Illinois Right to Life News

Illinois Right To Life Committee

 

May Newsletter:

Supporters of Life:   My article below (Teens are going to …) responds to the Chicago Sun-Times April 30th editorial encouraging the elimination of government funding for abstinence education in Illinois, inaccurately claiming that it does not work. (It can also be accessed at http://www.illinoisrighttolife.org/newsline.htm#2008043001.)   Please note time and location of coming events listed below, including:

• witness at PP Express in Orland Park — 5/3/08  10am-12 Noon   
• IRLC 21st Annual Charity Golf Outing  (6/2/08)
• Fall 40 Days for Life planning meeting (6/5/08) 

Get the details under “Events“.    We hope that you find this email service helpful.  IRLC does not have a specific schedule for these emails.  Your feedback is welcome.    If you find the work of IRLC helpful, we would very much appreciate your support.  You can make a donation by phone (312-422-9300) using your credit card, or by mail with either check or credit card.    Regards,   Bill Beckman Executive Director Illinois Right to Life Committee 65 E. Wacker Place, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60601 312-422-9300 312-422-9303 (24 hr newsline) www.illinoisrighttolife.org beckman@illinoisrighttolife.org      

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  Teens are going to … 

Illinois Right to Life News for Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Teens are going to … The April 30 Chicago Sun-Times carried an editorial entitled “Abstain from taking abstinence-only funds”. My response to the Sun-Times editor appears below, but is unlikely to appear in the Sun-Times: Editor: Teens are going to drink alcohol.  Most parents want their children to have accurate information to avoid blacking out , in addition to hearing about abstaining from alcohol.  Teens are going to use drugs.   Most parents want their children to have accurate information to avoid killing themselves , in addition to hearing about abstaining from drugs.  Most parents would disagree with the above statements so why would they agree with the Sun-Times editoral claim that “Teens are going to have sex.  Most parents want their children to have accurate information to avoid pregnancy and STDs … in addition to hearing about abstinence, surveys show.”  Who took the surveys that showed this preference?  I am sure the survey wording failed to clarify what “comprehensive” sex education would do as an alternative, namely, teach that casual sex is always OK as long as it is “safe”.  When parents learn about the contents of “comprehensive” sex education, they prefer abstinence education by a wide margin. The editorial also claimed (about abstinence education) “study after study shows the programs don’t work.”  Only two recent studies with this conclusion gained any publicity in the last two years.  Both of these studies have been challenged as unreliable because they were not conducted in anything close to a scientific manner.  Instead, they were done to confirm a preconceived and incorrect answer that abstinence does not work.   Many other studies have demonstrated that abstinence works very effectively. The editor’s call for Illinois to “abstain from taking abstinence-only funds” would do a serious disservice to Illinois teenagers.  They deserve to know the truth that “safe” sex is not safe, but abstinence works every time it is tried.   Giving a mixed message about sex is like saying, “you should study hard, but it is perfectly OK if you end up with D’s.”  Teens need to be given some expectations to live up to!  They deserve better than “safe” sex! Bill Beckman Comment (on above article — received from Christine on Illinois Review): I agree with the comparison between drug education and sex education. They have a zero tolerance stance toward drugs, drinking or smoking and expect kids to abstain. While I would never want my kid to smoke, I would rather they smoke than have unmarried sex. And chances are you can “experiment” with smoking or pot and suffer no permanent ill effects. And frankly I drank (at family gatherings and such) as a child with no harm done. That can’t be said for sex. Even if you escape any STDs or pregnancy, you will always carry the emotional burden of having casually given something away that can never be taken back. Below are links to supporting information: Mathematica Study (published in April 2007) criticized as flawed: Mathematica Abstinence Study Uses Fuzzy Math  CWA Says Study Debunking Abstinence is Flawed Opponents are Wrong: Abstinence Education Has Not Failed Rep. Henry Waxman’s Report on Abstinence Education Found Inaccurate and Misleading Study: 83% Of Parents Say Its Important For Their Child To Save Sex Till Marriage HHS Report: “Comprehensive” Sex Ed Ineffective, Offensive Study Shows Abstinence Education Reduces Teenage Sexual Behavior Drop in US Teen Sexual Activity Rates Linked to Abstinence Programs Research on Abstinence Education  (Heritage Foundation) Sex Education Will Be an Issue This November  (Fran Eaton)

 

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 Events   ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Planned Parenthood Express is NOT welcome in Orland Park, Illinois

Witness and Prayer Vigil

Saturday, May 3, 2008
10am to Noon  

(then June 7, 2008 10am-Noon)

Teenagers must be protected from
Planned Parenthood*

Please join us if you can, even if only for part of the time.

This prayer vigil will be held along the public sidewalk extending from 14470 LaGrange Road, Orland Park, IL  Parking is available at Orland Chateau, 14500 S.  LaGrange Road, but please park in back.

For more information, call Bill Beckman at 312-422-9300

* Contrary to their claims, Planned Parenthood’s birth control and sex education programs always lead to more unplanned pregnancies and more abortions, and that means more revenue for Planned Parenthood, already the largest abortion provider in the USA.

Speaking to Children about Abortion

Answering Common Objections to Graphic Pictures

Etiquette Tips for Pro-Aborts  (Dan Gura)

 

     

21^st Annual IRLC
CHARITY GOLF OUTING

Monday, June 2, 2008

LaGrange Country Club
620 S Brainard Ave
La Grange, IL 60525-2743
(708) 352-0066

Lunch begins at 11:30am
Tee Time 1:00pm Shot-Gun
Dinner 6:30pm

Registration Form

Your contribution of $400 entitles you to
18 holes of golf, a free cart, lunch,
dinner, open bar and prizes.

Dinner-only tickets for spouses and/or guests
are available at $100 each.

You may also consider sponsoring a tee.
Tee signs are $325.

For more information, call 312-422-9300

 

 

 

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40 Days for Life

 

September 24th through November 2nd

 

Planning Meeting

 

Thursday June 5, 2008

 

St. Mary of the Angels Church

 

 

You are invited and encouraged to attend a Thursday June 5th
organizational meeting in preparation for the
September 24th to November 2nd 40 Days for Life

 

This meeting will be held at St. Mary of the Angels Church
in the Breezeway Room

 

Dinner (pizza?) will be provided at 6:30pm

 

The planning meeting will start at 7:00pm

 

Please RSVP to 312-422-9300

 

Directions: The church is located right off I-90/94 Kennedy Expressway (go west after taking the Armitage exit).  The address is: 1850 N Hermitage Ave (between Bloomingdale Ave & Cortland St) Chicago, IL 60622.  The phone is (773) 278-2644.  The church is visible from the Expressway on the west side.

 

Potential agenda for June 5th meeting:
+  What 40 Days for Life is.
+  Ann Scheidler will discuss how she implemented this in her parish to get a lot of people involved.
+  Margie Breen will give the “how to” to help people prepare so that the day is a great experience.
+  Eric Scheidler will share his expertise and help “close the deal” for day captains.
+  Discuss issues of logistics, when people should call police, etc.

 

 

40 Days for Life Target location:  A decision was made at an initial meeting that the target location for this 40 Days for Life will be the Family Planning Associates Albany Medical-Surgical Center at Cicero and Elston.  

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