A father I'd want on my side (Robert Schindler, Sr. - Father of the late Terri Schiavo)

Baptist Press ^ | 9/1/09 | Joni B. Hannigan

[wagglebee]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--I envied Terri Schiavo for her father, Bob. There were times I thought: What a waste, she doesn't know how good she has it. Not like it was her fault, but if only she knew.

But of course she knew.

From all the firsthand accounts and the vivid description of my friend David Gibbs, the attorney who fought for the right of Bob Schindler's daughter to live, Terri herself knew what it was like to feel the whiskered face of her father rough up against her cheek and tickle her until she smiled.

She knew when he walked in the room and gently took her hand in his big one and squeezed it to ask her how her day was. Her eyes had followed his bright ones, though his were tinged by the pain of having to defend his position that she deserved to be cared for until God decided her life should end.

A father's duty.

Some argued that it was her husband's duty. At first it seemed that way.

Michael Schiavo seemed tolerant of her family's visits, and even lived in their home for a while planning for her care after she suffered a neurological injury in 1990 caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Her family visited her in various facilities. They brought her clothes. Her mom fixed her hair, put her makeup on, and took her on outings.

Then her husband seemed to grow weary. His heart was pulled to another. He had been married to Terri less than half a dozen years before Terri's collapse. Finally, there was a judge who was willing to believe him when said he thought Terri would not want to live in her condition. He asked the judge for permission to remove her nutrition and hydration, knowing it would cause her to die.

And still Terri's father and mother and sister and brother were there for her.

They appeared in court. They hired attorneys. They fought for the right to visit her, bring her comforting items, spend time in her room. The fight lasted nearly a decade.

The trips outside had stopped. No more makeup. Her window shades were pulled down and she was not allowed activities which were stimulating. She was sent to a hospice to die.

Right until the end, Bob refused to give up on his daughter.

"She's still fighting and we are going to fight to do whatever we can to save her," Bob said after the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a final appeal to hear her case on March 30, 2005. "I'm asking that nobody throw in the towel, she's fighting -- keep fighting with her."

It was 9:05 a.m., the day after her father made that statement in front of the hospice, that Terri died. Thirteen days after her nutrition and hydration had been pulled, for the third time in 15 years.

I was there for many of those 13 days. And I had been there two years before, the second time the Schindlers had fought her husband and the court when they threatened to remove her sustenance. What few people understand is that Terri wasn't hooked up to machines or anything, she simply needed food and water to live; because there was a fear she would choke, at some point she was put on a feeding tube.

In 2003 in front of the hospice in a trailer was the very first time I met the Schindlers and reported on their case. That extensive and very personal story is here: http://bit.ly/lo8Lx.

From the beginning Bob was warm and friendly, if worn. Mary was passionately sad. At one point in our interview she actually grabbed my hand and said, "Joni, I don't know if I can go through this again," referring to the court ordering Terri's nutrition and hydration to cease.

My heart broke for all of them.

I'm two years older than Terri. I was raised Catholic, but after that, most of the similarities end. I never did know the love of a father, growing up. When Bob spoke of his firstborn and both their eyes filled with tears, I could only think of how I would feel if my firstborn, my daughter, would be in such a state.

I actually called my daughter on the way to the interview. I asked her what she thought. She told me, "Mama, I would want you to do whatever you wanted because, honestly, I wouldn't know anything anyway. I would be just like a baby and you would be protecting me. So I understand."

In meeting Bob and Mary and then covering the case for two years, I realized just how deep was their love -- indeed how deep the family's love is for each other. They were protective, caring, careful and steadfast.

Bobby Schindler, Terri's brother, was always courteous and kind, though I am a member of the media. Suzanne Vitadamo, Terri's sister, was steady but painfully conscious of our constant intrusion. All of them were involved in a balancing act of giving the press what we needed, knowing they could be crucified or vindicated, depending on who was doing the reporting.

But Bob, walking the crowds at night outside the hospice, eternally hopeful, ever vigilant, wore his heart in his eyes. Every bright tear spoke of the love he had for his daughter. It was apparent his only motivation was the love of a father. He was a man protecting his family in the noblest way.

