LINKING PROOFS OF GOD S EXISTENCE TO THE RIGHT TO LIFE

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1 Pastors Speak Out Coming Events In this issue we present the thoughts of Rev. Mark J. Henninger, Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, (PCA), Peoria, IL *********************************************************** LINKING PROOFS OF GOD S EXISTENCE TO THE RIGHT TO LIFE What do the arguments for God s existence have to do with the cause of life, and the right to life? Actually, quite a bit; and more than we might expect. For instance, the Cosmological Argument for God s existence, which reasons this way, If anything exists, an Absolutely Necessary Being (God), exists. Something exists, therefore an Absolutely Necessary Being (God) exists, speaks to the hierarchy of being. God is the Supreme and Absolute Being; but mankind (because of Jesus Christ), created in His very image, is next in line. Just as God is more valuable than all other beings put together; and Jesus Christ is more valuable than all other humans put together; one even-fallen human being is more valuable than the entire non-rational (viz. not human or angelic) creation combined. Then, there is the Teleological Argument for the existence of God. It reasons this way: The universe evidences at every turn order and design. There is a goal toward which all things are directed. Hence, there must be a Great Designer and Orderer of the universe; and this is God. Surely, when we behold human beings, even those in their embryonic states, we marvel at the wonder of their miraculously coordinated complexity and harmony. Surely, God did this. This is no act of chance, or evolution. During coming months, the following pro-life events are scheduled in the Peoria area: July Fourth Parade: Members and friends of Central Illinois Right To Life will walk together in the July 4th Parade in West Peoria. Meet at 9:30 AM at east side of Calvin Coolidge School 2708 Rohmann. Call Barb at for more details. Annual 5K Run/Walk: This year the race will be on July 14th at Metamora Fields Golf Course in Metamora, IL starting at 7:30 AM. Medals are awarded to male and female winners in several age divisions. Contributions are needed to help purchase the medals for the run. Call Greg at for additional information. For more information or to register, go to r/38716 CIRTL Bake Sale at K of C Fish Fry Friday, September 28, 5-7 PM Knights of Columbus Spalding Council #427, 7403 N Radnor Rd, Peoria, IL Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign : Please mark your calendar for September 26th through November 4th. There are plans for having a prayerful presence at the abortion clinic in Peoria and community outreach as well. Contact Jason Season for more information at Annual Peoria Area Life Chain: Central Illinois Right to Life will sponsor the annual Life Chain on Sunday, October Organizational help and church coordinators are needed. Call Dan at for more details. Family Resources Center Respect Life Annual Dinner Sunday, October 7 at 6 pm at Cater Inn on Pioneer Pkwy. Tom Brejcha, president of the Thomas More Society, will speak. For tickets, call or Jan Smith at Central Illinois Right to Life, Inc N. Brandywine Dr. Peoria, IL (309) cirtl@cirtl.org

2 Knights of Columbus Fish Fry and Central Illinois Right to Life Benefit Bake Sale Friday, September 28th, 5-7 PM LOCATION: Knights of Columbus Spalding Council # N Radnor Rd, Peoria, IL Central Illinois Right to Life, Inc N. Brandywine Dr. Peoria, IL (309) cirtl@cirtl.org

3 (Continued from page 1) Finally, when we try to conceive of St. Anselm s ingenious Ontological Argument for the existence of God, we find that much more difficult to do but it also contributes to our understanding of God, and the value of human life. Without trying to unfold Anselm s argument in its befuddling totality, suffice it to say, that it is an argument from being (ontology). And being is better than non-being. With regard to the value of human life, the same may be asserted: being is better than non-being. Many who defend the killing of unborn children try to convince us that their lives would not be worth living, (because of poverty, or illness, or some other such thing). But we are not in the position of God, to make such judgments. Bottom line: God exists. Every rational creature knows this in the heart of hearts. And life is precious. Some human life is more precious than others in that Jesus life (and death) possesses infinite worth; but all human life is of eternal value because of Him (Christ). Run For Life This year s run will be held on Saturday, July 14 and again will be on the grounds of the Metamora Fields golf course in Metamora, IL. The course runs through this beautiful new golf course and is all paved for faster times for the runners and a very enjoyable time for those who choose to walk the course. In addition, the course is very accommodating for small children and parents who wish to push their infants in strollers. This year, everyone will be eligible for the pie drawing, plus there will also be a drawing for (4) free rounds of golf at Metamora Fields! Registration can be made via paper entry forms or online at (click on Race Calendar ). Or, go to The entry fee for adults (13 years and older) is $25 until July 7, after which it will be $30 through race day. The fee for children (12 and under) is $15through July 27, and $18 after that. In addition, participants in the IVS Grand Prix series receive a $5 discount. Participants in that group should the Grand Prix administrator at bh26.2m@gmail.com for their discount code. Annual Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign Please mark your calendar for September 26 through November 4. Has your church "taken a day", especially the hours between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m? Would you like to be on the committee to organize the campaign? For more information, contact Jason Season at Garage Sale Huge Success Again Thanks to all of the wonderful men and women who worked so hard to prepare the sale and who worked the sale. A huge thank you to all who donated items for the sale. We also thank Catholic Charities for their most generous use of the building where the sale is held. Thanks to one and all. Central Illinois Right to Life, Inc N. Brandywine Dr. Peoria, IL (309) cirtl@cirtl.org

