Dear Jon:

Roe v Wade is the Court decision that establishes the so-called "right to privacy" for abortion. That decision must be overturned to truly bring abortion to an end. Work to overturn that decision by encouraging the appointment of Supreme Court justices who will interpret the Constitution the way our Founding Fathers intended -- a concept called Strict scrutiny.

To facilitate that goal we need a President who cares about the Constitution and not a proponent of "judicial activism". In January 2009 we will not have such a President.

In addition to encouraging the appointment of a Justice respectful of the Constitution, the issue must come before the Justices in test cases. Thus, it is necessary to find cases of people or state laws that can be tested before the court. This last election cycle the State of South Dakota had an anti-abortion measure on the ballot. Unfortunately, the measure was voted down. If is had been passed it could have been a test case before the Supreme Court.

President-Elect Obama has promised to sign the Freedom of Choice Act that will invalidate all state restrictions and make abortion an unmitigated and unfettered law of the land. We need to be actively written and calling our Senators and Congressman to express our view that this Act must be defeated.

In addition to all that, however, we must promote life in every other way that is possible, moral, and ethical. Do not underestimate the power of protest and prayer. In one state all abortion clinics except one has been pushed out of business. That was a Wilberforce-style effort. It can happen.

As for what we can do is to keep doing what we have been doing: lobbying, educating, advocating, protesting, prayer vigils, Masses for the Unborn, witnessing, providing women with alternatives to abortion, etc.

As long as what we do is moral and ethical, we should pursue all that we can to protect the unborn. Not everyone will be called to do the same thing, but to whatever we are called to do, we should do. As our Blessed Mother said, "Go and ask him and do what he tells you."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary