April 2004

President Bush Signs Unborn Victims of Violence Act

President Bush shares a word with Sharon Rocha, mother of Laci Peterson and grandmother of Conner, just before signing the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Others, left to right: Carol Lyons, with Buford Lyons behind her (parents of Ashley Lyons, grandparents of Landon), and Ron Grantski, stepfather of Laci Peterson.

President Bush Signs Unborn Victims of Violence Act Into Law, After Dramatic One-Vote Win in Senate

Surrounded by key congressional sponsors and members of victims' families, President Bush signs into law the Unborn Victim of Violence Act on April 1, 2004.

WASHINGTON (April 6, 2004) - - In a landmark right-to-life victory, President George W. Bush on April 1 signed into law the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, also known as "Laci and Conner's Law."

The President's action culminated a five-year campaign by the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) to win enactment of the legislation, which recognizes unborn children as victims when they are injured or killed during the commission of federal or military crimes of violence.

The President's action came just one week after the bill (H.R. 1997) survived a showdown in the U.S. Senate by a single vote - - 49-50. The anticipated Democratic presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), interrupted his campaigning to make a rare visit to the Senate to vote against the bill.

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Pope John Paul II Affirms Obligation to Feed Patients in the "Vegetative" State

By Richard Doerflinger

Pope John Paul II profoundly changed the worldwide debate when he issued the first clear and explicit papal statement on the obligation to provide food and water for patients in a "persistent vegetative state" (PVS).

On March 20, speaking to participants in an international congress on the "vegetative" state, Pope John Paul II profoundly changed the worldwide debate on how to respond to this condition. He issued the first clear and explicit papal statement on the obligation to provide food and water for patients in a "persistent vegetative state" (PVS).

With the Pope's statement, the Church's teaching authority has rejected each aspect of the theory that opposes assisted feeding for patients in a PVS. The Pope's speech marks a new chapter in the Catholic contribution to efforts against euthanasia by omission.

For many years, and through many battles in courts and legislatures, pro-life groups have tried to ensure that these patients receive the food and fluids they need to survive. (Patients in the "vegetative" state have sleep/ wake cycles and so are not comatose, but by definition they show no sign that they are aware of themselves or their surroundings.)

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EDITORIALS:
A Badge of Honor - Page 2
"Goodbye, Darling Pilgrim" - Page 2
PRO-LIFE NEWS IN BRIEF - Page 4
State Legislation Round-Up - Page 5
I Am Catholic vs. I Live the Teachings of My Faith
Sen. John Kerry vs. Catholic Teaching - Page 6
KERRY VOTES AGAINST UNBORN VICTIMS, EARNS NARAL's ENDORSEMENT - Page 7
Finding the Courage to Be Silent No More - Page 8
Hundreds of Young People Lobby, Meet with Gov. Pawlenty, Speaker Sviggum
Students Flock to Capitol for Unmatched Experience - Page 10
Students Challenged Lawmakers - Page 11
Signing of Unborn Victims of
Violence Act Receives More Balanced Coverage - Page 12
A Pain Too Awful to Imagine - Page 13
Chapter Nuts and Bolts
Keeping Tabs on Local Libraries - Page 15
PPFA Tries to Put a Religious Gloss on Abortion - Page 18
More Reason For Optimism at Harvard - Page 17
U.S. Senate rejects single-victim amendment, 49-50, and passes Unborn Victims of Violence Act, 61-38 - Page 23
HORRIFIC DETAILS COME OUT IN TESTIMONY IN COURT CHALLENGES TO PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN ACT - Page 24
Med School 101: You Must Perform or Refer for Abortion - Page 28
Excerpts from Senate floor debate on the Feinstein single-victim substituteMarch 25, 2004 - Page 31
President Bush's Remarks Before Signing the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (April 1, 2004) - Page 33
Some Reactions to the Enactment of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act - Page 33
Family Members of Unborn Victims Go to Washington to Help Pass Bill - Page 34
California Supreme Court Okays
Broad Application of Fetal Homicide Law - Page 35
Will the Law See the Second Victim? - Page 36
MISCONCEPTIONS AND REALITIES REGARDING PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION - Page 37
WHAT CAN NOW BE DONE TO PROTECT AGAINST STARVATION AND DEHYDRATION - Back Cover
AN EASY WAY TO HELP YOUR PRO-LIFE FRIENDS AND NRL NEWS
BE A FRIEND FOR LIFE - NRLC CONVENTION 2004 PATRON
NRLC CONVENTION 2004!
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Vol. 31, No. 4

From the President

Wanda Franz, Ph.D.

A Great Day for Unborn Children
Let's Make it a Great Year!

By Father Dennis Day
NRL Treasurer

On April 1st, I was privileged to attend the President's signing of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act in the East Room of the White House. After all the work we've done over the years, it was obviously a highlight moment, not only for me personally but for the entire pro-life movement.

When the President came by he reached back into the second row to shake my hand. "Thanks for coming," he said. You could see in his eyes that this President means it; he is truly appreciative of the work pro-lifers do.

I've been an officer of National Right to Life for many years now, and a board member for even longer, since 1981. In that time I've seen great progress in our movement. But there have been losses, too. Children born when I became a board member in 1981 are now adults. In fact, they are survivors of a generation whose annual abortion numbers exceeded 1.6 million.

Now the tide is turning the other way. There are 300,000 fewer abortions each year. Polls show that America is once again a pro-life nation, and this includes its young people.

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Complete NRL News
2004 Subject Index