ATLANTA — Georgia Baptists gathered at the Capitol with other pro-life advocates Feb. 19 – the fourth Tuesday in a row to do so – in a continuing show of solidarity for House Resolution 536.

The resolution, first introduced March 20, 2007, proposes an amendment to the state constitution stating that life begins at the moment of fertilization. If passed, it would effectively outlaw abortion in Georgia. The resolution has been stuck in committee since a week after it was introduced. Supporters of the resolution have pledged to hold a press conference every Tuesday at the Capitol while legislators are in session to show continued solidarity and support for its passage.

For more information on House Resolution 536 ... go to www.personhood.net. For status on the resolution ... go to the Georgia General Assembly website at www.legis.ga.gov/legis/ 2007_08/search/hr536.htm.

The increasing media attention is key to applying pressure to lawmakers for the resolution to come up for a vote, stated Mike Griffin.

“Today we had the most media yet,” Griffin, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell and legislative director for Georgia Right to Life (www.grtl.org), said Feb. 19. “We have close to 70 signers on the resolution right now. That represents nearly 3 million people.”

The next day the measure was tabled in House Judiciary Subcommittee One, further delaying it’s promotion to a vote. The committee also voted a “do not pass” on H.R. 1, a bill that that would declare all abortions in Georgia illegal.

 

Push for a vote

The subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-District 54), spent hours taking testimony on the resolution before laying it on the table, according to a statement released by Georgia Right to Life Feb. 21. Rep. Martin Scott (R-Rossville) said he would hope to convince Speaker Glenn Richardson to push the motion for a vote, though Richardson has publicly expressed his opposition to H.R. 536.

“He has indicated that he is not going to let the bill go forward,” said Griffin. “He says he doesn’t agree with the language of the bill and it could have unintended consequences.

“He claims to be pro-life, yet he’s refused to meet with us. Because of this, we seriously call into question his pro-life stand.”

Griffin went on to cite a 2006 poll in which 57% of Georgians said they were in support of overturning Roe v. Wade. “This shows the House leadership does not want to expose moderate Republicans who might be put at risk in this year’s elections,” he said. “It also shows they aren’t as pro-life as they make out to be.”

The immediate goal of H.R. 536’s supporters is to get the resolution through the judiciary subcommittee. Should it pass, the measure would then get a hearing before the full judiciary committee. Should it make it through the rules committee it would then be brought to the floor for a vote.

In addition to those supporting abortion, opponents say the wording of the resolution is vague and could have unintended consequences in areas such as other forms of contraception and using in vitro fertilization. The Archdiocese of Atlanta, a self-proclaimed pro-life group, issued a statement Jan. 8 expressing non-support of H.R. 536, saying the proposed legislation “does not provide a realistic opportunity for ending or reducing abortion in Georgia.”

“That gives legislators on the fence a reason to not support this,” said Griffin in regard to the Archdiocese’s stance. “The Catholic laity are overwhelmingly in support of the resolution. The leadership isn’t. For the first time ever, the archdiocese and Planned Parenthood have united against pro-life legislation.”

According to GRTL’s Feb. 21 statement, the charges of H.R. 536 impacting in vitro fertilization, contraception, the death penalty, and other areas were refuted by “expert testimony.”

“We need Georgia Baptists to pray. It’s spiritual warfare here,” said Griffin. “Contact your state representative and leadership of the House of Representatives to act favorably to the legislation. Supporters can come to the state legislature and learn to contact their legislators. We’re in desperate need to locate, educate, and motivate people on pro-life issues.”