Editor’s Note: From the desk of our Executive Director, Michael Ciccocioppo

This election was historic in many ways. We had a Presidential candidate who strongly opposed abortion and pledged to appoint pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.  He gave an extremely powerful and impassioned explanation of partial-birth abortion in the third debate.  Planned Parenthood and their abortion-minded allies spent more money, time, and resources than ever before opposing the pro-life presidential candidate, and pro-life candidates up and down the ballot.  One party adopted the most pro-life platform ever, while the other adopted the most radically pro-abortion position ever.

In the end, the nation elected the pro-life Donald Trump to be the 45^th President of the United States. Not only did the American people stand up and resoundingly reject the radically pro-abortion Hillary Clinton, they have given President-elect Trump a pro-life Senate and US House of Representatives to support him in his efforts to protect those most vulnerable.

It would be easy to revel in our victory, but there is much work to be done.  As President-elect Trump said so eloquently in his acceptance speech, “So it’s been what they call a ‘historic event’. But to be really historic, we have to do a great job.”

As pro-lifers we need to support President-elect Trump, his pro-life advisors, and our pro-life Congress in doing everything possible to appoint Justices to the Supreme Court who will overturn Roe vs Wade and protect those at the end of life.  We need to let our legislators know we support them in voting for pro-life legislation…and thank them when they vote the right way.  We need to be continue to talk to our friends, family, and neighbors and keep explaining why it is so important to treat all human beings with respect and dignity from conception to natural death.

Let’s help President-elect Trump make his election historic for all those precious babies who are counting on us, not just here in Pennsylvania but across the country and around the world!

I recently had the opportunity to watch the video of a debate between two female attorneys active in the pro-life movement, one arguing for voting for Donald Trump and the other advocating voting for a third party pro-life candidate for President. It was an interesting and educational discussion, and I came away with a few “take-aways” to share as Election Day nears.

 I found it interesting that the advocate for voting for a third party pro-life candidate admitted that this candidate doesn’t have a chance of winning so hers is more of a “protest vote” than anything. But a “protest vote” does not help a viable pro-life candidate get elected. Millions have bled and died for the right to cast a vote. Throwing it away in protest does not save lives!

 The advocate for voting for Trump made some excellent points. She talked about the importance of electing someone who would appoint pro-life Supreme Court Justices who would not legislate from the bench (Trump has talked repeatedly of appointing Justices like the beloved Antonin Scalia). She talked about the sterling pro-life record of Trump’s running mate Mike Pence, and Trump’s repeated commitments to uphold the Hyde amendment, to defund Planned Parenthood, and to defend against late term abortions. What was most compelling to me though was when she talked about what came with a Trump administration—pro-life judicial appointments at all levels of the federal court, life-oriented interpretations of rules and regulations, and support for freedom of speech and conscience rights for pro-lifers across the country.

 She also pointed out that a Clinton administration would bring with it abortion on demand, paid for by tax-payers, not just here but around the world. A Clinton administration would mean even more pro-abortion judges not just on the Supreme Court, but throughout the Federal court system. It would lead to mean the federal government forcing pro-life pregnancy centers to promote abortion, and severely restricting sidewalk counselors from doing their life-affirming work outside of abortion centers.

What was most striking of all however, was the overall tone of the debate and its conclusion. There was no name-calling, no shouting over each other, no personal attacks. They both agreed that, no matter how one decides to vote in the Presidential race, it is inherent that pro-lifers vote for pro-life candidates down the ballot. Perhaps most importantly they agreed that while there may be a disagreement on tactics or strategy, all pro-lifers stand together in solidarity to protect those most vulnerable among us from womb to tomb!