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Thank You, Mizzou! MU Ends Relationship With Abortion Doctor Colleen McNicholas
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 It was announced Thursday that the University of Missouri will end its relationship with abortion doctor Colleen McNicholas effective December 1st.
The Universtiy of Missouri Hospital is ending a category of doctor privileges called "refer and follow." MU officials said only two out of 800 doctors had this kind of privilege, including McNicholas, and it was "outdated and unnecessary."
As a result of this decision, McNicholas will no longer have privileges at the university hospital. Furthermore, because state law requires a doctor to have privileges or an agreement with a hospital, McNicholas will no longer be able to perform abortions in Columbia, unless she obtains privileges or an agreement with some other hospital.
This statement comes after the MCC, state legislators, and many other pro-life supporters encouraged Chancellor Loftin and the MU Board of Curators to end its relationship with Dr. McNicholas, and get out of the abortion industry. The overwhelming response to MCC action alerts certainly made an impact on the decision of MU officials. We thank you immensely for your support! Read more about the decision in the St. Louis Review, the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Columbia Daily Tribune.
The MCC is thrilled with this news after a month of campaigning for MU to get out of the abortion business through action alerts, radio spots, videos and letters to MU officials. Thank you, Mizzou, for staying true to your colors and restoring the pride back to our great university. Send Chancellor Loftin and the MU Board of Curators a message to thank them for making a great step forward by following this link to our action alert. |
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Pope to Congress: Cooperate, Work for the Common Good
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 In his address to Congress this week the Holy Father asked lawmakers to work together for the common good. Pope Francis called for a renewed spirit of cooperation:
"The challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States. The complexity, the gravity and the urgency of these challenges demand that we pool our resources and talents, and resolve to support one another, with respect for our differences and our convictions of conscience."
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8th Circuit Court Rules For Religious Liberty
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Bucking the trend set by other federal circuit courts, a unanimous panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week in favor of religious organizations Heartland Christian College and CNS Ministries in their challenge to the HHS contraceptive mandate.
The court ruled that compelling participation in the mandate by threat of severe financial penalty is a substantial burden on their free exercise of religion, and forcing them to comply with the accommodation regulation offered by the Department of Health and Human Services was not the least restrictive means for the government to accomplish its objective of providing contraceptive coverage.
The ruling sets up a conflict with other appellate court rulings, which will require resolution by the U.S. Supreme Court. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, for example, ruled earlier this summer that the mandate, and the HHS accommodation, did not excessively burden the religious liberty of the Little Sisters of the Poor. That case was appealed to the Supreme Court.
Last week's 8th Circuit Court decision makes it more likely the Supreme Court will resolve the issue next term.
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Pope Francis Calls for an End to the Death Penalty
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 Among the many topics that Pope Francis addressed in his speech to Congress was his call for a global end to the death penalty. In his speech he often used the analogy of applying the Golden Rule to social justice issues, as was the case with the death penalty.
Pope Francis said, "The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development. This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes."
He went on to praise the U.S. bishops for their renewed call to end the death penalty and offered support to all who support abolition.
Francis's remarks were reminiscent of the comments of Pope John Paul II during his historic visit to St. Louis in 1999, when he called for a consensus to end the death penalty. John Paul's speech was a watershed moment for the death penalty movement. Beginning in 2000 the use of the death penalty began to decrease sharply in the U.S. Perhaps Francis's remarks will have similar impact on death penalty practices. |
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Oct. 6 Execution Pending for Man Likely Wrongly Convicted -- Please contact Governor Nixon to Stop the Execution
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Despite a lack of physical evidence, the State is planning on executing Kimber Edwards on Oct. 6 for the murder-for-hire of his ex-wife Kimberly Cantrell in 2000.
From the beginning Orthell Wilson admitted to killing Cantrell (his secret girlfriend), but pointed the finger at Edwards as the mastermind of the crime. In a 2015 affidavit Wilson admits that he lied, that he acted alone and that Edwards is totally innocent of the crime, thus undermining the State's strongest evidence implicating Edwards. In exchange for his cooperation at the time of the crime, Wilson received a life without parole sentence while Edwards received death. The only other evidence against Edwards, who has autism, was incriminating statements he made to police after an intense nine hour interrogation in which police threatened his family if he did not confess.
Regardless of how one feels about the death penalty, there is no justification for executing someone where reasonable doubt exist of their guilt. This case deserves further scrutiny! !
Contact Governor Nixon today at 573-751-3222 or send an email to let him know that this case is tainted with false testimony and a coerced confession. Urge him to halt this execution and convene a board of inquiry to further examine the case. |
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U.S. House Votes to Defund Planned Parenthood and Protect Babies Born Alive
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 Late last week, in the wake of undercover videos exposing Planned Parenthood's active trafficking in fetal remains, the U.S. House voted to defund the abortion giant. By a vote of 241-187, the House passed H.R. 3134, which would eliminate $255M in federal funding for the organization for one year. The House also voted to approve H.R. 3504, which would increase criminal penalties for killing a child born alive after an attempted abortion, by a vote of 248-177.
Yesterday, however, the Senate rejected H.R. 3134, the Planned Parenthood defunding bill, by a vote of 47-52. |
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Champion of Parents' Rights in Education Dies
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 Mae Duggan, a long-time advocate of Catholic schools and parental rights in education, died this week at the age of 96. Mae worked closely with the Missouri Catholic Conference for many years on education legislation. She founded Citizens for Educational Freedom (CEF), an organization that advocates for the rights of parents to choose schooling best meeting their children's needs. Mae was a champion of educational choice before it become fashionable. She will be missed. |
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