Spring 2020 Life Matters Vol. 42, Number 1 WVL-PAC Endorses Statewide Incumbents in Washington Endorsed President Trump has proven his pro-life commitment Candidates throughout his first term with many pro-life triumphs. Those The WVL-PAC has include appointing pro-life endorsed the following advocates to his cabinet and candidates in the WV Primary: administration, restoration of Governor the Mexico City Policy, and Jim Justice Governor Jim Justice at March 2 bill signing pledging to veto any legislation Supreme Court Div. 1 that weakens current pro-life Tim Armstead Attorney General State Treasurer laws, or that destroys human Patrick Morrisey life at any stage. Supreme Court Div. 2 Riley Moore (R) Senator Capito has had a Kristina Raynes Secretary of State John Perdue (D) 100% pro-life voting record Supreme Court Div. 3 Mac Warner Agriculture (unexpired) State Auditor Commissioner as a Senator. She voted to President U.S. Senator defund Planned Parenthood Lora Dyer John McCuskey Kent Leonhardt Donald Trump Shelley Moore Capito and stop government funding of abortion. She voted for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and various bills to repeal and replace ObamaCare. She voted in support of both of President Trump’s nominees for the Supreme Court. West Virginia can boast Supreme Court Supreme Court Supreme Court that all three Congresspeople Division 1 Division 2 Div. 3-Unexpired 3rd District have 100% pro-life voting 1st District 2nd District Tim Armstead Kristina Raynes Lora Dyer records: David McKinley (1st U.S. Representative U.S. Representative U.S. Representative District), Alex Mooney (2nd David McKinley Alex Mooney Carol Miller District) and Carol Miller (3rd District). the pro-abortion bills being Petition to force a vote on the Since the Democrats introduced by the pro-abortion Born-Alive Abortion Survivors gained the majority in the majority. Protection Act on the floor of House of Representatives, our Although unsuccessful due the House of Representatives. Republican representatives to Democrat tactics, all three This is the same bill that just have needed to vote to stop of them signed the Discharge passed and was signed by Governor Justice during the 60-day West Virginia 2020 Attorney General Secretary of State State Auditor IN THIS ISSUE legislative session. Patrick Morrisey Mac Warner John McCuskey WVFL salutes our federal 2 President’s Letter 8 Pro-Life Profile:Bo legislators for their stand Burgess Bishop Brennan’s against infanticide and their Remarks WVFL Treasurer’s respect for the dignity of all Article 3 Bill Passes and is human life. Signed Teens for Life 9 Calendar of Events A publication of 4 3 Decades Commemorated Membership + T-shirt Coupon Candidate Surveys/ West for State Treasurer candidates endorsed in their Agriculture Records 10 Across the Mighty State Virginians respective primaries are Republican Riley Commissioner Life Moore (above left) and Democrat John Kent Leonhardt 12 Governor Suspends State Affiliate to the National Perdue (above right). 6 Three Events Pictured Medical Procedures Right to Life Committee From the Dear friends, President From the West Virginians for Life is very proud to have been reasons why there might be such cases. Our laws Wanda Franz, Ph.D. able to work with our State Legislature to pass the banning late-term abortions have exceptions, such as Vice President President Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. It passed when a mother’s life is endangered by extending the Mary Tillman, J.D. with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the pregnancy. Dates and timing of pregnancy can be in Secretary House and Senate. The Governor held a public signing error, and medical staff can make mistakes assigning Louise Deal ceremony for our bill. the age of the fetus. Treasurer Pastor Doug Joseph This bill will provide for specific actions to be taken A nurse in a West Virginia Hospital, a number of NRLC Delegate when an abortionist has a case of an abortion survivor. years ago, discovered a newly-born baby crying on Wanda Franz, Ph.D. The abortionist must provide the same care for the a utility sink on the ward. When she ran to report BOARD MEMBERS: abortion survivor as for any other baby born at the it to the staff on the ward, it was clear that these situations were routine but not reported. Our bill will Region 1 Directors same gestational age. This bill makes it possible for Julia Chaplin the first time to investigate and prosecute these cases make reporting mandatory. The West Virginia nurse Faith Meyer because West Virginia law will define the actions was told to leave it alone. Instead, against orders, Region 2 Directors required by the abortionist and the penalties for failure she held the baby, baptized him and named him Patty Cooper to comply with the law. John. She promised him she would be his voice. She George Wallace Our pro-abortion opponents argued that the bill subsequently