I could hardly meet his eyes outside the hospice on the day she died as he stood with Bobby and Suzanne, chin slightly quivering. His tears were palpable. The horde of media were amazingly silent and respectful as Bobby read a statement. Red eyes all around me, in our ranks of media professionals, gave me the knowledge that I was not alone in thinking many witnesses to this day would walk away with the knowledge that this was not a "happy ending."

Each time I thought about Terri's death thereafter and tried to reconcile it with God's sovereignty, I had a hard time. Especially when I considered her parents' pain.

A year later when I went to St. Petersburg to interview Bob and Mary at the office of the foundation they had established to help people in similar circumstances, I finally gained some perspective.

Walking with me to my car after showing me around the office, Bob grabbed me in a hug to say goodbye. I felt those whiskers that were said to make Terri smile despite their irritation. It made me smile in spite of the lump in my throat.

He had lost so much, and I asked him, really, how he was doing.

"You are such a Baptocatholic," he said, using the nickname he'd given me after finding out I was raised Catholic before becoming an evangelical Christian as a young teen.

He essentially told me he'd be fine, that God does have a plan and it's hard but it's was going to be OK.

"We just learn to forgive. We just have to," he said, referring to a statement he had made in the office a few minutes before in which he said the timing of Terri's death was "God's will."

God has a plan. He believed that, and so do I. Goodbye, my friend. Thanks for standing up for Terri until the very end. You were, indeed, a father I'd want on my side.

Joni B. Hannigan is managing editor of Florida Baptist Witness at www.FloridaBaptistWitness.com. She covered the Terri Schiavo story extensively and her photos were used in "Fighting for Dear Life: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo" by David Gibbs and in an award-winning documentary hosted by Joni Eareckson Tada, "The Terri Schiavo Story." A full-length version of this column can be found at http://jonibh.wordpress.com.

[wagglebee]

It is way past the time when the Vatican needs to address the apostate clergy in America.

Thread by NYer.

Abortion in Health Care "Way Beyond my Field": Cardinal Mahoney

September 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a recent interview with CNSNews.com, Cardinal Roger Mahoney declined to answer a question about whether or not he agreed with Cardinal Justin Rigali that the Obama health care bill should include language explicitly excluding any public funding of abortion. "This is way beyond my field," the cardinal responded.

"My field is immigration," said Mahoney, who is the archbishop of Los Angeles. "I really haven't kept up on that, and I spend all my time on this other. You have to get somebody who spends time on that."

When asked whether he believed abortion should be funded under the health care bill, Cardinal Mahony said: "No, but that's what the president said, too, so."

Cardinal Rigali, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' pro-life committee, has spoken out against Obama's healthcare plan as currently formulated, due to the fact that it would use taxpayer money to pay for abortions. . .

[wagglebee]

More of Zero's "common ground" on infanticide.

Thread by jmcenanly.

Holdren says Constitution backs compulsory abortion

Obama science czar John Holdren stated in a college textbook he co-authored that in conditions of emergency, compulsory abortion would be sustainable under the U.S. Constitution, even with Supreme Court review.

WND has obtained a copy of "Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment," published in 1977 and co-authored by Holdren with Malthusian population alarmist Paul R. Ehrlich and Ehrlich's wife, Ann. As WND reported, the authors argued involuntary birth-control measures, including forced sterilization, may be necessary and morally acceptable under extreme conditions, such as widespread famine brought about by "climate change."

To prevent ecological disasters, including "global warming," Holdren argued the U.S. Constitution would permit involuntary abortions, government -imposed sterilizations and laws limiting the number of children as steps justified under the banner of "sustainable well-being." ...

[wagglebee]

If "Father" Jenkins had an ounce of integrity he would personally apologize to and beg forgiveness from each of the these men and women he is persecuting.

Thread by me.

Notre Dame Pro-Life Efforts a "Mockery" While Pro-Life Protesters Face Charges: ND Law Prof

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, September 24, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - University of Notre Dame law professor emeritus Charles Rice has issued an open letter to University president Fr. John Jenkins this week, criticizing the school's attempts at reconstructing a pro-life facade while still refusing to request leniency for the dozens of pro-lifers arrested for protesting the Obama scandal in May.

