PA Family Institute Blog

Women’s Right to Know Bill: Right Prescription at the Right Time

Emily Kreps — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:28:37 +0000

For Immediate Release

(Harrisburg, January 23, 2012) Pennsylvania Family Council, the advocacy arm of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, today applauded the introduction of HB 1077, The Women’s Right to Know Bill, designed to let women considering abortion have a full picture and information, provided by up-to-date technology, so that they can make a fully informed decision.

“Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) and Rep. Debra Kula (D-Fayette & Westmoreland) are to be commended, along with the 111 other cosponsors of HB 10777, for putting women and their healthcare first,” said Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Council. “Abortion is an irreversible procedure, and one that is fraught with many ethical, emotional and medical considerations. Thus, women should be provided the opportunity to be fully and completely informed before making their decision,” added Geer.

“Sonograms are the gold standard of informed consent,” said Randall Wenger, Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Family Council. “I cannot understand why any women’s advocate wouldn’t join in and support The Woman’s Right to Know Bill, and call for women to get all the medical information that’s available to them.”

The Pennsylvania Family Council encourages swift passage of HB 1077 in the House, the Pennsylvania Senate, and on to Gov. Corbett’s desk for signature.

Pennsylvania #2 in Gambling, A Good Achievement?

Emily Kreps — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:38:25 +0000

Pennsylvania is now second only to Las Vegas, Nevada in gambling revenue. Is this something we want our state to achieve? What does this mean for the people of Pennsylvania? That we’re better at losing our money than those in neighboring New Jersey?

From Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Pennsylvania’s 10 casinos raked in $3.02 billion in gross revenue in 2011, up 21.6 percent from the previous year. That was enough to edge out New Jersey, which reported $2.95 billion in revenues, a 9.5 percent decrease from 2010. Both figures exclude freebies that casinos use to attract gamblers.

New Education Report Recommends Sex-Ed Starting in Kindergarten

Emily Kreps — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:35:04 +0000

From CNSNews.com:

“Ideally, comprehensive sexuality education should start in kindergarten and continue through 12th grade,” says the “National Sexuality Education Standards” report, drawn up by a range of advocates, academics and public education officials.

These officials include the American School Health Association, the National Education Association Health Information Network – the non-profit arm of the nation’s largest teacher’s union, the NEA – the American Association for Health Education and the Society of State Leaders of Health and Physical Education.

An advisory committee includes senior officials from Planned Parenthood and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

School Choice Needed for PA Students

Emily Kreps — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:16:42 +0000

From Commonwealth Foundation President, Matt Brouillette:

Instead of a one-size-fits-all system of education, we need to fully embrace an education marketplace where choice and competition is the rule rather than the exception.

Two PA Abortion Clinics Suspend Abortions, Possible Ties to Abortionist Charged with Murder

Emily Kreps — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:55:55 +0000

From LifeNews.com:

Two Pennsylvania-based abortion businesses [Allentown and Pittsburgh] with ties to Steven Chase Brigham, the abortion practitioner charged with murder in the deaths of viable unborn children in a two-state operation aimed at avoiding late-term abortion laws, have stopped doing abortions.

March for Life on January 23rd

Emily Kreps — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:37:54 +0000

The annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. is on January 23rd. Learn more on the national website.

Are you going? Have you been before?

Share your story in the comments below!

Ultrasound Law in Texas Upheld

Emily Kreps — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:35:41 +0000

Good news from Texas!

A federal appeals court has upheld a pro-life law in Texas allowing women a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn child prior to an abortion.

Maryland Abortionist Arrested for Murder

Emily Kreps — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:10:25 +0000

From Lifenews.com:

Steven Chase Brigham and Nicola Irene Riley have been charged with murder related to the deaths of viable babies at an illegal secret abortion clinic that the pair operated in Elkton, Maryland. Brigham is currently in the custody at the Camden County Jail in New Jersey and Riley was arrested and is currently in the custody of the Salt Lake County Jail in Utah. Both are awaiting extradition to Maryland.

PA Supreme Court Hands Down Christmas Present to the Unborn

Emily Kreps — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:30:46 +0000

This time last year, the Independence Law Center (with the help of an army of volunteer attorneys) filed an amici brief on behalf of the Pa. Family Institute, the Pa. Pro-Life Federation, the Pa. Catholic Conference, and about 60 state legislators in a case called In the Interest of Jane Doe, which involved a minor seeking an abortion. State law requires a minor to get a court order (called a judicial bypass) prior to having an abortion unless one of the child’s parents agrees to the abortion. Up until now, our courts have routinely granted these bypasses. However, this is not to be a rubber stamp. Instead, a court is to give a bypass only when the child shows the maturity necessary to make the choice or if the abortion is somehow deemed to be in the child’s “best interests.”

A judge in Allegheny County denied a judicial bypass. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court took the case even though the child tragically had the abortion anyway. Because denials are so rare, the Supreme Court wanted to issue a decision to give direction to appellate courts reviewing denials. This appears to be only the second denial appealed in this state and the first appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in more than two decades.

We are pleased to announce that the Court provided the direction that we requested in our amici brief. Judges are now given wide latitude in their investigation of the maturity of a minor. This will hopefully encourage more judges to conduct robust hearings—hearings that will ultimately protect the life of the unborn. We are grateful to God for one more win in our battle to protect the life of every unborn child.

If you wish to learn more about the work of the Pennsylvania Family Institute’s Independence Law Center or to donate to our work, visit us at www.independencelawcenter.org.

What Would You Do to Make Pennsylvania a Better Place?

Michael Geer — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:21:28 +0000

If you were running the state of Pennsylvania, what resolutions would you choose to make Pennsylvania a better place?

Leave your ideas in the comments below!