Around the world, abortion activists are on the march, trying with all their might to push feticide as a fundamental right in countries that have long rejected the destruction of pre-born children. In Ireland, of course, pro-life activists are in a race against time before a referendum on May 25, when Irish voters will decide whether or not to preserve Ireland’s 8th amendment to the Constitution Act, which protects the pre-born child’s right to life. Ireland has long been a thorn in the side of abortion activists, and they are hoping that this time they will bring their bloody business to that country, as well.
Argentina, which bans abortion except in the case of rape or a risk to the mother’s life or health, has just begun public hearings on legalizing abortion further. President Mauricio Marci, who has said in the past that he is pro-life, has announced that there will be a free vote on the issue. The fate of pre-born children in Argentina now lies in the hands of lawmakers, who will be hearing testimony from both sides before deciding which way to vote. Argentina, too, has been under massive pressure to relax restrictions on abortion.
In El Salvador, one of six Latin American countries that bans abortion outright, the government’s health ministry has declared support for changing the current laws, and abortion activists have kicked into high gear to push the issue. Chile relaxed its abortion laws in August, and some El Salvadorian lawmakers are pointing to that nation as an example to follow. Many lawmakers are still very pro-life, so it is difficult to know at this point whether the abortion activists will be successful.
In Croatia, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic is under fire simply for suggesting that abortion should be avoided at all costs, and refusing to say whether or not he supports legal abortion. The pro-life movement in Croatia has been growing—15,000 people turned up at the first March for Life in 2016, and pro-life activism has ramped up since the Croatian Supreme Court rejected demands to overturn the 1970s Communist-era law permitting abortion last year. The prime minister, for his part, says that while a total ban is unrealistic, Croatia should work towards reducing the abortion rate.
In the United States, pro-life legislation is passing in states right across the country, including Iowa, Arizona, South Dakota, Ohio, Mississippi, Idaho, Kentucky, and Indiana. North of the border in Canada, the province of Ontario recently passed a law banning pro-life speech near abortion clinics, and the NDP government in Alberta has just tabled a bill to follow suit. Similar free speech restrictions have just been passed in the United Kingdom, as well.
Day in and day out, pro-life activists tirelessly seek to protect the lives of pre-born children, lives that are under threat by powerful, well-funded NGOs and global organizations. In many places, they are the only people standing against the abortion movement. Please remember them in your prayers.
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For anyone interested, my books: The Culture War, Seeing is Believing: Why Our Culture Must Face the Victims of Abortion, and How To Discuss Assisted Suicide, are available for sale here.
