We are continuing our review of the presentations given at 2017 Convention in April. You may also find these presentations in our quarterly member publication, MCFL News. In this presentation, Helen Cross highlights the work of the Charlotte Lozier Institute in exposing Planned Parenthood’s financial irregularities.

MCFL Magazine editor Helen Cross discussed taxpayer funding and Planned Parenthood using a 2017 report, "Profit, No Matter What," issued by the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) and the Alliance Defending Freedom. Author Catherine Glenn Foster, J.D., CLI Senior Fellow in Legal Policy, outlined the two organizations' research which found waste, abuse, and potential fraud.

Jessica Evans lives in Georgia with her family, including her 15-year-old brother David, who has Down syndrome. Jessica is a college student and likes to come home and surprise her brother, so she’s videoed many of his enthusiastic greetings and turned them into an adorable and heartwarming compilation. We should all aspire to experience such excitement every time we see a loved one!

Jessica posted her video on Twitter and create a viral sensation, including many others who posted videos of the special love they share with family members who have Down syndrome.

for anyone who is having a bad day: here is a video of my little brother's reaction every time i come home and surprise him😍😭 pic.twitter.com/6HDxLC3CpM

— jess (@thejessevans) August 15, 2017

We have such limited understandings of what “perfection” is and what it means to be a “burden.” While special needs children and adults indeed need special help with many parts of life—although who doesn’t really?—they also bring a capacity for love and joy as well that can’t be overlooked.

By Nancy Valko

This month, CBS News aired a news story titled “Why Down Syndrome in Iceland Has Almost Disappeared” . Iceland encourages all expectant mothers to test their unborn babies for birth defects and, when a probable (85% accuracy, according to the show) Down Syndrome  diagnosis is made, almost all mothers have an abortion. This is the highest percentage of all countries. But Down Syndrome is not being “eradicated”. The children are.

Continuing a long tradition this October, Massachusetts Citizens for Life will honor Respect Life Month with our Annual Massachusetts March for Life around Boston Common on Sunday, October 1, 2017 from 1 to 4pm.

By Anne Fox, President of Massachusetts Citizens for Life

We are justly proud of our medical system in this country. Each of us knows people who are healthy and productive at what used to be considered very old age. Yet the latest headlines scream that life expectancy is down. Articles listing the causes of death show how high are our suicide rates. They actually list doctor-prescribed suicide as one of the causes. Suicide rates are up everywhere, but much more so in states where doctor-prescribed suicide is legal. Legalizing doctor-prescribed suicide causes other suicides to skyrocket. 

Reading this reminds us how important it is to defeat doctor-prescribed suicide in Massachusetts. Hearings on bills that would legalize DPS will take place at the State House on Tuesday, September 26 starting at 10 or 11 am.

Please mark your calendar and seriously plan to be there!

Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s Summer Academy brings pro-life high school students together for workshops and seminars that equip them to become pro-life ambassadors in their schools and communities. Part of the experience is learning to get up in public and speak about life issues and so we’ll be bringing you some of the speeches that the 2017 participants gave this summer.

By Olivia Colombo

My name is Olivia, and I’m going to be a senior in high school this fall. I’ve been involved in the pro-life movement for the past few years, attending the March for Life, organizing pro-life projects, and speaking. Last summer, I took part in MCFL’s PULSE Summer Academy with Sarah Mary Tocce, and then following that, I founded the pro-life club at my school.

You may have seen this video circulating, part of a series featuring actor James Franco talking with various philosophy professors and writers about the topic of philosophy. You can see the video below of Prof. Liz Harmon of Princeton discussing abortion. (You can read the transcript here.)

By Nancy Valko

“Should I Help My Patients Die?”

This is the title of an August 5 op-ed in the New York Times by Dr. Jessica Nutik Zitter, an ICU and palliative medicine specialist in California who speaks and writes extensively on end of life care.

Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s Summer Academy brings pro-life high school students together for workshops and seminars that equip them to become pro-life ambassadors in their schools and communities. Part of the experience is learning to get up in public and speak about life issues and so we’ll be bringing you some of the speeches that the 2017 participants gave this summer.

By Macayla Danier

People all around the world suffer from a life taking sickness, causing them to agree to physician-assisted suicide. The patient may or may not think it’s the best idea, but people need to understand that it is dangerous for the patient himself, as well as the physicians, families, and society.

Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s Summer Academy brings pro-life high school students together for workshops and seminars that equip them to become pro-life ambassadors in their schools and communities. Part of the experience is learning to get up in public and speak about life issues and so we’ll be bringing you some of the speeches that the 2017 participants gave this summer.

By Sarah Ryan

I thought I should preface this by telling you that I am extremely nervous - for two reasons. The first is that I am not a fan of public speaking. It doesn’t matter if there are ten of you or ten thousand of you, I will inevitably turn red, have shaky hands, and stumble over my words.

But there is another reason why I’m nervous. I’m nervous because I am not the same person I once was. If you had met me five years ago, three years ago, possibly even a year ago, you would be meeting an entirely different person from who I am today.