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Is the grass growing under your feet? |
That is certainly not the case for those in head office or in the branches of Cherish Life Queensland Inc. Many efforts are made both behind the scenes and in the public eye to promote and defend the value of human life from conception until natural death.
 Since the last newsletter, we have undertaken numerous interviews with high school and university students, been interviewed by all forms of media from French TV, regional, local and interstate TV stations including the national Channel 10 TV morning show The Circle in Melbourne, regional, local and national radio stations, online media interviews, been to Cairns and sat in on the Cairns case (involving Tegan Leech and Sergie Brennan), written numerous articles for various publications, issued press releases, held a movie night showing Blood Money (an expose of the real agenda and financial gain of the abortion industry), was a guest speaker invited to speak at the Family First Conference on the Gold Coast and also at the Life Development Day held by Mackay branch in Mackay, written letters to state and federal politicians, visited state and federal politicians both in Brisbane and outer areas, spoken at schools and a parents’ night, organised and held the Annual Cherish Life Fundraising Dinner, and debated the euthanasia lobby at the Powerhouse at New Farm. By the time this newsletter goes to print, we will also have attended a fundraising night generously organised and held at a member’s home, attended and spoken at the Sunshine Coast/Nambour branch breakfast meeting and actually gotten this newsletter to the printers in time to get to you by mid-December!
So, no need for a mower in our corner of the world — the grass doesn’t get a chance to poke its head up! Whilst we constantly call for funds, you can rest assured that the money is impressively stretched to cover all we do and is spent wisely.
 The Australian Family Association undertook a survey in October to establish what Queenslanders really think about abortion. This same-titled survey shows that there is no consensus of opinion to allow abortion on demand (see ad run in all major newspapers 20 Nov — p4 this newsletter). It further shows that some 94% of people want independent free counselling available to women experiencing unexpected pregnancy. As a good indicator to politicians of voters’ intentions, 26% of voters would be less likely to vote for their member of parliament if they were in favour of legalising abortion. Clearly, being in favour of abortion is not a vote-winner. To access this survey online, go to www.family.org.au/qld/poll
Having sat in on the Cairns case, it became even more obvious that there is something on the nose about the whole case. From the couple themselves, to the comment made by a ‘professional’ person in the gallery, to the direction given to the jury by the judge, something just doesn’t sit right. There is little doubt that in 20 years time, similar to the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton cases, the truth will out and our suspicions may well be proved right.
Until then we will continue to do all we can to protect life and I am calling you to make a special effort for the RALLY FOR LIFE 2011 (www.rallyforlife.com.au) that will be held in Queens Park, cnrs William, Elizabeth & George Sts, Brisbane city at 2pm on Saturday 12 February. We must continue to fight for what is right. You will find 2 sets of stickers included with this newsletter — please fix them to your 2011 calendar and diary now, and give one set to a friend. Do all you can to promote life by bringing as many people as you can to this rally.
In the meantime, continue to organise letter writing campaigns, communicating to your local State politicians and Attorney-General Cameron Dick, telling them why abortion should not be legalised in Queensland.
Enjoy your beautiful families over this Christmas break and we look forward to seeing you refreshed
and ready to take up the pro-life charge again at the Rally For Life.
God’s blessing for a happy and holy Christmas and safe and joyous New Year.
Teresa Martin
State President |
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LIFE DEVELOPMENT DAY — MACKAY — report by CLQ Mackay |
A one-day Life Development Conference was held on Saturday 30 October by the Mackay branch of Cherish Life and attracted delegates from as far away as Tully in Far North Queensland.
Two of the international speakers, Kay Painter (Boise, Idaho, USA) and Julie Thomas (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) from Operation Outcry (www.operationoutcry.org) spoke of their personal experiences in dealing with the trauma of abortion and shared how God has led them to a place of healing and forgiveness. Both ladies are now having an impact around the world through counselling and campaigning for life by encouraging women hurt by abortion to speak out about how abortion has harmed them.
The LNP Federal Member for Dawson, Mr George Christensen challenged delegates to contact their state members of parliament to present a strong pro-life voice encouraging them to keep the current law in Queensland in place as it now stands. The pro-abortion movement is gathering momentum to try and force pro-abortion politicians to bring about a private member’s bill to decriminalise abortion and this must be prevented.
