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October 24, 2011
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Action Alert: Support Wisconsin Personhood Amendment


On Wednesday State Representative Andre Jacque (R-Green Bay) began circulating for co-sponsorship the Wisconsin Personhood Amendment, legislation that would amend the Wisconsin Constitution to apply personhood rights to preborn children at all stages of development. Click here to read the amendment language, and click here to view PLW’s legislative memo.

From a pro-life perspective, the Wisconsin Constitution contains a glaring error at its outset. In specifying the beneficiaries of its human rights, our state constitution leaves out the preborn. It applies rights to only those people who are “born.”

Representative Jacque is proposing a minimal but absolutely essential correction, a personhood amendment, to make the Wisconsin Constitution cover all people, every person, at any stage of development. The amendment seeks to extend the inalienable right to life found in the Wisconsin Constitution to all preborn children from the beginning of their lives. 

Should Roe v. Wade be overturned someday and the abortion issue remanded to the states, an activist Wisconsin Supreme Court could use the word “born” in our current state constitution to deny the right to life of the preborn by interpreting an independent right to abortion in that document. In so doing, the court could nullify any present or future pro-life laws in our state. The changing makeup of the Wisconsin Legislature could also jeopardize any pro-life laws in our state. Every two years our state election process determines the majority party in Madison. Legal protection of the preborn should not (and must not) be contingent upon which party controls the state legislature. The right to life should not be subject to the whims of a politicized supreme court or an ever-changing legislature. 

The introduction of the Wisconsin Personhood Amendment is a watershed moment in the history of the pro-life movement in our state. It seeks to end abortion in Wisconsin, not to regulate or restrict it. We have been working toward the introduction of such an amendment for the last five years, and we thank Representative Jacque for demonstrating the courage of his convictions in finally making it a reality.

The personhood amendment will face stiff opposition from the pro-abortion industry.  Shockingly, the strongest opposition to the bill at this point is coming from Wisconsin Right to Life (WRL). In February WRL published a position paper vowing to oppose any effort to grant Wisconsin’s pre-born babies full constitutional rights as persons, labeling such efforts a “threat to [the] protection of Wisconsin unborn children.” They worked hard to ensure a personhood amendment was never introduced. Having failed in that effort, they are now calling every state legislator demanding that they not sign on to the bill. WRL admits that their legal reasoning for opposing a state personhood amendment is speculative. WRL offers no case law to back up their asserted problems, admitting that they are only “probable”. Pro-Life Wisconsin, on the other hand, offers recent Wisconsin case law clearly demonstrating that the proposed amendment is not a risk to our current, pre-Roe abortion law (Section 940.04, Wisconsin Statutes) by “implied repeal” or otherwise. Click here for PLW’s legal analysis rebutting their misguided objections.

The pro-life movement is founded on the bedrock principle that all human beings, at all stages of their development, deserve full protection under the law. Why oppose proactive people of good will endeavoring to provide full and lasting legal protection for preborn children? Pro-Life Wisconsin remains committed to constitutionally protecting Wisconsin’s preborn children, regardless of opposition from the abortion industry or from within the right to life movement. 

Take Action!
Please CALL or EMAIL your state representative and state senator now and urge him or her to co-sponsor LRB 2859/1, the “Wisconsin Personhood Amendment.” 

Tell your legislators to extend the inalienable right to life found in the Wisconsin Constitution to all preborn children at all stages of development.

To find out who your state legislators are, click here for PLW's website and scroll over the Legislative Affairs menu item at the top of the page. A drop down menu will appear. Click on the Speak Up icon and then scroll down the page and click on Who Are My Wisconsin Lawmakers? Type in your street address, city and zip code. The names and contact information of your state senator and state representative will appear.

Once you know who your state legislators are, go back to the Speak Up page and use the links listed under Email Your Government Officials to send your email to your state senator and state representative. That way PLW will receive a copy of your email which will enable us to monitor the activity of our grassroots advocacy campaigns.

If you prefer to leave a telephone message with your state legislator, call the toll-free State Legislative Hotline at (800) 362-9472. Or call the legislator’s office directly.

Thank you!

Bishop Morlino joined by 100 people at Planned Parenthood prayer vigil


Last Tuesday, October 18, Bishop Morlino led 100 people in prayer and pro-life reflection (photo, left) in observance of the mid-way point of 40 Days for Life. As the sun set behind him on Planned Parenthood (literally and figuratively, we pray!), Bishop Morlino discussed how the pro-life cause is ultimately in God’s hands; God is asking us to pray and act, and trust in Him.

Bishop Morlino was joined by two priests — Father Jim Murphy of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception parish in Portage, and Father John Putzer of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish in Sun Prairie.

There's still time to get involved in 40 Days for Life, which is being observed this fall in Appleton, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Wausau and across the border in Rockford, Ill.

The national 40 Days for Life team reports that 361 babies have been spared from abortion nationwide. Nine of those saves happened right here in Milwaukee!

To get involved, call PLW toll-free at (877) 463-7945 or email info@prolifewisconsin.org.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Annual Auction Dinner this past Saturday!


