Pro-Life Issues and Action 2004
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Pro-Life Is About Caring Deeds, Not Political Battles
  • Legislative battles and the court system serve to obscure pro-life ideals and generate hostility to the cause, without achieving substantial pro-life results.
  • The pro-life message is most effectively spread person-to-person through persuasion, effective alternatives, goodwill, and modeling positive behavior.
  • Roe v. Wade is irrelevant to the pro-life cause and a distraction used by dishonest politicians to manipulate voters.
  • Roe v. Wade challengers are often aligned with issues and people bearing little genuine concern for human life and the environment.
  • Roe v. Wade challengers are often appealing to single-issue voters and encouraging them to turn a blind eye to the anti-life actions and positions of their candidates.
  • "Pro-life" candidates often have little concern for the overall common good.
  • Single issue appeals trivialize the complexity and importance of pro-life action.
  • Single issue campaigns often seek to distract from the full range of important issues and install politicians with little regard for all people and issues.

    George Bush Policies Have Led To An Increase In The Number of Abortions
  • George Bush Policies have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of abortions performed in the United States.
  • The number was declining in the 1990s, but reversed under the Bush administration.
  • In 2002, approximately 52,000 more abortions occurred than would have under the prior trend.
  • Lack of medical insurance, social supports, and financial security has clearly contributed to this increase in the number of abortions.

    The Rest of George Bush's Anti-Life Record
  • Reckless and deceitful crusade exposing Americans to death and injury in Iraq.
  • Shocking "arm-chair machismo" taunting Iraqi guerrillas to attack Americans: "bring 'em on."
  • As of October 8, 2004, 1,068 American military dead in Iraq, at least 7,453 U.S. troops wounded in action; conservative estimates by private groups place the Iraqi toll at 10,000+.
  • Lack of consideration for children and other loved-ones of Americans sent to Iraq.
  • George Bush's disregard for life and the truth came out very clearly in the September 30 debate when he repeated, then contradicted, his lie that Iraq attacked the United States. The simple fact is that, in his opinion, American life and simple truth are expendable in the pursuit of the Bush fantasies.
  • Failure to renew the ban on assault weapons.
  • Dismantling of environmental protections in favor of polluters.
  • Dismantling and de-funding social programs aimed at helping families and young people.
  • Economic policies resulting in an estimated 1.9 million jobless workers.
  • Failure to prioritize skyrocketing health care costs, resulting in inadequate medical attention.
  • Freezing of funding for child care and Head Start programs.
  • Reducing the federal match to state Medicaid spending, forcing many states to cut health care services to the neediest and most defenseless.
  • Tax policies shifting the tax burden away from the wealthiest Americans to the middle class.
  • Household incomes falling for the third straight year, with 1.3 million more in poverty and 1.4 million more losing health coverage.
  • While Governor of Texas, capital punishment was widely used, and, in the words of Amnesty International, "riddled with injustice ... including inadequate defense representation and prosecutorial misconduct." He could have done a great deal to cure these problems, but didn't. He is even reported to have made fun of a woman who was executed on his watch--mocking her pleading "don't kill me."
  • Bush has no credibility: many sources overwhelmingly demonstrate Bush's pattern of lying and employing dirty trick specialists and "born again" rhetoric to manipulate groups, religious congregations, and the general public while carrying out policies dominated by polluters, big money interests, and corrupt profiteers.
  • Overall, Bush policies have demeaned the sanctity of life in America, set an example of lowered standards for our youth, misspent tens of billions of dollars, and dishonored the nation.

