December 28, 2009

HISTORY, 1997-2010, of State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation

1) 1997-1998 State-Level Personhood Legislation
- one State with Personhood Legislation filed: SC

2) 1999-2000 State-Level Personhood Legislation
- one State
with Personhood Legislation filed: SC

3) 2001-2002 State-Level Personhood Legislation
- two States with Personhood Legislation efforts filed: OR, SC

4) 2003-2004 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- one State with Personhood Legislation filed: SC

5) 2005-2006 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- three States with Personhood Legislation efforts filed: MICH, MISS, SC

6) 2007-2008 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- six States with Personhood Legislation efforts filed: CO, GA, MISS, MT, OR, SC

7) 2009-2010 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- 15 States to date with Personhood Legislation efforts filed (as of 12/3/09):
ALA, ALASK, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, MICH, MISS, MO, MONT, ND, NV, OR, SC
- 14 States
with current Personhood Legislation efforts filed (as of 12/3/09):
ALA, ALASK, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, MICH, MISS, MO, MONT, NV, OR, SC

Read and download the complete report here.

December 25, 2009

HISTORY, 1997-2004, of State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation

1) 1997-1998 State-Level Personhood Legislation
- one State with Personhood Legislation filed: SC

2) 1999-2000 State-Level Personhood Legislation
- one State
with Personhood Legislation filed: SC

3) 2001-2002 State-Level Personhood Legislation
- two States with Personhood Legislation efforts filed: OR, SC

4) 2003-2004 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- one State with Personhood Legislation filed: SC

Read and download the complete report here.

December 09, 2009

ANTI-PERSONHOOD Roman Catholic Bishops in Montana rebuked by principled Pro-Personhood Roman Catholic Judie Brown, A.L.L.

"The Montana Catholic Conference has released a statement critical of the efforts of state’s pro-lifers who are seeking recognition of human personhood via a state constitutional amendment."

"I am well aware of the opinions of the “leading pro-life attorneys” who are giving these bishops bad advice. I have found their arguments flawed on several levels. In fact, I recently addressed those of one such attorney, Clarke Forsythe of Americans United for Life, who has insisted that those of us who are working toward human personhood are “heading toward a brick wall.”

"Sadly, his arguments, along with those of James Bopp Jr., Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom’s senior partner and the National Right to Life Committee’s general counsel, appear to have resonated with Catholic bishops for reasons I find both disturbing and antithetical to Catholic teaching."

"We encourage the Catholic bishops of Montana and elsewhere to set aside the disingenuous argument that the passage of a personhood amendment to a state constitution "might trigger an appellate process that could strengthen Roe v. Wade.”


HUMAN PERSONHOOD AND ILL-ADVISED CATHOLIC BISHOPS
December 9, 2009, by Judie Brown
www.all.org/newsroom_judieblog.php?id=2875
[excerpts, emphasis added]

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ROME IS OPPOSED TO ENDING "ABORTION" IN AMERICA:

The Vatican / Pope-appointed Roman Catholic Bishops in State after State, at least since 2006, have OPPOSED State-Level Personhood Legislative efforts to END, not just perpetually regulate Child-Murder-by-"Abortion" - as espoused and practiced by fellow Anti-State-Level-Personhood "incrementalists" and Child-Murder "regulators" National Right to"Life" [sic] and CFR/Jesuit-advised Americans United for "Life" [sic].

The Pope's Roman Catholic Bishops have OPPOSED State-Level Personhood Legislation in:
Michigan (2006), Georgia (2008), Colorado (2008 & 2009), Montana (2008 & 2009), North Dakota (2009),
and Florida (2009).


Principled, pro-personhood, (albeit) Roman Catholic, Mrs. Judie Brown once again reports, documents, and exposes this ongoing, repeated OPPOSITION of the Roman Catholic Bishops to ENDING abortion via State-Level Personhood.

If you are a born-again Christian, please pray that God would have mercy upon this principled, courageous pro-life / anti-abortion woman, and that He would open her eyes to the reality that the Roman Catholic Bishops could not maintain this repeated, ongoing Anti-Personhood position over a number of years, without the backing, and indeed, the instruction, of the Vatican / Pope / Jesuit General; and that God would further extend His grace to Judie Brown, and completely deliver her from the false Babylonian religion of Rome, as He has been so merciful to do over the centuries for so many multitudes of other souls, including this writer !


The Saviour said, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7, KJB)

Saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone,
Ephesians 2:8,9; John 3:16, Romans 10:9,10 (KJB)

Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary, born-again Christian (former Roman Catholic, delivered from Romanism in 1989)
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
Columbia, South Carolina
www.ChristianLifeandLiberty.net
December 9, 2009

Read and download the entire report here.

December 07, 2009

HISTORY of State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation, 2005-2010

1) 2005-2006 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- three States
with Personhood Legislation efforts filed: MICH, MISS, SC

2) 2007-2008 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- six States with Personhood Legislation efforts filed: CO, GA, MISS, MT, OR, SC

3) 2009-2010 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- 15 States
to date with Personhood Legislation efforts filed (as of 12/3/09):
ALA, ALASK, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, MICH, MISS, MO, MONT, ND, NV, OR, SC
- 14 States with current Personhood Legislation efforts filed (as of 12/3/09):
ALA, ALASK, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, MICH, MISS, MO, MONT, NV, OR, SC

Please click here to read and download the complete report.

December 03, 2009

2009-2010 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation:

- Including State-Level Personhood Bills and Constitutional Amendments
- ALA, ALASK, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, MICH, MISS, MO, MONT, ND, NV, OR, SC, VA

Including:
1) Only principled pro-life Personhood Bills and Amendments [except in the cases two Bills filed in the State Legslatures of Georgia and Virginia, see below]; and
2) Both Bills and proposed State-Level Constitutional Amendments filed in the State Legislatures; and also, Constitutional Amendments and one Bill filed as Citizen Petition Ballot Initiatives, all with NO EXCEPTIONS; i.e., declaring legal "Personhood" at fertilization ( any "exceptions" fatally undermine the legal concept of legal personhood, as expressed in the very text of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision - http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=410&invol=113 )

(This report reflects State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation filed through December 3, 2009.)

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There are 14 States with current Personhood Legislation efforts filed (as of 12/3/09):

- ALA, ALASK, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, MICH, MISS, MO, MONT, NV, OR, SC

Alabama - Personhood Bill filed in Legislature
Alaska - Personhood Bill Ballot Initiative
California - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Colorado - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Florida - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Georgia - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Maryland - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Michigan - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Mississippi - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiatives (2)
Missouri - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Montana - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Nevada - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Oregon - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
South Carolina - Personhood Bills (2) filed in Legislature

Read and download the complete report here.

November 01, 2009

Alaska Personhood Bill Citizen's Ballot Initiative certified by Lieutenant Governor

ALASKA PERSONHOOD BILL CITIZEN'S BALLOT INITIATIVE
Legal Personhood (09LPHB) / Status: Preparing Petitions

Citizen's Initiatives
http://ltgov.state.ak.us/initiatives/index.php
Application for the Citizen's Ballot Initiative received by Alaska Lieutenant Governor August 24, 2009
Citizen's Ballot Initiative certified by Alaska Lieutenant Governor October 22, 2009
http://ltgov.state.ak.us/pdfs/elections/initiatives/2009/09LPHB_Certification_SponsorLetter.pdf

Bill Text
http://ltgov.state.ak.us/pdfs/elections/initiatives/2009/09LPHB.pdf

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Alaska is one of 13 States with active Personhood Legislation efforts underway.

