The Missing Key
of the
Pro-Life Movement
Education on the Sanctity of Life from Kindergarten
through Twelfth Grade in all Christian Schools
An Evaluation and Proposal of What We Must do for Victory
PREFACE
From the time that Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973 till today, tens of millions of Christian school students could have received a Pro-Life education. This group would have constituted a significant majority; and with them the culture of death might have already been defeated.
The Pro-Life movement has worked tirelessly, attempting to change the hearts and minds of adults in the voting booth and in government. But this is addressing the problem long after their minds are made up--their consciences formed.
At the same, children's consciences are not being thoroughly formed—and informed about the sanctity of life while in Christian school. The result is that Christian schools continue graduating more voters and future government leaders whose record of defending life is often no better than the national average.
The overturning of Roe has been a tremendous advance in the defense of life, but it is only the beginning. The growing attacks against the sanctity of life and the fundamental question of what it means to be male or female illustrate how badly educated our culture is.
Only by finally addressing this problem and moving to correct it can we begin to change our culture and our laws. Simply put, a nation that is uneducated is one that cannot change.
We are specifically proposing a curriculum that teaches about the sanctity of life at all stages of the human continuum, from conception to natural death, with particular emphasis on the time from conception to birth. Implementation of a comprehensive, age-appropriate Pro-Life education program from kindergarten through twelfth grade will steadily increase the momentum of the Culture of Life. This education is most effective when parents also teach it at home, as parents are the first and primary teachers of the Christian Faith and of morals.
After receiving a Pro-Life education, Christians will place life as the preeminent factor in their vote. In time, this will lead to the defeat of the culture of death. This simple and easily implemented curriculum is truly a missing key in our movement, perhaps the most important missing component in our battle for the unborn--and the culture at large.
"My people perish for lack of knowledge" Hosea Chapter 4
THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
We must start with being mindful that young children are naturally Pro-Life. Ask a young child who has a pregnant mother what is inside their mother's “tummy,” and they will likely respond that it is their baby brother or sister. Christian educators must work with this incredible advantage: That students' minds are open vessels for learning about the sanctity of life-from conception to natural death.
With this in mind we must consider the potential for a great shift to a culture of life if the millions of Christian school students across the nation were to receive a Pro-Life education lasting from K - 12th grade.
This potential must no longer be ignored. The impact of these additional Pro-Life voters would be so tremendous, that the shift in our culture would be of historic proportions. Experience mandates that we must no longer take for granted that children will remain “naturally” Pro-Life if they are not receiving comprehensive education throughout their formative years.
"The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation
will be the philosophy of government in the next."
Attributed to President Abraham Lincoln
Culture of Death: A Failure to Educate: The vast majority of post abortive women regret their abortion.
A frequent comment is “If only I knew then what I know now about unborn babies I never would have…”
How many lives could we have saved with comprehensive Respect Life education in schools?
Ignorance sustained by denial is crippling the Church's and
the nations' response to the growing attacks against life.
For the millions of people who attended Christian schools and who are pro-abortion, one underlying cause is the same:
THEY WERE NOT TAUGHT THE TRUTH, and so they swallowed the lies of “choice”.
What will change the culture?
At the heart of it, this is truly a simple problem and there is a straightforward solution. The sanctity of life is a simple truth that can and must be taught like any other subject in school. In Christian schools it should be the highest priority. Those who control schools, and especially Religious education need only the will to make this happen.
Each day this does not happen is another day of victory for the pro-abortion forces, because ignorance of the masses is the only hope they have for survival.
The culture of death is a supernatural evil that cannot be defeated simply by changing human laws.
It will require teaching the fullness of the truth that comes from Jesus Christ regarding His immutable law on the sanctity of each human life.
After 50+ years of legal and political battles, we have a culture sinking into deeper darkness and 60+ million dead by abortion.
Christian voters determine the future.
The sad reality is that the duration of the abortion holocaust is prolonged by Christians
who vote for pro-abortion candidates.
This illustrates the major disconnect between what Christians say they believe about the sanctity of life and how they vote. We can no longer blindly hope that Christians will make voting Pro-Life a priority in every election if they are not first taught the reasons WHY as Christians they must.
In order to transform the culture--from one of death to one of Life we will need to add several million voters to the Pro-Life position.
Forty-eight years of “legalized” abortion proves that this many adults cannot be changed. This can only end with a new generation of Christians fully educated on the sanctity of life - from conception to natural death.
