Key Prolife Events in 2003

The year 2003 A.D. was a year of ups and downs for the prolife cause. It was also a year where progress was made and the opportunity for more progress is within grasp.

Bush proclaims
National Sanctity of Human Life Day
President Bush declared January 19 to be National Sanctity of Human Life Day. His prolife proclamation said, "Every child is a priority and a blessing, and I believe that all should be welcomed in life and protected by law." Later, President Bush urged Americans to "rededicate ourselves to compassionate service and to reaffirm our commitment to respecting the life and dignity of every human being."

Democrat candidates for president
bow to extremists
While our President has worked with and encouraged others to help save unborn lives in the last year, those vying to take his place have done their best to please those holding the abortion industry's purse strings. On January 21, the six original Democrat candidates for president attended and spoke at a NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) fund-raising dinner. Since then all of the current Democrat candidates for president have clearly indicated that they unfortunately do not stand on the prolife side of the abortion issue.

U.S. Senators for Michigan
Throughout the year, Michigan's two U.S. Senators, Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, have repeatedly shown their truly radical colors. They have cooperated with and encouraged numerous attempts to stall or stop certain judicial nominees. One of the main reasons they've opposed certain judicial nominees has nothing to do with the qualifications of the nominees, but, rather, because these nominees are considered to be prolife and organizations like Planned Parenthood and NARAL oppose their nominations.

Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow also showed their extremism on the abortion issue by again voting with a small minority of Senators to keep partial birth abortion legal.

Governor's veto
On October 10, Governor Jennifer Granholm vetoed the Legal Birth Definition Act, which would have banned partial birth abortions in the state of Michigan. Granholm's veto spat in the face of the large majority of Michigan's citizens and went against the votes of an incredible majority of state legislators. Her veto will not go unanswered as efforts to override her veto are in place as The People's Override campaign gears up.

Passage of PBA law on the national level
On November 5, President Bush signed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act on the national level. It has been a hard fought battle to get this legislation to become law including multiple vetoes by the former president, Bill Clinton, and numerous attempts by those in favor of this horrible procedure to confuse and lie to the public and legislators. Opponents of this ban, who have failed in Congress, have promised to take their battle to the courts in hopes of finding a judge or two who will do their bidding.

Terri Schiavo
The last months of 2003 also showed promise for the hearts and minds of the rest of our country as a disabled woman named Terri Schiavo was saved from starving by the emergency actions taken by the Florida legislature and Governor Jeb Bush. It took awhile but Terri's story was finally given attention by the national media as the e-mails and petitions of tens of thousands of people from across America helped this woman who suffered without food and water for six days. Terri's situation has brought national attention to the inhumane way that many people who are disabled have been treated.

Though much has been accomplished in 2003, much more can be accomplished in 2004. We should look to the future with hope and the will to contribute in any way we can to the cause of life.

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