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NRL News President Bush Honors Pro-Lifers for Their “Service to Our Country” Editor’s note. The following is President George W. Bush’s Video Address to the 35th Annual National Right to Life Convention I’m pleased to address the National Right to Life’s annual convention. I send my warm greetings to your president, Wanda Franz. And I thank all the men and women gathered in Kansas City for their service to our country. More than three decades have passed since this group of courageous Americans took up one of the great moral issues of our time – the protection of innocent human life. When this group was founded in 1973, that basic value was under direct assault and serious challenge, and our country seemed to be drifting in the wrong direction. Yet, for 34 years, the right to life movement has spoken with clarity and conviction and you have rallied millions of Americans to our cause. You’ve been faithful stewards of our Declaration of Independence’s promise that all people have an inalienable right to life. You’ve been fearless shepherds of the innocent and the unborn, and through your witness you have helped more of our citizens understand that the mark of a great nation is the respect we give to every single human life. Over my six years as President, I’ve had the privilege of standing with you to ensure that more unborn children are welcomed in life and protected in law. Working together, we passed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. We’ve refused to spend taxpayer money on international programs that promote or perform abortion overseas. We’ve enacted a ban on the grisly practice of partial-birth abortion, and earlier this year, the United States Supreme Court upheld this just and vital law. The majority that issued this landmark ruling included two outstanding justices that I nominated to the court: John Roberts and Sam Alito. Together, your organization and my administration have compiled an unprecedented record in defense of the unborn, and our work continues. I ask that you continue to work with my administration to promote adoption, teen abstinence, and crisis pregnancy programs, as well as the vital work of faith-based groups. I ask that you stand with me to support the promise and potential of stem cell research without crossing a fundamental moral line, and I ask you to continue to work with respect and civility to appeal to the hearts and conscience of a good nation so we can encourage more Americans to embrace a culture of life. This is a time of challenge for the pro-life movement, but it is a time for confidence as well. Throughout its history, this movement has overcome skepticism and scorn with prayers and persistence, always guided by a belief that human life is a gift of our Creator and a blessing we are charged to protect. And no movement is stronger than one governed by conviction, strengthened by faith, and founded on unyielding love for all human life. I salute you for all your achievements. I thank you for continuing the fight for the unborn and I send you my prayers, best wishes and respect. May God bless you and may God continue to bless our wonderful country. |