January 2012

Year in Review 2011: Culture of Life Continues To Advance—Slowly

(EP News)—More that 40-million babies have been aborted in the Roe v. Wade era.  In places like China and Russia, the numbers are even greater. With birth rates dropping, and abortions rampant, some demographers have suggested that some countries are committing a kind of self-inflicted genocide.  

But the tide could be turning.  Pro-life attitudes are gaining ground. Here are a few highlights:

Pro-Life Representatives Go To Work.  The 112th Congress, which took office in January, brought with it more than 50 new pro-life representatives. Three from Virginia. One from New York. At least four from Ohio. Another five from Pennsylvania.  Republicans took back the majority in the House in November, claiming 242 seats, which will provide opportunities to pass pro-life amendments and stop taxpayer funding of abortion. Democrats, who typically support abortion, maintain control of the Senate.  In addition to pro-life amendments being added to budget bills, two bills will be introduced to block federal funding of abortion throughout the government, as promised by House Republican leadership before the election.  Leading the House in 2011 are four pro-lifers: Rep. John Boehner (Ohio), as speaker; Rep. Eric Cantor (Virginia), as majority leader; Rep. Kevin McCarthy (California), as majority whip; and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Texas), as chairman of the House Conference.

Family Advocates Celebrate State-Level Legislation.  Life advocates celebrated legislation that popped up in state legislatures across the country. In Indiana, senators voted 39-9 Feb. 22 in support of a bill that would provide women seeking abortions written information about the procedure and its risks. It now goes to the House. A measure that would provide abortion-minded women with pro-life options passed the South Dakota House, also on Feb. 22. It now goes to the Senate. Under the legislation, women would need to meet with an abortionist at least 72 hours before the procedure. Also, they would need to consult with a pregnancy resource center about life-affirming options.  The Missouri Senate General Laws Committee is considering a bill that would make it a felony to abort a viable baby after 20 weeks. “…They are, as all human life, valuable and need to be protected,” said Republican Senate President Pro Tem Robert Mayer, who sponsored the legislation.  South Dakota passed a 72-hour waiting period to have an abortion, the longest in the nation.

“Life List” Ranks States Based on Pro-Life Laws.  On that topic:  When it comes to protecting life in the law, Oklahoma is at the top of the list. Rounding out the top 5 are Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Texas. That’s according to the sixth annual “Life List” from Americans United for Life (AUL), which ranks states based on the way each deals with a comprehensive list of life issues, from physician-assisted suicide to abortion. AUL CEO and President Dr. Charmaine Yoest said the model legislation that AUL specializes in and the state-based approach to protecting life in the law is “changing the momentum toward life at the state level. We are seeing a cultural shift toward protecting life and rolling back the tide of unrestricted abortions that Roe v. Wade produced.” At the bottom of the list are New Jersey, Vermont, Hawaii, California and Washington state.

Philadelphia Abortionist Shut Down.  The pro-lifers who protested Kermit Gosnell’s abortion center in Philadelphia had no idea of the horrific conditions inside: fetal remains in cat-food containers, severed baby feet in jars, blood-stained sheets, and medical instruments contaminated with venereal disease.  Gosnell was indicted on eight counts of murder—one count for killing a pregnant woman and seven counts for killing living, viable babies. A damning 281-page grand jury report describes Gosnell’s abortion business as a “filthy fraud” and notes that public officials failed to act against him for decades, despite numerous complaints.

Younger Generation Strong on Life Issue.  The 18- to 34-year-old generation leads all age groups in the percentage (53) that believes abortion is morally wrong. And just 31 percent of that age group says abortion should be legal under any circumstance.  The annual Gallup poll on abortion, released May 23, found that 42 percent of young people identify as “pro-life,” but the numbers show that “pro-choice” doesn’t mean support for abortion at all times and for any reason.  “The tide is turning in America,” said Kristan Hawkins, executive director of Students for Life of America. “More and more young people want abortion to be illegal.”  Jonathan Rogers, field coordinator for National Right to Life, said the challenge is to get young adults to take their pro-life views with them to the polls. “In 2008, what young voters marked on their ballots did not line up with their instincts,” he said. “One of the most pro-life generations ever voted for one of the most pro-abortion candidates ever. The pro-life movement can and should be doing everything possible to educate younger voters right now, to buttress their instincts with substance.”

As Abortion Rate Drops, 7 in 10 Americans Support Restrictions.  About 72 percent of Americans say abortion should be illegal in at least some cases, including 61 percent who believe it should be illegal in all or most circumstances. Those numbers have remained relatively steady over time.  The annual Gallup survey on abortion was released May 23, the same day a Guttmacher Institute report was published, showing that from 2000-2008, the U.S. abortion rate dropped 8 percent — including an 18 percent decrease among African-American women. †