The case against the IVF bill

Feb 28, 2024 |
Access to Family Building Act

Access to Family Building ActCongress introduced a new bill, the “Access to Family Building Act,” with the goal “to prohibit the limitation of access to assisted reproductive technology, and all medical care surrounding such technology.” It is a response to the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that frozen embryos are children.

Pulse Life Advocates opposes the bill, as does the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The USCCB release a letter today, excerpted below, with their reasons for opposing this piece of legislation. We presented it in a Q & A format, with questions provided by us:

What is the issue?

USCCB: The often-painful experience of infertility is a challenge facing an increasing number of families. As pastors, we grieve with many couples bearing this cross and seek to be part of a community that accompanies them in a way that helps them to flourish in love. In this, we can understand the profound desire that motivates some of these couples to go to great lengths to have children, and we support morally licit means of doing so.

The solution, however, can never be a medical process that involves the creation of countless preborn children and results in most of them being frozen or discarded and destroyed. For this and other deeply troubling problems with the bill, we strongly oppose the Access to Family Building Act (S. 3612). 

Could this bill jeopardize our religious liberty?

USCCB:Even if you do not agree with us on the evident humanity of every conceived person, there are problems with S. 3612 that raise serious concerns on other grounds. If enacted, the Access to Family Building Act would be the first law ever to exempt itself from the longstanding Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), led by then-Representative Schumer and passed in the Senate by a vote of 97 to 3 in 1993.

An unprecedented self-carve-out from RFRA would be devastating. The bill’s command that private entities and individuals must not “unreasonably limit[], or interfer[e]” with a new right to provide or obtain assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is, while ambiguous, certainly sweeping. For example, faith-based non-profit charities, schools, and church organizations that serve your communities and, out of principle, cannot cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) in their employee health plans could face impossible, potentially existential choices. Faith-based health care facilities and providers of faith could likewise be forced to facilitate procedures that violate their beliefs or to exit the field. Such consequences would hurt not just organizations but, more importantly, those whom they serve. 

Are there potential unintended consequences to the Access to Family Building Act?

USCCB: The terms of S. 3612 could also be readily interpreted to fabricate and impose new rights to human cloning, gene editing, making human-animal chimeras, reproducing children of a parent who is long deceased, engaging in the buying and selling of human embryos, commercial gestational surrogacy, and more. Human cloning and commercial surrogacy are otherwise prohibited in some States.

Why should this issue be federalized?

USCCB: We would observe an incongruity, then, in those who say (erroneously) that protecting preborn children from abortion is now only an issue for the States, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, to then say that the federal government must intervene in States to provide IVF nationwide. Further, with no limits on age or who is liable, even parents could be sued by the government or a provider if they try to prevent their underage child from using ART (assisted reproductive technologies). 

This would be all the more probable if the ambiguous syntax of the parenthetical in Sec. 4(a)(1) of the bill indicates that “financial cost” is an “unreasonable” barrier, requiring undefined others to pay for one’s use of ART. And like any of these results, a new nationwide right to commercial surrogacy would also be deeply problematic. As Pope Francis recently observed, the practice exploits vulnerable women and commodifies both them and their children.

It also violates children’s right to a mother and father, and tears them away from the mother in whom they grew and whose voice is the first and only one they had ever known.

Is there really a need for this bill?

USCCB: All of the foregoing problems would seem to be disproportionate to the perceived benefits that the bill would achieve even for its supporters. This is because federally ensuring the availability of IVF is wholly unnecessary for those who wish to do so. Contrary to repeated misconceptions, the Supreme Court of Alabama’s decision of February 16 did not “ban” IVF. It merely took existing law, in effect long before Dobbs, and applied it to embryos in IVF facilities so that parents could hold the latter accountable for negligent wrongful death. IVF providers and clinics that have responded by pausing operations have done so voluntarily, possibly in a bid to resist accountability to parents, financial liability, and, effectively, regulation. 

Is this bill pro-life?

USCCB: While we highlight a range of concerns that we believe are shared by a majority of Americans regardless of their political persuasions, we must make clear that, even if such problems are addressed, we will continue to oppose the Access to Family Building Act as a threat to the most vulnerable of human beings. Contrary to what some have claimed, a position that supports legal enshrinement of IVF, however well-intended, is neither pro-life nor pro-child. Approaches such as investing in life-affirming research on infertility, or strengthening support for couples who desire to adopt, would be better to explore. 

Among those to whom we and our parishes minister, we know well the deep yearning and even suffering of families struggling with infertility. We seek to ameliorate that personal suffering. Yet we cannot condone a practice and an industry that is built on millions of children who are created to be destroyed or abandoned. For all of the above reasons, we implore you in the strongest possible terms to oppose S. 3612 and any similar legislation that comes before you. 

This letter was signed by:

Most Reverend Robert E. Barron, Bishop of Winona-Rochester,Chairman, Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth;

Most Reverend Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development;

Most Reverend Michael F. Burbridge, Bishop of Arlington, Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities;

Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Chairman, Committee for Religious Liberty.

Top ten religious movies for Lent 2024

Feb 16, 2024 |
top 10 religious movies for Lent 2024

By TOM QUINER

top 10 religious movies for Lent 2024Lent presents you with an opportunity to check out some quality films with themes that align with your faith. There are some fabulous options. Some are historical, others tell stories with subjects that tease you with Christlike motifs without hitting you over the head.

