Sanctity of Human Life – Page 38

Arkansas Named Most Pro-Life State in America Fifth Year in a Row

Jan 6, 2025Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Life, Life List, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life, Update

On Friday, Americans United for Life (AUL) named Arkansas the most pro-life state in the country for the fifth year in a row.

AUL analyzes state laws related to abortion, euthanasia, suicide, and bioethics, and ranks all 50 states in its annual Life List. AUL writes,

Arkansas, the Most Pro-life State in America

This past legislative session, the pro-life movement faced many challenges including pro-abortion ballot initiatives and legislation targeting pregnancy resource centers. However, several states stood firm in their courageous defense and advocacy for life. For the fifth year in a row, Arkansas is at the top of the Life List as the most pro-life state in America. Continuing in its momentum from last year, Louisiana comes in second after enacting numerous life-affirming laws, including a law that protects unsuspecting pregnant women from the fraudulent provision of chemical abortion drugs. Tennessee secured its spot as the biggest mover on the Life List, advancing from 13^th to 6^th. The state enacted strong protections against abortion trafficking of minors and allocated funds to pregnancy resource centers. Kentucky also jumped five spots to 9^th.

The group also praised Arkansas and other states for providing public funds to pro-life pregnancy help organizations.

Becoming the most pro-life state in America did not happen overnight. It took many years of hard work from a lot of people.

More than a decade ago Family Council joined with Arkansas Right to Life and others in setting out to make Arkansas the most pro-life state in America. By working together, we have done that. Keeping Arkansas the most pro-life state will take constant effort.

As a pro-life leader, Arkansas has done important work, but we can’t stop. There is more pro-life work to do. We look forward to continuing that work when the Arkansas Legislature convenes next week.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Pro-Abortion Groups Fighting to Strike Down Arizona’s 15-Week Ban, Other Pro-Life Laws in Court

Jan 6, 2025Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

The ACLU of Arizona filed a lawsuit last month to strike down the state’s law generally protecting women and unborn children from abortion after the fifteenth week of pregnancy.

The lawsuit underscores how pro-abortion groups are changing strategies and working incrementally to pass pro-abortion legislation and overturn state pro-life laws.

In November, pro-lifers saw three big wins and two big losses on election night. Voters defeated pro-abortion measures in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Florida, but pro-lifers lost in Missouri and Arizona.

The loss in Arizona paved the way for the ACLU to challenge Arizona’s restrictions on abortion.

In 2022 lawmakers in Arizona passed a measure prohibiting abortion after 15 weeks. The law contained exceptions for medical emergencies — including to save the life of the mother.

Data from the CDC and the Arizona Department of Health Services shows that in spite of the state’s law, there were 11,530 abortions in Arizona in 2022 and 12,888 in 2023. Most of those abortions were performed electively on healthy women carrying healthy, unborn babies.

Even though Arizona’s law allowed thousands of elective abortions, the ACLU of Arizona and other pro-abortion groups called the law “dangerous,” and campaigned for Arizona voters to enshrine “the fundamental right to abortion” in the state’s constitution.

That’s what happened when Arizona voters passed an abortion amendment in November.

In December the ACLU filed a lawsuit to strike down Arizona’s 15-week abortion law under that amendment.

In the lawsuit, the ACLU went so far as to say, “Since the [15-week] Ban took effect in 2022, it has had devastating consequences across the state—forcing many Arizonans to carry pregnancies to term and give birth against their will.”

That’s a bold claim, given how many unborn children were aborted in Arizona over the past two years.

Pro-abortion groups are using similar language and strategies in other states.

In November, Planned Parenthood filed a sweeping lawsuit challenging virtually all of Missouri’s good, pro-life laws — including basic health and safety restrictions on abortion. Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit claimed, “If left in place, the [abortion] restrictions will continue to be catastrophic for Missourians. They will either prevent care [abortion] altogether or severely delay or interfere with care [abortion].”

It’s very telling that pro-abortion groups believe it’s “dangerous” to restrict abortion to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy — or that informed-consent requirements and other basic abortion restrictions are “catastrophic.”

All of this suggests their goal is to persuade voters and lawmakers to legalize unrestricted abortion.

When the Arkansas Legislature convenes in a few days, lawmakers likely will face pressure to weaken the state’s good, pro-life laws. But groups like Planned Parenthood or the ACLU likely won’t be satisfied unless Arkansas writes unrestricted abortion into its state constitution. That’s something that lawmakers and voters alike should keep in mind.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

How Pro-Lifers in Arkansas are Helping Women Facing Unplanned Pregnancies

Jan 3, 2025Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life, Update, Video

On Thursday CBN News highlighted how pro-lifers in Arkansas are helping women who face unplanned pregnancies.

Family Council’s Charisse Dean sat down with CBN’s Paul Petitte to talk about how the State of Arkansas provides grant funding to pro-life pregnancy help organizations.

CBN also interviewed leaders from pregnancy resource centers and other pro-life organizations.

You can watch the news segment below.