FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 7, 2016

CONTACT: Brendan Bradley Shirley & Banister Public Affairs 703) 739-5920 bbradley@sbpublicaffairs.com

Funding Abortion Giant Will Do Nothing to Prevent Spread of Zika

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Senate Democrats again rejected bipartisan legislation funding the response to and prevention for the Zika virus. For the third time, pro-abortion Democrats have prioritized their “war on women messaging” and Planned Parenthood funding over addressing the Zika public health crisis.

As the fiscal year deadline looms, speculation has mounted as to the Zika funding being included in a continuing resolution to fund the government.

“Pro-life Senators would be making a grave mistake to yield to abortion advocates and the Democratic party,” said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. “Capitulating to our nation’s largest abortion provider on issues of public health sets a dangerous precedent. Even the President’s initial Zika funding plan did not include earkmarks for Planned Parenthood, which is what the pro-abortion Senate Democrats are seeking to include.

“Planned Parenthood has a vested interest in promoting abortion; their solution to fighting Zika includes abortion advocacy while disregarding the positive, medical work being done by groups like Florida State University in seeking an actual cure to Zika. Victims of the Zika virus deserve unbiased, real healthcare during this critical moment. The community health centers that provide both prenatal and pediatric care are the true providers that are on the frontlines of fighting the Zika virus and providing healthcare to women and babies.”

“We applaud Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for staying the course and focusing on health care for Zika elimination.”

 

For more information, please contact Brendan Bradley with Shirley & Banister Public Affairs at

(703) 739-5920 or bbradley@sbpublicaffairs.com.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2016

CONTACT: Brendan Bradley Shirley & Banister Public Affairs 703) 739-5920 bbradley@sbpublicaffairs.com

 

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, pro-life hero, cultural conservative activist and icon Phyllis Schlafly died at her home in St. Louis, according to a spokesman for the Eagle Forum political group she founded.

“Today the pro-life movement lost a hero, Phyllis Schlafly,” said Tom McClusky, vice president of government affairs for the March For Life Education & Defense Fund. “Mrs. Schlafly not only helped the Republican Party become pro-life in the 1980s, but spent the remainder of her life ensuring it remained so. I was honored to be trained to work on the platform under Phyllis’ wing and was able to witness first-hand how she fought to maintain its pro-life status.  It is fitting that the current platform has the strongest pro-life policies ever.”

Many Americans learned of Mrs. Schlafly through her almost single-handed defeat of the misnamed Equal Rights Amendment, which would have given abortion a more settled right in the U.S. Constitution as opposed to where it still stands today, on a decision of judicial activism.

“Phyllis Schlafly made a life defending the values of the country she loved so much,” said McClusky. “We are a better nation thanks to the work of Phyllis Schlafly – she was a role model for conservatives of all ages and stripes. We are praying for her family.”

 

For more information, or to schedule an interview with Mr. McClusky, please contact Brendan Bradley at bbradley@sbpublicaffairs.com or (703) 739-5920.

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Ahead of Saturday’s canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, March for Life President Jeanne Manini had an op-ed published in the Washington Times on Mother Teresa’s life and legacy.

Canonizing Mother Teresa for her exaltation of life

Hillary’s encounter for a future saint didn’t quench her passion for abortion

“Please don’t kill the child. I want the child. Please give me the child. I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child and be loved by the child.”

These moving words from Mother Teresa’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1997, a few months before her death, epitomized the deeply personal empathy the world came to admire her for during her lifetime. As we prepare to celebrate her canonization however, it is almost impossible to ignore the contrast between her message of love and life and a political culture that asks Americans to revel in abortion.

“I wanted a family but it was the wrong time,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America as she joyfully spoke to the Democratic National convention floor before a national audience in July. Rather than pleas for consideration and mercy, we are now subject to mainstream politics that asks women to “shout” their abortions as a normal and even positive action.

It has been said that the Holy Spirit raises up certain public saints, with a particular gift for a specific moment in history. Against the backdrop of having lost 57 million Americans to abortion since it was legalized in the United States, living in a culture where HBO runs a series aimed at normalizing abortion, and facing a presidential candidate who once said abortion should be safe, legal and rare now advocating abortion on demand at any time in pregnancy paid for by taxpayer dollars, our “shout your abortion” world needs the antidote of Mother Teresa’s gift of love and human dignity more than ever.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta understood the inherent dignity of the human person in a profound way. She saw Christ in every person she encountered — from the president of the United States to the addicted, sick, elderly person dying in one of the shelters she founded. She had the habit of pausing whenever she greeted anyone because she was greeting Christ in the person first. Her heart ached for the poor. She sought to satiate what she believed was God’s thirst by loving the poor. Interestingly this saint wasn’t known for being “nice” — certainly not politically correct — but rather for being radically faithful to God and her call to love the poorest of the poor, even when that meant conflict and challenge. She did not mince words and was single-focused in her mission.http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/aug/31/canonizing-mother-teresa-for-her-exaltation-of-lif/

>>>> Click HERE to read the rest of the op-ed.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 2016

CONTACT: Brendan Bradley Shirley & Banister Public Affairs 703-739-5920/800-536-5920 bbradley@sbpublicaffairs.com

Political Normalization of Abortion at Odds with Universal Message of Love

ALEXANDRIA, VA – On September 4, 2016, Blessed Mother Teresa will become an official canonized saint of the Catholic church, “St. Teresa of Calcutta” in ceremony led by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

“Mother Teresa is one of my personal heroes. I am incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to volunteer in Calcutta with her sisters, and on one occasion to have met Mother Teresa,” said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. “Against the backdrop of having lost 57 million Americans to abortion since it was legalized in the United States, and living in a culture where one of our presidential candidates now advocates for abortion on demand at any time in pregnancy, paid for by taxpayer dollars, the world is in desperate need of Mother Teresa’s message of love and respect for human dignity more than ever.”

“On September 4th, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta will be officially declared a saint in the Catholic church. A few months later, American voters will elect a new president. So many of us long for a better environment, culture of life, a culture of love — but are confused about how to bring that about amidst such a confusing and difficult political and cultural season. We can begin by taking our cue from this remarkably brave and loving woman, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her profound understanding and radical living out of the truth about the inherent dignity of the human person.”

Background information: In 1997, Mother Teresa spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast. With Hillary Clinton in attendance as First Lady, Mother Teresa shared the following remarks with the crowd: “Please don’t kill the child. I want the child. Please give me the child. I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child and be loved by the child.” Mother Teresa also took the opportunity to speak one on one with Mrs. Clinton about why she was wrong on abortion. Unfortunately, since that time, the Democratic Party’s stance has only moved further in the pro-abortion direction.

Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, is available for comment on this story.

To schedule an interview, please contact Brendan Bradley with Shirley & Banister Public Affairs

at (703) 739-5920 or  bbradley@sbpublicaffairs.com.