Right To Life - Grand Traverse Area

Lovely afternoon for our annual GTARTL Holiday luncheon 😊🎄

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Fact #14 for you all.
Week 14: Size-wise, the baby is the length of about half a banana. By this time, the baby can urinate half a liter every 45 minutes!

Gender dependent developmental differences appear for the first time starting at 14 weeks. For example, females move their mouths more than males, and this increases over time. The rooting reflex starts to develop around week 14—this means that if there is stimulation near the mouth, this evokes the baby to turn towards the stimulus while the baby opens his or her mouth. This, of course, persists after birth, which helps the newborn to find his or her mother's ni**le during breastfeeding!

Please share with your friends to help inform the public just how beautiful life is (especially pregnant friends who would like to know about the development of their baby!).

We had a great visit from Right to Life of Michigan's, Youth and Young Adult Outreach Coordinator, Jazlyn Bailey, the past two days. She presented to the Young Conservatives in Traverse City on Monday evening and also to the St. Francis Teens for Life on Tuesday.

Youth outreach is so critical in the prolife movement and we were happy to receive some great ideas and motivation 🙌!

“This is a dark day in Michigan as the Governor recklessly signs into law a package of bills that present an immediate danger to the health and safety of women and children, including the unborn, in our state. Removing basic health and safety standards for abortion clinics, standards that have the support of 95% of Michigan voters, is an afront to the very women our Governor claims to represent. The shocking elimination of the ban on partial-birth abortion demonstrates what many voters have hesitated to accept – proabortion Democrats will accept no limit on abortion, not even at the time of birth.

There is a silver lining. The steadfast leadership of our prolife legislators joined by a common-sense colleague led to keeping in place informed consent, including the 24-hour waiting period, and the barrier against using taxpayer dollars for abortion."
Barbara Listing, President of RLM

Statement by Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing on Governor Whitmer Signing the Reproductive Health Act - Right to Life of Michigan Statement by Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing on Governor Whitmer Signing the Reproductive Health Act.

New billboard going up today for the Holidays!
You'll see this one on M-72 on your way from Kalkaska to US-31!
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America's future rests on our children - it's time we protect them.

Churches and Pastors- Did you know that Right to Life of Michigan has a Faith & Life Monthly Email?
Be sure to sign up for this monthly resource geared towards church leaders and staff. It features important news, action items for churches, and article suggestions for church bulletins or newsletters. Follow this link and sign up under "Ways to Get Involved"!

Faith Resources - Right to Life of Michigan First proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan, every January, Americans are encouraged to celebrate the sanctity of all human life. We have many resources available to aid you in celebrating the day, including bulletin inserts, free PowerPoint presentations and slides, and much more.

Vice President of Operations, Amber Roseboom, (Right to Life of MI) on Fox News Sunday morning, discussing our federal lawsuit in Michigan and how the prolife movement needs to work to win future ballot proposals.

Pro-life advocate says movement needs to focus on 'money and messaging' | Fox News Video Vice President of Right to Life Michigan Amber Roseboom on how the pro-life movement can win after seeing opposing support among voters

A Vatican hospital had stepped up and agreed to provide care for 8-month-old baby Indi Gregory, where a British court ruled her life support could be revoked even though her parents are fighting for her life. But, that was not enough for the parents of this little girl to get a British appellate court to rule in their favor.

Indi’s parents got her baptized after a UK appeals court ruled a hospital could yank her life support without their consent.

BREAKING: Indy Gregory Dies After Hospital Yanks Life Support Over Parents’ Objections https://buff.ly/3MEXWf0

Five-thousand in attendance at the first ever Michigan March for Life!
There was rain with no shine, blustery winds, but happy faces nonetheless! Grand Traverse Area Right to Life will stand up for LIFE in Lansing, no matter the conditions! 🇺🇸

Wednesday morning, a federal civil rights lawsuit was filed challenging the constitutionality of central elements of Proposal 3.

The legal complaint was filed by the American Freedom Law Center, along with co-counsel Great Lakes Justice Center, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan on behalf of the plaintiffs (listed below) against Gretchen Whitmer, in her official capacity as Governor; Dana Nessel, in her official capacity as Attorney General; and Jocelyn Benson, in her official capacity as Secretary of State.

