“What happens in the next few weeks will be as important to the abortion issue as Roe v. Wade” — Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio), July 16, 2009 on the House floor opposing the inclusion of abortion in the health care bill
Oh, the abortion issue just becomes tedius, doesn’t it? I agree. Can’t we talk about Africa or Iran? Or what about education, the economy, and indeed, health care? Yes, all those are important topics, but tonight, it’s abortion. Others, like Rick Warren, though pro-life, may be branching out to other issues, and some are working on softening their voice, at least according to US News’ Dan Gilgoff. But not me. Not tonight.
Tonight, our US House of Representatives voted to ignore the convictions of many in Congress and those they represent and moved to pass a bill that would allow for free, taxpayer-funded abortions in Washington, D.C. , home of the nation’s highest abortion rate. According to estimates, that will encourage 1,000 more abortions per year in the District, many of them on African-American babies. Allowing for taxpaying funding of abortion sets a terrible precedent. To my knowledge, nowhere ever has taxpayer funding for abortion been allowed due to pro-life legislative protections that have been in place.
I’m sorry. I don’t work hard all day for some in Congress to take money out of my paycheck to pay for the destruction of my fellow little brothers and sisters in the womb. It’s one thing for it to be legal. It’s another to make me pay for it.
While this bill appears to be devastatingly decided, what’s left for debate over the next couple of weeks is the President’s proposal for a national health care system. Included in this proposal is every element of the so-called Freedom of Choice Act. If passed, not only would millions of dollars be provided for abortion across the nation, but most if not all pro-life laws would be threatened. Unless Congress hears from us.
Be encouraged, readers who are pro-life. There were some wonderful speeches made tonight on the House floor by pro-life Congressmen and women. Reps. Chris Smith, Joseph Pitts, Jean Schmidt, Virginia Foxx, and others. Like my little blog, they too are trying to inform the American people of what’s being discussed so that people will voice their opinions with their representatives. The video clips below are from a recent press conference that will provide you some of the details about the coverage of abortion in the health care bill.
While I’m concerned about all this, I’m actually not too alarmed. Most Americans are pro-life. While they may feel uneasy about the label and they may not call their representatives about this, they will not permit a political party to grossly overreach and to offend their deeply held beliefs and those of millions of others.
I’m pretty non-partisan and I genuinely hope for the success of the good ideas within various political parties. I spoke at the Democrats for Life national conference earlier this week and was so impressed with the caliber of leaders within their membership who are standing on principle and fighting an uphill battle. But one thing is for sure, Americans will drop-kick out of office those in Congress who force this on Americans. We’ve seen it happen before – 1994.
Yes, let’s look for common ground. Let’s use compassionate tones and seek to build bridges and understand one another. But let’s not sit idly by and let this happen without raising a stink. Go to www.house.gov – enter your zip code and find out your representatives in the House and Senate. Call them. Share your values. Be a part of this critical moment. [Post update 7/17/09 - Go to www.stoptheabortionmandate.com and take part in July 23rd conference call to find out more specifics on getting involved.]
So, you ask, is this another diversion from the peaceful River Cherwell? No. When you talk with friends about things that matter, you might become political, angry, and passionate, and all of it may be part of why God has placed you on this earth. This is my passion. What is yours? Reveal your convictions to your friends, let them encourage and hold you accountable. Tonight, this is mine, so hold me accountable.
Kristin, I am so glad this is your passion and that you are not standing idly by. I am sometimes so discouraged by the news that I fail to even keep up with it. So thanks for this, and for your faithfulness to your passion to protect the unborn. I will shoot an email to my Rep today!
Many Christians today view the issue of abortion as overstated, tired and stereotypically right-wing. But I would ask, “Is the issue of human life ever overstated or tired?” Regarding critical contention that this issue is sterotypically “right’wing” – nothing could be farther from the truth. The lives of those forever impacted by abortion are often those of under-represented minority women and their unborn children. No single issue cuts across more concerns related to social justice than abortion. Poverty (many women who choose to abort are poor); Inquality (many women are exploited and scared into having abortions); Justice (who is advocating for the unborn and their rights?). Economy (we will now likely end up paying higher taxes and some of those taxes will be used to fund abortions. Should the tax dollars not be used to, oh, say fund projects that create jobs?)
It seems that Christians compartmentalize their beliefs about human life when visiting the polls on election day. This sounds partisan, I am sure, but one party definitely has more of a history of concern and compassion for unborn children than the other. Democrats for Life certainly could be a valuable asset during a Democratic administration… except that our elected President is one of the most vehement supporters of FOCA and of abortion rights, thus, the leadership he chooses (i.e. our latest Supreme Court Justice nomiee) will therefore also outspokenly support abortion rights, and taxpayer subsidization of them as well. Thus, groups like Democrats for Life have a softer voice and may even be drowned out by the majority.
So, I am sad that as Christians some of us surrender to the pressure to broaden our concern to “other social issues of importance”. Perhaps the next time we are at the polls we can set aside our hangups about doing what is in vogue and follow our convictions with integrity. Until then, blogs like Kristin’s can hopefully have some impact. Nicely done, Kristin!
Very thoughtful critique, Carla! Thank you for taking the time to write. When does your blog launch?