As weeks go, this past one has to be the best the pro-life movement has witnessed in a long, long time.
Last Friday was the 44th annual March for Life in Washington, DC. Although not perfect, the weather was decent: No rain, no snow, and temperatures in the 40s—though the windchill made it feel more like the lower 30s. Hundreds of thousands came to the first march in nine years without a pro-abortion zealot in the White House. Despite some predictions that the crowds might be smaller than usual, the people just kept coming and coming.
The major surprise was an announcement the night before the March that Vice President Mike Pence would speak in person from the stage. And, sure enough, he was there. With an eloquent speech about the sanctity of human lives, Pence made it very clear that he was there because his boss, President Donald Trump, asked him to be there. Thank God! Could we really have a pro-life president?
That question was further answered four days later when Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to be the next justice on the United States Supreme Court. Judge Gorsuch has a strong record of protecting life and religious liberty:
- Gorsuch wrote a book called The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia. He argues in the book that “human life is fundamentally and inherently valuable” and that “the intentional taking of human life by private persons is always wrong.”
- Gorsuch ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby in holding that Obamacare’s abortifacient mandate violates the religious beliefs of closely-held corporations.
- Gorsuch also ruled in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor, defending the rights of nuns not to be forced to pay for abortion-inducing drugs in their healthcare plans.
- Gorsuch forcefully dissented from a case in which the Tenth Circuit sided with Planned Parenthood and refused to allow the governor of Utah to defund the abortion business in wake of videos showing its involvement in the selling of baby body parts.
American Life League immediately helped form a new coalition of pro-life groups working to ensure Senate confirmation of Judge Gorsuch.
Planned Parenthood has vowed to fight the nomination, but it will have to overcome a bold and energized pro-life movement—and the will of God.