Close to 500 people turned out for Pro-Life Wisconsin's Annual Auction Dinner, held this past Saturday. Thank you to everyone who attended -- affiliate leaders, 40 Days for Life sidewalk counselors, Bishop Donald J. Hying of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, longtime PLW supporters, pro-life legislators, people who drove more than 100 miles to hear Walter Hoye speak and so much more. Thank you to all of the high school and college pro-life groups who volunteered the whole evening!

Walter Hoye, president and founder of the Issues4Life Foundation, gave a riveting talk on personhood and why the pro-life movement needs to work toward abolishing abortion, not just regulating the killing of tiny human beings. Photo, left, of Rep. Andre Jacque, Walter Hoye and Matt Sande, PLW's Director of Legislation.

We promised we would send out information on how to sign up for Walter's weekly email column -- the Weekly Column Archive can be found here and you can subscribe to his weekly column here.

State Senate passes bill opting out of abortion coverage in Wisconsin's state health insurance "exchange"


The Wisconsin State Senate passed legislation on Thursday that would prohibit any plan in Wisconsin’s prospective health insurance exchange from covering abortion.  Senate Bill 92, authored by Senator Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee), passed on a party-line 17-16 vote. All Senate Republicans voted in favor of the bill. Click here for a copy of the roll call vote.

United States House Resolution (H.R.) 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare), allows health insurance plans offering abortion coverage to participate in a state's insurance “exchange” and to receive federal subsidies unless the state legislature proactively opts-out of offering such plans.  Although the state exchanges do not go into effect until 2014, several states have already enacted laws opting-out of abortion coverage, including Arizona, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, and Nebraska.

In poll after poll, Americans overwhelmingly say they oppose the inclusion of taxpayer-funded abortion in health care reform legislation. Government must not force us to participate in the killing of our preborn brothers and sisters with our federal tax dollars. Pro-Life Wisconsin thanks Senator Zipperer and all Senate Republicans for passing this important pro-life legislation. Senate Bill 92 now advances to the State Assembly.

Join PLW at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.


Join pro-life Wisconsinites and 400,000 people from around the nation to mark the anniversary of the deadly Roe v. Wade decision.

The annual March for Life will be held Monday, January 23, in Washington, D.C.  Pro-Life Wisconsin’s buses will be leaving on Friday, January 20, and returning Tuesday, January 24. 

Cost for the trip, including travel to and from Washington as well as hotel accommodations, is $275.

We will travel by bus and stay two nights at a Capitol Hill hotel. Register NOW to guarantee a seat!

Call PLW’s office at (262) 796-1111 or e-mail info@prolifewisconsin.org for more info.

Pro-life news wrap-up


- Human Life International: Breast Cancer Awareness Month ignores the Pill’s link to cancer. Read more here.

- Second Students for Life staffer passes away after car accident. Read more here.

- Woman dies of cancer after refusing treatment in order to save unborn child. Read more here.

- Chinese woman dies during forced abortion: was six months pregnant. Read more here.

Affiliate activities


Pro-Life Wisconsin Fond du Lac County will have a prayer and public witness outside presence outside the local Planned Parenthood on the days they are open during the fall 40 Days for Life campaign. For more information call Ann at (920) 921-6062 or email fonddulac@prolifewisconsin.org.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Walworth Co. prays at Planned Parenthood in Delavan, WI. Signs are provided. Contact Phil Cullen for info - 262-742-3299.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Juneau County gathers for prayer witness every Monday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Family Planning Health Services, 522 State Road 82 # F, in Mauston. Please call Richard Irwin, (608) 565-6706, for more information. They meet every second Tuesday of the month at the Hatch Public Library in Mauston at 7 p.m. in the Community Room.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Marathon County prays the Rosary once a month on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. at Family Planning Health Services. Call Ron Putzer at (715) 842-5368 to confirm date.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Fond du Lac County prays in front of Planned Parenthood, 333 N. Peters Ave., Fond du Lac, on the second Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For information, call Ann at (920) 921-6062. A pro-life Rosary is said at 8:30 a.m. before the 9 a.m. Mass each Saturday at St. Mary's Church, Marquette St. at E. Merrill Ave., Fond du Lac.

Vigil for Life-PLW Dane County have a perpetual presence on the sidewalks in front of Madison's Planned Parenthood abortion facility (3706 Orin Road, Madison, WI 53704). Each day that Planned Parenthood is open for business (every week day), 2 people (at least!) will be scheduled to be present on the sidewalk. The times and days are as follows: Monday-Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.; Thursday 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.; and Friday, 1pm - 3pm. Individuals or groups are needed to sign up for these 2-hour shifts, especially on a monthly basis. You may also "stop by." Those interested should click here to view the online scheduling calendar or contact affiliate leader Laura Karlen at (608) 445-2064 or email laura@vigilforlife.org.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Chippewa Valley prays and gives public witness against abortion and contraception outside the Eau Claire Planned Parenthood (1231 Menomonie St.) every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month at 11 a.m.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Milwaukee County gathers regularly on Saturday mornings at the Affiliated abortion center, 1428 N. Farwell Ave. in Milwaukee, between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. SIDEWALK COUNSELORS ARE NEEDED! If you can come pray or counsel women entering the abortuary, please contact Peggy Hamill, (262) 796-1111, or e-mail info@prolifewisconsin.org for more information.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Outagamie County invites you to love your preborn neighbor as yourself, by going out to the places where abortions are sold and committed. Please plan to come and sidewalk counsel (beside the driveway), pray and witness with signs at Planned Parenthood Appleton North on 3800 N. Gillett St.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Waukesha County will join other pro-lifers for monthly prayer in front of the Planned Parenthood in Waukesha, 426 W. Main St. Prayer gatherings will be held the fourth Saturday of every month at 10 a.m.

