We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -Preamble, Declaration of Independence.
National Right to Life held its annual Conference in Kansas a couple weeks ago, and I was invited to present at one of the breakout sessions. With everything going on in the Right to Life Movement now – from the efforts to defund Planned Parenthood to protecting misinformed women from the deadly abortion pill – one wouldn’t think Massachusetts would be in the spotlight. Yet our governor’s ongoing attempts to cripple our charitable pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) remains nationwide front-page news.
Many state governments provide millions of dollars annually to strengthen their PRCs. Because of that funding, tens of thousands of vulnerable women receive care they desire during and after pregnancy, in their pursuit of happiness. States like Texas, Florida, South Carolina and even Kansas, with constitutionally protected abortion access, clearly see truths which should be self-evident to women like Maura Healey and Elizabeth Warren. Instead, the former continues to feature meritless “anti-abortion center” warnings on the Mass.gov website, and the latter introduced a senseless anti-PRC bill in February.
In Kansas, I described the state-funded attacks on our PRCs and also all that our coalition has done to fight back. After my presentation, a number of attendees acknowledged us for speaking the truth in Massachusetts. “Now that’s a rough state,” one man said with a grimace. (Seriously, a grimace!) A couple from Missouri, who are working to open a maternity home in their retirement years, spoke plainly. “We know how hard it is out East. But please don’t give up on the women.” A PRC nurse from Alaska rested her hand on my arm, shook her head, and offered a “thank you” that was so filled with empathy it might’ve been paired with tears had she stood with me a bit longer.
A young German reporter sat through my presentation and introduced herself afterwards. We talked for a while about PRCs, and she told me she wanted to visit Boston to tour one of ours. But we also talked about American pro-life advocacy more broadly, and she indicated her respect for both its longevity and magnitude. “The movement in Germany is far less popular than it is here,” she shared. “There is much more pro-life involvement in the U.S.”
Be it Germany or elsewhere, where history may have left black stains, it's a simple fact that America has always been the country where the dignity of human life is as indelible as the ink on the Declaration itself. Our presidents battled for it. Our men died for it.
I share these comments because they are meant just as much for you as for me. People around the globe know you’re out there with Massachusetts Citizens for Life, speaking truth and working to secure our inalienable rights.
Keeping our brilliant Founding Fathers in mind, we must call attention to what has become destructive to those rights, specifically here in Massachusetts, exercising our power as those who are governed.
On Thursday, July 10, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health will hold a hearing on several bills related to “reproductive health.” Of critical importance is S.1579 which, if passed, would strip parents of their right to protect daughters under age 16 from abortion. Indeed, five of these bills directly impact the pro-life cause, and your voice is urgently needed to preserve parents' rights, defend our PRCs once again and to protect abortion pill reversal, which is under direct threat from Democrat Representative Lindsay Sabadosa,1st Hampshire.
We strongly support the following three bills:
We strongly oppose the following two bills:
This is our opportunity to stand up for the truth and speak for life in Massachusetts. Whether you testify live or submit a written statement, your action matters. Learn more, register to testify or submit prewritten testimony.
Note the deadline to pre-register for virtual testimony: Tuesday, July 8 at 5:00 p.m.
As the Declaration of Independence Preamble concludes, it directs citizens, should rights be threatened, to always return to our country’s founding principles – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – on behalf of the people, “organizing in whatever way is most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
It is in this spirit that we have begun a statewide effort to install Baby Safe Haven signs on the exteriors of all hospitals, staffed police departments and fire stations. Our legislature passed the Safe Haven law back in 2004, allowing newborns to be surrendered safely at these sites, no questions asked. More than two decades later, few residents know about the program, and too many babies are abandoned, most of them found after it’s too late to save their lives.
Recently, my local fire and police chiefs told me they’d be happy to install the signs, if I dropped them off. Members of our grassroots Action Teams heard similar responses from their local first responders. So MCFL ordered dozens of signs! A couple days ago, I stopped by my local police and fire stations, signs in tow, and handed them over to very grateful recipients.
Do your police and fire departments need Safe Haven signs? Perhaps your nearest hospital could use one. If so, let us know how many you’d like us to ship to you by emailing [email protected]. This is a fun, cost-free, effective and peaceful pro-life project, great for individuals or student groups alike.
Thank you for your steadfast partnership. Have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!
Myrna