FOTF Joins 'Remembering Roe' for 40th Anniversary of Supreme Court Decision

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Friday, January 04, 2013

A major Colorado-based family values organization has joined a campaign meant to spread a pro-life message during the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

Focus on the Family, located in Colorado Springs, announced Wednesday its involvement in the "Remembering Roe" Campaign, an effort created by Heartbeat International. Betsy Powell, program director for Family and Community at Focus on the Family, told The Christian Post that her group's involvement was part of the effort to remember the landmark 1973 decision.

"As we approach the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade, Remembering Roe offers an opportunity to join with others across our nation to say, 'We will not forget that over 50 million innocent lives have been lost to abortion and we will continue to be their voice,'" said Powell.

"But it's not only about the babies. We're acutely aware that there are millions of women – and men – who deeply regret a past abortion, and instead of a pointing a finger of accusation, we want to reach out to them with a hand of redemption and healing that's found in Jesus."

Powell also told CP that part of Focus on the Family's contribution to the Remembering Roe Campaign was a video by Carrie Gordon Earll, a senior policy analyst at Focus on the Family, sharing her experience with abortion.

"Abortion is not just something that happens 'out there' – the abortion rate in the church is similar to that in the secular world," said Powell. "At BEaVOICE.net people can watch the video and download it to share its healing message at their church, along with other resources for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday on January 20."

According to its website, Remembering Roe is "an opportunity for our nation to come together to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the insidious U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion."

The site for Remembering Roe lists ways to remember the Supreme Court decision, including sharing "where you were on January 22, 1973 and/or how that one decision has impacted your life" and posting "prayers for an end to abortion, not only in our nation, but worldwide."

In addition to Focus on the Family, eleven other groups have officially endorsed the Remembering Roe Campaign, including Heartbeat International, Priests for Life, 40 Days for Life, and Students For Life of America.

Andrea Trudden, director of communications and marketing for Heartbeat International, told The Christian Post that her organization values the partnership with Focus on the Family.

"We value the relationship we have with Focus on the Family and all the Remembering Roe sponsors," said Trudden. "By working together to promote a culture of life, we can provide the support needed to ensure strong families throughout our nation. Strong families lead to positive choices. Positive choices lead to less regret."

Trudden also told CP that the Remembering Roe Campaign was "designed as a unification effort for all national pro-life organizations to utilize for the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision."

"RememberingRoe.com provides a centralized, virtual location for people to share prayers, stories, and ideas in addition to a special prayer hour being held at 3:00 p.m. on January 22 led by the National Pro-Life Religious Council," said Trudden.