American Family Association: ‘It Is Clear that the Pro-Life Movement Still Has a Lot of Work to Do’
TUPELO, Miss.— Last week, Pro-life group Operation Rescue released a report that examined trends among abortion clinics across the country. The report found that the number of surgical abortion clinics in the United States has dropped by over 35% from 713 facilities in 2009 to 458 facilities in 2020. Meanwhile, clinics that provide non-surgical abortion methods, such as abortion-inducing drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol, have been on the rise in the U.S.—going from 131 facilities in 2009 to 248 facilities in 2020.
“We rejoice that at least one category of abortion providers has decreased, but with the increase in the access to abortion drugs, it is clear that the pro-life movement still has a lot of work to do,” said Ed Vitagliano, executive vice president of the American Family Association (AFA, www.AFA.net).
“It is not surprising that sometimes new technologies outpace our capacity to develop a moral response. But protecting innocent human life in the womb is a necessary and worthy fight, even if the technologies developed by pro-death forces sometimes seem ascendant. We will never cease our efforts to protect the innocent lives of those made in the image of God.”
According to the Christian Post, there were 706 clinics offering abortions of some kind in 2020, slightly down from the 710 facilities reported to be operating in 2019, and well below the 856 that were open in 2012. The report stated that during 2020, 45 abortion clinics either closed down or stopped providing abortion services as part of their reproductive healthcare services.
For over 40 years, AFA has operated within the mission to inform, equip, and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture and give aid to the church here and abroad in its task of fulfilling the Great Commission. Visit AFA Action Alerts here.
AFA—founded in 1977—has long been on the front lines of America’s culture war. Today, AFA is one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country, with nearly a million online supporters and approximately 160,000 subscribers to the AFA Journal, the ministry’s monthly magazine. In addition, AFA owns and operates nearly 200 radio stations across the country under the American Family Radio banner.
View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.
Radical Abortion Legislation Introduced in New Jersey
Timothy Plan Founder Art Ally, with Other Pro-Life Leaders, Opposes the “Freedom to Kill Act.”
ORLANDO, Fla.— Pro-life leaders protested a radical abortion bill introduced in the New Jersey legislature that would allow abortion for any reason through all nine months of pregnancy, repeal all existing restrictions on abortion and force taxpayers to fully fund the procedure.
The bill (S3030/A4848) “specifies that a fertilized egg, embryo or fetus may not be understood to have independent rights under any of the laws of this State.”
In part, it was Timothy Plan founder Art Ally’s pro-life commitment that led him in 1992 to start helping churches provide biblically sound retirement resources for pastors. Today, Ally’s commitment has expanded beyond the pulpit to help Americans make God-honoring investments that support life—at all stages.
“Infanticide is the ultimate evil,” Ally said. “This bill should be called the ‘Freedom to Kill Act.’ Nothing is more horrific than the death of an innocent unborn child who is voiceless, helpless and whose plan from the Lord is birth and life. We will be held accountable if we don’t help stop the killing of our most precious ones.”
The “Reproductive Freedom Act” would also repeal New Jersey’s ban on partial birth abortions and its “Parental Notification for Abortion Act,” which requires minor girls to inform parents prior to having an abortion.
“This cuts parents out of a situation in which their daughter is scared, desperate and needs guidance from people who love her instead of those making a living out of ending life,” Ally said.
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is supporting this legislation. When the bill was introduced in October, Murphy stated:
“As access to health care and the right to choose are under attack at the federal level, we will support, defend, and protect reproductive rights here in New Jersey. ‘The Reproductive Freedom Act’ will remove barriers to reproductive health, as well as expand access to contraception while reaffirming choice. Together, we stand unwavering in our commitment to work towards reproductive freedom for all New Jerseyans.”
The summary states that the bill “specifies that it is to be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.” The bill attempts, in effect, to remove the rights of New Jersey citizens and their future lawmakers to make any changes to the legislation or declare it void in any way at any time in the future.
The bill states that if any provision is ever ruled unconstitutional, “the remaining provisions of the bill, and the application of the provision at issue to all other persons or circumstances, will not be affected thereby.”
The measure would eliminate existing regulations requiring that only licensed physicians may perform abortions and that abortions be performed in a licensed hospital after 14 weeks of pregnancy.
“With the rise in Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI), Timothy Plan can make it possible for people not to have to choose between funding companies that support abortion,” Ally continued. “BRI affords the freedom to invest not only wisely but morally, including matters of the protection of sacred life. Investors who know they are pleasing God with their finances can sleep well at night for honoring His will and sticking to His plan.
“January is Sanctity of Human Life month. On January 22, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating the third Sunday of January as Sanctity of Human Life day (January 17, 2021). We at Timothy Planencourage pastors, churches and life organizations across our nation to use this day, and month, to bring awareness to the attacks that are daily waged against human life through the abortion industry.”
For 25 years, Timothy Plan has helped people achieve their financial goals while investing in a morally responsible manner. Timothy Plan, for example, does not invest in those companies that support abortion or have other agendas contrary to the teachings of Scripture—or that are actively participating in activities that may prove destructive to our communities-at-large.
PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY. You should consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information can be found in the fund’s prospectus.
To obtain a copy, visit timothyplan.com or call 800.846.7526. Read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. Mutual Funds distributed by Timothy Partners, Ltd., member FINRA
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