Mr Christensen’s immediate predecessor, the ALP Member for Dawson, Mr James Bidgood, also spoke passionately about the need to stand up for the right to life of the unborn and the elderly. He stated in his testimony that his mother went to a “back-street abortionist” in England when she was pregnant with him and upon being told, “it’s too far along for me to do, you’ll have to go somewhere else,” his mother then chose life for him. Needless to say Mr Bidgood does not agree with abortion.
 Cherish Life State President, Teresa Martin, gave an enlightening briefing on the recent Cairns court case that seems, from start to finish, to be rather ‘on the nose’ and an attempted wedge by the pro-abortion movement to try to get abortion laws relaxed here in Queensland. As she said “so many things just didn’t add up about the case, it seemed whatever the verdict, pro-abortionists were going to use the case to push their own agenda.”
The quality of speakers, the large range of resources, the excellent food and the affordable price all helped make the conference well worth attending. Cherish Life Mackay Branch President Dr Graeme Cumming also spoke well and should be congratulated, along with his wife Wendy, who was the main organiser, ably assisted by Liza Deguara and the rest of the Mackay Cherish Life team, for staging such a life changing event. Well done! |
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Signs of life spotted in Ingham, Queensland! |
In 1995, a pro-life double-sided billboard was erected beside the Bruce Highway south of Ingham by the Ingham Branch of Queensland Right to Life (now Cherish Life Queensland Inc). Some years later Ingham Branch wound down. After almost 15 years of service the sign was beginning to show its age. It was only after Tom Duffy got the ball rolling that things began to happen.
Tom was instrumental in starting the Ingham Branch in the early 1980’s and served as president for some years. Always a keen supporter and advocate for the cause, at the tender age of 75 he organised a working bee to clean the sign. Then realising that it was in need of a makeover he enquired about the cost to refurbish the sign and then went about canvassing for funds to complete the project.
A local signwriter was contracted to do the work at a cost of $3,190.
This included taking down the old signage and erecting the new artwork on new signage materials, changing the logo and organisation name to Cherish Life Queensland and coating the sign in a protective clear coating. The lettering on the sign is surrounded by a reflective tape so that day or night the pro-life message is visible. Tom canvassed for support both from within his church and the wider community including a local businessman who donated $1,000. Managing to raise more than the required amount, the excess funds were sent as a donation to Head Office.
A big thank you to Tom and all who supported this project.
(Our comment: There truly are some wonderful people in the world. Thank you to Tom, William, Sandra, Michael and all the others who have given selflessly for many years to protect the unborn. The billboard is seen by tens of thousands of people as they journey north. We know with the soft gentle thought-provoking message it shows, many lives are being impacted and no doubt, many saved.) |
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THINKING OF SUPPORTING US ??? |
We ALL have too much to think about and too much to remember these days. The easiest, most “FEE FREE” and “THINK FREE” way for us to accept your donation is via Direct Deposit.
Internet Banking? You can send us your one-off donation or set us up as an ongoing donation which gives you one less thing to think about in your life and gives Cherish Life Qld a degree of financial security as we know we have committed funds coming in.
Current donors give us weekly, monthly or even quarterly amounts that they “set and forget”. No amount is too small (or too big :-> ). I have set up my personal donation to be Quarterly simply because it saves me admin time! Knowing that funds are coming in means we are spending less time on making ends meet and more time working towards our goals.
No Internet Banking? You can still go to a branch with our bank details and set up a similar arrangement.
We prefer YOU to be in charge of the arrangements — then it is simple for you to have them stopped should your financial situation change and you find yourself no longer able to contribute for a while. Please call us at the office should you need any further information.
Thank you to all of you who have supported us financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually over the past year !
Kathy Ducker,
Treasurer
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The renewed push for Euthanasia in Australia |
In December 2007 former Brisbane Lord Mayor Clem Jones died leaving $5M in his estate towards law reform for “aid in dying”. Following a study tour to the few countries that have legalised euthanasia (a relatively quick exercise), a national body representing the state-based euthanasia societies has been formed in an attempt to be taken seriously by other national bodies.
