Right to Life of Owensboro Newsletter June 2015

Volume 44 Issue 6 June 2015

Right to Life of Owensboro

NEWSLETTER

Don’t forget to like us on facebook: Right to Life of Owensboro

Save the Date: June 13, 2015

“Celebrate Life” Art Exhibition Coming Soon!

Held at The Crème Coffee House 109 E 2nd Street Owensboro, KY 42303

Local Pro-Life Agencies Birthright 270-570-5319, Terri LaHugh Care Net Pregnancy Center 270-685-5077, Donna Flaspoehler Catholic Charities of Owensboro 270-852-8328, Rita Heinz Opportunities for Life 1-888-496-3638, Brenda Thomson Project Rachel 270-683-1505, Betty Medley Rachel’s Vineyard 1-877-467-3463, Debbie Ward, Cindy Vincent

Sometimes our fathers get forgotten. Let us take time to show our fathers just how much they mean to us. We challenge you to tell your father how much you love him.

Yearly Dues Reminder

Lifetime Dues $500

Family $30

Student $15

Name:________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Phone:_______________________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________________ Amount enclosed:______________________________________________ Mail check to: Right to Life of Owensboro 1115 Tamarack Rd, Suite 200 Owensboro, KY 42301 Remember we can do automatic withdrawals To pay with credit card:

Please charge my credit card: _______ Frequency: One-time _______

Amount $ _______ Monthly_______

Visa _______ MasterCard _______ Discover _______ 3 Digit Security Code _______ (on back of card) Card # _______________________ Expiration Date ________________ Signature ________________________________________________________ Authorized signature to process credit card charges.

To withdraw from account: _______ I would like to pay my yearly dues by electronic transfer.

I have enclosed a check providing my first month’s donation.

Please transfer on the _______5th of the month or the _______20th of the month Signature__________________________________________________________________ I authorize RTLO to monthly debit my checking account as stated above. This authorization will be the same as if I had personally signed a check and will remain in effect until I notify Right to Life of Owensboro that I wish to change or terminate it. With my check for the first month’s donation, I have provided the necessary banking information to begin the transfer program.

Board Members Officers Jerry Embry President Gayle Rhodes 1st Vice President Kevin Dorth 2nd Vice President Stacey Davis Secretary

A Father's Day Prayer Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

Wes Hamilton Treasurer Board Members at Large Taryn Rice Newsletter Editor

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Katelyn Stallings Michelle Byrne Bailey Stiff John Thompson Matt Fitzgerald Laura Ruth Edge Allan Stockinger Stuart Squires

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Robin Beatty Executive Director

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

Kirk Loadman

2015

GOLF SCRAMBLE WHO YOU

WHEN

July 18, 2015 Registration 7:30 Shotgun tee-off 8am.

Lunch provided

NEW Banquet Date

The public school system changed fall break, therefore our NEW date for the

banquet will be October 22, Please take note.

2015.

Letter from the PRESIDENT To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. ~Eccl. 3:1. It's the end of school and graduations are taking place all over the community. And with that summer is upon us. Summer is a vibrant season full of life and many busy activities. This summer will be a busy one for RTLO. You will have ample opportunity to support

WHERE

RTLO and life this summer. Just look at all the exciting things that are coming.

Ben Hawes Golf Club For the month of June, The Crème Coffee House is hosting an

WHY

art exhibit called Celebrate Life. You can stop by anytime during the month and see art from local artists. On Saturday,

Proceeds from the scramble will go to June 13 there will be an Art Show from 6:00pm-8:00pm and Right to Life of Owensboro you will be given an opportunity to vote for your favorite Educational Fund pieces of art by making donations. We hope you will come

FORMAT 4-person scramble

out and Celebrate Life with us.

Look for RTLO at the following events this summer as well.

Friday After Five, side-walk Chalk Day at our office, our

ENTRY

$50 per person $200 per team The fee for the event includes all golf costs, lunch, refreshments, admittance for each player and a goody bag.

Prizes will be awarded.

annual Golf Scramble at Ben Hawes, the Owensboro Parent Birthday Bash, and our annual Walk for Life will wrap up the summer events. Please follow us on Facebook and check out our website at www.rtlo.org for more information on times and dates of upcoming events. And help us make this summer a season of life!

