Dear Friends,
On this day, the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a court decision that has led to the deaths of 45 million children, I write to inform you of the crisis we face as a nation and in our work here at the Thomas More Law Center.
As thousands of Americans descend upon Washington, DC today for the annual March for Life, please know that you too can be heard, as you make a difference in the future of the unborn quietly and effectively from your home.
To put it simply: Our pro-life effort is being overwhelmed by urgent pleas for help by beleaguered pro-life students, activists, and organizations as they are attacked in their efforts to save the unborn.
For that reason, I am writing this letter asking for support because I know you are deeply concerned about America's escalating moral decay . . . especially the abomination of abortion that has led to the slaughter of over 45 million babies in their mothers' wombs.
Despite the fact that our lawyers are totally dedicated to the pro-life cause, we are still limited by the resources available to us. As you know, all our legal work is provided at NO CHARGE.
So contributing to the TMLC can be one of the most effective ways you can help stop the anguish and pain that thousands of unborn babies suffer each day as they are butchered in their mothers' wombs.
As you know, the U.S. Supreme Court invented the constitutional right to abortion in 1973. And since that time . . . courts have provided abortion advocates like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood with most of the significant victories they have achieved. Yes – despite the fact that the federal ban on partial birth abortion was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court this Spring – everyday more than 3,000 babies are killed by abortion.
And that's one of the primary reasons why I began the Thomas More Law Center – to confront these pro-abortion organizations in the courts – where they have had their greatest successes.
Today, the Thomas More Law Center is actively mounting direct challenges to the central holding of Roe v. Wade. TMLC is leading the national effort to pass state human life amendments, which would provide legal protection to the unborn as a matter of state constitutional law.
- TMLC drafted a state personhood amendment for Georgia Right to Life.
- TMLC drafted a state personhood amendment for the state of Oregon. Oregon state officials refused to approve the ballot language. We have a lawsuit pending against those officials.
- TMLC was the first public interest law firm to assist pro-life Colorado for Equal Rights with their state personhood amendment. We consulted with the leaders and drafted responses to questions propounded by state officials.
- TMLC drafted a state personhood amendment for a pro-life Montana legislator.
- TMLC drafted a state personhood amendment for Michigan grass roots pro-life activists. Sadly, circulators could not get enough petition signatures to place the question on the Ballot . . . due in large part, if you can believe this, to the active opposition of certain pro-life groups.
Now more than ever, your financial assistance is required if TMLC is to continue its aggressive litigation to stop the culture of death.
Now, for the good news!
With the addition of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito to the Supreme Court, and the recent pro-life victory in the partial birth abortion case (Gonzales v. Carhart), grassroots pro-lifers across America have become energized. Not only are they promoting additional pro-life initiatives, but most importantly, with the help of TMLC, they are mounting direct assaults on the central holding of Roe v. Wade.
TMLC filed a friend of the court brief in the Supreme Court case that ultimately upheld the constitutionality of the federal ban on partial birth abortions.
But that was only the first step.
The point is-we must not be satisfied with that victory, as some are, and wait another 34 years and for another 45 million babies to be aborted. Innocent, voiceless, and defenseless human beings are suffering the excruciating and prolonged pain as they are being aborted right NOW.
Each day that abortion remains the law of the land is a day in which innocent human life is destroyed.
Pro-abortion legal advocacy groups like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and NARAL, are not sitting on their hands. In fact, recognizing the danger to the current constitutional right to abortion, they are redoubling their legal activities and committing more financial resources to defeat any attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Now is the time that TMLC must step up its attack on abortion. We must exploit every legal avenue that exists. But lawsuits are expensive-both in lawyers' time and money. Quite frankly, we are dwarfed by the revenue stream generated by Planned Parenthood, ACLU, NARAL and the many corporations and foundations supporting these groups.
As one renowned American military strategist once said: "Amateurs think about tactics, but professionals think about logistics."
