CFMC recognizes the sanctity of life and opposes the denial of life to unborn children. We stand united within our churches and communities, actively encouraging our neighbors to condemn the practice of abortion at any stage of pregnancy. CFMC provides information and sound apologetic arguments in defense of the pro-life position. We are committed to promoting laws that limit and ultimately lead to ending abortion. CFMC supports the election, and/or re-election of candidates and officials who affirm a right to life position as guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence. CFMC opposes all legislation that allows for, or increases abortion funding. In addition CFMC will actively work within our places of worship, neighborhoods and surrounding communities against candidates and officials who refuse to affirm the right to life.

We believe that this issue is a civil rights issue. The civil right of a baby’s right to life. No amount of expounding or rationalization of a woman’s "right to choose" can override the unalienable right to life. Furthermore we consider this to be the defining issue of our day, much the same as slavery was for the early 19^th century. The Supreme Court’s decision in "Roe vs Wade" is the modern day equivalent of the 1847 Dred Scott decision which denied similar unalienable rights to people of color. Accordingly Roe vs Wade should be overturned at the federal level and state and local laws should be enacted at every opportunity and in every manner to prevent the murder of the unborn. We are witnessing in our communities today that abortion is not only the desecration of those least able to protect themselves but also devastating to the women who have found themselves lied to, and have become victims themselves.

Abortion advocates have proclaim that the overwhelming majority of Americans (75 percent) are "pro-choice" while only a small group (23 percent) are "anti-abortion." The White House used these purported findings to justify its promotion of Dr. Henry Foster for Surgeon General.. "Pro-choice" legislators have cited these "findings" as evidence that all pro life candidates should abandon there commitment to the unborn.

But a closer examination of this and other public opinion polls reveals that such an interpretation is, in fact, misleading. The CBS News/New York Times poll to which abortion advocates are referring found that 23 percent of respondents believe that "abortion should not be permitted;" 37 percent believe that "abortion should be available but under stricter limits than it is now;" and 38 percent believe that "abortion should be generally available to those who want it." These results do not show 75 percent being in favor of the pro-abortion, nor does the survey show a mandate for abortion, as abortion advocates would argue. Rather, the survey shows that 60 percent of Americans believe that abortion should either be banned or more strictly limited.

Similar results have been obtained from other public opinion polls. A September 1994 Gallup poll for CNN and USA Today found that 65 percent of Americans believe that abortions should either be "illegal in all circumstances" or "legal only under certain circumstances". Only 33 percent believe that abortions should be "legal under any circumstances."

Interestingly, when the "legal under certain circumstances" category is defined more narrowly, a majority of respondents still offer a "pro-life" response. A September 1994 Time/CNN poll found that 52 percent of respondents believe that "abortion should be illegal in all circumstances" or that "abortion should only be legal in certain circumstances such as when a woman's health is endangered or when the pregnancy results from rape or incest".

These findings reveal that large numbers of Americans express moral objections to or reservations about abortion. Indeed, when a 1995 CBS News/New York Times poll asked respondents to choose which one of two statements more closely resembled their viewpoint on abortion, 46 percent responded that "abortion is the same thing as murdering a child" as opposed to 41 percent who agreed that "abortion is not murder because the fetus really isn't a child."

A 1993 Family Research Council poll conducted by the Voter/Consumer Research group asked respondents whether they "strongly agree," "somewhat agree," "somewhat disagree," or "strongly disagree" with the following statements about abortion: "Unborn children should have the right to life" and "Women should have the right to choose to have an abortion." Not surprisingly, the phrasing of the questions influenced some respondents' answers -- towards the unborn child's right to life in the first case and towards the woman's "right to choose" in the second. However, when the results were cross-tabulated to discover those who would "strongly agree" with one question and "strongly disagree" with the other, 25.6 percent held strongly pro-life views; 20.4 percent were strongly pro-choice. The rest were somewhat torn or confused.

Candidates would be wise not to abandon the high moral ground in the abortion debate. While the issue is certainly not settled, the majority of Americans do morally disapprove of abortion, and this view is indeed growing. CFMC is committed to changing the hearts and minds of our communities on this issue. Our prayer is that our legislators will cherish life and do all they can to protect children regardless of location.

PHYSICAL COMPLICATIONS DUE TO ABORTION:

• 24.3% experience complications in future pregnancies. Complications include: excessive bleeding, premature delivery, cervical damage, and sterility. (Acta/Obstetrics and Gynecology Scandinavia 1979; 58:491-4)
  

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). A first-trimester abortion can result in bacterial vaginosis, leading to PID, a condition that must be treated quickly. (American Journal of Obs. and Gyn. 1992; 166:100-103)
  

• Uterine perforations. Uterine perforations can often occur and sometimes may go unrecognized and untreated. (Bernadell Technical Bulletin 1989; 1:1:1-2)
  

• Increased Risk of Breast Cancer. In addition to the aforementioned information. One source indicated a 140% increase risk following an abortion. (British Journal of Cancer 1981; 43-72-6)
  

• Tubal pregnancy. Abortion appears to contribute to an increase in ectopic pregnancy in younger women when associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. Statistic show a 30% increased risk of ectopic pregnancy after one abortion and a 160% increased risk after two or more abortions.
  (American Journal of Obs. and Gyn. 1989; 160:642-6) (American Journal of Public Health 1982; 72:253-6)
  

• Placenta previa - a condition producing extremely severe, life threatening bleeding in future pregnancies. Statistics show a 600% increased risk following abortion. (American Journal of Obs. and Gyn. 1981; 141:769-72)
  

• Increased bleeding in subsequent pregnancies. (American Journal of Obs. and Gyn. 1983; 146:136-140)
  

• Retention of placenta - increased in subsequent pregnancies. (Acta/Obstetrics and Gynecology Scandinavia 1979; 58:485-490)