The Pro-Life Legacy of Bishop McDonald

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The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock announced today that former Bishop Andrew McDonald passed away at the age of 90.

Bishop McDonald served in Little Rock from 1972 to 2000. While he may be remembered for his years of ministry as a Catholic priest and bishop, I want to highlight an important legacy he leaves behind: His pro-life work.

Bishop McDonald stood for life during a time when many believed abortion “on demand and without apology” was inevitable. He organized the Respect Life office at the diocese, and he helped lead the annual March for Life in Little Rock.

Bishop McDonald was also a supporter of the Unborn Child Amendment—now Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution—preventing public funds from being used to pay for abortion. In 1988 I helped lead the effort to pass the Unborn Child Amendment, and was able to start Family Council in part because the amendment campaign succeeded.

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Press Release: Arkansas Ranked Third Most Pro-Life State in America

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 14, 2014

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – On Tuesday Americans United for Life, a leading national pro-life group, released its annual “Life List.” The group moved Arkansas from the number-four spot in 2013 to the number-three spot for 2014.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “This is something Arkansans should be proud of. Our state is the third most pro-life state in the country. That’s worth celebrating.”

Cox said the Life List considers more than laws regarding abortion. “Obviously, when people hear the words ‘pro-life,’ many think, ‘anti-abortion.’ Americans United for Life looks at much more than just that. They consider how the sick, elderly, and terminally-ill are treated in your state; what policies you have safeguarding patients; bioethics; and so on. For them to look at every law from every state and decide Arkansas is one of the top three states in the country when it comes to protecting human life says a lot about how much Arkansans value people.”

Cox noted Americans United for Life rated Arkansas an “All-Star” when it comes to protecting the lives of women and children from abortion. “Last year Arkansas passed a law requiring abortion clinic volunteers and employees to report suspected child abuse. We also passed a law ensuring a pregnant woman won’t be charged with a crime if she uses force to protect her unborn baby from an attacker. Laws like that make Arkansas a leader when it comes to protecting women and children.”

Cox says he hopes Arkansas will eventually become the most pro-life state in America. “I hear a lot of people talk about strengthening the economy right now. I think that’s great, but a strong economy doesn’t do a whole lot of good if your citizens aren’t alive and well to enjoy and contribute to it. Protecting the lives of Arkansans should always be a top priority. I’m grateful the Arkansas Legislature made it a priority in 2013, and I hope they will continue to do so in the future.”

Family Council is a conservative education and research organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Click here to learn more about AUL’s Life List.

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NPR Poll: Americans Favor Age Restrictions on Morning-After Pill

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In a new poll out by NPR, 65% of Americans surveyed said availability of the morning-after pill (also called “Plan B” or “emergency contraception) should depend on some sort of age-limit.

According to the poll, 20.8% of respondents believe a girl should be at least 15 to obtain the morning-after pill without a prescription; 34.9% said she should be at least 18; and 9.2% said a woman should be at least 21 before she can obtain it.

Only 18.3% said the morning-after pill should be available regardless of age, and 16.7% said that if the drug is going to be available without a minimum age, a prescription should be required in order to purchase it.

Additionally, 66.4% said if the morning-after pill is available to minors without a prescription, parents should have to give their permission before the drug is sold to their child.

What is commonsense to most Americans — age restrictions, prescriptions, and parental consent — is not commonsense to the federal government, however. The FDA has moved the morning-after pill out from behind the pharmacist’s counter; it now can be purchased by anyone at any age without the involvement of a parent, doctor, or other medical professional.

Students for Life has documented how this situation puts young girls in danger. Watch the video they produced earlier this year here.

Read the full NPR poll here.

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