Abortion. OK, what just came to mind? Was it the 62 million+ children killed over the years since Roe vs. Wade? Was it perhaps that time you protested on the sidewalk with a sign bearing a pro-life statement? Maybe scenes from the movie Unplanned? Or was it a mental picture of a scared young woman in a very difficult situation and confused about how she will support and care for her unborn child? All of these are understandable thoughts. However, I dare say that the last mental picture of that scared mother was probably not the first that came to mind for many of us.

Years ago, my wife was part of a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPs) group at church. Many topics were discussed, and eventually the abortion topic came up. During the discussion of how awful abortion was, one lady was particularly silent. Finally, she had the courage to share.

Years ago, she had an abortion. She kept this secret from her current three children. Every year when their church had a “giving tree” at Christmas, each of her three children was allowed to choose a less advantaged child for whom to buy a gift. However, she always pulled an extra tag off the tree to help a fourth child. When asked why, she simply told her children that she’d tell them someday.

I don’t know if she ever told them about the reason for that fourth tag. What I do know is that the pain from the abortion was still there, decades after that fateful decision. So, I ask all of us to show Christian love to these scared, confused mothers. We obviously need to counsel them on why abortion is the wrong decision for their unborn child, but also why the decision is wrong for them and their future life. They may never have the courage of the lady in MOPs to admit their pain and feelings of guilt, but it will still be there haunting them for decades to come.

At the same time, we need to continue the fight against abortion and the pain it causes. I ask you to continue to elect candidates to the North Dakota State Legislature who have voting records that support protections for the unborn. Contact your legislators on particular bills that support pro-life policies. Write that Letter to the Editor explaining why you are pro-life. And yes, stand on that sidewalk in front of the Fargo abortion clinic to pray and help counsel young mothers to make the right choice.

You have a critical role in preventing the travesty of abortion, so make your voice heard, for these children and their mothers. In a God-honoring and compassionate society, there will never need to be a fourth tag.

For life,

Mark Jorritsma
President and Executive Director

 

 

 The purpose of this chapter is to protect unborn human life and maternal health within present constitutional limits. It reaffirms the tradition of the state of North Dakota to protect every human life whether unborn or aged, healthy or sick.
.

Yes, that is a quote, but where can you find it? It is the first paragraph of Chapter 14-02.1 of the state’s abortion laws embodied in our Century Code. It sets the tone and context of all that follows specifying our state laws around abortion, and also interestingly, speaks to end-of-life, value of the elderly, etc. Surprised? I was a bit.

I would certainly characterize our state as pro-life; that is hard to dispute. However, the aforementioned paragraph states that “every human life”, no matter the condition, deserves protection. That also translates, for example, into not enacting laws promoting assisted suicide (soundly defeated this session), and implicitly affirms that an unborn child represents a human life. Wow, what a statement. I am so proud of our state.

However, do we practice what we preach? Generally, yes. We’ve passed countless pro-life bills over the years, from heartbeat bills, to prohibiting abortions for genetic abnormalities, requiring chemical abortion reversal notification, banning dismemberment abortions, and others. As you might guess, some of these laws are now in the courts, but the point is that we held to our values. Just because something will be challenged, does not mean you compromise your values.

So, with all that, how do we rank among states in defending life? This is where the story gets a bit more interesting. In the latest state ranking by Americans United for Life, the de facto standard for this measure, North Dakota was ranked #12 in protecting life. This is in a deep red state, with a Republican Governor, and supermajorities of pro-life legislators in both the House and Senate – in a state that vows to, “protect every human life whether unborn or aged, healthy or sick”.

It’s not for lack of trying to be even more pro-life. There were multiple pro-life laws introduced in the 2013 legislative session and in many other sessions. Most recently, in this session, SB2030 ensured that challenge grant matching funding for public universities only went to universities that do NOT work with pro-abortion entities. I can attest that we have pro-life champions in our legislature who every session lead the charge on pro-life laws, and countless others who represent your biblical views by voting for life every time.

So, what can we do? MOBILIZE. What does that mean? It means making connections, building a network, sharing resources, and so much more. Being ready to make our voices heard in large numbers. Those on the other side of key issues already know how to do this – it’s about time we took a page from their playbook.

