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Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation - Ronald Wilson Reagan
The Human Life Review ^ | Spring 1983 | Ronald Wilson Reagan

Posted on 01/24/2005 6:50:06 PM PST by Jeff Head

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To: Jeff Head

I am sorry but none of these remarks have anything to do with Roe v Wade. I am curious what his opinion is on Roe v Wade.

He is opposed to govt spending money on abortion? That's strange because the federal govt continues to pay for abortions for poor women. The PBA ban was nothing but a mere gotcha act for politicians. Most in Congress knew it wouldn't amount to anything since the courts will block the enforcement of it. It was a way for Republicans to play holier than thou.

I actually am against that stupid bill because it does nothing to stop any abortion. Women who would otherwise wait to make up their mind later will simply abort early. I don't think its effect will be anything more than marginal. It simply outlaws a medical procedure. It doesn't ban late-term abortions, as Rick Santorum has pointed out. This was simply political chicanery.


21 posted on 01/24/2005 7:36:43 PM PST by econ_grad
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To: wk4bush2004

I know who the Conservatives are, but I wouldn't call O'Connor a moderate. Not after some of her more recent votes and her totally assinine statements about the Federal Courts considering the legal practises of other nations.

In my book, only Scalia, Thomas and Rehnquist are on our side.

But I hope and pray it transpires as you stated.


22 posted on 01/24/2005 7:42:20 PM PST by ZULU (Fear the government which fears your guns. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
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To: Jeff Head
This is what he has said and consistently done and I support that. Is he perfect? No, he (as I have already stated on this thread) too political at times on this issue. But his inclinations, beliefs and motivations are good and I believe he can be influenced by God in Heaven. I'll take that over anything else currently on the radar scope. Hopefully, before 2008, we shall see marked progress. If not, then 2008 is going to be a time for choosing other candidates in any case.

Bump. We will NEVER forget.

23 posted on 01/24/2005 7:55:51 PM PST by 4CJ (Laissez les bon FReeps rouler - Quo Gladius de Veritas - Deo vindice!)
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To: God bless Texas

We've had plenty of Lincolns and Lincoln wannabees.

What we need is another Washington, but I'd settle for a Reagan or two.


24 posted on 01/24/2005 8:46:42 PM PST by Badray (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown. RIP harpseal.)
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BTTT


25 posted on 01/24/2005 8:49:22 PM PST by Badray (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown. RIP harpseal.)
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To: Jeff Head

Indeed. Never Forget. Kudos for the article, Jeff!


26 posted on 01/24/2005 8:53:48 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Jeff Head

I saw a color ultrasound today, taken for someone I know, of his own child's. It was unforgettable. If we showed them to everyone, the demand would just go away.


27 posted on 01/24/2005 8:58:34 PM PST by risk
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To: Jeff Head

Reagan BUMP


28 posted on 01/24/2005 10:24:16 PM PST by Christian4Bush ("Dear Dems: Your message got out. A popular and electoral majority of voters rejected it. The End.")
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To: IncPen; Nailbiter; Forecaster
You know, you have to read this and know that Reagan wrote it himself -- and he wrote it while in the middle of his first term as President.

I challenge any one to find a modern US President who was confident enough of his own position in the world and politics to write such a polemic.

29 posted on 01/25/2005 8:02:05 PM PST by BartMan1
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To: Jeff Head
Thank you (thank you thank you) for the ping, Jeff.

Michael Reagan, in the foreword to Mary Beth Brown’s book, ‘Hand of Providence: The Strong and Quiet Faith of Ronald Reagan,’ writes:

It is an inspiring story of how a seed of faith is planted in the life of a young man by a diligent and caring mother, how that faith blossomed and changed his life, and how, through him, that faith changed America and the entire world.

I teach the adult Sunday school class at our church on a rotating basis, so it works out that I teach the class (generally between forty and fifty adults) about every four to six weeks. The topic of one of my lessons maybe two years ago was 'Abortion: What is the Christian's Duty?'. For the first time since I have been a teacher, I decided not to center the lesson around interpretation and application of scripture. Instead, what I did for that particular class was simply read Reagan’s ‘Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation’ (I had purchased a hardcover copy from the Human Life Foundation back in the late 80s) to the class, and then open the class for discussion.