Alabama - Personhood Bill filed in Legislature
Alaska - Personhood Bill Ballot Initiative
California - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Colorado - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Florida - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Georgia - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Maryland - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Michigan - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Mississippi - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Missouri - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Montana - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Nevada - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
South Carolina - Personhood Bills (2) filed in Legislature

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Thirteen States have active Personhood Legislation efforts underway:

1) Two States have active Personhood Bills filed in their Legislatures (AL and SC).
[ Virginia also has a principled "right to life" bill filed ]

2) One State has an active Personhood Bill ballot initiative / petition drive underway (AK).

3) Three States have active Personhood Constitutional Amendments filed in their
Legislatures (GA, MD, MI)

4) Seven States have active Personhood Constitutional Amendments ballot initiatives /
petition drives underway (CA, CO, FL, MS, MO, MT, NV)


In addition, two States, North Dakota and Montana, made history earlier in the 2009 legislative session by becoming the first States to pass intact Personhood legislation in one of the chambers of their Legislatures, before failing in the other chamber. The North Dakota House passed a Personhood Bill on February 17, 2009, and the Montana Senate passed a Personhood Constitutional Amendment on February 26, 2009. (Personhood legislation (Bill) passed in the South Carolina House in 2005 was fatally flawed when a rape exception amendment was added on the SC House floor):

North Dakota Personhood Bill Passes, First In US History - Press Release
February 17, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-18-PERS-ND-passHouse.doc


Montana Personhood Constitutional Amendment Passes Senate, First In US History - Press Release (E-mail)
February 26, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-27-PERS-MONT-passSenate-e-mail.doc


North Dakota Senate defeats 'personhood' bill
North Dakota Roman Catholic Bishops help defeat bill
April 3, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-04-03-ND-Senate-ND-RC-Bishops-defeat-personhood-bill.doc


'South Carolina House Passes Personhood Bill' (with fatal flaw) - April 14, 2005
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/H3213-311.doc


Personhood Bill Passes in South Carolina House
www.covenantnews.com/newswire/archives/011416.html
April 14, 2005


Steve Lefemine
Columbia Christians for Life
November 1, 2009

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_________________________________________________

KTUU.COM, Alaska
Initiative underway for ‘legal personhood' status for fetus
www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=11411846
Thursday, October 29, 2009
[excerpts, emphasis added]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Sponsors of an initiative for "legal personhood" are gathering signatures to get the issue on the ballot.

It's an attempt to make a fetus a legal person and it could affect birth control and abortion rights [sic] in Alaska.

Planned Parenthood says if it becomes law, it could lead to police investigating miscarriages.

Sponsors say it's a civil rights issue, and police would only investigate if it appears the miscarriage was actually an abortion.

continued...

"It's 10 percent of those who voted in the last election," Chris Kurka, the ballot's sponsor, says.

"The state responsibility is to protect our rights, and the most fundamental of those rights is the right to life. So what we're doing here is asking the people of the state to sign this initiative, to get it on the ballot, and then to vote for it, so the unborn will be recognized as a person just like the rest of us," Chris says.

Planned Parenthood says if a fetus is recognized as a person, the consequences could range further than intended.

continued...

Another possibility, officials say, is that some birth control methods like an IUD might become illegal.

continued...

"You can never eliminate abortion completely in a society because people are always going to do evil things. It brings to the forefront the issue of whether or not the unborn child is a person or not," says Chris Kurka.

It's time for voters to decide. Kurka hopes more than 30,000 registered voters agree with him and put the issue on the ballot.

continued...
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2009 WorldNow and KTUU. All Rights Reserved.

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KTVF-TV, FAIRBANKS, Alaska
Anti-abortion initiative seeks signatures
www.webcenter11.com/news/state/story/Anti-abortion-initiative-seeks-signatures/iErLvgpcXUGvGfMZQQtrSA.cspx?rss=201
Last Update: 10/30 1:56 pm


ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, Alaska
Initiative seeks status as person for fetuses
www.adn.com/news/politics/story/994366.html
The Associated Press
Published: October 30th, 2009 11:11 PM
Last Modified: October 30th, 2009 11:11 PM

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STATE-LEVEL PERSONHOOD BILLS and CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS:

2009-2010 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation:
- Including State-Level Personhood Bills and Constitutional Amendments
- ALA, GA, MD, MISS, MONT, ND, SC, VA
May 25, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-05-25-2009-2010-State-Level-Personhood-and-other-selected-Legislation.doc


ALASKA
ALASKA PERSONHOOD BILL BALLOT INITIATIVE
Citizen's Initiatives
http://ltgov.state.ak.us/initiatives/index.php
Bill Text
http://ltgov.state.ak.us/pdfs/elections/initiatives/2009/09LPHB.pdf


CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA HUMAN RIGHTS AMENDMENT
http://californiahumanrightsamendment.com/


COLORADO
2010 COLORADO PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
http://personhoodcolorado.com/


FLORIDA
FLORIDA PERSONHOOD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
FLORIDA LAUNCHES PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT

September 11, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-09-10-FLORIDA-LAUNCHES-PERSONHOOD-AMENDMENT.doc
http://personhoodflorida.com/


GEORGIA
GEORGIA HUMAN LIFE AMENDMENT
http://personhood.net/
http://personhood.net/default.htm
www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/hr5.htm


MARYLAND
Maryland Delegate proposes Personhood Amendment for state Constitution
Cumberland Times-News, January 30, 2009, " Lawmaker wants to open public debate on 'the glory of life' "
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-01-30-Maryland-personhood-amend.doc

MARYLAND
MARYLAND PERSONHOOD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT (2009)
http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0925.htm
http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb0925f.pdf


MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN PERSONHOOD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Democrat-Led Personhood Constitutional Amendment Introduced In Michigan Legislature
October 14, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-10-21-PERS-MICH-Const-Amend-intro-Oct-14.doc


MISSISSIPPI
2011 MISSISSIPPI PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
http://personhoodmississippi.com/


MISSOURI
PERSONHOOD MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
http://personhoodmissouri.com/


MONTANA
MONTANA PERSONHOOD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
http://montanaprolifecoalition.org/
http://montanaprolifecoalition.org/brochure.htm


NEVADA
NEVADA PERSONHOOD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Nevada Personhood Constitutional Amendment ballot initiative filed with Secretary of State
October 21, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-10-22-NEV-PERS-Const-Amend-ballot-initiative-filed-with-Sec-State-Oct-21.doc


SOUTH CAROLINA (House)
RIGHT TO LIFE ACT OF SOUTH CAROLINA PERSONHOOD BILL INTRODUCED - Press Release
FILED WITH TOTAL 45 SC HOUSE SPONSORS
February 12, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-16-RTLActofSC-intro-corr.doc


SOUTH CAROLINA (Senate)
SOUTH CAROLINA "PERSONHOOD" COMPANION BILL INTRODUCED IN SC SENATE - Press Release
FILED WITH TOTAL 10 SC SENATE SPONSORS
February 18, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-19-SC-PERSONHOOD-Senate-Companion-Bill-INTRO-02-18-PR.doc

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

"... I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ)



Hallelu-Yah !

Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
PO Box 50358, Columbia, SC 29250
(803) 794-6273
CCL@ChristianLifeandLiberty.net
www.ChristianLifeandLiberty.net , Home page, and "RTL Act of SC" page
www.RighttoLifeActofSC.net
www.LefemineForLife.net
November 1, 2009

October 22, 2009

Nevada Personhood Constitutional Amendment ballot initiative filed with Secretary of State

Nevada is now one of 12 States with active Personhood Legislation efforts underway.
Proposed initiative filed with the Nevada Secretary of State's Office, October 21, 2009

Alabama - Personhood Bill
California - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Colorado - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Florida - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Georgia - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Maryland - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Michigan - Personhood Constitutional Amendment filed in Legislature
Mississippi - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Missouri - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Montana - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
Nevada - Personhood Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative
South Carolina - Personhood Bills (2)

_________________________________________________

Twelve States have active Personhood Legislation efforts underway:

1) Two States have active Personhood Bills filed in their Legislatures (AL and SC).
[ Virginia also has a principled "right to life" bill filed ]

2) Three States have active Personhood Constitutional Amendments filed in their Legislatures (GA, MD, MI)

3) Seven States have active Personhood Constitutional Amendments ballot initiatives / petition drives underway (CA, CO, FL, MS, MO, MT, NV)


In addition, two States, North Dakota and Montana, made history earlier in the 2009 legislative session by becoming the first States to pass intact Personhood legislation in one of the chambers of their Legislatures, before failing in the other chamber. The North Dakota House passed a Personhood Bill on February 17, 2009, and the Montana Senate passed a Personhood Constitutional Amendment on February 26, 2009. (Personhood legislation (Bill) passed in the South Carolina House in 2005 was fatally flawed when a rape exception amendment was added on the SC House floor):

North Dakota Personhood Bill Passes, First In US History - Press Release
February 17, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-18-PERS-ND-passHouse.doc


Montana Personhood Constitutional Amendment Passes Senate, First In US History - Press Release (E-mail)
February 26, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-27-PERS-MONT-passSenate-e-mail.doc


North Dakota Senate defeats 'personhood' bill
North Dakota Roman Catholic Bishops help defeat bill

April 3, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-04-03-ND-Senate-ND-RC-Bishops-defeat-personhood-bill.doc


'South Carolina House Passes Personhood Bill' (with fatal flaw) - April 14, 2005
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/H3213-311.doc

Personhood Bill Passes in South Carolina House
www.covenantnews.com/newswire/archives/011416.html
April 14, 2005


Steve Lefemine
Columbia Christians for Life
October 22, 2009

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__________________________________________________

PersonhoodUSA.com
Nevada Coalition Introduces Historic Campaign To Affirm All Humans Are Persons
www.personhoodusa.com/content/nevada-coalition-introduces-historic-campaign-affirm-all-humans-are-persons
10/22/2009
[excerpts, emphasis added]

Carson City NV. October 22/ Personhood Nevada is pleased to announce yesterday's filing of a citizen-led initiative to amend the Constitution of the State of Nevada, the proposed Amendment reading as follows:

“In the great state of Nevada, the term 'person' applies to every human being.

Article I Section 8 of the Nevada constitution states, ‘No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.’”

continued...

The amendment applies the term “person” to every human being in a straightforward manner understandable by all, including children. Scientifically, the term 'human being' includes everyone possessing a human genome specific for an individual member of the human species, from the beginning of his or her biological development, without discrimination as to age, health, reproduction method, function, physical or mental dependency, or cognitive ability.

continued...

As a citizen-led initiative, approximately 97,000 signatures are necessary for the proposed amendment to be placed on the 2010 statewide ballot.

For Interviews Contact: Richard Ziser 702-221-1613 rziser@earthlink.net

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____________________________________________________

San Jose Mercury News, California
Group proposes abortion ban amendment in NV
www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13612285?nclick_check=1&forced=true#

The Associated Press
Posted: 10/21/2009 05:40:17 PM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2009 05:40:18 PM PDT

CARSON CITY, Nev. ­ A proposed initiative that seeks to ban abortions in Nevada has been filed with the secretary of state's office.

A group called Personhood Nevada, led by Richard Ziser, filed the initiative paperwork on Wednesday.

The initiative would amend Nevada's constitution to extend due process rights to "everyone possessing a human genome."

Ziser, who led the successful gay marriage ban in Nevada earlier this decade, could not be reached for immediate comment.

Backers would need to gather 97,002 signatures to qualify for the 2010 general election ballot.

Similar petition drives are being organized in other states around the country.

Copyright © 2009 - San Jose Mercury News
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__________________________________________________


STATE-LEVEL PERSONHOOD BILLS and CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS:

2009-2010 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation:
- Including State-Level Personhood Bills and Constitutional Amendments
- ALA, GA, MD, MISS, MONT, ND, SC, VA
May 25, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-05-25-2009-2010-State-Level-Personhood-and-other-selected-Legislation.doc


CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA HUMAN RIGHTS AMENDMENT
http://californiahumanrightsamendment.com/


COLORADO
2010 COLORADO PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
http://personhoodcolorado.com/


FLORIDA
FLORIDA LAUNCHES PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
September 11, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-09-10-FLORIDA-LAUNCHES-PERSONHOOD-AMENDMENT.doc
http://personhoodflorida.com/


GEORGIA
GEORGIA HUMAN LIFE AMENDMENT
http://personhood.net/
http://personhood.net/default.htm
www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/hr5.htm


MARYLAND
Maryland Delegate proposes Personhood Amendment for state Constitution
Cumberland Times-News, January 30, 2009, " Lawmaker wants to open public debate on 'the glory of life' "
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-01-30-Maryland-personhood-amend.doc


MARYLAND
MARYLAND PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT (2009)
http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0925.htm
http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb0925f.pdf


MICHIGAN
Democrat-Led Personhood Constitutional Amendment Introduced In Michigan Legislature
October 14, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-10-21-PERS-MICH-Const-Amend-intro-Oct-14.doc


MISSISSIPPI
2011 MISSISSIPPI PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
http://personhoodmississippi.com/


MISSOURI
PERSONHOOD MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
http://personhoodmissouri.com/


MONTANA
MONTANA PERSONHOOD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
http://montanaprolifecoalition.org/
http://montanaprolifecoalition.org/brochure.htm


SOUTH CAROLINA (House)
RIGHT TO LIFE ACT OF SOUTH CAROLINA PERSONHOOD BILL INTRODUCED - Press Release
FILED WITH TOTAL 45 SC HOUSE SPONSORS
February 12, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-16-RTLActofSC-intro-corr.doc


SOUTH CAROLINA (Senate)
SOUTH CAROLINA "PERSONHOOD" COMPANION BILL INTRODUCED IN SC SENATE - Press Release
FILED WITH TOTAL 10 SC SENATE SPONSORS
February 18, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-19-SC-PERSONHOOD-Senate-Companion-Bill-INTRO-02-18-PR.doc


__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________


"... I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ)


Hallelu-Yah !

Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
PO Box 50358
Columbia, SC 29250
(803) 794-6273
CCL@ChristianLifeandLiberty.net
http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/ , Home page, and "RTL Act of SC" page
http://www.righttolifeactofsc.net/
http://www.lefemineforlife.net/
October 22, 2009

October 21, 2009

Democrat-Led Personhood Constitutional Amendment Introduced In Michigan Legislature

House Joint Resolution II (2009)
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2009-HJR-II
Civil rights; equal protection; right to life; establish and clarify. Amends the state constitution by adding sec. 28 to art. I.
Introduced in Michigan House of Representatives, October 14, 2009

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION II (Text)
www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/jointresolutionintroduced/House/htm/2009-HIJR-II.htm

Personhood USA Press Release below, "Democrat-Led Personhood Amendment Introduced In Michigan Legislature,"
dated October 17, 2009, available at:
www.personhoodusa.com/content/immediate-release-democrat-led-personhood-amendment-introduced-michigan-legislature


_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________


For Immediate Release: Democrat-Led Personhood
Amendment Introduced In Michigan Legislature


Submitted by jsutherland on Sat, 10/17/2009 - 17:46

Lansing, MI - October 17, 2009

Michigan has joined with dozens of other States that are seeking affirmation of personhood rights for all humans.