Education of school students is the key.
THE ABORTED STATES OF AMERICA
The map above has 19 states blacked out. The population of these states is equal to the 60,000,000+ "reported" and “legal” surgical abortions committed in the US since 1973. Perhaps this visual perspective helps one to grasp the
number of people that are gone, dead--robbed of their God-given constitutional rights to life and liberty.
Each time a person is aborted and robbed of their rights, our rights and very lives become less secure.
"...the only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments."
Benjamin Rush, Founding Father and signer of The Declaration of Independence
ENDING THE CULTURE OF DEATH
THROUGH CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
We propose that students from kindergarten through twelfth grade be taught about the sanctity of life in a comprehensive way like any subject, with testing. This would be done in Religion class, bible study and/or at home.
In light of the situation in which we find our society, this must not be an optional addition to other classes. This should be at the fundamental core of the entire Christian education, in a powerful way.
It must be embedded in the students' mentality and ingrained in their spirituality.
If a student graduates with perfect grades, but does not have a solid understanding of the sanctity of Life and his personal obligation to defend Life, we have failed him and our Lord miserably.
We have developed two Respect Life programs which can be accessed here.
We offer both completely free of charge.
We invite all that agree to join with us in advancing this program. We are in particular need of assistance from those who have degrees in education.
“The attack on life doesn't begin in the womb.
It begins in the minds of people.”
Ron Galloy
HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRAM
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Teach in Religion/Bible study class, as well as at home.
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Repetitive instruction with testing that is built on previous lesson plans from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
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Age appropriate lessons for each grade that encompasses the complete teaching on the sanctity of life from conception to natural death (in the higher grades, increasing details about abortion, euthanasia, and related topics will be taught).
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High school instruction will pay special attention to the role of being a Christian in society and the importance of voting Pro-Life.
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Have students write book reports on Pro-Life literature.
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Older students will be introduced to the Pro-Life movement.
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Parental involvement will be encouraged.
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Pro-Life posters/signs will stay up in classes year-round.
Major Topics:
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God's Law & the Natural Law
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Scientific Truths of Life
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Principles of Just Law & Society
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Christian Civic Responsibility
Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Kindergarten through fourth grade will provide the children with a body of information, which will enable them to reject pro-abortion messages that they will be exposed to as they grow older. By the end of the fourth grade, students will understand that:
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Life (PERSONHOOD) begins at conception, not birth.
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Each baby is a unique creation and gift from God.
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The unborn baby has a beating heart (starts at 18-25 days).
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The unborn baby has fingerprints and toe prints.
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The unborn baby sucks his/her thumb and breathes fluid.
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The unborn baby kicks and makes swimming motions.
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The unborn baby can learn, develops habits, and dreams.
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The unborn baby listens to voices and music and develops preferences.
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Unborn babies are just as human as we are and can feel pain.
At this level, abortion is not mentioned at any time. Instead, the teachings focus on the development of the unborn person. As a result, students will know that the unborn child is not a "blob of tissue," but is in fact a person, WAITING TO BE BORN. By the end of fourth grade, the children will have a strong, lasting foundation from which to build upon in following grades.
Scriptural readings that teach about the UNBORN PERSON begin in Genesis and are crowned by our unborn Lords' own story in the Gospel of Luke. Gods' teachings, which are the biblical foundation of the sanctity of life, will be built upon throughout this educational process.
Fifth to twelfth grades will continue to lead the students into a Culture of Life and begin to educate them about the evil of abortion. The children will learn more about the developing unborn baby, and grades 5-12 may begin each class with a prayer of Spiritual Adoption. (Spiritual Adoption involves a nine-month commitment to pray for an unborn baby that may be in danger of being aborted.)
Life begins at conception--NOT birth.
Birth is one day in the life of a PERSON
who is already nine months old.
Each year of high school will cover the US Constitution and history of abortion, law, Christian Civic Responsibility, the importance of voting Pro-Life, and the history of the battle between the cultures of life and death.
Students must fully understand that “Whatsoever you do to the least of these my brethren, you do to Me,” also applies in the voting booth. We are each, individually, called to help build a Culture of Life. Voting in defense of LIFE is among the most important ways.
Visit our section dealing with this area: A Matter of Life & Mass Murder: Ending "Legal" Abortion -
Toward a Constitutional Remedy.
