Friday, June 12, 2009

Pro-Life Action League Tells Obama, 'Abortion is Not Health Care': Group to Protest Health Care Speech at A.M.A. Meeting

CHICAGO, June 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- "President Obama has declared his intention to reduce abortion. Now he is seeking support from the American Medical Association for his health care plan, and we're calling on him to remember that commitment," said Eric Scheidler, communications director of the Pro-Life Action League. "Our message is simple: Abortion is not health care."

Scheidler's group will hold a pro-life rally outside the Hyatt Regency in Chicago starting at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 15, where Obama will speak about his health care plan to A.M.A. delegates.

In his commencement address at Notre Dame, Obama called for "common ground" on the abortion issue and stated his desire to reduce abortion, which he called a "heart-wrenching decision."

Scheidler is calling on President Obama to follow through on this commitment and ensure that any reform of the nation's health care system will:

• Provide support to the 3,000 pro-life pregnancy resource centers across the country struggling to meet the needs of pregnant women.

• Withdraw federal funding from the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, which receives $349,600,000 of taxpayers' money every year.

• Maintain strong conscience protections for doctors and other health professionals so they are free to care for their patients without taking part in abortion.

"It is time for President Obama to join the pro-life movement in providing compassion and support to the thousands of women in the United States faced with unintended pregnancies who think abortion is their only option," said Scheidler.

"We invite President Obama to reconsider his position on abortion. But whatever his stand, we can still work together to offer women and families the help and hope they need to choose life."

Contacts for the media:
Eric Scheidler, Pro-Life Action League: (630) 896- 1200, (773) 251-8792 (cell)
Tom Ciesielka, TC Public Relations: (312) 422-1333, tc@tcpr.net

About Pro-Life Action League
The Pro-Life Action League was founded by Joseph M. Scheidler in 1980 with the aim of saving unborn children through non-violent direct action. Through prayer vigils outside abortion facilities and sidewalk counseling, the League reaches out to abortion- bound women and couples with abortion alternatives, confidential counseling and access to pregnancy resources.

Since July 2007, the League has been at the center of the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood's flagship abortion facility in Aurora, Ill., dubbed, "Ground Zero" of the abortion battle by abortion supporters and opponents alike. The League has closed eight abortion clinics in Chicago alone and nearly a hundred across the country.

The Pro-Life Action League is a nonprofit organization, supported solely by private donations. For more information, visit www.prolifeaction.org.

Christian Newswire