February 2008

The members of the Mercer County RTL extend a Sincere Sympathy to the Virgil ‘Bud’ Bertke family. He was a Past President of our Organization and a long time supporter to the pro-life cause. He will be missed.

January 22, 2008 NEWSPAPER SIGNATURE AD CAMPAIGN

The Ads that appeared in the Daily Standard and the Mercer County Chronicle commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion was IMPRESSIVE! Thank you so much to all who took the time to place your names in the ad and a HUGE Thank You to Project Chairperson, Janet Hemmelgarn and her right hand assistant, daughter Kaye. Another Job well Done!

Hundreds of pro-lifers (teens & parents) gathered in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Montezuma to wish those making the trip to our nations capital a safe and successful mission. Out-going President Theresa Stammen did a fantastic job putting together the event. Our Lady of Guadalupe Spirit Choir provided the music before and during the Rally. Fr. John Bensman, a long time pro-life supporter, gave the Opening and Closing prayer. The Guest Speaker for the evening was Dr. Dennis Sullivan, a Professor of Biology at Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, where he teaches Human Biology and Bioethics. He motivated marchers during the rally with facts about abortion statistics and how the law can be overturned. He also discussed the latest news on stem cell research. He was excellent!

Every year during the Send-Off Rally, the Out-going President presents the ‘Friend of Life’ award to one that has given of their time, talent and energy to the pro-life movement. This year’s deserving receipt was Angie Bertke, former RTL President and current ‘everything’ including chairwoman for the Pro-life tee shirt Project in our county. She was presented with a boutique of flowers and a plaque.

After March Coordinator Dave Kaiser gave the group making the trip the “Do’s & Don’t”, it was time for the 110 individuals to board the buses and prepare for their journey through the night to DC. The early morning plans were for most of the group to attend a special morning Youth Mass while several others were going to attend the Open House that the Ohio RTL organized.

Many Thanks to the Montezuma CYO for providing snacks for the travelers. The Coldwater & St. Henry Knights of Columbus provided a sack Breakfast for those that attended the Morning Mass. A Sincere Thank You to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church for Hosting this years Rally and to all who participated and donated towards the cause in any way.

This day marked the 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion on demand. Hundreds of thousands of pro-life people from all over the United States came to take a stand for the right to life of unborn children. They were there to be the voice for the voiceless. The number of young adults and high school and college students impressed organizers and political speakers.

As always, the best laid plans don’t usually work out. Even though the group arrived early enough to attend the Rally for Life Youth Mass at the Verizon Center, the arena was filled to capacity with over 25,000 people packed in. Our group, and others had to be ushered to another church down the street where they took part in a Mass. They then walked to the March site, where because of their early arrival, they were close to the stage. About 20 members of the group attended the Open House that the Ohio RTL hosted. A small crowd was on hand to meet U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan and U.S. Congresswoman Jean Schmidt and several others. Both Jordan & Schmidt invited our group to visit them after the March for refreshments.

Long time supporter and former RTL President and current teacher Judy Bruns and other teachers departed from the group temporarily, to attend an arranged meeting with the president of the National Education Association at the NEA Building in Washington. Their group, Conservative Educators Caucus, simply wants the NEA to stick to education and to take no position on abortion nor on other non-education, controversial issues. At the present time, this is not the case and pro-life conservatives want this changed.

President Bush was unable to attend the Rally but addressed the crowd by telephone. He told them they should continue standing up for the right to life of unborn children. He stated, “Thirty-five years ago the United States Supreme Court declared and decided that under the law, an unborn child is not considered a person, but we know many things about the unborn. “Biology confirms that from the start, each unborn child is a separate individual with his or her own genetic code. Babies can now survive outside the mother’s womb at younger and younger ages. And the fingers and toes and beating heart that we can see on an unborn child’s ultra sound come with something that we cannot see, a soul.”

In pro-life people, Bush said he sees “people with a deep conviction that even the most vulnerable member of the human family is a child of God.”