4 Volunteers needed at Bradley Student Activities Fair Central Illinois Right to Life has a booth at the Bradley Student Activities Fair on Monday, August 22 2:00-4:30 for Bradley students starting off the school year. Young women are under tremendous pressure to abort children conceived during college. They need to hear that compassionate assistance is available so that they do not make a horrendous choice which they will regret the rest of their lives. To help, call Sondra McEnroe at Excerpts from National Right to Life May 30, 2018 Assisted Suicide Brilliant analysis argues AMA should adopt its ethics committee s recommendation to continue to oppose physician-assisted suicide By Dave Andrusko Pro-lifers were understandably ecstatic earlier this month when the American Medical Association's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) recommended that the AMA retain its position in opposition to assisted suicide. The CEJA s recommendation is important but by no means definitive. The real vote comes when the AMA House of Delegates votes on its recommendation, which went against those who wanted the AMA to go neutral. The thorny issue of end-of-life care is likely to remain controversial in the US, with physicians themselves holding a wide variety of views. Critical in this debate is the finding that most persons requesting PAS are not actively experiencing extreme suffering or inadequate pain control. Data from the Washington and Oregon PAS programs show that most patients request PAS because they fear loss of dignity and control over their own lives. These are matters that lend themselves to psychiatric intervention and counseling not the dispensing of lethal medication. As the CEJA report wisely observes: Patient requests for assisted suicide invite physicians to have the kind of difficult conversations that are too often avoided. They open opportunities to explore the patient s goals and concerns, to learn what about the situation the individual finds intolerable and to respond creatively to the patient s needs other than providing the means to end life by such means as better managing symptoms, arranging for psychosocial or spiritual support, treating depression, and helping the patient to understand more clearly how the future is likely to unfold. The values of Hippocratic medicine admonish the physician as follows: I [the physician] will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. It is my hope that the AMA House of Delegates will uphold the wisdom of its own Ethics Council, and reaffirm that assisted suicide does not belong in the House of Medicine.

5 LIFE CHAIN Sunday Oct. 7, :00-3:00 p.m N. University to Metro Centre Meet at University and Northmoor Intersection Stand with thousands of pro-lifers throughout the USA! You'll be a light in a darkened world as you help put an end to abortion through prayer! Bring your whole family! Rain or shine! Water, lawn chairs for the young and old, umbrellas and strollers are welcome! Signs proclaim Abortion Kills Children, Abortion Hurts Women, Adoption the Loving Option, Life the first Inalienable Right Jesus Forgives & Heals, Lord, Forgive Us and Our Nation, and Pray to End Abortion See for more than 1700 locations in 1500 cities and towns across the United States and Canada. For more details call Dan Smith at LIFE CHAIN is a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life Americans standing for one hour praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the Church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception.

6 Central Illinois Right to Life, Inc N. Brandywine Dr Peoria, IL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit 1095 Peoria, IL Peoria Dining Tour coupon books will be available again this fall from Central Illinois Right to Life, Inc. The cost is $30. The book contains over 250, two for one coupons for use at local restaurants and other businesses. Contact CIRTL at for more information. All net proceeds will go to support Pro Life work. Thanks to all who have purchased these books in the past. Please continue to support Central Illinois Right to Life! Unity on the essentials of the Sanctity of Human Life is our objective. We are not seeking uniformity of opinion on all matters.. Therefore, some ideas advocated by the authors of articles in Central Illinois Life News or on the Central Illinois Right To Life website may not necessarily reflect the the personal views of all the members and officers of Central Illinois Right To Life, Inc.