The plaintiffs in the case are Right to Life Michigan; American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, on behalf of itself, its members, and their patients; Gina Johnsen, Representative, Michigan House of Representatives; Luke Meerman, Representative, Michigan House of Representatives; Joseph Bellino, Jr., Senator, Michigan Senate; Melissa Halvorson, M.D.; Christian Medical and Dental Associations, on behalf of itself, its members, and their patients; Crossroads Care Center; Celina Asberg; Grace Fisher; Jane Roe, on behalf of preborn babies; Andrea Smith; John Hubbard; Lara Hubbard; Save the 1, on behalf of itself and its members; and Rebecca Kiessling.

Right to Life of Michigan President Announces Legal Challenge to Constitutionality of Proposal 3 on Capitol Steps to Thousands at First-Ever Michigan March for Life - Right to Life of Michigan Right to Life of Michigan President Announces Legal Challenge to Constitutionality of Proposal 3 on Capitol Steps to Thousands at First-Ever Michigan March for Life

St. Mary's Lake Leelanau representing at the Michigan March for Life !

Michigan stands for LIFE!

Our office will be closed today for the March for Life in Lansing! 🇺🇸

Late Wednesday night, the MI House voted 56-54 along strict party lines, to approve elements of the Reproductive Health Act. They moved to repeal several longstanding protections for women:
Strip abortion clinic licensing and inspection requirements, including regulations that ensure clinic hallways are wide enough for EMS workers and a stretcher in the case of an emergency; eliminates the requirement for sanitary humane disposal of fetal remains; removes transparency for the abortion industry by eliminating abortion reporting including abortion complication reporting; and allows for partial birth abortion to once again be performed in our state.

🚨 But, due to the courageous stance of lone Democrat Karen Whitsett the bills eliminating the barrier to using taxpayer dollars to pay for other people’s abortion as well as the 24-hour waiting period for informed consent were removed from the bill package.🚨

The bills will now head to the Senate for final passage. Right to Life of Michigan implores state senators to VOTE NO on the Reproductive Health Act in an effort to protect women’s health and safety by retaining commonsense clinic licensing and inspecting laws. Patient safety must take precedence over abortion clinic profits.

In Late-Night Session, State House Pushes Through Dangerous Reproductive Health Act Removing Longstanding Health and Safety Protections for Women and Children - Right to Life of Michigan In Late-Night Session, State House Pushes Through Dangerous Reproductive Health Act Removing Longstanding Health and Safety Protections for Women and Children

Nice article from the Diocese of Lansing.

READ: WHY GENEVIEVE THINKS YOU SHOULD ATTEND NEXT WEEK'S MICHIGAN MARCH FOR LIFE: Genevieve Marnon, above, admits she has started dreaming at night about parking lots, bus routes and city permits. With the clock ticking down until the first ever Michigan March for Life on November 8, the logistics of this major pro-life event in Lansing are labyrinthine. The purpose, however, is singular and very clear.

“Why is it important to be at the Michigan March for Life? Because one year from the passage of the radically pro-abortion Proposal 3 into our state constitution, the supporters of abortion want this debate to be done, they think they’ve won, they now just want pro-lifers to go away. Well we’re not going away. Not until every unborn child is protected in law,” says Genevieve who is now in her 12th year as Legislative Director of Right to Life of Michigan.

Genevieve is a key player in the team at Right to Life who are working hard to make the Michigan March for Life happen. They are doing so in conjunction with their event partners at the national March for Life organization based in Washington, D.C.

“We were contacted by the President of the National March for Life, Jeanne Mancini, very shortly after Roe v Wade was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in June of last year in order to discuss the possibility of a Michigan March for Life. I think Jeanne instantly realized that the states are now where the abortion issue is at,” recalls Genevieve.

“Last year, however, we were in the throes of the Proposal 3 campaign and just didn’t have the bandwidth to organize a great, big state-wide march. This year, though, we can, and we have and the reason we chose the date? Because that is the anniversary of the passing of Proposal 3.”

