Ten simple ways to make a difference in 2017

In the effort to protect the unborn, their mothers, and other vulnerable human beings, even little things make a difference—things that anyone can do.

These things don't take much time out of your busy schedule. They don't require a wealth of knowledge or expertise. They don’t demand a lot of initiative or planning.

Here are just a handful of concrete ways you can partner with MCCL to make a lifesaving difference in 2017.

1. Attend the MCCL March for Life on Jan. 22, and bring your friends and family.
2. Connect with MCCL on social media to stay abreast of the latest issues and to share pro-life articles and graphics with your social networks.
3. Come to the MCCL Legislative Dinner on Feb. 15, and invite your state legislators to attend.
4. Contact your representatives in the Legislature and urge them to support MCCL's legislative agenda during the 2017 session. Pro-life legislation saves lives.
5. Invite your pro-life friends and family to join MCCL. Membership is the foundation of everything that MCCL does.
6. Encourage students (your own or others in your community) to be part of MCCL's Student Day at the Capitol in March and Life Leadership Camp in July.
7. Volunteer for a shift staffing your local MCCL county fair booth next summer.
8. Volunteer for a shift at the MCCL booth at the State Fair at the end of August.
9. Participate in the MCCL Fall Tour meeting nearest you next September or October to be informed and equipped—and bring others with you.
10. Give financially to MCCL. Only with your ongoing and faithful support can we continue (and expand) our pro-life educational, legislative and political work.

Stay tuned to www.mccl.org for more information about these and other upcoming opportunities. MCCL appreciates every little thing you do—everything we can do together—in defense of the right to life of all members of the human family.

MCCL March for Life draws thousands, calls for dismemberment abortion ban

The following news release was issued on Jan. 22, 2016.

ST. PAUL — An enormous crowd of Minnesotans came to the State Capitol today to urge lawmakers to ban dismemberment abortions. Pro-life citizens also called on legislators to protect the safety of women by licensing abortion centers, and to ban taxpayer funded abortion. The annual Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) March for Life commemorates the millions of lives lost to abortion.

The 42nd annual MCCL March for Life marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 600,000 unborn Minnesota children (Minnesota Department of Health), and more than 58 million unborn babies nationwide.

"Every abortion kills an unborn child, but dismemberment abortions are some of the cruelest abortions of all and it's time to ban them," MCCL Executive Committee member Jaclynn Miller told the huge crowd of citizens gathered from across Minnesota. "In 2014 there were more than 700 dismemberment abortions in the state and it has to end!"

MCCL's 2016 legislative agenda seeks the licensing and inspection of abortion facilities (H.F. 606/S.F. 616), which currently are exempt from licensing and inspection required of other outpatient surgical centers across the state. Such minimal oversight would help ensure a degree of safety for women entering abortion facilities.

MCCL's pro-life agenda also calls for lawmakers to end taxpayer funded abortions (H.F. 607/S.F. 683), which account for 38 percent of all abortions performed in the state. This is the highest percentage since the 1995 Doe v. Gomez decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court forced taxpayers to pay for abortions performed on low-income women. This percentage has increased nearly every year since the court ruling. Taxpayers have funded more than 69,000 abortions since the decision, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Pro-life Speaker of the Minnesota House Kurt Daudt spoke briefly at the March, stating, "Every child in the state of Minnesota has a right to life and a right to fulfill their God-given potential. ... I am very encouraged to see so many of you here, in the cold, to march for life and to stand up to protect the unborn. Minnesota is a pro-life state!"

Many of Minnesota's pro-life elected officials, including state legislators, were in attendance and were introduced during the brief program on the lower Capitol Mall. Minnesota's pro-life Members of Congress John Kline, Erik Paulsen, Tom Emmer and Collin Peterson sent written greetings that were read at the March.

View photos of today's MCCL March for Life and from past marches on the MCCL website.

MCCL March for Life draws thousands to call for end of taxpayer funded abortions

The following news release was issued on Jan. 22, 2015.

ST. PAUL — Thousands of Minnesotans came to the State Capitol today to urge lawmakers to ban taxpayer funded abortions. Pro-lifers also called on legislators to protect the safety of women by licensing abortion centers. The annual Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) March for Life commemorates the millions of lives lost to abortion.

View more photos from the 2015 MCCL March for Life

The 41st annual MCCL March for Life marked the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 600,000 unborn Minnesota children (Minnesota Department of Health), and more than 57 million unborn babies nationwide.

