Obama to Replace Bush’s Bioethics Panel

Members of the President’s Council on Bioethics were told by the White House last week that their services were no longer needed and were asked to cancel a planned meeting. The council was disbanded because it was designed by the Bush administration to be “a philosophically leaning advisory group” that favored discussion over developing a shared consensus. President Obama will appoint a new bioethics commission, one with a new mandate and that “offers practical policy options.” NY Times

Teens want more time with parents

It may be uncool to admit it, but more than half of New Zealand teenagers want to spend more time with their parents. Details of a survey of almost 10,000 students at 96 secondary schools, published to mark the start of Youth Week today, show that 54 per cent of students "sometimes" or "hardly ever" get enough time with their mothers. And 61 per cent, sometimes or hardly ever get enough time with their dads. New Zealand Herald

Religion and Science: Conflict or Harmony?

Jesus says the greatest commandment in the law is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” With all your mind! Boy, that doesn’t sound like faith and reason are disconnected. If you go back to Deuteronomy, the quote is, “With all your heart and all your strength and all your soul.” But Jesus adds the word “mind,” which I think we were supposed to notice. Faith and science are two ways of knowing. Science answers questions about “how”; faith answers questions about “why.” I like this description, which is not original to me, that basically if you are using both science and faith, you are reading both of the books that God gave us, the book of God’s words and the book of God’s works, mainly nature. Francis Collins

About One-in-Six Americans Are Baptist

Two of the largest Baptist denominations in the U.S. — the Southern Baptist Convention and the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. — will hold national meetings in late June. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, finds that Baptists represent the largest Protestant denominational family in the U.S., making up about one-sixth (17.2%) of the total U.S. adult population. Pew Forum

For a perspective on where Baptists (American and Southern) stand on abortion, read the history of Baptists for Life.

Gospel fodder?

Are non-Christians merely "gospel fodder," or are they valuable in spite of their eternal state? Stand to Reason

Prayer request from Evelyn Stone, BFL Int'l Training Consultant

Evelyn's mother, is scheduled for a double bypass heart surgery at 8 AM this morning (Thursday). "Right now we are waiting to hear if it is possible to operate after passing two crisis last night. She had a heart attack on Sunday night that did severe damage and left few good options for treatment."

Is life its own worst enemy?

Stated briefly, the Gaia hypothesis is that life as an aggregate interacts with the physical environment in such a way that it not only keeps the Earth habitable but continually improves the conditions for life. It does this through a series of feedback systems similar to biological homeostasis, the mechanism by which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment. Those aspects that most affect the habitability of the planet - temperature, the chemical composition of the oceans and fresh water, and the make-up of the atmosphere - are not just influenced by life, they are controlled by it. New Scientist

Focus on rule of law, principles

The key to civil dialogue is found in two basic principles, which must be affirmed by proponents of both the pro-life and pro-choice positions. The first principle is respect for the rule of law. This means acknowledging that no one has the right to usurp the rule of law and use violence to further your cause or to harm your opponents. The second basic principle is to focus on the positions they espouse, not on the people they oppose. Demonization of one's opponents poisons the wells of reason and reconciliation and leads to hostility, bitterness and violence. Pro-life and pro-choice advocates both need to repent of attacking their opponents' motives and character. Richard Land

Clarke Forsythe Publishes Landmark Pro-Life Book

Americans United for Life is pleased to announce the publication of AUL Senior Counsel Clarke Forsythe’s book, Politics for the Greatest Good: The Case for Prudence in the Public Square, released by InterVarsity Press this month. The book seeks to instill confidence in legislators, policy groups, and voters that a prudential approach to public policy—striving for the greatest good possible when the ideal cannot be immediately achieved—is both moral and effective. This approach leads to a renewed long-term strategy to overturn Roe v. Wade. AUL

Suspect in abortion doctor killing had ties to extremist 'church'

With federal authorities now investigating the recent assassination of Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider in Kansas, new information is emerging about ties between the anti-abortion activist charged with the crime and extremist groups. This weekend the Kansas City Star reported that suspect Scott Roeder was affiliated with the Embassy of Heaven Church, which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as a "sovereign citizens" group that sells fake passports and other documents to its members, who do not recognize the authority of the U.S. government. Institute for Southern Studies

Be'ad Chaim: Pro-life ministry in the Holy Land

Sandy Shoshani directs Be'ad Chaim, a pro-life ministry in the Holy Land: "Please pray for each of our counselors and staff. Pray especially for our new offices in Rishon L’Zion and Kfar Saba! Pray for our Nazareth office to 'get off the ground.' We now have counselors in: Jerusalem, Beersheva, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Rishon L’Zion, Kfar Saba, Kiryat Yam (Haifa area), Acco, Tiberius and Nazareth. Pray for expansion and exposure of our work in each of these cities. Pray for wise and efficient advertising and outreach."

If you'd like to pray for other pro-life ministries, look for weekly requests listed in the right-hand side bar of our PCC List blog.

