Denver Post Opposes Abortion Vote, Misstates Science on When Life Begins

Life News ^ | 9/22/08 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- The Denver Post came out against Amendment 48 with an editorial on Monday that challenges the personhood amendment. However, the newspaper gets its facts wrong when it attempts to make the case that scientists say human life begins at implantation, rather than conception.

The amendment would define the beginning of human life as the point of conception and have potential ramifications for abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

But the Post is urging Colorado votes to oppose the measure on the November ballot.

"Colorado voters should reject a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would define a fertilized human egg as a human being," the Post writes. "We opposed the amendment before it was placed onto the ballot and oppose it still."

The newspaper goes on to say that people can disagree about when human life begins but claims the amendment "doesn't fit with good science."

"Medical and scientific experts set the start of pregnancy at the point a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus," the paper contends.

However, that's not the case.

Dr. Jerome Lejeune, an internationally-known geneticist credited with discovering the cause of Down syndrome, told the U.S. Senate in 1981 that scientists agree human life begins at conception.

"Modern biology teaches us that ancestors are united to their progeny by a continuous material link, for it is from the fertilization of the female cell (the ovum) by the male cell (the spermatozoa) that a new member of the species will emerge," he said.

"Life has a very, very long history but each individual has a very neat beginning: the moment of its conception," the famed scientist added.

Dr. Hymie Gordon, the former chairman of the Department of Genetics at the Mayo Clinic, agrees, and says, "By all the criteria of modern molecular biology, life is present from the moment of conception."

Medical textbooks also confirm the scientific fact that human life begins at conception, or fertilization.

"Patten's Foundations of Embryology," 6th edition, confirms: "Almost all higher animals start their lives from a single cell, the fertilized ovum (zygote). The time of fertilization represents the starting point in the life history, or ontogeny, of the individual."

And "Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and Birth Defects" points out: ""Zygote. This cell, formed by the union of an ovum and a sperm (Gr. zyg tos, yoked together), represents the beginning of a human being."

ACTION: Send a letter to the editor to the Denver Post at: openforum@denverpost.com

[wagglebee]

"Colorado voters should reject a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would define a fertilized human egg as a human being," the Post writes. "We opposed the amendment before it was placed onto the ballot and oppose it still."

You oppose LIFE.

[wagglebee]

Pro-Life Ping

[wagglebee]

Ping

[wagglebee]

Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]

[SkyDancer]

Since when is a newspaper the authority on anything? Those people just go to some liberal journalism school and one day they’re a sports writer and the next week they do the aviation page ... now someone there is an authority on when life begins?????

[LibertyRocks]

Not to mention we’re talking about the folks at the Denver Newspaper Agency... About as liberal and biased as one can get.

[muawiyah]

Fur Shur we need a law that states that upon becoming a member of an editorial board, or a reporter for a newspaper, you are NO LONGER HUMAN.

[pctech]

I wonder if the Post is being paid by that pro-gay millionaire out there in Colorado.

[TigersEye]

No lie too ridiculous to protect that baby killing industry.

[goldstategop]

Exactly! I plan to vote for the measure. We should affirm life rather than death. And what's wrong with it? If that's a radical idea, then the premises of the Declaration Of Independence are also too radical for our country. Destroying life is not a "right."

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[cpforlife.org]

Pro-Life PING

Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[Lesforlife]

Just posted on the Denver Post article comments section.

Back in the 1960’s before Planned Parenthood realized that using scientific truths in its literature would lessen its revenue, it was halfway honest.

A 1963 Planned Parenthood brochure actually says “An abortion kills the life of a baby after it has begun.” That’s something we pro-lifers didn’t start saying en mass until years later!

A book from 1969 reviewed below states: ‘... at least one [sperm] will reach the egg, fertilize it, and conception will take place. A new life will begin.’

[Salvation]

The bishops will tell you when life begins. Even Denver's own Archbishop Chaput. See the link below!

Updated: American Bishops who have spoken against Pelosi

Here is the complete list of American bishops who have responded to Nancy Pelosi's comments so far:

1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver was the first American bishop to respond
2. ... Bishop James Conley, his auxiliary, joined him
3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington DC responded twice, first in a press release and second in a statement to The Hill. He has also appeared on Fox News, I am told.
4. Cardinal Justin Regali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued this statement through the USCCB website...
5. ... Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine, joined him
6. Cardinal Edward Egan of New York publised a strongly worded statement of his own
7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo issued a letter correcting Pelosi's claims
8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh and...
9. ... Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs have chimed-in
10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio, CNA reports has added his voice ...
11. ... Bishop Oscar Cantu, his auxiliary bishop, has joined him
12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville has published an extensive letter
13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa has a detailed response
14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas has joined the USCCB's efforts
15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin is on-board
16. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston mentions the USCCB on his blog
17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando has written at length
18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis challenges Pelosi's statement
19. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, President of the US Bishops, has weighed-in
20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, OR publishes in the Catholic Sentinel
21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse, WI responds in a word document
22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland, OH will comment in his September 5th column (PDF)
23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City, IA has one of the very best responses I've read
24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco has invited Pelosi to a "conversation"
25. Bishop Glen Provost, LA: "Catholic Church clear on when human life begins"
26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn: "Judging the Candidates"

{Last updated on September 10th.}

Notes:

• Previous #23 has been removed. Bishop Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, NC is actually the bishop emeritus, and the new bishop, Michael Burbidge has not, to my knowledge, made a personal statement.
• Previous #16 has also been removed, it was an erroneous duplication of current #13.
• #26 was added September 10th, although he published his column September 6th

[gatechie]

The AMA made a subtle Orwellean medical definition modification years ago, with the onset of the invetro fertilization technology. The AMA redefined the term "pregnant" and "pregnancy" as beginning when the embryo implants into the side the the uterus. It's not logical to say that you're pregnant, when your embryos are sitting in front of you in a test tube. Clever, aren't they?

The next step was to redefine birth control. Now days, medication that pevents "implantation" is birth control, rather than an abortifacient. Abra cadabra, the morning after pill suddendly changed from early abortion to pregnancy prevention. Then, start interchanging the beginning of pregnancy with the beginning of a new independent "living being". Describe this "entity" as pre-pegnancy, potential, and inert rather than post sperm-egg fusion, resulting in a new unique (DNA) living organism, needing nothing more than I need-nutrition, shelter, and warmth!

I was at a protest once where ACT-UP members were sceaming "sperm rights now" at us. This seemd silly to me. All those people on the street could see it wasn't us. The evening news showed video of the pro-lifers with the very loud "sperm rights now" cheer audible in the back ground as if we we chanting it instead of ACT-UP. That was the day I learned that the media intentionally lies to the public.

[TigersEye]

It's not logical to say that you're pregnant, when your embryos are sitting in front of you in a test tube. Clever, aren't they?

On the other hand it's not logical to say life doesn't begin until "implantation" when you have a living being in a test tube right in front of you. I think the pro-abortion lobby checkmated themselves with that angle.

[metmom]

What’s that I heard someone say? If you want to know when life begins, just ask the guy who’s buying a condom.

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[trisham]

bump!