I’ve been compiling this list for over a decade. This year is remarkably different than 2014. I don’t have to spell it out. Basic ideas of right and wrong have been turned upside down. The FBI targets Catholic extremists and sends SWAT teams to the homes of pro-life advocates.

This Lent presents an opportunity to work on a particular virtue: courage. We need to be courageous in the face of a power structure that works overtime to intimidate those who dare to stand up for the unborn in the public square.

In the Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis says that courage is the ultimate virtue:

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.”

So this year’s list of top ten religious movies for Lent 2024 includes some movies that showcase courageous heroism in particularly creative ways. For example, one of the most amazing saints in all of history is Joan of Arc. We include not one, but two remarkably different films on this most amazing young woman. We’ll even tell you which movie of Joan not to watch.

Good religious movies help us appreciate the profound meaning of our lives as it ultimately draws us nearer to Christ. It reveals the Truth, with a capital T. If you have not had the good fortune of watching any of these films yet, then you may want to see what your Cable TV package has available and where you could watch these with your entire family.

Grab the popcorn. It’s showtime!

#10 NEFARIOUS: Blaze tv show host, Steve Deace who happens to be an Iowan, conceived this subversive film as a sort of follow up to The Screwtape Letters. The plot is seemingly straightforward: A serial killer is scheduled to be executed at 11PM. The state needs to confirm that the man is of sound mind before they electrocute him. They employ a psychiatrist to conduct an evaluation. The condemned man maintains he is possessed by a demon, and tells the shrink that he (the shrink) will have committed three murders of his own before the day is done. The movie contains no sex, nudity, crudity, profanity, or serious violence, other than the depiction of an execution. For parents and pastors who wonder if their teens should see this film, the answer is a qualified yes. The film is an eye-opener for young people whose minds have been clouded by a secular religion that says right is wrong and wrong is right. The devil is scary, and some kids can’t handle it. But the devil is also real, and Jesus spoke about demons and confronted them on many occasions. Intense. Scary. Worth seeing without a doubt.

#9 PRINCE OF EGYPT. Some two decades have passed since I first viewed this 1998 film. I watched it again last year and was simply delighted from beginning to end. Maybe it’s because I was watching with my grandkids, but I loved this movie more than I did the first time. How could one not love it? It tells the story of Moses. The visuals are stunning. The songs catchy and singable, written as they were by the great Stephen Schwartz (Godspell) with a score by Hans Zimmer. The all-star cast of voices includes a Hollywood who’s who from the late 90s: Val Kilmer; Ralph Fiennes; Patrick Stewart; Helen Mirren; Steve Martin; Martin Short; Michelle Pfeiffer; Sandra Bullock. Its $70 million budget ensured that no expense was spared in retelling a classic biblical story. This is a great animated family film the adults will love at least as much as their kids and grandkids.

#8: WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND. You are in for a treat. This delightful gem of a movie is perfect for the entire family. Made in 1961, it may look a little dated, but I found this to be one of the most creative plot lines I have seen in a long time. A wife murderer (Alan Bates) is on the lam from the law. He’s been shot by the cops and hides out in a barn in rural England. The teenage girl who lives on the farm, the great Haley Mills, startles the killer and asks who he is. He blurts out, “Jesus Christ,” before passing out from blood loss. Mills’ character takes him literally, and before you know it, all of the kids in the village believe that he actually IS Jesus. But they don’t tell any of their parents. This is a tale of faith and redemption. Perfect for Lent!

#7: Gran Torino: Surprised to see a Clint Eastwood movie on the list? No one less than Bishop Robert Barron called Gran Torino “one of the great presentations of the Christ story.” Eastwood, who directed and starred, portrays grouchy Walt Kowalski, an old geezer who’s wife just died. His kids want to move him into an old folks home. His working class neighbor in Detroit is getting dangerous as gangs move in. Walt is a cantankerous, racist s.o.b. who hides his decency under the surface. He’s a heroic figure who uses violence to ward off violence directed at his Laotian neighbors … until he realizes it’s just not working. Violence begets violence. I really don’t want to say much more, because you need to see this film if you haven’t. Be warned that there’s violence and there’s no shortage of profanity. Suffice it to say, Bishop Barron said it was one of the best examples of what the church fathers called the “Christus Victor Theory.” Watch it.

#6: JOAN OF ARC:  My wife and I listened to a riveting book on tape, Mark Twain’s Joan of Arc, on a road trip to the East Coast last summer. Before we began the book, we read that Twain considered this his greatest achievement. Early on, he said he considered Joan to be the greatest person ever born, next to Jesus. He had our attention. The book totally mesmerized us, and we finished it before we got back home. The next step? Find a good movie of Joan of Arc. Do you know her story? A French peasant girl in the early 15th century begins hearing voices from God. The voices included saints and angels (St. Michael and St. Gabriel). The voices told the 16 year old Joan that she was to lead the French army against the English to liberate France and crown the French dauphin as king. Amazingly, she pulled it off, only to be captured by the English, tried as a witch, and burned at the stake. The first Joan movie we watched was, “The Messenger”, starring Milla Jovovich. While entertaining, it presents Joan as a warrior more than a faithful servant of God. They misrepresented her childhood, setting up false motivations for her mission. By contrast, the 1948 Joan of Arc (below) remains true to the Joan story for the most part. It gets the full Hollywood treatment, including a big budget and A-list cast, beginning with Ingrid Bergman as the Maiden of Orléans, Joan of Arc. Joan models faithfulness and courage, a great saint from history to ponder this Lent.

