successful. Joining in this silent public witness in a worldwide effort to stop abortion were people of all ages from children in carriages to seniors. This was the 15th anniversary of the Life Chain in Canada.

"Silent No More" ads have been discontinued since the fall due to uncertain interest and the cost of running them. It was decided at a monthly meeting of the Board of the Association that the ads would be run again on Fridays in the Journal-Pioneer and Saturday in the Guardian.

The National Director of Campus Life was on the Island in March and met with the Executive of the Association. He was here primarily to meet with the Campus Life membership at U.P.E.I. This Island University group is quite active and two of its members sit on our Board of Governors. (www.ncln.ca)

Our LifeCanada Representative Aukje Annema is very active these days working on a national project for LifeCanada - the erecting of Billboards across the country proclaiming the Breast Cancer message.

The Catholic Women's League is sponsoring a "March for Life" on May 11, 2006 in Charlottetown. At 1 p.m. the group is meeting at the Cenotaph at intersection of Grafton and University. They plan to march around the Confederation Center block. Everyone welcome.

National March for Life will be held in Ottawa on Thursday, May 11, 2006. The theme for the March this year is "Abortion is killing Canada's future". For info call1-800-730-5358 or use the web site, www.lifesite.net.

Knights of Columbus Council #7791 from the parish of St. Simon and St. Jude in Tignish, P.E.I. will again be sponsoring their third annual "ON FIRE FOR LIFE" on Sunday June 4, 2006. The guest speaker will be Denise Mountenay. She has written a Book, Forgiven of Murder, and is a vocal supporter of the "Silent No More" Campaign in Canada.

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Did you know?

* That genetically engineered adult stem cells are being tested on lung disease patients in Toronto now.

* That 52% of Canadians feel that abortion should be legal "only under certain circumstances".

* That Justin Poge, team Canada's star goalie at the World Junior Hockey Tournament, kicked his mom in the womb at just over 4 months old. That night, she thought about ending it all.

* That, on March 6, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds signed into law a blanket abortion prohibition - the first such ban to be legislated since the U.S. Supreme court decided Roe vs. Wade, 33 years ago. Inspired by South Dakota's example, lawmakers in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia are considering similar legislation.

* That an estimated half million female fetuses are aborted annually by parents in India who are desperate for more economically beneficial boys. The study notes that while sex selection has been illegal in India since 1994, the practice is nonetheless widespread.

* That Senator Sharon Carstairs states: "Canada is not ready for Assisted Suicide debate. Unless every single Canadian can be guaranteed quality end of life care in which they have a legitimate choice to make, then I would suggest that we cannot start the other debate. We aren't there yet. We are a long way from being there yet."

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Proclaiming the Pro-Life Message

Over the past few years, billboards have been appearing all over the Island proclaiming the pro-life message. The West Prince Right to Life Chapter has erected four 4X8 ft. signs to date and are planning to erect one more in the near future. The signs presently erected are: Miminegash (2004) - an image of a baby on a blanket with the message, "We love our children born and pre-born"; Palmer Road - (2005) an image of Mary holding Jesus and a message stating "Jesus knows abortion is wrong"; Tignish (2004) - An image of an adult hand reaching for a child's hand stating, "Take my hand not my life"; Alberton (2006) - An image of a baby being held by its mother held in the palm of God's Hand stating, "Abortion stops a beating heart" is to be erected soon.

In Morell three years ago two Board members took the initiative to raise the money to purchase a 3x6 ft. sign with an image of two hands reaching for each other saying "Take my hand not my life". This sign was erected on a property adjacent to the Little Flower church in Morell. In St. Peter's Bay over four years ago a parish group raised the money to erect a sign on the property of the St. Peter's Church. It is the same message as on the signs in Tignish and Morell.

The first sign to be erected was in Seven Mile Bay in 1999. The East Prince Chapter raised the money to print a 4X8 ft. sign with the message and corresponding image of "Take my hand not my life". The sign was erected on St. Peter's Church property with the assistance of the Knights of Columbus. Also in Orwell is a sign stating again the message and image of "Take my Hand not my Life". This sign was erected in 2002 and initiated by The Southern Queen's Chapter.

The Chapters of the P.E.I. Right to Life, Board members and former Board members have to be congratulated on their efforts to proclaim the "life" message. Through determination, perseverance, and kind donations in their communities they have made this happen. It is anticipated that more interested groups will step forward and proclaim the life message through signs in their communities.