Children waiting to be born cannot speak for themselves-we are their voice. We must speak up in their defense at the voting booth. If we do not, millions more will never be allowed to speak. One must vote with a properly formed and informed Christian conscience, supporting the candidate who will work to rebuild a Culture of Life.
Students should memorize the following passage and be able to use it in explaining WHY all Christians are called to Vote in defense of Life:
“Abortion and euthanasia are crimes, which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to `take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it'” (Gospel of Life).
Suggested reading: “Reflections on the political Responsibility of Christians,” from Priests For Life. This is the churches unique capacity to destroy the culture of death. Together we can reform the conscience of our culture to one that protects all Life.
With proper education, students will know that each of us looked like this unborn child at that age. They will know the truth that the unborn person is a very young citizen waiting to be born, and deserves the same protection under the law as everyone.
Imagine the possibilities of a single course spanning the thirteen years from kindergarten through
twelfth grade. Here is one example of the program in action: While every student is holding a life-size
plastic model of an 11-week old unborn baby (right), they watch a video on prenatal development.
This would be a powerful beginning to a strong and lasting understanding of the sanctity of life.
Plastic models available here.
IN ORDER TO CHANGE AND REBUILDAN ENTIRE CULTURE,
WE MUST FOCUS ON THE CHILDRENAND TEACH THEM.
THE HAND OF HOPE
How many students have heard of Samuel Armas? Telling his story would be another example of how to impress students with the truth that the unborn are just as human as we are. Samuel was operated on at 21 weeks gestation in-utero for a spinal cord defect. Pictures of his hand grasping the surgeons are among the most powerful and unforgettable in recent years. Samuel was born on Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 weighing 5 lbs 11 oz. Samuel's mom, Julie later wrote, “He was born at 36 weeks but came into the world screaming his head off! He did not have to spend any time in a neonatal unit and came home with us on Monday, Dec. 6.”
The Armas story and his pictures should be part of this program in every grade from at least sixth and repeated annually through to twelfth. Students will have a personal story of “Life Before Birth” that simply cannot be denied or forgotten.The photo above was taken by Michael Clancy. It is protected by U.S. Copyright Law. Used with permission. Visit Michael's website.
Samuel Armas summer of 2003 at 3 1/2 years old.
Samual and his mother on the cover of the October 2003 National Right to Life News. Samual and his parents testified on September 25, 2003 before the U.S. Senate. When Samual was questioned about the famous picture of his surgery he stated: "They fixed my boo-boo."
The LORD called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.
Isaiah 49:1
Conclusion
The leaders of the Protestant and Catholic Churches in America hold collectively in their hands the power to implement comprehensive Pro-Life education, and mark the end to the culture of death.
Their leadership will be critical in order to bring about this change.
It is crucial that these leaders recognize the dire need for a major change in the way this life-and-death battle has been handled for the last forty-eight years.
The teachings of the sanctity of Life in regards to today's battle between the cultures of life and death covers many disciplines and cannot be fully absorbed with infrequent and superficial presentations. It takes significant time for students to form and inform their consciences on the proper role a Christian must take in the defense and promotion of innocent human life.
Compared to the time devoted to other subjects in Christian schools, it is deplorable how little time is spent teaching about the sanctity of life. This may one day be seen as the single greatest reason why the holocaust of “legalized” abortion lasts as long as it does.
Can we honestly expect to defeat this growing culture of death if we do not thoroughly educate our students now, so they will vote and fight against it? IN ORDER TO CHANGE AND REBUILD AN ENTIRE CULTURE, WE MUST FOCUS ON THE CHILDREN AND TEACH THEM.
We have had forty-eight years of failed politicking, during which the root causes of the problem have not been properly addressed. Teaching our next generation about the sanctity of life and the wrongs of abortion and related evils is the correct and Christian thing to do. For when it comes to the soul of a nation-a nation that is uneducated is one that cannot change.
If you agree with this program, contact us at: Cp_4Life@yahoo.com. Your input can help to make this a reality. Also please forward it to your contacts, the leaders in your church, and Pro-Life groups.
We challenge the leaders of the churches throughout America to be actively pro-life and teach your flocks. You can do this by beginning comprehensive Sanctity of Life education programs. This world is teaching them, even the youngest, to be pro-death. Indeed, each person will eventually choose a culture to which to belong. You are in the unique position to influence our youth so as to destroy the culture of death.
In His Name, please do not neglect this opportunity.
"Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live."
Dt 30:9