Pro-Life Wisconsin Kenosha has consecrated our fight against Planned Parenthood to Jesus through Mary.  We pray every Saturday at 11 a.m. in front of the Planned Parenthood facility, located at Roosevelt Road and 36th Avenue in Kenosha. Please come and pray the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and other prayers with us. For more information contact Karie Kinzler at kakinzler7@yahoo.com or at (262) 656-0301.

Please join Pro-Life Wisconsin Racine for a prayer vigil every Wednesday from 11 a.m. until noon at the Racine Planned Parenthood, 832 Main St. All are welcome to join with your presence or your prayers.

Rock County Chapter of Pro-Life Wisconsin encourages people to come to the Rockford abortion mill to pray, witness and counsel. The Northern Illinois Women’s Center is located at 10th St and Broadway, Rockford, Ill. Although the abortion facility has been closed by the Illinois Health Department, pro-lifers are encouraged to continue praying here. The Rosary begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet. For more information please call Mary Jane Stephan (815) 624-2270 or (815) 670-1166. PLW Rock County is also on Facebook!

Courtesy announcements


Healing Vision: Understanding the Aftermath of Abortion. An international conference that brings together experts from diverse fields to share information on the aftermath of abortion as it impacts women, men and others and to explore questions of healing. The conference is open to everyone. Twelve conferences have preceded this one. At the Radisson Hotel Milwaukee West, 2303 North Mayfair Road, Milwaukee. The conference begins the morning of Wednesday, October 26 and concludes at noon on Saturday, October 29. Archbishop Neumann will give the keynote on Friday morning. Day rates available. Call the Project Rachel office at (414) 483-4141 or email vickithorn2011@yahoo.com. Conference website here.

The La Crosse area 40 Days for Life campaign will run from September 28-November 5.  We will be praying outside of Gundersen-Lutheran Hospital on the corner of South St. and 7th Ave. S.  To sign up for vigil times or for more information, please visit our website at www.40daysforlife.com/lacrosse or contact Elizabeth
Garibaldi at (608) 769-4014 or lizzdemos@yahoo.com or Marie Allen at (608) 784-5189 or marie.v.allen@charter.net.

Be a Part of the Global Movement for Life! Attend the nation's first ever International ProLife Youth Conference THIS November 11-13, in sunny California! For details and registration visit www.internationalprolifeyouth.com.

 The third Monday of every month All Saints Catholic Church in Berlin says a Rosary for life at the church's monument for the unborn after a 5:15p.m. Mass. Everyone welcome.

Pro-lifers pray the Rosary every Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at the West Bend Planned Parenthood, 532 Shepherd’s Drive, West Bend, WI. Located on the West end of town, approximately 1-1/2 miles west of Hwy 45 on West Washington Street (aka: Highway 33) in West Bend. It is in a shopping mall on the north-side of the street. We are on the sidewalk.

Holy Hour for the Unborn: St. John the Evangelist Parish, 8500 W. Cold Spring Rd., Greenfield, Wis. We come together every fourth Wednesday of the month from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to pray for the end of abortion. The church has 24 hours of Adoration seven days a week. Contact Kathy Knaack with questions, Kathy.knaack@gmail.com.

Cenacles of Life meets at St Mary’s Good Shepherd Chapel, 108 McHenry St, Burlington, WI every Wednesday at 6 p.m., and recites the second oral Rosary in the main body of the church, finishing at 7:15 p.m.

Cenacles of Life meets every Saturday morning at 6:45 a.m. to pray two Rosaries for pro-life intentions before the 7:30 a.m. Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pine Bluff, west of Madison.

The Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe has a prayer vigil every Monday at 4:30 p.m. in Wisconsin Rapids on 8th St. by the Shopko mall to pray for the closing of the Planned Parenthood. If you have any questions contact Will Goodman at (608) 698-7443.

The Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe has a prayer vigil every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Stevens Point in front of the strip mall next to Family Video to pray for the closing of Family Planning Health Services. If you have any questions contact Jen Dunnett at (715) 340-2779.

If you enjoy receiving the Monday Update every week, please consider donating to Pro-Life Wisconsin’s life-saving work. For your convenience, credit card donations are accepted by phone, (262) 796-1111 or toll-free (877) GOD’S WILL or use our secure online donation form. Thank you for your generosity!