The 2016 New Mexico State Legislative session ended yesterday at noon. If it
demonstrated anything, it again showed that the pro-abortion, pro-homosexual community is well funded, well organized and mobilized. The legislation offered by the Christian community was met with staunch, well organized opposition at every turn.
Three bills and a memorial were carefully watched by the Christian community. The issues were religious freedom and opportunities to save the unborn. Even a memorial with no binding legal authority calling for the collection of data was met with stringent and effective opposition. Nothing from our side passed.
“House Bill 55: An Act Relating to Religious Freedom,” sponsored byRepresentatives David Gallegos and Nora Espinoza, was an attempt to address the overwhelming legal power the homosexual community has to force Christians of conscience into preforming services they find offensive.
Before the session began, Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales, a homosexual, used the occasion of Martin Luther King Day to blast the bill. That was followed by Santa Fe Senator Brian Egolf’s press conference denouncing the bill as “hateful.” Egolf called the bill “the last gasps of the failing opposition” to homosexual “equality.” The bill was not heard this session.
Two bills were introduced by our stalwart Senator Bill Sharer from Farmington, Senate Bills 242 and 243. Both bills placed a twenty week limitation on abortions. One bill, Senate Bill 243, was a “no exceptions to abortion” bill. The other, Senate Bill 242, would have allowed exceptions for rape or incest.
Senator Sharer gave an impassioned presentation in defense of the bills, sharing photos of his healthy granddaughter born prematurely. The irony was apparent when Senator Jacob Candelaria and Senator Mimi Stewart made “pro-life” statements before they voted against the bills. Senator Candelaria praised his single mother for having given him life, then voted against the life bill. Mimi Stewart described the tragedy of birthing two sons whose lungs had not developed, then giving birth to her precious daughter before she voted “no.”
Representative Rodney Montoya from Farmington proposed “House Memorial 101, to track the number of incidents of a child being born and showing signs of life after an abortion.” The memorial sought only to gather data but was vehemently opposed by Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and other organizations.
In each of these cases, professionals in the anti-life lobby were present in large numbers. Their latest technique in calling out supports is the use of “robo-calls,” computer generated telephone calls with outgoing messages only.
As for the pro-life side, calls for prayer and calls to attend the legislative session were emailed. In each case the pro-life side was out-numbered by a very large margin.
It is incumbent on each and every Christian to continue to pray, as well as to discuss issues with elected representatives and amongst ourselves. To change the tide of our times, new representatives are required at every level. Change will come with prayer, knowing who we’re voting for, and voting.
