Gospel of Life Institute's Pro-Life Update

In addition to all the events and information in the last pro-life update, here is the pro-life news you need to know.

Pope Benedict XVI and Human Rights
As a boy of fourteen, Joseph Ratzinger had a cousin who had been born with Down's Syndrome, only a bit younger than himself. In 1941, German state "therapists" came to the boy's house and probably informed the parents of the government regulation that prohibited mentally handicapped children from remaining in their parents' home. In spite of the family's pleas, the representatives of the Nazi state took the child away. The Ratzinger family never saw him again. Later the family learned that he had "died," most likely murdered, for being "undesirable," a blemish in the race and a drain on the productivity of the nation. This was Joseph Ratzinger's first experience of a murderous philosophy that asserts that some people are disposable. (Catholic Exchange)

Prayers are desperately needed for Europe, especially Malta, Poland, Ireland, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino :
STRASBOURG, April 16, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has passed a resolution to declare unlimited legal abortion an unconditional right. The Assembly passed the resolution with 102 to 69 votes with 14 abstentions. Amendments seeking to make the resolution less extreme in its promotion of abortion were rejected.

West Seattle Junction Street Fair
Human Life of Seattle has been invited to participate in staffing a booth at the West Seattle Junction Street Fair, which will occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 11, 12, and 13.  This would be a new activity for them.

About ten years ago, there was a right-to-life booth in that street fair, but that was stopped in later years after complaints.  In recent years, though, both Planned Parenthood and NARAL have had booths.  Apparently there has been a change in management of the fair.  There is support for a booth from the West Seattle Ministerial Association (which includes the pastor of Holy Rosary Church) and from Healing Hearts, a Protestant group with a mission similar to that of Project Rachel.  The plan is, though, for any booth to be under the "Human Life of Washington" banner.
 
Ted Nutting, President of Human Life of Seattle, is canvassing to see if there is enough interest for Human Life to support this endeavor.  The affiliate is already extended by its booth in the Fremont Fair in June, and Ted is seeking some outside support for the West Seattle Junction Fair.

He notes that his affiliate, though secular, has a membership that is predominantly Catholic. For years they have wanted to reach out to other pro-life organizations, but they haven't had much success.  This could be an opportunity to do that.  

If you might be interested in helping staff the booth, please contact Ted at theodorenutting@msn.com.  

The Coalition Against Assisted Suicide
Please visit the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide and make a donation to this organization to help them defeat I-1000. As Rita Marker recently shared, "Everyone who opposes assisted suicide is a Washingtonian for the next year." (Celebrate Life, March-April 2008, p. 32) Let us show our country that we value human life and that killing people (via assisted suicide) because they are sick or disabled is never acceptable.

Dawn Eden
Fr. Sean Raftis is bringing a chastity speaker, Dawn Eden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Eden) to the Seattle area. After working as a rock-n-roll historian and living the associated lifestyle as a single woman in New York City, Ms. Eden underwent a dramatic faith conversion. She is the author of the book, The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On.

On her blog The Dawn Patrol, she frequently critiques the organization Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice organizations from a pro-life standpoint, as well as exploring topics related to her religious faith (she was received into the Catholic Church in 2006) and her personal interests.

Itinerary:
1) Seattle University: Friday, May 16, 7:00 p.m. Bannan Hall, Room 102. Audience will be 18 years of age and older.

2) Book Signing: Holy Family Parish hall, West Seattle, 9622 - 20th Ave SW Saturday May 17th; after 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Masses.  Book signing Sunday, May 18, after 8 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 11 a.m. and 12:30 Masses.

3) Sunday, May 18, St. Stephen the Martyr Parish, Dawn will address young adults 16 years of age and over; 13055 SE 192nd St., Renton, WA 98058; 6:30 p.m. (after 5:30 p.m. Life Teen Mass).

Fr. Thomas Euteneur
Please mark your calendars for May 23 and May 24.  The Helper's of God's Precious Infants are bringing Fr. Thomas Euteneur to the Seattle area.  More information will follow.