#5: THE PASSION of the CHRIST. This was more than a movie, it was an event that either united or divided people, much like Christ Himself. Mel Gibson’s movie was controversial. The violence is grotesque. It is not a fun movie to watch. I have seen it thrice, and I will see it again … someday. Jim Caviezel was perfect as Jesus. The movie is important because it gives modern man an inkling of what Christ did for us. I heard Fr. John Riccardo once say about Christ’s crucifixion: “If this is the cure, can you imagine the disease?” This movie forces us to think about that question seriously. The scene of Christ’s scourging is horrendous. Do you know why He was lashed 39 times? Because 40 was considered “death” by the Romans. It was unsurvivable. I would recommend the edited version with some of the violence excised. After watching this film, fall to your knees and thank Christ for what He did for us.

#4: HACKSAW RIDGE. Courage and conviction are in short supply these days. So when a movie comes along about a man who stood up for his religious convictions regardless of the cost, it’s worth checking out. I finally got around to watching Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge this year (it came out in 2016). The movie marked his return to directing after a ten year hiatus. Gibson knows how to tell a story. Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of Desmond Doss, a simple man from Lynchburg, Virginia, who enlists when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He had a catch: not only would he not use a rifle, he would not even carry one. Although the ‘cancel culture’ didn’t exist in the 1940s, Doss felt the brunt of the military establishment who attempted to ‘cancel’ him via a court martial. They failed. He went on to become an invaluable member of his unit as a medic, rescuing some 75 soldiers at the brutal battle of Okinawa. His courage was contagious. Following a particularly brutal attack, Doss was wounded and exhausted after saving countless of his fellow soldiers. It was a miracle he was still alive. The soldiers were once again called to battle (the entire campaign lasted 83 days). The soldiers wouldn’t go unless Doss was with them. The commanding officer said to Doss: “These men don’t believe the same way you do. But they believe so much in how much you believe. They want a piece of it. They’re not going up there without you.” The moral: courage is contagious.

#3: JESUS of NAZARETH. This film is an epic work of cinematic craftsmanship. Robert Powell is an extraordinarily effective Jesus. It was originally broadcast as a 382 minute mini series on television in 1977. Every single minute of this film is worth it. Nothing is wasted. Director Franco Zeffirelli has created an artistic masterpiece. He is true to the Gospels and creates an ancient Holy Land that seems real to modern man. His presentation of Jesus’ telling of the Prodigal Son is a work of genius, surely inspired by the Holy Spirit! Interestingly, one of the writers was Anthony Burgess, also the author of “A Clockwork Orange.” What a cast. Each star was at the top of their game. In addition to Mr. Powell, James Farantino was a Peter for the ages. Ian McShane was a complex Judas whose motivations are slowly revealed in his deft political maneuverings. Olivia Hussey as the Virgin Mary, and Anne Bancroft as Mary Magdalene both shine. The list is endless: Christopher Plummer fleshes out the human weakness of Herod Antipas. You can’t stand him in the end. And James Mason brings Joseph of Arimathea to life. The conversation he has with Jesus about the idea of being “born again” draws you irresistibly into the essence of the Gospels. That’s why this film is so good. You feel like you’re walking right alongside of Jesus. Everything seems so authentic.

#2: THE CHOSEN: Not a movie, but rather the first original TV series about Jesus Christ. Three seasons are completed, 24 episodes in all, plus a pilot and Christmas special. What’s interesting is this was made outside of the Hollywood system. It was financed via crowd funding. The writers let us get to know Jesus through the eyes of key players from scripture: His disciples, Mary Magdalene, even little children.  You can watch it free on The Chosen app and/or Angel Studios website. They claim over 400 million views so far! If you want to sample an episode, check out the 3rd episode of season two, titled “Matthew 4:24.” The camera work is extraordinary, as a single camera weaves in and out of a crowd without a break for the first eight minutes or so. Watch:

Season 4 is in theaters right now. The tentative streaming date is March 14th, 024.

#1: THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC: Okay, this film was made in 1928. It’s black and white. And it’s a SILENT MOVIE! Don’t dismiss it out of hand, because you have never seen a finer piece of acting in your life. The late Roger Ebert said this about it: “You cannot know the history of silent film unless you know the face of Renee Maria Falconetti. In a medium without words, where the filmmakers believed that the camera captured the essence of characters through their faces, to see Falconetti in Dreyer’s “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928) is to look into eyes that will never leave you. Falconetti (as she is always called) made only this single movie. “It may be the finest performance ever recorded on film,” wrote Pauline Kael.”

Did you know that there is a transcript of every word spoken at Joan’s 1431 trial? This film focuses exclusively on the trial, using actual words from the transcript. It captures as no other film does the passion of a saint. If you want to see soldier Joan, this isn’t the film for you. But if you want to see the depth of a saint’s faith, devotion, and courage, this is a must-see.

Those are my picks. What are yours? Please let me know. I want to watch some great, new faith-filled films this Lent, starting today. So let me know your favorites right away!

[Tom Quiner is board president of Pulse Life Advocates. If you enjoyed this essay, be sure to subscribe to our blog. Every donation helps us expand our reach!]

