1

The Issue of Abortion with Scott Klusendorf

|

Sometimes our pro-life arguments can become overcomplicated by statistics, rabbit-trails, and long rebuttals to straw-man arguments from the other side. We want to defend the pro-life position with everything we can muster, but sometimes it seems like we must have an answer to every argument from a pro-abortionist to properly defend life.

Fortunately, that is not true. All we need to know in order to effectively engage is a simple syllogism and three questions, which you can find here:

 

In this video, Scott Klusendorf, a pro-life speaker and author with the Life Training Institute, speaks at Illinois Family Institute’s 2023 Worldview Conference on “The Issue of Abortion” and what we need to engage.

You’ll want to re-watch this multiple times, both for the instructive content and humor!



It’s In The Mail

|

We’re likely all familiar with the phrase, “there’s only two things you can’t avoid in life: construction in Illinois and car warranty calls.” No…wait. I think the answer is supposed to be death and taxes. Of course, in Illinois we love our taxes. We must. That’s why they keep finding new ones for us!

My wife Rhonda and I are in that stage of life where we generally get only one kind of mail: requests for money. There’s the bills that we are rightfully expected to pay. Then there are the infinite number of requests for donations. These arrive from every which, what, and who. There are also sales brochures with coupons to remodel your entire house.

I even get mailings asking for money after they send ME money! March of Dimes sends me a dime a couple of times a year—asking for 300 dimes in return. One pet care group recently sent me TWO dimes!

Then come requests with my name spelled wrong. My ego is not bothered by this. But what good are mailing labels with the wrong name?

And speaking of those mailing labels, I now have close to 22,000 saved up from the last 20 years at my home address. Some money requests arrive with “greeting cards” for birthdays, friendship, get well, and sympathy. I’m thankful I don’t need to use all those sympathy cards!

How does all this “junk” mail find me? Mailing lists. One group sells their mailing list to another. That’s how I get four different organizations that spell my name wrong.

This passing along of my name to other groups is easily tracked when it comes to my soft spot: caring for animals. I can barely stand it when I get a picture of some forlorn dog’s face on the envelope. I want to rip open the mailer and get to the reply envelope to send them money. Okay, a mild overstatement.

I think I now have seven different animal care groups sending me monthly mailings. One offered me a nice doggie t-shirt for my gift. It came in one size: too-small-for-me.

One animal care group I give to is the Anti-Cruelty Society based out of Chicago. They take in animals and provide them food, shelter, and even medical care for those that are suffering. They work to save the lives of animals.

Another group is the SPCA— the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Their cause is noble. And they sent the two dimes.

I won’t give to PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It’s the largest animal rights group in the world. This group has not always been so ethical in their treatment of humans. Or pets. It’s reported they promote euthanasia. And to end zoos. No animal crates. I’m also not a vegetarian. I consider them extreme.

One might also say, PETA is a misrepresentation of truth. Sort of like groups that are ”pro choice.” Or “Planned Parenthood.” Anyone with third grade reading ability who reads the details of a partial birth abortion, would know that these abortionists and their followers would certainly not be called an “Anti Cruelty Society.”

Fortunately, in Illinois, we are blessed with several wonderful pro-life organizations. I’ve attended their banquets and fundraisers and am always impressed by the depth of care they provide. Never judgmental. Always supportive to both the mom-to-be and, if he’s open, the father-to-be. The Illinois Family Institute is a big supporter for pro-life organizations.

By God’s design, all creatures great and small have design and purpose. It begins in creation when, in Genesis 1:20-21, we read that what God made He “saw that it was good.” We’re told by the psalmist to know the condition “of your flocks and herds.” In Proverbs 12:10 we read, “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.” (ESV)

Yet only one of God’s creative works is made in His image. The human being. For a refresher course, read Psalm 139.

If you want to save a life, put your money where your faith is. Support the pro-life cause. You’ll find groups to support at www.illinoisfamily.org.

And if you must know, I will accept more junk mail. Assuming they keep sending me dimes. Retirees need all the dimes we can get.



Abortion Cheerleaders in Springfield Determined to Shut Down Pregnancy Care Centers (UPDATED)

|

Last month we alerted you to tyrannical bills designed to shut down the operations of “limited services pregnancy centers.” State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) is looking to advance her bill SB 1909, which is titled the “Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act.” This overbearing proposal will probably be called in the Illinois Senate Executive Committee hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29.

**UPDATE: SB 1909 passed in committee on March 29th. It was then voted on in the Illinois Senate on Friday, March 31st. It passed in a partisan roll call vote, 31 to 19. It now moves on to the Illinois House of Representatives.

Make no mistake, this bill takes direct aim at shutting down all pregnancy centers. No other way to say it. SB 1909 allows the Illinois Attorney General (AG) to investigate all centers it believes are providing any wrong information or omitting any correct information in any form (advertising, speaking to a client, offering services, denying services, answering questions, etc.).

And guess who gets to define what qualifies as “wrong information”? That is correct, the far-left Illinois Attorney General.

The Illinois Attorney General has free reign to investigate any center it believes may be doing something “wrong,” or even about to do something “wrong,” based on any information that comes their way. If it is determined there is a violation of this Act, Pregnancy Care Centers can be fined up to $50,000 per incident and clients may take centers to court for other civil penalties with the AG’s blessing and detailed documentation against the centers.

