Testing Roe

The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform rejects the notion that abortion is a federal issue.   The US Supreme Court was in error in ruling on abortion in 1973.  A strict interpretation of the Constitution doesn’t support a right to abortion.  Justice Byron White called Roe v. Wade “an exercise of raw judicial power,” and “a violation of the separation of powers doctrine.”  In Roe, the justices usurped the legislative branch’s authority to make law.  Associate Justice Harry Blackmun wrote for the majority in Roe that the right to privacy extending to abortion was found in the “penumbras” of the Bill of Rights.  Penumbra means “partial shadow.”  The fact is:  The justices in Roe v. Wade made up the right to abortion out of thin air. 

Leave Abortion to the States 

According to the 10th amendment “the powers not delegated to the United States [federal government] by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”   Because the right to abortion is not found in the federal Constitution this issue must be left to the people of the states to resolve.  If “pro-abortion advocates are so sure Ohioans support abortion then we should give them the choice to vote.  

The Ohio Abortion Ban Bill 

As a test case against Roe v. Wade, Rep. Tom Brinkman has introduced the Ohio Abortion Ban Bill (HB 228) in the Ohio House.  The bill has over a dozen co-sponsors and has been assigned to the House Health Committee.  CBR Midwest led a coalition of pro life groups, legislators, and pastors urging that the voters of Ohio decide whether to ban abortion in Ohio.   

HB 228 will prohibit abortions in Ohio.  HB 228 will penalize abortion providers, but not pregnant mothers.    Under the current regime of Roe v. Wade, if Ohio House Bill 228 passes the Ohio legislature it will immediately be challenged in the courts .  HB 228 provides the necessary constitutional challenge to Roe that could send the abortion issue back to the states where it belongs.  Because it often takes years for the US Supreme Court to hear such cases, Ohioans must act now and support HB 228.    

In January, two events took place within days of each other that stirred a national debate on abortion:  The Alito confirmation hearings, and the anniversary of Roe v. Wade (1-22-06).   CBR Midwest seized the moment by sponsoring a press conference on HB 228 on Jan. 18, 2006.  

The Participants Included: 

Rep. Tom Brinkman, 34th House District
Chris Long, Christian Coalition of Ohio
Cindy Violet, Pregnancy Decision Health Center
Dr. Jack Wilke, MD President of Life Issues Institute
Rep. Michelle Schnieder, 35th House District
Mark Harrington, Center for Bio Ethical Reform
Paula Westwood, Cincinnati Right to Life
Karen Harris, Black Ohioans for Life
Dr. Michael Parker, ObGyn
Susan Dammann, Open Gate Pregnancy Center 

Huron Co. Right to Life and CBR Midwest Team Up to Fight Abortion 

Huron County Right to Life sponsored CBR Midwest’s Reproductive “CHOICE” Campaign to focus our "Reversing Roe" tour in Huron County.  We concluded our 4 day tour in Norwalk where our mobile anti-abortion billboard project was displayed during Huron County Right to Life's March for Life. 

Cities Visited in Huron County: 

  • Norwalk (pop. 16,238)
  • Milan (pop. 1,445)
  • Bellevue (pop. 8,193)
  • New London (pop. 2,696)
  • Greenwich (pop. 1,525)
  • Willard (pop. 6,806)
  • Sandusky (Erie County) (pop. 27,844) 

If only 5% of these residents saw our anti-abortion vans, then over 3,000 people were introduced to the consequences of legal abortion. 
CBR Midwest Teaches High School Students  About Abortion   

The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Midwest was invited to speak to religion classes at St. Paul Catholic High School January 12-13.  In the course of two class days CBR Midwest presented abortion facts visually to 425 students! 

We helped students better understand abortion and articulate the pro-life message to their peers and family members. Mrs. Valerie French, the principal of St. Paul Catholic High School and Bob Brown, a trustee with Huron Co. Right to Life sat in on one of the talks.   After watching Harder Truth, Mrs. French said “although the abortion footage was disturbing it is something we need to see and suffer through.”   Mrs. French understands the importance of using abortion visuals to make abortion unthinkable to her students. 

At the end of each talk students were asked to give an evaluation of how Pro-life 101 influenced their thinking on abortion.  Here are a few student comments:

  • This talk impacted me because it showed me the right thing to do when it comes to abortion.  I also saw the outcome of abortion which I think is very wrong.   – Senior class student 

  • The things that I witnessed today were disgusting.  They made me really think twice about my stand on abortion issues.  I definitely feel that abortion should be illegal! – Senior class student

  • The video was shocking!!  I have never seen anything like it nor would I have ever thought that unborn humans would be so developed!  I think it is wrong and should be illegal! – Senior class student 

  • This will impact me the rest of my life. – Sophomore class student 

  • The talk was very enlightening on abortion.  Paul was very nice and straightforward about it.  I did not know what they did to commit abortions or kill the unborn child but now I do.  I now realize how much worse abortion is than I thought. – Sophomore class student 

  • I don’t think I will ever be the same person after seeing the video.  I have always been pro-life, but now I think it is at a new level.  – Sophomore class student. 

Please send the resources we need to systematically dismantle Roe v. Wade.  The future rests in your hands. 

Mark Harrington, Executive Director, CBR Midwest
Host, Mark Harrington Live