Abortion hurts women in a profound way

Feb 15, 2024 |
abortion hurts women

abortion hurts women

By Maggie DeWitte, Executive Director Pulse Life Advocates

Since Roe v. Wade, abortion has taken the lives of over 65 million of our preborn brothers and sisters.  But also, in the wake of that tragedy, it has wounded 65 million women and countless men, siblings, grandparents and other family members.  Abortion hurts women in a profound way, and it has contributed to a society of walking wounded; women hurting and in need of healing from their abortion decision.

We need only talk to those involved in post-abortive counseling to understand the deep physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain these women endure because of their abortion decision.

A women chooses abortion for a variety of reasons.  But more times than not, she feels she has no other option.  She doesn’t have the support of her family, is lied to by the abortion industry that this is a quick fix with no consequences.

In many instances she is pressured by the father of the baby.

SHE is a victim of abortion.

SHE needs our compassion and support.

SHE needs help and healing.

Pulse Life Advocates has been a leader in the pro-life movement for over 50 years.  Each and every day is spent trying to create a culture of life.  It’s to save babies AND save mothers.  We love them both!

The pro-life movement is pro-woman.  As such, we will not support any legislation that would criminalize women.

We need to advance laws that protect unborn children and do not harm women, which is why Pulse Life Advocates withdrew support for HF2256 upon learning that it criminalizes women.

[Pulse supports women before and after a baby is born. Mark your calendar for our April 14th WOMEN OF WORTH Music Event and help us help even more babies and their moms.]

Which Super Bowl ad ‘gets’ Jesus best?

Feb 14, 2024 |
Jesus Super Bowl ads

Millions of dollars were spent on Jesus Super Bowl ads this year. They sparked animated conversations in churches, coffee shops, and social media. Where to begin? How about with Hallow?

Hallow’s ad featured two high-profile actors doing something amazing: praying. Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie prayed together to the biggest television audience in history to “help us, Lord, to grow closer to you this Lent.” Then Wahlberg looks into the camera and invites us to pray with the two of them on the Hallow ap during Lent.

Simple. Honest. Powerful.

In an era when only 43% of weekly church attenders are male, seeing two masculine men praying is a powerful encouragement. Jesus Himself prayed constantly. He taught his disciples how to pray, who in turn went out and taught others to pray in order to help each of us develop a personal relationship with God.

Well done, Hallow!

Jesus. He gets us.

Of the two Jesus Super Bowl ads, the second stirred up something of a hornet’s nest. We refer to the “Jesus. He gets us” ad:

Pulse Executive Director, Maggie DeWitte reacted:

“Exactly.  Jesus IS merciful.  He DID eat with the sinners.  He LOVED them.  He loved them so much that He was willing to tell them the honest truth.  And the honest, hard truth was that you need to change your sinful ways.  You are going down a path that leads to destruction.  He was showing them a better way.  He was accepting of the person, but not of their sin.  To receive His mercy, you must first admit your sin and repent of it.”

Daily Wire podcaster Matt Walsh didn’t like the ad either. He asks:

“Will the ad call the world to repentance, to humility, to obedience, to virtue? No, no, no, and no.”

Interesting point. The Bible contains 54 verses calling for our repentance alone. Jesus preached repentance constantly, because He knows our sick souls need it:

 “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Blaze TV host Steve Deace said the ad recognizes that people are hurting, but that it offers the wrong solution. People don’t need a buddy (a Jesus that gets them), they need someone to save them from their sin, which involves repentance.

Repentance is glaringly absent in this Jesus Super Bowl ad.

The abortion angle

Pulse is particularly interested in the image of a pro-life supporter washing the feet of a woman in front of a family planning clinic. We suspect she’s there for an abortion or has had one.

How to react?

• This is a lovely representation of what pro-lifers offer women: love and support.

• But is the gravity of the sin of abortion implied? Not at all.

Omission

And this is a significant omission, especially in this Lenten season when we are called to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

The ad’s big messages are:

  1. “Jesus didn’t teach hate.” Duh. As Matt Walsh said, in this post-Christian world where ignorance of Christianity is rampant, the one single fact everyone knows about Jesus is that he didn’t teach hate. So why do they even mention this, unless they’re suggesting that it is somehow hateful to call out sinful behavior. Again, the message gets our attention without a proper call to action: repentance and faithfulness to the gospel.
  2. “He. Washed. Feet.” Actually, He only did that on one very specific occasion, the night of the Last Supper. But what he did do over and over again is call us to repentance.
  3. “He gets us. All of us.” Indeed He does, which is why he told the woman caught in adultery, “go and sin no more.” He said to the paralyzed man whom He had healed, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” He tells us all, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” 

How could repentance be ignored?

If repentance is a critical component of Christ’s evangelization message, how could this ad ignore it? Because that’s not the goal, according to the head honcho at BrandHaven, Jason Vanderground, the agency that created the spot. Said Mr. Vanderground:

“Ultimately the goal is inspiration, not recruitment or conversion.”

The ad’s website further explains:

“He gets us is a movement to reintroduce people to the Jesus of the Bible and his confounding love and forgiveness.”

Christ was all about conversion, not just inspiration. His ‘confounding’ love and forgiveness was accompanied by a call to repentance. Whatever the motivation behind the ad’s exclusion of this critical element of Christianity, we’re left with the awareness that these people just don’t ‘get’ Jesus.

The Babylon Bee captured the essence of our concerns in their own imitable ‘reporting’ of the ad:

U.S. — Thanks to the prominently placed Super Bowl ad, thousands of people on their way to Hell breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Jesus “gets them” and they don’t have to repent or anything.