We are living in scary times, my friends. Please, make your voice heard by taking action below:

Take ACTION: Click HERE to fill out a witness slip in opposition to SB 1909. (Not available yet.)

-Fill out your name, address, email and phone number. Leave everything else blank or put self.
-Highlight “Opponent” and “Record of Appearance Only.”
-Check Terms of Agreement and click Create Slip.

More ACTION: Click HERE to send a message to your state representative and state senator asking them to leave crisis pregnancy centers alone by voting against  SB 1909. Tell them that pregnancy care centers do not engage in “deceptive practices” but rather vital life-giving work. The people at these centers minister to needy, vulnerable women and children and are supported by people of faith across the state who want to be a blessing.

Read more:

How A Pregnancy Center Saved Me From Homelessness, Addiction, And Despair
(The Federalist)

Pregnancy Resource Centers Must Be Ready for a Post-Roe America
(National Review)

The Critical Pro-Life Work of Pregnancy Resource Centers
(ERLC)



Fetus vs. Baby

|

If anything G. K. Chesterton wrote is worth quoting once, it’s worth quoting twice. In our recent discussion about the theological and political significance of words, I quoted Chesterton as saying thus:

“If you’re not going to argue about words, what are you going to argue about? Are you
going to convey your meaning to me by moving your ears? The Church and the heresies
always used to fight about words, because they are the only thing worth fighting about.”

And as we’ve seen in the world of academia, the Left has recognized that words are the battleground of the mind and advanced into the fray with weapons swinging. Journalism is not far behind.

The Associated Press Stylebook, a preeminent reference guide for English grammar and journalistic principles and style—used by both educators and journalists—has chosen some eyebrow-raising guidelines for how reporters ought to address the topic of abortion in their reports. These guidelines show us, on a much more subtle level, how fiddling with words is fiddling with minds. Let’s look at one specific example in detail: the difference between “unborn baby” and “fetus.” (While this article won’t be using direct quotes from the AP Stylebook, the full text of the abortion topical guide can be accessed here.)

When referring to a baby before he is born, reporters are warned that terms such as “fetus” or “unborn baby” have been politicized by both sides of the issue (pro-life advocates argue that “fetus” devalues a human life, and pro-abortion-access advocates argue that “unborn child” equates abortion with murder). Therefore, the AP counsels us, we are to write with appropriate clarity and sensitivity. But the AP then provides a little more detail about what “appropriate” means.

“Fetus” is preferred in many instances (especially in scientific and medical contexts) when we are discussing a baby after 10 weeks of the mother’s pregnancy. “Embryo” is the appropriate term for a baby up to 10 weeks of the mother’s pregnancy. So when are we allowed to use “unborn baby?” Ahh, that’s a term that we to be used when “fetus” would seem too clinical for the context. E.g., “Sarah loved her unborn fetus more than anyone else in the world” sounds quite weird. So while the AP doesn’t explicitly say so, the examples they provide us seem to indicate what they think is “appropriate:” use the more clinical terms “fetus” and “embryo” in most cases, except for when they sound too clinical for the context, such as a mother loving her unborn baby. Saying “fetus” in such contexts doesn’t evoke the proper emotional reaction.

Yet that’s the whole point! The reason pro-life advocates insist on using the term “murder of an unborn baby” is precisely because saying “demise of a fetus” sounds too clinical! It doesn’t evoke the proper emotional reaction. Think of the difference between saying “the underdeveloped hominoid life form was severed with a sharp dividing instrument” and saying “the little girl was beheaded with an axe.” The more clinical our language, the less we feel natural emotional responses, which is why the abortion industry insists on “terminating pregnancies” instead of “dismembering unborn babies.”

The AP is onto the right principle: we ought to use “unborn baby” when omitting to do so wouldn’t evoke the right emotional response. However, the AP isn’t applying this principle evenly—they recognize the beauty of maternal affection but not the horror of abortion. By writing a topical guide that suggests we use “embryo” and “fetus” as our default terms when writing about abortion, they are suggesting we “clinicalize” a topic that is anything but clinical.

The AP also presents a few other eyebrow-raising guidelines, such as:

• Use “anti-abortion” instead of “pro-life,”
• Use “abortion-rights” instead of “pro-choice,” and
• Use “anti-abortion counseling center” instead of “crisis pregnancy center.”

Yet again, we have stumbled onto the vocabular battlefield and found pairs of competing words fighting over the same subject. And yet again, the difference lies not in the subject we are referring to (we’re talking about the same clinics and procedures either way); the difference lies in the connotations we pin onto it. We might be tempted to give way and just use the politically correct vocabulary, consoling ourselves in our heart of hearts that “we’re referring to the same thing either way,” but we’re not using the same connotations either way. And thus, in the end, we really aren’t meaning the same thing either way.

