2010 ORATORY CONTEST

            The MCRTL Oratory Contest will be held on Sunday, March 21st at l:00 P.M. at the Mercer Health-Community Hospital in Coldwater, Meeting Room #1

               The Oratory Contest is open to High School Juniors & Seniors ONLY.

            The National Right To Life Committee requires the contestants 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.  

            Students are encouraged to use up-to-date factual information in the construction of their speeches.  They are to present a 5 to 7 minute speech. The speech is to be an oration, and the rules do not allow for dramatic presentations. They will be judged in four areas:  Introduction, Content, Presentation, & Conclusion.

            1st Place Prize will be $400.00 plus a free trip to the 2011 March For Life in D.C.  

               2nd Place Prize will be $200.00  

               3rd Place Prize will be $100.00 

               The 1st Place Prize Winner will be eligible to compete in the Ohio RTL State Oratory Contest in Columbus, on April 24, 2010.  The 1st Place State winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to compete in the National Right To Life Oratory Contest in Arlington, Virginia on Saturday, June 26, 2010.

               The National Right To Life Oratory Contest prizes are:  1st Place - $1000.00; 2nd Place - $750.00; 3rd Place - $500.00 & 4th Place $250.00

               We encourage all pro-life students to get involved in the Oratory contest!  This is a great opportunity to sharpen speaking skills, meet other pro-life students, and to "Defend the Sanctity of Human Life."  To obtain an application, list of rules, and information for the MCRTL Oratory Contest, please call Ruth Rutschilling, Contest Coordinator, at 419-925-5500 or email at rprut@watchtv.net  

               Deadline to apply:  March 14th.

SARAH PALIN’S OHIO RIGHT TO LIFE VISIT – 3/5/10

               Former Gov. Sarah Palin spoke before a full, Sold Out house at the Aladdin Shrine Center at Easton in Columbus.  Those in attendance stated her speech was fantastic and inspiring and Sarah looked very comfortable on stage.  It was billed as a nonpartisan event.  

               Before Sarah spoke to the crowd of approx. 4,000, a $1,000 per ticket private reception was held in her honor. However, after her 45- minute speech to her adoring crowd, Palin promised to return her generous speaking fee back to Ohio RTL, after taxes are taken out. 

                Sarah urged the crowd to take action on abortion issues in Congress & the State House.  She talked very openly about the birth of her last child.  The mother of five recalled how at 43 she found herself pregnant with a child with Down syndrome and then a short while later learned her teenage daughter was pregnant.  Palin said those two experiences gave her empathy for the decision ‘women pregnant in less than ideal circumstances’ must face and tested her own anti-abortion commitment.  She said that after both babies were born, she and her family learned that “what seems like life’s greatest challenges in the moment are the greatest blessings in the end.”  She added, “There is no accident.  Every child has a purpose.”

               Another comment Sarah made was regarding the liberal media making a fuss about her writing notes on the palms of her hands. She calls it her “poor mans teleprompter.”  She also said, “If it is good enough for God to write her name on the palm of his hand as to not forget her name, then she could write a message on her hands as well.” 

               Sarah also honored Elizabeth Trisler, the young girl who won the National RTL Oratory Contest, but was kept from being honored on the floor of the Ohio House because of Speaker Budish’s radical pro-death agenda.

      The Mercer County Right to Life will once again purchase Tee Shirts for High School students from Mercer County who will wear that Tee shirt to school preferably on that day, Tuesday, April 27th, or any other day that week.  It is our hope, that on that day, hundreds of young people will serve as walking billboards, spreading the message that Abortion is wrong.  

               The shirts are black in color with bright orange/red colored words “Abortion Kills a Person”. Sizes will run Adult S, M, L, XL & 2XL.  A suggested donation of $3.00 would be appreciated to help defray our cost.  Angie Bertke, 925-4822, has agreed to Chair this project while Theresa Homan, will serve as her co-chair, 925-4000.  Please give them a call No Later than Thursday, April 1st with your order.  At this writing, many church youth directors are gathering orders.  Check to see if your church is getting involved.

ABSTINENCE EDUCATION WORKS

               Students who took part in the abstinence education class were less sexually aggressive than their counterparts.  Abstinence education is effective in reducing sexual activity among youth.  The students in the abstinence class initiated less sex, had fewer sexual partners and had more pronounced risk reduction compared to those receiving safe-sex and comprehensive sex education.  Abstinence educators showed kids that there are too many great things riding on their future to risk it to STD’s, pregnancy and broken hearts.

FREE THE NOTRE DAME 88

               On May 17, 2009, two great scandals occurred.  The first scandal was that pro-abortion President Obama, at the invitation of Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins, delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame.

               The second scandal was that 88 committed pro-lifers, were arrested and thrown in jail for protesting this outrage.  The Notre Dame 88, as they are called, are those who were moved to give a non-violent witness to the sanctity of human life in a situation that demanded such a witness.

               The Notre Dame 88 protested by simply walking onto the ND campus, some praying the rosary, others holding signs.  Because their message was in opposition to Obama’s speech, they were arrested and jailed.  Those arrested include, Alan Keyes, Fr. Norman Weslin, Norma McCorvey, Joan Andrews Bell, Jack Ames, Randall Terry, Sister Lois Marie and many other beautiful faithful Christians.

