New Smart-Phone “Appcessory” Allows Moms to Hear Unborn Child’s Heartbeat

By Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D., NRL Director of Education & Research

Pro-lifers have told people without fail that “abortion stops a beating heart,” but perhaps no technology made that clearer than the fetal heartbeat stethoscope, allowing mothers and dads to hear the “whoosh-whoosh” of their unborn child’s pumping circulatory system. That is, until maybe now.

For years, the fetal heartbeat stethoscope was a specialized piece of medical equipment largely used within the confines of a pregnant woman’s Ob-Gyn. As a mom shared the experience with other members of her family, her friends, or her co-workers of the wonder of the “whoosh,” her accounts were largely second hand.

Now, though, thanks to a new smart-phone “appcessory” featured in the March 6, 2014 issue of Laptop Magazine, a woman can hook a microphone and amplifier up to her iPhone, hold the microphone next to her belly, and listen to her baby’s heartbeat whenever and wherever she wants.

And she can share that amazing experience with anyone she wants!

The new Bellabeat Tracking System sells for $129 and can be used by phones with either an iOS or an Android operating system. The BabyWatch companion app not only enables the mother to hear the heartbeat, but also allows her to see a colorful, moving display of her baby’s vital signs.

There’s no pocket ultrasound yet, but the Bellabeat tracking system also delivers information on the child’s weekly development and offers the mom a chance to log each kick. A calendar helps a mom track her prenatal appointments and reminds her to take her folic acid supplements. (Tips about singing and talking to the baby are also included.)

As noted one of the features is the ability to connect and share this data via social media. As meaningful as this might be to the expectant mother and father, this new phone app has the chance to influence public perceptions of the unborn child even more widely.

This will make it harder than ever to dismiss the unborn child as just a “clump of tissue.”

The device has been licensed by the FDA, but no one is suggesting that this app take the place of regular visits to a woman’s obstetrician. Women will need to learn how to distinguish the baby’s heartbeat from the rush of their own blood flow. However there is little doubt that this will prove a fascinating and attractive accessory to many young mothers of the smart-phone generation.

More than that, though, it may end up being another valuable pro-life educational tool making the broader public more aware than ever before of the humanity of the unborn child.

Editor’s note. Please send your thoughts to daveandrusko@gmail.com

Source:

http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2014/03/new-smart-phone-appcessory-allows-moms-to-hear-unborn-childs-heartbeat/

Supreme Court Justices to Consider Hearing Priests for Life Case Against HHS Mandate

March 24, 2014

Below is my latest column, Just a Pinch of Incense, which has to do with activity this week at the Supreme Court, including from Priests for Life!

We have learned that by the end of this month, the Supreme Court will decide if they will review our lawsuit against the HHS Mandate! This is big news. We are asking everyone to please pray a special nine day novena to reverse the unjust HHS mandate. The prayers can be found at Priestsforlife.org/novenas/hhs-mandate.htm. When you go to that page, please indicate at the bottom that you are saying the novena, and please spread the word.

And, as my column indicates, I will be praying at the Supreme Court tomorrow as the Court hears the cases regarding the mandate as they apply to businesses. Join me if you can, from 9:30 to 11:30am in front of the Supreme Court! After my column below you can read a related press release.

On other matters, the Silent No More Awareness Campaign has posted on its website a partial list of women who have died from abortion, see SilentNoMoreAwareness.org/DeathsFromAbortion. You can help the Campaign give these women a chance to be “silent no more” by sharing this page with others.

Also, please join me for a special Medical Decision-Making webcast on Thursday, April 3 from 9 to 10 pm Eastern Time. My guests will be Bobby Schindler of the Terri Schiavo Life and Hope Network and Priests for Life medical advisor, Dr Matt Harrison. We will talk about what kinds of questions you should ask your doctor and your priest regarding whether or not to begin or continue various kinds of medical treatment for yourself or your loved ones. We will lay out some principles and describe the problems and challenges we face in our society – and we will also tell you about some resources you can use. Sign up at PriestsForLife.org/webcast. After you sign up, a page will appear with the information you need to listen either by phone or internet. I look forward to speaking with you on April 3.

