The State of the Union

President Trump delivered probably the strongest State of the Union speech I’ve ever heard–especially on the issue of life. In his speech, he said:

To help support working parents, the time has come to pass School Choice for Americans’ children.  (Applause.)  I am also proud to be the first President to include in my budget a plan for nationwide paid family leave, so that every new parent has the chance to bond with their newborn child.  (Applause.)

There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days.  Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments from birth.  These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and their dreams with the world.  And then, we had the case of the Governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth.

To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb.  (Applause.)

Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life.  (Applause.)  And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: All children — born and unborn — are made in the holy image of God.

Even with a pro-life president, we are in deep battles on the state level in a couple of states. As President Trump mentioned, New York legislators cheered when Governor Cuomo signed legislation that removed all protective legislation in the state and opened the door for abortions literally up to the moment of birth.

Shocking? Yes.

True? Most definitely.

Earlier this week, I wrote about what we have been dealing with here in Virginia and the push to open the floodgates to allow abortions for any reason at anytime–even up to birth–and our governor’s desire to enshrine that in our state constitution.

Contrary to what Planned Parenthood would have you believe, many, if not most, late-term abortions are NOT done for severe fetal abnormalities. Several years ago, I remember being stunned when, while on staff at National Right to Life, we received a copy of papers submitted by a leading late-term abortionist. In it, he listed the number of abortions he did for things like Down syndrome, cleft lip/palate or the fact that the mother was a teenager. These are not severe fetal abnormalities.

But even if all late-term abortions were done for severe fetal abnormalities, ask yourself this: Is it better to deliver a child who will likely die but will spend his or her last moments wrapped in the loving arms of his or her parents or is it better to kill the baby? Does any child deserve to die?

We should show compassion to both the parents and the child but killing a child through the act of abortion is not compassionate–it’s cruel.