Minnesota Pro-Life Group Asks University of Minnesota to Stop Human Cloning

St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) -- A Minnesota pro-life group is calling on officials at the University of Minnesota to stop pursuing human cloning experiments.

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life says the college is violating state law by conducting research involving the destruction of human embryos, days-old unborn children. MCCL's comments come in response to a letter in which the university accuses the pro-life group of not telling the truth about its human cloning research.

The controversy began when MCCL applauded Gov. Tim Pawlenty for signing a bill into law that would ban taxpayer funding of the grisly practice. It accused the University of Minnesota’s Stem Cell Institute of pursuing human cloning.

Wendy Burt, Academic Health Center director of public and community affairs for the college, responded in a letter saying MCCL's contention was “absolutely false." But Scott Fischbach, the executive director of the group, tells LifeNews.com that its contention is accurate. Full story at LifeNews.com

Order of Canada Sees Three Quit Over Award for Abortion Practitioner Morgentaler

Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The Order of Canada has officially accepted the resignations of three members over its decision to present a medal to long-time abortion practitioner Henry Morgentaler. The award, given last year, sparked national outrage and polls showed Canadians thought it was inappropriate.

Morgentaler was one of 20 recipients of the award and he received it at a ceremony in October that Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean presided over in Quebec City. Morgentaler was awarded the Order of Canada, "[for] his commitment to increased health care options for women, his determined efforts to influence Canadian public policy and his leadership in humanist and civil liberties organizations."

Now, Jean, Canada's Governor General, has officially accepted the resignations of three members of the Order of Canada who protested the award. Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, who resigned his Order, recently said that he "decided to take a stance that clearly reflects my convictions." He called the decision to give the honor to an abortion practitioner "questionable." Rene Racine and Jacqueline Richard also resigned. Full story at LifeNews.com

Australia Practitioner Will Stop Selling Dangerous Abortion Drug After Prosecution

Cairns, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- Australia abortion practitioner Caroline de Costa will stop selling the dangerous abortion drug has that killed more than a dozen women worldwide and injured more than 1,300 in the United States alone. Her decision follows the prosecution of a teenager who smuggled the drug into the country.

Cairns started selling the mifepristone (RU 486) abortion drug in 2006 and was the first in the nation to do so. Then, in April, 19-year-old Tegan Simone Leach became the first to be charged under Queensland's laws making abortion illegal in 50 years. The teenager and her partner will go to court this month in a case involving charges against them for smuggling the dangerous abortion drug into the country because it is not available in her part of Australia. Yesterday, de Costa told the Courier-Mail newspaper that her attorneys told her it would be a good idea for her to stop dispensing the dangerous drug. Full story at LifeNews.com

CNN Shows Pro-Abortion Bias in Smearing Reputation of Pro-Life Advocates

by Matthew Balan, LifeNews.com

CNN anchor Kiran Chetry let an "abortion provider" from Alabama, whose center was bombed by captured fugitive Eric Rudolph, denigrate all pro-life activists who have ever protested in front of such centers as potential murderers during a segment on Monday's "American Morning." When the “provider,” Diane Derzis, attacked “the people...who stand in front of these clinics every day....and the only way they see to take care of this is to kill us,” Chetry merely replied, “You don't believe those words? You don't differentiate between people who are opposed to abortion and pro-life for their religious reasons, versus those who are promoting violence?” Chetry’s second question to Derzis during the interview was also rather sympathetic: “What is it like going to work knowing you have a target on your head?” This question, highlighted by Laura Ingraham on Monday, led the talk show host to call for the firing of the CNN anchor. Full story at LifeNews.com

Pro-Life Orgs Continue Denouncing Murder of Abortion Practitioner George Tiller

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life organizations of every stripe continue to consistently denounce the recent murder of abortion practitioner George Tiller. The Kansas-based late-term abortion practitioner was killed on Sunday morning -- allegedly by vigilante Scott Roeder, who has no connection to legitimate pro-life groups.

Former presidential candidate and America Values president Gary Bauer reflected the response of most pro-life groups in telling LifeNews.com that true pro-life advocates "reject the killing of every defenseless, innocent human being." He said Roeder, if he is indeed the shooter, "has nothing to do with the pro-life movement, which overwhelmingly condemns the murder of the innocent."

