Each year, during the Christmas season, we take time to count our blessings. I hope that you have received many this year. The Pro-Life movement certainly has much for which to be grateful--especially after the November elections, with a Pro-Life President, House of Representatives, and Senate. Now is a time to celebrate and to reaffirm our commitment to Life. With God's grace and renewed political support, we can accomplish miracles!
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.
Election of Pro-Life Candidates across the Country
The Pro-Life movement has cause to rejoice as the number of Pro-Life congressmen has increased across our country. This was unexpected, especially during a mid-term election, when the party not affiliated with the President usually gains additional seats. President Bush's popularity helped the Republicans to maintain control of the House and regain control of the Senate. With this power comes many wonderful opportunities and much responsibility.
One of President Bush's priorities has been to nominate strict constructionist judges who do not legislate from the bench but rather strictly interpret the Constitution. Appointing conservative judges is extremely important because a judge’s function is not to create legislation. President Bush has recommended many strong candidates (such as Texas's own Priscilla Owen) who have been blocked by the Senate. Now, with control of the Senate again, these judges (who have proven themselves worthy of appointments to our national benches) will finally be presented before the full Senate.
It is possible that two of our Supreme Court Justices will retire soon. With the help of Pro-Life legislators in Washington, President Bush will be able to appoint strict constructionists to the highest bench in the nation. Especially since most decisions are currently split 5-4 (usually 4 conservatives, 4 liberals, and one swing vote), each appointment is extremely important. These next two years will likely determine the composition of the Supreme Court for years to come (and the future of the United States).
Important Pro-Life legislation has also been stopped in the Senate. The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives again this year, but has not even been heard in the Senate. More than 80% of Americans agree that partial-birth abortions are absolutely barbaric and should be completely banned. All but those who are ardent pro-abortionists agree that this is never an acceptable alternative. The Human Cloning Ban has had the same problem; it passed through the House in July 2001, and still has not been heard in the Senate. This bill is still highly contested among legislators--especially with all the celebrity supporters (Michael J. Fox, Christopher Reeves, and Mary Tyler Moore) who claim that embryonic stem cells are the best possibility for the eradication of Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, and diabetes. They, however, ignore the scientific studies that have proven adult stem cells to be extremely successful at treating these diseases and embryonic stem cells to be unstable. The President has clearly stated that he thinks all forms of human cloning should be banned. The American public agrees. With new leadership in the Senate, these important Pro-Life issues should again come to the forefront.
Election of Pro-Life Candidates in Texas
In Texas, Pro-Life candidates won all the major statewide offices. Newly elected Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, US Senator John Cornyn, Attorney General Greg Abbott, and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson triumphed against a constant media bias and the unlimited funds of their pro-choice opponents (especially Tony Sanchez). The loss of any one of these offices would have caused a serious disadvantage for our Pro-Life efforts.
In the Texas Senate (which has 31 members), the solid Pro-Life majority increased to over 20. We unexpectedly picked up a vote when Pro-Life Bob Deuell (R-Greenville) upset David Cain (D-Dallas). The Senate will be much more amenable to our Pro-Life legislation now that pro-abortion Senator Mike Moncrief (D-Fort Worth) was drawn out of a district during the redistricting process. Lt. Gov. Dewhurst should be able to create committees that will finally give fair and speedy hearings to Pro-Life bills (and all Pro-Family legislation).
In the Texas House, Pro-Lifers now have a clear majority--at least 90 votes (out of 150 members). With the Republicans in control, strong Pro-Lifer Tom Craddick (R-Midland) should be elected the Speaker of the House and should assign our legislation to friendly committees for passage. Special recognition must go to Martha Wong (R-Houston), who permanently retired 22-year incumbent Debra Danburg (D-Houston), the pro-abortion extremist who was Planned Parenthood’s leader on the House floor. Additionally, pro-euthanasia Representative Art Reyna (D-San Antonio) was defeated in the Democratic primary. The 2003 Texas 78th Legislative Session is shaping up to be the House that Pro-Lifers built! Should "Emergency Contraception" be Available over the Counter?
Pro-abortion activists across the country have been touting the benefits of making "emergency contraception" available over the counter. The FDA has now ruled that this is permissible (depending on each state’s laws). Texas does not currently allow this, thankfully, because it could be extremely dangerous. "Emergency contraception" (a.k.a., “morning-after pill”) is essentially an extremely high dose oral contraceptive, which can act as an abortifacient. Another concern is that high levels of hormones, especially progestin, have proven to be very harmful to women (as has been shown in the studies regarding Hormone Replacement Therapy). Also, if children have access to this dangerous pill in Texas, parents will no longer be involved in their children’s life-altering decisions. We must continue to keep "emergency contraception" from becoming available over the counter in Texas.