We are indebted also to the Knights of Columbus in these communities for their cooperative efforts in erecting the signs.

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Family Unit Supported

In Doha in the State of Qatar an International Conference for the family was held in November 2004. The outcome of this conference was the Doha Declaration. The Doha International Conference for the Family proclaims that "the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state" assured by Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

a. Government representatives were presented with a wealth of information that will inform and enrich future international negotiations involving family and family life. The Doha Declaration will be given particular emphasis in upcoming intergovernmental discussions.

b. An expanding global network of academicians, non-governmental organizations and faith communities was given a new and positive focus for future cooperative efforts. Conference work products - including the collected academic materials, community reports and the Doha Declaration - will be the basis for further research, analysis and policy development.

c. An international Institute for Study of the Family will be established. The work of the Institute will be coordinated with appropriate non-governmental, inter-governmental and other entities dedicated to researching, supporting and implementing the Doha Declaration. The conference has provided the world with an important moment for recommitment to long-standing norms related to religious and ethical values, human dignity, marriage, parent and child relations, and the right of children to be raised within a loving and caring family.

d. The conference ended with the UN General Assembly taking note of the Doha Declaration - a significant reaffirmation of long-standing international commitments to the natural family.

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Goals of the Association

The Board of Directors has set out the following goals for the coming year 2005-06.

1. To assist and support local pro-life groups within the province: to include not only Right to Life Chapters but all local groups that can be depended upon to pass on the "respect for life" message.

2. To liaise and coordinate with existing pro life youth groups in universities, colleges, high schools and churches.

3. To promote by an educational package-"the culture of life"- in children's educational classes of churches and/or religious groups.

4. To set up new pro life groups in locations where none exist.

5. To improve the membership list to become more viable and more representative of those who are active members.

6. To establish the following committees to meet the focused needs of the Association.

a) membership
b) youth coordination
c) selecting, ordering and packaging of educational material with the purpose of promoting this materials in classroom situations.
d) promoting coordination between pro life groups and establishing new ones.
e) Media promotion and presentations.

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Update N. B. Right to Life

Presently the New Brunswick Right to Life Association is concerned about the legal action of Dr. Morgantaler's lawsuit against the Province over "public funding" for his abortion clinics and the Federal Government's dispute with the Province for not paying such fees. A trial soon to get underway could determine the outcome on these issues. To date the proceedings have not been encouraging.

Mr. Peter Ryan, the Executive Director of the Association, is asking that concerned persons take action on this issue. As mentioned in this Newsletter in previous editions, what happens in New Brunswick as a result of an unfavourable court ruling could change drastically the present situation on the Island. Mr. Ryan is asking that the Minister of Health in the Government of Canada be contacted and urged to drop the abortion-funding dispute with New Brunswick.

This funding of private clinics should be outside the direct funding of the Health Act and the federal government should not require any Province to pay for this service. If the Government of Canada requires the Province of New Brunswick to fund abortions through private clinics by reason of the upcoming court decision, the Province of Prince Edward Island could be required as well. It is in our best interests to have the court case dropped and the issue left for the Provinces to decide.

Contact: The Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Health, 0916A Brooke Claxton Bldg., 16th Floor, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A9. Email minister-ministre@hc-sc.gc.ca.

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AGM & Celebrate Life Week

This year Celebrate Life Week takes place from the 22nd to the 29th of April. There will be a Celebrate Life Service at The Christian Reformed Church on Mount Edward Road in Charlottetown on Wednesday evening, April 26th, at 7:30 p.m. Similar services have taken place for the past six years rotating from St. Pius X Church to St. Mark's Presbyterian Church. There will be advertisements in newspapers and news bulletins on radio.

To conclude Celebrate Life Week, Mr. Pat O'Brien, former Member of Parliament from London, Ontario will be the guest speaker at the AGM. Mr. O'Brien as an MP was a tireless worker both in the House of Commons, the Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus and in Committee in promoting family issues. Since his retirement from public life he is now promoting Pro- Life concerns and family values across the country.

The P.E.I. Right to Life Association's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday, April 29,2006 at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church the Corner of Brackley Point Road and Pine Street in Charlottetown. Registration begins at 2:15 p.m. with the meeting starting at 3:00 p.m. A reception and meal will follow in the Church Hall following the meeting. (A suggested donation of $10.00 for the meal - Please call the office at 894-5473 to attain a meal count)

In Statistics Canada Report on following Page "Notes" concerning subscripts are omitted because of due to lack of space. (See website)



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