"In Minnesota, more than one-third of all abortions are paid for by you and me as taxpayers in this great state," MCCL Executive Director Scott Fischbach told the huge crowd of citizens gathered from across the state. "Today we call upon the Legislature to end taxpayer funding of abortion."

MCCL's 2015 legislative agenda calls for lawmakers to ban taxpayer funded abortions, which account for 34.8 percent of all abortions performed in the state. This is the highest percentage since the Minnesota Supreme Court's 1995 Doe v. Gomez decision forced taxpayers to pay for abortions performed on low-income women. This percentage has increased nearly every year since the court ruling. Taxpayers have funded 65,823 abortions since the decision at a cost of more than $20 million, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

MCCL's pro-life agenda also seeks the licensing and inspection of abortion facilities, which currently are exempt from licensing and inspection required of other outpatient surgical centers across the state. Such minimal oversight by the Minnesota Department of Health would help ensure a degree of safety for women entering abortion facilities.

MCCL is also urging state lawmakers to allocate funding and resources for the Safe Place for Newborns program. More people need to know about the option to anonymously surrender a newborn to a "safe place" (hospital, urgent care facility, ambulance), to prevent cases of abandonment and infanticide.

Many of Minnesota's pro-life state legislators were in attendance and were introduced during the brief program on the lower Capitol Mall steps. Pro-life Congressmen John Kline, Erik Paulsen, Tom Emmer and Collin Peterson sent written greetings that were read to the crowd.

View historical photos of the MCCL March for Life and access photos and audio from today's event on the MCCL website.

Thousands of Minnesotans come to Capitol

The following news release was issued today, Jan. 22, 2014.

ST. PAUL — Thousands of Minnesotans came to the State Capitol today to urge lawmakers to ban taxpayer funded abortions. Pro-lifers also called on legislators to protect the safety of women by licensing abortion centers. The annual Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) March for Life commemorates the millions of lives lost to abortion.

The 40th annual MCCL March for Life marked the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 588,000 unborn Minnesota children (Minnesota Department of Health), and more than 56 million unborn babies nationwide.

"In Minnesota, more than one-third of all abortions are paid for with our tax dollars," stated MCCL Development Associate Jan Ochsner. The huge crowd of citizens gathered from across the state responded with thunderous boos. "Rather than turning our backs on women and encouraging them to get a free abortion, we should be using that money—our tax dollars—to provide real help to women."

MCCL's 2014 legislative agenda calls upon lawmakers to end taxpayer funded abortions, which account for 34 percent of all abortions performed in the state. This is the highest percentage since the 1995 Doe v. Gomez decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court required taxpayers to pay for abortions performed on low-income women. This percentage has increased nearly every year since the court ruling. Taxpayers have funded 62,252 abortions since the decision, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

MCCL's agenda also seeks the licensing and inspection of abortion facilities, which currently are exempt from licensing and inspection required of other outpatient surgical centers across the state. Such minimal oversight by the Minnesota Department of Health would help ensure a degree of safety for women entering abortion facilities.

MCCL again is calling for passage of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which prohibits abortions at the point when an unborn child can feel pain. MCCL will also continue to support programs that provide help to pregnant and parenting mothers and their children, so that no woman ever feels forced into an abortion due to lack of resources.

Many of Minnesota's pro-life elected officials, including state legislators, were in attendance and were introduced during the brief program in the Capitol Rotunda. Pro-life Congressman John Kline read a list of recent protective legislation he has sponsored and added, "None of these has become law. That's why you're here today. Thank you for being here. Stay with it. We must protect life, and we cannot do it without you." Other pro-life Members of Congress Erik Paulsen, Michele Bachmann and Collin Peterson sent written greetings.

The annual event was moved inside for only the second time in 40 years due to severe weather conditions. View historical photos of the MCCL March for Life and photos from today's event on the MCCL website.

Thousands join MCCL March for Life; women speak out against taxpayer funded abortions

Dozens of legislators participate in March commemorating 40 years of abortion on demand

ST. PAUL – More than two thousand Minnesotans marched at the State Capitol today, braving sub-zero temperatures, to urge lawmakers to ban taxpayer funded abortions and to repeal the Family Cap. Large numbers of young people turned out for the event.