The weather was damp and cold. The March finally started. The crowd size was HUGE! Our group stayed behind our new banner that was donated by Bob Nuding’s State Farm Insurance. Thanks Bob!

After the March, some members of our group had an opportunity to hear the young women from ‘Silent No More’ share their stories in front of the Supreme Court building. Angie Crider gave her speech, the copy that appeared in last months Newsletter. Others went to the offices of Congressmen Jim Jordan and Congresswoman Jean Schmidt for bathroom breaks and refreshments before taking the Subway Ride to their last destination – DINNER. The drive back to Mercer County was non-eventful and they made it home in good time so all those that wanted to attend school or work had the opportunity to do so.

Many Thanks to Gary Borger & Dave Kaiser for doing an Outstanding Job with organizing the trip.

2008 MERCER COUNTY RTL SWEETHEART DANCE – Saturday February 23^rd.

It’s almost here! Mark you Calendar – February 23^rd. The Dance Committee is ready and working hard to make this years dance another evening of fun and fond memories. Remember those tickets that were in last months Newsletter? Find them and check out the great selection of prizes. You need not be present to win a prize. If you are unable to attend the Dance, why not purchase the tickets just to be eligible to WIN one of the Prizes!

Talk this up with your family and friends. Make plans to attend this years Dance. For your entertainment, The Spinning “G” ‘s will once again provide the music. Need more tickets or information? Call Dance Committee members Marilyn Pottkotter, 375-2400 or Lisa Homan, 375-2515.

HELP SAVE LIVES DURING LENT – Join Us on March 10th

We need You (& your friends or relatives) on Monday, March 10^th, to help pray for an hour or more in front of the Women’s Med Center, 1401 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering during the 40 Days for Life Campaign. The 40 days of Fasting & Prayer for Life Campaign began on February 6^th and will end on March 16^th.

During the weeks leading up to the commemoration of Christ’s death and resurrection, we will be uniting with 58 other cities in 31 states for a large simultaneous Pro-Life mobilization – the nationwide 40 Days for Life Campaign. People of ALL faiths across America are uniting together to end abortion through prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach. Churches and organizations are signing up to participate in the 40-Day Prayer Vigil at the Abortion Clinic. Mercer County Right to Life signed up for March 10^th as our day of Prayer & Fasting. Our primary focus is to fill the daylight hours, particularly during office hours, when clients are coming and going. It is recommended for safety purposes that people work in groups of two or three.

We hope that those that are able and willing to seriously consider signing up for an hour or more because we would love to see the sidewalks overflowing with people who want to help end abortion in a loving, prayerful and peaceful way. Praying at the abortion clinic will not involve protesting or picketing. We will use no signs, but we will pray in a peaceful manner during this time.

The purpose is to pursue peaceful solutions to the violence of abortion. To sign up to pray, please call President Ruth Rutschilling, 419-925-5500. Visit the website, www.40daysforlife.com/dayton for more information about the campaign. On behalf of all the unborn babies in the world who are unable to speak up for themselves – Thank You for helping out in this important life-saving effort.

2008 JUNIOR & SENIOR ORATORY CONTEST – MARCH 17^TH

The Mercer Co. Right to Life will sponsor our annual Oratory Contest on Monday, March 17^th, 7:00 PM in the Mercer Health Meeting Room #2 in Coldwater. According to the National RTL Committee’s requirements, contestants need to “research, write and present an original pro-life speech on abortion, infanticide, euthanasia or stem cell research.” The speech should address one of these topics directly, using other topics only as support and present a 5 to 7 minute speech.

The 1^st Place Winner will receive $400.00 & a free trip to the 2009 March for Life in Washington D.C. They will also be eligible to compete in the Ohio RTL State Oratory Contest in Columbus on April 26^th. The 2^nd Place Winner will receive $200.00; the 3^rd Place Winner will receive $100.00.

