Jan 18, 2008

Sanctity of Human Life Day

President George W. Bush issued a proclamation this week, designating Sunday, January 20 as the "National Sanctity of Human Life Day." President Ronald Reagan started the tradition, issuing the first such proclamation in 1984 to commemorate the anniverary of the infamous Roe v. Wade ruling. The tradition continued through the administration of George H.W. Bush, was discontinued by Bill Clinton, and revived by George W. Bush.

Some of my readers will likely object to my use of the word "infamous," but Roe v. Wade was poorly reasoned and tragically consequential. It was poorly reasoned in that the High Court clearly usurped the legislative branch of the government (both nationally and in the fifty states). Of course, the legal and political nature of the Court's ruling is beyond the purview of this website, so I will decline any further comment on that.

The moral component of the abortion issue is, however, very much within this site's scope. Thus I can speak to the tragic consequences of Roe v. Wade, a ruling that cleared the way for a multi-billion dollar industry that has exploited women in difficult circumstances and erased the lives of nearly 49 million pre-born infants since 1973.

I hope that all my readers, including those who believe a woman should have a legal right to abortion services, will rejoice that the number of abortions has declined in the last few years. What's more, I hope that we will all do what we can to affirm the inherent value of human life from its very beginning - and look forward to the day when the abortion industry goes bankrupt, due to a lack of demand.

To read the proclamation, follow this link.