I was recently introduced via email to someone from Texas. I said, “Welcome, I’ve been trying to figure how many Rhode Islands could fit inside of Texas, but I gave up.” Her reply came back… “curiosity got the best of me, so I had to look it up and it’s 243 x’s!” I had a good chuckle at that!
Did you know that along with Rhode Island being the smallest of the 50 states we are also considered to be the most biblically illiterate, according to Christian pollster George Barna? In parallel to that, we have a very low ratio of conservatives to liberals, and that makes passing bills reflecting a Judeo-Christian ethic very difficult. But no matter how small we are, and how big the challenges, with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ we are capable of great things. I often draw great encouragement from Zechariah 4:10, “Do not despise the day of small things, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.”
And, new things are beginning in our very liberal state. Last month, Family Policy Alliance helped Senator Elaine Morgan introduce Senate Bill 0638, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. Please pray for its passage!
Recently, Mike Stenhouse of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity interviewed Senator Morgan along with Dr. Michelle Cretella, the Executive Director of the American College of Pediatricians. You can watch their “In the Dugout” interview here on YouTube!
Please also send your Senator a message by clicking here, encouraging them to support the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. And, when you’re done, consider calling them with the same message!
To further help Rhode Islanders understand the issue of transgenderism and its effect on Rhode Island youths, we partnered again with Dr. Cretella and the American College of Pediatricians to host a virtual training to further explain the ‘science’ and ‘medical’ aspect of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island not only performs abortions but also dispenses hormones to our youth. Often, this happens without parental knowledge or a doctor’s prescription.
If you would like to view this training, please reply to this email and let me know so that I can send it to you.
And there is more! Rep. David Place emailed me to let me know that last week 4 pro-life bills were introduced relating to “Born- Alive Infant Protection.” There was even some bi-partisan sponsorship. Each of these bills aims to help infants who are born alive, perhaps after an attempted abortion, to receive the medical care they deserve.
Here they are:
| House Bill No. 5037 BY Perez ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – BORN-ALIVE INFANT PROTECTION ACT (provide for the duties and obligations of medical personnel in certain circumstances.)House Bill No. 5552 BY Perez, Hull, Vella-Wilkinson, ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS — BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE AND DISCIPLINE (Makes it unprofessional conduct for a physician not to take all reasonable steps to ensure that a viable fetus being carried by their patient is brought to term.)House Bill No. 5579 BY Perez, Hull, Vella-Wilkinson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – CHILDREN (Crime for medical personnel not to provide reasonable medical care to newborn baby.) House Bill No. 5582 |
These 4 Born-Alive bills join these other pro-life measures which were introduced earlier in the year:
| House Bill No. 5865 BY Place, Quattrocchi, Chippendale, Nardone Entitled, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY — RHODE ISLAND PAIN-CAPABLE UNBORN (Bans abortion of pre-born babies who have reached the gestational age at which they can feel pain – currently recognized to be 20 weeks after fertilization.)House Resolution No. 5996 BY McLaughlin, Fellela, Diaz RECOGNIZING THE FETUS AS A HUMAN LIFE UPON THE EXISTENCE OF A HEARTBEAT (This resolution recognizes the heartbeat as a significant indicator of life in the womb – heartbeat or flutter is detectable at 18 to 24 days after fertilization.) |
We have a long way to go but good things are happening. Please pray that God would call more people with a biblical worldview to every level of government in Rhode Island. This is the best way to make Rhode Island a state where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished.
And, remember the Apostle Paul’s admonition to young Timothy that, “prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for… kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” 1 Timothy 2:1-3
Blessings,
Dave Aucoin
Chairman – Board of Directors – Rhode Island
