This just in: National Right to Life has named Georgia Life Alliance as its new state affiliate. That means Georgia Right to Life is out.
The challenge came as a result of GRTL's fierce opposition to allowing abortion exceptions for rape and incest.
Here is the full release:
In response to the actions by the board of directors, the following may be attributed to Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life:
"National Right to Life looks forward to working with the Georgia Life Alliance, and with grassroots pro-life citizens throughout Georgia, to advance the pro-life cause in Georgia and nationwide. Georgia Life Alliance has assembled a diverse group of seasoned pro-life activists to steer their efforts on behalf of life in Georgia.
There is a single National Right to Life affiliate in each state, which sends a director to the national Board. It is rare for a longstanding state affiliate to be replaced on the Board, and it is action never undertaken lightly. However, Georgia Right to Life last year demanded that members of the U.S. House of Representatives vote against National Right to Life's top-priority federal legislation, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and subsequently praised some House members who did in fact join with pro-abortion congressmen to vote against that landmark bill.
"Fortunately, only two members of the U.S. House delegation from Georgia heeded this destructive counsel and voted against the bill, but the episode demonstrated that Georgia Right to Life was willing to seek defeat of National Right to Life priority federal legislation. Furthermore, this year Georgia Right to Life praised a U.S. House member for not voting in favor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a bill to strengthen and expand prohibitions on federal funding of abortion – another another top legislative priority for National Right to Life.
"In short, by its own actions, Georgia Right to Life ruptured its relationship with National Right to Life.
National Right to Life and its affiliates seek to restore legal protection for all unborn children from the moment of their conception. Until the Supreme Court allows broad protections for unborn children, we work to protect as many children as possible by passing the strongest possible laws at the state and federal level. That legislative strategy has helped save millions of lives – and continues to save lives today."
UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: Georgia Right to Life issued a statement of its own in response, calling NRLC's move a "tragedy" and touting its policy successes in Georgia:
"It's a tragedy that a pioneering, highly successful pro-life organization is considered unworthy to remain affiliated with National Right to Life (NRLC)," Becker said. "It's especially hard to understand, since GRTL has accomplished so much."
NRLC voted today to replace GRTL's membership with a newly-formed group that claims it can do a better job of carrying out NRLC's goals and objectives.
Becker pointed out that NRLC's stated mission is to: "…protect and defend the most fundamental right of humankind, the right to life of every innocent human being from beginning of life to natural death."
"That's virtually identical to GRTL's mission statement," Becker said. "From a policy standpoint, we're on the same page."
GRTL Vice President Mike Griffin noted that, "GRTL has been highly effective in carrying out NRLC's mission by electing rock solid pro-life candidates and directing NRLC's flagship legislative initiatives in Georgia: the Woman's Right to Know Act and most recently, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."
Other national groups recognize Georgia's premier pro-life status. Americans United for Life listed Georgia second in its 2013 "All Star" ranking, and has included the state in the top 15 "most protective" states since 2007—reaching as high as 8th.
In 2000, GRTL changed its candidate endorsement criteria and legislation policy to ensure that all pre-born children are protected, except in cases where the life of the mother is threatened.
As a result, Georgia is the only state where all its statewide constitutional officers do not support rape or incest exceptions. Georgia is one of only two states that have kept exceptions out of their legal codes.
"Since 2005, by the grace of God, GRTL, along with our supporters and courageous elected officials, has enacted nine major life-affirming laws," Griffin said. "The most recent was this year's ban on taxpayer funding of abortions."
The schism has implications for the U.S. Senate race. GRTL endorsed Paul Broun and has been in open war with Karen Handel for years. I caught up with Broun at a tea party-sponsored "Ethics, Morality and Principles" forum at a Baptist church in Rincon, not far from Savannah where all the Senate candidates will gather for a debate tonight:
"I know that Georgia Right to Life has been at the forefront in the state of Georgia fighting for life. What National Right to Life did is I think unfortunate for the people who have been involved with Georgia Right to Life for a long period of time."