Today's 2013 MCCL March for Life marked the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 578,000 unborn Minnesota children (Minnesota Department of Health), and more than 55 million unborn babies nationwide. A brief history of MCCL's early marches is available on our website.

MCCL announced its 2013 legislative agenda, which calls upon lawmakers to ban taxpayer funded abortions. Since the Minnesota Supreme Court's 1995 Doe v. Gomez decision requiring taxpayers to fund abortions, the state has spent more than $18 million to pay for 62,000 abortions, even though the vast majority of Minnesotans are opposed to taxpayer funded abortions.

"The State of Minnesota pays for abortions and it is time to stop it," said MCCL Executive Committee member Cathy Blaeser. "This year we are calling again for the Legislature to ban taxpayer funded abortions!"

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MCCL's legislative agenda also calls for repeal of the state's Family Cap law and for licensing of abortion facilities. Various academic institutions, including a widely cited study from Rutgers University, have concluded that not only do Family Caps not lower birthrates for poor families, but Family Caps increase abortion rates. The Legislature passed a measure to license abortion facilities last year, but it was vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton.

A total of 59 state legislators attended the March for Life and were introduced by MCCL as the crowd applauded.

Minnesota's pro-life Congressional delegation was in Washington, D.C., today, but each of them sent greetings to the crowd. "I believe life begins at conception," wrote Congressman John Kline. "Accordingly, I believe taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund abortion or support groups who provide such services." He has cosponsored a bill to ban federal funding of abortion providers.

"Nothing is more important than life and we need to use our votes and our voices and our energy and our faith and our friendships to protect the primacy of life," said Congressman Erik Paulsen.

"I want to commend Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life for its noble mission on behalf of the most vulnerable among us," wrote Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. "I am proud to stand side by side with all of you in defending life."

Congressman Collin Peterson pledged to continue working to pass pro-life policies. "Thank you for your efforts in defense of human life ... I will continue to work with you on these important issues."

Members of Silent No More Minnesota, which offers hope and healing to post-abortive women and men, held signs expressing regret over their abortions and offering hope to others.

View more photos from today's 2013 MCCL March for Life on the MCCL website.

Thousands of Minnesotans march at Capitol, call for licensing of abortion centers

The following news release was issued today, Jan. 22, 2013.

ST. PAUL – Thousands of Minnesotans marched at the State Capitol today to urge lawmakers to protect the safety of women by licensing abortion centers. They also called for a ban on taxpayer funded abortions. The annual Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) March for Life commemorates the millions of lives lost to abortion.

The 2013 MCCL March for Life marked the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 578,000 unborn Minnesota children (Minnesota Department of Health), and more than 55 million unborn babies nationwide.

"Last year the abortionists killed more than 11,000 innocent unborn children in centers that are not even licensed or inspected," MCCL Executive Committee member Cathy Blaeser told the huge crowd of citizens gathered from across the state, despite the frigid weather. Blaeser served on the Minnesota Commission on End of Life Care. "This year we call again for abortion centers in our state to be licensed and inspected by the Minnesota Department of Health."

A legal abortion center in Philadelphia was recently inspected for the first time in more than 20 years. The state found not only filthy conditions, but evidence that a significant number of babies had been born alive, then killed by the severing of their spinal cords. At least two women died after going to the facility. Minnesota has no way of knowing whether abortion centers in the state are safe for women, because they are unregulated and uninspected.

MCCL's 2013 legislative agenda includes a call to repeal the Family Cap. Passed in 2003, Minnesota Statute 256J.24, subdivision 6, prohibits an increase in MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) cash assistance for any child born after the parent has received DWP (Diversionary Work Program) and/or MFIP for more than 10 months. This provision is commonly known as a Family Cap on welfare families.

Since the height of welfare reform efforts in the mid-1990s, several states have abandoned the Family Cap as a failed policy, including New Jersey, Illinois and Maryland. Currently Minnesota is one of only 18 states to have a Family Cap in law. Various academic institutions, including a widely cited study from Rutgers University, have concluded that not only do Family Caps not lower birthrates for poor families, but Family Caps increase abortion rates.

MCCL's agenda also calls upon lawmakers to end taxpayer funded abortions, which account for 34 percent of all abortions performed in the state. This is the highest percentage since the 1995 Doe v. Gomez decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court required taxpayers to pay for abortions performed on low-income women. This percentage has increased nearly every year since the court ruling. Taxpayers have funded 62,350 abortions since the decision.