Sex Education “Has Absolutely No Place” in Indian Schools

The Indian government has rejected western-style sex education programs, saying they do nothing to solve the problem of teenage pregnancy but only exacerbate the problem by promoting sexual promiscuity. The program had been touted as a means of preventing the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Materials for teachers and facilitators in India included explicit details about “alternative methods” of sex. According to the government, the curriculum prepared with material from UNICEF, had “shocked the consciences” of the country and was described as “quite frightening.” If implemented, the report said, it would “promote promiscuity of the worst kind.” LifeSiteNews

Making abstinence relevant to teens

Until teens have the opportunity to interact with the subject, they will not own the material. Inviting questions and engaging dialogue is the most powerful method of persuading teens. ATC archives

Early Christians and Abortion

With the exception of one author who wrote at length on the subject, early Christian writings do not discuss abortion in depth but merely state in a few words or phrases that it was forbidden to Christians. Most of the authors of the period do not touch on the subject but those who did considered it among the worst of sins. LifeSiteNews

Holocaust Museum Shooter a Socialist who Hated Christianity, Conservatives, Jews

The online ravings of the man who shot and killed a security guard in Washington’s Holocaust Memorial Museum on June 10th show that he does not fit the description of the “right wing” or “conservative Christian” extremist that has been portrayed in the liberal mainstream media since the shooting. LifeSiteNews, Politico

What does this say about our values?

According to a 2002 report, one man was fined $2,500 for taking paddlefish eggs out of the state of Oklahoma. In addition to the fine, the individual could have spent 450 days in jail for smuggling the eggs. Felony violations involving the destruction of various endangered species and their eggs, according to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act can amount to as much as $250,000 in fees for individuals and $500,000 for corporations and up to six months in prison. A violation of the Eagle Act can result in a fine of up to $100,000 and imprisonment of up to one year. Penalties for subsequent offenses are significantly higher. . . . Consider the case of the five Arizona police officers who are currently on paid leave because a criminal probe is being conducted following the flushing of a preborn child down a toilet. American Life League

Documentary Explores Debate over Stem-Cell Research

A new documentary from The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network addresses the controversy over life-destroying embryonic stem-cell research versus ethical, adult stem-cell research. In Lines That Divide, prominent scientists from both sides of the debate discuss the details surrounding modern-day research. CitizenLink, DVD

Sotomayor: Never thought about rights of unborn

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) says he had a "good meeting" with Judge Sonia Sotomayor on Wednesday that covered a broad range of issues, but none of his concerns about the high court nominee were eased. "When I asked if an unborn child has any rights whatsoever, I was surprised that she said she had never thought about it," he says. "This is not just a question about abortion, but about respect due to human life at all stages -- and I hope this is cleared up in her hearings." OneNewsNow

Get to Know: BFL's history

Ever wonder about the origins of Baptists for Life? Curious about where Baptists have historically stood on the issue of abortion? Read BFL Before 1984 . . . the year of our formation.

30 Days for Life

A prayer devotional from the National Pro-life Religious Council.

Get to Know: Men's Fraternity

Men's Fraternity is a series of three one-year-long studies, beginning with The Quest for Authentic Manhood, followed by Winning at Work and Home, and ends with The Great Adventure. Men's Fraternity provides men with an encouraging process that teaches them how to live lives of authentic manhood as modeled by Jesus Christ and directed by the Word of God.

Family Breakdown in Canada Costs $7 Billion Annually

The Institute of Marriage and Family Canada released new research on the cost of family breakdown. The in-depth, quantitative assessment examines the links between broken homes and poverty alleviation measures. Consistently, not only in Canada but in all developed nations, lone parent households are more likely to live in poverty. “Certainly the main concern around family breakdown is the emotional toll,” say the authors. “But the fiscal costs are evident, and those can be more readily measured.” They find that cost to be close to $7 billion annually. If family breakdown decreased by half, a conservative estimate of savings is close to $2 billion annually. LifeSiteNews, PDF file of the report

• Sexual diseases in children rise
• Kids Born to Unwed Moms Hit Record High
• Teens: Oral Sex and Casual Prostitution No Biggie

It's So Personal

A round-up of late-term abortion testimonials. Daily Dish

Reflection: Lessons From the Fall

Genesis 3 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible. Without it, we can’t even begin to understand the darkness that blankets the earth. With it, we can catch a glimpse of the light, which shines in the darkness. Answers in Genesis

Reflection on Tiller's murder

‘We should never confuse the enemy with the harvest.’ The enemy is Satan. Our neighbors who disagree with us may be deceived by him, but they are not the enemy. They are the harvest. Christ died for them. Christian Medical & Dental Association

Related news:

• Tiller's Clinic to Close Permanently
• Abortion Activists Forget George Tiller Killed, Injured Women in Botched Abortions
• Biggest Danger From the Killing of George Tiller
• Common Ground on Late-Term Abortion: Anguish