    The Real Religious Record of George Bush
  • The Bush campaign has used churches as part of the Bush-Cheney campaign: they have ordered churches to send their directories to the campaign and also order parishoners to work for the Bush campaign.   Click to view
  • George Bush has failed to disavow connections to bizarre religious sects advocating wholesale devastation, such as "rapture" and armageddon; and he has failed to renounce claims that he is "chosen."
  • He has failed to disassociate himself from questionable figures who use religion to promote their political agendas: On July 16, 2004, Jerry Falwell was quoted in the New York Times as saying: "It is the responsibility of every political conservative, every evangelical Christian, every pro-life Catholic, every traditional Jew, every Reagan Democrat, and everyone in between to get serious about re-electing President Bush." Earlier, in January 2004, Pat Robertson had announced that he was hearing from the Lord that the election was going to be a blowout for President Bush: "The Lord has just blessed him. ... It doesn't make any difference what he does, good or bad. ..."
  • George and Laura Bush have questionable anti-abortion records: Running for Congress in 1978, Bush was interviewed by a reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, who wrote: "Bush said he opposes the pro-life amendment favored by Reese and favors leaving up to a woman and her doctor the abortion question. 'That does not mean I'm for abortion,' he said." In January 2001, Laura Bush told the Today Show she did not believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned.
  • Bush policies have followed “the way of death” as cited in the Pope's 1995 Gospel of Life: “drive away the needy, oppress the suffering; ... advocates of the rich and unjust judges of the poor....”

    Voting For Pro-Life Candidates And Supporting Pro-Life Issues
  • Support John Kerry for President and urge other pro-life voters to do the same.
  • The Kerry-Edwards platform includes extending affordable, high-quality medical coverage to 95 percent of Americans, including every child.
  • Support other candidates who seek to target the problems of teen pregnancy and adoption reform with intelligence and concern.
  • Avoid counseling reliance upon abstinence-only approaches, which have been shown not to be effective.
  • Support funding of programs offering abortion alternatives.
  • Encourage involvement of fathers in the decision to keep and raise the child.
  • Discuss possibilities for care of a child by the extended family.
  • Work in your community to create real support and meaningful alternatives for women at greater risk for unwanted pregnancies.
  • Support candidates who advocate for social supports and respect for life.
  • Carefully scrutinize "tax cut" proposals; ask if they would reduce money necessary for effective social programs aimed at supporting pregnancy-related services.
  • Reject and challenge efforts to manipulate your religious congregation or other group through the abortion issue, or via claims about armageddon and "rapture" or that a candidate is "born again" or "chosen."
  • View with suspicion single-issue organizations masquerading as "pro-life."
  • Resist the appeals by organizations and individuals using extremist tactics and seeking to incite.
  • Look for opportunities in your family, neighborhood, and community to offer non-judgmental one-on-one support for someone involved in a pregnancy issue.
  • Offer to provide special help with day care and other needs.
  • Can you help by providing tutoring for school-age parents?
  • Is information readily available about avoiding unintended pregnancies?
  • Talk to young people and others facing a pregnancy issue; demonstrate your genuine care and concern for them and their situation.
  • Contact and support organizations that pursue a balanced and thoughtful program for genuine pro-life activities.
  • Locate organizations providing pregnancy counseling (such as Birthline), infant foster care, crisis nursery services, and other resources; support their activities through volunteering, political action, monetary support, and referrals.
  • Model respect for the unborn and other life.
  • Vote for candidates who demonstrate true concern for life in all its complexity.
  • Support adoption: support funding for adoption social services; adopt a child yourself; encourage the adoption alternative for those facing a pregnancy issue; educate yourself about the possibilities for private adoption in your state.
  • Encourage discussion of the beauty of children and sanctity of life.

    Pro-Life Discussion Topics
  • Why Is The Road Uneasy for Pro-Lifers?
  • Why Have So Many Pro-Lifers Abandoned The Cause In Favor of Simplistic Appeals?
  • How Can Pro-Lifers Perpetuate The Freedom to Choose Life?
  • How Can Pro-Lifers Reach Higher?
  • How Can Pro-Lifers Better Connect With People?
  • How Can Pro-Lifers Best Create a Difference We Can Feel And See?
  • How Can Pro-Lifers Make The World A Better Place?




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