K.M. Cassidy. "Right to Life." In Dictionary of Christianity in America, Coordinating Editor, Daniel G. Reid.
Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVaristy Press, 1990. pp. 1017,1018.
"The Supreme Court decision of January 22, 1973, overthrowing all existing abortion laws, led to an enormous growth in the movement. The National Right to Life Committee which had been founded in 1968 under the auspices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in 1973 became autonomous and non-sectarian. It is the largest and most influential national organization, with well over two thousand local affiliates by the 1980s."
[ emphasis added / asterisks noting related articles not included ]
____________________________________________________________________
Entire article:
[ emphasis added ]
Right to Life. A movement opposed to the taking of innocent human life at any time from conception to natural death. The term pro-life is often used as well. Arising as a reaction to the movement for liberalized abortion, the first permanent group was founded in New York in 1966. From early on, however, Right to Life groups were concerned with the question of euthanasia as well and came to devote more of their energies to this subject during the 1980s.
The Supreme Court decision of January 22, 1973, overthrowing all existing abortion laws, led to an enormous growth in the movement. The National Right to Life Committee which had been founded in 1968 under the auspices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in 1973 became autonomous and non-sectarian. It is the largest and most influential national organization, with well over two thousand local affiliates by the 1980s. A large number of other groups appeared as well, many the product of splits within the movement over strategy and tactics ( e.g., American Life Lobby, Pro-Life Action League ) and others appealing to specific constituencies ( e.g., National Youth ProLife Coalition, Feminists for Life, Lutherans for Life ). The movement is diverse, its members representing a wide range of religious and political viewpoints, and is monolithic only in its rejection of killing the innocent.
While the Right to Life movement from its beginning has had members of a variety of religions, it was initially heavily Roman Catholic in composition. The later 1970s saw a huge influx of evangelical Protestants and this helped propel it to new prominence and political impact. The movement developed in Canada as well. The Alliance for Life was founded in 1968 and by the 1980s represented over two hundred local affiliates.
[ emphasis added / asterisks noting related articles not included ]
