WASHINGTON, D.C., August 5, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Susan B. Anthony List announced last week that pro-life activists nationwide have sent over 100,000 letters to Congress urging the exclusion of abortion from any national health care reform effort.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a member of the Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition, a team of pro-life organizations dedicated to keeping the abortion mandate out of health care reform.
“As we approach the August recess, already tens of thousands of pro-life Americans have contacted Congress urging them to keep abortion out of health care,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Americans are urging Members of Congress to preserve the real common ground, our long-standing tradition of limiting taxpayer funds for abortion.”
Pro-life groups warn that, as the bill stands, American taxpayer dollars will be funneled toward abortion services covered under the newly-created public health insurance option.
“Families are at the very heart of the health care issue,” said Dannenfelser. “And with pregnancy there are always two patients, mother and baby. We must establish a health care system that respects, protects and cherishes both. Congress should explicitly exclude an abortion mandate and preserve the common ground policies supported by the growing majority of pro-life Americans.”
To date this year, Susan B. Anthony List reports that activists have sent nearly 400,000 letters urging Congress to keep taxpayer funds from supporting abortion on-demand, 112,000 of which called for the exclusion of abortion from health care. In a recent action alert, NARAL Pro-Choice America reported sending 12,500 letters to the Senate in support of an abortion mandate.
This week another pro-life organization, the Christian Defense Coalition, teamed up with other national pro-life groups to announce a new campaign to stop taxpayer-funded abortions in President Obama's health care legislation.
The campaign “Abortion is Not Health Care” will begin on Saturday, September 12, in Washington, D.C., and will include public prayer vigils, rallies, lobbying, demonstrations and pro-life witness on Capitol Hill. There will be a large rally and 28 hours of prayer beginning Sunday, September 13-14 on the West Lawn of the Capitol.
“The most critical item on the pro-life agenda is stopping the Obama/Pelosi health care plan which includes taxpayer funded abortions,” stated Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition. “If abortion becomes part of a health care entitlement, it will add at least 25 years to our struggle toward ending the violence of abortion in America.
“If President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have their way, Pro-life Catholics and Evangelicals would be forced to pay for abortions. People of good will who believe that human rights begin in the womb would have to pay for the brutal crushing of that innocent life,” said Mahoney.
“President Obama talks about being a progressive leader who embraces human rights and equality for all. It is tragic that he would turn health care, which is supposed to heal and bring comfort to those in need, into something that destroys innocent life.”