The rest of their post is well worth reading.

As for the two Jesus Super Bowl ads, this blog votes for Hallow.

Abortion’s impact on music

Feb 9, 2024 |
abortion's impact on music

What is your favorite love song? Tough question, because most of us would have a challenge narrowing it down to a single favorite. Chances are, your favorite love song was written years ago for the simple reason that fewer love songs are being written this century. Thus, abortion’s impact on music.

“You’re crazy,” may be your immediate response. “How could abortion have any impact on music?”

Let’s start at the beginning: What is love?

The Bible tells us that “God is love” in 1 John 4:7-12. That’s a big idea. So love songs are about God and His Creation, whether the composer understands that or not.

St. Paul wrote of love’s primacy among all the virtues: “So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).

Twelve hundred years later, Thomas Aquinas offered a practical definition: “To love means to consistently will and choose the good of the other.” In other words, we are to love what God loves, our neighbors, who are His creation.

Love is all about giving, not taking.

Abortion clearly is an attack on Love. It wills not the good, but the destruction, of the other for the sake of convenience. It is a rebuke of God’s very creation, a deadly rejection of our Creator which carries profound spiritual consequences to those involved in each abortion.

By contrast, love is creative, inspiring beauty in the world and our lives. No work of art uplifts our souls more than a love song.

Love songs are transformative

Music historian, Ted Gioia provided a secular viewpoint on the value of love songs in his book, “Songs: The Hidden History”:

“People are wrong to view these songs as mere entertainment or escapism. The purpose of a successful love song is to create love. The first love songs were part of fertility rites and they aimed at changing the world, not just describing it. When the Beatles sang ‘All You Need Is Love’ or John Coltrane performed ‘A Love Supreme’, they wanted to transform the world in which they lived. And on a personal level, many of us would not be here today if our parents hadn’t heard a love song at the right time and place. Those love songs aren’t just life-changing, they are life-creating.”

So love songs are transformative.

Love songs are disappearing from the pop charts

Freelance music blogger, DJ Rob, noticed that love songs are disappearing from today’s pop charts, with a precipitous decline on Billboard’s Premier Singles Chart since 2000. He conducted a decade-by-decade analysis of #1 songs with the word ‘love’ in it. Here are the results:

1960s: 23 love songs

1970s: 26 love songs

1980s: 25 love songs

1990s: 24 love songs

2000s: 7 love songs

2010s: 5 love songs

The drop really kicked in beginning in mid the 1990s as the first Roe v Wade generation came of age. Coincidence?

The decline of the love song has accelerated in the 20s, with but a single “love” song, that isn’t really a love song, topping the charts. “Savage Love,” by Jason Derulo is anything but a love song, with lyrics like this:

“When you kiss me, I know you don’t give two f*%@ks … but I still want that.”

How romantic.

Contrast those sentiments with these expressed in the Elvis Presley hit song (above) from 1961, “Can’t Help Falling In Love”:

Wise men say,

“Only fools rush in.”

But I can’t help

Falling in love with you.

‘Only fools rush in’ invokes the virtue of sacrificial love. It reminds us of the first responders at the Twin Towers who sacrificed everything trying to save others. Love is self-giving, not taking.

Elvis summarizes Aquinas so simply with these words:

Take my hand,

Take my whole life, too.

For I can’t help

Falling in love with you.

Love goes far beyond sexuality

It is an exchange of lives. “I give my life to you, you give your life to me.” Or as God explains in the Book of Genesis, “two become one flesh.”

Now that’s something to write a song about!

The post-1973 generation grew up in a milieu that put the individual first over the good of the other. Foundational American freedoms of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness transmogrified into Choice, Equity, and Lifestyle Choice, all at the expense of the human rights of our posterity.

Artists’ understanding of what love really is became twisted  

Abortion has debased sexuality and corrupted the Roe Generation’s perception of love.

The fruits of Roe

Just look at what Roe spawned: no-fault divorce; skyrocketing divorce rates; so-called same-sex marriage that precludes procreation; gender confusion and mutilation; epidemic teen suicide rates; single parent homes as the norm. It’s no wonder a new generation doesn’t know how to write a decent love song.

And yet despite abortion’s impact on music and our culture, there are signs of hope. The Knot (an online wedding planning platform) conducts a survey of wedding trends. Guess what the most popular first wedding dance song for 2023 was? Wait for it:

“Can’t Help Falling in Love” by the King himself, Elvis!

Elvis knocked off Ed Sheeren’s “Perfect” which had been #1 for the previous seven years. And nipping on Elvis and Ed’s heels is Taylor Swift’s “Lover.”

So here’s what we’ve learned: love is timeless. After all, a 63 year old song, performed by a long dead singer, is still in demand by a generation hungry for authentic love.

Despite Roe’s ugly legacy, people still want to hear real love songs. As long as we keep singing the beautiful words of love, the world has a chance.

[Pulse Life Advocates understands that music can promote a culture of life. To that end, we ask you to support our upcoming pro-life concert, “Women of Worth,” on April 14th at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines, IA. Details to come.]

Sidewalk Advocate Training

Jan 28, 2024 |
sidewalk advocate training

sidewalk advocate training

Pulse Life Advocates and Students for Life at Iowa State will be offering a ONE-DAY Sidewalk Advocate Training Class on Saturday, February 10th from 8:00am-2:00pm at Carver Hall in Room 101, Iowa State University.

