2019 | Week of January 14 | #1291

On January 13, 1984, then-President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation designating January 22nd as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. January 22, 1984, marked the 10th anniversary since the infamous Roe v Wade decision by the US Supreme Court, a decision that legalized abortion on demand across the country. I’m sure the pro-life movement, who had been extremely important in Reagan’s 1980 bid for the White House, encouraged him to do this; but I don’t think they had to arm-twist.

After 1984, Reagan continued the proclamation annually so that the third Sunday in January would be recognized as Sanctity of Human Life Day. Reagan was a strong pro-life advocate and in a January1984 speech said, “Ten years ago today the Supreme Court overturned the state laws protecting the lives of the unborn….I…have always believed that God’s greatest gift is human life, and that we have a duty to protect the life of an unborn child. Until someone can prove the unborn child is not a life, shouldn’t we give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it is? That’s why I favor legislation to end the practice of abortion on demand and why I will continue to support it in the new congress….”[1]

Reagan’s successor, George H.W. Bush, continued the Sanctity of Human Life proclamation. Bush’s successor, Bill Clinton, discontinued the practice throughout his entire presidency; but George W. Bush reinstated the practice throughout his eight years in office. George W. Bush’s successor, Barack Obama, did not issue the proclamation at any point in his presidency. President Trump issued a proclamation last January proclaiming January 22, 2018, as Sanctity of Human Life Day, and I anticipate he will do so again this year.

Here we are now 35 years after the first presidential proclamation of Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. I’m hopeful Bible-believing and Bible-teaching churches all across our state will do something either this Sunday or next Sunday to remind their people of the truth that God is the author of life and the legalized killing of unborn children is heinous and reprehensible to our Creator. I’m also hopeful pastors won’t use the excuse that abortion is a political issue to avoid recognition of Sanctity of Human Life month and day. If the sanctity of human life isn’t a biblical issue, then I’m not at all sure what is a biblical issue.

I find it very disturbing that in this month we when recognize Sanctity of Human Life, that Republican State Senator Scott Fitzgerald, the Majority Leader in the Senate, announced last Monday right after the swearing in of the newly elected senators, that he has warned Republican members of the senate that he is not going to allow bills to move forward if Governor Evers is not in support of them, including, he said, “restrictions on abortion.” For an elected official who has said for years he’s pro-life, Senator Fitzgerald certainly is showing he’s way more politician than pro-life. So what if Tony Evers vetoes pro-life legislation? At least the issues are talked about and championed. I say do the right thing and let the Governor be the bad guy.

This kind of rhetoric coming from the capitol is a great example of why it’s important that pro-life citizens from all around the state join in the March and Love for Life that will take place at the state capitol next Tuesday, January 22, starting at 11:30 a.m. This is an excellent opportunity to let elected officials we are serious when it comes to pro-life issues and we want them to be as well. More details are available on Facebook at March for Life Wisconsin or by calling our office at 888-378-7395.

Until the scourge of legalized, state-sanctioned abortion is completely eradicated in our state and our country, our organization will continue doing everything we can to accomplish this end. We call on our fellow pro-life Wisconsin citizens to join us and urge pastors and churches to preach and teach Biblical truth on the sanctity of human life, especially during this Sanctity of Human Life month.

This is Julaine Appling for Wisconsin Family Council reminding you the Prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

[1] https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/ronald-reagan-on-roe-v-wade-video