I asked Broun if the split diminished the power of GRTL's endorsement:
"Absolutely not, no. Georgia Right to Life is very well respected by people throughout the state who are concerned about this issue. So I don't think their standing amongst Georgians is going to be diminished one bit."
Georgia Right Life (GRTL) President Dan Becker expressed "heartfelt sadness" that GRTL's affiliation with its national counterpart has ended.
“It’s a tragedy that a pioneering, highly successful pro-life organization is considered unworthy to remain affiliated with National Right to Life (NRLC),” Becker said. “It’s especially hard to understand, since GRTL has accomplished so much.”
NRLC voted today to replace GRTL’s membership with a newly-formed group that claims it can do a better job of carrying out NRLC’s goals and objectives.
Becker pointed out that NRLC’s stated mission is to: “…protect and defend the most fundamental right of humankind, the right to life of every innocent human being from beginning of life to natural death.”
“That’s virtually identical to GRTL’s mission statement,” Becker said. “From a policy standpoint, we’re on the same page.”
GRTL Vice President Mike Griffin noted that, "GRTL has been highly effective in carrying out NRLC's mission by electing rock solid pro-life candidates and directing NRLC's flagship legislative initiatives in Georgia: the Woman's Right to Know Act and most recently, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."
Other national groups recognize Georgia’s premier pro-life status. Americans United for Life listed Georgia second in its 2013 “All Star” ranking, and has included the state in the top 15 “most protective” states since 2007—reaching as high as 8th.
In 2000, GRTL changed its candidate endorsement criteria and legislation policy to ensure that all pre-born children are protected, except in cases where the life of the mother is threatened.
As a result, Georgia is the only state where all its statewide constitutional officers do not support rape or incest exceptions. Georgia is one of only two states that have kept exceptions out of their legal codes.
“Since 2005, by the grace of God, GRTL, along with our supporters and courageous elected officials, has enacted nine major life-affirming laws,” Griffin said. “The most recent was this year’s ban on taxpayer funding of abortions.”
- See more at: http://www.grtl.org/node/481#sthash.DgDgNQ2K.ue7J9ZrU.dpuf
Georgia Right Life (GRTL) President Dan Becker expressed "heartfelt sadness" that GRTL's affiliation with its national counterpart has ended.
“It’s a tragedy that a pioneering, highly successful pro-life organization is considered unworthy to remain affiliated with National Right to Life (NRLC),” Becker said. “It’s especially hard to understand, since GRTL has accomplished so much.”
NRLC voted today to replace GRTL’s membership with a newly-formed group that claims it can do a better job of carrying out NRLC’s goals and objectives.
Becker pointed out that NRLC’s stated mission is to: “…protect and defend the most fundamental right of humankind, the right to life of every innocent human being from beginning of life to natural death.”
“That’s virtually identical to GRTL’s mission statement,” Becker said. “From a policy standpoint, we’re on the same page.”
GRTL Vice President Mike Griffin noted that, "GRTL has been highly effective in carrying out NRLC's mission by electing rock solid pro-life candidates and directing NRLC's flagship legislative initiatives in Georgia: the Woman's Right to Know Act and most recently, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."
Other national groups recognize Georgia’s premier pro-life status. Americans United for Life listed Georgia second in its 2013 “All Star” ranking, and has included the state in the top 15 “most protective” states since 2007—reaching as high as 8th.
In 2000, GRTL changed its candidate endorsement criteria and legislation policy to ensure that all pre-born children are protected, except in cases where the life of the mother is threatened.
As a result, Georgia is the only state where all its statewide constitutional officers do not support rape or incest exceptions. Georgia is one of only two states that have kept exceptions out of their legal codes.
“Since 2005, by the grace of God, GRTL, along with our supporters and courageous elected officials, has enacted nine major life-affirming laws,” Griffin said. “The most recent was this year’s ban on taxpayer funding of abortions.”
- See more at: http://www.grtl.org/node/481#sthash.DgDgNQ2K.ue7J9ZrU.dpuf
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