YourLastRight state that they have already been approached by the Australian Medical Association and Palliative Care Australia, engaging in meetings as of their launch in October 2010. Reportedly, the position of the AMA on euthanasia remains negative while Palliative Care Australia is neutral.
The pro-euthanasia lobby targets the ultimate fear of the elderly, which is of lapsing into a loss of control to the point where they are unable to communicate with their doctor. This is then coupled with the fear of being in unbearable pain and not being able to communicate this, and therefore receive no pain relief. The fear of an intolerable lack of dignity is also targeted, as well as the thought of being a burden on your family or society — something which will resonate deeply with the ageing baby boomer generation.
“Old age rational suicide” has also been put forward, whereby someone can choose to be assisted in suicide once they have reached a prescribed age such as 85.
There are some altruistic motives to the movement however, such as increasing the supply of organs for transplant patients. No, we’re not pulling your leg about that one either (forgive the pun).
The current push for legalisation of euthanasia has been defeated in Western Australia and most recently in South Australia, with a likely renewed push for that state in the new year.
The euthanasia lobby are desperate to defeat the notion of the “slippery slope” whereby the use of euthanasia (voluntary or involuntary) is not able to be controlled and is abused at will.
At the same time as their international biennial right-to-die congress in October, the owner of the Dignitas suicide clinic said that the distraught partner of a terminally ill patient should also be helped to die if they wanted to, even if they were perfectly healthy.
In Switzerland, ex-Dignitas staff member Soraya Wernli (who still supports euthanasia) has claimed that Dignitas was less about ethical euthanasia and more of a money-making machine. It was called a “production line of death concerned only with profits.” Doesn’t this sound similar to the abortion industry?
At a Queensland public meeting where Professor Jan Bernheim (who was instrumental in creating Belgium’s voluntary euthanasia law in 2002, in conjunction with their national palliative care groups) presented, Queensland MP Jann Stuckey (LNP) stood up from the audience and said “I’ve also witnessed what it is like for people to die with dignity in my role as a nurse who was not frightened to administer drugs that were ordered by doctors as required.” Jann Stuckey then had an ‘impromptu’ 20 minute private meeting with Prof. Bernheim after his “amazing, amazing presentation.”
Naturally, we are deeply concerned with her comments. |
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Breast Cancer and Abortion |
Dr Angela Lanfranchi’s Affidavit
Excerpt taken from an affidavit of Dr Lanfranchi who was sworn in the United States District Court on 8 July 2010 in a case involving Planned Parenthood. In her affidavit she said:
I am a breast cancer surgeon practising in New Jersey, since 1984. I hold the position of Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. I am also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and am certified by the American Board of Surgery.
My work includes assessing risk factors of patients presented for evaluation, and induced abortion is one factor I consider routinely.
I am a Surgical Co-Director of the US Breast Care Center and Chair of the Breast Institute at ‘The Steeplechase Cancer Center’ in Somerville, New Jersey.
I am co-founder and President of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, a non-profit charitable corporation that has as its mission to educate lay and professional communities in the methods of risk reduction and prevention of breast cancer through research, publications and lectures.
As a breast cancer surgeon over the last 25 years, I have cared for ever-younger women with breast cancer; my youngest was 25 years old. There has been a 40% increase in incidence in invasive breast cancer over my career. I have researched the causes of these alarming increases over the past 15 years and have become knowledgeable about the reasons for these trends, one of which is induced abortion ...
Just last year alone, three studies from the United States, China and Turkey, confirmed that abortion is associated with increased risk of breast cancer ...
Epidemiological studies have long confirmed that abortion is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, satisfying the Hill criteria for causation. These studies will necessarily continue to be produced because scientists know that in order to conduct valid studies concerning any risk factor all known variables must be controlled for, and induced abortion is one of them.
The physiology of why abortion increases the risk of breast cancer is well-understood, as explained below.
Briefly, the physiology is as follows. A lobule is a unit of breast tissue consisting of milk glands and ducts which carry the milk towards the nipple. Before the first full-term pregnancy, a women’s breast is about 75% Type 1 and 25% Type 2 lobules where ductal and lobular breast cancers form respectively. By the end of the pregnancy, the breast is about 85% fully matured to cancer-resistant Type 4 lobules and only about 15% immature, cancer-vulnerable lobules remain, thereby reducing the mother’s future risk of breast cancer. After weaning, Type 4 lobules become Type 3 lobules. There are permanent changes in the up and down regulation of genes in these Type 3 lobules conferring life-long reduction in breast cancer risk.
