Washington, D. C. | The month of January saw a slate of mostly encouraging actions for the pro-life movement including the closure of abortion facilities in Illinois, restoration of the Mexico City Policy, the March for Life, and more.
Jan. 24 marked the 52nd Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. which included several Southern Baptists and the staff of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). In an editorial that appeared in USA Today, ERLC Executive Director Brent Leatherwood wrote, “Churches should not be silent about being pro-life. Instead, we should continue to present the rich vision for humanity that sees every human life as made in the image of God worthy of protection.”
He urged, “And there is no institution better suited to herald that message than the local church, whose mission is defined by service, evangelism, discipleship and formation.”
Illinois clinics close
Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) announced Jan. 22 the closure of four facilities as part of a restructure due to financial shortfalls. The facilities in Ottawa, Decatur, and Bloomington, and Englewood will cease accepting appointments in March leaving 13 facilities.
The four locations do not provide procedural abortion but do provide medication abortions. PPIL does plan to expand its services at other locations along with increasing its telehealth care services.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, abortions have increased by 47% in Illinois with women traveling from at least 40 other states.
National advances
On the national level, President Donald Trump signed pardons for 23 people imprisoned by the previous administration for violating the FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act. “Today is a new day for the pardoned pro-life advocates who have suffered FBI raids, federal prosecutions, and severe punishment for peacefully and courageously witnessing for life,” stated the Thomas More Society’s Peter Breen, which had submitted a pardon request package for 21 of the imprisoned.
The President signed two executive orders related to abortion on January 24. The first, restores the Mexico City Policy, which bans U.S. foreign aid from being spent on abortions. The second, requires enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts the federal government from funding most abortions.
On Capitol Hill, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the ERLC-supported Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act on Jan. 24; however, it failed to overcome a filibuster in the Senate on Jan. 25.