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B C R T L
PO BOX 1613
COLUMBUS, IN 47202
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Newsletter Fall 2009
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From The Presi dent’s Pen By Aaron Hankins.
Life in the Balance
Sarah and Tommy had just graduated high school and were spending lots of time together during the summer. You couldn’t keep the two apart. Everybody knew they were perfect for each other. You could see it the first time they began to date more than two years earlier. Both Sarah and Tommy were not the most popular individuals in their school but their relationship was admired and talked about throughout the town. Tommy walked Sarah to all her classes during school. They went to the football games on Friday night, the drive-in on Saturday night and church on Sunday. They were in love and everybody knew they were going to be together forever. That is forever…until fall comes.
Sarah and Tommy were spending every second together that summer because they knew they would be apart from one another when Sarah went off to college more than two hours away. While Sarah and Tommy were in love and wanted to be together there was something more important in Sarah’s life: going to college. You see, from the time she could first remember every day she was told by her parents that she needed to do well in school, get good grades and go to college. That is what was expected of her.
She not only received this message from her parents every day but she also got this message from church and her youth group. While her youth pastor respected her relationship with Tommy and hoped it was physically pure, he always told her that going to college was the most important thing to do in life.
She was told she had to go to college to gain an education, become more independent, become more responsible and mature, to learn what she really wanted out of life and to find herself. Then and only then would she be ready for marriage. Then and only then would her parents and her church truly approve of her relationship with Tommy or another man.
Tommy really wanted to stay together with Sarah. And Sarah did too, but not as much as Tommy. There was a little, yet strong part of her that wanted to go and experience everything that college had to offer, everything that she had missed out on growing up in her small town.
Like most of her friends and couples her age, Tommy and Sarah were sexually active. Although they were active in their church youth group and both come from a Christian family and background, they had allowed their emotional attachment cross over into the physical realm. It did not start that way. It began slowly and over time as emotions developed and comfort built up between them, their physical bond quickly accelerated.
Both Tommy and Sarah knew it was wrong. But they figured at least they were in a committed, long-term relationship where they loved one another. It was not like their other peers and friends who were sexually active with multiple partners. Besides they figured they were both young, in love and having fun.
Sarah’s parents had a strong feeling that she was sexually active with Tommy and warned her that they were getting too close. They told their daughter that she was going to find much more interesting guys in college and that her time away at school would change her perspective on life and the relationship. Tommy’s parents sort of felt the same way. They were glad he was happy and enjoyed being with Sarah, but tried to warn him that young love never works out.
In late July, as Sarah was making plans to pack up and leave for college, she began to get sick. She thought she was just nervous about leaving her small town and adjusting to life at a big college. She did not realize that her sickness had less to do with her change in physical address as it did with the physical changes in her body. Sarah now realized that she had missed her last period and might be pregnant.
Scared and unsure, Sarah told her best friend Cynthia. She was way too scared to tell her parents and did not want to tell Tommy just in case she was not pregnant. Cynthia and Sarah drove to a Wal-Mart thirty minutes away to buy a home pregnancy test. Sarah knew she could never buy one in her home town because everyone would then find out her and Tommy’s secret. As she walked out of the bathroom with tears streaming down her cheek and the results in her hand, she sobbed in Cynthia’s arms as she told her it was positive.
All week long she sobbed in her room. Her parents could not get her downstairs, she would not answer any of Tommy’s phone calls and Cynthia could not console her. “How could this be?” Sarah cried and wondered. “I was having such a great summer, such a good life and so much promise of wonderful times ahead. I was only having fun.”
Then she thought, “I cannot have this baby. I have too much to live for, too much to achieve, too much to accomplish in life. I can’t watch my goals and dreams be shattered by having to take care of a baby. Besides, I’m way too young to be a parent. This baby is going to get in the way of me enjoying myself and prevent me from going to college. If I don’t go to college, I won’t be able to get a good job in the future and won’t be able to start a family. Not to mention, who would want to marry me if I already have a child. Yes, Tommy is great and I do love him but I can’t just settle for the first guy I fall for.”
Tommy was now really worried about Sarah. He thought that Sarah was not responding to his phone calls because she wanted to make a clean break with him before she left for school. Because Sarah’s parents had been a little more stand-offish than usual when he called and came over, he thought her parents too wanted a clean break for their daughter from the relationship.
Sarah eventually told Tommy. Hurt and shocked, Tommy did his best to comfort Sarah. Yes, Tommy never imagined Sarah getting pregnant at the age of 18 and becoming a father right out of high school. But he’s never been one to shy and cower from responsibility.