During a pregnancy the absolute number of these lobules also increase as the breast doubles in volume with an increase in the number of lobules and a decrease in stroma (the surrounding connective tissue) ...
Only after 32 weeks’ gestation does the fetal-placental hormone human placental lactogen ... in concert with other hormones, fully mature the breast lobules into Type 4, making them cancer-resistant. An abortion before 32 weeks prevents this from occurring. The same physiology accounts for an approximate doubling in breast cancer risk due to premature birth before 32 weeks, as shown by several studies. In addition, it has been well-established by at least 2 meta-analyses that abortion increases the risk of future premature births. A combination of these two effects results in a further increase in breast cancer risk from abortion ...
In light of the clear physiology linking abortion to breast cancer, and the numerous studies documenting the increased risk, physicians have a professional duty to disclose that abortion increases the risk of breast cancer.
For a full copy of this article, go to: http://stopforcedabortions.org/PP/Lanfranchi%20affidavit%20-%20Amici%20Denied.pdf
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Cherish Life Annual Fundraising Dinner |
Isaac Moody was our guest speaker at the recent CLQ Dinner held on November 12 at the Indooroopilly Golf Club. He is the brains behind Emily’s Voice and www.notbornyet.com. With their third baby having just been born 2 weeks earlier, we were deeply appreciative of him taking the time to attend and speak at our function.
Isaac started his talk with a photo of his beautiful family and the comment that he is not sure why his wife chose him as the man in her life. Long before the talk was finished all present knew exactly why! Isaac sees a need and then fills it. He is warm, witty, humble, strong and gentle, and all of that comes through in the ad campaign for Emily’s Voice/Not Born Yet. We strongly urge you to support this campaign not just financially, but if you know of someone with a positive outcome of an unexpected pregnancy, please contact Teresa at Cherish Life. |
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Defeat of euthanasia bill in South Australia |
Cause for celebration! A Greens MP’s bill to legalise euthanasia in South Australia has been defeated — the second defeat in 12 months. This is the fifth time a fully-constituted State Parliament has soundly voted out a Greens euthanasia bill in the last two years. Euthanasia bills have been rejected by the West Australian Parliament in late September, by the Tasmanian Parliament last year, by the Victorian Parliament in late 2008, and now twice by the South Australian Parliament in the past year, November 2009 and now November 2010. We thank all those politicians who voted against it. |
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PRO-LIFE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD |
Michigan Abortion Mill Closing
(Excerpt from www.lifenews.com 17-Nov-2010)
The Michigan abortion centre, misleadingly named Womencare, where embattled abortionist Alberto Hodari forced a teenager to have an abortion against her will, is closing. The closures continue a national trend of decreasing numbers of abortion centres. Operation Rescue conducted extensive research and documented that over two-thirds of America’s abortion mills have closed since 1991, when there were over 2,100 clinics nationwide. When OR released its listing of all surgical abortion centres in the United States, there were 713. “Today, counting the Southgate mill which will soon close, there are only 694,” an OR spokesperson said. “That’s great news for women and their pre-born babies.”
Twenty abortion mills have closed in the past 11 months at a rate of nearly 2 per month.
Scotland says No to Assisted Suicide
(Excerpt from www.lifenews.com 20-Nov-2010)
The Scottish Parliament, the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, has rejected legislation for a second time that would legalise the practice of assisted suicide. In December 2008, the parliament rejected a first attempt.
The Press and Journal newspaper indicates a Holyrood committee defeated an effort to make Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to allow assisted suicide as the End of Life Assistance Bill committee said it was “not persuaded that the case had been made” for the legislation. |
RALLY FOR LIFE — Saturday 12 February, 2011
1:30pm for 2:00pm start — Queen’s Park (behind the Treasury Casino), cnrs William, Elizabeth & George Sts, Brisbane city. Bring chair/rug, water, umbrella and generous donation.
“40 Days for Life” Campaign — March 2011
Please sign up ASAP and join in this Campaign — contact Brendan on email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. You can also register direct on the website www.40daysforlife.com/brisbane. Enter your details in the top right box.
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