An Emergency? . . . Yes!

By Wanda Franz, Ph.D.

The other day, one of our many dedicated NRLC members called with a question. "Why," she asked, "does it always seem like it's an emergency?"

On further questioning, it was clear she meant our letters appealing for financial support.

Her call made me think. No other social movement in America has quite the urgency about its mission that the pro-life movement does. That's because with no other issue does an innocent human being die at the rate of one every 24 seconds - - not to mention the brutal nature of abortion itself.

In an emergency where innocent life is threatened, we drop everything to help the one in peril. This response is woven into our tradition, our custom, our conscience, and our law.

To see this ethic in action, all I have to do is look around the NRLC office.

I am always so moved to see this dedication to life ingrained in the hearts of our staff and volunteers here at National Right to Life. With so many lives at stake now, I am witnessing an outpouring of activity for the cause of life like I have never seen before.

You've heard of organizations that say "we will work day and night?"

Well, that's literally what is happening at National Right to Life's Washington office right now.

I have staffers who voluntarily work throughout the night because they know many lives are at stake. I have others, still at the office, who get a good idea and leave a voice mail message at 3:00 a.m. so it's not forgotten. Others are in as early as 4:00 a.m. so they can do everything possible in this fight for life.

Clearly, they think this is an emergency. And they are right. They know that perhaps an extra hour's work, an extra pro-life contact, an extra donation to the cause might just be the one that changes a heart or saves a life.

Their persistence and dedication assures me that we will win and return the right to life to all innocent human beings.

But even before that day comes, their work is saving precious lives one at a time. It is the same mission of our thousands of volunteers around the country.

Can a single radio ad or pamphlet touch a woman's heart and convince her not to have an abortion? Absolutely!

Many women have personally thanked us for being there at just the right time with the facts that convince them they cannot abort their child.

After having talked with such a woman, we feel especially blessed when she mails us a picture of her child and thanks us for saving his or her life. Often this woman (whose name in many cases we will never know) will tell us NRLC was the only voice that did not try to trick her into believing her precious unborn baby was nothing more than a "glob of cells," or "mass of tissue." (See editorial, page 4.)

So back to my original question. When we write to you, is it an emergency? Yes! Until the day comes when all babies are safe from abortion, this is an emergency!

Yes, our letters do often tell of some dire need we face in our defense of human life. (Remember, unlike NRLC, the pro-abortion lobby is fed by the media, much of academia, and with tens of millions of dollars.)

But even a modest contribution to our cause can have an enormous impact for the life of one child.

For example, here's what we can buy to save lives with an average $30 donation from a National Right to Life member:

* A radio ad that can touch a woman's heart and convince her not to have an abortion;

* or 600 flyers that tell the truth about where Al Gore and Joseph Lieberman stand on abortion funding, partial-birth abortion, and parental notification;

* or 120 full-color multi-page brochures produced specifically for distribution to young people in junior and senior high schools;

* or 16 phone calls inviting people to join National Right to Life and help build our pro-life movement (four of those will indicate an interest in joining and two will become active members).

Well, you get the idea. Your contribution of any amount does make a difference. At any given time, our projects can touch a woman's heart, persuading her to find a non-violent solution to her crisis pregnancy, or reach someone with a message that persuades them to switch allegiances from the party of death to the movement of life.

Does this happen? We know this happens all the time. We see it in personal stories and in the polls, which show Americans are becoming more and more pro-life.

To answer our caller, I would say the people around me are all the proof I need that our cause is an emergency. But at the same time, with dedication like theirs, I know these babies will someday once again find protection in our land.

I hope and pray that you can help make this possible by responding as generously as possible to our current urgent appeals for financial assistance. Your contributions at this time allow us to do so much more. They are truly invaluable.