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
Teens are going to …
Illinois Right to Life News for Wednesday, April 30, 2008 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): Below are links to supporting information: Mathematica Study (published in April 2007) criticized as flawed: 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 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)
21st 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
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.
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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