This should be an interesting year for Pennsylvanians.

We'll see elections that will highlight the pro-life issue and candidates who will be jockeying to get the most votes from pro-lifers. This is a good thing. Abortion belongs at the top of the list of what needs to be debated and examined in every campaign.

The election that will undoubtedly grab the most attention is the one for US Senate with Republican Rick Santorum and Democrat Bob Casey the expected candidates. Do pro-lifers have a Champion in either of these two? Let's look closer...

While Santorum wears the mantle of Pro-Life, his oft-stated public position is that he requires exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. This is not pro-life; it is pro-abortion with exceptions.

Also, it should be recalled that he, along with President Bush, made dozens of visits here a short time ago to ensure that abortion-loving Arlen Specter was re-elected, narrowly defeating Pat Toomey, who was perceived to be pro-life. But that is not the only time Santorum worked for a pro-abort. He also backed Specter for President in 1996 (remember Specter's "Tolerance Plank" that would replace the Pro-Life Plank in the Republican Platform?), Tom Ridge, Christine Todd Whitman, Jim Greenwood and Doug Forrester. The record shows that he routinely supports pro-aborts, even over pro-lifers.

But what about his voting record? Santorum is proud to claim his support for bills like the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, which would require that a mother carrying an unborn over 20 weeks old be told the baby might feel pain during the abortion and she might want to ask for a painkiller for him/her. Is this "pro-life"? To advocate that the innocent child may be drugged before execution? He also backs the Child Interstate Protection Act, which would prevent anyone but the guardian of a minor to take her across state lines for an abortion. So killing the baby is not a problem, only who is transporting her? There is a list of others bills on his support list, like the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which makes it a crime when the unborn of a mother who wanted to be pregnant is killed...on federal property! But, since the bill clearly says it does not cover mothers who choose abortion, it is "pro-choice" - not "pro-life" at all.

It is important to note that, when asked by Judie Brown president of the American Life League, to sponsor the Right To Life Act of 2005 in the Senate, Santorum refused saying, "It's not practical". This bill would end abortion by defining "personhood" as beginning at conception, regardless of how conception took place, and would guarantee protection under the 14th amendment. (Already this bill, HR552 in the House, has attracted 67 co-sponsors!) So, why is it not practical to work to end abortion? Isn't that what pro-lifers want to happen?

Then, what about Bob Casey? Can we call him "pro-life"?

Here's an irony - Casey has fewer exceptions than Santorum. He only approves of abortion for the life of the mother. So, he is running to the right of Santorum!

Unfortunately, Casey supports state funding of contraception, requiring employers or health insurance plans to cover contraceptives in their drug plans, permitting employers to extend domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples and allowing homosexual couples to adopt children.

So, upon closer examination, both Santorum and Casey fail the test of what it means to be pro-life. What do we do, now?

Don't be discouraged. Last election day there was an alternative on the ballot in PA for true pro-lifers who would not vote for pro-abort Republican Arlen Specter or pro-abort Democrat Joe Hoeffel. Jim Clymer, Constitution Party candidate, was a Senate candidate on the ballot and was identified as 100% pro-life. Sadly, because some groups who call themselves pro-life didn't tell folks about Clymer, many grass roots pro-lifers didn't know about him. These groups are very negative about third party efforts.

But our allegiance is not to a politician or a party, but to the principle of Life. It may well be that come November, 2006, there will be a true pro-life Champion on the PA ballot in the race for US Senate. Check back with us then to find out.

And, in the case that there is no 100% pro-lifer on the ballot, we can always write in "Pro-Life Rita" to give voice to our issue and that we are united in our stand. Jesus said, "Fear is useless; what is needed is trust".

Our work is becoming more important every day. Presenting the truth about 100% Pro-Life Candidates who courageously proclaim that all human life is sacred and must be protected by law to pro-lifers who want it is our mission and our honor. To continue, we seek your help.

Please pray for us and think about sending us a donation. We cannot do this without your support!

May God bless you!

PS: And don't let anyone tell you this is a wasted effort…last election day, 100% Pro-Life Geoff Davis ran for US Congress in KY against favored Nick Clooney (George's father) and beat him! He is now one of the 67 cosponsors of the Right to Life Act of 2005.

Rick Santorum's troubling answers to the 2000 PA Catholic Conference questionnaire

100% Pro-Life PAC, Inc.
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Havertown, PA 19083