The second thing we can do is ELECT pro-life legislators. When I first came to North Dakota, I would have guessed we would be in the top five on that pro-life list I referenced, but then I started to look into votes on particular pro-life bills and it was a more sobering picture. Legislators I would have fully expected to support pro-life laws often voted against them. They, like all of us, need to be held accountable.

Family Policy Alliance of North Dakota is coming out with a legislative scorecard next week: be sure to look up your senator and representatives and see how they voted on pro-life bills, as well as other important issues. Are they representing your values?

Mobilize and elect. If we do these two things, I guarantee that North Dakota will move up that ranking. We can be at the top and lead the country in the pro-life fight, but only if it’s important enough to us. Let’s make it happen.

For life,Mark Jorritsma Headshot
North Dakota Mark Jorritsma Signature Email
Mark Jorritsma
President and Executive Director

 

P.S. Family Policy Alliance of North Dakota is here to help you mobilize and elect the right leaders, but that takes resources. If the bills we worked on this session, the voting scorecard that will soon be distributed, and speaking to and networking with likeminded groups is of value to you, please consider financially supporting us. We can’t do this without YOU.

A 9% increase for a state might normally be a good thing. Especially if it meant an increase in population.

But unfortunately, the exact opposite is happening in Kansas. Under Governor Kelly’s tenure, the increases we are seeing are not the good kind. New numbers show that Governor Kelly has overseen the largest increase in abortion in Kansas since 1999.

And Governor Kelly can’t talk her way out of the horrific reality of these numbers.

The KDHE released its abortion report showing an increase of 9% since 2019. 626 more abortions were performed in Kansas in the last year.

Until now because of our life-saving laws, most years we’ve seen a decrease in abortion. In 2020, we lost 7,542 babies through abortion. This is a heart wrenching number.

What caused this increase?

In the early days of the pandemic, Governor Kelly halted most elective medical procedures, but not abortion. While other governors treated abortion businesses the same way as other clinics, and despite the cries of thousands of Kansans, Governor Kelly staunchly refused to treat all elective procedures equally.

She claimed that she couldn’t close abortion clinics because there was a constitutional right to abortion. Sadly, without Value Them Both she could be right. Because of what our courts have done to our Kansas Constitution, the abortion industry was able to stay open when many legitimate businesses were closed. This allowed them to push women to come to Kansas to have abortions.

What happened in 2020 is just a small taste of what unlimited abortion will look like in Kansas without Value Them Both. This is not intended to scare you but is meant to let you know the gravity of the situation.

Without Value Them Both, not only will abortion be unlimited (meaning that even if we had a governor who wanted to protect life neither legislators nor governors would have much of any right to regulate the abortion industry) but you will likely be paying for this increase in abortion with your tax dollars, as we’ve seen in states like Alaska.

Every time our opposition has accused us of fear mongering over the last two years, we’ve actually wound up being right simply because we have read the case law and because we watch what happens in other states.

If we are going to reverse the course in Kansas and protect both women and children, we have one shot to pass Value Them Both.

We all know that an increasing abortion rate is NOT a Kansas value no matter how you label yourself politically. Will you join us in standing up for mothers and babies?

You can find more specific information HERE!

Because every life is valuable,

Brittany Jones, Esq
Director of Advocacy

 

P.S. With something so important as Value Them Both on the ballot, our current Governor will stop at nothing to protect the abortion industry. Last year it meant she would fight to keep the abortionists open no matter the cost. Currently it means she will even veto common sense election integrity laws. We need your help to fight back to protect our elections and our pro-family laws. Will you consider a donation to today?

This coming Tuesday, June 8 is Primary Election Day here in New Jersey. Last week, we sent you an email highlighting the best and worst legislators during this legislative session based on the bills they sponsored. I want to strongly encourage you to go out and vote!

Politics is a tough sport. Even when competitors play by the rules, as in football or mixed marital arts, undoubtedly some will get hurt and injured. Politics at times might lead to slander, false accusations, and betrayal. As Christians, we should reject lies, not disseminate them. Sadly, I am reminded of a scripture that can easily be applied to our modern political moment.

