WASHINGTON,
January 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Marking the 30th
anniversary of the controversial Roe v. Wade law which legalized
abortion, U.S. President George W. Bush publicly voiced his support
for pro-life movements in a telephone call broadcast to thousands of
anti-abortion protesters.
The
president called on Congress to pass a bill banning a late-term
abortion known as the "partial-birth abortion," CNN reported
Thursday, January 23.
"Partial-birth
abortion is an abhorrent procedure that offends human dignity,"
Bush said, pledging to build a "culture of life in America."
Bush,
in addition, vowed to "protect the lives of innocent children
waiting to be born," pointing out that his administration would
promote "compassionate alternatives" to abortion.
In
his first working day in office, Bush re-imposed a ban on the use of
U.S. federal funds for overseas groups that perform or advocate
abortions.
"It
is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for
abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion, either here or
abroad," Bush said.
Encouraged
by Bush's statements, pro-lifers were optimistic that the Supreme
Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision would be eroded if not overturned
outright.
Branding
abortion as a human rights violation, anti-abortion protesters took to
the streets of Washington Wednesday, January 22, to reiterate their
flat opposition to abortion.
The
pro-life movement asserts that the "vile" act of abortion is
a brazen human rights violation, thus; if anyone cares at all about
human rights, she/he can not side with the so called pro-choice
movement.
Handed
down in January 1973, the pro-abortion law is deemed unconstitutional
by the pro-life protesters.
Pro-lifers
insist that the Court's ruling contradicts with the U.S. Bill of
Rights, which states that "no child shall be deprived of his or
her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily," adding that the Court
placed the liberty of the woman above the unborn's right to live.
Abortion
Could Make or Break U.S. Elections
 |
|
"Abortion
could make or break an election," said John Zogby
|
Respected
pollster John Zogby stressed that while abortion does not rank as one
of the ten most important issues cited by respondents to his surveys,
it is an important "niche" issue for the congressional and
senatorial elections, particularly in close races.
In
such races, Zogby added, "the relatively small amount who votes
the abortion issue either from the life point of view or the choice
point of view -- could make or break an election."
The
pro-life and pro-family, in effect, had good reasons for wanting the
Republicans to win majority whether in the House of Representatives or
the Senate.
This
would mean that pro-lifers can have the final say on a number of
controversial issues, including a partial-birth abortion ban, a ban on
human cloning, conscience protection for healthcare workers and
approval of the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act.
Pro-choice
activists, however, will not be an easy meat in the coming elections
as the Democrats' six declared presidential hopefuls voiced their
absolute support for pro-choicers.
Each
was given four minutes on Tuesday, January 21, to explain to a crowd
of 1,300 at the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action
League (NARAL) Pro-Choice America dinner how he would guard against
restrictions.
They
lashed at Bush for using his presidential power to ban abortion,
dismissing it as immoral.
"'There
is nothing moral in strong-arming a personal belief, and there is
nothing moral to a presidency that imposes personal morality through
acts of government power,'' the U.S. Boston Globe daily quoted
Representative Dick Gephardt of Missouri as saying.
Gephardt
and Senator John Edwards of North Carolina highlighted the importance
of passing a federal law to guarantee abortion rights.
''The
right to choose is an essential ingredient to realize the full
equality of America,'' Edwards said.
Catholic,
Muslim Scholars Are Pro-life
Since
the first century, the Catholic Church has affirmed the moral evil of
every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains
unchangeable.
"God,
the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of
safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of
themselves," said Rev. Monsignor Walter Hurley, the Church
spokesman.
"Life
must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception.
Abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes," he added.
The
Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for abortion.