Jerry Embry President, RTLO

Former President Bush's Father's Day Proclamation "Fathers play a unique and important role in the lives of their children. As mentor, protector, and provider, a father fundamentally influences the shape and direction of his child's character by giving love, care, discipline, and guidance. As we observe Father's Day, our nation honors fatherhood and urges fathers to commit themselves selflessly to the success and well-being of their children. And we reaffirm the importance of fathers in the lives of their children. Raising a child requires significant time, effort, and sacrifice; and it is one of the most hopeful and fulfilling experiences a man can ever know. A father can derive great joy from seeing his child grow from infancy to adulthood. As a child matures into independence and self reliance, the value of a parent's hard work, love, and commitment comes to fruition.

Responsible fatherhood is important to a healthy and civil society. Numerous studies confirm that children whose fathers are present and involved in their lives are more likely to develop into prosperous and healthy adults. Children learn by example; and they need their father's presence as examples of virtue in their daily lives. A child's sense of security can be greatly enhanced by seeing his parents in a loving and faithful marriage."

George W. Bush Former President, USA RTLO NEWSLETTER Would you like to continue receiving the RTLO newsletter? We send out 1200 newsletters bimonthly. We want to know you enjoy it and that we continue to educate you.

Our mission in part reads: The purposes for which RTLO is organized is to encourage among the general public an understanding of the dignity and worth of each human life, whatever his or her state or circumstances; to foster respect for human life before and after birth, particularly for the defenseless, the incompetent, the impaired and the incapacitated; to promote and encourage passage of amendatory and statutory measures which will provide protection and support for human life. Included in the protection and support are unborn children who are endangered by those birth control methods, commonly referred to as contraceptives, which are abortifacients in whole or part.

Our question for you is, do we meet this need for you? How can we do better? What would you like us to do to educate the community in a better fashion? If we do not meet these needs, help us by telling us what you would like.

Please let us know if you wish to keep receiving the newsletter by calling 270-685-4922 or emailing us at rtlo1973@att.net as we are trying to tidy up our mailing list so that we may better serve you. If we have not heard a response from you or you have not paid your dues by the end of 2015 your address will be deleted from our mailing.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you. It is our greatest pleasure knowing that we meet your pro-life needs.

EDUCATION

Father No More Are you an "Aborted Father" - one whose child was aborted with or without your consent? There are many ways to get help if you are a woman. For a man, there are very few places you can turn. Here is a start.

So, how are you feeling?

When your child was aborted, you probably felt relieved. But shortly after that you may have felt uncomfortable emotions coming to the surface. Emotions that you would rather not deal with.

These feelings are common among fathers like you. What you experience depends on what your role was in the abortion. You may have been involved in one of 5 ways: 1 • You encouraged or supported the woman to choose abortion • You pressured her to abort • You abandoned her to make the decision alone • You unsuccessfully opposed the abortion  You learned after it happened Whatever your role was, one thing is certain. Your natural role as a father was cut short. As put by Dr. Vincent Rue, a leading psychologist dealing with post-abortion issues among men: 2 Abortion rewrites the rules of masculinity. Whether or not the male was involved in the abortion decision, his inability to function in a socially prescribed manner leaves him wounded and confused.

As a man, you naturally begin to take on the responsibility of protecting the child. It’s how you are wired. But, because of the abortion, you are no longer able to fulfill this role. You may develop anger, resentment and guilt. You may not even realize where these feelings are coming from. They often come out in destructive behaviors - excessive drinking, drug use, depression, suicidal feelings, risk taking or maybe running from relationship to relationship unable to make commitments.

Men have no legal rights concerning abortion. Under the law, your opinion doesn’t count. If you were against the abortion, you may feel powerless, helpless to control events around you. If you pushed hard for the abortion, you may feel selfish or like you abandoned your partner when she really needed you. Or you may just feel like running to a place where no one will ever recognize you.

Maybe you didn’t even know about the pregnancy and abortion until after the fact. If you disagreed with the decision, you may feel rage, even hatred toward your partner. Your own child was aborted and you weren’t even asked for your viewpoint.

