N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 6 E L E CT I O N I S S UE
Q U AD C I T Y RI G HT T O L I F E N E W S
WHAT IS YOUR PARTY’S JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY?
When you vote this year, focus on judicial philosophy. According to the Family Research Council,
“Behind the names on every campaign yard sign stand hundreds of potential court nominees who could
shape the nation far longer than the man who appoints them.” This is even more important this election with
the certainty of one Supreme Court justice to be appointed to replace the late Antonin Scalia and the possibility of 2-3 additional new justices to be appointed.
The candidate for one party pledged to pick Supreme Court nominees who will follow the Constitution
rather than make laws from the bench. In May, he released his list of 11 potential nominees, all of whom
have passed scrutiny by major pro-life organizations.
The candidate for the other party has pledged to pick justices who will not only uphold Roe v. Wade
but would expand it.
Party platforms are important because they reflect the parties’ judicial philosophy:
Republican Party Platform
Democratic Party Platform
We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of
innocent human life.
We will appoint judges who defend the constitutional principles of liberty and equality for all, and
will protect a woman’s right to safe and legal
abortion...
In 2012, Dr. Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Church in the San Diego area, explained the importance of
party platforms to Charisma Magazine by describing the Democratic and Republican platforms being “as different as night and day, in my opinion, as far apart as evil vs. good.” He went on to describe the Democratic
platform as the most leftist ever, containing many points which are anti-biblical, and being thoroughly socialistic. He said the 2012 platform was “one of the strongest GOP platforms ever” and asserted that “a biblically
alert person could be comfortable with almost all of it.”
The 2016 GOP platform has been considerably strengthened with the addition of calls for an end to
taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, banning dismemberment abortion, and opposing assisted suicide.
Dismemberment abortions (D&E) account for 95% of all second-trimester abortions and have been banned in
six states. The platform also calls for new Supreme Court justices who will uphold the unborn's right to life.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony List president, said the platform “is reflective of Donald Trump’s
pro-life policy commitments to appoint pro-life Justices, to advocate for and sign into law the PainCapable Unborn Child Protection Act, and to defund America’s largest abortion business Planned
Parenthood.”
The 2016 Democratic platform also has additions, which brings Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life, to conclude “Support for abortion rights in this platform is deemed ‘unequivocal.’” Prominent
is calling for the overturn of the Hyde Amendment, in place since 1976, which means that federal taxpayer
Continued on page 2
On Tuesday, November 8, we have the opportunity to change the future of this country
and stop the killing. That’s an opportunity we can’t pass up!
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Q UA D CI TY RI GH T T O LI FE NE W S
Continued from p. 1
money could pay for elective abortions beyond the
currently limited circumstances. Another important addition is a call for an abortion-related litmus
test for judicial nominees. The party also wants all
federal and state laws and policies that impede a
woman’s access to abortion repealed. Commitment to religious liberty and conscience has been
thrown out the window. With regard to Supreme
Court nominees, Hillary Clinton has stated, “I
would not appoint someone who didn’t think
Roe v. Wade is settled law.”
________________________________________
Top 6 Reasons Physician-Assisted Suicide
Should Not Be Legal
by the Christian
Medical and Dental
Associations
Because it provides a financial incentive for premature deaths.
Since it’s always cheaper to give a patient a suicide pill
than to provide real care, imagine the financial incentives prescribed suicide offers to HMOs, government
payers, insurance company and heirs.
Because it invites pressure and coercion.
While measures require paper forms and stipulate that
suicide requests be “made voluntarily,” subtle pressure
and even outright coercion at the bedside of vulnerable
patients are extremely difficult, if not impossible to detect and prosecute. Pressure-producing statements
whispered at bedside may cause Grandma to feel guilty
about “burdening loved ones.” Grandpa may take suicide cues from a physician’s comment about healthcare
costs. The “right to die” quickly morphs into the “duty to
die.”
Because it covers up abuse.