These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19

 

As the passage suggests, divisions in families and friendships might also occur due to intense political debate. The Old Testament scriptures record when familial ties were strained or broken because of leaders positioning themselves for power. King David, the royal incumbent, was challenged by his son Absalom. David’s friend and political consultant Ahithophel switched camps and sided with Absalom because of his sex scandal with Beersheba. In a separate struggle for the throne following David’s reign, his sons Solomon and Adonijah competed for volunteers and built alliances. In both situations, there were enthusiastic Israelites believing their nominee was the best one to defeat their nation’s enemies and protect their freedoms.

The lesson for us in New Jersey? Whatever the outcome is after next week’s primary, we must unite behind the gubernatorial candidate who will boldly protect parental rights and overhaul the New Jersey Department of Education to stop undermining the values of the families they have been hired to serve.

The sanctity of life is primary, but if the so-called Reproductive Freedom Act were to pass and be signed by Governor Murphy before his term is over, reversing course even with a new governor would be near impossible, as the bill prohibits any future administrations from making laws to protect children in the womb.  The fate of the unborn would be sealed for decades to come. We can not let that happen! Therefore, after you vote on Tuesday, June 8, please join us in Trenton on Wednesday, June 9 to rally against this immoral bill.

Protecting your family,

Shawn Hyland
Executive Director

In case you missed it, we want to make sure you know the top two things you can do to make a difference to protect life and liberty!

First, TODAY is the last day to tell HHS to STOP using YOUR taxpayer dollars from funding Planned Parenthood! The Biden-Harris Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a proposed rule that would authorize abortion groups to receive Title X Family Planning funds. The proposal also mandates that grant recipients refer for abortions.

But you can tell HHS to STOP using YOUR taxpayer dollars from funding Planned Parenthood!

Please click the link and write a comment to the Department of Health and Human Services telling them that you do NOT want to fund Planned Parenthood!

Here are a few points you can pick and choose from in your comment:

Second, last week, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee heard S1, the so-called “For the People Act,” (better known as “The Corrupt Politicians Act”). Democrats are doing everything they can to get this bill on the Senate floor as soon as possible. Please take a minute today to urge your senators to vote NO on S1!

You can help protect the foundations of our nation by stopping this dangerous legislation! Click here to urge your senators to stand for election integrity by OPPOSING S1!

Thanks for speaking up (and spreading the word) on these critical matters!

For life and liberty,Nicole Hudgens
Nicole Hudgens Signature
Nicole Hudgens
Government Affairs

 

* If a program refers a client to abortion, it is in fact a program where abortion is considered a “family planning related service,” (as acknowledged on page 19818 of the proposed rule) and thus specifically is prohibited by statute.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state and one of the most diverse states in the nation. Here, people of different cultures and backgrounds can at times land on different sides of the intense policy debates that our state is facing.  However, I believe there is one thing we can agree on: the priorities of Governor Murphy are misplaced.

This week, he launched his first reelection campaign ad. His vision is to “move New Jersey forward.” Sounds catchy – something you would expect from high paid consultants tasked to poll slogans that resonate with targeted demographics and financial donors. This ad was his opportunity to put forward his platform to convince voters he is the best choice for the future of New Jersey.

What are his priorities in a second term?

  1. Increase school funding. Our state already has the fourth-highest cost-per-student of the 50 states and Washington, DC. Is this about funding students or rewarding teacher unions for their unwavering political allegiance?
  2. Increase the minimum wage. By the year 2024, New Jersey will tie as the #1 state in the nation for the highest minimum wage. Do we need to cripple more small businesses just to keep up with California? The CATO Institute presently ranks NJ as the second worst state in the nation for entrepreneurs.
  3. Increase the number of abortions. Seriously, Gov. Murphy’s vision for the future of New Jersey is to make sure we have more abortions in our state. The so-called Reproductive Freedom Act is a feature in his “move New Jersey forward” campaign ad, mentioned under the guise of “protecting reproductive rights.” According to Abort73.com, our state already ranks #2 among the 50 states and Washington, DC for the percentage of pregnancies that end in abortion. It seems Governor Murphy will not be satisfied until we are #1.

Governor Murphy is even weaponizing his Department of Education to make sure New Jersey remains abortion destination #1. The new revised learning standards you have heard me mention repeatedly also change the way abortion is taught in Health Class. NorthJersey.com covered this controversial abortion language change in an article last year:

Board member Andrew Mulvihill pointed to a change in language around abortion. Previous standards mentioned legal rights of abortion; the new standards cite it as an option for pregnancy.

