We are approaching the last critical aspect of insuring the passage of Amendment #2— The GOTV - Get Out The VOTE for the November General Election!

You have all been so great, attending our Yes for Life informational sessions, ordering yard signs, shirts and bumper stickers, and donating. Thank you for sharing the TRUTH about Amendment #2 and dispelling the lies and misinformation put forth by the abortion industry.

We still have much work to accomplish: raising $$$, distributing more yard signs, and walking the neighborhoods. We need a YES Vote by 51% to win passage of Amendment #2.

Tomorrow, Sunday, marks our 51 Days of Prayer for 51% of the Vote! It's a critical aspect of our campaign that you can do, rain or shine no matter wherever you are.

We will be outspent by millions and bombarded by lies from the powerful forces of the abortion industry, but we place our trust in our Creator. Prayer is our smooth stone, like the biblical David's stone, that slays the giant Goliath— the abortion industry cartel.

Thank you for your faithful and unwavering support for the most vulnerable in our midst, Kentucky’s unborn children and their mothers.

The mainstream media tells us that women are not able to get basic healthcare and medicines because of the current closure of abortion clinics. Abortion is not health care! It is the only pill or medical procedure that results in the intended termination of an unborn child.

Please watch the first minutes of this KET video with testimony about what the Yes for Life Constitutional Amendment actually would accomplish, or read the transcript here. It makes clear that this Amendment to our Constitution ONLY prevents activist judges from issuing ‘opinions’ and controlling the abortion issues through our courts.

Kentucky’s Constitution states that our legislators alone are permitted to create laws. The legal suit challenging current abortion law declares that the statute in question is unconstitutional. If judges are permitted to insert and find new rights in our Constitution, where does it end? What will be the next right an activist judge will find in Ky’s Constitution?

Navigating the growing confusion of legislative initiatives and lawsuits that have followed in the wake of the overturn of Roe v Wade is a daily duty.

Please join Kentucky Right to Life and our Chapters as we stand with National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of state right-to-life organizations, to strongly oppose the so-called Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 (HR 8296) and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022 (HR 8297). Read more here. Both of these bills passed the House on July 15.

The video below describes some of what is at stake.

You may call your legislators directly or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

“HR 8296 would legally authorize and enable the violent death of unborn baby girls and boys by dismemberment, beheading, forced expulsion from the womb, deadly poisons, or other methods at any time, for any reason, until birth.”

Speaking on behalf of Kentucky Right to Life, our Right to Life Chapters across the Commonwealth, and Prolife Kentuckians, I doubt if anyone is surprised by the Governor’s decision to veto House Bill 3. But I am disappointed. The Governor, having served previously as Kentucky Attorney General and the former chief law-enforcement officer and prosecutor for our Commonwealth, knows well the issues of human trafficking, abuse and exploitation of women and girls, which contribute to the very real risks associated with mail-order abortion.

House Bill 3 addresses multiple issues impacting the health of minor girls and women across the Commonwealth. As a result of the FDA’s decision to stop enforcing their longstanding health guidelines for issuing RU486, a two-pill regimen for non-surgical abortions, the in-person meeting with a medical provider, counseling, and ultrasound have been replaced with do-it-yourself at-home abortions via mail order.

Kentucky women deserve better than risky do-it-yourself, mail-order-abortions!

Without an in-person consultation between a pregnant woman or minor girl and a medical professional, not only is it difficult to assess any serious risk factors such as an ectopic pregnancy, pre-existing conditions or the presence of STIs– sexual transmitted infections, but the door is left wide open for vulnerable women and girls to be physically forced into an unwanted or quick decision on abortion.

The Governor states that there is no exception for rape and incest. The issues of rape and incest are extremely sensitive and personal matters, and those harmed by sexual violence often carry a lifetime of scars. Unfortunately, those who oppose any restrictions on abortions often insert rape and incest to undermine the legislation. The fact that statements on HB3 are made about such tragic and life-impacting matters as rape or incest without fully reading the bill, especially Section 1, and understanding the bill, is a political travesty. Section 1 explicitly indicates exceptions for sexual abuse and sexual abuse by the minor girl’s parent.

Kentucky Right to Life has led the State for 50 years advocating for an end to abortion and today remains unwavering in its support for the dignity and sanctity of life, especially the unborn. We advocate for prolife justice, justice for the children and their mothers.

A woman facing an unplanned pregnancy deserves the opportunity to learn about her options other than abortion, and deserves for her reproductive health to be respected rather than thrown down to a mail-order solution for such a serious, life-impacting decision, such as terminating the life of her child.

Please call the Legislative Hotline, 1-800-372-7181, and ask your legislators to please override Gov. Beshear’s VETO of HB3.

SIDEWALK COUNSELORS CONTINUE!

The parties have agreed that Ordinance O-179-21 (the “Ordinance”), prohibiting the sidewalk ministry from practicing their religious freedoms for half a city block claiming it is a “buffer zone” to EMW’s property, will not be enforced until July 16, 2021 in order to allow the attorneys involved to complete briefings.

