Democrats for Life by Kristen Day

THis is a specialty book, written by the Executive Director of the organization called Democrats for Life. This book opens up with the author's acknowledgements to those who made the writing of this book possible. Before the first chapter, she opens up with a Prologue that sets the tone for this book and gives some background for the state of the Democratic Party today. This Prologue and each of the following 15 chapeters,ends with notes which cite the sources that the author used for that particular chapter. THe author ends with three attachments. Attachment 1 contain charts that trace the evolution of positions on reproductive issues over the years, for both Republicans and Democrats. Attachment 2 shows how the Democratic Leadership has lost its "grip" on being prolife about abortion,even as Republicans gained a hold over the prolife position. The final and third attachment is a written initiative on how to end abortion by providing resources and support to girls and women that will empower and motivate them to choose life for their babies.

This book provides lots of good information for its short length. Growing up in a family who are loyal Democrats, I found this book to be of special interest. I hate it that one political party is identified as "the immoral party" that followers of Jesus should avoid, and we are told, by our Pastors and CHristian leaders who opine on poltics, that we must vote for the party "that reflects our Christian values." This almost always translates to voting for Republicans, whether we like them or not and even if we disagree with them on most things. Those followers of Jesus who support the Democratic Party (and their stress on caring for the poor, the vulnerable, the disenfranchised and those living on the margins of society, have ben made to feel that we cannot follow Jesus and vote for Democrats. This book traces how Democrats came to support abortion and to be identified with it; it is the Democrats in power who often identify with abortion on demand and espouse it as a "choice." This book shows us that many typical citizens and "little people" who are Democrats are actually prolife but have been silenced and disenfranchised by the powerful in the Democratic Party. There are prolife Democrats in Congress, but they are a minority. I know that we Christians in the US have been told that following Jesus and standing up for truth equal supporting Republicans as it is Republicans who most often identify as prolife about abortion, and oppose same-sex marriage. Not all Republicans are prolife, including among the pwerful. This book is not written from a Christian perspective, but from a secular perspective. I know, though, that it is most unfortunate that the term "prolife Democrat" is often considered an oxymoran, or that such Democrats are "Democrats in name only." This book asserts, and I agree, that we will never stop abortions unless or until being prolife about abortion stops being seen as a "republican issue" and more and more prolife Democrats "find their voice" and work with Republicans to try to end abortions. Democrats in political leadership have convinced many Christians that they do not represent the concerns and interests of followers of Jesus who value matters such as the sanctity of life, the sanctiry of marriage and the family, and religious liberty. This is sad!

This is not a Christ-centered book, but I recommend this book for Pastors and Christian leaders so they can better understand those in their parishes and among their followers who may support the Democratic Party. They need to understand that some of us feel (and are) disenfranchised by this disconnect in the Democratic Party leadership. This book should be required reading in political science classes. I recommend this book for all open-minded Republicans, to dismantle their biases about those who support the Democratic Party. I recommend this book to open-minded Democrats so they can educate themselves about the political aspect of abortion. Finally, I recommend this book for all DEmocrats who oppose abortion and feel disenfranchised, for their encouragement.

Visit the Democrats for Life Site Here

Will Simply Defunding Planned Parenthood End Abortion?

In the past months, a series of some nine videos have surfaced, indicating that Planned Parenthood has been involved in harvesting and selling baby body parts.

Since then, there have been angry and outraged demonstrations, marches and multiple petition, calling for the following:

Congress must defund Planned Parenthood immediately!

Congress must promptly dry up all taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood!

Investigated Planned Parenthood!

Prosecute Planned Parenthood!

Shut down the government until Congress takes action on Planned Parenthood!

The outrage is understandable. But something is missing from all these calls to declare all-out war on Planned Parenthood.

Today as I write, a tenth video has surfaced. The calls are getting louder and louder to simply dry up all taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. According to the advocates of this drastic action, ending all taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood would protect the unborn because a source of funding would be dried up and it would dis-empower them. But would defunding this institution protect the unborn?

Let me answer this question with a question. Why do most girls and women seek abortions?

According to both experience and much research, most girls and women so often look to abortion as their only option because they are not ready to parent their own babies. They find the idea of "giving up" their babies for adoption horrific. Often many turn to abortion because they are terrified that their families will find out and they will be rejected or ostracized. Then many turn to abortion for economic reasons, because they feel that they "cannot afford" to raise this child. Yet they cannot cope with the idea of "giving up" that child for adoption, knowing he or she will be out there but is being raised by strangers. And, we have become such an abortion-accepting culture that abortion has come to be seen as girl's and women's healthcare! But is it?

I don't know what actual percentage abortion comprises in Planned Parenthood's services. According to sources, they do about an estimated 330,330 abortions yearly. As followers of Jesus, we see each abortion as the taking of a human unborn life. This means that Planned Parenthood is responsible for the loss of about 330,000 lives a year. It is true that federal funds may not directly go to abortions, but should taxpayer dollars go to an institution which oversees 330,000 murders a year and profits from them?

That is where all the calls to defund Planned Parenthood come in. But will that alone stop abortion and protect the unborn?

I admit, when I hear all the calls to defund Planned Parenthood and even how much money that will save the US, I wonder, "Where does this leave all the people who truly feel that Planned Parenthood is their only option because they cannot afford private OB/GYNS (who typically do not accept Medicaid). Also, so many truly feel that abortion is their only option in times of crisis. Doctors tend to too readily counsel women to abort for eugenic or therapeutic reasons. Yes, too many families and friends of girls and women pressure them to get abortions and these girls and women, desiring to please, comply. Sadly, I know of people who have turned to abortion because of family pressure. How will simple drying up of taxpayer $$$ end these scenarios born out of fear, ignorance and desperation?

I could not understand why no one, of all these people who are demanding that Congress simply defund Planned Parenthood, are not calling for those taxpayer dollars to be re-allocated to other, life-affirming services for girls and women. So I created a petition for this purpose. It calls for the increase of Medicaid reimbursements to OB/GYNS so they will have incentives to care for low-income girls and women. The petition also calls for an increase in subsidies to qualified adoptive parents. It also calls for funding for community clinics where abortions are not done and for funds for single mothers so they can spend more time with their children. The petition also calls for Congress to pass legislation that will create the option of temporary foster care for girls and women in crisis pregnancies so another, life-affirming option will be open to them.

Are these perfect solutions? No, of course not. They are steps in the right direction, in my humble opinion.

For Congress to listen to us, a "critical mass" of signatures (around 100,000) are needed. If you agree that this petition is important, I hope that you will not be one of those followers of Jesus who believe that we should "stay out" of so-called poltical or controversial issues. This is not about politics or issues. This is about the lives and futures of babies and their mothers.

Will you both SIGN and SHARE the petition? Go to the petition here. Thank you!

Release One of These Three Children from Poverty

Dear Fellow Followers of Jesus: These photos I have put up below are of three children that I was matched with through Compassion International, a Christian humanitarian nonprofit. I received their information through Release3, their program where supporters can request three children and commit to seeking sponsors for each of the three children assigned to them. I have until the end of this month, September, to seek sponsors for each of these three children. These three children are in urgent need of sponsors. I know that we all have financial pressures and the costs of living in the West are high. But children like these little ones pictured, face bleak features without caring sponsors to make the work of dedicated Christian workers possible. Not only will these children receive food, clothing, education, and other practical social services but they will receive teaching about Jesus and the Gospel, and will be shown Jesus' love in action. This indirectly helps their families and larger communities.

Here are the three children. Look at their photos and basic information:

I am praying that each of these three precious children will find sponsors. I pray that they each will have sponsors by the end of this month. Will you be the answer to my prayers?

If you are interested in sponsoring one of these children, please write down his or her name and country as listed in the picture (s) above. Then contact Compassion International at 1 (800) 336-7676. Their office hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (MT). Provide the person who answers your call the name and country of the child you are interested in sponsoring. Let the person you talk to know that you found out about the child you are mentioning through the Release3 program.

Thank You For Making A Difference in Jesus' Name!

These photos are provided courtesy of Compassion International.