One thing almost all fathers feel after abortion is a sense of emptiness. You may be plagued with thoughts of your lost child. Thoughts about what things you might have done together. Things like playing baseball, learning to fish, or maybe building a doll house for that special doll...

EDUCATION What now?

There is hope! There are a few things that you have to do to start things happening. You need to want to change before you can heal. Sometimes looking at yourself and your situation can be painful. Without a real desire to heal, it’s tough to make changes.

Here is a simple road map. It’s not perfect, but it will get you started on a path to becoming whole again. #1 Forgive the mom If you are feeling anger or even rage toward your partner, you can’t heal yourself. You have to be willing to forgive her. Whatever her part, whatever she said or did, you still have to forgive her. It was ultimately her choice to end the life of your child. #2 Forgive yourself "Before grieving can begin, you must handle your personal guilt before God and others and your anger toward the persons who made the decision...", says Dr. Wayne Brauning, founder of MARC (Men’s Abortion ReCovery). 2 Yes, if you were involved in the abortion decision, you have made a terrible mistake. Yet, God will forgive any sin, whether minor or life-shattering. #3 Grieve OK, this will probably be awkward for you. But it’s absolutely necessary. Here’s what Dr. Vincent Rue, says about it: 3 Men do grieve following abortion, but they are more likely to deny their grief ... rather than openly express (it) ... When men do express their grief, they try to do so in culturally prescribed "masculine" ways, i.e. anger, aggressiveness, control. Men typically grieve in a private way following an abortion ... A guilt-ridden, tormented male does not easily love or accept love... his denial of himself and his relentless feelings of post-abortion emptiness can nullify even the best of intentions.

Simply put, grieving is hard for a man to do. Somehow in our society, it has become taboo for a man to show his feelings. Somehow, normal human emotions like sadness, or even crying, have become only "feminine" traits.

You need to admit to yourself exactly what you and your partner have done. Denying what has happened is a cover-up and keeps you from healing at all. You need to grieve for the little one that is no longer living. Grieve for the horrible decisions that were made. Grieve for those around you that are greatly affected by the abortion - for the grandparents that will never bounce their grand kids on their knee or read them a bedtime story. Your sorrow will probably be profound and moving. It is real sorrow for a real act that has been committed. #4 Consider the relationship It is not uncommon for the relationship to fail after an abortion. And the failure often comes from your side. It goes like this: You wanted relief from the responsibility, and got it. But now, your partner

EDUCATION reminds you of a very bad time in your life. One that you would rather forget. You reason that the best thing would be to break up. And perhaps that could be true. But, if this is a person you really love and want to spend your time with, you have some "fixing" to do.

As the person who made the final decision, your partner is hurting. She may be subject to something sometimes called "Post Abortion Syndrome". We have been talking about the same thing, only from a man’s point of view. As you gather strength from forgiving her, forgiving yourself, and grieving for your loss, be there for her. Let her use your strength to heal.

Be ready for all kinds of emotions. If she feels you pushed her into abortion, you are in for some difficult discussions - admitting wrong, asking for forgiveness, trying to make up for something that can never really be made up for. It’s a long road, don’t try to face it alone.

Trying to carry this burden yourself is an impossible task. There is little chance that you will be able to understand the power of self-forgiveness until you experience the forgiveness of God. If you don’t really know God, perhaps that is where to start this whole process.

The healing of your soul and the healing from the effects of abortion can go hand-in-hand. Many of the people at the help centers listed at the end of this piece do what they do because of their belief in the forgiving and saving power of Jesus. And many of these centers are now reaching out and offering resources for aborted fathers.

Why not begin your healing today? Get some help, and get a new start on the rest of your life.

Sources and Resources 1. Williams, Warren, Restoring Fatherhood Lost, Post Abortion Review, 4(4), Fall 1996, accessed online at: http://www.afterabortion.org/PAR/V4/n4/LOSTDAD.htm on 10-5-06.

2. Brauning, Wayne, Men and Abortion, Grief and Healing, Post Abortion Review, 4(4), Fall 1996, accessed online at: http://www.afterabortion.org/PAR/V4/n4/WayneBrauningMenandAbortion.htm on 10-5-06.

