Archive for the ‘Legal and Political’ Category

Yesterday a piece ran on Moody Radio's national program Prime Time America highlighting the libel suit I'm fighting against Planned Parenthood of Illinois and their CEO Steve Trombley, and how the Illinois Citizens Participation Act has been turned inside-out by Planned Parenthood's lawyers.

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Roger Earl beat me to it with the exciting news that three babies were saved from abortion the day after the Aurora City Council met our (very low) expectations by granting Planned Parenthood's request to expand their parking lot. This is an especially significant number, since precisely three aldermen voted against PP's petition.

On the City Council agenda for Tuesday evening, October 27, was a petition by Planned Parenthood to expand their parking lot. The petition had been approved by the Planning and Development Committee, but then appealed by 4th Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence to the full Council. [Continue reading . . . »]

On Friday, October 23, Judge Neal Cerne (pictured to the right) heard arguments on Planned Parenthood and the City of Aurora's motion to dismiss Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood's zoning case in the Illinois 18th Judicial Circuit Court.

I'll tell you all about the hearing in a minute, but first let me emphasize that this case is one of the biggest reasons we need to pack the Aurora City Council meeting Tuesday, October 27 at 6 p.m. at Aurora City Hall, 44 W. Downer Pl. (Map) when the council will consider Alderman Rick Lawrence's appeal of the city's approval for Planned Parenthood to add new parking. Among other reasons, the city must not allow Planned Parenthood to add to their property while the zoning of their property is the subject of a lawsuit in state court (see Eric's post on the situation here for all the reasons). Call the City Clerk at 630-844-3615 to get on the list to speak at the meeting. [Continue reading . . . »]

UPDATE below.

Last night the Planning and Development Committee rubber-stamped Planned Parenthood's expansion of their parking lot. Unless a member of the City Council appeals this decision, it will pass by consent at the next City Council meeting, October 27.

This result, though disappointing, was not a surprise. We've grown used to seeing City of Aurora officials avoid confronting Planned Parenthood's misdeeds. But I was impressed to see that at least some of our objections had made it through to the aldermen on the committee.

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In a development that reopens the whole controversy surrounding their deceptive arrival here, it has recently been disclosed that Planned Parenthood is planning an expansion at their Aurora site. They are seeking permission from the City of Aurora to boost their parking by a whopping 27 spaces, an increase of nearly 40%.

I'll go on and explain the entire situation—including the deception going on here—in a moment, but first let me deliver this urgent action item:

Please call and e-mail the aldermen on the Planning and Development Committee and tell them not to approve Planned Parenthood's parking expansion request.

When you call, give three reasons for the committee to reject the
parking scheme:

1. The zoning ordinance requires 10-foot-wide parking spaces, but PP's spaces are only 9 feet wide.
2. The zoning ordinance requires a 35 foot setback for parking spaces, but PP only has 30.
3. Planned Parenthood's stated reason for the new spaces, "security," is a total sham: we are peaceful and law-abiding.

Here's the contact information for the P & D Committee:

• Alderman Mike Saville, Chair (6th Ward): 630-896-9895 | e-mail
• Abby Schuler (1st Ward): 630-710-0331 | e-mail
• Rick Mervine (8th Ward): 331-452-5136 | e-mail

Now, to fill in all the details . . . [Continue reading . . . »]

It's been fourteen years in coming, but today the Illinois Parental Notification Act of 1995 finally goes into effect. As reported in the Aurora Beacon News, minor girls will now be required by law to inform a parent before getting an abortion.

Planned Parenthood and the ACLU fought hard to keep this day from ever happening, getting the Act enjoined by a federal judge immediately after it was signed into law in 1995. But the State—with help from the likes of public interest law firm, the Thomas More Society—finally convinced the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago to allow the law to go into effect. [Continue reading . . . »]

Today was stalwart activist Randy Means' court date for his wrongful arrest for "disturbing the peace" at Planned Parenthood. You can read all about how he was arrested for merely preaching the gospel to Planned Parenthood employees in my previous post on the story.

Today Randy and attorney Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society Pro-Life Law Center, Chicago, appeared before the judge to plead "not guilty" and set a date for trial. The date was set for Monday, June 22 at 1 p.m. [Continue reading . . . »]

Monday, March 30, more than 30 people came out to protest HB2354 in front of the district office of State Representative Kay Hatcher.

Leading the protest were local pro-lifers Dan Wurtz and Julie Van Domelen of Holy Cross Church in Batavia. Dan and Julie had arranged a meeting with Rep. Hatcher to deliver the hundreds of petition signatures against HB2354 from her district. They used that time to bring a peaceful, prayerful protest against HB2354 and Rep. Hatcher's stand in support of it. Dan had this to say about the meeting:

Mrs. Hatcher was honest and to the point. While expressing reservations on HB-2354 she did say, "If you were to categorize me it would be Pro-Choice." I sensed genuine conflict on the bill, but didn't think that it alone would influence her vote.

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One of the central issues in the fight against HB2354 is the impact it could have on our kids by way of the mandatory sex-ed it would impose on all Illinois public schools.

With that in mind, who's running for school board in your area? Do you know the candidates? Do you know where they stand on comprehensive sex-ed and other issues that effect Illinois families?

What can you do?

If you do know, post what you know about the candidates at the Stop Illinois FOCA website so others can benefit. If you don't know, find out and report back with the information. I've turned off comments on this post so we can consolidate everyone's knowledge in one place at the Stop Illinois FOCA site.

• To find out who's running, can check with your local board of elections or election commission.
• Call candidates in your area and ask them their position on sex-ed, their position on parental involvement in sex-ed curriculum and any other issues you think would be important to Illinois families.
• Post your findings at the Stop Illinois FOCA website.

Together, we can be informed voters and impact Illinois for the good of families.

Last night, the third mayoral debate occurred at the Wesley United Methodist Church. Audience participants were provided the opportunity to submit questions to be asked of the candidates. The final question of the night was:

"In what ways does your faith form your opinion of Planned Parenthood?"

Summarizing the candidates responses, in the order they answered the question:

Richard Irvin: "… Planned Parenthood is bad for Aurora. … It's an issue of how that organization … came into our city using deceptive practices."

Stephanie Kifowit: "… as a family we are anti-abortion … I also believe … I cannot take a stand that I'm going to say I'm against something that is, of course, right now legal in the state."

Tom Weisner: "If faith informed my actions in this case I might very well be violating my oath of office … There was no legal basis for me … to withhold the permit. I do take an oath to uphold the laws governing our city."

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