“Happy holidays” technically refers to the same time of year as does “Merry Christmas”—but removes Christ from the picture. “Transgender” technically refers to the same condition as the phrase “someone who is confused about their sex”—but acquiesces to the lie that sex is mutable. And “termination of a fetus” technically refers to the same procedure as “murder of an unborn baby”—but implies nothing more than a clinical separation of cells, rather than the horrific death by dismemberment or poisoning it really is. Just like “happy holidays” allows us to talk about Christmas without mentioning Christ, this connotation swap allows us to talk about murder without mentioning its horror. It further cements the idea that abortion is benign, first into our vocabularies, and then into our minds. When a whole generation can grow up talking about Christmas without thinking about Christ, or talking about abortion without thinking about murder, the vocabular battle will finally have been won.

And that world will be a scary place.



March For Life

|

Nine years ago when a hundred and fifty people walked at the March for Life Chicago, it was hard to imagine that they’d grow to thousands of people flooding the streets and echoing off the skyscrapers in celebration of Life.

But this year instead of a march they are planning a parade of cars.

Decorate your cars and line up at St. John Cantius Church (825 N. Carpenter St. in Chicago) on the Northside starting at noon. Bring diapers to drop off at the end of the parade at Southside Pregnancy Center (3759 W 95th St. Evergreen Park) at 2:30 PM.

The parade begins at 1:00 PM.

More details can be found HERE.

If you’re not from the Chicago area, check HERE to see if there’s an event near you.



All 9 Months and Beyond: Let’s Be Truly Pro-Life

|

Written by Hayden Sledge

I am a woman. I am also pro-life. Unfortunately, many people today see these identities as contradictory and antithetical. Over the past few decades, society has tried to force many women into a box: If you are a woman who is proud of your womanhood, you should support and advocate for abortion. If not, how can you be a true advocate for women? Supporting women has become synonymous with supporting abortion.

But truth be told, abortion is devastating to women. Abortion can cause physical and psychological complications to the woman obtaining the abortion and affect her ability to successfully carry future pregnancies to term. Not only that, but many of abortion’s unborn victims are female.

These considerations lead to an important question: What does it truly mean to advocate for women?

A true advocate for women supports God’s design for women

God specially designed women with the capacity of bringing life into the world. In the creation mandate given in Genesis 1:28, the first human couple was charged to fill the earth and exercise dominion. While both the husband and wife play a role in conceiving life, the woman has the privilege and responsibility of bringing the new life into the world. Thus, while not all women will be mothers, many will, and motherhood should be seen as a high calling worthy of respect, rather than an impediment needing to be overcome.

Unfortunately, the abortion industry presents a narrative that women can only assert control over their lives if they have the option to abort their children. However, God is ultimately sovereign over all aspects of our lives, including the pregnancy journey, the mother’s life experiences, and the development of unborn children. God’s hand is entirely evident throughout the process.

Thus, as Christians we should support women in the unique callings God has given each of them, whether that calling includes a career, motherhood, or both. We should appreciate the variety of ways God works in and through each woman.

A true advocate for women helps women facing hardship

God is active during times of celebration and suffering. He reminds us that we will all experience suffering during our time on earth. In fact, Romans 8:22 tells us that the all of creation “groans” due to the curse of sin.

We all experience various forms of hardship, which can include familial loss, illness, financial stress, mental illness, infertility, miscarriage, or unexpected pregnancy. The church ought to come alongside and help people in their most vulnerable stages of life. This includes actively loving and protecting mothers who have made the brave and courageous decision to keep their babies despite pressure to abort.

Many women experience confusion, shame, and difficulty throughout their pregnancies, especially if those pregnancies are unexpected or unwanted. Although pregnancy is ideally a time of celebration and rejoicing in a new God-given life, it is important to remember that many mothers need care and comfort during and after their pregnancy. It is not an easy journey and is even more difficult for single mothers who are already lacking support.

A true advocate for women supports mothers before and after pregnancy

The church should love and care for women in one of the most life-altering and vulnerable stages of life: the time during and after pregnancy. We should continuously remind mothers of Jesus’ steadfast love as we walk alongside them.

Too often, churches encourage mothers in the early stages of pregnancy but neglect to stand with them after birth. Although pregnancy can be a difficult time, there are a host of challenges that can arise after birth as well. So, it is important that we seek to encourage and help the mother and baby after birth.

In honoring the Lord, we are to care for all mothers and their unborn children, reminding them of God’s truth that they are—or by faith can become—the beloved daughters of a loving heavenly Father.

Here are some resources that seek to help mothers during their pregnancy and beyond. Although an online resource cannot address all the complexities and possible difficulties surrounding pregnancy, these are helpful places to start.

Hayden Sledge is a Coalitions intern at Family Research Council.

This article originally posted at FRCblog.com



A Challenge to Pro-Life Voters

|

For many Christian conservatives, the number one voting issue is abortion. Under no circumstances will we vote for a “pro-choice” candidate, no matter how good that candidate’s other policies may be. Conversely, we will vote for a strong pro-life candidate even if that candidate does not line up with some of our other ideals. After all, we reason, what is more important than the shedding of innocent blood, especially the blood of babies in their mothers’ wombs?

And while it is true that having an abortion is not exactly the same as burning a baby on the altar of the god Molech, as the ancient Israelites used to do, it is certainly high on the list of things that God hates. For good reason are we grieved and outraged over it.