Please join in praying a Lenten Prayer for Life that can be found at PrayerCampaign.org. Also, don’t forget to order Easter Prayer for Life Prayer Cards for yourself, or your Church congregation. You can order at ProLifeProducts.org.

Blessings,

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

Praise for our work

Alveda, ..I wanted you to know how much of an encouragement and inspiration you are to women such as myself. … I am so thankful for the things that you do and most importantly that you do it in the name of our most Holy Father. I am proud to see a woman who is a public figure fighting for the life of innocent babies, A woman who is speaking out in love for her sisters in Christ, not love for herself. You exemplify true “feminism” to women like me and I genuinely appreciate you. You make a difference not only in the large scale but in our daily lives. – Jessica

Just a Pinch of Incense

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

W. A. Criswell, in The Offense of the Cross, points out,

“The Roman Empire was the most tolerant, the most liberal, the most wise, and the most accurate in its handling of the many provinces and religions of its empire of any kingdom that ever existed. Men could worship, have temples, and do as they pleased. And yet the Roman Empire and the Caesars persecuted the Christians. Why? For one simple reason: the Christian refused to compromise his faith with any other religion whatsoever.”

That refusal to compromise is seen in the response of the apostles themselves to the command not to teach in the name of Jesus: “We will obey God rather than men!” As it was in the beginning, so it is now. Christians in America face another one of those key moments – seen frequently in Scripture and Christian history – of conflict between the commands of civil authority and the demands of their faith. And believers of other traditions are standing with them as well.

The Obama Administration, implementing one of the provisions of “Obamacare,” has declared its intent and goal to increase access to various “preventive services” that include contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs. This is an open, publicly-announced plan. Numerous Americans, and the religious traditions they embrace, teach that such “drugs and services” are immoral to use. Therefore, they oppose this plan.

But the conflict goes deeper than that. If those believers are also employers who offer their employees health insurance, the Obama Administration is requiring them to cooperate in the plan by making coverage for those drugs and services an essential part of those health insurance plans.

And that’s where we say “No!” If the government wants to expand access to these immoral – and in some cases lethal – activities, it’s going to need to do it without us. We do not want to be involved.

And that is the argument regarding the HHS mandate, and the theme of the multiple lawsuits that have been introduced against it. We at Priests for Life filed the fourth of what are now dozens of such lawsuits launched both by religious groups and for-profit businesses.

On Tuesday, March 25, the Supreme Court is hearing two consolidated cases on behalf of two of those businesses, Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods, run by believers who refuse to cooperate with the mandate. The Court will consider, among other things, whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act applies to for-profit corporations to protect them from this mandate.

In a separate action, the Supreme Court is also being asked to take up the matter of the non-profit and religious entities who object to the mandate, and whose rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act are not in doubt. We at Priests for Life have petitioned the Supreme Court to hear our case, and this Friday, March 28, the Justices will consider whether or not they will do so.

The claim that the government is making is that it is in fact exempting the religious groups like Priests for Life from following the mandate. In fact, President Obama himself addressed this in his February 2 interview with Bill O’Reilly. The President said, “Here’s the way this thing works. All they have to do is sign a form saying they don’t — they are a religious institution —And — and they get what they want.”

In other words, the form we are being asked to sign states that we object to the mandate because of our institutional religious convictions. Then, our insurance policy will not have to include coverage of the objectionable drugs and services.

At first glance, that sounds quite reasonable to sign. But what the government says further is that upon us signing the form, and receiving the names of our employees on the plan, they will make separate provision to cover the objectionable drugs and services. In other words, by signing the form, we are still part of implementing the plan to provide access to those drugs and services. The form is an authorization; our employees are covered precisely because they are our employees. It’s not a matter of who pays for it; it’s a matter of being the gateway to the immoral activities.