Tommy was planning on getting a job and going to school part time at his local community college. He had plans of visiting Sarah as much as he could, taking the two hour trip as frequently as his old Ford truck could hold up. He knew she would probably meet other guys at college and be pressured by friends to date, but he felt confident he could continue to win her attention and be with her. Now, having a child, Tommy thought, would make their relationship and her commitment to him much stronger.
Sarah did not tell Tommy her strong feelings about not having the child. They didn’t talk about it. They both just assumed what would happen. Sarah assumed she would move on past this mistake and go to college as she had planned, leaving her troubles and small town life behind. Tommy assumed they would have a child together and naturally get married and start a family.
Tommy did not know Sarah had not yet shared with her parents. Tommy, needing advice, went to his father and told him about the pregnancy. Tommy and his dad talked for hours about responsibility, raising a child, marriage, commitment and family. Tommy’s dad knew he was old enough to make his own decisions, so he did his best not to pressure his son one way or the other, but was confident that he raised him to always do the right thing.
After Tommy’s mother found out about Sarah she called Sarah’s parents. Shocked and upset from hearing the news second-hand, Sarah’s parents scolded Sarah for her lying and deceitfulness. They were on the verge of rage, yet seeing Sarah’s hurt feelings kept them from going overboard. They did not talk to or ask Sarah what she thought about her child or what she wanted to do. They were set on her going to college. Period. They had already sent in their check for $20,000 to pay her first year’s tuition. She had already signed up for her classes, registered for housing and got her shots at the doctor’s office.
Yes, Sarah’s parents were Christian and although they were not actively involved in the Pro-Life movement they often publicly expressed their support of local Pro-Life efforts. But this was different. This was their daughter. “How dare she make us look bad as parents? How dare she cause an interruption into the plans we have been making for her since she was a little girl?” her parents scoffed. Sarah’s life, not their unborn grandchild’s, was the most important thing to consider now.
Sarah, still being scared yet knowing that college was what both she and her parents had planned for her for so many years, did not argue with her parents. There was a small part of her that was glad her parents understood that her life and her experience in college were more important than carrying a baby to term and becoming a teenage mother.
Yet, there was a larger part of her that simply wanted her parents to encourage her to do the right thing. She knew it was a baby. She knew the right thing to do was to give birth to the child, regardless if she kept it or gave it up for adoption. She knew the right thing to do was to marry Tommy and start a family, however hard and however unglamorous.
It was now early August and school was just a few short days away. Thankfully only Cynthia, Tommy, Tommy’s parents and her family knew about the pregnancy. Although she had morning sickness and was emotionally drained from this entire dilemma, nobody could tell anything was different physically. Yet, time was against her. Soon her classes would start, soon her stomach would expand and soon her problem would become public. Her parents had already researched abortion clinics in their neighboring state while Tommy had researched the costs of renting an apartment, paying for prenatal care, buying diapers and baby food and taking care of Sarah.
Sarah was now stuck in the middle of two competing forces. She knew the decision would come down to her. Initially she was opposed to keeping the child. Going to college and escaping this small town was everything she dreamed of growing up. And that dream was about to become reality in less than a few short days. But her conscious told her that a baby was growing inside of her and she knew that if she let anything harmful happen to her baby she would be forever guilty.
The inward struggle waged war in her heart and mind until the day came when she was set to leave for college. Her parents had packed up the car with all her stuff and were ready to drive her off. Tommy rushed to her house to have one last shot of changing her mind and winning her hand. Both Tommy and Sarah cried uncontrollably in one another’s arms as her parents looked on in utter disgust. She knew that her love for him would never be exceeded or felt again for another man. Yet her parents and the world’s approval beckoned her. Sarah was trapped in her own emotions yet she was told that a simple procedure of convenience, not responsibility, would serve as her way of escape.
Two lives were on the horizon. Two lives hung in the balance. One’s life would be forever ended in a desperate attempt to fulfill the other one. Or one’s life would be saved as a sacrifice of an altered life. What happened to Tommy and Sarah and their unborn child is unknown.
What is known is that although this story is fiction, many Americans have found themselves in this vulnerable position. While the characters, the setting and some details may be different, the ending of this story is being written every day. The ending of this story must be written by us. We must be brave enough to do the right thing and encourage others to do the right thing as well.
The right thing to do is to choose Life and choose Marriage.
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This web-site is provided and funded by Seven Baskets Ministries. We invite you to visit their web site for links to wonderful Christian sites and more information about Seven Baskets
SevenBaskets.org.
