Last week, the Arizona Republic ran two “Fact Checks” on statements made by Representative Terri Proud about the history of women supporting the pro-life movement.
In both cases, the Republic ignored the overwhelming evidence that Susan B. Anthony was a pro-life supporter and said Rep. Proud’s statements were not true.
There is no doubt that the pro-life movement today in Arizona has strong female leadership – the Mother’s Health and Safety Act, which bans abortion after 20 weeks, was supported by CAP President Cathi Herrod, sponsored by Representative Kimberly Yee, carried in the Senate by Senator Nancy Barto, and signed by Governor Jan Brewer. And don’t forget that a majority of women in the state Legislature, including Rep. Proud, voted for the bill.
However, the pro-life movement isn’t interested in discriminating or dividing men versus women. Rather, it’s about bringing people from all walks of life – and both sexes – together to protect the health and safety of women and preborn children.
Gov. Brewer signs a pro-life bill after the 2011 session
But what about the early pro-life movement? Our friends at the Susan B. Anthony List, who played a key role in passing HB 2800 to defund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood, wrote an editorial at LifeNews.com in response to the Arizona Republic:
Turning directly to our country’s early women leaders, Proud quotes famous suffragists including Susan B. Anthony, namesake of the pro-life organization where I work. In one editorial (signed “A”) of her newspaper, The Revolution, Anthony wrote “Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; but oh, thrice guilty is he who… drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!” [The Revolution, 4(1):4 July 8, 1869]
Read the editorial in its entirety here.