The pro-life movement has gained tremendous momentum in recent months, especially as we await the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case, which could overturn Roe v. Wade.
This month is full of opportunities for pro-lifers to raise their voices for the voiceless. The National March for Life is happening today in Washington D.C. Thousands of pro-lifers will gather in protest of the greatest human rights violation of our time.
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is on January 23rd. This day provides an opportunity for churches around the country to promote the value of human life. It also reminds us to thank God for the progress the pro-life movement has made and pray for the transformation of every heart and mind so that all life is cherished.
As we look toward a post-Roe U.S., it’s important that we remain focused on passing legislation to protect the unborn. First, we are planning to update the forced-abortion statutes. Currently, if you use a threat of violence to force a woman to get an abortion, it’s a crime. We want to clarify this rule and indicate that simply making the threat, even if the mother doesn’t abort, is a crime. This will ultimately help foster a culture of life and indicate the gravity of abortion.
We also want to combat the growing trend of surrogacy, which is a form of artificial reproductive technology. Only 7% of embryos created in a lab will be born alive. Additionally, many surrogacy arrangements include pressure to abort if the baby has an illness or anomaly. Surrogacy is a grave injustice to the child, as they are intentionally separated from one or both of their parents. The practice is opposed to all that we stand for as pro-lifers, and we must firmly denounce it.
Lastly, we want to protect a doctor’s ability to “do no harm.” A doctor should never be punished or fired for not doing something that they believe would harm a patient. As medical science progresses faster than medical ethics, we need strong protections, mirroring federal protections, to ensure a doctor can always make the pro-life, pro-patient decision. Currently in South Dakota, a doctor can’t be forced to participate in an abortion, but we need broader protections. What about the frozen embryos, DNA modification, or sterilizations? The list is endless, and the protections must be robust.
The pro-life movement must look at the big picture when it comes to protecting life. This means we must focus on issues like surrogacy and the rights of healthcare providers in addition to protecting every child from abortion.
Family Heritage Alliance is determined to make South Dakota the most pro-life state in the nation, and we will do so by addressing each of these issues. Please pray for the success of our pro-life initiatives and for a continued life-affirming culture in South Dakota.