For the first time, I walked into class with no intention of opening the Bible. Ronald Reagan’s life is much more spiritually and scripturally inspired than is the life of anyone I, personally, have ever studied. So I felt that, in reading his words on such a controversial subject, we would be hearing and studying scripture through those words. (Shortly after the assassination attempt, Reagan confided in Terence Cardinal Cooke, ‘I have decided that whatever time I have left is for Him … whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve Him in every way I can.’ I believe Reagan’s life reflected that promise, long before he voiced it.)

That particular Sunday school class was probably the most insightful, participatory, enlightening, heart-rending class I have ever taught. Even people who generally remain quiet during the class opened up and took part in deep, spirited, personal discussion. And what served as the spark that animated even normally quiet, ‘passive’ members of that class to eagerly take part in the discussion was Reagan’s forthright, heartfelt, conscience-driven words. His simple, yet inspiring, prose struck an eternally ‘human’ chord in every person there.

In writing ‘Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation’, Reagan was blazing a new, and characteristically courageous, path. Even Time Magazine observed that ‘an essay by a recently sitting President is rare.’ And an essay by a recently sitting President (this essay was published toward the end of Reagan’s first term), written on such a controversial moral issue, is unheard of. But Reagan’s conscience led him to write it, as the foreword to the book says,’to respond to the dictates of his conscience and speak to the conscience of the nation.’

Thank you for posting it here, in its entirety!

The bound copy of Reagan's essay is appended by two very powerful essays: 'The Slide to Auschwitz', by C. Everett Koop, and 'The Humane Holocaust', by Malcolm Muggeridge. Muggeridge comments on Reagan [brackets are mine]:

On such vital moral issues as abortion, politicians tend to sit on the fence, hoping to pick up a few votes from both sides [witness Hillary Clinton’s recent abhorrent, self-serving, politically-motivated swing toward the pro-life cause]. Your President Reagan is the only example I’ve come across in half a century of knockabout journalism of a political leader ready to stand up without any reservations for the sanctity of life rather than for what passes for being the quality of life. All honour to him!

A brief, pertinent quote from Marvin Olasky in yesterday’s Federalist Patriot:

We have a license to kill unborn children (and young born ones) because they lack ‘higher mental capacities’ according to Princeton bioethicist Peter Singer. Hmmm ... Maybe T-ball players are useless because they lack higher baseball capacities. Maybe acorns are worthless because we can’t make oak furniture from them.

~ joanie

30 posted on 01/25/2005 10:56:27 PM PST by joanie-f
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To: joanie-f
You are welcome Joanie...and thank you (as always) for relating your own, clear, down to earth experiences and examples that epitomize the spirit of Reagans words and dream. May we all, in faith, take up that dream and strive for the shining city.

If we do all we can, even if we do not attain it in this world, we shall surely see it and dwell in it in the next.

31 posted on 01/26/2005 5:45:27 AM PST by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

bttt


32 posted on 02/03/2005 6:41:32 PM PST by John Lenin (Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born...Ronald Reagan)
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To: econ_grad

My gosh - could you have done any better on Bush's watch?! During his First year - there was a horrific invasion to our country, the large business company scandals and downfalls, repercussions from the 9/11 attack on the economy, and massive lay-offs.

The next years, he had two wars - opposition daily from the liberal medias bad mouthing him - and not to mention the daily gloom and doom of the Demo(n)s - opposition to his nominees - false accusations, on and on!

And you think he has not had enough to do - I believe he is working to bring justice to the down and out people including the unborn - but he will need our prayers to be able to carry out the things that need urgent attention -

And definitely our (Loud!)input to help him to see that the abortion (murder of the unborn) - Is an Urgent matter.


33 posted on 02/05/2005 10:08:15 PM PST by Anita1 (!)
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To: Anita1

So, how much you want to wager on this?


34 posted on 02/05/2005 10:11:40 PM PST by econ_grad
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