That is one reason why so many of us voted for President Trump. And that is one reason why so many of us voted against Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden (and Kamala Harris). Abortion. That one word says it all.

But that leads to an important question. Other than voting for pro-life candidates every two (or four) years, what else are we doing to save babies’ lives? Other than expressing our moral outrage in tweets or comments, what practical difference are we making? If this is such a grave evil in God’s sight and if we are so burdened by it, what are we doing the rest of the year?

I remember speaking at a pro-life rally in Charlotte, North Carolina in conjunction with the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. There was a fairly small crowd present, which only highlighted the degree of apathy in the Church on the subject. In fact, one might say that our degree of passion when it comes to voting against abortion is in inverse proportion to our degree of action when it comes to actually working for the pro-life cause outside of the voting booth.

But as I spoke at the small rally, rather than having a holier-than-thou feeling, I was struck with the opposite emotion, saying to those gathered, “For many of us, attending this rally once a year is the only thing we will actually do to save the lives of the unborn.” Most of us could hardly pat ourselves on the back.

To be sure, there have been countless thousands of pro-life workers who have given themselves to the cause for decades. They have endured ridicule and scorn. They have been arrested and attacked. And yet week in, week out, standing in front of abortion clinics, they have lovingly offered women (and men) a better way. “Choose life,” they have pleaded, with passion, regardless of the opposition they have received.

Others have served faithfully in pro-life clinics, offering alternatives to abortion and affirming the humanity of the child in the womb. Others have worked on the legal front, while others have lobbied politically. Still others have given themselves to prayer and fasting, spending many a sleepless night praying for the unborn and for the emergence of a culture of life.

Here in Charlotte, a powerful pro-life movement, called Love Life, was birthed by some Christian businessmen deeply burdened by the shedding of innocent blood. It quickly moved to other cities in North Carolina and has now been duplicated in other states and countries. As a result, many hundreds of babies are being saved and many families being formed.

But the truth be told, as dogmatic as we are when it comes to voting pro-life (and I’m with you in terms of taking that stand) most of us are often just as apathetic when it comes to actually doing something to save the lives of the unborn.

Does that not smack of hypocrisy? Does that not speak of superficiality? If we really are so burdened, why so little action? If this sin really is so ugly in God’s sight, why do we do so little to stop it outside of our periodic votes? If these unborn children are so precious and innocent, why do we hardly lift a finger to save their lives?

A recurring theme of the Bible is that talk is cheap and that actions speak louder than words. Or, to paraphrase the words of Jacob (James), “If you have so much conviction, show it to me by your deeds” (see James 2:18).

Our voting is certainly important, and there are many legislative victories being won even as we continue to fight to overturn Roe v. Wade. (See here for a grudging acknowledgment of this in Time Magazine.)

But if we really care as much as we claim to care about the unborn, and if abortion is as serious an issue as we claim that it is when we go to vote, then surely, for most of us, there is far more we can do to be pro-life.

Let us turn our passion into action and let us put feet to our conviction. Lives are hanging in the balance, and you and I can be the difference between life and death. Literally.

This article was originally posted at AskDrBrown.org

We are committed to upholding truth while resisting and opposing the rising wave of delusional thinking and tyrannical laws/mandates that have afflicted our state and nation. IFI will continue to provide our supporters with timely alerts, video reports, podcasts, pastors’ breakfasts, special forums, worldview conferences, and thought-provoking commentaries—content that is increasingly hard to find.

We encourage you to join us in our efforts. Your support will help us to continue our vital work in 2021. A vigorous defense of biblical truth is needed more than ever in Illinois. 



40 Days for Life Spring 2020

|

Join other pro-life prayer warriors in the annual 40 Days For Life campaign to pray and fast to end abortion! This year’s winter/spring vigil begins on February 26th and ends 40 days later on April 5th.

Through peaceful prayer vigils and community outreach, 40 Days for Life has inspired 1,000,000 people to join at locations across the nation.

With God’s blessing, here are the results of 25 coordinated campaigns:

16,742 babies saved from abortion

196 abortion workers left their jobs

104 abortion centers closed

Join others who want to end abortion at one of these Illinois locations:

Aurora Planned Parenthood
3051 E New York St. in Aurora, IL
Parking available st south side of Waterleaf Women’s Clinic and Auto Zone.
For more information, contact Catherine (224) 999-3701.
www.40daysforlife.com/aurora

Decatur Planned Parenthood
3021 N. Oakland in decatur, IL
For more information, contact james.comerford@hshs.org
www.40daysforlife.com/decatur

Flossmoor Planned Parenthood
19831 S. Governors Hwy. in Flossmoor, IL
For more information, contact karenforlife@yahoo.com
www.40daysforlife.com/flossmoor

Granite City Hope Clinic
1602 21st St. in Granite City, IL
For more information, contact info@40daysgc.com
www.40daysgc.com

Springfield Planned Parenthood
601 N. Bruns Ln. in Springfield, IL
For more information, contact info@springfieldrtl.org
www.springfieldrtl.org/40-days-for-life



March for Life Palatine

|

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”  Matthew 6:21

Where is your treasure?