We encourage all pro-life students to get involved in the Oratory Contest. This is a great opportunity to sharpen your speaking skills, meet other pro-life students and to defend the sanctity of Human Life.

For additional information & to obtain an application, call Co-Coordinators Ruth Rutschilling, 925-5500 or Diana Homan, 419-925-4080.

On this day, April 29^th, thousands of young people across the country will participate in American Life League’s National Pro-Life tee shirt day by wearing shirts with a pro-life message to their high school, colleges and everywhere they travel that day and more.

This is the 6^th year that our local RTL group will participate in this activity. Angie Bertke has graciously agreed to Chair this project again this year. Last year, we gave away 1,300 + shirts to our local teens. The shirt cost $6.00. Even though we received many donations, it cost our organization approx. $7,000.00. That’s a CHUNK!!

We do plan to order the shirts again, but they are now $6.50 each. Therefore, it will now be necessary for us to ask for a $2.00 donation for each shirt ordered. Church groups have made generous donations in the past, maybe they might consider contributing to this project again if they are approached.

2008 NEW YEARS BABY

BOOTIE & BIB GIVE AWAY CONTINUES

Every time a baby is born at Community Hospital, they receive a special gift from our organization, Thanks to the efforts of several dedicated individuals.

New mom’s may select either a pair of booties, knitted by Benita Rindler, St. Henry or a baby bib, made by Judy Forsthoefel, Coldwater. Both of these ladies spend countless hours creating these gifts for the newborns of our area. Unfortunately, Benita is no longer able to make the booties. Over the years, she had crafted several hundred pairs for this project. We are truly grateful to her for all the time and effort she put into this project. Benita - Thank You and Take Care!

Butch Geise, Coldwater coordinates the project by packaging and delivering the goodies to the hospital. Many Thanks to these ladies for their dedication to a great project! If anyone would like to make booties for the newborns, call 678-1348.

2008 Ohio’s March 4^th Primary is ALL Important

The battle for the White House is heating up! Our state won’t necessarily tell Ohioans who the next President will be, but it will certainly help determine who it won’t be.

It seems that every time we turn on the NEWS, there is another major announcement. By the time you receive this Newsletter and read it – who knows what may have already happened!! Keep informed.

For now - there are TWO – two for the Republicans and two for the Democrats. Regarding the pro-life movement, there has never been another election like this in all of our history. It is for all or nothing. We will either win everything we have worked for in the last 30+ years or we lose it all. Beyond losing the chance to restore protection to unborn children in our lifetime, we face losing every single pro-life law we have passed in the last 34 years. Parental notice, parental consent, the woman’s right to know law, waiting periods, fetal homicide, abortion funding restrictions, partial-birth abortion ban – all gone – wiped off the books in every single state with the promised signature of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama to the radical “Freedom of Choice Act,” or FOCA – which would bar government at any level from interfering with a woman’s fundamental right to choose to terminate a pregnancy. (This is the most radical abortion bill this nation has ever seen.)

Democrat candidates, Clinton & Obama both favor funding research that requires killing human embryos. Clinton strongly supports Roe v. Wade and co-sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act. She also voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Obama stated, “I have consistently advocated for reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe V. Wade a priority as President.” He, too, co sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act. Obama is the most liberal of ALL the Senators.

Republican candidates John McCain & Mike Huckabee are both conservatives and pro-life. McCain supports embryonic stem cell research even though science has now created stem cells from skin cells, and believes we would be better off having Roe v. Wade return to the states. He voted for the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban but does not support a Human Life Amendment.

Regarding stem cell research, Huckabee does not think its right to create a life to end a life. He agrees that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and deserves to be overturned. He also states he would amend the Constitution to protect all human life from conception, thus ending the scourge of abortion in the same way that the 14^th Amendment ended slavery. His convictions regarding the sanctity of life have always been consistent.