 

"As long as you pursue the criminalization of those pro-life witnesses," wrote Rice, "your newest pro-life statements will be regarded reasonably as a cosmetic covering of the institutional anatomy in the wake of the continuing backlash arising from your conferral of Notre Dame's highest honor on the most relentlessly pro-abortion public official in the world."

The controversy surrounds the arrest and charge of trespassing imposed on 88 pro-lifers who traveled from across America to peacefully witness against the University's honoring of President Obama, who issued the commencement speech and received an honorary law degree on May 17 of this year. 

Individuals carrying pro-life messages - including images of aborted children, a large cross, and images of Mary - were singled out for arrest, while several other trespassers with pro-Obama or pro-Notre Dame signage were not arrested.

Dr. Rice criticized Jenkins' Chief of Staff Frances Shavers' claim that the protesters were simply arrested for trespassing as disingenuous. 

"Those 88 defendants were on the other side of the campus, far removed from the site of the Commencement," Rice wrote.  "They are subjected by Notre Dame to the criminal process because they came, as individuals, to Notre Dame to pray, peacefully and non-obstructively, on this ordinarily open campus, in petition and reparation, as a response to what they rightly saw as a facilitation by Notre Dame of various objectively evil policies and programs of Notre Dame's honoree, President Obama." ...

[floriduh voter]

Just call him Jenkins. Father he’s not.

[wagglebee]

Prayer continues to save lives.

Threads by Salvation and me.

40 Days for Life -- Pray to End Abortion

The 40 Days for Life campaign is firmly rooted on a foundation of prayer and fasting. To help maintain focus on the Lord and stay in tune with His guidance, we have prepared a series of daily devotionals — one for each of the 40 days of the fall 2009 campaign.

We fervently believe that prayer and fasting will end abortion, and your prayers are very much needed and appreciated. Please follow the links below to read and meditate upon these brief reflections.

Printable versions are available; please click the link at the bottom of each devotional.

Prepare: September 22 Day 1: September 23 Day 2: September 24 Day 3: September 25 Day 4: September 26 Day 5: September 27 Day 6: September 28 Day 7: September 29 Day 8: September 30 Day 9: October 1 Day 10: October 2 Day 11: October 3 Day 12: October 4 Day 13: October 5 Day 14: October 6 Day 15: October 7 Day 16: October 8 Day 17: October 9 Day 18: October 10 Day 19: October 11 Day 20: October 12

Day 21: October 13 Day 22: October 14 Day 23: October 15 Day 24: October 16 Day 25: October 17 Day 26: October 18 Day 27: October 29 Day 28: October 20 Day 29: October 21 Day 30: October 22 Day 31: October 23 Day 32: October 24 Day 33: October 25 Day 34: October 26 Day 35: October 27 Day 36: October 28 Day 37: October 29 Day 38: October 30 Day 39: October 31 Day 40: November 1 Day 41: November 2

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Baby Saved on First Day of 40 Days for Life Campaign

September 24, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - You know 40 Days for Life is off to a great start when there's a report of a baby saved from abortion -- at a pre-campaign kickoff event!

The 40 Days for Life team in St. Louis began a day of preparation prior to the campaign with prayer at a local church, followed by more prayer on the sidewalk in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion center -- prayer that was joined by more than 100 people.

At the St. Louis kickoff rally that evening, "we sang, prayed and had a chance to meet many new people," said local coordinator Brian Westbrook. "God truly blessed us with an exciting night."

But the excitement was just beginning. At the end of the long day, Brian went home, checked his e-mail and found this message:

"I just wanted to let you know that today just before we left the clinic, as we were wrapping up and praying together, one of the sidewalk counselors came over and let us know that a couple who had gone into the clinic in the morning had just left and decided to keep their baby. So praise God, I believe that's the first fruits of what's to come over the next 40 days."

Brian said, "What an incredible start to these 40 Days for Life. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us this fall. Keep praying and fasting and one day we will see an end to abortion."

Positive reports from kickoff events and news stories about 40 Days for Life are pouring in from across North America as the campaign is getting off to an incredible start in over 200 locations. . .