The only statistical indicators of Oregon’s assisted suicides are dutifully trotted out by state bureaucrats in a
bare-bones annual report. By clever mandates of law,
“the information collected shall not be a public record
and may not be made available for inspection by the
public.” Violators are expected to self-report. No penalties are provided for non-reporting. No watchdogs or
media can review even redacted records. The govern-.
ment only reviews a sampling of records, does not verify their accuracy and subsequently destroys the
QCRTL has worked with Mrs.
Katherine Sabin to promote
and organize the current 40
Days for Life campaign
(September 28-November 6). Ninety pastor packets were hand-delivered to churches across the
Quad Cities! Committed believers from all denominations are intentionally asking God to end abortion
in our community; specifically, to close the doors of
Bettendorf’s Planned Parenthood. This may be the
year!
For more information or to sign up for a prayer slot,
go to https://40daysforlife.com/localcampaigns/bettendorf/
records.
Because doctor-prescribed suicide is not needed.
Under existing law, every patient and/or his designated
decision-maker has the right to refuse prolonging life by
artificial means. No one has to linger indefinitely when
natural causes would lead to death. It is ethically acceptable to refuse or discontinue futile treatments.
Because it would destroy the doctor-patient relationship.
The most fundamental part of a doctor-patient relationship
is trust. If doctor-prescribed suicide were legal, patients
wouldn’t know if the doctor’s ultimate motive was to heal
them or end their life. The doctor’s duty is to kill the
pain—not the patient.
Because of the vulnerability of socially marginalized
groups.
No matter how carefully any guidelines for doctorprescribed suicide are framed, the practice will be implemented through the prism of social inequality and bias
that characterizes the delivery of services in all segments
of our society, including health care. The practices will
pose the greatest risks to those socially marginalized
groups.
Did you know?
Most commonly-available advance directives are slanted
towards death rather than treatment. QCRTL provides a
life-protective durable power of attorney for health care
packet with information on all the issues related to making ethical decisions. Contact our office at 309-324-0035
for more information.
QUAD CITY RIG HT TO LIFE NEWS
Dr. James Dobson:
“Why I’m Voting For Donald
In September, Dr. James Dobson, founder
of Focus on the Family, made a personal endorsement of Donald Trump. An article on the website
ConservativeHQ cites some of the reasons Dr.
Dobson gave for his endorsement: he believes
Mr. Trump is the most capable candidate, he is
enthusiastic about Mr. Trump’s selection of Gov.
Mike Pence as his running mate, and his pledge
to appoint conservative Supreme Court justices,
preserve religious liberty, and defend the sanctity
of human life.
ConservativeHQ also reported on an interview with Christianity Today in which Dr. Dobson
explained more fully his support. Following is an
excerpt from that interview, reported on ConservativeHQ:
What are the strongest arguments for a
Christian to support Donald Trump for the
US president?
First, let me say that I will respond to your
questions as a private individual and not as a representative of the organization I lead.
I don’t vote for candidates or political parties. I support those who will lead the country
righteously, honorably, and wisely. In many ways,
this is a single-issue election because it will affect
every dimension of American life: the makeup of
the Supreme Court. Antonin Scalia’s sudden
death made this election the most significant of
our lifetime. The next president will nominate perhaps three or more justices whose judicial philosophy will shape our country for generations to
come.
Unelected, unaccountable, and imperialistic justices have a history of imposing horrendous
decisions on the nation. One decision that still
plagues us is Roe v. Wade, imposed on America
in 1973. It divided the nation and has led to the
murders of 54 million innocent babies. This killing
goes on every day.
That leads us to ask what the judiciary will
look like in a Trump administration. I attended a
June 2016 event called “A Conversation with
Donald Trump” in New York, with more than 1,000
other religious leaders. Before the meeting, 30 of
us met Trump in a private session in Trump
Tower. Most were evangelicals or conservative
Catholics. I asked the candidate about his con-
PAGE 3
cerns regarding religious liberty.
I liked that he promised us emphatically that
he will work to protect our religious liberties. He has
since released a list of potential Supreme Court
nominees that is stellar. We must pray that, if
elected, he will keep his word.