Many of Minnesota's pro-life elected officials, including state legislators, were in attendance and were introduced during the brief program on the Capitol steps. Pro-life Members of Congress sent written greetings.

View early photos of the MCCL March for Life and from today's event on the MCCL website. A follow-up news release will be sent later today.

MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization with more than 70,000 member families and 240 chapters across the state. For more information about MCCL, visit www.mccl.org. Please subscribe to our RSS Feed.

After 40 years, let's March for Life

Tuesday, January 22, is the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision nullifying legal limits on abortion and imposing a nationwide policy of abortion on demand. More than 55,000,000 unborn children have been dismembered and killed under this policy.

If you live in Minnesota, please join us for the MCCL March for Life at noon at the state Capitol in St. Paul. We will commemorate the lives lost and publicly call for an end to the injustice of abortion and a restoration of respect and protection to every member of the human family. More information about the March is available here.

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Below are some related posts and video from a past MCCL March for Life.

• Understanding Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton
• Three reasons Roe will fall
• Roe's fictional abortion history
• The unbearable wrongness of Roe
• Roe: Absurd, deadly, catastrophic
• Pro-choice criticisms of Roe
• 40 years of MCCL accomplishments
• Mother Teresa speaks on Roe v. Wade
• Never weary in the great human rights cause of our time and all time

Why should you attend?

Thousands join MCCL March for Life; women speak out against dangerous RU486 abortions

Members of Congress, Legislature participate in March commemorating 39 years of abortion on demand

ST. PAUL—Over four thousand Minnesotans marched at the State Capitol today to urge lawmakers to establish inspections of abortion centers and to ban "webcam abortions."

The 2012 MCCL March for Life marked the 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 567,000 unborn Minnesota children (Minnesota Department of Health), and more than 53 million unborn babies nationwide.

MCCL's 2012 legislative agenda calls upon lawmakers to require abortion centers to be inspected. A legal abortion center in Philadelphia was inspected for the first time in more than 20 years recently. The state found not only filthy conditions, but evidence that a significant number of babies had been born alive, then killed by the severing of their spinal cords. At least two women died after going to the facility. Minnesota has no way of knowing whether abortion centers in the state are safe for women, because they remain unregulated and uninspected.

Webcam abortions are done without a doctor physically present. Instead the doctor administers the RU486 abortion drugs remotely via an Internet-based webcam video connection. This increases the risks of RU486, which can be severe: At least 14 women have died in the U.S. after taking the drugs. Canada has banned the abortion method due to safety concerns. Yet Planned Parenthood offers it to young Minnesota mothers without a doctor available to physically examine the woman prior to administering the drugs.

"Governor Dayton, Speaker Zellers and Majority Leader Senjem, hear us loud and clear—ban webcam abortions now!" MCCL Development Director Jennifer Kistler told the huge crowd of citizens from across the state.

Mary Johnson of Silent No More Minnesota, a post-abortion recovery group, shared her horrific experience with RU486. Not only was the pain of the abortion excruciating, but she was left alone in her regret and grief. "If I could talk to a woman considering the RU486 method, I would encourage her not to have an abortion because she will regret it and they are misleading women into believing it is a better option," Johnson said. She now serves as the director of Alpha Pregnancy Resource Center in Savage.

Congressman John Kline encouraged pro-life citizens to persevere. "We've got to be here year after year, week after week, day after day fighting the fight," he said. "Push back to save those lives!"

Congressman Erik Paulsen said, "Let's work and promise that we will communicate and organize and vote to protect the unborn."

In her first public appearance since leaving the presidential race, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann told the crowd, "We will never forget those little ones who were taken from us—over 50 million strong! … We will never give up! Join me this year—choose life!"

Congressman Chip Cravaack reminded people to mourn the lives lost to abortion. "We must do everything to protect the unborn and now, our senior citizens. ... Keep up the fight, Minnesota!"

In a written greeting, Congressman Collin Peterson pledged to continue to work on passage of pro-life policies.

View photos from today's 2012 MCCL March for Life on the MCCL website.

MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization with more than 70,000 member families and 240 chapters across the state.

