Virginia Society for Human Life

6767 Forest Hill Ave., Suite 270 * Richmond, VA 23225

Tel: 804.560.8745 ** www.vshl.org ** vshl67@comcast.net

For immediate release: For more information, Contact:

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Olivia L. Gans

Margaret H. Disney

804-560-8745

U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Rules

in Favor of Protective Pro-Life Law

The Virginia Society for Human Life applauds the decision of the US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals today which upheld by a vote of 6 to 5 Virginia's Partial Birth Infanticide Ban. This vital piece of pro-life legislation protects the lives of unborn children from the gruesome procedure known as "partial birth abortion." During such an abortion a living late term unborn baby is partially removed from his/her mother's womb and the skull is punctured allowing the baby's brains to be sucked out.

The procedure also puts the baby's mother at grave risk of future complications both physical and psychological. It is a clear victory for the lives of babies and their mothers in Virginia that the Court has upheld this reasonable and important law.

"There is no doubt that the Virginia's Partial Birth Abortion Infanticide Ban will save the lives of hundreds of Virginia babies from this horrible and violent procedure. The mothers of these children deserve medical care that respect and protect their lives as well, rather then subject them to the dangers of abortion. Partial birth abortion is a deadly act that the people of Virginia have rightly rejected through the General Assembly and the Court was correct to uphold this important law," said Olivia Gans, president of the Virginia Society for Human Life.

VSHL is very grateful for the leadership of the office Attorney General of Virginia, in particular Mr. Bob McDonnell for successfully guiding this issue through the courts during his term of office.

Virginia Society for Human Life is the oldest pro-life organization in the nation with chapters throughout the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Society for Human Life (VSHL) held its annual Alex and Geline B. Williams Oratory Contest on May 9, 2009 in Richmond, VA.

The winner of this year's event was Daniel Chris Tillson, a senior at Bishop O'Connell High School in Falls Church VA.

Tillson spoke on the issue of euthanasia and the dangers of the denial of treatment for the vulnerable in our society. First place prize was $500.

Second place was taken by Lisa Hill from Seton High School in Manassas, VA, who spoke on the true value of each new life in the womb. The second place prize was $250.

The VSHL Oratory Contest winner will represent Virginia at the national competition at the National Right to Life Committee's annual convention in Charlotte, NC, June 18-20, 2009. Scholarship prizes are for first place $1,000, second place $750, third place $500 and fourth place $250.

Nine students from across Virginia competed this year, including students from the Virginia Beach and Winchester area as well as Northern Virginia. All that attended agreed that the quality of the speeches this year was outstanding!

"Virginia is fortunate to have so many fine young men and women eager to stand up in defense of innocent human life," said VSHL President Olivia L. Gans after the event.

My hope is that you will not let your heart be heavy. We are made of sterner stuff. We will rise above the culture of death around us in order to seek the victories for life that we all hope and strive for. We need to organize as never before in Virginia. Each of you has a vital role to play in the work before us. If you are not yet a member, please contact us to learn more about what we do and how you can help.

-- Olivia Gans, President, VSHL

Read More...

The so called "Freedom of Choice Act", FOCA, is the most dangerous, anti-life piece of federal legislation to be brought before Congress in the 35 year history following Roe v. Wade. Pro-life Virginians must become educated on this deadly bill before it is introduced into the new Congress.

Video:

President-Elect Barack Obama pledges to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) into law. Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest chain of abortion providers.

If enacted, the Freedom of Choice Act will:

nullify all federal state laws regulating abortion, including bans on partial-birth abortion, parental involvement laws and informed consent laws;
mandate taxpayer funding of abortion;
force all hospitals, including private, faith-based hospitals, to comply with the demands of FOCA; and
eliminate conscience protections for doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers.

WHO LOSES UNDER FOCA ?

UNBORN CHILDREN, whose mothers will be coerced through misinformation, misguided material support and a lack of resources into choosing abortion

WOMEN who will be emotionally traumatized and physically harmed by choosing abortion

THE POOR who are served by Catholic and other faith-based hospitals in urban areas. Many hospitals will close rather than be compelled to perform abortions

FAITH-BASED HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS & INDIVIDUALS who will be compelled to either submit to FOCA requirements to promote or perform abortions or lose government funding or tax advantages

The AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY which is disproportionately affected by abortion because their neighborhoods are targeted by Planned Parenthood

AMERICAN TAXPAYERS who will see their hard-earned dollars usurped by the government to bankroll abortion services disguised as "healthcare"

Barack Obama zealously pledged to support an unlimited push for abortion. Yet at the Saddleback Forum, he tells the audience that knowing when human life begins is "above my pay grade."

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