produced a video that she called “The Region 3 Directors Voice of John” which depicts her story. (It can be found Missy Ciccarello should not be pursued because infanticide is already Randy Meadows Polling and against the law. Indeed, in 2002, the U.S. Congress on the wvforlife.org website.) Region 4 Directors approved, without a dissenting vote, the Born-Alive Passage of this law in WV means that John’s voice Bonnie Ayers the 2020 Infants Protection Act stating that “every infant has finally been heard. The members of the State Hilda Shorter member of the species homo sapiens who is born Legislature, the Governor and all the supportive Region 5 Directors Election alive at any stage of development” is a “person” for leadership here in West Virginia have heard his voice Doug Joseph and have taken action to respond. West Virginians Charles Northrop all federal law purposes. However, there have been for Life salutes them and thanks them for their Region 6 Directors no cases involving prosecutions under the 2002 Act Mary English because there is no federal criminal statute specifically commitment to making West Virginia a state that Judy Fuller prohibiting taking the lives of born-alive infants. supports all life including the unborn and newborn. Region 7 Directors Our new law provides for the protections here Unfortunately, there are members of the House of Lacey Evans Delegates, who have failed to hear the voice of John. Betsy Wolfe in West Virginia that are envisioned by the 2002 Congressional Act. It provides for criminal acts and Those few who voted against the bill are deaf to the At Large Directors cries of babies being aborted who survive. We, who Louise Deal penalties that make prosecution possible. hear those cries, clearly must continue to work to be Mary Tillman In addition, our pro-abortion opponents argued that their voice. Legislative Coordinator there are no cases of late-term abortions in the state, Mary Tillman, J.D. because we have passed a law banning abortions NRL Political Director/ after 20 weeks for fetal pain. However, there are many Wanda Franz, Ph.D., President WVFL Political Liaison Karen Cross STAFF: Executive Director Wanda Franz, Ph.D. Bishop Brennan’s Pro-Life Rally Remarks In Brief Financial Manager by Wanda Franz, Ph.D. the edges, the hem kept the garment Sherri Stevens Bishop Mark Brennan offered the invocation and spoke on from fraying and likely coming apart.” Program Director the steps of the Capitol at the Pro-Life Rally on February 24 in “In the range of life issues, I believe Mary Anne Buchanan Charleston. Annual Pro-Life Rally Day, organized by West Virginians that respect for the life of the unborn Office Assistant Sadie Shields for Life, celebrated the passage of the born-Alive Abortion Survivors child is the hem,” Bishop Brennan said. Graphic Designer Protection Act. “You could stand over an aborted child Cheryl Carr Bishop Brennan spoke of the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadin of and say, ‘Society should assure you Chicago, who spoke of a “seamless garment” of life issues. He took decent housing, a job, health care and LIFE MATTERS the phrase right from the New Testament, the bishop said, where a good education’ but none of these Newspaper the garment that Jesus wore, and for which the soldiers on duty things would benefit the child because NRL Representative Wanda Franz, Ph.D. at his crucifixion cast lots, was described as one without seams. that child is dead. The hem that keeps the seamless garment Publisher Using this image, the cardinal argued that all human beings at all together and gives to a person the opportunity to access these Wanda Franz, Ph.D stages of development and in all circumstances deserve respect and other personal and social goods is respect for that person’s life Editor assistance, the bishop said. from the moment of conception. Take away that right and nothing Mary Anne Buchanan “It is important to consider, however, that the seamless garment else matters. Respect for the unborn child’s life is the foundation Graphic Designer had a hem,” Bishop Brennan said. “Probably made by folding over of all other rights.” Cheryl Carr Contributors: Mary Anne Buchanan, Cheryl Carr, Karen Cross, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito - (202) 224-6472 Rep. Alex Mooney (WV-2) - (202) 225-2711 Margaret Deely, Wanda Franz, Ph.D., Patricia Johnson, Pastor Contact 172 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 2366 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 Doug Joseph, and Mary Tillman, J.D. Your email: www.capito.senate.gov/contact/contact-shelley email through website - Life Matters, the official publication of West Virginians Sen. Joe Manchin III - (202) 224-3954 https://mooney.house.gov/contact/email for Life, 25 Canyon Rd., Morgantown, WV 26508, (304) 594-9845, [email protected], is published at 25 Canyon Members 306 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Rep.