Massachusetts Pro-Life Voters Focus on Races for State Legislature

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 18, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Massachusetts Pro-Life Voters Focus on Races for State Legislature Email this article
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by Maria Gallagher
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
October 18, 2004

LifeNews.com Note: This is the twelth in a series of articles covering the 2004 elections state by state from the pro-life viewpoint.

Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) — Pro-abortion forces in Massachusetts say this year’s legislative contests are the most important they’ve faced since abortion was legalized. That’s because the pro-life movement could gain seats — thanks to Governor Mitt Romney’s attempts to reinvigorate the GOP.

While Massachusetts has often been labeled a pro-abortion state, it has never had a pro-abortion majority in the state House of Representatives.

NARAL spokeswoman Melissa Kogut told the Associated Press that many people are surprised to learn that.

A number of pro-life Republicans are taking on Democrats in this year’s legislative contests — a testament not only to the growing strength of the Republican Party but also the pro-life cause.

However, Gerald D’Avolio, the executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, told the AP that he does not expect many changes in the Massachusetts House.

Next year, pro-abortion forces will be pushing a bill that would make the so-called morning-after pill available to rape victims and would permit women to obtain the pill from pharmacists without going to doctors first.

Earlier this year, Marie Sturgis of Massachusetts Citizens for Life said, "Massachusetts Citizens for Life has been consistently opposed to the morning-after pill due to the unknown long-term health risks it poses to women and its abortifacient nature."

As far as Congressional races are concerned, a number of pro-abortion incumbents are running for re-election in Massachusetts. They include Democrats John Olver (1st district), Richard Neal (2nd district), Barney Frank (4th district), Marty Meehan (5th district), John Tierney (6th district), Ed Markey (7th district), Mike Capuano (8th district), and William Delahunt (10th district).

Pro-life advocates have just one pro-life candidate for Congress to support — Ron Crews of the 3rd Congressional district.

On his campaign website, Crews, who has served as president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, notes, "I promise to be a voice for pro-family and traditional values." He also states, "I believe in the sanctity of life and will support legislation to protect our most innocent citizens."

As a state legislator in Georgia, where he lived previously, Crews backed legislation to ban partial-birth abortion.

He faces pro-abortion Democrat Jim McGovern, who has a zero percent pro-life voting record.

Pro-life advocates in Massachusetts have state legislative priorities of their own for the coming year. They’re hoping to pass a women’s "right to know" bill, which would help to educate women about the impact of abortion on their lives.

Abortion advocates typically oppose such legislation, which allows women to be informed about the development of their baby as well as abortion’s risks and alternatives.

Pro-life groups may also introduce a fetal pain bill which would require doctors to ask women whether they want to anesthetize an unborn baby before an abortion. Once women learn of the pain that abortion causes an unborn child, many may reconsider their abortion decision.

Pro-life advocates are also expected to oppose legislation promoting embryonic stem cell research, which involves the killing of live human embryos for questionable scientific experimentation.

Related web sites:

Crews for Congress – https://www.crewsforcongress.com
Massachusetts Citizens for Life – https://www.masscitizensforlife.org
Massachusetts Pro-Life Voters’ Guide – https://www.wevoteprolife.com/massachusetts.htm