January 22, 2004 will mark the 31st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court decisions. These landmark decisions legalized abortion in America through all nine months of pregnancy. Since that time, the Pro-Life movement has made slow and steady progress in educating Americans regarding the truth about abortion. Many more Americans now recognize that abortion harms women and harms families. During this presidential election year, it is especially important that Americans take their Pro-Life beliefs into the voting booth with them. We must continue to make strides towards a true Culture of Life.
Please read this issue of the Pro-Life Update carefully to understand some of the challenges we now face and how you, as a Pro-Life activist, can help advance the Culture of Life. Please share this information with your family, friends and church congregations. Make copies. Spread the news.
Signs of a Brighter Future
Thirty-one years after abortion was legalized, the pro-abortion movement continues to insist that abortion should simply no longer be an issue of debate: It is now legal and that should end discussion. Fortunately, the American population disagrees with that view. As time passes—and especially recently—more and more Americans realize the devastating effects of abortion.
According to the Center for the Advancement of Women (founded by former Planned Parenthood president Faye Wattleton), 51% of U.S. women of all ages oppose abortion in all or most cases. According to this study, which came out in 2003, this is the first time that opinions have shifted so significantly among women since Roe v. Wade.
This shift has also been obvious among students attending college, who have historically been overwhelmingly pro-abortion. According to a study in 1996 by the Gallup Polling Company, while only 37% of high school graduates identified themselves as pro-choice, by the time they ended their sophomore year in college, 56% were pro-choice. Among women graduates, 74% supported abortion.
Currently, Pro-Life students represent nearly half of the college population; this is up from an all-time low of 33%. A 2003 poll from the Gallup Polling Company now indicates that 63% of 18-24 year-olds are Pro-Life (regardless of their education).
The tides are changing and Pro-Lifers have many reasons to rejoice. As public opinion becomes more Pro-Life, the work of Pro-Life advocates becomes a little easier. With the recognition that abortion is harmful to women and families, more Americans have been willing to support Pro-Life legislation: The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban recently passed in Washington, D.C., and states have been seeing greater success on the local levels. Texas, during this past legislative session, passed both a Woman’s Right to Know Bill and a Prenatal Protection Bill. With these laws being implemented, fewer women will be harmed by abortion and even more Americans will become Pro-Life. The Pro-Life movement has much for which to be thankful this year.
Voting Pro-Life: Single-Issue Voting?
Often, those in the Pro-Life movement are accused of voting on one issue--Life. A candidate’s Pro-Life or pro-choice position is sufficient for our support or rejection. To this query, there are many responses. Firstly, the Pro-Life stance in itself deals with many issues. We believe in the sanctity of human life from the moment of fertilization until natural death. This means that the Pro-Life movement addresses not only abortion, but also euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, cloning, stem cell research, and much more.
Secondly, Life is so important. Our country was based upon the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Life is the first and foremost of these rights and is certainly necessary in order for one to enjoy any other rights. It is the most basic and most essential of rights.
To those who accuse Pro-Lifers of single-issue voting, please share with them the following example. Imagine that there is one candidate who shares almost all your beliefs exactly, except that they do not believe that women should be able to vote or that minorities should be treated equally. A belief such as this should undoubtedly be reason enough not to support this candidate! This is true with the Life issues. Although other issues also carry great value, Life surpasses all. When you begin researching the candidates for the 2004 elections, remember this and please vote for Life!
Howard Dean’s Involvement with Abortion
Unfortunately, all the democratic candidates running for President in 2004 are extremely pro-abortion. Howard Dean, who is currently the front-runner, has a long history as an abortion advocate.
Howard Dean is a physician and was governor of Vermont from 1991-2002. As a medical intern, Howard Dean chose to do an extra rotation in OB/GYN at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in Burlington, Vermont. He then continued his association with Planned Parenthood as he became a member of their board of directors. Later, as governor, Dean secured $350,000 a year in taxpayer funding for the organization.
Dean’s pro-abortion sentiments were continually evident as he attempted to subsidize abortion to make it widely available to income-eligible women at virtually no cost. Thankfully, this package did not pass. However, the “Dr. Dynasaur Program,” for which Dean continually takes credit, allows teenagers who are income-eligible to receive free abortions. This is especially dangerous in Vermont, which has no parental notification or consent laws. Parents do not even know when the state is financing abortion for their minor daughters.
In addition to touting his pro-abortion credentials across the country, Howard Dean has also recently taken a position in favor of physician-assisted suicide. While reminding people of his status as a doctor, Dean stated, “What business is it of the government to interfere with a private family matter with a right-to-die case?” Over the years, Dean has proved his strong pro-abortion stance and now also favors physician-assisted suicide. Please remember this as you think about the 2004 elections.