Speaking on behalf of the nation's Catholic bishops, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia expressed profound regret upon learning of the shooting death of Tiller. "Our bishops' conference and all its members have repeatedly and publicly denounced all forms of violence in our society, including abortion as well as the misguided resort to violence by anyone opposed to abortion," Cardinal Rigali said. "Such killing is the opposite of everything we stand for, and everything we want our culture to stand for: respect for the life of each and every human being from its beginning to its natural end," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com

NIH Reviewing Comments on Obama Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The National Institutes of Health is reviewing tens of thousands of public comments submitted about its plan to implement President Barack Obama's decision to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. The public had just over one month to submit comments for or against its plan.

Obama decided to overturn the protections President Bush put in place providing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to adult stem cell research but not making citizens pay for the destruction of human life. In April, the National Institutes of Health released the proposed guidelines that implement Obama's decision.

NIH director Raynard Kington has confirmed the agency received more than 20,000 comments four days before the deadline. The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment, which ran a campaign opposing the NIH guidelines, directed 9,436 comments to NIH from its web site opposing them. NIH confirmed that more than 48,000 were received by the deadline.

Dr. Lawrence Tabak, acting NIH deputy director, said the agency would "develop the guidelines as expeditiously as possible" but it is required to meet a July 7 deadline President Obama put in place. Full story at LifeNews.com

Conservative Groups Want GOP to Oppose, Possibly Filibuster, Sonia Sotomayor

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Conservative political groups are asking Republican members of the Senate to filibuster the nomination of Supreme Court pick Sonia Sotomayor. They are concerned about her judicial philosophy in light of comments she previously made saying the courts are the place to make legislative policy. President Barack Obama selected the Hispanic appeals court judge to replace retiring pro-abortion Justice David Souter.

Since then, both pro-life and pro-abortion groups have been wary about her position and wanting the Senate to extract more information from her on where she stands on the infamous Roe v. Wade case that allowed virtually unlimited abortions. Leading pro-life advocates are concerned that, despite some minor rulings upholding pro-life policy or siding with the pro-life position, she will uphold Roe and unlimited abortions.

Abortion advocates have given Sotomayor soft support and cite anecdotal evidence such as comments from colleagues who say she firmly supports legal abortions. Now, a collection of more than 145 conservative political activists -- including names such as Grover Norquist, Richard Viguerie and Gary Bauer -- are calling for Senate Republicans to oppose Sotomayor. Full story at LifeNews.com

Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor Tells Senators She Will Follow Rule of Law

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor met with leading members of the Senate on Tuesday and reportedly confirmed that she will follow the rule of law on the high court. Potential opponents of President Barack Obama's nominee have been concerned that she will be a judicial activist. Full story at LifeNews.com

Scott Roeder Charged With Murder in Killing of Abortion Practitioner George Tiller

Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- Scott Roeder, the vigilante militia activist who is allegedly responsible for killing late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller, has been charged with first-degree murder in his shooting death. Roeder has no connections with pro-life groups and has been described by family as having a mental illness. Full story at LifeNews.com

Press Release: Hawaii Right to Life Condemns Murder of Dr. George Tiller

May 31, 2009

We at Hawaii Right to Life condemn the criminal act that led to the death of Wichita (Kansas) abortionist Dr. George Tiller this morning.

As an organization that values human life in all its forms, Hawaii Right to Life deplores violence as a means of bringing an end to abortion. We join thousands of other prolife organizations around the world in calling for an end to abortion through entirely peaceful, legal means.

Since its inception in 1973, Hawaii Right to Life has been bringing citizens together to achieve thoughtful life issues education and public policy here in Hawaii.

We are shocked and saddened by the death of Dr. Tiller and extend our sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Karen DiCostanzo
President, Board of Directors
Hawaii Right to Life
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Breaking News - George Killer Killed in Church

George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who became a national lightning rod in the debate over abortion, was shot to death this morning as he walked into church services.

Tiller was shot just after 10 a.m. at Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th, where he was a member of the congregation. Witnesses and a police source confirmed Tiller was the victim...

George Tiller shot to death at Wichita church