Roe v. Wade: Absurd, deadly, catastrophic

In Roe v. Wade the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the right to liberty protected by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution includes an unstated "right to privacy" that is in turn "broad enough to encompass" a right to abortion (which is also never mentioned in the Constitution) and this entails that states are constitutionally required to permit abortion on demand. Got it?

There was no reason to think the Constitution contains a right to abortion, and every reason to think it doesn't. Most obviously damning are all the state abortion bans enacted in the latter half of the 19th century, about the same time the Fourteenth Amendment was put into place. As Justice William Rehnquist wrote in his Roe dissent, "To reach its result, the Court necessarily has had to find within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment a right that was apparently completely unknown to the drafters of the Amendment."

Absurd? Completely.

The consequence of Roe (and its companion decision, Doe v. Bolton) was a Court-mandated, nationwide policy of abortion on demand at virtually any stage of pregnancy. Thirty-nine years later, this policy has resulted in the legal and deliberate killing of some 53 million unborn human beings. That's 53,000,000 innocent members of the human family.

Abortion, under the Roe policy, is the leading cause of human death. The number of Americans killed because of Roe dwarfs the number of American casualties from every war in our history combined. More Americans die from abortion each day than died on that horrific day in September of 2001.

But those comparisons can be misleading. Abortion isn't death in the service of national defense, freedom and justice, or death as a result of natural causes, like heart disease (as tragic as those deaths are). Abortion is intentional killing for the convenience or supposed benefit of others; it is the elimination of those very young, defenseless and voiceless human beings who get in the way of what we want. Abortion, in other words, is precisely the kind of injustice that our soldiers have fought and died to defeat.

Tomorrow, Jan. 22, is the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand nationwide. At 2 p.m. we will hold the annual MCCL March for Life at the state capitol in St. Paul. We will commemorate the lives lost and women hurt. We will call for legal protection for unborn children and introduce MCCL's pro-life legislative agenda for the upcoming session. If you live in Minnesota, please join us.

• Understanding Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton

• Why Roe was wrong

• Abortion defenders explain why Roe was a terrible legal decision

Video: Attend the 2012 March for Life

Please note: The video (since it was created last year) mistakenly says the March begins at noon. It begins at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, at the State Capitol in St. Paul.

MCCL Fall Tour Special Edition: Help save lives

The 2011 MCCL Fall Tour has ended after 39 pro-life educational meetings in towns all across the state of Minnesota. If you were unable to attend a meeting, the MCCL News special edition for Fall Tour attendees is now available to our members online.

The issue includes an outline of the Fall Tour presentation, a message from MCCL President Leo LaLonde, stories of pregnant women helped by the Positive Alternatives program, a calendar of 2012 events, and an extensive action list of ways that you personally can make a difference and help save lives from abortion, euthanasia and embryo-destructive research.

If you are not a member, you can join MCCL today by making a donation to our lifesaving work. To donate, go to our website or contact MCCL at MCCL@mccl.org or 612-825-6831. Thank you.

Attend a pro-life meeting near you

The MCCL Fall Tour begins this Sunday, Sept. 11. Pro-life educational meetings will be held at 39 locations all across Minnesota through the middle of October. If you live in Minnesota, please find the meeting nearest you and plan to join us.

The presentation is titled, "What Would You Do to Save a Life?" In addition to informing attendees about Obamacare, abortion trends, human cloning legislation, Planned Parenthood and more, MCCL staff will equip you to make a difference and save lives.

The stakes are too high not to get involved.

Visit MCCL at the State Fair

Visit MCCL at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul through Monday, Sept. 5. We are located on the first floor (main floor) of the grandstand building near the west end.

The MCCL booth at the State Fair this morning (Aug. 31, 2011).

Happy Mother's Day

The following is from MCCL President Leo F. LaLonde.

Mother's Day is that special day set aside every year to acknowledge the part that mothers play in our lives and in our culture. Pregnancy, birth and child raising call for vast resources from the lives of women.

This year, make a point to express your thanks to your own mother—the one who gave you birth and/or the one who raised you—and to honor the other mothers in your family, church and community.

It is through a mother's generosity that we experience life and love. Motherhood requires great sacrifice, even when a woman decides to place her child into the arms of a loving family. Whether motherhood was planned or unplanned, whether the mother placed her baby for adoption or adopted a child, all mothers are held in our hearts and prayers.

Moms—who love deeply and bring a new life into the world—deserve the best on this, their special day. Happy Mother's Day today and every day!