Rep. Jim Slezack (Democrat) is the the lead sponsor of the amendment, and is cosponsored by Paul Scott, Tim Moore, Richard LeBlanc, James Bolger, Kevin Green, Rick Jones, Pete Lund, Matt Lori, John Walsh, Kenneth Kurtz, Tom McMillin, Robert Dean, Bob Genetski, Wayne Schmidt, Joe Haveman, Kevin Daley, Marty Knollenberg, Eileen Kowall, Goeff Hansen, Dudley Spade, Joel Sheltrown, and Jeff Mayes.


The Michigan Personhood Amendment states:

SEC. 28. (1) EVERY HUMAN PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO LIFE, WHICH IS THE PARAMOUNT AND MOST FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT GUARANTEED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.

(2) WITH RESPECT TO THE FUNDAMENTAL AND INALIENABLE RIGHT TO LIFE, THE WORD "PERSON"
APPLIES TO ALL HUMAN BEINGS, IRRESPECTIVE OF AGE, RACE, GENDER, HEALTH, FUNCTION, CONDITION
OF DEPENDENCY, INCLUDING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DEPENDENCY, OR METHOD OF REPRODUCTION,
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING FERTILIZATION.


“It is tremendous that for the first time in Michigan Legislature history, an Amendment has been introduced to protect ALL humans no matter how small, by love and by law,” commented Cal Zastrow, Co-founder of Personhood USA.


For Interviews Please contact:

Rep. Jim Slezak

517-373-3906

JimSlezak@house.mi.gov



Rep. Paul Scott

517-373-1780

paulscott@house.mi.gov



Or Cal Zastrow, Director/ Co-Founder Michigan Citizens for Life

989-859-4482

Cal@personhoodusa.com

http://www.personhoodusa.com/


What is Personhood USA?
Personhood USA is a grassroots Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born. When the term “Person” is granted to a human being, it refers to the presence of a particular set of characteristics that grant that individual certain rights such as the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In other words, to be a person is to be protected by a series of God given and constitutionally protected rights. This terrifies the pro-abortion foes!!!
Click here to learn more.

PO Box 486, Arvada, Colorado 80001
©copyright 2008 Personhood USA
202-595-3500

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_____________________________________________________________________________

Personhood USA Press Release above, "Democrat-Led Personhood Amendment Introduced In Michigan Legislature," dated October 17, 2009, being forwarded by Columbia Christians for Life, PO Box 50358, Columbia, SC 29250 / (803) 794-6273

While thankful for the principled pro-life efforts of all those supporting “personhood” for pre-born humans, CCL does not participate in ecumenical pro-life activism.


CCL Note: Personhood USA has been very successful in expanding the Personhood vision in the United States, resulting in the launching of several new efforts in multiple states to ESTABLISH JUSTICE for pre-birth human beings, by vesting legal Personhood, at fertilization, with no exceptions. Because of the leadership and direct efforts of Personhood USA, Personhood efforts have grown and multiplied, helping to grow the goal of establishing Personhood for pre-birth human beings into a national effort, along with the efforts of others.

Unfortunately, Personhood USA is also one of many ecumenical pro-life organizations, despite the admonition of Scripture in 2 Cor. 6:14-18 to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Rome's ongoing strategy of promoting Ecumenism is one major reason for the repeated, documented opposition of US Catholic Bishops (who are accountable to the Vatican's Pope) to passing state-level PERSONHOOD legislation to END "abortion" (i.e., child-murder), in direct opposition to the efforts of Personhood USA and others who are working to establish unborn Personhood.

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STATE-LEVEL PERSONHOOD BILLS and CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS:

2009-2010 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation:
- Including State-Level Personhood Bills and Constitutional Amendments
- ALA, GA, MD, MISS, MONT, ND, SC, VA
May 25, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-05-25-2009-2010-State-Level-Personhood-and-other-selected-Legislation.doc


2007-2008 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation
- Including State-Level Personhood Bills and Constitutional Amendments
- AL, CO, GA, MT, SC, VA
Updated February 14, 2008
http://righttolifeactofsc.blogspot.com/2008/02/2007-2008-state-level-personhood-and.html

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Personhood Amendment in Colorado (ballot initiative voted on November 4, 2008)
- Historic, first-time-ever, state-wide vote conducted on a "Personhood" Constitutional Amendment
www.coloradoforequalrights.com/


Colorado Personhood Amendment to State Constitution - results of November 4, 2008 ballot initiative
Amendment 48-Definition of Person Results

http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/amendment/2008/48-definition-of-person/

100% reporting ( 3215 precincts )
Ballot-Vote Vote percentage Vote count

No 73.2% (1,605,978)
Yes 26.7% (585,561)


North Dakota Personhood Bill Passes, First In US History - Press Release (E-mail)
February 17, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-24-PERS-ND-passHouse-e-mail.doc


Montana Personhood Constitutional Amendment Passes Senate, First In US History - Press Release (E-mail)
February 26, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-27-PERS-MONT-passSenate-e-mail.doc


North Dakota Senate defeats 'personhood' bill
North Dakota Roman Catholic Bishops help defeat bill

April 3, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-04-03-ND-Senate-ND-RC-Bishops-defeat-personhood-bill.doc

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MARYLAND
Maryland Delegate proposes Personhood Amendment for state Constitution
Cumberland Times-News, January 30, 2009, " Lawmaker wants to open public debate on 'the glory of life' "
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-01-30-Maryland-personhood-amend.doc


MARYLAND
MARYLAND PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT (2009)
http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0925.htm
http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb0925f.pdf


SOUTH CAROLINA (House)
RIGHT TO LIFE ACT OF SOUTH CAROLINA PERSONHOOD BILL INTRODUCED - Press Release
FILED WITH TOTAL 45 SC HOUSE SPONSORS
February 12, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-16-RTLActofSC-intro-corr.doc
SOUTH CAROLINA (Senate)
SOUTH CAROLINA "PERSONHOOD" COMPANION BILL INTRODUCED IN SC SENATE - Press Release
FILED WITH TOTAL 10 SC SENATE SPONSORS
February 18, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-02-19-SC-PERSONHOOD-Senate-Companion-Bill-INTRO-02-18-PR.doc


FLORIDA
FLORIDA LAUNCHES PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
September 11, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-09-10-FLORIDA-LAUNCHES-PERSONHOOD-AMENDMENT.doc
http://personhoodflorida.com/


CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA HUMAN RIGHTS AMENDMENT
http://californiahumanrightsamendment.com/


COLORADO
2010 COLORADO PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
http://personhoodcolorado.com/


GEORGIA
GEORGIA HUMAN LIFE AMENDMENT (2007-ongoing)
http://personhood.net/default.htm


MISSISSIPPI
2011 MISSISSIPPI PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
http://personhoodmississippi.com/


MISSOURI
PERSONHOOD MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
http://personhoodmissouri.com/


MONTANA
MONTANA PERSONHOOD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
http://montanaprolifecoalition.org/
http://montanaprolifecoalition.org/brochure.htm

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"... I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ)



Hallelu-Yah !

Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
PO Box 50358
Columbia, SC 29250
(803) 794-6273
http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/
http://www.righttolifeactofsc.net/
http://www.lefemineforlife.net/
October 21, 2009

October 01, 2009

Florida Roman Catholic Bishops now ALSO Oppose Personhood Constitutional Amendment to END Child-Murder-by-Abortion

- Roman Catholic Bishops in MICHIGAN (2006), GEORGIA (2008), COLORADO (2008 & 2009), MONTANA (2008), and NORTH DAKOTA (2009) have also opposed Personhood legislation in their States

PLEASE PUBLICIZE WIDELY - THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN MULTIPLE STATES HAVE REPEATEDLY UNDERMINED PERSONHOOD EFFORTS TO END ABORTION IN THEIR STATES BY RECOGNIZING THE PERSONHOOD OF THE UNBORN, AT FERTILIZATION, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.

TOGETHER WITH THE ANTI-PERSONHOOD EFFORTS OF BOTH NATIONAL RIGHT TO "LIFE" [sic] and AMERICANS UNITED FOR "LIFE" [sic], WHO HAVE ALSO BOTH OPPOSED PERSONHOOD LEGISLATION TO END ABORTION IN THE STATES, THE INESCAPABLE EFFECT OF THE ANTI-LIFE EFFORTS OF ALL THREE: i.e., 1) THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS, 2) NATIONAL RIGHT TO "LIFE" [sic], and 3) AMERICANS UNITED FOR "LIFE" [sic], HAS BEEN TO DELAY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JUSTICE FOR PRE-BIRTH HUMAN BEINGS, AND THEREFORE TO PROLONG THE ABORTION HOLOCAUST IN AMERICA.



Steve Lefemine
Columbia Christians for Life
Columbia, South Carolina
October 1, 2009

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Florida Bishops Oppose Personhood Amendment
www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/sep/09092913.html

Read and download the complete report here.

September 22, 2009

Catholic CFR-members (two) on Americans United for Life (AUL) Directors/Advisory Boards;

AUL Sr. Legal Counsel attacked Columbia Christians for Life Personhood position

AUL Board of Directors - Catholic CFR-member George S. Weigel, Jr.,
Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, DC
www.aul.org/Board_of_Directors

AUL Board of Advisors - Catholic CFR-member Professor Robert P. George,
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
www.aul.org/Board_of_Advisors

Read and download the complete report here.

September 21, 2009

Romanist, Jesuit-advised, Americans United for "Life" [sic] senior legal counsel attacks CCL's "Personhood" position

Americans United for "Life" [sic] has been an opponent of State-level Personhood Legislation to END abortion.

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Pro-Lifers Must be Realistic About How, When Roe Abortion Case Can be Reversed
by Clarke Forsythe

September 16, 2009
LifeNews.com Note: Clarke Forsythe is the senior legal counsel at Americans United for Life, a pro-life legal group that has been involved in numerous Supreme Court and lower court cases concerning abortion law.
www.lifenews.com/nat5475.html
Quote: “Nevertheless, the urban legend has spread throughout the Web. The standard description is captured in the following excerpt from a website called "Christian Life and Liberty": “

and:

The Blackmun Myth
Pro-lifers should be realistic about their short-term goals.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MWY2OTI5NThkNThhYWU1NTgzZWRhMWIxN2Y3YjA3ZDc =http://article.nationalreview.com/406758/the-blackmun-myth/clarke-d-forsythe
By Clarke D. Forsythe
September 16, 2009 4:00 AM
Quote: “Nevertheless, the urban legend has spread throughout the Web. The standard description is captured
in the following excerpt from a website called “Christian Life and Liberty”: “

­ Clarke D. Forsythe is senior counsel at Americans United for Life.

___________________________________________________

Previous report by Columbia Christians for Life (CCL):

Romanist, Ecumenical "Pro-Life" Webcast includes CFR-member,
and several opponents of state-level Personhood bills:
CFR:
Richard Land, Southern Baptist Convention;
Romanist / Ecumenical: Americans United for Life;
Roman Catholic priest, Frank Pavone, Priests For Life;
National Right to Life; Family Research Council; and others
July 23, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-07-23-Romanist-Ecumenical-Pro-Life-Webcast-CFR-member-opponents-state-level-Personhood-bills.doc


1. Americans United for Life - includes JESUIT priest on AUL Advisory Board:

CCL Note: "S.J." stands for "Society of Jesus" [sic] or "Jesuit"

Reverend Kevin T. FitzGerald, S.J.
David Lauler Chair, Catholic Health Care Ethics, Center for Clinical Bioethics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC

Americans United for Life Board of Advisors
www.aul.org/Board_of_Advisors

________________________________________________

CCL Note: Georgetown is a Jesuit University and power base in Washington, D.C. with immense influence in political, military, and foreign affairs. It is a Vatican / Jesuit General stronghold of Rome's New World Order.

Georgetown University
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown_University
Georgetown University is a Jesuit private university located in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Father John Carroll founded the school in 1789, though its roots extend back to 1634. ... Georgetown is the oldest Roman Catholic university in the United States, and its religious heritage is used to define the institution.

Georgetown University President: [ Council on Foreign Relations member ] John J. DeGioia

2006 Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Membership Roster
(including current and/or past positions of some members)
www.stopthenorthamericanunion.com/CFRMembers.html

________________________________________________

Americans United for "Life" [sic] has been an opponent of State-level Personhood Legislation to END abortion for years.

Amending the Approach
A state Human Life Amendment isn’t the answer.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDEzYzFlMjkzYWVmOWRjMmRhM2YxMWE3ODkwYzQzZDQ=
By Clarke D. Forsythe & Denise Burke
November 27, 2007 4:00 AM

­ Clarke D. Forsythe is the president of Americans United for Life in Chicago.
Denise Burke is the Vice President and Legal Director for AUL’s Legal and Policy Team.

________________________________________________

Americans United for "LIfe" [sic], like National Right to "Life" [sic] , is part of the Romanist-led Establishment opposition to ending abortion, instead of just perpetually, incrementally regulating it. These are "pro-life" [sic] Vatican front groups which are not Biblically-based. Any individuals working in these organizations who do sincerely want to see abortion ended have been deceived by the Vatican / Papal / Jesuit General agenda of Rome to perpetuate abortion, not end it.

National Right to Life was first organized under the auspices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1968 - five years before Roe v. Wade - before becoming "autonomous" and allegedly "non-sectarian" [sic] in 1973 - those involved with fighting for personhood for the unborn in many state-level efforts over the last several years know what an enemy of "Personhood" efforts that National Right to "Life" [sic] has been, and of the obstruction and opposition to State-level Personhood efforts by the Pope-appointed, Roman Catholic Bishops in Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Montana, and North Dakota. (see report below on the pro-active public opposition of the North Dakota Catholic Bishops in 2009).

The goal of Rome is not to end abortion, but to perpetuate it. Rome / the Vatican has done a "good" job - abortion in America could have been ended in 1973 by Congress and the President passing personhood legislation that same year. After over 36 years and over 50+ Million dead from surgical abortion alone, abortion can still be ended, not just regulated, by establishing Personhood. There are even now three personhood bills in the U.S. Congress:

HR 881, S.346, and HR 2533 (also limits US Supreme Court appellate jurisdiction).
[ see bills at http://thomas.loc.gov/ ]

God's requirement for Murder is JUSTICE, not Regulation !

Rome / the Jesuit General / the Vatican / the Pope are enemies of ending abortion. Abortion has been an ecumenical bonanza for Rome, getting born-again Christians to yoke with Roman Catholicsin fighting abortion, despite God's commandments against unequal yoking with unbelievers (e.g., 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, KJB), resulting in the weakening of Bible-believing Christians and Churches, just as intended by the ongoing Council of Trent Counter-Reformation, not repudiated by the Second Vatican Council.