With the passage of the Illinois Reproductive Health Law there was a blatant attempt to declare life worthless, having absolutely no value.  If life in the womb can be thrown away up until the moment of birth, then all life is made cheap, meaningless, and worthless.  Yet that same law has had an unintended effect;  we have seen an awakening of the pro-life community as never before.  We are rallying together, working to unite, combining our time, treasure, and talent for a common cause.  What about you?  If you treasure God’s gift of life, put your heart into it and unite with the Greater Chicago-land pro-life community for an afternoon you won’t soon forget!

Download and print a flier to share with others here.

Come get informed, get energized and bear witness that all human life from conception until natural death is a gift from God to be treasured. 

Our lineup of speakers includes:

– Serena Dyksen, Save the 1, will share her inspiring story of redemption after succumbing to pressure to abort after rape.  Her child may be one of those recently recovered from the home of abortionist Ulrich Klopfer

– Joe Scheidler, Pro Life Action League , knows the secrets of effective pro-life activism and he’ll be letting us in on the secret!

– Morgan Jayne Hill, aka “Baby Mary Grace”, will offer her heartwarming journey from being abandoned in a dumpster to adoption into a loving home to finding out that she was the catalyst for Illinois’ Safe Haven Law – all before she turned 20 years old!

– Jeanne Ives, Former IL State Representative, will tell her beautiful story of choosing life despite her doctor’s advice to abort a child with a prenatal diagnosis.

– Tom Morrison, IL State Representative, will educate us about what the disastrous “Reproductive Health Law” contains and what our next steps should be.

– Fr. Nathan Caswell, St. Peter Volo, leader of the Crusaders for Life Youth Group.

– Pastor Warren Schilf, Immanuel Lutheran in Palatine

…and MORE!

TIMELINE:

  • 12:30 pm:  Doors open for T-shirt sales. Get one before they’re gone!
  • 1:00 pm:Gather for prayer, song, & inspirational speakers inside St. Theresa Dolan Center Gym (455 N. Benton, Palatine). Same location as last year behind the church.
  • 1:45 pm:  Procession along Northwest Highway with Life-affirming signs to the plaza at Hicks & NW Hwy (1/2 mile) to share the love of LIFE!   The energetic teens from Crusaders for Life will be back to lead us with drumming, dancing, and cheers!
  • 2:15 pm:  Rally at the plaza with more prayer, songs, and words of hope.
  • Immediately following the March:  Join us back at St. Theresa for FREE refreshments courtesy of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary.

Bring the whole family!



UNPLANNED Showing in Flossmoor

|

See the true story that will give you a new understanding and appreciation for the gift of life.  Whether you are a believer or a skeptic in our ability to affect the course of events in our society today, see the movie that is doing just that!

Abby Johnson was a young college student who wanted to make a difference in the world.  She wanted to make life better for young women and be the person providing them with opportunities to achieve their dreams.  She believed that was happening as she rose in leadership at the Planned Parenthood facility in College Station Texas.  The true story of how that desire was transformed to a much deeper level of understanding can also be the catalyst that transforms your life.

Make a point of seeing Unplanned at 7pm on Wednesday September 11 or Thursday September 12 in the Holy Family Room of the Infant Jesus of Prague Parish Business Office located at 1120 Douglas in Flossmoor.  Arrive early for coffee and treats and stay for fellowship.  You will learn of opportunities to make life better for young women and help them achieve their dreams for a better life!  Movie begins promptly at 7pm.

Can’t make it either evening but would like to see the movie?

Contact Dr. Rich Mantoan at (708) 557-0011 or email him HERE.



Illinois Pro-Lifers Answer the Call

|

As the oldest teenage daughter of IFI’s executive director, I have had the privilege of visiting Springfield for a great number of events. But this past Wednesday was perhaps the most important event I’ve volunteered for as I witnessed over four thousand pro-life Illinoisans converge on our state capitol to oppose two extreme abortion bills currently pending in the General Assembly.

The capitol rotunda was jam packed with pro-lifers, the second and third story balconies were crowded with them, and outside the Capitol building were many dozens more, waiting to get inside and make their presence and their demands known to our state lawmakers. Buses filled with concerned citizens drove in from southern Illinois, the Moline area, Freeport, the northwest suburbs and the southwest suburbs.

The rally started with a stirring hymn in the capitol rotunda, where ironically, not three months ago our Secretary of State erected a Satanic monument just opposite the Capitol Nativity Scene. But Christ’s presence was made known as the rich, powerful words of the well known hymn Amazing Grace filled the halls, from the floor of the rotunda to the third story, causing people to pause, heads to turn and hopefully a few hearts as well.

It is not surprising to note that mainstream media outlets failed to accurately report the great number of “anti-abortion protesters” in attendance on Wednesday afternoon. The fact is, Capitol police had to shut the doors because so many citizens had filled the building to capacity. And that, I am told, is a very rare occurrence.

State Representatives Terri Bryant (R-Mt.Vernon), David Severin (R-Marion), Darren Bailey (R-Olney)and Amy Grant ((R-Wheaton) were joined by Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Springfield Catholic Diocese and Rev. James Scudder, Jr., of Quentin Road Bible Church in Lake Zurich in addressing the pro-life multitude.  The crowd responded repeatedly with deafening roars of unanimous opposition to the extreme abortion legislation. I suspect that nearly everyone in the building heard the resounding chants of “No, No, No, No.”

