NORCROSS, Ga., March 29, 2014 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Georgia Right Life (GRTL) President Dan Becker expressed "heartfelt sadness" that GRTL's affiliation with its national counterpart has ended.
"It's a tragedy that a pioneering, highly successful pro-life organization is considered unworthy to remain affiliated with National Right to Life (NRLC)," Becker said. "It's especially hard to understand, since GRTL has accomplished so much."
NRLC voted today to replace GRTL's membership with a newly-formed group that claims it can do a better job of carrying out NRLC's goals and objectives.
Becker pointed out that NRLC's stated mission is to: "…protect and defend the most fundamental right of humankind, the right to life of every innocent human being from beginning of life to natural death."
"That's virtually identical to GRTL's mission statement," Becker said. "From a policy standpoint, we're on the same page."
GRTL Vice President Mike Griffin noted that, "GRTL has been highly effective in carrying out NRLC's mission by electing rock solid pro-life candidates and directing NRLC's flagship legislative initiatives in Georgia: the Woman's Right to Know Act and most recently, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."
Other national groups recognize Georgia's premier pro-life status. Americans United for Life listed Georgia second in its 2013 "All Star" ranking, and has included the state in the top 15 "most protective" states since 2007--reaching as high as 8th.
In 2000, GRTL changed its candidate endorsement criteria and legislation policy to ensure that all pre-born children are protected, except in cases where the life of the mother is threatened.
As a result, Georgia is the only state where all its statewide constitutional officers do not support rape or incest exceptions. Georgia is one of only two states that have kept exceptions out of their legal codes.
"Since 2005, by the grace of God, GRTL, along with our supporters and courageous elected officials, has enacted nine major life-affirming laws," Griffin said. "The most recent was this year's ban on taxpayer funding of abortions."
That measure, SB98, was sponsored by state Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) and state Rep. Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville). "SB 98 would not have passed without the effective leadership of Georgia Right to Life. As a pro-life legislator I know GRTL makes a positive difference in Georgia for life," said Senator Hill. The bill is now before Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.
At the same time, GRTL PAC has an 89 percent success rate in helping to elect candidates who are truly pro-life and do not support rape and incest exceptions.
"The bottom line is that GRTL has protected all classes of pre-born children, regardless of how they were conceived. In addition, GRTL works to protect children facing death as a result of unethical scientific experiments; the elderly and infirm, regardless of their level of dependency; and those born with disabilities," Becker said.
"GRTL's approach, being called the 'Georgia Model,' has been adopted in several other states," Becker said. "GRTL has shown that holding to God's principles works."
Noting that Georgia is solidly pro-life, Becker added, "GRTL will not abandon its position that all human life is created in the image of God and therefore sacred. GRTL will stand true to its mission and not be swayed by the prevailing political winds."
Georgia Right to Life promotes respect and effective legal protection for all innocent human life from earliest biological beginning through natural death. GRTL is one of a number of organizations that have adopted Personhood as the most effective pro-life strategy for the 21st century.