               The Notre Dame 88 now face trial and may go to jail for their witness to life. Please Help these people achieve justice.  Call, fax or write Fr. John Jenkins, President of Notre Dame and ask him to request that the Saint Joseph’s County District Attorney drop charges against the Notre Dame 88.  Contact him at: University of Notre Dame, 400 Main Building, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556

Phone: 574-731-3903      Fax: 574-631-2770     E mail: president@nd.edu

LIVE TWITTERING ABORTION

               ‘Angie’ had an abortion last week.  She felt compelled to broadcast it live online!  

               Shortly after swallowing the chemical abortion drug, RU 486, the 27 – yr. old single mom of a four yr. old, began posting live updates on Twitter and YouTube.  More than 119,000 watched her first video.  “Um, yeah, I’m having an abortion right now.  It’s not that bad.  It’s not that scary,” she said, smiling broadly into the camera.  ‘Angie’ said her goal in going public was to demystify abortion.

               Ru486 abortion are the coming rage, much less hassle for abortion profiteers than surgical abortions.  The mother takes an RU 486 pill at the clinic, which kills the baby, and follows up at home with 1 or 2 misoprostol pills to cause contractions to expel the baby.  All for $480, as ‘Angie’ tweeted.  The bonus for abortion clinics is if an RU 486 doesn’t work, which occurs 7.9% of the time according to RU 486’s label, there is no guarantee, so mothers must then undergo and pay for surgical abortions – abortion double-dipping.

               But over the next few days, ‘Angie’s’ updates increasingly detailed bleeding, dizziness and severe pain, along with an admission that she quickly exhausted her first supply of painkillers.  This went on for 9 days.  ‘Angie’ thought that the entire abortion would take a few hours, as she had read in a few stories.  Though the Florida woman said she pursued abortion because of health risks, the irony is the abortion itself could have killed her and will likely leave long-term side effects.  RU 486 is far from safe.  At least 12 women died after taking the human pesticide, and more than 600 adverse effects have been reported to the FDA, including heart attacks, hemorrhaging, and surgery to repair damage.

               Many women also say the convenience of having an abortion in their own home is, in fact, a lonely experience, so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised people like ‘Angie’ are coping by turning to social media for support.  But, it should shock our senses that the murder of preborn babies is shouted, even celebrated, from Internet rooftops – that a precious young life was nothing but a “squatter,” “parasite” and “tumor” to ‘Angie’.  This type of desensitizing can only be a desperate attempt to smother the truth, but we pray that ‘Angie’s’ brazen words will be used for good, prompting others to think through the life issues and perhaps even speak out for the first time. For all the latest news, check out:  worldnetdaily.com, by Jill Stanek.

               ‘Angie’s’ story is certainly a startling reminder that we must work harder than ever to surround young men & women with love and help when and where they need it most

MANY THANKS TO SOME TALENTED PEOPLE

               For many years, Janet Evans, Celina crocheted blankets and gave them to Harbor House to be given to new mothers.  Now – she is back at it, making those blankets again, this time donating them to those mothers who enter the Choosing Life Pregnancy Center.  The baby blankets are beautiful!  Thank You Janet.

               Every time a baby is born at Mercer Health Community Hospital in Coldwater, they are presented with either a pair of baby booties or a baby bib.  Thank You So Much - Sue Lange, Coldwater for making booties galore and to Judy Forsthoefel, rural Coldwater, for sewing hundreds of baby bibs.

               Butch Geise then bags each precious item, puts on a RTL nametag and delivers them to the Hospital.  Thank You Ladies for sharing your time and talents for the ‘little ones.’

PRO-LIFE BUS TRIP TO KETTERING PLANNED

               On any given year, 2 to 3 busloads of Mercer County people have traveled to the March for Life in Washington, D.C.  The trip is long and COLD! While many of us will still continue going to D.C. annually for as long as it takes to stop the legalized taking of human life in utero, we need to do more.  This is an invitation to Christians of all denominations to set aside Friday, June 18th, 7:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. to travel to Kettering abortion clinic by bus in order to peacefully line the sidewalks with people praying.  Pro-life signs will be available for those wishing to carry pro-life signs.

               Two buses are scheduled to leave the Wal-Mart parking lot in Celina, arrive at the Women’s Med Center in Kettering (where abortions take place) around 9:00 A.M.  Once there, participant will peacefully pray in shifts while others visit the Elizabeth Pregnancy Center to view an ultrasound across the street, or listen to Christian music and speakers.  

               At 12:45 P.M. buses will leave the clinic area and travel to the Town & Country Mall for lunch at ones own expense.  Buses will depart for home at 2:00 and should arrive in Celina around 4:00 P.M.  Cost for this trip is $16.00 per person, on a “first come, first serve basis”.

               This daylong trip is doable.  If you claim to be pro-life, why not make the short trip to the abortion clinic for peaceful prayer, and exemplify Christ’s love of His children and the pregnant women, through your presence.   Give it some thought, and then give Sharon a call for more information and an Agenda.   . 

*Signature of person reserving seat (if under 18, parent signs): _____________________________________________________