The year was 1962, and in Southern California, a pregnant teenager was facing a difficult decision. As a young, unwed girl, Mary Lynn Sheridan wasn’t sure she was ready for a child.

How would she tell her family? If she was going to keep the baby, how would she care for it?

She drove with two friends to an abortion clinic over the Mexican border.

However, while on the drive to the clinic, Mary Lynn had a change of heart. The young mother decided against the plan, and sometime later gave birth to a healthy baby boy at an unwed mother’s home in Los Angeles. She gave the baby up for adoption. Six weeks later, a wonderful couple brought him home and into a loving family.

Thirty-six years later, that boy, through an accident, found the contact information for his birth mother. After a family discussion, he sent a handwritten note to Mary Lynn Sheridan. After 10 days, he received a joyful call from Mary Lynn, and through the tears, she managed to ask how he was doing and if he was healthy.

She told him about the hope and pain she felt every year on his birthday and that she prayed for him daily.

I was that adopted boy and Mary Lynn Sheridan is my birth mother.

I am Congressman David Schweikert, and I am here because of a young woman’s commitment to life in spite of overwhelming difficulties.

People often ask me why I am pro-life. I tell them my story and about the wonderful love I experienced from not only my adopted mother, but my birth mother as well. If anyone has a compelling reason to support life, it would be me.

Ronald Reagan made a great observation when he said, “Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born.”

My life hung in the balance on a car ride to an abortion clinic 49 years ago. I take very seriously my responsibility to defend the lives of those unborn children who may be in the same situation as I was. My fight is for those unborn and innocent babies who cannot yet defend themselves.

I am a firm believer that life begins at conception.

Any attempt to take a human life in the womb is morally unconscionable. Just like our Founding Fathers did, we must acknowledge that every American, born and unborn, has the God-given right to liberty, the pursuit of happiness and, most importantly, life.

I always have and always will support the interests of organizations that provide encouragement and resources to women with crisis pregnancies. I believe this is a very necessary contribution we must make.

However, I will never support a “medical procedure” that is administered with the intent of purposefully terminating a life. It is time we end a medical practice that not only takes the lives of innocent children, but scars the women who go through it.

As someone who was fortunate to have a mother who chose adoption over abortion, I will always be pro-life. Mary Lynn Sheridan summoned the courage to bring me into this world, and I will always honor her and the choice she made by defending the sanctity of life.

David Schweikert represents Arizona’s 5th Congressional District.

Watch as a mother of two small children takes a stand for the sanctity of life in the rose garden at the Arizona State Capitol on opening day. As a mob of pro-abortion activists chant her down, she is joined by other pro-life women and supporters who also stand courageous against the pro-abortion zealots. As you will see from their signs, several of these same pro-life women actually underwent abortions and have now come to regret their decisions. The lesson to be learned here is that pro-abortion activists chant themselves into a trance of blind support but pro-life women through the sacred bond of mother and child, have found the truth and compassion through their real life decisions.

This week, our nation began the long march toward electing a new President with the Iowa caucus. Our state observes its 100^th anniversary since joining the union February 14, 1912. As we embark on what may be one of the most critical election years in our nation’s and state’s history, I urge you to redouble your prayers, recommit to standing with us, and know that you can make a difference!

Monday is the first of many important days for Arizona in 2012, as the second regular session of the state’s 50th legislature begins. After the many successes for CAP and our pro-life and pro-family allies last session, we’re looking forward to working with legislators to advance legislation that promotes life, expands school choice, defends family values, and affirms religious liberty.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events that will provide you the opportunity to join us in our work to promote and defend foundational values:

• Opening Day of Session Prayer Walk, January 9 I’m sure you’ve heard me say it before, but prayer is at the core of everything we do at CAP. Scripture calls us to pray for our leaders. Accordingly, we will once again observe opening day with our annual Prayer Walk around the state Capitol this Monday from 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. More details are here.
• “Do You Know Lacy” Training Event to Prevent Child Sex Slavery, January 12-13  The Do You Know Lacy?training is an all-day, five-track community training. You will learn about the national issue of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST), hear the personal account of a survivor, better understand what conditions make children vulnerable to trafficking, and learn the methods of pimp control, and why victims don’t self-identify or flee. There are two opportunities to participate:
  • Phoenix – January 12, 8:30 a.m. at Christ’s Church of the Valley. Register here.
  • Tucson – January 13, 8:30 a.m. at Manning House. Register here.
• Religious Freedom Day, January 16 Governor Brewer has once again declared a Religious Freedom Day to “celebrate the first liberties enshrined in the bill of rights, which guarantees the free exercise of religion for all Americans.” (It’s important to note how blessed we are to have a governor that is not afraid to speak out for our religious liberty in the face harsh criticism). You can read Governor Brewer’s proclamation here. Our friends at Alliance Defense Fund and Gateways to a Better Education have created a free resource for churches to celebrate Religious Freedom Day here.
• Recapture America, Tucson, January 29 CAP and Family Research Council are co-sponsoring an evening with Lt. General Jerry Boykin, Kenyn Cureton, and myself on Sunday, January 29, at 6:30 p.m. We’ll focus on the future of our state and nation, the critical nature of the 2012 elections, and how you can make a difference in your community. Admission is free; click here for more.
• Wait No More Adoption Conference, Scottsdale, February 11 More than 350 children in foster care in Arizona need adoptive families. It’s time for the church to step up and address a great need facing our state. The Wait No More conference provides you with information about what it takes to adopt and sincerely bless and change the course of a child’s life. Sponsored by Focus on the Family, CAP, No Child Waiting Coalition, Christian Family Care Agency, and others, the conference will be at Scottsdale Bible Church. Click here to register and for more details.

