Editorial

Some who oppose abortion in America concentrate their efforts on changing laws to protect human life. Others prefer to be involved in hands-on mercy giving ministry to help women in crisis pregnancies. The first might be called the public policy wing of the movement, while the latter is often called the compassionate wing.

Approaching the 29th anniversary of the historic Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion on demand in America and its commemoration on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday January 20th, a recent news story reminds me that the battle to restore the sanctity of human life must be a multi-front effort that seeks to advance changes in public policy, as well as offering mercy to women and children. In other words, it takes both wings to fly the pro-life plane.

In early January, New York attorney general Elliot Spitzer began taking steps to file charges for "deceptive" practices by New York City crisis pregnancy centers that offer alternatives to abortion. Chris Slattery, the director of five CPCs in New York City, calls the probable lawsuit "an attack on the heart and soul of the pro-life movement’s compassionate wing."

These private organizations, operating on the financial and volunteer charity of those who support the sanctity of human life, truly are on the front lines of pro-life movement. They do not seek the government’s endorsement or money, but that’s not good enough for the pro-abortion attorney general of New York. He and his allies cannot countenance the existence of these centers offering the truth about abortion and helping women seek alternatives to the murder of their unborn children.

"What they really want us to do is to put crosses in our ads, say we are pro-life and [tell the public] ‘don’t call,’" Slattery told CNSNews.com. "And if a woman does call, say ‘don’t come in because we don’t offer abortion,’ and if they do come in, then they want us to say ‘please wait until we have a licensed professional to counsel you who will be morally neutral on abortion, who will give you non-directive counseling.’"

Slattery sees a national agenda in New York’s harassment of his centers. "If they can successfully ban counseling by volunteer, lay people, this could spread across the country and literally cripple the volunteer movement that is the heart and soul of compassionate abortion alternatives counseling."

This case illustrates the reality that in an age when the Supreme Court’s infamous Roe v. Wade decision provides legal protection for abortion on demand, even pro-lifers’ educational and ministry efforts are under assault. It’s not enough for the pro-abortion movement to have won (at least temporarily) the public policy battle; they seek to stifle dissenting voices that offer alternatives to women in crisis pregnancies.

In your city and area the compassionate wing seeks to help women choose life. The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes is helping to galvanize Florida Baptists in the battle for the sanctity of human life.

But we cannot stop there — the public policy wing of the pro-life movement is also at work. In Tallahassee, through the efforts of Bill Bunkley, the Florida Baptist Convention is taking a stand for life before our state legislature. In Washington, the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is battling the pro-abortion lobby. The ERLC predicts a difficult year in Washington for pro-life legislation, including efforts to ban human cloning.

You should know who your state and federal representatives are and let them know your concern for the sanctity of human life on a regular basis. Both the Florida Baptist Convention (www.flbaptist.org) and the ERLC (www.erlc.com) has resources to help.

Every believer has a place in the pro-life movement — no matter which wing you prefer to fly on. Find your place and get involved.