Many feel that since McCain has the substantial lead, why should Huckabee continue to stay in the race? Because Pro-lifers are encouraging him to do so! The pro-life cause benefits from Huckabee’s continued presence in the race. Of all the candidates, Huckabee has run the most gracious and issues oriented campaign. As long as Huckabee is in the race, McCain will be forced to address the issues that separate him from his conservative pro-life base. From judicial appointments to the destruction of human embryos for research to the Human Life Amendment, all are close to the heart of the pro-life movement. It serves the purpose of our movement to have them discussed as he Republican Presidential campaign continues.

Mike Huckabee, Governor of Arkansas, is known as a Conservative Christian. Many conservatives say that Huckabee is the only one ‘some’ liberals fear to face in a debate. He is an unfaltering advocate for children, born and unborn.

The Honorable John Kasich, host of “Heartland with John Kasich” and Fox News Contributor, will be the featured Guest at the Mercer County Republican Party Dinner on Saturday, March 8^th at the Coldwater American Legion Hall. The Reception will begin at 6:00PM and the Dinner following at 6:30PM. The cost is $25.00 per person. To reserve your spot, call 419-375-4578.

In an extensive article, the New York Times went into great depth on the topic of fetal pain and what it means to the abortion debate. “The First Ache” by Annie Murphy Paul highlighted what has become a meaningful argument for persuading women to reconsider their abortions. The mere fact that the Times acknowledge that fetal pain occurs is a significant step forward. We applaud Paul for treating the subject with the impartiality and dignity it warrants. Americans deserve to know the truth about the humanity of the unborn child, and this article goes a long way towards starting a meaningful dialogue about how the nation can ensure that more women have the facts they need to make informed decisions.

There is a very good web site that parents can check out, such as Concerned Parents Report. It is dedicated to reporting information and imparting knowledge to parents so they can empower their children to make the healthiest choice for their reproductive health – living a chaste lifestyle.

Roe v. Wade: 35 years of Life & Love ABORTED. Abortion takes the life of a living unborn child. But they are not the only victims. The tragedy of abortion hurts mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and siblings.

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Vice President: Judy Forsthoefel, 268-2911 Sorting & Labeling: Deb Huelskamp & Volunteers

Treasurer: Sue Moeller, 419-925-5410 Newsletter Editors: Sharon Hibner & Janet Gels

Mercer Co. RTL Phone/Fax: 419-678-1348 Catholic Social Services: 800-521-6419 Harbor House: 419-586-9029

VISIT US AT OUR WEBSITE, www.mercerlife.org Larry Laloge, Web Master. MCRTL, 419-678-1348

February 2008

Meeting Date: Next meeting will be Thursday, February 28th, 8:00PM at Mercer Health Hospital in Coldwater. Both Meeting Rooms are tied up at that time, so look for a sign directing you to the meeting site. Why not make it a point to come and get involved!

January 22, 2008 NEWSPAPER SIGNATURE AD CAMPAIGN

2008 MERCER COUNTY RTL SWEETHEART DANCE – Saturday February 23rd.

HELP SAVE LIVES DURING LENT – Join Us on March 10th

2008 JUNIOR & SENIOR ORATORY CONTEST – MARCH 17TH

For additional information & to obtain an application, call Co-Coordinators Ruth Rutschilling, 925-5500 or Diana Homan, 419-925-4080.

2008 NEW YEARS BABY

BOOTIE & BIB GIVE AWAY CONTINUES

2008 Ohio’s March 4th Primary is ALL Important

Meeting Date: Next meeting will be Thursday, February 28^th, 8:00PM at Mercer Health Hospital in Coldwater. Both Meeting Rooms are tied up at that time, so look for a sign directing you to the meeting site. Why not make it a point to come and get involved!

2008 MERCER COUNTY RTL SWEETHEART DANCE – Saturday February 23^rd.

2008 JUNIOR & SENIOR ORATORY CONTEST – MARCH 17^TH

2008 Ohio’s March 4^th Primary is ALL Important