Election day is over. Pro-lifers all over the country can be glad that the phone has stopped ringing with candidates and all their friends soliciting the precious vote. However, most of us can see that our work is cut out for us.
Throughout the last days of the campaign, it was obvious that many citizens remained unaware of the extent to which Barack Obama favored abortion on demand. Pro-lifers have reported family and friends saying, “He’s not pro-life?”
In the new administration, pro-lifers can expect an immediate Executive Order to allow tax money to be used to provide and promote abortion overseas. The Freedom of Choice Act, if passed by Congress in its current form, will nullify all restrictions passed by states to protect minors, to institute waiting periods, and to assure informed consent. In addition, it would nullify the Partial Birth Abortion Ban that was passed by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court, require taxpayers to pay for abortions, and prevent states from allowing doctors to refuse to do abortions because of conscience objections.
Pregnancy centers can expect even less sympathy from the federal government. During the campaign, Senator Obama’s campaign representative was asked if the senator was in favor of supporting pregnancy centers, i.e. the kind that do not do or refer for abortions. The answer was short and not very sweet: “No.” Pregnancy centers are clearly not seen as desirable.
Clearly the campaign promises, if kept, will cause enormous harm to women and will cause the abortion rate, which has been steadily decreasing, to rise significantly. We must turn with renewed energy to educating ourselves, our families and friends and peers, and our elected officials on the importance of protecting innocent human life from conception to natural death.
Truly, it’s a matter of life and death.
Anne LeBlanc
President, Board of Directors
Rochester Area Right to Life