3. Rue, Vincent, The Effects of Abortion on Men, Ethics and Medics 21(4):3, 1996.

FIRST ANNUAL PRO-LIFE CHALK DAY Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Balloons

Wednesday June 24, 2015 Chalking begins at 11am and judging will be at 1pm.

You have the opportunity to let your light shine through a chalk drawing.

Simply chalk your pro-life message on the sidewalk in front of the office.

Space is limited to 25 spaces. Chalk will be provided or bring your own.

Please reserve your spot soon.

We will have several judges and prizes for the top 3.

EDUCATION A Dangerous Pill to Swallow

By Katie Young, April 08, 2015/ Survivors Staff http://www.survivors.la/blog/2015/4/8/a-dangerous-pill-to-swallow

For many people, the conversation about abortion becomes pretty simple when they realize the preborn are, in fact, living and growing humans. Even those who disagree can often understand the logic: The preborn are people, killing people is wrong, abortion kills the preborn, therefore, abortion is wrong.

Things get a little trickier when the person we’re speaking with brings up contraception. The signs we bring to campus carry images of abortion victims on one side and information on various issues relating to abortion on the other. Topics include prenatal development, abortion methods, overpopulation, and even harder subjects like rape and incest. One section is titled “Birth Control.”

Many times I’ve had conversations with pro-choice and “personally pro-life” students that lead to that panel. It usually goes something like this: Student: Okay, I think I can see where you’re coming from. Oh, hey, look, birth control. I’m so glad you guys talk about that and don’t just preach abstinence like those other pro-life groups.

Me: Oh, actually, this panel talks about some of the problems with hormonal birth control.

Student: Oh. Talking about hormonal birth control with students can sometimes be harder than talking about abortion. Many students only know about its ability to prevent conception, and immediately see us as killjoys who just want to control women’s sex lives. Unfortunately, this usually comes just after we’ve demonstrated to them how much we care about both women and children. We explain the risks to the woman, and the danger it poses to a child conceived despite the best efforts of the hormones she’s taking, and sometimes the person sees how hormonal birth control and abortion go hand in hand.

Talking about emergency contraception, however, can be even more challenging. Often, emergency contraception comes up in the context of rape. A woman who, for all we know, wasn’t engaging in extramarital sex, who had no need to even think about a possible pregnancy much less look into family planning, is raped. She goes to the emergency room, gets an exam, speaks to police, and is given Plan B. Would we really tell her not to take it?

First, we have to ask, is there anything wrong with emergency contraception (“the morning after pill”)? There is, if you believe the life of an individual human begins at conception.

EDUCATION The Plan B One-Step website claims that Plan B “will not harm an existing pregnancy.” Yet, on the “Healthcare Professionals” side of the website (which can be accessed by clicking the small, grey link in the upper right-hand corner), the “Taking Plan B One-Step” page says that Plan B (which uses the same active ingredient as the hormonal birth control pill) can work in three ways: 1. Preventing ovulation 2. Possibly preventing fertilization by altering tubal transport of sperm and/or egg 3. Altering the endometrium, which may inhibit implantation Woah, implantation? What are we talking about there? The first two mechanisms prevent conception, and thus no existing, living human child is harmed. Implantation, however, happens after conception, when a living human child has already come into existence with his or her own DNA and his or her own path of growth and development. Without implantation, that new child starves and dies.

How often does this happen? We don’t know for sure. What we do know is that, if the woman has already ovulated, Plan B can’t very well prevent ovulation. If ovulation occurs either prior to or in spite of taking Plan B, conception can occur. In fact, conception may have already occurred before the woman takes Plan B, in which case preventing ovulation and altering tubal transport are moot points. However, it may take around a week after conception for implantation to occur. Hormonal birth control, which can cause the same problem, is more likely to prevent ovulation since it’s supposed to be taken continuously. Plan B, while delivering a much higher dose of hormones, may not get there before the woman ovulates, and is very unlikely to take effect before the sperm gets to the fallopian tubes (especially if the woman doesn’t take it until the 72 hours she has are almost up). Which means that, while Plan B may be out of time to prevent conception, there is plenty of time to cut the new child off from the nutrition and protection he or she needs to continue living, growing, and developing.