The November 8 event will begin at 9:30am with Holy Mass in Saint Mary Cathedral with Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing as the principal celebrant. That will be followed at 11am by a rally on the steps of the State Capitol with the March for Life setting off from there at Noon. The choice of location is both symbolic and strategic.

“I have just come from testifying in committee on the euphemistically named ‘Reproductive Health Act’ which is, essentially, a package of 11 bills that would just repeal every pro-life law on the books and, as of right now, that package of bills is stalled,” says Genevieve who, as the legislative director, spends much of her working week attempting to win friends and influence people within the corridors of political power in Lansing.

“And I think that’s another big reason for showing up at the March for Life – to let these legislators inside the State Capitol know that this is an important issue. Maybe that's going to be enough to stop this terrible legislation. We hope, we hope.”

Those in attendance at the State Capitol on November 8 will hear from a range of local and national pro-life figures including Barbara Listing, President of Right to Life of Michigan, and Jeannie Mancini, President of the National March for Life. The keynote address will be given by Genecia Davis, the founder of Black Girls for Life who will share her personal story of abortion and her subsequent path to peace.

Each speaker at the March for Life will attempt to chart a way forward for the pro-life movement in Michigan in the wake of defeat in last year’s state-wide vote on Proposal 3, a ballot initiative which inserted a so-called “right to reproductive freedom” into the state constitution by 57% to 43% margin.

Genevieve says she believes that the majority of Michiganders who voted for Proposal 3 “don’t want abortion as envisioned by the Reproductive Health Act”. Many voters, she asserts bluntly, “were simply duped”. Surprisingly, perhaps, she also believes that the passing of Proposal 3 doesn’t radically changes the task before the pro-life lobby in Michigan.

“Abortion has been legal for the last 50 years in the State of Michigan. So, with the passage of Proposal 3 things haven't really changed. Yes, laws do make a difference, and good laws can save lives but, one year after Proposal 3’s passage, the mission remains the same: Get a woman to make a choice for life; convince people that choosing life is good for themselves, for their child, and for society. The mission still requires no rest until all of God's children are protected in law. Period. That's it. It's pretty straightforward.”

“We have got to change the culture before we're going to be able to change this constitutional provision and part of the way we change the culture is to show up on November 8 and show a loving, prayerful, joyful support for women and their unborn children.”

Working from a small office in central Lansing, Genevieve is only a stroll away from the State Capitol and, almost as important for her, the local coffee shop. Even closer, however, is Saint Mary Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Lansing. It’s a proximity Genevieve has come to greatly appreciate and, indeed, rely upon over her years.

“Since I started working here, I do try to go to daily Mass because you have to be prepared spiritually for this work,” says Genevieve.

“When you are sitting in those committee rooms where abortion is being debated, you can feel the demonic presence, you can feel it. In fact, I said as much just the other day to my assistant while we were in committee at the Capitol. She agreed and, so, we quickly prayed the prayer to Saint Michael.” Genevieve’s purse also contains holy water and a rosary, both deployed on a daily basis.

As a mother of four (with one in heaven) and grandmother of six, the issue of abortion is something that is personal and emotive to Genevieve. For her, every abortion is a little life with big potential whose ex*****on is sanctioned by those responsible for protecting the most vulnerable. That includes the political class in and around the State Capitol in Lansing.

“We abort three kindergarten classrooms full of children a day. That’s 95 babies a day killed in abortions in the State of Michigan. So why come to the March for Life? Because those 95 babies a day are counting on you to stand up for them.”

* For more on the Michigan March for Life, go to: https://marchforlife.org/michigan-march-for-life/

Adoption is a beautiful life choice 💙

One week until the Michigan March for Life!
Join us at the Capitol in Lansing for this first ever March for Life in Michigan!
November 8th, Rally begins at 11 am and March begins at 12 noon.
Parking maps for those driving by themselves can be found on our website under the March for Life tab: gtartl.com
We hope to see you there! 🇺🇸

We have a new Speaker of the House!