1) 7 Out of 10

Yavapai County Planned Parenthood that no longer offers abortion Following our victory in the State Court of Appeals upholding the Abortion Consent Act, Planned Parenthood announced they would end abortion services at 7 of their 10 Arizona locations. This led to our next unexpected success…

2) 419 Lives   The combination of Planned Parenthood ending abortion services at 7 of their 10 clinics with the new informed consent provisions in the Abortion Consent Act led to 419 fewer abortions performed from August to October of 2011, compared to the same time in 2010. This work is saving lives!

3) Winning in Court – 4 MAJOR Cases   Me outside the State Court of Appeals following oral arguments in the Abortion Consent Act   The Arizona Court of Appeals upheld the Abortion Consent Act. Now in Arizona, minors must have notarized parental consent before an abortion, women must have an in-person consultation with a doctor at least 24 hours before an abortion, health care workers are protected from being forced to participate in abortions against their religious beliefs, and non-doctors cannot perform surgical abortions. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the CAP-supported Scholarship Tax Credit Program which provides tens of thousands of scholarships every year to ensure children can attend the school of their parent’s choice. In a CAP-defended case, the U.S. Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit ruled the City of Yuma violated the religious liberty rights of a church when the city forced the church out of their downtown location because Yuma felt the church “didn’t fit in” with what they wanted downtown. A U.S. District Court dismissed a baseless lawsuit against Governor Jan Brewer filed by the “Freedom From Religion Foundation.” The Foundation filed the lawsuit against the governor for her proclamation of the Arizona Day of Prayer.

4) 101 Bills   At our spring dinner, Gov. Brewer signs CAP-supported legislation ensuring that an ultrasound is performed before an abortion. Sixteen CAP-supported bills were signed into law in 2011, bringing the total number of CAP-supported bills enacted into law to 101. Thirty-eight of these bills were signed into law in the last three years alone. In 2011, a CAP-supported resolution honoring pregnancy care centers and a CAP-supported judicial reform ballot measure also passed.

5) 1,500+ Come to Put Their Faith in Action                       Dr. Del Tackett speaking at the Faith in Action Tour More than 1,500 people attended our Faith in Action Tour at Bethany Bible Church to discover how to be a part of the movement to transform our state through service.

Meeting the Challenge 

Not the Way Out The budget crisis across the country is on everyone’s mind. Just this week, our national debt topped $15 trillion. In Arizona, our leaders are seeking ways to responsibly meet our own state budget needs.

As the Legislature searches for ways to balance our state budget, with some wanting to increase state revenues, I am becoming increasingly concerned that the expansion of gambling is being considered. Changing our state laws to allow casinos at racetracks – “racinos” – would dramatically change the character of our state and impact families.

Legislators shouldn’t balance the budget on the backs of Arizona’s families. The harms of gambling, while not often discussed, are very real. You can read more of on this on the Foundations blog.

Thankfully, more than half of the members of the House and of the Senate indicated in CAP’s 2010 Voter Guide that they would oppose “Allowing slot machines and table games off Indian reservations.” I remain confident that they will stay true to their word and not allow gambling to expand.

A court order entered today by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Mark Brain officially ends the legal attack on the Abortion Consent Act by Arizona’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.

In August, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that the CAP-drafted and supported Abortion Consent Act was constitutional in a 3-0 decision. Today’s court order dismisses all remaining claims in the case and allows the Abortion Consent Act to take effect immediately.

The Abortion Consent Act is the single most significant piece of pro-life legislation in Arizona. This is a tremendous victory for the entire state, especially women and preborn children.

The provisions in the Abortion Consent Act include:

• The state will require a notarized parental signature before an abortion can be performed on a minor child.
• Women will be provided with full and accurate information by a doctor in person at least 24 hours before an abortion.
• Medical professionals cannot be forced to perform abortions if it contradicts their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.
• Non-doctors will not be permitted by law to perform surgical abortions.