Trump’s selection of Governor Mike Pence
as his running mate was a hugely encouraging decision. I’ve been a personal friend of Gov. Pence for
more than 30 years. He is pro-life, pro–traditional
marriage, a godly family man, a solid conservative,
and a competent leader. There is no politician whom
I respect more.
Many supporters of Trump believe that Clinton would be a disaster for the country.
What are your concerns about Clinton?
My greatest concern is related again to the
judiciary. Clinton has said she will seek to overturn
religious liberty and bring the power of government
against people of faith. She has made this clear on
many occasions, including a comment she made
during the Women in the World Summit in 2015.
Laws about “reproductive health care” and
safe childbirth “have to be backed up with resources
and political will,” Clinton said. “And deep-seated
cultural codes, religious beliefs, and structural biases have to be changed.”
“Reproductive health care” is a euphemism
for abortion, so that threat should send chills down
the backs of every true believer in Jesus. It blatantly
contradicts guarantees of the US Constitution. We
dare not give ultimate power to anyone who does
not respect or feel limited by this historic document.
It is the basis for all the freedoms handed to us by
the founding fathers.
I’m convinced that with the wrong president,
we will soon see a massive assault on religious liberty. Certain powerful groups and organizations
seek to weaken the church of Jesus Christ and limit
what pastors and ministers can say and do publicly.
They believe some of our teachings represent “hate
speech” and must be stifled. They seek to severely
restrict the freedoms of Christian schools, nonprofit
organizations, businesses, hospitals, charities, and
seminaries. With Christian colleges and universities,
they want to limit whom their leaders choose as professors and what their students will be taught. Government funding and accreditation will be in the
crosshairs, and you can be sure that home schools
will be targeted.
We at Family Talk have experienced this
Continued on p. 7
PAGE 4
QUAD CIT Y RIG HT TO LIFE NEWS
Pro-life presidents = Pro-life judges
In September, Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas posted on
the diocesan website an article entitled “In choosing presidents, we choose judges, too.” The Kansas
bishops have produced a video offering their reflections on this election with their guidance on the responsibilities of voting Catholics. The entire article and video may be accessed at http://theleaven.org/in-choosingpresidents-we-choose-judges-too/.
The following is excerpted from the post and relates to the importance of the office of President and
the judiciary:
We also point out the increasing role judges have assumed in determining
public policy on such fundamental issues as abortion, the definition of marriage and
the protection of conscience rights and religious liberty. Some judges have chosen
to decide important social issues by inventing rights not found in the Constitution.
They have disenfranchised Americans by usurping the responsibility of our elected
representatives to determine public policy in these crucial areas.
In my opinion, one of the most significant responsibilities of the president is
Archbishop Joseph Naumann
the appointment not only of Supreme Court justices, but all federal judges. Since
more and more public policy issues are being decided by the courts — not the Congress or the state legislatures — the selection of judges has become extremely important.
More recently, the U.S. Supreme Court declined in late June to hear a case in which the state of
Washington was compelling privately owned pharmacies to provide so-called emergency contraceptives that
function as abortifacients.
Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Thomas and Justice Alito all dissented from the majority opinion of the
Supreme Court. In his dissent, Justice Alito stated: “This is an ominous sign. . . . If this is a sign of how religious liberty claims will be treated in the years ahead, those who value religious freedom have cause for
great concern.
The president also appoints the members of his Cabinet, who often interpret legislation by developing
regulations that do not always reflect the intent of Congress. A prime example of this is the Health and Human Services mandates that are part of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. With these mandates, the administration is attempting to force the Little Sisters of the Poor, as well as many other religious
employers, to include in their employee health plan abortifacient drugs, contraceptives and sterilizations.
On June 21, the Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights declared, contrary to the plain
meaning of current federal law, that California’s Department of Managed Health Care may continue to force
private health plans to cover elective abortions.
Just in the last week, Martin Castro, who was appointed in 2011 by the president to serve as the
chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, stated that religious liberty and religious freedom are “code
words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or
any form of intolerance.” Mr. Castro essentially was attempting to silence anyone who objects to the current
administration’s assaults on religious liberty and conscience rights by calling them bigots.