"Congressman Johnson has stood up against the pro-abortion agenda of the Biden-Harris administration and Pelosi Democrats who are actively working to expand abortion access and abortion funding. Rep. Johnson has voted consistently to defend the lives of the unborn and infants. This includes stopping hard-earned tax dollars from paying for abortion, whether domestically or internationally, and protecting health care provider rights for those who refuse to engage in brutal abortions."

BREAKING: Pro-Life Congressman Mike Johnson Elected Speaker of the House https://buff.ly/476ajZc

A few years ago, a principal from my local elementary school decided with her husband to expand her family by adopting a little girl with Down syndrome.

The couple was so overjoyed by the experience that they decided to adopt a second child with Down syndrome, a happy surprise to even those who were familiar with the first adoption.

The National Down Syndrome Adoption Network offers additional success stories on its website.

Consider the words of the parents of a child named Janae:
https://buff.ly/48PbYEp

We received our pictures back from our photographer who graciously donated his talent to us once again at our Focus on Life Dinner! 🌹✨
Enjoy!

Our new billboard is going up today, just in time for National Adoption Month in November! 👨‍👩‍👦💛

You will see this one on US 31 2.5 miles west of M-37 near Chums Corner and Grawn.

Thursday, October 19th, Michigan State Senate Democrats in a vote of 20-18 passed through the dangerous Reproductive Health Act on to the MI House.
These elected officials are not listening to their constituents, as recent polling shows overwhelming support for legal protections for women seeking an abortion such as: the 24 hour waiting period to allow for informed consent (72% support) and that abortion facilities be licensed and inspected by the state for health and safety standards (95% support)
https://www.mrgmi.com/clear-majority-of-michigan-voters-favor-retaining-long-standing-regulations-on-abortions

We implore our State House Representatives to listen to their constituents and vote NO on the RHA!

And, we NEED to vote prolife! 🗳

Clear Majority of Michigan Voters Favor Retaining Long-Standing Regulations on Abortions LANSING, Mich. – A clear majority of voters in the state, including the majority of those who voted for Proposal 3 last November, support retaining long-standing regulations on abortions that are currently threatened by the Reproductive Health Act. 

87% of post-abortive women admit they were pressured by others to choose abortion (Charlotte Lozier Institute).

Always be the one to give encouragement to a woman in an unexpected pregnancy.

Britney Spears claims in tell-all memoir that Justin Timberlake urged her to abort their baby “To this day, it’s one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life," Britney Spears writes in her memoir of her abortion.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness month- around 67% of babies pre-diagnosed with Down Syndrome are aborted in the United States, in other countries such as Denmark and Iceland, the percentage is 90-100%. These human beings deserve love and care, not eradication.

Patients should be allowed to die naturally. Patients are not obligated to use extraordinary or heroic medical treatment that would only prolong the dying process. Ordinary care and treatment should be provided to all patients to sustain their daily needs and comfort. When a person has clearly reached the end of their life, the focus of medical treatment may be switched from curing to caring, but never to killing.

Euthanasia - Right to Life of Michigan Euthanasia means “mercy killing,” or in its original Greek, “good death.” In modern usage, euthanasia encompasses multiple practices including lethal injections, doctors assisting suicides through prescribing legal doses of drugs, and withholding basic care from non-terminal patients. In all...

Coming in 2024!

We are thrilled to announce to you our 2024 Focus on Life guest speaker- Seth Dillon! Seth is the CEO of the Babylon Bee and a prolife warrior, we are looking forward to being encouraged (and entertained 😉!)

It's never too early to SAVE the DATE-October 7th, 2024!

George gave two school talks on Tuesday (we had a busy two days planned for him!!), we are grateful that his message was shared to the youth in our area 💛

Monday evening was such a huge success, because of all of you and our outstanding guest speaker, George Dennehy! We were so amazed by his talent, genuineness, story and encouraging words. 👏 🎸🌟

Also, a big thank you to our Teens for Life, Right to Life of Michigan, Master of Ceremonies Steve Yoder, Bishop Walsh, Pastor Jody Carsten, and all of our lovely, hard working volunteers!

Until next year!