Pro-life veterans were heartened by this response, and I have to believe that abortion proponents were made uncomfortable by the tsunami of pro-lifers that washed over Springfield that afternoon.

Yet we know all too well, the fight is not over. We must continue to apply pressure to our lawmakers and continue to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, because the baby murder activists are certainly not going to let up any time soon.

Case in point; as I assisted in the take down of the information tables after the rally, I noticed a group of about fifteen to twenty people crowding around a woman, who was telling them it was time to drown out these women haters (a.k.a pro-lifers) and that this (the capitol) was their “house,” at which point they all began chanting: “Whose house? Our house!” followed by “Whose uterus? Our uterus!”

Take ACTION:  Please speak out!  Click HERE to send a message to your state senator, state representative and to Gov. Pritzker. Ask them to stop targeting innocent pre-born children and vulnerable women in Illinois. Ask them to vote against HB 2495 and HB 2467.

A bold voice for pro-family values in Illinois!

Click HERE to learn about supporting IFI on a monthly basis.



Smashmouth Incrementalism

|

A recent development within the pro-life movement has both a heartening and disheartening aspect. I am talking about the rise of the “abolish human abortion now” sentiment. This in one sense is the whole point of being pro-life, and so a clear reaffirmation of the entire raison d’être is always welcome. The other side of it, the disheartening part, is the tendency among some of these “abolitionists” to denounce any pro-life incrementalists as being, by definition, temporizers, vacillators, or compromisers.

So let me begin by granting part of the point, and then offering for your consideration a scenario that is going to upon us relatively soon—a scenario that will identify the plain difference between principled incrementalists and those who are simply using pro-life language as a shield to hide behind. I should say from the outset that I don’t like the name abolitionist because it is too closely associated in my mind with characters like John Brown, a murderous thug. Paul Hill, the man who shot an abortion doctor in Florida years ago, wanted to become the John Brown of the pro-life movement, and I am afraid there are others who might share that desire now. That is not the way to go.

Also, in the abstract, incrementalism is not necessarily ineffective in cultural battles. It has been the central tactic used against us by the Gramscians, and with devastating effect. They have managed their “long march through the institutions.” So incrementalism does not necessarily mean “lose slowly.”

So there are politicians who campaign on a pro-life platform, and who buckle in the face of fierce resistance when a real opportunity arises to turn the tide. Yes. There is such a thing as cowardice, and there is such a thing as hidden sympathies with the other side. That is a problem. And there might be pro-life groups who would be dismayed at the prospect of actual victory—victory might damage the fund-raising prospects. Yes, it is a fallen world, and that kind of thing might well happen. A manufacturer of fighter planes might look forward to peace with no little dismay.

And there might be abolitionists who denounce all previous pro-life efforts as worthless because they did not succeed in attaining the object, which is the abolition of human abortion now. But there is an active pro-life movement in America, numbering in the millions. This is not the case elsewhere in the Western world, and it should not be taken for granted. The movement here has been robust enough and big enough to develop a hardline right wing.

A conscientious abolitionist might grant the distinction I am making, but still be impatient. How can we tell the difference between genuine incrementalism and slow surrender? Glad you asked, and it is almost upon us.

When Neil Gorsuch was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, there was a fight, naturally, but it was not the blood bath that the next one will be. Because it was a fight over maintaining the status quo, replacing a conservative with a conservative, it was possible for the Republican leadership to hold U.S. Senate Republicans together. This was possible because everything remained the same afterward. On the pro-life issue, nothing changed. The balance on the Supreme Court stayed the same.

But the next U.S. Supreme Court battle will probably be an appointment that will replace a liberal with a conservative. If a vacancy occurs because a liberal dies or steps down, and the president appoints someone like Gorsuch, then that battle will be over whether or not Roe will be overturned. It would alter the balance.

Now the overturning of Roe, were it to happen, would be a genuine incrementalist victory. Abortion would not become illegal in all fifty states. It would likely be greatly restricted in about 35 states. This would leave 15 states still willing to traffic in human misery. Because it would not be a complete victory, it would be an incrementalist victory. Pro-lifers could then turn their attention to those 15 states—because the final goal of abolishing human abortion has not changed.

So it would be a genuine, pro-life victory, but it would not be complete victory. It would be a genuine incrementalist advance. And that is why the U.S. Senate Republicans would not be able to hold together in numbers sufficient to confirm the man appointed to replace, say, Anthony Kennedy.

This is because compromised Republicans would bail. For the purposes of this scenario, let us say that 5 of them abandoned the pretense of being pro-life, and voted not to confirm the one who would join the Court and bring down Roe. Those 5 would be the legitimate targets of abolitionist ire. The Republicans who voted to confirm a justice who would in fact overthrow Roe would be illegitimate targets of abolitionist ire. But the rhetoric after such a debacle would probably be directed against feckless “Republicans” generally, and not against the 5 who proved themselves feckless.

Now I want everyone to know that this is guaranteed to happen. If a conservative justice comes before the U.S. Senate, one who would enable us to repent of Roe, then you can rest assured that there will not be enough votes to confirm him. The desertions will be declared with fanfare and high-flying rhetoric, and the corrupt media will lionize the traitors for their courage. All that, right?