The president of the United States exercises enormous power by his or her appointments to the
court, the Cabinet and federal agencies and commissions. Remember: In choosing a president, we are also
choosing judges as well as bureaucrats who will interpret legislation by the manner in which they choose to
implement it.
“Could a Catholic in good conscience vote for a candidate who supports legalized abortion when there is a choice
of another candidate who does not? Could a voter’s preference for the candidate’s positions on the pursuit of peace,
economic policies, health care, etc., overcome a candidate’s support for legalized abortion? The Catholic voter must
ask and answer the question: What could possibly be a proportionate reason for the more than 45 million children
killed by abortion? We cannot conceive of such a proportionate reason. ” –
Archbishop Joseph Naumann, Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas
& Bishop Robert Finn, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri
QUAD CITY RIGHT TO LIFE NEWS
PAGE 5
Why This Father Says Having a Child
With Down Syndrome is the
“Best Thing to Ever Happen to Me”
BY MICAIAH BILGER FEB 26, 2016
Robb Scott wants other people to realize
that his son with Down syndrome is just as valuable a person as anyone else.
So, when he overheard another father tell
his young son that Down syndrome is an illness of
“not knowing anything,” Scott was moved to respond. He created a video message about his experiences with his son and explained why “Down
syndrome is literally one of the most beautiful
things that has ever happened” in his life.
“This child was genuinely asking, ‘What’s Down syndrome?’ — and this child is a blank slate,” Scott said
in the video. “I let him understand it for something it
wasn’t. I lthat’s my et his father define it for him and
that hit me hard. This was a child — a child sons
age; and I could’ve corrected him, not in a rude way,
and I didn’t.”
“Down syndrome is literally one of the most
beautiful things that has ever happened in my life,”
he continued. “It’s fun, it’s brilliant, it’s amazing, it’s
funny, it’s kind, it’s loving, it’s cuddly.”
Scott posted the short video to his Facebook
page, hoping that a few people would watch it and
gain a better understanding of the value of people
with conditions like Down Syndrome.
According to ABC News, Scott lives in
Truro, Nova Scotia with family, including his 5year-old son, Turner, who has Down syndrome.
The father said he was shopping one day when he
overheard another father and his young son looking at movies. When the boy picked out a movie
with a character who had Down syndrome, he
asked his father, “What is Down syndrome?”
“I believe people are teachers and learners,”
he said in the video. “We’re both. We have the ability to teach things, and we’re here to learn things. A
well-educated man does not have more to teach
than my son. He has different things to teach, but he
does not have more to teach.”
Scott said the father hesitated at first, then
he told his son that it was “an illness” of “not
knowing anything.” Though the father’s words
were not malicious, Scott said they upset him a
lot. Scott said he wanted to talk to the man and his
son, but instead he left the store. In the car, Scott
said he began to regret not taking the opportunity
to talk to the family about Down syndrome. He decided to record a video on his smartphone to
share what he was thinking.
Since posting the video, it has been viewed
at least 1.5 million times, according to the Washington Post. Misconceptions about conditions like
Down syndrome are still pervasive in society; but
because of beautiful videos like this, along with the
work of pro-lifers and disability rights advocates,
more people are recognizing that, no matter what a
person’s abilities, every life is valuable.
Down syndrome is “the best thing that ever
happened to me,” he said.
Source: LifeNews.com
MEET JOHN GARLOCK
John leads a full life. He lives at home with him mom and dad, Jan
and George Garlock, in Rock Island. He was a member of the Honor
Society at Rock Island High School, where he was homecoming king
in 2008. He’s in his seventh year of employment at HyVee in Rock
Island. He keeps busy playing baseball on the Challenger League
and bowling during the winter. In his spare time, he helps his dad out
around the house on construction and automotive projects. And he
always makes time to shop with his mom at Life’s Little Treasures
Resale Shop!