“I don’t think teachers should be telling kids that one of the things you can do if you get pregnant is to have an abortion,” Mulvihill said at a May 3 meeting when the resolution was adopted. “There are a lot of people who fundamentally believe that is not something that should be taught.”

Please know that Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey, and a coalition of pro-life organizations in our state, meet every week as we work to save babies from this dangerous agenda.

Protecting your family,

Shawn Hyland
Executive Director

It was a surreal session at the Roundhouse.

The 2021 New Mexico legislative session was largely virtual, so a large part of what anyone saw of the session was not at the Roundhouse at all, but rather images of legislators sitting in their home offices and participating via Zoom sessions.

But the virtual session also had a bitter reality. A new, more progressive group of legislators held sway – made possible by progressives’ defeat of moderate Democrats in last year’s primary election. The fact that elections have consequences was very evident this year.

The results then were not all that surprising, but they were jolting nonetheless. Here’s a look at key outcomes.

Limitless Abortion. After years of pushing for it, the progressives finally got what they wanted – a law repealing restrictions on abortion in New Mexico. While some of those restrictions weren’t in effect because of court rulings, others were. Here are a few immediate, practical changes of the new law: ·

State law no longer includes conscience protections for medical professionals who are unwilling to do abortions.

There is no justification for these outcomes; it is as bad as it sounds. See how your state senator and representative voted.

Assisted Suicide. Near the end of the session, progressives succeeded in checking off another longtime goal, legalizing assisted suicide. When Gov. Lujan Grisham signed the bill, she made New Mexico just the ninth state to take that life-devaluing step.

Suicide is already a major problem in New Mexico. According to the Centers for Disease Control, our state has the fourth-highest suicide rate in the nation, with suicide ranking as the ninth-leading cause of death. Suicide contagion is real, and the state’s legitimization of some suicides will likely only add to the problem.

There has also been strong concern in recent years over elder abuse in our state. Assisted suicide laws compound that problem. In 2019 in Oregon, 54 percent of people who requested assisted suicide did so because they feared being a burden on their family. This new law enables financial predators in the family who would seek to reduce the burden of care and get access to wealth.

On the positive side, your strong responses to our action alerts created pressure on legislators, and the bill was amended with some limited improvements. However, even these safeguards are unenforceable and able to be avoided. See how your state senator and representative voted.

Recreational Marijuana. When the legislature couldn’t finish up the marijuana bill before the regular session ended, Gov. Lujan Grisham wasted no time in calling a special session, where the era of Big Marijuana in New Mexico was quickly ushered in.

Now our state will have to grapple with many of the same challenges as our neighbor to the north. Since Colorado legalized recreational weed, it has seen a dramatic increase in violent crime, traffic fatalities, and marijuana hospitalizations. And usage by minors – sometimes fatal, from eating poorly regulated marijuana “candies” – has soared. See how your state senator and representative voted.

A Ray of Hope? Yes, this legislative session produced a sharp, leftward lurch for New Mexico. But now the Left has to own it – their voting records and the unpopular consequences of their policies. As we’ve seen, elections have consequences. And sometimes, so do legislative sessions.

Thanks for your faithful support and action. Let’s keep at it!

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

John the Baptist prepared the way for the public ministry of Jesus Christ, telling hardened Jews that they needed to “repent and believe, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”

The two men had known each other for decades. Their mothers, Elizabeth and Mary, were cousins.

After Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told that she would bear “the Son of God,” she set out to visit Elizabeth, who at the time was six months pregnant with John the Baptist:

“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry… ‘Behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped with joy’” (Luke 1:41, 44).
 .

What a beautiful picture of preborn life in the womb! The baby “leaps with joy” at the sound of Mary coming to visit, making clear that he is fully human. Amazingly, science reveals that developing babies feel pain in the womb, recognize the voice of their mother, and learn the sounds of what will become their native language.

Even the Greek word that Elizabeth uses to describe her preborn baby (“brephos”) is the same word used for newborns and infants. It is worth noting that she used this word while under the influence of the Holy Spirit, offering divine revelation that the preborn child is considered equal with a newborn or infant.

Sadly, more than 62 million babies have been slaughtered in this nation since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, including upwards of 1,500 babies annually in Idaho. The testimony of the blood of the innocent cries from the ground. Let us recommit to the quest for justice for these precious babies.

