U.S. Digest

A compendium of life- and family-related news from south of the border

Gore, Bradley jockey for pro-abortion votes

Vice-president Al Gore and his rival for the presidential nomination, Bill Bradley, seem to be in a race to determine which of them can most persuade their pro-abortion constituencies that they support public funding of abortions. Gore's spokesman Roger Salazar has issued a press release stating, "The vice-president opposes any attempt to restrict Medicaid funding for abortions. Vice-president Gore has fought repeated public attempts to restrict Medicaid funding and, as president, Gore will continue that fight."

Gore had been on record as opposing publicly funded abortions. "In my opinion, it is wrong to spend federal funds for what is arguably the taking of a human life," he said in 1986. "It is my deep personal conviction that abortion is wrong ... Let me assure you that innocent human life must be protected." Gore seems to be following the footsteps of mentor Bill Clinton, who prior to becoming president said: "I am opposed to abortion and to government funding of abortions." Gore also draws parallels with Senator Ted Kennedy who, prior to the Roe vs. Wade decision, advised his constituents, "I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized - the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old."

‘Fetal rights' bill moving forward

A bill that would recognize a preborn human being as a separate entity under federal law is moving swiftly though the House of Representatives. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act would, establish penalties for those who harm a preborn child while committing a federal crime. Exempted under the bill are medical treatments, abortions agreed to by the mother, or any act by the mother that affects her preborn child.

Rep. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said there would be a lot of all-party support for "holding criminals liable for destroying unborn children, regardless of how you feel about abortion." Pro-abortionists, however, contend that the bill aims to raise the status of the preborn child to that of the mother, and would thus endanger abortion "rights." An alternative bill by a pro-abortion representative was defeated at the committee stage. Graham's bill will be debated in the House before it recesses in October.

Black pastors to march for life

A group of black pastors in New Jersey announced plans to march from Newark, N.J. to Washington, D.C. Oct. 9-11 on behalf of the 1,452 black children aborted each day in the U.S. Damon Owens, a spokesman for the Say So March, said organizers want to have 1,452 Afro-Americans participate in the event each day. Rallies were to be held in each major city along the march route. Rev. Johnny Hunter, national director of the Life Education and Resource Network, said he hoped that the march would be educational as well as inspirational. "We really hope to inspire people to love the children," said Hunter. "There's one simple message in this march - if you love the children, say so."

Much like the Show the Truth demonstrations, participants will bear graphic signs linking evil that happened in the past - such as the Holocaust and the lynching of blacks - with abortion. Owens said the march is intended as a civil rights event. "W have been duped into destroying ourselves. Even though (blacks) make up 12 per cent of the population, we supply 33 per cent of the abortion industry's business. We have fallen prey to the Margaret Sangers of the world."

Senate to vote on major pro-life bills