Marching to a different drum, respecting life

It is that time of year. Spring has arrived and well-known charities are marching, walking and running to raise money for special causes.

One familiar organization is March of Dimes. Many prolife people are unaware that Right to Life of Michigan has a non-support policy regarding the March of Dimes. Some wonder why Right to Life of Michigan holds such a policy for an organization which has done remarkable work in the area of polio and the health of mothers and children. The core of the problem lies in the March of Dimes motto, "Every baby should be born healthy." Right to Life of Michigan believes every child should have the right to be born regardless of a disability.

Although MOD at no time has directly funded abortions, the organization is in support of fetal tissue research, human embryo stem cell research and amniocentesis testing, a customary medical procedure in mid-trimester pregnancy.

For March of Dimes to take a neutral stand on abortion and to support fetal tissue research is a contradictory stand. It doesn't take much imagination to realize supporting fetal tissue research encourages such research. In most cases, fetal tissue research cannot be conducted unless abortions are being performed. MOD has admitted that it is more common to use tissue from induced abortion (performed for social reasons), as opposed to miscarried pregnancies (resulting from a genetic or disease process).

Another point of concern for prolife people is MOD's support for human embryo stem cell research. MOD has lobbied the US Congress for federal funds (your tax dollars) to use human embryo stem cells in research. Of all human beings, embryos and unborn children are the most defenseless against abuse. The intentional destruction of some human beings for the alleged good of other human beings is wrong.

As a result of MOD's approval of fetal tissue research and human embryo stem cell experimentation, Right to Life of Michigan continues a non-support policy toward March of Dimes.

Beginning in January 1976, Right to Life of Michigan adopted a policy of non-support for MOD. This was adopted only after a three-year study of March of Dimes activities and publications and after a high level meeting with MOD national and state officers. The origin of the difference was amniocentesis testing for "defective" babies in utero which MOD sponsors and promotes. Such tests cannot be made before the 14th to 18th weeks of pregnancy and take an additional four to six weeks for results. Between 95 percent and 100 percent of the "defectives" thus identified are destroyed in second trimester abortions. An additional one percent of babies tested are miscarried as a result of the test.

RLM truly sympathizes with parents of handicapped and suspected handicapped children in utero, but feel that unwavering defense of the unborn must be the starting point from which we tackle society's problems.

When marching, walking or running for a cause this Spring, take into consideration the vulnerability of unborn children. The reality is that your support may be promoting fetal tissue research from aborted children and human embryo stem cell experimentation on children who deserved a chance at life, but didn't receive it.

 

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