Posted on 03/22/2004 9:50:03 AM PST by chance33_98
National Right to Life Joins Pro-Abortion Groups to Kill SD Abortion Bill; Thomas More Law Center Accuses Them of Betraying Unborn
To: National Desk, Legal Reporter
Contact: Brian Burch or Richard Thompson, both of Thomas More Law Center, 734-827-2001, Web: http://www.thomasmore.org
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Shock waves are still reverberating one week after South Dakota's bill criminalizing abortion was defeated by a single vote over National Right To Life's complicity with pro-abortion groups to kill the legislation that pro-abortion lobbyists called the most restrictive anti-abortion measure since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973.
The bill was sponsored by Republican State Rep. Matt McCaulley who had asked the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Mich., to help draft a bill that would directly confront the holding of the Roe decision. As a result, House Bill 1191 banned virtually all abortions in that state and made it a felony punishable for up to 15-years.
Immediately after the bill was announced, National Right To Life spokespersons and officers of their state affiliate opposed passage of the bill as not being the right time.
Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Law Center accused National Right to Life of betrayal: "It is one thing for National Right to Life to disagree with the timing of a bill banning abortions, it is another thing for them to join forces with pro-abortionists to kill the ban -- it is betrayal of the unborn and pro-life movement. When is it the wrong time to do what is right? This organization has lost the moral authority to lead the pro-life cause."
The bill passed the state House by an overwhelming majority, 54 to 14. State Senator Jay Duenwald, an officer in both the state and National Right To Life organizations, led behind the scenes opposition when the bill reached the State Affairs Committee. Together with pro-abortion Senators, Duenwald's lobbying efforts succeeded in removing the ban and replacing it with an informed consent measure, something already covered by South Dakota law. However, the ban was reinserted on the Senate floor through a compromise measure that created an exception for the life of the mother and if there was a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.
Still the doctor was commanded to use reasonable medical efforts to preserve both the life of the mother and the life of the unborn child.
South Dakota Rep. McCaulley, observed, "There is something horribly wrong when South Dakota Right to Life and Planned Parenthood are on the same side of an issue."
Leslee Unruh, a member of Right to Life for 25 years, and director of the South Dakota Alpha Health Center, an abortion counseling service, whose husband help start local Right to Life chapters throughout the state, expressed shock as well. "We were shocked, saddened and dismayed that National Right to Life lobbied against this bill. In effect, they aborted the right to life bill."
After 31 years and over 40 million babies killed, the case of Roe vs. Wade making abortion a constitutional right is still the law. Yet, it took homosexual activists only 17 years to overturn the Supreme Court decision that allowed states to criminalize homosexual sodomy. Still, according to National Right To Life -- the time is not right.
National Right To Life's criticism of the timing of the bill is similar to the attack on Martin Luther King's actions in Alabama. His famous letter from Birmingham jail answered his fellow clergy:
"Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action campaign that was 'well timed' in view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word 'Wait!' It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This 'Wait' has always meant Never. We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that, justice too long delayed is justice denied." Concluded Thompson, "One thing we know for sure, Planned Parenthood and NARAL could not be happier with National Right To Life."
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities. It does not charge for its services, and depends on contributions from individuals, corporations and Foundations. It is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. The Thomas More Law Center can be reached at 734-827-2001, or visit its Web site at:
BUMP. This group, National RTL, are traitors...
They are wolves in sheeps clothing.
Pass it on.
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