2012 Legislative Agenda Starts with Life

The first bill introduced in the 2012 General Assembly (GA) is HB1, which defines an unborn child as a “person”.  HB1 is a civil law, not a criminal law.  It would ultimately allow families of an unborn child to sue anyone who attempts to harm the child.  Similar legislation has been passed in the House in years past, only to die in the Senate.  But this year is different.  The makeup of the GA will now give the “personhood” legislation a chance.

Foes of the legislation would have you believe that with the passage of this law abortionists could be tried for murder, or someone with a miscarriage could be tried for involuntary manslaughter.  The fact is, laws just like this one have been on the books for 25 years in other states.  There has never been such a case.  Nor would this kind of case be what we, the pro-life community is after.  Those of us who believe in the value of all life, wanted or not, desire for the atrocious practice of abortion to end, and are willing to go through these unbearable and heartbreaking kinds of circumstances together.  The pro-life community is burdened with the right to life, and feels accountable for the over 50 million babies that have been aborted since Roe v. Wade.

It’s really quite absurd that this piece of legislation has to exist at all.  Our culture and court system, and I dare say, not our constitution nor churches, allow the mother of an unborn child to solely determine if he is a “person” based on whether she “wants” him.  96% of all abortions result because the mother has decided the child is not wanted.  At no other time in a person’s life is this decision allowable.  So our culture does care about a child, once he is out of the womb.

But how can this be?  Since the beginning of time, parents have longed for children.  It is the most natural of all actions we humans accomplish.  Abraham and Sarah waited so long for a child, unable to conceive in her barrenness and old age.  Move forward several thousand years and there are still parents who are in that same place of waiting.  Sure, amazing technological advances have helped some conceive, but not all parents who earnestly desire a child are able to bear the long-hoped-for, precious human being.

What has changed?

As many in the pro-choice community readily admit, nothing.  It is now simply a matter of opinion.  So says a Planned Parenthood spokesperson when presented with biological evidence of an unborn child’s humanity, in a debate surrounding the personhood issue.  “We are not going to try to use science or evidence – the fact of the matter is, this is, this is opinion.  We all have our own opinions as far as when human life begins.”

And these varying opinions lead people in certain circles to call the human life an unwanted human parasitic fetus that has no right to use another human’s body against their will, one that invades the woman’s uterus, hijacks her immune system, steals her nutrients, causing her harm or death.

Contrast that with God’s opinion.  Knitted together in a mother’s womb, fearfully and wonderfully made, woven together in the secret place yet not hidden, a life ordained before time.

Make no mistake.  The Lord and Creator of all of life knows each and every person.  From the beginning.  Of time.

Isn’t it ironic that even in a modern Hippocratic Oath, life is described as beginning with fertilization.  There is even specific reference refraining doctors from performing abortions.  Even more intriguing is the fact that as we’ve moved forward to modern times, some of these time-honored principles have been erased in the name of advancement and progress, but more likely, by choice and political correctness.

So what can you do?

• Thank Delegate Bob Marshall (R) and Senator Chuck Colgan (D) for sponsoring this bill.
• Urge your Delegate and Senator to vote Yes on HB1.
• Praise him or her for helping to protect the life of the unborn child.
• Pray for those who are going through these difficult circumstances.
• Come alongside someone in your life whom you can support and encourage as they deal with an unintended pregnancy.
• Get involved.  Begin an orphan care ministry at your church.  Support your local pregnancy center.  Become a foster or adoptive parent.

Be the difference.