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[wagglebee]

Archbishop Raymond Burke has written a fantastic editorial on the fight for life.

Thread by NYer.

Reflections on the Struggle to Advance the Culture of Life

It is clear that we are experiencing today a period of intense and critical struggle in the advancement of the culture of life in our nation. The administration of our federal government openly and aggressively follows a secularist agenda. While it may employ religious language and even invoke the name of God, in fact, it proposes programs and policies for our people without respect for God and His Law. In the words of the Servant of God Pope John Paul II, it proceeds "as if God did not exist" (Pope John Paul II, Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles laici, "On the Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World," 30 December 1988, no. 34).

At the same time, there is a lack of unity among those dedicated to advance a culture which respects fully the gift of human life and its origin in procreation, that is, in the cooperation of man and woman with God through the conjugal union and through education in the home which they have formed by marriage. Recent statements, occasioned by the Rites of Christian Burial accorded to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, have manifested profound disagreement and even harsh criticism among those who are publicly committed to the Gospel of Life.

As we share the same commitment to foster respect for human life and the integrity of marriage and the family, I wish to offer some fundamental reflections on how to advance the culture of life in our nation. The reflections are not comprehensive. It is my hope that, in some small way, they may help us both to address more effectively the Gospel of Life to the political leadership of our nation and to draw together in greater unity with all who are truly dedicated to promote the respect for human life and the integrity of the marital union and its fruit, family life. . .

[wagglebee]

Maybe Zero should try to explain again how he's not like Hitler.

Thread by kellynla.

Holdren: Sterilize Welfare Recipients

Obama science czar John Holdren stated in a college textbook that compulsory, government-mandated "green abortions" would be a constitutionally acceptable way to control population growth and prevent ecological disasters, including global warming, because a fetus was most likely not a "person" under the terms of the 14th Amendment.

Holdren further suggested government-mandated population control measures might be inflicted in the United States against welfare recipients, writing on page 840: "There has been considerable talk in some quarters at times of forcibly suppressing reproduction among welfare recipients (perhaps by requiring the use of contraceptives or even by involuntary sterilizations). This may sadly foreshadow what our society might do if the human predicament gets out of hand." (Parenthesis in original text.)

As previously reported, WND has obtained a copy of the 1970s college textbook "Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment" that Holdren co-authored with Malthusian population alarmist Paul R. Ehrlich and Ehrlich's wife, Ann. The authors argued involuntary birth-control measures, including forced sterilization, may be necessary and morally acceptable under extreme conditions, such as widespread famine brought about by "climate change." ...

[wagglebee]

Zero now considers honesty a crime.

Thread by me.

White House Threatens to Prosecute Private Medicare Companies for Warning Seniors of Cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Obama administration has aroused a fierce First Amendment controversy after threatening companies selling private Medicare coverage not to tell their customers that current health care legislation would result in benefit cuts - or else face a lawsuit.

The administration and Senate Democrats justify the move by saying the claim, spread by at least one such company, is patently false. Yet some say the administration is the one twisting the facts to help the unpopular legislation: critics note that even the head of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office agrees that the legislation would mean a loss of senior benefits.

The general warning came after the Department of Health and Human Services launched a probe against the insurance giant Humana earlier this month after it sent out a mailing warning of the possible cuts.

"As we continue our research into this issue, we are instructing you to immediately discontinue all such mailings to beneficiaries and to remove any related materials directed to Medicare enrollees from your Web sites," the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid told health insurance companies in a notice Monday. . .

[wagglebee]

It won't be long before the culture of death starts using the term "worthless eaters" again.

Thread by me.

A life not worth living?

New guidance has been issued to clarify the law on assisted suicide in England and Wales - but it offers no guarantees against prosecution.

Instead the Director of Public Prosecutions has spelled out the range of factors that will be taken into account when deciding on cases.

The move has been welcomed by 33 year old Kelly Taylor from Bristol who is terminally ill.

In 2005 she tried to starve herself in the hope she would end her pain.

"I think the new guidelines are a breakthrough, as it gives people the knowledge when and where they're going wrong and when they could be prosecuted. It also gives people like me greater patient choice." ...

