The NRL Educational Trust Fund

Does Pro-Life Education Make A Difference? Absolutely!

By Randall K. O'Bannon, Ph.D.

In 1990, there were over 1.6 million abortions in the United States. By 1992, the number of unborn babies killed by abortion had dropped to about 1.5 million. But by 1994, the count was down to 1.4 million and may still be dropping. Pro-lifers know this terrible human tragedy must be stopped, not merely slowed down. Yet a drop of nearly 10% is hugely significant and offers reason for real hope.

A major component in explaining the decline is that gradually the truth is making its way through the media barrier, rather like a flower pushing its way up through a small crack in the sidewalk. All of you have been personal truth-bearers. And, with you, the National Right to Life's Educational Trust Fund is making a difference. It tells the truth about abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia to an American public which has often been willfully and wantonly deceived by the mendacious merchants of death.

For over 15 years, through brochures and booklets produced by the Trust Fund, women have received complete, factual information about the considerable physical and psychological risks of abortions. Happily, many of the thousands of crisis pregnancy centers scattered across the U.S. use Trust Fund materials to help women see that there are better alternatives for them and their unborn children than abortion.

High schools all over the country receive the Trust Fund's yearly Life Cycle study guides. These helpful publications not only give teens accurate and accessible information about important life issues they also help them develop a respect for the unique value of human life at every stage. (Not surprisingly, recent studies show teens' attitudes are becoming more pro-life.)

Moreover, the Trust Fund has been active in promoting of NRLC's presence on the world wide web. As more and more students opt to do their research on the Internet, the Trust Fund considers it crucial that they be able to find accurate, truthful information about abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia from our side. (NRLC's web site "address" is www.nrlc.org.)

Part of the Trust Fund's responsibility is to track developments in the fields of medicine, social science, and public policy fields that influence the direction and debate on the life issues. This is why, for nearly 10 years, the Trust Fund has followed the development of RU 486, the abortion pill. The Trust Fund has been active in securing and publicizing the most current information about this dangerous drug, and has promoted a consumer boycott against the American subsidiaries of the French company which developed it. (See NRL News, 9/28/98, page 15 for the latest article.)

Over the years, the Trust Fund has generated a number of educational advertisements on the RU 486 consumer product boycott, partial-birth abortion, health care rationing, and the humanity of the unborn child. Appearing in national newspapers and periodicals, these ads have not only helped to raise the profile of the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund, but have also helped to bring the truth about abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia to people not involved in the pro-life movement.

The Trust Fund handles thousands of requests for information each year on topics ranging from assisted suicide to the abortion advocacy. The department has been involved in the ongoing process of developing well-researched, user-friendly fact sheets on subjects such as RU 486 and abortion statistics. All of these are currently available from the Trust Fund.

Moreover, the Trust Fund supports state educational efforts through participation in the Combined Federal Campaign, a national charitable campaign which raises funds from federal and military workers who want to support pro-life work, as well as other workplace giving programs. (See story, page 20.)

In addition, the Trust Fund supplies funding for the Association of Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change, a group of various scholars and professionals interested in pro-life research, and for the publication of the respected academic journal Issues in Law & Medicine.

Why is the Trust Fund involved in all these activities? Because pro-life education does make a difference. The next time you see a toddler at the grocery store, you may be looking at living proof.

For ordering information, call (202) 626-8809, fax (202) 393-0745, or e-mail nrletf@juno.com.