On Easter, a commitment to life

On Easter, Christians worldwide celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who (the Bible teaches) conquered death and won new life for a human race dead in its sins. This is a fitting time to renew our commitment to protecting the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable members of the human family.

The Bible teaches that every human being, at every stage of development, is fashioned in the very image and likeness of his or her Creator. From the Christian perspective, every human being is someone for whom Christ died and rose again.

Yet more than 12,000 unborn children are brutally killed by abortion every year in Minnesota. We must work to "rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter" (Proverbs 24:11). We must come to the aid of both pregnant women and their unborn children.

As Christianity teaches new life in Christ, so we must remember to always "choose life, so that you and your children may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19). And we must remember that (Christianity also teaches) Jesus offers true hope and forgiveness for those suffering from the devastation of abortion.

Video: 2011 MCCL March for Life

Thousands join MCCL March for Life, call for ban on taxpayer funded abortions

Pro-life members of Congress, Legislature participate in March commemorating 38 years of abortion on demand

ST. PAUL – Nearly four thousand Minnesotans marched at the State Capitol today to urge lawmakers to ban taxpayer funded abortions. They also called for a prohibition on abortions after the point at which an unborn child can feel pain. The annual Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) March for Life commemorates the millions of lives lost to abortion.

The 2011 MCCL March for Life marked the 38th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 555,000 unborn Minnesota children (Minnesota Department of Health), and more than 53 million unborn babies nationwide.

A large majority of Minnesota citizens support a ban on taxpayer funding of abortion. In 2008 (most recent figures), Minnesotans were forced to pay more than $1.5 million for 3,754 elective abortions, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Taxpayers now fund 29 percent of all abortions in the state.

"Our state currently faces a six-billion dollar budget deficit, but we are still paying for abortions!" MCCL Legislative Associate Elisia Meyer told the huge crowd of citizens from across the state. "It's time to stop funding Minnesota’s abortion industry. This is the year to stop the killing!"

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks from fertilization in order to protect pain-capable unborn children from excruciating deaths. Fetal pain already is acknowledged in state law. Minnesota's Woman's Right to Know law (2003) and Unborn Child Protection Act (2005) require women considering abortion to be informed about fetal pain after 20 weeks gestation.

MCCL's 2011 legislative agenda also calls upon lawmakers to protect funding for Positive Alternatives as they deliberate over the budget deficit. Passed in 2005, this legislation provides grants to programs that help pregnant women in need successfully face the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth. More than 25,000 women have received critical help through Positive Alternatives.

"Positive Alternatives saves lives," Meyer explained. "We must preserve funding for this program that offers women real choices!"

Many of Minnesota's pro-life elected officials, including members of Congress and the state Legislature, were in attendance and were introduced during the brief program on the Capitol steps.

Congressman John Kline noted the Jan. 19 vote in the House of Representatives to repeal the Obama health care law. "You know that that awful legislation has language allowing taxpayer funding of abortion," Kline said, urging citizens to continue their efforts to overturn it.

Congressman Erik Paulsen encouraged people to not give up the fight for life, reminding them, "There is nothing more important than life."

The U.S. House must vote to end taxpayer funding of the abortion industry, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann told the crowd. "We can zero out that checking account with the stroke of a pen!"

Congressman Chip Cravaack said he will work to repeal pro-abortion legislation and defund President Obama's attempt to increase abortions at home and overseas. "This is just the start of a year dedicated to promoting and protecting a culture of life," Cravaack said. "Thank you for fighting this fight with us!"

In a written greeting, Congressman Collin Peterson pledged to continue to work on pro-life policies. "I look forward to working with you over the next year as we continue to protect life for all human beings."

View photos from today's 2011 MCCL March for Life on the MCCL website.

MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization with more than 70,000 member families and 240 chapters across the state. For more information about MCCL, visit www.mccl.org.

Ask Them What They Mean When They Say ‘Choice’ Blog Day

In response to NARAL's annual "Blog for Choice Day" this Friday, Jan. 21, a pro-life "Ask Them What They Mean When They Say 'Choice' Blog Day" will also take place on Friday.

The idea is to call abortion defenders on their irresponsible use of the word "choice." To what choice are they referring? The choice of a procedure that kills a living member of our species before he or she is born, usually by dismembering him or her. That is what they must defend.

Come to the MCCL March for Life

Learn more here.