While I share the goal of abolishing human abortion, I do not like calling myself an abolitionist. I like to call it something more like smashmouth incrementalism. This is what that would look like. Overturning Roe is the way to go, I am convinced. But how?

The president nominates Kennedy’s replacement, say. Kennedy retired in the confidence that what I am saying is true—knowing that the machinery of our corrupt generation would destroy anyone who would seriously attempt to undo Roe. So the outcry begins immediately. The media discovers that “Smith” pushed somebody on the playground in junior high. He is temperamentally unsuited to this high office. The drumbeat of character assassination begins. The confirmation hearings are conducted. His overdue books from the library are produced. His wife’s dating habits in high school are minutely examined. And then, at the moment when maximum damage would be inflicted, the Republican “gang of five” announce that it is with the greatest reluctance that they cannot support the nominee. You could almost see the tears glistening in their eyes.

I believe that the president should not withdraw the nomination. Nor should he allow the vote to go forward. He should announce that he is “pausing” the nomination of Smith, which will be brought forward again in six months’ time. In the meantime, he invites the good people of Arizona, Alaska, Maine, etc. to investigate and act upon all their legal options when it comes to impeachment and/or recall elections. Some of the 5 might see the light right away.

And those who do not should prepare to face the wrath of worked-up incrementalists.

This article was originally posted at Blog & Mablog



Being Pro Life Empowers Women and Families

|

Many individuals may directly associate the phrase “pro-life” with being pro-birth or opposed to abortion. While of course both of these statements are true, what many people perhaps fail to fully grasp is that being pro-birth is only a part of being pro-life. The truth is that pro-life is pro-woman, pro-adoption, pro-child, and pro-family. But proponents of the legal killing of an infant while it is in its mother’s womb always ignore the many facets of what it means to be pro life. Instead they try to paint those who are pro life as extremists who are against the empowerment of women and families.

The truth is that abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women and opposition to abortion has historically been a feminist issue. Many of the most capable and vigorous proponents of the pro-life message are strong women.

Miss North Dakota, Mary Christianson reminded us back in March that pro life is not anti-woman. “Not only do we support our women but we support our women who are unborn and can’t speak for themselves,” Christianson said. Pro-life is pro-woman, says Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life. “We know that a message many people hear in our country is that in order to be ‘pro-woman,’ you have to be pro-choice. I would offer that nothing could be further from the truth,” she told Cosmopolitan.com. “I see that as rhetoric and I see that as false. Life is empowering for women. A woman’s capacity to have children is an incredible thing, not something to be ashamed of. It doesn’t mean that I am defined by that, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to pretend it’s not part of me. It’s an incredible gift.”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, echoed this sentiment, writing in an op-ed for Newsbusters:

Clearly, the public visibility of strong women who oppose abortion on demand is causing a big change.

Protecting our unborn children from abortion is not an attack on women. Women know this because women are the ones who understand what it is to nurture, shelter and grow an infant in our own bodies.

Pro-life is also pro-adoption, as Vice President Mike Pence explained during the Vice Presidential debates. “If you’re going to be pro-life you should be pro-adoption,” he said, hinting that adoption needs to have a bigger part in the abortion debate. A woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy may feel tremendous pressure and may feel completely unequipped to handle the responsibilities of parenting a child. She may feel her only option is to abort her preborn child — but it isn’t. Adoption is a beautiful, lifesaving option, and mothers experiencing unplanned pregnancies have the right to information about how adoption works. Pro life individuals recognize the importance truly informing women of the healthy options that are available to them – instead of pushing abortion on women who already feel frightened and helpless.

Pro-life is also pro-child. Abortion is an atrocious embodiment of violence against the lives of the most innocent among us. “If we don’t treat the weakest members of society with the respect that we have for ourselves, how is that justice?” asks Lila Rose, President of Live Action. “How is that equality? How is that upholding human rights?”

Pro-life is pro-family. It has been said that the things most important in life are the things closest to home, and Confucius stated, “The strength of a nation derives in the integrity of the home.” Nothing hits closer to home than family, and individual lives are what constitutes a family. Pope Francis has famously said, “The right to life is the first among human rights.” By protecting the lives of the preborn, we protect the institution of the family, thereby promoting a healthy, nurturing society.

Every life has value because every person endowed by their Creator with life is created in the image of God. Being pro-life means that every life deserves to be respected regardless of circumstances because human life is created with an inherent sanctity and dignity. Being pro-life is more than just pro-birth; it’s pro-woman, pro-adoption, pro-child, and pro-family.

IFI depends on the support of concerned-citizens like you. Donate now

Please join the conversation! Visit us on social media and…

like_us_on_facebook_button



Most Americans Don’t Support Extreme Position of Pro-Choice Politicians

|

Written by Carl Anderson

Lurking behind the annual split among Americans over the labels “pro-life” and “pro-choice” is a new reality. The fact is that today, whatever label they choose, Americans overwhelmingly support abortion restrictions.

Pro-choice politicians who typically support unrestricted, or almost unrestricted, abortion share the extreme view of a tiny minority of the American people.

Consider this. A majority of Americans who identify as pro-choice (62 percent) say that abortion should be restricted to–at most–the first trimester of pregnancy. Less than a quarter of them (22 percent) want unrestricted abortion.

Among Americans as a whole, the number who want such abortion restrictions is about eight in 10 (78 percent). Only about one in 10 of this group (13 percent) would leave it unrestricted.

Almost twice as many American voters would limit abortion to–at most–saving the life of the mother (24 percent) as would allow it any time.

It’s not a partisan issue either. Strong majorities regardless of political identity would restrict abortion to the first trimester, at most. This includes about two-thirds of Democrats (65 percent), as well as eight in 10 independents (80 percent) and nine in 10 Republicans (93 percent). There are few issues in our country on which you find such a strong consensus from across the political spectrum.

The polling we commissioned on this issue was done by the gold standard in public opinion research: Marist. That’s the same pollster used by NBC News, McClatchy, and the Wall Street Journal.

The numbers have been consistent on this for nearly a decade. Americans overwhelmingly support substantial restrictions on abortion. “Pro-life” politicians typically support bills consistent with this national consensus.

Nevertheless, self-identified “pro-choice” politicians generally hew to a policy orthodoxy that allows for no restrictions at all on abortion–even though it’s a view hardly ever shared by their constituents.

The typical “pro-choice” politician today represents the most radical view of abortion in the country–a view they share with only about one in 10 Americans (13 percent).

Some of these politicians celebrate abortion as a right that should not be restricted in any way. That’s the same line taken by the abortion industry, whose livelihood depends on performing this destructive procedure.

Other politicians hide behind the idea that they are “personally opposed” to abortion, but cannot impose their will on the majority. What majority are they talking about? Nearly everyone in the country wants solid restrictions on abortion, making such a position either ignorant or dishonest.

If a politician is really “personally opposed,” he should have the decency to follow his conscience and not block the vast consensus on this issue.

Better yet, he could take John F. Kennedy’s advice who said when running for president in 1960 that he would resign if his conscience came into conflict with what he saw as the public interest. Kennedy said he hoped “any conscientious public servant would do the same.” That’s still good advice, and a worthy wish, five decades later.

Instead, the opposite is occurring.

Despite the American consensus on this issue, more and more extreme positions are being proposed by pro-abortion politicians.

Some are pledging to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which bans tax dollars from being used to pay for abortions–contrary to Americans’ view that tax dollars should not be used this way.

Nearly two in three Americans would prohibit the use of tax dollars for abortion (62 percent). This includes more than four in 10 Democrats (44 percent), more than six in 10 Independents (61 percent) and more than eight in 10 Republicans (84 percent).

Those who identify as pro-choice are split too, with 45 percent saying tax dollars should not be used for abortion.

Abortion is now the number one cause of death in America. With more than 50 million abortions since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, no other issue comes close in scale. And yet, each year, another million abortions are allowed to occur by politicians who turn a deaf ear to the will of the people and oppose restrictions.

It’s time for the abortion extremism among these politicians to end. It’s time for “pro-choice” politicians to begin supporting policy proposals that restrict abortion consistent with our national consensus.

Carl Anderson is the CEO of the Knights of Columbus and a New York Times bestselling author.



Join Us at Our 2016 Banquet Celebration!

|

Early Bird Specials Expire on Sept. 5th!

The Illinois Family Institute is very pleased to invite you to attend the 2016 Annual Faith, Family and Freedom Banquet on Friday, September 30th at 7:00 p.m. in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

We are thrilled to have as our keynote speaker former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, a strong and consistent voice for pro-family values. A former candidate for POTUS, she not only distinguished herself by forming and chairing the Tea Party Caucus in 2010 in the U.S. House, but as a courageous and outspoken pro-life leader, as attested to by her rating of zero from the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL).  First elected in 2006 and stepping down in 2014, Congresswoman Bachmann understands well the gravity of our diminishing civil freedoms and has experienced, first hand, the relentless and intolerant attacks of the Left on people of faith.

Michele is a graduate of Anoka High School and Winona State University. Bachmann and her husband, Marcus, live in Stillwater where they own a small business mental health care practice that employs 42 people. The Bachmanns have five children, Lucas, Harrison, Elisa, Caroline, and Sophia. In addition, the Bachmanns have opened their home to 23 foster children, which was the inspiration for Michele’s advocacy and work for foster and adopted children, earning her bipartisan praise for her efforts.

Join us as we hear an exciting and motivational presentation from one of our nation’s top conservative champion of conservative values.  Your attendance and support is essential to our success!

Click HERE for a banquet flyer.

You can also Partner with us as a Sponsor!

Banquet sponsorships start at $1.5K & range up to $10K

Program advertising opportunities are also available.

Please contact us today!

Event Details:

Illinois Family Institute
Faith, Family and Freedom Banquet

Friday, September 30 , 2016
Stonegate Conference Center
2401 W. Higgins Road
Hoffman Estates, IL  60169

Secure your tickets now – click here or call (708) 781-9328.

register-now-button-dark-blue-hi

Program advertisements & banquet sponsorships available.

Early Bird Specials Expire on Sept. 5th!