While this is a monumental step forward for the Arizona, there is still much work to be done to see the sanctity of human life protected from its very beginning to its natural end.

Center for Arizona Policy is grateful to all of those who made this victory possible, including Governor Jan Brewer, the Arizona Legislature, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Alliance Defense Fund, Bioethics Defense Fund, Life Legal Defense Foundation, and the many Arizonans who turn out every election cycle to vote their values and elect officials that stand for life.

For more information on the Abortion Consent Act visit CAP’s information page: http://bit.ly/qDCDpv

To read the decision from the Court of Appeals click here: http://bit.ly/r2m5QU

Tuesday’s Election Results For some conservatives, Tuesday’s elections across the country were a disappointment. I caution you to not read too much into these election results. No doubt, though, our work is cut out for us in the 2012 elections to register voters, educate voters, and turn out values voters.

I’ve been asked about the defeat of the “Personhood Amendment” in Mississippi. The intent of this amendment was to define life as beginning at conception and stop legalized abortion. Previously, Colorado had defeated a similar amendment twice. Nevada proponents are working to put the amendment on their next ballot.

While I support the goal behind “Personhood,” I join with many other national pro-life leaders and strategists in favoring a different approach in our efforts to protect preborn life and mothers. I do not consider the Mississippi results to be a setback for the pro-life movement. Rather, the pro-life movement continues to move forward with 86 new pro-life laws passing this year alone in states. Those laws are resulting in fewer abortions. Our U.S. House has a pro-life majority. Further, in recent years, more and more people continue to identify themselves as “pro-life” instead of “pro-choice.” The dream of living in a country that respects the sanctity of human life from its very beginning to its natural end is not far-fetched. To get there though, it will take wise leadership, patience, and most importantly prayer.

Regarding the recall of Senate President Russell Pearce in Legislative District 18, I thank Sen. Pearce for his unwavering stands through the years in defense of preborn life, school choice, religious liberty, and marriage. Sen. Pearce never hesitated to support CAP’s legislative agenda. He always was available to help us move bills through the process and speak out in support of life, marriage and family, and religious liberty.
The Arizona legislature is still overwhelmingly pro-life and pro-family, with a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate. I am looking forward to working with the legislature in the upcoming session to promote and defend foundational values.

I am thrilled to announce that this Saturday, SFLA will honor Cathi Herrod, President of the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), with our Wilberforce Leadership Award for her outstanding efforts within the pro-life movement in the state of Arizona!

Mrs. Herrod will be honored at the Students for Life of America Inaugural West Coast Gala in Phoenix, Arizona this Saturday, November 12th, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. (For more information on the Gala or to purchase tickets, please visit www.sfla2011gala.com.)

The Wilberforce Leadership Award is named about the British social justice and human rights activist, William Wilberforce, who led the fight to abolish the slave trade and was successful in helping to end slavery in Great Britain. SFLA’s awards two pro-life leaders each year who, like Wilberforce, are working to create, enforce, and uphold laws that will eventually abolish the greatest human rights threat our nation faces in abortion.

As President of CAP, Cathi has spearheaded a number of pro-life initiatives that have gained national notoriety and have affected policies and regulations across the U.S. Most notably, in February of 2009, the Arizona Legislature, along with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and under Mrs. Herrod’s influence, enacted into law HB2564, known as the Abortion Consent Act.

Key provisions of this important legislation included:

• A notarized parental signature is required before an abortion can be performed on a minor child.
• Abortionists must provide women with full and accurate information, in-person at least 24 hours before an abortion.
• Medical professionals cannot be forced to perform abortions if it contradicts their religious or moral beliefs.
• Non-doctors are not permitted to perform surgical abortions.

Under Cathi’s leadership, CAP has helped pass state legislation that has banned partial-birth abortion (1997), revised abortion clinic safety standards (2000), prohibited nurses from performing surgical abortions (2002), ended taxpayer-funded insurance coverage for government employees’ abortions (2010), required ultrasounds before abortions, banned telemedicine abortions, and improved safety standards for abortion facilities (2011), among many others. For a list of other CAP supported bills that have become Arizona Law, click here: http://www.azpolicy.org/center-supported-bills.

Because of her work in Arizona, Cathi has helped reduce abortions and save countless lives. She is an inspiration to all young pro-life leaders who seek a career like Cathi’s that will allow them to make a difference and end the horrific practice of abortion. Cathi could not be more deserving of this honor, and I look forward to presenting it to her this Saturday!

If you would like to send Cathi a note of thanks and encouragement, please e-mail her at cathi_herrod@azpolicy.org.

For Life,

Kristen Hawkins

Students