National Right to Life Committee

National Right to Life Committee is a prominent non-governmental organization in the United States that opposes abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide. The organization was founded in 1967 by National Conference of Catholic Bishops and has since become one of the largest and most influential pro-life organizations in the country, working closely with American Life League, Family Research Council, and Focus on the Family. The committee's efforts have been supported by various Republican Party politicians, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, as well as Democratic Party members like Bob Casey Jr. and Bart Stupak.

● History

The National Right to Life Committee was established in 1967, a year before the Pope Paul VI issued the Humanae Vitae encyclical, which reaffirmed the Catholic Church's opposition to birth control and abortion. The organization's early efforts were influenced by the work of Phyllis Schlafly, a prominent conservative activist who campaigned against the Equal Rights Amendment, and Jesse Helms, a Republican Party senator who opposed abortion and euthanasia. The committee's founding was also supported by National Right to Life News, a publication that has been in circulation since 1973, and has featured articles by notable pro-life advocates like Nat Hentoff and Hadley Arkes. Throughout its history, the organization has worked closely with other pro-life groups, including Americans United for Life, Concerned Women for America, and Priests for Life, to advance its mission.

● Organization

The National Right to Life Committee is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has a network of state and local affiliates across the United States. The organization is led by a board of directors, which includes Carol Tobias, the current president, and Darla St. Martin, the co-executive director. The committee also has a PAC (political action committee) that supports pro-life candidates in elections, including United States Senate and United States House of Representatives races. The organization's efforts are also supported by various think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute, which have published research on abortion and euthanasia.

● Positions

The National Right to Life Committee opposes abortion in all circumstances, except when the life of the mother is at risk, a position shared by Pope John Paul II and other prominent Catholic Church leaders. The organization also opposes euthanasia and infanticide, and has advocated for the passage of laws that protect the rights of unborn children, such as the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. The committee has also taken positions on other issues, including stem cell research, cloning, and assisted suicide, which have been debated by United States Supreme Court justices like Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The organization's positions are influenced by the work of pro-life scholars like Robert P. George and Francis Beckwith, who have written extensively on the ethics of abortion and euthanasia.

● Activities

The National Right to Life Committee engages in a variety of activities to advance its mission, including lobbying and grassroots organizing. The organization has a strong presence at the March for Life, an annual event held in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the Roe v. Wade decision, which has been attended by pro-life advocates like Alveda King and Star Parker. The committee also sponsors conferences and workshops on pro-life issues, which have featured speakers like Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. Additionally, the organization provides education and training for pro-life activists, including students and youth leaders, through programs like the National Right to Life Academy.

● Criticism

The National Right to Life Committee has faced criticism from pro-choice organizations, such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America, which argue that the organization's positions on abortion and euthanasia are extreme and out of touch with the views of most Americans. The committee has also been criticized by some pro-life groups, such as American Life League, which argue that the organization is not doing enough to oppose abortion and euthanasia. The organization's efforts have been opposed by Democratic Party politicians like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, as well as Republican Party members like Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. The committee has also faced criticism from media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post, which have published editorials and opinion pieces critical of the organization's positions.

● Notable_members_and_officials

The National Right to Life Committee has a number of notable members and officials, including Carol Tobias, the current president, and Darla St. Martin, the co-executive director. The organization's board of directors includes pro-life advocates like Robert P. George and Francis Beckwith, as well as politicians like Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. The committee has also been supported by notable pro-life leaders like Phyllis Schlafly and Jesse Helms, as well as Catholic Church leaders like Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Other notable members and officials include Alveda King, Star Parker, and Nat Hentoff, who have all been involved in the organization's efforts to advance its mission. Category:Pro-life organizations in the United States