The Sidewalk Advocates for Life is geared towards local communities who wish to employ a peaceful, prayerful, law-abiding approach in reaching out to women and men at abortion and abortion-referral facilities for services of whatever kind.

Join us as we learn how to humbly approach the most vulnerable of men and women with the love of Christ in a time of great need and desperation. BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROVIDED.

WHEN: Saturday Feb. 10th – 8am-2pm

WHERE: Carver Hall, Room 101 – Iowa State University

RSVP by February 6th to – mdewitte@pulseforlife.org

SPEAKERS: Sheryl Schwager – Executive Director – Johnson County Right to Life


 

The impact of abortion on Iowa

Jan 23, 2024 |
State Senator Sandy Salmon

By State Senator, Sandy Salmon

State Senator Sandy Salmon

State Senator Sandy Salmon

Thank you all for coming out and showing your support for life. 

I was a senior in high school when Roe vs. Wade was decided. I have watched the pro-life movement for 50 years! I never thought I would see the day when Roe would be overturned!

But here we are! We are actually living in a post-Roe world!

When I came into office in 2012, Iowa law allowed abortion up to the moment of birth and Iowa taxpayers were subsidizing the abortion industry! This had been the case since the 70’s! Totally unacceptable!

Over the past 11 years we have made remarkable strides forward in the fight to protect life. There were a few setbacks but the net result has been moving forward.

  • 2014 – Ban on webcam abortion (struck down by court)
  • 2015 – Ultrasound requirement for abortion
  • 2017 – Ban on abortion at 20 weeks
  • 2017 – 72-hour waiting period requirement – (struck down by court)
  • 2017 – strengthened the ultrasound requirement and required full informed consent for abortion
  • 2017 – defunded abortionists in state Medicaid money
  • 2018 – “Heartbeat” law – (struck down by court)
  • 2018 – Ban on the sale of aborted baby body parts
  • 2018 – Prohibition on wrongful birth/life lawsuits
  • 2019 – defunded abortionists in federal grant money for sex education in schools
  • 2020 – Established a 24-hour waiting period requirement
  • 2020 – Alfie’s Law – courts cannot refuse life-sustaining treatments to a child over the parents’ objections
  • 2021 – Protect Life Constitutional Amendment passed the legislature – The Iowa Constitution establishes no right to an abortion nor any right to the funding of it
  • 2022 & 2023 – MOMS Bill – More Options for Maternal Support – state support for pregnancy resource centers that support healthy pregnancies, childbirth, and parenting instead of abortion
  • 2023 – Re-passed the Heartbeat Law – by even stronger majorities than the first time! – now awaiting Iowa Supreme Court decision

We have come a long way! But we still have a ways to go before unborn babies are fully protected! But we are definitely on our way and in the middle of the fight! We won’t stop until unborn children enjoy the protection of their constitutional right to life! Since Dobbs, a new chapter in the fight for life has begun! And we have just begun to fight!

There are so many times here at the Capitol as I hear so many lamenting and bemoaning the workforce shortages in numerous areas – manufacturing, health care, education, law enforcement – all tell us they need more people.  I often think that this problem goes back to simple demographics. We have allowed in the state of Iowa the slaughter of about 200,000 human beings through abortion that would now be of age to be in our workforce. If only half of them stayed in Iowa, we would have 100,000 more people today in our workforce. That would totally solve our problem of 80,000 jobs today looking for people. But they are not here – and it’s because we have allowed abortion.

As a state it is a foolish and misguided, as well as a wicked, policy to allow your citizens to lose their lives before they even see the light of day. Not only do we violate spiritual and moral law, we also violate economic law. An increase in prosperity needs an increase in population or we struggle. It’s as simple as that! Those telling us how badly they need more people ought to be the strongest supporters of the pro-life cause!

Justice never sleeps! It has a way of continuing to grind forward until it prevails. And justice will prevail! We will not give up! Unborn children will get the God-given protection for life because that is their right!

Thank you!

[State Senator Sandy Salmon gave this address at yesterday’s Prayer Rally at the Capital. Thanks to the Senator for permission to publish her remarks on Pulse’s blog. Be sure to subscribe today.]

Would you sell your soul for an abortion?

Jan 17, 2024 |
sell your soul

sell your soulThe Roman Catholic Church recognizes abortion as a grave sin. They are not alone. A broad swath of non-Catholic churches agree. One that disagrees with the Catholics is a Satanic temple in New Mexico, which offers to perform ‘Satanic Abortion Ceremonies’ for you, which raises the question: would you sell your soul for an abortion?

In a reflection of the depths to which the secular culture has fallen, Cosmopolitan Magazine touted Satanic abortion ceremonies on their social media outlets.

As background, Cosmo is published in 35 different languages and distributed in 100 different countries, targeting women 18 to 34. In other words, they target those in the child-bearing years (or prime abortion years, for those peddling abortions).

Not a fringe rag

This isn’t a fringe rag, it’s a mainstream publication with a lot of influence on women with its urban, cosmopolitan vibe. It is the largest womens magazine in North America.

Their social media post asks:

“So how dos a Satanic abortion ceremony even work? Patients of all faiths are welcome at Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic in New Mexico. Along with medical counsel, TST offers a free ceremonial supper to everyone. Abortion ceremonies are totally optional — and customizable.”

The social media posting provides a link to a full article in their online magazine.