President Obama, in his O’Reilly interview, seems to indicate that he understands this. He said, “The problem is they don’t want to sign the form — Because they think that that somehow makes them complicit.” Exactly right. And Mr. President, that’s not only what we and the other religious plaintiffs think; that’s precisely what our religion teaches. And the freedom to follow that teaching is precisely what you and the law need to respect.

All this may seem like a big deal to be making over the signing of a form. But to go back to W.A. Criswell, he points out, “When the Christians were invited just to bow down before the Roman image, their lives could be spared if they would merely take a pinch of incense and put it on the fire that burned in the presence of the image of the Roman Caesar. The Christian died rather than compromise with a pinch of incense.”

Whether it’s about government incense or a government form, we will obey God rather than men.

This column can be read and listened to online at Priestsforlife.org/columns/4926-just-a-pinch-of-incense

Comments on this column? Go to Askfrfrank.com

Fr. Frank’s columns are podcast. See Priestsforlife.org/podcast

Remember to support our work at Priestsforlife.org/donate

Press Release: Fr. Pavone to Pray and Speak at Supreme Court on Tuesday

Priests for Life awaits response from Court re HHS Mandate

Washington, DC – Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, will join other Americans concerned about the right to life and religious freedom at a rally in front of the US Supreme Court on Tuesday morning, March 25, when the Court will hear oral arguments in regard to the HHS Mandate. Further Supreme Court action on this matter is expected on the 28th in regard to Priests for Life.

The rally for religious freedom will take place from 9:30 to 11:30am ET.

Planned Parenthood is also expected to bring people to rally in favor of the mandate.

The oral arguments in the consolidated cases of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods will begin inside the court at 10 and conclude at 11:30.

Priests for Life has been urging people to join a novena of prayer during these days for the reversal of the mandate. The prayers for each day can be found at PrayerCampaign.org.

“This is a moment of Biblical proportions,” Fr. Pavone explained. “Scripture, and all Christian history, are filled with moments of conflict between civil authority and people of faith. At every point, those people are called to obey God rather than man.

“We at Priests for Life also have a lawsuit against this mandate, and in fact were among the first to file one. We too have a petition to the Supreme Court to hear our case, and the Justices will consider whether they will do so this Friday, March 28,” Fr. Pavone commented. “The case being heard on Tuesday concerns the rights of for-profit businesses; in our case, the Court would be considering the rights of non-profit religious entities. Obviously, the Court eventually needs to address both.”

In its petition to the Supreme Court on behalf of Priests for Life, the American Freedom Law Center points out, “this challenge goes to the very core of Priests for Life’s reason for existing as an organization. Consequently, Petitioners are well situated—and perhaps best suited—to challenge the mandate and its application to non-exempt, nonprofit religious organizations.” The Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has also consolidated the case brought by the Archdiocese of Washington and its related institutions together with that of Priests for Life.

Fr. Pavone concluded, “In the end, the matter is simple: We love our faith; we love our country, and we want to be able to do both at the same time.”

Priests for Life
PO Box 141172
Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: 888-PFL-3448
718-980-4400
Fax: 718-980-6515
Email: mail@priestsforlife.org
http://www.priestsforlife.org

Statement from Ohio Right to Life on Planned Parenthood Protest

The following statement can be attributed to Mike Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life:

“By protesting Attorney General DeWine and not President Obama, Planned Parenthood proves its hypocrisy, aligning itself with the Democratic Party rather than Ohio’s women. According to the White House, 96 percent of businesses do not have to provide free birth control and abortion drugs to employees. But rather than protesting the President for exempting 96 percent of businesses from this requirement, Planned Parenthood pulls a childish publicity stunt, protesting Attorney General DeWine for supporting the exemption of a Christian-run business from the Obamacare mandate. Planned Parenthood’s so-called ‘protest’ against Attorney General Mike DeWine reveals that it is nothing more than a hypocritical, partisan, Democratic front group. Their loyalty is to President Obama and the Democratic Party–not Ohio’s women.”

