Life Links 7/21/09

Wesley Smith notes another induced pluripotent stem cell advancement in which iPS cells were used to repair the damaged hearts of mice.


According to the Wall Street Journal, Bart Stupak (a prolife Democrat from Michigan) is working on a compromise amendment with regards to abortion and health care reform.

Stupak indicated that the compromise language would affect the treatment of state abortion laws under the bill. He offered few other details on the specific compromise language, but said the two sides are "working in good faith" and urged other members of the committee not to push their own abortion-related amendments.

At Mere Comments, Hunter Baker shares a sermon he gave on abortion at his church.

Despite this history, there are Christians today who will say we should leave behind this “political” issue of abortion and the sanctity of life. They recommend that we focus on our proper sphere of influence which is preaching the word and saving souls. I am always fascinated by this kind of argument. And by fascinated, I think I really mean irritated. First, why in the world can’t we preach the word AND fight against injustice AND protect the weakest among us? Second, why wouldn’t we want to emulate the example of the early Christians? Don’t we try to be like them? Don’t Christians all over the world argue for the authenticity of their brand of the faith by claiming that they are MORE like the early church than anyone else? Aren’t they the ones who have passed the acid test and have been tried like gold? The demands of our Christian lives are as nothing compared to theirs. If we cannot be troubled to speak for the unborn, I agree with Francis Schaeffer that the people of ages to come will be right to question whether anything we believed about our God was true.

Police in Romania have detained three Romanians and have taken away the passports of five Israelis and told two other Israelis not to leave the country since they are suspecting in human egg trafficking.

Romanian organized crime prosecutors have been investigating members of a network who allegedly brought couples who couldn’t have children to Romania and then got in touch with people who donate human eggs for money.