During his first few weeks in office, President Joe Biden reversed key pro-life victories of the Trump administration. With the stroke of his pen, he pulled the United States from the Geneva Consensus, reversed the Mexico City policy, and nominated pro-abortion California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The U.S., under former HHS Secretary Alex Azar, led a total of 35 countries in opposing the United Nations’ stance that abortion is a human right. The Geneva Consensus Declaration states there is no international right to abortion and aimed to “achieve better health for women, preserve human life, strengthen the family, and defend countries’ right to set their own policies to protect babies.”
The Mexico City policy was enacted back in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan to prevent U.S. government funds from supporting foreign family planning organizations that provide abortions. Former President Trump expanded this policy to block funds from all global health organizations that offer abortions. Since Reagan, every Republican administration had implemented the policy and every Democratic administration has reversed it.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is radically pro-abortion. He sued Little Sisters of the Poor -- Catholic nuns – to force their health care plan to pay for contraception which goes against their deeply held religious beliefs. Along with Vice President Kamala Harris, Becerra led the prosecution of David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt for their investigation of Planned Parenthood and the sale of aborted babies’ body parts. He also attempted to force pro-life pregnancy centers to promote abortion as part of the services they discussed.
State Abortion Legislation:
Last week, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed the Fetal Heartbeat Bill into law banning the abortion of a baby with a detectable and audible heartbeat. Planned Parenthood has already filed a lawsuit and a federal court has granted a two-week temporary restraining order to stop enforcement of the bill. A hearing over the lawsuit is scheduled for March 9.
Almost a dozen other states have similar bills and have also faced court battles preventing all of them from taking effect. Pro-life advocates believe one of these laws will make its way before the Supreme Court and will force a challenge to Roe v. Wade. South Carolina State Attorney General Alan Wilson said, “we believe the Heartbeat Law is constitutional and deserves a vigorous defense to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.”
Many pray that by going before the Supreme Court, the justices would reconsider the standard for legal abortion which is usually viability outside of the womb and make it the development of a heartbeat. The human heart begins to beat between 16 to 22 days post-fertilization. At this age, the baby already has eyes, a brain and lungs beginning to form.
Legislatures in New Mexico have voted to approve Senate Bill 10 which would ensure abortion is legal up until birth in the state, even if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has said she will sign it immediately when it comes before her.
And finally, both houses of the Virginia General Assembly have passed a bill overturning a state ban on taxpayer-funded abortions in the plans offered on the state’s health care exchange. It is expected to be signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam immediately. Northam is a pediatric neurologist and is extremely pro-abortion. Previously he has made statements suggesting support of infanticide. He has already removed restrictions which allow nurses and physician assistants to commit abortions, many safety regulations, as well as the 24-hour waiting period.
Pray: Continue to pray against the evil of abortion. Pray for a change of heart for our president and his administration. Investigate and stay up to date with what is going on in your state with regards to abortion restrictions or de-regulation efforts. Pray for and support your local pregnancy centers as they give aid to women facing unplanned pregnancies.