Please direct any further questions to Laura Beth Kirsop, Director of Communications, at 614-547-0099 ex. 309.

The mission of Ohio Right to Life is to promote and defend the right to life of all innocent human beings, from the time of fertilization until natural death.

To learn more about Ohio Right to Life please visit our website at http://www.ohiolife.org.

Pro-Lifers “don’t quit. That’s why they’ve been successful.”

Hard Work Pays Off for Pro-Life Ohio

The Toledo Blade’s Sunday paper gave a wide spread to pro-life Ohio’s success in closing abortion mills in 2013. At Ohio Right to Life, we wanted to make sure that pro-lifers continue to see the results of our collective advocacy for life. A former abortion clinic owner even attributed the clinic closings to the efforts of Ohio’s pro-life community, saying pro-lifers “don’t quit. That’s why they’ve been successful.”

To read the article:

http://www.toledoblade.com/Medical/2014/03/23/Michigan-abortion-clinics-see-an-influx-of-Ohioans.html
We want to thank every one of you for working with Ohio Right to Life to pass pro-life initiatives and for all of your everyday efforts to help Ohio women choose life. At the beginning of 2013, there were 14 abortion clinics in Ohio. We are well on our way towards halving that number. Because of our hard work, Ohio children are winning!

Let us continue to stand faithfully for life as we venture closer and closer towards an abortion-free Ohio.

With you for Life,

The Team at Ohio Right to Life

To learn more about Ohio Right to Life please visit our website at http://www.ohiolife.org.

UK Bishop Davies: Catholics oppose same-sex ‘marriage’ out of love

SHREWSBURY, England, March 19, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In an interview touching on life, family, faith, and culture, Shrewsbury Bishop Mark Davies told LifeSiteNews.com that despite perceptions of hate and prejudice, the real reason why Christians oppose same-sex “marriage” is out of love. 

“It is often said that there is a prejudicial hate, a sense of discrimination [that] lies behind the teachings of the Church and the Christian understanding of marriage,” he said. On the contrary, “what we need to always emphasize is that what lies behind this is love – a genuine love for every person. That love very much extends, by the Church, to those who experience same-sex attraction.”

With same-sex “marriage” having passed into law last July and come into force in England last week, Bishop Davies said that the battle must continue.  “The essential battle is now for the very foundations of marriage, its identity in the union of man and woman, a lasting union, a union which is open to life and thereby the foundation of the family.”

The Bishop of Shrewsbury acknowledged a “growing intolerance” experienced by Christians in England, but urged the faithful to speak the truth nonetheless. “We need the courage to give witness wherever we are in society and not to be inhibited from speaking that truth, which has to be spoken in love,” he said.

Click “like” if you want to defend true marriage.

His prescriptions for engagement include Pope John Paul II’s famous adage: ‘Do not be afraid.’  “We’ve got to have confidence that the essential goodness, the truth will attract the generations to come,” said Davies. “What we are doing now is not for this time only but for the generations who will follow us.”

“By giving witness to this truth by showing the goodness of the message that we share we are helping to encourage those who will follow us with those same foundations that we have received,” he said.

He added, “Our society, the world of our time, requires this witness from Christians which originally attracted and fascinated people into the Church.”

Asked where Christians are to get the strength to remain steadfast under sometimes severe pressure from society, Bishop Davies replied, “For good reason, a bishop carries a cross.”

“The cross is certainly a sign of sharing the suffering of Christ but it is also the promise of victory,” he said. “And in that fidelity in standing with Christ – those people of conscience and good will –  the cross carries with it the promise of victory as far as we remain with him in truth and in love.”

SOURCE:

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/uk-bishop-davies-catholics-oppose-same-sex-marriage-out-of-love