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Bartholomew County Right to Life
Annual Dinner
Thursday, September 24th
4-H Fair Grounds, Community Building
Doors open and Silent Auction begins at 6pm
Featured Speaker: John Foster,
Radio Personality on 1010 WCSI
Tickets: $20 per person (Available at the Door)
Food Provided by Mahoney’s Catering
Purchase tickets by sending money to:
BCRTL, P.O. Box 1613, Columbus, IN 47201
Please bring your friends, family and church members to our Annual Dinner on September 24th. Enjoy a great evening of food, fellowship and education regarding the Pro-Life efforts in our community. This is an opportunity for you to learn more and invest in the actions we take to make sure that our Pro-Life values are communicated to the people of Bartholomew County. We look forward to seeing you there. U
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Letter From Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition
Here is a letter from Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition sent to a board member of the Bartholomew County Right To Life.
Thank you for all your hard work to help Stop the Abortion Mandate. You are making a HUGE difference in the national debate over keeping abortion out of health care ...
... But we can't let up now!
The abortion industry, their allies in Congress, and President Obama are seeing the impact of your efforts -- they're seeing your letters to the editors in newspapers, they're hearing phones ringing off the hook in their offices, and they're getting questions about the abortion mandate at town hall meetings across the country.
They're running scared and know that their multi-billion-dollar abortion industry bailout is at risk.
They've even resorted to using their bully pulpits to spread misinformation intended to confuse and mislead the general public.
A few days ago, on their "40 Days for Health Reform" webcast -- a strategy they copied straight out of the Stop the Abortion Mandate playbook -- President Obama stated: "You've heard that this is all going to mean government funding of abortion. Not true. This is all, these are all fabrications that have been put out there..."
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Shortly after their webcast, FactCheck.org, an independent fact-checking organization, released a fact sheet clearly stating:
"Despite what Obama said, the House bill would allow abortions to be covered by a federal plan and by federally subsidized private plans."
Following the President's lead, abortion advocates in Congress have also tried to mislead and confuse voters with phony compromises and outright misinformation.
The Capps Amendment, passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, explicitly requires every enrollee in government-subsidized health insurance plans to be charged an extra fee to subsidize abortions. The agency administering the health plan will collect the premium money, receive the bills from abortionists, and then send payment checks to the abortionists straight from the federal Treasury account.
Some abortion industry allies in Congress have been trying to hide behind the Hyde Amendment, claiming it bans all federal funds from paying for abortions. Not true. The Hyde Amendment does NOT apply to the health care bill -- only to the current Medicaid program.
TIME magazine ran an article last week that revealed the truth:
"The health-care-reform bill proposed... does find a way for the Federal Government to expand the coverage of abortion services through a government-run program -- the so-called public option..."
Even the Associated Press documented the reality:
"Health care legislation before Congress would allow a new government-sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions, a decision that would affect millions of women and recast federal policy on the divisive issue."
The facts are clear: the health care reform proposals, if enacted in their current form, would represent the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade, funded directly by YOU -- the American taxpayer.
We must continue to make sure every American knows that abortion coverage will be mandated under the proposed health care plan and do everything we can to STOP this abortion mandate.
Here's what you can do:
1.) Don't let up -- continue to contact your Members of Congress by phone, email and in person. Make your voice heard!
2.) Get the facts and learn how to respond to the deception, misinformation, and myths:
http://stoptheabortionmandate.com/get-the-facts
3.) Go to any final town hall meetings and ask your Member of Congress to oppose any bill that mandates abortion coverage. For a town hall toolkit, go to:
http://www.StopTheAbortionMandate.com
4.) Spread the word! Share the Stop the Abortion Mandate video that has already been watched by over 44,000 people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RD7hJhwy5g
Be part of the solution -- don't let abortion industry lobbyists and government bureaucrats force your family to fund abortion coverage!
As Congress ends their August recess this week, stay tuned for more updates from Stop the Abortion Mandate.
For Life,
Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition
http://www.StopTheAbortionMandate.com
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RETURN To INDEX
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GETTING AT THE ROOT by Tony Hillen, Director/Seven Baskets
By now, even the casual observer should be able to see what happened in our last presidential election. Marxism, with its constant revolution and political upheaval, now carries the day. While this result can be sectioned off into individual concerns by different groups of people, the overall picture is clear. America, as known in the past, is now gone. Even politicians that supposedly embrace the pro-life position, now have to qualify their remarks so as not to be too offensive to those who disagree.This sick and sad state of affairs is growing rapidly. More and more so-called conservative speakers want to compromise with liberalism. Our constitution is now an afterthought when making governmental (political) decisions.
