Saturday, January 31, 2009

Life at Conception Act

In an attempt to protect the unborn by resolving the question of when life begins, U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe, (R-Okla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), David Vitter (R-La.), and George Voinovich (R-Ohio), have re-introduced the Life at Conception Act, legislation that declares that life begins at conception and the unborn to be “persons” under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

Sen. Jim Inhofe said, “Our government has both a moral and constitutional obligation to protect the sanctity of human life. With Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress and a new Democratic President, we must fight twice as hard for the sanctity of life and promote our Life at Conception Act.”

Sen. Roger Wicker, said: “In Roe v. Wade the Supreme Court refused to define when life begins, thus delegating this determination to the legislative branch. This legislation clearly defines that life begins at the moment of conception, a belief that is commonly held by most Americans and is something science has long proven.”

Sen. Jim DeMint said, “We must defend innocent, unborn children and extend to them the same rights of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ enjoyed by every American, as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and protected by our Constitution.”

Sen. Mel Martinez said, “This effort is about fostering a culture of life, where every life is considered sacred, every child is celebrated, and life at all stages is given the dignity that it deserves.”

Sen. John Thune said, “Unborn children, as distinct, unique human beings, are fully deserving of our society’s attention, provision, and care. I believe this amendment would take a strong step toward achieving this goal.”

Sen. David Vitter said, “As science continues to advance, the evidence that life begin at conception is becoming more and more irrefutable. This bill is critical to the fight to protect the culture of life, especially as we face an administration and new Congress that seems determined to advance the agenda of a practice that a great number of Americans find abhorrent.”

In its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the court acknowledged that “if this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant’s case [i.e., “Roe”], of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment.”

Friday, January 23, 2009

God, Have Mercy on Us

Today, President Obama put hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into the hands of those insidious organizations that aggressively promote abortion services--including the multi-billion dollar infanticide conglomerate, Planned Parenthood. In ordering a reversal of the Mexico City Policy, the president fulfilled his campaign promises to the minions of the vast, tenured, and privileged anti-life lobby. Saying, "It is time we end the politicization of this issue," he only succeeded in radically re-politicizing the issue. Alas, he also simultaneously made every American taxpayer complicit in the horror of an ever-broadening modern holocaust.

The Audacity of Hope

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Pro-Life Theology

The theology of deliverance runs all throughout the Bible. Again and again Scripture exhorts the faithful to rescue the weak--in one way or another--out of the strong jaws of death. This is precisely because of the character, nature, and attributes of our God--He Himself is the great rescuer:

"In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord near its border. And it will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will rescue them" (Isaiah 19:19-20).

The Lord rescues the humble (Psalm 76:9). He rescues the afflicted (Psalm 35:10). And, He rescues the ravaged (Psalm 35:17). He rescues each of His own from the wicked (Psalm 17:13), from the deceitful and dishonest (Psalm 43:1), from temptation (2 Peter 2:9), from every evil deed (2 Timothy 4:18), from our bodies of sin and death (Romans 7:24-25), and from this present age (Galatians 1:4).

As His disciples, we are to comfort others with the very comfort we ourselves have received (2 Corinthians 1:4). Thus, we too are to be deliverers:

"Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and rescue those who have been robbed by the power of the oppressor (Jeremiah 22:3).

"Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3-4).

"Rescue those who are being dragged away to death, and those who are staggering to the slaughter, O hold them back. If you say, 'See we did not know this,' does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to a man according to his work?" (Proverbs 24: 10-11).

There are those, who even amidst the confusion of the present day--with all its fickle political profundities--have heard that high call to covenantal faithfulness. Their stories are a testament to the grace of the Deliverer--who in turn calls us to deliver. In a rapturous variety of manners, methods, and means they have heard and heeded that call. And that is the story of the pro-life movement today, that is the foundation upon which its advocacy, its service, it programs, and its endurance is built. That is the essence of pro-life theology.

Traditional Values

"A great many of those who debunk traditional values have in the background values of their own which they believe to be immune from the debunking process." --C.S. Lewis

Monday, January 19, 2009

The Pro-Life Paradox

Russell Moore offers his Perspective on why all pro-lifers should actually hate Sanctity of Life Sunday.

What's Next?

So, what should we expect? The president-elect has already given us a glimpse of the dramatic changes he hopes to initiate tomorrow. My good friend David Zanotti offers sound analysis of both the "New Declaration of Independence" and the whole "Obama 2.0 Movement" at the American Policy Roundtable site.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Saturday, January 3, 2009

The Kennedy Pro-Abortion Juggernaut

Caroline Kennedy wants to be New York's next United States Senator. According to the Wall Street Journal, she is staking her hopes on her ardent, life-long pro-abortion commitment. Indeed, the Journal reports that on the same day Kennedy telephoned the New York governor, David Patterson, to declare interest in the Senate seat, "one of her first calls was to an abortion rights group, indicating she will be strongly pro-choice."

Kennedy, ostensibly a communing Catholic, has already publicly promised to work for same-sex marriage and abortion rights. In responding to a series of questions posed by the New York Times just before Christmas, Kennedy declared that, while she believes "young women facing unwanted pregnancies should have the advice of caring adults," she would oppose legislation that would require minors to notify a parent before obtaining an abortion. Kennedy went on to say that she "supports Roe v. Wade, which prohibits third trimester abortions except when the life or health of the mother is at risk." In other words, she effectively supports an unlimited right to abortion--including horrific late-term infanticide procedures--because the "health of the mother" can now be so broadly defined that it even includes the "psychological distress" that can accompany an "unintended pregnancy."