(The Beacon)
By Ann Cowan, Guest Commentary -- The Beacon
"Pence Amendment: UP Responds," an article featured in The Beacon on March 3, 2011 was an insightful look at the different viewpoints on campus about this nationwide controversy.
However, in speaking with some students on campus, it has come to my attention that there was some confusion over why Voice for Life, the pro-life group on campus, supported the Pence Amendment. The answer is based on the foundational reason that our group is in existence: the scientific proof that human life begins at conception. Because we know that life begins at conception we are against abortion for ethical reasons.
We supported the Pence Ammendment because the basis for the amendment's creation was to protect the consciences of all taxpaying Americans who are against abortion. Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana, the author of the Pence Amendment, intended it to protect Americans from being forced to fund abortions with their tax dollars despite any ethical beliefs they may hold about the practice.
As stated in The Beacon article, there are currently laws that prohibit federal funding from being used by Planned Parenthood directly for abortions. However, as pointed out by Pence, the money it receives from the government allows Planned Parenthood to free up its existing funds to further its abortion business. Pence's statement is consistent with research done by Steve Ertelt, the editor of Life News. His resarch connects the increases in government funding given to Planned Parenthood to the increases in abortions performed by this organization.
According to a CNN poll, 61 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer-funded abortions. Voice for Life, as a group, stands with the many others who believe that it is our right as Americans to be able to honor our consciences and refuse to pay for abortions, whether directly or indirectly, through our tax dollars.
Ann Cowan is a junior nursing major. She can be contacted at cowan12@up.edu.