In past articles, we have mentioned the term "haters of GOD" which, in the book of Romans, refers to a mental and emotional construct. Those individuals that rejected or ignored the revelation of the creation developed this mindset. Sadly, this condition has advanced and grown to what we see today. In my lifetime (Harry Truman was president when I was born), many of these GOD haters have gone on to their eternal destiny. Carl Sagan, Stephen Jay Gould, Madelyn Murray O'Haire, to name a few, have spread their venom and are now gone from the scene. However, it is always noteworthy when another one of these individuals dies. Witness the recent death of Ted Kennedy. While I believe Kennedy nominally retained his Catholic faith, his bent and drive in the political arena was a disaster for the unborn, the constitution and the choosing of Supreme Court justices, to say the least. And, fitting the mold to the very end, all of the Kennedys were firmly entrenched in evolutionary thinking. And, isn't it ironic, that people interviewed after Kennedy's passing, praised him as a champion for the helpless and politically powerless!!!
Lastly, contrast the remarks you've heard about Kennedy with those about Jerry Falwell, after his death. I remember one commentator stating, "I'm glad he's (Falwell) dead and good riddance! "Jerry Falwell was pro-life and he didn't care WHO knew it.
Once again, we find that ANY candidate that is NOT pro-life cannot be trusted, let alone endorsed or supported financially.
If the LORD allows America more time, we need to be sure that everyone we can possibly influence, is registered to vote and that they do vote on election day. Remember, ONLY pro-life candidates can be trusted. .
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RETURN To INDEX
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Teens For Life Social Network Site 
By now, even the casual observer should be able to see what happened in our last presidential election. Marxism, with its constant revolution and political upheaval, now carries the day. While this result can be sectioned off into individual concerns by different groups of people, the overall picture is clear. America, as known in the past, is now gone. Even politicians that supposedly embrace the pro-life position, now have to qualify their remarks so as not to be too offensive to those who disagree.This sick and sad state of affairs is growing rapidly. More and more so-called conservative speakers want to compromise with liberalism. Our constitution is now an afterthought when making governmental (political) decisions.
In past articles, we have mentioned the term "haters of GOD" which, in the book of Romans, refers to a mental and emotional construct. Those individuals that rejected or ignored the revelation of the creation developed this mindset. Sadly, this condition has advanced and grown to what we see today. In my lifetime (Harry Truman was president when I was born), many of these GOD haters have gone on to their eternal destiny. Carl Sagan, Stephen Jay Gould, Madelyn Murray O'Haire, to name a few, have spread their venom and are now gone from the scene. However, it is always noteworthy when another one of these individuals dies. Witness the recent death of Ted Kennedy. While I believe Kennedy nominally retained his Catholic faith, his bent and drive in the political arena was a disaster for the unborn, the constitution and the choosing of Supreme Court justices, to say the least. And, fitting the mold to the very end, all of the Kennedys were firmly entrenched in evolutionary thinking. And, isn't it ironic, that people interviewed after Kennedy's passing, praised him as a champion for the helpless and politically powerless!!!
Lastly, contrast the remarks you've heard about Kennedy with those about Jerry Falwell, after his death. I remember one commentator stating, "I'm glad he's (Falwell) dead and good riddance! "Jerry Falwell was pro-life and he didn't care WHO knew it.
Once again, we find that ANY candidate that is NOT pro-life cannot be trusted, let alone endorsed or supported financially.
If the LORD allows America more time, we need to be sure that everyone we can possibly influence, is registered to vote and that they do vote on election day. Remember, ONLY pro-life candidates can be trusted.
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Abortion Bruises Soul of the Mother By Jessica Spradlin
The Pro-Life issue is one that has divided our country for years. It is a cause that I, as a woman, have been called to fight for. While I have not yet been blessed with a child of my own, I realize that the ability to bring a child into this world is a gift from God Himself. The fact that someone could willingly end the life of such a precious gift both stuns me and fuels me with passion to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. The importance of human life was shown to my parents on March 3, 1984. My brother, Aaron Grant Spradlin, and sister, Lauren Paige, were born and placed in my mother’s arms. The reason why this event was such a life-changing experience to my parents was not because of the joy of meeting their first children. It was because my siblings did not live through the next day. Lauren lived for a total of seven hours while little Aaron only survived for a half hour. They weighed only one pound each and could not survive because my mother had only been six months pregnant. If they had been born in a better facility I might have been able to meet the twins. Needless to say, my mother was devastated. She cut herself off from the loving God she had given her life to. She blamed Him for the pain she suffered. Although physically she was fine, as she gave birth to my older sister just a year later, it took her seven years to fully recover spiritually. My mother’s children were naturally, yet unwillingly taken from her and this loss damaged her spiritually. How much more so is a woman damaged who willingly gives her child away to an unnatural death? Abortion not only ends the life of a child, but it bruises the soul of the mother, whether she comes to grips with this pain or not. Motherhood is a blessing, not an inconvenience. Women all across the nation should fight for the little ones that we are called to save.
Jessica Spradlin currently serves as the Executive Director of Hoosiers for Life, a Pro-Life project of the Travis Hankins for Congress campaign.
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