While many Western nations - including Ireland, Scotland and indeed now the entire UK - seem hellbent on killing as many unborn babies as possible, many Republican-run states in the USA are heading in the opposite direction. Leading the pro-life charge is Arkansas, which has distributed $999,999.77 to pregnancy centres over the past year, realising lawmakers’ commitment to providing women with life-affirming alternatives to the abortions they have almost completely eliminated in the state.
As detailed by the Little Rock-based social conservative group the Family Council, the funds were authorised last year by legislation from Republican state Sen. Scott Flippo and Rep. Lane Jean to support crisis pregnancy centres, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and state agencies involved in pregnancy and maternal support.
“The funding will provide additional grants to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies in the coming months,” Family Council’s Jerry Cox said. “This is something all Arkansans should be proud of.”
In March, Sanders also signed an executive order establishing an Arkansas Strategic Committee for Maternal Health, tasked with developing strategies to “Improve education regarding women’s and maternal health, especially prenatal and postpartum visits; Improve maternal health before, during, and after pregnancy; Increase access to quality maternal health services; and Improve statewide coordination for maternal health data and reporting.”
All this work serves as a companion to the state’s efforts to prohibit abortion, which since June 2022 has been illegal in Arkansas except when allegedly “necessary to preserve the life of a pregnant woman whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury.” Direct abortion is always gravely immoral and never needed nor ethically justified to save a mother’s life. Last month, an “Induced Abortion Report” released by the state’s Department of Health showed no abortions had been reported at all in the state in 2023.