One of the planks of the New World Order is global population reduction, possibly by 90%, as revealed by the Georgia Guidestones (www.radioliberty.com/stones.htm / www.radioliberty.com/pca.htm ). Abortion is one of the instruments of this satanic policy objective.

ROME is the New World Order.

Abortion is yet another Papal / Vatican / Rome / Jesuit General Inquisition of non-Catholics in the 20th / 21st centuries !!!

"... I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
Yeshua Messiah


Hallelu-Yah !

Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
PO Box 50358, Columbia, SC 29250
(803) 794-6273
http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/, Home page
http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/, "News" page
http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/, "RTL Act of SC" page (South Carolina Personhood Bills to END Abortion; first introduced in SC House and SC Senate in 1998)
http://www.righttolifeactofsc.net/
http://www.lefemineforlife.net/
September 21, 2009 / Revised November 11, 2009 / Revised November 12, 2009 / Corrected November 17, 2009 /Updated June 7, 2010

2009/2010 Session - South Carolina Personhood Bills (House and Senate)
www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/450.htm
www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/3526.htm


2009-2010 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation:
- Including State-Level Personhood Bills and Constitutional Amendments
- ALA, GA, MD, MISS, MONT, ND, SC, VA
May 25, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-05-25-2009-2010-State-Level-Personhood-and-other-selected-Legislation.doc


FLORIDA LAUNCHES PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT
September 11, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-09-10-FLORIDA-LAUNCHES-PERSONHOOD-AMENDMENT.doc


Catholic Bishops in North Dakota opposed state personhood bill which passed North Dakota House; opposition of Roman Catholic leaders helped defeat historic personhood bill in North Dakota Senate by 29-16 vote
- Judie Brown (ALL) article, April 3, 2009 - "NORTH DAKOTA BISHOPS NULLIFY PERSONHOOD!"
- Steve Lefemine (CCL) commentary, May 21, 2009 - The Vatican / Roman Catholic hierarchy is NOT pro-life !!!
(Including the Bishops, Cardinals, Pope, Vatican, Jesuit General)
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-05-21-Judie-Brown-April-3-2009-ND-Bishops-nullify-personhood.doc


437th Anniversary: August 24, 1572 - Roman Catholic / Jesuit / Papal
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of French Protestants (Huguenot Calvinists)

Roman Catholic slaughter of 75,000 French Protestant Huguenots in Paris and France in 1572
August 24, 2009
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-08-23-437th-Anniv-Aug-24-1572-Romes-St-Bartholomews-Day-Massacre-of-French-Protestant-Huguenots.doc

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_________________________________________________

Pro-Lifers Must be Realistic About How, When Roe Abortion Case Can be Reversed

by Clarke Forsythe
September 16, 2009

LifeNews.com Note: Clarke Forsythe is the senior legal counsel at Americans United for Life, a pro-life legal group that has been involved in numerous Supreme Court and lower court cases concerning abortion law.

www.lifenews.com/nat5475.html


Last month, a federal court upheld South Dakota's law that women seeking abortion be informed "that the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being."

This is good news for people who believe women should have full information about abortion. But make no mistake: The South Dakota law will not, as some pro-lifers believe, pose a "challenge" to Roe v. Wade.

The law is consistent with the trend in criminal and tort law toward protecting the unborn as human beings. In recent decades, legal protection of the unborn as persons has developed state by state through fetal-homicide and wrongful-death laws.

Today, 36 states have fetal-homicide laws, 24 of which protect unborn children from the time of conception, and 38 states have wrongful-death laws, which protect unborn children at least after viability. (As a practical matter, however, the application of these laws has been limited by the U.S. Supreme Court to incidents other than abortion - e.g., vehicular homicide.)

Over the past few years, a very different legal definition of "personhood" has been proposed in various states. These "personhood" proposals have the specific aim of "challenging" Roe, yet they are heading toward a brick wall, because they are based on a clear misreading of Justice Blackmun's language in the 1973 decision.

The proposals sometimes attempt to define human life as beginning at conception (or fertilization). That's well and good, if properly drafted, and such laws are in force in many states. But the mistaken belief is that such a definition will repair an omission in Roe or present facts that the Court didn't know about. This is wrong for several reasons.

The myth has been widely reported that Justice Blackmun stated in Roe that "we don't know when life begins." Some state legislatures have come to believe that they can answer that question by asserting that life begins at conception. What Blackmun actually wrote (pp. 156-157 of the Roe opinion) was: "The [state of Texas] argue[s] that the fetus is a 'person' within the language and meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment. In support of this, they outline at length and in detail the well-known facts of fetal development. If this suggestion of personhood is established, [Jane Roe's] case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the Amendment."

Nevertheless, the urban legend has spread throughout the Web. The standard description is captured in the following excerpt from a website called "Christian Life and Liberty":

According to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, personhood "collapses" the abortion "legal" [sic] argument:

The 1973 US Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision instructed that if "personhood" for the "fetus" was established at fertilization, with no exceptions, then the [so-called] "legal" [sic] argument for abortion "collapses" ["[so-called]" and "[sic]" in the original].

There are several fundamental problems here. First, this is a classic case of reading the language out of context. The phrase "suggestion of personhood" in Blackmun's opinion clearly refers to the earlier phrase "within the language and meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment." It does not mean "personhood" in any broader medical, moral, or legal sense. Blackmun is emphasizing the meaning of "person" within the 14th Amendment.

Second, no state can - by statute or constitutional amendment - change the meaning of the 14th Amendment to the federal constitution. The 14th Amendment can be changed only by another federal constitutional amendment or by the U.S. Supreme Court's changing its interpretation of the 14th Amendment.

Thus, the following extrapolation from Blackmun's language (on the same website) is clearly wrong:

Establishing in law (by statutory change to the state's code of laws, or by a state constitutional amendment) legal "personhood" for pre-birth human beings, at fertilization, with no exceptions, satisfies the requirement spelled out in the infamous 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, to "collapse" the [so-called] "legal" [sic] argument for abortion."

Third, the misguided argument then quotes footnote 54 of Blackmun's opinion, without realizing that Blackmun is being ironic:

"Exceptions" to legal "personhood" are unconstitutional, as explained in the text of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, and in a Justice Blackmun footnote therein [emphasis added]:

"When Texas urges that a fetus is entitled to Fourteenth Amendment protection as a person, it faces a dilemma. Neither in Texas nor in any other State are all abortions prohibited. Despite broad proscription, an exception always exists . . . But if the fetus is a person who is not to be deprived of life without due process of law, and if the mother's condition is the sole determinant, does not the Texas exception appear to be out of line with the Amendment's command?...."

Blackmun is not seriously entertaining personhood; it's clear from the context (and from the rest of the Roe opinion) that he rejects it as nonsense. He is not saying that exceptions are "unconstitutional" and never uses such language. The urban legend has it exactly backwards: The Texas statute does not define the meaning of the 14th Amendment; the 14th Amendment defines the validity of the Texas statute.

If Blackmun had seriously entertained the notion that the 14th Amendment protected the unborn, the Texas statute would not have impeded him; the Court could have struck it down. Blackmun set up his sneering contradiction only after concluding that the 14th Amendment did not protect the unborn. He thought his manufactured scenario would lampoon Texas's case.

Thus, the following extrapolation on the website is also obviously wrong:

"Personhood" legislation, by statutorily vesting legal "personhood" at fertilization for ALL human beings, satisifies [sic] the Roe formula published over 36 years ago.

The key legal issue presented in the very text of Roe, necessary to unravel the entire Roe framework, is statutorily vesting legal "personhood" at fertilization for ALL human beings, with no exceptions. . . .

In other words, pass "personhood" legislation in your state, as a bill, or as a constitutional amendment, and according to the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision itself, [so-called] "legal" [sic] abortion is over in that jurisdiction.

Basing state personhood amendments on extrapolations of Blackmun's language in Roe is futile. This does not mean that establishing some form of legal personhood in the states is not a worthy goal. It simply means that (because of our system of federalism) it will not - it cannot - establish 14th Amendment personhood or set up a test case to overturn Roe.

First, not one justice on the current Supreme Court supports the proposition that the unborn are protected as "persons" within the meaning of the 14th Amendment. Not one. All have rejected it, explicitly or implicitly.

Second, these proposals would be better designed if they followed the Missouri statutory preamble enacted in the 1980s:

1. The general assembly of [Missouri] finds that:

(1) The life of each human being begins at conception;
(2) Unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being;
(3) The natural parents of unborn children have protectable interests in the life, health, and well-being of their unborn child.

2. Effective January 1, 1988, the laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development, all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and decisional interpretations thereof by the United States Supreme Court and specific provisions to the contrary in the statutes and constitution of this state.

3. As used in this section, the term "unborn children" or "unborn child" shall include all unborn child or children or the offspring of human beings from the moment of conception until birth at every stage of biological development.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed the Missouri preamble in the 1989 Webster case and found it constitutional, the preamble has been applied by Missouri courts to extend protections for unborn children in non-abortion situations.

Third, state legislation concerning fetal development will not supply facts that the justices are not already aware of. Justice Blackmun clearly thought he understood the "well-known facts of fetal development" in 1973. Moreover, the two partial-birth-abortion cases in 2000 and 2007 amply supplied facts about the humanity of the unborn and what abortion does to the unborn child. Even the most pro-abortion justices acknowledged this by noting that D&E (dilation and evacuation) abortions are no less brutal than D&X abortions. The Supreme Court's majority opinion in the 2007 Gonzales case used the words "kill" or "killing" at least 18 times to describe abortion. The problem is not that the justices do not understand, but that they do not care.

Fourth, legislation is needed that will protect the unborn, but there's no reason to believe such legislation will be an effective vehicle to challenge Roe, given the Court's current composition. And while public education about fetal development will always be important, the notion that such facts will have a significant impact on the current justices is based on a profound misunderstanding of why most of those justices support Roe.

The emphasis on the unborn child completely overlooks the fact that the Court's rationale for the abortion "right" shifted dramatically in the 1992 Casey decision, where it became a sociological rationale that women need abortion as a backup to failed contraception. Facts about fetal development have no bearing on this sociological rationale. The real challenge for pro-lifers in 2009 is to effectively address the assumption that abortion is good for women.

Finally, with the confirmation of pro-abortion Justice Sotomayor, and the likelihood that President Obama will have the opportunity to nominate more pro-abortion justices in the next three years, there is no chance that the Court will reconsider Roe as long as Obama is in office. Justice Scalia (who should know) plainly told a legal audience in Europe a few years ago that there was not a majority on the Court to overturn Roe. That's even more certain today.

There are other goals that are more important - and more achievable in the current environment - than an illusory test case to "challenge Roe" based on questions that the current justices simply aren't asking.

__________________________________________________

September 10, 2009

FLORIDA LAUNCHES PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT

After months of preparation and hard work, we are pleased to announce that Florida will be launching their personhood amendment.

PRESS RELEASE

Personhood Florida Submits Personhood Amendment to Florida State Constitution

Contact: Brenda Macmenamin, 772-708-5239; Dr. Pat McEwen, 321-431-3962

MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 9 /Christian Newswire / -- God is the author of all human rights -- mine, yours -- every human being's from their very beginning. First among these, and upon which all others stand, is our right to be recognized as persons -- as children of God, made in His image and likeness.

Our Floridian Founding Fathers laid upon our shoulders the right, better yet the responsibility, to defend life -- of every human being.

"We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its blessings and to form a more perfect government, insuring domestic tranquility, maintaining public order, and guaranteeing equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this Constitution. All men are equal before the law, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying
and defending life." Florida State Constitution 1885

Knowing the price they paid to recognize our rights, can we do less than to recognize the right upon which all other rights stand -- personhood of every human being?

Our cause is just and our God is able!

Who: Personhood Florida What: Press Conference announcing submission of the Personhood Amendment to the Florida State Constitution

When: Friday, September 11, 2009, 12:30 p.m.

Where: Waller Park -- in front of the new Capitol, facing the Supreme Court and Duval Street, Tallahassee, FL

Why: It's time to accept the right of "defending life".
It's time to protect the innocent in love and in law.
It's time to recognize constitutional personhood for all human beings.
It's time for Florida to end abortion and euthanasia.

PersonhoodFL is a Christian grassroots non-partisan organization founded to establish personhood efforts across Florida to create protection for every child by love and by law. PersonhoodFL is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through recognizing personhood of the pre-born. When the term "Person" is granted to a human being, it refers to the presence of a particular set of characteristics that grant that individual certain rights such as the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In other words, to be a person is to be protected by a series of God given and constitutionally protected rights.

Personhood USA is a grassroots Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born.

Personhood USA
PO Box 486,
Arvada, CO 80001
United States

Click here for a printable version of this press release.

May 25, 2009

2009-2010 State-Level Personhood (and other selected) Legislation:

- Including State-Level Personhood Bills and Constitutional Amendments

- ALA, GA, MD, MISS, MONT, ND, SC, VA


Including: 1) only principled pro-life Personhood Bills [except in the case of Virginia, see below]; and
2) both Bills in the States' Legislatures, and proposed State-Level Constitutional Amendments,
all with NO EXCEPTIONS; i.e., declaring legal "Personhood" at fertilization ( any "exceptions"
fatally undermine the legal concept of legal personhood, as expressed in the very text of the
1973 Roe v. Wade decision - http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=410&invol=113 )
("abortion-ban" bills that do not mention persons, personhood are not included)


Six states are known to have Personhood legislation filed in the State Legislatures for 2009:

- Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina
(see bills further below)

- Georgia's, Maryland's, and Montana's filings are each for a Personhood Amendment to their State Constitutions; the other three states (ALA, ND, SC) have Personhood Bills for statutory changes to the State's Code of Laws

- Virginia's bill does not assert legal personhood, but does assert the Virginia Constitutional right to enjoyment of life to be vested at fertilization for each "human being"

- Mississippi is in the midst of an active citizen petition drive to place a Mississippi Personhood Constitutional Amendment on the ballot in 2010

Read and download the entire report here.

May 24, 2009

Roman Catholic Bishops in North Dakota opposed state personhood bill which passed North Dakota House;

opposition of Roman Catholic leaders helped defeat historic personhood bill in North Dakota Senate by 29-16 vote

The Vatican / Roman Catholic hierarchy is NOT Pro-Life !!! (Including the Bishops, Cardinals, Pope, Vatican, Jesuit General). Does any thinking American really believe that the opposition and obstruction of these Bishops in North Dakota (like the opposition of the Bishops in Michigan (2006), Georgia (2008), Montana (2008), and Colorado (2008) to state-level personhood legislation) would be sustained without the support and endorsement of the Vatican / Pope ??? Roman Catholic principled pro-lifers like Judie Brown have been betrayed by the false religionists of Rome, including the Bishops, Cardinals, Pope, and Jesuit General.

