Letter: Time to express concerns to protect the unborn

Talk about it

Thursday marks the 36th year of legal abortion in the U.S. Since that time, well over 46 million unborn children have been killed. The sheer enormity of that number is beyond comprehension.

This past November, Americans went to the polls and elected Barack Obama, one of the country’s most liberal supporters of abortion rights, to serve as our next president. Issues of war and economy took precedence over the silent cries of unborn children. President-elect Obama made a promise to Planned Parenthood last year, (see www.fightfoca.com) that he would make the signing of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) one of his first priorities as president. This act, if signed into law, eliminates individual state laws that place any restriction on the “right” to an abortion.

Present laws, currently in place in a number of states, include: A parent’s right to know if a minor daughter is planning to undergo an abortion; a father’s right to know; and any restrictions on late-term abortions, including the inhumane practice of partial birth abortion, presently banned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In addition to eliminating laws meant to help curb the number of abortions and provide unsuspecting women more information, an alarming fact of FOCA is that all hospitals and medical care providers would be required by law to provide unrestricted abortion services. Catholic hospitals, which account for approximately 40 percent of all U.S. hospitals, would either be forced to shut down or provide abortion services. The Catholic Bishops of America have said they would shut these hospitals rather than submitting to a federal mandate demanding abortions be performed. Abortion, in the eyes of the Catholic Church, has always been considered intrinsically evil.

Now is the time to contact your legislature and express your concerns. Rep. Tim Walz’s office can be reached at 1-877-846-9259, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s at 1-888-224-9043. Web addresses are www.walz.house.gov and www.klobuchar.senate.gov.

This past November, many well-meaning Christian men and women went to the polls with “more important” and pressing issues on their minds than abortion. President Obama, for all the optimism and hoped-for change he brings, also brings with him a dark pall for the rights of the unborn. As never before Christians need to unite in prayer and action. Pray for our soon to be president’s heart to be opened to the reality of the sacredness of human life — both born and unborn.

Tags: freedom of choice act, opinion, abortion, unborn, foca