At the 2017 March for Life, Vice President Mike Pence delivered a speech that demonstrated not a political position, but a heart position of a man who loves preborn babies, moms in crisis pregnancies, and adoption. Despite the abortion industry’s claims that the Trump administration is laced with hate for women, Pence demonstrated nothing but love.
His wife, Karen, introduced him saying, “I have never met anyone who has more compassion for children and for the American people.” And as Pence took the stage to a roaring crowd, he showed himself to be one of pro-lifers’ greatest allies.
Pence expressed his honor at being the highest government official to ever address the March for Life in person. Other presidents have called in to the massive pro-life gathering, but the Trump administration made history with Pence’s appearance.
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Early on, Pence spoke of the right to life embedded in the U.S. Constitution:
More than 240 years ago, our Founders wrote words that have echoed through the ages.
They declared these truths to be self-evident that we are, all of us, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
44 years ago, our Supreme Court turned away from the first of these timeless ideals.
But, he emphasized: “Life is winning again in America.”
Assuring Americans that President Donald Trump will be key to the cause of life, Pence reminded the crowd that Trump had reinstated the Mexico City Policy to prohibit international funding or promotion of abortions. Trump also extended the policy to “global health assistance.” The impact of his extended policy demonstrates a particularly strong pro-life stand. Pence said there was more to come, adding that “at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, we are in the promise-keeping business.”
He promised that the Trump administration would work closely with Congress to end taxpayer funding of both abortion and abortion providers. He dispelled the lie that that money would no longer help poor and needy women, adding with vehemence: “We will devote those resources to healthcare services for women across America.”
Pence further indicated that pro-lifers would be pleased with the Supreme Court nominee that Trump has said he will announce next Thursday, promising the nominee will “uphold the God-given liberties enshrined in our Constitution in the tradition of the late and great Justice Antonin Scalia.”
Then, the vice president shifted from the political side of life to the personal side:
I’ve long believed that a society can be judged by how we care for its most vulnerable, the aged, the infirm, the disabled, and the unborn. We have come to an historic moment in the cause for life. And we must meet this moment with respect and compassion for every American.
And “life is winning,” he said, explaining:
Life is winning through the steady advance of science that illuminates when life begins, more and more, every day. Life is winning through the generosity of millions of adoptive families to open their hearts and homes to children in need. Life is winning through the compassion of caregivers and volunteers at crisis pregnancy centers and faith-based organizations who minister to women in towns across this country.
Revealing a tender heart for the compassion of the woman who is pregnant and might consider abortion, he continued:
And life is winning through the quiet counsels between mothers and daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters, between friends across kitchen tables, and over coffee at college campuses. The truth is being told. Compassion is overcoming convenience. And hope is defeating despair.
As he concluded his historic speech, Pence reminded listeners of Philippians 4:5:
But as it is written, ‘Let your gentleness be evident to all.’ Let this movement be known for love, not anger. Let this movement be known for compassion, not confrontation. When it comes to matters of the heart, there is nothing stronger than gentleness.
Pence’s devotion to the people behind the statistics was evident:
I believe that we will continue to win the hearts and minds of the rising generation if our hearts first break for young mothers and their unborn children, and if we each of us do all we can to meet them where they are, with generosity, not judgment.
To heal our land and restore a culture of life we must continue to be a movement that embraces all, cares for all, and shows respect for the dignity and worth of every person.
As he ended his celebrated speech to the massive crowd, it was clear his speech not only made March for Life history, but it also set the tone of the Trump administration’s stance on life, catapulting it to the forefront of its priorities:
On behalf of the President of the United States and my little family, we thank you for your stand for life. We thank you for your compassion. We thank you for your love for the women and children of America.
And be assured, be assured, that along with you, we will not grow wearied; we will not rest until we restore a culture of life in America for ourselves and our posterity. Thank you, and God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.
Whatever this administration does to develop a stronger culture of life, one thing is clear from Pence’s speech: it will be done with love and dignity for the mothers as well as their babies. And that’s a sentiment all pro-lifers can celebrate.
