Taking steps to save unborn babies’ lives

Today we observe the 39th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, when a decision was made to make abortion legal in the United States. Since this tragic decision, over 53 million unborn children have been destroyed in the womb and left many mothers hurt.

Each year, 1.2 million abortions are performed. That’s 3,228 per day, 137 per hour, one abortion every 26 seconds. The magnitude of the killing is staggering. The number of children aborted each year nearly equals the number of American deaths in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars combined.

Of course, the issue isn’t numbers. Each abortion represents at least one lost life and what may be a deeply wounded woman’s soul. Sadly, nearly 3,228 unborn babies die daily in America unnoticed. These little “Americans” are missing each day, but there will never be a search and rescue effort; no given name; no life story; no flowers; no mementos; no singing; no sermon; no eulogy; no one to mourn; no memories of them to share and, sadly, no loved ones to receive their remains.

But pardon me, that last statement is only partly correct! For God, their Father, the one who loves them, is waiting to receive them.

Thousands from all over the United States will gather tomorrow in Washington for the annual March for Life. They will let their voices be heard in a loving, peaceful way to speak for those unable to speak for themselves and to defend the defend-less.

Pro-lifers have changed minds and changed hearts by prayer, legislation, education and outreach. Just last year in Congress, the pro-life House voted to de-fund Planned Parenthood and passed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act and the Protect Life Act. The powerful Energy and Commerce Committee launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood. At the state level, 92 pro-life laws were passed in 24 states, an all-time high. Nine states stripped Planned Parenthood of over $61 million in taxpayer funding. Planned Parenthood is a large abortion provider.

The legislative agenda for 2012 will include a Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. We believe, based on well-established medical facts, that unborn babies at 20 weeks gestation do feel pain. Contact your elected officials and ask them to support this act that we may see many more unborn babies’ lives saved.

The Raleigh County Chapter Right to Life meets every second Monday of the month at the EconoLodge on Harper Road in Beckley at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and help us to “defend the defend-less.”

Let us be more determined as we observe the 39th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, that we will work harder to save the lives of our precious unborn babies and to bring healing to the wounded women and families affected by abortion.

For more information, contact me at 304-683-5038 or 304-575-7366.

Hilda Shorter

Sophia