New Pro-Life Group Being Established

Members of the Bishop's Pro-Life Group of Effingham Deanery discussed at this month's meeting the formation of a new pro-life group in the Effingham area.

The group currently consists of members of St. Anthony and Sacred Heart parishes in Effingham and St. Mary's in Shumway. The group is set to begin meeting in October.

Members also heard from Valerie Kemme on the 40 Days for Life campaign of prayer and fasting that began this past week and will continue through November 1.

The group sent boycott letters to four national companies, asking them to cease corporate funding of Planned Parenthood.

Jami Johnson reported that she and her husband Rick have started a fundraising campaign to benefit the John Paul II Medical Research Institute. Johnson shared that during her son's treatment for leukemia, they became aware of the work by the John Paul II Institute in the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Disease, without engaging in embryonic stem cell research.

Johnson also mentioned that October is Respect Life Month. If you donate $20 or more between now and the end of October, you will receive an "Ethical Research Matters" T-shirt with proceeds going to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute.