Jerry Falwell
Tuesday, March 18, 2003

While most Americans are celebrating the imminent ban on this grisly procedure, the abortion-rights community has angrily condemned the vote, actually saying that the ban is wrongheaded and dangerous.

"This legislation not only endangers women's health, but is unconstitutional, deceptive, and dangerous," complained NARAL Pro-Choice America President Kate Michelman.

Ms. Michelman and her cronies are opposed to any legislation that might hinder in any way the right to abort babies.

It's hard to imagine anyone defending partial-birth abortion. But they do. In the procedure, forceps are used to pull an unborn child, feet first, into the birth canal. All but the baby's head is delivered. This allows the abortionist to pierce its tiny head with a knife-like instrument so that he can suction out the brains and then deliver the lifeless body.

As if that weren't shocking enough, often times the forceps actually rip the babies' arms or legs off. Evidence confirms that these innocent little victims feel the pain; their bodies heave in agony as they are ripped apart.

This is what the pro-abortion community wants to protect, even though we know that the procedure is virtually unnecessary.

"Few people can hear the description of a partial-birth abortion and not recognize the odious nature of it," said Judy Brown, president of American Life League and one of our nation's most courageous proponents for life. "We hope to build on this, by educating people to the insidious nature of all abortions and moving forward to overturn its legalization."

The abortion-rights community will not recognize how horrible partial-birth abortion is. But they don't recognize much of what the mainstream in this nation can see. In fact, the extremism of abortion-rights supporters is seen in many other ways.

Several states want to adopt "Choose Life" license plates. States want to utilize proceeds from the sale of these plates to fund nonprofit groups that counsel pregnant women and encourage adoption.

But the abortion-rights community opposes this effort to save babies' lives and help childless couples welcome a precious child into their home. This is extremism and intolerance personified.

"We believed it was a great opportunity to assist in the adoption process and at the same time make a statement about the sanctity of life," said Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, who signed a bill allowing "Choose Life" plates in his state.

The Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is considering whether to challenge the law on constitutional grounds.

Rita Sklar, the director of the state ACLU chapter, said, "You have the government setting up a scheme whereby it is supporting a particular political point of view." I wonder if Ms. Sklar would oppose government funding of abortion or abortion counseling, agendas promoted by the abortion-rights community.

But the law is in our favor. In fact, the Federal Appeals Court for the 11th Circuit this week rejected a challenge to Florida's "Choose Life" plate, which was brought by several pro-abortion groups and individuals. The fact is, the "Choose Life" plate is Florida's most popular, with sales in less than two years already generating more than $1 million.

Mathew D. Staver, president and general counsel of the Orlando-based Liberty Counsel, said, "This Eleventh Circuit Court decision is a great victory for every individual who bought a "Choose Life" plate. The court recognized the fatal flaw in the abortion advocates' reasoning. They had attempted to use the First Amendment as a sword to silence pro-life speech."

And therein lies the key to the abortion-rights debate – they believe their cause is honorable and should not be hindered in any way. But their cause is disgraceful and deceitful.

Pro-choice leaders recklessly pressed for the rapid Food & Drug Administration approval of the abortion drug known as RU-486, even though many women experience excessive bleeding and severe pain after undergoing the drug regimen. Even death has been associated with the drug.

Pro-choice leaders have also painstakingly ignored studies indicating a genuine connection between breast cancer and women who have had abortions. Moreover, they ignore studies suggesting a link between depression and other mental disorders in women who have undergone abortions.

Abortion-rights leaders systematically preach that women's health is their primary concern, but their blind allegiance to abortion, at all costs, is terribly disconcerting.

Thursday's vote was an action to provide shelter for our nation's most innocent and helpless victims. It is humane to protect these children. It's what a civilized nation forged in liberty must do.

The option is the continued slaughter of unborn children, all under the false guise of "choice," "women's health" and "freedom."

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