Each page of the posting displays an upside down cross, displaying contempt for Christianity’s most sacred symbol, and meant to represent evil and attract dark forces.

The TST’s marketing goes on to state that:

“One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s will alone.”

How Christianity differs

Remember Protestant pastor Rick Warren’s best-selling book years ago, “The Purpose-Drive Life?” His first sentence captured the essence of Christianity: “It’s not about you.” In other words, Christianity is about selfless, sacrificial love.

Needless to say, Satanists disagree, proclaiming it IS all about you just as Planned Parenthood has maintained since well before the Roe v Wade decision.

Abortion is an act of supreme selfishness that separates participants from Christ, that is, it’s a mortal sin.

Pew Research Center listed the following summary of religious groups that oppose abortion rights with few or no exceptions:

  • African Methodist Episcopal Church
  • Assemblies of God
  • Roman Catholic Church
  • Church of Jesus Christ of  Latter-day Saints
  • Hinduism
  • Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
  • Southern Baptist Convention

As you might guess, members of these churches are less likely to read Cosmo than coastal elites.

Pulse became aware of Cosmo’s promotion of Satanic abortion ceremonies thanks to reporting by the Epoch Times. You can watch their video on the topic by clicking this link.

Why does this matter?

  1. Abortion is evil. Satanism embraces evil. Cosmopolitan magazine is mainstreaming evil.
  2. The Satanic Temple is recognized as a tax-exempt religious organization by the IRS. They believe their abortion ceremonies are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. They want to create a religious loophole to enable women to get abortions, even in states that prohibit or only narrowly allow abortion in extreme circumstances. In other words, women professing membership in the Satanic Temple can claim that the abortion ceremony is part of their religion and protected by the Constitution. Even if they don’t believe in Satan, they have sold their souls in the name of abortion.
  3. More women (and men who pressure women into abortion) will go to Hell.

A horrific temptation

Cosmopolitan’s promotion of the Satanic Abortion Ceremonies is a horrific temptation for women in crisis pregnancies. They think abortion is an easy way out. It’s not. Not only is a unique human being killed in a grotesque act of violence, to sell one’s soul has eternal consequences.

Let us end on two positive notes:

  1. Have you had an abortion? If yes, abortion is a forgivable sin in the Roman Catholic Church through the beautiful sacrament of reconciliation. And loving groups, such as Rachel’s Vineyard provide a “safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion.”
  2. You’re not alone. The pro-life movement has worked tirelessly to create a wide range of resources for women in crisis pregnancies. Our website lists a ton of them here. For a list of Unplanned Pregnancy Resource Centers in Iowa, click here.

Loving help awaits you. Don’t wait. God has endowed you with an eternal soul of inestimable worth. Please, don’t sell yours for an abortion.

[Pulse Life Advocate’s website is packed with resources. Since you’re on it now, take a few minutes to browse through the site. Be sure to subscribe to this blog.]

Here’s what Governor DeSantis said at the Pulse Gala

Jan 12, 2024 |
DeSantis quotes

Pulse Life Advocates was honored to have Florida Governor and presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis, speak at our Christmas Gala in November. With the Iowa Caucuses upon us this Monday night, let’s take a look back at what he had to say. Here are a few DeSantis quotes:

Talking about rights …

“Our country is based on the idea that our rights are endowed by God, beginning with the right to life, as well as the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is in the Declaration of independence.  That’s how our founders conceived of this country. It’s based on the idea that there is a higher power. And people throughout our history have recognized that.

When  you swear the oath to support and defend the constitution, it was framed against that backdrop in the Declaration of independence to say [that] this country is founded on that idea. Your rights do not come from government. They come from our creator, the Lord our God.”

***

“You have to have citizens that have a good foundation on American Freedom and understand that our rights come from God, not from government. I think people see that we are losing that.”

***

“But this is an important right: Parents rights. Making sure we’re educating, not indoctrinating. I think the success of this country hangs in the balance … “

***

“I never thought in a million years that anyone would ever use our children as vehicles to advance their ideology and their agenda. We always thought that the kids were hands off.”

Talking about conviction politics …

“When you are in a position of leadership, you know, why are you there? [Is it] to always choose the path of least political resistance? The way I’ve governed myself in terms of all this is: I just want to be able to look in the mirror and know I did the right thing for the right reason and to just let the chips fall where they may.  But you can’t contort yourself into a pretzel. You can’t try to be something that you are not. Just tell people what you believe and let her rip.”

Governor DeSantis has been unwavering in his pro-life convictions. If you’d like to take a deeper dive into what Governor DeSantis had to say at our banquet, his talk begins at the 57:55 mark in the video above.

See you at the caucuses Monday night!

[Have you watched our new video series, “How to Raise Pro-Life Children” yet? Click here to start watching now.]

Here’s what Trump said about abortion at last night’s Fox town hall

Jan 11, 2024 |
Fox town hall

Fox town hallRebecca, a mom of six from Ogden, Iowa, asked this question of Donald Trump at last night’s Fox town hall event at the Iowa Event Center (where Pulse held their Christmas Gala in November):

“For me, it all comes down to this question: between you, sir, and Ron DeSantis, you both talk a lot about pro-life, your record. That’s my number one issue and the cry of my heart … is justice for all people … and I’ve been vocal celebrating with you all of your pro-life victories from the past.