Please join me in prayer:

Heavenly Father, we praise you for your wonderful works. We know that you knit together life in the womb, creating unique and irreplaceable human beings from the moment of conception. May our nation and our state repent of the generations of children who have been lost to abortion, and may you mercifully establish the work of our hands as we labor to provide equal protection of the laws for all preborn life. Amen.

Standing for preborn life,

Blaine Conzatti
Executive Director

The 2021 New Mexico legislative session may be virtual, but the threat to unborn babies in our state is very real! Our allies at the Roundhouse are now telling us that votes on the radical abortion bills are likely to happen in the full House and Senate on Thursday.

Your voice is needed now more than ever! We have updated our Action Center message to legislators with fresh wording, so even if you have contacted them before, please take 30 seconds to send a new message to your legislators.

After you’ve sent the message, watch for a confirmation that includes the name and phone number of your senator and your representative. Please take a few moments to call and leave a message for them. Let them know you are a voter in their district, and politely ask them to oppose the radical abortion bill.

As we’ve been sharing in updates throughout this process, House Bill 7 and Senate Bill 10 are identical bills that wipe away critical protections. Doctors could lose their right of conscience to decline to do abortions; abortions could be committed without the woman’s consent; and any semblance of limitations on abortion – up to birth and including infanticide – would be wiped from our state’s law books.

Finally, please pray for our legislators on Thursday. And please share this email or the Action Center link with other New Mexicans who care about life.

Thank you for defending the least of these.

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

“So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting’” (Mark 9:29, NKJV).

Dear Friends,

40 Days for Life Meridian begins this month—and you have the opportunity to get involved as a pro-life prayer warrior!

The movement began in 2004 when concerned residents of Bryan, Texas, came together to pray and fast for an end to abortion after seeing an abortion clinic open in their community. Soon after, other communities began imitating the prayerful and peaceful approach modeled by those faithful witnesses standing for life outside the Bryan abortion clinic.

The first nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign began in 2007, and its annual campaigns have been remarkably successful. As a result of campaign efforts, over 18,000 women have decided not to get an abortion and more than 100 abortion centers have closed.

Nearly 200 abortion workers have quit their jobs, too—most notably, Abby Johnson, the director of the Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan, Texas, who now prays with other 40 DFL volunteers outside of the clinic she left. Abby Johnson is the subject of the blockbuster movie, Unplanned, which has touched the hearts of millions of Americans and changed the minds of untold numbers of people who were formerly pro-abortion.

Last year I spoke with Emily Naugle, who shares the coordinator role for the Meridian campaign with her husband, Scott. Emily recalled a heartwarming encounter she had a few years back while participating in the 40 DFL vigil outside the Meridian Planned Parenthood clinic.

As Emily tells it, a woman driving down the adjacent road pulled over and approached Emily. The woman shared that when she was in high school, she had made an appointment to receive an abortion at a Planned Parenthood clinic in California. She arrived at the clinic, only to see 40 DFL volunteers praying outside. The woman couldn’t bring herself to go ahead with procedure. Now, years later, she was showing pictures of her six-year-old son to Emily—a reminder that all the praying and fasting was not in vain.

How Can I Get Involved?

Participate in the prayer vigil. The 40-day prayer vigil runs from February 17th through March 28th on the public right-of-way outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on Franklin Road in Meridian. Sign up for hour-long shifts (between 7am and 7pm) on the 40 DFL Meridian page.

The 40 DFL Meridian coordinators are praying for full coverage during all hours this campaign, so please consider participating! For those who haven’t done something like this in past, feel free to contact the campaign coordinators. They can set you up with experienced prayer warriors if schedules allow.

Pray and fast wherever you are. For those unable to attend the prayer vigil, don’t worry—your prayers and fasting will be used of God wherever you are! 40 DFL publishes daily devotionals to help guide your prayer time. And consider committing to some type of fast during the duration of the campaign. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:17).

40 DFL Meridian Contact Information:
Meridian coordinator: Scott Naugle
sjnaugle@yahoo.com
https://www.40daysforlife.com/meridian

Please consider participating in this ecumenical effort to pray and fast for the end of abortion!

Standing with you for life,

Blaine Conzatti
Executive Director