Join us on facebook! Go to www.qcrtl.org
PAGE 6
QUA D CI TY RI GHT T O LI FE NEWS
Quad City Right to Life 2016 Year in Review
By Lisa Walden, Director
This has been a whirlwind year! Below are highlights of this year’s QCRTL activities. Thanks to both your
financial and prayer support, we continue to fulfill our mission to share the truth that EVERY human being,
from the moment of conception until natural death, has immeasurable worth. Thank you!
Pro-life Billboard – QCRTL has a new billboard!
It’s our own design and will be traveling throughout
the Quad Cities to high-traffic area on both sides of
the river. Most recently at 3rd & Gaines in Davenport, it can now be seen on 27th Street, Moline,
near Southpark Mall.
Prayer – I have a passion for prayer and am privileged to meet monthly for prayer with key pro-life leaders
including local pastors and the directors of both area pregnancy centers.
Letters to the Editor – Four letters to the editor were submitted to the Quad City Times this year and three
were published.
National Day of Prayer Lunch – QCRTL hosted a table at the May 5 event that was held locally at the Quad
City Prayer Center.
Birdies – With gratitude we are pleased to share that this year’s Birdies fundraising campaign was a success
– thank you!
Mississippi Valley Fair – Twenty-two volunteers took shifts hosting the QCRTL
booth over the six-day event held August 2-7. One thousand 12-week baby models were handed out from the booth to fair attendees! Many good conversations
were had, especially with teens!
Fair volunteers Denise
Cross and her son
Festival of Praise - QCRTL hosted a table at the
Festival of Praise event on September 4. Several
hundred people attended the outdoor concert, and
many of them stopped by the table. Candidate information regarding the presidential election from
the National RTL office seemed to be particularly
appreciated.
In addition to the above, QCRTL was privileged to partner with, or be represented at, many other events this year including hosting a table at the Annual
Black & White Gala, attending the Jason Evert Chastity Event in April, atDirector Lisa Walden &
tending monthly meetings of the Quad City Association of Evangelicals
president
Lorrie Bowman at
and Scott County Conservatives, as well as hosting our own 15th AnniverBlack & White Gala display table
sary of Life’s Little Treasures Resale Shop Open House in January. I also
had fun giving a presentation to Stonecroft Ministries Area Morning Connection.
Coffee in East Moline in August!
Email Newsletter & Legislative Updates – This printed newsletter is unique to critical election years.
However, on a routine basis pertinent pro-life information is emailed in a newsletter form. If you do not
currently receive our email newsletters, and would like to, please contact us at [email protected].
Q U A D C IT Y R I G HT TO LI FE N EW S
PAGE 7
Continued from p. 3
tyranny firsthand. The Department of Health and Human Services has mandated that Family Talk and
many other Christian nonprofits cover contraceptives known as abortifacients in their healthcare plans. They
include the morning-after pill and other medications that are known to prevent embryos from implanting in
the uterus. They can be baby killers, and we consider them immoral. The Feds have forced us to sue to find
relief. We are now in a federal lawsuit that may be decided by the Supreme Court. If we lose our case and
refuse to comply, we’ll face ruinous fines and will be forced to close our doors. It all will depend on five attorneys who sit on the Court.
Sources:
Dr. James Dobson: “Why I’m Voting for Donald Trump”
Richard A. Viguerie, ConservativeHQ.com
James Dobson: Why I Am Voting for Donald Trump
Christianity Today, September 23, 2016, http://www.christianitytoday.com
VOTE PRO-LIFE SIGNS
Now is the time to put out your Vote Pro-life sign directing
voters to our website for election information.
If you don’t have a sign and would like one, they are available
at Life’s Little Treasures, 10-6 Monday-Saturday, or in Illinois
by calling Cathy, 309-792-2370.
The signs are small to store and can be reused year after year.
The new QC Dining Tour
Coupon books are
available now!
335 Buy One-Get One coupons
to 120 local restaurants! At only
$35 these books pay for themselves over
and over! Proceeds
support QC Right To Life!
Get yours at LLT!
2906 Brady St., Davenport, Iowa 52803
www.qcrtl.org 563-324-0035
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