That's why I continually call on you for help. Despite the zeal and skill that TMLC attorneys employ in defense of the unborn, we need the financial resources (logistics) to carry on the fight. And that's why I am counting so heavily on your financial support today. Please send the largest contribution you possibly can.
The horror of abortion has truly permeated the modern mindset in America on so many crucial life issues – and the Thomas More Law Center is actively fighting this battle on all fronts in the courtroom. For example:
It took a TMLC lawsuit to force Michigan's pro-abortion Governor, Jenifer Granholm, to remove an online petition promoting embryonic stem cell research from her official website. The lawsuit was filed after the Governor refused requests by pro-life organizations to post their own petition opposing embryonic stem cell research. Within a week after the lawsuit, the Governor removed her petition. The lawsuit, however, is still pending.
In August 2007, TMLC filed a petition for review in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of a Michigan citizens group responsible for the passage of the state's Legal Birth Definition Act. This citizen-initiated legislation was an alterative approach to banning partial birth abortions. The citizens group sought to intervene in the lawsuit brought by the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and others, who were challenging the law in federal court. A Clinton-appointed federal judge not only refused the request to intervene, but held the law unconstitutional. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court decision-a review by the Supreme Court is the last resort.
TMLC is aggressively advancing the right of conscience for health care professionals who do not want to participate in the dispensing of contraceptives or in other procedures that violate their pro-life beliefs. As an example, TMLC filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of the Illinois Pharmacists Association and the American Pharmacists Association in the Illinois Supreme Court challenging an Illinois administrative rule that requires pharmacists to dispense contraceptives "without delay," but did not provide exemptions for those who conscientiously object to such drugs. The Illinois Supreme Court has decided to hear the case.
The true horror of abortion must be boldly proclaimed.
That's the reason why the Thomas More Law Center defends the free speech rights of pro-life activists-whether they are demonstrating in front of abortion clinics, in schools, in churches, on college campuses, or in the air.
They are changing public opinion.
Each year, in dozens of states and school districts across the country, TMLC attorneys have defeated attempts by public school authorities to stifle the pro-life message of their students. In one year alone we handled over 25 such attempts.
TMLC threatened lawsuits in over 7 different states, in every case school administrators backed down. TMLC has worked with the American Life League's "Rock for Life" program, which distributes "Abortion is Homicide" t-shirts along with a letter from TMLC outlining the students' rights and offering legal assistance if those rights are violated. An estimated 25,000 t-shirts and letters have been distributed to students.
TMLC has represented the Center for Bio-ethical Reform (CBR) in federal lawsuits in California, Hawaii, Indiana, and Ohio, seeking protection of their free speech right to show photos of aborted babies on trucks, on college campuses, and on banners towed by airplanes.
TMLC successfully defended the free speech rights of pro-life demonstrators in Michigan, Montana, California, Wisconsin, Texas, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. One of these cases required a city to pay over $20,000 to pro-life demonstrators for police interference with their protest of a pro-abortion candidate for governor.
As you can see, the Thomas More Law Center is the nation's most aggressive and effective pro-life public interest law firm. We know this battle is about saving unborn babies . . . and "wait" is not an option when lives are at stake.
Our dilemma. We cannot keep up with the pleas for help.
I know you have your own concerns of daily life-work, pay the bills, raise your children. But as some point in our daily routine, we realize there is something more to life. We ask ourselves the question which Benjamin Franklin said was the noblest question in the world . . .
"What good may I do in it?"
This is why I am writing to you today. By your contribution, you will be in court fighting to save the lives of the unborn-America's future.
As Pope John Paul II said in 1996:
"A nation that kills its children has no future."
That truth has guided TMLC's aggressive defense of the sanctity of human life ever since we opened our doors. And it continues to guide our actions in court today.
Your donation will determine how well we perform our mission. We depend on your donations.
And so please pray about it and . . .
. . . be as generous as you can.
With your donation, you can share in our battles. I hope that you will.
May God bless you and your loved ones. And may God forgive our national sin of abortion.
Sincerely,
Richard Thompson
Thomas More Law Center
