Priests for Life announced on Thursday that instead of mounting a separate campaign calling attention to the Catholic Church's services for women and others harmed by abortion, it will coordinate efforts with an already existing Project Rachel campaign. Project Rachel is the name given to most Church post-abortion services. Both campaigns utilize billboard, as well as electronic and print advertising.
Meeting April 16 in Baltimore with Cardinal William H. Keeler, Chairman of the bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, said that he is aware of the post-abortion ministry of many dioceses, and wants Priests for Life to be an added resource and encouragement for programs already in use.
“There is no need to initiate separate campaigns with the same end, offering the same services,” he said. He added that “Priests for Life will continue to work in harmony with the goals of the bishops, both nationally and at a diocesan level.” The national headquarters of Priests for Life is in Staten Island, New York.
Cardinal Keeler said he was “very pleased with this decision,” and expressed his gratitude and that of the Pro-Life Committee to Father Pavone and those who work with him. He also called attention to the “enormous success of the Church's outreach to those harmed by abortion,” in its Project Rachel campaign initially conducted in Baltimore/Washington D.C./Arlington early last year.
“This program reached so many,” said Cardinal Keeler, “that the local dioceses will sponsor a modified campaign again this spring,” and other dioceses have already conducted or are preparing similar efforts.
Cardinal Keeler said he “looks forward to working more closely with Priests for Life” in the future.
Could RU-486 Be Pulled Over Misuse of Companion Drug?
by Bill Fancher
WASHINGTON, DC (AgapePress) – During the election last fall, pro-lifers were basically told the abortion drug RU-486 is here to stay. But one pro-lifer says it would only take a Presidential stroke of a pen to change that.
During the past Presidential campaign, both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney stated there was nothing that could be done regarding RU-486. But Ed Szymkowiak of Stop Planned Parenthood International disagrees. He contends the President could issue an Executive Order pulling the drug from legal use.
“One of the grounds he can use for doing so is the fact that the second drug that's used in the RU-486 regimen [Cytotec] … has not been approved for any use in the U.S. except for preventing ulcers,” Szymkowiak says.
“RU-486 is the first drug a woman takes. It kills the baby,” he says. “[Then] Cytotec is taken two days later, and it expels the baby from the woman's womb.”
According to Szymkowiak, that is not an approved usage of the drug. He says that — plus the fact the company that produced Cytotec has issued a warning against its use with RU-486 — gives Bush more than enough reason for pulling RU-486 from use.
(This update courtesy of Agape Press.)
