By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
I have often wondered what it must have been like to have been part of the organizational force behind the beginning of the pro-life movement in the U.S. I have thought of the anguish of knowing that the taking of innocent human life had been legalized in every state in the country by judicial fiat. I have contemplated the tears that must have been shed in those first few days after the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling was issued by the U.S. Supreme Court.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those stalwart individuals who founded America’s pro-life movement. It was their dedication and tenacity that ultimately led to the 2022 Dobbs decision which wiped out Roe.
But now, post-Roe, we face new, daunting challenges. In some areas of the country, radical pro-abortion legislation threatens innocent babies and their mothers. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where I live, a state Supreme Court case could create taxpayer-funded abortions. And, with the proliferation of dangerous chemical abortions, neighborhood pharmacies may now engage in the grisly abortion trade.
As a result, advocates for life throughout the nation are engaged in a 21st century movement that stands ready to assist pregnant women and their families in what can be an environment hostile to life. Through the tools of technology, from 4D Ultrasounds to social media, we are campaigning vigorously for the protection of each innocent human life.
The pro-life movement has the flexibility and the youthful energy to adapt to these challenging times. But we must expand our movement. Everyone with a heart for babies, their parents, the frail elderly, and people with disabilities is invited to use their unique talents and gifts to serve the cause of life. We need “all hands on deck” to preserve and protect the most vulnerable among us.
If you have been thinking about joining a local chapter of National Right to Life, now is the time to do so. While the Dobbs decision was certainly welcome news, it did not end the campaign to safeguard human life. In a lot of ways, our task is just beginning.