As a result of Pro-Life activism and our Pro-Life President, Pro-Lifers have realized that being Pro-Life includes standing against euthanasia, cloning and embryonic stem cell research--to name only a few. As a result of the growing publicity, the Pro-Life movement has a unique opportunity to speak out and help the public to understand the myriad of issues we face.
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.
U.S. House of Representatives Passes Unborn Victims of Violence Act
On February 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 1997), recognizing the unborn child is indeed a second victim in a federal crime against a pregnant woman. This bill is commonly know as “Laci and Conner’s Law” because of the tragic case of Laci Peterson, who was killed while 8 months pregnant--resulting in both her death and the death of her unborn son, Conner.
Twenty-nine states currently have laws that allow for two separate homicide charges in the unlawful killing of an “unborn child” or “fetus”, at least in some circumstances. In the 2003 78th legislative session, the Prenatal Protection Act passed (Texas’ version of the Laci and Conner Law).
Laci and Conner’s Law sends a message to assailants that pregnant women are off limits. The ACLU opposed the bill, insisting that such a crime like the killing of Laci and Conner Peterson has only one victim, despite 80% of the public favoring a double homicide charge.
The U.S. House rejected a “single-victim” substitute that would have merely increased the penalty for a violent federal crime against a pregnant woman with no recognition of the unborn victim. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is expected to introduce a similar “single-victim” alternative in the Senate. Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has already been working to bring the Unborn Victims of Violence Act to the Senate floor. The U.S. Senate has never before voted on fetal homicide, and the Democratic senators have been blocking the legislation through procedural obstacles.
Researchers in South Korea Successfully Clone Human Embryo
Scientists from Seoul National University in South Korea are now the first to successfully clone a human embryo. They hope to use this information to create customized cures for various diseases. This type of cloning is referred to as “research” or “therapeutic” cloning. Research/Therapeutic cloning is conducted just as “reproductive” cloning: the existing DNA from an ovum (egg) is removed and then replaced with the complete DNA from a person’s cell. Then chemicals are added to the petri dish to trick the embryo into multiplying.
The researchers in South Korea collected 242 eggs from 16 volunteers. Each woman also donated some cells from her ovary (to provide the complete DNA). This process resulted in 30 blastocysts (early stage embryos that contain 100 cells). From all these cloned human embryos, only one colony of stem cells was culled, clearly resulting in the deaths of many young humans. Aside from the 29 blastocysts that did not survive, the one successful stem cell line was only achieved after removing the stem cells from the live blastocyst, thereby resulting in the death of that young person.
Some claim that the potential benefits from cloning are reason enough to proceed; however, they do not justify experimentation on or destruction of innocent human life. Furthermore, adult stem cell research, a morally acceptable option, promises to be an effective alternative that can achieve the same results as cloning.
FDA Delays Decision on the Morning-After Pill
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was slated to make a decision on February 20 regarding approval for the over the counter sale of the morning-after pill. However, the FDA has decided to delay the decision until May. The pill, also known as “emergency contraception” or “Plan B”, is taken after unprotected sex and can cause the chemical abortion of an unborn child.
According to their press release, the FDA attributed the delay to a need to further research the impact of approving unlimited access to the morning-after pill. This concoction of potent hormones would be available to customers (like aspirin or cough medicine) without medical counsel. The FDA had specific concerns regarding the over the counter accessibility of the morning-after pill for teenagers.
Texas Right to Life opposes those methods of birth control proven to cause chemical abortions, such as the morning after pill; however, Texas Right to Life does not take an official stance on other forms of contraception.