So how can the website tell panicking women that Plan B “will not harm an existing pregnancy?” They simply define pregnancy in a different way. If a woman is not pregnant until the new human embryo implants, then preventing implantation prevents pregnancy. It’s an easy trick, and if your consumers don’t know how human reproduction works (or, in their panic and distress after being brutally attacked by a rapist, understandably don’t think to check out the Frequently Asked Questions or the Healthcare Professionals side of the Plan B website), they may not realize they’re being misled.

EDUCATION Essentially, women need to know that the emergency contraception pill they’re being offered can cause an abortion. Even in a pro-choice mindset, communicating this to a woman about to take Plan B is important if she’s going to make her own decision.

As pro-life advocates, we need to be especially careful to tell the woman what happens during the first week of a child’s life, and what Plan B could do to that child if she has already conceived. Not only should we not put the child at risk, but we should not put the mother’s health or conscience at risk either.

Side effects of Plan B include: Menstrual changes, Nausea, Abdominal pain, Tiredness, Headache, Dizziness, Breast pain and Vomiting

Plan B uses the same hormones as the hormonal birth control pill, which means taking it too often can increase risks for breast and cervical cancer as well as benign (and, according to some research, malignant) liver tumors.

Is all that necessary? Do women need Plan B, even though it can subject them to uncomfortable side effects and possibly kill a new human child? No, because chances are the woman won’t even conceive. For a woman in her twenties, there’s only a 20-25% chance of pregnancy each cycle, and that chance starts to go down after age 27. And that’s assuming the intercourse (whether it’s consensual sex or rape) happens during the fertile part of the woman’s cycle.

In that case, if the woman isn’t even fertile when she takes Plan B, she subjects herself to a high dose of unnecessary hormones and all the related side effects. If she is fertile, she still subjects herself to those hormones and also creates a situation in which an already-conceived child starves and dies without his or her mother ever knowing.

Also, we are too quick to assume that pregnancy is some horrible outcome to be avoided at all costs. At least, that’s the mentality of organizations like Planned Parenthood who treat pregnancy like a disease that should be prevented if possible and “treated” with abortion should it occur.

That’s not a healthy way to look at the process through which a new human life comes into existence and prepares to enter the world outside his or her mother. Is pregnancy stressful? Yes. Can it be really hard? Of course. Is the child growing in his or her mother’s womb still beautiful and precious? Absolutely.

What instead can we offer the woman traumatized by rape? We should first offer a listening ear. Next, we should offer a genuine promise of support, backed up by our actions, whether she asks for help right then or months or years down the road. That support should always be unconditional and offered in love.

Should we offer a pill that could harm her and possibly kill her child if she conceives? No. Should we offer love, compassion, understanding, and support? Yes.

2015 Calendar of Events

Right to Life of Owensboro

Art Show– June13, The Creme Coffee House Golf Scramble– July 18, Ben Hawes Walk for Life– September 5,Our Lady of Lourdes Banquet– October 22, The Hines Center

Other Pro-Life Events Life Chain– October 4 Rosary Rally– October 10

The RTLO mission, in part reads...

“The purpose for which RTLO is organized is to encourage among the general public an understanding of the dignity and worth of each human life, whatever his or her state or circumstances; to foster respect for human life before and after birth, particularly for the defenseless, the incompetent, the impaired and the incapacitated: to promote and encourage passage of amendatory and statutory measures which will provide protection and support for human life...”

Celebrate Life Celebrate Life Celebrate Life Celebrate Life Celebrate Life Celebrate Life Celebrate Life Celebrate Life Celebrate

NEED HELP? CALL 1-800-822-5824 or 270-685-5077 Jerry Embry Robin Beatty President Executive Director ________________________________________________ Phone:270-685-4922 Fax 270-684-0625 rtlo1973@att.net Online: www.rtlo.org 1115 Tamarack Road, Suite 200, Owensboro, KY 42301 ________________________________________________

Right to Life of Owensboro, Inc.

NON-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Owensboro, KY 42301