But in this campaign, you’ve blamed pro-lifers for some of the GOP losses around the country and you’ve called Heartbeat Laws, like Iowa’s, terrible. And so I’d like some clarity on this, because it’s such an important issue to me. I’d like you to reassure me that you can protect all life, every person’s right to life, without compromise.”

Trump’s response

Here’s the transcript of former president Trump’s response:

“So … it’s a great question, and I appreciate it … you wouldn’t ask that question, even talk about the issue, because for 54 years they were trying to get Roe v Wade terminated, and I did it, and I’m proud to have done it …

It was a miracle.

When I walked onto the stage today, a gentleman in the back … he probably works for Fox … nice guy … said, ‘sir, I’d like to thank you.’ I said, ‘for what?’ He said ‘you saved 2 million lives in the past three years.’

I said, ‘thank-you very much.’ I knew what he was saying. Two million lives. No one has done more in that regard than me.

Now, I happen to be for the exceptions, like Ronald Reagan, for the life of the mother, rape, incest. I have to be there, I feel. I think that somewhere like 78% of people polled … it was Ronald Reagan … he was for it, I was for it. But I will say this: you have to win elections. Otherwise, you’re going to be back to where you were. And you can’t let that ever happen again. Gotta win elections.

If you look at it, Ron DeSantis … I don’t know what he really believes. You never know with a politician. He’s just another politician as far as I’m concerned. But his poll numbers have gone down to a point where I think he’s going to be out of the race very soon. He’s going to be out very soon.

I watched him last night standing up in his shoes, his fancy shoes, he’s going to be out of the race some say before New Hampshire. I don’t know if that were the reason, I hope it’s not the reason, I hope it’s for other reasons, I can see a lot of other reasons why he shouldn’t be, but he’s doing very, very poorly. It happened to coincide with that because a lot of other people say that if you talk five or six weeks, a lot of women don’t know if they’re pregnant in five or six weeks.

I want to get something where people are happy. It’s been tearing our country apart for fifty years. Nobody’s been able to do anything. And again, you can only ask that question because … you ask it brilliantly, and I understand exactly where you’re coming from … I love where you’re coming from. But we’ve still got to win elections. And they’ve used this … you know we have some great Republicans and they’re great on the issues and you would love them on the issue, and a lot of them have just been decimated in the election. Decimated, I mean absolutely.

We’re going to come up with something people want and people like. I would love you … first, you’ve got to go with your heart, you have to go with your heart first, go with your heart, your mind, go with it. You do have to put in there a little bit, you do have to win elections. But if it weren’t for me, with Roe v Wade, you wouldn’t even be talking, asking the question.

Remember this: they are the radicals. We’re not the radicals. Because they’ll kill a baby. Remember, I had a debate with Crooked Hillary Clinton … I don’t call her ‘crooked’ anymore. I use that for Joe Biden, as you know. I call her Beautiful Hillary … she’s a beautiful woman. But in a debate with Hillary Clinton, I said, you know, she’s willing to rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month. And you know I never heard … it just came to me in that debate. I didn’t go up there thinking I was going to say that. And she even winced. Nobody wants to see that happening after a period of time. Nobody. They’re the radicals, because they’re willing to kill the baby in eight months, nine months, maybe even after birth. If you remember the former governor of Virginia, where he said, you kill the baby after the ninth month or even after you set the baby aside, and you have a conversation with the mother, and if the conversation … can you imagine?

These are the radicals. They are the radicals. We are not the radicals. But we’re living in a time when there has to be a little bit of concession one way or another. I want to get it right. But without what I did, you would never be asking the question because there was no chance that was going to happen.

For 54 years, they campaigned on that issue and nobody pulled it off but me. So I think you’re going to be happy in the end.

Thank-you very much.”

Reactions

This blog has a few quick reactions:

  1. Yes, Mr. Trump deserves credit for appointing Constitutional judges who exposed the fraudulent thinking behind Roe, and who overturned it. We have no problem with him reiterating his contribution to this wonderful court decision.
  2. Trump is wrong that abortion is a losing political issue, and that it is hurting Ron DeSantis, as this blog has reported on before.
  3. The key is to remain on offense, as Trump did with Hillary Clinton in 2016. Trump has back-pedaled on the abortion issue this cycle, while DeSantis has remained on offense. Trump is correct that it is the other side that are the radicals, totally out-of-step with even rank and file members of their own party. THAT is what he should focus on. THAT is what Ron DeSantis has been doing.

Interestingly, the woman above who asked the question of Trump used to work for conservative talk show host, Steve Deace. We reached out to Steve to get his reaction to Trump’s abortion response in last night’s Fox town hall:

Steve Deace’s reaction

“Trump is clearly trying to make the GOP a pro-choice political party. He

Steve Deace

blamed pro-lifers, falsely, for the disappointing 2022 midterms that his candidates often failed to win. He’s attacked pro-life legislation, like Iowa’s heartbeat bill. And he gives non-committal answers, at best, when pressed by pro-lifers on the primary campaign trail. Trump clearly believes pro-lifers care more about him and having a seat at his table than babies, and he may sadly turn out to be right. There are reasons why it took us 50 years to get our stuff together and overturn Roe, despite all of our collective passion for a generation. Also note that one of Trump’s long-time confidants, Roger Stone, spent many years trying to get pro-life planks out of the GOP’s national platform back in the day.”

What do you think?

[Abortion hurts women, kills their kids, and tears families apart. What should YOU do about it? Watch our video series, “How to Raise Pro-Life Children” and change the culture.]