"NO ABORTION FUNDS FOR TITLE X - THE PROTECT LIFE RULE" - by John Stonestreet and David Carlson, Breakpoint.org, July 18, 2019; http://www.breakpoint.org/2019/07/no-abortion-funds-for-title-x/
For years, abortion providers were unable to access these funds, until President Clinton decided otherwise. Since then, abortion mills like Planned Parenthood have happily tapped into these funds to make sure that, utilizing some creative bookkeeping, women from low-income households have access to abortion and abortion counseling.
But no more. In June of last year, the Trump Administration announced the Protect Life Rule, which prohibits fund recipients from providing abortion counseling or being “co-located” with an abortion clinic. Planned Parenthood and a number of states immediately sued to block the Protect Life Rule from taking effect.
Last week, after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to stop the Rule, the Administration announced that the Rule will take effect immediately. Naturally, Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen called the decision “devastating news,” and promised to continue legal action. (Wen has since been removed as president.)
Here’s why she said this. According to the Catholic News Agency, “The Protect Life Rule will strip about $60 million in federal funding from Planned Parenthood, whose clinics both refer for abortion services and are often co-located within abortion facilities. Planned Parenthood presently receives about one-fifth of the total amount of Title X funds distributed and serves about 40 percent of all clients who benefit from Title X.”
Planned Parenthood quickly announced plans to create an emergency fund (meaning they’ll shake down their donors) to replace the lost dollars, and we’re already starting to hear about the tragedy of lost “health care” funds for low-income women. The head of California’s largest recipient of Title X funds provided a typical response, “We will continue to pursue relief through the courts to protect access to essential health services for the millions of low-income patients served by Title X nationwide.”
Don’t buy the frantic wording. Not a single penny has been reduced from Title X funding. Title X money is still available to, and I quote, “assist in the establishment and operation of voluntary family planning projects which provide … natural family planning methods, infertility services, and services for adolescents; highly effective contraceptive methods; breast and cervical cancer screening and prevention services that correspond with nationally recognized standards of care; STD and HIV prevention education, counseling, testing, and referrals . . . and other preventive health services.”
That sounds like a pretty robust list of services available to low-income women. The money simply can’t be used to further abortion. And it’s unclear why this should bother Planned Parenthood anyway, given its claim that abortion is just 3 percent of the services it provides to women. All this gnashing of teeth reveals how ludicrous that claim has always been.
Now, as Yogi Berra said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” But here’s mine: The Protect Life Rule will probably remain in effect during the remainder of the Trump Administration, but should a Democratic contender take residence in the White House, it will be dead on day 1 of their administration.
This brings me to three points. First, elections matter. Second, while I am grateful for the Trump Administration’s commitment to life, shame on the Republican majority in Congress that has consistently failed to de-fund Planned Parenthood. Governance by administrative rule will not protect the lives of the unborn in the long run. And third, the fight remains: Not only to make abortion illegal, but also unthinkable.
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES
"HHS brings Protect Life Rule into effect" - Catholic News Agency July 15, 2019; https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/hhs-brings-protect-life-rule-into-effect-51769
"Statutes and Regulations: Title X Notice of Final Rule" - HHS.gov March 04, 2019; https://www.hhs.gov/opa/title-x-family-planning/about-title-x-grants/statutes-and-regulations/index.html
"The Most Meaningless Abortion Statistic Ever" - Rachael Larimore Slate May 07, 2017; https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/05/3-percent-of-planned-parenthood-s-services-are-abortion-but-what-about-their-revenues.html
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PRAYER MATTERS:
"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against
the disorder of the world. - Karl Barth
"Prayer is inviting God into a seemingly impossible situation and trusting/resting in His love and grace to accomplish His perfect will in His perfect time and for His greatest glory. Intercession is one of the great privileges AND responsibilities for EVERY believer."- Stan
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“INTERCESSORS ARE THE RUDDER” – A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT - Wanda Alger, June 28th, 2017; https://www.getamericapraying.com/blog/I was recently given a word by my good friend, Bill Yount. His word greatly encouraged me as an intercessor. Working for Intercessors for America
James 3:4 talks about the power of a small rudder to steer a large ship. In this scripture about the power of our tongue, consider the power of prophetic intercession! In the Forerunner Commentary on this verse we read, “…rudders manipulate the course of immense ocean vessels with a slight movement of a pilot’s hand. Since it is underwater and aft, the rudder of a ship does its work UNSEEN. A passenger is ignorant of its movements most of the time. Yet, when it is in proper working order, the rudder holds more power over the ship than the wind. The wind will blow, toss, even destroy the ship’s rigging, but the rudder guides the ship exactly where it directs.”
This is God’s promise to the intercessors in this hour of national turbulence. Don’t stop praying! Your prayers have great power to turn the ship! Continue praying, interceding, and discerning the workings and movements of the Holy Spirit, being faithful to God’s commands. As we come together to declare God’s faithfulness, this nation will, once again, head in the direction that God intends. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Regardless of the winds of adversity and the fires of the enemy, God’s people have a power that cannot be matched. Let us join in faith and continue to pray and speak of God’s faithfulness in order to bring God’s people and this nation into the fullness of God’s plans. Note this additional encouragement from God’s word:
Colossians 2:15 – “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (ESV).
Psalm 33:8-11 – “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”
Wanda Alger, IFA Field Correspondent
PRAY FOR AMERICA : THANK GOD for His many blessings on America AMERICA America "but instead "God be merciful towards America
PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS: 1) Pray for President Trump and his advisers, that they would select Godly leaders at the federal level who will be accountable to do an excellent job (or be fired!) ; that he would seek God's wisdom and be enabled to lead our country effectively in the years ahead; and 2) Pray our leaders at every level of government will Spirit-filled, leading us with Godly wisdom and integrity; that they will only pass legislation and enact policies that will benefit Americans today as well as future generations and NOT do any lasting harm.
SUPREME COURT: PRAY that the justices will only hand down decisions that are Constitutionally sound and in the best interests of our country now and for future generations.
World-Wide Prayer Requests:
PRAISE GOD for the continuing recent successes against
*For believers in Syria
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Praying Through the Open Doors World Watch List for persecuted believers:https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/monthly-prayer-calendar/
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). For thousands of believers, reading the Bible is a rare occurrence. Please pray with us this month that God’s Word would find its way into the hands and hearts of His disciples.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). For thousands of believers, reading the Bible is a rare occurrence. Please pray with us this month that God’s Word would find its way into the hands and hearts of His disciples.
July 19 | MIDDLE EAST - Akeem* was selected to attend a youth leadership program from a house church in a strict Muslim setting. Pray for Akeem and others like him who are being trained to be the future leaders in the underground church.
*Names changed to protect identities
*Names changed to protect identities
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