[wagglebee]

The Fall 40 Days for Life campaign is underway.

Faith has done a wonderful job with the daily threads for a long time, everyone please bump the threads when you have a chance.

40 DAYS FOR LIFE - Day 1 - PRAY to END ABORTION!

40 DAYS FOR LIFE - DAY 2 - 45 MILLION BABIES ABORTED - PLEASE PRAY TO END ABORTION

40 DAYS FOR LIFE - DAY 3 - PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR ALL THE UNBORN

40 DAYS FOR LIFE - DAY 4 - PLEASE TAKE 60 SECONDS TO SAY A PRAYER FOR THE UNBORN!

40 DAYS FOR LIFE - DAY 5 - Please pray for every precious unborn child.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[wagglebee]

Eventually a state WILL grant personhood rights to the unborn and the Supreme Court will be forced to address the holocaust they created.

Threads by Lesforlife and EternalVigilance.

"New push to define 'person' and outlaw abortion in the process"

A new push to define 'person' and to outlaw abortion in the process.

Some abortion foes think the rationale for Roe vs. Wade is vulnerable. They're trying to amend state constitutions -- including California's -- to define personhood from conception. . .

______________________________________________________________

CALIFORNIA PRO-LIFERS LAUNCH HUMAN RIGHTS AMENDMENT PETITION CAMPAIGN

Washington, DC – California has joined the race to recognize human rights and personhood for all human beings from the biological beginning of development.

The state’s most outspoken pro-life advocates submitted the California Human Rights Amendment to Attorney General Jerry Brown following a press conference Monday in Sacramento.

“The preborn, while demonstrably alive and demonstrably human, are not protected ‘persons’ under our state constitution,” said Lila Rose, the 21-year-old student pro-life activist, president of Live Action and cosponsor of the amendment. “Our laws must protect each person’s basic human right to life, from the beginning of his or her life until the end.”

The push is backed by the California Civil Rights Foundation, a coalition of pro-lifers including Rose and sponsor Walter Hoye, the pastor arrested and imprisoned in 2008 for standing in silent witness outside an abortion mill.

“The California Human Rights Amendment recognizes that valuing human life is fundamental to life itself,” Hoye said at the press conference, “and is the cornerstone of peace and prosperity for any society.”

Hoye and Rose were joined by Judie Brown, president of American Life League and Keith Mason, founder of PersonhoodUSA.

The activists stressed that personhood fulfills the dream of the civil rights movement.

“The injustice of denying the personhood of whole classes of human beings is an injustice that cannot go unchallenged,” Brown said. “Now is the time for justice. Nothing less is acceptable in a republic based on the principle of equal justice for one and all.” . . .

[wagglebee]

Washington state is going out of its way to push death.

Thread by me.

Washington State Quickly Taking First Place in Promotion of Assisted Suicide

Live in Washington State? In a crisis? Suicidal?

Call 911.

Then what?

A dispatcher sends crisis negotiators who, if they follow the suggestions provided at a recent negotiators' training session, could help you consider "all options." If you're eligible, you may be referred to friendly volunteers who will help you find a doctor willing to prescribe a deadly drug overdose.

Just take the prescription to a pharmacy. Have it filled by a pharmacist who hands it to you with instructions to "take this with a light snack and alcohol to cause death."

But what if the pharmacy has opted out of participation in assisted suicide?

Not to worry.

Washington pharmacies are required to fill your prescription.

And what if you're not "qualified" for assisted suicide under Washington's Death with Dignity Act?

No sweat. There's help for you, too. Exit International, an equal opportunity death facilitator, has just established its North American headquarters in Bellingham, WA.

Enter the twilight zone that is Washington State. . .

[wagglebee]

40 Days for Life continues to save lives!

Threads by Faith and me.

38 Babies Saved Since Beginning of 40 Days for Life Campaign

September 28, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - While Jackie was praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Greenland, New Hampshire, a car slowly pulled up in front of the clinic. The driver rolled down the window and said, "I don't know what you're doing here; but whatever it is, it's working!" The driver went on to say the abortion center had let employees go because business was off.

All Jackie could say was, "Praise God for victories!"

