Roe v. Wade 25th Anniversary.
The annual March for Life occurred on January 22 which is the 25th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion on demand.
FRC Events: Family Research Council hosted two events for the media and congressional staff. The first briefing, entitled "25 Years of Roe: Reversing the Damage," focused on how the lies of the abortion industry have caused immense harm to men, women and families. Speakers included a woman and man who recounted the emotional turmoil they encountered after experiencing abortion first-hand. The second event, "25 Years of Roe: Reversing the Decision," featured FRC President Gary Bauer and former Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey, who discussed the pro-life shift in public opinion and the future of the pro-life movement. Both events released findings from a recent FRC-commissioned poll. The January 1998 Wirthlin poll, surveying 1,000 adults, found that 61 percent of Americans disagree that "abortion should be permitted after fetal brainwaves are detected." Also, the poll results challenge pro-abortionists' claims that abortion helps women. Seventy percent of Americans believe that legal abortion is not necessary for women to pursue various educational and career goals, while 58 percent of women believe that abortion has hindered the relationships between men and women.
Other Washington Events: On Wednesday, January 21, the Congressional Life Forum sponsored an event featuring former United Nations Ambassador Dr. Alan Keyes, who spoke to members of Congress and pro-life leaders about the sanctity of life. On the same day, Sen. John Ashcroft (R-MO), chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, conducted a congressional hearing on when life begins. Norma McCorvey, also known as "Jane Roe," testified about her role in legalizing abortion in 1973, claiming that she lied, as did her attorneys, in order to bring her case to trial. She spoke of her change of heart in 1995, noting that she currently desires to see the Roe decision overturned, and saying the whole abortion industry was "based on a lie." Several doctors and law professors also testified at the hearing. Discussion among the doctors and lawyers centered around the fact that during neo-natal surgery, the child is outside the womb, alive, receives therapy, and then is placed back inside the womb. Sen. Ashcroft asked the witnesses to explain how these technological advances had changed the definition of a "human person." Many of the doctors said that due to the earlier viability of infants they believe that unborn life should be afforded some protection.
Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, January 23, 1998