Attorney Chris Wiest, who represents those having their rights violated by the Ordinance, stated, “I consider this a win in the first round, because it allows the ministry to continue.”

Addia Wuchner said, “We are pleased that our attorney has been able to broker a temporary agreement as we prepare for a full hearing in Western District Court. As a pro-life, pro-women organization, we believe that sidewalk ministry plays an important role in a woman’s right to have fully informed consent.”

ORIGINAL POST:

A new and good wrinkle in the Buffer Zone (BZ) controversy in Louisville has arisen.

We are glad to report that Angela Minter and her organization, Sisters For Life, together with Kentucky Right To Life, filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against Louisville Metro, Mayor Greg Fisher, Louisville Metro Police Chief Ericka Shields, and Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell against Louisville’s new BZ ordinance, on the grounds that the new ordinance violates their free speech rights and prohibits them from practicing their faith.

The Sisters For Life regularly minister to women at the EMW abortion clinic in Louisville. In 2019, EMW performed 99.5% of all abortions in Kentucky. Angela and Sisters for Life saved 800 babies from having their lives cut short by ministering to women and their partners and revealing other life choices available to them for their child other than abortion, including adoption, free housing during and after the pregnancy, free child care, free help with college tuition if they choose not to abort their child, parenting resources including diapers, formula, clothes, parenting classes, counseling and more, such as information about child development that shows parents how developed their child is at the particular stage of their pregnancy.

Angela and Sisters For Life consider it essential to maintain a caring demeanor, a calm tone of voice, and direct eye contact while ministering to people on the sidewalk outside of the abortion clinic. They do not yell, protest with signs, or block the path. They walk beside women sharing information.

On May 20, 2021, the Metro Council passed Ordinance O-179-21 (the “Ordinance”), in a 14-11 divided vote prohibiting the sidewalk ministry from practicing their religious freedoms for half a city block claiming it is a “buffer zone” to EMW’s property.

Why are Louisville Metro Council, Mayor Fisher, Chief Shields and Attorney O’Connell so interested in limiting a women’s right to information? —in this instance, not only her rights to information about her body, services available to her family, but information some believe could protect her soul.

Margaret Sanger, who strategically placed abortion clinics in low-income black neighborhoods in a covert effort at genocide, proudly boasted that it was cheaper to kill poor children before they are born than to sustain them on welfare after birth.

If you limit a woman’s access to information, you limit her options

Chris Wiest, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, stated: “The City of Louisville should know better than to pass this flagrantly unconstitutional ordinance and we look forward to having it struck down.”

Addia Wuchner, Executive Director of Kentucky Right to Life issued the following statement: “Kentucky Right to Life and our members were disappointed by the decision to utilize buffer zones at the EMW abortion clinic. The Supreme Court has previously affirmed the sidewalk counselor ministry ensuring that women have the opportunity to make a fully informed consent. Kentucky Right to Life will continue to advocate for the protection of the unborn child and the First Amendment right of citizens to peacefully gather, pray, support women, and respectively bear witness in defense of innocent life. We stand in full support of the injunction filed by Angela Minter and Sisters for Life.”

Click image to view larger and use back button to return to article. Photo credit: Michelle Smith

Secretary of State Michael G. Adams, legislators and pro-life alliance members met on April 7^th at the Capitol. The passage of HB 91 during the 2021 Regular Session was a major accomplishment for Ky’s pro-life future— time for a moment of celebration!

The pro-life alliance partners are (alpha order): Catholic Conference of Kentucky, Commonwealth Policy Center, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, Kentucky’s Family Foundation, Kentucky Right to Life and Sisters for Life.

We now turn to address the challenge of spreading the word to all Ky citizens. There is work ahead to explain and promote the importance of including HB 91 in the Ky Constitution.

Please take a moment to enjoy the Ceremonial Signing video here. The national media covered this event!

Read a wrap-up of the 2021 Legislative Session relating to pro-life issues here.

THANK YOU PRO-LIFERS for turning out for the YES for LIFE Rally in Frankfort! Lawmakers spoke, and they and their supporters heard from a coalition of pro-life organizations encouraging passage of HB 91. Rep. Joe Fischer, the bill's sponsor, is shown addressing the group.

HB 91 has been added to the Orders of the Day by the Senate! Stay tuned.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron joined the Rally unexpectedly with a surprise announcement that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear Ky’s appeal regarding Dismemberment Abortion. Read more about this Ky law here.

WHAS, WLKY and WDRB covered the YES for LIFE Rally and the AG’s announcement. More pro-life news was featured online about the passage of Nancy Tate’s HB 155 to allow the use of a “newborn safety device” for anonymous surrendering of a newborn, and of Sen. Ralph Alvarado’s SB 12 to prohibit sales of human organ or tissue and for-profit procurement of eye or cornea tissue.

Watch the YES for LIFE Rally video and see the slideshow!