The staff at yet another abortion center has shrunk by at least one. But this wasn't a layoff. This was a clinic nurse who walked out and quit!

Angela of the 40 Days for Life team in Granite City, Illinois, said the abortion facility nurse came out and hugged her. "Thank you for praying for me," she told Angela. "Your witness has been powerful to me. This is my last day! I'm going off to do what real nurses should be doing." With that, she walked to her car and drove away.

This is the second abortion worker to quit during this 40 Days for Life campaign!

And yes, there are amazing stories to share about babies saved from abortion as well.

Thus far in this fall 40 Days for Life campaign, we've received reports of 38 mothers who changed their minds and chose life. And of course, those are just the ones we know of! . . .

______________________________________________________________

Please bump Faith's threads when you are able.

40 DAYS for LIFE - Day 6 - YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE UNBORN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

40 DAYS FOR LIFE - DAY 7 - WHO WILL STAND FOR THE UNBORN IF NOT YOU AND I?

[wagglebee]

The travesty of Zero's defilement of Notre Dame continues.

Thread by me.

Judge in Case of Arrested Notre Dame Pro-Lifers is Married to Pro-Abortion ND Professor

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, September 28, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The attorney representing the pro-lifers arrested while protesting Obama at Notre Dame today repeated his request that the judge in the case, who is married to a pro-abortion Notre Dame professor, be removed from the case.

Attorney Tom Dixon's motion provides detailed support for his assertion in a previous recusal motion that there exists sufficient actual and perceived bias that Judge Jenny Pitts Manier, the judge assigned to the "ND 88" case, is required by Indiana state law to recuse herself in the matter. Dixon states that ever since Judge Manier has known her husband, Professor Edward Manier, he has been a well-known and outspoken advocate of the pro-abortion position.

As his views were well-known and have largely defined his identity at Notre Dame, Dixon argues, it seems implausible that Judge Manier could claim to be unaware of his views on the "ND 88" case, which stem from "the single biggest controversy in the history of the University of Notre Dame."

The case surrounds the arrest of 88 pro-lifers from across America who were charged with trespassing after peacefully witnessing against the presence of President Obama at Notre Dame The university awarded Obama with the commencement speech and an honorary law degree on May 17 of this year. Arrestees were singled out for carrying pro-life messages onto campus - including images of aborted children, a large cross, and images of Mary - while several other trespassers with pro-Obama or pro-Notre Dame signage were allowed to roam the campus.

Dixon argues that the career of Judge Manier's husband at Notre Dame was largely defined by the very same controversies which prompted the pro-lifers to travel across America to ultimately land in the St. Joseph County court room. In Indiana, a judge must recuse himself or herself from a case in the event of actual or perceived bias. . .

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[wagglebee]

The left must cringe when they see these stories.

Thread by Steelfish.

A Child is Born: Photographs Of The Foetus Developing In The Womb

When Lennart Nilsson's pictures of developing embryos were published in Life magazine in 1965, they caused a sensation. Within days, the entire print run of eight million had sold out. More than 40 years later, the photographs have lost none of their power

Five weeks. The embryo is approximately 9mm long. A face develops, with openings for the mouth, the nostrils and eyes . . .

[Steelfish]

Thanks for the pings

[wagglebee]

This is just repulsive.

Thread by me.

Baptist, Brethren, Lutheran, Methodist Churches Ask Senate for Abortion Funds

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A coalition of mainline Protestant churches have authored a letter to members of Congress asking them to make certain the health care bills they are considering contain taxpayer funding for abortions. The letter comes from a group of churches that have long advocated the pro-abortion position.

Under the umbrella of the Religious Institute, the church denominations and more than 1,100 pastors and church staff from the denominations endorsed the letter.

The letter calls abortion a “morally justifiable decision” and opposed any amendments to the House and Senate bills, which current contain massive abortion funding, to strike that taxpayer-financing.

“Already, federal policy unfairly prevents low-income women and federal employees from receiving subsidized [abortions]," Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious Institute complained.

The letter added that she doesn't want more abortion funding bans in place and complained that additional "restrictions" on abortion funding constitute a "serious moral injustice.” ...