Are Pro-Lifers Losing the Fight in 'Abortion-Addicted' America?
Abortion continues to be a hot topic on the national political agenda, and although many fear pro-lifers are losing the fight, others argue that this is just the beginning of the journey toward a pro-life government and the eventual eradication of abortion entirely.
Pro-life advocates have been unsatisfied with the current administration, arguing that President Barack Obama has actively protected abortion rights.
For example, this past year, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services shot down attempts by Texas and Indiana to prohibit Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood services.
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On Dec. 15, the Obama administration refused to supply Texas a large health plan fund unless they agree to provide some of the money to Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood advocates argue the attempts to shut down their services violate the Social Security Act, as their facilities provide other services besides abortion, including family planning and supplying contraception.
The Obama administration also came under fire when U.S. officials allegedly violated the Siljander Amendment in 2010 when they helped Kenya draft a new constitution.
The Siljander Amendment prohibits U.S. funds from being used to support abortion as a family planning option. The International Development Law Organization, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) advisory group, was accused of lobbying in favor of abortion when advising drafters on Kenya's constitutional law.
Pro-lifers suffered another blow when Mississippi's Personhood Amendment failed at the polls in November. The initiative would have declared life at fertilization, thus making Mississippi the first state to criminalize abortion. It also could have potentially outlawed contraception, such as the morning after pill, as well as and in-vitro fertilization.
Paul E. Rondeau, executive director of the American Life League, argues that although the above-mentioned facts may appear discouraging, now is an opportune time to push the pro-life agenda.
"This is the most abortion-addicted administration in my lifetime and I've seen quite a few presidents," Rondeau told The Christian Post.
Rondeau argues that this the first time the issue of Planned Parenthood funding has reached the national debate level.
"We're making some great progress in a lot of ways," Rondeau told CP.
The question of abortion has recently shown up on many state ballots, bringing the facts regarding abortion into public view.
In Ohio, the "heartbeat" bill, widely regarded as the most stringent abortion law in the nation, also worked its way into state legislature when it was passed by the GOP House in June. The "heartbeat" bill would declare abortion illegal after the first heartbeat was detected. It is currently suspended in the Senate, pending amendments.
The pro-life cause also received spotlight attention in New Hampshire. As of Jan. 2012, the state will require all un-emancipated minor women to notify their parents of their abortion.
Rondeau argues that with cases involving fundamentally intrinsic human rights, such as abortion, the "option for murder" must be completely absolved.
"We have to change the culture of death mentality and the exceptions-case mentality in Washington," Rondeau told CP.
The 2012 presidential elections provide a particularly opportune time to address the abortion issue, with republican candidates likely to offer a more conservative perspective on human life rights than Obama.
Earlier in December, the GOP contenders pledged their fight against abortion at a rally in Des Moines.
Tea Party darling Michele Bachmann said she would be the "most pro-life president that we would ever have in our nation."
Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Rick Perry also pledged to dedicate substantial efforts to the fight against abortion, if elected president.
Alex Mason, Policy Analyst of Family Policy Network, agrees with Rondeau in that American culture has an "addiction to abortion."
Mason argues that the reason Americans still choose pro-choice over pro-life is because people have not addressed abortion as a "gospel issue."
"Why rely primarily on statistics and psychological arguments for our opposition to abortion? It's sin! We must not lose sight of the most important reason to oppose abortion: God does," Mason told CP.
Mason adds that while pro-lifers are steadily winning the fight, they must continue to push until infant murder is abolished completely.
Mason maintains an optimistic perspective, telling CP that, Lord willing, the pro-life movement "will continue to grow and expand until those unborn humans who are the most weak and vulnerable among us are finally valued and protected by law."
