A Statement Calling on the Pro-Life Community to Remain Vigilant if Romney Wins Election
by Anthony Horvath, Executive Director of Athanatos Christian Ministries
Romney has said repeatedly that he would support the over-turning of Roe vs. Wade. Of course, Romney is running for the president, not the Supreme Court. He would have to appoint justices who would likewise turn Roe vs. Wade and these would have to be confirmed by the Senate. Unless the Republicans win a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, such an appointee would be blocked. (Of course, that precedent for a way around that has now been set--by the Democrats). It is possible, but unlikely, that the Republicans will get their majority in the Senate, let alone a filibuster-proof one. In short, even under a Romney presidency, it is unlikely that Roe vs. Wade will be struck down any time soon.
But even assuming that this does happen (perchance the GOP wins the Senate today!), that of course only puts things back to square one, as it were. Abortion goes back to the states for their consideration and action. At present, the battle is largely centralized in Washington DC. The end of Roe vs. Wade makes 50 new battles.
This is not bad. It is a good start. But it is a start and continuation, not an end. Moreover, whatever a state might do, the conditions that made abortion thinkable in the first place not only remain, but are perpetuated and inflamed in a variety of unexpected places–our local schools, for example. A Romney win merely represents a momentary set-back to the culture of death. At present, unless things dramatically change at the local and state level on virtually any front you care to mention, the ultimate victory for the culture of death is assured.
What kinds of changes are necessary? Changes on the school board. The election of principled people in municipalities, counties and at the state level. But even in this case, there would still be one more thing necessary: courage.
Have you noticed that Democrats are never ashamed to promote their agenda with defiance but Republicans are pressured to compromise? But the Democrat party is the party of Alinsky, who said in his Rules for Radicals that compromise was the radical’s best friend: If you had 0% and ask for 100% and only get 50%, your position has improved. When you ask for 100% the next time, your 50% is the new 0%, and the next compromise puts you even closer. Rinse and Repeat, and soon you have everything you’ve ever asked for.
It is in precisely this manner that over the last 100 years virtually every liberal proposal and attitude has been accepted, incrementally. And this, not because of who was president, but because of what transpired in the nooks and crannies of our society. Abortion on demand included.
Going forward, then, even in the case of a Romney election, there will be great need for pro-life advocates to busy themselves with confronting and rolling back the many aspects of the culture of death that have taken hold of our society. Without these, abortion on demand could never have happened. Without these, abortions would rarely take place, even if it were legal.
A change in the law is just one small part of the issue, because laws reflect the activity of representatives, who are elected by people in their local communities, who are led to believe certain things in their churches and schools.
Moral of the story: be vigilant, be principled, and be courageous.