Steve Lefemine
CCL
___________________________________________________

NORTH DAKOTA BISHOPS NULLIFY PERSONHOOD!
Posted: Friday April 3, 2009 at 8:38 am EST by Judie Brown
www.all.org/newsroom_judieblog.php?id=2551
[emphasis added by CCL]

CCL Note: Mrs. Judie Brown is the American Life League President, which she co-founded in 1979. The ALL organization's website (http://www.all.org/) asserts: "It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States..."


EXCERPTS below from Judie Brown's article "NORTH DAKOTA BISHOPS NULLIFY PERSONHOOD!":

1) Professor Dianne Irving: "In these times of "accountability", isn't it time that the American [Catholic] bishops be held accountable for the scandalous anti-life policies that too many of them have been forming and advancing for the last 40 years?"

2) Judie Brown: "As you will learn from Mr. Hale, the Bishops in North Dakota did not provide solid arguments for opposing personhood; their position was strictly political."

3) Robert L. Hale: "Four days before the Senate hearing on the bill, North Dakota's two Catholic bishops, Paul Zipfel of Bismarck and Samuel Aquila of Fargo, called a news conference to announce they could not support the bill as written. They offered amendments that gutted the bill in its entirety -- striking every word of the original bill, including the operative word "person." "

4) Robert L. Hale: "The intent of Rep. Ruby's bill was to respond to Justice Blackmun's acknowledgment in Roe v. Wade that the U.S. constitution did not define "person." ... The Justice noted, ... , that if "personhood is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, for the fetus's right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the Amendment (14th)." "

[ CCL Note: The 5th Amendment is a better Constitutional reference than the 14 th. ]

5) Robert L. Hale: "Bishop Zipfel has used his office and the North Dakota Catholic Conference to gut HB 1572." "The bishops totally eliminated every word of the bill, including the critical word "person,"..." "... Bishop Zipfel and the North Dakota Catholic Conference..., their actions speak louder than their words. They propose to gut a bill that poses one simple question to the Supreme Court: In the absence of a U.S. Constitutional definition of "person," can a state define "person"? "

6) Robert L. Hale: "For those who wonder why abortion, after 36 years, is still taking almost 1.5 million lives each year in the U.S., the bishops' actions in North Dakota help to answer that question."

7) Judie Brown: "As we ponder the situation that has arisen not only in North Dakota, but also in states like Colorado, Georgia and Montana, where Catholic bishops have undermined personhood efforts, we really need to inquire of them regarding the substantive reasons why they are literally taking indefensible positions. As Mr. Hale points out, it has been 36 years and to this very day not one United States Catholic bishop has ever publicly advocated for personhood. What could the reason for this silence possibly be?"

___________________________________________________

Steve Lefemine, CCL: "Dear Mrs. Brown - Please believe your own eyes and ears and good sense ! It was the National Conference of Catholic Bishops which originally established National Right to Life [sic] in 1968. We know that the incrementalist, personhood-bill-obstructionists at National Right to Life [sic] are a major obstacle to ENDING and not just perpetually, perennially, “regulating” child-murder-by-abortion. Even though NRL is officially now an “autonomous” organization, the evidence indicates it is still a "pro-life" [sic] front organization for the Vatican. The Vatican / Roman Catholic hierarchy is NOT Pro-Life !!! (Including the Bishops, Cardinals, Pope, Vatican, Jesuit General). THAT is the obvious reason."

The full article "NORTH DAKOTA BISHOPS NULLIFY PERSONHOOD!" by Judie Brown can be seen at: www.all.org/newsroom_judieblog.php?id=2551

The full article "NORTH DAKOTA BISHOPS NULLIFY PERSONHOOD!" by Judie Brown, with commentary by Steve Lefemine, can be seen at:

Catholic Bishops in North Dakota opposed state personhood bill which passed North Dakota House;
opposition of Roman Catholic leaders helped defeat historic personhood bill in North Dakota Senate by 29-16 vote

- Judie Brown (ALL) article, April 3, 2009 - "NORTH DAKOTA BISHOPS NULLIFY PERSONHOOD!"
- Steve Lefemine (CCL) commentary, May 21, 2009 - The Vatican / Roman Catholic hierarchy is NOT pro-life !!!
(Including the Bishops, Cardinals, Pope, Vatican, Jesuit General)
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/2009-05-21-Judie-Brown-April-3-2009-ND-Bishops-nullify-personhood.doc

The evidence is there for all with "eyes to see" - the Roman Catholic hierarchy (Bishops and above) and National Right to Life [ originally formed by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1968 ], are opposed to the numerous past and ongoing efforts to establish personhood for the unborn, and thereby END, not just regulate abortion. For Rome, the primary goal is ecumenism, not protecting the unborn, and the "pro-life movement" in America has been a fruitful opportunity for Rome's centuries-old agenda (since the 1500's) to counter the effects of the Reformation, and to undermine the Bible-believing, evangelical churches and Christians with the heresies of Romanism.

Rome is “using” the “pro-life movement” in part to further its ecumenical goal of religious hegemony, while sacrificing the lives of pre-birth human beings to do so.

The Vatican / Roman Catholic hierarchy is NOT pro-life !


Read and download the entire report here.

May 21, 2009

Catholic Bishops in North Dakota opposed state personhood bill which passed North Dakota House;

opposition of Roman Catholic leaders helped defeat historic personhood bill in North Dakota Senate by 29-16 vote

NORTH DAKOTA BISHOPS NULLIFY PERSONHOOD!
Posted: Friday April 3, 2009 at 8:38 am EST by Judie Brown
www.all.org/newsroom_judieblog.php?id=2551
[emphasis added by CCL]

Every once in a while I find an article that is so superb it needs to be seen by as many people as possible. The following is one such offering by Robert L. Hale, an expert on the law and personhood. As Professor Dianne Irving wrote to us at American Life League when she first read the article:

In these times of "accountability", isn't it time that the American bishops be held accountable for the scandalous anti-life policies that too many of them have been forming and advancing for the last 40 years? No one can get straight answers from them. They should be required to give complete explicit rational reasons for their positions and policies and be ready to fully defend them -- like the rest of us are.

[ CCL Note: The painful answer which this inquiring woman Dianne Irving and principled, pro-personhood pro-lifer Judie Brown have not yet been willing to face publicly is this: The Vatican / Roman Catholic hierarchy is NOT Pro-Life !!! (Including the Bishops, Cardinals, Pope, Vatican, Jesuit General). Does any thinking American really believe that the opposition and obstruction of these Bishops in North Dakota (like the opposition of the Bishops in Michigan (2006), Georgia (2008), Montana (2008), and Colorado (2008) to state-level personhood legislation) would be sustained without the support and endorsement of the Vatican / Pope ??? Roman Catholic principled pro-lifers like Judie Brown have been betrayed by the false religionists of Rome, including the Bishops, Cardinals, Pope, and Jesuit General. ]

It should also be noted that such "silence" is usually a characteristic of those who very early on adopted the fake scientific term "pre-embryo" in order to "justify" their reticence in reversing Roe. Indeed, the Roe decision was essentially based on briefings from those who were "pre-embryo" advocates. Instead, there has been a constant stream of "pre-embryo substitutes" (use
different terms but have the same agenda and goals) spawned not only by the secular society, but also from many in "pro-life" and from many in the bishops' own camps. Could this help explain the failed "incrementalism" policies such "pre-embryos" have advocated for so long – under the guise of being "pastoral"? I have noted before that there was nothing "incremental" whatsoever about the Roe decision. It was simply dumped on the American public almost overnight. Perhaps such "pro-life" incrementalists oppose solid and scientifically accurate "human personhood" bills like the one in North Dakota because they would all be out of a job, or funding, if these bills succeeded.


Please read the entire report here.
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